09/04/2012 Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire

Chiffchaff: Once again after spending the day working from home in front of the laptop I was keen to enjoy some of this sproing sunshine and I headed down out in the search of water pipit,  this time at Frodsham Marsh. 

Again, no water pipit, but plenty of other nice birds including three black necked grebes on tank no.6, a single wheatear near the pipes near tank no.4 and a very nice male yellow wagtail briefly in the flooded area off Lordship lane. 

I wouldn't describe the flooded field as a flood anymore, it's drying out fast and is more like a muddy muddle. A few more days of dry weather and I fear it will no longer be wet at all.

In a patch of reed near tank no.3 there was  male chiffy belting out its song, the sound of springtime. I watched it as it foraged amongst the reeds and a hawthorn which was now in leaf. 

A lovely little bird to while away the late afternoon with.  

Meadow Pipit: I spent much of my time watching the flooded field as this is the area the water pipit has been favouring.

Birds were still visiting the flood, including pied wags, reed bunts and mipits, some of which came pretty close as the foraged wider across the muddy field.

I really like frodders, a place I learned by birding skills when I was a child. Although now its seems like a place I rarely visit, perhaps something that needs to change. 

08/04/2018 Wirral

Chiffchaff: A lovely morning spent on the Wirral catching up with some spring migrants, including chiffchaff, swallow and ring ouzel.

 I started the day off at Leasowe Lighthouse where I bumped in to Patrick who said he had not much luck this morning.

Sparrowhawk & Starling: After a quick catch up I headed down the very muddy Lingham Lane when Patrick called me saying a news of a male ring ouzel came through and was still in the are.

With renewd vigour I reached a small group of birders who pointed it out to me, the bird was opposite the horse paddocks, but kept its distance.

Ring Ouzel: We watched it until it got spooked by the nearby sheep and disappeared out of view.

After walking around the Ligthouse I saw two more swallow but no wheatear as I was hoping for.

Great White Egret: As I travelled in my car out of Leasowe I spotted a sphawk fighting with s starling, i quickly parked up and jumped out. great little drama to witness.

On the way home I stopped off at Neston and picked up the local GWE and three lovely looking water pipit down near the sewage works.

29/03/2014 Lake Vyrnwy RSPB

Goshawk: From Worlds End we headed down to Lake Vyrnwy, here we were on the hunt for a monster!

We walked almost the entire route of the blue trail which included a mammoth hill which almost killed me, I'm definitely feeling the big three zero approaching.

After a stringy,  possible sighting we again got lucky as we saw the bird fly through the forest then right over our heads before circling around above us for a few moments.

Chiffchaff: Other highlights we spotted from the blue trail included several chiffy's, Goldcrest and a pair of very active Raven.

Siskin: Lake Vyrnwy has a very busy feeding station where they position the feeders incredibly close to the windows giving us all some stunning views of some cracking birds such as Siskin and Coal Tit.

It was good to finally get a decent birding day in made better by the sun and the company, cheers to Matt Bett and Tanmay.

12/04/2013 Denhall Quay

Chiffchaff: I took a trip down to Neston with the hope of seeing the Water Pipit which has been seen regularly around Neston Sewage Works. I stayed a good while but alas the bird didn't show, but I did see a ton of Chiffchaff.

Short Eared Owl: The morning was not a total waste though as I caught a brief glimpse of this shortie off Denhall Quay, unfortunately I didn't have my camera out so by the time I did the bird was at some distance and flying away from me.

Lesson one - always have your camera ready!

05/05/2012 Chester Meadows

Chiffchaff: Linnets and Greenfinch also around, Chiffchaff singing high in the trees along the banks of the Dee and hundreds of Swallow and House Martins flying low over the meadow.



 

Lesser Whitethroat: Chester meadows can at times be very boring at times for birding, but sometimes you get a nice surprise. Today and yesterday there has been a Lesser Whitethroat calling it has been showing well, although it was very tricky to snap a photograph as it keep itself deep within hawthorn bushes in the middle of the meadow.





Sorry this was the best of the lot, one I will definitely improve on!

01/04/2012 Frodsham Marsh

Chiffchaff: A sunny afternoon in Frodsham Marsh reviled a flock of Golden Plover, Curlew, around seven Avocet and four Little Ring Plover all seen from the end of Tank no.6






Elsewhere there where lost of Chiffchaff in various location and a female Hen Harrier seen quartering over the reed beds off Tank no.6




Reports of a Whitethroat and Short Eared Owl seen yesterday on Tank no.6

29/03/2012 The Wirral Pininsula

Wheatear: Bagged this bird while looking for Ring Ouzel at Hoylake Lifeboat Station, there has been reports of the Ouzel here yesterday. Unfortunately I didn’t see that bird but both male and female Wheatear where actively feeding around the shore and on the rocks next to the station.

Along with about five Wheatear there was a small flock of Meadow Pipits feeding around on the beach next to the station.

Skylark: On a unsuccessful hunt for Redpoll around West Kirby I came across this little chap sitting on a post.

 

Chiffchaff: Starting my early morning at Leasowe Lighthouse walking at the back of the reed beds there where at least seven singing up high in the trees. Chaffinch and Great Tits where also abundant and a female Sparrowhawk flew across the horse paddocks.

Linnet: Along the coastal walk in the Gauze Bushes where loads of singing Linnets. There have been reports of two Twite flocking with the but I didn’t not see them.