Monday 7th October 2013

Weather; Sunny spells, warm, cloud cover 6/8, wind SW force 2

A very light passage over the lighthouse area today with small numbers of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Chaffinches and 3 Grey Wagtails moving mainly west.
In Lingham Lane the Turtle Dove was again present in the area of the bridge and showing well at times. It is absent for long periods, however, when it presumably feeds out of sight along with local Collared Doves in nearby gardens and private farm areas. Also in the area of the bridge were 3 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher.

   

 Observers KD & EW (photo)

6th October 2013

Negative sightings of Turtle Dove this morning but was elusive yesterday, disappearing for long periods at a time so is still worth looking for.  On a more positive note there was a considerable movement of Meadow Pipits, Reed Bunting and Skylark first thing this morning.  Its always worth searching these incoming birds for a rarer visitor !  The usual Greenshank was off the groyne this morning and a flock of 50+ Linnet feeding on the weeds in the horse paddocks.... again worth checking to see if it includes a Twite.   A roving mixed tit flock (Long tailed, Blue and Great) moved down the bushes of the nature trail with a Chiffchaff in attendance.   A single adult winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull was at the Lighthouse cafe, off  Leasowe Road .... easy to identify as it appears to have only 1 leg !!   In the past this bird has come to bread thrown out so you can get excellent views.    JB

The Turtle Dove was reported to have been seen again this afternoon at its usual location on Lingham Lane close to the road bridge over the river Birket.  Clearly it' following its usual pattern of disappearing for long periods of time but it always seems to come back to the bridge area.  JB


A juvenile Whinchat was in the horse paddocks late afternoon.

The super elusive Turtle Dove made a sudden  re-appearance late afternoon.  Photo SRW

05th October 2013

Weather W-2, warm and overcast

The TURTLE DOVE remained on wires by Lingham Bridge all day. Although disappearing for long periods into private gardens, it can, with patience easily be seen on overhead wires. 

The Yellow browed Warblers appeared to have moved on overnight bringing to an end what has been an incredible week for this species.

Other birds on the move were, Skylark (14) Grey Wagtail (1) Jay (1) and a very rare Lighthouse bird, a Yellowhammer was heard and seen in a hedgerow at the south end of Lingham Lane.

Wirral Mega !

Weather SE 2, warm and overcast: heavy overnight rain

Classic conditions overnight resulted in plenty of grounded migrants and as the day developed plenty of visible migration kept us going.

The first circuit of the morning produced what is now a Wirral mega. A cracking 1st winter TURTLE DOVE. Found in a private garden the bird quickly relocated and spent it's time on telephone wires by Lingham bridge. This is the first widely available Turtle Dove on Wirral for 7 years !  More eyes, more birds and birders 'twitching' the dove came up trumps by finding an additional 2 Yellow browed Warblers to the one earlier in the week.

Turtle Dove. The The blue/grey rump caused some momentary concern over  spp meena . Photo AMC

Grey Wagtails on the move are a classic sign of autumn migration

Visible migration during the morning included Jackdaw (15)  Reed Bunting (4)., Skylark (4) Grey Wagtail (2) Chaffinch (50), Greenfinch (40), Sisikin (4) Meadow Pipit (150). Two late Swallows pushed south in the afternoon. Blackbirds had definetly increased with at least 40 being recoreded as well as 7 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush and 2 Great spotted Woodpecker.

3 Teal came in off and 3 Mute Swans moved west mid afternoon and a Kingfisher was at Lingham bridge

Other grounded migrants included Blackcap (1), Chiifchaff 12, Wheatear (1), Whinchat (1) .

A great day and the best of the autumn, So far .................
(AMC,MJG JJ, KGR,MGT et al)

3rd October 2013

Weather E/SE-2, warm and overcast. Heavy rain from 14.40.

The Yellow browed Warbler remained in the coastal sallows 1/2 mile west of the Lighthouse along the main bridle path. Although it remains elusive it does show well on occasion best being located by call.

3 Chiffchaffs were in the Nature trail as were 2 Great spotted Woodpecker. As the weather closed in, birding stopped for the day, we hope for better weather tomorrow.

Yellow browed Warbler # 2

Weather:  SE-2 , warm and overcast

Still buoyed by yesterdays Yellow browed Warbler we were out in  force hoping to relocate yesterdays bird. A team effort and a phone call later I was back at exactly the site  where I found it yesterday morning. The bird was still present and calling loudly and was seen well but once again quickly disappeared. The bird was  present all day as it was still fly cathing in one of the coastal sallows at 5.00pm. With the light rapidly fading I managed one or two record shots, showing the bird's pale median crown stripe and of course a lemon yellow brow ! 

AMC

Several Chiffchaffs were along Linham lane and the Nature Trail with some breaking into song in the autumnal weather. A couple of Great spotted Woodpecker were found along the nature trail.  The linnet flock remains in the horse paddock but despite searching nothing unusual was found although one male bird had a large and asymmetrical white wing flash which caused a momentary heart flutter. 

Waders today included Ringed Plover (10), Dunlin (19), Bar tailed Godwit (5) and Turnstone (23)  

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at the Lighthouse cafe car park, now in it's ninth year

Yellow browed Warbler

Weather: E/SE force 3-4. Overcast and mild.

Yet another blustery day producing difficult finding conditions. On an easterly as strong as this, the Nature trail and Bridle way bushes were always going to be the most sheltered. At approximately 09.20, after 20 minutes of searching, there was the 'call' that had been hoped for, a Yellow-browed Warbler. At which point a Yellow b rowed Warbler flew across the bridle path into a small coastal bush on top of the sea defence. What a great bird! A couple of record shots were rattled off and the news was quickly released. These birds which breed in the Siberian Taiga migrate south to winter in Southeast Asia. With such a prolonged period of easterlies it was only a matter of time before one of these Siberian beauties eventually arrived at the Lighthouse. Another or possibility the same bird was' heard only' and independently in bushes by the lighthouse car park an hour or so earlier

AMC

AMC

MGT

SRW

The bird settled down into a routine of disappearing for  long periods of time and  then showing well for five minutes at a time allowing for some pretty good shots as the weather began to close in towards mid afternoon. Last seen at approximately 14.45  this ace bird attracted many locals and visitors alike. It was especially pleasing, as for some visitors it was their first Wirral and or lifer Yellow browed Warbler.

With the wind continuing from the east we continue to be hopeful of more Siberian vagrants, we are just days away from the sixth anniversary of the famous Lighthouse Raddes Warbler. We remain optimistic and enthused !

 (AMC, KAD,JJ,CT,MGT, CJW, SRW et al)