I arrived at Leasowe around 12.30 today for an afternoon's birding. I parked up at the lighthouse and soon connected with a Willow warbler in the lighthouse garden. The horse paddocks down Lingham Lane held several Blackbirds and a Pied Wagtail. There were good numbers of Goldfinch, Linnet and Greenfinch down the lane. Other birds of note were House Sparrow, Dunnock, Great and Blue Tit, Collared Dove and 4 Canada Geese over.
Dunnock
Collared Dove
Goldfinch
Reaching the bridge halfway down the lane, I had 2 Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap skulking around in the alderberry bushes.
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
A seawatch followed off Leasowe, where I connected with Common scoter, Great Crested grebe, Dunlin, Redshank and a single Lapwing flew past the wind farm.
Moving back towards the farm at the end of Park Lane, the paddocks were again very quiet. A Swallow was around the farm, and 3 House martins flew east. The fields behind the paddocks held 3 Little egrets and 6 Wheatear, and a Reed bunting.
Reed Bunting
3 Little Egrets feeding in the fields
Moving on from Leasowe, I called in at Gilroy Nature Park, where a Common sandpiper had been reported. The flooded field next to the path held 2 Black tailed godwits,17 Shelduck,2 Oystercatchers and 4 Snipe
Black Tailed Godwit
Snipe
Shelduck
Walking down the path, I walked around the fishing pool and flushed the Common sandpiper, which showed well. A Great crested grebe was also seen.
Common Sandpiper
Great Crested Grebe
