BAN DRIVEN GROUSE HUNTING

PLEASE SIGN ONLY FOUR HOURS TO GO

Grouse shooting for 'sport' depends on intensive habitat management which increases flood risk and greenhouse gas emissions, relies on killing Foxes, Stoats, Mountain Hares etc in large numbers and often leads to the deliberate illegal killing of protected birds of prey including Hen Harriers.Driven grouse shooting uses animals for live target practice, with thousands killed every day. Native predators are killed because they eat Red Grouse. Mountain Hares are killed because they carry ticks that can spread diseases to grouse. Heather is burned to increase Red Grouse numbers for shooting. Grouse shooting is economically, ecologically and socially unnecessary. This is 'canned hunting'.

Supported by Eduardo Gonçalves, CEO of League Against Cruel Sports, Chris Packham and Bill Oddie.

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ACRE NOOK AND LAPWING HALL POOL BIRD SIGHTINGS 1ST-17TH SEPTEMBER 2016

Acre Nook sightings:

A very poor start to September birding, but all the usual suspects are still around in good numbers. Black-headed gulls reached over 600 by the 12th, with the odd Great Black-backed gull recorded on the 2nd and 9th, and 4 Herring gulls were recorded on the 7th.

 Black headed gulls at Acre Nook

Lapwing numbers have risen daily, with well over 500 coming in off the fields in the evenings, which is a great spectacle to see for this species, along with 132 Curlew on the 4th. On the 6th, a common sandpiper showed well before being flushed by a sparrowhawk.

Common Sandpiper

7 Mandarin were seen on the 9th, along with 106 Canada geese. Teal numbers have now reached 15 by the 16th.6 Shoveller and 4 Wigeon were around on the 10th.

                        A good number of Commas have been present

Lapwing Hall pool:

The long-staying black-necked grebe has been present all month and was still present on the 17th. Tufted ducks have remained on the pool, with over 70 still present. Little grebes have bred well, with juvenile birds now showing daily, with a count of 12 birds on the 5th. A Hobby flew over on the 7th, chasing Swallows and Sand Martins, and 5 Buzzards were over the Mosses on the 13th.

 Little Grebes have bred this year

 Wigeon numbers have risen to 8 by the 16th September

A Black necked Grebe has been present throughout the month

A tranquil start to the month, but hey, the biggy could be just around the corner!

GREAT WHITE EGRET-SANDBACH FLASHES

This afternoon, I visited Sandbach Flashes with my mother after a spot of shopping. The long-staying Great White Egret was still present on Elton Hall Flash, though it remained on the far side of the water, offering distant but clear views.

Other notable birds on the site included Common and Green Sandpipers, Ringed Plover, and Curlew, making for a pleasant and rewarding afternoon’s birding.

 Elton Hall Flash

RIVACRE VALLEY NATURE PARK

This morning, I took a stroll around my local nature park, hoping to photograph the resident Kingfishers and any butterflies that were around. The weather was beautiful, and it was a real treat to have the reserve to myself before the dog walkers arrived.

Almost immediately, I spotted two Red Admirals fluttering along the path, providing a perfect start to the walk.

 Red Admiral

At the bottom of the valley, the sun began to break through the trees, casting a golden light over the landscape—a peaceful and inspiring sight.

As I walked out into the fields, I came across four Commas basking by the path, along with a Small Tortoiseshell, giving me excellent opportunities for photography.

Comma

Small Tortoiseshell

Although the Kingfishers remained elusive on this visit, it was still rewarding to spend time among the butterflies and enjoy the calm, sunlit valley. The Commas, in particular, were a highlight, showing off their delicate markings against the greenery. 

CATTLE EGRET-BURTON RSPB

After finishing a night duty this afternoon, I received a text from Allan Conlin: a Cattle Egret had been found at Burton RSPB. Living just 15 minutes away, I quickly made my way to the reserve and headed straight to the old Inner Marsh Farm hide.

Cattle Egret

The Cattle Egret was soon picked up, weaving gracefully among the sheep on the far side of the pool—what a delightful sight! I managed to reach the hide just before the heavens opened, making for a wet but very rewarding afternoon.

Other notable birds included 7 Curlew Sandpipers and 16 Dunlin, although the hoped-for Little Stint remained absent.

Curlew sandpiper

All in all, a fantastic afternoon’s birding and another Cattle Egret added to Burton RSPB, marking my third record for the reserve.

WIRRAL WADER FESTIVAL- OCTOBER 1st & 2nd 2016

http://www.merseyestuary.org/wirral-wader-festival-2016.html

AMERICAN CLIFF SWALLOW-ISLES OF SCILLY

Yesterday morning, having just finished a 12-hour night shift, I pulled into my driveway utterly exhausted at 8:30am when a MEGA alert hit: “CLIFF SWALLOW, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly”. Twitch mode instantly kicked in. I rang Malc Curtin, but family commitments meant he couldn’t make it. I quickly gathered my gear, and the long journey south began.

Skybus flights were fully booked, but after some frantic calls, a charter boat from Penzance was arranged, leaving at 3:00pm. Higgo even sorted a room for me at Al’s—everything was falling into place.

The journey across the channel was smooth. At sea, we connected with Manx Shearwaters, Fulmars, and even four Common Dolphins and two Porpoises, a perfect prelude to the twitch.

Charter Sorted

Twitch on

Arriving at St Mary's - Hugh Town

Arriving at St Mary’s, the news was grim—the bird had flown over an hour earlier. I was gutted, exhausted from no sleep, but I continued searching. The pool at Porth Hellick provided consolation in the form of a stunning Temminck’s Stint and a Lesser Yellowlegs.

Temminck's Stint

Lesser Yellowlegs

Then, as we walked towards the boardwalk, a glimmer of hope. Higgo spotted the Cliff Swallow heading straight for us. It flew low over our heads, looped around, and continued to show well in front of us until dusk—a complete turnaround from deflation to elation.

Cliff Swallow

After prolonged and satisfying views, I headed back to my digs for a few celebratory beers, sharing the moment with fellow birders at the Scillionian Club.

Catching up with the lads in the Scillionian club 

The following day was more relaxed. On the return boat to Penzance, I managed to stop at Marazion to see the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which was showing beautifully on the beach down to a few feet. Afterwards, I headed home, finally arriving at 1:45am.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

It had been a fantastic two days of birding, full of mega rarities, memorable company, and some of the best twitching experiences imaginable.

Previous Cliff Swallow Records in Britain

2001 Oct 26 to Oct 30

Isles of Scilly-St Agnes, first winter, 26th October, photo; same, St Martin's, 26th to 27th October; same, St Mary's, 28th to 30th October, photo.

2000 Oct 1
Hants-Titchfield Haven, 1st October; possibly same as Portland, Dorset, 29th to 30th September.

2000 Sep 29 to Sep 30
Dorset-The Verne, Portland, 29th to 30th September, photo.

2000 Sep 28 to Sep 30
Isles of Scilly-St Mary's, 28th to 30th September, photo.

1996 Oct 1
Sussex-Church Norton, juvenile, 1st October.

1995 Dec 4 to Dec 5
Isles of Scilly-Tresco, juvenile, 4th to 5th December, photo.

1995 Nov 16
Co.Kerry-Dunmore Head, 16th November.

1995 Oct 22 to Oct 28
Yorks-Spurn, juvenile, 22nd to 23rd, 28th October, photo.

1988 Oct 23
Cleveland-South Gare, juvenile, 23rd October.

1983 Oct 10 to Oct 27
Isles of Scilly-St Agnes, juvenile, 10th October; same, St Mary's, 10th to 27th October, photo.

BURTON RSPB NATURE RESERVE GETS A FACELIFT AT 30

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