Spotted a Kingfisher at the Mersey at the end of Southgate today. I only saw it when it flew off after my dog jumped in to cool off and disturbed it. It had been sat on a semi submerged shrub. When they fly they remind my so much of Hummingbirds. You can only see their wings as a blur they are beating so fast.
Maybe of interest to Tetrad person, male and female Pied Wagtails and 2 Juveniles in front of Wellacre 6th form college, Sunday morning. Also regular sightings of up to 4 adult Rooks at Woodsend but no idea if they are nesting near by.
Harris Hawk with jesses over Flixton Fields this morning, mobbed by Carrion Crow, or as someone on the touchline next to ours said "Look at those two Buzzards mating up there"!
Walk covered most of area north of railway line. Total counts for singing Warblers were Blackcaps 10, Chiffchaffs 11 and Willow Warblers 3. No other warblers as yet. Also seen were 2 Willow Tits and an immature Woodpigeon. Etc. etc. etc.
Walk from Mile road to Jack Lane, then round to Fly Ash Tip via Ship Canal. Usually a good spot for Lesser Whitethroat, but not this morning. Good numbers of Blackcap, also Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff. Reed Warbler at Jack Lane. Sand Martins over Mile Road. Cormorant on River Mersey. Unusually very little seen from Fly Ash Tip except good numbers of Linnets, Gadwall and one Reed Bunting.
Sunday, April 3rd:
1 Blackcap singing along Irlam Road, outside Acre Hall School.
Heard from garden, Stott Drive:
GtSWoodpecker 1 drumming.
Goldcrest 1 singing.
Chiffchaff 1 singing.
Missel Thrush 1 singing.
Coal Tit 1 singing.
No sign of any of the regular 20-30 wintering Rooks at Woodsend Park nesting this year.
Canada Geese 19 Moorhen 7 Coot 1 Mallard 30+ Pinkfooted Goose 1. I presume this is part of the Canada flock and not an off-course migrating bird. It had no rings.
Seen/heard over Stott Drive, 1 Yellow Wagtail. First time I've seen a Yellow Wagtail north of the M/c-LPL railway line. Also a short Willow warble from the field behind the house. That is, a Willow Warbler warbling. Have had up to 40 House Sparrows in garden, which led to the inevitable visit from a male Sparrowhawk. Now down to 39 Sparrows. 20+ Rooks daily on Woodsend Park and around Woodsend Circle, also House Martins around the old shops area.
ETW and environs: Oystercatcher 3 Grey Wagtail 1f or juv Pied Wagtail 1m 1juv House Martin 1. Also 2 seen around usual Wellacre Circle shops. Swallows 6+ Swifts 10+ GtSWoodpecker 1 Buzzard 1 LBB Gull 1 BH Gull 2
Birding from Stott Drive back garden this afternoon(Sat. 5th June) amazingly produced 3 bursts from a Grasshopper Warbler, moving around the field behind the house.
Also a GtSWoodpecker ad feeding a juv in a nearby tree.
Also noted: Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, 1 Bullfinch. 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 BH and 1 LBB Gull over. 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Song Thrush singing. etc.etc.