Sunday 14th August 2016

Weather; Sunny and warm. Winds light NW F2

Wader numbers are slowly building up on Leasowe shore with 40 Turnstone, 20 Ringed Plovers and 200 Redshanks here this morning. 3 Black-tailed Godwits flew north-east.

The more settled conditions has spurred an obvious increase in passage, both of overhead and grounded birds, in the lighthouse area.

Around 150 Swallows, 60 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins and 3 Swifts moved mainly east in small groups. The vast majority of Swifts have now left to the south.

The was a large increase in Chiffchaff numbers today, with 35 being logged, indicating an arrival of migrants to add to the many local birds still in the area. The 22 Willow Warblers counted today were certainly all migrants, most having moved on by the afternoon. Other migrant Warblers noted included 4 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat in the Lingham Lane area and a Grasshopper Warbler on the paddocks path.

1st winter male Redstart,  Park Lane.        Tim Kinch         

3 Redstarts were in the small fields just to the west of the private Parkfield House access road on Park Lane. All were showing well until at least mid afternoon, one being the long-staying individual. DH, TK, EW

Redstart (fem) Park Lane.        Tim Kinch

Friday 12th August 2016

Warm with sunny spells. Breezy. Wind W F4



6 Little Egrets, 150 Redshanks, a Greenshank, 30 Dunlins and 11 Turnstones were on the western groyne at low tide. A Stonechat was on nearby Meols Common.
The long-staying Redstart remains in Park Lane and is now losing it's spotty juvenile garb and acquiring 1st winter plumage. 2 Willow Warblers were also in Park Lane.

Willow Warbler; Lingham Lane      EW

Most migrants were to be found in the more sheltered Lingham Lane area. These included 3 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler and 4 Willow Warblers. Hopefully more settled conditions in the week ahead will increase migrant numbers. 2 Bullfinches were at Lingham bridge.

Garden Warbler at Lingham bridge.      EW

Sunday 7th August 2016

Weather; sunny but blustery. Wind W F4-5

3 Manx Shearwaters passed Leasowe in the windy conditions today. Also off Leasowe was a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank and 12 Turnstones. 300 Dunlin were off Hoylake.

Wheatear at Meols.      Tim Kinch

2 Swifts passed overhead and 2 Wheatears were in Meols common. Willow Warbler numbers were down today with only 3 birds recorded. The juvenile Redstart remains in the Park Lane area.

Willow Warbler (juv) at Leasowe          Tim Kinch

Saturday 6th August 2016

Weather; Warm and sunny wind W F2

2 Greenshanks were at the western groyne today together with small numbers of Dunlins and Ringed Plovers.

A Hobby was discovered hunting between the lighthouse and the top end of Lingham lane this morning by Tim Kinch although it had moved on by the afternoon.

Wheatear on Meols Common.     EW

3 Lesser Whitethroats were also at the top of Lingham Lane near the kissing gate. It is thought they have bred in the area this year as sightings have been regular through the summer. 2 juvenile Stonechats were just to the east of

Hobby over Lingham Lane    Tim Kinch.

Meols common.

Migrants in the area included a small south-east passage of 28 Swifts, mainly in the afternoon, and a single Wheatear on Meols common . Willow Warbler numbers are building up with 11 being recorded in the lighthouse area today, most being pristine yellow juveniles.

Tuesday 2nd August 2016

Weather; Cloudy with some light drizzle showers. Wind SE F3

Record shot of the juvenile Redstart in Park Lane.  Tim Kinch

Interesting sightings in the lighthouse area over the past week include a juvenile Redstart in Park Lane found by Tim Kinch on 26th July and a Willow Tit found at Lingham bridge by Dave Haigh on Saturday 30th July and seen well that morning. The Willow Tit record is especially notable for a species declining rapidly. The last lighthouse sighting is well over 20 years ago.

Dunlins flying in to roost on the embankment.

Today there were around 2,000 Dunlin roosting on the western groyne and adjacent embankment and 5 Gannets were offshore.

2 migrant Willow Warblers were along the nature trail and the juvenile Redstart remains in Park Lane having been here a week. It is usually to be found in the top left corner of the small field immediately to the left of the private Parkfield House entrance drive.

There was a small passage of around 30 Swifts today, most travelling in a south-easterly direction. Over 60 House Martins and a single Sand Martin were also overhead.

Waders, Terns and Gulls

Weather: Warm and sunny, some rain showers.

The Autumn roost on Hoylake shore continues to build. Returning waders over this weekends tides included 4 Grey Plover, 38 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Bar tailed Godwit, 12 Ringed Plover, 1000 Dunlin and 37 Sanderling.  Tern numbers also continue to increase with the roost holding approximately 600 Sandwich Tern, 22 Common Tern and 4 Little Tern. Offshore several Gannet, Common Scoter and Great crested Grebes are present. 
The Gull roost of 1500 large mixed Gulls currently contains 2 Yellow legged Gulls, an adult and a 3rd yr bird. As expected at this time of year Mediteranean Gulls start to build. There are currently a minimum of 7 birds on the North Wrral Shore, 2ad summer, 2 moulting adults , 2 second summer and a 1st summer bird.

Migrants at the Ligthouse in recent days have included our first returning 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Garden Warbler near Lingham bridge. Grasshopper Warbler have had some breeding succcess with at least two broods being recorded. Yesterday saw a small movement of Swift with 35 passing late afternoon along with 3 Sand Martin and 14 Swallow. Highlight of the day however was an adult Cuckoo seen at Lingam Lane shortly after lunch. Seen briefly it remained elusive for the rest of the day.

GC, EW

 

 

Waders return

Weather: SW-3, sunny with cloudy spells.

With little to report over the last few weeks we are pleased to report birds are once again starting to move at the Lighthouse. This week has seen the arrival of returning waders. Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher numbers have all started to build on Hoylake foreshore. Black tailed Godwit (once a scarce bird on the foreshore) have become commoner during recent years however a flock of 50 dropping in was one of our highest counts. The first Turnstone of the autumn arrived today whilst a single adult Med Gull will no doubt be the first of the usual autumn build up. On Monday a Common Sandpiper fed amongst the rocks at 'Greenshank Groyne'. With some stiff onshore winds good numbers of Gannets, Manx Shearwaters and Sandwich Terns are to be regularly seen offshore whiilst the wintering flock of Great crested Grebes have already built up to 34.

Black tailed Godwits (Allan Conlin)

Turnstone (Eddie Williams)