Friday 23 October 2015

Friday 23rd October 2015

Weather;  Cloudy with wind S-SW F2-3



Over 500 Redshanks were noted at the western groyne after the tide together with a Greenshank and 50 each of Turnstone and Dunlin. A single Grey Plover flew over.
A Firecrest was in the area of the duck pond west of the lighthouse this morning, although it was mobile and elusive. 6 Goldcrests were also in this area. A male Stonechat was in Kerr's field.
Overhead movement included around 200 Starlings, 14 Skylarks, 15 Chaffinches and a Siskin west.
5 Teal, a Kingfisher and 2 Grey Wagtails were along the Birkett near Lingham Lane.
Firecrest at the duck pond, Leasowe.     EW

Alba Wagtail in the paddocks. This appears to be an intermediate Pied/White Wagtail (yarrellii/alba) Some White Wagtails do show a slightly darker shade between the middle tertials but never to this extent. On this individual the slate colour  reaches well up between the shorter tertials. All other features displayed are as per White Wagtail. Some alba's cannot be safely identified to race. Mixed breeding between Pied and White occurs in the Hebrides and Northern Isles.    EW   
There were around 30 Meadow Pipits grounded in the paddocks together with 12 Pied Wagtails and another alba wagtail of indeterminate race (see photos)   KD, MGT, EW
White Wagtail pictured last autumn in the paddocks showing the same shade of pale grey between the middle tertials as on the mantle, a classic feature of this race. Compare with today's bird.      EW



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