Monday 23rd September 2013

Weather: SE wind force 1. Overcast with  slight mist. Visibility poor.

A rather quiet day despite ideal conditions for observing migrants. 57 Grey Plover, a Greenshank and an adult Mediterranian Gull were on the sand prior to high tide at Leasowe.

Visible migrants overhead included 40 Swallows, 10 Skylarks and 6 Grey Wagtails heading east. Some raptors were also on the move including 3 Sparrowhawks and a juvenile Hobby which flew west.

Grounded birds in the coastal scrub around the lighthouse included a Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaffs and one of the first migrant Goldcrests of the autumn. (Observers KAD, EW)

Almost a year to the day of last year’s Western Sandpiper (see picture below) at Hoylake shore, incredibly a moulting adult Semi palmated Sandpiper was found amongst a small group of Dunlin.

The bird in question is clearly a moulting adult showing a mixture of black, retained summer feathers and the greyer, new winter moult. The bird showed no rufous feather edges as would be expected in both Western Sandpiper and Little Stint The distant viewing meant some key features could have been seen a lot better including the palmations and bill. We will all be out tomorrow for better views. 

In light of just how tricky these peeps/stints can be, caution is the best way forwards when identifying these birds, particularly on poor views!

1st year Western Sandpiper (Hoylake, 20th September 2012) The long droop tipped bill and isolated  rufous scapulars distinguish Western Sand from Semi P in 1st winter plumage. Photo by Steve Young www.birdsonfilm.com

Peep/Stint is centre bird 

An ID Challenge at this distance

Lynne Greenstreet

Offshore an estimated 3000 Common Scoter were seen from Hoylake shore. They were a long way off amongst the wind farms; however a few small flocks ventured closer to the land.

An adult Yellow legged Gull was again amongst the Gulls in the usual Hoylake Gull roost.

A Golden Plover remained faithful to this stretch of beach just west of the Lifeboat station. Incredibly this bird is the last of a trio that has been present for 8 weeks.

20th September 2013

Offshore from Hoylake as of 12.00, 6 Common Scoter, 2 Red throated Diver and a single Gannet moved West.

2 Yellow legged Gull remain in the Hoylake high tide Gull roost.

A late (ish) Whinchat was on rough ground west of  the Leasowe Castle Hotel. This is a favoured site for this summer migrant and always a great place to look at this time of year.

AMC

AMC

Other birds on the move included Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Swallow. With a high pressure system moving in from the south over the next 24 hours we are hopeful of more autumn migrants this weekend. (AMC, KD)

19th September 2013

Weather: SE -2 moving West force 6-7, clear with excellent visibility

The mid day tide saw a large Gull roost at Hoylake which included at least 2 Yellow Legged Gulls among several hundred Herring and Lesser Black backed Gulls. One Lesser had some striking head streaking. Waders included 80 Grey Plover and 30 Bar tailed Godwit as well as the usual Dunlin, Ringed Plove and Knot..

As the tide began to ebb so the wind suddenly strengthened from the west. We had good numbers of birds offshore including Common Scoter (27), Red throated Diver (4), Gannet (8), Manx Shearwater (12),Kitiwake (2) Sandwich Tern (20) Common Tern (8) and a Juv Arctic Tern was new for the garden list.

Highlight of the day was a Bonxie and 3 Leach's Petrels along the ebbing tide line, the latter being hunted by an immature Peregrine out over the sea. (AMC and KD)

From the Gunsite 11 Leach's Petrel were seen moving west on the ebb tide.

SEA WATCHING DAY 4

Weather; force 6 West Northwest, visibility good.

The wind continuing  from the Northwest, once again sea watching was the order of the day. With the wind not quite as strong, numbers were lower than in previous days. Between 9 and 11.30 a.m we recorded from Hoylake the following: Gannet (19), Red throated Diver (3) Red breasted Mergnser (1), Commic Tern (1), Sandwich Tern (9), Fulmar (2), Manx Shearwater (4) and Leach's Petrel (1)

With the wind seemingly increasing during the day a Sea watch from the Gunsite (Leasowe) on the Ebb tide seemed like the logical decision and one that proved productive. Between 12.30 and 14.00 9 Leach's Petrel battled their way into the wind and a Grey Phalarope landed on the sea before continuing west. Some record shots of a mid distant leach's petrel were taken from the car !

Further west, a hopeful search in the low tide gutters and pools for the Phalarope produced some wind blown waders doing their best to stay upright in the strengthening wind.

            Cyanea capillata- one of many washed up during the storm

SEAWATCHING - DAY 3

Weather; West force 6-7, squally showers.

Sea watchers were out in force this morning from New Brighton to Hilbre and all points in between.

Highlights included;

Leach's Petrel (12, New Brighton, 15 Hoylake, 70+ Hilbre)
Fulmar (1 Hoylake)
Manx Shearwater (50+ Hoylake)
Arctic tern (New Brighton)
Black tern (New Brighton)
Arctic Skua (Hoylake)
Long Tailed Skua (Hoyalke, Hilbre)
Bonxie (Hilbre)

With the wind backing off over the next couple of days, attention will turning once again to searching through the wader flocks on North Wirral

SEAWATCHING - DAY 2

Weather: Force: 7 / 8 Westerly, Squally showers early on: clearing later.

The first big storm of autumn proved productive as the forecast was correct and Wirral was hit with a force 8 Westerly gale. Whilst big numbers were not recorded a good variety of species were logged across all the Wirral Sea Watching locations. With the wind backing off tomorrow it may be a chance for some further Sea Watching in less severe conditions. Sea watching started from early morning and the following highlights were recorded.

Red throated Diver (3 – Hoylake)

Storm Petrel ( 1 -New Brighton)

Leaches Petrel (8-New Brighton, 8 Hoylake, 20+ Hilbre)

Arctic Tern (4 New Brighton)

Black Tern (1 New Brighton, 1 Hilbre)

Long tailed Skua (2 Hilbre, 1 pale juv Hoylake)

Bonxie (Hilbre)

Little Gull (2- 1^st winter, Hoylake, 1 New Brighton)

A windswept  North Wirral coast, hit by storm force 8 westerlies

Part of a flock of 277 Grey Plover facing into the storm during one of several squalls.

In addition, the resident Yellow legged Gull was on Hoylake beach near the old toilet block and many hundreds of waders were on the shore at Hoylake, including a flock of 277 Grey Plover.

                                                                    (AMC, SRW KD)