Friday 8th August 2014

Weather; Overcast early a.m. sunny later and unsettled by mid afternoon. Wind E to NW later, light.


Early autumn migrants in the Leasowe lighthouse area today included a group of 17 Sand Martins which flew directly in off the sea, over the embankment, and due south without lingering. A further single was around the pond in the afternoon. A single Swift also powered through heading south over the cafe. The first migrant Wheatears of the autumn also appeared today with a single female on Meols common this morning followed by a further two there this afternoon.
Other migrants in the area included 2 Willow Warblers near the western kissing gate and another 2 near the duck pond. A single Garden Warbler remains in the area of Lingham Lane bridge from the 3 in the vicinity yesterday. There are also several juvenile Blackcaps with very faint brown crowns in this area to confuse the issue. The Lesser Whitethroat remains in scrub to the east of the pond near the bottom of Lingham Lane. It has been here for nearly a week. An even longer stayer, the Greenshank, was on it's usual groyne this evening. 

Record shot of Garden Warbler;  EW

On the butterfly front a Small Copper and a Painted Lady were on Meols common this afternoon (Colin Twist). Both have been very rare this year.

Female Wheatear. DH

  Observers;  DH, CT, EW.