Thursday 31st March 2016

Weather;  Fine and sunny. Wind W F1-2

A fine spring day with breeding activity from many local birds in the lighthouse area including a pair of Skylarks which have taken up territory on Meols common behind the western groyne in spite of the hordes of dog walkers here every morning.

Migration is increasing with larger numbers of the common early spring migrants today. A total of 6 Swallows flew east and Wheatear numbers were up to 11, mainly in the paddocks and Meols common areas. Goldcrest numbers were up to 22 and Chiffchaffs to 17, these mainly in the nature trail and duckpond area although others were along Park Lane and the east bank of Kerr's field. Considering the clear conditions overnight and through the day these were decent numbers. Stonechats were down to just one bird, however. Their spring passage numbers tend to peak very early in the season, around mid March. Meadow Pipits were also down today, with just 20 or so birds being logged. 3 Buzzards were circling together over Kerr's field.

The month ahead is probably the best of the year in the Leasowe area with spring migration at full throttle. Hopefully many delights await.    Observers;  DH, TK, CT, EW 

Skylark on Meols common

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Weather;  Mainly clear and sunny. Wind W F2

Migration continues to pick up a little.

The first 4 Swallows of the spring passed quickly through the lighthouse area today with 3 birds heading east along the embankment and the fourth west.

50 Meadow Pipits, 17 Pied and 1 White Wagtail were in the paddocks.

12 Goldcrests, 10 Chiffchaffs and 1 or 2 Willow Warblers were feeding up in the nature trail area prior to continuing their northerly journey.

3 Stonechats and 3 Wheatears were in the Meols common area.

Observers KAD, DH, JJ, CT. 

  

Tuesday 29th March 2016

Weather;  Sunny spells with showers. Brightening by early afternoon. Wind SW-W F3-2

A quiet morning in the Leasowe area with just a handful of migrants. 2 Sand Martins flew east along the sea embankment while 2 Wheatears were in the Meols common area. Wheatear passage here so far this spring has been both late and sparse. Hopefully numbers will pick up a bit and it's just down to the weather. Meadow Pipit numbers were well down today with just 20 being in the paddocks area and just a handful of overhead birds.

2 Chiffchaffs were grounded this morning. Things picked up in the early afternoon with a slight decrease in the wind and increase in temperature. This may have encouraged a small arrival of 6 Goldcrests, 9 Chiffchaffs and the first Willow Warbler of the spring. All these birds appeared together along the nature trail but quickly dispersed mainly westwards.

6 Skylarks also flew in off the sea and fed for a while in the paddocks before departing eastwards.

Other birds in the lighthouse area included a Peregrine flying west, 3 Reed Buntings on Lingham paddocks and a Kingfisher around the duck pond this morning.  Observers;  KAD, AE, DH, LH,CT, EW.

Newly arrived Chiffchaff on the nature trail.    EW

Friday 25th March 2016

Weather;  Fine and sunny. Wind W to SW F2

A single Short-eared Owl flew west across the paddocks west of the lighthouse this morning without lingering. A Merlin did linger here, however, and was perched on a fencepost for some time. There was no sign of it this afternoon though.

A pair of Scaup were on the sea off Leasowe over the high tide period.

Merlin in the paddocks this morning.      Tim Kinch

Other migrants in the lighthouse area included 60 Meadow Pipits, mainly in the paddocks, 4 Goldcrests, 4 Redwings and 3 Chiffchaffs. One of the Chiffchaffs was in full song near the Duck pond and could be last year's returning breeder. Observers; JB, DH, TK, CT.

Wednesday 23rd March 2016

Weather; Dull and cloudy but dry. Wind SW to W F0-2

The first Wheatears of the spring finally arrived this morning with two males in the Lighthouse area, one on Meols common and the second along the sea embankment to the east. They are 8 days later than the first arrival here for last year and13 days later than the first for 2014. The average earliest arrival date for Cheshire and Wirral is 13th March.

Wheatear. Meols common.     EW

There was a good passage of Meadow Pipits today with around 210 birds being logged, most passing through by midday but around 60 lingering in the paddocks this afternoon. Other migrants present in the lighthouse area included

Short-eared Owl, Meols common.     EW

2 Common Snipe, 5 Goldcrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Stonechats, 5 Redwings and a Grey Wagtail. A Kingfisher was seen along the Birkett from Lingham bridge while the Little Owl was heard constantly calling from just west of here from an area with no public access.

On the tide this morning off Leasowe were 800 Scoters, 235 Great-crested Grebes and a drake Scaup. 13 Wigeon  were on the sea off Dove point.

2 Short-eared Owls appeared this afternoon, one frequenting the paddocks before heading away inland and another arriving over the sea wall from the north-east and frequenting the Meols common area. Observers;  SD, AE, DH, JJ, MGT, EW 

Monday 21st March 2016

Cloudy. Wind NW F 2

A Short-eared Owl spent most of the afternoon in the horse paddocks west of Leasowe lighthouse today giving prolonged perched views.

Migration continues at a trickle here with 2 Goldcrests in the area of the duck pond together with our first obvious migrant Chiffchaff of the spring, a bird with a ring on the right leg which could not be properly read (others may have more luck, see photo)

Short-eared Owl in the paddocks.    EW

Around 20 Redwings were in the Park Lane area together with 2 more Goldcrests. Meadow Pipits continue to pass through in decent numbers with around 70 birds being logged, mainly in the paddocks and on the common in front of the lighthouse. 4 Stonechats are also in this area.

Chiffchaff.       EW

18th March 2016

Weather, NW-3, cool and overcast

A cool day saw few new birds in at the Lighthouse today. A small flock of winter thrushes which included 20 Redwing and 30 Fieldfare were present on Pasture road. Stonechat numbers were up to 9 birds between Meols Common and Leasowe Bay.

4 Reed Bunting came in off the sea and 2 Goldcrest were along the nature trail. Offshore a herd of Whooper Swans were photographed very distantly from Leasowe Bay.

Pied / White Wag ??