The full summer Mediterranean Gull was again on the sand spit off the Lighthouse car park. A second full summer 'Med' Gull was on the water off New New Brighton where there was also a Harbour Popoise mid afternoon.
AMC
Monday, 30 June 2014
Saturday, 28 June 2014
28th June 2014
Weather: E/NE-3. Cool and overcast
Fairly quiet today with the usual cast of Gannets, Terns and Scoter offshore. The highlight of the day however was an adult Yellow legged Gull among the 1500 'large gulls' in the Hoylake high tide roost.
AMC
Thursday, 26 June 2014
26th June 2014
Weather: E/NE-2, overcast and showers
Seawatching from the Lighthouse car park produced 19 Gannet, 17 Sandwich Tern and 4 Common Tern. 5 Common Scoter also flew west.
An adult summer Mediterranean Gull was in Leasowe bay mid afternoon. This is the first of a marked autumn passage of Med Gulls on North Wirral with numbers building from now onwards to a peak during late August and September. Many birds originate from continental Europe having dispersed westwards from their breeding grounds.
At Hoylake on the high tide Curlew numbers are increasing daily as non breeders return. A count of 31 was recorded today along with a single Ringed Plover.
AMC-Photos- AMC
Seawatching from the Lighthouse car park produced 19 Gannet, 17 Sandwich Tern and 4 Common Tern. 5 Common Scoter also flew west.
An adult summer Mediterranean Gull was in Leasowe bay mid afternoon. This is the first of a marked autumn passage of Med Gulls on North Wirral with numbers building from now onwards to a peak during late August and September. Many birds originate from continental Europe having dispersed westwards from their breeding grounds.
At Hoylake on the high tide Curlew numbers are increasing daily as non breeders return. A count of 31 was recorded today along with a single Ringed Plover.
AMC-Photos- AMC
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| Displaying Sandwich Terns |
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| A small group of Sandwich Terns on Sand Spit from Lighthouse Car Park |
Monday, 16 June 2014
16th June 2014S
Weather: NE-2-4, sunny and warm
Whilst the sea was fairly quiet numbers of Gannet remained offshore with 37 recorded from the Lighthouse car park. Also recorded was a single Little Tern and 45 Common Tern.
Non avian interest interest was recorded with this photograph by Lighthouse regular Les Hall.
Whilst the sea was fairly quiet numbers of Gannet remained offshore with 37 recorded from the Lighthouse car park. Also recorded was a single Little Tern and 45 Common Tern.
Non avian interest interest was recorded with this photograph by Lighthouse regular Les Hall.
.jpe) |
| Small Heath |
Thursday, 12 June 2014
BBRC Acceptance
The Semi-palmated Sandpiper found on Hoylake shore on the 21st September 2013 has been accepted by BBRC. The bird was found in the high tide wader roost by Jane Turner. Present for just a few hours, as the tide ebbed so the birds dispersed. It was not present the next day. A rare but increasing American Wader this constitutes the first Wirral record on a stretch of coastline that is synonymous for rare waders. Other recent records here include Broad- billed Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper and American Golden Plover.
A few poor record shots were taken of the bird show it to be a an adult bird moulting from summer to winter plumage.
Photo's -AMC
A few poor record shots were taken of the bird show it to be a an adult bird moulting from summer to winter plumage.
Photo's -AMC
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| Semi Palmated Sandpiper .Third bird from the left, on back row. |
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| Dunlin (left), Ringed Plover and the Semi palmated Sandpiper (right) |
Sunday, 8 June 2014
8th June 2014
Weather:S/SE-variable 3 .overcast and thundery.
No sooner does the race for the North finish but and the return to the South begins. The absence of Turnstone at the Lighthouse groynes has been evident for many weeks now, however on this mornings tide the familiar chatter was once again heard and two Turnstone flew in across the bay to roost up for the high tide. Also heading south were two Black headed Gulls , presumed failed breeders.
A single Wheatear remains in the inland fields and a single juvenile Lapwing is the first to fledge for two years as a result in the change of land use practices
The alarm calls of disconcerted Hirrundines alerted of a raptor and sure enough a Hobby came in off the sea scattering the flock and this too continued south over the inland fields.
AMC
No sooner does the race for the North finish but and the return to the South begins. The absence of Turnstone at the Lighthouse groynes has been evident for many weeks now, however on this mornings tide the familiar chatter was once again heard and two Turnstone flew in across the bay to roost up for the high tide. Also heading south were two Black headed Gulls , presumed failed breeders.
A single Wheatear remains in the inland fields and a single juvenile Lapwing is the first to fledge for two years as a result in the change of land use practices
The alarm calls of disconcerted Hirrundines alerted of a raptor and sure enough a Hobby came in off the sea scattering the flock and this too continued south over the inland fields.
AMC
Saturday, 7 June 2014
7th June 2014
Weather; NE-2, mild with thundery heavy showers.
Although summer is well and truly upon us there was still plenty to see at the Lighthouse today. Offshore a small flock of semi resident Gannets (mainly immatures) fed offshore whilst several Common Scoter flew west.
A few very late migrant stragglers could be found in the paddocks including 2 Wheatear and a male Yellow Wagtail mid afternoon. Breeding warblers were abundant including several singing Reed Warbler (Photo below)
A couple of Common Terns took up residence on a navigation marker, keeping a watchful eye on distant shipping as it negotiates the waters of the Irish Sea.
Although summer is well and truly upon us there was still plenty to see at the Lighthouse today. Offshore a small flock of semi resident Gannets (mainly immatures) fed offshore whilst several Common Scoter flew west.
A few very late migrant stragglers could be found in the paddocks including 2 Wheatear and a male Yellow Wagtail mid afternoon. Breeding warblers were abundant including several singing Reed Warbler (Photo below)
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| A post coital fly by |
A couple of Common Terns took up residence on a navigation marker, keeping a watchful eye on distant shipping as it negotiates the waters of the Irish Sea.
Thursday, 5 June 2014
Red necked Phalarope
Weather: West-5, overcast and mild.
With migration at a standstill June is still a great time for something unexpected. So it was not wholly surprising when a female Red necked Phalarope turned up at BMW. This is a rare bird on the Wirral with only a handful of records including another at this same site but on the IMF side during the early 1990's.
Other birds on site included a 1st summer Med Gull, Little Ringed Plover and a Greenshank.
A few record shots were rattled off for the sake of posterity! Also a short video by SRW here .http://youtu.be/ghhjSM3lhi0
Photos -AMC
With migration at a standstill June is still a great time for something unexpected. So it was not wholly surprising when a female Red necked Phalarope turned up at BMW. This is a rare bird on the Wirral with only a handful of records including another at this same site but on the IMF side during the early 1990's.
Other birds on site included a 1st summer Med Gull, Little Ringed Plover and a Greenshank.
A few record shots were rattled off for the sake of posterity! Also a short video by SRW here .http://youtu.be/ghhjSM3lhi0
Photos -AMC
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| (SRW) |
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