CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

6th May

2 Garganey (drakes), 6 Spotted Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover - Burton Mere Wetlands.

234 Whimbrel, 85 Curlew, Greenshank, 20 Redshank on rising tide this afternoon - Heswall Shore.

2 Grasshopper Warbler and a Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Garganey-Drake-Still on No3 bed-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY

5th May 

2 Whinchat-Leasowe Lighthouse

Osprey-One flew Over-Burton RSPB

45 Black-necked Grebes and 3 Drake Garganey-Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

4th May 

10 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Slavonian Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Eurasian Spoonbill-Three flew south over Hale Head-Hale

Eurasian Spoonbill- Flew south overBurton RSPB]

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate

Wood Sandpiper-Two on flood from footpath-Sweeney Wetlands

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still -West Kirby Marine Lake

3rd May

2 Wood Sandpiper - Burton RSPB

32 Swallow, 160 Sandwich Tern and 2 Eider - Hilbre

35 Black-necked Grebes and 3 Arctic terns briefly-Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still -West Kirby Marine Lake

Sanderling-One flew around Pumphouse Flash, then continued North-west-Sandbach Flashes

2nd May 

6 Little Tern, 450 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Whimbrel, 3 Eider, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat - Hilbre.

9 Spotted Redshank and 3 Spoonbill - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still on the east side, and a Common Scoter-West Kirby Marine Lake

Ruddy Shelduck-Wigg Island

1st May 

107 Whimbrel - Heswall Shore.

4 Yellow Wagtail and a Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.

3 Spoonbill, 3 Common Tern, 8 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 

3 Little Ringed Plover and a Willow Tit -  Burton Mere Wetlands.

Red Kite headed east over Liverpool Bay, seen from Hilbre.

Ruddy Shelduck-Drake still on River Mersey-Widnes

Common Crane-One flew east over the yellow barrier at the east end of Thelwall Lane-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY

Channel Wagtail-Hale

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:27TH APRIL-4TH MAY 2026

Warm easterlies during the working week were cause for relative excitement, though birding over the bank holiday weekend – often an exciting period – was unexceptional or even underwhelming depending on where you live, as the promising widespread showers that were initially forecast didn't materialise in many areas. Read more>

LESSER KESTREL-GOONHILLY DOWNS-CORNWALL

With news breaking of a Lesser Kestrel on the Lizard in Cornwall on Friday, Owen Parsons needed it for his life list and was heading down to stay with me for the weekend at my Airbnb, in the hope that something good would turn up.

We kept a close eye on updates and set off for the New Forest in Dorset, reasoning that at least we would be a few hours closer should the bird be relocated. Early reports at 7:15am and 9:00am suggested no sign of the bird, and things were not looking promising.

We were already in the New Forest at first light, enjoying Dartford Warblers, Woodlarks and a calling Cuckoo when news broke that the bird had been refound.

New Forest

Dartford Warbler

(c)Owen Parsons

Without hesitation, we made the long drive to Cornwall, arriving at around 1:30pm.

On arrival, we virtually saw the male bird straight away, perched on a fence post just a few metres from us. 

The views were exceptional, and we were also treated to a close fly-by.

Lesser Kestrel

(c) Owen Parsons

Owen was made up, having initially thought he had missed the bird entirely. For me, it was my second UK sighting of Lesser Kestrel, the first being a male at RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk, in April 2010, some 16 years ago. Read more>

Time certainly passes quickly.

News also filtered through of several Lesser Kestrels reported on a ferry crossing from Spain to England on the 30th April.

Following prolonged views of the bird, we continued on to Marazion. On the way, we passed the area near Marazion where a Booted Eagle had been seen last year, during the period when Storm Goretti struck Cornwall in early January 2026, bringing some of the most severe winter weather the region has experienced in recent years.

Between the 8th and 9th, the storm combined powerful Atlantic winds with heavy rain and occasional snow, creating dangerous conditions across the county. Its most notable feature was its intensity, with wind gusts reaching close to 100 mph in exposed coastal locations. A rare red weather warning was issued, underlining the serious risk to life and advising residents to remain indoors as conditions rapidly deteriorated.

In contrast, our present visit was far more settled. On arrival at Marazion, we eventually connected with a drake Garganey. It proved typically elusive and distant, but was nevertheless a welcome addition to the day’s sightings.

Garganey

(c)Owen Parsons

On the return journey, we stopped at Hayle Estuary, where a first-summer Bonaparte's Gull again showed very well, and my first Whimbrel of the year was also present, though distant. 

Whimbrel

Bonaparte's Gull 

This small North American gull remains a scarce but regular vagrant to the UK, although it has recently been removed from the BBRC rarity list. Read more>

It was another excellent day in the field, rounded off with a return home by 9:00pm.

WOOD SANDPIPER-SULHAMSTEAD ABBOTS - BERKSHIRE

Having finished work, news came out on Birdguides that a Wood Sandpiper had been found just half an hour down the road from where I was staying. It had been a couple of years since I’d last seen one, so with a fine spring evening on my side, I didn’t hesitate to head out.

On arrival, I quickly picked up the bird as it foraged along the edge of a shallow pool.

Wood Sandpiper

In the UK, the Wood Sandpiper is a classic passage wader, appearing primarily during spring and autumn migration as birds move between their northern breeding grounds and African wintering areas. Spring records typically peak from late April through May, often involving single birds or small groups dropping into shallow pools, flooded fields, or the edges of gravel pits. Autumn passage is usually more prolonged, stretching from July into September, with juveniles making up the bulk of sightings. Rarely lingering for long, Wood Sandpipers can appear overnight and be gone just as quickly, making any encounter feel particularly special for UK birders.

AN AFTERNOON'S BIRDING AT OTMOOR RSPB-OXFORDSHIRE

After visiting a couple of weeks ago to see a long-staying American Golden Plover, I returned to Otmoor RSPB this afternoon after work, hoping to catch up with a Black-winged Stilt that had been present over the last few days.

American Golden Plover

Otmoor RSPB

I’d missed two birds on my old patch at Ashton’s Flash in Northwich, Cheshire, last week, with working away, so I was keen to connect this time, especially with the recent influx of Black-winged Stilts across Britain, with birds reported in multiple counties, including a group of seven on St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly.

On arrival, the stilt hadn’t been seen for a few hours, but I managed to refind it at the back of a small pool, quietly feeding, well worth the wait.

Black-winged Stilt

The Black-winged Stilt remains a scarce but increasingly regular visitor to the UK, occurring mainly as a passage migrant in spring and early summer. Most records fall between April and June, when birds overshoot from their core breeding range in southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Smaller numbers can also appear later in the summer and early autumn, sometimes involving post-breeding dispersal.

In recent years, however, the species has begun to establish a tentative foothold as a breeding bird in Britain. Occasional nesting attempts have been recorded, most notably at wetland reserves in southern and eastern England, with a handful of successful broods raising hopes of future colonisation. These breeding events are often linked to favourable conditions such as suitable shallow wetland habitat and warm spring weather, which mirror the species’ traditional breeding environments further south.

While still far from guaranteed, the sight of Black-winged Stilts in the UK is becoming less exceptional, reflecting broader patterns of range expansion seen in several wetland species across Europe.

Moving on, I enjoyed great views of three Glossy Ibis, but the real surprise came when I found myself completely captivated by nine Hobbies hawking over the reedbed. An incredible sight and one I hadn’t expected to see at all.

Glossy Ibis

The Glossy Ibis has become an increasingly regular visitor to the UK, with most records occurring on spring passage from April to June, and smaller numbers appearing later in summer. Once a rarity, it is now seen annually, often linked to expanding populations in southern Europe. In recent years, there have also been a handful of breeding attempts in southern England, including some successful broods. While still scarce, the species appears to be on the cusp of becoming a regular breeding bird in Britain.

Hobby

The Eurasian Hobby is a summer visitor to the UK, arriving mainly in April and May after wintering in Africa. 

It is now a well-established breeding bird across much of England and parts of Wales, favouring a mix of open feeding areas and nearby woodland for nesting. Numbers have increased in recent decades, and it is now a regular feature of the UK summer.

A brilliant afternoon with some top-quality birds on show.