A MORNINGS BIRDING ON THE WIRRAL

I visited Hilbre this morning and arranged to meet Steve williams(Hilbre's finest)on the islands so he could show one my mates around the bird observatory and explain the role of what the ringing lads do on the islands and do some birding.

LOOKING BACK TOWARDS MIDDLE EYE

The weather was beautiful as we walked over from Red rocks and as we got close to middle eye 20+ Bar tailed godwits were feeding with good numbers of Knot,Dunlin and Redshank.Four Eider were in the channel as we approached Hilbre and a Little egret showed well.Meeting up with Steve he showed us around the heligoland traps and the observatory which my mate Jeff found really interesting.

                    JEFF ENJOYING HIS FIRST TRIP TO HILBRE

Moving on from the observatory we headed for the north end where the Brent geese were in good numbers along with a single Curlew and good numbers of Turnstone.

 EIDER

PALE BELLIED BRENT GEESE

With time getting on we headed off the islands after a cracking morning with the sound of distant drawn out calls of Grey seals on the sandbank.

LOOKING OUT TOWARDS HOYLAKE

We headed for Parkgate next where we were so lucky as we drove past the Boathouse pub a Short eared owl appeared and flew straight past the car and landed on a sucken branch on the marsh.

After good views we then connected with a Great white egret feeding on a small pool.

Moving on to Burton RSPB the Avocets were on show from the reception hide along with 15 Whooper swans.

THERE ARE 112 AVOCETS ON THE RESERVE

A Little egret showed well from the Marsh covert hide but there was no sign of the Merlin that has been present lately on the reserve.

A quick stop at the bird feeders on the way back to the car to look for the Brambling that has also been showing daily was not seen but a good selection of woodland birds were on show.

Just as we were leaving a Chiffchaff called by the carpark.Spring is just around the corner.Bring it on!

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS-17TH MARCH 2018

WIRRAL
Little Neston-Denhall Quay
Hen Harrier(Male) and Great White egret.

Leasowe Lighthouse
4 Raven over.

Wallasey
House Martin-No location,2 Guillemot and 2 Common Eider(male and Female)-From Derby pool pub.

Hilbre
8 Little Gull.

Burton RSPB
Brambling By Feeder Near Barn
Redwing x70 Field Left Bunker Entrance
Fieldfare x4 As Above
Chiffchaff By Reception
Sand Martin x2 Over Reception Pool (Photo)
Merlin Fence Post Left Main Scrape
Ruff x1 Main Scrape (Photo)
Avocet x112 Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Golden Plover x55 Wet Grassland
Goldcrest x2 By Burton Mere
Ringed Plover x1 Marsh Covert Hide
Pintail x1 IMF
Whooper Swan x4 IMF
House Martin Over Reception
Peregrine Over Main Scrape


West Kirby Marine Lake
3 Scaup(2 Drakes and a Female)

CHESHIRE
Pickerings Pasture
Glaucous Gull-On sandbanks from car park and 2 Little stint from hide at high tide.

Astbury Mere
Swallow,Stonechat(Female),5 Scaup,2 Hawfinches and several Brambling.

Woolston Eyes
2 Sand Martin and 50 Brambling.

Marbury County Park
50 Whooper swans-Over dairy house meadows and Cetti's warbler-Witton brook.

Frodsham Marshes
Northern Wheatear.

Hale
Iceland Gull-Adult flew west past lighthouse.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS-16TH MARCH 2018

WIRRAL
Parkgate
Great White egret and Short eared owl.

GREAT WHITE EGRET 

                                                                          
West Kirby Marine Lake
6 Scaup (3 on sea, 3 on lake) and 8 Brent Geese.


West Kirby-Hilbre College
3 Mediterranean Gull (2 ads nearly in breeding plumage) and 400 Black-headed Gull - playing fields.


Neston Marsh and Sewage Works
9 Chiffchaff and Great White Egret.

Denhall Quay
Hen Harrier (grey male),4 Short-eared Owl,Merlin and Great White egret.

West Kirby Shore
2 Wheatear by Pinfold steps.

West Kirby
2 Goosander(pair)-Gilroy Nature Park duck pond.

Burton RSPB
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Pink-Footed Geese x9000+ As Above
Raven Over Burton Point
Fieldfare x50+ Burton Point
Merlin Flew Over Birdcrop Field
Chiffchaff (Singing) By Wooden Bridge To IMF
Treecreeper In Copse To IMF
Water Rail In Copse To IMF
Whooper Swan x11 IMF
Nuthatch By Garden
Avocet x106 Main Scrape
Common Gull x142 Main Scrape
Ruff x1 Left Of Main Scrape
Brambling By Feeder Near Barn
Sand Martin x3 Over Bridge Screen Pool
Short- Eared Owl x2 Burton Marsh From Point
Wheatear x1 Near Sheep dips-Burton marsh

CHESHIRE
Sandbach Flashes
Juv Glaucous gull-Pumphouse flash,Mediterranean gull-Railway flash.

Astbury Mere
3 Hawfinch still in silver birches left of visitors car park,3 Brambling and 20 Lesser Redpoll.

Woolston Eyes
2 Mediterranean Gull.

Marbury Country Park
Chiffchaff(singing)-Garden warbler corner,10+ Hawfinches in Yew trees around outdoor swimming pool and Lesser Spotted woodpecker.

Macclesfield Forest
Hawfinch-Near Clough house car park.

PEREGRINE BOUNCES BACK!

The latest UK population estimate for Peregrine Falcon, the world's fastest flying bird, shows that numbers have hit a historic high.CLICK ON LINK

ANOTHER SATELLITE TAGGED GOLDEN EAGLE 'DISAPPEARS'

CLICK ON LINK

MAJOR ONLINE SURVEY LAUNCHED TO ASSESS THE 'ECONOMICS OF RARITY' IN BIRDING

Researchers from the University of Kent and the University of East Anglia have launched a new study aimed at better understanding the behaviour of UK twitchers.CLICK ON LINK

TO FEED OR NOT TO FEED?

Wild birds are at risk of a number of serious diseases at our garden bird feeders, according to a collaborative study led by scientists from international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS-15TH MARCH 2018

WIRRAL
West Kirby
Sand Martin over Gilroy Nature Park with 3 more over nearby football field.

West Kirby Marine Lake
4 Scaup (2m 2f) with 1 female Scaup on sea just off south end of lake on ebbing tide.

Burton RSPB
Avocet x98 Main Scrape
Merlin Fence Post Right Wet Grassland
Golden Plover x30+ Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Ruff x1 Left Main Scrape
Reed Bunting By Reception
Chiffchaff Calling By Willow Pool
Goldcrest x2 By Woodland Mere
Raven x3 Over Burton Point
Great Egret x2 Burton Marsh From Point
Pink-Footed Geese x5000 Burton Marsh From Point
Whooper Swan x11 IMF
Pintail x21 IMF
Brambling By Feeder Near Barn

Neston Marsh
4 Water Pipit

CHESHIRE
Hale
Jack Snipe-On saltmarsh by brook to right of Hale Lighthouse.

Astbury Mere
2 Hawfinch still in silver birches left of visitors car park.

Sandbach Flashes
Little Egret and Great White egret-Elton Hall flash.

Marbury Country Park
Bittern-T A Coward reedbed

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS-14TH MARCH 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret x1 Border Pool
Whooper Swan x11 IMF
Peregrine Over IMF
Goldcrest Near Wooden Bridge To IMF
Woodcock Looking Down In To Copse From Path
Pintail X2 Main Scrape
Ruff x4 Main Scrape
Oystercatcher x2 Main Scrape
Merlin Fence Post Left Main Scrape
Golden Plover Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Avocet x93 Whole Of Reserve
Goosander Marsh Covert Hide

Leasowe Lighthouse
Little Gull close to shore,Wheatear in horse paddocks,Raven over.

Hilbre

White Wagtail *first of spring*-10 days later than last year,also first Chiffchaff and Goldcrests of the year for Hilbre,plus 10 Whooper Swan,6 Eider and 2 Stonechat.3 Twite,briefly before flying east from Little eye.

West Kirby Shore
360 Grey Plover and 9,000 Knot.

West Kirby Marine Lake
4 Scaup(2 Drakes)

CHESHIRE
Widnes
Glaucous Gull-Juvenile still on sandbank River Mersey near bridge late afternoon.

Tatton Mere
Sand Martin

Astbury Mere
4 Hawfinch still in silver birches left of visitors car park and 6 Brambling.

Newchurch Common
Female Smew of unknown origin-In eastern bay of large pool north of track. 

Marbury Country Park
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker-Near Ice pond.

NORTHERN WHEATEAR-1 at Hoylake and 1 in horse paddocks-Leasowe.

SAND MARTIN-1 Tatton Mere,1 Elton Hall Flash-Sandbach flashes-8 Budworth Mere-Northwich.

BIRDGUIDES PHOTO OF THE WEEK 7TH-13TH MARCH-2018

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-7TH-13TH MARCH 2018

CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS-13TH MARCH 2018

WIRRAL
Denhall Quay
3 Short-eared Owl and a Great White Egret.


New Brighton Marine Lake
Glaucous Gull.

West Kirby Marine Lake
6 Scaup (3 male, 3 female) and 9 Brent Geese.

Leasowe Lighthouse
600 Bar-tailed Godwit roosting on ebbing tide.

Burton RSPB
Whooper Swan x15 IMF
Avocet x63 IMF
Stonechat x1 Far End Boardwalk
Pintail x1 Bridge Screen Pool
Chiffchaff x2 Calling Marsh Covert Wood
Merlin Feeding On Fence Left Of Scrape
Golden Plover Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Reed Bunting x2 By Reception
Mistle Thrush x2 Field Left Bunker Entrance
Brambling By Feeder Near Barn
Peregrine On Wet Grassland
Ruff Right Main Scrape

CHESHIRE
Cuddington
1 Hawfinch-Still at Delamere Park at corner of Westrees.

Astbury Mere
5 Possible 8 Hawfinch still in silver birches left of visitors car park and 11 Brambling.

Marbury Country Park
Sand Martin-Ashton's Flash and 3 on Budworth Mere,Hawfinch still around Old hall site and Bittern T A Coward reedbed.

Woolston Eyes
Black Necked Grebe

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS-12TH MARCH 2018

WIRRAL
Meols-Park Lane
2 Wheatear flew west over horse paddocks.

West Kirby Marine Lake
3 Scaup (2 male,1 female).

Burton RSPB
Pintail x2 Border Pool
Great Egret Flew Over Border Pool
Goldcrest Along Path To IMF
Whooper Swan x6 IMF
Water Rail Looking Down In To Copse From Path
Chiffchaff x2 By Bridge Screen
Peregrine Over Marsh Covert Wood
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Avocet x58 Main Scrape
Reed Bunting By Reception
Meadow Pipit x8 Wet Grassland By Barn
Merlin On Barn
Kingfisher Flew Past IMF Hide Right To Left

CHESHIRE
Cuddington
2 Hawfinch-Still at Delamere Park at corner of Westrees.

Astbury Mere
4 Hawfinch still in silver birches left of visitors car park.

Newchurch Common

Female Smew of unknown origin-In eastern bay of large pool north of track.

Warrington

Iceland Gull-Adult again at Decathlon and nearby college.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS-11TH MARCH 2018

WIRRAL
West Kirby Marine Lake
7 Scaup (4 male,3 female) and 14 Brent Geese.

Denhall Quay
Short-eared Owl and 2 Great White Egret.

Burton RSPB
Brambling By Feeder Near Barn
Redwing Field Left Bunker Entrance
Avocet x45 Main Scrape
Peregrine On Wet Grassland
Merlin In Tree Above New Toilet Block
Goldcrest Near Willow Pool
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh
Chiffchaff Near Wooden Bridge To IMF
Whooper Swan x7 IMF
Pintail x2  Border Pool

Mediterranean Gull Bridge Screen PoolWoodcock Looking Down In To Copse From Path

CHESHIRE
Cuddington
1 Hawfinch-Still at Delamere Park at corner of Westrees.

Astbury Mere
5 Hawfinch still in silver birches left of visitors car park and 8 Brambling.

Marbury Country Park

10 Hawfinch still around Old hall site with 2 Little egrets flying over towards Comberbach.2 Bittern-T A Coward reedbed.Lesser spotted woodpecker-Big Wood by Hopyards turning.

Sandbach Flashes
Greater Scaup and Great White egret-Railway flash.

Moore Nature Reserve
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.