Cheshire And Wirral Birding: Hills, Lowland and Coast (4 Viewers)

[ta brandreth]

2-3 records a year! And regular sea-watchers can go years without seeing one!

I'd agree with that, its probably 4/5 since my last ones and they can be an absolute pain....

 

[snowcap]

Apparently several Velvets have been seen off Formby Point this week, so maybe some North Wirral sightings may follow( in addition to the regular Hilbre bird).

 

[Jane Turner]

A lot of scoter moving offshore today, as well as plenty of Divers. Nothing rare though

 

[PhilW]

Possibly getting commoner though. Saw my first in 2008. Two more in 2009 & Hilbre this year. Hilbre is the place to be (apart from Jane's lofty perch). Surf Scoter on my County wish list. Just hope there's a twitchable one and not a one observer fly past. Anyway, stuck in Munich airport so no use to me if it's found over the next few days.......

 

[Jane Turner]

It will be a one observer sees a white head at the back end of 3000 Scoter off Dovepoint. 5 or six times.

My best chance is in flight - I can see the face and bill patterns of the Common scoter off HE2 and HE3 from home.

 

[ta brandreth]

sounds a lot like my house Jane - in the fact that it has windows!

just other houses and the odd Starling coughing 'round here....

 

[PhilW]

Probable 1st winter Caspian Gull, Gowy tip this afternoon. Seen in fields along Picton Lane. 2 Kingfishers on Shropshire Union Canal between Stoak & Ellesmere Port sewage works. Raven nearby.

 

[halftwo]

Probable adult or 3rd. winter Iceland gull today - fly past only over River Bollin near Dunham Park (in Cheshire though) east - west c15:30.

Also 3 Goosander over, and 2 Woodcock flushed, plus Green woodpecker.
(see My Birding Day for further details.)

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Firecrest was reported at Delamere again yesterday.

CB

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Smew still at Tatton Mere this afternoon :t:

Also fem Ruddy Shelduck near Congleton, Firecrest at Delamere, Scaup at West Kirby today.

CB

 

[Blackduck]

Ruddy Shelduck still at Newsbank, near Congleton 1500 today.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Very quiet around the county the last few days.

Smew at Tatton, Spoonbill at Parkgate & LSW at Moore NR today.

CB

 

[ta brandreth]

brace of bullfinch,lots of Goldfinch and Reed bunts on Gatewarth today, Little Grebe on canal and Fieldfare/redwing flocks on Penketh railway 'horsey field' AM

Sprog female, and male Kestrel too and a squillion gulls on Richmond bank obviously contained white wings,but work commitments mean't I didn't have time to scan through - bugger!

If you were the birder with scope, (I did say good morning to you twice!) - did you connect with any??

 

[PhilW]

Anyone heard recent news on Black Redstart at Saltney?

 

[Bananafishbones]

Middlewood way 09.00 - 11.00hrs

Short walk from Higher Poynton Nelsons pit to Jacksons Brickworks along the Middlewood way and saw the following:

Song thrush (5 or 6) singing very loudly atop of bushes and trees :t:
Redwing 12+
Mistle Thrush 3
Great, Blue, Coal, LT tits
Dunnocks and Robins also singing well
Blackbirds, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Feral Pigeons, Starlings, Magpie, Jay.
Gold, Green, Chaffinch & Bullfinch female.
Wrens, Nuthatch 2
7 Mallard, Grey Heron & Buzzard over

Dave

 

[Pitvar]

Fantastic views of a flock of at least 120 Fieldfare [mixed in with Starlings] in the fields off Gorsey Lane near Burtonwood this lunchtime - sat in the car in a gateway and waited til they fed their way towards me down the edge of the field - views to around 30 ft when they weren't spooked by passing cars!

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Anyone heard recent news on Black Redstart at Saltney?

Only that it was seen on Monday but no reports since that i'm aware of. Maybe worth a look tho.

Short walk from Higher Poynton Nelsons pit to Jacksons Brickworks along the Middlewood way and saw the following:

Song thrush (5 or 6) singing very loudly atop of bushes and trees :t:
Redwing 12+
Mistle Thrush 3
Great, Blue, Coal, LT tits
Dunnocks and Robins also singing well
Blackbirds, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Feral Pigeons, Starlings, Magpie, Jay.
Gold, Green, Chaffinch & Bullfinch female.
Wrens, Nuthatch 2
7 Mallard, Grey Heron & Buzzard over

Dave

Good selection of common birds Dave. The Song Thrushes are now starting to pick up with their song.

Fantastic views of a flock of at least 120 Fieldfare [mixed in with Starlings] in the fields off Gorsey Lane near Burtonwood this lunchtime - sat in the car in a gateway and waited til they fed their way towards me down the edge of the field - views to around 30 ft when they weren't spooked by passing cars!

Glad to hear there are still large numbers about.

CB

 

[Jane Turner]

Anyone heard recent news on Black Redstart at Saltney?

A Black Red came in as a rarity report on Bird track yesterday - just can't recall where and my email is down! (probably inbox is full of messages about rogue photographers!)

 

[cheshirebirder]

The ruddy shelduck was still at Newsbank today - grazing on the field with about 100 canadas !

 

[Zoot]

Two redhead smew showing very well on Tatton Mere at lunchtime, viewed directly accross from the birds as I was in Dogwood. If only I'd had a camera. One of the birds is showing some white mottling on the forecrown, so perhaps a 1st-w male - lets hope it returns in full finery next winter. Pair of mandarin present too and herons very active in the nests there.

Yesterdays black redstart report was from Cloughwood School, Northwich at 3pm, according to the pager. Would go and check but its a big site and I'm not too comfortable wandering about by a school with a pair of bins!