CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

31st March 2025

National Megas News

Forster's Tern-Adult again on 'boomerang' island at lagoon late morning-Brownsea Island-Dorset

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Water Pipit- One on Hale Marsh from Town Lane bridge-Hale

Short-eared Owl this morning over the golf course/dunes - Red Rocks.

12 Whooper Swan on main scrape this morning - Burton Mere Wetlands.

3 Greenshank, 2,000+ Pink-footed Geese, Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine over high tide - Parkgate.

Jack Snipe and a Wheatear - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

80 Sand Martin flying north this evening - Neston Marsh.

8+ Water Pipit-Lordship Lane-Frodsham Marshes

Ruddy Shelduck-Still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

21+  Black Necked Grebes-N04 bed and Willow Warbler-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

30th March 2025

National Megas News

Forster's Tern-Adult roosting on sandbar on River Wyre-Skippool Creek-Lancashire

(C) O.Parsons

Booted Eagle-Sancreed-Cornwall

(C) M.Roper

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Spotted Redshank-Hale Marsh

10 Water Pipit-Lordship Lane-Frodsham Marshes

5 Spotted Redshank- Burton RSPB

Short Eared Owl- One at Gowy Woodland Park then flew off-Sweeney Wetlands

29th March 2025

National Megas News

Booted Eagle-Sancreed-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bowden's Flash; follow path east along River Weaver from Frodsham Watersports-Frodsham

3 Spotted Redshank- Burton RSPB

Russian White Fronted Goose- Off Denhall Quay-Neston

12 Water Pipit-Lordship Lane-Frodsham Marshes

28th March 2025

National Megas News

Forster's Tern- One flew south close inshore past RNLI Morecambe Lifeboat Station-Lancashire

Booted Eagle-Sancreed-Cornwall

 

(C) M.Roper

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

White Stork-Released individula- over this morning, then landed this afternoon - viewable from visitor centre - Burton Mere Wetlands.

(C) A.Hitchmough

1600 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

Common Scoter-Two (one drake) on north pool at Mere Farm Quarry-Chelford

8 Spotted Redshank- Burton RSPB

Yellow Wagtail-Frodsham Marshes

27th March 2025

National Megas News

Booted Eagle-Sancreed-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Smew-Drake on Birchwood Pool-Woolston Eyes

Ruddy Shelduck-Still on River Mersey off Spike Island

4 Water Pipit-In field south of Lordship Lane-Frodsham Marshes

33 Black Necked Grebes-N04 bed and Willow Warbler-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

2 Spotted Redshank-Border Hide-Burton RSPB

12 Little Gull and 25 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.

810 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

26th March 2025

National Megas News

Booted Eagle-Bartinney Downs-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Velvet Scoter-Drake,8 Little Gull flying east and 4 Sandwich Tern - Hilbre.

White Wagtail (Kerr's field) and 2 Swallow over - Leasowe Lighthouse.

5 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Sandwich Tern, Little Gull, Red-throated Diver and 2 Guillemot off East Hoyle at low tide, 6 White Wagtail seen from the Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Short-eared Owl - Red Rocks Marsh/Sand Dunes.

HAVING A WHALE OF A TIME-CAITHNESS-SCOTLAND

While on holiday in Caithness in the Highlands of Scotland, I joined a WhatsApp group for cetacean sightings through Facebook. Just a few miles from John o' Groats, I had an incredible day watching four Humpback whales from Duncansby Head.

As you can see from the above photographs, the views were mind-blowing while watching these animals move through the water.

During my holiday, as always, I also had the pleasure of seeing a few birds on my travels. Below are some of the birds I encountered:

Adult Kumlien's Gull

Common Eider

Great Northern Diver

Black Guillimot

A cracking week away and one I'll never forget!

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

Todays Bird News

National Megas News

Forster's Tern-Arne RSPB-Dorset

(C) M Wright

Booted Eagle-St Buryan-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Common Scoter-Drake on River Mersey below Forrest Way bridge-Graet Sankey

31 Black Necked Grebes-N04 bed and Osprey-Over-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Eurasian Bittern- One flew north-east early morning- Moulton

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still in field west of Manor Road-Thornton Hough

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

Todays Bird News

National Megas News

Forster's Tern-Arne RSPB-Dorset

(C) M Wright

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Little Ringed Plover - Burton Mere Wetlands.

14 Chiffchaff singing along Wirral Way this morning - Heswall/Thurstaston.

5 Long-tailed Duck off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.

Water Pipit-one still in flooded field north of No 4 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

Todays Bird News

National Megas News

Forster's Tern-Arne RSPB-Dorset

(C) M Wright

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

(C) T. Hines

Booted Eagle-Northwick Wark-Avon

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ring Ouzel-three (two males)-Dane Bower Quarry

Water Pipit-at least five in fields at Rake Lane-Little Stanney

Western Osprey-One flew over Marbury Big Mere

2 Little Gull-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Osprey heading N at 0950hrs over Heswall fields and the Dungeon wood.

14 Sand Martin over reedbed - Gronant.

Garganey (male) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Sandwich Tern, Little Gull and 5 Long-tailed Duck off East Hoyle Bank -Hoylake.

Willow Warbler singing - Ness.

Little Ringed Plover on Kerr's Field - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Water Pipit (moulting into s/pl). 4 Avocet and 3 Ruff - Denhall Quay.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

Todays Bird News

National Megas News

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Booted Eagle-Pale morph circled high over Pilning Wetland for five minutes then flew south-east-Northwick Wark-Avon

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

5 Little Gull-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Hawfinch and 1st Winter Little Gull-Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park-Northwich

Little Gull

(C)Dave Bedford

28 Black Necked Grebes-NO3 and N04 bed and Osprey-Over-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Willow Warbler *first of spring* - Thornton Hough.

Little Ringed Plover on Kerr's Field still, 7+ Wheatear in coastal paddocks and a Swallow over - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Little Ringed Plover

(C)Allan Conlin

18 Little Gull and 35 Gannet - Hilbre.

 

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

Todays Bird News

National Megas News

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

3 Black Necked Grebes-Number 3 bed-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Black Redstart-Hilbre Island

Black Redstart

(C) S.Williams

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

Todays Bird News

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

2 Russian White Fronted Goose-Burton Marsh

Ruddy Shelduck-Two on Hale Marsh from Within Way-Hale

25 Black Necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Puffin- One off Hilbre, looking towards East Hoyle Bank, then flew west, and Drake Long Tailed duck- Still off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.

BIRDING IN SCOTLAND DAY 2

This morning, I woke up at 5:00 AM and drove to the Cairngorm mountain car park. During my last visit in January, I missed seeing a Ptarmigan, and I was eager to spot one this time since I hadn't seen one in years.

Although there was still snow on the ground, I took my time walking up to Coire an t-Sneachda. Before long, I spotted my first Ptarmigan.

What a beautiful sight! It was definitely worth the walk.

Other birds of note were four Snow buntings and two Red grouse on the descent back to the car park.

Snow Bunting

Driving back to Aviemore, I stopped at Loch Morlich, where I saw a Crested tit at a feeding station.

Loch Morlich, with the Cairngorms in the background.

Leaving the Cairngorms, I drove further north and stopped at Alturlie Point on the Moray Firth near Inverness. 64 Scaup were present and showed really well along with 11 Slavonian grebes, 1 Kittiwake, 4 Red-throated divers, and 11 Long-tailed ducks. My first Swallow of the year also whizzed past me.

Greater Scaup

Kittiwake

Moray Firth

Another good day's birding, now a two-hour drive north to Thurso.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

Todays Bird News

National Megas News

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Black Scoter and Drake Long Tailed duck-Still off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still in flooded field south of Westwood Hall Nursing Home off Brimstage Road-Brimstage

26 Black Necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Eurasian Spoonbill-Adult-Hale

BIRDING IN SCOTLAND DAY 1

Day 1

I had three target birds for my Scottish list as I headed north. Two of them were in Dumfries and Galloway: the Avocet and the Willow Tit. The third bird, the Ross's Goose, was in Ayrshire. I made my first stop at Browhouses, where I observed seven Avocets.

Browhouses

The Avocets were far away, and the heat haze made it difficult to take clear photographs.

Continuing from there, I stopped at Loch Ken, which was my first visit to this RSPB site.

Loch Ken

After searching for over two hours, I finally spotted a Willow Tit calling near the picnic area. This site is one of the best in Scotland for this species, and I felt lucky to have seen one, especially since I was just passing through.

The willow tit is the fastest declining resident bird species in the UK, and the second-fastest declining species overall, after the turtle dove. The population declined by 86% between 1995 and 2020.

The first national willow tit survey was undertaken between 2019 and 2021, with county-level surveys undertaken across the known range by Willow Tit study groups, county bird clubs, other conservation organisations and other volunteers. The survey was organised by RSPB, with support from the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, Natural England (through the 'Action for Birds in England' partnership), Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Ornithological Society. The survey results show that the willow tit population in Great Britain is estimated at nearly 5,700 breeding pairs, of which 76% were in England, 21% in Wales and 3% in Scotland. The ‘top 3’ ceremonial counties across Britain were North Yorkshire, County Durham and Derbyshire. In Wales, most of the population was in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Breconshire and Montgomeryshire. Almost all the willow tits in Scotland were in Dumfries & Galloway.

Work is ongoing to understand the causes of willow tit population decline. The results from this survey can help target conservation action at local and regional levels. A key tool will be the newly published Willow Tit Conservation Handbook from the recent Back From the Brink project, for those who are looking to undertake practical habitat management for willow tit, which provides advice on habitat management techniques and monitoring and surveying methods with supporting information on ecology and case study examples.

After observing the Willow Tit, I headed north to Galston in Ayrshire and arrived just before dusk. 

Bruntwood Flood

I spotted the Ross's Goose with a group of Pink-footed Geese. This bird is being reported as an adult of unknown origin. I wanted to see it anyway as a precautionary tick since the acceptance of these geese can be uncertain.

I had a great day birding and saw my three target birds. I watched the sun go down and started the long drive north to Aviemore, to my hotel, where I arrived just after 10:00 pm, exhausted.