CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

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

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

31st May

Spoonbill and 9 Great White Egret - Parkgate.

Common Quail-Hale-Male still singing intermittently along track c 200m north of Hale Head Lighthouse this evening

 

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

Grey Plover-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)28/05

One sound-recorded over reserve on Thursday afternoon (also two sound-recorded on 23rd); reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still on " Small Pool " by Pumphouse Flash

Greater Scaup-West Kirby Marine Lake-Adult drake still

 

30th May

Osprey-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-One flew over this morning

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still on the small pool by the Pumphouse Flash

Greater Scaup-West Kirby Marine Lake-

Adult drake still

29th May

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

Greater Scaup-Drake-West Kirby Marine Lake

Osprey flew inland past Carr Farm - Meols.

2 Garganey-Drake and a Female-Pumphouse Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Red-backed Shrike-Female photographed along Blossoms Lane yesterday evening; park on Church Lane and walk, strictly no driving access to Blossoms Lane

Red-backed Shrike

(c) D.McBurney

https://www.instagram.com/dmcburneyphotography?igsh=MWMxaHdnbDR3ZmY3

Curlew Sandpiper-Still on River Mersey near Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

28th May

Common Quail-Singing male in nearby field this evening-Raby

Greater Scaup-Drake-West Kirby Marine Lake

Curlew Sandpiper-Still on River Mersey near Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

2 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-Two (drake and female) again at Pumphouse Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate

27th May

Garganey-Drake again at Pumphouse Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Curlew Sandpiper-One again near Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

Common Quail-Singing male in field west of bridge '211' just south of canal towpath-Dutton

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB

26th May

Garganey-Drake again on No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY-To join click here >

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

25th May

Osprey-One on sandbank-Pickerings Pasture

Garganey-Drake again on No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY-To join click here >

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

24th May

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

Osprey-One from Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

23rd May

Garganey (drake) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Curlew sandpiper, Little stint and Osprey-Hale

22nd May

Whinchat, at least 2 Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Spotted Flycatcher briefly in bushes by car park - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

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

Curlew Sandpiper-One near Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

21st May

Wood sandpiper-Sweeney Wetlands

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still-West Kirby Marine Lake

Garganey-Drake again on No 4 Bed then flew towards No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY-To join click here >

20th May

Black-throated Diver-Two on sea off the north end and 2 Manx Shearwater, 8 Arctic Tern, 3 Razorbill, 10 Guillemot and 210 Common Scoter-Hilbre Island

19th May

Ruddy Shelduck-Still at the south end of Rode Pool-Rodeheath

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still-West Kirby Marine Lake

20 Black-necked grebe-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY-To join click here >

18th May

Cuckoo flew east over Stanley Road - Hoylake.

17th May 

Little Stint-East of lighthouse-Hale

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still-West Kirby Marine Lake

Ruddy Shelduck-Again, flew west-Runcorn

16th May 

Scaup (drake) still - West Kirby Marine Lake.

c250 Dunlin (including some alpina), 200 Ringed Plover and 30 Sanderling at high tide - Hoylake.

c30 Swift low over Park Lane - Meols.

Little Stint-East of lighthouse-Hale

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:26TH-31ST MAY 2026

High pressure and record May temperatures continued to dominate throughout much of the working week, including sweltering conditions on Tuesday. Read more >

NIGHTJAR AND MOTH NIGHT AT WORLD’S END, DENBIGHSHIRE

Jenna and I visited World's End in Denbighshire, North Wales, this evening and ran a four-hour moth trapping session. I wanted to target moorland macro moth species, as I hadn't recorded that many, so I was hoping for a few new additions.

World's End

As the sun set, we could hear Nightjars churring in the distance as we started the moth night, and we even saw one on the road near where we parked. 

Silver Y

Heart and Dart

Dark Arches

Ingrailed Clay

Large Yellow Underwing

Peppered Moth

Glaucous Shears

Broom Moth

Nut-tree Tussock

Scalloped Hazel

Light Knot Grass

Buff Ermine

We finished the session at around 1am, and on the way back over the moor, we had great views of another Nightjar sitting on the road before it flew off.

A great night.

NI MOTH (TRICHOPLUSIA NI) RECORDED IN CHESHIRE

The Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni) is a rare migrant moth in the UK, and I was lucky enough to see one today after my friend Paul Brewster trapped it last night and kindly invited me over to take a look.

This was a first for me, and according to the Cheshire Flying Tonight website, it is thought to be only the second record for Cheshire up to 2024.

It’s an immigrant species that turns up in small numbers in the UK most years, with no more than about 50 records annually. Its normal breeding range is southern Europe and North Africa, although occasional larvae have been found in Britain.

In its typical range, the larvae feed mainly on marigold (Calendula spp.) and sea rocket (Cakile maritima).

The species is nocturnal, and most UK records involve adults being attracted to light.

Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni)

MOTH TRAPPING BENEATH THE MANCHESTER SKYLINE

Jenna and I decided to visit Walkerwood Reservoir at Millbrook, Stalybridge, for an evening of moth trapping. I'd never visited the area before and was impressed by the scenery, with views across Cock Wood and out towards the distant skyline of Manchester city centre.

Walkerwood Reservoir

Manchester 

As the sun set and darkness fell, Nightjars could be heard churring from the surrounding hillsides, adding to what was already an enjoyable evening. I ran the trap for around four hours and recorded a good variety of moths during the session.

Pale Prominent

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

Ingrailed Clay

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Foxglove Pug

Brown Silver-line

Red Chestnut

Glaucous Shears

Green Silver-lines

Map-winged Swift

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

Although the moths were the main reason for the visit, the setting itself was a real highlight. It was my first visit to Walkerwood Reservoir and, based on both the scenery and the moth trapping, it's certainly somewhere I'd like to return to in the future.