Chiffchaffs in the Sankey Valley

At least 11 Chiffchaffs singing this morning in the Sankey Valley between the visitor centre at Blackbrook and Mucky mountains at Earlstown.

A busy weekend

No photos from the weekend, but an excellent three days. On Friday I went to Risley Moss where we saw the first Brimstone butterfly of the year and four Slow Worms. Later the same day we went to Astley Moss, where there were at least four Orange Underwing moths flying, as well as two Willow Tits and a few Snipe.

On Saturday we went to see the impressive Common Scoter flock at Colwyn Bay, now numbering around 10,000 birds (though sadly no sign of the recent Surf Scoters). Also here several Red-throated Divers. Then we moved on to World's End at Llangollen, where we saw a stunning male Dartford Warbler and a couple of female Black Grouse which flew over the valley, their diagnostic white underwings clinching the identification.

Finally on Sunday we went to Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales and got Dipper and Grey Wagtail near the waterfalls.

High Street Eagles

Our first walk in the Lake District this year, and what better place to start than the magnificent Riggindale Crag route up High Street. It's quite tough going for the first walk of the year, but the reward is simply spectacular views in all directions. The summit of High Street at 828m was speckled with snow and bitterly cold, but the air was so fresh and the views so sharp that it was all worthwhile. And to think that just two weeks ago we were lying on a beach in Portugal having just seen Black-bellied Sandgrouse near Mertola!

High Street is immersed in history, with a Roman road across the summit which gives the mountain it's name and horse racing and festivals used to take place just below the summit. One of the most fascinating mountains in Lakeland.

Of course Riggindale is also a great place to go birding, which was partly the reason for choosing it in this season. Flying between Riggindale Crag and Kirdsty Pike was Englands only resident Golden Eagle, it was seen well and occasionally displaying, though sadly there is no female.

Also around the crag, Peregrine, Buzzards and a few Ravens, whilst perhaps most surprisingly, there were about 20 Whooper Swans on Haweswater. Haweswater itself is quite a fascinating place, being a man made reservoir where in low water years the flooded village of Mardale can be seen.


Looking towards the summit of High Street. You can almost feel the presence of the Roman legionnaires marching across the summit on their way to Hadrians wall.


Two views of Riggindale Crag from Haweswater, rising from the pine trees on the left, up towards the summit of High Street. I think that Mardale is almost in front of us from this point. The photo on the left was taken as we arrived in the morning, the one on the right as we left in the evening.

Haweswater, with distant Whooper Swans in the righthand photo.

Portugal

Just got back from a long weekend to Portugal, we were based at Vilamoura in the Algarve, but we also visited Alentejo and Spain. The weather was glorious, cloudless for much of the time and temperatures in the region of 26'C. From a wildlife point of view there were many hightlights, more fantastic views of Great Bustards from the Castro Verde to Mertola road. We saw a flock of around 50 Black-bellied Sandgrouse at close range, and a Great spotted Cuckoo sitting on a rock eating what looked like a Worm Lizard. Perhaps most pleasing for me was a Bluethroat at Ludo, near Faro.

Bluethroat at Ludo, Ria Formosa and Great Bustards between Castro Verde and Mertola.

White storks near Mertola and Spanish Terrapin

Worm Lizard and Marsh Frog.

Large Psammodromus and Kentish Plover.

Barbary Nut Iris at Felesia beach near Vilamoura and continental race Cormorant at Quinta do Lago.

Bryophytes at Eccleston Mere

Britain is recognised as an internationally important country for bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), which is not surprising given the amount of rain we get. There are lots of species at Eccleston mere, and back in the autumn I started a collection, of which the attached photos are a small selection. In 2010, The British Bryological Society published an excellent new identification guide entitled "Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland: A field guide".

Mnium hornum Swan's-neck Thyme Moss and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus Springy Turf-moss.

Fissidens viridulus Green Pocket-moss and Conocephalum conicum Great Scented Liverwort.

Ulota phyllantha Frizzled Pincushion and Metzgeria furcata Forked Veilwort.

Rhizomnium punctatum Dotted Thyme-moss and Lunularia cruciata Crescent-cup Liverwort.

Atrichum undulatum Common Smoothcap and Kindbergia praelonga Common Feather-moss.

Hilbre and Parkgate

The temperature gauge in the car said that it was 12'C today, over 25'C warmer than it was at times last month, but the wind was force 5 and it was anything but pleasant walking across to the island. Around Little Eye we were confronted by not only a howling gale, but also a ferocious sand storm!
On the island itself it was pretty quiet. There were about 100 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, and a decent selection of waders, including at least 9 Purple Sandpipers, but nothing at all on the sea.

Then we headed off to Parkgate for the dusk harrier roost. It was a little difficult to say exactly how many birds were involved, but we saw at least three males and five females.

Little Eye

Waxwing invasion hits St Helens!

The Waxwings invasion finally hit St Helens this week, after weeks of dribs and drabs! During the week there were several flocks of 40 - 60 birds reported from places such as Fingerpost, Sutton Heath and most spectacularly Havelock Close / Pigot Street / Napier Close, where the flock peaked at 100+ birds.

Having missed out on most of the excitement due to work, I set out today determined to join in the fun! First we started at Pigot Street, where there wasn't a bird to be seen. Then we went to Lowe Street, but again nothing.

Then suddenly we spotted five Waxwings in trees on the car park in Westfield street, but almost immediately they flew and headed towards Duke Street. We followed them as best we could, and finally caught up with them in Cowley Hill, at Briars Green. And they weren't alone! We counted at least 60 birds before they were off again, this time heading towards Bishop Road. Once again we followed them, and finally found them, at least 80 birds, probably more like 100 in Wynne Road, off Bishop Road. They stayed in Sycamores here for about 20 minutes while we watched them, and were still there when we left. Interestingly, they weren't just resting, they were clearly eating Sycamore buds. All very exciting! If you've not caught up with them yet, you really must take this almost unique opportunity to see these wonderful birds. I've never seen them in St Helens in such large numbers before, and it may be a long time before we get this many again.

Then we headed to Eccleston Mere, where we found a drake and two female Goosanders, and two Water Rails in the south west corner.

Waxwings Wynne Road.

Waxwings Wynne Road.

Water Rail and Goosanders at Eccleston Mere.

More Waxwings in St Helens

What a winter it's been for Waxwings! Another 17 were reported from Lidl car park in the town centre earlier in the week, but today was the first real opportunity I had to go. Only 4 there today, but still stunning birds, and once again feeding on apples.

Then we went on to Martin Mere. It was a glorious afternoon, with Peter Scott skies and thousands of wildfowl. There were around 2000 Whooper Swans, 7 Bewick's and 5000 Pink-feet as well as thousands of Teal and Wigeon and a few hundred Shelduck and Pintail. Also adult Peregrine, Water Rail, 10 Brambling and 50 Ruff.

Earlier in the morning I also saw a Raven in Burtonhead Road.

Waxwings at Lidl. Never thought I'd say that!

Waxwing and destroyed apple!

Water Rail and male Brambling Martin Mere.

Three Whoopers and a Bewicks Swan, Martin Mere.

Waxwings Mere Sands Wood

I dunno, what can I say? Another flock of Waxwings captured in yet another poor photo. The light was poor, they were silhouetted, it was through a glass window. Usual excuses.....

However, they performed really well, right outside the information centre, feeding on apples. Seven birds altogether. It's been a great winter for Waxwings.


I'd never seen them feed on apples before I saw them doing just that at Leighton Moss the other day.

Lapland Bunting Westhoughton - part 2

We had much better views of the Lapland Bunting today, though it was still difficult to find in the scope. It was in a stubble field with Skylarks and a couple of Reed Buntings, and in all the time we watched (for about an hour and a half), the flock didn't fly once, and without a scope, I don't think you would even have known that there was a bird (any bird!) in the field. But once you got onto it, and if you stayed on it, it did show quite well at times.

Also today, about 50 Pink-feet over and nine Grey Partridge.

Lapland Bunting Westhoughton

The Lapland Bunting at Daisy Hill, Westhoughton showed reasonably well this afternoon, associating with a flock of about 70 Skylarks. Also in the area, about 70 Yellowhammers.