Afternoon visit to see which waders were seeking refuge on a small rocky islet just offshore at high tide.
30 Knot (Only a few still showing any sign of their red breasted breeding plumage) rested on the islet,
until an adult Great Black Backed Gull arrived, then they made a quick exit.
A Turnstone still in it's resplendent breeding finery really stood out as it took refuge alongside 5 others
on the islet, together with a few Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, and lots of Redshanks and Oystercatchers.
A single Little Egret also stopped for a while, together with a few Pied Wagtails and Starlings.
I could see only the usual gulls and cormorants elsewhere on the sea.
A couple of almost tame Stonechats posed on vegetation close to the coastal path.
John Williams said
Fri Aug 12 3:53 PM, 2022
10.30-13.30
Shoreline near the lighthouse and horse paddocks area.
Offshore : With just a light Easterly blowing the sea was like a millpond, thus no sign of Skuas etc.
Just the usual gulls, cormorants etc on the sea, plus flocks of Oystercatchers and Redshanks moving along the coast.
A single Ringed Plover shared a rocky islet with a solitary Dunlin.
Lots of Swallows were over the horse paddocks and shoreline, and there appeared to be a movement of them well offshore
and oddly flying North.
1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Wheatear were seen around the horse paddocks, as was a mobile and very nervous flock of around
160 Linnets. They were even flushed by passing Woodpigeons, however when a single Sparrowhawk passed overhead, they gave chase.
20+ "Alba" Wagtails were also around the paddocks.
A dead Little Egret was seen on the shoreline.
-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 12th of August 2022 04:12:35 PM
John Williams said
Wed May 18 7:25 PM, 2022
Area around the coastal path and lighthouse, including neighbouring paddocks. 09.30-14.30
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler (By the pool with the screen), 2 Cettis Warblers (Heard only) and 1 Buzzard.
2 Chiffchaffs were still singing, 1 of which came to within touching distance and appeared almost tame.
Goldfinches galore, including a juvenile, Greenfinches, Stonechats and Linnets were quite numerous too.
House Sparrows were surprisingly abundant considering this is largely a rural patch, the flycatcher was seen to be chased off
by a pair of them. At least 4 juveniles were amongst the roving small groups of Starlings.
4 Sandwich Terns were seen offshore, where a raft of 11 Great Crested Grebes was a surprise.
At high tide a pair of Arctic Terns rested on the small rocky islet opposite the golf club, together with 10+ Common Terns and 16 Dunlin.
Tony Coatsworth said
Fri Apr 29 2:53 PM, 2022
No sign of the female Bluethroat today. A pair of Whinchat and around 10 Wheatears were seen.
Also a Whimbrel with two Curlew in the field behind the paddocks which was a nice comparison (phonescoped picture attached)
A female Ring Ouzel and 3 Yellow Wagtails were seen by others.
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 29th of April 2022 02:55:16 PM
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 29th of April 2022 02:57:02 PM
Chris Harper said
Sun May 9 7:11 PM, 2021
11.15-13.15
7 Whinchat, 10 Wheatear, Tree Pipit over, 1+Yellow Wagtail, Stonechat, 2 Reed Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat, 10 Little Egret, 12 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 8 Common Scoter, Reed Bunting, 4 Linnet, 8 Swift, 6 House Martin, 40 Swallow, 8 Turnstone, 15 Dunlin, 100+ Oystercatcher, Kestrel, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff.
Rob Creek said
Sun Apr 21 4:13 PM, 2019
Easter Sunday.
Morning visit in glorious weather, some quality migrants around, mainly in the paddocks but also the dunes and gorse, the fisheries and the woody scrub areas. A couple of familiar faces about and nice to see Paul Baker too!
- 25+ Wheatear seemingly everywhere - 2 Ring Ouzel (1m/1f) - 3 Whinchat (2m/1f) - 1 Redstart (probable female type in paddock hedge) - 3 Yellow Wagtail (1m) - 1 White Wagtail (rest looked like Pied to me) - 1 Whimbrel (feeding in paddock) - 2 Grasshopper Warblers (in gorse area, 1 seen) - 4 Common Whitethroat - 1 Lesser Whitethroat (at fisheries) - 2 Sedge Warbler (1pr together) - 1 Reed Warbler - 1 Willow Warbler - 6 Blackcap (4m/2f) - 2 Stonechat (1m/1f) - 2 Meadow Pipit - 1 Little Egret - Lots of Chiffchaff, Skylark, Linnet, and Swallows around.
Also of note... A Pipit flew over me calling and dropped into one of the paddocks. Straight away I thought that sounds like a Tree Pipit. I got onto it again on the ground and the way it was moving through the grass, its jizz just didnt look like a Meadow Pipit. One was reported this morning and it couldve been that.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 21st of April 2019 04:34:40 PM
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 19 10:43 PM, 2019
Having been sat at work all day yesterday watching news of migrants galore coming out from Leasowe I was only going to one place today! So I headed up quite early to the Leasowe Lighthouse car park and set off to the paddocks in the sunshine.
In the fields off the road to the car park the migrant list started with a lovely Whinchat in a field full of Wheatears, then as I walked towards the horse paddocks off Lingham Lane a Whimbrel flew over calling and a Willow Warbler sang from the bushes nearby, so far it was a day of 'W's!! Going through the first kissing gate there were 2 Ring Ouzels showing well in the fields inland of the paddocks. These were watched for a while and I showed others the birds when they hadn't got a scope with them as the views were into the sun and not the best through bins alone. Walking further down two female Redstarts were seen in the field containg a hawthorn bush which is known locally as 'Redstart Motel', and true to form the birds were using it as their base to make feeding sorties from. Heading back from whence we came I turned up towards the coast and checked out a bank of gorse and broom and was soon watching a very showy Grasshopper Warbler, which performed out in the open several times for delighted onlookers. A couple of Whitethroats were also in this area and showed well. I then returned to the paddocks where I watched a male Yellow Wagtail feeding at the feet of one particular horse, but a while later when the Yellow Wagtail had gone I found 4 White Wagtails on the fence of the same paddock. Wheatears were in every field, over 40 must have been seen and Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps called all around me. Only one Swallow was seen but my eyes were on the fields not the skies! Another Whimbrel was picked out, making 2 in total for the morning. Several Little Egrets were also in the same fields as the Curlew and Whimbrel. Finally four Sandwich Terns were offshore from the seawall just by the car park, watched as I ate my lunch.
A great morning in very warm sunshine and as some of the birds had already cleared through late am I decided to head off to pastures new for the afternoon.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 19th of April 2019 10:57:49 PM
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Fri Mar 31 7:57 PM, 2017
Sand Martin 2 Wheatear 2 Stonechat 1m 1f. Meadow Pipits Chiffchaffs Dunlin 2 Redshank 100+ Little Egret 3 Curlews etc.etc.etc.
On New Brighton pontoon:
Redshank 150+ Turnstone 100+ Purple Sandpiper 6
John Watson said
Sun Nov 22 8:20 AM, 2015
Tried to find something interesting on the rising tide yesterday (Sat) pm as the winds started off Ok (ie, persistent NW). I was hoping that an odd Petrel might be driting along the distant tideline, or maybe a Skua on the horizon.
Well, no, and it was bitterly cold. Oystercatchers, Redshank, Turnstone only. And a skein of ~40 Pinkfoot flying due S over. A small gull possibly Little Gull (but more likely not) along the tideline flying away. And a G C Grebe in the surf.
Worth a try, though.
-- Edited by John Watson on Sunday 22nd of November 2015 08:21:23 AM
Chris Sutton said
Wed Nov 18 6:00 PM, 2015
1 x snow bunting Having been away for a week and missing most of the W/NW winds I thought I would try Leasowe on todays Westerly. I had no joy with Petrels or Skuas (some distant possible skuas), but plenty of the usual Leasowe species. I was joined on the breakwater by a very obliging Snow Bunting around the Leasowe Castle area. Just at high tide (2:45) I headed to New Brighton to look for a possible Bonaparte's Gull reported on birdguides. An hour of searching though gulls only to get a further report it was a Kittiwake.
John Williams said
Tue Oct 27 3:18 PM, 2015
10-15-13-00 (High Tide 10.30)
Leasowe Gunsite
Offshore
3 Guillemots, 2 Gannets and 4 Great Crested Grebes.
On the small rocky island at high tide.
36 Lapwings, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Ringed Plover plus lots of Dunlin, Knot, Redshank and Oystercatchers.
On the nearby dunes/scrub bordering the golf course were 10 Linnets, 1m+1f Stonechats, 2 Greenfinches (Feeding on wild rose hips), 8 Goldfinches and 1 Meadow Pipit.
1 Comma and 3 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
John Williams said
Sun Sep 20 9:43 PM, 2015
13.30-17.00 (High Tide 15.30)
Walk from Wirral Coastal Park car park at Green Lane to Dove Point and back.
Just a very light SSW breeze blowing, pleasant to walk in, but hopeless for blowing seabirds inshore.
1 Sandwich Tern flying south, 2 Swallows flew in from the sea, 1 Wheatear on the promenade.
The High Tide was'nt high enough to cover the sandbanks off Meols/Hoylake, and waders and gulls massed there.
8 Grey Herons, 13 Little Egrets and 35 Curlew on the sandbank off Dove Point. 2 Kittiwakes flying just offshore.
6 Ringed Plovers, plus numerous Turnstones, Redshanks and Dunlin resting along the tideline at the base of the seawall.
Several Lesser Black Backed Gulls still were still feeding full grown youngsters.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Fri Aug 21 2:39 PM, 2015
Thursday 20.08.15
Too far east along the prom to see the Tern flocks and odd Skuas unfortunately, but...
On the groyne west of the Lighthouse:
Turnstone 2 Dunlin 1 Grey Heron 6 Little Egret 2 Redshanks Moorhen 1...funny place for one of them.
30 Knot (Only a few still showing any sign of their red breasted breeding plumage) rested on the islet,
until an adult Great Black Backed Gull arrived, then they made a quick exit.
A Turnstone still in it's resplendent breeding finery really stood out as it took refuge alongside 5 others
on the islet, together with a few Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, and lots of Redshanks and Oystercatchers.
A single Little Egret also stopped for a while, together with a few Pied Wagtails and Starlings.
I could see only the usual gulls and cormorants elsewhere on the sea.
A couple of almost tame Stonechats posed on vegetation close to the coastal path.
Shoreline near the lighthouse and horse paddocks area.
Offshore : With just a light Easterly blowing the sea was like a millpond, thus no sign of Skuas etc.
Just the usual gulls, cormorants etc on the sea, plus flocks of Oystercatchers and Redshanks moving along the coast.
A single Ringed Plover shared a rocky islet with a solitary Dunlin.
Lots of Swallows were over the horse paddocks and shoreline, and there appeared to be a movement of them well offshore
and oddly flying North.
1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Wheatear were seen around the horse paddocks, as was a mobile and very nervous flock of around
160 Linnets. They were even flushed by passing Woodpigeons, however when a single Sparrowhawk passed overhead, they gave chase.
20+ "Alba" Wagtails were also around the paddocks.
A dead Little Egret was seen on the shoreline.
-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 12th of August 2022 04:12:35 PM
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Reed Warbler (By the pool with the screen), 2 Cettis Warblers (Heard only) and 1 Buzzard.
2 Chiffchaffs were still singing, 1 of which came to within touching distance and appeared almost tame.
Goldfinches galore, including a juvenile, Greenfinches, Stonechats and Linnets were quite numerous too.
House Sparrows were surprisingly abundant considering this is largely a rural patch, the flycatcher was seen to be chased off
by a pair of them. At least 4 juveniles were amongst the roving small groups of Starlings.
4 Sandwich Terns were seen offshore, where a raft of 11 Great Crested Grebes was a surprise.
At high tide a pair of Arctic Terns rested on the small rocky islet opposite the golf club, together with 10+ Common Terns and 16 Dunlin.
No sign of the female Bluethroat today. A pair of Whinchat and around 10 Wheatears were seen.
Also a Whimbrel with two Curlew in the field behind the paddocks which was a nice comparison (phonescoped picture attached)
A female Ring Ouzel and 3 Yellow Wagtails were seen by others.
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 29th of April 2022 02:55:16 PM
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 29th of April 2022 02:57:02 PM
11.15-13.15
7 Whinchat, 10 Wheatear, Tree Pipit over, 1+Yellow Wagtail, Stonechat, 2 Reed Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat, 10 Little Egret, 12 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 8 Common Scoter, Reed Bunting, 4 Linnet, 8 Swift, 6 House Martin, 40 Swallow, 8 Turnstone, 15 Dunlin, 100+ Oystercatcher, Kestrel, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff.
Easter Sunday.
Morning visit in glorious weather, some quality migrants around, mainly in the paddocks but also the dunes and gorse, the fisheries and the woody scrub areas. A couple of familiar faces about and nice to see Paul Baker too!
- 25+ Wheatear seemingly everywhere
- 2 Ring Ouzel (1m/1f)
- 3 Whinchat (2m/1f)
- 1 Redstart (probable female type in paddock hedge)
- 3 Yellow Wagtail (1m)
- 1 White Wagtail (rest looked like Pied to me)
- 1 Whimbrel (feeding in paddock)
- 2 Grasshopper Warblers (in gorse area, 1 seen)
- 4 Common Whitethroat
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat (at fisheries)
- 2 Sedge Warbler (1pr together)
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 1 Willow Warbler
- 6 Blackcap (4m/2f)
- 2 Stonechat (1m/1f)
- 2 Meadow Pipit
- 1 Little Egret
- Lots of Chiffchaff, Skylark, Linnet, and Swallows around.
Also of note...
A Pipit flew over me calling and dropped into one of the paddocks. Straight away I thought that sounds like a Tree Pipit. I got onto it again on the ground and the way it was moving through the grass, its jizz just didnt look like a Meadow Pipit. One was reported this morning and it couldve been that.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 21st of April 2019 04:34:40 PM
Having been sat at work all day yesterday watching news of migrants galore coming out from Leasowe I was only going to one place today! So I headed up quite early to the Leasowe Lighthouse car park and set off to the paddocks in the sunshine.
In the fields off the road to the car park the migrant list started with a lovely Whinchat in a field full of Wheatears, then as I walked towards the horse paddocks off Lingham Lane a Whimbrel flew over calling and a Willow Warbler sang from the bushes nearby, so far it was a day of 'W's!! Going through the first kissing gate there were 2 Ring Ouzels showing well in the fields inland of the paddocks. These were watched for a while and I showed others the birds when they hadn't got a scope with them as the views were into the sun and not the best through bins alone. Walking further down two female Redstarts were seen in the field containg a hawthorn bush which is known locally as 'Redstart Motel', and true to form the birds were using it as their base to make feeding sorties from. Heading back from whence we came I turned up towards the coast and checked out a bank of gorse and broom and was soon watching a very showy Grasshopper Warbler, which performed out in the open several times for delighted onlookers. A couple of Whitethroats were also in this area and showed well. I then returned to the paddocks where I watched a male Yellow Wagtail feeding at the feet of one particular horse, but a while later when the Yellow Wagtail had gone I found 4 White Wagtails on the fence of the same paddock. Wheatears were in every field, over 40 must have been seen and Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps called all around me. Only one Swallow was seen but my eyes were on the fields not the skies! Another Whimbrel was picked out, making 2 in total for the morning. Several Little Egrets were also in the same fields as the Curlew and Whimbrel. Finally four Sandwich Terns were offshore from the seawall just by the car park, watched as I ate my lunch.
A great morning in very warm sunshine and as some of the birds had already cleared through late am I decided to head off to pastures new for the afternoon.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 19th of April 2019 10:57:49 PM
Wheatear 2
Stonechat 1m 1f.
Meadow Pipits
Chiffchaffs
Dunlin 2
Redshank 100+
Little Egret 3
Curlews
etc.etc.etc.
On New Brighton pontoon:
Redshank 150+
Turnstone 100+
Purple Sandpiper 6
Well, no, and it was bitterly cold. Oystercatchers, Redshank, Turnstone only. And a skein of ~40 Pinkfoot flying due S over. A small gull possibly Little Gull (but more likely not) along the tideline flying away. And a G C Grebe in the surf.
Worth a try, though.
-- Edited by John Watson on Sunday 22nd of November 2015 08:21:23 AM
Having been away for a week and missing most of the W/NW winds I thought I would try Leasowe on todays Westerly. I had no joy with Petrels or Skuas (some distant possible skuas), but plenty of the usual Leasowe species. I was joined on the breakwater by a very obliging Snow Bunting around the Leasowe Castle area.
Just at high tide (2:45) I headed to New Brighton to look for a possible Bonaparte's Gull reported on birdguides. An hour of searching though gulls only to get a further report it was a Kittiwake.
10-15-13-00 (High Tide 10.30)
Leasowe Gunsite
Offshore
3 Guillemots, 2 Gannets and 4 Great Crested Grebes.
On the small rocky island at high tide.
36 Lapwings, 3 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Ringed Plover plus lots of Dunlin, Knot, Redshank and Oystercatchers.
On the nearby dunes/scrub bordering the golf course were 10 Linnets, 1m+1f Stonechats, 2 Greenfinches (Feeding on wild rose hips), 8 Goldfinches and 1 Meadow Pipit.
1 Comma and 3 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Walk from Wirral Coastal Park car park at Green Lane to Dove Point and back.
Just a very light SSW breeze blowing, pleasant to walk in, but hopeless for blowing seabirds inshore.
1 Sandwich Tern flying south, 2 Swallows flew in from the sea, 1 Wheatear on the promenade.
The High Tide was'nt high enough to cover the sandbanks off Meols/Hoylake, and waders and gulls massed there.
8 Grey Herons, 13 Little Egrets and 35 Curlew on the sandbank off Dove Point. 2 Kittiwakes flying just offshore.
6 Ringed Plovers, plus numerous Turnstones, Redshanks and Dunlin resting along the tideline at the base of the seawall.
Several Lesser Black Backed Gulls still were still feeding full grown youngsters.
Too far east along the prom to see the Tern flocks and odd Skuas unfortunately, but...
On the groyne west of the Lighthouse:
Turnstone 2
Dunlin 1
Grey Heron 6
Little Egret 2
Redshanks
Moorhen 1...funny place for one of them.
Paddocks:
Linnet 70+
Pied Wagtail 2
Sparrowhawk 1m 1f
Goldfinches
Swallows
Other sightings:
Whimbrel 1
Gannets
Sandwich Terns
Common Terns
Common Gull 1
Oystercatchers
Redshanks
Cormorants
All the usual Gulls.