Brief visit this morn whilst on business in Bootle. Two nice male Goldeneye on the main Lake, little else on the main Lake.
A few Argentatus Herring Gulls near the boating lake in the big Gull crowd and a cracker Caspian Gull showing wing features very well whilst stretching its wings, was just about to switch from scope to photo when a dog jumped in the lake and all the big Gulls went
Six Turnstone were a nice year tick. A less pleasing year tick was an obviously moribund Guillemot following the shore North at less than walking pace, not sure its feet were even providing any motion as they often came out the water, or if it was just drifting with the tide.
Had a sneak-peek into Seaforth through the fence and picked up Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Redshanks a plenty.
Called in briefly yesterday (18/01/24) and the Black-throated Diver was showing well as it did circuits. Also 6 Goldeneye, male Red-breasted Merganser and a 2nd winter Great Black-backed Gull.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Jan 16 10:14 PM, 2024
Late post for Sat 13th Jan
Black-throated Diver showed well but out in the middle of the lake. At one point it had a short fly around.
The Juvenile/1w Black-throated Diver is still present on Crosby Marine Lake. Conditions were ideal today, sunny spells and with the light winds the lake was like a mill pond. Four Goldeneye and a couple of Little Egret also present.
Parked up to the juv Black-throated Diver right in front of the car on the Marine Lake. Year tick and fist non Scottish bird for me. No sign of Scoter on either lake but a few flew towards the Wirral around 14:30 in front of the weather front off the Irish Sea.
steven burke said
Sat Dec 23 9:59 PM, 2023
Black throated diver showing well this afternoon, quite close at times. Also a common scoter sat on a raft.
Black throated diver still on marine lake am also 1 red breasted merganser and 3 goldeneye
Lez Fairclough said
Mon Sep 5 11:40 PM, 2022
P.M. Visit
Beach area - 2 x Curlew, Knot, Sanderling, Turnstone, Black & Bar-Tailed Godwits, Redshank, Common & Green Sandpiper, Common Tern.
Seaforth Nature Reserve - 2 Black Swans & American Golden Plover - viewed from the fence adjacent to the marina. The American Golden Plover was on the causeway which bisects the 2 main pools & was at least 250 yards away so very poor quality pic.
Many thanks to local birder Dave Bradshaw for picking it out & use of his scope which is essential for decent views.
- Mute Swans CPL4 & CPJ3 again - 100+ Herring Gulls - 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 4 Common Gulls - min 76 Coot, some were taking suet pellets and wholemeal bread from my hand, never known that before with Coot, they were clambering over each other to get the food.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 10th of December 2021 05:56:32 AM
Rob Creek said
Tue Nov 30 10:20 PM, 2021
A few quick stop offs last couple of months whilst delivering in Crosby centre but nothing of note.
Today of note - CPL4 & CPJ3 amongst the Mute Swans - 56 Coot (more distantly on far side) - 6 Tufted Duck - 2 Common Gull
Rob Creek said
Wed Jun 23 12:02 AM, 2021
Tuesday 22nd June.
Afternoon visit on tacho break after delivering in Waterloo. Nice to meet the lady birder who browses the forum.
- no sign of the 2 Black Swans - 30+ Mute Swans (mainly at north end) - c100+ large Gulls virtually all Herring - few adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls - Whitethroat + Chiffchaff singing from Adelaide Garden - 2 House Martins over the lake
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 23rd of June 2021 12:06:16 AM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 23rd of June 2021 12:07:02 AM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 23rd of June 2021 12:07:31 AM
Rob Creek said
Sat Jun 19 11:30 PM, 2021
Friday 18th June
Afternoon visit on a tacho break.
Of note - 42 Mute Swans incl CPL1 + CPJ3 - 2 Black Swans - 1 Blackcap - 1 Chiffchaff - c300-350 large Gulls Almost all Herring Gulls apart from probably <10 Lesser Black-backed (6 ad) and a single Great Black-backed in its 2nd year. I counted 110 Herring Gulls just on the grass near the lake, that was without the many more surrounding the lake and on it. They were put up a few times so I just made a conservatively estimate.
Rob Creek said
Sat Jun 5 9:05 AM, 2021
Fri 4th June.
Liverpool route, afternoon break.
Of note... - CPL1 + CPH2 amongst the Mute Swans - 2 Black Swans back again (1 with green banding on leg, the other bird only 1 leg)
...and a feeding frenzy with the large Gulls when someone emptied a bin liner full of bread etc at side of the lake.
Rob Creek said
Thu Dec 24 8:29 AM, 2020
Rob Creek wrote:
Tues 22nd Dec.
Well after yesterdays unusual circumstances, it was back on my normal Liverpool run.
Plenty of birds around but nothing out of the ordinary. - 4 Turnstone - 6 Oystercatcher - plenty of Tufted Duck - Mute Swans incl CPJ3 and CPL Probably another Spike Island, Runcorn bird.
CPJ3 was ringed as a female cygnet on 19-11-19 at Hankelow Hall pools near Audlem, Crewe. This one was last seen at Marsh Lane, Nantwich, back in June. Info thanks to Official Swan Watch UK
Well after yesterdays unusual circumstances, it was back on my normal Liverpool run.
Plenty of birds around but nothing out of the ordinary. - 4 Turnstone - 6 Oystercatcher - plenty of Tufted Duck - Mute Swans incl CPJ3 and CPL Probably another Spike Island, Runcorn bird.
Rob Creek said
Thu Dec 17 7:08 PM, 2020
Tues 15th Dec
Quick visit whilst delivering in Waterloo.
- c80 large Gulls on the grass but nothing of note - 2 Black Swans on boating lake, I think these are actually nicer looking than a lot of people give them credit for
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 17th of December 2020 07:47:52 PM
Rob Creek said
Fri Nov 20 9:51 PM, 2020
Tuesday 17th Nov
Delivering in Waterloo so called in at Crosby Marine Park.
No sign of the Long-tailed Duck but I had a few interesting Gulls, one of which I thought stood a good chance of being a 1st w Yellow-legged.
Thanks to Allan Brown for the swift reply, its not a Lothian Swan. The ring was CPL4 as I first thought, but with part of the ring broken and the Lothian / Fife group only using 3 letters...I thought Id best go with 3 alpha to see where it goes.
Anyway its one of David Cooksons from the Cheshire Swan Study Group, shes a 2nd Winter bird that was ringed on the 9th March this year not too far away at Spike Island, Widnes and mine is the first resighting. Cheers
Rob Creek said
Tue Nov 10 11:13 PM, 2020
Delivering a few hundred yards away so called in to take a look.
- female Long-tailed Duck still showing on the boating lake.
Also of note... - a large female Tufted Duck that had a rounded tuftless head and quite a large blaze of white around the base of the bill. I thought hello - I could be on a 1st W female Scaup, but the bill wasnt right for Scaup and then she turned a particular way and showed the tiniest hint of a bump at the back of the head and that was that, Tufted Duck all day long!
- adult Mute Swan with green ring CPL but part of the ring was broken off, if it is just a 3 alpha code then its likely to be a Scottish ringed bird.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 10th of November 2020 11:14:59 PM
Cold piercing wind and on/off heavy showers. A delivery on South Rd meant I was literally 500yds away. I had to dash back to the van at one point as the weather got the better of me, but there was a break in the cloud and I ran back for the rest of my break.
- Female Long-tailed Duck Showed ridiculously well on the little boating lake in the Marine Park that sometimes looked like it was at sea it was that choppy. Sometimes popped up just a few metres away.
Also of interest... - 4 Pochard (3m 1f) - 1 Turnstone - 30+ Oystercatcher - 1 Raven over - few Common Gulls - and an interesting large Gull in the resting group
Chris Harper said
Sun Feb 9 8:17 PM, 2020
Cracking views of the 1st Winter Long Tailed Duck at 1pm still on the smaller lake to the North of the main lake. Associating with Tufted Duck. Also many Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone. Peeping through the fence into Seaforh there were Black Tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Curlew, Shellduck.
Sanderling on the beach and a few Meadow Pipit too
3 Goldeneye on main lake
Great birding in the storm
Mark Jarrett said
Mon Jan 20 3:39 PM, 2020
The 1st Winter Long-tailed Duck is still present on the small lake adjacent to the main Crosby Marine Lake. Had the bird all to myself in cold and sunny weather.
Appalling conditions 13:15 to 15:00 - hence the poor quality pics!
Female Long Tailed Duck spending more time underwater than on top - can't say I blame it!
Male & Female Goldeneye
3 Oystercatchers
5 Turnstone - 4 giving superb close views at boating lake & 1 on Crosby Beach shoreline
At least 2 dozen Skylarks flitting about the dunes one of which had black & yellow rings on right leg and light blue & grey or silver on left leg (see attachment)
Went to the small lake today and there is a Long-Tailed Duck showing really well same spot as the Grey Phal in 2018. Its among the tufted duck and with patience gives great views (see pics)
Grey Phalarope today. In the small pool to the right. It is showing so well its ridiculous. You wont miss it, birders walking up and down as it swims next to the edge eating insects. Well worth a visit.
Glad you got it Richard, it was actually feeding on lots of minute flies when we were there. I'm sure as soon as the supply runs out it will depart out to sea as it has already flown onto the large main lake at least once I agree about pics, 75% of mine were when it was too close to get a sharp focus, the joys of digiscoping
That's good to hear, thanks. It Must have been because it was windy yesterday so that it was keeping all the small flies away. (Though I did see him find a cranefly that got blown into the water).
Doc Brewster said
Mon Sep 24 10:33 AM, 2018
Glad you got it Richard, it was actually feeding on lots of minute flies when we were there. I'm sure as soon as the supply runs out it will depart out to sea as it has already flown onto the large main lake at least once I agree about pics, 75% of mine were when it was too close to get a sharp focus, the joys of digiscoping
According to info through today it is still on the Small Boating Lake at Crosby Marina.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 24th of September 2018 10:34:56 AM
Richard Thew said
Sun Sep 23 5:34 PM, 2018
It's been 7 years from seeing my 1st grey phalarope, and that was distant at Pennington flash (2011).
So after hearing the reports at Crosby Marine Park, and especially thanks to the exciting post from Doc Brewster, I was just itching to go and see this bird. Unfortunately Saturday was out- especially with the strikes on at Northern rail, so once I got the report this morning that he was still there- I asked my mother if she too would like to go and see it this afternoon.
So at lunchtime and off we went! Well worth the effort as the Grey Phalarope came to about 1ft distant as he went up and down the same stretch but made taking pictures difficult since he kept right up close to the edge of the bank. Makes you really appreciate the smallness of his size and the details without binoculars is awesome!!!!
I was a tad concerned for him as it's not exactly in a spot that's abundant in food, hopefully he will be fine and move on soon.
So with my 1st close up and a lifer for my mother- a beautiful experience this turned out to be and was well worth the effort by us both by a long shot!
After 500 pictures, most of which are blurred due to the speed of the bird and the circumstances too. So I will do my best to get a couple posted here once I get home and settled!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 23rd of September 2018 10:09:25 PM
A Grey Phalarope was found at Crosby Marina, on the Boating Lake, today after yesterdays blow! As is the way with this species it was showing down to a foot at times
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 22nd of September 2018 04:36:36 PM
9am Snow Bunting still present. Chasing Skylarks round the rough field alongside the boating lake.
Turnstone on the boating lake, stood on the ice.
Several Goldeneye and Tufted Duck on Marina.
John Watson said
Sat Mar 3 6:36 PM, 2018
Next to the boating pool there's a little fence, and the Snow Bunting (m) was hanging around there with Skylarks; flew off but returned to this favoured spot
Also, 5 Snipe & 1 Jack Snipe
On beach, 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) with the numerous other gulls; also 1 Bar-Tailed Godwit, 20 Grey Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatchers, Curlew, Redshank
Carl Fletcher-Poole said
Wed Feb 28 4:15 PM, 2018
Arrived today at Crosby Marina at around 10.30ish and first bird to see was an Oystercatcher followed by a Fieldfare near the car park. Walked to Marina and there was 3 female Goldeneye and 2 males showing well. As we got to the dunes we bumped into a guy who was studying skylarks and there rings and he told us the snow bunting was with them. It was blowing a force nine gale by this time and was absolutely freezing. Searched the dunes at the back of the marina and as always in birding persistence pays dividends and we found it with the skylarks (see pictures) well worth a visit as there are Redshanks, Snipe, Cormorants and all types of gulls here as well.
Arrived this afternoon for a couple of hours after visiting Neston marsh area.
I was starting to wonder where on earth was the sunshine that was promised by the weather forecast? Still, on with the day!!!
My intention here was to try and find the snow bunting, and with details being vague, it was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack! Where do I start??? Fortunately, after 10 minutes, it looked like two other guys were also out to look for it and found it- so I made a bee line to where they were and my instincts were spot on!!!! He was on a pile of wood by the side of the path!!!
After taking a few pictures, I thanked the guys as the snow bunting made his way through the dunes. I thought I will go ahead of him to sit down and wait, but he was a fast mover- so with little planning time, I sat down on the side of the path and he therefore came amazingly close!!!
I must have been there a good 15 minutes before he flew off as a dog walker was coming!
Also noteworthy was a good number of common gulls, but- by 2:20pm, 3 days of very early mornings with lots of activity began to catch up with me so I decided to call it a day! - tired but satisfied!
On a family visit during high tide at 2-ish, of interest over and around the marina:- Whimbrel, Little Gull, Linnet, Yellow Wagtail (1 adult 3 young), a few Swallows and House Martins and on Seaforth reserve Common Tern and Black Tern. Really nice weather as well for a change
M Gannon said
Sat Jan 17 3:24 PM, 2015
Managed to get pretty decent views of the long tailed duck at the western end of the lake at around 12:15 today. A kingfisher that flew across the shore in that part was more unexpected. Other birds seen were: 2 peregrine 4 great crested grebe 5 meadow pipit 3 corn bunting
John O'Neill said
Tue Apr 29 9:51 PM, 2014
Lesser Whitethroat rattling from cover-brambles and some small trees inc a Horse Chestnut-along the fence between Seaforth Reserve & Crosby Marina. Close to car park .Showed pretty well.
At least one Wheatear on Seaforth side.
Phil Barnett said
Tue Oct 8 4:14 PM, 2013
Hi Paul, were you at Crosby on Sunday - me too
You get pretty big flocks of starlings around the sea-front car park in the winter months - attracted by all the food-based freebies on offer.
p.s saw a guillemot swimming very close in at high tide
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 8 4:19 AM, 2013
Originally posted by Paul Brady today:
Out of interest there was a lovely adult non-breeding plumage Mediterranean Gull at the beach yesterday, lots of starlings in the are too - migrants?
Dennis atherton said
Sun Feb 10 3:23 AM, 2013
Superb Male Scaup showing well in the marina today,
John Doherty said
Tue May 15 9:13 PM, 2012
Took a trip out to see Antony Gormley's Another Place, brought my binos along for the ride. and spent a fab day in Liverpool (the new museum is worth a look!)
I entered Crosby in the eye of a perfect storm, but it left in ten minutes, replaced by sunshine and leaving a brief but excellent rainbow out over Wirral.
Birds:
2 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Ducks (little boating lake) Naff all on the main Marine Lake, bare a Mute Swan.
About ten Wheatear among the sand dunes, with five at one point gathering on the marine lake shore. 6 or 7 Linnets. Disappointed to not score any other Chats despite trying hard, but that's life.
Edit: Also on the beach quite far out, a flock of what I reckoned to be Sanderlings? numbered 20 or so.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 15th of May 2012 09:41:23 PM
sid ashton said
Fri May 28 9:05 AM, 2010
The White- tailed Lapwing was reported as still being present this morning and even for non permit holders it's worth a visit for a peer through the fence
sid ashton said
Thu May 27 9:45 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Just uploaded some cracking photos of the bird onto the galleries. Gives all you folk peering through the bars at Crosby a look at what the bird really looked like
Yer can't spoil my lifer Ian I've seen some excellent pics of the bird as well and it definitely looks like the bird I saw.
Furthermore to quote a well known Sefton birder "At least those outside the perimeter fence got to admire 70+ Swifts feeding low to the water of Crosby Marine Lake at point blank range while the Plover/Lapwing was out of sight."
Ian McKerchar said
Thu May 27 9:19 PM, 2010
Just uploaded some cracking photos of the bird onto the galleries. Gives all you folk peering through the bars at Crosby a look at what the bird really looked like
sid ashton said
Thu May 27 8:32 PM, 2010
15.30 - 17.45, Sunny with moderate NW wind
Couldn't decide where to go this afternoon for a bit of fresh air until I checked the web - White-tailed Lapwing at Seaforth - let's go
Had reasonable views of the bird a couple of times when we first arrived, looking through the fence onto the reserve from the marina but when the hazy conditions changed to clearer later in the afternoon had a really good if short view at around 16.45. A smashing bird and a life time first for me.
sid ashton said
Fri Apr 16 1:47 PM, 2010
Anne Wilkinson wrote: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Made my annual April trip here yesterday (Wed 15th) and for the first time ever did not connect with any Little gulls.
Anne I too was at Crosby briefly yesterday and I didn't find Little Gulls either. Some Linnets on the reserve fence, Dunlin, Ruff and Blackwits on the beach were the only birds of interest for me.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 16th of April 2010 05:30:12 PM
Anne Wilkinson said
Fri Apr 16 9:56 AM, 2010
Made my annual April trip here yesterday (Wed 15th) and for the first time ever did not connect with any Little gulls. I wonder if the harsh winter has delayed the insect hatch that attracts them here. Very few birds around the marina, just an alba Wagtail and a superb female Greenland race Wheatear in the sand dunes.
Brief visit this morn whilst on business in Bootle. Two nice male Goldeneye on the main Lake, little else on the main Lake.
A few Argentatus Herring Gulls near the boating lake in the big Gull crowd and a cracker Caspian Gull showing wing features very well whilst stretching its wings, was just about to switch from scope to photo when a dog jumped in the lake and all the big Gulls went
Six Turnstone were a nice year tick. A less pleasing year tick was an obviously moribund Guillemot following the shore North at less than walking pace, not sure its feet were even providing any motion as they often came out the water, or if it was just drifting with the tide.
Had a sneak-peek into Seaforth through the fence and picked up Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Redshanks a plenty.
1m Smew - Surprise as I didn't know it was there, showed quite well.
1m Red-breasted Merganser.
5 Goldeneye
1 Great-black backed gull
2 Little Egrets
1f Scaup? Looked like a hybrid on the small pond, but pics look like a Scaup.
Black-throated Diver showed well but out in the middle of the lake. At one point it had a short fly around.
Parked up to the juv Black-throated Diver right in front of the car on the Marine Lake. Year tick and fist non Scottish bird for me. No sign of Scoter on either lake but a few flew towards the Wirral around 14:30 in front of the weather front off the Irish Sea.
Also a common scoter sat on a raft.
Black throated diver still on marine lake am also 1 red breasted merganser and 3 goldeneye
P.M. Visit
Beach area - 2 x Curlew, Knot, Sanderling, Turnstone, Black & Bar-Tailed Godwits, Redshank, Common & Green Sandpiper, Common Tern.
Seaforth Nature Reserve - 2 Black Swans & American Golden Plover - viewed from the fence adjacent to the marina. The American Golden Plover was on the causeway which bisects the 2 main pools & was at least 250 yards away so very poor quality pic.
Many thanks to local birder Dave Bradshaw for picking it out & use of his scope which is essential for decent views.
Tues 7th Dec
Quick visit whilst making delivery in the town.
- Mute Swans CPL4 & CPJ3 again
- 100+ Herring Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Common Gulls
- min 76 Coot, some were taking suet pellets and wholemeal bread from my hand, never known that before with Coot, they were clambering over each other to get the food.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 10th of December 2021 05:56:32 AM
Today of note
- CPL4 & CPJ3 amongst the Mute Swans
- 56 Coot (more distantly on far side)
- 6 Tufted Duck
- 2 Common Gull
Afternoon visit on tacho break after delivering in Waterloo.
Nice to meet the lady birder who browses the forum.
- no sign of the 2 Black Swans
- 30+ Mute Swans (mainly at north end)
- c100+ large Gulls virtually all Herring
- few adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- Whitethroat + Chiffchaff singing from Adelaide Garden
- 2 House Martins over the lake
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 23rd of June 2021 12:06:16 AM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 23rd of June 2021 12:07:02 AM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 23rd of June 2021 12:07:31 AM
Afternoon visit on a tacho break.
Of note
- 42 Mute Swans incl CPL1 + CPJ3
- 2 Black Swans
- 1 Blackcap
- 1 Chiffchaff
- c300-350 large Gulls
Almost all Herring Gulls apart from probably <10 Lesser Black-backed (6 ad) and a single Great Black-backed in its 2nd year. I counted 110 Herring Gulls just on the grass near the lake, that was without the many more surrounding the lake and on it. They were put up a few times so I just made a conservatively estimate.
Liverpool route, afternoon break.
Of note...
- CPL1 + CPH2 amongst the Mute Swans
- 2 Black Swans back again
(1 with green banding on leg, the other bird only 1 leg)
...and a feeding frenzy with the large Gulls when someone emptied a bin liner full of bread etc at side of the lake.
CPJ3 was ringed as a female cygnet on 19-11-19 at Hankelow Hall pools
near Audlem, Crewe.
This one was last seen at Marsh Lane, Nantwich, back in June.
Info thanks to Official Swan Watch UK
Well after yesterdays unusual circumstances, it was back on my normal Liverpool run.
Plenty of birds around but nothing out of the ordinary.
- 4 Turnstone
- 6 Oystercatcher
- plenty of Tufted Duck
- Mute Swans incl CPJ3 and CPL
Probably another Spike Island, Runcorn bird.
Tues 15th Dec
Quick visit whilst delivering in Waterloo.
- c80 large Gulls on the grass but nothing of note
- 2 Black Swans on boating lake, I think these are actually nicer looking than a lot of people give them credit for
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 17th of December 2020 07:47:52 PM
Tuesday 17th Nov
Delivering in Waterloo so called in at Crosby Marine Park.
No sign of the Long-tailed Duck but I had a few interesting Gulls, one of which I thought stood a good chance of being a 1st w Yellow-legged.
Anyway its one of David Cooksons from the Cheshire Swan Study Group, shes a 2nd Winter bird that was ringed on the 9th March this year not too far away at Spike Island, Widnes and mine is the first resighting.
Cheers
Delivering a few hundred yards away so called in to take a look.
- female Long-tailed Duck still showing on the boating lake.
Also of note...
- a large female Tufted Duck that had a rounded tuftless head and quite a large blaze of white around the base of the bill. I thought hello - I could be on a 1st W female Scaup, but the bill wasnt right for Scaup and then she turned a particular way and showed the tiniest hint of a bump at the back of the head and that was that, Tufted Duck all day long!
- adult Mute Swan with green ring CPL but part of the ring was broken off, if it is just a 3 alpha code then its likely to be a Scottish ringed bird.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 10th of November 2020 11:14:59 PM
Tuesday 3rd Nov.
Cold piercing wind and on/off heavy showers.
A delivery on South Rd meant I was literally 500yds away. I had to dash back to the van at one point as the weather got the better of me, but there was a break in the cloud and I ran back for the rest of my break.
- Female Long-tailed Duck
Showed ridiculously well on the little boating lake in the Marine Park that sometimes looked like it was at sea it was that choppy. Sometimes popped up just a few metres away.
Also of interest...
- 4 Pochard (3m 1f)
- 1 Turnstone
- 30+ Oystercatcher
- 1 Raven over
- few Common Gulls
- and an interesting large Gull in the resting group
Cracking views of the 1st Winter Long Tailed Duck at 1pm still on the smaller lake to the North of the main lake. Associating with Tufted Duck. Also many Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone. Peeping through the fence into Seaforh there were Black Tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Curlew, Shellduck.
Sanderling on the beach and a few Meadow Pipit too
3 Goldeneye on main lake
Great birding in the storm
Appalling conditions 13:15 to 15:00 - hence the poor quality pics!
Female Long Tailed Duck spending more time underwater than on top - can't say I blame it!
Male & Female Goldeneye
3 Oystercatchers
5 Turnstone - 4 giving superb close views at boating lake & 1 on Crosby Beach shoreline
At least 2 dozen Skylarks flitting about the dunes one of which had black & yellow rings on right leg and light blue & grey or silver on left leg (see attachment)
I had great views of the female long tailed duck - best since 2013! (something I needed picture of too)
Other highlights included:
Turnstone
Oystercatcher
Redshank
Skylark
But, my favourite experience was enjoying the sanderlings before the dog walkers appeared. I just love watching them run like little clockwork toys!
Ta!
Went to the small lake today and there is a Long-Tailed Duck showing really well same spot as the Grey Phal in 2018. Its among the tufted duck and with patience gives great views (see pics)
That's good to hear, thanks. It Must have been because it was windy yesterday so that it was keeping all the small flies away. (Though I did see him find a cranefly that got blown into the water).
Glad you got it Richard, it was actually feeding on lots of minute flies when we were there. I'm sure as soon as the supply runs out it will depart out to sea as it has already flown onto the large main lake at least once
I agree about pics, 75% of mine were when it was too close to get a sharp focus, the joys of digiscoping 
According to info through today it is still on the Small Boating Lake at Crosby Marina.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 24th of September 2018 10:34:56 AM
So after hearing the reports at Crosby Marine Park, and especially thanks to the exciting post from Doc Brewster, I was just itching to go and see this bird. Unfortunately Saturday was out- especially with the strikes on at Northern rail, so once I got the report this morning that he was still there- I asked my mother if she too would like to go and see it this afternoon.
So at lunchtime and off we went! Well worth the effort as the Grey Phalarope came to about 1ft distant as he went up and down the same stretch but made taking pictures difficult since he kept right up close to the edge of the bank. Makes you really appreciate the smallness of his size and the details without binoculars is awesome!!!!
I was a tad concerned for him as it's not exactly in a spot that's abundant in food, hopefully he will be fine and move on soon.
So with my 1st close up and a lifer for my mother- a beautiful experience this turned out to be and was well worth the effort by us both by a long shot!
After 500 pictures, most of which are blurred due to the speed of the bird and the circumstances too. So I will do my best to get a couple posted here once I get home and settled!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 23rd of September 2018 10:09:25 PM
A Grey Phalarope was found at Crosby Marina, on the Boating Lake, today after yesterdays blow! As is the way with this species it was showing down to a foot at times
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 22nd of September 2018 04:36:36 PM
9am
Snow Bunting still present. Chasing Skylarks round the rough field alongside the boating lake.
Turnstone on the boating lake, stood on the ice.
Several Goldeneye and Tufted Duck on Marina.
Also, 5 Snipe & 1 Jack Snipe
On beach, 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) with the numerous other gulls; also 1 Bar-Tailed Godwit, 20 Grey Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatchers, Curlew, Redshank
I was starting to wonder where on earth was the sunshine that was promised by the weather forecast? Still, on with the day!!!
My intention here was to try and find the snow bunting, and with details being vague, it was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack! Where do I start??? Fortunately, after 10 minutes, it looked like two other guys were also out to look for it and found it- so I made a bee line to where they were and my instincts were spot on!!!! He was on a pile of wood by the side of the path!!!
After taking a few pictures, I thanked the guys as the snow bunting made his way through the dunes. I thought I will go ahead of him to sit down and wait, but he was a fast mover- so with little planning time, I sat down on the side of the path and he therefore came amazingly close!!!
I must have been there a good 15 minutes before he flew off as a dog walker was coming!
Also noteworthy was a good number of common gulls, but- by 2:20pm, 3 days of very early mornings with lots of activity began to catch up with me so I decided to call it a day! - tired but satisfied!
Total species today- 53
Ta!
10 Wheatears around the lake at 7 am . Cheers Chris
-- Edited by Chris Greene on Friday 15th of April 2016 03:56:39 PM
Other birds seen were:
2 peregrine
4 great crested grebe
5 meadow pipit
3 corn bunting
At least one Wheatear on Seaforth side.
You get pretty big flocks of starlings around the sea-front car park in the winter months
- attracted by all the food-based freebies on offer.
p.s saw a guillemot swimming very close in at high tide
Out of interest there was a lovely adult non-breeding plumage Mediterranean Gull at the beach yesterday, lots of starlings in the are too - migrants?
I entered Crosby in the eye of a perfect storm, but it left in ten minutes, replaced by sunshine and leaving a brief but excellent rainbow out over Wirral.
Birds:
2 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Ducks (little boating lake)
Naff all on the main Marine Lake, bare a Mute Swan.
About ten Wheatear among the sand dunes, with five at one point gathering on the marine lake shore.
6 or 7 Linnets.
Disappointed to not score any other Chats despite trying hard, but that's life.
Edit: Also on the beach quite far out, a flock of what I reckoned to be Sanderlings? numbered 20 or so.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 15th of May 2012 09:41:23 PM
Furthermore to quote a well known Sefton birder "At least those outside the perimeter fence got to admire 70+ Swifts feeding low to the water of Crosby Marine Lake at point blank range while the Plover/Lapwing was out of sight."
Couldn't decide where to go this afternoon for a bit of fresh air until I checked the web - White-tailed Lapwing at Seaforth - let's go
Had reasonable views of the bird a couple of times when we first arrived, looking through the fence onto the reserve from the marina but when the hazy conditions changed to clearer later in the afternoon had a really good if short view at around 16.45. A smashing bird and a life time first for me.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Made my annual April trip here yesterday (Wed 15th) and for the first time ever did not connect with any Little gulls.
Anne I too was at Crosby briefly yesterday and I didn't find Little Gulls either. Some Linnets on the reserve fence, Dunlin, Ruff and Blackwits on the beach were the only birds of interest for me.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 16th of April 2010 05:30:12 PM