BTO INTRODUCING UPLAND ROVERS

Don't get too excited, I'm not trying to organise a football team for Breeding Bird Survey volunteers — but I am asking for willing 'players' who would be up for surveying some of our more remote BBS squares, just once. Are you the kind of intrepid volunteer (a 'super-sub') who has what it takes to help?CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 31ST MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Leasowe-Kerrs field Citrine Wagtail which appeared to be in first winter plumage with Pied Wagtails about 11am and again at 4pm.

Decca Pools-Spoonbill.

CHESHIRE

Kelsall-Iberian Chiffchaff-Male still singing late morning at sharp bend c.250m down track north of T-junction between Tirley Lane and Heaths Lane

Woolston eyes-Garganey-N03 bed.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 24TH-30TH MAY 2017

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-24TH-30TH MAY 2017

REVIEW OF THE WEEK CLICK ON LINK
BY JOSH JONES

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 30TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Heswall fields-Yellowhammer (singing),2 Stonechat (pair),2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Grasshopper Warbler (reeling).

Hilbre-315 Dunlin,123 Sanderling and 57 Ringed Plover.


Burton RSPB-Spoonbill came into roost.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

TWO BARRED GREENISH WARBLER-Foula-Shetland.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 29TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre-Eider-Pair.


Heswall golf course-At least 2 Grasshopper Warbler along the path by the marsh.

CHESHIRE
Woolston eyes-Kittiwake-On N03 bed.

Hale-Wood sandpiper-Carr Lane pools.

Hale-Channel Wagtail-2 Burnt mill.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 28TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre-Little Stint,52 Ringed Plover,85 Sanderling and 400 Dunlin.

Parkgate-Marsh Harrier (male) over marsh and a Grasshopper Warbler near Boathouse Pub.

CHESHIRE
Newchurch Common-Smew-Female.

Frodsham marsh-Spoonbill over.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 27TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Burton RSPB-There is now a Cattle egret chick visible on the nest.The Rare Breeding bird panel confirms that the last probable breeding in the UK took place in 2009 in SW England which followed the first breeding in this country,in Somerset,in 2008.

CHESHIRE
Woolston eyes-Garganey-Drake-From south screen hide.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN
PIED BILLED GREBE-Loch Feorlin-Argyll.

MORNINGS BIRDING IN THE EASTERN HILLS.

I spent the morning birding up in the eastern hills of Cheshire today hoping to find some summer migrants.I started off at Tegg's nose country park but couldn't find any Pied flycatchers.There were plenty of Willow warblers and Chiffchaffs about and a Green woodpecker called from a nearby plantation.A female Bullfinch was near the summit and a male Redstart was seen.

 FEMALE BULLFINCH

REDSTART

Walking back to the car I heard a Spotted flycatcher which remained elusive before eventually showing well.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER

TEGGS NOSE COUNTRY PARK

Moving on towards Trentabank reservoir there were again no Pied flycatchers.It looks like they have vacated this area which used to be a good area for this species.A Great crested grebe showed well on the nest though.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

Driving along Wildboarclough it didn't take long before I found the resident Dippers,which showed really well.

DIPPER

WILDBOARCLOUGH

After this I headed for Danebower quarry in search of Ring ouzels but again there was no sign after a good hour of searching.

DANEBOWER QUARRY

There were up to four Green hairstreak butterflies though as I was walking back up the path when the sun came out.

GREEN HAIRSTREAK

A great mornings birding spent in a lovely location.

HOUSE MARTINS ARE LATE BACK TO BREEDING SITES

Recent records from the BirdTrack recording system suggest that House martins were less widely reported during early May than they have been historically, despite a normal pattern of arrival having occurred during April.CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 26TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre-3 Spoonbill flew over flying south.


CHESHIRE
Hale-Wood sandpiper and Channel Wagtail-Carr lane pools.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN
PIED BILLED GREBE-Loch Feorlin-Argyll.

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Flew east-Orcombe point-Devon.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 25TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre-Shorelark,Fulmar and a Whimbrel.

Woolston Eyes-10 Black necked grebes.

Burton RSPB-Great white egret.

CHESHIRE
Leftwich-Hoopoe-one reported in flight south over Leftwich Community Meadows.


MEGAS IN BRITAIN

CRAG MARTIN-One briefly over the dam-Lake Vyrnwy-RSPB-Powys

CELEBRATE BIRDWATCH'S 300TH ISSUE-ON SALE 25 MAY

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CATTLE EGRETS BREEDING IN CHESHIRE

The RSPB has announced that Cattle egrets are breeding at its Burton Mere Wetlands reserve in Cheshire this spring.CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 24TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Red rocks-Turtle Dove in gardens along Stanley Road but very elusive.

Hoylake-2 Little Stint,80 Sanderling,110 Ringed Plover and 1,400 Dunlin.

CHESHIRE
Newchurch common-Female Smew.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

PIED BILLED GREBE-Loch Feorlin-Argyll.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 17TH-23RD MAY 2017

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-17TH-23RD MAY 2017

REVIEW OF THE WEEK CLICK ON LINK
BY JOSH JONES

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 23RD MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Leasowe-Roseate Tern flew west.

Hilbre-Shorelark and 300 Sandwich Tern on West Hoyle Bank.

Burton RSPB-6 Cattle Egret.

Red rocks-Little Stint.

CHESHIRE
Runcorn-Possible Iberian Chiffchaff-possible male singing at Whitehouse Industrial Estate, Preston Brook, between Saint Gobain Isover and DHL Distribution Centre.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 22ND MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre-Shorelark.

Red Rocks-Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove (flew over and into private garden).

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

PIED BILLED GREBE-Loch Feorlin-Argyll.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 21ST MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB-Buff-breasted Sandpiper also A Little Gull.

Hilbre-Shorelark.

Parkgate-Boathouse-Marsh Harrier (fem) and 2 Grasshopper warblers.

Neston reedbed-2 Marsh Harrier (fem).

CHESHIRE

Hale-2 Channel Wagtails-Carr lane pools-this evening.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 20TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB-Buff-breasted Sandpiper also A Little Gull.


Hilbre-Shorelark.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

PIED BILLED GREBE-Loch Feorlin-Argyll.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 19TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Burton RSPB-Buff-breasted Sandpiper,Cattle Egret, 3 Great White Egret and a Spoonbill.

Hilbre-Shorelark.

CHESHIRE

Frodsham marshes-Drake Garganey-N03 Tank.

Sandbach Flashes-Drake Garganey-Railway Flash.

SIBERIAN ACCENTOR ADDED TO BOU'S BRITISH LIST

Siberian Accentor has been admitted to Category A of the British list with the bird at Mossy Hill, Scousburgh, Mainland, Shetland, on 9-10 October 2016 (photographed) being accepted as the very first example for the country.CLICK ON LINK

BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER-BURTON RSPB-WIRRAL

News broke this morning on my way into work that Colin wells(site manager at Burton RSPB) had found a Buff breasted sandpiper.Thankfully the bird hung around all day so I made my way there straight after work.

The bird was showing well on arrival but photographs were hard to get due to the sunlight reflecting off the water.

BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER 

This was my third record of Buff Breasted sandpiper in Cheshire and Wirral the last one being at Frodsham Marshes from the 28th July 2012 that spent three days on N06 tank.

As I was leaving the reserve a Cattle egret appeared out of the roost and showed well before flying off.

UP TO 3 CATTLE EGRETS HAVE BEEN ROOSTING AT BURTON RSPB

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 18TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Hilbre-Shorelark.

Parkgate-Marsh Harrier (fem) off Boathouse pub.

Burton RSPB-2 Great White Egret and a Spoonbill.

CHESHIRE

Woolston Eyes-15 Black Necked grebes.

Hale-Curlew Sandpiper.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Adult-Bartlett Nab Viewpoint-RSPB-East Yorkshire.

GLOBAL BIG DAY SETS NEW WORLD RECORD

Cornell Lab of Ornithology has revealed that its third annual Global Big Day, which took place on 13 May, has eclipsed all previous records.CLICK ON LINK

BIRD RACE CHALLENGE 2017

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CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 17TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Hilbre-Shorelark

eBIRD GLOBAL BIG DAY 2017

It's 11.58 pm, and the seconds are counting down as you bounce down a country road with a few friends, jammed into the back of a cramped car, racing to be at some marsh, field, or forest before the stroke of midnight. Piling out of the car as you reach your destination, the clock tolls the fateful hour. The game is afoot.CLICK ON LINK

SHORELARK-HILBRE ISLAND-WIRRAL

On Sunday a visiting birder to Hilbre Island found a Shorelark.Thankfully the bird has hung around since then so on my day off from work today I visited the Islands.

There were good numbers of waders around as I made my way over as the tide was going out.Dunlin were in good numbers and also Ringed plovers,Knot and a Whimbrel flew down the side of middle eye.

 RINGED PLOVER

 DUNLIN

KNOT

The Islands look fantastic this time of year and were covered in Thrift and Birds foot trefoil.

Walking on to the Island and past the lookout the Shorelark flew over me calling and landed on a wall down near the sea hide.

The bird then flew back towards the lookout and landed on the gravel path and showed really well.

SHORELARK

After great views of the bird I started the long walk back to the car.

A VIEW FROM HILBRE ISLAND LOOKING DOWN THE DEE ESTUARY

This was only my third sighting of this species in Cheshire and Wirral since January 1997 when there were two birds present on the ICI tank at Frodsham Marshes.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-10TH-16TH MAY 2017

REVIEW OF THE WEEK CLICK ON LINK
BY JOSH JONES

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 10TH-16TH MAY 2017

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CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 16TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Hilbre-Shorelark,Brent Goose,3 Arctic Tern and 2 Whimbrel.

West Kirby-3 Spotted Flycatcher in grounds of Hilbre School.

West Kirby-Hoopoe seen in two private gardens-Burlingham Avenue.

CHESHIRE

Woolston Eyes-Little Tern.

Frodsham Marshes-3 Garganey-on wet meadow by Weaver meadow.

TAGGED TURTLE DOVE RETURNS TO ESSEX

RSPB scientists have succeeded in mapping the complete migratory route of a British-breeding European Turtle dove for only the second time, after a bird fitted with a tracking device in East Anglia last summer arrived back in the UK last week.

CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 15TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Hilbre-Shorelark,Hobby,Siskin and a pale-bellied Brent Goose

Hoylake-3 Spotted Flycatcher in sea front garden.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 14TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Hilbre-Shorelark at the  north end.

Burton RSPB-Wood Sandpiper and a Great White Egret.

Leasowe-Hooded Crow on sea defence below the gunsite.

CHESHIRE

Knutsford-Drake Scaup-Tatton Mere

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD-Female-Garso,Easting-North Ronaldsay.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 13TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Hilbre-7 Curlew Sandpiper (believed to be highest spring count from Hilbre for at least 20 years) and 3 Spotted Flycatcher.

Meols-Marsh Harrier flew high.

Leasowe-5 Spotted Flycatcher,4 Whinchat,10+ Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtail.

CHESHIRE

Knutsford-Drake Scaup-Tatton Mere

Haydn's Pool-Wood Sandpiper.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD-Female-Garso,Easting-North Ronaldsay.

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Adult flew south past New Roll-Bempton RSPB-East Yorkshire.

GODWIT CHICK 'HEADSTARTING' REPRESENTS UK FIRST

Black Tailed Godwit chicks have been hatched in captivity by conservationists for the first time in the UK.CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 12TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

First Spotted Flycatchers this morning with 16+ at Leasowe Lighthouse, 6 Gilroy NP, 1 Hilbre and 7+ Red Rocks.

Red Rocks-Also 2 Yellow Wagtail,Tree Pipit and 2 Whinchat.

Meols-Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper.

Gilroy Nature Reserve-Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler,120 Black-tailed Godwit.

Leasowe-Hooded Crow which dropped into the horse paddocks this afternoon.

CHESHIRE

Ashton's Flash-Garganey and Grey Plover-Wood Sandpiper-Haydn's Pool.

Hale-Drake Graganey and Channel wagtail-Carr Lane pools.

Risley-Black Necked Grebe-Silver lane pools.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD-Female-Garso,Easting-North Ronaldsay.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 11TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Hilbre-Little Stint,Curlew Sandpiper,Whinchat,4 Yellow Wagtail,5 Tree Pipit.

Red Rocks-2 Whinchat,5 Tree Pipit,3 Yellow Wagtail and a Short-eared Owl.

Parkgate-3 Marsh Harrier.

Burton RSPB-Great White Egret.

CHESHIRE

Sandbach Flashes-Juvenile-Glaucous Gull.

Hale-3 Channel Wagtails.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD-Female-Garso,Easting-North Ronaldsay.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 10TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Red Rocks-Subalpine Warbler (fem) early morning, report of brief view again at 7pm.

Burton RSPB-2 Garganey.

Montgomery Hill-Cuckoo.

Neston Marsh-2 Marsh Harrier.

CHESHIRE

Sandbach Flashes-Juvenile-Glaucous Gull.

Woolston Eyes-2 Kittiwake-on N03 Bed.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD-Female-Garso,Easting-North Ronaldsay.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 3RD-9TH MAY 2017

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-3RD-9TH MAY 2017

REVIEW OF THE WEEK CLICK ON LINK
BY JOSH JONES

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 9TH MAY 2017

WIRRAL

Burton RSPB-Wood Sandpiper and at least 2 Garganey.

Red Rocks-2 Garden Warbler,2 Lesser Whitethroat and 20+ Willow Warbler.

Neston Marsh-4 Marsh Harrier.

Parkgate-Great White Egret and a Whinchat.

CHESHIRE

Hadyn's Pool-Wood Sandpiper.

Sandbach Flashes-Juvenile-Glaucous Gull.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD-Female-Garso,Easting-North Ronaldsay.