CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

16th March

Common Scoter-Drake at the south end-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Cheshire

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

15th March 

31 Little Gull, 165 Gannet, 220 Common Gull (west), 16 Purple Sandpiper, Scaup, Peregrine, 175 Meadow Pipit, 4 Long-tailed Tit and 7 Goldcrest - Hilbre.

5 Spoonbill on Bevyl Road flash, also 22 Avocet - Parkgate.

1150 Pink-footed Geese roosted overnight, 295 Shelduck, 2350 Oystercatcher, 270 Grey Plover, 130 Golden Plover, 2500 Knot, 3000 Dunlin, 390 Curlew, 2850 Redshank over high tide this morning - Heswall Shore.

Slavonian Grebe-Sweeney Wetlands

3 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

14th March 

3 Wheatear (1 in coastal paddocks and 2 in 'Hoopoe Hollow') - Leasowe Lighthouse.

35 Russian White-fronted  Geese and 2 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Scaup (drake) - Hilbre.

5 Spoonbill (2 ad & 3 imm) on Boathouse Flash, Green-winged Teal (drake) off Old Baths - Parkgate.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose-thornton Hough

Caspian Gull-1st-winter on sandbanks on River Mersey-Widnes

Harbour Seal-One in River Mersey off Paddington Meadows this morning (present since 7 February; ranging between No 4 Bed, Woolston Eyes NR, and Warrington Rowing Club)-Woolston Eues=Permit ONLY

Eurasian Bittern-Two flew to roost this evening (one in rushes off Old Baths and one in rushes off Boathouse Flash); also 3 Short-eared Owls off the golf course

Slavonian Grebe-Sweeney Wetlands

Caspian Gull-Two 1st-winters still at WSR Recycling Centre, Ditton Road-Widnes

Greater Scaup and 28 Black-necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

Common Scoter-Two (one drake) displaying on the pool off Moat Lane-Rixton

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

13th March

Slavonian Grebe-Sweeney Wetlands

Russian White-Fronted Goose-26 still in the field between North Pool and the road at Mere Farm Quarry-Chelford

Green-winged Teal-Drake still at the new flash off Old Baths car park-Parkgate

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

12th March

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still on West Kirby Marine Lake

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

30 Black-necked Grebes -Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

11th March

2 Green-winged Teal (drakes) on new flash off Old Baths - Parkgate

250 Black-tailed Godwits - Caldy Wildfowl Collection

Ruddy Shelduck-One still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still on sea off lifeboat station-Hilbre Island

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

Eurasian Spoonbill-Two adults still opposite Coastguard Lane-Padgate

10th March

Green-winged Teal (flew to Boathouse Flash) and 2 Spoonbill - Parkgate.

Scaup (drake), 3 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander and 10 Brent Geese (one dark-bellied) - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Crossbill flew low over horse paddocks (going west) - Leasowe Lighthouse.

40 Russian White-fronted  Geese - Burton Mere Wetlands.

17 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.

Eurasian Bittern-Budworth Mere-Northwich

Shore Lark-Still in field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow and Wheatear-Mow Cop

Caspian Gull-Adult-Sandbach Flashes

20 Black-necked Grebes and 1st winter female Greater Scaup-Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

9th March

20 Black-necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

Eurasian Spoonbill-One flew from Decoy Marsh towards Pickerings Pastures-Hale

Black Redstart (fem) by coastguard station - Dove Point, Meols.

Good views of both Scaup (drake) and a Common Scoter - West Kirby Marine Lake.

2 Russian White-fronted Goose

-Burton RSPB

Slavonian Grebe-Sweeney Wetlands

Shore Lark-Still in field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow and Wheatear-Mow Cop

8th March

Slavonian Grebe-Sweeney Wetlands

Black Redstart (fem) by the coastguard station and the Landmark Stables -Dove Point- Moels

Dark-bellied Brent Goose in field with Greylag Geese -Thornton Hough

Greater Scaup-Adult on sea-Hilbre Island

Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton RSPB

Scaup (Drake) - West Kirby Marine Lake

FROM THE ANTI-ATLAS TO THE ATLANTIC:AN ATLAS WHEATEAR TRIUMPH-DAY 9

After yesterday’s epic adventures and a magical night in a Moroccan castle, today had big shoes to fill as we wrapped up our journey west toward the Atlantic coast.

Before breakfast, we hiked to the top of a nearby hill to watch the sunrise wash over the Anti-Atlas. 

A lone Black Stork glided lazily across the valley at dawn, while a Short-toed Eagle lifted off from its overnight roost in a nearby tree. Two Barbary Partridges scurried across the hillside, and five male Northern Wheatears had clearly arrived overnight as fresh migrants. Sadly, there was still no sign of the elusive Atlas Wheatear, the one real speciality missing from our list after seven days of searching. Time was ticking.

Following what the team unanimously voted the best breakfast of the trip so far, fresh pastries, excellent coffee, and local honey, we headed out for the day’s birding. Our first stop was a serene little lake in the middle of nowhere.

It quickly produced a few welcome trip ticks: a handsome drake Northern Pintail, two Common Teal, and a skulking migrant Sedge Warbler working the reeds. A majestic Osprey plunged dramatically into the water but surfaced empty-taloned. At the same time, a Tree Pipit and flocks of hirundines and Phylloscopus warblers hinted at the site’s importance as a migration stopover. Black-eared Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler, and Trumpeter Finch kicked off the morning in style, and we even spotted a couple of terrapins sunning themselves, an identification challenge we’re still debating.

A two-hour drive through the rugged Anti-Atlas mountains followed, with everyone scanning every boulder and crag in the hope of finding that phantom wheatear. No luck… until we pulled over for a quick coffee break. As we stepped out of the van, a single wheatear zipped across the road and landed on an upside-down red Coca-Cola crate. “Atlas Wheatear!” came the excited shout, and chaos instantly followed. Everyone piled out of the van, one team member even snapping his glasses in the frenzy. Fortunately, the bird cooperated beautifully.

(c)Owen Parsons

(c) Jack Pettit

Atlas Wheatear

(c)Dennis Morrison

This near-mythical species, formerly known as Seebohm’s Wheatear, posed obligingly for the next half hour, giving us outstanding views and plenty of photos. Success at last! We celebrated with steaming saffron tea before continuing our journey west.

Hamid, pouring the saffron tea

Yes, it was found perched on here

After a delicious lunch among the Anti-Atlas peaks, we stopped to stretch our legs in an olive grove.

Our guide, Hamid, was determined to track down a Western Orphean Warbler. The grove quickly produced a pair of dazzling Moussier’s Redstarts and a striking male Common Redstart. Then, right on cue, a male Western Orphean Warbler burst into song nearby. After a brief game of hide-and-seek through the branches, we were rewarded with fantastic close views of this chunky Mediterranean warbler. 

(c) Jack Pettit

Western Orphean Warbler

(c)Dennis Morrison

As a bonus, a Moroccan Spur-thighed Tortoise lumbered through the undergrowth, a wonderful non-avian addition to the day’s sightings.

Moroccan Spur-thighed Tortoise

(c)Owen Parsons

By evening, we rolled into Agadir, the Atlantic breeze a welcome change after the mountains.

Just half an hour before dusk, we watched thousands of gulls streaming north offshore, joined by 60 elegant Greater Flamingos and a dozen stately Great White Egrets heading toward their evening roosts. 

Greater Flamingo

As we closed out the day over a round of well-earned beers, a Stone Curlew flew overhead, its haunting call echoing through the twilight, an atmospheric reminder that tomorrow’s coastal birding promises even more excitement.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:9TH-15TH MARCH 2026

Despite some strong winds this past week, it feels as though spring is here. Read more>