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, during which we added numerous macro moths to our life lists. I met up with my good friend James Hunter from Kent, and together we spent the night at the traps. Among the species we recorded were:

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 following morning, we attended a Butterfly Conservation moth event focused on the Dark-Bordered Beauty (Epione vespertaria). This highly rare species survives in only two Scottish colonies and one in England. In Scotland, one colony occurs in Aberdeenshire, while the other is found at RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes, where the species was first discovered in 2010. The Dark-Bordered Beauty feeds exclusively on aspen, specifically on suckers—new shoots arising from the tree’s root system. Since aspen trees rarely produce seeds, these suckers are the primary means by which the species spreads.

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

It had been a fantastic weekend. Although we were exhausted after the long drive home, every moment had been 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 in pursuit of different Odonata species. Recently, a social media post caught my eye reporting sightings of Southern Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna affinis) at Otmoor RSPB, Oxfordshire. Observers had noted a few teneral females and two striking blue males over the past few days. Having never seen this species before—and with Otmoor just half an hour from where I am staying—it offered a convenient alternative to a longer journey to Kent, the traditional stronghold for this dragonfly in Britain.

The first breeding colonies of Southern Migrant Hawkers were established along the Thames Estuary, though the species is now spreading across southern England and has even been recorded in Wales. Before the 21st century, only a single individual had been confirmed in Britain, in Kent in 1952. Sporadic records followed in 2006, but it was the 2010 influx that marked the first confirmed breeding in England.

Today, I visited Otmoor for the first time. After several hours of searching without success, I was fortunate to meet another dragonfly enthusiast who was also hoping to find this species. We exchanged phone numbers to stay in touch, in case one of us located a Southern Migrant Hawker.

While exploring the reserve, I was delighted to encounter the long-staying Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and several other notable birds, which added to the enjoyment of the visit.

Cattle egrets were in good numbers on the reserve.

Common Tern

Glossy Ibis

Although the reserve held a good variety of dragonflies, I had no luck locating the Southern Migrant Hawker and began making my way back to the car.

Emperor Dragonfly

Ruddy Darter

Common Blue Damselfly

Brown Hawker

Banded Demoiselle

Southern Hawker

Black-tailed Skimmer

As I walked back to the car, I spotted Jed—the fellow dragonfly enthusiast I had met earlier—walking ahead of me. Suddenly, he turned, spotted me, and began waving excitedly. As I drew closer, I realised why: he had found a Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis) roosting on a bush. Absolutely unbelievable.

Southern Migrant Hawker 

I could hardly believe it. The male sat calmly in the evening sun, allowing us to take several photographs before it eventually flew off—truly a remarkable sight.

The Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis) was once an exceptionally rare migrant from the Mediterranean, but over the past two decades it has become increasingly common and is now breeding in southern England. The males are strikingly blue, with bright blue eyes, yellowish-green sides to the thorax, and a black abdomen adorned with extensive blue markings, including a distinctive triangular blue patch at the top.

This was a fantastic addition to my life list, leaving only one more Odonata species—the Irish Damselfly—remaining. Next year, I plan to travel to Ireland to complete my British Odonata list.

It was a wonderful end to the day, and the Muntjac seemed completely unconcerned as it casually led us back toward our cars.