CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

8th July

3 Black-necked Grebe and Slavonian Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Juvenile

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Poynton Pool-2 Males

Lesser Emperor-Newchurch Common-Male at private fishing lake

7th July

Black-necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)-

15+ still; reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

Common Quail-Frodsham Marsh13:34

-Two in grass near No 5 Tank

Greater Scaup-West Kirby Marine Lake-

Adult drake still on rocks at south end late morning

Garganey-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)08:30

-Eclipse drake still on No 4 Bed. Reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

Spotted Redshank-Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB-

One still at Centenary Pool from Border Hide; use reserve car park off Puddington Lane (CH64 5SF; open 09:00-19:00, £7 entrance fee for non-RSPB-members)

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-

Three still at Boathouse Flash

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Poynton-Female at west side of Poynton Pool

6th July

Quail still calling in field north of Manners Lane - Lower Heswall.

Quail calling - Decca Pools.

2 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.

600 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

Ruddy Shelduck-Hale-Still on River Mersey this evening

Greater Scaup-West Kirby Marine Lake-Adult drake still

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Poynton-Male still at west side of Poynton Pool

5th July

Garganey-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)-Eclipse drake still on No 4 Bed; park along canal track at c 53.3842, -2.5364; keep off bunds at all times. Reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

Spotted Redshank-Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB-Two still at Centenary Pool from Border Hide; use reserve car park off Puddington Lane (CH64 5SF)

Spotted Redshank-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-One still at Boathouse Flash; also 3 Eurasian Spoonbills still at Bevyl Road Flash

Hobby over potato field inland of coastal paddocks - Leasowe Lighthouse

Adult Mediterranean Gull, juv Stonechat, 2 Common Scoter, 60 Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and 100 Sandwich Tern - Hilbre

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Poynton-Male still at west side of Poynton Pool

Lesser Emperor-Cholmondeley-Still from bridge by pond at Castle Gardens and Deer Park

4th July

Quail calling in field north of Manners Lane - Lower Heswall

Garganey-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)-Eclipse drake; also 17+ Black-necked Grebes still. Reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

 

Spotted Redshank-Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB-One still; use reserve car park off Puddington Lane (CH64 5SF)

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two still at Bevyl Road Flash

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Tatton Park-Male over Melchette Mere; also probable Red-veined Darter near south-west corner

Lesser Emperor-Marbury Big Mere-Two over Big Mere

3rd July

Calling Quail, 4 Common Sandpiper in gutter, 5 Stonechat (pair + 3 juvs) - Heswall Marsh

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Marbury Big Mere-Six over Big Mere

Lesser Emperor-Poynton-Male still at Poynton Pool

2nd July

Black-necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)-18 still; reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two still at Boathouse Flash

Common Quail-Burton Marsh-Singing male still off Nets Cafe

1st July

22 Mediterranean Gull (17 adults, 2 second summer, 3 first summer) before high tide - Thurstaston Shore.

3 Greenshank and a Water Rail - Donkey Stand Flash, Parkgate.

2 Green Sandpiper - Neston Reedbed.

Quail in field just east of the reserve, also 4 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Black-necked Grebe- Tatton Park- two: adult and juvenile at Tatton Mere

Odonata-News

Norfolk Hawker-Cholmondeley 

(c) Andrew Goodwin

Lesser Emperor-Male at Poynton Pool this afternoon on the west side just south of the outflow

 

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:29TH JUNE-5TH JULY 2026

The attention of birders commonly switches to other pursuits during the height of summer. A post-breeding lull among much of our native avifauna sees many dabble in orchids, Odonata, butterflies or moths. Read more>

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

30th June

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Poynton-Two still over the north-eastern channel at Poynton Pool

Common Sandpiper on Donkey Stand Flash, 3 Spoonbill and a Greenshank on Boathouse Flashes - Parkgate.

2 Quail calling - Burton Marsh.

3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover and a male Ruff, 2 juv Marsh Harrier over marsh - Decca Pools.

Note: Late news - Jun 25th  : Roseate Tern - West Kirby Shore.

Green-winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Elton Hall Flash

Common Quail-Winwick-Singing male in barley field just west of Old Alder Lane railway bridge

Black-necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)-12 (seven juveniles) still; reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

29th June

'Channel' Yellow Wagtail, Willow Tit, 2 juv Little Ringed Plover, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff, 400 Knot, Adult Spoonbill and 28 Bar-tailed Godwit - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Spotted Redshank and 2 Spoonbill, Barn Owl hunting over marsh early morning - Parkgate.

28th June

Common Quail-Hale-One flushed from track at north end of Burnt Mill Farm this evening

Spotted Redshank-Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB-Four at Centenary Pool; use reserve car park off Puddington Lane (CH64 5SF)

Spotted Redshank Bevyl Road Flash and a Quail calling off golf course - Parkgate.

3 Little Ringed Plover (ad with 2 juv) and a Green Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail in adjacent field - Decca Pools.

10 Mediterranean Gull with c15 Common Gull and 200 Black-headed Gull - Thurstaston Shore.

Hobby hunting hirundines over Fox and Hound - Barnston.

27th June

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Poynton- Two still over the north end of Poynton Pool

Common Quail-Hale-Singing male c 200m west of Hale Head Lighthouse this morning

Red Kite over at noon, also a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank and 4 Spoonbill early morning - Parkgate.

4 Little Ringed Plover - Decca Pools.

6 Mediterranean Gull and 400 Black-headed Gull over high tide - Heswall Shore.

3 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Grasshopper Warbler by horse field next to marsh - Neston Marsh.

26th June

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor-Poynton-At least one still over the north end of Poynton Pool

Lesser Emperor-Marbury Big Mere-At least two males

Whimbrel, 3 Mediterranean Gull (adult), Little Tern, 40 Sandwich Tern, c. 400 Black-headed Gull and 2,000 Oystercatcher over high tide - West Kirby Shore.

8 Avocet on Bevyl Road Flash - Parkgate.

25th June

Odonata-News

Norfolk Hawker-Cholmondeley

Lesser Emperor-Poynton-Male at Poynton Pool

Lesser Emperor-Cholmondeley-One still

Green-winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes-Still at Elton Hall Flash

30 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern and c300 Black=headed Gull over high tide - West Kirby Shore.

Red Kite over Leahurst Vet Campus - Neston.

Common Quail-Neston Marsh-Singing male

5 Spoonbill,  11 Great White Egret on the Boathouse flash. Common Sandpiper and 40 Redshank on Bevyl Road flash and a Barn Owl hunting marsh - Parkgate.

30 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern and c300 Black-headed Gull over high tide - West Kirby Shore.

24th June

Odonata-News

Norfolk Hawker-Cholmondeley-Two; also Lesser Emperor

Common Quail- Little Neston- singing male off Marshlands Road

8 - 10 Glossy Ibis flew north at 7pm - Parkgate.

Barn Owl, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover - Decca Pools.

4 Spoonbill - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

Grasshopper Warbler, bottom of Station Road - Burton Marsh.

5 Spotted Redshank-Burton Mere Wetlands.

23rd June

2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Spoonbill and a Water Rail - Decca Pools.

Greenshank - Leasowe Shore.

22nd June

Odonata-News

Lesser Emperor- Tatton Park- 2 males still on the south west end of Melchette Mere

Common Quail-Rixton-Singing male at Rixton Moss yesterday; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, do not drive along it. Instead, park considerately either along Moat Lane (WA3 6EE) or Moss Side Lane (WA3 6HH) and walk to listen; do not block tractor access

2 Red-breasted Merganser, 65 Little Egret, 480 Oystercatcher, 23 Lapwing, 2 Whimbrel, 472 Curlew, 75 Redshank, 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 250 Black-headed Gull, a noticeable increase in birds on the ebbing tide early morning - Heswall Shore.

Ruddy Shelduck-Tatton Park-One on Melchette Mere

Ruddy Shelduck-Widnes-Drake still on the River Mersey mudflats off Spike Island

Common Quail-Singing male below North Parade late yesterday evening-Hoylake

21st June

4 Spoonbill, 12 Great White Egret and a Barn Owl - Parkgate.

Quail heard this evening on the marsh - Hoylake Shore.

Hobby over - Lower Heswall.

Spotted Redshank-Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB-Three on Centenary Pool; use reserve car park off Puddington Lane (CH64 5SF)

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:22ND-28TH JUNE 2026

Extreme temperatures and extreme vagrants characterised the penultimate week of June. Read more>  

HORNET CLEARWINGS AND BRECKLAND SPECIALITIES

After a good night's sleep on Saturday and a day of doing very little, I got a call to say I wasn't needed in Oxford until 5pm on Monday for an evening breeding bird survey. With the forecast looking good, it seemed the perfect opportunity to squeeze in an overnight trip to Norfolk.

I was up at 7am on Sunday, with my first stop being Pitsford Reservoir in Northamptonshire.

My target here was the spectacular Hornet Clearwing, and it's one of the better sites to look for this impressive moth. I arrived around 10:30am, found the Black Poplar trees and put up the pheromone lure. It wasn't long before my first Hornet Clearwing came flying in, quickly followed by a second. Thankfully, both ended up in the trap, allowing some great views before being released.

`

At first glance, the Hornet Clearwing looks much more like a hornet than a moth. Its transparent wings, bold yellow-and-black markings, and loud buzzing flight make the disguise incredibly convincing. In reality, it's a completely harmless day-flying moth that relies on this remarkable mimicry to avoid predators.

The larvae spend several years developing holes beneath the bark of mature poplar trees before emerging as adults for a very short flying season in late spring and early summer.

Although they're fairly widespread, they're surprisingly difficult to find without using pheromone lures, making them a real treat to see. It's one of those species that reminds you just how fascinating our insects can be.

With my target safely seen, I carried on to Cranwich Heath in Norfolk, arriving early in the afternoon. I was hoping to catch up with a few of the Breckland speciality day-flying moths that I still needed. The weather couldn't have been much better, warm and sunny with hardly any wind. After a couple of enjoyable hours wandering the heath, I managed to net four new species: Tawny Wave, Oblique-striped, Marbled Clover and Powdered Grass-veneer.

Tawny Wave

Oblique-striped

Marbled Clover

Powdered Grass-veneer

As the afternoon turned into evening, I spent some time searching for Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth. There was plenty of its foodplant, Viper's Bugloss, growing across the site, but despite checking several good-looking patches I couldn't find one.

Forest border of Viper's Bugloss

That's mothing for you; sometimes everything looks perfect, but the species you want simply refuses to show itself.

After a bite to eat, I returned to the heath and set the moth traps ready for the night. Unfortunately, the temperature dropped away quite quickly after dark, and the cold conditions kept moth numbers well down. Even so, there were still a few species to sort through the following morning.

Bird's Wing

Overall, it had been a fantastic 24 hours. Seeing the Hornet Clearwing at close quarters was undoubtedly the highlight, and adding four Breckland specialities made the trip even more worthwhile. With the traps packed away, it was time to head off to Oxford for a week's work, already thinking about the next opportunity to get back out into the field.

 

TARGETING THE SCARCE HOOK-TIP: A SUCCESSFUL NIGHT IN SOUTH WALES

It's been a bit quiet on the birding front over the last few weeks, so I’ve been focusing on targeting rare and scarce moths across the UK. With plenty of sites lined up over the next few months before autumn migration thankfully kicks back in, there’s no shortage of night work ahead.

My good friend Alan Lewis has been feeding me some excellent moth sites, and this evening I headed to the Wye Valley near Chepstow.

The sun was starting to set as we went over the Severn road crossing between England and Wales

The target species was the Scarce Hook-tip (Sabra harpagula), a nationally rare moth in the UK, typically associated with mature deciduous woodland.

Jenna’s son Harley decided he wanted to join me on this little adventure, so we left sunny Cheshire at 5pm and headed south-west. We arrived on site and set up three LED light traps, not realising just how busy the night was going to be.

From the off, it was constant action. By midnight, my right-hand man had curled up in the van fast asleep, leaving me to work through the night solo.

It was an excellent night for moths throughout, and at around 1:45am two Scarce Hook-tips finally appeared on the white sheet, with one settling directly on the trap. I managed to get both, absolutely stunning moths and a real target species achieved.

Scarce Hooktip

By sunrise I had added six new macro moths to my life list, along with a superb micro moth, the Gold Base Tubic.

Gold Base Tubic

Photos of the new species are shown below:

August Thorn

Satin Beauty

Ruddy Carpet

Blomer's Rivulet

Buttoned Snout

A great night’s work overall. My assistant was back awake by morning, looking through the haul with me. We arrived back in Cheshire just after 9am, tired, a bit wired, but very satisfied with a successful trip.