THIS WEEKS BIRDING!15 MILE RADIUS #LOCALBIGYEAR

Saturday 29th January

I spent this morning walking along the river Dee at Eccleston but had no joy looking for the Lesser spotted woodpecker's.It looks a cracking site that I will visit in the spring and hopefully get to see them.

Sunday 30th January

This morning's birding was spent at Broughton in Chester looking for a female Black redstart which was found last week but after a good couple of hours searching there was no sign.

News then broke that a Snow goose had been found at Burton RSPB.The bird was still present on arrival but was distant so I made my way up to the top road where the Snow goose flew right in front of the car with a skein of Pink footed geese.

After this I visited Stanney woods in Ellesmere Port and spent the last hours of light looking for Lesser Spotted woodpecker but no joy! #LOCALBIGYEAR

Monday 1st February

This morning me a Dianne walked over to Hilbre Island.

Good numbers of birds were seen on the way over:

Dunlin

Cormorant

Common Gull 

Black Headed Gull

Lesser Backed Gull

Great Black backed Gull

Ringed Plover

Knot

Dunlin

Bar Tailed Godwit

Turnstone 

Brent Goose

Oystercatcher

Redshank

On arrival on the island 12 Purple Sandpiper were sheltering from the wind by the sea hide.

We continued to do a seawatch where 2 Red Throated Diver,10 Razorbill and 500+ Common Scoter were seen.Walking back towards the bird observatory 2 Redwings were recorded.

After the walk back we stopped at Thurstaston to see what waders were about.

We recorded good numbers of Pintail,Knot,Sanderling,Dunlin and 2 Greenshank on the estuary. 

Late evening was spent in Rivacre valley in Ellesmere port where a Tawny owl was heard around the golf course. #LOCALBIGYEAR