We have a number of events coming up in this area - great birdwatching too!
Saturday 9th October - 9:30am start - Birdwatch at King's Gap, Hoylake Meet at Kings Gap on Hoylake Promenade.
Saturday 6th November - 9:30am start - Birdwatch at King's Gap, Hoylake Meet at Kings Gap on Hoylake Promenade.
Friday 22nd October 9:30 am till 12:30 pm West Kirby Marine Lake Special Meet at the Marine Lake Car Park, Dee Lane, West Kirby.
For further enquiries call: 0151 678 5488 or 336 7681
All events are suitable for the family. Dress for the weather and bring your binoculars.
All these events are free are held in conjunction with The Wirral Rangers Service, Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens and the RSPB
We've just secured another 30 mins at The West Kirby Marine Lake event! Finish time 1pm ...
More importantly we have organised a guided walk around the lake starting at 10am and finsihing at 12pm. The far end of the lake is more likely to have roosting waders and sheltering ducks. Also the walk along the seaward side of the lake gets us closer to the birds as they return to feed on the snad/mud flats of the estuary.
paul brady said
Tue Sep 21 4:12 PM, 2010
We have a number of events coming up in this area - great birdwatching too!
Saturday 9th October - 9:30am start - Birdwatch at King's Gap, Hoylake Meet at Kings Gap on Hoylake Promenade.
Saturday 6th November - 9:30am start - Birdwatch at King's Gap, Hoylake Meet at Kings Gap on Hoylake Promenade.
Friday 22nd October 9:30 am till 12:30 pm West Kirby Marine Lake Special Meet at the Marine Lake Car Park, Dee Lane, West Kirby.
For further enquiries call: 0151 678 5488 or 336 7681
All events are suitable for the family. Dress for the weather and bring your binoculars.
All these events are free are held in conjunction with The Wirral Rangers Service, Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens and the RSPB
Pete Welch said
Thu Sep 16 8:50 PM, 2010
Had 45 minutes watching the Leach's Petrols [at least 12] fighting their way out of the Mersey this evening - a magical experience which I won't forget in a hurry. Also one juvenile Guillemot, a juvenile Black Tern and two Little Egrets also proceeding west out of the river.
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Sep 16 8:26 PM, 2010
PS - the new Floral Pavillion has an excellent cafe, does take away coffee and has toilet facilities so clean that I cleaned my optics there half way through the session - it is open to all and right on the doorstep!
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Sep 16 8:24 PM, 2010
Tuesday's Little was seen by 3 observers, one independently, and I would say knowing all 3 that it was as genuine a record as you could hope for.
The same bird, or another was seen off the Little Orme tonight.
Yesterday's bird was not - I'm just as sure - it was too big, the flight was wrong and the underwing pattern wrong. I'm convinced that it was the Manxie.
If it wasn't, Messrs McK and McK dipped it from their 5* sand free observation point despite the fact that the claimed bird flew past twice.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 16 3:51 PM, 2010
The 'wreck' refers to the large displacement of the species from their more usual migration/wintering areas due to exceptional weather and not necessarily to the fact that the birds are themselves tired ('wrecked') which obviously they weren't in this instance.
As for beaches, I don't think they really care that they're crossing a beach and seem to do it during every big blow, indeed one of our team had previously had one pattering infront if his car whilst driving along the seafront at New Brighton in a previous 'wreck'. I certainly enjoyed watching them pattering through the sandstorms whipping across the beach and flying over our heads whilst cutting the corner across the Perch Rock car park when exiting the Mersey.
Marvellous stuff no matter how many times you've seen it before
Henry Cook said
Thu Sep 16 2:22 PM, 2010
I forgot to caveat that comment Sid with the fact that some Leach's were a matter of 20m away at one point in the late afternoon. Just trying to relay the wonderful experience of such a hard species to see. Hopefully see you at the next big blow!
sid ashton said
Thu Sep 16 2:22 PM, 2010
Rob Smallwood wrote:
It is a common sight after such "wrecks" - I suspect Henry was not expressing surprise more delight.
Anway Sid, is it true that you were in the shelters at New Brighton before it had even got light? Hope you weren't trying to lamp the previous days Little Shearwater!
Whilst I'm on, the claim of a Little Shearwater in the Mersey rivermouth yesterday was down to people underestimating the width of the river and the effects of telescopes distorting relative sizes of distant birds. I am quite sure that the bird in question was the Manxie that kept floating in and flying out...
Rob I feel that Henry was "surprised" but I'm sure that he will tell us The birds that I saw on the various beaches yesterday didn't look too "wrecked" to me in fact they appeared quite perky. Speaking to some of the local birders it's not unusual to see the Petrels over the beach and there have even been reports in previous years at the Gunsite of them flying behind cars parked on the embankment !!!
I was was indeed at New Brighton in the twilight hours yesterday morning, best time to pick up the birds that have sheltered in the river over night as they come out. I believe I did see you heading at speed toward the shelter but I couldn't stop as I was answering a call of nature and remembering the old proverb "that he who pees into the wind gets his own back" I was heading for the facilities near the lifeboat station.
Another of the early birders yesterday was Richard Smith of Deeestuary and he had no reservations about the Little Shearwater although he was talking about the one reported at Meols/Hoylake on Tuesday.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 16th of September 2010 04:09:13 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Sep 16 1:11 PM, 2010
It is a common sight after such "wrecks" - I suspect Henry was not expressing surprise more delight.
Anway Sid, is it true that you were in the shelters at New Brighton before it had even got light? Hope you weren't trying to lamp the previous days Little Shearwater!
Whilst I'm on, the claim of a Little Shearwater in the Mersey rivermouth yesterday was down to people underestimating the width of the river and the effects of telescopes distorting relative sizes of distant birds. I am quite sure that the bird in question was the Manxie that kept floating in and flying out...
sid ashton said
Thu Sep 16 11:48 AM, 2010
Henry Cook wrote:
A brill number of Leach's around and some even flew over the small amount of sand between us and the water, what!
Henry, I noticed that you were surprised by the fact that the Leach's were flying over the sand. I observed the same thing at the three Wirral locations I visited yesterday, at New Brighton early doors on the falling tide and at Hoylake much later in the afternoon as well as at Dove Point around mid day when the tide was well out - 2 birds where flitting over the sands 200m or so out from the embankment. I also saw this activity the last time we had a reasonable number of Petrels on the the Wirral in 2008. So I wonder why you appear to find this unusual?
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 16 9:58 AM, 2010
Tom McKinney wrote:
An absolutely fantastic day yesterday (15/9). I really don't recommend using the beach as a urinal though
Me neither Tom. Why do you think I kept nipping into the back of your car periodically
Mike Baron said
Thu Sep 16 9:45 AM, 2010
Managed a spell from behind the shelter of Fort Perch Rock from 16:15 to 18:30 after a dash home from the Midlands
94+ Leach's Petrels - all moving out and none observed going up river - this was a very conservative count - 2 flew over the beach and right past me - wasn't quick enough with the camera! 1 Pale morph Arctic Skua close in 1 Black Tern 2 Guillemots 2 Fulmars 8 Kittiwakes Lots of comic terns
The wind dropped around sixish and I didn't see any petrels after around 18:20 or so (though I didn't stay long after) - the frequency of sightings had steadily decreased over previous half hour.
No Sabs unfortunately but still a cracking spell of birding!!!
Tom McKinney said
Thu Sep 16 9:24 AM, 2010
An absolutely fantastic day yesterday (15/9). I really don't recommend using the beach as a urinal though - I keep finding sand in places that are best not mentioned.
New Brighton 08:30-1630 (8 hours)
306 Leach's Petrels (I was only counting birds coming from far down the Mersey - not a single Leach's was seen flying strongly upriver all day long, some milling about around the mouth, some wind swept backwards, but there had obviously been a massive dumping of them in their hundreds far down the Mersey that were leaving on the changing tide throughout the day)
2 juv Sabine's Gulls (and an adult Rob Adderley had just after I left)
Grey Phalarope (1 west past the estuary mouth)
14 Manx Shearwaters (prob more, but hard to count with them going back and forth)
2+ Fulmar (again, hard to count)
3 Arctic Skuas
3 Little Gulls (2x1st winter & 1 adult)
Not a single Macaronesian Shearwater. Must try harder.
-- Edited by Tom McKinney on Thursday 16th of September 2010 09:30:46 AM
-- Edited by Tom McKinney on Thursday 16th of September 2010 09:34:26 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 15 10:39 PM, 2010
Being there from 10am with three other birders in a higher and windless vantage point than those birders on the beach there were considerably (should be in bold ) more than 30 or so just hanging around the mouth of the Mersey certainly from the turn of the tide onwards about 11:30 ish. Magnificent sight with 40 to 50 visible at any one time in the short stretch from the Mersey mouth to south of the scrap yards and the vast majority watched heading out west around Perch Rock.
A memorable day indeed
Rob Smallwood said
Wed Sep 15 10:33 PM, 2010
Between 5 and 7 there were at least 200 Leach's past Meols, many close in inside the sandbar, many more on the surfline further out. Between about 6 and 7 I was at the rocks at Dove Point on my own, with Leach's passing at the base of the embankment and being forced out by the "rock island". Many were passing within 10 feet of where I sat.
Just magic....
Henry Cook said
Wed Sep 15 10:13 PM, 2010
A brill number of Leach's around and some even flew over the small amount of sand between us and the water, what! For the earlier part of our visit the wind was so strong there didn't seem to be much passage of Leach's, rather, the same 30+ birds were hanging around struggling to leave the estuary mouth. After 2pm-ish the gale relented a touch and the flood gates opened, an impressive movement of birds occurred along the coast for the rest of the day. A memorable day. Thanks. Henry.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Wednesday 15th of September 2010 10:13:59 PM
Phil Owen said
Wed Sep 15 9:57 PM, 2010
Me and Henry Cook were at Perch Rock and Leasowe Gunsite from 1.00pm-7.00pm and saw amongst others:-
100+ Leach's (at least) 1 Bonxie 2 Arctic Skuas Lots of Manxies 1 Little Gull 1 Kittiwake 1 Sabine's Gull Several Guillemot
Also
Redshank Turnstone Sanderling Oystercatcher Knot and 1 Whimbrel on the beach
Nice to bump into Robert and Sonia again and also to meet Iain Johnson
pete berry said
Wed Sep 15 7:07 PM, 2010
Ian & I(with Tom Mc & Adam) were at New Brighton from 10am till 3pm,then Leasowe till 4pm,we saw 300+Leach's Petrels(a very conservative estimate) 2 poss 3 Sabs, 6 Little Gull 2 Dark phase Arctic Skuas 2 Bonxies 30 +Manxies Razorbill 30+Guillemots Good numbers of Terns,mainly Common 3 Pintail 2 Fulmar 2 Kittiwake One of the best days birding I've had for a couple of years.
sid ashton said
Wed Sep 15 6:42 PM, 2010
I did the early shift at New Brighton 06.15 - 09.45, it was really blowing hard all of the time I was there in fact watching 6 Cormorants trying to leave the river mouth, the first birds I saw as the day dawned, I could have sworn they were flying backwards so strong was the wind !! Nevertheless had a really good sea-watch with c.40 Leach's Petrel, 2 Razorbills, 1 Gannet, 3 Manx Shearwater and 2 Arctic Skua (1 juv) and the highlight for me 1 Sabine's Gull (juv).
Moved on to the Leasowe lighthouse area in an attempt to find the reported Wryneck (haven't seen one for some time) - no joy there and finally another short sea-watch from the Dove point/Hoylake end with the incoming tide produced similar species to the morning list with the addition of two Little Tern on the beach.
John Barber said
Wed Sep 15 4:15 PM, 2010
What a great afternoon that was Nick.
Five new birds for me and a scope full of sand ! That was one hell of a wind out there today.
Nick Isherwood said
Wed Sep 15 3:52 PM, 2010
Had an excellent couple of hours this afternoon sheltering from the wind at the side of Perch Rock with John Barber watching the different birds blown in by the westerly winds. Birds seen included: -
6 Manxies 2 Bonxie 3 Arctic Skua 2 Sabines Gulls 2 Little Gulls Around 30 - 40 Leach's Petrels
Also, a smalll shearwater, that at the time of leaving wasn't ID'd due to it being very distant and elusive. Altogether, 4 new lifers for me!!
Rob Smallwood said
Tue Sep 14 11:23 PM, 2010
Seabird fest on the Wirral today, and with strong winds overnight tomorrow is your best chance of the year to catch up with Leach's Petrel, along with any of the 4 Skuas and maybe something really good.
New Brighton, Gunsite, Dove Point/Leasowe and Hoylake all worth a try.
Mike Baron said
Sun Sep 12 8:30 PM, 2010
Had a walk between Denhall Lane and the Decca Pools late afternoon
3 Marsh Harriers - female and 2 juveniles 1 Peregrine 2 Green Sandpipers 1 Greenshank 1 Ruff 5 Knot 16 Dunlin 4 Ravens 20+ Little Egrets
plus the largest flock of Canada Geese I have ever seen - estimate around 2200 birds - all of which were flushed by six blokes with dogs and guns walking around the marsh!
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 26 10:51 PM, 2010
Well, as they're not possible to sex in the field on plumage alone you've a 50/50 chance of being right I suppose
Dennis atherton said
Thu Aug 26 10:47 PM, 2010
Oh dear, you are right, a sexist statement without even knowing i did it,
Can you be called a sexist if you dont know you are one? does it still count if you are to niave to realize your own prejudice
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Thursday 26th of August 2010 10:48:05 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 26 10:35 PM, 2010
With regards the Hobby Dennis, 'he'? A typically presumptuous, sexist, male chauvinistic view
Dennis atherton said
Thu Aug 26 10:31 PM, 2010
Hi Paul,
I am really sorry for slow reply, i did not see your post, i am sorry to say did not go back to the Rspb office that day to give any reports, i stayed out and moved further along to parkgate for the evening session of birding
Out of interest when i got home i had a close look at photos and the second bird was a female marsh harrier, the ringtail harrier shot i got Ian has put in the out of county bird galleries,
hopefully i will see you up there soon and i will come and say hello, i am very tempted to come and try to get a good hobby shot as he seems to be giving good views lately,
Best wishes Dennis
Geoff Walton said
Thu Aug 26 5:04 PM, 2010
Thurs 26th
We went "up north" today to Leasowe Lighthouse, Red Rocks and Gilroy NP
I am normally cynical at counts, but after getting to 50 and panning the sandbank, I reckon there were over 1000 Oyster-catchers at the Lighthouse. A handful of Curlew and BT Godwits, and an Arctic Skua on the water Flying past were Gannets,Dunlin,and Arctic Skua
Not much on the water at Red Rocks, but Gannets,Artic Slua,Terns,Dunlin,Lttle Plover, and Redshank. A fair number of Dunlin, and Ringed Plover flew past and landed on the rocks just around the corner - think there were some Sanderling with them as well.
We called at Gilroy,NP and first for us, and saw loads of BT Godwits
I will look on the Dee site tomorrow and see what anyone else got, as there was "stuff" flying past that we did not have a clue about.
A good day for us.
paul brady said
Tue Aug 17 9:54 AM, 2010
Dennis atherton wrote:
burton marsh today,
around twenty little egrets, 6 wheatears on the wall on the walk towards firing range with 20 pied wagtails, lots of flocks of goldfinches, also greenfinch, linnets, kestrel, buzzard, 2 gs woodpecker, large flock of house martins near IM Farm, lots of jackdaws and rooks as usual, 3 curlew, redshank, two harriers on the marsh, one a ringtail hen harrier and the second unidentified, all brown with no white rump, probably female marsh harrier but did not get a good enough look to confirm,
Hi Dennis, Nice to see you had a good time along the marsh rd - did you report the hen harrier and other harrier to the RSPB office, its always nice to know when they start to show up/pass through.
Dennis atherton said
Sun Aug 15 9:27 PM, 2010
burton marsh today,
around twenty little egrets, 6 wheatears on the wall on the walk towards firing range with 20 pied wagtails, lots of flocks of goldfinches, also greenfinch, linnets, kestrel, buzzard, 2 gs woodpecker, large flock of house martins near IM Farm, lots of jackdaws and rooks as usual, 3 curlew, redshank, two harriers on the marsh, one a ringtail hen harrier and the second unidentified, all brown with no white rump, probably female marsh harrier but did not get a good enough look to confirm,
Pete Welch said
Fri Jul 16 10:20 PM, 2010
Pleasant stroll in the sunshine at high tide at Hoylake saw 20 or so Oystercatchers, hundreds of Herring, LBB and Black Headed Gulls and one Med Gull - colour ringed from Czechoslovakia so I'm eagerly awaiting the data back on it plus four Black Tailed Godwits which I wasn't expecting. No shearwaters sadly.
Also one x%&* who was throwing a ball so his ugly mutt went straight into the gull roost and scattered everything - loads of other dog walkers managed to either use the prom when near the gulls or keep their dogs under control but not this one. If I hadn't had my four year old with me, we'd have had a heated exchange, as it was I just glared at him a lot...
Anthony Dixon said
Sun May 30 8:12 PM, 2010
Very windy indeed!
Burton...
12 Little Egret 6 Shelduck 1 Grey Heron A few Reed Bunting
Parkgate...
A futher 3 Little Egret and not a lot else...Thank God for ice cream!
Anthony
Dennis atherton said
Sat May 29 8:57 PM, 2010
on the other side of the estuary today at the point of ayr,
good to see good numbers of stonechat, not seen many near me this year, lots of skylarks, also linnets, short eared owl being mobbed by everything, lots of little tern and sandwich terns, also dunlin, sanderling, ringed plovers,
Phil Owen said
Tue May 25 10:42 PM, 2010
Visited straight from work tonight for the Female Bluethroat at Leasowe.
It had been showing well during the day but was a bit elusive tonight on arrival at around 7.30pm and took over an hour for it to emerge.
When it did eventually come out, it was seen feeding on the ground near the bridge feeding on the mud, then we had views of it in the trees and on the path at 8.45pm.
Should hopefully be still around tomorrow!!! A cracking bird!!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Tuesday 25th of May 2010 10:43:41 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Tue May 25 3:41 PM, 2010
Bluethroat (f) at Leasowe this afternoon.
Also a sub-adult male Monty's or pallid north past Seaforth.....
paul brady said
Wed Apr 28 1:45 PM, 2010
sid ashton wrote:
Burton Marsh 06.30 - 09.00
Several Wheatear (including 2 Greenland race), female Stonechat, 4 Linnets, Reed Buntings, a Raven being mobbed by Crows and a Paul Brady - nice to see you out and about Paul
Lingham Lane/Leasowe Lighthouse area 09.45-13.30
The Ring Ouzel was still present, as well as Yellow, White, Grey and Pied Wags within seconds of each other in the same paddock, two Sandwich Tern sitting on one of the marker bouys on the sea, a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by the parents of two Lapwing chicks and three Whimbrel in one of the ploughed fields plus the now familiar Chiffchaff, Willow and Sedge Warblers. No sign of the reported Whinchat or Redstart in the time I was there.
You made me late for work Sid
I did get water rail (heard) on the list for the sheep pens and managed to see a couple of sedge warblers. I also heard another grasshopper warbler before hot footing it back to the reserve!
sid ashton said
Tue Apr 27 5:53 PM, 2010
Burton Marsh 06.30 - 09.00
Several Wheatear (including 2 Greenland race), female Stonechat, 4 Linnets, Reed Buntings, a Raven being mobbed by Crows and a Paul Brady - nice to see you out and about Paul
Lingham Lane/Leasowe Lighthouse area 09.45-13.30
The Ring Ouzel was still present, as well as Yellow, White, Grey and Pied Wags within seconds of each other in the same paddock, two Sandwich Tern sitting on one of the marker bouys on the sea, a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by the parents of two Lapwing chicks and three Whimbrel in one of the ploughed fields plus the now familiar Chiffchaff, Willow and Sedge Warblers. No sign of the reported Whinchat or Redstart in the time I was there.
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Apr 25 7:03 PM, 2010
Managed to miss most of the stuff on the Wirral at Leasowe today, it was all disturbed when they let the horses out of the paddocks
We got Ring Ouzel though and both Reed and Sedge Warbler, then we decided to cut our losses and headed for Thurstaston where we had 44 Whimbrel on the shore, with a solitary Curlew just for comparison, great stuff
sid ashton said
Fri Apr 23 7:28 PM, 2010
A hastily arranged Wirral wander with a long-time-no-see birding mate produced an excellent day's birding in fantastic weather with the following highlights:-
Lingham Lane/Leasowe Lighthouse area - Ring Ouzel (1st summer male), Common Redstart, White Wagtail, a singing Sedge Warbler and lots of Linnets - on the break-water a single Whimbrel and on the sea three distant Common Scoter......
...at Gilroy Nature Park several Blackcap (M&F), Common Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin and a Sparrowhawk carrying prey......
...and finally at Inner Marsh farm - we arrived just in time to miss the overflying Osprey, but made up for with common Whitethroat and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the walk down to the hide and from the hide the pale Buzzard, Yellow Wagtail, several Blackwits in summer plumage & Pintail, 2 Avocet, 3 Ringed Plover, a single Dunlin, 9 Spotted Redshank all scattered by an overflying Peregrine.
Mike Baron said
Tue Apr 20 11:55 PM, 2010
Two Ring Ouzels this morning in paddocks nr Leasowe Lighthouse - a male and a female
paul brady said
Tue Mar 30 3:25 PM, 2010
Anthony Dixon wrote:
the usual screeching corvids that are always around that area!
I love the sound of screeching corvids in the morning !
I'm doing nothing but keeping my ears peeled(?) for this one ....
Other IMF news is that there was a willow warbler singing near to the hide and a drake garganey on the pools - does this add weight to your sighting?
Also at POA, Flintshire a sedge warbler photo has been submitted ?!?
Shame the reserve is closed to the public today but the sluice has been opened ....
Anthony Dixon said
Mon Mar 29 7:09 PM, 2010
Thanks Ian. To be fair to Richard, he did query in private and yes I know he has a difficult job to do..Just like your good self.
I suppose I was being a little harsh by saying I wouldn't post sightings again...I take a lot from Richard's site, like I do from this one, so it's only fair to give something back.
Dummy back in!!!
Anthony
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 29 6:02 PM, 2010
Anthony Dixon wrote:
I actually feel like not bothering reporting anymore sightings from the Dee Estuary...Afterall of all bird calls, the Cuckoo isn't the most dificult to decipher!
Anthony
That'd be a shame Anthony. It's often difficult for all types of assessors (local site, county, national etc) to judge the validity of some records, especially if they don't know or have any history about the observer. It would be nice to be able to accept everything on good faith but that would undoubtably lead to many erroneous records the length and breadth of the UK and as understandably miffed as you might be, Richard is undoubtably just going about his job in a manner he does with most observers he meets. It's certainly nothing personal. You'd also be surprised how many Cuckoo calls are mistaken every year, though not generally by birders familiar with their call of course.
All I will say is that anyone posting any sightings on this Manchester Birding forum should not (and so far have not!) have their posts publically queried. That goes on at 'other forums', more often by users with less experience than the original observer! If a post needs querying then in should always be done in a private message
Anthony Dixon said
Mon Mar 29 5:33 PM, 2010
Paul, Cuckoo heard on and off for several minutes around 1.00 pm in the woods next to the car park...I couldn't pin-point the exact spot and wasn't helped by the usual screeching corvids that are always around that area!
I reported sighting to Richard Smith who seemed slightly sceptical, because it is very early, but it was unmistakably 100% a Cuckoo! I actually feel like not bothering reporting anymore sightings from the Dee Estuary...Afterall of all bird calls, the Cuckoo isn't the most dificult to decipher!
I Also reported a Red Kite I had seen near Heswall...Luckily it turns out that the bird was seen the previous day at Neston or that might have gone down the same way. In retrospect I should have found one of the RSPB officers to have a listen to the Cuckoo with me!
Anthony
paul brady said
Mon Mar 29 2:47 PM, 2010
Anthony Dixon wrote:
Highlights were a very close view of a Red Kite flying along side Telegraph Road just north of Heswall and the sound of a Cuckoo calling (not seen) at Inner Marsh Farm. (Reported to Richard Smith)
4 Little Egret at Parkgate and a further 5 at Burton. 40 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and 1 Turnstone at West Kirby Marine Lake. 1 Hen harrier and 1 Ruff at Inner Marsh.
Anthony
Hi Anthony,
At what time did you hear the cuckoo calling? And whereabouts exactly? Also if you could put these kind of sightings for IMF onto the thread about IMF that would be nice and handy too, thanks.
Anthony Dixon said
Sun Mar 28 5:41 PM, 2010
Highlights were a very close view of a Red Kite flying along side Telegraph Road just north of Heswall and the sound of a Cuckoo calling (not seen) at Inner Marsh Farm. (Reported to Richard Smith)
4 Little Egret at Parkgate and a further 5 at Burton. 40 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and 1 Turnstone at West Kirby Marine Lake. 1 Hen harrier and 1 Ruff at Inner Marsh.
Anthony
Gary Gorner said
Mon Mar 15 6:58 AM, 2010
parkgate 14/3/10
merlin ring tailed hen harrier flock of about 20 redwings stonechat goldfinch linnet 5 little egrets skylarks
neston
2 kestrel one male hen harrier one female marsh harrier black tailed godwits 4 buzzard 3 little egrets 1o bewick swan and all the usual wildfowl
sid ashton said
Sat Mar 6 7:45 PM, 2010
paul brady wrote: What no avocets Sid?
No Avocets Paul just the Garganey - the first summer visitor for me that I went to find in the short time that I had available
Anyone else want to know anything else that I didn't find - the list is endless
paul brady said
Sat Mar 6 3:26 PM, 2010
sid ashton wrote:
Quick trip over to Burton Marsh this afternoon - it was most odd to see the marsh with so much water on top with 9 Bewick's Swans swimming around before high water. Went down to Decca pools to look for the Garganey and one drake duly obliged - but it and the other birds around inc. Teal and Wigeon were spooked a couple of times by a Peregrine - nevertheless had good views.
At Parkgate ringtail Hen Harrier and female Marsh Harrier gave really close up views at the southern end of the parade near the Old Quay pub.
What no avocets Sid?
sid ashton said
Sat Mar 6 1:11 PM, 2010
Geoff Walton wrote:
What, no little owls Sid?
No Little Owls Geoff - we found "the box in the tree" but there had been a group up the path before we arrived and they may have spooked the birds. Not only didn't we find Little Owls we didn't see Short eared or Barnies either but we did get our target bird the Garganey as well as the Harriers at Parkgate which was back to its normal quite best without the hoardes of "high tide" tourists
We've just secured another 30 mins at The West Kirby Marine Lake event! Finish time 1pm ...
More importantly we have organised a guided walk around the lake starting at 10am and finsihing at 12pm. The far end of the lake is more likely to have roosting waders and sheltering ducks. Also the walk along the seaward side of the lake gets us closer to the birds as they return to feed on the snad/mud flats of the estuary.
Saturday 9th October - 9:30am start - Birdwatch at King's Gap, Hoylake
Meet at Kings Gap on Hoylake Promenade.
Saturday 6th November - 9:30am start - Birdwatch at King's Gap, Hoylake
Meet at Kings Gap on Hoylake Promenade.
Friday 22nd October 9:30 am till 12:30 pm West Kirby Marine Lake Special
Meet at the Marine Lake Car Park, Dee Lane, West Kirby.
For further enquiries call: 0151 678 5488 or 336 7681
All events are suitable for the family. Dress for the weather and bring your binoculars.
All these events are free are held in conjunction with The Wirral Rangers Service, Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens and the RSPB
The same bird, or another was seen off the Little Orme tonight.
Yesterday's bird was not - I'm just as sure - it was too big, the flight was wrong and the underwing pattern wrong. I'm convinced that it was the Manxie.
If it wasn't, Messrs McK and McK dipped it from their 5* sand free observation point despite the fact that the claimed bird flew past twice.
As for beaches, I don't think they really care that they're crossing a beach and seem to do it during every big blow, indeed one of our team had previously had one pattering infront if his car whilst driving along the seafront at New Brighton in a previous 'wreck'. I certainly enjoyed watching them pattering through the sandstorms whipping across the beach and flying over our heads whilst cutting the corner across the Perch Rock car park when exiting the Mersey.
Marvellous stuff no matter how many times you've seen it before
I was was indeed at New Brighton in the twilight hours yesterday morning, best time to pick up the birds that have sheltered in the river over night as they come out. I believe I did see you heading at speed toward the shelter but I couldn't stop as I was answering a call of nature and remembering the old proverb "that he who pees into the wind gets his own back" I was heading for the facilities near the lifeboat station.
Another of the early birders yesterday was Richard Smith of Deeestuary and he had no reservations about the Little Shearwater although he was talking about the one reported at Meols/Hoylake on Tuesday.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 16th of September 2010 04:09:13 PM
Anway Sid, is it true that you were in the shelters at New Brighton before it had even got light? Hope you weren't trying to lamp the previous days Little Shearwater!
Whilst I'm on, the claim of a Little Shearwater in the Mersey rivermouth yesterday was down to people underestimating the width of the river and the effects of telescopes distorting relative sizes of distant birds. I am quite sure that the bird in question was the Manxie that kept floating in and flying out...
Me neither Tom. Why do you think I kept nipping into the back of your car periodically
94+ Leach's Petrels - all moving out and none observed going up river - this was a very conservative count - 2 flew over the beach and right past me - wasn't quick enough with the camera!
1 Pale morph Arctic Skua close in
1 Black Tern
2 Guillemots
2 Fulmars
8 Kittiwakes
Lots of comic terns
The wind dropped around sixish and I didn't see any petrels after around 18:20 or so (though I didn't stay long after) - the frequency of sightings had steadily decreased over previous half hour.
No Sabs unfortunately but still a cracking spell of birding!!!
New Brighton
08:30-1630 (8 hours)
306 Leach's Petrels (I was only counting birds coming from far down the Mersey - not a single Leach's was seen flying strongly upriver all day long, some milling about around the mouth, some wind swept backwards, but there had obviously been a massive dumping of them in their hundreds far down the Mersey that were leaving on the changing tide throughout the day)
2 juv Sabine's Gulls (and an adult Rob Adderley had just after I left)
Grey Phalarope (1 west past the estuary mouth)
14 Manx Shearwaters (prob more, but hard to count with them going back and forth)
2+ Fulmar (again, hard to count)
3 Arctic Skuas
3 Little Gulls (2x1st winter & 1 adult)
Not a single Macaronesian Shearwater. Must try harder.
-- Edited by Tom McKinney on Thursday 16th of September 2010 09:30:46 AM
-- Edited by Tom McKinney on Thursday 16th of September 2010 09:34:26 AM
A memorable day indeed
Just magic....
Thanks.
Henry.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Wednesday 15th of September 2010 10:13:59 PM
100+ Leach's (at least)
1 Bonxie
2 Arctic Skuas
Lots of Manxies
1 Little Gull
1 Kittiwake
1 Sabine's Gull
Several Guillemot
Also
Redshank
Turnstone
Sanderling
Oystercatcher
Knot and 1 Whimbrel on the beach
Nice to bump into Robert and Sonia again and also to meet Iain Johnson
300+Leach's Petrels(a very conservative estimate)
2 poss 3 Sabs,
6 Little Gull
2 Dark phase Arctic Skuas
2 Bonxies
30 +Manxies
Razorbill
30+Guillemots
Good numbers of Terns,mainly Common
3 Pintail
2 Fulmar
2 Kittiwake
One of the best days birding I've had for a couple of years.
Moved on to the Leasowe lighthouse area in an attempt to find the reported Wryneck (haven't seen one for some time) - no joy there and finally another short sea-watch from the Dove point/Hoylake end with the incoming tide produced similar species to the morning list with the addition of two Little Tern on the beach.
Five new birds for me and a scope full of sand ! That was one hell of a wind out there today.
6 Manxies
2 Bonxie
3 Arctic Skua
2 Sabines Gulls
2 Little Gulls
Around 30 - 40 Leach's Petrels
Also, a smalll shearwater, that at the time of leaving wasn't ID'd due to it being very distant and elusive. Altogether, 4 new lifers for me!!
New Brighton, Gunsite, Dove Point/Leasowe and Hoylake all worth a try.
3 Marsh Harriers - female and 2 juveniles
1 Peregrine
2 Green Sandpipers
1 Greenshank
1 Ruff
5 Knot
16 Dunlin
4 Ravens
20+ Little Egrets
plus the largest flock of Canada Geese I have ever seen - estimate around 2200 birds - all of which were flushed by six blokes with dogs and guns walking around the marsh!
Can you be called a sexist if you dont know you are one? does it still count if you are to niave to realize your own prejudice
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Thursday 26th of August 2010 10:48:05 PM
I am really sorry for slow reply, i did not see your post, i am sorry to say did not go back to the Rspb office that day to give any reports, i stayed out and moved further along to parkgate for the evening session of birding
Out of interest when i got home i had a close look at photos and the second bird was a female marsh harrier, the ringtail harrier shot i got Ian has put in the out of county bird galleries,
hopefully i will see you up there soon and i will come and say hello, i am very tempted to come and try to get a good hobby shot as he seems to be giving good views lately,
Best wishes Dennis
We went "up north" today to Leasowe Lighthouse, Red Rocks and Gilroy NP
I am normally cynical at counts, but after getting to 50 and panning the sandbank, I reckon there were over 1000 Oyster-catchers at the Lighthouse. A handful of Curlew and BT Godwits, and an Arctic Skua on the water
Flying past were Gannets,Dunlin,and Arctic Skua
Not much on the water at Red Rocks, but Gannets,Artic Slua,Terns,Dunlin,Lttle Plover, and Redshank. A fair number of Dunlin, and Ringed Plover flew past and landed on the rocks just around the corner - think there were some Sanderling with them as well.
We called at Gilroy,NP and first for us, and saw loads of BT Godwits
I will look on the Dee site tomorrow and see what anyone else got, as there was "stuff" flying past that we did not have a clue about.
A good day for us.
Hi Dennis, Nice to see you had a good time along the marsh rd - did you report the hen harrier and other harrier to the RSPB office, its always nice to know when they start to show up/pass through.
around twenty little egrets, 6 wheatears on the wall on the walk towards firing range with 20 pied wagtails, lots of flocks of goldfinches, also greenfinch, linnets, kestrel, buzzard, 2 gs woodpecker, large flock of house martins near IM Farm, lots of jackdaws and rooks as usual, 3 curlew, redshank, two harriers on the marsh, one a ringtail hen harrier and the second unidentified, all brown with no white rump, probably female marsh harrier but did not get a good enough look to confirm,
Also one x%&* who was throwing a ball so his ugly mutt went straight into the gull roost and scattered everything - loads of other dog walkers managed to either use the prom when near the gulls or keep their dogs under control but not this one. If I hadn't had my four year old with me, we'd have had a heated exchange, as it was I just glared at him a lot...
Burton...
12 Little Egret
6 Shelduck
1 Grey Heron
A few Reed Bunting
Parkgate...
A futher 3 Little Egret and not a lot else...Thank God for ice cream!
Anthony
good to see good numbers of stonechat, not seen many near me this year, lots of skylarks, also linnets, short eared owl being mobbed by everything, lots of little tern and sandwich terns, also dunlin, sanderling, ringed plovers,
It had been showing well during the day but was a bit elusive tonight on arrival at around 7.30pm and took over an hour for it to emerge.
When it did eventually come out, it was seen feeding on the ground near the bridge feeding on the mud, then we had views of it in the trees and on the path at 8.45pm.
Should hopefully be still around tomorrow!!! A cracking bird!!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Tuesday 25th of May 2010 10:43:41 PM
Also a sub-adult male Monty's or pallid north past Seaforth.....
You made me late for work Sid
I did get water rail (heard) on the list for the sheep pens and managed to see a couple of sedge warblers. I also heard another grasshopper warbler before hot footing it back to the reserve!
Several Wheatear (including 2 Greenland race), female Stonechat, 4 Linnets, Reed Buntings, a Raven being mobbed by Crows and a Paul Brady - nice to see you out and about Paul
Lingham Lane/Leasowe Lighthouse area 09.45-13.30
The Ring Ouzel was still present, as well as Yellow, White, Grey and Pied Wags within seconds of each other in the same paddock, two Sandwich Tern sitting on one of the marker bouys on the sea, a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by the parents of two Lapwing chicks and three Whimbrel in one of the ploughed fields plus the now familiar Chiffchaff, Willow and Sedge Warblers. No sign of the reported Whinchat or Redstart in the time I was there.
We got Ring Ouzel though and both Reed and Sedge Warbler, then we decided to cut our losses and headed for Thurstaston where we had 44 Whimbrel on the shore, with a solitary Curlew just for comparison, great stuff
Lingham Lane/Leasowe Lighthouse area - Ring Ouzel (1st summer male), Common Redstart, White Wagtail, a singing Sedge Warbler and lots of Linnets - on the break-water a single Whimbrel and on the sea three distant Common Scoter......
...at Gilroy Nature Park several Blackcap (M&F), Common Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin and a Sparrowhawk carrying prey......
...and finally at Inner Marsh farm - we arrived just in time to miss the overflying Osprey, but made up for with common Whitethroat and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the walk down to the hide and from the hide the pale Buzzard, Yellow Wagtail, several Blackwits in summer plumage & Pintail, 2 Avocet, 3 Ringed Plover, a single Dunlin, 9 Spotted Redshank all scattered by an overflying Peregrine.
I love the sound of screeching corvids in the morning !
I'm doing nothing but keeping my ears peeled(?) for this one ....
Other IMF news is that there was a willow warbler singing near to the hide and a drake garganey on the pools - does this add weight to your sighting?
Also at POA, Flintshire a sedge warbler photo has been submitted ?!?
Shame the reserve is closed to the public today but the sluice has been opened ....
To be fair to Richard, he did query in private and yes I know he has a difficult job to do..Just like your good self.
I suppose I was being a little harsh by saying I wouldn't post sightings again...I take a lot from Richard's site, like I do from this one, so it's only fair to give something back.
Dummy back in!!!
Anthony
That'd be a shame Anthony. It's often difficult for all types of assessors (local site, county, national etc) to judge the validity of some records, especially if they don't know or have any history about the observer. It would be nice to be able to accept everything on good faith but that would undoubtably lead to many erroneous records the length and breadth of the UK and as understandably miffed as you might be, Richard is undoubtably just going about his job in a manner he does with most observers he meets. It's certainly nothing personal. You'd also be surprised how many Cuckoo calls are mistaken every year, though not generally by birders familiar with their call of course.
All I will say is that anyone posting any sightings on this Manchester Birding forum should not (and so far have not!) have their posts publically queried. That goes on at 'other forums', more often by users with less experience than the original observer! If a post needs querying then in should always be done in a private message
I reported sighting to Richard Smith who seemed slightly sceptical, because it is very early, but it was unmistakably 100% a Cuckoo!
I actually feel like not bothering reporting anymore sightings from the Dee Estuary...Afterall of all bird calls, the Cuckoo isn't the most dificult to decipher!
I Also reported a Red Kite I had seen near Heswall...Luckily it turns out that the bird was seen the previous day at Neston or that might have gone down the same way.
In retrospect I should have found one of the RSPB officers to have a listen to the Cuckoo with me!
Anthony
Hi Anthony,
At what time did you hear the cuckoo calling? And whereabouts exactly? Also if you could put these kind of sightings for IMF onto the thread about IMF that would be nice and handy too, thanks.
(Reported to Richard Smith)
4 Little Egret at Parkgate and a further 5 at Burton.
40 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and 1 Turnstone at West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Hen harrier and 1 Ruff at Inner Marsh.
Anthony
merlin
ring tailed hen harrier
flock of about 20 redwings
stonechat
goldfinch
linnet
5 little egrets
skylarks
neston
2 kestrel
one male hen harrier
one female marsh harrier
black tailed godwits
4 buzzard
3 little egrets
1o bewick swan
and all the usual wildfowl
No Avocets Paul just the Garganey - the first summer visitor for me that I went to find in the short time that I had available
Anyone else want to know anything else that I didn't find - the list is endless
What no avocets Sid?