Photos:
Green Sandpiper, Rixton
Juvenile White Wagtail?, Seaforth
Juvenile Citrine Wagtail, Seaforth
26th August
I managed to escape from Brum a little early today and thus found a bit of time to call in at Rixton on the way home. The mosses were relatively quiet, a flock of 15 Mistle Thrushes, three Buzzards, two Kestrels and a flock of 40+ Goldfinches on Holly Bush Lane. When I reached Prospect Lane where I spotted a small brown job perched up on top of the barley. I got my scope on it and found it to be a juvenile Whinchat. Nice one! The little sod didn’t stop for photos though – it soon flew off over the fields to the north west. A Green Sandpiper was also present on the small pool at the base of the tip here, plus a second bird on Moat Lane pool 1. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover plus a couple of Teal and the usual swans were also there. Going down Dam Head Lane a Jay was being mobbed by Magpies and a Sparrowhawk flew over the fields to the west.
A quick visit to HGF and two Teal were present today – looks like the now semi-resident bird has found a friend. A covey of 5 Grey Partridges were nr Myddleton Farm. Two Kestrels and a Buzzard were hunting the fields.
Barrow Lane this evening was relatively quiet – a single juvenile Kestrel along with five coveys of Grey Partridges totally 23 birds. Late tonight a Tawny Owl was heard hooting around on Waterworks Lane.
Having seen some sparrows flitting around in the hedge by Waterworks Lane feeding station I have taken a punt and decided to put some seed down to see what turns up.
27th August
Quietish day today for a weekend. Too tired to be honest – long hours in Birmingham plus the travelling and I generally don’t feel like doing much when I have free time.
Had a quick look at Newton Lake this morning. A single Green Sandpiper was present plus 12 Teal and 4 Gadwall. It then started raining heavily so I left. The garden was busier today than I have seen it for a while though with tits and finches flitting around all day. I can’t remember seeing so many birds for a while though to be honest I don’t watch the garden too much these days. I did check out the feeding station in Waterworks Lane – 17 House Sparrows were busy feeding there! A juvenile Whitethroat was skulking in the opposite hedge.
28th August
I got some decent time for birding today and mostly it went wrong. I started off at Hoylake on a rising tide. There were good numbers of Sandwich Terns on the distant shoreline plus a few waders, however the wind was horrendous. I couldn’t keep the scope straight so I quickly gave up. Next stop was Leasowe Gunsite for a bit of seawatching. I know the wind was in the wrong direction, however a few things had been turning up recently. I saw sod all. I then wandered over to Heswall. Timing all wrong – it was high tide and most of the salt marsh was flooded. There were lots of waders but all hidden in the remaining remnants of the salt marsh. At least 22 Little Egrets were present and 750+ Shelduck floating on the water. Final stop was Parkgate. Two Peregrines were perched up way out on the marsh and around a dozen Little Egrets were moving about. The new flash further down looks good, however when I turned up all the waders (mainly Dunlin and Ringed Plover) were roosting with heads tucked away. I got fed up at that point and decided The Wirral wasn’t really playing ball today.
Next I decided to head for Seaforth. Good move as a Citrine Wagtail was then reported. Funny though when I arrived there was no one around. I plonked myself in the hide overlooking the long bank where wagtails usually appear and sure enough quite a few turned up. One was superficially a little like a Citrine but looked like a juvenile White Wagtail to me. There was no sign of the Citrine Wag. Sod it – not going well today.
I wandered round to the main hide where a birder had appeared and very casually said the Citrine Wags on the little pool at the side of the hide. And sure enough it was! I watched it for around five minutes before it disappeared. Later I picked it up twice more – in the company of a few Yellow Wagtails.
There were not too many Common Terns left today – around 80 or so and a juvenile Black Tern made a welcome distraction. A Common Sandpiper was also patrolling the pool edge and around 40+ House Martins and a few Swifts were present. On the rough ground backing up top the containers there were at least 13 Wheatears. This was much better birding!
At HGF this evening there were quite a few Grey Partridges kicking around in the newly dropped fields. At one point coveys of 35, 6, 5 and 7 all flew together into the field opposite the kennels making a loose flock of 53 birds! Spectacular to see. A male Whitethroat was skipping down the path through the south field. Little change on the water – the Teal is still present but its friend has gone. A couple of Buzzards were also hanging around – one had a very smart white rump with a black sub-terminal band. It also looks pale but is clearly a Common Buzzard. I’ve not seen this one before – it might cause a little confusion if it sticks around.
At Waterworks Lane feeding station this evening were 31 House Sparrows plus 4 Grey Partridges (2 adults, 2 juveniles).
I managed to escape from Brum a little early today and thus found a bit of time to call in at Rixton on the way home. The mosses were relatively quiet, a flock of 15 Mistle Thrushes, three Buzzards, two Kestrels and a flock of 40+ Goldfinches on Holly Bush Lane. When I reached Prospect Lane where I spotted a small brown job perched up on top of the barley. I got my scope on it and found it to be a juvenile Whinchat. Nice one! The little sod didn’t stop for photos though – it soon flew off over the fields to the north west. A Green Sandpiper was also present on the small pool at the base of the tip here, plus a second bird on Moat Lane pool 1. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover plus a couple of Teal and the usual swans were also there. Going down Dam Head Lane a Jay was being mobbed by Magpies and a Sparrowhawk flew over the fields to the west.
A quick visit to HGF and two Teal were present today – looks like the now semi-resident bird has found a friend. A covey of 5 Grey Partridges were nr Myddleton Farm. Two Kestrels and a Buzzard were hunting the fields.
Barrow Lane this evening was relatively quiet – a single juvenile Kestrel along with five coveys of Grey Partridges totally 23 birds. Late tonight a Tawny Owl was heard hooting around on Waterworks Lane.
Having seen some sparrows flitting around in the hedge by Waterworks Lane feeding station I have taken a punt and decided to put some seed down to see what turns up.
27th August
Quietish day today for a weekend. Too tired to be honest – long hours in Birmingham plus the travelling and I generally don’t feel like doing much when I have free time.
Had a quick look at Newton Lake this morning. A single Green Sandpiper was present plus 12 Teal and 4 Gadwall. It then started raining heavily so I left. The garden was busier today than I have seen it for a while though with tits and finches flitting around all day. I can’t remember seeing so many birds for a while though to be honest I don’t watch the garden too much these days. I did check out the feeding station in Waterworks Lane – 17 House Sparrows were busy feeding there! A juvenile Whitethroat was skulking in the opposite hedge.
28th August
I got some decent time for birding today and mostly it went wrong. I started off at Hoylake on a rising tide. There were good numbers of Sandwich Terns on the distant shoreline plus a few waders, however the wind was horrendous. I couldn’t keep the scope straight so I quickly gave up. Next stop was Leasowe Gunsite for a bit of seawatching. I know the wind was in the wrong direction, however a few things had been turning up recently. I saw sod all. I then wandered over to Heswall. Timing all wrong – it was high tide and most of the salt marsh was flooded. There were lots of waders but all hidden in the remaining remnants of the salt marsh. At least 22 Little Egrets were present and 750+ Shelduck floating on the water. Final stop was Parkgate. Two Peregrines were perched up way out on the marsh and around a dozen Little Egrets were moving about. The new flash further down looks good, however when I turned up all the waders (mainly Dunlin and Ringed Plover) were roosting with heads tucked away. I got fed up at that point and decided The Wirral wasn’t really playing ball today.
Next I decided to head for Seaforth. Good move as a Citrine Wagtail was then reported. Funny though when I arrived there was no one around. I plonked myself in the hide overlooking the long bank where wagtails usually appear and sure enough quite a few turned up. One was superficially a little like a Citrine but looked like a juvenile White Wagtail to me. There was no sign of the Citrine Wag. Sod it – not going well today.
I wandered round to the main hide where a birder had appeared and very casually said the Citrine Wags on the little pool at the side of the hide. And sure enough it was! I watched it for around five minutes before it disappeared. Later I picked it up twice more – in the company of a few Yellow Wagtails.
There were not too many Common Terns left today – around 80 or so and a juvenile Black Tern made a welcome distraction. A Common Sandpiper was also patrolling the pool edge and around 40+ House Martins and a few Swifts were present. On the rough ground backing up top the containers there were at least 13 Wheatears. This was much better birding!
At HGF this evening there were quite a few Grey Partridges kicking around in the newly dropped fields. At one point coveys of 35, 6, 5 and 7 all flew together into the field opposite the kennels making a loose flock of 53 birds! Spectacular to see. A male Whitethroat was skipping down the path through the south field. Little change on the water – the Teal is still present but its friend has gone. A couple of Buzzards were also hanging around – one had a very smart white rump with a black sub-terminal band. It also looks pale but is clearly a Common Buzzard. I’ve not seen this one before – it might cause a little confusion if it sticks around.
At Waterworks Lane feeding station this evening were 31 House Sparrows plus 4 Grey Partridges (2 adults, 2 juveniles).
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