SHOTWICK BOATING LAKE-GREAT NORTHERN DIVER

A Great Northern diver had been found down the road yesterday afternoon at Shotwick boating lake but there was negative news this morning.Forward to 15.30pm and I was looking through my twitter account and the bird had turned up again.I got in the car and arrived just after 16.00pm and soon found the adult bird.

A Long tailed duck was also present but too distant for any photos. #LOCALBIGYEAR

CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF BIRD NEWS

Female ringtail Hen Harrier-Maw Green Tip-Sandbach Flashes

5 Snow Bunting by Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Whooper swan,Great white egret and Black necked Grebe-Acre Nook sand quarry-Lower Withington

Eurasian Bittern-Coward reedbed-Marbury Country Park

Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall pool-Lower Withington

Common Crossbill-Delamere Forest

4 Bewick's Swan-Adult-still with 23 Whooper swan on Lordship Marsh; park carefully by houses on Smithy Lane and view looking north from M56 footbridge-Frodsham Marshes

Hen Harrier-Male and 2 Short Eared owls-Parkgate

Hen Harrier-Ringtail and Great white egret-Burton RSPB

MEGA NEWS

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF BIRD NEWS

Willow Tit-Moore Nature Reserve

8 Woodcock-Roost-Fodens Flash-Sandbach Flashes

5 Snow Bunting on shore by Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

7 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon at high tide - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Guillemot - West Kirby Marine Lake.

2 Short-eared Owl and 2 Hen Harrier (grey males)-Denhall Quay.

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

2 Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall Pool

Eurasian Bittern-Still in Coward Reedbed-Northwich

Western Cattle Egret-One at Rode Pool to right of boathouse-Rode Heath

Ringtail Hen Harrier and Beaded Tit-Burton RSPB

Caspian Gull-1st-winter still at WSR Recycling; view from layby on Ditton Road-Widnes 

MORNINGS BIRDING ON THE WIRRAL

I spent this morning around the area of Thornton hough on the Wirral and saw some decent birds.The stubble fields around the area held good numbers of Pink Footed geese and Red legged partridge.

I managed to find the stubble field,thanks Dave haigh for the jen!where the Brambling(4) have been in a mixed finch flock.

Moving on from here I called in at Hoylake and connected with the stunning male Snow bunting that is around the life boat station.

A quick dash after this to New Brighton where 7 Purple sandpipers were showing well on the pontoon.

A good mornings birding and home before the hail storm! #LOCALBIGYEAR

ANOTHER DAYS BIRDING IN EAST CHESHIRE

I spent the morning again in East cheshire in blizzard conditions at an undisclosed site and got cracking views of Long Eared owl.Only one bird showed after an extensive searching but nice to no the birds are still present in the area.

Moving on from here 2 Marsh tits were seen in the Bickerton area along with a good selection of woodland birds.

Last stop before I went home was Ince marshes where 2 Western Cattle egrets were seen along with 6 Little egrets.

A Barn owl put in a brief appearance as I walked around Goldfinch meadows reserve as the light was fading and up to 4 Common snipe were seen along with good numbers of Eurasian Teal and 4 Shoveler. #LOCALBIGYEAR

CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF BIRD NEWS

Jan 6th

5 Snow Bunting on shore and sand dunes by Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

4 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon at high tide - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Western Cattle Egret-One flew north over Overleigh Road, Handbridge-Chester

Eurasian Bittern-Still in Coward Reedbed-Northwich

2 Western Cattle Egret-still in pig field by Kinsey's Lane-Ince Marshes

Caspian Gull-Two (1st-winter and 2nd-winter) at WSR Recycling-Widnes

4 Bewick's Swan-Adult-still with 23 Whooper swan on Lordship Marsh; park carefully by houses on Smithy Lane and view looking north from M56 footbridge-Frodsham Marshes

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

Jan 5th

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Snow Bunting

(Sean O'Hara)

4 Snow Bunting in dunes by Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

3 Hen Harrier(1 grey male,sub-adult grey male,ringtail),Barn Owl,Bittern (flew towards Neston Reedbed late afternoon),4+ Short-eared Owl over outer marsh, 8+ Marsh Harrier and 10+ Great Egret - Parkgate.

At least 4 Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

4 Bewick's Swan-Adult-still with 23 Whooper swan on Lordship Marsh; park carefully by houses on Smithy Lane and view looking north from M56 footbridge-Frodsham Marshes

2 Redhead Smew--Lapwing Hall Pool

1st Winter Caspian Gull,2 yellow Legged Gulls and Little Stint-Two roosted over high tide-Pickerings Pasture

Black necked Grebe-Acre Nook Sand quarry

Eurasian Bittern-Still in Coward Reedbed-Northwich

Western Cattle Egret-Four still in pig field by Kinsey's Lane-Ince Marshes

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-East Halton Skitter-Lincolnshire

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian

Jan 4th

Little Owl-Burton Point

4 Ruddy Shelduck-Burton Marsh

Eurasian Bittern-Budworth Mere-Northwich

Black Necked Grebe-Probable-Budworth Mere-Northwich

4 Bewick's Swan-Adult-still with 23 Whooper swan on Lordship Marsh; park carefully by houses on Smithy Lane and view looking north from M56 footbridge-Frodsham Marshes

2 Redhead Smew--Lapwing Hall Pool

Snow Bunting in dunes by Derby Pool this morning and at least three on the shore this afternoon - Wallasey Shore.

3 Goosander on big pond by station - Meols.

Marsh Harrier and a Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

4 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Hen Harrier(1 grey male) and 2 Water Pipits-Neston marsh

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-East Halton Skitter-Lincolnshire

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian

Jan 3rd

Redhead Smew-Redesmere

Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall Pool

Black Necked Grebe-Acre Nook Sand quarry

4 Bewick's Swan-Adult-still with 23 Whooper swan on Lordship Marsh; park carefully by houses on Smithy Lane and view looking north from M56 footbridge-Frodsham Marshes

5 Snow Bunting off Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

7 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon - New Brighton Marine Lake.

8 Red-breasted Merganser,4 Great Egret,grey male Hen Harrier,Peregrine,3

Short-eared Owl,12 Snipe over high tide - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

4 Water Pipits,4 Hen Harrier (3 grey males) and a Bittern (distant) - Parkgate

At least 10 Brambling with Chaffinches - Thornton Hough.

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Cattle Egret,2 Hen Harrier (grey males) and a Short-eared Owl - Burton Mere Wetlands.

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-East Halton Skitter-Lincolnshire

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire

                       

BROWN BOOBY-Immature on beach near Adelaide Crescent-Hove-East Sussex

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

DAY OUT BIRDING IN EAST CHESHIRE

I started off this morning at Frodsham marshes, and it didn't take long to find the Whooper swan herd. 4 Bewick's swans (2 juveniles) were also in with them, a scarce bird now in Cheshire and Wirral. There were also good numbers of pink-footed geese in the next field.

Moving onto Lower Withington, I connected with 2 Egyptian Geese as I turned the car into Lapwing lane

Acrenook sand quarry produced a Great White egret and a Black-necked grebe.

10+ tree sparrows were in the hawthorn bushes near Foden Bank Barn, another scarce bird in Cheshire and Wirral that seems to be doing well in this area.

Lapwing Hall Pool produced 2 Redhead Smew and good numbers of wildfowl.

Good numbers of Redpoll and Sisken were seen in the Alders around the pool 

Moving on to Northwich, I met up with Malc Curtin and headed for Budworth.

We arrived just after 16.00pm and didn't have to wait long before the elusive Bittern put in an appearance.

Always the highlight of the new year list and the bird showed really well to the small crowd

Another great day of birding and some quality birds!  #LOCALBIGYEAR

DAYS BIRDING ON THE WIRRAL

I started off this morning at Denhall Quay and soon connected with a short-eared owl. They have been showing well over the last few weeks with up to 7 birds out on the marsh.

A male Hen harrier and a Marsh harrier were also seen. Walking along to Neston Marsh, two water pipit's were in the gully.

I then moved on to Burton Marsh and walked along to Burton Point, where the little owl was sitting out.

Burton RSPB was the next stop where a ringtail Hen Harrier showed really well. Other birds of note were the pintail, golden plover, black-tailed godwit, and a water rail.

A good day birding and great to be out!  #LOCALBIGYEAR

 

LETS GO FOR IT! #LOCALBIGYEAR

After much persuasion from Mark Payne, I have decided to join in with the 15-mile radius #Localbigyear. This is my radius below, which I must admit I am really happy with!

Oh well, here goes. Let's see how many species I can see in 2022!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 20TH DECEMBER-3RD JANUARY 2022

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:20TH DECEMBER-3RD JANUARY 2022

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CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF BIRD NEWS

Bewick's Swan-Adult-still with 23 Whooper swan on Lordship Marsh; park carefully by houses on Smithy Lane and view looking north from M56 footbridge-Frodsham Marshes

Bewick's Swan

(C)Frodsham Birder

Whooper Swan-Spike Island-Widnes

5 Snow Bunting off Derby Pool and an Eider (fem) on sea - Wallasey Shore.

4 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon at high tide - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Greenshank in field off Park Lane,Cetti's Warbler at duck pond with Water Rail nearby - Leasowe Lighthouse.

9 Brent Geese,15 Red-breasted Merganser,7 Great White Egret,2 Marsh Harrier over high tide - Heswall Shore.

At least 5,possibly 7,Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.

Hen Harrier-Three (two males) roosted this evening,5 Great White Egrets and Eurasian Bittern briefly in flight at dusk-Parkgate

Hen harrier

(C)Steve Heart

Little Owl-Burton Point

6 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Smew-Redhead-still in north-east corner-Lapwing Hall Pool-Chelford

Black Necked Grebe-Acre Nook sand quarry

Western Cattle Egret-At least one still in pig field by Kinsey's Lane-Ince Marshes

Eurasian Bittern-still in Coward Reedbed-Marbury Country Park

Eurasian Bittern

(C)Dave Bedford

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-East Halton Skitter-Lincolnshire

BELTED KINGFISHER-Samlesbury-Lancashire