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

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret x4 Burton Marsh From Point
Marsh Harrier x2 Burton Marsh
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide
Pintail x6 Main Scrape
Dunlin x3 Main Scrape
Whooper Swan x10 Field Behind D Barn
Pink-Footed Geese x150+ Field Left Of D Barn
White Fronted Goose Fence Line Right Of Main Scrape
Hen Harrier (RT) Seen From Reedbed Screen
Peregrine Burton Marsh

CHESHIRE
Hale
Water Pipit-Carr lane pools and 2 Jack Snipe by brook near lighthouse.

Cuddington
Hawfinch-still on the corner of Westrees and Delamere Park Way West this morning.

Frodsham Marshes
Great white egret on Frodsham score.

Delamere Forest
Hawfinch-Still at Delamere Park in garden.

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 6 still around Old hall site and 1 in carpark.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

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

WIRRAL
BURTON RSPB
Pink-Footed Geese x100+ Green Field Left Of D Barn
Fieldfare Field Left Bunker Entrance
Pintail x2 Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier Over Reedbed
Whooper Swan x3 Field Back Of Wet Grassland
White -Fronted Goose Right Of Main Scrape
Goldcrest x2 By Woodland Mere
Jay In Copse To IMF
Hen Harrier By Barn
Peregrine Over Main Scrape
Sparrowhawk Over Main Scrape
Kingfisher Ditch By Wooden Bridge To IMF

CHESHIRE

Cuddington

Hawfinch-2 still at Delamere Park Way West/Westrees junction in Delamere Park Estate. 

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 3 still around Old hall site.

Eccleston

Hawfinch-At least one in churchyard.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

KILLDEER-In chicken field between Parting Carn and the airport road early afternoon-St Marys-Isles of Scilly.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 20TH-26TH DECEMBER 2017

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OLDEST LIVING BRITISH BEWICK'S SWAN RETURNS

The oldest living member of a Gloucestershire swan dynasty has returned from the Russian Arctic to winter at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT).CLICK ON LINK

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

WIRRAL

Neston Marsh
Hen Harrier-Male

Burton RSPB
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide
Goldcrest Burton Mere
Fieldfare Field Left Of Bunker Entrance
Redwing As Above
White-Fronted Goose Wet Grassland Right Of Scrape
Peregrine Over Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier Over Reedbed
Pintail x6 Bridge Screen Pool
Green Woodpecker Burton Point
Pochard ? Poss Hybrid Burton Mere (Photo)
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point

CHESHIRE

Cuddington

Hawfinch-2 still at Delamere Park Way West/Westrees junction in Delamere Park Estate. 

Swettenham
Hawfinch-by fenced paddock and lavender meadow between Swettenham Arms pub and black-and-white house.

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 1 still around Old hall site. 

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

PIED BILLED GREBE-Setter Marsh-Loch Of Spiggie-Mainland-Shetland.

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

WIRRAL
Hilbre
5 Eider.

Parkgate
Marsh Harrier and a male Hen Harrier competing for a dead moorhen,plus one more Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail).


Neston Sewage Works
Water Pipit.

Burton RSPB
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point
Bullfinch X1 Railway Bridge
Fieldfare Far End Of Boardwalk Field On Right
Redwing As Above
Pintail x3 Bridge Screen Pool
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide
Grey Wagtail Near Marsh Covert Wood
Nuthatch Near Reception
Avocet x1 Main Scrape
Merlin Fence Right Of Wet Grassland
Whooper Swan x5 Field Behind D Barn
Siskin By Woodland Mere
Green Woodpecker Burton Point

CHESHIRE

Pickerings Pasture

4 Little stint on Hale marsh.

Maw Green Landfill Site

Glaucous Gull

MEGAS IN BRITAIN
ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

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

WIRRAL
Denhall Quay
Merlin,3 Hen Harrier (2 grey male),2 Short-eared Owl,Kingfisher and 2 Great White Egret.

Burton RSPB
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Hen Harrier (RT) Burton Marsh
Kingfisher In Ditch Left Reedbed Screen
Goldcrest By Willow Mere
Little Stint Main Scrape
Grey Wagtail Field Left Bunker Entrance
Whooper Swan x20 Field Behind D Barn
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Sparrowhawk Fence Left Of Wet Grassland
Pink-Footed Geese x500+ Flew Over Reserve
Pintail x2 Main Scrape
Siskin x4 Around The Meres

CHESHIRE
Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 3 still around Old hall site and Bittern-T A Coward reedbed.

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

WIRRAL
Hilbre
5 Eider,415 Bar-tailed Godwit,150 Sanderling and a record count for Hilbre of 360 Brent Geese (including 1 dark-bellied).


Thurstaston
20,000+ Knot.

CHESHIRE
Frodsham Marshes
Greater Scaup-2 Immatures.

Cuddington

Hawfinch-Still at Delamere Park Way West/Westrees junction in Delamere Park Estate.

Newchurch Common
Female Smew of unknown origin and 180 Brambling in the area.

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

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Whooper Swan x9 Field Behind D Barn
Pink-Footed Geese x53 Wet Grassland
Little Stint Main Scrape
Pintail x2  Main Scrape
Golden Plover x8 Main Scrape
Kingfisher In Ditch Near Reedbed Screen
Water Rail In Copse To IMF
Chiffchaff By IMF Hide
Ruff x12 IMF
Goldcrest Path To IMF
Bullfinch x2 Near Wooden Bridge To IMF
Grey Wagtail IMF
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland

CHESHIRE
Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 1 still around Old hall site.

Frodsham Marshes
Greater Scaup-2 Immatures and 7 Marsh Harriers.

Pickerings Pasture

Little stint and 2 Water Pipits on Hale marsh.

Winsford Flash

Yellow Legged Gull-Adult.

Gowy Meadows

Glaucous Gull-2-1st Winters and an Adult.

FINDING VAGRANTS AMONG COMMON CARRIER SPECIES

Scanning through flocks of common species is a well-established and effective method for finding vagrant birds. When vagrants associate with common birds, the common bird is sometimes referred to as the 'carrier species'. For example, White-rumped Sandpiper is frequently found among flocks of Dunlin so, in this instance, Dunlin is the carrier species. In fact, some vagrants are almost always found among carrier species, and are rarely seen alone. Often, the carrier species is closely related to the vagrant and there are often similarities in appearance, behaviour and habitat preferences. In some cases, the vagrant may have travelled to the UK from its normal range with the carrier, but in others it may latch onto the carrier after its arrival in the UK.CLICK ON LINK