1.5.23
WINTER AND EARLY SPRING BIRDS 2023
I haven't written any birds up this year so far, so I thought I'd add a few of my sightings I have seen this year.
January
February
The first week in February I spent in Fuerteventura with Dianne and saw some cracking birds during the week. The star bird of the week was the red-billed tropicbird at Atlantico Mall, Caleta, which showed so well, absolutely amazing views.
South-westerly winds extending across the Bay of Biscay from Iberia and North Africa at the start of the first week in March produced perfect 'funnel' conditions for a large-scale migrant arrival, although even more noticeable still was an extraordinary Alpine Swift influx across Britain and Ireland.
When glancing at the BirdGuides sightings pages, it has been impossible to miss the scale of this record-shattering influx, with birds reported from more than 60 locations during the review period, including no fewer than 13 sites enjoying multiple birds. Ireland hosted the bulk of reports, with perhaps as many as 50 different birds, including an astonishing nine over Bray, Co Wicklow, on 19th—the biggest flock ever recorded in Ireland. Six at Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, the previous day, meanwhile, is the largest modern-day flock recorded in Britain
30.4.23
SUMMARY OF BIRDS NEWS APRIL 2023
Apr 30th
Black Tern-N06 tank-Frodsham Marshes
70+ Swifts-Budworth Mere-Northwich
2 Common Terns,Common Sandpiper and 15 Swifts-Acre Nook sand Quarry
Garganey-Drake-Sandbach Flashes
Green-winged Teal (view from the north end of cliff top at Heswall Fields NT, the bird is in the second channel which cuts back into saltmarsh) and 65 Whimbrel - Heswall Shore.
Osprey hovering between the islands this morning, caught a flatfish and ate it on Bird Rock (Red Rocks) - Hilbre.
12 Wheatear in horse paddock and a Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.
MEGA NEWS
3 WHITE WINGED SCOTER and STEJNEGER'S SCOTER-Largo Bay-Fife
Apr 29th
Green-winged Teal, 6 Common Teal, 4000 Knot, 3000 Dunlin, 23 Ringed Plover, 139 Grey Plover, 47 Whimbrel over high tide - Heswall Shore.
Cuckoo flew towards West Kirby from Little Eye
Osprey circling over paddocks at 1040hrs,fem Common Redstart in sheep field,Yellow Wagtail in coastal paddock and 6 Goosander in channel east of groyne,19 Gannet,37 Great Crested Grebe,Razorbill and 3 Guillemot on the sea this evening - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Wood Warbler in trees just east of Roman Road before flying into gardens - Meols.
Hobby catching dragonflies and 1 Swift - Lower Heswall.
Hobby flew west over Saughall.
Garganey (fem),Yellow Wagtail and 3 Whinchat on Pasture Road Flash - Moreton.
Black redstart-1st-winter male south of Astbury-Astbury Mere
Whinchat-Whitley Reed
3 Garganey-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes
MEGA NEWS
PINE BUNTING-Papa Westray-Orkney
Forster's Tern-Lytchett bay-Dorset
Apr 28th
7 Spotted Redshank,Long Billed Dowitcher and Ruddy Shelduck-Burton RSPB
2 Short Eared Owls-Maw Green Tip
Avocet-Woolston Eyes
Garganey-Four (three drakes) still on No 6 Tank-Frodsham Marshes
MEGA NEWS
WHITE WINGED SCOTER and STEJNEGER'S SCOTER-Largo Bay-Fife
Forster's Tern-Lytchett bay-Dorset
Apr 27th
Black Winged Stilt and Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
Garganey-Four (three drakes) still on No 6 Tank-Frodsham Marshes
Short Eared,Maw Green Tip
Little Gull-1st winter-Leasowe Lighthouse
Garganey-Three drakea still on No 6 Tank-Frodsham Marshes
Wood Warbler-Singing male in wood by junction of Manor Drive and Upton Road-Upton
Wood Warbler-Singing male at Hob Hey Wood-Frodsham
Ring Ouzel-Still in sheep fields near lighthouse-Leasowe
MEGA NEWS
Forster's Tern-Lytchett bay-Dorset
WHITE CROWNED SPARROW-Seaford Head-East Sussex
Little Gull-1st winter-Newchurch Common
Pied flycatcher-Between Limbo Lane and Arrowe Country Park-Thingwall
Hoopoe-Still on lawn by conifer plantation at Green Alley Farm; park only at compound at 53.4122-2..4960 and walk back to view from road only. Do not park along Holly Bush Lane-Rixton
Osprey-Flew north-Tatton Park
Ring Ouzel-Two in south-east corner of No 5 Tank; viewable from ramp to No 6 Tank,Green Winged tea and Garganey-Frodsham Marshes
3 Whinchat and c20 Wheatear between Nets Cafe and Sheep field end of Station Road,Common Redstart in Chapel Field - Burton Marsh.
3+ Grasshopper Warbler - Burton Point.
Blue-headed Wagtail,5 Whinchat,3 Common Redstart,Garganey on sea before flying north,Pied Flycatcher at Park Lane this evening,20 Wheatear,100 Sand Martin and a Cuckoo - Leasowe Lighthouse.
3,000 Knot (many in full breeding plumage) early morning - Thurstaston Shore.
Pied Flycacher between Limbo Lane and Arrowe Park (Thingwall).
Spoonbill,Long-billed Dowitcher and 9 Mediterranean Gull - Burton Mere Wetlands.
107 Whimbrel, 300 Curlew and 160 Black-tailed Godwit over high tide - Heswall Shore.
MEGA NEWS
Forster's Tern-Lytchett bay-Dorset
Apr 24th
Long Billed Dowitcher-Burton RSPB
Garganey-Drake-Phalarope pool-Frodsham Marshes
Osprey-Over Elton Hal flash-Sandbach Flashes
Pied Flycatcher-Male at Bosley Cloud in top wood-Bosley
Garganey-Drake still at Railway Flash No 2-Sandbach Flashes
Hoopoe-Along Woodend Lane then flew into gardens by farm buildings-Rixton
2 Cuckoo by Park Lane this afternoon, 2 Common Sandpiper by groyne and 2 Whinchat in paddocks - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Spoonbill and 6 Mediterranean Gull - Burton Mere Wetlands.
2 Whinchat end of Station Road - Burton Marsh.
MEGA NEWS
Forster's Tern-Lytchett bay-Dorset
WHITE CROWNED SPARROW-Seaford Head-East Sussex
Apr 23rd
8 Little Gull-Frodsham Marshes
Common Crane-Three possibles reported in flight over Dee Estuary-Parkgate
Green Winged teal-Drake still on mitigation pool-Frodshm marshes
Wood Sandpiper-Pumphouse Flash-Sandbach Flashes
Osprey-Mollington
2 Garganey-Sandbach Flashes
4 Avocet-Neumann's Flash
9 Wheatear (5 Greenland),Grasshopper Warbler,Common Redstart,2 Arctic Skua,66 Gannet,21 Manx Shearwater,Black Guillemot,4 Arctic Tern and 4 Little Gull off shore - Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Garganey (drakes) on Boathouse Flash - Parkgate.
Green-winged Teal again off Target Road and 82+ Whimbrel - Heswall Shore.
Spoonbill - Denhall Quay.
c20 Whimbrel, 10 Wheatear,Grasshopper Warbler,182 Sandwich Tern 22 Common Tern,4 Arctic Tern,72 Gannet and 3 Kittiwake flew west after high tide - Hilbre.
2 Whinchat - Hoylake Langfields.
Whinchat (Burton Point) and 15+ Wheatear - Burton Marsh.
4 Greenshank busy feeding - Decca Pools.
MEGA NEWS
Forster's Tern-Lytchett bay-Dorset
WHITE CROWNED SPARROW-Seaford Head-East Sussex
Apr 22nd
Whinchat-Ashtons Flash
Osprey-one flew along Gowy Valley-Wimbolds Trafford
25 Little gulls-Acre Nook sand quarry
20 Black Necked grebe-Woolston Eyes
Twite-Within Way-Hale
Green Winged teal,5 Little Gull and Garganey-Frodsham Marshes
Short Eared Owl-Hale
Bar Tailed Godwit-One at Mere Farm Quarry-Chelford
Black Guillemot distant off groyne,Whinchat and a Yellow Wagtail in coastal paddocks,Common Redstart behind Lighthouse and 2 Common Sandpiper on groyne,42 Wheatear and 4 Whinchat in field south of R Birket late afternoon - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Whinchat (male) and 6+ Grasshopper Warbler at Point and by nearby boardwalk - Burton Point.
17 Wheatear between Rifle Range and Decca Pools.
Long Billed dowitcher,Black Tern and a Spoonbill - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Lesser Whitethroat by visitor centre,Grasshopper Warbler reeling by Dawpool Nature Reserve,8+ Wheatear flying along the cliffs and at least 30 Whimbrel on the shore - Thurstaston.
3 Whinchat (males),4 Tree Pipit,Common Redstart (fem),63 Wheatear,4 grasshopper Warbler and 2 White Wagtail - Hoylake Langfields and adjacent Saughall Massie Paddocks.
77 Whimbrel on shore on rising tide,Common Redstart (male),7 Wheatear,Lesser Whitethroat and a Stonechat (male) - Heswall Fields.
MEGA NEWS
WHITE CROWNED SPARROW-Seaford Head-East Sussex
Apr 21st
13 Little Gulls-Budworth Mere-Northwich
At least 3 Grasshopper Warbler - Burton Point and along cycle path by BMW.
13+ Wheatear between Burton Point and Decca Pools.
Osprey on salt marsh (off Harp Inn) at 6.15pm - Neston Marsh.
Apr 20th
410 Oystercatcher, 8 Grey Plover, 240 Dunlin, 260 Redshank, 518 Curlew, minimum 56 Whimbrel on the rising tide - Heswall Shore.
Spoonbill on Bevyl Road Flash - Parkgate.
3 Little gulls-Briefly-Budworth Mere-Northwich
Western Cattle Egret-Sandbach Flashes
11 Little gulls-from roost and 2 Arctic Terns flew west-Woolston Eyes
Gull Billed Tern,Ruddy Shelduck,Long-billed Dowitcher,2 Garganey (pair) and 12 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Whinchat (fem) in horse paddocks and a Grasshopper Warbler (west of duck pond) - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Apr 19th
4 Little gulls and Bar Tailed godwit-Acre Nook Sand Quarry
67 Little Gull-Flew through,day count-Woolston eyes
Little Gulls-2 adults flew east along River Mersey past Within Way-Hale
Western Cattle Egret-Sandbach Flashes
Whinchat (fem) in horse paddocks,15 wheatear,20+ Swallow ,2 House Martin,3 White Wagtail and a Common Redstart,Osprey over NE at 3pm - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Black Guillemot giving good views on tide between 1130 and 1150 - Meols Shore.
Osprey over River Mersey - New Brighton.
Common Redstart-Female at rear of Clatterbridge Hospital-Clatterbridge
2 Black Necked Grebe and Westerrn cattle egret-Budworth Mere-Northwich
Pied Flycatcher-Female along Valeroyal Cut behind Big Pond-Moulton
Eurasian Spoonbill-Two reported on River Weaver at Boden's Loc-Frodsham
Garganey-Drake-Phalarope pool-Frodsham Marshes
Osprey-Drifted east-Redes Mere
Osprey-Drifted west-Alford
Common Sandpiper and 310 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.
3 Common Redstart and 40 Wheatear - Leasowe Lighthouse.
420 Sanderling,120 Bar-tailed Godwit (just 1 s/pl) and 3,000 Dunlin at hight tide,at least 3,000 Knot on East Hoyle Bank off Meols an hour before high tide,4 Wheatear on rocks by Lifeboat Station at 5pm - Hoylake Shore.
c100 Willow Warbler,4+ Common Redstart and 3 Grasshopper Warbler,3 Tree Pipit over - Hilbre.
3 Grasshopper Warbler, 28 Willow Warbler and a Common Redstart in gardens along Hoylake sea-front.
MEGA NEWS
BLACK WINGED KITE-Newtown-Powys
Apr 17th
Ruddy Shelduck-Female again on Widnes Warth-Widnes
Green Winged Teal-Drake on No 3 Tank-Frodsham Marshes
White Stork-One flew north-east over Elton Hall Flash-Sandbach Flashes
Ring Ouzel (male) and a Common Redstart (both behind Lighthouse),2 Stonechat by car park,10 Wheatear moving east along embankment and an Osprey over east-Leasowe Lighthouse.
9 Whimbrel flew north over high tide - Heswall Shore.
Pied flycatcher (fem) - Burton Mere Wetlands.
8,000 Pink-footed Geese flew out of estuary early morning - Hilbre.
Grasshopper Warbler reeling - Parkgate Marsh.
Garganey-Drake-Phalarope pool-Frodsham Marshes
MEGA NEWS
BLACK WINGED KITE-Kirton-Suffolk
7+ Wheatear (4 on the groyne) this morning,Common Redstart next to path by coastal paddocks this afternoon - Leasowe Lighthouse.
26 Wheatear between Decca Pools and Rifle Range,2 Whimbrel flew NW over Decca Pools,House Martin bottom of Station Road and 1 Reed Warbler in reeds opposite sheep pens - Burton Marsh.
Water Pipit - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Great Northern Diver,Red-throated Diver and 20+ Gannet - Hilbre.
25 White Wagtail on sand around Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.
43 Pink-footed Geese,160 Shelduck,32 Teal,Eider (female),9 Red-breasted Merganser,670 Oystercatcher,39 Grey Plover,3000 Knot,1800 Dunlin,110 Black-tailed Godwit,340 Curlew,4 Whimbrel (flew N at 07:40),Greenshank,820 Redshank at high tide - Heswall Shore.
Avocet-Flew over Budworth Mere-Northwich
Whinchat,Ring Ouzel and Common Redstart-Carr Lane pools-Hale
Ruddy Shelduck-Burton RSPB
Garganey-Drake-Phalarope pool-Frodsham Marshes
7+ Wheatear (4 on the groyne) - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Apr 15th
Channel Wagtail-Male on Hale Marsh viewed from Within Way-Hale
Garganey-Drake-Phalarope pool-Frodsham Marshes
Whimbrel flew west - Meols Shore.
Osprey flew down west side of Hilbre.
2 Mediterranean Gull and 6 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
3 Wheatear at Mrsh Farm - Burton.
Great Northern Diver (flew NE), 30+ Common Scoter, 20+ Great Crested Grebe, 2160 Pink-footed Geese flew NE over Lliverpool Bay, 30+ Swallow, 20+ Chiffchaff,Greenshank,320 Grey Plover,70 Bar-tailed Godwit and 30 Sanderling this evening - Leasowe.
MEGA NEWS
WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Musselburgh -Lothian
Apr 14th
4 Arctic Tern-Budworth Mere
Fall 0f 40+ Willow Warbler during light rain - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Green-winged Teal (drake) in gutter off Target Road - Heswall Shore.
Ring Ouzel (fem) south of Red Rocks.
Savi's Warbler and 7 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Apr 13th
11 Black Necked grebes-Woolston Eyes
Savi's Warbler seen and heard this morning, also a Long-billed Dowitcher - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Yellow Wagtail - Saughall.
Apr 12th
Ring Ouzel-Male in field behind swan pit-Middlewich
Garganey-Drake-Phalarope pool-Frodsham Marshes
Savi's Warbler heard this afternoon, also 3 Marsh Harrier and 7 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
70 Manx Shearwater,2 Fulmar,180 Gannet,150 Sandwich Tern,Little Tern,2 Common Tern and 3 Red-throated Diver - Hilbre.
Apr 11th
Wood Sandpiper-One reported on Widnes Warth and Ruddy Shelduck-Widnes
Savi's Warbler seen and heard several times today at Reedbed Screen, also 8 Spotted Redshank,2 Garganey and a Grasshopper Warbler - Burton Mere Wetlands.
6 Brent Geese,2 Guillemot and a Swift - Hilbre.
Apr 10th
Common Redstart-Claughton
Ring Ouzel-female in field north-west of New Bank Equestrian-Whitley Reed
Garganey-Drake-Phalarope pool-Frodsham Marshes
Savi's Warbler, heard reeling at Reedbed Screen,3 Spotted Redshank- Burton Mere Wetlands.
Common Whitethroat *first of spring*, first in 2021 and 2022 was also on Apr 10!! - Decca Pools.
4 White Wagtail and 20 Wheatear, 4+ Redpoll over between Decca Pools and Burton Point.
20+ Swallow, 10+ Sand Martin, 3 House Martin, 6+ Wheatear and 2 Willow Warbler ahead of heavy rain this morning - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Apr 9th
Caspian Gull-two (2nd-winter and 3rd-winter)-Pickerings Pasture
Garganey-Drake-Phalarope pool-Frodsham Marshes
Eurasian Hobby- Elton Hall Flash-Sandbach Flashes
10+ Wheatear - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Ruddy Shelduck,Long-billed Dowitcher,2 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Grasshopper Warbler reeling near boardwalk - West Kirby Marsh.
5,000 Pink-footed Geese flushed by low flying aircraft,Little ringed Plover and a White Wagtail on Old Baths flash - Parkgate Marsh.
2 male Greenland Wheatear, 9 Blackcap and 25 Chiffchaff - Heswall Fields.
Apr 8th
Twite-Within Way-Hale
Common Redstart-Gawsworth
17 Black Necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes
Garganey-Drake-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes
Kumlein's Gull-2nd-winter on sandbanks just west of old Runcorn bridge and 1st Winter Caspian gull-Widnes
'Greenland' Redpoll (A. f. rostrata <or A. f. islandica?>) caught and ringed - Hoylake.
Lesser Redpoll (left) and Greenland Redpoll (right) to exact same scale,caught and ringed in Hoylake, April 8th © Jane Turner2,000+ Pink-footed Geese and a lot of Brent Geese flew out of the estuary this morning,4 Eider,35 Common Scoter,10+ Red-throated diver,8+ Guillemot, Little Tern,3 Common Tern and 2 Sandwich Tern - Hilbre.
Yellow Wagtail and 5 Spotted Redshank - Burton Mere Wetlands.
MEGA NEWS
SHORT TOED TREECREEPER-St Margaret's at Cliffe-Kent
Apr 7th
Common Scoter-female on east side; viewable from gate-Acre Nook Sand Quarry
Ruddy Shelduck-Burton RSPB
Kumlein's Gull-2nd-winter on sandbanks just west of old Runcorn bridge-Widnes
Caspian Gull-Pickerings Pasture
2 Eider-Hilbre Island
MEGA NEWS
WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Musselburgh -Lothian
SHORT TOED TREECREEPER-South Foreland-Kent
Osprey over at noon - Burton Point.
Kumlien's Gull-2nd-winter on sandbanks just west of old Runcorn bridge-Widnes
Osprey-Flew north over golf course-Macclesfield
Osprey-Flew north-Leasowe
Black Necked grebe-15,Garganey-1 drake and Prob Alpine swift-Woolston Eyes
MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN-Sutton Bingham Reservoir-Somerset and Bristol
Swift *first of spring and three weeks earlier than last year* good views were had of this bird and definitely wasn't an Alpine Swift or hirudine, flew north-west along coast (description sent to Clwyd Bird Recorder) - Greenfield Dock.
Ring Ouzel flew towards Burton Mere Wetlands early morning, also 4 Wheatear and 3 Swallow - Burton Marsh.
260 Shelduck, 7 Wigeon, 68 Pintail, 2 Eider (pair), 18 Red-breasted Merganser - Heswall Shore.
2 White Wagtail, 6 Red-throated Diver, 20 Gannet, 20 Guillemot, 15 Sandwich Tern, 52 Common Scoter and 5 Eider - Hilbre.
Glossy Ibis-one reported at The Birkett at 53.4080,-3.0666 from moving train-Bidston
Ring Ouzel flew towards Burton Mere Wetlands early morning - Burton Point.
Apr 4th
4 Yellow Wagtail-Astle Farm-Chelford
Ring Ouzel in coastal paddocks - Leasowe Lighthouse.
6 Long-tailed Duck, 30+ auks, 6 Red-throated Diver, 20+ Gannet and 30+ Sandwich Tern off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.
Pied Flycatcher-male at Waste Hill-Burwardsley
Apr 3rd
Twite-Within Way-Hale
Ruddy Shelduck-Female-Spike island-Widnes
Long Tailed Duck-6 off Hoyle bank-Hoylake
Ruddy Shelduck-Female and 3 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
Apr 2nd
Long Billed Dowitcher,Great White egret,Drake Garganey,Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
Ring Ouzel-Two (one male) still below chimney-Dane Bower Chimney
Avocet-2-Neumanns Flash-Northwich
Apr 1st
Black Necked Grebe-19-Osprey and Sedge Warbler-Woolston Eyes
68 Little Gull-Hilbre Island
3 Ruddy Shelduck-Hilbre Island
5 Water Pipit-Frodsham Marshes
Long Billed Dowitcher-Burton RSPB