Thundery showers were forecast, so we picked New Brighton as a place with lots of shelter from the rain. As our bus emerged from the tunnel on the Wallasey side, our trepidation was increased by the sight of a snow plough stored by the side of the road! In the event we only got occasional sprinkles, barely enough to wet the roads.
The tide seemed very low, still going out, with low tide due at about 2pm. The breakwater between Fort Perch Rock and the lighthouse was fully exposed and the Stena Line ferry to Belfast sailed out. There were hardly any birds on the beach, just a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull, with a few sundry gulls flying overhead. No waders on the pontoons. A couple of Pied Wagtails foraged around the seaweed and, unusually, there were Feral Pigeons on the sand. The best birds were on a navigation marker – two Cormorants and a couple of Carrion Crows.
A shower sent us into the Floral Pavilion where there was a small exhibition of paintings by local artists. The best was “Through Seagrass” by Marcus G J Cotton. Spot the Black Restart!
Soon after lunch we headed home. At Queen Square bus station there was a very bold urban Lesser Black-backed gull surveying the traffic from the roof of a bus shelter.
Public transport details: Bus 432 from Sir Thomas Street at 10.05, arriving King’s Parade / Rowson Street at 10.30. Returned on bus 432 from King’s Parade / Morrison’s at 1 pm, arriving Liverpool at 1.30.
Next week we plan to go to Southport, meeting at Central Station at 10 am.