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