Thursday 22nd September 2016

Weather; Sunny and clear. Wind SW F2

Sometimes the recording of an otherwise mundane species on a local patch can generate a completely over-the-top level of excitement. A Tree Creeper seen this morning along Park Lane, Meols was a case in point. Although common a mile or so inland this species is extremely rare in the Leasowe recording area usually covered by this blog and is a species highly sought after here. It was seen in company with 4 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs and a mixed Tit party.

A Greenshank was present all morning at the western groyne with around 100 Redshanks and an adult Mediterranean Gull flew inland from the sea embankment.

Migrants were a bit thin on the ground today although a lone Twite which alighted near the western kissing gate before flying off high to the south-west was noteable. Otherwise 2 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, a Reed Warbler and 4 Goldcrests were in the area. Swallows are becoming thin on the ground now with only around 10 present today and House Martins appear to have departed.

Greenshank with Redshanks at the groyne.    EW

Overhead 3 Grey Wagtails, 20 Meadow Pipits and 5 Skylarks flew mainly east. 4 Teal and a Kingfisher were on the Birkett at Lingham bridge.  Observers DH, TK, EW.

Record shot of Tree Creeper, Park Lane.  EW

  

Thursday 15th September 2016

Weather; hazy early. Sunny, becoming very hot. Wind N F1

The hazy conditions this morning resulted in more migrants arriving in the Leasowe area. 18 Wheatears were logged, most arriving along the groyne and embankment and moving inland. 2 Whinchats were on the common opposite Kerr's field. 15 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, a Reed Warbler and 5 Goldcrests were also present, most being noted along the nature trail and around the pond. Willow Warblers are now well past their peak with Chiffchaffs now the commonest autumn migrant phyloscopus.

5 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler and a Redstart were along Lingham Lane.

Overhead passage included a flock of 7 Skylarks, 8 Meadow Pipits and 3 Grey Wagtails headed mainly east.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Weather; Hazy sunshine early, becoming extremely hot later. Wind SE-E F2

Small groups of hunched and motionless Wheatears on the groynes and sea defences at Leasowe usually indicate newly arrived birds. Having got their breath back they usually disperse inland to feed in the coastal commons and paddocks before continuing their journey. 22 birds were thus logged today, a good count here for autumn when they are much less numerous than spring. 

There was some overhead passage this morning with 8 Grey Wagtails, 15 Meadow Pipits, 4 Reed Buntings and 2 Skylarks all heading east.

6 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs and a Garden Warbler were at Lingham lane bridge this morning.

Other birds in the Leasowe area today included 2 Stonechats in Kerr's field, an adult winter Mediterranean Gull over the lighthouse and a Kingfisher flying along the sea embankment. These maritime haunting Kingfishers are being seen more regularly here now and it is not known if they are connected to the small resident population on the River Birkett or birds dispersing here from elsewhere.

By early afternoon there was almost no bird activity, probably due to the extreme heat, although by this evening things had picked up a little with 2 new Whinchats being discovered off Park Lane and the Little Owl appearing again at Lingham bridge.  Observers JJ, TK, MGT, EW.

Wheatear below the sea embankment, Leasowe.         EW

 

Tuesday 13th September 2016

Weather;  Sunny start with light W to NW winds F2. Heavy rain set in by mid-afternoon easing off by evening.


Yesterday's breezy conditions sent 2 Manx Shearwaters and 57 Gannets off Leasowe. Waders recorded yesterday included 175 Bar-tailed Godwits (a good count of this declining wader), 60 Grey Plover, 35 Ringed Plover and 200 Knot in addition to larger numbers of Redshanks, Dunlin and Turnstone. A Peregrine was hunting the shoreline.
Migrants in the Leasowe area yesterday were a bit thin on the ground due to the breezy conditions but included 10 Meadow Pipits, 4 Wheatears and a Whitethroat. A juvenile Hobby was hunting flying insects over Lingham Lane.   Observers DH, JJ, TK

There were more migrants around today. 70 House Martins and 50 Swallows were swarming around the summit of the lighthouse. Overhead 2 Ravens moved west and 3 Grey Wagtails east. A total of 14 Wheatears were logged in the area. 2 Stonechats were in Kerr's field and a Whinchat was on Meols common. 16 Chiffchaffs were concentrated mainly around the Duck pond area while 7 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler were in Lingham Lane. A Little Owl, a Kingfisher and a Bullfinch were at Lingham bridge.

Juvenile Hobby hunting over Lingham Lane.       Tim Kinch

12 Little Egrets were on the groyne along with another Kingfisher. The Peregrine was again hunting the foreshore. 22 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Greenshanks were offshore. Observers TK, EW

Whinchat on Meols Common.        EW

Little Owl on the large corrugated shed near Lingham bridge, a favourite perch.   EW

Thursday 8th September 2016

Weather; Showers early, the becoming dry, clear and sunny. Breezy, wind SW F3-4.

A Little Stint and 2 Curlew Sandpipers were with many hundreds of Dunlin on Meols shore yesterday.

The continual clear weather and winds in the westerly sector have not been great for migration in the Leasowe area over the past week and today was no exception.

Little Stint at Meols.            JET

The morning shower may have contributed to the appearance of 20 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps and a Reed Warbler mainly in the Lingham Lane area although these quickly dispersed. 4 Wheatears were present on Meols common together with a Stonechat and a few Meadow Pipits are starting to pass through the paddocks on their return migration.

Raven over the paddocks.             EW

A Greenshank and 150 Redshanks were on the western groyne. A Raven flew over the paddocks. Sightings of Ravens at Leasowe have increased greatly recently with almost daily records in the past few weeks.

Wheatear on Meols common.         EW