CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 31ST OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Dunlin x22 IMF 
Pintail x4 Bridge Pool 
Jack Snipe (x2) 1IMF & 1MC Hide 
Water Pipit Marsh Covert Hide
Peregrine Over Marsh Covert Hide
Stonechat Bridge Screen
Common Gulls 200+ Main Scrape
Mediterranean Gulls x4 Main Scrape
Whooper Swans Field Back Of Wet Grassland
Pink Footed Geese Wet Grassland
Hen Harrier Over Wet Grassland

Red Rocks
630 Chaffinch and 6 Fieldfare over flying south.

Neston Reedbed
2 Bittern roosted.

Hilbre
Black Redstart-1st winter Male

CHESHIRE
Hale
Hen Harrier-Two ringtails flew south 07:15-08:15,Ring Ouzel and 2 Water Pipit on Duck decoy marsh.

Poynton Pool
Little egret,Water rail and 2 Ring necked parakeet's

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-24TH-30TH OCTOBER 2018

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BIRDGUIDES PHOTO OF THE WEEK 24TH-30TH OCTOBER 2018

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CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 30TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Whooper Swans x13 Field Back Of Wet Grassland 
Pink Footed Geese 2000+Wet Grassland 
Mediterranean Gull (Adult) Main Scrape 
Common Gulls x50+ Main Scrape
Snipe x10 Main Scrape
Hen Harrier Over Main Scrape
Ruff x4 Left Main Scrape
Curlew x6 From Marsh Covert Hide
Pintail x4 Bridge Pool
Dunlin x23 IMF
Golden Plover IMF
Stonechat x2 IMF
Mediterranean Gull (Juv 1st W) Main Scrape

Shotwick Fields
15 Whooper Swan including 2 on the Boating lake. 

West Kirby Marine Lake
Scaup (Juv).

Hilbre
197 Brent Geese, 178 Redshank, 2 Teal and 650 Starling.


Thurstaston Shore
3,400 Knot.

Parkgate
Bittern and 2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail)- At dusk Bittern again flew towards Neston reedbed to roost.


Neston Reed Bed
7 Marsh Harrier,4 Hen Harrier (Incl 1 Grey male),2 Barn Owl and 2 Cetti's Warbler.

CHESHIRE
Hale
2 Water Pipit and a Jack Snipe.

PROBABLE STEJNEGER'S STONECHAT-October 29th 2018

An “Eastern” Stonechat was found last week in fields at Salthouse in Norfolk. After much debate all week with birding friends and further reading on this species, I decided to go and see it. Currently, this species can only be validated 100% by DNA analysis, which thankfully was collected last week and sent off. This was my first opportunity to observe this taxon since the adoption of IOC taxonomy, giving Stejnegeri as a full species.

Sean Cole rang me on Friday morning offering to drive, so I asked Malc Curtin if he was up for it, and he was, and also Cliff Smith, car full! We're going! I picked Malc up from Northwich at 4.30am, and we headed across the country to meet Sean and Cliff. A quick change of car and we were on site just before 10.00am with plenty of red kites and thrush movement keeping us all awake on the way. I soon got on the bird after we arrived, but the bird flew into a hawthorn bush. The bird was really elusive, but we did get a few flight views of it. The bird then went missing as it had flown quite a long way from where it was originally, so I headed back there. Cliff and I stood scanning the fields when the bird flew around us and popped up in a bush, giving good views before flying off again.

 Probable Stejneger’s Stonechat-Salthouse, Norfolk

This was a really interesting-looking bird, but I couldn't believe how elusive it was. Anyway, the bird appeared again in the reeds and then flew into the fields and showed distantly for a while. I will just have to wait now for the DNA to come back for confirmation that it is a Stejneger's Stonechat, and it could also be my 500th bird for Britain 😀.

The Twitch

There have been three previous records of Stejneger’s Stonechat:
2016 Landguard-Suffolk-1CY male S. m. stejnegeri, trapped, 6th–7th October.
2016 Spurn-East Yorkshire-1CY female S. m. stejnegeri-22nd–26th October.
2012 Portland Bill-Devon-first-winter male,trapped 24th to 26th October.

After good views of the bird, we moved on to Cley and did some seawatching, which was really good, and we saw some great birds:
1 Great Northern Diver
1 Black-Throated Diver
2 Red-Throated Diver
5 Pomarine Skuas
1 Slavonian Grebe
10+Red-breasted Merganser
4 Great Skua
18 Teal
1 Long-Tailed Skua
14 Wigeon
30+ Common Scoter
200+ Kittiwake
7 Little Auk
1 Short-Eared Owl—Off the Sea.
2 Manx Shearwater
18 Brent Geese
13 Goldeneye
30+ Gannets
5 Razorbill
9 Guillemot

Cliff, Malcolm, and Sean enjoying the seawatch

After freezing conditions, we headed back into Wells for some well-deserved fish and chips, arriving home just after 10 p.m. A great day birding and hopefully another lifer on the list!

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 29TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Water Rail x2 1IMF & 1Bridge Screen 
Water Pipit IMF Left Side of Hide 
Dunlin x17 IMF 
Jack Snipe x2 1IMF & 1MC Hide
Linnets 20+ Blrdcrop Field
Pintail x4 Bridge Pool
Ruff x2 Main Scrape
Sparrowhawk Main Scrape
Pink Footed Geese Wet Grassland
Whooper Swans x7 Field Back Of Wet Grassland
Kingfisher Over Reception Pool
Cetti's Warbler Near IMF Hide
Golden Plover x15 IMF
Merlin Over Main Scrape
2 Bearded Tit
Curlew Sandpiper
6 Whooper Swan
4,500 Pink-footed Geese

Parkgate
4 Hen Harrier,6-7 Marsh Harrier,3 Great White Egret,4 Brambling,2 Merlin and a Bittern off Old Baths

Leasowe Lighthouse
160 Chaffinch,12 Brambling,30 Greenfinch,16 Siskins,20 Skylarks,24 Reed Buntings,6 Redwing a and  Fieldfare

Heswall Marsh
240 Pink-footed Geese,18 Barnacle Geese (presumed feral) and 54 Golden Plover.

West Kirby Marine Lake
Scaup (juv).

CHESHIRE

Newchurch Common

Smew of unknown origin-Adult female on the large pool north of the track.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 28TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Pink Footed Geese 2500+ Wet Grassland 
Stonechat x2 Near Bunker 
Mediterranean Gull (1st W) Main Scrape 
Cetti's Warbler Far End boardwalk
Whooper Swans x6 Border Pool
Bearded Tit (Heard) Near Marsh Covert Hide
Spoonbill x3 Main Scrape
Sparrowhawk Over Main Scrape
Golden Plover IMF
Dunlin x20 IMF
Nuthatch Feeder By Reception
Hen Harrier Near Marsh Covert Hide
Linnets Flock Near Railway Bridge
Water Pipit-Marsh Covert hide

Hilbre Island

3 Purple Sandpiper,6 Whooper Swan (flying east),2 Long-tailed Duck,116 Turnstone,24 Wigeon,2 Brambling,8 Skylark and a  Rock Pipit.

Leasowe Lighthouse

6 Whooper Swan flying east over and Water Rail on River Birket by Lingham bridge.

Gilroy,West Kirby

Water Rail.

Hoylake

3 Eider (1 male & 2 fem) flew east before high tide.

Denhall Quay
2 Hen Harrier(Grey male and ringtail).

CHESHIRE
Hale
2 Water Pipit and Yellow wagtail flew over south-Town lane flood.Chiffchaff by Curlender Way,Merlin on Hale Marsh,2 Little Grebe on Decoy,Merlin,Little Owl Within Way,2 Great White Egret and 3 Whooper Ince Marshes.


Handforth
7 Whooper Swan's over.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 27TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret x2 Burton Marsh From Point 
Bullfinch x1(F) Railway Bridge 
Siskin x5 Alder Trees To IMF 
Golden Plover x1 IMF
Dunlin x20+ IMF
Whooper Swans (3A-1Juv) Border Pool
Pintail 600+ Bridge Pool
Jack Snipe On Right Of Marsh Covert Hide
Water Rail On Left Of Marsh Covert Hide
Ruff Marsh Covert Hide
Spoonbills x3 Main Scrape
Pink Footed 100+ Geese Wet Grassland
Kingfisher Over Reception Pool (A.T)
Water Pipit Marsh Covert Hide

Parkgate
3 Whooper Swan on Boathouse Flash this evening,5 Marsh Harrier,Barn Owl,Hen Harriers included 1 adult male,adult female,juvenile female and at least 2 juvenile males and the Bittern in flight.

Burton Point
4 Stonechat.

Hilbre
525 Cormorant flew out of the estuary past.

CHESHIRE
Sandbach Flashes
4 Whooper Swans-Railway Flash.









CHESHIRE

WIRRAL WADER FESTIVAL 2018

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 26TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Spoonbill x2 Main Scrape 
Ruff Main Scrape 
Curlew Sandpiper Main Scrape 
Hen Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Cattle Egret x2 Wet Grassland
Water Rail By Reception
Snipe Marsh Covert Hide
Pintail x620 Bridge Pool
Whooper Swan x1 (Juv) Border Pool
Stonechat x2 (M&F) IMF
Dunlin x15 Flew Over IMF
Great Egret x4 Burton Marsh From Point
Pink Footed Geese x30 Flew Over Reserve
 Green Sandpiper Main Scrape
Jack Snipe Marsh Covert Hide
Knot x5 Bridge Pool
Swallow On Wire By Entrance To Reserve

Hoylake Shore
Leach's Petrel.

CHESHIRE
Woolston Eyes
Marsh Harrier 2
Whooper Swan 3 adults.
Cetti's Warbler 1
Black-tailed Godwit 20
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1 male.
Sparrowhawk 1
Teal 100+
Gadwall 6m 3f.
Wigeon 3m 5f.
Lapwing 11
Shoveler 50+
Pintail 2f
Shelduck 6
Little Grebe 2
Water Rail 1 heard.
Redwing 5+

Hale Bank
Water Pipit-1 on Town lane and a Great White egret-Bottom of Within way.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 25TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL

Burton RSPB

Golden Plover x63 IMF 
Dunlin x4 IMF 
Cetti's Warbler In Copse To IMF 
Water Rail In Copse To IMF
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Merlin Burton Marsh From Point
Pintail x4 Bridge Pool
Ruff x3 Marsh Covert Hide
Bearded Tit Near Reedbed Screen
Kingfisher Woodland Pool
Cattle Egret Main Scrape
Whooper Swans (2Adult-1juv) Main Scrape
Common Gull 20+ Main Scrape
Nuthatch Car Park
Water Pipit Marsh Covert Hide
Jack Snipe Marsh Covert Hide
Curlew Sandpiper IMF

Parkgate

Bittern,5 Great White Egret,2 Marsh harrier,Ringtail Hen harrier,Female Merlin and a Brambling over.

CHESHIRE

Pickerings Pasture

American Golden Plover-With at least 500 European Golden Plovers east of the carpark.

Dave Craven the finder has forwarded me this information for Pickerings pasture on the AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER.High tide tomorrow is 12.48pm.Exposed mud probably from about 3pm.Most Golden Plovers’s don’t come in to feed/roost until late afternoon/evening.For the last 2 weeks most haven’t appeared until c5pm.

Newchurch Common

Smew of unknown origin-Adult female on the large pool north of the track.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 24TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Cattle Egret Wet Grassland 
Whooper Swan x1 Wet Grassland 
Mediterranean Gull Main Scrape 
Bearded Tit Flew Over Reedbed From Screen
Water Pipit Marsh Covert Hide
Pintail Bridge Pool
Chiffchaff Along Path IMF
Cetti's Warbler Near Wooden Bridge IMF
Golden Plover x18 IMF
Curlew Sandpiper IMF
Dunlin x15 IMF
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point
Marsh Harrier Burton Marsh From Point
Siskin Feeding In Alder Trees Along Boardwalk
Merlin Over IMF

CHESHIRE
Newchurch Common
Smew of unknown origin-Adult female on the large pool north of the track.

BIRDGUIDES PHOTO OF THE WEEK 17TH-23RD OCTOBER 2018

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-17TH-23RD OCTOBER 2018

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CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 23RD OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point 
Redshank x9 IMF 
Stonechat IMF 
Pintail 20+ Bridge Pool
Hen Harrier Over Bridge Pool
Sparrowhawk Over Marsh Covert Wood
Bearded Tit (Reedling-Pos 2) Reedbed Screen
Dunlin Main Scrape
Cattle Egret Wet Grassland
Whooper Swans x5 Wet Grassland
Curlew x21 Wet Grassland Right Of Scrape
Pink Footed Geese x30 Flew Over Reserve
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Water Pipit Marsh Covert Hide

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 22ND OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Cattle Egret Wet Grassland 
Curlew x15 Main Scrape 
Ruff x3 Main Scrape 
Coal Tit Feeder By Reception
Kingfisher Burton Mere
Water Pipit Marsh Covert Hide
Pintail x4 Bridge Pool
Hen Harrier (RT) Over Bridge Pool
Water Rail In Copse To IMF
Stonechat x2 Near Seat Top Of Birdcrop Field
Goldcrest Along Path IMF
Pink Footed Geese Burton Marsh From Point
Great Egret x2 Burton Marsh From Point
Marsh Harrier Burton Marsh From Point
Whooper Swan x1 Burton Marsh From Point
Siskin Trees In Copse To IMF
Snipe x10 Main Scrape

Red Rocks
2 Water Rail.

Hilbre Island
114 Brent Geese (highest count this autumn) and 3 Eider.

CHESHIRE
Sandbach Flashes
3 Whooper Swan.

Newchurch Common
Smew of unknown origin-Adult female on the large pool north of the track.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 21ST OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Whooper x2 Burton Marsh From Point.
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point.
Pink Footed Geese 1200+ Burton Marsh From Point.
Curlew Burton Marsh From Point.
Linnets 25+ By Railway Bridge.
Goldcrest Trees To IMF.
Curlew Sandpiper IMF.
Dunlin x20 IMF.
Pintail x8 Bridge Pool.
Cetti's Warbler Near Reedbed Screen.
Green Sandpiper Reception Pool.
Little Stint Main Scrape.
Cattle Egret Wet Grassland.
Hen Harrier (RT) Over Wet Grassland.
Green Woodpecker Flew Over Wooden Bridge IMF.
Kingfisher Flew Over Reception Pool.

Leasowe Lighthouse
Yellowhammer,4 Siskin,Brambling,3 Redwing,20 Skylark,10 Reed Bunting,110 Chaffinch and 50 Greenfinch overhead.

Red Rocks
1,170 Chaffinch,33 Brambling,1,280 Starling,100 Goldfinch,135 Greenfinch,14 Linnet,Swallow,43 Wood Pigeon,72 Sky Lark,4 Redwing,26 Fieldfare,6 Mistle Thrush,43 Jackdaw and a Grey Wagtail flew south over.

Heswall Marsh
Great Egret,Marsh Harrier and a Hen Harrier.

Decca Pools
Red Kite over marsh at 1pm,also 4 Marsh Harrier,Ringtail Hen Harrier,Peregrine and a Green Sandpiper.

CHESHIRE
Woolston Eyes
Yellow Browed Warbler-On No 3 Bed.

Frodsham Marshes
2 Great White Egret-Frodsham score.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 20TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Meols
8 Great Crested Grebe and 2,500+ Common Scoter-After high tide and a Greenshank by the groyne.

Red Rocks
6 Brambling,9 Siskin,41 Fieldfare,5 Mistle Thrushes,2 Rock Pipit,Grey Wagtail and 42 Skylark.

Leasowe Lighthouse
5 Brambling,7 Siskin and 3 Redpoll flew over site.

Lower Heswall
c40 Fieldfare flew over site.

Decca Pools
Marsh Harrier,Great Egret and a Green Sandpiper.

Burton RSPB
Pink Footed Geese Wet Grassland 1000+
Cattle Egret x1 Main Scrape 
Little Stint main scrape 
Ruff x9 Main Scrape
Snipe Main Scrape
Stonechat By Reception Pool
Curlew Sandpiper Marsh Covert Hide
Water Rail By Bench Along Boardwalk
Linnets 30+ Blrdcrop Field
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point
Cetti's Warbler x3
Sparrowhawk In Trees To IMF
Dunlin x20 IMF
Kingfisher x2 Flew Over Reception Pool

Bidston Moss Nature Reserve
Yellow-browed Warbler-Calling in willows under bridge.

Neston Marsh-Harp Inn
Hen Harrier-Female,2 Merlin,3 Green Sandpiper,Lesser Redpoll,2 Western Marsh Harrier and a 2 Great White Egret.

CHESHIRE
Pickerings Pasture
2 Common Sandpiper,Adult Mediterranean Gull,Peregrine falcon,Yellow Browed Warbler.

Frodsham Marshes
4 Great White Egrets.

Woolston Eyes
2 Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier-From John Morgan Hide.

Hale
Ring Ouzel-One flew south over Hale Head this morning.

Newchurch Common
Smew of unknown origin-Adult female on the large pool north of the track.

Rostherne Mere
Adult-Yellow Legged Gull and Barn Owl flew past the observatory.

Sandbach Flashes
2 Cetti's warbler-Railway Flash and 2 Long Eared Owl's back at Groby flash.(PLEASE AVOID DISTURBING THE OWL'S SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY)

Marbury Country Park-Budworth Mere
Female Goosander and 4 Whooper Swan's.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 19TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret x2 Burton Marsh From Point 
Marsh Harrier Burton Marsh From Point 
Linnets 20+ By Railway Bridge 
Merlin Over Railway Bridge
Curlew Sandpiper IMF
Whooper Swan Border Pool
Pink Footed Geese 500+ Border Pool
Pintail x2 Bridge Pool
Dunlin x10 Main Scrape
Ruff x3 Main Scrape
Cattle Egret x2 Wet Grassland
Peregrine Over Wet Grassland
Hen Harrier (RT) Over Wet Grassland
Brambling By Railway Bridge
Little Stint IMF
Green Sandpiper Marsh Covert Hide
Water Pipit Marsh Covert Hide

Hilbre Island
Peregrine,83 Wigeon and 4 Pintail.

Leasowe Lighthouse
Barn Owl-Roosting in hawthorn bush 

Decca Pools and Neston Old Quay
2 Hen Harrier,Marsh Harrier and a Green Sandpiper.

Parkgate
2 Hen Harrier (ringtails) came into roost and Raven over.

CHESHIRE
Hale

Yellow Browed Warbler in  bushes by car park at top of Lighthouse road.4 Great White Egret's roosted in the duck decoy.Also 15 Little egret,Merlin,Peregrine Falcon,Little Owl,Barn Owl and Tawny Owl around same area.

Marbury Country Park

4 Whooper Swan-Budworth Mere and Brambling over east.

WOOD THRUSH-ISLES OF SCILLY-GO BIRDING

Go Birding TV programme on BBC Two with Tony Soper. Includes birders at the Wood Thrush on the Isles of Scilly on 7th October 1987 and an interview with Peter Grant about Twitching.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 18TH OCTOBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Cattle Egret x2 Main Scrape (Pos 3)
Ruff x3 Marsh Covert Hide 
Sparrowhawk Over Bridge Pool 
Cetti's Warbler Near Bridge Screen
Water Rail Near Bridge Screen
Pintail x4 Bridge Pool
Hen Harrier Over Bridge Pool
Linnets By Railway Bridge
Curlew Sandpiper IMF
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point
Whooper Swan x1 Burton Marsh From Point
Little Stint IMF
Chiffchaff By Wooden Bridge IMF

Red Rocks
Ring Ouzel,80 Chaffinch,7 Brambling,9 Siskin,60 Meadow Pipit,52 Skylark,40+ Fieldfare and 2 Tree Sparrow.

Leasowe Lighthouse
2 Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier together over Lingham Lane.

CHESHIRE
Little Budworth
Great White Egret-Oulton Mill Pool.

WELL CHUFFED!

After a good lie-in after yesterday's Grey Catbird in Cornwall, I received a phone call from Allan Conlin that the Chough was still showing well at Dee estuary sailing club, which was found yesterday. I made my way there and soon connected with the bird as it sat on some rocks at the bottom of the slipway.

A great bird and a first for me in Cheshire and Wirral, apparently, this is the 12th record for our county.

FROM SWIFT HOPES TO CATBIRD RELIEF:A TALE OF TWO MEGAS

The first mega alert came through on Sunday afternoon with news of a Pacific Swift at Hornsea Mere, Yorkshire. I stayed at home, content to sit it out, only for the bird to be reidentified shortly afterwards as a White-rumped Swift—a first for Britain. Plans were quickly made and, at 4.00 a.m., I set off with Phil Woollen, making good time and arriving on site just after 7.00 a.m.

Birders wait in the rain for the Swift

Conditions were far from ideal, with persistent rain and cold temperatures as we waited for the bird to appear. Despite a small supporting cast—around ten House Martins feeding near the trees, a calling Cetti’s Warbler and a fly-over Great White Egret—the swift failed to materialise. After waiting until 10.30 a.m., thoroughly cold and with no further sightings, we called it a day and headed back to the car.

This marked my fifth dip in quick succession, following misses with Belted Kingfisher, Moltoni’s Warbler, Royal Tern and Green Warbler the previous week. Spirits were low on the journey home, which I reached around 1.00 p.m., just in time to see the White-rumped Swift make the national news that evening.

Later that afternoon, at 4.30 p.m., another mega alert sounded—this time a Grey Catbird at Treemoor, Cornwall. Despite being exhausted, panic mode briefly set in before a call to Dan Pointon brought some relief when he kindly offered to drive. Heading south at 11.00 p.m., I met up with Dan, Sam Viles and Andrew Kinghorn, and we made the overnight journey with cautious optimism.

We arrived on site shortly after 6.00 a.m., grabbed an hour’s rest, then joined the assembled crowd at first light near the small willows where the bird had last been seen at dusk.

Birders waiting at first light

The small willows where the bird was seen at dusk 

Initially, there was no sign of the catbird, and the prospect of yet another dip loomed large. However, just after 9.00 a.m., the bird appeared out in the open and went on to show repeatedly and well for the remainder of our stay.

It was a tremendous relief and an exceptional bird. This represented only the second British record, the first having been found on South Stack, Holy Island, Anglesey, between 4–6 October 2001.

We watched the catbird until around 11.00 a.m. before returning to the car for lunch. 

What a beauty

The afternoon was spent birding Kenidjack Valley, which proved quiet, though a female Adder basking on a wall provided a welcome distraction.

Kenidjack valley

After a good walk, we began the long journey north, eventually arriving home just before 10.00 p.m., completely exhausted—but very satisfied.

YELLOW BROWED WARBLER-LEASOWE LIGHTHOUSE

I visited Leasowe on Sunday and finally caught up with the Yellow-browed warbler that has been around for the last couple of days. The bird was really elusive but was eventually found around the duck pond in some willows.

 Yellow Browed Warbler

We have done really well in Cheshire and Wirral this year for this species, with up to 10 different individual birds being seen on passage. A quick look around the duck pond produced good views of a Water Rail.

Water Rail