Dempsey Towers; country.

Byline: John Dempsey on country matters ...

DRIP, drip, drip . . . the water seeped through the ceiling at Dempsey Towers and collected in the biggest cooking pot I could find.

Why do these things always happen at 1am?

Outside, the raging hooley was doubtless forcing more water under the eaves as a surprisingly fast-moving weather system slammed into Liverpool Bay.

Nothing to do but turn over and go to sleep - and hope the pot didn't overflow.

Next morning was brighter and calmer, but after supermarket duties (why was everyone buying somuch stuff? Anyone would think Christmas was coming), I got out into the peace and quiet of the Withins, behind Altcar.

Afewwinter thrushes were still feeding on the last hawthorn berries that hang on the stark bare branches of December, but if ever there was a sight to lift the heart it was four buzzards, circling, hovering and swooping over a copse in the stiff breeze.

Their mewing calls could be heard across the stubble fields as they hung in the air, or rose and fell as they chose on the draughts.

I don't often feel envy when watching birds, but these buteos didn't seem to have a care in the world - no need to find roofers or plumbers for them, and I don't think supermarket stress is ever a problem . . .

Steadily increasing, I suspect the latest BTO Bird Atlas survey for 2007-11 will reveal a population explosion for the common buzzard among many other gems of information.

Perhaps the most ambitious survey undertaken in the UK, the idea is to census both breeding and wintering species over the next four years by breaking the country up into thousands of squares which will be assiduously checked by a small army of volunteers.

Anyone can have a go - for more details, log on to www.bto.org You don't have to stick to one area if you don't have time - "roving report" forms can be sent in, too.

And, let's face it, it's got to bemore fun than fixing a leaky roof or doing the shopping.

SEVERAL readers, including David Holland and Lynda Husband, have reported a cormorant fishing on Calderstones Park Lake, in Liverpool.

David counted over 300 pied wagtails at the city centre roost on Parker Street last week - an extremely high total.

DEREK FORSHAW reported large numbers of pink footed geese feeding at Ormskirk and Aughton - with up to 7,000 birds in a flock between Altys Lane and Blackmoss Lane, and along Prescot Road, Aughton.

JIM BRADY watched eight great crested grebes on Eccleston Mere last week, including some birds head shaking in pro-nuptial display, but real courtship is still a long way off.

JIM counted 109 mallards, 4 goldeneye, 19 tufted duck and 3 pochard on the mere.

At Taylors Park, he racked up 165 mallard, 19 tufties, seven great crested grebe and three cormorants.

Jim was still observing common wasp and buff tailed bumblebee feeding on the flowers of mahonia in Prescot.

ANDREW SPOTTISWOODE had peregrine, Mediterranean gull and short eared owl in the Knowsley area.

YOU can submit an item of news for the column by calling John Dempsey on 0151 472 2408 (Mon to Fri) or e-mail him at john.

[e-mail] You can visit John's blog online at http://birdblog.merseyblogs.co.uk

CAPTION(S):

Common buzzards in flight Picture: JOHN DEMPSEY