CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

July 31st 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

7 Black necked grebe(5 Juveniles)-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

7 Spoonbill-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

July 30th 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Garganey-Eclipse Drake-Sweeney Wetlands

Arctic Tern-1st-summer-Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

July 29th 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

5 Black necked grebe and a Curlew Sandpiper(briefly)-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

Arctic Tern-1st-summer-Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

July 28th 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Arctic Tern-1st-summer-Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

Curlew Sandpiper-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

July 27th 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Barole-type-shearwater-One flew past close inshore-Pendeen-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Wood Sandpiper-Burton RSPB

8 Spoonbill-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

July 26th 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Spoonbill-Five still off Old Baths car park-Parkgate

Black necked grebe-12+ (nine juveniles)-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

July 25th 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

7 Eurasian Spoonbill and Spotted Redshank-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

Arctic Tern-1st-summer at Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

July 24th 2025

National Mega News

Zitting Cisticola-Reported twice this evening along the fence line-Marazion RSPB-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Arctic Tern-1st-summer at Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

Pied Flycatcher-Female-type by the second gate near the car park at Lighthouse Road-Hale

July 23rd 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Actic Tern-1st-summer-Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

8 Eurasian Spoonbill-Boathouse Flash and 2 Spotted Redshank-Donkey Stand Flash-26 Greenshank and 340 Black-tailed Godwit-Parkgate

July 22nd 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ruddy Shelduck and Eurasian Spoonbill-Hale Head Lighthouse

7 Eurasian Spoonbill-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

Black necked Grebe-21+ (14+ juveniles)-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

OXFORDSHIRE MACRO MOTHS

During my time in Oxfordshire, I have been actively trapping every night, and the results are worth sharing! Below is an intriguing selection of macro moths I’ve successfully caught. These amazing creatures showcase the beauty of our local wildlife—take a look!

Swallow Prominent

Nut-tree Tussock

Iron Prominent

Coxcomb Prominent

Maiden's Blush

Bulrush Wainscot

Common Wave

Common Wainscot

Gypsy Moth

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Brown-veined Wainscot

Bordered Beauty

Rosy Footman

Black Arches

Poplar Hawk Moth

July Highflyer

Jersey Tiger

Webb's Wainscot

RSPB INSH MARSHES-DARK BOARDED BEAUTY-HIGHLANDS-SCOTLAND

I have just returned from a fantastic weekend in Scotland with Jenna, where we added many macro moths to our life list. I met up with my good friend James Hunter from Kent, and we spent the entire night trapping. Here are a few of the species we trapped:

Riband Wave

Angle-striped Sallow

Grey Mountain Carpet

Beautiful Golden Y

Plain Clay

Scare Silver Y

Juniper Pug

Twin-spot Carpet

Manchester-treble Bar

Haworth's Minor

Marsh Oblique-barred

July Highflyer

Oblique Carpet

Pretty Pinion

Barred Chestnut

July Belle

The next morning, we attended the Butterfly Conservation moth event focused on the Dark-Bordered Beauty. This species of moth is very rare, existing in only two colonies in Scotland and one in England. One colony can be found in Aberdeenshire, while the other is located at RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes. The Dark-Bordered Beauty was first discovered at Insh Marshes in 2010. In Scotland, these moths exclusively feed on aspen, specifically aspen suckers. Since aspen trees do not often produce seeds, they primarily spread by sending up suckers, which are clone shoots from the tree’s root system. 

Six traps were set up overnight, and we managed to trap over forty Dark-Bordered Beauty.

A fantastic weekend, we were shattered after the drive home, but it was well worth it.

Number of Hen Harriers killed or missing reaches new high

One of the rarest birds in the UK – the Hen Harrier - has seen record numbers being illegally killed or going missing in suspicious circumstances over the past five years. More here>

Chicks fledge after Hen harrier disappearances

Five Hen harrier chicks have fledged "against the odds" after four breeding males disappeared, the RSPB said. More here >

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

July 21st 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

8 Eurasian Spoonbill-3 Juveniles and 2 Spotted Redshank-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

July 20th 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

512 Manx Shearwater, 12 Gannet and 420 Sandwich Tern early morning -Hilbre.

Ruddy Shelduck and Eurasian Spoonbill-Hale Head Lighthouse

Little Stint-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

July 19th 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Red-breasted Merganser, 102 Little Egret, 1750 Oystercatcher, 130 Dunlin, 4 Knot, 2050 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 1200 Curlew, 2100 Redshank, Greenshank, 3 juv Yellow Wagtail at high tide -Heswall.

7 Eurasian Spoonbill-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

Ruddy Shelduck-Hale Head Lighthouse

Little Stint-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

July 18th 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

3,000+ Dunlin, early high tide - Meols.

8 Avocet incl very young juv,  7 Spoonbill (incl 3 juv) and Spotted Redshank - Parkgate.

Bittern in flight heading towards BMW - Burton Marsh.

Wood Sandpiper - Burton Mere Wetlands.

17th July 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Wood Sandpiper-Burton RSPB

7 Eurasian Spoonbill-3 Juveniles and a Spotted Redshank-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

Quail-Two singing males in corn fields-Whitley Reed

Ruddy Shelduck-Hale Head Lighthouse

16th July 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

6 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

15th July 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

6 Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

14th July 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

4 Eurasian Spoonbill and 2 Spotted Redshank-Parkgate Marsh

2 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

13th July 2025

National Mega News

Soft-plumaged Petrel-Lizard Point-Cornwall

Soft-plumaged Petrel

(C)Mike Mckee

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

4 Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh

Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

12th July 2025

National Mega News

Western Sandpiper-Maidens-Ayrshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Black Necked Grebe-23+ (15+ juveniles)-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

Juvenile Black-necked Grebe

(C)Dave Bowman

Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton RSPB

3 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Spotted Redshank-One on the Mersey-Hale

SOUTHERN MIGRANT HAWKER-OTMOOR RSPB

Over the past two years, I have visited various sites across the British Isles to observe different Odonata species. Recently, I came across a social media post about the sighting of Southern Migrant Hawkers at Otmoor RSPB, in Oxfordshire. The reports mentioned that a few teneral females and two blue males had been spotted in the last few days. Since I had never seen this species before and Otmoor is only half an hour from where I'm staying, it provided a convenient option compared to making a longer journey to Kent, which is known as the best place in the British Isles to see them.

The first breeding colonies were established along the Thames Estuary, though they are spreading across southern England. They have also been recorded in Wales. Before the 21st century, there was only one confirmed record of a Southern Migrant Hawker in Britain. It came from Kent in 1952. There were a few more records in 2006, before an influx in 2010 led to the first records of them breeding in England.

Today, I visited Otmoor for the first time. After several hours of searching without any luck, I was fortunate to meet another dragonfly enthusiast who was also hoping to find this species. We exchanged phone numbers to stay in touch while continuing our search for the Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly, in case one of us came across it.

While exploring the reserve, I was pleased to see the long-staying Glossy Ibis and several other birds that were seen throughout the visit.

Cattle egrets were in good numbers on the reserve.

Common Tern

Glossy Ibis

There was a good variety of dragonflies on the reserve, but I had no luck finding the Southern Migrant Hawker, so I started to walk back to the car.

Emperor Dragonfly

Ruddy Darter

Common Blue Damselfly

Brown Hawker

Banded Demoiselle

Southern Hawker

Black-tailed Skimmer

As I was walking back to the car, I noticed that Jed, whom I had exchanged phone numbers with earlier, was walking in front of me. Suddenly, he turned, looked around, and noticed me and started to wave. As I got closer, I saw that he had found a Southern Migrant Hawker roosting on a bush. Unbelievable.

Southern Migrant Hawker 

I couldn't believe it. The male just sat in the evening sun. We managed to get some photographs before it flew. Wow. 

The Southern Migrant Hawker used to be an extremely rare migrant from the Mediterranean. It has become much more common in the last two decades and has even started breeding in southern England. As you can see from the above photograph, the males are strikingly blue, with bright blue eyes. They have yellowish-green sides to the thorax and a black abdomen with extensive blue markings. There is a blue, triangular marking at the top of the abdomen. 

A great addition to the list and only one more Odonata needed for my British list, the Irish damselfly, which I will travel to Ireland to see next year.

 It was a great end to the day, and this Muntjac wasn't bothered about leading us back to our cars.