Hoylake Bird Observatory (1 Viewer)

[Jane Turner]

I added my first new bird for the garden since last May's Red-rumped Swallow. I heard a Redpoll calling noisily in the front, and since it was a novelty not to have one 400ft up, I made an attempt to see it. At first I couldn't see it, having dismissed the only visible finch as a female Chaffinch on my naked eye scan. When it called again I looked at the "Chaffinch" I saw that it was a 1st winter male Mealy - that's how big and grey it was. It was face onto me, so I could see the grey and white cheeks, not a lot of streaking a cold grey wash to the upper breast and very large black bib and the white wing bars. I was too busy titting about with a camera to get a good view of its mantle, but as it flew off (with Goldfinches it seemed bigger than) I saw a nice white rump on it. 191 in the garden now.

There have been Willow Warblers all afternoon, 5 Whimbrel, a steady trickle of Swallows and a Whitethroat.

 

[Jane Turner]

A willow Warbler still in the front, and still there are Redpolls and Siskins moving. Highlight was however 6 Jackdaws and 2 Rook - both new for the year.

 

[Jane Turner]

Been a near continuous run of migrants in both gardens the last two days, with multiple Blackcap, Whitethroat, 10s of Willow Warbler and a Sedge Warbler in the gardens, plenty of Sisins, Redpolls and hirundines through. Tonight there was a Garden Warbler in the back, as well as another Sedge Warbler. Of course I failed to photograph the more skulky birds. The stream is a major draw in this hot weather.

Photos taken with a point and shoot digital camera....

 

[Jane Turner]

and finally, a fine male Redstart is on the lawn, too late to photograph it.

 

[Jane Turner]

There have been September-style seabird movements the last few days. Three figure counts of Manx Shearwaters, Gannets and Kittiwakes!

In calm drizzly weather today, there were two Tree Pipits over a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat singing in the front garden. The breeding Swifts came back yesterday. On the beach there are about 1000 Dunlin, 3 Sanderling and 50 Ringed Plover, however the record that prompted me to post was a completely amazing, verging on incredible 76 Great-crested Grebes on the water!!!

 

[Jane Turner]

I get the feeling that someone is going do very well on the West Coast today. I have three Spotted Flycatchers in the garden. Failed to find the Bluethroat so far!

 

[Johnny Allan]

Hi there and sorry for the intrusion,

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]

Any migrants about today Jane? What can we expect there this weekend?

 

[Jane Turner]

Its quiet. Too clear for land migrants. There are 500 or so waders still about, mostly Dunlin, but a good few Ringed Plovers too. They were really loud on last night's tide

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Its quiet. Too clear for land migrants.

No chance of any drift migrants along the coast then?

 

[Jane Turner]

There's always a chance... though its remote. If it gets hot and muggy and the visibility comes down, I'd fancy Red Rocks for a Red-backed Shrike or similar. Currently you can see the Orme and Consiton simultaneously, so not a lot of reason for anything to come down.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

I'll be there like a flash if you get a Red-backed shrike Jane. I've only seen one in spring and that was a female in Norfolk many years ago.

 

[deeestuary]

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

 

[Jane Turner]

Still a thousand an hour moving through

 

[Cheshire Birder]

I had my first ones today!!

 

[Jane Turner]

A Redpoll in off the sea today - its autumn!

Notable lack of Royal and Least Terns mind!

 

[PhilW]

A Redpoll in off the sea today - its autumn!

Notable lack of Royal and Least Terns mind!

No sign of either at Dove Point, Fort perch, Gunsites or Hilbre over the weekend either Jane. Give it time...........................

 

[Cheshire Birder]

No seawatching news from the obs Jane?

CB

 

[Jane Turner]

Been quiet - been looking on and off all day - Skuas Gannets terns... though no more than if it had been calm. Need a few more hours of wind to score I think.

not a single tubenose today

 

[Jane Turner]

pre tide there was A Manxie (barely capable of flight) an Arctic Skua and a Fulmar. I nearly lost a window trying to scrape the salt off it - need some showers quickly!