AFTERNOONS BIRDING AT HALE

I met up with Mark Penne, Fred Fearne, and Malc Curtin this afternoon and did some birding around Hale. We started off at Halebank and had a look through the masses of gulls, but nothing of note was seen; only a Peregrine perched up on the bridge briefly. Moving on to Hale Park, the firecrest was heard again in the overhanging canopy but was not seen and then departed after a good hour's search.

A visit to Carr Lane produced 7 Grey Partridge and a stunning male Merlin sat out in a field.

No waterpit could be found on the pools, and nothing of note was seen at Pickerings pastures on the way home. A quiet afternoon birding, but nice to catch up with the lads.  #LOCALBIGYEAR

  

CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF BIRD NEWS

Jan 13th

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Drake Eider-Off-Hoylake.

Adult Iceland Gull-Railway flash-Sandbach Flashes

Black Necked grebe-Acre Nook 

MEGA NEWS

WHITE TAILED LAPWING-East Halton Skitter-Lincolnshire

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

BAIKAL TEAL-Swine Moor --East Yorkshire

Jan 12th

2 Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall pool-Lower Withington

Eurasian Bittern-Coward Reedbed-Northwich

Black Necked grebe and Great White egret-Acre Nook 

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Drake Eider and a Great Northern diver off Hoylake.

Siberian Chiffchaff in evergreens near path to golf course,Barn Owl,Hen Harrier (grey male),3 Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine - Parkgate.

11 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.

MEGA NEWS

BAIKAL TEAL-Top Low NR-East Yorkshire

                                            .                            

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian

AFTERNOONS BIRDING AT HOYLAKE

I walked out to the tides edge at Hoylake this afternoon and was rewarded with a stunning male Eider and hundreds of Common Scoter.

On the way back, the long-staying Snow Bunting was still showing well on the rocks near Hoylake life guard station  #LOCALBIGYEAR

FLINT CASTLE TO CONNAH'S QUAY

I spent this afternoon walking along the salt marsh from Flint Castle to Connah's Quay and eventually found 18 Twite on the marsh.

Other birds of note were good numbers of Shelduck,Teal, and Black Tailed Godwit.

The Starling murmuration finished off a perfect afternoon over the Dee estuary #LOCALBIGYEAR

ARROWE COUNTRY PARK AND THE DEE ESTUARY

I spent this morning at Arrowe park and it didnt take long to find the resident Mandarin ducks,4 were seen.A good selection of woodland birds were also recorded in the park.

I then drove to Burton RSPB and spent a few good hours on the reserve.

The reserve was quiet today but it did produce a Spotted Redshank,Cetti's warbler and an elusive Woodcock.

A walk to Burton point produced 2 Great White egrets out on the estuary.

Moving on to Denhall quay I connected with 3 Short eared owls and it was nice to see fellow birders not out on the marsh disturbing the Owls and other species.

As the day was coming to an end I headed to Parkgate and had a great few hours birding.A male Hen Harrier showed really well and at least 7 Marsh Harriers put in a fine performance.

I waited till 16.45 looking over Neston reedbed,a Merlin was seen sat out on a post and then the bird I wanted came in to roost a Bittern.The bird flew right past me and some other birders and showed well as we watched it fly into the reedbed.

A good afternoons birding and a few more quality birds for the list. #LOCALBIGYEAR

CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF BIRD NEWS

11th January

2 Western Cattle egret-In pig field by Kinsey's Lane-Ince Marshes

2 Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall pool-Lower Withington

Black Necked grebe and Great White egret-Acre Nook 

Great Northern Diver-juvenile-Mere Farm Quarry

Great Northern Diver

(C)Malc Curtin

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

2 Rock Pipit by groyne - Leasowe Lighthouse

Short-eared Owl (distant),Barn Owl,5+ Marsh Harrier,4 Great White Egret,Merlin and  Peregrine - Parkgate.

5 Snow Bunting by Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

3 Short Eared Owl-Denhall Quay

Eurasian Bittern-Came into roost-Neston Reedbed also Hen Harrier(Male),Merlin and 3 Marsh Harriers

Woodcock and Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

4 Mandarin Duck- Arrowe country park

Merlin-Over -Maw Green tip-Sandbach Flashes

MEGA NEWS

GREY HEADED GULL-Possible adult briefly in flight-Llandegfedd Reservoir-Gwent

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Mussleburgh-Lothian

10th January

5 Snow Bunting by Derby Pool and 2 Mediterranean Gull in nearby flooded 'pitch and putt' - Wallasey Shore.

2 Water Pipit and 5 Spotted Redshank  - Burton Mere Wetlands.

20+ Brambling near Thornton Hough.

Bittern flew into roost - Neston Reed Bed.

Hen Harrier (grey male) - Burton Marsh.

6 Ring Necked Parakeets-Behind-Runcorn Townhall

Eurasian Bittern-Coward reedbed-Northwich

Bittern

(C)Malc Curtin

Great Northern Diver-juvenile-Mere Farm Quarry

Black Necked grebe and Great White egret-Acre Nook 

Woodcock,2 Water Pipits,and 5 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

MEGA NEWS

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

BIRDGUIDES PHOTO OF THE WEEK:4TH-9TH JANUARY 2022

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:4TH-9TH JANUARY 2022

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SUNDAY BIRDING

Well this 15 mile radius does get you out!I started early this morning at Gresford flash in Clwyd and connected with this smart Juvenile Red throated diver.Other birds of note were 8 Goosander and a Dipper was seen further down the road at Rossett.

Moving on back into Cheshire I visited Moore nature reserve where 2 Willow Tit were seen at the feeding station.

From here I moved on to Hale and thanks to Dave craven-Hale's finest! for the jen on the Firecrest which didn't take long to relocate in Hale park,this little jem was very vocal and good addition to the list.A Water pipit was seen briefly at Carr lane pools but was very flighty.

Further down the road I visited Pickerings pasture.A Common sandpiper showed well and a Peregrine was sat out on Runcorn bridge.No Gulls of interest were on Halebank which was a disappointment 

On the way home I called in at Runcorn town hall and had 6 Ring necked parakeets coming in to the roost. #LOCALBIGYEAR

CHESHIRE BIRD NEWS AND MEGAS

SUMMARY OF BIRD NEWS

Water Pipit-one still at Carr Lane Pools and Firecrest-Hale Park-Hale

4 Bewick's Swan-Adult-still with 23 Whooper swan on Lordship Marsh; park carefully by houses on Smithy Lane and view looking north from M56 footbridge-Frodsham Marshes

Black necked Grebe-Acre Nook Sand quarry-Lower Withington

Redhead Smew-Lapwing Hall pool-Lower Withington

2 Short Eared owl-Off Harp Inn-Neston Marsh

5 Snow Bunting by Derby Pool - Wallasey Shore.

7 Purple Sandpiper on pontoon - New Brighton Marine Lake.

Woodcock-Burton Mere Wetlands.

5 Marsh Harrier and 5 Great Egret,2 Green Woodpecker by Boathouse Lane -Parkgate.

Snow Bunting on rocks by Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Bittern flew into roost from Parkgate direction also at least 8 Marsh Harrier -Neston Reed Bed.

MEGA NEWS

BAIKAL TEAL-Greylake RSPB-Somerset

BAIKAL TEAL-Hornsea Mere-East Yorkshire