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

deeestuary

Dee Estuary
Three Great White Egrets seen from the Old Baths yesterday. One was seen for a while out towards the 'Ship' when two flew in to a pool close to the car park. The two together were photographed.

Better change that to 'Probably' three GWE! Hopefully we will be able to confirm them today.

Also there were three Short-eared Owls off Gayton (north end of golf course) and four seen from the Old Baths (3 of which will probably have been the same birds).
 
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owl flight

Well-known member
Behind the 'Red Noses' pitch+putt. That's the info I was given but I don't know exactly where it is.
just as you come out of new brighton west along king's parade, you go past king's parade gardens on the left, the pitch & putt is located there with trees/bushes at the back below the flats/houses at portland court. i've often wondered if anything interesting would appear there, hehe

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...archp=ids.srf&dn=597&ax=330040&ay=394028&lm=0
 

Cheshire Birder

Well-known member
Yesterday – Black Kite reported over M56 at Frodsham; Spotted Crake, Great White Egret, Firecrest, 5 Short-eared Owls, 2 Hen Harriers and 30 Brent Geese at Parkgate; Yellow-browed Warbler at New Brighton; Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Ruddy Shelducks (also seen at Burton Marsh) and Hobby at Burton Mere Wetlands; Redstart, 2 Swallows, Short-eared Owl and Razorbill at Leasowe; Snow Bunting at Hilbre;

CB
 

Cheshire Birder

Well-known member
Today – Great White Egret, Hen Harrier and 7 Brent Geese at Gayton; 2 Ruddy Shelducks at Burton Marsh; 5 Spotted Redshanks and 8 Whooper Swans at Burton Mere Wetlands;

CB
 

Cheshire Birder

Well-known member
Today - 2 Ruddy Shelducks and 3 Whooper Swans at Burton Marsh; Long-billed Dowitcher and Hobby at Burton Mere Wetlands; 3 Ring Ousels, Tree Pipit, 250 Redwings, 360 Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings at Red Rocks; Red-throated Diver at Widnes; White wagtail at Hilbre; Wheatear at Meols; Purple Sandpiper at New Brighton ML; 200 Brent Geese at Hilbre; 3726 Wood Pigeons, 22 Bramblings, 40 Coal Tits and 565 Redwings at Hale; 300+ Skylarks over Thurstaston;

CB
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
Today - 2 Ruddy Shelducks and 3 Whooper Swans at Burton Marsh; Long-billed Dowitcher and Hobby at Burton Mere Wetlands; 3 Ring Ousels, Tree Pipit, 250 Redwings, 360 Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings at Red Rocks; Red-throated Diver at Widnes; White wagtail at Hilbre; Wheatear at Meols; Purple Sandpiper at New Brighton ML; 200 Brent Geese at Hilbre; 3726 Wood Pigeons, 22 Bramblings, 40 Coal Tits and 565 Redwings at Hale; 300+ Skylarks over Thurstaston;

CB

Blimey, Cant think of many more boring things as counting 3726 Woodpigeons ;) I think life is way too short for this ;) would be better counting Red Kites or something just as desirable, but I guess this Vis Mig stuff takes all sorts not just the exciting stuff, but whatever floats our boats
 
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Cheshire Birder

Well-known member
Blimey, Cant think of many more boring things as counting 3726 Woodpigeons ;) I think life is way too short for this ;) would be better counting Red Kites or something just as desirable, but I guess this Vis Mig stuff takes all sorts not just the exciting stuff, but whatever floats our boats

You only have to look a some of the old county bird reports, which didnt publish Tree Sparrow or Yellowhammer records, to see what a mistake that was in hindsight.

Hale Head is the top site in NW England for Wood Pigeons so far this month with over 23,000 birds. These figures help us built a picture of a much under-recorded species.

Other totals from the site so far this October included nearly 2,500 of both Redwing and Chaffinch, 156 Coal Tits, 91 Jays and 43 Bramblings.

CB
 

deeestuary

Dee Estuary
Blimey, Cant think of many more boring things as counting 3726 Woodpigeons ;) I think life is way too short for this ;) would be better counting Red Kites or something just as desirable, but I guess this Vis Mig stuff takes all sorts not just the exciting stuff, but whatever floats our boats

As you say, it takes all sorts. Personally I find the movements and migration of birds fascinating - yes, including Wood Pigeons whose numbers can be spectacular!
Yesterday I counted 607 Great Crested Grebes off north Wirral knowing this is one of the largest flocks on the country - have to confess I got more pleasure from obtaining such a high count (my second highest there) then seeing one poor little lost american wader which people travelled many miles to see just so that could tick it off on their list. No doubt many will be baffled by that last sentence - yes, it certainly takes all sorts!!!

Thanks also to CB for his reply. |=)|
 

Jane Turner

Well-known member
I only managed 18 Woodies today. Vis Mig counting is definitely my favourite form of birding and its not looking like a good season so far. Today's 395 Chaffinches id the highest count so far, and I'd be expecting 4 figure counts on a morning like today.
 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....
Re: Vis mig

Of course its each to their own, and I get much enjoyment from watching passage of birds over my garden.

My initial post regarding the extreme count of Woodpigeon was a little tongue in cheek, and of course the records of these are as important as other species and yes the individuals that put in long hours with sometimes little or no reward is proper dedication and hats off to those people.

But I personally will still rather be counting the 40+ Redpoll in my garden when they eventually arrive rather than tallying up 1000s UPON 1000S of Woodpigeons.

However saying all that on my selfish level I enjoy reading the results of these counts :t:

Dave
 

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