CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

16th November 2019
Frodsham Marshes
2 Great white egret-Frodsham score and Ruddy shelduck

Burton RSPB
Buzzard Over Wet Grassland
Kestrel Over Wet Grassland
Ruff x1 Main Scrape
Common Gulls x15 Main Scrape
Lesser B-b Gull Main Scrape
Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Sparrowhawk Over Reception Pool
Water Rail Reedbed Screen
Reed Bunting x1 Reedbed Screen
Cetti's Warbler Near Marsh Covert Hide
Raven Marsh Covert Wood
Linnets 30+ Birdcrop Field
Redwing x6 Railway Bridge
Green Woodpecker Burton Point
Curlews Burton Point
Great Egrets x5 Burton Marsh From Point
Whooper Swans x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Goldcrest x1 Along Path To IMF
Marsh Harrier Over IMF
Pink F Geese 2500+ Flew Over Reserve
Siskins Alders Along Boardwalk
Fieldfares Flew Over IMF
Pintail x4 Border Pool
Bearded Tits x2 By Bridge Screen

West Kirby Marine Lake
27 Brent Geese

Parkgate
2 Hen Harrier-Grey males

Neston Reedbed
Bittern-flew in at dusk,Hen Harrier-Grey male,3 Marsh Harrier,3 Short-eared Owl,Peregrine falcon,2 Merlin and 3 Kestrel

15th November 2019
Frodsham Marshes
Great white egret-N05 Tank

Newchurch Common
Smew-Redhead-Of unknown origin

Burton RSPB
Great Egrets x4 Burton Marsh From Point
Curlew In Field Burton Point
Redwing x3 By Railway Bridge
Fieldfares By Railway Bridge
Linnets 30+ Birdcrop Field
Raven Over Birdcrop Field
Pintail x7 Border Pool
Wigeon 250+ Border Pool
Little Grebes x2 Border Pool
Water Rail By Reedbed Screen
Kestrel Over Reception Pool
Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Ruff x3 Main Scrape
Lesser B-b Gull Main Scrape
Buzzard x2 Fence Posts By Wet Grassland
Peregrine Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Great Egret Field Behind Barn
Pink F Geese Over Reserve
Cetti's Warbler Near Reedbed Screen
R N Parakeet In To Roost Back Of Meres, Seen Off By Corvids

Parkgate
2 Great White Egret,2 Merlin,Peregrine and 5 Marsh Harrier

West Kirby Marine Lake
28 Brent Geese-South end

Denhall Quay
2 Short-eared Owl

Neston Reedbed
Bittern-Flew in at dusk

14th November 2019
Burton RSPB
Great Egret x1 Field Behind Barn
Black T Godwits 2000+ Main Scrape
Lesser B-b Gull Main Scrape
Common Gull x1 Main Scrape
Curlew x9 Left Of Main Scrape
Peregrine Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
kingfisher Flew Over Reception Pool
Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Linnets Birdcrop Field
Kestrel Birdcrop Field
Fieldfares Near Railway Bridge
Raven x2 Over Burton Point
Buzzard Flew Over Burton Marsh From Point
Great Egrets x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Whooper Swans x12 Burton Marsh From Point
Redwing x2 Along Path To IMF
Great B-b Gull IMF
Wigeon 300+ Border Pool
Pink-F Geese 2000+ Flew Over Reserve
Goldcrest Along Boardwalk

Neston Marsh
Bittern-Roosted

Newchurch Common
Smew-Redhead-Of unknown origin

13th November 2019
Burton RSPB
Great Egrets x4 Burton Marsh From Point
Egyptian Geese x2 Burton Marsh From Point
Raven x3 Burton Point
Goldcrest x2 Along Path To IMF
Snipe x1 IMF
Pintail x1 (M) Border Pool
Redwing By Railway Bridge
Fieldfares Near Railway Bridge
Linnets 45+ Birdcrop Field
Kestrel Birdcrop Field
Snipe x1 Marsh Covert Hide
Water Rail (Calling) Marsh Covert Wood Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Nuthatch Feeder By Reception
Knot x2 Main Scrape
Green Sandpiper By Fence Left Of Main Scrape
Curlew x7 Wet Grassland
Pink-F Geese 1000+ Wet Grassland
Peregrine Over Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Buzzard Over Wet Grassland
Great Egret x1 Field Behind Barn
Ruff x2 Main Scrape

Parkgate
5 Marsh Harrier,2 Great White Egret,2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail) and 2 Merlin

Denhall Quay
Short-eared Owl

Neston Reedbed
2 Bittern-Flew in at dusk

Hilbre Island
5 Red-throated Diver,Whooper Swan,Shag and a Velvet Scoter

12th November 2019
Lapwing Hall Pool
Smew -Redhead

Burton RSPB
Great Egrets x2 Reception Pool & Main Scrape
Peregrine x2 Wet Grassland
Pink-F Geese 2000+ Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Buzzard Over Wet Grassland
Dunlin x1 Main Scrape
Knot x2 Main Scrape
Curlew x5 Flew Main Scrape
Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Kingfisher Ditch By Willow Pool
Cetti's Warbler Near Marsh Covert Hide
Kestrel Near Marsh Covert Hide With Prey
Linnets 40+ Birdcrop Field
Redwing x8 By Railway Bridge
Fieldfares x5 By Railway Bridge
Black-T Godwits 2500+ IMF
Ruff x4 IMF
Pintail 2 Male + 1 Female Border Pool
Wigeon 350+ Border patrol
Sparrowhawk Over Main Scrape

Heswall-Riverbank Road
200 Pink-footed Geese,33 Brent Geese,Great White Egret,Hen Harrier-Grey male,Marsh Harrier-Immature and a Merlin

11th November 
Burton RSPB
Wigeon 500+ Border Pool
Redwing 50+ Flew Over IMF
Fieldfares 30+ Flew Over IMF
Kestrel Flew Over IMF
Common Gull x1 IMF
Kingfisher x2 IMF
Linnets By Railway Bridge
Black T Godwits 2000+ Main Scrape
Great Egret x1 Left Of Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier (F) Flew Over Wet Grassland
Buzzard Fence Right Of Wet Grassland
Sparrowhawk Fence Behind Wet Grassland
Pink-F Geese 4000+ Flew Over Reserve
Bullfinch x1 Along Path To IMF
Curlew x? Main Scrape
Snipe x1 IMF
Knot x2 IMF

Neston Reedbed
Bittern-Flew in at dusk.

10th November 2019
Lapwing hall Pool
Smew-Redhead

Astbury Mere
Common Scoter-Female

(C)STEVE SEAL

Burton RSPB
Peregrine Over Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Stonechat Reception Pool
Little Grebe Reedbed Screen
Cetti's Warbler Near Reedbed Screen
Reed Bunting x1 (F) Bridge Screen
Raven Over Birdcrop Field
Linnets Railway Bridge
Redwing x2 Railway Bridge
Curlew x15 Field Burton Point
Buzzard Over Burton Point
Egyptian Geese x2 Burton Marsh From Point
Great Egrets x8 Burton Marsh From Point
Merlin (M) Burton Marsh From Point
Golden Plover x17 Burton Marsh From Point
Cetti's Warbler IMF Showing well
Snipe x1 IMF
Water Rail IMF
Dunlin x1 IMF
Ruff x4 IMF
Kingfisher IMF Seen 3 Times
Kestrel Over IMF
Pink-F Geese 50+ Over Reserve

Hilbre Island
Merlin,Purple Sandpiper,2 Goosander,133 Shelduck,208 Curlew,108 Bar-tailed Godwit and 150 Turnstone 

Leasowe Lighthouse
Greenshank-by the groyne,Jack Snipe-In ditch by approach road,Snow Bunting-In Leasowe Bay flew towards the Lighthouse,30 Siskin and a Mediterranean Gull

Parkgate
Short-eared Owl,4 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and male)

Burton Marsh
2 Egyptian Geese on marsh and Little Owl-Burton Point

Neston Reed Bed
4 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and male)

West Kirby Marine Lake
7 Goosander and a Red-breasted Merganser

West Kirby-Gilroy Nature Park
Goosander-On the duck pond

9th November 2019
Lapwing Hall Pool
Smew-Redhead

Astbury Mere
2 Greater Scaup-1st Winter females

Hale
Ring Ouzel and Firecrest

Frodsham Marshes
2 Great White Egret

Burton RSPB
Snipe x3 IMF
Raven Over Burton Point
COMMON SONG THRUSH Railway Bridge
Redwing 6+ Railway Bridge
Fieldfare Railway Bridge
Linnets 20+ Birdcrop Field
Kestrel Over Birdcrop Field
Goosander x2 (F) Bridge Pool
Stonechat x2 Marsh Covert Hide
Water Rail Ditch By Willow Pool
Little Grebe Burton Mere
Green Woodpecker In Front Of Recep- By Pool
Peregrine Over Main Scrape
Common Gulls x2 Main Scrape
Dunlin x1 Main Scrape
Cow Egret x1 With Cattle Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Great Egret x1 Left Of Main Scrape
Buzzard Fence Left Of Main Scrape
Curlew Left Of Main Scrape
Pink-F Geese 600+ Flew Over Reserve
Whooper Swan x1 Flew Over Reserve

West Kirby Marine Lake
6 Goosander,Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Goldeneye-Flew over

Heswall Shore
225 Pink-footed Geese,3800 Shelduck,320 Pintail,Goosander-Redhead,3 Red-breasted Merganser,1500 Oystercatcher,630 Lapwing,57 Golden Plover,11000 Knot,700 Dunlin,220 Bar-tailed Godwit,95 Black-tailed Godwit,640 Curlew,1800 Redshank and a Greenshank

Lower Heswall
Crossbill,15 Linnet,48 Redwing,30 Fieldfare,13 Chaffinch and a Grey Wagtail

Hilbre Island
70+ Siskin plus small numbers of thrushes/Starlings over,440 Cormorant,620 Shelduck,480 Curlew,230 Grey Plover and 125 Ringed Plover

8th November 2019
Astbury Mere
2 Greater Scaup-Female/Immature

Neston Reedbed
2 Short Eared Owl

Denhall Quay
3 Short Eared owl,3 Marsh harrier and 3 Great White egret

Burton RSPB
Ruff x6 Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland
Buzzard Over Wet Grassland
Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Snipe x1 Reedbed Screen
Water Rail (Heard) By Reedbed Screen
Cetti's Warbler Far End Of Boardwalk
Raven Over Birdcrop Field
Linnets 40+ Birdcrop Field
Kestrel Over Birdcrop Field
Bullfinch (M) Railway Bridge
Fieldfares x3 Railway Bridge
Redwing Railway Bridge
Great Egrets x7 Burton Marsh From Point
Merlin Burton Marsh From Point
Snipe x1 IMF
Stonechat By Border Pool
Great White Egret Field Behind Barn

Hoylake Promenade
Mediterranean Gull (adult)-Coming to bread

West Kirby Marine Lake
4 Goosander and a Red-breasted Merganser 

Parkgate
6 Marsh Harrier,2 Hen Harrier(grey male and ringtail) and a Peregrine falcon

7th November 2019
Burton RSPB
Great Egrets x6 Burton Marsh From Point
Curlew x7 Over Burton Point
Linnets By Railway Bridge
Redwing By Railway Bridge
Pintail x2 Border Pool
Little Grebe x1 Border Pool
Snipe x4 IMF
Sparrowhawk Over IMF
Kestrel Over Birdcrop Field
Raven x5 Near Birdcrop Field
Water Rail (Heard) Marsh Covert Wood
Cetti's Warbler (Heard) Near Reedbed Screen
Cow Egret x1 With Cattle Wet Grassland
Buzzard Fence Behind Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Common Gull Main Scrape
Leucistic Teal Main Scrape
Snipe x3 Main Scrape
Great Egret x1 Field Behind Barn
Pink-F Geese 4000+ Flew Over Reserve
Goosander Flew Over Bunker To Wet Grassland
Ruff  Wet Grassland

6th November 2019
Burton RSPB
Wigeon 1000+ Wet Grassland
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Cow Egret With Cattle Wet Grassland
Common Gulls x7 Main Scrape
Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Cetti's Warbler Near Marsh Covert Hide
Buzzard Marsh Covert Wood
Curlew By Bridge Screen
Kestrel Over Birdcrop Field
Linnets 30+ By Railway Bridge
Redwing x2 By Railway Bridge
Raven x5 Over Burton Point
Great Egrets x11 Burton Marsh From Point
Snipe x8 IMF
Dunlin x1 IMF
Stonechat x2 IMF
Little Grebe Border Pool
Pintail x3 (M) Border Pool
Pink-F Geese 200+Over Reserve

Thurstaston Shore
Greenshank,83 Bar-tailed Godwit,90 Black-tailed Godwit and 7,850 Knot roosting in channel just off Tinker's Dell

Parkgate-Donkeystand Flash
Goldeneye and 6 Little Grebe

Neston Reedbed
3 Great White egret-On marsh-Bittern,Hen Harrier(grey male) and 3+ Marsh Harrier

5th November 2019
Astbury Mere
Drake Mandarin Duck-First site record and 2 Greater Scaup-Female/Immature

Burton RSPB
Great White Egrets x7 Burton Marsh From Point
Raven x8 Burton Point
Redwing Railway Bridge
Dunlin x2 IMF
Stonechat x2 IMF
Linnets 25+ Birdcrop Field
Wigeon 500+ Bridge Pool
Cetti's Warbler By Bridge Screen
Water Rail Near Reedbed Screen
Mediterranean Gull x1 Main Scrape
Sparrowhawk On Ground Main Scrape
Buzzard x2 Over Main Scrape
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Kestrel With Prey By Bunker
Pink-F Geese 1000+ Over Reserve
Ruff x5 IMF
Great White Egret x1 Field Left Barn

Thurstaston Shore
7,500+ Knot-Roosting off Tinker's Dell

Sandbach Flashes
Short Eared Owl

Parkgate Marsh
10 Barnacle Geese

Astbury Mere-Congleton
2 Greater Scaup-Female/Immature

4th NOVEMBER 2019
Burton RSPB
Grey Wagtail By Barn
Meadow Pipits x3 By Barn
Great Egret x1 Right Of Barn
Kestrel Over Field Left Bunker Entrance
Marsh Harrier x2 Over Wet Grassland
Pink-F Geese Wet Grassland
Curlew x7 Wet Grassland
Stonechat x2 By Reception Pool
Merlin Fence Post Near Marsh Covert Hide
Buzzard Over Bridge Pool
Linnets 20+ Birdcrop Field
Raven x10 Over Birdcrop Field
Cetti's Warbler In Copse To IMF
Little Grebe Border Pool
Snipe x1 IMF
Water Rail IMF
Ruff x6 IMF
Golden Plover x75 IMF
Pintail x1 (M) Main Scrape
Egyptian Geese x2 Over Wet Grassland
Great Egrets x29 Went To Roost Burton Mere

Thurstaston Shore
Black Redstart-On cliff south of Tinker's Dell

Little Neston
Short-eared Owl and 5 Brambling-Over

Red Rocks
c50 Siskin feeding on Alder,2 Redpoll,moving through and 2 Cetti's Warbler in marsh

Hale
Ring Ouzel-Over and 3 Waxwings-Hale shore

Woolston Eyes
Firecrest-Ringed on N01 Bed

Higher Burwardsley
Firecrest-Just off Sandstone trail near closed footpath signs.

Doddington Pool
6 Red Crested Pochard

Hilbre Island
2 Merlin-chasing Siskins,55 Siskin,3 Redwing,216 Redshank and 278 Brent Geese

STELLER'S EIDER-PAPA WESTRAY-ORKNEY-11TH NOVEMBER 2019

After I got dropped off from Cornwall last week, Dan Pointon continued back up north to Westray and relocated the Steller's eider the next morning. I was working all week and didn't have a day off till the following Sunday, so I had to wait. The bird then moved by the weekend and was relocated on Papa Westray.

By the time it got to Sunday afternoon, the charter boat I had organised for the morning had been cancelled due to the weather, so I sorted flights out from Kirkwall. I teamed up with Neill Hunt, Pete Ellis, and Geoff McLeod on Sunday evening, and we headed north. The weather on the way up was terrible but we arrived at Scrabster just before 6.00am

THE SNOW PLOUGHS WERE OUT AS WE HEADED NORTH

The ferry crossing from Scrabster to Stromness was uneventful for a seawatch as the weather was dreadful, with gale-force winds and torrential rain. On arrival, we headed for Lambholm and looked for a blue rock thrush that had been found in a quarry, but there was no sign, with the weather not helping matters. The day soon passed and we headed for a 3pm flight to Papa Westray.

BOARDING THE FLIGHT TO PAPA WESTRAY

On arrival, we were met by Jennifer from the hostel, who drove us down to where the bird had been. We soon connected with Steller's eider just off shore as we arrived. The wind was really getting up now, but we followed the bird for about half an hour until it went dark.

STELLER'S EIDER 1ST WINTER DRAKE

THE LADS ENJOYING VIEWS OF THE BIRD

We spent the evening having a few celebratory beers in the hostel we were staying in and then got our heads down as we wanted to try again for the bird again before our 9am flight.

We were back on site from 7.30am and soon got on the eider again, really close to the shoreline. The time soon passed, and we were back on a flight to Kirkwall.

A BIG THANK YOU TO JENNIFER FOR SORTING US OUT WITH ARE ACCOMMODATION AND LIFTS TO THE BIRD

On arrival back on mainland Orkney, we headed to Finstown, where we connected with 2 waxwings.

As we were watching the Waxwings, Dan Pointon phoned me to say that a pod of Orcas had been seen passing the quarry at Lambholm, where the Blue Rock Thrush had been. We headed there, and I got my first ever views of Killer Whale. What a sight! This just topped off an incredible trip!

 

We eventually arrived home at 4.00am Wednesday morning absolutely shattered,but the whole trip had been fantastic.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN 6TH-12TH NOVEMBER 2019

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BIRDGUIDES PHOTO OF THE WEEK-6TH-12TH NOVEMBER 2019

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