#LOCAL BIG YEAR

It has been really quiet in Cheshire and Wirral since the beginning of June on the birding front with not many good birds to go for.Spring to be honest has been rather crap if you weren't in the right place at the right time.A White Winged Black tern stayed all morning at Burton RSPB and then flew off with no further sign and then the White tailed lapwing did an overnight bunk from Woolston Eyes,followed by Dave craven finding a flyover Honey Buzzard at Hale.

Honey Buzzard

A great find by Dave Craven!

At last! on the 16th of July I got a new bird for the year list,a Quail was singing at Old baths carpark,Parkgate and then on the 17th a Pectoral sandpiper was found at Frodsham Marshes.I got good views of the bird eventually though distant in with the Redshank flock.

It was nice to catch up with some Cheshire regulars!

On the 20th I visited Hilbre Island and stayed over the high tide with Pete sutton and Allan Conlin.

A moderate north westerly was enough to bring in some autumn sea birds in view from the islands today.Noteworthy were 3 Manx Shearwaters and 3 Arctic Skuas,also 6 Gannets, Kittiwake,4 Great Crested Grebes and a Red-breasted Merganser.Six Little Terns and a couple of Common Terns were among the estimated 300 Sandwich Terns.Fifty two Turnstone (including summer plumaged individuals),6 Whimbrel and 9 Sanderling were the best of the waders.A great day out birding and saw some birds for the list at last!

CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF DAILY BIRD NEWS

Jul 31st

3 Arctic Skua offshore - Meols.

4 Great Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Ruddy Shelduck-Still on the River Mersey-Hale

Wood Sandpiper-Juvenile and 3 Garganey-Burton RSPB

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 30th

Caspian Gull-One opposite car park and 2 Ruddy Shelduck-Pickerings Pasture

Garganey-Drake-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

3 Garganey - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Spotted Redshank-One mid-mersey from Within Way-Hale

7 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail and a pair of Water Rail with 3 chicks - Parkgate.

3 Mediterranean Gull - Meols Shore.

2,830 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

3 Garganey and a Wood Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Merlin,Hobby and a Marsh Harrier - Decca Pools.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 29th

5 Black Necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes

Garganey-Drake-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

3 Garganey and a Wood Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Garganey

(Pete Sutton)

Spotted Redshank-One mid-mersey from Within Way-Hale

Hobby,Peregrine,4+ Marsh Harrier,Common Sandpiper,3 Greenshank and 3 juv Yellow Wagtail - Parkgate.

3 Garganey and 5 Green Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

3 Mediterrnean Gull,300 Common Gull and 4,000 Black-headed Gull on rising tide this morning - West Kirby Shore.

7 Buzzard kettling over Saughall.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 28th

2nd Summer Caspian Gull and 5 yellow Legged Gulls-Widnes

Caspain Gull

(C)Dave Craven

Garganey-Adult female and juvenile and 2 Black necked grebe-Woolston Eyes

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 27th

Garganey-Burton RSPB

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 26th

Black Necked Grebe-Adult and Juvenile-Lapwing Hall Pool

2 Garganey and 5 Black Necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes

Quail-Parkgate Marsh

Whinchat-Whitley Reed

Eurasian Spoonbill-Immature-Parkgate

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 25th

11 Whimbrel on mud off south end of West Kirby Marine Lake before high tide,4 Mediterranean Gull in roost.

Whinchat-Maw green Landfill Site

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 24th

Garganey and 4 Black necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes

Turnstone-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Eurasian Spoonbill-Immature-Parkgate

3 Whimbrel flew inland,juv White Wagtail in paddocks,30 House Martin over - Leasowe Lighthouse.

1,740 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

Wood Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

500+ Sandwich Tern,100 Common Tern,15 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper - Hilbre.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 23rd

Spoonbill,Hobby,Whimbrel,4 Greenshank and a Little Ringed Plover,Quail calling - Parkgate.

3 Spoonbill Garganey,5 Green Sandpiper,6 Ruff,Little Ringed Plover,juv Yellow Wagtail,3 Great Egret,2 Marsh Harrier,Avocet and a Pintail - Burton Mere Wetlands.

27 Little Egret,1180 Oystercatcher,12 Grey Plover,8 Knot,130 Dunlin,3 Whimbrel,1415 Curlew,30 Black-tailed Godwit,2800 Redshank,1450 Black-headed Gull,Mediterranean Gull,420 Common Gull - Thurstaston/Heswall Shore over high tide.

7 Rock Pipit including several juvs,110 Curlew,7 Whimbrel,30 Ringed Plover,6 Turnstone (s/pl),150+ Dunlin and 800+ Black-headed Gull over high tide - Hilbre.

Arctic Tern (1st sum),40 Common Tern,310 Sandwich Tern,3 Mediterranean Gull,5 Whimbrel and 30 Common Gull - East Hoyle Bank at low tide (terns mostly over sea fishing).

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 21nd

At least 3 Marsh Harrier,2 Little Ringed Plover,Mediterranean Gull,3 Greenshank,2 Common Sandpiper,4 Water Rail and a spoonbill (juv) between Donkeystand Flash and Boathouse Pub, also Quail heard north of Boathouse - Parkgate.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 20th

2 Little Ringed Plover,Hobby,Mediterranean Gull and a Greenshank at Donkeystand Flash and Quail heard,Spoonbill and 3 Greenshank at Boathouse Flash - Parkgate.

Several Great Egret,2 Little Ringed Plover,3 Ruff,Spotted Redshank,2 Green Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Common Sandpiper on groyne - Meols Shore.

Little Ringed Plover,Spotted Redshank,2150 Redshank,1550 Curlew,500 Black-tailed Godwit,3 Mediterranean Gull,2000 Black-headed Gull a Yellow Wagtail early morning - Heswall Shore.

1,600 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.
6 Arctic Skua, 6 Little Tern and 3 Manx Shearwater - Hilbre.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 19th

12 Sand Martin flew west over West Kirby Marine Lake.

6 Greenshank on Donkeystand Flash,Spoonbill and a Quail heard - Parkgate.

2 Kite over heading north at 5.45pm - Thurstaston.

5 Little Ringed Plover (3 juv),Ruff,Green Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 18th

Quail calling this morning - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

Quail calling in field behind grain store - Burton Mere Wetlands.

4 Mediterranean Gull in roost - West Kirby Shore.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 17th

Pectoral Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

Hobby over Saughall.

Hobby over flying east - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Spoonbill,4 Greenshank,Little Ringed Plover and a Hobby over - Parkgate.

Common Sandpiper,Eider,100 Swallow,2 Yellow Wagtail,9 Swift and 6 Whimbrel - Hilbre.

3 Red Kite over Harrison Park/Wellington Road at 12.20/12.30hrs heading towards Fort Perch and then flew over Seaforth- New Brighton.

3 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Sand Martin flying east - Heswall Fields.

Quail heard off Cottage Lane, Heswall.

1,400 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Spotted Redshank-Pickerings Pasture

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 16th

Common Scoter-Drake still on Parklands Sand Quarry-Chelford

Black Necked Grebe-at least eight (two adults and six juveniles) still; also 2 adult female Garganey on No 3 Bed

Quail calling off Old Baths/golf course,5 Greenshank on Bevyl Road Flash and 3 Common Tern over Donkey Stand Flash - Parkgate.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 15th

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

6 Mediterranean Gull and 1,500+ Black-headed Gull on playing fields Greenbank Road - West Kirby.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 14th

Adult Yellow legged Gull-Sandbach Flashes

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Caspian Gull-2nd-summer on sandbanks just west of old Runcorn Bridge; also 7 Yellow Legged Gulls-Widnes

3 Little Ringed Plover - Donkey Stand Flash, Parkgate.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

Jul 13th

Black Necked Grebe-Juvenile-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

3 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Quail calling out from Net's Cafe - Burton Marsh.

8+ Mediterranean Gull - Heswall Shore.

7 Ruff,2 Spotted Redshank,2 Marsh Harrier,Great Egret,7 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Little Ringed Plover
- Burton Mere Wetlands.

Red Kite over Puddington Lane - Burton.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 12th

Common Scoter-Bottom Flash-Winsford

Juvenile Black Necked grebe-South Hide-Moore Nature Reserve

2 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Black Necked Grebe-At least nine (two adults and seven juveniles)-Woolston Eyes

Channel Wagtail-Whitley Reed

Whooper Swan-Bottom Flash-Winsford

Black Necked Grebe-juvenile on West Pool-Silver Lane Pools

Black Necked Grebe-Juvenile-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 11th

Black Necked Grebe-Juvenile-Budworth Mere-Northwich

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 10th

Black Necked Grebe-Juvenile-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Eurasian Spoonbill-Boathouse flash-Parkgate

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 9th

9 Mediterranean Gulls (8ad, 1 2nd summer),400 Oystercatcher,24 Grey Plover, 3 Knot,35 Dunlin,915 Curlew,Whimbrel,550 Redshank,67 Common Gull,920 Black-headed Gull,18 Sandwich Tern at high tide  -Thurstason Shore.

4 Greenshank-Boathouse Flash, Parkgate.

Eurasian Bittern-One circled over mere then flew west and possibly landed in reedbed at west end-Pick Mere

Black Necked Grebe-Juvenile-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 8th

4 Channel Wagtail and Female Honey Buzzard-Hale

Honey Buzzard

(C)Dave Craven

6 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 7th

Common Scoter and Juvenile Black Necked grebe-Acre nook Sand Quarry

Common Quail-Singing male briefly in wheat field between Flaxmere Moss and Norley Road-Flaxmere Moss

6 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

5 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.

At least 8 Mediterranean Gull also 385 Oystercatcher, 28 summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit, 3 non breeding Knot - Thurstaston Shore.

720 Black-tailed Godwit (mostly non-breeding) just north of Flint Point.

3370 Shelduck (possibly moutling flock) on mud west of Parkgate Marsh (counted from Flint Point).

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 6th

Juvenile Black Necked Grebe-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Wheatear - Derby Pool, Wallasey.

5 Spotted Redshank and a Green Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Arctic Skua past this evening  - Middle Eye, Hilbre.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 5th

Black Necked Grebe-at least nine (four on No 3 Bed and five on No 4 Bed) still

Black Necked Grebe-Juvenile

Black Necked Grebe-2 Adults-Lapwing Hall Pool

Rock Pipit off south end of West Kirby Marine Lake.

Eider - Hilbre.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 4th

Juvenile Black necked Grebe and 4 Common Scoter-Budworth Mere-Northwich

Common Scoter

Black Necked Grebe

(C)Malc Curtin

July 3th

Wood Sandpiper-Hale

2 Wood Sandpiper-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Hobby flew from Decca Pools to Denhall Quay.

Quail calling on the marsh off golf course - Parkgate.

85 Sandwich Tern, 1 Gannet and 1 Eider - Hilbre.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 2nd 

Wood Sandpiper-two on island from viewpoint-Acre Nook Sand quarry

5 Ruff (males) and 2 Green Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Water Rail (1 juv) and a Common Sandpiper - Donkey Stand Flash, Parkgate.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

July 1st

Wood Sandpiper-Two still on pool west of 'stilt island'-Neumann's Flash-Northwich

Spotted Redshank-N0 6 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

215 Oystercatcher,Golden Plover,73 Lapwing,2 spl Black-tailed Godwit,820 Curlew,2 Whimbrel,125 Redshank,6 Mediterranean Gull,1140 Black-headed Gull on the rising tide this morning - Heswall Shore.

c50 Sandwich Tern and c2 Mediterranean Gull - West Kirby Shore.

MEGA NEWS

RED TAILED SHRIKE-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire

BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS-Bempton Cliffs-East Yorkshire