CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

16th June

Common Quail-Oakmere-At least one singing male in Oxeye Daisy meadow near broken information board along Oakmere Way at c 53.2279, -2.6457

Channel Wagtail-Bradley-Male at Bradley Orchard Farm

Common Quail-Burton Marsh-Singing male still audible from the flagpole at the end of Station Road this afternoon

14th June

6 Eurasian Spoonbill-Boathouse flash-Parkgate

Osprey-Heswall-One circled over Lower Heswall, then flew high west

Common Quail-Whitley Reed-Singing male in field north-east of Reed Lane at c 53.3298, -2.5265

Common Quail-Neston Marsh-Singing male south of Old Quay

13th June

2 Little Gull (ads) - New Brighton.

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Elton Hall Flash

Spotted Redshank and 2 Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton RSPB

12th June

Osprey-Poynton-One flew south over Poynton Lake

10th June

43+ still yesterday (21 adults and 10 young on No 3 Bed and 12+ adults on No 4 Bed; reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com. Keep off bunds at all times

2 Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two at Donkey Stand Flash; use Old Baths car park

630 Knot, 485 Black-tailed Godwit and 44 Bar-tailed Godwit -Burton Mere Wetlands.

Quail singing on marsh end of Marshlands Road - Little Neston.

9th June

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two at Donkey Stand Flash; use Old Baths car park

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

8th June

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two at Donkey Stand Flash; use Old Baths car park

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

7th June

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

White Stork-Sandbach-At least one circling over M6 just south of Roadchef Sandbach services

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two at Donkey Stand Flash; use Old Baths car park

6th June

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

5th June

Common Quail-Mobberley-Singing male from the public footpath east of Gleavehouse Farm

Curlew Sandpiper-Hale-One on River Mersey

Greater Scaup-Hale-Drake on River Mersey off Within Way mid-afternoon

4th June

Spotted Flycatcher in private garden - Saughall

Black-necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)-27+ (five broods) still; reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com. Keep off bunds at all times

3rd June

Hobby flew past the bottom of Denhall Lane - Burton Marsh.

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

2nd June

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

3 Arctic Skua (dark phase) flew west this morning - Leasowe Gunsite.

Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton RSPB

Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

1st June

2 Little Stint-Hale-Still on the River Mersey east of Hale Lighthouse

Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:8TH-14TH JUNE 2026

June's unseasonable cool and breezy weather continued for many during this latest review period – no good for late overshoots, but these conditions dropped hints at the seabird season to come. Read more>

A MEMORABLE AFTERNOON IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

Today I spent the day in North Yorkshire and called in at Fen Bog Nature Reserve for a leisurely walk around the reserve. Fen Bog runs alongside the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is set in an idyllic valley surrounded by beautiful countryside. 

My main target species was the Small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly, and it didn't take long to find one. In total, I saw four individuals.

As I was looking for the butterflies, a constant stream of old steam trains passed by on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The sight and sound of them brought back some very special memories. It reminded me of my mother and father bringing me here on holiday 50 years ago, when they took us on this very railway.

Where does the time go? I can remember it all so clearly, and yet it doesn't feel that long ago at all. Standing there today, watching the trains and enjoying the peaceful surroundings, it felt as though those childhood memories were only yesterday.

View from the North Yorkshire moors looking towards Whitby

After I had finished my walk, I called in at Whitby and treated myself to a nice bag of fish and chips.

It would have been rude to visit this famous seaside town and not have a proper fish supper.

I then made my way home, stopping at another site where I was delighted to find more than ten Chimney sweeper moths flying around by the side of the road. It was a wonderful way to end the day.

Chimney sweeper 

It was one of those special days that I will always remember. A day that had everything: beautiful scenery, wonderful wildlife, and happy memories from childhood. 

Sometimes, the simplest days turn out to be the most memorable. Today was certainly one of those days.

                               

MOTHING AT BISHOP'S HILL NATURE RESERVE-WARWICKSHIRE

Tonight I attended a moth trapping event at Bishop's Hill Nature Reserve in Warwickshire, led by David Brown, the Warwickshire County Recorder for Lepidoptera.

I first met Dave last year while working on HS2 in Birmingham and have since attended several of his monthly events. He is always welcoming, happy to share his knowledge and willing to help with identifying even the trickiest species. It was great to see him again and have a good catch-up.

Dave began running a moth trap in his parents' garden on 28 March 1968 and has continued recording there ever since. Nearly 60 years later, he is still trapping in the same garden, making it one of the longest continuous private garden moth recording projects in the British Isles. During that time, he has recorded an impressive 483 species of macro-moth, a record for a Warwickshire garden.

As well as being the county recorder, Dave is the author of The Larger Moths of Warwickshire. I was pleased to purchase a copy of the newly updated edition during the evening, with all proceeds from sales being donated to Butterfly Conservation.

Me and Dave

Bishop's Hill Nature Reserve lies just north of Bishop's Itchington and has a fascinating industrial past. The site was once part of the former Harbury Cement Works, which closed in 1970. The hill itself was created from waste lime produced by the quarry and cement works that operated there from 1852.

Today, the old industrial landscape has been transformed into an important wildlife site. The lime-rich soils support a diverse range of plants and insects, including notable butterflies such as the Small Blue and Grizzled Skipper. Areas of grassland, scrub, woodland and the Blue Pool combine to create a rich mosaic of habitats for wildlife.

                                                Bishop's Hill Nature Reserve

The four-hour moth-trapping session produced a good selection of species and provided plenty of opportunities to study them up close. Best of all, I managed to add three new macro-moths to my life list:

Cream Wave

The Shears

Broad-barred white

It was an enjoyable evening in excellent company and another chance to learn from one of Warwickshire's most experienced moth recorders. I am already looking forward to the next event.

ORANGE-TAILED CLEARWING-BRIGHTWELL-CUM-SOTWELL-OXFORDSHIRE

Leaving work early this afternoon, after a day of rain, I was pleased to see the sun finally break through and the wind drop. I had a site in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell that I wanted to visit after noticing on iRecord last year that Orange-tailed Clearwing had been recorded there. Having spent countless hours trying to lure this species in Oxfordshire last year without success, I thought it was worth another attempt.

On arrival, I found the spot, set up the pheromone lure, and within minutes one came straight in before disappearing again. I could hardly believe it. A short while later, it returned and entered the trap, giving me excellent views. What an incredible week I was having, first Thrift Clearwing and now Orange-tailed Clearwing!

The Orange-tailed Clearwing (Synanthedon andrenaeformis) is a remarkable day-flying moth that mimics a small wasp, with transparent wings and a distinctive orange-tipped abdomen. It is widespread across much of Europe, including southern Britain, where the larvae develop beneath the bark of apple and other fruit trees. Adults are typically seen in late spring and early summer around orchards, gardens, and woodland edges.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:1ST-7TH JUNE 2026

In contrast to the exceptionally warm spell experienced at the end of May, the first week of June was characterised by low pressure, spells of rain and brisk westerly winds. Read More>