Sunday 16th August 2015

Weather; Fine and sunny wind variable SE to NW this afternoon f1-2


A very light temporary south-east wind coupled with slightly reduced visibility may have prompted a slightly larger arrival of returning migrants to the Leasowe area this morning than there has been of late. 
A small passage of 12 Willow Warblers took place early this morning with birds filtering through the paddocks eastwards from the Meols Common area towards the nature trail and duck pond, where some remained. Other migrants on the nature trail included one, possibly two, Lesser Whitethroats and a Grasshopper Warbler.

Overhead a single Redpoll headed west and a Tree Pipit south. A Sand Martin and a Swift fed over Lingham Lane with around 30 House Martins.

Other birds in the lighthouse area included 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 8 Reed warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers and 12 Whitethroats, although many of these will be summer breeders or their young still present.

Willow Warbler in the paddocks.   EW

50 Redshanks, 60 Dunlin, 10 Turnstone and the usual Greenshank were present at the western groyne before the tide. 14 Pied Wagtails were in the paddocks.

Grasshopper Warbler on the nature trail. Note the quite heavy streaking on the throat and breast of this bird. Most individuals have less streaking than this with many having a completely plain throat and breast.  EW

 Observers JB, IB, EW

Tuesday 11th August 2015

Weather;  Sunny and clear. Wind W F2


Around 50 mixed Common and Sandwich Terns, 300 Dunlin and 50 Ringed Plover moved west off Leasowe following high tide. Another 50 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, 3 Lapwings, 30 Turnstones, 40 Redshanks, a Greenshank and a Knot remained in the area of the western groyne after the tide.

Return migration remains at a trickle at the moment, probably due to the clear conditions and westerly wind. A small movement of Swallows took place through the afternoon, however, with a total of around 40 birds moving west in small parties. A single Sand Martin and 2 Swifts went in the same direction. A Sparrowhawk flew in off the sea.

4 Willow Warblers were along the nature trail and a single Reed Warbler at Lingham bridge was probably also on the move. 16 Pied Wagtails were in the paddocks. Large numbers of juvenile Whitethroats are still present in the area and it appears they have had a good breeding season locally. AMC, MGT, EW

Whitethroat.  EW

  

Friday 7th August 2015

Weather; Warm and sunny. Wind W f2.



A trickle of early autumn migrants was evident in the Leasowe lighthouse area despite the fine and clear conditions following a fine and clear night and the westerly wind direction. As always at this time of year it is difficult to pinpoint which birds are summer residents and which are migrants as regards species such as Whitethroat and Sedge Warblers. Birds seen away from their usual haunts and habitat is often a clue, however, so two Whitethroats feeding in Sycamores in the grounds of Stone cottage and a Sedge Warbler in Elderberries on Lingham Lane were likely to be birds on the move. 
7 Willow Warblers were grounded in the lighthouse area this morning, mainly in bushes bordering the paddocks and along the nature trail. 
Overhead travellers included 16 Swifts and a Sand Martin moving east and a single Redpoll south. 2 more Sand Martins were with Swallows on wires at Lingham Lane.
3 Common Sandpipers were in the area of the fishing ponds and a party of 9 Mistle Thrushes were in fields inland from the paddocks.

For reference purposes we now have a brand new eastern kissing gate in the same location as the old. (The east end of the paddocks path) Another new kissing gate has been installed on Lingham Lane east of the fisheries, which will no doubt be henceforth referred to as the Lingham lane kissing gate.   AMC, CJ, EW   

Sedge Warbler   EW

Monday 3rd August 2015

Weather; Sunny spells, wind W f3



Migrant waders at Leasowe over the high tide period today included 4 Whimbrel flying west and a single Greenshank flying east. Around 80 mixed Common and Sandwich Terns headed west after high tide in small parties. 
There are good numbers of Reed Warblers in the Duck pond area with numbers augmented by many juvenile birds. Likewise young Chiffchaffs are also much in evidence, many emitting very confusing calls.
Some early autumn passerine movement was noted today with two Willow Warblers in bushes along the sea embankment and another along the nature trail. A Lesser Whitethroat was also on the nature trail and the first returning Wheatear of the autumn, still partly in scaly juvenile plumage, was in the area of the western groyne.
Around 15 Pied Wagtails, mostly juvenile birds, were in the paddocks. EW 

Reed Warbler   EW