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Post Info TOPIC: The Wirral


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RE: The Wirral


Parkgate for high tide
10.30-12.15

1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Great Blacked Gulls, 3 Grey Herons, a charm of 30 Goldfinches, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Shovelers & a flock 5 Linnets.

The horse paddocks by the old baths held 8 Redwings & 6 Pied Wagtails.

There was a huge mobile flock of Starlings on the marsh, and in the dry bits large numbers of Lapwings.

Denhall (12.45-14.00)

No sign of Buff Bellied Pipit, although the spot where it has been seen was alive with Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Goldfinches and a few Chaffinches too.

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John Williams


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Well done Pete your persistence paid off in the end.

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Buff Bellied Pipit showed very well around 13:30 today feeding with a flock of Meadow Pipits around the red flag and quite easy to pick out once I'd got my eye in to the generally paler look of the bird. It was third visit lucky so a bit of a relief to see it at last...

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Damn shame for Water Rails. I also saw pictures took that very same weekend where a Grey Heron also eat a Water Rail at Parkgate. I know its nature but its tough to see cry

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What a spectacle that developed at Parkgate today. I really recommend to anyone that hasn't witnessed it before to see the next one in early March. I saw plenty of species and lots of them. Two highlights were my first ever hen harrier flying low and slowly over the waters edge as the tide came in. Also saw a great black backed gull attack and eat a poor water rail. Also saw a female kestrel catch and pluck a small bird on a houses veranda.

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High tide at Parkgate : Water came upto the wall in bright sunshine giving good views of : Short-eared owl, Hen harrier, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, saw 2 Water Rail flushed, shrew and fox trying to keep their feet dry. Great to see and very busy all along the prom.

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Forgot to mention I called in at Neston Sewage works yesterday morning. No sign of Water Pipit but 2 Grey Wagtail and around 50 Redwing. Also saw Grey Wagtail at Parkgate later - forgot to mention in earlier post


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Parkgate

Six species of raptor today:

Merlin 2
Peregrine 2
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Common Buzzard 1
Hen Harrier 3

We also had 8 Short-eared Owls up at once, a Great White Egret (also had one - or the same - at Denhall Lane first thing) and three Brent Geese.

Once the tide was in we spent an hour going through the passerines on the marsh. Hundreds of Skylarks, many Rock Pipits and a single, brief Water Pipit. We spent some time going through the Linnet flock in the morning, neither sight nor sound of any Twite.

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Parkgate over 10.2M high tide, which came in up to the wall.

Highlights,

Peregrine 2
Short eared Owl 2
Hen Harrier 4
Merlin
Water Rail 2
Great White Egret



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No luck with the Buff Breasted Pipit first thing but walked west from the Old baths and was very pleased to see:

3 ring tailed Hen Harriers
4+ Short Eared Owls
Merlin
3+ Kestrels
Linnet flocks - which I heard being misidentified as Twite three times during the morning - I tried to help twice :)
2 Water Rail - including one "hiding" in some rush debris which was quite difficult to pick out even from ten feet or so away
Skylark flocks feeding on the tide edge
Several voles - including one taken by a kestrel as it swam against the wall
Fox against the wall of the pub after high tide
Possible Rock Pipit in with Skylarks
and all the other typical species for along there

Everyone was very friendly and had several good conversations and learnt some new stuff [Like Capercaillie can cross breed with Black Grouse, and that the Short Eared Owls have been much further west along the estuary this year]. It was a good tide with all the marsh being covered to the wall - I guess right down the front at Parkgate as well but I didn't head out in that direction.


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Pontoon on New Brighton Marine Lake at high tide today:

Purple Sandpiper - 11
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Redshank - 300+
Dunlin - 100+
Turnstone - 20+
Ringed Plover - 2

Then arrived at Parkgate, just as the tide was reaching it's peak. No raptors, apart from Kesterel, but, did see 2 Water Rail and a bedraggled fox.


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Many thanks to the kind gent who pointed out the Buff-bellied Pipit this afternoon. I had literally a five minute slot en route from the Wirral to our daughters in Northwich, so nipped down to Station Road via Burton in the hope of seeing a fair few birders about with scopes up etc. Just the one guy there but managed to get two all too brief views of the flighty bird before I had to reluctantly move on.

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New Brighton Marine Lake,

Shag (juvenile)
Redshank c30
Turnstone
No sign of any Purple Sandpipers

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Burton Marsh Station Rd 9.00 till 10.30

Buff Bellied Pipit, close views however the bird was very flighty and constantly on the move, Making it difficult to locate at times.
Flock of Linnet c 25
Stonechat
Meadow Pipit c30

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Burton Marsh:

Buff-bellied Pipit 1
Stonechat 1m 1f
Meadow Pipits
Linnets
Chaff/Greenfinches
Fieldfare 2
Redwings
etc.

Parkgate:

Hen Harrier 1 ringtail.
Twite 20+
Great White Egret 1
Little Egret 8+
Curlews
Redshank 1
Pink-feet Geese 300+
Shelduck 2
Cormorant 1
Teal/Mallards
Lapwings
Grey Heron 1
etc.


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Phil Greenwood


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Nevr mind the birds; plenty of people down at Burton Marsh, at the end of Station Road.
As otheres have said, the Buff-bellied Pipit showing very well. It's constantly on the go, feeding with a group of 20 or so Meadow Pipit's among the plant debris. I saw it find a decent size caterpillar.
Also one Stonechat on the barbed wire fence of the marsh, plus a couple of Siberian Chiffchaff, showing incredibly well - to 4-5 foot - amongst the hedges just past the pipit location (as John says, just past the cafe).
I then moved on to Inner Marsh Farm. Delighted to see female Hen Harrier, plus 6 Curlew, many Shoveler and 3 Little Egret. Plus large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover.

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Denhall Lane 8.30-10.00
Buff Bellied Pipit showed very well as John said below.
1 Stonechat
20 Linnets

Burton Mere RSPB
Little Stint in with the Dunlin
Good numbers of Golden Plover

Parkgate
2 Hen Harriers


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Denhall Lane 11.30-15.30
Buff Bellied pipit-showed well all day down to 10 feet at times , still present at 3.30pm café end of lane.
Siberian Chiffchaff-2 up by the café
Hen Harrier- 2 fem/imm , 1 seen to catch a small bird,nmost likely a starling
Dunlin-c200 on the pools just off the lane with a few Knot
Peregrine-2
Merlin-1
Linnet-25
Stonechat-4

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Buff-Bellied pipit showed well at bottom of station rd this am down to about 15 feet. Brief views only as the pipits were very flighty. Had disappeared by 11am but will surely be back.

Also on the tide wrack: meadow pipits, chaffinch, greenfinch, lots of linnets, starling, robin, dunnock, wren etc. Sparrowhawk and merlin reported. Difficult to count anything due to the number of ditches and mounds to hide in/behind and also because there was a lot of movement.

Grey heron and mistle thrush in the fields. Mute swan over.

Probable siberian chiffchaff showed well; it was very dull, and didn't have any yellow in the supercilium, but quite brownish and not much yellow visible on the elbows of the wings. So I'm not too sure!

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Managed to see the bird. Great views down to 30 or so feet. Still present when I left mid afternoon.

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Ta John.

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Craig Higson wrote:

Anyone know if the Buff bellied pipit is still around. I saw it was still there yesterday but nothing today. Don't really want to waste time if its not around.





Its been reported a few times today, and most people I have spoken to there recon it will be there all winter, and if its about its pretty easy to see. :)

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Anyone know if the Buff bellied pipit is still around. I saw it was still there yesterday but nothing today. Don't really want to waste time if its not around.

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Two FREE Cheshire Wildlife Trust Guided Walk Events

1)Parkgate High Tide Birdwatch-A guided walk with ecologist Jeff Clarke to observe the local bird life and winter migrants. Sun 2nd Feb 10.30 Parkgate

We will concentrate on raptors, waders and wildfowl; with it being a 10.2m tide we may see a Water Rail or two and possibly some small mammals swimming for shore. In the nearby vicinity there will be many other birds to see including Skylarks, Rock Pipits, finches and possibly a few Scandinavian Thrushes. Once it reaches high tide we will walk down to the Donkey stand Flash and look for roosting waders.

2)Waders on the Dee - With Jeff Clarke. Wed 5th March 11am

Banks Road is where the marsh meets the mud and as consequence it has a great variety of waders to enjoy.
Lapwings and Golden Plovers roost on the edge of the marsh, Common Redshanks fill the gutters and muddy
banks, and Dunlins and Knots stitch the muddy areas along deep probing specialists like the Black Tailed Godwit.
In addition the area is good for wildfowl and we may see Common Snipe flushed from cover.


BOTH EVENTS ARE TOTALLY FEE please just contact

Tel: 01948 820728

Email: tgibson@cheshirewt.org.uk


-- Edited by Austin Morley on Monday 13th of January 2014 03:22:25 PM

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Denhall Lane 9.30 - 10.15am bitterly cold biting wind. Highlights.

Stonechat 2
Wheatear
Linnet
Golden Plover c80

No sign of the Buff bellied Pipit, although allegedly seen earlier

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Simon Gough wrote:

Great day at Parkgate today

Jonathan, I saw 2 Twite today with a flock of 7 Linnet, by Heswall Golf Club, which was where I spent the whole day. Feeding with Pied Wagtails, Reed Bunting Chaffinch and Skylarks. No other bugger was even looking at the small birds! Must have been 150 Skylarks too.

Didn't get a Water Rail where we were, but I saw a Snipe go up. We got 4 Short-eared Owl there, but I think there was a fifth. First time for me today seeing them, you were the guy who told me to go to the Dee to see them, so thanks mate. Very very pleased with that. I got a good look at the Great White Egret too.


 Brilliant Simon! So glad you got to see them, not many have been showing in recent months.



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Volunteering at Parkgate yesterday over high tide. Not as high as expected but:

2+ ringtail hen harriers (probably more)
1+ peregrine
1 kestrel
merlin reported
short-eared owl reported
Large numbers of wildfowl inclu 500+ teal
20+ skylark
20+ pied wagtail
1 grey wagtail
water rail flew from marsh across the road and landed on the windowsill of a house just across the road from us, perched there for 5 min staring at its reflection in the window, and then dropped into a garden out of sight!!!
Large numbers of PF geese in the distance
2 great white egret etc. smile

-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Sunday 5th of January 2014 12:47:09 PM

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Great day at Parkgate today

Jonathan, I saw 2 Twite today with a flock of 7 Linnet, by Heswall Golf Club, which was where I spent the whole day. Feeding with Pied Wagtails, Reed Bunting Chaffinch and Skylarks. No other bugger was even looking at the small birds! Must have been 150 Skylarks too.

Didn't get a Water Rail where we were, but I saw a Snipe go up. We got 4 Short-eared Owl there, but I think there was a fifth. First time for me today seeing them, you were the guy who told me to go to the Dee to see them, so thanks mate. Very very pleased with that. I got a good look at the Great White Egret too.



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Parkgate:

We had at least three Short-eared Owls at high tide, along with five Peregrines, a Merlin, Sparrowhawk, ring-tailed Hen Harrier and Kestrel. A Great White Egret was off the car park for most of the morning, a Water Rail flew in off the marsh, and I picked up two distant drake Common Scoter on the edge of the flooded marsh, first ones I've seen from Parkgate. Six dark-bellied Brent Geese flew up the estuary towards Hilbre, presumably the birds that have been present at Oakenholt Marsh recently.

Denhall Lane:

Usual Wheatear, Stonechats and Chiffchaffs present. Apparently a Twite has been seen with the Linnet flock. Four Short-eared Owls were perched up on posts after the high tide, along with two Merlins, a ring-tailed Hen Harrier flew by. A Bar-headed Goose was with a mixed Canada/Greylag Goose flock, I was told half a dozen Barnacle Geese had been present over the high tide too.



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Burton Marsh(Denhall Lane) after high tide.

Stonechat                            1m 1f

Siberian Chiffchaff                      1

Wheatear                                  1

Water Rail                                 1

Snipe                                         1

Meadow/Rock Pipits

Skylarks

Linnets

Pink-footed Geese

Kestrel                                      1

etc.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 3rd of January 2014 07:35:04 PM

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Phil Greenwood


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Had really good views of the buff-bellied pipit on Burton Marsh early afternoon yesterday; the debate continued as to its race but I think the consensus is that it is rubescens.

 

 



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Parkgate and Burton marsh on a stunning, sunny last evening of 2013. Ringtail Hen harrier from old baths. Female Stonechat with Meadow pipits in tidal wrack. Flock of Linnet and Goldfinch moving around and stunning close up view of Reed Bunting. Then onto the mayhem that is Denhall lane. Cars bumper to bumper down there. No luck with Buff bellied pipit but nice view of very late Wheatear. Also a stoat scuttling over the tidal wrack with a frog in its mouth.

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Surprising number of birds around Denhall Lane despite the hoards of people 10:00 - 12:00

Siberian Chiffchaff at very close range
Wheatear
Linnet
Several Stonechat
Hundreds of Meadow Pipits ranging from very pale to almost dark green but no Buff-bellied Pipit :(


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9.30-4.30pm a pleasant walk from quayside to denhall lane, & almost inner marsh farm. 61 species.

buff-bellied pipit showing very well, just like john & nick says down to 20ft.
2 Siberian chiffchaffs, 1 of them actually got that close to me I could of touched it biggrin
1 wheatear
6-8 stonechats
plenty of meadow pipits & linnets around
1 ring tailed hen harrier
1 merlin
1 buzzard
2 sparrowhawks
1 green woodpecker in field towards inner marsh farm also 1 raven over & 55 whooper swans, distant.
hundreds of pink footed geese out on the marsh
I counted 14 little egrets going to roost, so probably missed loads, but not the great white egret smile
1 black tailed godwit near the harp inn
plus all usuals around.

nice to bump into john, nick, tony & tim smile

2 foxes at decca pools running & jumping around & doing a lot of barking on my way back, no signs of any owls.

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Other birds present were several Stonechats, Linnets, Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits and a very unseasonal Northern Wheatear. Also nice to bump into Steve Burke and John Tymon down there.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 28th of December 2013 05:21:19 PM



John Tymon says
Nice meeting you as well nick along with many other Mancy birders, and for anyone going to photograph the pipit, I must say its the most frustrating bird I have tried to get pictures of in a while as the Grass it is feeding in tends to be across its head or body at all times and very rarely even when 20 feet away is it possible to get clear shots, was nice trying though, but the birds of the day were definitely the Siberian Chiffchaffs that at one point flew between someone's legs to get across to the trees at the back, then back through the legs again to get back to the fence, cracking birds, as was the very showy wheatear.

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11.00am until 1.00pm at Denhall Quay today for the American Buff-bellied Pipit. When I arrived the bird hadn't been seen for a couple of hours but with so many birders present it was only going to be a matter of time before it was re-found and sure enough an hour later someone located it. As John says, it showed itself brilliantly in good light down to 20 feet or so feeding in the tidal wrack from the surge a few weeks ago.

As a bonus, there were also two Siberian Chiffchaffs present and they gave unbelieveable views down to a metre at times. They looked to be completely unaffected by the presence of so many birders watching them and they even flew between us at odd times as they flitted to and fro across the lane.

Other birds present were several Stonechats, Linnets, Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits and a very unseasonal Northern Wheatear. Also nice to bump into Steve Burke and John Tymon down there.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 28th of December 2013 05:21:19 PM

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AM/PM
Denhall Lane
Buff Bellied Pipit showing really well down to 20 feet at times-still present at 2.30pm
Siberian Chiffchaff- 2 showing down to a few feet at times
Wheatear-1 very unseasonal
Stonechat-5
Merlin -1
Hen Harrier -1 out on the marsh


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The Buff-bellied Pipit put in an appearance again at Denhall Lane this afternoon, though sadly many birders had already left by the time it turned up. A Short-eared owl was perched on a fence post at the rifle range, the first one I've seen for some time on the marsh though I did have one on farmland by Shotwick village a few weeks ago. A Great White Egret could also be seen out on the marsh from the rifle range then, later (around 3.00pm), from Denhall Lane, though it was very distant. Three Chiffchaffs at Denhall Lane - two Siberian and a single collybita - and at least two pairs of Stonechats between the lane and Burton Point. Distant views of ring-tailed Hen Harrier, Peregrine and two Merlins. c40 Whooper Swans at Burton Mere, apparently the Little Stint is still around too, though I didn't see it. Two Water Rails today, one at Burton Mere, the other at Hampston's Well (between BMW and IMF on Station Road).

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Tanmay Dixit wrote:

According to birdguides the buff-bellied pipit is showing today. Does anyone know if that is legitimate? And if it is still showing as I'm considering going to Burton Marsh, probably tomorrow?
Thanks and Merry Xmas to all smile


Tanmay it was seen today, I have sent you a PM.

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According to birdguides the buff-bellied pipit is showing today. Does anyone know if that is legitimate? And if it is still showing as I'm considering going to Burton Marsh, probably tomorrow?
Thanks and Merry Xmas to all smile

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No signs of the Buff Bellied Pipit from 11.30-3.30,and plenty were looking cry
3 Stonechat were along the fence on the lane
A large group of Pink footed geese flew west, and plenty winter thrushes about.

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As Sid below close views of the Buff bellied Pipit feeding in the storm debris early morning,
No sign of it after a Sparrowhawk attempted to take a Meadow Pipit around 9.30ish which resulted in all the Meadow pipits relocating around the marsh, No sign of it up till 12.00ish when I left.
Also of note a Siberian Chiffchaff associating with a Common Chiffchaff in the bramble patch close to the road near the metal gates.


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Arrived at Burton Marsh, Station Road/Denhall Lane at 08.00 this morning, with the moon still shining. After about 45 minutes had excellent close up views of the Buff-bellied Pipit on the flattened area of the marsh adjacent to the road.

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New Brighton Marine Lake
Pontoon had 2 Purple Sandpipers this AM with Redshank, Turnstones and Dunlin.

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Late post for yday afternoon

American Wigeon (m) showed briefly in strong winds at south of the Harp Inn/Denhall Quay. Directions on dee estuary birding. Lifer :)
No sign of the siberian chiffchaff, reported earlier in the day.

Large flocks of pink-footed geese over
60+ curlew
1 greenshank

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Burton marsh : Denhall lane to Burton point this p.m.: 1 Northern Wheatear near rifle range. 3 pairs of Stonechat. Pied wagtails, Linnet and Meadow pipits feeding on tidal debris. Kestrel. Goldcrest next to Rspb gate. The odd Fieldfare feeding in hawthorn bushes along Denhall lane. Good sized mixed flock of Lapwing and Starling ' murmuring' over the marsh.

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Parkgate 14.00 - 15.00

1 Ringtail Hen Harrier
Many Pink Footed Geese
20+ Little Egrets
1 Kestrel hovering within 10 feet



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L Hindley


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Check the pontoon on the marine lake at high tide too. They often shelter on there with loads of Redshank.

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Phil, thanks for reading my blog, many thanks. That walk to Pennington that day was rewarded as there was Spotted Redshank on The Spit
smile

Regarding Purple Sandpiper, I had them in with Turnstones below that place called Bubbles, along the sea wall - it's where the two ramps are leading down to the beach. There's also a few Redshank there I forgot to post that.

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John whereabouts in New Brighton were the Purple Sandpipers?

p.s just read your blog - your 20 mile trip on foot to Pennington Flash, with equipment, sounds pretty heroic.
It reminds me of that yomp the British Soliders did in the Falklands War.


John Doherty wrote:

First trip out as a birder to Wirral, came back three species richer. A hard trip entirely by train, but worth the pain!

First stop New Brighton:

6 Purple Sandpipers (lifer) 6 Turnstone (lifer) + 40 Oystercatchers, odd Dunlin etc

Then to Parkgate

1 Sub-adult Hen Harrier hunting lengthy periods, close at one point (lifer) 1 probable Merlin (distant falcon on a branch way out, looked like a male Merlin) 1 Kestrel, 15 Little Egrets, Curlews etc etc etc



-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 27th of November 2013 09:07:27 PM





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