Red Rocks Marsh NNR, Merseyside

[Jane Turner]

I thought since I spent most of my birding time at Red Rocks, I should keep a thread going in parallel to the one for my house. There is more chance of something exciting appearing here and I will endeavour to take a few pictures to liven it up!


If you want to see info on RR - check >---HERE---<



Yesterday was my first dawn trip of the spring. I'd seen a Wheatear the previous morning and was greeted by the sight of a new, cold looking male clinging to the rocks under the sea wall. Later on there were two more on the 16th fairway of the Royal Liverpool GC. Overhead passage was promising, with 3 Grey Wagtails, about 50 Meadow Pipits and a few finches; most interestingly a handful of Siskin and a single Lesser Redpoll. Other birds moving south, as nearly all birds do at Red Rocks, regardless of season, were 25 or so Woodpigeons and more interestingly single Rook and Lapwing - both unusual records.

Breeding is well underway, with 6 Skylarks and 4 Reed Buntings singing. I also blundered into a pair of Mallard at the south end of the marsh - my first of the year in the area.

The only other notable bird was a large female Sparrowhawk, intially seen pursued by a pair of Magpies, though it soon turned the tables and was last seen charging through the dunes in hot pursuit of the rather surprised sounding Corvids!

I'll put together a year list shortly - though I have already missed a bit of a crippler - a Kingfisher on the Natterjack scapes! I think my last here was as long ago as 1976! Speaking of Toads, there was plenty of gratuitous Common Toad sex going on in the southern pool, which is already full of Frog Spawn...

Oh and I nealy forgot, I surprised a Water Rail under the boardwalk. It sounds like there are at least 5 left.

[Jane Turner]

I also forgot the single Tree Sparrow. I'm hoping they are going to breed nearby again this year!

Here are the 51 species I have recorded so far:
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo A
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus A
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus A
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola A
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus A
Sanderling Calidris alba A
Dunlin Calidris alpina A
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata A
Common Redshank Tringa totanus A
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus A
Mew Gull Larus canus A
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus A
Herring Gull Larus argentatus A
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus A
Rock Pigeon Columba livia AC
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus A
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto A
Sky Lark Alauda arvensis A
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis A
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea A
White / Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba A
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes A
Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis A
European Robin Erithacus rubecula A
Stonechat Saxicola torquata A
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe A
Common Blackbird Turdus merula A
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos A
Goldcrest Regulus regulus A
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus A
Coal Tit Parus ater A
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus A
Great Tit Parus major A
Black-billed Magpie Pica pica A
Carrion Crow Corvus corone A
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris A
House Sparrow Passer domesticus A
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus A
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs A
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris A
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis A
Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus A
Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina A
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos AC
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus C
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea A
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus A
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus A
Rook Corvus frugilegus A
Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret A
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus A

[Rob Smallwood]

No Red-backed Shrike?

[Stephen Dunstan]

No Red-backed Shrike?

Bit early Rob - isn't this a year list?

[Jane Turner]

Last week of May is the peak... in fact all 6 have been between May 19th and June 1st! My life list for Red Rocks has 189 more species on it :)

[Rob Smallwood]

My fault- "skim reading" posts between appointments!

[Jane Turner]

My fault- "skim reading" posts between appointments!
You are forgiven. Would you like advance warning of the next RB Shrike? Actually I want a Woodchat this year!

[Rob Smallwood]

For me Lesser Grey would be nice!

[Jane Turner]

For me Lesser Grey would be nice!
Not overly likely in Merseyside I'm afraid Rob. Though wasn't there one at Aberdaron a few years ago.... and there was the Issy at Cemlyn. I'll let you know when I find one

[Tanny]

Hi Jane, once again you've put out a great thread about your bird spotting and it’s an impressive list, thanks for the info. Yesterday I used my free bus pass for the first time and got the bus at the end of the lane and went to Birkenhead, and then I got a bus for West Kirby. I almost got off at Pinfold lane, planning to cross the Golf Course and check out the Natterjack Toads, just to see if they were spawning yet. However, I continued on and alighted at the station. I walked to the Marina but there were so many Yachts and people that no bird would venture into the area. I visited the Ashton Park where I saw a White Wagtail chasing flies on the bowling green. I continued my walk along the Wirral Way to Thurstaston where I stopped to watch from the hide, a Bullfinch, Long-tail Tits and a couple of Tree Sparrows at the feeding station. The Frogs and Toads were in full breeding and were a great attraction to the crowd of youngsters gathered there. Continuing on the Way I turned up to the Dungeon Wood then passed the Farm and back home. I had walked over five miles, and my old arthritic knee was shattered. Spring is now in full swing and on this walk I saw 1 Comma Butterfly and 3 Peacock Butterflies. Best of all I saw and heard three Yellowhammers. Sorry I didn’t get off at Pinfold lane, I might have seen you there. Tanny.

[Jane Turner]

You might indeed Tanny.

[Jane Turner]

SSW4 8/8 warm still, light rain overnight

Migrants
The 5 Wheatears seen from home were still in the end garden, including my first two females of the year. I thought I might have caught a glimpse of a Black Redstart with them, but a 40 minute stakeout produced nothing but Wheatears! There was a single, silent Chiffchaff (new for the year) in the point garden and there may have been more, but no crests audible today. A single Sand Martin over the point was my first of the year (55 species - I missed a few).

overhead passage
4 Woodpigeons went south as did a party of 6 Siskins. Not a great day for OP - but then again I was about 3 hours late :)

Breeding Birds/other
I think there may be 8 pairs of Skylark breeding and the Reed Buntings are building nests. A Grey heron flew over the south end of the marsh and there are still plenty of Water Rails in the reed bed.

If I'd been keener I'd have taken a look at the incoming tide to add to the year list. Still plenty of time left in the year to do that!

[Jane Turner]

The female Black Redstart is still present, it been there 3 days and probably a week.... I thought I saw one from home, but its bit iffy to claim at that range based on only a tail quiver!

[Jane Turner]

SSE 1/8 cloud
, vis 4 miles

Migrants
A really early Sedge Warbler spluttered into song as I walked past. There were plenty of Willow Warblers 9 , Chiffcaffs 4 and Goldcrests 35, as well as Blackcap, Wheatear 6, and a male Common Redstart. Unfortunately though no sign of the long staying Black Redstart today. I guess it took advantage of a break in the relentless rain.

Overhead Passage
Meadow Pipit 250, Alba Wagtail 15, Sand Martin 6, Woodpiegeon 185 as well as a couple of Jackdaw and a great range of finches, including Brambling, Bullfinch and Redpoll.

Waifs and strays included single Redwing and Snipe, the latter chosing the beach over a perfectly good reed-bed!

Breeders - no change - bar the first Sedgie back and singing. Both adult Peregines made a hash of catching a pigeon, the feamle twice, though it did release a big cloud of feathers.


64 species for the year

[Jane Turner]

I've neglected this thread but thought it was bumping this up to give people gen on how to see the two Richard's Pipits that are in the salt marsh between Red Rocks and West Kirby.


The best place to park is Pinfold lane http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=321040&y=387570&z=3&sv=321040,387570&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=321040&ay=387570

Follow the public footpath across the golf course and you will be able to see the salt marsh that contains the birds.


The best place to see the birds well from (once they are located) is from the dunes. Though further away from the bird than standing by, or as I witnessed yesterday IN, the salt marsh, you can look down into the pools, gutters and long grasses and see the birds well.

[Jane Turner]

The Richard's Pipits are still there this morning, Along with a nice pair of Stonechats. One bird performed the most classic hover and land I have ever seen.

[Jane Turner]

http://www.stevenround-birdphotography.com/Richards%20Pipit.htm

Here is one of Steve Round's fabulous pictures.

[Jane Turner]

The Richard's pipits are still present. Also 4 Stonechat, Merlin and Peregrine.

[Jane Turner]

The RIchard's Pipit is still knocking about - its been here for a fourtnight now. I failed to see it on the deck, but am curiious to see what age it is - I wonder if it could be of one of last winters two long stayers. This morning it came of the golf course and landed in between the Natterjack Scrapes. Lapland Bunting went the other way! The first Bramblings of the autumn went south with Chaffinches.

Not many migrants today - a Song Thrush in the dunes, a Chiffchaff in the mash Sallows and a few Goldcrests in the point gardens. resident birds included two Stonechats and a female Peregrine - the latter sat on the beach. Finally I surprised a Water Rail at the south end of the marsh - catching it out in the open.

[Jane Turner]

There was a good dawn passage on Saturday. 500+ Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings, 750 Starlings, 70 Greenfinches, 25 Meadow Pipits, 1 Rock Pipit and a largish "tsip-ing" bunting.

Also dispersing was a single Great-spotted Woodpecker which looked well out of place in a Gorse bush, and a Jackdaw which came in off the sea. Three different Peregrines were on show, including one ad female defending her kill against two hungry Carrion crows.

Otherwise the Water Rail count appears to have made it to double figures juding from the frequency and distribution of calls in the marsh. No sign of the Richard's Pipit, but we only had a half-hearted attempt at finding it.

[Jane Turner]

There was a Ring Ouzel and 4 Greenland Wheatears this morning. Thought it was time to keep this thread updated.

[Jane Turner]

14th April
ESE1 1/8th hazy, vis 1 mile
A classic morning weatherwise, if a little early in the year.

At first light there were a few Willow Warblers in the Poplars and I stood on a female Ring Ouzel that took off like a rocket and flew to Hilbre. A trip down the boardwalk produced a singingGrassopper Warbler and a Redstart at the south end of the marsh. A second Ring Ouzel, a smart ad male dropped into the ivy-filled hollow, known locally as the superbowl. A trip down the gardens to see it drew a blank initially, until an Ouzel was sighted in the south end of the dunes. This bird flew off high. Shortly afterwards an Imm male Ouzel appeared in the poplars, then showed very well in the end gardens for an hour or so before becoming more elusive. So at least three and possibly 4 Ouzels were present.

Overhead passage included three Tree Pipits, about 6 Swallows a Yellow Wagtail a Redpoll and a few White Wagtails. At about eight thirty there was a notable arrival of fresh migrants, with about 15 Wheatears and 20 or so Willow Warblers at the point. The most unexpected and intially rare looking bird of the morning was a Redwing which dropped into the Poplars for a minute or so before leaving to the south. There were three Sandwich Terns offshore

Three Tree Sparrows and a Rook overhead were unusual records and there was a notable movement of Woodpigeons (175) and Collared Doves (120)

A very small male Peregrine sat on the beach for about 40 mins before flying over the point. Two Kestrels and A Sparrowhawk also went through. Finally 700 or so Knot left the estaury high to the north.

Its looking good for an overshoot!

[Jane Turner]

Similar weather to y'day - even warmer!

The imm male Ring Ouzel is still in the superowl, though its very elusive. At one point this morning it was singing. Fewer migrants today, though two Chiffchaffs and an unseen Goldcrest were new from yesterday and there was a new Grasshopper Warbler about half way down the boardwalk. Not exactly showy, but it was briefly visible. About 12 Willow Warblers arrived at 9am and a little later what appeared to be a Lesser Whitethroat dived into the ivy. Alas I got nothing on it at all.

Two Tree pipits, including one sat in the Poplars on a couple of occasions, about 15 Redpoll, 2 Siskins, two more (or the same) Tree Sparrows, three Swallows, a Yellow Wagtail a Great spotted Woodpecker and two Jackdaws constituted this morning's visible passge. Oh and there was a Short-eared owl that flew over, though I didn't see which diection it arrived from.

[Jane Turner]

News from Red Rocks this morning suggested that a few more migrants have arrived. The Grasshopper Warbler is still reeling away and has been joined by Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat

[Jane Turner]

An Osprey cut the corner and flew over Hoylake at about 2.30 today, with Crows in hot-pursuit.

[Jane Turner]

The male Ring Ouzel is still gorging itself on Ivy berries. I managed to miss a Red Kite today, which was a bit galling since I missed the previous two too.

[Jane Turner]

S-0-1 to W 3-4
8/8ths, Vis 10 miles

Not much evidence of overnight passage, little overhead passage and worsening weather curtailed our visit. The Sedge Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler are still singing and showing occasionally. To see the Grasshopper Warbler you need to be up early. He sings from the golf course side of the boardwalk from a small patch of burnet rose (as the boardwalk starts to climb). When he gets self-conscious, he crosses the boarwalk (into the rose bush on where the new section of boardwalk has beem set in). From there he bails out into the reed bed.

There were also two Whitethroats, already next building, and 3 or so Willow Warblers. Overhead passage was restricted to 4 Swallows and a Grey Wagtail.

75 Knot flew over.

[Jane Turner]

The rain, and lack of an obvious associated fall in my garden, put me off going to Red Rocks today. Had I gone I'd probably have left before the Osprey flew over at 0945 anyway.

[Jane Turner]

The first Cuckoo and Swifts (25) were there today. The Ring Ouzel the first Reed Warbler, 2 Garden Warblers and yet another Osprey yesterday. Not I hasten to add seen by me. The Grasshopper Warbler continues to hold territory.

[rayman64]

hi jane
going red rocks tommorrow becoming a regular visiter thanks to your exellent accounts.Where abouts are the garden warblers Jane or were they just passing threw
thanks Ray

[Jane Turner]

I didn't see them. Most likely in the point gardens or Poplars. They will have gone by now, but who knows, there may be fresh birds tomorrow.

[Jane Turner]

Two more Ring Ouzels today, seen by Stephen Menzie.

[Jane Turner]

30th April

After a very early start, waiting for the Black Kite to wake up from the position it had gone to sleep in 3 mins before I arrived the night before (that will teach me to have no petrol in the car), I went to Red Rocks.

I thought it was going to be one of those days. As I shut the car door, a Pied Flycatcher flicked out of the last pine tree on Stanley Rd and disappeared into the gardens. I looked up and though...ooh eck that is a funny thin Wheatear (into the light). It was in fact an icredibly early Spotted Flycatcher. There were three Willow Warblers in the first Buckthorn bush and a couple of Wheatears on the point.

Unfortunatley. That was it. Just a drop of birds at dawn, and little else. There are plenty of Sedge Warblers and about 4 Reed Warblers chortling away in the Reed bed now and four Whitethroats holding territory.

There was a Lesser Whitethroat and three Swifts on the 28th.

[PhilW]

30th April

After a very early start, waiting for the Black Kite to wake up from the position it had gone to sleep in 3 mins before I arrived the night before (that will teach me to have no petrol in the car), I went to Red Rocks.



Woke at 06.00 y'day Jane and thought of you & Allan waiting at dawn for the kite! Nice to compare your 30 year old Alfa with my similarly aged Elan!:cool:

[Jane Turner]

I used to have a 63 Giulia Phil. Now that was a car. Alas I blew the engine up, in most spectacular fashion!

I was late getting to Red Rocks, but early morning cloud and dodgy visibilitygave me hope that there might be some migrants left as late as 9am. Two Spotted Flycatchers in the Poplars and grounded Tree Pipit, perhaps the same as yesterday's, were evidence that there were some birds about. PLenty of Willow Warblers (8) a Chiffchaff, and a couple of Reed Warblers coming out of the gardens were further proof. Pity about the need to do the school run really. Overhead there was a healthy passage of Swallows (50+) and a screaming party of Swifts. The Peregrine as ever, was on the beach.

Yesterday the big news was a Bullfinch. A mega at Red Rocks, and an early grounded Tree pipit. As I left at 7 there was a mini fall of Willow Warblers (30 ish) and a Blackcap. Peregrine and Whimbrel on the beach.

I guess associated with this was the Garden Warbler, two Grasshopper Warblers and a Whinchat seen by someone else later in the day.

[Jane Turner]

Yesterday: More of the same weather wise. The Tree Pipit is still about - now singing. Also there was a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap, about 4 Willow Wablers, Chiffchaff, Peregrine, 6 Swifts, a late Sand Martin and 4 Greylag geese.

Today. Weather still right and sunny, a little haze at dawn, with a little more South in the wind.

I was up very early, wanting to try an experiment. I'm useless at digiscoping, largely because I hate carrying a big scope, never have a tripod and if I do see something, I tend to want to look at it rather than photograph it. I've picked up a coolpix 4500 and a 3x converter off ebay. My theory is that will give me 12x mags and point and shoot capability. I'll never take good pics, but I might be able to get record shots of anything good I see. This is quite imortant since I mostly bird alone at a site where birds clear off sharpish! The attached, mostly taken before dawn and or into the light, show me that I should be able to get a clinching photograph ok. Had they been Rufous Turtle Dove, Moustached Warbler, Sibechat, Sardininan Warbler and Rustic Bunting, I'd have the proof. Unfortunately they weren't.

There were a few new migrants in today. A female Redstart in the gardens showed well at 5.30 but became elusive almost immediately. Two new Grasshopper Warblers have come in, one at either end of the marsh. A smart male Whinchat made a brief appearance in the dunes before moving onto the golf course. The Tree Pipit was still on the golf course.

There were some interesting waifs and strays about today, notably a Lapwing, two Rooks and a Budgie.

[Rob Smallwood]

Now with photos too! It won't be longuntil mobile phones will have good enough zoom capabilities for everyone to carry around a camera good enough to get record shots.

Just off to the shed to devise an adapter to fit a anyphone to any pair on bins!

[Jane Turner]

Prepare yourself fo a whole new round of blurry mystery photographs!

[Iain]

I used to have a 63 Giulia Phil.

Did it by any chance lack an exhaust ?

[Gavin Haig]

Had they been Rufous Turtle Dove, Moustached Warbler, Sibechat, Sardininan Warbler and Rustic Bunting, I'd have the proof.

Proof that they were actually birds, anyway! Sorry - that's a bit harsh.

I look forward to when they really ARE those species (or similar)!

[Jane Turner]

Did it by any chance lack an exhaust ?

It had an exhaust. More excitingly it had spectacularly inefficient brakes, the top of the original 1600 engine and the bottom (3/4) of a 1998cc without any gear adjustment and the tendency to do this round bends.....

http://dxbec.ihep.su/~solo/alfa/pics/alfagta.jpg

I once came back to it in the car park of the Ellesmere Port Holiday inn (when the RAC rally was on) to find Stig Blonquist peering through the window. He used to race them in his youth and made me promise to red line it every day, which I did till the day it exploded.

[deborah4]

Prepare yourself fo a whole new round of blurry mystery photographs!

Rufous Turtle Dove
Moustached Warbler (but could be Sedge!)
Siberian chat
Orphean Warbler
f. Rustic Bunting


Reckon you can start your own mini-Id forum here Jane - fwiw, I ID'd all your pics then noticed your comments at the end of your post above! Still happy to be proved they are not as listed o:D (well done on the pics, know what you mean about needing rec.shots, sadly I'm still firmly emcamped in the fuzzy blob section)

[Jane Turner]

After nearly a year of enforced absence from "proper birding", it seems like time to start keeping my bird blogs up to date. There was a smell of spring in the air this morning, so I thought I'd go out and find myself a Wheatear.

I was met at the corner of the Poplars by a potential migrant, a calling Chiffchaff. I say potential, since there have been one or two birds in the area all winter. Whilst I was trying to get a view of it, male Bullfinch dropped in. I've seen more Siberian Phylloscs at Red Rocks than Bullfinches and about as many Serins! Things were looking promising!

I scanned and scanned the golf course, failing to find either Wheatears or an early Ring Ouzel. There were however a few flocks of Meadow Pipits, totally about 150. There were also at least 6 singing Skylarks.

Back to the marsh, where 3 Reed Buntings are holding territory and a female was flycatching from the reeds. Whilst watching the Stonechat I picked up a Short-eared Owl hunting the outer dunes. It appeared to leave to the south. I was planning on walking round the marsh, and had nearly got to the south end crossing point, when I found myself unexpectedly 10ft from the Owl. It was sat on a post and had its back to me, so I stopped still and waited. I could almost see surprise on its face, when swivelled its head round. We stood there, staring each other out for good ten minutes. Then it appeared to relax and started scanning. Every time it had its head away from me, I edged backwards, till I was out of sight.

Walking back the way I came I heard two or three Coal Tits in the gardens. Like the Bullfinch they were evidence of a little local movement today - though unlike the Bullfinch, I expect to record a few in early spring. As I reached the end of Stanley Road, a flock of about 700 Knot flew over my head.


Perhaps the Wheatear will arrive tomorrow.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Nice to have you back posting Jane. I've been sort of vaguely hoping for a Wheatear the past couple of days myself, without success so far.

[Jane Turner]

A couple of Willow Warblers on the 3rd and an interesting day yesterday - way too clear for any migrants to have dropped in overnight. Still I checked every square mm of the Golf Course for a Ring Ouzel.... annoyingly one was reported later. The only migrant was a Tree Pipit. I had a bried moment of excitement when I flushed a small duck from the reed bed, but it was a female Teal, followed shortly by a male. My first ever "down" in the marsh. One day I'll surprise a Garganey!

The best bird was a Stock Dove.. The Wagtails on the beach are still Pied's, though 3 were doing a good impression of White.

[Jane Turner]

Very clear overnight, so I was expecting most of yesterday's fall of migrants to have left, however I arrived early with hopes of a singing Grasshopper Warbler. I was rewarded almost instantly as one spluttered into life from the regular breeding site. As I was heading up the marsh to see if I could see it, I thought I heard a Sedge Warbler start to sing. Then I thought I heard a snatch of Reed Warbler. The Reed Warbler stared to churn out a proper song, and I was thinking that I must be hellishly rusty, when first one, and then another Sedge Warbler joined in. Up to 8 Willow Warblers and couple of Chiffchaffs were also singing.

A female Sparrowhawk (migrant here) headed out across the estuary to Hilbre, with a couple of Crows in hot pursuit. As I rounded the south end of the marsh I decided to take a look across the Spartina, to see if there were any pipts, wagtails or Wheatears lurking. There were none present, but my timing was admirable, since a female Merlin came through about 2ft off the ground. As I walked up the seaward edge of the dunes, the Merlin was flushed by a dog, and flew low over the beach to Middle Hilbre, where I lost view of it. I did however pick up a Peregrine sat on the beach.

Overhead passage was mostly composed of Siskins (45) and Redpolls (20), though two Sand Martins and about 45 Meadow Pipits also passed through. The surprises of the day came in the form of 2 Long-tailed Tits passing south through the reed bed, and a second Sparrowhawk and a Jay which appeared in the Poplars.

As I left, I was greeted by a flock of about 15 alba wagtails on the Nursing Home Lawn. 6 were the resident Pieds, but the rest, and presumably the 15-20 in view on the golf course as I drove away, were very smart White Wagtails.

I suspect that tat is my earliest Reed Warbler.

[Jane Turner]

Too clear again today to have grounded and migrants, though there are still a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Sedge and now 2 Reed Warblers singing. Phylloscopus warblers were much reduced though, with no more than 5 Willow Warblers and a single Chiffchaff. A short-tailed Sparrowhawk made the crossing to Hilbre, from where, slghtly surrealy there was a choir singing Judas Macabeus at 7am! There were 4 Wheatears in the saltmarsh, though I missed them.

Overhead passage was where the action is today. 40 Redpoll, 35 Siskin, 12 Swallows and shortly after 8am, an Osprey, which came in low from the estuary. I didn't see it until it cast a shadow on me!

There was a little flurry of migrant activity at 8.30, with two Goldrests and A Whitethroat emerging from the gardens. There are still a few White Wagtails on the Golf Course, as well as plenty of Pieds.

Edit: Oh and I meant to say, there are a couple of Water Rails still in the reed bed.

[Jane Turner]

I took the camera out with me this morning, just in case I needed a record shot. Not a lot going on I have to say. 20 or so Redpoll and 35 Siskin moved through, as did a flock of 55 Woodpigeons. A couple of Swallows over the beach, two each of Sedge and Reed Warbler still in the marsh and the Grasshopper Warbler is still on territory (though he shuts up at dawn). one Chiffchaff and a few Willow Warblers were singing. The hihglight was what I thought was going to be the female Merlin again, hurtling after a Skylark straight towards me over the saltmarsh. It turned out to be a male Peregrine that went more or less over my shoulder.

Oh and I flushed a slim looking large brown thrush from the superbowl (ivy-filled hollow). It didn't call and I didn't see it again. Obviously an Ouzel! Some pictures to relieve the tedium

[JWN Andrewes]

Oh and I flushed a slim looking large brown thrush from the superbowl (ivy-filled hollow). It didn't call and I didn't see it again. Obviously and Ouzel!



The new new approach. I like it, so many applications!

James

[PhilW]

[QUOTE=Jane Turner;1455488
Oh and I flushed a slim looking large brown thrush from the superbowl (ivy-filled hollow). It didn't call and I didn't see it again. Obviously and Ouzel! Some pictures to relieve the tedium[/QUOTE]

Now then, now then............................;)

[Jane Turner]

I should have said that I did see two smaller brown Song Thrushes, which were moving, and clearly support the good day for an Ouzel hypothesis. ;)

[PhilW]

Ahh. Now I understand. A movement of thrushes supports the hypothesis that a Ring Ouzel must be around. The theory being that like species may move together on the same weather fronts. You didn't see an Ouzel but one could have been there so the theory can't be disproven so the hypothesis stands. I think thats the correct interpretation?

Hows the Landie going?

[Jane Turner]

You got it! The Landie is behaving impeccably save for a small oil leak. Just enough to make me think about parking it somewhere other than over my york stone flags!

[Jane Turner]

A promising start to the morning, with a nice drop of migrants at dawn. These rapidly dispersed however, and as the wind picked up, not a lot more arrived. The highlight was a singing Whimbrel. Here are the highlights.

Blackcap (6),CHiffchaff, Lesser Redpoll (45) Lesser Whitethroat, Peregrine, Pied Flycatcher (m) Raven (2) Redstart Reed Warbler (4) Sand Martin (10) Sedge Warbler (5) Swallow (60) Swift Tree Pipit (2) Wheatear (Greenland) (3) Whimbrel (13) Whitethroat (2) Willow Warbler (15)

[Jane Turner]

I was out early this morning. Fine wetting drizzle downed a few migrants, most notably a female Redstart in the poplars. Three or so Tree Pipits were lurking in various bushes (I flushed 5 but think that they may have been moving from bush to bush.) There was a Whinchat, my first of what has been a very poor spring for them, in the south end bushes and another on the nursing home lawn on the way home. There were 3 Greenland Wheatears on the beach (later 5 I gather). There seems to be 6 singing Reed Warblers (one more than usual) and 12 Sedge Warblers on territory as well as three breeding Whitethroats

The Peregrine was out on the beach as per usual.

[Jane Turner]

I hear that there were 5 Spotted Flycatchers this morning. A classic first arrival date.

[PhilW]

Several on Hilbre as well - a week after they started getting them on the south coast. Makes you wonder where those earlier ones came from..........................

[Cheshire Birder]

Whinchat at Red rocks today. Also saw the Brent Goose present on Hilbre flew past. c20 Gannets offshore plus several summer plumaged Sanderlings in the high tide wader roost.

[Jane Turner]

nice!

[Cheshire Birder]

I was particularly pleased to find the Whinchat given the large number of people about.

[Jane Turner]

Red Rocks can become Grockle City on a sunny bank Holiday. I usually bail out by 8.30!

[Cheshire Birder]

Red Rocks during high tide - c20 Little Terns amongst large flock of Sandwich/Common Terns with a sprinkling of Arctics mixed in, Arctic skua, c20 Common Scoters past, 2 Whimbrel over, c10 Gannets lingering offshore, 1 Golden Plover. Best of all was a Ring-necked Parakeet showing well. Four yearticks today!!!

CB

[Bananafishbones]

Red Rocks during high tide - c20 Little Terns amongst large flock of Sandwich/Common Terns with a sprinkling of Arctics mixed in, Arctic skua, c20 Common Scoters past, 2 Whimbrel over, c10 Gannets lingering offshore, 1 Golden Plover. Best of all was a Ring-necked Parakeet showing well. Four yearticks today!!!

CB

Good trip CB

There would be more than a few lifers in your report for me :-O

[Cheshire Birder]

Good trip CB

There would be more than a few lifers in your report for me :-O

Also had a brief stop at Frodsham on the way home & saw a rather bizarre leucistic dunlin.

CB

[Jane Turner]

RN Parakeet is only the second record for Red Rocks! Its worth keeping an eye out for the Roseate Terns which are visiting Seaforth on a regular basis!

[chris butterworth]

Reading my mind Jane. I'll be submitting a record of a juv in the tern flock yesterday afternoon. Took ages to find the bu**er, I could hear it ,but couldn't see it for, about 5 minutes.
Chris

[Cheshire Birder]

Reading my mind Jane. I'll be submitting a record of a juv in the tern flock yesterday afternoon. Took ages to find the bu**er, I could hear it ,but couldn't see it for, about 5 minutes.
Chris

I knew I should have walked down to west kirby to look at the tern flock!!!

CB

[Cheshire Birder]

RN Parakeet is only the second record for Red Rocks!

I had to double check the id from my photos so that i'd ruled out Alexandrine Parakeet, especially as the call was different from what I recalled from the last Ring Necked Parakeet I heard.

CB

[Jane Turner]

Reading my mind Jane. I'll be submitting a record of a juv in the tern flock yesterday afternoon. Took ages to find the bu**er, I could hear it ,but couldn't see it for, about 5 minutes.
Chris


That's a genuinely incredible record since the birds at Seaforth are failed breeders (though I understand there is one hybrid pair)

[Jane Turner]

I had to double check the id from my photos so that i'd ruled out Alexandrine Parakeet, especially as the call was different from what I recalled from the last Ring Necked Parakeet I heard.

CB

I caught one in about 1980 - came as a shock at the time. Where was it and can we see the photos!

[ColonelBlimp]

Is Red Rocks/Hilbre reachable by train and/or other public transport? I'm thinking about how to kill the days before my A Level results next week...

[Jane Turner]

Merseyrail via Liverpool, take the Wirral Line and stop at Hoylake for Red Rocks and West Kirby for Hilbre.

Come out of Hoylake station walk towards the roundabout in front of you, cross straight over and then take the first left (in front of the Greenlodge pub) . That road is Stanley Rd and takes you to Red Rocks.

Come out of West Kirby station, turn right, then cross the main rd and take the road between the bank and the charity shops. Straight down to the end is the slipway to walk to Hilbre from.

[ColonelBlimp]

Thanks very much for the info Jane.

[Cheshire Birder]

I caught one in about 1980 - came as a shock at the time. Where was it and can we see the photos!

it was in the back garden of the house that backs onto the boardwalk. Viewed it from the start of the boardwalk as you walk down to the marsh from the slipway. Was calling but appeared unperturbed and allowed approach within a few feet so prob not long escaped! Not tried putting photos up on BF yet so must give it a go.

CB

[Jane Turner]

Thanks very much for the info Jane.

No problem. Make sure you get the tides right though! Need a high-ish one for Red Rocks (seabirds) obviously irrelevant for passerines and need 2 hours either side of the tide to get on and off Hilbre

http://www.pol.ac.uk/appl/liverpool.html

[Jane Turner]

it was in the back garden of the house that backs onto the boardwalk. Viewed it from the start of the boardwalk as you walk down to the marsh from the slipway. Was calling but appeared unperturbed and allowed approach within a few feet so prob not long escaped! Not tried putting photos up on BF yet so must give it a go.

CB

I caught mine in those Poplars between the boardwalk and that garden! Just as Red Rocks can be brilliant for collecting lost migrants, its also a top spot for recent escapes.

[Jane Turner]

Fantastic visible migration this morning. The stars of the show where thrushes. I was there before dawn and was greeted by a few Redwings that were down in the poplars. I heard a chack call, and was half expecting a Fiefldfare but instead a Ring Ouzel popped up on top of the trees, before flying off over the Golf Course. That might have been the end of it, had I not been looking for a Chaffinch flock overhead - I focussed instead on a huge flock of Thrushes. There were layers of bird, many out of sight to the naked eye and most out of earshot. Strangely they were arriving from the SE and most left to the west. In all the totals were 2950 Redwing and 2260 Fieldfare with at least 20 Song Thrushes in the birds that came low enough to identify and 50 or so Blackbirds.

The finches put on a good show too, though they were moving in a more conventional direction (south) 370 Chaffinches, 2 Brambling, 4 Siskin, 2 Redpoll spp, with A Tree Sparrow too. There were a few Meadow Pipits involved in the movement to (20ish) many of which came down in the poplars and contrived to look rare. Other odds and ends moving included 35 Rooks, 40 Jackdaw, 36 Woodpigeon

Grounded birds were thin on the ground. Two Stonechats are more or less fixtures at present. The bird of the day however was a "full monty" tristis Chiffchaff.

I forgot to mention the Peregrine that tried to catch a Fieldfare to spectacular effect. The Fieldfare must have plunged 300ft to escape capture. There was a Kestrel too.

[PhilW]

Nice one Jane. On Hilbre before it was really light today and had loads Redwings flying over West Kirby as we left. A few grounded thrushes on the Islands and good numbers of Skylarks over. Star birds were o nthe sea though - 2 Long-tailed Ducks & a Slav Grebe!

A phone message from Pete at Seaforth said there were at least 5,000 Redwing over.

Large numbers passing over my house at 05.30 this morning (don't ask!).

[Jane Turner]

There could have been many more over RR - you could only see them by staring at the sky with bins!

ANy news on what way they were going at Seaforth. NW seemed a strange one.

[Jane Turner]

More visible passage over Red Rocks today:

Chaffinch: 560, all arriving from the NE and departing S.
Brambling: at least 21 in with the Chaffinches
Woodpigeon: 61 in three flocks
with a few other species caught up in the movement: Redpoll 2, Skylark 3, Meadow pipit 7, a Siskin 4 Reed Buntings as well as milling flocks of Greenfinch Linnet and Goldfinch.

Thrushes were less in evidence than yesterday, with just odd Redwings and a flock of 66, (78 in total) a single Fieldfare, 17 Song Thrushes south, 13 Blackbirds

Other interesting records included a flock of 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers which flew through, a Sparrowhawk south and 4 Snipe over.

[snowcap]

Hi Jane, the Redwings were heading North-East over Seaforth,the count was 5254, seen between 8.00a.m-9.30a.m. A fantastic sight.

[Jane Turner]

Cheers - so yours were going north too! What was going on there? The really huge count at Red Rocks usually involve reorienting birds that have been drifted out over the sea. The Fieldfares started coming through a little later and had almost caught up. Our count was an underestimation since it was pot luck if you managed to lay eyes on a flock, so high were they!

[PhilW]

Cheers - so yours were going north too! What was going on there? The really huge count at Red Rocks usually involve reorienting birds that have been drifted out over the sea. The Fieldfares started coming through a little later and had almost caught up. Our count was an underestimation since it was pot luck if you managed to lay eyes on a flock, so high were they!

I wonder if these are Icelandic birds that have come down via Ireland and following the N Wales coast?