CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

6th Aug

Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, 29 Greenshank and 10 Spoonbill - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

White-rumped Sandpiper and Little Stint - Meols Shore.

Temminck's Stint on main scrape - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Wood Sandpiper-Sandbach Flashes-Still on Elton Hall Flash

Wood Sandpiper-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Still at Boathouse Flash; also Spotted Redshank and 10 Eurasian Spoonbills still

Slavonian Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Adult still at east end; also Ruddy Shelduck still

5th Aug

White-rumped Sandpiper-Adult-type still on beach viewed from shelter at end of Roman Road-Meols Shore

White-rumped Sandpiper

(c) Sean O'Hara 

10 Spoonbill and Spotted Redshank- Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

Wood Sandpiper-Bevyl Road Flash 

Curlew Sandpiper (adult)- Meols Shore.

Adult-Curlew Sandpiper

(c)Sean O'hara

Temminck's Stint on Centenary pool - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Temminck's Stint

(c)John Hewitt 

4th Aug

Common Quail-Churton-Two singing in fallow field at 53.0977, -2.9094

Wood Sandpiper-Sandbach Flashes-Still on Elton Hall Flash this evening

Black-necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)-At least seven (four adults and three juveniles) still on No 4 Bed; reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

Wood Sandpiper-Hoylake-One by tennis courts

Ruddy Shelduck-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Still at north-west end viewed from gate

Slavonian Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Adult still; view from gate

Black-necked Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Three (adult and two juveniles) still at east end

Curlew Sandpiper (adult) this morning, juv Wood Sandpiper this afternoon at high tide - Meols Shore.

Wood Sandpiper - Parkgate.

Wood Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

3rd Aug

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

Red Kite, 3 Wood Sandpiper, 7+ Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and 11 Ruff - Burton Mere Wetlands.

10 Spoonbill, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank and 22 Greenshank - Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

C.1000 Dunlin, 200 Ringed Plover, 200 Sanderling this evening - Meols Shore.

Slavonian Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Adult still; also 3 Black-necked Grebes. View from gate

Ruddy Shelduck-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Still

2nd Aug

Slavonian Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Adult still; also 3 Black-necked Grebes. View from gate

Ruddy Shelduck-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Still

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

Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB-One from Bridge Screen; use RSPB car park off Puddington Lane (CH64 5SF; open 09:00-19:00, £7 entrance fee for non-RSPB-members)

Curlew Sandpiper-Pickerings Pasture-Still on River Mersey below car park (WA8 8LP)

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

Spotted Redshank-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-still at Boathouse Flash

1st Aug

Ruddy-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Still

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

Spotted Redshank-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Still at Boathouse Flash

Common Quail-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Singing male still off Old Baths car park (CH64 6RL)

Spotted Redshank-Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB-Two 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)

2 Black Stork-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two again in flight from Old Baths car park (CH64 6RL)

Black Stork

Ruddy Shelduck-Wigg Island-One again from new bridge

Wood Sandpiper-Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB-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)

Wood Sandpiper-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Still at Boathouse Flash

Common Quail-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-At least two singing males still near Boathouse Flash; also 9 Eurasian Spoonbills and 2 Spotted Redshanks still

 

 

 

CLOUDED YELLOWS NEAR WREXHAM

This morning, Jenna, her son Lewi, and I visited a site near Wrexham after hearing that a small colony of Clouded Yellow butterflies had been found in a meadow. It was a warm morning, so we decided to head over and see if we could find them.

As soon as we arrived, we spotted one flying across the meadow. It was Jenna's first-ever Clouded Yellow, making the trip worthwhile straight away. As we walked around, we counted another seven butterflies, with several settling on the vegetation and giving us some excellent views.

Clouded Yellow

There were also good numbers of Painted Ladies and Small Coppers, adding to what was already a very enjoyable morning. It turned out to be a great few hours at a site only half an hour down the road, and best of all, Jenna was able to add a new butterfly to her life list.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:27TH-2ND August 2026

Settled conditions continued, with a hot spell midweek pockmarked by showers further north in Britain. Birding more generally had that classic late July feeling of a post-breeding lull, leaving new rare and scarce action rather limited as a result. Lingering stars provided plenty of excitement, however, and returning shorebirds provided promise for the coming weeks. Read more>

 

ROSY MARSH MOTH & BLACK STORKS: AN UNEXPECTED 24 HOURS

Jenna and I had planned this weekend a few weeks ago with one goal in mind: to try and trap the Rosy Marsh Moth at Cors Fochno in mid-Wales.

Before the trip, I contacted Justin Lyons, the Senior Management Officer and reserve warden, who kindly gave us permission to trap moths on the reserve. 

Heading into mid-Wales

We arrived before dusk and carried our gear along the boardwalk, setting up the light trap in what looked like ideal habitat, with plenty of bog-myrtle growing around us, a Rosy marsh moth's food plant.

Just as we were getting everything ready, news broke that two juvenile Black Storks had been found on the Wirral and apparently looked like they were going to roost overnight; I suddenly had another target to fit into the weekend. It looked like I might have a chance of seeing both species within the next 24 hours.

Thankfully, the moths didn't disappoint. Before midnight, the trap produced a Rosy Marsh Moth, our target species. It was my first time seeing one, and it certainly lived up to expectations.

The Rosy Marsh Moth was once found in the Huntingdonshire Fens during the 19th century before being thought extinct in Britain. It was later rediscovered breeding on the Tregaron and Borth bogs of mid-Wales, and in 2005 another breeding population was discovered in Cumbria. It remains a scarce species with Red Data Book status. The adults fly during late July and August, and the larvae feed mainly on bog-myrtle (Myrica gale).

With the moth photographed and safely released, we packed everything away and started the journey home. We were both exhausted, so we pulled the van over for a few hours' sleep. When we woke, the valleys were covered in thick mist, and visibility was almost non-existent.

By the time we reached Llangollen, the fog had lifted, and fresh updates confirmed the Black Storks were still showing at Parkgate Marsh. After a bacon sandwich and a much-needed brew, we headed straight there.

As usual, there were plenty of familiar faces already waiting. It wasn't long before one of the Black Storks appeared in flight, giving really good views. 

It's an impressive bird and one I'd been hoping to add to my Cheshire & Wirral list for a long time.

Before leaving, we also picked up a calling Quail from the marsh, a Hobby, along with nine Spoonbills, a Spotted Redshank and a Wood Sandpiper.

                                          

The highlight came a little later when both Black Storks took to the air and circled over Parkgate before drifting away to the east. It was a fantastic way to finish the morning.

The two Black Storks have had quite a journey. They were first seen in County Durham on 24 July before moving through Cornwall, Radnorshire and Chepstow, eventually turning up in Cheshire.

It wasn't a weekend we expected when we first planned the trip. We set out hoping to see one of Britain's rarest moths and ended up enjoying one of the best 24-hour wildlife weekends I've had in a long time.

The Black Storks have toured the country since their arrival on 24 July (BirdGuides.com sightings data).

FROM HIDDEN HIDES TO OPEN DOWNS – A MEMORABLE DAY OF BIRDING

There had been two excellent birds showing well in Oxfordshire lately, so after work I decided to try and see both species. Three Waxwings had been present daily at Warburg Nature Reserve, while a Montagu's Harrier  1st-summer male had been found at Churn, where it was showing at first light as it left its roost and again in the evening as it returned. As I had to be at work early, a dawn visit wasn't possible, so my plan was to spend the afternoon with the Waxwings before heading to Churn in the hope of seeing the harrier come into roost.

I began my afternoon at Warburg Nature Reserve, high in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It was a remote and picturesque reserve, surrounded by peaceful woodland. On arrival, I made my way to the hide and was immediately impressed by how low it had been built. It placed you almost at eye level with anything visiting the natural pool, promising wonderfully intimate views of the birds and mammals that came in to drink or bathe.

It didn't take long before the birds started arriving. A juvenile Green Woodpecker showed exceptionally well, allowing some excellent views. While I was taking photographs, a Spotted Flycatcher made a brief appearance before disappearing back into the woodland. Field Voles were constantly active around the edge of the pool, scurrying through the vegetation before occasionally stopping in the open to give surprisingly good views. 

Juvenile Green Woodpecker

Field Vole

Bullfinches and a Chiffchaff also dropped down to drink, but then came the highlight of my time in the hide.

 

Bullfinch-Adult and Juvenile

Chiffchaff-Juvenile

A magnificent Hawfinch appeared, cautiously making its way down to the water's edge. Seeing one of Britain's most powerful finches at such close range was a real privilege and an unforgettable sight.

Hawfinch

What an absolute beauty of a bird! It didn’t stay for long, but it was a real privilege to see it up close. I spent a couple of very enjoyable hours there, and having the hide completely to myself made the experience even more special. Sitting quietly, so close to nature with no disturbance, is what makes these moments so rewarding.

After leaving, I grabbed a cup of tea and made my way over to Churn, where there had been some exciting news from the Oxfordshire- Berkshire borderlands: a first-summer male Montagu’s Harrier had been found.

Arriving at the site, I settled in with the other birders and prepared myself for what could have been a long wait.

In the end, I stood there for about three hours before the bird finally made an appearance. Patience is often part of birding, and on this occasion, it was certainly worth it.

The moment finally came when the Montagu’s Harrier appeared from the east, drifting into view before beginning to hunt across the fields. It showed brilliantly, quartering low over the landscape and working its way along the hedgerows, flying up and down them as it searched for prey. Watching this elegant raptor move effortlessly over the Berkshire/Oxfordshire Downs was a truly memorable sight.

Montagu’s Harrier

(c)Thomas Miller

There were plenty of birders gathered on site, many of whom had travelled a long way hoping to see their first Montagu’s Harrier. For some, this was a long-awaited lifer, which added to the atmosphere as everyone enjoyed watching this scarce and beautiful bird together.

The bird was fitted with a Darvic ring, which allowed it to be traced back to last year’s successful nesting attempt in England,  a fantastic story behind an already special individual. Montagu’s Harrier remains a rare and scarce bird in Britain, and sightings like this are always treasured.

This Montagu's Harrier, known as JJ, was ringed in 2025 by Mark Thomas of the RSPB. It returned this May to the same farm, staying for a few days then moving around the UK before coming to Churn in Oxfordshire.

In fact, it almost feels as though Pallid Harriers are becoming more regular visitors to Britain now than the much scarcer Montagu’s Harrier, making this encounter even more special.

Sadly, the story of the Montagu’s Harrier in Britain has not always been a positive one. Illegal persecution has played a huge role in the loss of this wonderful species as a regular breeding bird. Gone are the days when multiple pairs could be found scattered across the south and east of the country.

The UK sits on the edge of the species’ range, and sadly Montagu’s Harriers continue to decline across much of Europe. Changes in farming practices have also contributed to the challenges they face, although this is not about blaming farmers, many of whom now work closely with conservationists to help protect wildlife.

What a bird, and what a way to finish the day. After years since my last Montagu’s Harrier, seeing this individual show so well was a real treat. A fantastic end to a perfect afternoon and evening spent birding, one of those days in the field that will stay in the memory for a long time.