CANNOCK CHASE-STAFFORDSHIRE

This morning, I stopped by Cannock Chase on my way to work in Birmingham and enjoyed an excellent few hours there.

Cannock Chase

Cuckoos were singing as soon as I arrived on site, and the one below was one of two easily visible.

Cuckoo

A good number of Tree pipits were observed, and seven individual birds were seen.

Tree Pipit

In addition to other sightings, notable birds observed included a Stonechat and a Reed Bunting.

Stonechat

Reed Bunting

Green hairstreak butterflies were abundant, flying in the morning sun alongside a Brimstone butterfly.

Green Hairstreak Butterfly

Brimstone

Overall, it was a great few hours of walking around and enjoying some quality sightings.

MIDDLETON RSPB-WARWICKSHIRE

I went for an evening walk after work tonight around Middleton RSPB and saw some cracking birds.

Middleton RSPB

Upon entering the reserve, I saw two Hobby's flying over the pools, and a Bittern was booming away.

What a bird! Summer is upon us. 

While continuing to walk around the reserve, I observed two Wood Sandpipers and a Great White Egret. Then, a male Garganey emerged from the reed bed.

Wood Sandpiper

Great White Egret

Garganey

Odanata were also out in the evening sunshine.

Banded Demoiselle

Large Red-eyed Damselfly

As I walked back to the car, I saw two Peacock butterflies finishing off a lovely evening stroll.

 

 

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

26th April 2025

National Mega News

Cape Gull-Adult-Redcar Tarn-West Yorkshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Wood Sandpiper and Whinchat-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

Garganey-Drake-Burton RSPB

Wood Sandpiper in flooded field near Ness Gardens.

129 Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail (Lower Heswall) - Heswall Shore.

Ring Ouzel in horse paddock by west kissing gate at 5pm, also Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, Red Kite over - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Wood Sandpiper heard flying over - Thurstaston Country Park.

25th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ring Ouzel-Male by Shropshire Union Canal at Wharton's Lock-Tiverton

Greater White Fronted Goose-Two flew north-west over Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

Swift-One at Wistaston-Crewe

Wood Sandpiper-One in flooded field near Ness Botanic Gardens-Ness

Short Eared Owl-One flew over towards duck decoy-Pickerings Pasture

c100 Gannet feeding offshore - Red Rocks.

Great White Egret flew east - Hilbre.

4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Swift, Cuckoo and Lesser Whitethroat, Osprey high south this afternoon - Leasowe Lighthouse.

133 Whimbrel on rising tide - Heswall Shore.

24th April 2025

National Mega News

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Swift-Over-Neston

Ring Ouzel-Female at Woodchurch south of Landican Lane 200m from Arrowe Park Road junction but distant-Birkenhead

At least 20 Whimbrel  on ebbing tide - Caldy/Thurstaston Shore.

10+ Wheatear, Common Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whinchat and 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 50+ Gannet offshore - Leasowe Lighthouse.

2 Spoonbill in heronry - Burton Mere Wetlands.

57 Whimbrel, 175 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Ruff over high tide off Heswall Fields NT.

6+ Avocet, Spoonbill and 4 Tufted Duck - Old Baths, Parkgate.

23rd April 2025

National Mega News

Eurasian Crag Martin-Showed well for half an hour and then drifted south with Swallows-Winterton Dunes

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler

(C) Mark Sutton

Forster's Tern-Lytchett Bay-Dorset 

Forster's Tern

(C) Dorset Bird Club

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

38 Whimbrel, 260 Oystercatcher, 280 Grey Plover, 1100 Dunlin, 85 Curlew, 170 Redshank on the shore, Whinchat and a Lesser Whitethroat at Heswall Fields NT.

Grasshopper Warbler reeling near boatyard, also 3+ Whimbrel - Heswall Shore.

Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, 2 Whimbrel in field, Whinchat, 6 Wheatear, Common Redstart (fem), Grasshopper Warbler and a Barn Owl - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Whinchat

(C)Sean O'Hara

Wood Warbler-Singing male at Brown Knowl entrance-Bickerton Hill

Eurasian Spoonbill- One again in heronry-Burton RSPB

22nd April 2025

National Mega News

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Forster's Tern-Adult again from Middlebere Lookout-Arne-Dorset 

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Eurasian Spoonbill- One again in heronry then flew towards Ness-Burton RSPB

Little Stint-One off Dove Point-Meols

Little Stint

(C)Sean O'Hara

21st April 2025

National Mega News

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

2 Manx Shearwater, 800 Sandwich Tern, 14 Little Tern, 75 Gannet, 3 Eider, 4 Shag, 2 Yellow Wagtail (over), 4 White Wagtail (down) - Hilbre.

3 Whinchat (1 on Kerr's field, 2 east of River Birkett) - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Little Gull - New Brighton.

Osprey-One at Doddington drifted west over fields this afternoon-Doddington Pool

Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton Rspb

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley 

Arctic tern- One at Budworth Mere- Marbury Country Park

20th April 2025

National Mega News

Booted Eagle-Pale-morph juvenile between Glandford and Cley-next-the-sea flew west over Sewage Farm mid-afternoon-Glanford-Norfolk

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Arctic Tern-60 at Weaver Sluices-Frodsham Marshes

2 Manx Shearwater, 750 Sandwich Tern, 14 Little Tern, 75 Gannet, 3 Eider, 4 Shag, 2 Yellow Wagtail (over), 4 White Wagtail (down) - Hilbre.

3 Whinchat (1 on Kerr's field, 2 east of River Birkett) - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Eurasian Spoonbill,8 Spotted Redshank-On Centenary Pool-Burton RSPB

Whinchat-Burton Marsh

Ruddy Shelduck-Wigg Island

19th April 2025

National Mega News

Barolo-type-shearwater-One flew east-Prawle Point-Devon

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Osprey-One over-Heswall

Whinchat-Four by dung heap at Station Road-Burton Village

Little Gull-one still on Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

Eurasian Spoonbill-Adult on flash south of Bevyl Road-Parkgate

3 Whinchat-Near Weaver Bend-Frodsham Marshes

4 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Whinchat-Two still in horses paddock at Carr Lane Pool viewed from gate-Hale

Ring Ouzel in field, seen from footpath between Oldfield Farm and Dungeon Wood - Heswall.

10 Avocet off Old Baths - Parkgate.

Common Redstart (female) - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Common Redstart (female) - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.

18th April 2025

National Mega News

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Channel Wagail and 2 Whinchat-Hale

Whinchat-Maw Green Tip

Ruddy Shelduck-Wigg Island

4 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail between Burton Point and Decca Pools.

Spotted Redshank on flash - Denhall Quay.

c200 Pink-footed Geese headed north, Grasshopper Warbler, Common Whitethroat, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler, 3 Gannet offshore - Red Rocks.

17th April 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ring Ouzel-Female briefly at midday then flew east-Gowy Meadows

Garganey-Drake still on eastern cell of No 4 Bed-Woolston Eyes

Common Redstart-Male in trees behind log pile at Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bradley Orchard Farm and a Whinchat-Bradley

Garden Warbler-One at Mere Farm Quarry; view only from public footpath-Chelford

Whinchat and Redstart-Hale

45 Little Tern, 300 Sandwich Tern and 15 Gannet - Hilbre.

Grasshopper Warbler (by Burton Point) and 3+ Whinchat (by rifle range) -Burton Marsh.

Whinchat - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Common Redstart (fem) - Lower Heswall.

Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 2 male Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, Whitethroat, 6 Willow Warbler - Heswall Shore (and adjacent scrub).

Osprey over Grange Hill, also seen over Meols heading north - West Kirby.

Whinchat on Kerr's Field, Grasshopper Warbler by inland path coastal paddocks, and 8+ Wheatear - Leasowe Lighthouse.

16th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Whinchat-Two in field along Station Road-Burton

Osprey-One flew west over Dutton Locks towards Frodsham-Dutton

15th April 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ring Ouzel-Female in fenced-off field above Goldford Lane car park and 2 Redstarts-Bickerton Hill

Whinchat-Burton Marsh

Common Crane-One flew south over River Dee-Aldford

Whinchat-Ashton's Flash

2 Whinchat-Burton RSPB

Ruddy Shelduck-Wigg Island

14th April 2025

National Mega News

Booted Eagle-Pale-morph juvenile flew in off the sea and continued north-west-Beeston Bump-Norfolk

Moussier's Redstart-Report of male photographed in paddocks by Leasowe Lighthouse on 6 April-Leasowe-Cheshire

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Moussier's Redstart-Report of male photographed in paddocks by Leasowe Lighthouse on 6 April-Leasowe-Cheshire

2 Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Short Eared Owl-Hale

White Stork-One flew west towards Hilbre Island then U-turned-Hoylake

White Stork

(C)A.Conlin

Pied Flycatcher-Female in woodland at The Breck off Breck Road-Wallasey

3 Whinchat-Gowy Meadows

Tree Pipit in sea-front garden - Hoylake.

Tree Pipit

(C)J.Turner

Grasshopper Warbler west end of paddocks near groyne, Whimbrel over -Leasowe Lighthouse.

Whinchat-Male-Langfields-Hoylake

13th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley 

White Stork- One in fields by New Hay Lane although no sign since-Willaston

White Stork

(C)D.King

Whinchat-One at Kerr's Field-Leasowe

Whinchat

(C)P.Sutton

12th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Water Pipit-Carr Lane Pools-Hale

Ring Ouzel-Female at lighthouse-Leasowe

Ring Ouzel

(C)G.Connolly

Osprey-One flew over this evening-Leasowe

Osprey

(C)A.Conlin

Ring Ouzel-Two (one male) still in paddock at end of Fornalls Green Lane-Meols

Black Necked Grebe-62 on No 4 Bed; do not walk along bunds-Woolston Eyes

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Aston Flash; follow path east along River Weaver from Frodsham Watersports-Frodsham Marshes

Osprey-Over mitigation Pools then flew out to Mersey Estuary-Frodsham Marshes

Common Redstart-Male briefly in shelter belt at south end of No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes

Short Eared Owl-One flew east along shore-Hale

Pied Flycatcher-Peckforton

Ring Ouzel-One in paddock at end of Fornalls Green Lane-Meols

Garganey-Female still on No 3 Bed from Tower Hide-Woolston Eyes

Ring Ouzel-Female on farmland off Limbo Lane-Irby

Ring Ouzel-Male at south end of No 4 Bed then flew north-Woolston Eyes

Grasshopper Warbler-Hoylake

Grasshopper Warbler

(C)J.Turner

11th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern-Arne RSPB-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Booted Eagle-Pale Morph-Cliffsend-Kent

KENTISH GLORY- PERTHSHIRE

Kentish Glory is one of our most spectacular and threatened moths. Despite its name, it is restricted to four populations in Scotland, centred around the Cairngorms.

Jenna and I planned a trip to Perthshire for an event organised by the Butterfly Conservation to observe the Kentish Glory. We woke up around 4:00 AM and began our journey north, reaching Killiecrankie by about 9:30 AM. Killiecrankie is a great spot for spotting Wood Warblers. Since we had half an hour to spare, we parked the car at the visitor centre and got out. Almost immediately, we could hear the distinctive rapid 'zip' note of a male Wood Warbler, which accelerated into a beautiful trill. I eventually located the singing male, and it displayed really well.

Always nice to see the Wood warbler returning for the summer

Moving on from here, we met up with the Butterfly conservation group and spent time listening to the group leader about the conservation effort:

Formerly found across the UK, the Kentish Glory is now restricted to the Cairngorms National Park and the surrounding area. This large and beautiful species is on the Scottish Biodiversity List and of principal importance to biodiversity conservation in Scotland.

The Kentish Glory is an impressive moth, with bright colours and bold markings. The female is 25% bigger than the male, while the male is equipped with feathery antennae, which help him to find females by following the pheromones they release. Adults emerge in mid-April and are on the wing until mid-May. The female lays 10-20 eggs on the tips of regenerating silver birch trees below 3m in height. These eggs, which are yellow to begin with before turning a purple-brown colour, hatch in May.

Kentish Glory, egg batches

Caterpillars begin life by feeding gregariously on the birch leaves, leaving behind distinctive feeding signs, before becoming more solitary. In late summer, the large green caterpillar pupates underground, where it can remain for 1-3 years.

Survey work

Due to their fast flight and short flight season, surveying for the species has always been difficult, but thanks to a partnership between Butterfly Conservation Scotland and Canterbury University, an artificially created pheromone that mimics a female Kentish glory was produced to attract male moths to chosen areas.

This technique has proved to be very successful, with the moth being found in 90 new 1km squares over the last two years. Several of these new areas were found on Rothiemurchus, which was a fantastic find! Strathspey is a stronghold for the moth, and the knowledge of the species has improved greatly. It is hoped that further use of this technique will enable us to better understand the distribution of the moth across Scotland and its habitat requirements. Crucially, then work with landowners to provide the young birch habitat required by Kentish Glory caterpillars to ensure that populations of the moth do not become isolated.

After the talk, we moved outside and opened the traps from the previous evening. I managed to get 22 more species for my Moth list, including the rare Ringed Carpet.

Occurring as two distinct races, the nominate race has its headquarters in the New Forest, Hampshire, but also occurs locally in other southern counties and in Ireland. The subspecies bowesi is generally whiter and greyer, and occurs in scattered locations throughout Scotland.

Afterwards, we left for the site and set up the pheromone lures to attract male Kentish Glory.

It wasn't long before a male was attracted to the pheromone lures.

What a beauty!

We waited for a while to see if any additional Kentish Glory moths would be attracted to the lure, but time was running out. On the way home, I wanted to see two target birds for my Scottish list. We left the group feeling happy that we had encountered one of these rare moth species, and a big thank you to the Butterfly Conservation Group for an amazing morning and one we'll never forget.

On our way home, we stopped at Broomhill Castle grounds near Stirling, where I recorded my first target bird: the Green Woodpecker. Three birds were observed, and one was constantly calling.

Always elusive, this was the only distant photograph I could get

After leaving our previous location, we made our way to the England-Scotland border in search of our next target bird: the Marsh Tit. We visited two sites but had no luck. As dusk approached, I heard a male Marsh Tit calling. To my surprise, the bird flew in and landed in the nearby trees and bushes, continuing to call. I couldn't believe my luck—Marsh Tits are in decline in Scotland and are considered a rare species in the country.

Marsh Tit, on the list!

The male bird displayed beautifully, singing away. This marked the end of a wonderful day, as the sound of a distant Cuckoo signalled our journey southward home.

HARBURY SPOILBANK NATURE RESERVE-WARWICKSHIRE

I visited a new site in Warwickshire this afternoon. This nature reserve dates back to the construction of the Leamington to Oxford railway in the 1840s.

I had never seen Dingy or Grizzled Skipper before, and it didn't take long to locate them on the reserve.

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

This reserve was excellent, and I observed a diverse range of species during my walk, as you can see from below.

Orange Tip

Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff

Garden Warbler

Treecreeper

Sedge Warbler

Good afternoon! I enjoyed a pleasant stroll and added two new butterflies to my list.