Hawfinches are among Britain’s scarcest birds, yet over the last two weeks they have been appearing in unusually large numbers, driven by an influx from continental Europe. While Hurricane Ophelia spun anti-clockwise off the west coast of Europe, it drew a stream of warm air northwards toward Britain, diverting hawfinches en route to their breeding grounds in Central Europe and the Mediterranean over to the UK. The irruption began in the southeast of England, and numbers have now reached nearly 500 reports, as illustrated in the graph from BirdTrack.
Historically, sightings of hawfinches in Cheshire and Wirral have been rare. Although birds are reported annually, these are usually single-observer flyovers, fleeting and rarely seen again. The last long-staying hawfinch most local birders connected with was at Marbury Country Park in January 2009, remaining in the area until early March.
This bird was present around Marbury Country Park till early March
(C)P.Woolen
The first sighting of this year’s county influx occurred on the morning of 14 October at Bidston Moss Nature Reserve on the Wirral, recorded by Elliot Montieth. Once again, it was a flyover bird. As the days progressed, additional sightings were noted across the county, bringing the total to 26 hawfinches reported in Cheshire and Wirral since 14 October.
26 hawfinches have been reported in Cheshire and Wirral since 14th October
Most sightings have been fleeting flyovers, so it was particularly exciting when news broke on Sunday of five birds present around a churchyard at St Oswald’s in Brereton. I wasn’t able to make it on Sunday, but I was fortunate enough to connect with them today.
These birds, photographed by Malc Curtin and Phil Locker above, provided excellent views and a reminder of just how spectacular a hawfinch can be when seen at close quarters — a rare treat for Cheshire and Wirral birders alike.
