Jane Turner
Well-known member
Anyone who wants to Leach's Petrel should be in with a more or less certain chance tomorrow. There are a few birds out in Liverpool Bay already... and its really starting to squall up here. If there are birds this evening there will be some around tomorrow even if its not that blowy.
There seem to be more skuas on this coast than in many recent years... though I am avoiding all the claimed Poms and Long-tails so far.
Here are the best places to see Leach's.
New Brighton
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
Best early morning when birds that have sheltered in the river over night come out. Either use the shelter on the prom or use the car on the road to Fort Perch Rock. If the tide is out elsewhere there will still be water here.
Derby Baths
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
You can get a little bit of height here, though the presence of a large breakwater can push the petrels out to sea about 100ft. There is howeer a pub and its possible to see Petrels from inside it.. carp beer though.
The Gunsight
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
The place to sea Leach's close from a car if the tide is in.... plenty of room to get many cars and the birds will go behind you on good days.
Leasowe Lighthouse
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
A traditional place to seawatch - but strictly for the hardy since its not possible to get a car up on the sea wall any more
Dovepoint
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
The tide needs to be up over the East Hoyle bank, but if it is this is my favourite place to seawatch from on the Wirral shore (apart from my bedroom of course) Though the petrels are often a little more distant that Leasowe there is much more chance of seeing Shearwaters and skuas here.
Red Rocks
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
Almost no shelter here and the tide needs to be up.... but on very windy days birds come into the Dee mouth and give great views..
and finally Hilbre
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
If you can hack the walk out there (from West Kirby) then this is the best place for seabirds and its less tide dependant than other places. You would need to be on before 10 am tomorrow though.
Useful links
local weather live (looking for 30knots minimum)
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/europe/uk/obs/crosby.html
Shipping forecast
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/datafiles/offshore.html
Tides at Liverpool
http://www.pol.ac.uk/appl/liverpool.html
There seem to be more skuas on this coast than in many recent years... though I am avoiding all the claimed Poms and Long-tails so far.
Here are the best places to see Leach's.
New Brighton
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
Best early morning when birds that have sheltered in the river over night come out. Either use the shelter on the prom or use the car on the road to Fort Perch Rock. If the tide is out elsewhere there will still be water here.
Derby Baths
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
You can get a little bit of height here, though the presence of a large breakwater can push the petrels out to sea about 100ft. There is howeer a pub and its possible to see Petrels from inside it.. carp beer though.
The Gunsight
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
The place to sea Leach's close from a car if the tide is in.... plenty of room to get many cars and the birds will go behind you on good days.
Leasowe Lighthouse
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
A traditional place to seawatch - but strictly for the hardy since its not possible to get a car up on the sea wall any more
Dovepoint
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
The tide needs to be up over the East Hoyle bank, but if it is this is my favourite place to seawatch from on the Wirral shore (apart from my bedroom of course) Though the petrels are often a little more distant that Leasowe there is much more chance of seeing Shearwaters and skuas here.
Red Rocks
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
Almost no shelter here and the tide needs to be up.... but on very windy days birds come into the Dee mouth and give great views..
and finally Hilbre
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=627
If you can hack the walk out there (from West Kirby) then this is the best place for seabirds and its less tide dependant than other places. You would need to be on before 10 am tomorrow though.
Useful links
local weather live (looking for 30knots minimum)
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/europe/uk/obs/crosby.html
Shipping forecast
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/datafiles/offshore.html
Tides at Liverpool
http://www.pol.ac.uk/appl/liverpool.html
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