30/04/2020 Sankey Valley, Newton-Le-Willows

Whinchat: My target bird to the day as there seemed to be a steady passage of these small, colourful birds, a migratory relative of the stonechat and wheatear. 

They were in the horse paddocks north of Sankey Valley Park, following the path from Penkford Pond.

There were also two grasshopper warbler in full song in the scrubby field in this area.

Also had three yellow wags, two little ringed plover and redshank on the flood off Old Alder Lane, Winwick.

Nice part of the world this, a hidden gem sandwiched between Wigan, Warrington and St Helens. 
 

28/04/2022 Leasowe Lighthouse, Wirral

Bluethroat: Hats off to local legend Allan Conlin who today found the Wirral's first April record and the fisrt one for 12 years. Found this morning along the pathway at the back of the horse paddocks between the kissing gates. 

I turned up pretty quick, before the scrum and crowds descended on to the narrow track and was rewarded with some really nice views of it foraging on the path.  

This small robin-like bird, the male is unmistakable in spring with his bright blue throat, bordered below with bands of black, white and chestnut.

Wheatear: Just like yesterday's broad-billed sandpiper these local twitches are alway good fun as you meet all the usual folk, old friends and new. 
 

I feel like I've had a really good few weeks birding with some really special bird and a lifer yesterday, I'm still out checking my local patches and seeing the new spring migrants arrive. here to more good birding days this summer. 

27/04/2022 Marshside RSPB, Southport

Broad-billed Sandpiper: I think I need to remortgage and move to Southport with the amount of times I've been there in recent weeks! 

This time it was for my fisrt broad-billed sandpiper a marvellous little wader that showed pretty well from Sandgrounders Hide screens. 

During winter, these birds are typically found across eastern Africa, south-east and South Australia, and the Asia.

And during the breeding season they spend their time in Arctic northern Siberia, so to have one locally is something special.

Currently only a one day bird as its not been picked up today, but you never know what tomorrow brings?

26/04/2022 Marshside RSPB, Southport

Black-winged Stilt: I was utterly blown away by this bird while it put on a good show in the shallow pools at the back of marshside. 

This was my third visit to Marshside after seeing it the day it was found last week and once again on the weekend after seeing the wood sand at Newton Marsh when it was so far away it was almost on the moon!

This time however it performed magically, now the birds moved over onto Crossens Inner Marsh its now viewable in better light and comes much closer to the public footpath then when its was on Rimmers Marsh. 

It was a mild, calm soon to be warn day, much like that of the Mediterranean where this rare wader originates. The stilt is now currently rubbing wings with our Arctic winter visitors, who will be on the move northwards to their breeding grounds in the next few weeks.

Hundreds of pinkies remains, the snow goose, and white-fronted geese also remain in the area. 

Another highlight was bumping into Andy Pryce and Steve Young, two top blokes I was more than happy to share this excellent bird with. Cheers lads. 

25/04/2022 Frodsham Marsh

Black Redstart: Another really enjoyable evening this time spent at Frodsham Marsh. After spending the day with some family in Chester I managed to persuade Dawn and my mum to take Autumn to the park in Frodsham.

This gave me a short window to get out onto the marsh in hope of bagging the adult male black redstart. 

It had been reported from Marsh Farm for most of the day and I was arriving late afternoon so wasn't holding out much hope. 

Phil Oddie was there and had just seen it before I arrived and after a short wait the bird came out and started feeding just a few feet away from me in a sheep paddock. 

 

Dan Owen was also there who walked back to the car, sharing stories of failed twitches, we were both made up with how well he bird showed itself. 

 

24/04/2022 Newton Marsh, Lancashire.

Wood Sandpiper: This was an absolutely fantastic little bird, one that wasn't camera shy and walked right up to me. Brilliant. 

Notably smaller than their cousins the redshank, but similar to redshank wood sands have an obvious white rump and densely barred tail. Adult wood sands have a densely streaked neck, breast and upper parts. 

They have a prominent supercilium like, again similar to redshank but differs in having bright greeny/yellow legs. 

They are typically passage birds in the UK & Ireland and a very scarce breeder in the highlands of northern Scotland. With autumn and early summer being particularly good for passage birds. 

Newton Marsh is a really nice spot, basically just a pull in off a side road overlooking a small creek area. It holds some really good breeding waders and good number of them come to feed and roost in the pools. 

After being chased by some local redshank the bird eventually alighted on the mud bank on the far side of the pool, before slowly walking towards me giving me a very rare opportunity to get up close and personal.   

24/04/2022 Pennington Flash

Arctic Tern:  Excellent day ended with these marvoulls terns at penny, blown in on the strong easterly winds they came as a small flock of Arctic and a few common.  

Typically hey never stopped, whizzing past and feeding on the main lake they were best viewed from the northern bank near the rucks.  

Common Tern: I took my mum and  Autumn with me, along with the promise of a lolly ice and a trip to the park.  Autumn was really well behaved and was happy to walk all around the the other side of the lake and watched me take photos of the birds while sitting with me mum. 

The common terns came a little closer which gave me better opportunities for some more infocus shots. 

Really end this little trip out, not too far from where I live, some loved ones in toe and some great birds. 

Greater Scaup: The day before I this very smart looking greater scaup. It was showing really well off the spit at Horrocks Hide associating with a small flock of tufted ducks. 

More cautious  than the tufties it never came super close, but still good to see. 

18/04/2022 The Great Orme, Llandudno

Wheatear: A trip up to one of my favorite places the Great Orme and onto its  limestone headland and pavements hoping to pick up some Spring migrants and maybe a dotterel produced ring ouzel and wheatear, but not much else. 

The main reason was to pick up Gary and take him out for the day birding and while he was staying in a big posh holiday let in  Llandudno with his family. I also managed to see his beautiful baby boy  only a few weeks old. 

Congratulations mate. 
 

18/04/2022 Marshside RSPB, Southport

Black-winged Stilt: There's been somewhat of a semi-influx of these birds into the country with this one possible coming from Llanelli Wetland Centre in south Wales and was picked up at Cors Ddyga in Anglesey the day after it departed. 

Then a pair in Berkshire and in Norfolk.

This was my 2nd UK black-winged stilt after seeing one in Hampshire ages ago. I remember that bird being pretty far away so I was thrilled to see this one so close up. 

I got lucky really as the bird had been distant most of the day until it flew to the pool off Hesketh road before flying back in front of Nels hide.

17/04/2022 Venus pools, Shrewsbury

Slow Worm: I've spent a few days here carrying out breeding bird surveys in Shrewsbury and spent some of my free time dipping the green-winged teal at Venus Pools. 

Lovely little reserve if a bit restrictive in places with club members only hides.  

Willow Warbler:  The teal gave me a bit of a runaround not seen on either of my four visits, but seen once over the weekend. Typical. 

Robin: highlights included a brambling from the feedings station hide, a huge slow worm close to the car park and my fisrt little ringed plovers of the year. 

15/04/2022 Sizergh Castle, Cumbria

Hawfinch: Hawfinches are rarely seen out in the open, preferring the cover of dense woodland to gardens and parks. At this time of year though they emerge to find a mate and to feed on the fallen seeds of the hornbeam trees found at Sizergh Castle.

Spring is the best time to get the rare opportunity to catch sight of the elusive hawfinch on the Sizergh Estate.  

Best viewed from the  café’s veranda overlooking the main car park.

14/04/2022 St Aidan's RSPB

Black-necked Grebe: I wouldn't usually post pictures of such a rare breeding bird  but these ones at St Aidan's RSPB nature reserve are world famous, accessible and  a very well known site for them, they are definitely Yorkshire's 'worts' kept secret. 

Recent reports suggest that there are upto 10 breeding pairs with less than 40 breeding pairs across the whole of the UK. 

With their bright crests of yellow flames bursting from their fire red eyes they are truly a special little bird. I counted 4 pairs during my short visit and also had my fisrt yellow wag of the year which was a nice bonus. 

Found towards the western reedbeds, most pairs were either elusive, keping to the reeds or out in the middle of the lakes and pools. 

But today, I got lucky and had a pair foraging in front of me for a brief period along a small canal which was easily viewable from the pathway.  

I really like St Aidan's, it's wonderful place and in spring is full songs and calls from booming bittern to squawking black-headed gulls and the song of willow warblers.