Cheshire And Wirral Birding: Hills, Lowland and Coast (1 Viewer)

[Bananafishbones]

Thanks for the info---very impressive list. where about in Lymm did you go?-- i live in knutsford so not too far from me.
Roy

Horsa
you have a PM

Dave

 

[chris butterworth]

Had to nip into West Kirby this morning to waste money on food and bills and stuff so I called into the drained Marine Lake. 12 Little Egret and 9 Whimbrel made the morning a bit better.
Chris

 

[Johnny Allan]

Hi there,

I'm trying to find out which Counties still use the Watsonian Vice County system to record birds in and which go by whatever the political boundary may change to (and why).

The Watsonian Vice County system was set to accurately record and compare historical and modern data and it seems that there can be/is confusion when some counties no longer use this system whilst others do. Does anyone in your county have a view on this ? Discussion here if anyone has a comment:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=142074

ps this is not about getting more or less county ticks, more a question about uniformity in recording.

Johnny Allan

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Spoonbill again at Inner Marsh Farm this afternoon. At last i've had decent views of it.

 

[Pitvar]

Spoonbill again at Inner Marsh Farm this afternoon. At last i've had decent views of it.

Was it feeding on one of the closer scrapes - always 400m away when I've seen it!

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Was it feeding on one of the closer scrapes - always 400m away when I've seen it!

It was on the first lagoon. Easily seen from the hide or the path on the way down the slope. i got a couple of record shots. First time i've had proper views of it. Had it flying over the reserve a couple of weeks ago but it didnt land. Loads of Little Egrets around but no sign of the Egret Spp seen a few days ago.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Three singing male Corn Buntings today thanks to saluki!!! :t:

I also got the added bonus of a "day flying" Barn Owl at Risley Moss.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Went to the Wirral where Whinchat was at Red Rocks. Brent Goose (present off Hilbre for several days now) and c20 Gannets offshore. Several summer plumaged Sanderlings in the wader roost threw me a bit. 6 Little Egrets at West Kirby Marine lake.

Then onto Warrington again (thanks to Pitvar :t with Grey Partridge at Winwick. At nearby Houghton Green Flash had male Wigeon, singing Corn Bunting, Yellow Wagtail and seven broods of Mallard.

A good day :t:

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Now five Spoobills reported at Inner Marsh Farm today.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Five Spoonbills again at IMF today plus Marsh Harrier. May have to make another visit there at the weekend!!

 

[Bananafishbones]

Turned up at IMF to see Spoonbills (4pm to find it closed aaarrgg), had to make do with the Little Terns at Gronant :t: (7 veiwed fairly close up, plus more alot further away but not sure how many more)

CB I maybe able to make IMF Saturday if you fancy sharing the petrol B

Dave

 

[Bananafishbones]

Threeshire heads 3pm - 4.30pm

Immediatly heard and found Meadow pipits in abundance, looked like they had paired up as there was alot of reeling together then the males fetching food to the very noisy females perched often on woodenstakes. The Wheatears were also very visible, at least 5 males and 2 females, was nice to see a female perched atop of a small rock alongside a female Stonechat. Further down the valley a piar of Stonechats were very visible in the gorse bushes. Along the river a reeling pair of Grey wagtails eventually stopped for a preen on some river boulders before continuing their courtship further down river. Wrens and Chaffinches collected food for youngsters, while a fine male Reed bunting showed itself off on a reed stem and then met up with at least another 3 or 4. Swifts and Swallows kept me company for the journey upstream then a grey Heron swooped down to the riverside and stood statuesque as they do while a Buzzard circled fairly low watching the rabbits scurry about the meadows. 2 Pied wagtails followed me back up stream where I finished off with good views of the male Ring Ouzel.

Dave

 

[Jane Turner]

Fabulous photos again!

 

[Bananafishbones]

Cheers again Jane!

However, wally here got his facts wrong, I have been through my pics from earlier today and found the female stonechat on the rock along side the female Wheatear was in fact a juvenile Wheatear:-O Happy family.

Even better, my first juv Wheatear:t:

It was at the end of a steep climb and the thinning air must have affected my eysesight:smoke:

Dave

***update***
<must remember to take a note book and pen as my memory isnt too good>
Just remembered caught a glimpse of a cracking juvenile stonechat aswell, pic now added

 

[horsa]

Hi dave
Brilliant photos--i've never seen a ring ouzel in the wild [but then again i'm a useless birder!] --

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Stunning pics again Bfb!! Not sure about IMF but will PM you.

Horsa, If you want a guide for Three Shires, i'll gladly give you a tour. I carnt guarantee Ring Ousel tho.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Stunning pics again Bfb!! Not sure about IMF but will PM you.

Can only do Sunday now anyway CB,

wouldnt mind doing threeshires if you and horsa fancy meeting up sunday after 9am?

Dave

 

[deeestuary]

4 Spoonbill at Parkgate this morning.
Not birds but thousands of Painted Lady Butterflies were observed coming in off the sea at Hoylake yesterday evening around 7pm. Amazing!

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Increased to 6 Spoonbills at parkgate today. One of the largest counts for cheshire in recent years. Also i had my first Painted Ladies today in east cheshire.

 

[bartolli]

Have had 3 painted ladies over the last few days, most recent this morning (Chester)