BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK: 20TH-26TH OCTOBER 2025

After last week's column was dominated by Nearctic vagrants, it was instead the turn of eastern vagrants to take centre stage this time out. Read more>

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

28th October 

Long-tailed Duck - Shotwick Boating Lake

360 Shelduck - Meols Shore

Short-eared Owl-One at Hale Marsh viewed from Town Lane-Hale

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

26th October 

Little Gull-1st-winter-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Whooper Swan and 1600 Cormorant flew out of the estuary, also a Peregrine, Eider, Stonechat and 120 Redshank - Hilbre

25th October 

2430 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection

6 Whooper Swan - Burton Mere Wetlands

Spoonbill - Parkgate

Little Gull - New Brighton

Yellow-browed warbler-One trapped and colour-ringed on No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes-Permit only

24th October 

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

4200 Shelduck, 360 Teal, 315 Pintail, 2400 Dunlin, 65 Knot, 620 Curlew, 420 Black-tailed Godwit, 1300 Redshank - Thurstaton Shore

Garganey (juv) - Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

Caspian Gull-Two 1st-winters on the roof of WSR Recycling-Widnes

23rd October 

Caspian Gull-Three (two 1st-winters and 3rd-winter) on roof of WSR Recycling-Widnes

22nd October 

7 Curlew Sandpiper-Weaver Bend-Frodsham Marshes

300 cormorant, 10,000 Dunlin, 500 Knot and 450 Grey Plover between Sandhey Slipway and East Hoyle Bank (tide edge) on flood tide - Meols shoreline

Garganey (juv), 400 Teal, 205 Shoveler and 18 Greenshank - Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

21st October 

Bittern flew into roost this evening - Neston reedbed

Black-necked grebe-Two (adult and juvenile) still at the north end of the western cell of No 4 Bed-Woolston Eyes(Permit only)

Ruddy Shelduck-Again on mudbank on River Mersey near Mersey Gateway Bridge from Wigg Island-Widnes

20th October 2025

Wood Sandpiper-N06 Tank and 11 Curlew Sandpiper-Weaver Bend-Frodsham Marshes

Spotted Redshank-Three at Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

Short-eared Owl-One flew towards Hoylake-Hilbre Island

19th October 

Black Tern-one at North Pool at Mere Farm Quarry-Chelford

7 Curlew Sandpiper-Weaver Bend-Frodsham Marshes

Short-eared Owl - Thurstaston

18th October 

14 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake

1000 Pink-footed Geese roosted overnight, 3000 Oystercatcher, 102 Golden Plover, 1400 Dunlin, 300 Knot, 1050 Curlew, 2400 Redshank, 7

Greenshank- Heswall

7 Marsh Harrier and 3+ Great White Egret - Parkgate

2 Black necked Grebe- Adult and a Juvenile still at the north end of the western cell of No. 4 Bed-Woolston eyes-Permit Only

Wood Sandpiper-N06 Tank and 7 Curlew Sandpiper-Weaver Bend-Frodsham Marshes

Curlew Sandpiper-One on mud on ebbing tide-Wigg Island

Black-necked Grebe-Doddington Pool

17th October 

Firecrest (ringed and released) in the Obs garden, also Woodcock and a Whooper Swan - Hilbre Island

6+ Marsh Harrier (2y male, 2 ad fem. 3 juv), 4+ Great Egret, 3 Sparrowhawk together and 2 Brambling over - Parkgate

2 Curlew Sandpiper-Pickerings Pasture

7 Curlew sandpiper-Weaver bend and Wood sandpiper-N06 tank-Frodsham Marshes

Short-eared Owl-Hale Head-Hale

Black necked grebe-at least one still at the north end of the western cell of No. 4 Bed-Woolston eyes-Permit Only

16th October 

Black necked Grebe-Two (adult and juvenile), Little Stint, Rock Pipit, Female Garganey-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

15 Goosander (also Report of c10 Scaup) this afternoon - West Kirby Marine Lake

4 Whooper Swan over - Lower Heswall

15th October 

6 Curlew Sandpiper and a Greater Scaup-Weaver Bend-Frodsham Marshes

Greater Scaup- Still at the east end - Astbury Mere Country Park

Hen Harrier and 2 Marsh Harrier - Parkgate

Yellow-browed warbler-Woolston Eyes

(D Bowman)

Short-eared Owl-Hilbre Island

(c) S.Williams

Firecrest-Hilbre Island

Woodcock-Hilbre Island

(c) S Williams

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK: 13TH-19TH OCTOBER 2025

There can be only one place to start this latest Review of the Week column: Read More>

LATEST BRITISH MOTHS

 

MERVEILLE DU JOUR-GRIPOSIA APRILINA-WONDER OF THE DAY

It is hard to imagine the past few days being bettered. Following the exceptional experience of seeing a White-throated Needletail, the run of highlights continued this morning in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. While opening the light trap at my mother’s house, I recorded my first Merveille du Jour (Griposia aprilina). The moth’s exquisite camouflage and subtle colouring made for a truly memorable encounter with one of our most striking noctuids.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK: 6TH-12TH OCTOBER 2025

Phew, what a week! More here >

WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL-SCARBOROUGH CASTLE-NORTH YORKSHIRE

Last Wednesday, news emerged of a juvenile White-throated Needletail photographed at Tophill Low Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire. The bird was later relocated some 26 miles north at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. Photographs circulated that evening were compelling, and observers on site reported that the Needletail appeared to be attempting to land on the cliffs, possibly to roost.

Working in Oxfordshire at the time, I made the decision to travel north, arriving at Bempton shortly before midnight. I slept in the car to ensure I was in position for first light. By 07:00, several hundred birders had gathered along the cliffs, hopeful that the bird had remained overnight.

Bempton Cliffs, first light

Birders on site

As the morning progressed and the sun climbed higher, optimism gradually waned. News then broke that the Needletail had been rediscovered at Loch of Skene in Aberdeenshire, prompting a rapid dispersal of the assembled crowd. I remained at Bempton until mid-afternoon, holding out hope of a return, before beginning the three-hour drive home. Almost incredulously, as I neared home, news came through that the bird had been found again—this time at Filey Brigg, just 10 miles south of Bempton—where it showed well until dusk.

Plans were quickly made to return for first light the following morning with Malc Curtin. After an early night, we were back on the Yorkshire coast by 06:30.

Despite favourable conditions, the hours passed without a sighting, and by mid-morning we retreated briefly to Filey for food. No sooner had breakfast been ordered than the MEGA alert sounded. 

We paid hastily and left, reaching Scarborough Castle some 20 minutes later to find the bird already back in view. There, at last, the White-throated Needletail drifted effortlessly above the castle, showing superbly. After a day and a half of uncertainty and movement, the encounter felt richly deserved—a species I had long assumed I would never see in my lifetime. Parking closer to the castle allowed even better views as the bird passed directly overhead and continued to perform for the next hour.

(c)Ash Howe

(c)Ash Howe

This individual should have been migrating through Korea and Japan en route to Australia from its East Asian breeding grounds. Capable of faster level flight than any other bird on the planet, its presence over a North Yorkshire headland was as astonishing as it was unforgettable.

Cheers! Me and Malc raising a cold beer, celebrating the moment together!

Previous records:

2017 Glen, Castle Bay, Barra, Outer Hebrides 2CY+, 22nd June

2013 Loch Direcleit, Tarbert and Loch Drinisadair, Harris, Outer Hebrides, first-summer male, 24th to 26th June, later found dead, photo, now at National Museums Scotland

1991 Noup of Noss, Noss,Shetland 11th and 14th June; presumed same as Kent

1991 Near Belper, Derbyshire 3rd June; presumed same as Kent

1991  Wierton Hill Reservoir, Maidstone, 26th May, photo; also in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Shetland.

1991 Blithfield Reservoir, 1st June Staffordshire

1988 Hoy, Orkney 28th May to 8th June

1985 Fairburn Ings, West Yorkshire,27th May

1984 Hillwell/Quendale area, Mainland, Shetland, 25th May to 6th June

1983 South Ronaldsay, Orkney 11th to 12th June

1879 Near Ringwood, Hampshire, shot, 26th or 27th July

1846 Great Horkesley, Essex, 6th to 8th July, when shot, now at Chelmsford Museum

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

14th October 2025

4 Cattle Egret roosting- Burton RSPB

Wood Sandpiper-N06 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

Ring Ouzel-one flew south over No 4 Black-necked grebe-Two (adult and juvenile) still at the north end of the western cell of No 4 Bed-Woolston Eyes(Permit only)

Greater Scaup and Common Scoter-10 (four drakes)Drake-Astbury Mere

Common Scoter-Two (one drake)-Lapwing Hall Pool-Chelford

Common Scoter-Four-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-Chelford

Common Scoter- (five drakes) at Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

13th October 2025

4 Cattle Egret roosting early morning (still present at 08.30) and 3 Redwing - Burton RSPB

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

11th October 2025

4,790 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection

310 Sanderling on the edge of East Hoyle Bank on rising tide, 4,000+ Common Scoter on the sea - Hoylake

Glossy Ibis flew from Seaforth across the Mersey to New Brighton

Spotted Redshank - Parkgate

Iceland Gull-Possible in flight from a moving car by Benson Beds/A49-Warrington

Osprey-One Over-Marbury Big Mere

Spotted Redshank-Still at Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

2 Black-necked Grebe-(adult and juvenile) still at the north end of the western cell of No 4 Bed. Woolston Eyes(permit only)

Caspian Gull-two 1st-winters on River Mersey sandbanks just west of old Runcorn Bridge-Widnes

Greater Scaup-Astbury Mere

10th October 2025

Grey Phalarope-1st-winter still on No 3 Bed viewed from John Morgan Hide -Woolston Eyes(permit only)

Curlew Sandpiper-Pickerings Pasture

9th October 2025

Grey Phalarope-1st-winter still on No 3 Bed viewed from John Morgan Hide and a Black-necked grebe-still on western cell of No 4 Bed with a Juvenile Garganey -Woolston Eyes(permit only)

Arctic Tern and Juvenile Black tern -Budworth Mere-Northwich

Black Tern

8th October 2025

40 Knot, 200 Dunlin, 13 Greenshank, 3000 Redshank on rising tide - Heswall Shore

7000 Shelduck, 400 Wigeon, 250 Pintail, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 112 Little Egret, 4 Great Egret, 900 Curlew, female Marsh Harrier, Merlin over high tide, also 2 Swallow - Riverbank Road-Heswall

4 - 5 (probable) Bean Geese on the marsh just north of Old Baths at high tide - Parkgate

410 Cormorant on East Hoyle Bank two hours before high tide - Meols

Arctic Tern and Juvenile Black tern -Budworth Mere-Northwich

Grey Phalarope-1st-winter still on No 3 Bed viewed from John Morgan Hide -Woolston Eyes(permit only)

Curlew Sandpiper-Three in high tide roost-Pickerings Pasture

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

7th October 2025

Great Skua on shore before high tide, then flew west, 6 Curlew Sandpiper over high tide - Hoylake

Scaup (juv) quite close in at Leasowe Lighthouse

Grey Phalarope-1st-winter still on No 3 Bed viewed from John Morgan Hide and a Black-necked grebe-Two (adult and juvenile) still on western cell of No 4 Bed-Woolston Eyes(permit only)

Ruddy Shelduck-Female still at Elton Hall Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Yellow-browed warbler- By A530 bridge over Trent and Mersey Canal, Middlewich

Firecrest-One trapped and ringed in a private garden-Bidston Hill

Ruddy Shelduck-One on River Mersey from Future Flower and Juvenile Curlew sandpiper-Widnes

6th October 2025

19 Whooper Swan, thirteen on sea at high tide, 630 Pink-footed Geese, 4450 Shelduck, 160 Pintail, 460 Teal, 54 Golden Plover, 1100 Curlew, 3600 Redshank, 18 Greenshank - Heswall Shore

Grey Phalarope-1st-winter still on No 3 Bed viewed from John Morgan Hide-Woolston Eyes(permit only)

Arctic Tern and Juvenile Black tern -Budworth Mere-Northwich

Spotted Redshank-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

6 Whooper Swan flew south past Parkgate

Great Skua on sea west of Hilbre, then flew to Hoylake shore before heading into the estuary and landing on sea off West Kirby Marsh

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper in wader roost east of Lifeboat Station, 5 Crossbill over Meols Drive - Hoylake

13 Shag on the sea, east side of Hilbre

5th October 2025

Harrier sp-ringtail flew south between Hilbre and Red Rocks, then lost to view-Hilbre

10 Leach's Petrel and Great Skua - Leasowe 

Great Skua

(C)Richard Steel

5 Leach's Petrel, Storm Petrel, Sabine's Gull, Great Skua-New Brighton

6 Leach's Petrel (1 taken by a Peregrine)-Dove Point-Meols

Leach's Petrel-One flew west past Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

10 Leach’s Petrel, 3 Manx Shearwater and 3 Arctic Skua by 0800am - Hilbre

Greater Scaup-Elton Hall Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Greater Scaup

(c)Craig Allman

Grey Phalarope, Great Skua and a Sabine's Gull - Hoylake

5,800 Black-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection

2 Hen Harrier, 33 Greenshank and 6 Spoonbill - Parkgate

4th October 2025

1+ Leach's Petrel, Storm Petrel, probable juv male Northern Harrier came over off the sea, Arctic Skua, 2 Black Tern, 5 Arctic Tern, Grey Phalarope landed on Mersey then flew to Marine Lake before flying west - New Brighton

Storm Petrel

(c)Martin Loftus

2 Arctic Skua, 2 Leach's Petrel and a Black Tern - Wallasey-Leasowe

Black Tern - Hilbre

2 Arctic Tern from Lifeboat Station - Hoylake

3rd October 2025

Yellow-browed Warbler-Chester Meadows-Chester

Slavonian Grebe-West Kirby Marine Lake

Slavonian Grebe

(c)Pete Sutton

2nd October 2025

Slavonian Grebe and 11 Goosander-West Kirby Marine Lake

Hawfinch-One dropped into scrub by Loop Hide, but no further sign, Rock pipit and 2 Black-necked grebes-No4 Bed-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

6 Eurasian Spoonbill-Still roosting on flash off Bevyl Road, Parkgate

1st October 2025

Slavonian Grebe-West Kirby Marine Lake

Curlew Sandpiper-One off Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

8 Eurasian Spoonbill-Still roosting on flash off Bevyl Road, Parkgate

Glossy Ibis-Four photographed yesterday-Parkgate

Ruddy Shelduck-One at Rode Pool yesterday- Rode Heath

IS IT TIME FOR URBAN GOSHAWKS IN THE UK

‘It proves this can be done’: Berlin, the blueprint to bring goshawks to UK cities Read More>

Is it time for urban goshawks in the UK? Read More>

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK: 29TH SEPTEMBER-5TH OCTOBER 2025

It was a fantastic 'east meets west' week with megas from all points of the compass. More here >

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP MAP BRITAIN'S WINTER BIRDS

Birders across the UK are being encouraged to take part in the BTO's new Winter Bird Survey (WinBS), designed to provide a clearer picture of how the nation's birds are faring outside the breeding season. More here >

CLIFDEN NONPAREIL-OXFORDSHIRE

While working in Oxfordshire, I have fallen into the nightly ritual of setting a moth trap, each morning bringing a familiar sense of anticipation as I check its contents. Today proved particularly rewarding with the capture of my first Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), a species that has long topped my wish list. With an exceptional number of records reported this year, the prospect of encountering one felt tantalisingly close, but the reality exceeded expectations. The moth’s vivid blue hindwings and intricate patterning made for a striking sight, and the record stands as a memorable highlight of my moth-trapping efforts.

This year, IRecord has reported an impressive number of sightings of the Clifden Nonpareil in the UK

My first Clifden Nonpareil

The Clifden Nonpareil is among the largest and most striking moths recorded in the UK. Its name, derived from French, translates as “beyond compare,” an apt description for such a spectacular species. Long thought to have become extinct in Britain by the 1960s, recent records indicate a remarkable resurgence, with the species now confirmed as breeding in parts of southern Britain.

With a wingspan approaching 12 cm, the Clifden Nonpareil is unmistakable. When at rest, it appears sombre, but in flight it reveals a vivid blue band across its black hindwings, earning it the alternative name of Blue Underwing. For many moth enthusiasts, encountering this species represents a truly prized and memorable record.