CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

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

CLEARWING SUCCESS IN SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE

Jenna and I had arranged a day’s mothing with my good friend Phil Jones, hoping to catch up with some of the early-season Clearwings that are now beginning to emerge. Two species were on the target list, and Phil knew both sites in South Staffordshire where we would stand a good chance of finding them.

We arrived during the early afternoon and soon set up the pheromone lures amongst the sunny woodland edge habitat. It didn’t take long before there was a sudden burst of activity, and my first White-barred Clearwing came buzzing into view. These remarkable moths are always a thrill to see, with their transparent wings and wasp-like appearance making them unlike most other British moths.

Private site-South Staffordshire

White-barred Clearwing

The habitat here was ideal for Clearwings, with a mixture of heathland, raised mosses, alder groves, streams and woodland rides cutting through damp woodland. These warm, sheltered edges and glades are perfect places to search for these elusive moths during their short flight season.

The species itself is a distinctive one, showing creamy-white patches near the tips of the antennae along with similarly coloured bands on the tegulae and the second abdominal segment. There is also a small yellowish-white dash towards the rear of the thorax, a feature that helps separate it from some of the other Clearwing species.

Like many members of the family, the moth spends far longer as a larva than as an adult. The caterpillars feed concealed within the wood or around the roots of birch (Betula) and alder (Alnus), often remaining in this stage for two or even three years before emerging. The larvae usually overwinter hidden deep within the tree, safe from predators and the worst of the weather.

Although locally distributed across south-east and north-west England, as well as parts of Wales, it can be very difficult to encounter without the use of pheromone lures. After getting good views, we headed further south to Cannock Chase

Arriving at Cannock Chase, we made the twenty-minute walk to the site, a small clearing surrounded by birch trees with several piles of cut birch logs nearby. It looked perfect for our second target species, and once again, luck was on our side.

It took only five minutes before Phil spotted one already in view, although it quickly disappeared before Jenna and I could get onto it. We continued moving the pheromone lures around the area, hoping for another chance, and after a few more minutes, our patience paid off when two moths came buzzing in towards the lure, giving us fantastic views.

Large Red-belted Clearwing

Although generally larger than the similar Red-belted Clearwing, the sizes can overlap, and the best feature to look for is the orange-red suffusion at the base of the forewings. In the right light, this gives the moth a particularly striking appearance.

This species flies earlier in the year than many of the other Clearwings, usually appearing during May and June. It is strongly associated with heathland and woodland habitats where birch (Betula) is plentiful, and is known from much of mainland Britain, although it remains a highly sought-after species for many moth recorders.

What a day it turned out to be, with excellent views of both target species. A huge thank you goes to my good friend Phil Jones for all the local knowledge and guidance on where to see these remarkable moths. Two more species were added to the list, and memories that will stay with us for a long time.

Another great afternoon!

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:18TH-25TH MAY 2026

This latest review period had oddly variable weather. It started with cool, grey and, in places, very wet conditions which had dominated much of mid-May. Read more> 

A RARE MORNING SONG IN OXFORDSHIRE,

This morning’s dawn walk around a private site near where I’m currently working produced a memorable spring encounter,  and, as it turns out, a rather notable bird for Oxfordshire.

Walking along the edge of the fields, I became aware of the song of a Woodlark from the trees ahead. At first, the bird remained hidden high in the canopy, but after a few moments of searching, it finally appeared out in the open, perched and singing in the early morning light before eventually flying away across the fields. At the time, I simply appreciated it as another lovely spring observation, though once home, I discovered that the Woodlark is considered a relatively scarce bird in Oxfordshire, making the encounter feel even more special in hindsight.

Woodlark

The surrounding farmland was alive with birdsong. Yellowhammers were particularly vocal throughout the morning, their familiar calls carrying across the hedgerows. Encouragingly, the species seems to be thriving in this area, and with luck, the local population will enjoy a productive breeding season this year.

Yellowhammer

Having now spent the past year and a half working down in Oxfordshire, one aspect of the county’s wildlife that continues to impress me is the sheer abundance of Brown Hares. In truth, I have never seen so many anywhere else. Almost every early morning walk seems to produce several sightings, often with animals sitting quietly in the margins of fields or racing across open ground.

One individual this morning was particularly engaging, unusually inquisitive and seemingly content to shadow my slow walk back towards the car, stopping frequently to watch me before moving on again. Encounters like these are a reminder of just how rewarding even a simple morning wander can be at this time of year.

Brown Hare

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:11TH-17TH MAY 2026

There were plenty of cold northerly winds in the forecast last week, but this provided the necessary conditions for a bumper movement of Long-tailed Skua in the far north and north-west of Scotland. Read more>

A SPRING DAY IN THE FIELD

The weather this week has been far from ideal, with frosts down in Oxfordshire and only fleeting spells of sunshine. Unsurprisingly, birding has been fairly quiet, with just the odd sighting here and there. Even so, there have still been a few worthwhile moments in the field.

Despite the conditions, I managed a visit to Theale Gravel Pits near Reading, where a Pectoral Sandpiper was present. The bird was quite distant, but it was still nice to see, as it had been a few years since I last connected with one. It was also my first visit to the site.

Many thanks to (c) Michael Hubbard for kindly allowing the use of his excellent photograph of the bird.

With sunshine finally forecast for this morning, I was keen to make the most of the conditions and head out into the field for the day.

This morning I awoke to sunshine,  a welcome change after a spell of unsettled weather. After getting myself sorted and enjoying a quick breakfast, I took advantage of the conditions and headed out to two sites for a day in the field.

My first stop was Hawkridge Wood in the Valley of the Pang, Berkshire, with one particular target in mind: the Drab Looper moth.

                                                            Hawkridge Wood

On arrival, conditions were ideal, with good numbers of Drab Loopers on the wing alongside Speckled Yellow moths, both feeding on wood spurge.

Wood Spurge

Despite their abundance, photographing them proved challenging because they were extremely active and fast-moving in the heat.

By remaining patient and focusing on a single patch, I was eventually rewarded with opportunities to photograph both species.

Drab Looper

Despite its name, the Drab Looper is anything but uninteresting in terms of behaviour. As the name suggests, it is a rather plain, unpatterned species, but it is one of the few day-flying moths and is strongly associated with warm, sunny weather. When freshly emerged, the wings can show a subtle, silky sheen, though it quickly fades.

In Britain, the species is largely restricted to southern England and Wales, where it inhabits wooded areas. The larvae feed on wood spurge, and adults are typically on the wing from May to June, with a partial second generation occurring in August in the south.

Speckled Yellow Moth

Moving on from here, I drove west to Salisbury Plain, where I had been given a site to try and see the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, a species I had never seen before. I knew it would be a long shot, as I wasn’t even sure if they were on the wing yet, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Sailsbury Plain

On arrival, the task looked daunting. On my own, I was faced with vast areas of kidney vetch.

       

Kidney vetch is the food plant of the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth.

I spent the next two hours searching for the hawk-moth without success, but I did see a few other species while walking around the site.

Green Hairstreak

There were plenty of Brown-banded carder bees on site

Dingy Skipper

Brown Argus

I headed back to the car for a drink, and then the rain set in, although thankfully it was only a short shower. As the sun broke through again, I resumed my search.

Halfway down the plain, there in front of me in the undergrowth, was a Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth. The moth then emerged from the vegetation and started feeding, allowing me to grab a few images before it flew off.

Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth 

The Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth is a day-flying moth that can be seen on the wing during late spring and early summer. Over the last 50 years, it has undergone a significant decline, largely as a result of the drainage and loss of wet pasture habitats. Although still widely distributed across Britain, it is now considered a scarce and elusive species, most frequently recorded in southern and south-western England.

I felt incredibly lucky to find it, but it was just a reward for a good three-hour search. Soon afterwards, the rain returned, so I happily made my way back to the car.

On the drive home, I called in to see the Great Bustards and was rewarded with brief views of a Stone-curlew and a very vocal Corn Bunting.

Great bustard

Stone culew 

Corn bunting

Despite the mixed weather and long hours searching, the day turned into a memorable one. Connecting with the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth after such a lengthy search made the effort entirely worthwhile, and the supporting cast of butterflies, bees and birds only added to the experience.

Days like this are a reminder that patience in the field often pays off, especially when the weather finally decides to cooperate.

A thoroughly enjoyable day out and two more moth species added to the list.