Managed to dip on both Long Eared Owl AND Water Pipit - but really enjoyed the quiet of a sunny early morning from Neston Old Quay to the sewage works stream.

Of note were

Stonechat
Merlin
Short Eared Owl
Marsh Harrier
Linnet in numbers
Plentiful Curlew
Reed Bunting
Greenfinch looking spectacular in the Morning light - a much underestimated beauty!

Had a cracking day up and down the Wirral with my friend Paul Morris yesterday, starting at the crack of dawn at West Kirby and ending it at Burton before dusk.  I wasn't on a bird race, we were simply pottering about ad-hoc and looking out for birds on the way as I visited some old haunts - but we ended the day with 80 species, several of which were notable, so a good day in the field.  Pretty cold though and when I kitted up for the stroll over to Hilbre and realised my hat, snood and gloves were on the table at home it was chilly start, with some frozen fingers whilst sea watching for an hour on Hilbre!?

The following were notable sightings throughout the day:

 

West Kirby - Marina (08:30)

Great Northern Diver - 1

Red-breasted Merganser - 6

GC Grebe 8

 

Hilbre Island (09:30)

Scaup - 1 fem

Common Scoter - 30-40 distant

Purple Sandpiper - only 3

Sanderling - 1

Lots of Oystercatcher (1,000 +), some Dunlin (10+), Turnstone (50+), Redshank (100+) Grey Plover (5+), Bar-tailed godwit (50+), Curlew (200+), GC Grebe (20+), Little Egret (2), Pintail 1, Wigeon 8.  What was notable was a complete lack of Brent Geese anywhere on three islands or Tansky rocks, perhaps taking a day trip to North Wales!?  Either way it was a first for me not to encounter any Pale Bellies here!?

 

Thurstatson (11:30)

Pintail - 100+

Knot 5,000+

Dunlin 1,000+

Also plenty of Shelduck (50+), Redshank (200+), Curlew (200+), Lapwing (1,000+), Little Egret (2) and other waders/wildfowl.

 

Heswall (12:00)

Chiffchaff - 2

No sign of any Pallas's Leaf Warbler or even a Goldcrest, but was extremely cold down there!?!?

 

Gayton Sands (12:30)

Merlin - 1 (distant female/1st winter male)

Buzzard - 2

Little Egret - 8

Marsh Harrier - 2 (both female types)

Pink-footed Goose 500+

 

Parkgate 13:00

Marsh Harrier - 1 (both female types)

Hen Harrier - 2 (both ringtails)

Little Egret - 4

Raven - 1

 

Denhall Lane (or more towards the cyclists cafe - that is closed until the end of the month unfortunately) 13:30

Short-eared Owl - 2 (very close flying and perched)

Great White Egret - 1 (brief and poor view)

Marsh Harrier - 1 (female type)

 

Burton Mere Wetlands 14:00

Peregrine - 2 (1 male & 1 female)

Marsh Harrier - 1 (female type - perhaps we witnessed one individual multiple times flying from Gayton Sands to Burton, where it went in to roost??)

Long-eared Owl - 1

Kingfisher - 1

Water Rail - 1

Golden Plover 100+ (with Lapwing flocks)

Lapwing (distant flocks of several thousand)

Pink-footed Goose - 40+

Some distant swans - mostly a mixture of Whooper & Mute.

-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Monday 18th of January 2016 01:11:42 PM

parkgate... 3 possibly 4 marsh harrier, 2 ringtail hen harrier, 1 great white egret, 2 kestrel,

west Kirby marine lake... 1 great northern diver, 2 red breasted merganser, 1 great crested grebe, 30+ redshank, 1 oystercatcher.

new brighton... got here as the high tide was in hoping for lots of waders on the pontoons & nothing  it was probably due to the boat that was water testing. best I could do was 60+ sanderling, 2 turnstone, 6 oystercatcher around perch rock & 2 teal on the sea.

With High Peak RSPB group from Thurstaston to Heswall 9.15-12.15. 

One member a briefest glimpse of Pallas's Warbler at 11.30 from Target Road in Heswall. With Chiffchaff and Goldcrests. 

Walk along Wirral Way and Dee shoreline produced 10 Little Egret, 100's of Pink Footed Geese,  Lapwing and Oystercatcher,  2 Red Breasted Merganser, many Shellduck and Pintail, single Common Snipe,  7 Skylark, 80 Curlew,  Treecreeper, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch and Peregrine Falcon

I saw the pallas's warbler several times between 2:30-3:00 today, but I was the only one who saw it this point. I saw it 3 times in this period in the hedges, but the combination of how active it was and the number of other birds in the area meant that my attempts to get other borders on it were unsuccessful. Following these sightings, there was a quiet period where only chiffchaffs, goldcrests and long tailed tits showed, when finally, the bird appeared again, and this time it was only about 5 metres away, allowing all the birders to get good views, though the sheer dull weather made photography hard. The bird stayed very close to us for about a minute before a goldcrest moved it on.

Dipped on the Pallas's Warbler today. The bird had been seen this morning at 11.15 but, unfortunately, not since. We waited for around two hours from 1.45pm. 'Twas not to be. The timings meant we were then unable to get to Kirby Marine Lake to get some decent shots of the Great Northern Diver.

By 4.00pm we still hadn't had our dinner, so decided to head for Parkgate Old Baths car park and eat it there. We had some consolation in seeing 3 Marsh Harrier and a lovely, in flight Ring tailed Hen Harrier in the fading light.

Will try again next week!

I got there at first light today and had over an hours wait to get good views of the Pallas's Warbler(a lifer), did not see Firecrest though. What time where you there James?.
Cheers Ian

Having a bad back & not wanting to lug my gear round Newchucrh I reckined a trip up The Wirral was in order, still staying local

I started at New Brighton where, as the tide was out, no waders were on the pontoons on the lake so back to how we used to 'do it' before it became too easy! I walked out by the Lighthouse groyne and picked out a lone Purple Sandpiper amongst the Turnstones. Then I headed down to Meols prom and soon picked out most of the target waders, with Grey Plover, Sanderling, Knot, Dunlin, Redshank and Curlew being seen.

My next call was the marine lake at West Kirby. Despite other birders not having seen the diver & no reports on the pager I managed to find it close in on the far side from the road. I then walked round & got pictures at close quarters of this confiding bird. Ten Pale-bellied Brent Geese fed on the beach right by the lake, I must admit I am more used to them being out near Hilbre Island so it was nice seeing them close in.

I called next at Heswall where within a few minutes of arriving I was watching the Pallas's Warbler in bushes near the sewage works gates. The bird showed superbly well in the open for long periods, even hovering in the sunshine, back to us, showing off its gorgeous lemon rump as it did so. lots of Goldcrests and a few Chiffchaffs here too. Next call at Burton Mere Wetlands was cut short by my back spasming & I couldn't walk round so instead I took the car to Burton Marsh and picked up Great White Egret, Merlin, Little Egret and Short-eared Owl for the day.

Painkillers now being popped like smarties (other chocolate confectionaries are available ) so that I can have a pain-free day out next time

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 6th of January 2016 10:26:25 AM

Pallas's Warbler showed fairly well in small trees around the filtration beds of the sewage works off Target Road, Heswall this morning. Also five (collybita) Chiffchaff.

Great Northern Diver still on West Kirby marine lake.

Out on the Dee Marshes, highlights included:

Three ringtail Hen Harrier
Three Merlin
Single Peregrine
Single (second calendar year) Marsh Harrier from the Old Baths
Four Great White Egret
Single Kestrel and Sparrowhawk
Four Short-eared Owl from Denhall Lane
Plenty of Rock Pipits
Herd of Whooper Swans off Denhall Lane

Good if brief views of Pallas's Warbler between 10.10 and 10.20 am this morning. No show from then until i left at 11.15. From Heswall head towards sewage works on Target Road.

Also in area were 10 Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, 10 Redwing, 3 Little Egret and 30 Pied Wagtail. 

-- Edited by Chris Harper on Sunday 3rd of January 2016 12:28:33 PM

Tues 29th Had a wander round the Wirral in fine weather to try and get a last couple of birds on the year list :-

New Brighton on incoming tide one sanderling mixed in with the oyster catchers

Leashowe high tide roost 100+ knot with about 25 lapwing and 2 redshank.

New Brighton Marine Lake at high tide Roosting on the pontoon 30+ redshank, 40+ turnstone, 2 sanderling and at least 3 purple sandpipers. Someone spooked the birds just after I arrived and they didn't return, so there could have been more sandpipers in amongst the turnstones.

Parkgate One very accommodating ring-tailed hen harrier allowing me to photograph it.

Burton Mere RSPB popped in to try and get some better photos of the LE owl, but it wasn't in its usual bush. I did notice footprints in the stream in front of its bush, so it looks as if the bird had been disturbed by birders trying to get close to photograph it. Pretty poor show if that was the case.

Added sanderling and purple sandpiper to give a year total of 182, so not a completely wasted day.

Must try harder next year!

west Kirby marine lake.

great northern diver showing really well despite the weather.
no sign of the red throated diver
12 red breasted merganser
4 great crested grebe
redshank, dunlin & turnstone around the lake.
also 7 brent geese on the sea as the tide came in.

new brighton.

6 purple sandpiper
100+ turnstone
70+ redshank
22 dunlin
all on the pontoon.

parkgate.

1 hen harrier, ringtail
1 marsh harrier

I had hoped the NW winds would keep up until today, but not to be. Still I decided to go anyway. Meols / Dove point produced the expected waders mainly Dunlin, Redshank and Oystercatchers with a couple of Sanderling. Plenty Gulls loafing on the beach with all the common species. Some too far out to be worth checking for rarer species. A few Common Scoter on the sea and flying around along with at least one Great Crested Grebe and one Red-throated Diver. I carried on to Inner Marsh Farm, but saw nothing of note. Always a disappointment this reserve.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 22nd of November 2015 10:14:13 PM

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.

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

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

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

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)

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.

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

Highlight was a Kingfisher

-- 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

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.

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.

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

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