18th April 2014

Weather: E-2, cool and sunny all day.

Migrants were fewer today with Blackcap numbers down to six in Lingham Lane where there was also several Willow Warblers and 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats. 

A Common Whitethroat was found on territory  mid morning. A high tide sea watch from the car park produced 12 Red throated Diver, 11 Guillemots, 57 Great crested Grebe, 3 Common Tern, 17 Sandwich Tern and over 1000 Common Scoter.

An early evening circuit of the paddocks produced 4 Wheatear whilst several parties of Dunlin fed up on the foreshore in the evening sunlight. 

AMC, DH, SRW - Photo's AMC

Freshly arrived Swallow 

Blue sky at the Lighthouse this evening 

Dunlin

Singing  Whitethroat

  

Wednesday 16th April 2014

Weather; Warm, mainly sunny, wind SE 2-4

The ideal weather conditions resulted in an interesting day in the Leasowe lighthouse area.
New arrivals this morning included 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Whitethroats and a Sedge Warbler all apparently on territory. Other birds grounded in the area included 5 Wheatears, 7 Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs and 14 Willow Warblers. A Lesser Whitethroat and an elusive male Redstart were in Lingham Lane.
Overhead movement was also varied with a Peregrine, a Merlin,40 Swallows, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit and 8 Redpolls. Most birds passed eastwards.
A second pulse of migrants arrived mid afternoon as is often the norm here. This started with a concentrated arrival of 7 more Wheatears and 2 White Wagtails all on the coastal groyne near the western kissing gate. These birds gradually filtered into the paddocks where they were later joined by the first 2 Whinchats of the spring.
Finally, this evening at Meols an Osprey was seen flying along the beach from the direction of Hilbre. It was seen to catch a fish and remained on a sand bank until dusk. This is the third Osprey at this location this spring. 
Observers; AMC, DH, EW.


Newly arrived Wheatears near the groyne. EW.

Whitethroat. EW

  
  



A Fantastic Hoylake sunset with an Osprey having just landed out of view on the tide line.(AMC)

15th April 2014

Weather: SE-3, warm and sunny.

Overhead passage today included a small flurry of 30+ Meadow Pipits and 2 White Wagtail early morning. Offshore,  Sandwich Terns continue to arrive whilst small parties of Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plover were departing for their Northern breeding grounds.

A circuit of the paddocks produced only 5 Wheatear. Lingham Lane however proved more productive holding a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat,9 Chiffchaff, 12 Willow Warbler, 18 Blackcap and the adult male Redstart found yesterday was joined today by a 1st summer bird.

A Garden warbler was heard and seen further east at Ditton Lane. Noteworthy is the apparent lack of Whitethroats, usually an abundant Lighthouse species at this stage of the migration season. A cause for concern or just later than usual?

AMC, KD,DH, KM, KGR

One of 18 Blackcap arriving today (AMC)

One of two males present today (AMC)

Taking  a breather !  (AMC)

14th April 2014

Weather; W/SW-4/5 to 2, sunny and warm later.

Less than ideal conditions didn't seem to stop the migrants today. A single Siskin passed overhead as did our first House Martins of the year, 5 in total today. Swallows and Sand Martins also moved through whilst the resident breeding Swallows defended their territories from passage birds. 

Surprisingly there wasn't a single Wheatear today but a stunning male Redstart was located in Hawthorns at the south end of Lingham Lane. Several Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a male Blackcap were also in the same hedgerow and a Grasshopper Warbler was discovered creeping around in the understorey . 


Offshore the Scoter Flock remained, whilst Sandwich Terns numbered 37 and Gannet 17

With a high pressure system forming over the near continent and UK over the next couple of days, the first major arrival of migrants and possibly something rarer is anticipated !

AMC, KD, DH.and EW

A record shot of what was a stunning bird (AMC)

Record shot of singing Lesser Whitethroat (EW)

13th April 2014

Weather: W/SW-7, cool and overcast, sunny later.

A strong westerly wind kept most observers at home today. None the less a few migrants were recorded including 2 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler and a Ring Ouzel briefly in a field by the car park 

DH

12th April 2014

Weather: SW-3/4 cool and overcast, showers later.

Early morning seabird movement offshore included over 100 Gannet and several hundred Common Scoter from Hoylake and the Lighthouse car park.

A small passage of 30 Woodpigeon and 7 Magpie moved through early morning. In addition there had clearly been an overnight arrival of Warblers with several new arrivals in the Lighthouse area including; 3 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff and 15 Willow Warbler. 2 stunning male Ring Ouzel were located mid morning in Park lane giving everyone on site great views. Despite looking settled they quickly relocated and could not be re-found by mid day.  

Wheatear were suprisingly thin on the ground with only a handful being seen early morning as were 3 White Wagtails in the paddocks.

A small trickle of Hirrundines included 12 Swallow and 8 Sand Martin.

AMC, JB, DH

One of a small fall of Willow Warblers at the Lighthouse today. AMC

A day of firsts

Weather: NW- 2/3 cool and overcast

Despite the cool wind and Northerly winds there were up to 18 Wheatear in the paddocks although many had moved through, leaving only 4 by late afternoon.

Several White wagtails were also in and around the paddocks and over 100 were recorded on Hoylake shore this morning.  Our first Yellow Wagtail of the summer was also recorded late afternoon but this to moved through quickly.

The first Whimbrel of the year dropped in briefly, also late afternoon but this too flew off; calling after a short refueling stop.

Offshore 70+ Sandwich Terns were recorded from the Car Park as were a Little Gull and our first Arctic Skua of the year flew north this morning.

AMC, KAD, DH, EW and SRW

AMC

SRW