CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

14th June

6 Eurasian Spoonbill-Boathouse flash-Parkgate

Osprey-Heswall-One circled over Lower Heswall, then flew high west

Common Quail-Whitley Reed-Singing male in field north-east of Reed Lane at c 53.3298, -2.5265

Common Quail-Neston Marsh-Singing male south of Old Quay

13th June

2 Little Gull (ads) - New Brighton.

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Elton Hall Flash

Spotted Redshank and 2 Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton RSPB

12th June

Osprey-Poynton-One flew south over Poynton Lake

10th June

43+ still yesterday (21 adults and 10 young on No 3 Bed and 12+ adults on No 4 Bed; reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com. Keep off bunds at all times

2 Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two at Donkey Stand Flash; use Old Baths car park

630 Knot, 485 Black-tailed Godwit and 44 Bar-tailed Godwit -Burton Mere Wetlands.

Quail singing on marsh end of Marshlands Road - Little Neston.

9th June

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two at Donkey Stand Flash; use Old Baths car park

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

8th June

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two at Donkey Stand Flash; use Old Baths car park

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

7th June

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

White Stork-Sandbach-At least one circling over M6 just south of Roadchef Sandbach services

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB-Two at Donkey Stand Flash; use Old Baths car park

6th June

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

5th June

Common Quail-Mobberley-Singing male from the public footpath east of Gleavehouse Farm

Curlew Sandpiper-Hale-One on River Mersey

Greater Scaup-Hale-Drake on River Mersey off Within Way mid-afternoon

4th June

Spotted Flycatcher in private garden - Saughall

Black-necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)-27+ (five broods) still; reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com. Keep off bunds at all times

3rd June

Hobby flew past the bottom of Denhall Lane - Burton Marsh.

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

2nd June

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

3 Arctic Skua (dark phase) flew west this morning - Leasowe Gunsite.

Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton RSPB

Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

1st June

2 Little Stint-Hale-Still on the River Mersey east of Hale Lighthouse

Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still at Hancock's Flood

MOTHING AT BISHOP'S HILL NATURE RESERVE-WARWICKSHIRE

Tonight I attended a moth trapping event at Bishop's Hill Nature Reserve in Warwickshire, led by David Brown, the Warwickshire County Recorder for Lepidoptera.

I first met Dave last year while working on HS2 in Birmingham and have since attended several of his monthly events. He is always welcoming, happy to share his knowledge and willing to help with identifying even the trickiest species. It was great to see him again and have a good catch-up.

Dave began running a moth trap in his parents' garden on 28 March 1968 and has continued recording there ever since. Nearly 60 years later, he is still trapping in the same garden, making it one of the longest continuous private garden moth recording projects in the British Isles. During that time, he has recorded an impressive 483 species of macro-moth, a record for a Warwickshire garden.

As well as being the county recorder, Dave is the author of The Larger Moths of Warwickshire. I was pleased to purchase a copy of the newly updated edition during the evening, with all proceeds from sales being donated to Butterfly Conservation.

Me and Dave

Bishop's Hill Nature Reserve lies just north of Bishop's Itchington and has a fascinating industrial past. The site was once part of the former Harbury Cement Works, which closed in 1970. The hill itself was created from waste lime produced by the quarry and cement works that operated there from 1852.

Today, the old industrial landscape has been transformed into an important wildlife site. The lime-rich soils support a diverse range of plants and insects, including notable butterflies such as the Small Blue and Grizzled Skipper. Areas of grassland, scrub, woodland and the Blue Pool combine to create a rich mosaic of habitats for wildlife.

                                                Bishop's Hill Nature Reserve

The four-hour moth-trapping session produced a good selection of species and provided plenty of opportunities to study them up close. Best of all, I managed to add three new macro-moths to my life list:

Cream Wave

The Shears

Broad-barred white

It was an enjoyable evening in excellent company and another chance to learn from one of Warwickshire's most experienced moth recorders. I am already looking forward to the next event.

ORANGE-TAILED CLEARWING-BRIGHTWELL-CUM-SOTWELL-OXFORDSHIRE

Leaving work early this afternoon, after a day of rain, I was pleased to see the sun finally break through and the wind drop. I had a site in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell that I wanted to visit after noticing on iRecord last year that Orange-tailed Clearwing had been recorded there. Having spent countless hours trying to lure this species in Oxfordshire last year without success, I thought it was worth another attempt.

On arrival, I found the spot, set up the pheromone lure, and within minutes one came straight in before disappearing again. I could hardly believe it. A short while later, it returned and entered the trap, giving me excellent views. What an incredible week I was having, first Thrift Clearwing and now Orange-tailed Clearwing!

The Orange-tailed Clearwing (Synanthedon andrenaeformis) is a remarkable day-flying moth that mimics a small wasp, with transparent wings and a distinctive orange-tipped abdomen. It is widespread across much of Europe, including southern Britain, where the larvae develop beneath the bark of apple and other fruit trees. Adults are typically seen in late spring and early summer around orchards, gardens, and woodland edges.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:1ST-7TH JUNE 2026

In contrast to the exceptionally warm spell experienced at the end of May, the first week of June was characterised by low pressure, spells of rain and brisk westerly winds. Read More>

WESTERN REEF HERON, THRIFT CLEARWING AND BEAVERS

Plans had been made at the beginning of the week for Jenna and me to head to North Wales to try and see the Thrift Clearwing near Aberystwyth, a species I hadn't seen before and the smallest UK clearwing moth. We also planned to visit a Beaver site on the way home so Jenna could see her first wild Beavers. However, all those plans went out of the window just as we were about to leave. News broke on the North Wales bird WhatsApp group of a probable Western Reef Heron at Foryd Bay, Caernarfon. The report came with a photo attached and the words that every birder dreams of hearing – a possible first for Britain!

After what has been an abysmal spring for me birding-wise, the chance of a new bird was something I wasn't expecting. We set off with surprisingly little traffic on the A55 for a Saturday and arrived on site to find the bird roosting alongside two Little Egrets. After a while, it wandered around a bit before settling back down to preen.

(c)Dan Pointon

What a bird!

(c)Marc Hughes

Previous reports of this species in Britain have come under scrutiny due to possible hybridisation with the Little Egret. This is a  species more commonly found along the coasts of West Africa and parts of southern Asia. In recent years, however, records have increased in southern Europe, with birds appearing in Spain, France and Italy.

This bird was found by local birder Simon Hugheston Roberts and has undoubtedly made the year for many birders, myself included. Finding a bird like this on your local patch is something most birders can only dream about.

With more and more birders arriving, we decided to leave before the crowds built up and continue with our original plans. A few hours later, we arrived at Pen Dinas Nature Reserve near Aberystwyth.

Armed with our Thrift Clearwing pheromone lures, we headed down the coastal path in search of suitable habitat. 

There was plenty of Thrift growing along the coastal path, so we put the lures out and waited.

Thankfully, we didn't have to wait long. Before long, a tiny moth came buzzing in and landed right by the lure. Our first-ever Thrift Clearwing!

Thrift Clearwing

At last, Jenna and I had tried for this species at South Stack and Cemlyn Bay on Anglesey last year without any success, so we were absolutely made up to finally connect with one.

The Thrift Clearwing (Pyropteron muscaeformis) is a rare day-flying moth; it is mainly found along rocky coastlines and sea cliffs where its foodplant, Thrift, grows. The species flies during June and July and can often be attracted using pheromone lures.

After enjoying good views of the moth, we headed into Aberystwyth for a celebratory meal. It had already been a cracking day, but there was still one final target left.

As evening approached, we made our way to the Beaver site near Machynlleth. Arriving at the bridge, it was immediately obvious that the Beavers had been busy, with a substantial dam built beneath it.

We stood and waited. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long before our first Beaver surfaced and swam towards the bank. It climbed out and sat feeding for several minutes before returning to the water and swimming slowly along the edge of the river towards us.

These wild Beavers first came to wider attention after BBC wildlife presenter Iolo Williams encountered one while filming near the site. Beavers became extinct in Wales around 400 years ago due to hunting, and disappeared from Britain altogether by the end of the 16th century. It was nice to see them back in the Welsh countryside. For Jenna, these were her first wild UK Beavers, and it rounded off a perfect day for both of us. When we set off this morning, neither of us expected the day to include a potential first for Britain, a long-awaited Thrift Clearwing and wild Beavers. Somehow, we managed all three.

Days like this don't come around very often. What a day!

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

 

31st May

Spoonbill and 9 Great White Egret - Parkgate.

Common Quail-Hale-Male still singing intermittently along track c 200m north of Hale Head Lighthouse this evening

 

Little Stint-Hale-Still on the River Mersey east of Hale Lighthouse

Grey Plover-Woolston Eyes NR (permit only)28/05

One sound-recorded over reserve on Thursday afternoon (also two sound-recorded on 23rd); reserve open from 08:00-20:00, permit and key obtainable at www.woolstoneyes.com

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still on " Small Pool " by Pumphouse Flash

Greater Scaup-West Kirby Marine Lake-Adult drake still

 

30th May

Osprey-Acre Nook Sand Quarry-One flew over this morning

Garganey-Sandbach Flashes-Drake still on the small pool by the Pumphouse Flash

Greater Scaup-West Kirby Marine Lake-

Adult drake still

29th May

Ruddy Shelduck-Drake still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

Greater Scaup-Drake-West Kirby Marine Lake

Osprey flew inland past Carr Farm - Meols.

2 Garganey-Drake and a Female-Pumphouse Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Red-backed Shrike-Female photographed along Blossoms Lane yesterday evening; park on Church Lane and walk, strictly no driving access to Blossoms Lane

Red-backed Shrike

(c) D.McBurney

https://www.instagram.com/dmcburneyphotography?igsh=MWMxaHdnbDR3ZmY3

Curlew Sandpiper-Still on River Mersey near Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

28th May

Common Quail-Singing male in nearby field this evening-Raby

Greater Scaup-Drake-West Kirby Marine Lake

Curlew Sandpiper-Still on River Mersey near Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

2 Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

Garganey-Two (drake and female) again at Pumphouse Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate

27th May

Garganey-Drake again at Pumphouse Flash-Sandbach Flashes

Curlew Sandpiper-One again near Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

Common Quail-Singing male in field west of bridge '211' just south of canal towpath-Dutton

Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands RSPB

26th May

Garganey-Drake again on No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY-To join click here >

2 Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

25th May

Osprey-One on sandbank-Pickerings Pasture

Garganey-Drake again on No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY-To join click here >

2 Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

24th May

Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

Osprey-One from Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

23rd May

Garganey (drake) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Curlew sandpiper, Little stint and Osprey-Hale

22nd May

Whinchat, at least 2 Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Spotted Flycatcher briefly in bushes by car park - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

Common Quail-Singing male still in field south of Woodend Lane; note Holly Bush Lane is a private road, park elsewhere and walk-Rixton

Curlew Sandpiper-One near Hale Head Lighthouse-Hale

21st May

Wood sandpiper-Sweeney Wetlands

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still-West Kirby Marine Lake

Garganey-Drake again on No 4 Bed then flew towards No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY-To join click here >

20th May

Black-throated Diver-Two on sea off the north end and 2 Manx Shearwater, 8 Arctic Tern, 3 Razorbill, 10 Guillemot and 210 Common Scoter-Hilbre Island

19th May

Ruddy Shelduck-Still at the south end of Rode Pool-Rodeheath

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still-West Kirby Marine Lake

20 Black-necked grebe-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY-To join click here >

18th May

Cuckoo flew east over Stanley Road - Hoylake.

17th May 

Little Stint-East of lighthouse-Hale

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still-West Kirby Marine Lake

Ruddy Shelduck-Again, flew west-Runcorn

16th May 

Scaup (drake) still - West Kirby Marine Lake.

c250 Dunlin (including some alpina), 200 Ringed Plover and 30 Sanderling at high tide - Hoylake.

c30 Swift low over Park Lane - Meols.

Little Stint-East of lighthouse-Hale

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High pressure and record May temperatures continued to dominate throughout much of the working week, including sweltering conditions on Tuesday. Read more >

NIGHTJAR AND MOTH NIGHT AT WORLD’S END, DENBIGHSHIRE

Jenna and I visited World's End in Denbighshire, North Wales, this evening and ran a four-hour moth trapping session. I wanted to target moorland macro moth species, as I hadn't recorded that many, so I was hoping for a few new additions.

World's End

As the sun set, we could hear Nightjars churring in the distance as we started the moth night, and we even saw one on the road near where we parked. 

Silver Y

Heart and Dart

Dark Arches

Ingrailed Clay

Large Yellow Underwing

Peppered Moth

Glaucous Shears

Broom Moth

Nut-tree Tussock

Scalloped Hazel

Light Knot Grass

Buff Ermine

We finished the session at around 1am, and on the way back over the moor, we had great views of another Nightjar sitting on the road before it flew off.

A great night.

NI MOTH (TRICHOPLUSIA NI) RECORDED IN CHESHIRE

The Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni) is a rare migrant moth in the UK, and I was lucky enough to see one today after my friend Paul Brewster trapped it last night and kindly invited me over to take a look.

This was a first for me, and according to the Cheshire Flying Tonight website, it is thought to be only the second record for Cheshire up to 2024.

It’s an immigrant species that turns up in small numbers in the UK most years, with no more than about 50 records annually. Its normal breeding range is southern Europe and North Africa, although occasional larvae have been found in Britain.

In its typical range, the larvae feed mainly on marigold (Calendula spp.) and sea rocket (Cakile maritima).

The species is nocturnal, and most UK records involve adults being attracted to light.

Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni)

MOTH TRAPPING BENEATH THE MANCHESTER SKYLINE

Jenna and I decided to visit Walkerwood Reservoir at Millbrook, Stalybridge, for an evening of moth trapping. I'd never visited the area before and was impressed by the scenery, with views across Cock Wood and out towards the distant skyline of Manchester city centre.

Walkerwood Reservoir

Manchester 

As the sun set and darkness fell, Nightjars could be heard churring from the surrounding hillsides, adding to what was already an enjoyable evening. I ran the trap for around four hours and recorded a good variety of moths during the session.

Pale Prominent

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

Ingrailed Clay

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Foxglove Pug

Brown Silver-line

Red Chestnut

Glaucous Shears

Green Silver-lines

Map-winged Swift

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

Although the moths were the main reason for the visit, the setting itself was a real highlight. It was my first visit to Walkerwood Reservoir and, based on both the scenery and the moth trapping, it's certainly somewhere I'd like to return to in the future.