WIRRAL BIRD RUN 1ST JAN 2016

I got up nice and early this morning and made my way up to Hoylake. A good assortment of waders were around: Knot, Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank, and Oystercatcher. Had absolutely stunning views of a Peregrine hunting over the beach, which was a nice bonus. Anyway, carried on towards West Kirby, where I connected with the Great Northern diver, happily diving around the marina again. Other birds of note were red-breasted mergansers and a couple of Great crested grebes.

Great Northern Diver was still showing well

I then moved on to Thurstaston, where I connected with over 100 Pintails on the estuary and beautiful views of the Dee estuary whilst sitting down and having a nice coffee.

Looking towards Parkgate from Thurstaston

Next port of call was Heswall, where i had good views of Spotted

redshank, greenshank, golden plover, and pink-footed geese. Moving on down the estuary, I called it at Parkgate but saw no sign of any Hen harriers. The short-eared owl was still showing at Burton Marsh but was distant, along with a great white egret. The last place I visited was Burton RSP, where the green winged teal was showing from the reception hide. A Marsh Harrier also showed well in the comfort of a nice warm hide, along with a green sandpiper and a water rail. I then walked around and got good views of Sisken and Redpoll. Two Jacksnipes were distant from Marsh covert hide. The long-eared owl has now moved and isn't showing that well; apparently it has been disturbed by idiots trying to get to close.

A walk over to Burton Marsh watchpoint produced another Short-eared owl, Bewick's, and Whooper swans.

Whooper and Bewick's swans were on Burton Marsh

A view looking over Burton RSPB

A cracking day birding on the Wirral, and nice to see so many familiar faces. 

MY BIRDING YEAR 2012

Everything was quiet until February 17th, when news emerged that a Common Yellowthroat had been found in Rhiwderin, Gwent. I arrived at dawn the next morning and had excellent views of the bird.

This first winter male was the 11th Common Yellowthroat for Britain & Ireland.

(C) R.Stonier

May arrived, and on the 21st, I received a phone call from Dan Pointon informing me that a Cream-Coloured Courser had been found on a golf course in Hertfordshire. I met up with Josh Jones, Ash Howe, and Dan Pointon at dawn, and we quickly located the bird. What an incredible find! This must be one of the most remarkable records of the 21st century—a spring adult Cream-coloured courser perched atop Bradnor Hill in rural Herefordshire. 

This made up for the bird I missed on the Isles of Scilly in 2004

(C)Josh Jones

l will remember this one for a long time, not least for the fact that many birders didn't even hear about it until they woke up in the morning, by which time we'd already left the site!

On the evening of May 24th, a Ballion's Crake was reported at Malltraeth on Anglesey. I called Josh Jones, who was already on his way, and he picked me up along the route. By first light, I was watching my first Ballion's Crake in Britain.

May 29th, I had just finished a night shift when the news broke that an Orphean warbler had been trapped and ringed at the bowling green in Hartlepool, Cleveland, and was set to be released at 8:45 AM. After a few quick phone calls, I assembled a team consisting of Malc Curtin, Fred Fearne, and Ash Powell, and we were on our way.

Fred drove us, and we met up at Lymm Services before continuing on to the bowling green, arriving around 11:30 AM. Fortunately, the bird had not moved since its release and was still sitting in a bush when we arrived, thanks to Stewart Piner, who got me straight on the bird.

Another great day birding and three lifers in a week! It’s a long time since that has happened!

On June 26th, I had just finished doing some gardening when Phil Woollen called to inform me that Mark Turner had found a possible Little Swift at New Brighton. Without wasting a moment, I rushed out of the house and sped up the M53 to New Brighton, making calls along the way. Since no news had been broadcast on the bird services yet, I called Dan Pointon to give him a heads-up. Just as I was speaking with him, the mega alert went off. I arrived at New Brighton and was quickly met by Mark Turner, who directed me straight to the bird.

What a bird and twenty minutes up the road!

(C)P Woollen

This was another great bird I had longed to see after missing the 2005 bird in Norfolk. This year was turning out to be a fantastic year for grip backs, long may it continue!

All was quiet on the birding front until September 5th, when a Long-billed Dowitcher was discovered at Lodmoor RSPB in Dorset. However, it was later re-identified as a Short-billed Dowitcher. The news broke at 10:00 PM, so I gathered my things and headed south, picking up Dan Pointon from Bristol along the way. We saw the bird the following morning.

(C) A.Chard

Autumn came and went without new bird sightings for me, but on December 20th, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found on St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly. I picked up Higgo, who had been visiting his parents and we headed to Newquay Airport for the morning flight. Thankfully, the bird was later seen in my friend Joe Pender's garden. While enjoying tea and biscuits, I watched the bird, recalling how I had missed one on St. Agnes by a day in 2007.

I had a great year birding and saw some amazing birds. I look forward to 2013!

BIRDING SUMMARY 2015! WHAT A YEAR!

Well, thought the misses would be seeing the new year again on her own as news broke of a possible White Rumped Swift in Dunbar this morning! No such luck, Little Swift! Well, that will keep me in the good books till the next twitch.

Anyway, what a year! It all started with an early morning drive on New Year's Day up to Fraisthorpe in Yorkshire to see the Little Bustard.

Little Bustard

Malc, "Where is it?"

Local birding commenced, and in early February, a Laughing Gull was found at New Brighton. What a bird!

Laughing Gull

All was quiet then on the 18th of April, when I was leaving work at 8pm, I had a phone call from Higgo saying that a Great Blue Heron had been found on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. I got home and sorted stuff out, and I was on my way making the 9.30am Scillonian crossing. On arrival, we missed the bird by minutes in Old Town Bay. 3 to 4 birders saw the bird fly off in the afternoon. The bird was not relocated till the next evening, when it was on Bryher and we had just reached Penzance on the boat. There were well over a hundred birders on the boat, gutted!

Anyway, left Cheshire on Sunday night with Phil Woollen and arrived for the first boat on Monday morning, again a Scillonian crossing, quick boat over to Bryher, and bang, it's on! What a beast!

Great Blue Heron

Next was Cheshire and Wirrals long-awaited first Surf Scoter, an adult drake, which was discovered by A. Conlin and K. Dummigan amongst thousands of Common Scoters.  I walked out the next day and got great views.

Surf Scoter off East Hoyle Bank

Next, a phone call from Dan Pointon on the 25th April saying "drive there's a Hudsonian Godwit at Mere Heath in Somerset. Great bird! Keep these blockers coming!

Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwit Twitch

Had a nice surprise when a corncrake was found at Hale at the end of April, which was a county tick for me.

The morning of the 10th of May was mad. Citril Finch-Holkham-Norfolk couldn't believe what I was reading on my pager. Anyway, 5 hours later, I'm watching this mega bird with my son Dylan. Never thought I'd grip that one back on the chequebook brigade.

Citril Finch

 Citril Finch Twitch

I then spent three days up in Scotland at the end of May with Fred Fearn, which was a great birding break, and we hoovered up all the Scottish specialities and a cracking King Eider.

 Ptarmigan

Harlequin Duck

Fred photographing the Harley Duck

I then had to wait till the 16th of June for the next mega, Bardsey Island! Cretzschmar's bunting dipped it bad style on the Saturday, and it hurt, but the bird was refound on the Sunday and was coming to feed being put down by the wardens at the lighthouse. I travelled down again on Sunday evening and waited till the first boat in the morning. I got on the first boat thanks to John Roberts and the North Wales lads and was rewarded with cracking views of the bunting. Overall a great twitch with Jonny Holliday, John Roberts, and a birder in a bag! Mark Thomas!

Buckon Birder getting a few hours in before the boat!

 Cretzschmar's Bunting 

I spent the first week in September on our annual pilgrimage to Shetland with Pete Antrobus and Mark Payne. A great week birding, but no PG TIPS again! To be honest, it was one of the quietest weeks I have spent up in Shetland for birds.

The next biggie came on October 13th; a Wilson's Warbler had been found by Roy Dennis and Tony Marr on the Isle of Lewis, 30 years to the day of the last British record. We soon sorted a team out of M.Frosdick, J.Pegden, and D.Pointon, and we were off. We arrived next morning and got stunning views after the bird gave itself up.

Wilson's Warbler

Four Nutters

All was quiet then till the 26th of October, when I visited Papa Westray on the Orkneys. A chestnut bunting had been found, so I jumped on my first charter with S. Cole, P. Woollen, C. Bromley, and S. Butchart. Cracking day out and great bird!

Me and Sean Cole leaving Nottinghamshire for the Orkneys

Chestnut Bunting

What an amazing year! But the hardest bird to stomach was the Acadian Flycatcher, dipped the next day due to bloody work. Oh well, they'll be another! A great year, such laughs and great friends! Roll on 2016! 

BURTON MARSH AND DECCA POOLS

Took a walk along Burton Marsh up to the Harp Inn pub today to try and see a Short eared owl which is being seen down there on a daily basis.The bird showed well after I found it and had a good fly around before being mobbed by a group of Carrion crows.

Short Eared Owl

Up to 14 Little egrets were counted during the walk and good numbers of Wigeon were on Decca pools

                                                                      Little Egret

Wigeon

Anyway nice afternoon stroll, roll on the 1st January and get the old year list going!

Looking down onto Burton Marsh