Hearing news of a probable Pallid Harrier on the Wirral and reading that it was a first for Cheshire, I ventured down the motorway to have a look on Saturday afternoon.

As the weather was pretty horrendous as I approached the Dee Marshes area I decided to divert first to Burton Mere Wetlands to sit the torrential rain out, that visit is posted in the appropriate thread! As the weather cleared a little I decided that the best vantage point would be the promontory of land near the Harp Inn, Neston, I see it is being called Neston Quay by some locals (as opposed to Neston Old Quay further north). On arrival I could see a crowd of birders gathered and on asking the first one I met was told the bird was out on the marsh but down in the grass. At first I expected it to be out of view but when directed to where it was I could see it was sat up and showing as well as can be expected given that it was almost in Wales  By zooming up over 50x the views weren't bad and the head markings were obvious. The bird had a pronounced collar and distinctive contrasting face markings. Even with these limited views it looked good for Pallid. As it sat in the grass at least one Short-eared Owl passed over it and a Great White Egret landed in a dyke behind it. These species were seen without moving the scope off the harrier, they just flew into view! Eventually after a long wait the bird took to the air and was watched floating effortlessly over the saltmarsh with Connah's Quay Power Station as the backdrop. It came close enough to afford good scoped views and I was surprised that the bird was more brown than rusty coloured on the underparts as it had been reported as a juvenile and all juvs that I have seen have been noticeably rusty underneath. I assumed that someone had had better views than I and had nailed other features to determine age but later a discussion online and close up pictures led to the bird being aged as a female. This I am happier with. All the jizz and the facial pattern pointed were great for Pallid (although a hybrid was mentioned in some circles before better pictures emerged) and so a first for Cheshire had been seen  The bird headed off at speed northwards and dropped in the distance so I took that as a cue to leave. News came out later that it had roosted off Parkgate Old Baths car park so signs are that it may stay all winter, which is excellent news. There is an immature Hen Harrier on the marshes too, which also roosted here.

Hi Phil,
like I stated in my post and like Simon reiterates, we were in no way doubting the Greater Yellowlegs sighting and we were happy with ours being Greenshank as the white rumps did indeed extend up the back.
The report came when high tide was in full flow anyway so the bird was already on Hilbre and we had 2 Greenshank in our sights around the Leasowe groyne.
Cheers

Rob Creek wrote:

---

Of note...
1 of the Greenshank we saw on the groyne was very different to the other and had very yellowish legs as opposed to the greenish grey legs of the other bird. I'm in no way doubting the Greater Yellowlegs sighting but it was just an observation that could've been overlooked, ours were definitely Greenshank though!

---

 Rob.

Observer reports Greater Yellowlegs seen on Hilbre had square white rump rather than extending up back which rules out Greenshank. He's very conscious of the pitfalls of aberrant greenshank given there was a Greater Yellowlegs reported a few years ago at an inland reservoir that was later re-identifed as a Greenshank.

Cheers

Had a pleasant couple of hours on the beach at New Brighton this morning  (c.08.15 - 10.15) until the rain came in on the ebbing tide. During that time had views of just 4 Leach's Petrels over the river and one giving us a close up flying display over the sand. Also of note, among the many gulls a sparkling Great Black-backed, a lone Gannet and many Oystercatchers over the water.

Another after work visit to the Wirral with Simon Gough yesterday and we met up with Chris Chandler later on.

Hoylake...we didn't stay long, only Gulls and a few distant Curlew and Cormorant.

Leasowe Gunsite (approx 30 mins here)
- 7 Leach's Storm Petrel (2 in same bins view)
- 1 Manx Shearwater
- 1 Great Skua harassing the Gulls

...and another large Skua seen doing the same out towards New Brighton, probably a Great Skua but difficult to tell I always think given that juv Pomarine's are quite large and Arctic's can appear large in the right light conditions.

Also a Kestrel hovering right above us at Leasowe and a cracking Hobby flew right infront of us across the M53 on our way there.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 14th of September 2017 03:30:45 PM

Rather than New Brighton I chose to go to the gun site near leasowe after work. I had 8 Leach's between 4.40 and 5.40 and then a further 16 in the next 45 minutes before the movement seemed to die off completely. 24 in 2hrs felt quite good. Some birds very close in whilst others were very distant.

Other birds of note were few and far between - singles of Kittiwake, Fulmar and a Guillemot sat on the sea were just about it.

A kite surfer stopped on his way past to ask what the small black and white birds hovering on the sea were. He was amazed something so small could survive at sea. Frankly I always am too.

A fantastic show of 44 Leach's Storm Petrels at New Brighton today plus
Little Gull 2
Sandwich Tern

Yes, excellent time y'day early afternoon (Mon 11th) for 2+ hours from Wallasey Lifeguards; good company too

1 Sabine's Gull ~3 miles away (!) in shipping channel in front of Crosby, presumably the same as seen from New Brighton an hour earlier; classic 3-tone wing markings, more buoyant jizz & clearly different from the many Kittiwakes (and confirmed by others!)
~40 Leach's Petrels, some very close
1-2 Arctic Skuas
1-5 Gannet
~5 Manx Shearwater along shoreline
1 Sanderling
100 Oystercatcher
1 Fulmar along shoreline
~10 Tern sp

Interesting point (noted y'day & previously) that the rarer species sometimes prefer the deeper water, ie the shipping channel - though not exclusively of course; the Leachs are less fussy

Unfortunately, I didn't see the Wilson's Petrel (wow!), Storm Petrel, Grey Phalaropes, Black Terns observed by others along the peninsular

Well worth keeping an eye on the weather for the next few days, as there could be repeat performances; high tide will be late afternoon

Rob Creek and I raced over to Hoylake after work and over 30 mins or so were thrilled to see 5 Leach's Petrels battling the wind to cross the sands on the falling tide. This was a spanking lifer for both of us and a really big sighting for me, a regional speciality that I was wondering when I would ever see, after a series of barren autumns for the right combination of weather and bird passage.

The overall environment was stunning, a setting sun shining brightly on the shallow pools on the beach, with a thrashing line of breakers in the background and gulls wheeling around all over the place, while waders and Shelducks were dotted about. Rob also saw a Sabine's Gull and Arctic Skua in the background while I was jammed on one of the petrels, refusing to be distracted. The birds were moving so slowly across the beach, it was amazing to think they were probably in the middle of the Atlantic a few days ago. I had a really beautiful view of one, showing its plumage features and pattering flight clearly.

We relocated to Leasowe to see if the viewing was better there, and noted another 2 Leach's, again doggedly battling westwards. They were fractionally closer but the light was going. We saw a couple of distant Skuas here, probably Arctics.

All in all 7 birds in an hour was a pretty decent return, we were like little kids at a birthday party! I can't wait to see some more now!

About 3 hours at New Brighton with Chris Sutton

Good numbers of Leach's Petrel including 2 very good close in views!
1 Sabine's gull (bird of the day)
1 Sandwich Tern
10-15 redshank
2 Sanderling
1 Mediterranean Gull
A few Oystercatchers and Turnstones

Plus the usuals

Originally posted today by Kevin Forde

 

Denhall Quay:

 

Goldfinch Marsh harrier Short eared owl Kestrel Raven Carrion crow Little egret Buzzard Meadow pipit 

 

9 Waxwing in the Boathouse pub car park at Parkgate at 3pm; feeding in a berry tree in the car park.

Info thanks to Dave Steel

West Kirby Marine Lake, at high tide, Highlights

Red Breasted Merganser
Goldeneye
Pale Bellied Brent Goose 23
Cormorant c60 on middle eye
Large movement of Dunlin and Redshank

Neston Sewerage Works 8.15 - 9.45am

Water Pipit 1, On the closest filter bed to the perimeter fence, in a 90 min search I was rewarded with a measley 3 sec view
Chiffchaff 3/4
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Goldcrest 2
Linnet 4

After a visit to Burton Mere Wetlands I made my way up and then back down the Wirral, the highlights were as follows.

At Neston Sewage Treatment Works a single Water Pipit showed well on the filter beds and a Chiffchaff was in trees just outside the works with a couple of Goldcrests. Plenty of Little Egrets were on the marsh and Pink-footed Geese flew out along the water line.

At New Brighton at least 6 Purple Sandpipers were easily seen roosting on the Marine Lake Pontoon at high tide along with lots of Dunlin, Turnstone and Redshank. A thorough search of the gulls in the area failed to turn up the hoped for Mediterranean Gull.

Next stop Heswall shore where I joined a few birding mates to scan the wader flocks. Huge Flocks of Knot were seen with large numbers of both Dunlin and Sanderling amongst them. A few Bar-tailed Godwits were picked out on the tideline too. It was amazing just how distant the flocks were so soon after high tide. It goes to show how quickly thetide drops on these flat mudflats/sands. Looking over towards West Kirby a small group of Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen on 'bird rock', which saved me a trip to the marine lake to look for this species.

With the visibility deteriorating and the drizzle getting heavier I called it a day, but even given the poor weather a fabulous days birding was had, The Wirral never dissappoints

west Kirby marine lake & shore after high tide.

a nice mixture of thousands of waders just up from the marine lake included...

bar tailed godwits
knot
dunlin
sanderling
redshank
curlew
oystercatcher
only 10 ringed plover & 4 grey plover
1 little egret
54 shelduck

4 red breasted mergansers just flown from the marine lake as I arrived & 89 brent geese flew past heading to hilbre island.

I made a short visit to new brighton but didn't arrive until about 1.30 so there were no waders on the pontoon, I had a look on the rocks just behind perch rock but could only find redshank, oystercatcher, dunlin & turnstone no purple sandpipers.

Hoylake Kings Gap, Height tide Highlights

Bar tailed Godwit 32
Knot c200
Grey Plover c40
Dunlin c400
Sanderling c30
Oystercatcher c300
Curlew c30

Oddly no Ringed Plover present

-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Saturday 28th of January 2017 02:31:27 PM

New Brighton pontoon over high tide:

Purple Sandpiper 10
Redshank 80+
Turnstone 200+
Knot 1
Dunlin 6

My wife and I popped up to the Wirral today for the high tide.

RSPB Burton Marsh
Had an hour on site picking up a few year ticks, nothing of note for me although one gentleman did disturb a woodcock

Denhall Quay - footpath north to Moorside Lane and return via Old Quay Lane.

We had intended to watch the tide in from the car outside the Harp pub, but the marshes at Little Neston were full of dog walkers clearing the area of wildlife.

We decided to walk up to Neston on the foreshore and return by Old Quay Lane to get 2 shots at the water pipits at the sewage works.

On the foreshore leg we saw a great white egret and a merlin, but no water pipits. At the water treatment end of Old Quay Lane we walked across the horse field to the sewage works where another bird watcher put us on a water pipit in a filtration tank.

I am ashamed to say it flew off when we arrived but it was soon spotted nearby in a puddle. We waited for it to return to the tank for about 30 mins and saw a couple of chiffchaff while we waited. We then decided to try Parkgate and get some fish and chips.

Parkgate

We got our fish and chips and drove up to the baths to eat them. A marsh harrier flew by while we ate and we saw 2 more later.

Finally a female hen harrier appeared and we decided to leave as the cold wind had frozen us to the core.

All in all it ended up not a bad day out, with 13 more year ticks and one lifer for us.

It might not be completely common knowledge, but a healthy roost of Marsh Harriers seems to have sprung up at Neston Reedbed this autumn. I saw 10 come in on the 5th but I wasn't sure it was OK to post it. Having spoken to RSPB people from Burton Mere in the meantime, they aren't concerned about it being posted, in fact they published an article on their website describing the roost and its location. So the birds we saw today were mostly heading in there to roost, with 1 out hunting the tideline. I wasn't really counting today and also the birds that have already dropped in can fly up again when another bird flies over, but there have evidently been 12 counted in to there in recent weeks, so it might have been 10+, but I'd have said 7-8 myself. But that is plenty by anyone's standards! Also interesting to see if the Hen Harriers will begin roosting with the Marshies. The male Hen headed that way before it got dark, and the ringtails I saw the other week were nowhere to be seen at the Old Baths.

The setting sun created some spectacularly attractive views across the marsh. What a great place to see out the afternoon.

Just over three and a half hours on the estuary today from 11am, split between Denhall Lane and Quayside by the Harp Inn. Weather cool and windy but we managed to avoid any rain. High tide was a few minutes before midday.

Some great raptor activity and plenty of geese around too. Lots of toing and froing way out by the river, some of it too distant to identify. We were to have gone on to Parkgate to finish the afternoon but decided to pay a quick visit to Burton Mere Wetlands instead, after hearing the Long eared Owl had been showing. There was also the probability of adding Cattle Egret to the day list. Amongst others :-

Marsh Harrier (4-5)
Hen Harrier r/t (2)
Merlin (1)
Peregrine (1)
Kestrel (1)
Buzzard (1)
Short eared Owl (2)
Long eared Owl (1) (BMW)
Cattle Egret (6) (BMW)
Little Egret (c.35)
Great White Egret (1)
Green Woodpecker (1)
Ruff (3)
Black tailed Godwit (c.25)
Dunlin
Brent Goose (150 min)
Pink footed Goose (c.450)

last hour of light at the harp inn...

4 short eared owls
3 hen harriers, 2 ringtails & stonking male constantly being harassed by a crow driving it further out towards the dee.
4 marsh harriers, again in one scope view
1 merlin
2 kestrel
1 stonechat
3 great white egret, distant
lots of little egrets going to roost
plus all the usuals

after burton mere i spent around 45 mins at the harp inn...

1 hen harrier, ringtail.
4 marsh harriers, all in one scope view.
1 merlin
1 peregrine falcon
3 kestrel
lots of little egrets going to roost.

Friday 30th September
Leasowe Lighthouse sea front for high tide at approx 11am.

Firstly...
3 Sanderling and 1 Dunlin - all 4 very confiding birds to within feet of me on the sea defence blocks near the car park. The splashing waves eventually got too much for them.

Of note on / around the rocks to the west of the lighthouse.
- Redshank c200
- Dunlin c25
- Oystercatcher 2
- Turnstone 7
- Ringed Plover 5
- Little Egret 8
- Grey Heron 1
- Common Gull 2

Out to sea.
- Common Scoter, masses on the sea and flying around, I couldn't put a number on it.
- Meadow Pipit, constantly flying in off the sea, couple 100 at least
- Sandwich Tern 11 fishing
- Curlew 1 over the sea

When the tide receded, 100's of Oystercatchers started appearing out on the salt flats, they must've roosted elsewhere at high tide.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 30th of September 2016 09:21:32 PM