Finally got around to registering on this site. Good to see you at IMF today.
Just thought I'd mention the good year we are having for breeding birds in the woodland and surrounds - all the usual garden suspects seemed to have had a good year including the Gt Sp Woodies which have two young uns!
A mini Wirral Wander produced amongst others a Lesser Whitethroat, a pair of Linnets with nesting material and 7 Little Egret on the beach at Leasowe lighthouse. Very little at Redrocks and Parkgate and at Inner Marsh Farm a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Spoonbill and a Little Owl sitting up on the dead tree in the garden next to the car park - apparently it's a regular in and around the car park area up through the first gate and in the field to the left.
Umm - We walked down the prom and saw a Whimbrel on the breakwater thing. Did not go the other way
Hello Geoff, I didn't venture on to the prom bit - it was down to luck of where I parked - I drove in towards the lighthouse, rather than park in the car park near the prom and the pasture with all the warblers was the landward side of the access road. If you wanted to check where the wheatears etc are [and where I understand last week's Stone Curlew was] there's a path runs from behind the lighthouse [200m parallel away from the shore I guess] through some scrub wood alongside some reed filled ditches which gives way to fields and horse paddocks. At the stables at the far end you can either come back on the prom or another path which runs just below the sea wall with reed beds on one side and whitethroats/lnnets in the gorse on the other. As its a bit tricky to describe - a look at the OS map [1:25,000] on Multimap should do the trick! Cheers, Peter
I had a quick trip to the Wirral today as well - that Leasowe is an amazing place - only had time to do the first paddock but saw two Grasshoppers, loads of Whitethroat, Skylark, Wheatear, Sedge Warblers, heard Reed Warblers and I'll pay a return visit with more time for sure.
Also quick visit to Inner Marsh - not much out of the ordinary - Spotted Redshank outside bins range but no sign of Spoonbill or Garganey - great views of Whitethroat and Chiffchaff on the top of the railway embankment though.
Another early start this time with Bill and Voirrey Oxley for a Wirral Wander, thanks folks - the highlights of the 60+ species seen being:-
Leasowe Lighthouse area: Lots of Swallows and Wheatear, Sedge, Reed, Grasshopper, Willow Warbs, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat and the stars - 3 male and 1 female Whinchat in the horse paddock furthest from the car park. Also two Gannet diving offshore and two Turnstone, coming into breeding plumage, on the breakwater at high tide.
Gilroy Nature Park: Common Sand and Raven.
Burton Marsh: apart from a few Little Egrets nothing of note. The Short Eared Owls and The Harriers are presumably finally away to the hills.
Visted Leasowe Lighthouse area for the first time and had a cracking days birding, before moving down to Inner Marsh Farm.
1 male Redstart showed for long periods as did 2 Grasshopper Warblers, with excellent views for long periods. Also 1 Sedge Warbler , 1 Reed Warbler, and 1 Whitethroat showing very well (All these were firsts ever for Janice and myself) Siskin and 4 Redpoll, plus lots of Linnet, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps.
Moved on to Inner Marsh RSPB Reserve after 14:30pm and got more first that included a Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spoonbill. Also showing was 2 Buzzards overhead. Lots of Chiffchaff and Blackcaps around. Ruff and Common Tern around and a GSW drumming and flew over the reserve as we left. A quick look over the marshes on leaving the area and a Shorteared Owl was hunting and still in the area
Deeestuary site have reported it (Red-rumped Swallow) again over the horse paddocks on Lingham Lane at 6 this evening. If anyone fancies giving it a bash tomorrow this area is just past Leasow Lighthouse, an area that is noted for producing some good stuff in the way of migrants and rarities - it's not a bad place to wander around as well.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 19th of April 2009 01:40:22 PM
17/04/2009 - An absolutely top day out on the wirral today included a spattering of rarities, scarcities and a great diversity of migrants and birds in general with 74 species seen in a leasurely day. An early start (5.30am) allowed us to be in position for the Red-rumped Swallow soon after first light. Flanked by 2 Barn Swallows, it was first picked up by us flying from its roost site and worringly off north. Soon later another birder pulled up and pointed it out to us from a distance, as the bird showed right next to him on power lines. What a bird, very approachable, and characterful although it wouldn't budge from its favourite perch even with the clatterings of joggers with poles in their hands! List of notable sightings:
Arrived at Carr lane, Moreton with Henry C at 06.30 and within a very short time had the Red-rumpded Swallow flying overhead next to the railway track. Then a short time later it was sitting on the phone lines next to the road back towards the A553 where it sat for a good while singing away until we left it with a Tree Pipit for company to go on what was a fantastic day's birding at Gilroy nature Park, Burton Marsh and then Inner Marsh Farm. We also called by Red Rocks but as expected there was little or no activity with tide being out.
The RR Swallow was a fantastic little bird, very confiding and a lifer for me.
I'll leave it to Henry to complete the list for the day as he had the pen and book
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Red-rumped Swallow present for second day today at Moreton. Currently drizzling so should linger...
An impromptu Wirral Wander this afternoon produced 22 Purple Sands plus big numbers of Redshank, Dunlin and Turnstone on the pontoon on New Brighton marine lake - unfortunately no sign of the Med Gulls. We then had a cracking female Merlin on a post at Riverside Road, Heswall and finally at Parkgate male and ringtail Hen Harriers - (several sightings over an hour or so), 6 Short Eared Owls at one time and 2 Peregrine - one on a post on the marsh and one flying over the golf course.
good day had on the wirral thanks for the help and advice, we saw at parkgate ( the old baths ) and hilbre 2 little egret 3 hen harriers 1m 2f 2 merlin f peregrin 7 buzzard ( 1 dead (roadkill)) on the cartrips around the area. grey heron 8 short eared owl little owl lesser black backed gull reed bunting long tail tits redwings stonechat kestrel cormorant knots redshank turnstone herring gulls coot, moorhen, mallard, bh gulls, pidgeon, rock doves, carrion and jackdaw
maybe a sparrowhawk, got a picture of it but inconclusive as on full zoom! (declans post kind of sways me it was!)
Excellent late afternoon at Parkgate, from 4pm till dark today:
Short-eared Owl - 5 or 6, some very close, and scrapping with each other Hen Harrier - 3 coming in to roost (2 males) Merlin - 2, chasing Skylarks and pipits all afternoon Peregrine 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 1 Jack Snipe 1 Common Snipe 6 Black-tailed Godwit - c40 Stonechat - male Little Egret - at least 10 plenty of Redshank, Curlew, Teal, Linnets etc
on nearby golf course: Barn Owl 2 Short-eared Owl 2 Green Woodpecker heard G S Woodpecker 1 Stock Dove 4 Redwing c20
a quick stop at Burton Marsh on way home, in almost total darkness produced another Barn Owl by the road
Hi Ian. Just saw the pic of the funny Shoveler species and thought what's the difference between an Australian Shoveler and a Blue-winged Teal x Northern Shoveler hybrid? Cheers. Henry.
Good day on the wirral today Started at inner marsh farm, 100's of Lapwing, Teal, many Pintail, Black Tailed Godwit, Shoveller(including an Australian Shoveller!), Wigeon, also Snipe, Golden Plover, Shelduck, Redshank, Dunlin and a Ruff. Then to Thurlaston where there were huge numbers of Oystercatcher, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, some Bar Tailed Godwit and Shelduck. Finally to Parkgate for 2 Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin and a Little Egret. Cheers Ian
sunday 8.02.09 first stop new brighton counted 10 purple sandpipers,25+turnstone,100ish redshank all sat on the floating raft.6 sanderlings on the shoreline loads of gulls but couldnt pick anything out of the ordinary. west kirby marine lake had 6 red breasted mergansers posing for the photographers. inner marsh farm was pretty quiet only 1 black tailed godwit,2 spotted redshank,1 dunlin,10 curlew,2 buzzards,1 kestrel,200+teal,4 snipe,lapwings,wigeon,shovellors and pintail. denhall lane 1 kestrel,2 little egret,gadwal on the pools,2 stonechat,1 meadow pipit and a few curlew .no owls about but somone said they ha d merlin and ring tail harrier
Looking at my Lavers Liverpool and Irish Sea Tide Table (c.£2.00 at Parkgate Postoffice or West Kirby beach shop) the next convenient high tides are Feb 11th (11.39 hours 10.1 m) and 12th (13.04 hours 10.0m). Then in March 12th (12.00 10.00m). Times vary slightly around the Wirral and Southport. If you are thinking of a Parkgate watch you would need to be there a couple of hours before the high tide. You also need to look to the forecast weather conditions - best activity is always when there is a good North West wind and low pressure. Then you might just see some water at Parkgate
hi simon you can get free tide tables ont tinternet,use google just put the place you want and tide predictions,and its there,i think the one i use is easy tide .com,but im at work so im not sure but they are there,just put the place say southport and they all come up.
Rob I was in the hide with about 6 other folk and we all had good views yes I am happy - it had all of the features including black tipped white rear end and feathered legs. It was hovering when first seen by one of the local birders who had also seen the pale Buzzard to which you refer.
Not wishing to poor cold water on your Rough-legged, but are you sure - I only ask because there have been several reports this year which have been traced back to a very pale buzzard.
Had a wirral wander today - started at New Brighton where the main attraction was not the birds but the ships - the Ark Royal and a very large oil tanker the BW Bauhinia, from Hong Kong a doubled hulled ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier) is 332 metres long with a beam of 58 metres reported to be the largest ship ever to have entered the Port of Liverpool - an amazing sight as it sailled past Fort Perch Rock lighthouse. There were some birds of course including Sanderling, Turnstone and Bar tailled Godwit. Then to Denhall Lane where I found a Merlin and a male Hen Harrier. Inner Marsh produced Spotted Redshank, 7 Whooper Swans, a Ring tail Hen Harrier, several Goldeneye and a ROUGH LEGGED BUZZARD. First seen by one of the local birders hovering over towards the fishing lake then good views of it in flight and perched for some time on a telegraph pole - a lifer for me
Where else after Moore but the coast same crowd Snow bunting seen next to snow Black redstart, and points blooming points galoure all over the place Sanderling Knot Dunlin Brent Geese, among others,
Parkgate marshes just heaven short-eared owls and harriers what a sight and as we discussed the merits of the self found rules, the jem of an idea took place as we heard a water rail, the uk self heard list
Once agin the company was the best GM Birder out of town.
Decided that a quick spin around the Wirral bird sites was a better idea than shopping - didn't stay anywhere too long so didn't get that cold. Similar birds to Ian's list of yesterday - including Red-breasted Merganser and Turnstone at West Kirby, Snow Bunting (fem) and Black Redstart (fem) at Red Rocks, Little Egret, Short-eared Owl and a flock of 20 or so Twite at Parkgate and finally Kestrel. Buzzard and Merlin at Denhall Lane.
Spent quite a good, if very cold, day at various sites with Peter Johnson. Burton Marsh ; 9.30, 2 Peregrine and Little Egrets plus frostbite. Parkgate ; Marsh Harrier and more Little Egrets plus more frostbite!. Thurstaston ; 13 Twite, very close views, 2 Turnstone and Black Tailed Godwits, warming up a bit now, upto 0 Celcius. Hoylake ; dinner in Plasters Arms( GBGuide 2009 ) then to sea front. 600ish Cormorant, 1000's Knot and Dunlin, 60+ Ringed Plover, lots of Redshank, Shellduck and a hunting Peregrine. Red Rocks ; Black Redstart, at least 30 Pale Bellied Brent, Snow Bunting1st ever for me, Sanderling and lots more Knot. Burton Marsh ; returned here at 2.15 on way home to see 9 Short Eared Owl and 2 more Peregrine. Have to say it was a fabulous days birding Cheers Ian. ps What have I fogotten Peter?
Had a good day at Innermarsh Farm. Then we went to Burton Marshes, but no SEO's despite reports of them every day this week Nice close up of a Buzzard, little Egret Flying and Merlis and Kestrel though. IMF had the usual stuff, plus Redshanks quite a few Curlew and 5 or so Snipe on the little island in front of the Hide. Had a nice view of a Hen Harrier as well.
Great Northern Diver still showing well on West Kirby Marine Lake this evening, along with 4 Red-breasted Merganser, a drake Goldeneye and a Great Crested Grebe.
I too was there on Sunday first time ever sighting of short eared owl, been trying to get this bird for two years what a marvelous sight to see so many in one place at the same time.I to counted at least 16 from the decca pools. also managed another lifer as the great northern diver was showing very well on the marine lake . inner marsh farm was also good with green winged teal,2 stonechat, 3 ruff,1 buzzard,redwings and fieldfares,curlew,1 greenshank,1 spotted redshank, 7 snipe and a good flock of about 40 goldfinch.Best of all was a ring tailed hen harrier was showing very well and at one point we was only 20ft away as it hunted right infront of the hide.