Monday 19th January 2015

A late post from Monday 19th Jan; In the Leasowe lighthouse area sea-watching produced 1,100 Common Scoter, 320 Great-crested Grebes, 6 Goldeneye and 3 Eiders including 2 males. 

Inland the single Twite remains in the area of the paddocks but can be elusive. 

A male Blackcap and a Chiffchaff are in the Lingham Lane area and high recent Thrush counts in the area have included 47 Fieldfare, 35 Redwing, 18 Song Thrush and 15 Mistle Thrush. A Peregrine has been seen daily along the beach while the 2 Snow Bunting remain on the foreshore in the area of the Harvester P.H.

Also on Monday 19th; In the Neston Old Quay area a Water Pipit was well seen near the sandstone wall. A party of 9 Twite were also in the area. They have been present here since at least 13th January and may be wintering. 3 Chiffchaffs were at the nearby sewage works. Well out on the marsh 60 Skylarks and 20 Rock Pipits were counted, along with a Merlin and a flyover female Goosander.

Thursday 22nd January 2015; 

5 Short-eared Owls, a Peregrine and 2 Merlins were seen from Riverbank Rd, Heswall, over the high spring tide.

A further 2 Merlins were seen from Neston Old Quay along with a Water Pipit, 6 Twite and 40 Skylarks.

Another Water Pipit showed well for 30 minutes this morning on the filter beds of Neston sewage works. A scope and wellies are needed here though. Finding Water Pipits on the filter beds here is very hit and miss but it's the best place to get a prolonged look as views from the marsh area tend to be brief as they flush very easily.

Up to 5 Chiffchaffs are wintering at the sewage works with 3 seen today.  Observers; JB, KD, KAD, DH, CT, EW.  

Record shot of some of the Twite at Neston Old Quay.  EW.