Please post any sightings in the relevant site thread.
sid ashton said
Fri Nov 13 1:20 PM, 2015
Leach's reported past Leasowe Gunsite about half an hour ago
Phil Owen said
Thu Nov 12 9:32 PM, 2015
Definitely a good chance Sid looking at the winds. The Severn beach birders are ready for the weekend!
sid ashton said
Thu Nov 12 2:26 PM, 2015
BBC weather warning today gives the following:- "Southwesterly severe gales will develop later on Thursday, increasing storm force for a time as they veer westerly overnight into Friday morning. Gusts of 70 to 80 mph are likely, and perhaps 90 mph across exposed locations."
I wonder if this will blow a Leach's or two in our direction??????
sid ashton said
Mon Oct 26 5:42 PM, 2015
For those who may be interested there is a good write up on Leach's Petrel migration on http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/ - go to "site index" and then "species spotlight".
If mine doesn't work, there is a link to the Dee estuary web site on the home page of this forum kindly provided by Mr McKerchar
PS there are a couple of write-ups but I found the Oct '01 to be the best description of the migration whereas the Oct'10 write-up deals more with numbers seen over the years.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 26th of October 2015 05:56:37 PM
sid ashton said
Sun Oct 25 9:36 PM, 2015
Tim Wilcox wrote:
Thursday 21 Oct last year was the day of the massive gales. I went to New Brighton but missed the Leach's which had been blown too far up the estuary only to re-emerge going back out to sea the following morning
I recall going over to New Brighton on 22nd October last year Tim; arriving just after first light I was disappointed to find only two Leach's and one Storm Petrel (European)during the morning river watch. In previous years I have seen many more birds but usually in September after strong winds.
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Oct 25 8:02 PM, 2015
Thursday 21 Oct last year was the day of the massive gales. I went to New Brighton but missed the Leach's which had been blown too far up the estuary only to re-emerge going back out to sea the following morning
sid ashton said
Sat Oct 24 6:17 PM, 2015
John Rayner wrote:
I can't remember a single Leach's Petrel being reported from the Wirral this year. Does anyone know different, have there really been zero sightings?
Cheers John
I believe that you are correct John, none of the Wirral birders I know have heard of any Leach's sightings over there this autumn. This is probably because of the lack of north-westerly gales over September/October to drive some birds from their passage into the Irish Sea and on into the mouth of the Mersey and the north Wirral coast. So unless we get a big blow soon we probably won't see any passage birds this year since I understand that the passage is over by the end of October, and usually before.
However,it is not totally unheard of to get sightings later on. In mid-November 2006 gale-force south-westerly winds apparently blew some Leach's back north from their wintering areas into the Irish Sea so we may yet get lucky.
John Rayner said
Sat Oct 24 12:53 PM, 2015
I can't remember a single Leach's Petrel being reported from the Wirral this year. Does anyone know different, have there really been zero sightings?
Cheers John
Simon Gough said
Mon Sep 14 5:04 PM, 2015
I see from my magic seaweed (well a website called Magicseaweed.com) that there are Force 6 north-westerly winds predicted through the top of the Irish Sea on Thursday and Friday. Does anyone think this is sufficiently stormy for some Petrels? It's a bit academic as I will not be able to get over there but I wondered if my reading of the possible conditions looked OK.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 21 11:12 PM, 2014
Some sightings from today are up on the Cheshire and Wirral forum
Simon Gough said
Tue Oct 21 10:51 AM, 2014
Birds reported from Hoylake and New Brighton this morning. I'm stuck in work. Grrr. Great bit of insight from Pete, respect is due.
pete berry said
Sat Oct 18 8:53 AM, 2014
Just checked XC Weather and n.w.winds still forecast for tues with gusts up to 60mph!!
pete berry said
Fri Oct 17 5:08 PM, 2014
Some of the weather sites are predicting strong n.w. winds on tues after strong southerly/s.w.winds which could produce a few late Leach's Petrels in the Mersey mouth(fingers crossed)as there has been no favourable winds all autumn so farWe'll just have to wait and see if weather predictions are accurate!!
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Oct 8 6:49 PM, 2011
Friday afternoon, 4 hours or so threw up about 12 Leach's, a single Stormy, nice to see both "together", and a real bonos if a stunning pale phase adult Long-tailed Skua...
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Oct 6 9:36 PM, 2011
Sall numbers alost guaranteed tomorrow (Friday), try New Brighton, Wallasey Coastguard/Gunsite, Leasowe or Hoylake.
All "4" Skua today and good chance again tomorrow....
Leach's reported past Leasowe Gunsite about half an hour ago
Definitely a good chance Sid looking at the winds. The Severn beach birders are ready for the weekend!
BBC weather warning today gives the following:- "Southwesterly severe gales will develop later on Thursday, increasing storm force for a time as they veer westerly overnight into Friday morning. Gusts of 70 to 80 mph are likely, and perhaps 90 mph across exposed locations."
I wonder if this will blow a Leach's or two in our direction??????
For those who may be interested there is a good write up on Leach's Petrel migration on http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/ - go to "site index" and then "species spotlight".
If mine doesn't work, there is a link to the Dee estuary web site on the home page of this forum kindly provided by Mr McKerchar
PS there are a couple of write-ups but I found the Oct '01 to be the best description of the migration whereas the Oct'10 write-up deals more with numbers seen over the years.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 26th of October 2015 05:56:37 PM
I recall going over to New Brighton on 22nd October last year Tim; arriving just after first light I was disappointed to find only two Leach's and one Storm Petrel (European)during the morning river watch. In previous years I have seen many more birds but usually in September after strong winds.
Thursday 21 Oct last year was the day of the massive gales. I went to New Brighton but missed the Leach's which had been blown too far up the estuary only to re-emerge going back out to sea the following morning
I believe that you are correct John, none of the Wirral birders I know have heard of any Leach's sightings over there this autumn. This is probably because of the lack of north-westerly gales over September/October to drive some birds from their passage into the Irish Sea and on into the mouth of the Mersey and the north Wirral coast. So unless we get a big blow soon we probably won't see any passage birds this year since I understand that the passage is over by the end of October, and usually before.
However,it is not totally unheard of to get sightings later on. In mid-November 2006 gale-force south-westerly winds apparently blew some Leach's back north from their wintering areas into the Irish Sea so we may yet get lucky.
I can't remember a single Leach's Petrel being reported from the Wirral this year. Does anyone know different, have there really been zero sightings?
Cheers John
Just checked XC Weather and n.w.winds still forecast for tues with gusts up to 60mph!!
All "4" Skua today and good chance again tomorrow....