WINTER SPECTACLES:TEN TOP UK STARLING MURURATIONS

Like clouds of smoke, large flocks of Starlings roll and churn through the evening sky, creating ever-changing shapes as they gather before diving into their chosen roost sites

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WWT 'HUMAN SWAN' FLIES HOME

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) conservationist Sacha Dench flew into Slimbridge, Gloucestershire,on Friday in her paramotor,completing a record-breaking three-month journey following Bewick's swan on migration from Russia.CLICK ON LINK

REVIEW OF THE WEEK OF BIRDS RECORDED IN CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL 12TH DEC-18TH DEC 2016

WIRRAL BIRD SIGHTINGS

West Kirby-A Great White Egret flew from Leasowe towards Thurstaston over Newton on the 12th.

Burton RSPB-A Green Sandpiper was present on the 12th.3 Marsh Harrier's were over the reserve on the 13th and a male Hen harrier was seen on the 14th.There were 3 Short eared owls over burton marsh on the 18th.

Hoylake Shore-1,200 Bar-tailed Godwit,16,000 Knot,140 Sanderling,100 Grey Plover, 2,000 Oystercatcher and 3,500 Dunlin were present on the on the 13th

Thurstaston Shore-1,550 Pintail after high tide on the 13th this is thought to be a site record,1,500 Pintail, 123 Golden Plover, 600 Dunlin, 270 Knot, 1 Greenshank, 2400 Black-tailed Godwit,on the rising tide on the 14th.400 Pink-footed Geese were  feeding in a field below Dungeon Wood by Wirral Way on the 15th.2,700 Black-tailed Godwit, 700 Pintail and 180 Bar-tailed Godwit were seen on the rising tide on the 15th.

Heswall Shore-1 Snow Bunting,1 Greenshank and 2,300 Black-tailed Godwit 
1 Peregrine and 600 Pink-footed Geese were seen on the 13th.

Heswall-Riverbank Road-248 Brent Geese, 2000 Pintail, 12 Red-breasted Merganser, 12 Little Egret, 2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Short-eared Owl at high tide 14th.195 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 23 Little Egret, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 2 Greenshank  at high tide on the 15th.235 Brent Geese,9 Red-breasted Merganser,7 Little Egret 2 Merlin together-male and female,1 ringtail Hen Harrier at high tide on the 17th.

Neston Old Quay-6+ Marsh Harrier were seen on the 13th.


Denhall Quay-1 Merlin,1 Hen Harrier and 5 Marsh Harrier were present on the 13th.


Leasowe Lighthouse-c20 Scaup were off the lighthouse on the 14th.

Meols-7,000 Knot roosting off Roman Road before high tide, they were flushed by the tide at 9.40am and flew towards Formby followed 10 minutes later by a larger flock of c10,000 Knot coming from Hoylake direction on the 15th.175 Great Crested Grebe and c500 Common Scoter were seen  at high tide on the 17th.

Parkgate-2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail),2 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Great White Egret and 3 Little Grebe on the Donkey Stand pool over high tide on the 15th.A Marsh harrier was seen on the 18th.

Seacombe-A Glaucous gull flew north past the ferry station on the 17th.

Hilbre-1 Scaup (drake) and 117 pale-bellied Brent Geese were present on the 18th.

CHESHIRE BIRD SIGHTINGS

Shocklach-A Common Crane flew west over fields towards the River Dee near Caldecott Green on the 14th

Newchurch Common-The redhead Smew and the Red Crested Pochard remained all week

Marbury Country Park- 2 Little egrets were on Budworth mere on the 14th.3 Ruff were on Neumann's Flash mid morning on the 13th.The Little egret numbers increased by the 16th with 4 at the east end of Budworth mere.

Macclesfield-A Waxwing was seen on Union Street near B&Q on the 16th.

Pickmere Lake-A  1st-winter drake Scaup was present on the 16th.

Hale-2 Water Pipits were still present at Carr lane pools on the 17th and 18th.

Pickerings Pasture-A Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint were seen on the 17th.A Yellow legged gull was seen on the 18th.

Chelford-Lapwing Hall Pool-The Black Necked grebe has been present all week.On the 18th 9 Tree Sparrows were seen around the hedgerows of the pool.

BLACK NECKED GREBE

Frodsham Marsh-On the 18th a Water Pipit flew from N06 Tank and a Little Stint was present at high tide.Frodsham score held a Great white egret as well.

Moore Nature Reserve-An Adult Yellow legged Gull was seen on the 16th at Birchwood pools.

Sandbach Flashes-The Great white egret and Juvenile Glaucous gull were present on the 14th.

ACRE NOOK SAND QUARRY AND LAPWING HALL POOL

I visited Chelford sand quarries this afternoon as I haven't been for ages due to working on nights.The following birds were recorded:

ACRE NOOK SAND QUARRY

3 Moorhen

17 Coot

1 Little Grebe

2 Great Crested Grebe

1 Pheasant

4 Cormorant

3 Goosander

2 Tufted Duck

7 Teal

19 Mallard

4 Mandarin Duck

70+ Greylag  Goose

27 Black Headed Gull

2 Jay

2 Bullfinch

20+ Redwing

10+ Fieldfare

1 Green Woodpecker

6 Reed Bunting

7 Blue Tit

4 Great Tit

2 Wren

4 Robin

2 Chaffinch

14 Goldfinch

1 Pied Wagtail

1 Grey Wagtail

2 Song thrush

LAPWING HALL POOL

1 Black Necked Grebe

50+ Wigeon

40+ Coot

4 Moorhen

7 Shoveller

7 Little Grebe

20+ Mallard

18 Meadow Pipit

9 Goldfinch

4 Wood Pigeon

2 Stock Dove

4 Blue Tit

7 Great Tit

1 Treecreeper

5 Greenfinch

9 Tree Sparrow

3 Chaffinch

1 Nuthatch

2 Jay

6 Carrion Crow

20+ Rook

10+ Jackdaw

2 Magpie

5 Buzzard

A good afternoons birding and nice to be out birding around the quarries again.