ACRE NOOK AND LAPWING HALL POOL BIRD SIGHTINGS- AUGUST 2016

After a good end to July, patch birding for the whole of August was very disappointing and hard birding. Whilst other sites were getting Greenshank, Whimbrel, Wood Sandpipers, and other bits, I failed to find anything of note, only a long-staying Black-necked Grebe, which is still present on the 1st of September on Lapwing Hall Pool. 

Black necked Grebe

Gull numbers continued to rise, with over 500 visiting Acrenook along with 72 Curlew on the 21st. There were over 150 Canada geese on the 11th, along with Teal and shovelers in good numbers. Lapwing numbers have been over 100 throughout the month, and at least 10 Mandarin were present. Hobbies were seen on the 2nd and the 14th, and Jay was also present around the pool on the 24th.

Canada Goose

Curlew

Jay

Lapwing Hall Pool continues to hold 60+ Tufted Ducks; 2 Wigeon and 34 Coot were counted on the 16th. There were 9 little grebes on the 19th, along with 7 great crested grebes and 14 mute swans. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen on the 6th, which was unbelievable and a first for the year.

Great spotted woodpecker

As you can see, a very poor month for birds, but hey, that's patch birding!

AN EVENING'S BIRDING AT CARR LANE POOLS-HALE

Leaving Birkenhead, I made a brief stop at Carr Lane Pools in Hale to try and photograph the two Wood Sandpipers that have been lingering for a while. On arrival, both birds were still present, though positioned on the far side of the pool in the sun.

Wood Sandpiper

The pool also held nine Ruff, six Snipe, and four Little Ringed Plovers, offering a lively wader mix.

Ruff

As I was leaving, an Egyptian Goose appeared from the reeds, adding a striking close to the visit.

Egyptian Goose

HOODED CROW-BIRKENHEAD PARK

A Hooded Crow was reported near Birkenhead North Station on 15th August. After a quick dash up the M53, I initially missed it, as the bird had flown. Later in the afternoon, I returned to Birkenhead, where the crow had been relocated to the cricket pitch.

On arrival, it didn’t take long to connect, with the bird sitting quietly under the cricket porch before flying onto the field, where it showed exceptionally well.

The bird then flew onto the field and showed really well.

AN EVENING ON HILBRE ISLAND

My good friend Allan Conlin was spending a week at the bird observatory on Hilbre Island. On one evening, I decided to take a stroll over to the islands with a few glasses of red wine, hoping to catch the stunning sunset along the North Wirral coast, weather permitting. I parked at West Kirby and set off on the two-mile walk to the islands.

Looking back towards West Kirby

Arriving at the bird observatory, Allan immediately pointed out an adult Black Tern he had found among the Sandwich and Common Terns. While chatting outside the observatory, I also picked up a Sedge Warbler skulking in the pittosporum.

 A good number of Sandwich terns were off Hilbre 

 Hilbre Bird Observatory

Other highlights included a Whimbrel flying over and calling, and a Peregrine hunting over Middle Eye. Moving to the front of the observatory, we were treated to a perfect sunset—a breathtaking finale to a wonderful evening.

This is the life,Allan and I enjoying a glass of wine

It was a fantastic evening with Allan in a truly special setting. Hilbre is well worth a visit if you haven’t been before, and for the latest bird news from the islands, check out Hilbre Bird Observatory on Twitter.

NEW FERRY BUTTERFLY PARK-WIRRAL

Today I visited the newly established New Ferry Butterfly Park on the Wirral. The site, managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, has been transformed over the years from former railway sidings just off Bebington railway station into a thriving habitat for wildlife.

The park offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy butterflies and other wildlife in a well-designed, accessible setting. For further information on the site, visit the Cheshire Wildlife Trust website.

http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/new-ferry-butterfly-park.

Twenty-six species of butterflies have been recorded at the park

  Common Grasshopper

 Gatekeeper

  Small tortoiseshell

 Common Blue

 Brimstone

 Small Skipper

 Speckled Wood

The Butterfly Park

Other Moths I have seen this month have included:

 Yellow-tailed Moth

 Buff Tip Moth

 Large Yellow Underwing Moth

Small Magpie

JURRASIC AUK!

It was last seen on British shores 200 years ago - but the great auk could soon return.

CLICK ON LINK

WESTERN SWAMPHEN-MINSMERE,SUFFOLK

I was just leaving Burton RSPB on Sunday afternoon, having enjoyed a brief encounter with a Spotted Crake, when a Twitter alert informed me of a Purple Swamphen at Minsmere in Suffolk. Initially reported as ringed, the bird was later re-identified—after photos revealed it was unringed—as a Western Swamphen, a race that breeds in Spain and Portugal. While Britain has had a few Purple Swamphen records, most relate to captive Grey-headed Swamphens escaping collections, such as the Saltney bird in Chester in July 2010. This record, however, had real potential as an insurance tick.

Plans were already underway for others to visit the site on Monday morning, but due to work commitments, I couldn’t head down until Tuesday. Fortunately, the Swamphen had remained in its favoured patch of reeds all day Monday, making my arrival in Suffolk just after 11:30 pm and a car-camp overnight a worthwhile gamble.

With my alarm set for 5 am, I was soon on my way to the south hide, undeterred by pouring rain. The Western Swamphen was weaving in and out of the reeds exactly where it had been for the past two days—a relief given the vastness of the reserve.

Western Swamphen

Despite the worsening weather and bone-chilling cold, I managed a few record shots before retreating to a hide for shelter. While there, Black-tailed Godwits were in good numbers, accompanied by six Spotted Redshanks. A distant Marsh Harrier perched briefly, and four Bearded Tits were also observed.

Black Tailed Godwit

Marsh Harrier

Just as I was leaving the hide, a Bittern flew over the reed bed, adding another highlight to an already memorable morning. On the walk back, I glimpsed a Water Rail and a family of young Common Whitethroats.

Bittern in flight

Water Rail

Common Whitethroats

After the reserve opened at 9 am, I treated myself to a hot drink and breakfast in the café, entertained by a juvenile Robin hopping nearby.

    A juvenile Robin kept me entertained while I had breakfast

From Minsmere, I headed to Westleton Heath, last visited on 11 May 2008, with hopes of a Spectacled Warbler, which I dipped eight years ago. Still, the heath was in full bloom, and a good walk produced nine Dartford Warblers and a Woodlark flyover.

The common heather was in full bloom on Westleton Heath

9 Dartford warblers were seen on the heath

With rain returning, it was time to head north. The Swamphen tick was secured, and now it’s up to the authorities to decide whether this was a genuine vagrant or another escapee—much like the Chestnut Bunting, Dalmatian Pelican, and Lammergeier before it.