Wednesday 27th August 2014

Weather; Sunny spells, light SE wind force 2. Force 3 in the afternoon.


The wind change to the south-east appeared to have prompted a considerable amount of migration through the Leasowe lighthouse area, especially this morning. Visible migration overhead early on included 9 Teal, 11 Magpies, 3 Jays, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Buzzard, 9 Swifts, 25 Meadow Pipits, 5 Reed Buntings and 8 Grey Wagtails. 
Hirundine passage was also evident with over 200 Swallows and 60 House Martins moving east. Among the House Martins was a beautiful all-white leucistic individual.
Grounded birds were much in evidence especially in the hedgerows along Lingham Lane south of the the fisheries alongside the old golf course. Here there were 6 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher. Another Spotted Flycatcher was at Lingham Lane bridge together with a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps and, unusually for here, a Nuthatch. The Spotted Flycatcher, or a third individual, later relocated to the duck pond area, where there were also 3 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
5 Wheatears were in the paddocks together with around 30 Pied Wagtails. Most of these birds are juvenile or 1st winter types and easily confusable with similarly aged White Wagtails, many of which we surely overlook here. 

Ad White Wagtail. Note that the pale grey area of the rump between the middle tertials is the same shade as the mantle. On Pied this would be a much darker slate colour. This is perhaps the safest way to I.D. the confusing juvs and first winter birds in autumn. EW.

By midday a mass clear out had taken place with most of the above birds having moved on. The only new birds in the afternoon were 2 Wheatears and singles of Sand Martin, Grey Wagtail and an adult White Wagtail. Observers; AMC, KAD, DH, JJ, CT, MGT, EW.

Spotted Flycatcher.  EW.