The Wirral

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

point of ayr

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

The Wirral

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Bluethroat (f) at Leasowe this afternoon.

Also a sub-adult male Monty's or pallid north past Seaforth.....

paul brady · Status: Offline

sid ashton wrote:

Burton Marsh 06.30 - 09.00

Several Wheatear (including 2 Greenland race), female Stonechat, 4 Linnets, Reed Buntings, a Raven being mobbed by Crows and a Paul Brady - nice to see you out and about Paul

Lingham Lane/Leasowe Lighthouse area 09.45-13.30

The Ring Ouzel was still present, as well as Yellow, White, Grey and Pied Wags within seconds of each other in the same paddock, two Sandwich Tern sitting on one of the marker bouys on the sea, a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by the parents of two Lapwing chicks and three Whimbrel in one of the ploughed fields plus the now familiar Chiffchaff, Willow and Sedge Warblers. No sign of the reported Whinchat or Redstart in the time I was there.

You made me late for work Sid

I did get water rail (heard) on the list for the sheep pens and managed to see a couple of sedge warblers. I also heard another grasshopper warbler before hot footing it back to the reserve!

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Burton Marsh 06.30 - 09.00

Several Wheatear (including 2 Greenland race), female Stonechat, 4 Linnets, Reed Buntings, a Raven being mobbed by Crows and a Paul Brady - nice to see you out and about Paul

Lingham Lane/Leasowe Lighthouse area 09.45-13.30

The Ring Ouzel was still present, as well as Yellow, White, Grey and Pied Wags within seconds of each other in the same paddock, two Sandwich Tern sitting on one of the marker bouys on the sea, a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by the parents of two Lapwing chicks and three Whimbrel in one of the ploughed fields plus the now familiar Chiffchaff, Willow and Sedge Warblers. No sign of the reported Whinchat or Redstart in the time I was there.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Managed to miss most of the stuff on the Wirral at Leasowe today, it was all disturbed when they let the horses out of the paddocks

We got Ring Ouzel though and both Reed and Sedge Warbler, then we decided to cut our losses and headed for Thurstaston where we had 44 Whimbrel on the shore, with a solitary Curlew just for comparison, great stuff

sid ashton · Status: Offline

A hastily arranged Wirral wander with a long-time-no-see birding mate produced an excellent day's birding in fantastic weather with the following highlights:-

Lingham Lane/Leasowe Lighthouse area - Ring Ouzel (1st summer male), Common Redstart, White Wagtail, a singing Sedge Warbler and lots of Linnets - on the break-water a single Whimbrel and on the sea three distant Common Scoter......

...at Gilroy Nature Park several Blackcap (M&F), Common Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin and a Sparrowhawk carrying prey......

...and finally at Inner Marsh farm - we arrived just in time to miss the overflying Osprey

, but made up for with common Whitethroat and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the walk down to the hide and from the hide the pale Buzzard, Yellow Wagtail, several Blackwits in summer plumage & Pintail, 2 Avocet, 3 Ringed Plover, a single Dunlin, 9 Spotted Redshank all scattered by an overflying Peregrine.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Two Ring Ouzels this morning in paddocks nr Leasowe Lighthouse - a male and a female

paul brady · Status: Offline

Anthony Dixon wrote:

the usual screeching corvids that are always around that area!

I love the sound of screeching corvids in the morning !

I'm doing nothing but keeping my ears peeled(?) for this one ....

Other IMF news is that there was a willow warbler singing near to the hide and a drake garganey on the pools - does this add weight to your sighting?

Also at POA, Flintshire a sedge warbler photo has been submitted ?!?

Shame the reserve is closed to the public today but the sluice has been opened ....

Anthony Dixon · Status: Offline

Thanks Ian.
To be fair to Richard, he did query in private and yes I know he has a difficult job to do..Just like your good self.

I suppose I was being a little harsh by saying I wouldn't post sightings again...I take a lot from Richard's site, like I do from this one, so it's only fair to give something back.

Dummy back in!!!

Anthony

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Anthony Dixon wrote:

I actually feel like not bothering reporting anymore sightings from the Dee Estuary...Afterall of all bird calls, the Cuckoo isn't the most dificult to decipher!

Anthony

That'd be a shame Anthony. It's often difficult for all types of assessors (local site, county, national etc) to judge the validity of some records, especially if they don't know or have any history about the observer. It would be nice to be able to accept everything on good faith but that would undoubtably lead to many erroneous records the length and breadth of the UK and as understandably miffed as you might be, Richard is undoubtably just going about his job in a manner he does with most observers he meets. It's certainly nothing personal. You'd also be surprised how many Cuckoo calls are mistaken every year, though not generally by birders familiar with their call of course.

All I will say is that anyone posting any sightings on this Manchester Birding forum should not (and so far have not!) have their posts publically queried. That goes on at 'other forums', more often by users with less experience than the original observer! If a post needs querying then in should always be done in a private message

Anthony Dixon · Status: Offline

Paul, Cuckoo heard on and off for several minutes around 1.00 pm in the woods next to the car park...I couldn't pin-point the exact spot and wasn't helped by the usual screeching corvids that are always around that area!

I reported sighting to Richard Smith who seemed slightly sceptical, because it is very early, but it was unmistakably 100% a Cuckoo!
I actually feel like not bothering reporting anymore sightings from the Dee Estuary...Afterall of all bird calls, the Cuckoo isn't the most dificult to decipher!

I Also reported a Red Kite I had seen near Heswall...Luckily it turns out that the bird was seen the previous day at Neston or that might have gone down the same way.
In retrospect I should have found one of the RSPB officers to have a listen to the Cuckoo with me!

Anthony

paul brady · Status: Offline

Anthony Dixon wrote:

Highlights were a very close view of a Red Kite flying along side Telegraph Road just north of Heswall and the sound of a Cuckoo calling (not seen) at Inner Marsh Farm.
(Reported to Richard Smith)

4 Little Egret at Parkgate and a further 5 at Burton.
40 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and 1 Turnstone at West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Hen harrier and 1 Ruff at Inner Marsh.

Anthony

Hi Anthony,

At what time did you hear the cuckoo calling? And whereabouts exactly? Also if you could put these kind of sightings for IMF onto the thread about IMF that would be nice and handy too, thanks.

Anthony Dixon · Status: Offline

Highlights were a very close view of a Red Kite flying along side Telegraph Road just north of Heswall and the sound of a Cuckoo calling (not seen) at Inner Marsh Farm.
(Reported to Richard Smith)

4 Little Egret at Parkgate and a further 5 at Burton.
40 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and 1 Turnstone at West Kirby Marine Lake.
1 Hen harrier and 1 Ruff at Inner Marsh.

Anthony

Gary Gorner · Status: Offline

parkgate 14/3/10

merlin
ring tailed hen harrier
flock of about 20 redwings
stonechat
goldfinch
linnet
5 little egrets
skylarks

neston

2 kestrel
one male hen harrier
one female marsh harrier
black tailed godwits
4 buzzard
3 little egrets
1o bewick swan
and all the usual wildfowl

sid ashton · Status: Offline

paul brady wrote:

What no avocets Sid?

No Avocets Paul just the Garganey - the first summer visitor for me that I went to find in the short time that I had available

Anyone else want to know anything else that I didn't find - the list is endless

paul brady · Status: Offline

sid ashton wrote:

Quick trip over to Burton Marsh this afternoon - it was most odd to see the marsh with so much water on top with 9 Bewick's Swans swimming around before high water. Went down to Decca pools to look for the Garganey and one drake duly obliged - but it and the other birds around inc. Teal and Wigeon were spooked a couple of times by a Peregrine - nevertheless had good views.

At Parkgate ringtail Hen Harrier and female Marsh Harrier gave really close up views at the southern end of the parade near the Old Quay pub.

What no avocets Sid?

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Geoff Walton wrote:

What, no little owls Sid?

No Little Owls Geoff - we found "the box in the tree" but there had been a group up the path before we arrived and they may have spooked the birds. Not only didn't we find Little Owls we didn't see Short eared or Barnies either but we did get our target bird the Garganey as well as the Harriers at Parkgate which was back to its normal quite best without the hoardes of "high tide" tourists

Geoff Walton · Status: Offline

What, no little owls Sid?

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Quick trip over to Burton Marsh this afternoon - it was most odd to see the marsh with so much water on top with 9 Bewick's Swans swimming around before high water. Went down to Decca pools to look for the Garganey and one drake duly obliged - but it and the other birds around inc. Teal and Wigeon were spooked a couple of times by a Peregrine - nevertheless had good views.

At Parkgate ringtail Hen Harrier and female Marsh Harrier gave really close up views at the southern end of the parade near the Old Quay pub.

richard howells 2 · Status: Offline

Re: Moles, Pete Hines.

Saw two swimming the ship canal at the Woolston Eyes open day last year. Never seen it before either!

Chris Evans · Status: Offline

Good to see you again, Geoff.

I travelled with Phil H. and enjoyed the day. Three additions to the life list - Spoonbill, Peregrine and Sanderling. Not bad at all.

It was fascinating actually seeing the tide come in so quickly and so far.

Like a lot of people, I was very surprised to see so many birders!

Chris

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

I got there at 9.15 after starting the morning at Moore to try for some gulls. Parked up fine but people were gathering even then. Walked up the estuary first thing and saw a ringtail, kestrels and loads of pipits ( couldn't make out any water pipits though). Back near the car park saw another two harriers, peregrine on the post, possible Merlin, buzzard, kestrels and lots of pipits, snipe being flushed by the tide, egrets etc Wasn't quite the spectacle I was hoping for guess a lot of the prey items had been washed out the day before or on last months tide. Still a very enjoyable day.

Phil Hampson · Status: Offline

Looks like we made the wrong call going to West Kirby, the sun and parking meant we didn't stop. Onto Wallasey and NB where we had the expected waders but missed the purple sands by 10mins! Should have taken the Burton option.

Phil

Geoff Walton · Status: Offline

We three. had a good day, saw much the same as Pete,Phil and Anne. including the pair of little owls by the box in the tree.
It was nice to meet up with John and Jan Lyons again, and Chris, a fellow Chadkirk birder.

It was my first time to such an event, and I too was amazed by the sheer number of birders.

We finished the day at Burton Marsh with about 20 or so others. Thanks to the guys who pointed out the bewick swans. The other two went up the track to see some short eared owls, but I was shot by then, and just binned around by the car.

The only negative, was that the sun over the estuary stopped me ID'ing stuff.

Anne Wilkinson · Status: Offline

I arrived at 10.30am and had to park right at the other end to the Ship. We stayed at that end though as a local told us he had seen a Jack snipe there yesterday. No luck on that one but brilliant views of the Spoonbill, a Ringtail taking a Starling and a female Marsh harrier.

The same guy also told us where to see PB Brent geese - park in Pinfold Lane, West Kirby, walk straight across the golf course to the embankment overlooking the estuary and scope across to Hilbre. Sure enough, we saw approx 20 Brents swimming the length of the island and then going ashore on the LH promontory.

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

There were two things I've never seen here before:

1) the sheer numbers of birdspotters, you'd have thought there were two firsts for Britain here, cars seemed to outweigh parking capacity. I arrived at 11ish and had to park in a cul-de-sac in the village, and

2) never ever seen anywhere before... a mole - swimming!

Otherwise in a brief visit 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 female Merlin, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 unringed immature Spoonbill, loads of Little Egrets etc. Oh and a pint in The Ship

Nipped up to New Brighten after though didn't see any Purple Sands, dogs were flushing everything off the rocks.

Anthony Dixon · Status: Offline

Must admit I was a little disappointed with Parkgate today...
A very distant Marsh Harrier was my highlight.
Loads of Skylarks as Phil said, also 2 Little Egret showing well, 2 Stonechat and a Little Owl in a tree near the Golf course.
Harvest Mouse trying to evade tide was the only mammal I saw.

West Kirby Marine Lake afterwards...
1 Shag

Anthony

Phil Hampson · Status: Offline

I've never been before for high tide and it was! Right upto the wall on the baths car park. Kestrel, peregrine, merlin, buzzard and ring tail harriers were the raptors seen. No SEO which was very surprising. Also no mammals seen! Numerous pipits, meadow, rock and a single water. Spectacular numbers of skylarks. Passing waders as to be expected with good numbers of all including black-tailed godwits, redshank, oystercatcher, curlew. The spoonbill was on the marsh about 400 yards away when we arrived.
All in all a brilliant few hours. We were there before 09:30 and a good number of people already there, by high tide at 12:09 there must have been hundred's and there were cars parked everywhere, sensibly.

Phil

-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 07:46:14 AM

paul brady · Status: Offline

Holly Page wrote:

I've just booked tomorrow off work so I'll be there (dark grey 09 Yaris). I was there yesterday with Dennis and a couple of others and the tide didn't really come up too far so let's hope for better tomorrow!

According the the RSPB website, high tide is at 12.09pm but the RSPB wardens will be there for the "Parkgate High Tide Bird Watch" from 10.30 so it may be a good idea to arrive before this to guarantee a parking space.

Tide flooded Heswall entirley today - good views of ringtail (young male) and another ringtail (female).

With regards to the event - we have the official start time 10.30am but will be there earlier to try and secure as much space as feasible for birdwatchers/pedestrians where there is no wall at the end of the car park - so if we ask you to move then please do not be offended we are just trying to ensure that there is a pedestrian area for the safety of joe public (and of course nobody would like their car scratched by a tripod!)

Thank You for your cooperation in this matter and lets look forward to another spectacular high tide

PS For those who cannot make Tuesday we will be there Wednesday too - and a TV crew will be too .... !

Holly Page · Status: Offline

I've just booked tomorrow off work so I'll be there (dark grey 09 Yaris). I was there yesterday with Dennis and a couple of others and the tide didn't really come up too far so let's hope for better tomorrow!

According the the RSPB website, high tide is at 12.09pm but the RSPB wardens will be there for the "Parkgate High Tide Bird Watch" from 10.30 so it may be a good idea to arrive before this to guarantee a parking space.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted by Dennis Atherton today, Sunday 28th February:

I could not find a topic for parkgate and did not want keep putting sightings in inner marsh farm link so i thought this would be a good new topic

Good day today, finally got one of my bogeybirds, spoonbill,

showing well at the boathouse end around fourish, also barn owl and a few ring tail harriers, kestrel, perigrine. short eared owls showing in morning at tide peak, also loads of redshank, curlew, oystercatchers, a few dunlin and bar tailed godwits, shelduck, skylarks, meadow pipits and stonechats, pintailed ducks showing furthur along slightly, also red breasted merganser,

on the none birding front, a fox on the marsh and a wet through hare got pushed inland by the high tide,

peak highest tide is on tuesday if anyone is going, 10.19m if i have read it right, good luck to any one going

Phil Hampson · Status: Offline

I'll be there, you can't miss me! Dark grey Focus. Aiming to arrive about 10:00 to get good parking place. Just need the right weather conditions to view and for a really high water.

Phil

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

Thanks as always Sid, I may start off at the old baths then try about 100m west - there's a spot where there's a stream entering the marsh and an old slipway - although I guess just past the retaining wall of the baths where the first stream enters would be the prime spot - just don't fancy having to camp there from 9am!

Looking at the map Riverbank Road is the point I walk up to from the baths whenever I visit anyway - so I may patrol that path first whilst the tide starts rolling in!

High water is shown at 11.56 on Tuesday [highly recommend Admiralty Easytide for tide forecasts is anyone needs them - free seven day forecasts for the whole UK - and its the official UKHO service]

Guess the last 45 minutes before high tide will see all the action!

Good luck everyone who's going! Peter

-- Edited by Pete Welch on Sunday 28th of February 2010 08:29:47 AM

John Lyon · Status: Offline

Hi Geoff,

Jan and I bought the Razor HD Vortex scope from Pennine Optics at Rochdale. Very pleased with it. See you down at Parkgate u3. Hope there will be somewhere to stand when we get there??

J &J

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Geoff Walton wrote:

Think it's Noon John. Our lead birder says we three are going, and I am being picked up at 9am Looking to see you both again, and anyone else

p.s. did you buy one??

-- Edited by Geoff Walton on Saturday 27th of February 2010 09:40:43 PM

Geoff our posts crossed

sid ashton · Status: Offline

John Lyon wrote:

Looking forward to the high tide at Parkgate on Tuesday and hope to meet fellow members face to face. What time is it forecast for guys. Is it about midday approx?

John and Janice

John the actual time of the high tide is just before twelve but on these occasions much of the action takes place earlier and of course the car park will fill up.

Geoff Walton · Status: Offline

Think it's Noon John. Our lead birder says we three are going, and I am being picked up at 9am Looking to see you both again, and anyone else

p.s. did you buy one??

-- Edited by Geoff Walton on Saturday 27th of February 2010 09:40:43 PM

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Phil Panton wrote:

Glad to see the Spoonbill is still at Parkgate, hoping to be there for the high tide on tuesday.

Phil/Pete depending on the height the water gets to you may have to move upstream to find the Spoonbill, if it is indeed still around. It found its way as far up as Neston Old Quay at the last Spring tide in February.

To get the best results from one of these occasions low atmospheric pressure and a wind with some westerly it helps. As an alternative view point Riverbank Road in Heswall may be considered.

John Lyon · Status: Offline

Looking forward to the high tide at Parkgate on Tuesday and hope to meet fellow members face to face. What time is it forecast for guys. Is it about midday approx?

John and Janice

Phil Panton · Status: Offline

Tuesdays tide is slightly higher at 10.2 than the previous ones in february, & the forecast is for sunny intervals.

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

I'm tempted by the Tuesday high tide too - I've had a day booked as leave for a month in case its predicted to be a good one - I did wonder whether the high tide last month and the one due on Monday [just a bit lower] would mean there would be less of a spectacle on Tuesday? Anyone with any advice? I was also thinking that whilst there can be a couple of hundred people at the old baths anywhere along the path north west of the baths should be reasonable?

Cheers, Peter

Phil Panton · Status: Offline

Glad to see the Spoonbill is still at Parkgate, hoping to be there for the high tide on tuesday.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Just got back from a cracking couple of hours at Parkgate - got there around 3.30 - first up the Spoonbill on the marsh near the chip shop then in order - Peregrine, Stonechat, Kestrel, Merlin (female close views on post), Ring tail Hen Harrier (x2), Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier (female but distant) and Barn Owl near the Boat House pub. On the way back stopped for a possible second look at the Spoonbill no luck but found a second Barn Owl in front on Mostyn House School - fantanstic close up views and whilst watching the Barnie a further Ring tail put in an appearance.

Nice to meet Gavin Delaney but you left just too soon for the second Barnie Gavin

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

Thanks Henry, I'll do some research - I also didn't realise how much silver/white plumage a normal Carbo could have in breeding plumage until I got my new Collins guide out so I'll do some research. Thanks also for your contribution to the NWB Whooper thread which got me to Shotwick: today an intriguing individual that Whooper and well worth a visit! Cheers, Peter

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Pete Welch wrote:

a very silvery headed Cormorant - I believe it may be an indicator of a european bird?

I believe the situation is much more complex than this Pete. White plumes in the head (Filoplumes) can be seen in carbo ('british'/coastal) subspecies birds. Continental subspecies birds (sinensis) are now thought to breed in some British inland colonies too.

The 'Gular pouch angle' (i've tried to limit the technobabble!) is quite a good way of assessing the subspecies but can be subjective in the field unless good views are obtained. Bit of a minefield in field identification I would say.
There are some interesting articles on cormorant subspecies id around on the net, if you are brave and want to explore the issue further!
Thanks. Henry.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Friday 19th of February 2010 08:32:37 PM

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

Wirral misc

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

RE: The Wirral

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Yes Phil, but it was Valentine's day

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

A weekend birding trip for you Sid??? Thought you were more of a weekday birder??