CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 12TH DECEMBER 2018

WIRRAL
Puddington
Western Cattle Egret-One off Puddington Lane again today 

West Kirby Marine Lake
Great Northern Diver.

Parkgate
Hen Harrier (ringtail) 4 Marsh Harrier(in air together),Merlin,Stonechat and 2 Great White Egret.

Heswall Marsh
1,570 Pink-footed Geese flew inland and many later seen in fields between Irby and Pensby and Male Hen Harrier along shoreline.

Burton RSPB
Marsh Harrier (F) Over Wet Grassland 
Curlew x17 Wet Grassland 
Buzzard Over Main Scrape 
Sparrowhawk Over Reception Pool
Nuthatch Feeder By Reception
Water Rail By Reedbed Screen
Gadwall x13 Bridge Pool
Linnets 30+ By Railway Bridge
Bullfinch x3 (F) Railway Bridge
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point
Stonechat (F) IMF
Barn Owl Over Birdcrop Field
Whooper Swans x2 Field Back Of Wet Grassland
Cetti's x2 Marsh Covert Hide

CHESHIRE
Chester
Waxwing-Six in rowan between Wren Kitchens and Asda on Greyhound Retail Park today. 

Newchurch Common
Smew-Adult female of unknown origin still on the large pool north of the track. 

AMERICAN ROYAL TERN-LLIGWY BAY-ANGLESEY

Following the frustration of missing an American Royal Tern by approximately ten minutes at Church Norton, West Sussex, in June—having arrived just after it had flown—it was something of a surprise to learn that what appeared to be the same individual had been relocated on Anglesey, North Wales.

The bird showed a metal ring on its right leg and matched the long-staying individual first recorded in Guernsey on 5 February 2017, which had been positively identified as an American Royal Tern. After a few phone calls, arrangements were made to travel overnight in order to arrive on site at first light the following morning.

There was no sign of the bird at sunrise, prompting a search further along the coast. Shortly afterwards, news emerged that the tern had returned to Lligwy Beach and was showing well. On arrival, the bird was located sitting quietly on the incoming tide, allowing prolonged and unobstructed views

American Royal Tern

This constituted my second record of Royal Tern in Britain, the first being the individual at Llandudno, North Wales, in 2009, which at the time was considered to be of the West African (“African”) race. Subsequent DNA analysis has since resulted in West African birds being treated as a separate species. In light of this, it seems prudent to reserve judgment on the Anglesey bird pending any further clarification of its origin, should additional identification criteria become available.

Lligwy Bay

Nevertheless, an excellent record for the region, and another notable addition to the Northwest’s list.

BIRDGUIDES PHOTO OF THE WEEK 5TH-11TH DECEMBER 2018

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN-5TH-11TH DECEMBER 2018

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CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 11TH DECEMBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point 
Song Thrush Burton Point 
Siskin x15 Alders In Copse To IMF 
Bullfinch (M) Near Wooden Bridge IMF
Stonechat (M) IMF
Linnets Birdcrop Field
Pintail x3 Bridge Pool
Gadwall x6 Bridge Pool
Cetti's Warbler Near Marsh Covert Hide
Water Rail Near Bridge By Burton Mere
Curlew x30 Field Left Main Scrape
Peregrine Fence Post Wet Grassland
Buzzard x2 Fence Behind Wet Grassland
Pink F Geese 2000+ Flew Over Reserve (15:45)
Water Pipit IMF Left Side of Hide
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland

West Kirby Marine Lake
Great Northern Diver and 2 Brent Geese over high tide.

Parkgate
Bittern which flew towards Neston Reed Bed,2 Hen Harrier(male and ringtail) and 2 Great White Egret.

CHESHIRE
Doddington Pool
Great White Egret

Marbury Country Park
2 Little Egret and 10 Goosander-Budworth Mere.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 10TH DECEMBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Peregrine Fence Post Wet Grassland 
Marsh Harrier x3 Over Wet Grassland 
Buzzard Fence Post Wet Grassland 
Short Eared Owl By Bunker Screen
Water Rail Reception Pool
Reed Bunting By Birdcrop Field
Linnets Birdcrop Field
Great Egret x3 Burton Marsh From Point
Pink F Geese 1500+ Burton Marsh From Point
Barn Owl Back Of Reserve By Railway line
Hen Harrier (F) Over Wet Grassland
Sparrowhawk Fence Right Of Wet Grassland
Goldeneye (F) Bridge Pool
Green Woodpecker Burton Point

West Kirby Marine Lake
Great Northern Diver,2 Goosander (redheads) and 4 Red-breasted Merganser.

Heswall Marsh
1,220 Pink-footed Geese roosted overnight.

Heswall-Thurstaston
2 Greenshank,650 Teal and 730 Pintail.

New Brighton Pontoon
7 Purple Sandpiper.

Parkgate
4 Short Eared Owl

Leasowe Bay
Adult Mediterranean Gull

CHESHIRE
Sandbach Flashes
Iceland Gull-Adult again on Railway Flash.

Newchurch Common
Smew of unknown origin-Adult female on the large pool north of the track and 5 Redhead Goosander.

Woolston
Waxwing-In bushes by Mersey then flew north.

Marbury Country Park
2 little Egret and 11 Goosander-Budworth Mere.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 9TH DECEMBER 2018

WIRRAL
Burton RSPB
Great Egret Burton Marsh From Point 
Linnets x20 Birdcrop Field 
Bullfinch In Copse To IMF 
Kingfisher In Ditch Near Wooden Bridge IMF
Pintail x1 Bridge Pool
Gadwall x6 Bridge Pool
Nuthatch Marsh Covert Wood
Hen Harrier (M) Over Main Scrape
Buzzard Fence Right Of Wet Grassland
Peregrine Fence Post Wet Grassland
Barn Owl Over Wet Grassland
Pink Footed Geese 520+ Wet Grassland
Curlew x26 Wet Grassland
Water Rail Reception Pool
White Fronted Goose Burton Marsh From Point
Woodcock In Copse To IMF
Merlin Over Wet Grassland

Parkgate
2 Hen Harrier(male and ringtail),5 Marsh Harrier,2 Peregrine Falcon,Merlin,Kestrel,Bittern and 3 Great White Egret.


West Kirby-Gilroy Duck Pond
Goosander (redhead).

West Kirby Marine Lake
Great Northern Diver.

CHESHIRE
Frodsham Marshes
Western Cattle Egret-Still present in fields south of No.4 and No.6 Tanks and best viewed from Lordship Lane; also 2 Great White Egret's on Frodsham Score.

Redesmere
Great White egret.

HaleWater Pipit-Still showing from Town lane and Ring Ouzel-In brambles at Hale Head.

Lawton Lake
19 Mandarin Duck.

Sandbach Flashes
3 Long Eared Owl-Groby Flash-PLEASE VIEW FROM A SENSIBLE DISTANCE.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 8TH DECEMBER 2018

WIRRAL
Hoylake Shore
Yellow-legged Gull in the gull roost.

Burton RSPB
Curlew x15 Wet Grassland 
Marsh Harrier Over Wet Grassland 
Pink Footed Geese Wet Grassland 
Buzzard Fence Right Of Wet Grassland
Merlin Fence Right Of Wet Grassland
Coal Tit Feeder By Reception
Siskin In Alders By Burton Mere
Dunlin x8 Marsh Covert Hide
Spotted Redshank x1 Marsh Covert Hide
Pintail x2 Bridge Pool
Gadwall X4 Bridge Pool
Linnets 20+ By Railway Bridge
Goldcrest x2 In Copse To IMF
Stonechat x2 IMF
Water Rail Reception Pool Common Crossbill In Copse To IMF

West Kirby Marine Lake
Great Northern Diver.

Parkgate
Male and Ringtail Hen Harrier.

CHESHIRE
Newchurch Common
Smew of unknown origin-Adult female on the large pool north of the track.

Frodsham Marshes
3 Great White egret,12 Whooper Swan's and a Barn owl.

Hale
Water Pipit-Still showing from Town lane.