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

[bradinho]

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

A quick note to all who don't know that IMF is closed on Tuesdays to allow staff and volunteers to carry out maintenance work.

Female Marsh harrier again

Hundreds of Blackwits

No spoonbills today yet.....one rumoured to be at Decca Pools

.....

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Went to look for Red Kite seen near Crewe this morning but alas it had gone. :C

Not only that but a Common crane had flown over fairly low & with missing wing tip feathers!!! :-C

I had to console myself with numerous Painted Ladies instead. The area also hosts the largest Tree Sparrow colony in the county with c60 pairs. On the way back stopped at several churchyards in the hope of spotted fly but alas again no luck. I did however come across a fem Ruddy Shelduck feeding with 80+ Mute Swans and 130+ Canada Geese. Managed to get some half decent pics of it before leaving. :t:

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Check out todays pic on http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/

Awesome!!!

 

[Cheshire Birder]

No news on the Paddyfield Warbler at Hilbre today but still present yesterday. Surely still worth a visit at low tide.

 

[bradinho]

for anybody who not yet seen them 2 spoonbill present at IMF

also look out for juv GS Woodies on the feeders.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Went for an early morning walk along the bollin valley and had my best ever views of kingfisher B

 

[Bananafishbones]

Kerridge saddle from savio house

Fantastic blue sky, light breeze and no-one else around... Bliss

Immediatly disturbed 4 Carrion and a Jay, the Jay gave fantastic views as they do.... of its behind, then stayed well enough hidden for me to put the camera away.

Plenty of Magpies gaurding the lower hillside, while plenty of Willow Warbler, Chiff chaff song and Chaffinch song making for a nice walk. House martins stay close to civilization and dont venture too far up the hillside, about a dozen swirl around me. As the path starts to climb a male Redstart flits from wire to bushes and back again allowing a great view for 10 minutes, while at the same time a Kestrel hovers and hunts then again rests on the wires, this time a little more distant. The kestrel takes to the air again and gives stunning views as it hunts a single meadow that clings to the kerridge hillside often coming to eye level. Higher up now and the swift dominate the sky.

Further on again another male redstart gives a very quick veiw before going deeper into the bushes , the rest of the journey is in accompanyment of Blackbirds, Coal tits, Great tits, Carrion and Rook.

Back at Savio house via white nancy Swallows swirl in the courtyards and sit on the wires enjoying the sun.

A very nice 90 minute stroll

Dave

 

[Pitvar]

Spoonbills still at IMF this evening and showing very well on pool in front of hide

 

[Hedgeland]

Popped into Inner Marsh Farm this morning

3 spooted redshank were a nice sight with 27 Black tailed Godwits and 190 lapwing.
Also the usual teal, mallard, coot, moorhen, oystercatcher (on nest), BH gulls, heron, house martin, shoveller, canada geese.

Guessing its pretty quiet by the activity on the cheshire forum and dee estuary website. Not too long before things get mving again....

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Guessing its pretty quiet by the activity on the cheshire forum and dee estuary website. Not too long before things get mving again....

Should only be a couple of weeks away. The first returning Green Sands have been seen at Marbury No1 tank & Sandbach Flashes in the last week.

CB

 

[deeestuary]

Should only be a couple of weeks away. The first returning Green Sands have been seen at Marbury No1 tank & Sandbach Flashes in the last week.

CB

and at Gilroy Nature Park and IMF.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

and at Gilroy Nature Park and IMF.

Apologies for missing them off Richard. I just replyed off the top of my head.

CB

 

[horsa]

red Legged partridges

Been away for a while and noticed not many posts-- However thanks for mentioning threeshires head-where is it?----Anyway, a question. A Red legged legged partridge has nested in the nextdoor garden and produced 9 frisky chicks.I wonder how common this is?--we are about 1/4 mile from open fields and the gardens are enclosed.Oddly enough i noticed a pair RLP's nibbling on a lawn opposite me a few weeks ago[presumably mum and dad to be] .They are not obviously numerous around here so seems puzzling to me.Mind you i'm easily puzzled

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Been away for a while and noticed not many posts-- However thanks for mentioning threeshires head-where is it?----Anyway, a question. A Red legged legged partridge has nested in the nextdoor garden and produced 9 frisky chicks.I wonder how common this is?--we are about 1/4 mile from open fields and the gardens are enclosed.Oddly enough i noticed a pair RLP's nibbling on a lawn opposite me a few weeks ago[presumably mum and dad to be] .They are not obviously numerous around here so seems puzzling to me.Mind you i'm easily puzzled

Hi Horsa,

Three Shires Head is (almost) the most easterly point in cheshire. Park by A54 in the layby at Danebower and walk down the valley.

With regards the RLP depends where you live. They are relatively thinly distributed in cheshire but some areas have large numbers released for shooting. Its a good record and worthy of submission to CAWOS.

CB

 

[horsa]

Hi CB---Thanks for the info ,will look on the map for Danebower and have contacted CAWOS.Just in passing and maybe not very dramatic but had an adult and juvenile nuthatch visiting our feeder for first time. Dead chuffed.
Roy

 

[Bananafishbones]

Hi CB---Thanks for the info ,will look on the map for Danebower and have contacted CAWOS.Just in passing and maybe not very dramatic but had an adult and juvenile nuthatch visiting our feeder for first time. Dead chuffed.
Roy

Its a lovely walk if your out birding or not, very much worth a visit :t: to get Ouzal as well is just a cracking bonus.

Also very good for Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Curlew, Wheatear...... I may take a visit one morning this week for a few hours :t:

Dave

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Hi CB---Thanks for the info ,will look on the map for Danebower and have contacted CAWOS.Just in passing and maybe not very dramatic but had an adult and juvenile nuthatch visiting our feeder for first time. Dead chuffed.
Roy

Roy,

Whereabouts are you? sounds like a good area. If you need any further info just pm me.

CB

 

[Jane Turner]

For anyone interested, the Cheshire rarities records database has been updated.

 

[chris butterworth]

Had a quick look at the Marine Lake in West Kirby this lunchtime. 600+ Blackheaded Gull, 1 ad + 1 2nd yr Med Gull and 40 odd Sandwich Tern. It looks like birds might start using the drained lake for roosting instead of the tideline, there's less disturbance
Chris

 

[Hedgeland]

Will have to brush up on my 2nd summer identification then. I found the adult though.
Also had two common sands at Gilroy yesterday.