CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 31ST DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
New Brighton
Glaucous Gull (2nd winter)-On the dips.

Denhall Quay
3 Short-eared  Owl,2 Merlin,Adult male Hen Harrier,Female Marsh Harrier, Great white Egret and a Cattle Egret.

Burton RSPB
White-Fronted Goose Wet Grassland From IMF
Water Rail Copse To IMF
Pintail x2 Bridge Screen Pool
Fieldfare Far End Boardwalk Field On Right
Goldcrest x2 Burton Mere
Siskin x6 Burton Mere
Ruff x2 Main Scrape
Knot x1 Main Scrape
Pintail x2 Main Scrape
Merlin Back Of Main Scrape
Pink-Footed Geese x500+ Left Of D Barn
Whooper Swan x10 Behind D Barn
Mediterranean Gull Main Scrape
Goosander Main ScrapeKingfisher Burton Mere

CHESHIRE
Cuddington
Hawfinch-2 still on the corner of Westrees and Delamere Park Way West.

Hale
Water Pipit-Carr lane pools.

Pickerings Pasture

2 Little stint on Hale marsh.

Newchurch Common
Female Smew of unknown origin and 100+ Brambling still in the area.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN
ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 30TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret x4 Burton Marsh From Point
Marsh Harrier x2 Burton Marsh
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide
Pintail x6 Main Scrape
Dunlin x3 Main Scrape
Whooper Swan x10 Field Behind D Barn
Pink-Footed Geese x150+ Field Left Of D Barn
White Fronted Goose Fence Line Right Of Main Scrape
Hen Harrier (RT) Seen From Reedbed Screen
Peregrine Burton Marsh

CHESHIRE
Hale
Water Pipit-Carr lane pools and 2 Jack Snipe by brook near lighthouse.

Cuddington
Hawfinch-still on the corner of Westrees and Delamere Park Way West this morning.

Frodsham Marshes
Great white egret on Frodsham score.

Delamere Forest
Hawfinch-Still at Delamere Park in garden.

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 6 still around Old hall site and 1 in carpark.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 29TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
BURTON RSPB
Pink-Footed Geese x100+ Green Field Left Of D Barn
Fieldfare Field Left Bunker Entrance
Pintail x2 Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier Over Reedbed
Whooper Swan x3 Field Back Of Wet Grassland
White -Fronted Goose Right Of Main Scrape
Goldcrest x2 By Woodland Mere
Jay In Copse To IMF
Hen Harrier By Barn
Peregrine Over Main Scrape
Sparrowhawk Over Main Scrape
Kingfisher Ditch By Wooden Bridge To IMF

CHESHIRE

Cuddington

Hawfinch-2 still at Delamere Park Way West/Westrees junction in Delamere Park Estate. 

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 3 still around Old hall site.

Eccleston

Hawfinch-At least one in churchyard.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

KILLDEER-In chicken field between Parting Carn and the airport road early afternoon-St Marys-Isles of Scilly.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 20TH-26TH DECEMBER 2017

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OLDEST LIVING BRITISH BEWICK'S SWAN RETURNS

The oldest living member of a Gloucestershire swan dynasty has returned from the Russian Arctic to winter at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT).CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 28TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL

Neston Marsh
Hen Harrier-Male

Burton RSPB
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide
Goldcrest Burton Mere
Fieldfare Field Left Of Bunker Entrance
Redwing As Above
White-Fronted Goose Wet Grassland Right Of Scrape
Peregrine Over Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier Over Reedbed
Pintail x6 Bridge Screen Pool
Green Woodpecker Burton Point
Pochard ? Poss Hybrid Burton Mere (Photo)
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point

CHESHIRE

Cuddington

Hawfinch-2 still at Delamere Park Way West/Westrees junction in Delamere Park Estate. 

Swettenham
Hawfinch-by fenced paddock and lavender meadow between Swettenham Arms pub and black-and-white house.

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 1 still around Old hall site. 

MEGAS IN BRITAIN

ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

PIED BILLED GREBE-Setter Marsh-Loch Of Spiggie-Mainland-Shetland.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 27TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre
5 Eider.

Parkgate
Marsh Harrier and a male Hen Harrier competing for a dead moorhen,plus one more Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail).


Neston Sewage Works
Water Pipit.

Burton RSPB
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point
Bullfinch X1 Railway Bridge
Fieldfare Far End Of Boardwalk Field On Right
Redwing As Above
Pintail x3 Bridge Screen Pool
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide
Grey Wagtail Near Marsh Covert Wood
Nuthatch Near Reception
Avocet x1 Main Scrape
Merlin Fence Right Of Wet Grassland
Whooper Swan x5 Field Behind D Barn
Siskin By Woodland Mere
Green Woodpecker Burton Point

CHESHIRE

Pickerings Pasture

4 Little stint on Hale marsh.

Maw Green Landfill Site

Glaucous Gull

MEGAS IN BRITAIN
ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 26TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Denhall Quay
Merlin,3 Hen Harrier (2 grey male),2 Short-eared Owl,Kingfisher and 2 Great White Egret.

Burton RSPB
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Hen Harrier (RT) Burton Marsh
Kingfisher In Ditch Left Reedbed Screen
Goldcrest By Willow Mere
Little Stint Main Scrape
Grey Wagtail Field Left Bunker Entrance
Whooper Swan x20 Field Behind D Barn
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Sparrowhawk Fence Left Of Wet Grassland
Pink-Footed Geese x500+ Flew Over Reserve
Pintail x2 Main Scrape
Siskin x4 Around The Meres

CHESHIRE
Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 3 still around Old hall site and Bittern-T A Coward reedbed.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 25TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre
5 Eider,415 Bar-tailed Godwit,150 Sanderling and a record count for Hilbre of 360 Brent Geese (including 1 dark-bellied).


Thurstaston
20,000+ Knot.

CHESHIRE
Frodsham Marshes
Greater Scaup-2 Immatures.

Cuddington

Hawfinch-Still at Delamere Park Way West/Westrees junction in Delamere Park Estate.

Newchurch Common
Female Smew of unknown origin and 180 Brambling in the area.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 24TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Whooper Swan x9 Field Behind D Barn
Pink-Footed Geese x53 Wet Grassland
Little Stint Main Scrape
Pintail x2  Main Scrape
Golden Plover x8 Main Scrape
Kingfisher In Ditch Near Reedbed Screen
Water Rail In Copse To IMF
Chiffchaff By IMF Hide
Ruff x12 IMF
Goldcrest Path To IMF
Bullfinch x2 Near Wooden Bridge To IMF
Grey Wagtail IMF
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland

CHESHIRE
Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 1 still around Old hall site.

Frodsham Marshes
Greater Scaup-2 Immatures and 7 Marsh Harriers.

Pickerings Pasture

Little stint and 2 Water Pipits on Hale marsh.

Winsford Flash

Yellow Legged Gull-Adult.

Gowy Meadows

Glaucous Gull-2-1st Winters and an Adult.

FINDING VAGRANTS AMONG COMMON CARRIER SPECIES

Scanning through flocks of common species is a well-established and effective method for finding vagrant birds. When vagrants associate with common birds, the common bird is sometimes referred to as the 'carrier species'. For example, White-rumped Sandpiper is frequently found among flocks of Dunlin so, in this instance, Dunlin is the carrier species. In fact, some vagrants are almost always found among carrier species, and are rarely seen alone. Often, the carrier species is closely related to the vagrant and there are often similarities in appearance, behaviour and habitat preferences. In some cases, the vagrant may have travelled to the UK from its normal range with the carrier, but in others it may latch onto the carrier after its arrival in the UK.CLICK ON LINK

ANIMATED MAPS SHOW BIRD MIGRATION AS NEVER BEFORE

Bird movements can now be visualised in a new way after the release of the upgraded EuroBirdPortal (EBP) online viewer which shows animated maps of the migration of 105 European bird species.CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 23RD DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre
4 Eider and 296 Bar-tailed Godwit.

CHESHIRE
Frodsham Marshes
Water Pipit-2 in flooded fields off Lordship Lane this morning and a female Greater Scaup on River Weaver.

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 5 still around Old hall site.

Cuddington
Hawfinch-1 still in trees on Delamere Park Estate.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TO ALL THE BIRDERS THAT FOLLOW THIS BLOG AND @CHESHIREBIRDING

HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 22ND DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Pink-Footed Geese Flew Over Reserve
Bullfinch By Railway Bridge
Golden Plover x65 IMF
Merlin Marsh Covert Wood
Chiffchaff Marsh Covert Wood
Treecreeper By Burton Mere
Goldcrest By Burton Mere
Siskin By Woodland Mere
Little Stint Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Whooper Swan x5 Field Behind D Barn
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide
Sparrowhawk Over Wet Grassland

CHESHIRE
Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 5 still around Old hall site and Bittern-T A Coward reedbed.

Maw Green Tip-Crewe
Great White egret and Glaucous gull.

Green Lane-Sandbach
3 Brambling

Eccleston-Chester
Hawfinch-Between river and village hall

MEGAS IN BRITAIN
ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

Wealthy Bristol residents cause uproar by installing 'anti-bird spikes' to stop droppings hitting expensive cars

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Greenfinches are disappearing from our gardens: Outbreak of 'bird bath' disease means numbers have plunged by nearly 60% in just 10 years

CLICK ON LINK

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 21ST DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Whooper Swan x4 Main Scrape
Spotted Redshank Main Scrape
Little Stint Main Scrape
Ruff x6 Main Scrape
Golden Plover x10+ Main Scrape
Green Sandpiper Reception Pool
Siskin x6 Tree`s By Garden
Cetti`s Warbler Marsh Covert Hide
Kingfisher Ditch By Wooden Bridge To IMF
Water Rail Copse To IMF
White-Fronted Goose From IMF Hide
Bullfinch x2 Railway Bridge
Great Egret x5 Burton Marsh From Point
Hen Harrier Adult Burton Marsh From Point
Pink-Footed Geese x2000+ Flew Over
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker By Willow Mere ???

CHESHIRE
Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 5 still around Old hall site. 

Newchurch Common
Female Smew of unknown origin,Red Kite and 150 Brambling in the area.

Cuddington
Hawfinch-3 in trees on Delamere Park Estate.

Pickerings Pasture
Little Stint-5+ from screen with 1000 Dunlin

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 20TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Merlin Burton Marsh From Point
Bullfinch x4 Railway Bridge
Goldcrest Marsh Covert Wood
Water Rail Marsh Covert Hide
Cetti`s Warbler Marsh Covert Hide
Siskin x4 Trees By Garden
Nuthatch By Old Toilet Block
Little Stint Main Scrape
Golden Plover Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Redwing Field Left Of Bunker Entrance
Mistle Thrush x2 Field Left Of Bunker Entrance
Kingfisher Reception Pool

Neston Sewage Works
Firecrest.

Denhall Quay
2 Hen Harrier and 5 Great White Egret.


Thurstaston Shore
25,000 Knot.

West Kirby Marsh
Jack Snipe.


Hilbre
5 Eider and 270 Sanderling.

West Kirby Marine Lake
7 Red-breasted Merganser.

CHESHIRE
Cuddington
Hawfinch-one in trees on Delamere Park Estate.

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 7 still around Old hall site. 

Newchurch Common
Female Smew of unknown origin-Still present and 150 Brambling in the area.

Rostherne Mere
5 Hawfinch still present.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 19TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Hilbre
5 Eider and 385 Grey Plover, 10,000 Knot flew NE.

Thurstaston Shore
17,000 Knot roosting before high tide on.

Burton RSPB
Little Stint-Still showing from reception hide.
Merlin Tree Above New Toilet Block
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Golden Plover Main Scrape
Goldcrest By Reception
Nuthatch Feeder By Reception
Water Rail In Copse To IMFHen Harrier (RT)Over Wet Grassland

CHESHIRE

Rostherne Mere

Hawfinch x 4 (at least) in trees on other side of wall to left of footpath (at side of field) from Natural England car park going towards Observatory/Mere.

Groby Flash-Near Crewe
Hawfinch,Great White egret and Long Eared Owl.

Cuddington
Hawfinch-one in trees behind Westrees on Delamere Park Estate.

Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch- 2 still around Old hall site. 

Newchurch Common
Female Smew of unknown origin-Still present.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-13TH-19TH DECEMBER 2017

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK 13TH-19TH DECEMBER 2017

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CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 18TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Denhall Quay
10+ Short-eared Owl,4 Marsh Harrier,2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and grey male) and a Sparrowhawk hunting starlings.

Thurstaston

20,000+ Knot.

Puddington
Western Cattle Egret-In damp fields north of Craxton Wood Hotel with 10 Little egrets yesterday until flushed, appeared to settle again a little further north. 

Burton RSPB
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point
Hen Harrier Adult Burton Marsh From Point
Water Rail Copse To IMF
Siskin x5 Near Bench Along Boardwalk
Fieldfare As Above
Redwing As Above
Cetti`s Warbler Along Boardwalk
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide
White-Fronted Goose (E) Wet Grassland Right Of Main Scrape
Peregrine Over Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Golden Plover Main Scrape
Whooper Swan x4 Field Behind D Barn
Little Stint x2 Main Scrape

Goldcrest x3 Marsh Covert Wood

CHESHIRE
Sandbach Flashes
Caspian Gull-Adult on Pumphouse Flash yesterday then flew off and Cetti's Warbler-Railway flash.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 17TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Neston

4 short eared owl and an Great white egret

West Kirby Marine Lake

Goldeneye (male),2 Goosander,6 Red-breasted Merganser,Great Crested Grebe,Mediterranean Gull and 3 Goldeneye.

Burton RSPB
Pintail x1 Main Scrape
Avocet x1 Main Scrape
White-Fronted Geese Poss 3 With Greylag Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Sparrowhawk Fence Post Right Of Wet Grassland
Redwing Field Left Of Bunker Entrance
Fieldfare Field Left Of Bunker Entrance
Whooper Swan x14 Field Behind D Barn
Chiffchaff Willow Tree Along Boardwalk
Bullfinch x2 Railway Bridge
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Merlin Fence Post Right Of Wet Grassland
Golden Plover x30 Main Scrape
Little Stint Main Scrape
Kingfisher Marsh Covert Hide 

CHESHIRE
Mellor Moor
Great Grey Shrike-1 reported yesterday.

Four Ways Sand Quarry
Eurasian White Fronted goose-On east side of lake.

Oakmere
Snow Bunting-1 flew southwest over Farm Road. 

Delamere Forest
Hawfinch-1 still at Delamere Forest Cafe car park this morning. 

Cuddington
Hawfinch-With Greenfinches in silver birch trees.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 16TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Denhall Quay
4 Great White Egret and 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail).

Burton RSPB
Redwing Burton Point
Fieldfare Burton Point
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Bullfinch Railway Bridge
Goosander Willow Mere
Pintail x2 Main Scrape
Golden Plover x55+ Main Scrape
White-Fronted Goose Wet Grassland
Iceland Gull Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Sparrowhawk Over Main Scrape
Whooper Swan x15 Field Behind D Barn
Pink-Footed Geese x1000 Field Behind D Barn
Hen Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Peregrine Over Main Scrape

CHESHIRE
Woolston Eyes
Hawfinch-2 on No 3 Bed this morning then flew east. 

Marbury Country Park
4 Hawfinch still around Old hall site and Bittern still in T A Coward reedbed.

MEGAS IN BRITAIN
NORTHERN HAWK OWL-Individual photographed by the River Nidd yesterday morning is an escape from a local collection-Knaresborough-North Yorkshire.

ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

PIED BILLED GREBE-Setter Marsh-Loch Of Spiggie-Mainland-Shetland.

PACIFIC DIVER-Unconfirmed report of adult still off Jubilee pool-Penzance-Cornwall.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 15TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL

Neston Old Quay

Hen Harrier-Ringtail,2 Great White egret and Water Pipit,Short-eared Owl,Merlin,Peregrine (juv),4 Marsh harrier and a Goosander (male flying west).

Burton RSPB
Whooper Swan x20 Field Behind D Barn
Mistle Thrush Field Left Bunker Entrance
Fieldfare As Above
Redwing x350+ As Above
Kingfisher Reception Pool
Avocet x1 Main Scrape
Ruff x2 Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Pink-Footed Geese x2000 Flew Over
Goldcrest x2 By Burton Mere
Treecreeper By Willow Mere
Chiffchaff Marsh Covert Wood
Great Egret x2 Burton Marsh From PointPeregrine x2 Over Main Scrape

Hilbre
5 Purple Sandpiper,5 Eider and 282 Brent Geese.


CHESHIRE

Brownlow

Hawfinch-One in large beech tree by the farmhouse at c.SJ832611 this afternoon; park only at the bottom of Sandy Lane at c.SJ831605 and walk up Sandy Lane, cross Childs Lane and take the footpath north then west.

Marbury Country Park
4 Hawfinch still around Old hall site and Bittern still in T A Coward reedbed.

               
                  

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 14TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Goosander (drake) on reception pool,Avocet and a Marsh Harrier


Caldy Wildfowl Collection
350 Black-tailed Godwit. 


West Kirby Marine Lake
2 Goosander, 5 Red-breated Merganser and 3 Great Crested Grebe.


CHESHIRE
Marbury Country Park
Hawfinch-1 Still near Old hall site

Hale
3 Water Pipits-Town Lane Pools

              

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 13TH DECEMBER 2017

WIRRAL
West Kirby Marine Lake
2 Goosander, 5 Red-breated Merganser and 2 Great Crested Grebe.

Heswall Shore
700 Pinkfeet,660 Pintail.185 Teal, 8000 Oystercatcher,140 Golden Plover,900 Lapwing,20,000+ Knot, 1900 Dunlin,750 Redshank,1260 Black-tailed Godwit,220 Bar-tailed Godwit, 660 Curlew.

Parkgate
3 Marsh Harrier,Short-eared Owl,Merlin and a Male Hen Harrier 

Hilbre
5 Eider,5 Purple Sandpiper,72 Turnstone,110 Sanderling,362 Curlew and 7,000 Oystercatcher

Burton RSPB
Whooper Swan x19 Field Behind D Barn
Pink-Footed Geese x100+ As Above
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland 
Peregrine Over Main Scrape
Water Rail Fence Line Right Of Scrape
Redwing x70+ Far End Boardwalk Field On Right
Woodcock Near Copse To IMF
Goosander Redbed Screen

Neston Old Quay
2 Short eared Owl

MEGAS IN BRITAIN
ITALIAN SPARROW-Possible (or hybrid sparrow sp.) in gardens on Wynards Road and Cadbury Gardens (present several days); park in car park off Hayes Lane or on B3178 at Oak Hill (c.SY067847)-East Budleigh-Devon.

PIED BILLED GREBE-Setter Marsh-Loch Of Spiggie-Mainland-Shetland.