Weather, cloudy, cool , wind SSW 6mph, showers later.

A quite chilly morning for the time of year at the lighthouse with all the usual birds that you would expect for autumn 

The big surprise of the day and the 2nd record  for the Lighthouse area was a Cetti's Warbler its burst of song was heard near the pond at Lunchtime found by Jeremy Bradshaw , following on from a bird Stan Skelton found a few years previous, a very welcome visitor and hopefully a long stayer with the pond area being an ideal habitat, 

Meadow Pipit, GC

Calidris Corker 


Weather, warm mainly cloudy, wind SSE 3mph,

A mid morning Outing slightly off the normal patch to West Kirby in search of a Grey Phalarope that has been seen on the marine lake in recent days  and any other birds blown off course by the recent gales proved to be quite fruitless with very calm conditions for the high tide not being ideal, 

An unfortunate Common Gull GC

Further along West Kirby marsh A Grey Plover stood out in fading summer plumage , A handful of soon to be gone Sandwich Tern  were gathering in amongst Common , Black Headed, Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 3 Little Egret , 2 Bar Tailed Godwit, a scattering of Dunlin and a very impressive 5-6000 Oystercatchers made up the high tide gathering

Little Stint , GC

Aileen assisted

Weather , strong north westerly winds 35mph frequent heavy showers

The first of the strong storms of the season arrived overnight with Wirral and Merseyside taking the brunt of Aileen
Rarities didn't materialize but County scarcities took the limelight in quite Spectacular fashion .

Leach's Storm Petrel ,  AMC 

 Birders turned up from near and as far away as Yorkshire and the North East at New Brighton and other sites along the North Wirral coast .

An estimated 53 Leach's Storm Petrel passed by New Brighton's Fort Perch rock numbers only an estimate with multiple observers and birds circulating  around the Area making accurate numbering difficult,

Grey Phalarope Elliot Monteith

Waders Galore!

Weather: west 3, cloudy & warm

A slowish start began with a small but obvious arrival of Wheatear. A total of 12 were recorded by the end of day. Two birds were brought down onto the beach at Hoylake by a light mid afternoon shower whilst the rest were to be found around the Dunes west of the Lighthouse. Other passerines included a Chiffchaff, Blackcap and a single Garden Warbler were seen around Lingham Lane. 

Waders were very much the theme of the afternoon. At least 20 Little Egret were recorded feeding in the tidal channels below the sea defence at Greenshank groyne were up to five Greenshank were also recorded.  Three Knot were seen roosting amongst the small boats along with 200 Redshank and 500 Oystercatcher. Bird of the day however must go to a Juv Little Ringed Plover feeding in the sea weed at the bottom of the sea defence. This is in fact the second LRP at the Lighthouse this year, the firts being found by Ken Davies in the spring. Whist scarce whatever the season there has perhaps been only two other Lighthouse LRPs in autum and this is the first juvenile I am aware of.

Other highlights included an adult Med Gull found by Stan Davidson and a couple of cracking Emperor and Migrant Hawker Dragonflys.
 

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover (AMC)

 

Little Ringed Plover (AMC)

Little Ringed Pover (AMC)

Greenshank (AMC)

Distant Med Gull (AMC)

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly (Stan Davidson)

Weather : SW-3, overcast

The first large fall of the Autumn included at least 18 Wheatear which arrived at Kerr's field late afternoon. Other migrants included 4 Chiffchaff. 2 Goldcrest and 2 Whitethroat were also recorded during an early evening circuit of the paddocks.

Tim Kinch

1st winter Northern Wheatear-Leasowe Lighthouse (Tim Kinch)