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Post Info TOPIC: The Wirral


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RE: The Wirral


Originally posted today by Mark Jarrett:

Six Leach's Petrel seen today at Leasowe. The winds die down a bit over the weekend but first thing Monday morning are around 45 mph and westerlies. Lessening to around 25 mph by midday. Hopefully still be good for a few birds being blown in.

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A couple of hours from 11.45, firstly Denhall Lane area, then Parkgate Old Baths. Amongst others :-

Hen Harrier (2 r/t)
Marsh Harrier (3 f/juv)
Merlin (1f)
Buzzard
Kestrel
Little Egret (c.20)
Greylag Goose (c.250)
Wigeon
Teal
Shelduck
Pintail
Linnet

A couple of Great White Egret had been seen earlier but unable to locate.



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Parkgate today, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Great White Egret, 5 Little Egrets and all the expected species.

Burton Marsh, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 20+ Mute Swan and all the expected species.

Phil

 

 



-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Tuesday 3rd of November 2015 11:23:18 PM

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A friend of mine (elliot Montieth) has set up a Birkenhead docks blog. Here's the link if any one wants to have a look about what's been seen down there recently: http://birdinghead.blogspot.co.uk/
Great blog with great photography.
Cheers joel

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Burton Marsh, Denhall Lane, first light till 9.00am (Sat 24th) Highlights

Pink footed Geese 1000+
Marsh Harrier 2, 1 quartering the marsh and 1 perched up
Peregrine
Merlin
Kestrel 3
Short eared owl
Little Egret 34 over in two flocks presumably leaving the roost
Stonechat 2

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A pleasant walk from Station Road to Denhall Quay along Burton Marsh this afternoon produced of interest:- Merlin, Kestrel, Hen Harrier (ringtail), four separate Marsh Harrier sightings (all female/juvenile) and a group of 5 Buzzards. Had earlier stopped briefly at Burton Mere Wetlands where a Curlew Sandpiper was showing well in front of the reception building.

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Today's Parkgate sightings

It was windy to begin, which tapered off.

Short Eared Owl briefly hunting
Female Hen Harrier

Donkey Stand Flash had 20 Redshanks



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Went to Burton Marsh after work last night. No sign of the reported Spoonbill, but 2 Great White Egrets present along with 4 Little Egrets. Green Woodpecker also heard but not seen



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After visiting Burton Mere Wetlands then spent a productive couple of hours or so down on the estuary split between Station Road/Denhall Lane and later Parkgate in the Old Baths car park. Amongst others :- Marsh Harrier (1f, 1f/juv) Buzzard (1) Kestrel (1) Merlin (1) Barn Owl (1) Short eared Owl (2) Great white Egret (1) Little Egret (c.30) Pink footed Goose (c.750)



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Burton Marsh, Denhall Lane 8.00 -900am Highlights

Great White Egret
Little Egret 5
Peregrine Falcon
Marsh Harrier
Kestrel
Buzzard
Linnet c25
Stonechat 1m
Meadow Pipit c30

Pink footed Geese 9 skeins c1500 all heading SE

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Belated report from Station Road, Burton Marsh, for Friday, October 2nd.

Stonechat 1m 1f.
Raven 1
Swallow 4
Siskin 1
Little Egret 4
Marsh Harrier 2 imms.
Meadow Pipits
Skylarks
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1
Pink-feet Geese 30+
Curlew 1
Linnets
Starlings
Lapwings
etc.

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High, but not quite high enough, and the slight wind is the wrong way. A bit of a supporting breeze makes a huge difference.

Same argument goes for sea-watching at New Brighton, where wind direction is critical

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Very disappointing "high tide" on the Dee yesterday, didn't seem to come up much at all.
I haven't tried a high tide watch here for years - does it need a strong wing up the estuary to make it flood the marsh these days?
Hardly a raptor in sight, one Peregrine, one Marsh Harrier, both at ridiculous range, a few Kestrels and Buzzards.
Possible Merlin, possible Sparrowhawk, both miles away in the heat haze.

Saw more raptors on the M56 driving there blankstare

Highlight was a Kingfisher no

-- Edited by Richard Would on Thursday 1st of October 2015 08:40:39 AM

-- Edited by Richard Would on Thursday 1st of October 2015 08:41:38 AM

-- Edited by Richard Would on Thursday 1st of October 2015 08:43:50 AM

-- Edited by Richard Would on Thursday 1st of October 2015 08:44:15 AM

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Spent around two hours in the Station Road/Denhall Lane area early afternoon in warm and sunny weather. Amongst others :-

Hen Harrier (1 r/t)
Buzzard (4)
Peregrine (1)
Kestrel (1)
Little Egret (c.15)
Great White Egret (1)

Not too much happening so cut my walk off short to return to Burton Wetlands to see if the Pectoral Sandpiper had been relocated.

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Steve Burke and I watched the marsh from Denhall Quay over the high tide. It was a theory of mine that the Short-eared Owls being seen lately might go up with the tide. This was a bad theory! We did see a nice juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting, and a couple of Great White Egret. Steve noticed 2 Raven that escaped me and also 2 Whinchat down at Station Road when he went to get some lunch at the Café! Also of note, 4 Ringed Plovers on Decca Pool, the first time I've seen them down there. It was generally a bit flat; people were saying the tidal surge was suppressed a bit by the wind. But on the plus side it was a lovely day and nice to be there in a T-shirt rather than all the winter gear.

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Spent 20 minutes scanning burton marsh from burton point this evening. Very little out on the marsh; most of the interest was provided by the small birds around burton point.

2 great white egrets mingling in with 11 grey herons
1 merlin
2 snipe
4 golden plover
120 linnet
11 meadow pipit
2 stonechat
1 wheatear- very friendly, allowed me to get right up close to it.
2 buzzard

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Sunday 20th Sept approx 1.45pm to almost 8pm.

Neston - Station Road / Denhall Lane / Deca Pools and Quayside near the Harp Inn, and back, in the company of Steve Burke.

A very successful visit and difficult to put numbers to but myself and Steve weighed up the number of times some Bird species were seen, whereabouts on the marsh they were seen, and also the time span between the sightings so we think we've got it right!

Plenty of usuals including...
- Black-headed Gulls
- Common Gull ...1
- Lesser Black-backed Gulls ...plenty of adults around
- Great Black-backed Gulls ...no adults but plenty of monstrous juveniles, I mean HUGE!
- Common Teal ...sizeable numbers
- Northern Shoveler ...1 female
- Shelduck ...a few adults far out flying over the marsh
- Tufted Duck ...surprised to see a couple of females on one of the pools
- Cormorant ...1 only, flying low distantly towards the windmills
- Great White Egret ...3 together at once seen from Denhall Lane
- Little Egret ...well over 100 including groups of 33, 14, 11, and 10, mainly flying over
- Grey Heron ...at least 10
- Short-eared Owl ...minimum 5, 2 in the air together then singles all over the marsh
- Hen Harrier ...1 Ringtail, distant views
- Marsh Harrier ...absolute minimum of 3, quite possibly 4
- Merlin ...minimum 4, 2 females on posts same time, 1 male, and a female bombing it chasing Hirundines nowhere near others
- Peregrine ...1 female hunting distantly over far marsh
- Kestrel ...3 or 4, good views of 1 on post tearing apart a small mammal
- Common Buzzard ...1 only, sat on low dead tree, still there after nearly 6 hours
- Lapwing ...lots around
- Curlew ...good numbers incl 1 with virtually no bill flew over us twice, looked like a huge Golden Plover
- Common Snipe ...3 over, 1 sat at edge of reeds at Deca Pools
- Stock Dove ...1 feeding at Deca Pools edge
- Common Swift ...1, surprised everybody when this one appeared
- House Martin ...plenty around
- Swallow ...lots of them all over the marsh
- Meadow Pipit ...plenty around
- Skylark ...plenty around too
- Pied Wagtail ...2 over
- Siskin ...2 over
- Reed Bunting ...2 males, 1 on top of reeds another over calling
- Starling ...various large groups around, a few 100 in one group
- plenty of Corvids around including some mobbing the Short-eared Owls and the Marsh Harriers

Other things of note...
-Massive flock of small Waders in distance near Hilbre
-1 Wheatear and 1 Sparrowhawk reported by other birders.
-Water Rail heard on numerous occasions.
-More Common Snipe heard on way back to the car.
-A possible 4th Great White Egret dropped into the marsh near the Harp Inn, very large
-Merlin and Short-eared Owl's were seen on many occasions but we've compacted the numbers as mentioned
-The bill-less Curlew, or at least a stump remaining, what a strange sight that was and we were both wondering about how it's managed to survive so it must surface feed presumably.
-Plenty of small Bats around too, presumably Pipistrelle-types

A fantastic few hours here with some brilliant sightings.




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a nice leisurely stroll from neston sewage works, quayside, denhall lane & back between 9-6pm. 59 species seen.

1 hen harrier, ringtail
1 marsh harrier
1 peregrine falcon
3 short eared owls
1 merlin
on one occasion I had a peregrine sat on a branch, hen harrier had a little go at the peregrine & a merlin had a little go at the hen harrier all in one scope view. then a bit later a short eared owl jumped up off the ground & had a go at a marsh harrier, nice.
2 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk
9+ buzzard
3 great white egret
8+ little egret
10+ grey heron
2 wheatear
1 kingfisher
4 raven
2 snipe
2 great spotted woodpecker
5 blackcap
7+ chiffchaff
2 willow warbler
lots of swallows around mostly around the sewage works also few house martin & sand martin.
plus the usuals around
smilesmile

I also like mark did not get to see the osprey.

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 19th of September 2015 10:21:43 PM

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Burton Marsh/Denhall Lane 7.45-9.00am

Great White Egret 2 inflight and 1 feeding
Little Egret many
Hen Harrier 2 Ring tails
Peregrine 1 perched on a fence post
Raven 2 over
Wheatear 6, 2(Greenland) notably bigger and plumper

Osprey reported Unfortunatly not seen by me


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Chris Dorney and I spent a surprisingly skua-filled high tide at Dove Point yesterday evening. We ended up with 16, only counting birds obviously on passage heading west - apart from three which spent their time out on the sea mugging passing terns (from the frequency of the attacks we estimated there were probably double that number, but three was the most we had in the sky at one time). All birds appeared to be Arctics, many were distant however. Four birds - two dark-phase and single pale-phase adults, and a dark juv - even spent 15 minutes on the beach at one point. I see Hilbre Obs are only reporting three Arctics over the high tide, so exactly where they went after passing the wind farm is a mystery?

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Just got back from my late showing at Park Lane area of Meols.

Planned to go early afternoon after work but unfortunately got stuck in the mayhem on the M56 caused by one person who managed to bring half of Greater Manchester to a standstill from 9.15am until teatime. Still, I made it in the end.

- Juvenile Red-backed Shrike

A Lifer for me in the form of a juvenile, having only ever seen a brief view of an adult male in Hammamet, Tunisia, whilst I was on a Camel ride so didn't get a good look, got better view of the lizard it had caught and hung up to dry on a thorny bush.
This one wasn't showing at first and there was just me and 1 other birder, but we noticed another birder with a camera stood on presumably a path that was parallel to us looking at same trees we were.
Sure enough it was showing really well but on the blind side of the Hawthorn Tree. Amazing views down to around 30-40ft, it caught what looked like a Bee, and caught a few other things too.
It relocated to a Bramble bush after a while and then a dead head of what looked like Hogweed, and in the process was actually a little bit closer to us at one point.
Absolutely belting bird to watch going about its business.

Other birds of note...
- Black-tailed Godwits ...some dropped in onto one of the flooded Horse paddocks
- plenty of Teal, Mallard, and female Shoveler flew over
- Sedge Warbler ...heard only in the tall boggy grass
- 1 Little Egret over
- lots of Gulls, mainly Black-headed
- lots of Swallows
- 1 Linnet
- and a Robin producing the most fantastic melodic call right at the caravan park entrance


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 5th of September 2015 09:27:47 PM

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Park lane, Meols.

Juvenile red-backed shrike showing well opposite the entrance to wirral beach caravan park on the flooded field down to around 50-60 yards.
Also very showy kingfisher, sedge warbler.
biggrin

other birds to add to todays visit around the park lane area, paddocks & beach at leasowe...

1 spotted flycatcher
19 black tailed godwit
5 ruff
1 snipe
2 grey heron
4 buzzard
1 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk
1 great spotted woodpecker
7 chiffchaff
300+ flock of mostly goldfinch & linnet in paddocks
several swallows around
5 little egret
1 sandwich tern
1 gannet
1 bar tailed godwit
curlew, dunlin, sanderling, redshank, ringed plover & turnstone.
smile

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 5th of September 2015 10:33:09 PM

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Good day for Wheatears, 11+ at New Brighton near the Lifeguards station on the groynes and the beach. 1 male and rest mixed females and juveniles. At West Kirby Marine Lake at the usual wader roost spot there was a further 2, 1 adult female and a juvenile. These kept very close to each other so assume family group. Also 50+Turnstone and 3 Redshank (the roosting flock flew off) here. That is until a family decided to rockpool, fish and picnic on the rocks thereby disturbing all the birds. A visit from the wardens in the RIB had zero effect they just carried on. Then another 7 or 8 adults and children did the same at the other end. Gave up at that point. Superb views of the Wheatears before the disturbance though.
Dreadful behaviour by people who must have seen they were upsetting the birds plus they were told about it but chose to ignore. I don't envy the Wardens confronted with this type of behaviour and from what I have read on other forums it would not seem to be an isolated incident sadly.

Phil

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Sunday 30th approx 12.45pm - mid afternoon

Visit to Red Rocks including looking out towards Hilbre Island, with Steve Burke and Simon Gough.

Of note...
- Common Scoter - group of around 40 birds fairly close in flight, more out to sea
- Cormorant - plenty
- Common Tern - lots
- Sandwich Tern - quite a few about
- Gulls - big numbers, usual suspects
Black-headed
Common (only a few)
Herring
Lesser Black-backed
Great Black-backed (only a few)
- Golden Plover - 1 flying over
- Ringed Plover - big numbers
- Oystercatcher - big numbers
- Redshank - 1
- Dunlin - big numbers
- Sanderling - few with the Dunlin
- Ruff - just 3 that I saw
- Little Stint...
Steve picked up on this, but all the Waders were constantly being flushed by Dog's. I briefly picked up on a Wader that looked like a Stint and was a lot smaller than the Ringed Plover next to it, but the view didn't last long as they were flushed again.
- Grey Heron - 3
- lots of Swallows through

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After a relaxing early afternoon watching the waders at burton mere, I went for dinner with my family at the boathouse at parkgate. While eating, I was entertained by two female/juvenile marsh harriers, and I managed to spot the reported great white egret in the distance

-- Edited by M Gannon on Sunday 23rd of August 2015 09:17:42 PM

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Burton manor, 5:00- 5:30

2 Green woodpecker- one was seen flitting around the manor grounds, and a second was heard on the woodland walk
1 Spotted flycatcher- Near the car park

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steven burke wrote:

Parkgate/ old baths car park. Brief visit after burton mere With rob Creek.

Quail heard on a few occasions in the marsh opposite the car park around 6pm.





Literally within seconds of parking the car we could hear the Quail calling out in the marsh, 3 or 4 bursts of the 'whip' call before it went quiet.

Other birds of note...
-Some Little Egrets around
-2 Mute Swan
-7 Oystercatcher
-plenty of Black-headed Gulls
-2 Grey Heron



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Parkgate/ old baths car park. Brief visit after burton mere With rob Creek.

Quail heard on a few occasions in the marsh opposite the car park around 6pm.

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A quick visit to Focalpoint Optics for a bit of business then off to Leasowe with Steve Burke.

TURTLE DOVE - 1
A Lifer for me and this one is a belter in brilliant plumage. Well worth the wait!
It must've been hungry because it fed none slop whilst we were there

Birds of note...
-Plenty of Collared Dove
-Loads of Woodpigeon
-Chaffinch
-Greenfinch
-Goldfinch
-House Sparrow
-Starling
-Whitethroat - 1
-Willow Warbler - 1 seen briefly as a silhouette but lots heard
-Chiffchaff - 1 seen briefly as a silhouette and more heard
-Song Thrush - 1
-Lots of Blackbird
-Robin - at least 5
-Dunnock
-Pied Wagtail - 1
-Common Buzzard - 1
-Great Spotted Woodpecker heard only


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 17th of May 2015 05:37:26 AM

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First time at Leasowe Lighthouse for me, with Chris Chandler after we'd visited Hilbre earlier in the day. We had a quick look over the sea wall then focussed on the paddocks and grassy dunes. On the sea not a lot to be seen, just more Dunlin and Ringed Plovers bombing about but then we picked up 3 Sandwich Tern heading towards Hoylake, a good year tick. Also a few Swallows hunting over the sea, not something I recall seeing before.

We picked up a fair number of migrants just around the Lighthouse, mainly Whitethroats but also a Wheatear and Sedge Warbler showing well, then a nice Reed Warbler in the reedbed. Moving on to the paddocks we picked up a number of Wheatear but nothing much else, until we got to Park Lane, to be told by a couple of local guys that a Spotted Flycatcher was showing well in the trees. We spent a very enjoyable few minutes watching it demonstrate how well-named it is. Kudos to the local birders, Chris and I both admitted we wouldn't have known to look there for a bird like that, so we really appreciated the nod.

Just time to look for a reported Yellow Wagtail on Lingham Lane, which I think I briefly saw, but it didn't show again before we had to make a move. Also a female Cuckoo reported sniffing around the reeds, presumably hoping to lay an egg, the little minx, but we didn't have time to search for her either.

A great bit of birding in what had become a bright sunny day, a bit more like May than earlier on for sure.


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A day off yesterday (Thursday) so a pop up to Leasowe Lighthouse for the morning. The weather was glorious, warm & sunny but possibly too good. 5 Wheatears were along the mound fenceline in the field inland of the paddocks path which runs between Lingham Lane & Park Lane. A few wagtails were in the paddocks including at least one White Wagtail. Best of all though was a stunning male Redstart in the bushes opposite the caravan park entrances on Park Lane. After performing well it later went missing when two cats took up residence in the same section of hedgerow!

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Leasowe lighthouse area this morning 9-11

5 Swallows
1 Willow Warbler heard
1 Sedge Warbler heard
1 Whinchat
Wheatears (several)
Good numbers of Meadow Pipits and Linnets

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 10th of April 2015 09:02:53 PM

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Leasowe lighthouse area this afternoon:

Swallow
2 Wheatear
5 Chiffchaffs
Willow Warbler reported (but not seen by me)
At least 60 Meadow Pipit
Flock of at least 30 Linnet


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of April 2015 09:32:35 PM

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Heron Road, Meols, 13:00

I spotted a white heron-like bird while driving along Heron Road; got Liz onto it too.
It flew over the road, going south-west
Had large round wings, trailing legs, and what appeared to be a very long thin bill.
Couldn't see the "spoon", but I got only a half-second glimpse while driving, and Liz was looking towards the sun
So, it was either a Spoonbill, or a Little Egret carrying a stick (which it wouldn't do just there)

Both of us, independently, immediately thought Spoonbill, but cannot quite rule out Little Egret
We've both seen hundreds or thousands of both

Searched the area thoroughly, esp the pools off Gilroy Road, but no further sign of it
Put it on RBA as "possible" though frankly we were a little more confident than that

I expect it to turn up at BMW in the coming days

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Went looking at a car on the Wirral Sunday so called at New Brighton, very windy though the pontoon was sheltered.
Dipped on the Purple Sandpipers for a third time!
Laughing Gull still present on the pontoon with approx. 80 Redshank and half a dozen Turnstone.

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Fantastic find

Just a word of caution: it's worth being very aware of the tides & how long it might take to get back after the tide turns.
It's a long way if you're carrying kit.
Also, are there quick-sands out there ?

Wouldn't want to see anything nasty on the news ...

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Reading the Leasowe Lighthouse blog, the regular watchers there have been walking a long way down the beach at low tide to give themselves a view of the Scoter flock and hence it seems a first Cheshire Surf Scoter. There are some photos at this link, I really liked the shot from the post of the 22nd:

http://lighthousebirding.blogspot.co.uk/

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After a sighting a few days ago it has just been reported that the drake Surf Scoter has been relocated this morning off Hoylake, on the sea at East Hoyle Bank, in the past few days there have been Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter & Long-tailed Duck in this general area (info via Twitter, S.Williams).

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Good news that you got the two main targets there Tanmay smile Very impressed at you having the patience & nerve to watch the news from afar until you got home!! Was thinking of heading down to the area myself over the weekend but my plans changed, shame really, would have been good to catch up again. Glad to be of some help mate smile

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Having nervously followed the long-staying laughing gull and long-eared owl on the Wirral whilst at uni, I was keen to try and see them when I got back up north, so took a trip down yesterday.

I picked up the laughing gull with a scope from the car park, even at that distance it was distinctive. Walking round to the cafes I got amazing views of the bird, with a lovely supporting cast of redshank, turnstone, dunlin and about 7 purple sandpiper also on the pontoon.
Out at sea there were many great-crested grebes, a small raft of scoter, but too distant to pick out much.

Burton Mere Wetlands saw the long-eared owl showing quite well. 1st singing chiffchaff of the spring, and several avocets amongst commoner species. Good to meet up with the staff/vols there again!

Had a go for water pipit at neston SW, no sign, but grey wagtail, flyover sparrowhawk (f) and goldcrest (f) were nice additions.

Lovely weather and some great birds :)
Thanks to Doc Brewster for directions :)

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 23rd of March 2015 11:40:51 AM

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Great views yesterday of the 1st winter Laughing Gull as it loafed around on New Brighton Marine Lake. A really distinctive bird due to it's darker plumage which was particularly evident in flight and made it "stand out like a sore thumb". A cracking bird!!

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Great views of the Laughing Gull up at New Brighton marine lake. Last time I saw one of these it was in Mexico. Paid a visit to Burton Mere as well which was pretty quiet to be honest (although not in terms of people). Good view of the Long-eared Owl but not much else of note.

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Cracking day in south west Wirral today. Arrived at Shotwick Sailing Club at around 9.30, half an hour behind schedule due to the traffic. Quite spring like in the sunshine, great to see a variety of swans and geese in the flooded fields, the geese being very flighty in view of the nearby army firing range.

Shotwick :-

Pink footed Goose (c.2000)
Barnacle Goose (1)
Whooper Swan (c.40)
Bewick's Swan (c.40)
Mute Swan (c.50)
Avocet (3)
Black tailed Godwit (2)
Gadwall (2)
Little Grebe (1)

Carried on to Burton Mere Wetlands, first visit here, impressed. Quick visit to reception hide, then went to look for the Long eared Owl. Having been flushed by a 'much too close' birder, it had been relocated in a bush to the right of the bridge some two hundred yards before IMF hide. At least three squealing Water Rail on the way back.

Burton Mere Wetlands (amongst others) :-

Long eared Owl (1)
Water Rail (3)
Green Woodpecker (1)
Great spotted Woodpecker (1)
Nuthatch
Stonechat (1)
Reed Bunting
Golden Plover (c.20)
Black tailed Godwit (5)
Teal, Tufted Duck etc etc

Then on to Neston Sewage Works where I dipped on the Water Pipit. No one else there but spent half an hour or so by the fence after fighting my way through the brambles. Decided to make my way to Parkgate, Old Baths car park an hour before high tide; it was a relatively low one so the water was still way out. For the first 45 mins nothing much doing, it had started raining, but just when I was considering leaving a ringtail Hen Harrier flew in from the right. No sooner had that gone down out of view when a female Peregrine put in an appearance shortly followed by a female Marsh harrier which came in from the left. Three separate raptor species in the space of five minutes.

Neston/Parkgate (amongst others) :-

Hen Harrier (1)
Marsh Harrier (1)
Peregrine (1)
Little Egret (c.15)
Linnet
Reed Bunting
Stock Dove (1)
Black tailed Godwit (2)



-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Wednesday 25th of February 2015 09:30:51 PM

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Rob Creek wrote:

All sightings at sites visited have been put in this thread, but will re-post if required.

Full day on the Wirral yesterday in absolutely freezing conditions, windy, raining and generally poor weather, but struck Gold nonetheless with 71 species seen including 14 Waterfowl sp, 9 Wader sp, 7 Gull sp, 7 Birds of Prey, 6 Corvid sp, and a whole host of other birds.


A brilliant day with some top drawer sightings!






My day was a kind of mirror image of yours by the look of it, Rob - and I probably didn't run into you! I also seem to have missed the rain showers. Nice one.

Obviously I should have built in a stop at Parkgate - I was at New Brighton at high tide, with fairly spectacular seas! Excellent views of the Laughing Gull as you say on the pontoon with the waders - quite a sight.

Morning at Shotwick with great views of the swans in early light, and then to Burton Mere where the morning did not reveal any Hen Harriers, but I did get a wonderful view of the Long Eared Owl.


All the sightings have been covered by Rob - a spectacular day for me too with 4 lifers: Bewick's Swans, the Long Eared Owl, the Laughing Gull, and the Purple Sandpipers on the pontoon. Added to that, the fact they were sitting in front of grouped Dunlin, Sanderling and Redshank was a really interesting exercise in recognition.

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All sightings at sites visited have been put in this thread, but will re-post if required.

Full day on the Wirral yesterday in absolutely freezing conditions, windy, raining and generally poor weather, but struck Gold nonetheless with 71 species seen including 14 Waterfowl sp, 9 Wader sp, 7 Gull sp, 7 Birds of Prey, 6 Corvid sp, and a whole host of other birds.

NEW BRIGHTON-
Good to meet the 2 North-East birders
1 - Laughing Gull.
2nd time to see this bird. It was picked up virtually on arrival, showing well on the beach, doing flyovers, then around the Bubbles play centre, back on the beach, flying over the pontoon, back behind the shops and Bubbles, eventually landed on the pontoon with all the other birds.
Then it decided to come down 2 feet infront of my car virtually right next to me to pick up what looked like stale pizza, and this Gull isn't phased by other Gulls including the large species. It stole food from right under a Herring Gull's nose, the Herring Gull made no attempt to argue!

Other Birds of note...
1 adult winter Mediterranean Gull flew over the beach towards the pontoon
Lots of other Gulls incl Black-headed and Common
and large Gulls incl Great Black-backed
Lesser Black-backed
and Herring (with some stunning adults)
Redshank - virtually most of the NW's population on pontoon
1 single Knot slap bang in the middle
7 Purple Sandpiper
Lots of Turnstone
1 Dunlin but then a sudden influx to about 20
1 Sanderling
Oystercatchers
Lapwing
1 Curlew flying low over a beach channel
Few Cormorant
and surprised to see 5 Brent Geese flying over, the neck rings were evident
1 Jay flew over the car near the tunnel slip road

At one point the Laughing Gull was on the pontoon with all the Waders and some other Gulls, cracking sight!

WALLASEY BEACH-
Quick stop to see the Snow Buntings but the tide had raced in quite far well before the suggested time and I couldn't see them as the area they were at last time was submerged.
Lots of Sanderling though, running around along the tide line, estimate 40-50

THORNTON HOUGH - Village Green
Whilst en-route to Parkgate, I stopped to watch at least 30 Rook feeding on the Village Green

PARKGATE-
Arrived before high tide. Thanks to Simon Gough and Mark Burgess regarding Owl info. Nice to bump into Austin Morley and his pal, and the 3 of us stuck together for a while.
1 male Stonechat
Linnet - a few flocks around of 15-20 birds each
Reed Bunting - lots of these too
Chaffinch and Goldfinch about
Meadow Pipit - a few around
Rock Pipit - 1
Pied Wagtail - 10+
Skylark - never seen so many, seemed to be everywhere, impossible to put numbers to but estimate in the 100's
Starlings here and there
Redwings and Fieldfares over
Lots of Blackbirds
Little Egret - quite a few around
Redshank - dotted around, and 1 feeding right next to...

...1 of 5 Short-eared Owls (undoubtedly the star showing)
Following advice from Mark and Simon, I headed up passed the Golf Course away from the crowds lining the front road and the car park. It paid off as I spotted my 1st S-eO of the day. It was sat low against one of the last tufts of grass remaining above water quite far out. The few already present birders were made up with the sighting. It suddenly took to the air and was soon joined by a 2nd Owl, both in the air together. One landed far out on showing grass the other still flying. What a sight to see it slow flapping flying low over the water. Thing is, it didn't stop, and it kept going towards the Wales. (What your Owl did Simon).
Another 2 were seen in close proximity on the ground and unbelievably a 3rd flying to make 3 in view at once. One was chasing Skylarks then the Gulls turned the tables and mobbed the Owl. On the path back towards the car park, yet another Owl hunkered down in the grass a lot closer in. I think 1 Owl could've been an earlier Owl, so that was 4 and the Welsh defector making 5! Brilliant!
2 Kestrel hunting
Lots of Shelduck around
Small skein of Pink-footed Geese over, only around 20-30 birds.
Think we had the best of the Owl sightings as not many reported from the car park.


QUAYSIDE / MARSHLANDS ROAD
Quick stop here (not far from Neston WWTW)
Nothing much except Little Egrets and the usual Gulls

DENHALL LANE area
Quick visit-
1 Raven over the car down towards the marsh
1 Mistle Thrush flew across the road
...and I was surprised to see a Marsh Harrier flying low over the bog, it landed briefly then it was up again and flew off towards Connah's Quay.

BURTON MERE WETLANDS-
A late visit but well worth the effort since I was in the vicinity.
Nice to meet Dave Peate, a volunteer here. I will be in touch Dave.

1 Common Buzzard circling over the field on way down near Puddington Lane.
I parked up and a bloke came running to his car and said there's a Hen Harrier infront of the hide. I rushed in but missed it.
I started to walk round for another look at the Long-eared Owl when up came the Hen Harrier. I watched it for a few minutes patrolling slowly over the marsh opposite the hide. I think it was a female (ringed tail and white rump) but a juvenile male was also rumoured to be around so in all honesty I can't be 100% as they look similar.
My 1st Hen Harrier in years incidentally!

The Long-eared Owl was showing fairly well. No other birders around near IMF so had it to myself.
Made my way back to the reception...
A few Wren over the boardwalk
Few Starlings around
Another Kestrel hovering above
A Merlin flew across the open area near the viewing screen, (assuming it was a female as it was a bit dull brownish looking)
1 drake Pintail flew over me
Then something caught my eye as I glanced over towards IMF, right above IMF hide was another Hen Harrier, seemed to be still at one point then it dropped down beyond the railway line. Quality!
Got back to reception and indeed it turned out 2 were seen, and I'd managed both in the locations they were seen. Made up with that bit of luck.
Also one guy told me a Marsh Harrier was seen a little earlier so it could've been the same bird I saw.
Also at reception...
Tufted Duck
Teal
Lots of Canada Geese
Few Greylag amongst them
Plus usual Waterbirds and Feeder species

SHOTWICK SAILING CLUB / FIELDS
A late visit in poor light came up trumps again with...
Mute Swan - estimate 30-40
Whooper Swan - roughly same 30-40
Bewicks Swan - little less, probably 30 max
1 Black Swan
No sign of the European White-fronted Goose that's been knocking around recently. Only other thing here was Mallard

A brilliant day with some top drawer sightings!


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Yesterday
Shotwick Sailing Club Bewick, Black, Mute & Whooper Swans, Stonechat, & Skylark.
Inner Marsh Farm Burton Welands- Avocet, Ruff, Long Eared Owl posing really well
Neston Sewage Works Water Pipit & Chiffchaff,
River Dee Pintail Buzzard Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Kestrel. Male Sparrowhawk, Twite and more common waders
New Brighton 3 Snow Bunting at the Lifeguard post and Laughing Gull

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 03:33:22 PM

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Joel Tragen wrote:

dave broome wrote:

Laughing Gull at New Brighton Marine Lake today, spending lots of time on the pontoon at the south end, which also held 10 Purple Sandpiper, c250 Turnstone, 930 Redshank, c70 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and 1 Knot





Hi Dave I was there all day and I have never seen a knot before so I don't know what I to look for. Was it in with the Dunlin flock nearer to where everyone was standing. And are there any ways distinct ways to tell a knot from a Dunlin from a photo.

-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Saturday 21st of February 2015 05:58:07 PM



Hi Joel
The Knot was at the far end of the waders when I saw it, among Redshank. I only saw it for a short while, I don't know whether it left during one of the disturbances as Herring Gulls moved along the pontoon.
If you visit www.bto.org then look for 'About Birds' then 'Bird Identification' there's a video on i.d. of Knot and Dunlin which you should find useful. I hope that's helpful smile

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Burton Mere Wetlands
Quick visit before the high tide at Parkgate
Highlights
2 Green Woodpecker at the entrance as I drove in
Long Eared Owl roosting near to IMF hide

Parkgate Old Baths & Cottage Lane
Highlights
3 Short Eared Owl at the roost site visable on the ground as the tide surged through
Seemed very reluctant to fly until the last second as the advancing rising tide engulfed their tiny piece of Terra Firma,
And clearly not interested in the abundance of prey on offer and being persistently harassed by the mass of Gulls present
5 more sightings of Short Eared Owl seen in the air as I walked back toward Parkgate Old Baths car park, Could be the same few individuals just moving around.
Peregrine 2

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dave broome wrote:

Laughing Gull at New Brighton Marine Lake today, spending lots of time on the pontoon at the south end, which also held 10 Purple Sandpiper, c250 Turnstone, 930 Redshank, c70 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and 1 Knot





Hi Dave I was there all day and I have never seen a knot before so I don't know what I to look for. Was it in with the Dunlin flock nearer to where everyone was standing. And are there any ways distinct ways to tell a knot from a Dunlin from a photo.

-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Saturday 21st of February 2015 05:58:07 PM

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Laughing Gull at New Brighton Marine Lake today, spending lots of time on the pontoon at the south end, which also held 10 Purple Sandpiper, c250 Turnstone, 930 Redshank, c70 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and 1 Knot

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