03/05/2021 Cutacre Country Park, Bolton

Whinchat: I've been looking all over the place and been dipping whinchat locally for weeks, from Leasowe, Garston Coastal Nature Reserve to Cut Lane Lancs.

With a few reports coming out of Cutacre I decided to brave the wet bank holiday weather and try my luck. 

I soon bumped into local birder and legend of Cutacre Phil Rhodes who pointed me in the direction of a whinchat. 

Hot on its heels I picked it up fluttering around a scrubby patch to the north of the site. The bird appeared to be associating with seven wheatear which were in the area. 

Finally my luck changed. 

Wheatear: The weather continued to be bad, with heavier more persistent rain moving in, so after getting my whinchat fill I moved on back to the car. 

Linnet: On the way back the wheatear and whinchat seemed to pop up as if they were following me, spritely scurrying across the pathways and perching upon the reeds I managed to get pretty close to the wheatear while the whinchat kept its distance. 

A Pair of linnet was also showing pretty well close to the horse paddocks feeding on the teasel and smaller herbs on the ground. 

There was also a singing lesser whitethroat halfway down Engine Lane, which showed at time but typically now very well.  

Wheatear: Definitely worth braving the rain and wind and getting wet, very wet actually! With some nice birds. 

Thanks again Phil for the gen. 

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.