LATEST CHESHIRE & WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & BRITISH MEGAS!

14th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Grey-Headed Lapwing-Adult still in field south-west of North Pool -East Chevington-Northumberland

Grey-Headed Lapwing

Grey-Headed Lapwing

Baikal Teal-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

Baikal Teal

Purple Gallinule-Unconfirmed report of one on grass at high tide-Skern-Northam Burrows Country Park

                                                            Cheshire & Wirral

Little Stint east of Lifeboat Station at high tide - Hoylake.

Hen Harrier (ringtail) and 1 Peregrine - Parkgate.

2 Hen Harrier and Barn Owl -  Burton Mere Wetlands.

Barn Owl

Hawfinch-Two at Old Hall above hide overlooking Coward Reedbed-Marbury Country Park

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Eurasian Penduline Tit-1st-winter again by viewing platform on No 4 Bed though mobile and elusive; keep to paths at all times, wellingtons essential-Permit ONLY-Woolston Eyes

13th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Grey-Headed Lapwing-Adult still in field south-west of North Pool -East Chevington-Northumberland

Grey-Headed Lapwing

Grey-Headed Lapwing

Baikal Teal-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

Baikal Teal

                                                       Cheshire & Wirral

Hen Harrier (grey male) sitting on fence post behind Decca Pools.

Goldeneye (drake), 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 8 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.

20,000+ Knot south of Tanskey Rocks at low tide - West Kirby Shore.

Eurasian Bittern-One in Coward Reedbed at west end of Budworth Mere-Northwich

Hawfinch-One feeding on the groud-Marbury Country Park

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

12th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

American Coot

Grey-Headed Lapwing-Adult still at North Pool from north-facing hide then flew south-East Chevington-Northumberland

Grey-Headed Lapwing

Baikal Teal-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

Baikal Teal

                                                            Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-One along oak avenue-Marbury Country Park

Hawfinch-One still at Westrees,Delamere Park-Cuddington

Eurasian Penduline Tit-1st-winter again on No 4 Bed briefly mid-morning but no further sign 

Western Cattle Egret-16 still in field by Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

Hen Harrier-Ringtail and Short Eared Owl-Burton RSPB

11th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

American Coot

Cheshire & Wirral

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Russian White Fronted Goose

(C)Paul Ralston

Hawfinch-One again at the Coppice-Cuddington

10th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

American Coot

Grey-Headed Lapwing-East Chevington-Northumberland

Grey-Headed Lapwing

Cheshire & Wirral

Caspian Gull-1st-winter at WSR Recycling Centre, Ditton Road-Widnes

Hawfinch-Again near Old Hall-Marbury Country Park

Green Winged Teal-Drake again at Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

9th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

American Coot

Grey-Headed Lapwing-East Chevington-Northumberland

Grey-Headed Lapwing

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-Again near Old Hall-Marbury Country Park

Green Winged Teal-Drake again at Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

8th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

American Coot

Grey-Headed Lapwing-Again briefly on North Pool then flew south-west-East Chevington-Northumberland

Grey-Headed Lapwing

Cheshire & Wirral

Common Scoter-Four female-types from turning area at Lapwing Lane-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Common Scoter-Female-Astbury Mere

8th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

American Coot

Cheshire & Wirral

Common Scoter-Female-Astbury Mere

6 Western Cattle Egret-In field by Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Water Pipit-One at Carr Lane Pools viewed from Town Lane-Hale

7th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Little Gull-1st-winter flew out of Mersey River mouth this afternoon-New Brighton

Common Scoter-Female-Astbury Mere

6th December 2024

Megas

Grey-Headed Lapwing-East Chevington-Northumberland

Grey Headed Lapwing

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Little Stint off Sandhey Slipway and 6,000 Knot roosting off Dove Point - Meols.

3 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Hawfinch-One again at the Coppice-Cuddington

Hawfinch-Again near Old Hall-Marbury Country Park

19 Western Cattle Egret-In field by Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Hen harrier-Juvenile male again flew south-east over No 1 Bed (no public access)-Woolston Eyes

5th December 2024

Megas

Grey-Headed Lapwing-disturbed by Western Marsh Harrier mand flew off from islands on 

North Pool and no further sign by evening-East Chevington

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

3 Hawfinch-Again in trees behind Bittern hide-Marbury Country Park

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Green Winged Teal-Drake again at Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

4th December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Firecrest-One trapped and ringed at No 1 Bed (no public access)-Woolston Eyes

3 Hawfinch-Again in trees behind Bittern hide-Marbury Country Park

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

Greenland White Fronted Goose-15 at south end-Acre nook sand quarry

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Green Winged Teal-Drake again at Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

3rd December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

American Coot

Cheshire & Wirral

2 Barn Owl (rare on the island!), 6 Eider, 23 Red-throated Diver, 4,000 Knot and 6,000 Dunlin (waders on East Hoyle Bank) - Hilbre.

2 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Bittern went into roost at Old Baths, also 4 Great White Egret, 2 Hen Harrier (ringtails),10 Marsh Harrier  and a Water Rail. - Parkgate.

Marsh Harrier

(C)F.Burns

Little Stint east of Lifeboat Station - Hoylake Shore.

2 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon - New Brighton Marine Lake.

3 Hawfinch-Again in trees by swimming pool-Marbury Country Park

Hawfinch

(C)Greg Baker

Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

22 Western Cattle Egret-In field by Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

Western Cattle Egret-one in flight by Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

2nd December 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-Again in trees by swimming pool-Marbury Country Park

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

20 Western Cattle Egret-In field by Marsh Lane-Ince Marshes

Hen Harrier-Ringtail-Burton RSPB

1st December 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

8,000 Knot on ebbing tide - Meols Shore.

6,000 Common Scoter - Hilbre.

2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail),Merlin,Peregrine,4 Greenshank (Boathouse Flash) and 40 Common Snip over the marsh - Parkgate.

Hen Harrier

Short-eared Owl flew out from bushes and landed on marsh - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

Little Stint - Hoylake Shore.

Siberian Chiffchaff and 8+ Chiffchaff by Target Road sewage works - Heswall.

5 Hawfinch-Again in trees by Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Russian White Fronted Goose

(C) Paul Ralston

Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST DEVASTATED BY LOCAL PLANNING DECISION

Earlier this week, Cheshire Wildlife Trust were devastated to learn that a housing development of 225 properties on an important Local Wildlife Site has been greenlit, despite originally being rejected by the Local Planning Authority as inappropriate development in the green belt and as having unacceptable impacts on ecology.READ MORE....

A FEW DAYS BIRDING IN SCOTLAND

Ive spent the last few days in the county of Caithness up in Scotland and saw some good birds on my travels.On the way up north I called in at Newshot Island in Clyde where I connected with an American Wigeon which I needed for my Scottish life list.

American Wigeon

Staying in Thurso a good selection of birds were seen.

Thurso Harbour and beach

Long Tailed Duck

Sanderling

Ringed Plover

Wigeon

Other birds of note were Black Guillimot,Eider and Red Throated Diver.I visited Broubster Leans RSPB whilst in Caithness which was a new site for me,where I saw good numbers of wintering Whooper Swans and Greenland White Fronted geese.

 Broubster Leans RSPB

Greenland White Fronted Goose

Whooper Swan

On the way home I called in at a few sites where I saw some good birds and added another Scottish lifer to my lifelist.

Kumlien's Gull at Helmsdale-Highland

Loch Fleet-Highland

Green Winged Teal-A new bird for my Scottish life list

Dornoch beach-Highland

Surf Scoter

2 Surf Scoter were seen with a flock of 600 Common Scoter,Slavonian Grebe and a Red Throated Diver

A great few days away birding!

LATEST CHESHIRE & WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & BRITISH MEGAS!

30th November 2024

Megas

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Cheshire & Wirral

Short-eared Owl and a male Hen Harrier by Rifle Range - Burton Marsh.

Short-eared Owl - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and grey male) - Parkgate.

4 Hawfinch-One again in trees by swimming pool-Marbury Country Park

2 Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

Ruddy Shelduck-Two still in stubble fieldwith Egyptian Goose-Puddington

Ruddy Shelduck and Egyptian Goose

Little Stint-One again in high tide roost from Pickerings Hide-Pickerings Pasture

Caspian Gull,Yellow Legged Gull and Green Winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

29th November 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-One again in trees by swimming pool-Marbury Country Park

2 Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

Russain White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

Ruddy Shelduck-Two still in stubble field-Puddington

28th November 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Green Winged Teal-Drake again at Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

Green Winged Teal

Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

12,000 Common Scoter off shore, 6 Common Snipe on the 'marsh' - Hoylake Shore.

5 Great White Egret and 5 Marsh Harrier - Burton Marsh/Denhall Quay.

2150 Pink-footed Geese roosted overnight, 23 Brent Geese, 710 Shelduck, 530 Pintail, 2600 Oystercatcher, 

1200 Lapwing, 228 Golden Plover, 7000 Knot, 3000 Dunlin, 720 Curlew, 590 Black-tailed Godwit, 235 Bar-tailed Godwit, 550 Redshank over high tide - Heswall Shore.

27th November 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Common Scoter-Female-type still-Astbury Mere

Jack Snipe - Neston Old Quay.

Short-eared Owl - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) over marsh off Golf Course - Heswall.

26th November 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Cheshire & Wirral

7,000 Common Scoter visible when flushed by a boat off East Hoyle Bank.

2 Purple Sandpiper on Marine Lake pontoon,27 Ringed PPlover by Perch Rock - New Brighton.

Hen Harrier (grey male) - Parkgate.

25th November 2024

Megas

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Cheshire & Wirral

9+ Ruff, Peregrine (main scrape),21 Whooper Swan (border pool) and 2 Spotted Redshank (bridge screen) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Western Cattle Egret-Two in field by Craxton Wood Hotel and 2 Ruddy Shelduck-Puddington

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

24th November 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

9+ Ruff,Peregrine (main scrape),21 Whooper Swan (border pool) and 2 Spotted Redshank (bridge screen) -Burton Mere Wetlands.

Green Winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

Western Cattle Egret-Two in field by Craxton Wood Hotel-Puddington

23rd November 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) and 3 Great White Egret - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

22nd November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Cheshire & Wirral

Caspian Gull-1st-winter reported at WSR Recycling Centre, Ditton Road-Widnes

Short-eared Owl - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) - Parkgate.

21st November 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

Little Stint on the shore - Hoylake.

2 Red Kite over and a Water Pipit - Burton Mere Wetlands.

3 Marsh Harrier over Visitor Centre flying north,12,000 Knot on shore - Thurstaston.

2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and grey male) and a Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.

Hawfinch-One still at Carriage Drive-Marbury Country Park

20th November 2024

Megas

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Canvasback

Cheshire & Wirral

2 Water Pipit-Neston Marsh

Hawfinch-One at Marsh Covert then flew off-Burton RSPB

Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

2 Hawfinch-Near Old Hall-Marbury Country Park

Greater White Fronted Goose-Sweeney Wetlands

19th November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Cheshire & Wirral

9,000 Knot,2,500 Dunlin,250 Grey Plover and 248 Curlew on the shore,70 Linnet on marsh - West Kirby.

Kingfisher landed next to the channel and started fishing - Dove Point, Meols.

Green Winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

3 Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

2 Hawfinch-Near Rangers Cabin-Marbury Country Park

Hawfinch-At least two flew south over No 4 Bed-Woolston Eyes

18th November 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

5 Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

Little Stint-Hoylake

Reed Warbler-One hanging out with the big guys in Elephant House (present two weeks)-Chester Zoo

17th November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Black Browed Albatross-Possible adult flew west off Weybourne Camp-Norfolk

Cheshire & Wirral

Hen Harrier (grey male) - Parkgate.

6 Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

Little Stint-Hoylake

16th November 2024

Megas

Oriental Turtle Dove-Belated news of apparent juvenile photographed in private garden between 26-29 October but no sign since-Newbiggin-By-The -Sea-Northumberland

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Blyth's Pipit-St Agnes-Isles Of Scilly

Cheshire & Wirral

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir

8 Western Cattle Egret-Burton RSPB

Firecrest-One reported in Bollin Valley at Riverside Park yesterday-Macclesfield

Greater White Fronted Goose-Sweeney Wetlands

2 Hawfinch-Marbury Country Park

Little stint-Pickerings Pasture

Hawfinch-One again at Overleigh Cemetery-Chester

Hawfinch

8 Western Cattle Egret-Hale

10,000 Knot in two large feeding flocks after high tide - Meols Shore.

Hen Harrier (grey male),3 Marsh Harrier,Short-eared Owl,5+ Great White Egret and 1,000+ Lapwing - Parkgate.

c80 Pied Wagtail in fields next to Target Road - Heswall.

1,500 Pink-footed Geese in fields along Wirral Way between Thurstaston and Heswall.

Bittern,Short-eared Owl and 10 Marsh Harrier this evening - Neston Reedbed.

15th November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Cheshire & Wirral

7,000 Knot and 10,000 Dunlin - Hoylake Shore.

2 Eurasian Bittern-Parkgate

14 Western Cattle Egret-Ince Marshes

Western cattle Egret

(C)P.Ralston

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir

3 Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

14th November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Ferny Ness-Lothian

Cheshire & Wirral

Eurasian Penduline Tit-Woolston Eyes

Penduline Tit 

(C)David Bowman

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir

Red Crested Pochard

13th November 2024

Megas

Scarlet Tanager-Northowram-West Yorkshire

Scarlet Tanager

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

Eurasian Penduline Tit-Woolston Eyes

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir

14 Goosander collectively fishing this morning on West Kirby Marine Lake.

12th November 2024

Megas

Scarlet Tanager-Northowram-West Yorkshire

Scarlet Tanager

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

Eurasian Penduline Tit-Woolston Eyes

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir