Snow Bunting feeding on Marram Grass Ammophila arenaria. 
Two Greenshank and a Redshank roosting over the high tide.
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
More Snow on Anglesey
It's always nice to see old friends again, and today was no exception. I was delighted to see that the two Snow Buntings I found on Anglesey last month were still in the same place and just as approachable and photogenic as ever. Also today we found a female Marsh Harrier, whilst out at sea there were at least 20 Red-throated Divers and 200 Common Scoter. Year 130 
Snow Bunting feeding on Marram Grass Ammophila arenaria. 
Two Greenshank and a Redshank roosting over the high tide.
Snow Bunting feeding on Marram Grass Ammophila arenaria. Two Greenshank and a Redshank roosting over the high tide.
Llanddulas
On my way to Anglesey I stopped off for an hour at Llanddulas, in order to have a look at the impressive scoter flock. They're a bit distant, and a scope is an essential piece of equipment at this site, but what an impressive sight they are, surely one of the great spectacles of UK birding, and probably one of the least appreciated. There must be at least 10,000 Common Scoter here, the sea is black with them. Flocks of 200-300 are constantly flying around, and the birds stretch as far as the eye can see even through the scope. There are other species present, and I did manage to pick out one Velvet Scoter in flight, but I was unable to locate any of the 5 Surf Scoters that have been here this winter. Better luck next time...... Year 129
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Waxwings on a wet day
We set out from Parkgate with good intentions and despite the rain the plan was to walk along the Dee estuary. We walked north for about a mile, but in the end the conditions were just too bad and we decided to call it a day. I did see a Peregrine, a few Little Egrets and some Pink-footed Geese at Parkgate, but not much else. The consolation prize was a flock of 14 Waxwings at Irby, on the junction of Lyndhurst Road and Thurstaston Road, bringing my year list to 128.
Eccleston Mere
Common "mealy" Redpoll 1
Siskin 40
Goldfinch 60
Tufted Duck 9 (5 males 4 females)
Despite the driving rain, I watched the finch flock feeding on fallen Alder seeds on the short, bright green turf of a golf teeing area. Fortunately I was high enough up to see over the fence, and they were a stunning sight, it was almost as though the reflection of the green on the birds plumages on such a dull day enhanced their colours. The Mealy Redpoll was the only Redpoll I saw today. To me, Lesser Redpolls always look to be a small dainty finch, almost tit like as they feed high up in the trees, but that's not the case with this bird. It's quite robust looking, clearly larger than the Siskins and it at least as big as some of the Goldfinches. The pale lines along its back were even more obvious than yesterday. Nice bird, dreadful day!
Siskin 40
Goldfinch 60
Tufted Duck 9 (5 males 4 females)
Despite the driving rain, I watched the finch flock feeding on fallen Alder seeds on the short, bright green turf of a golf teeing area. Fortunately I was high enough up to see over the fence, and they were a stunning sight, it was almost as though the reflection of the green on the birds plumages on such a dull day enhanced their colours. The Mealy Redpoll was the only Redpoll I saw today. To me, Lesser Redpolls always look to be a small dainty finch, almost tit like as they feed high up in the trees, but that's not the case with this bird. It's quite robust looking, clearly larger than the Siskins and it at least as big as some of the Goldfinches. The pale lines along its back were even more obvious than yesterday. Nice bird, dreadful day!
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Rainford Mosslands
Yellowhammer 40 Moss Lane
Chaffinch 40 Moss Lane
Fieldfare 60 Green Lane, Catchdale Moss
Pink-footed Goose 40 over Green Lane, Catchdale Moss
Chaffinch 40 Moss Lane
Fieldfare 60 Green Lane, Catchdale Moss
Pink-footed Goose 40 over Green Lane, Catchdale Moss
Eccleston Mere
Common "Mealy" Redpoll 1
Water Rail 2 in SW corner, chasing each other through Alder Carr
Lesser Redpoll 10
Siskin 30
Goldfinch 50
Bullfinch 1 male
Snipe 2
Willow Tit 1
Goldcrest 2
Goosander 2 (male and female)
Tufted Duck 6
Cormorant 6
Song Thrush 2 singing
The Mealy Redpoll was a great view, feeding with the finch flock on the ground. I was even more prepared for it than last week, having spent the past few days reading various books, browsing the internet and generally researching the identification features of the redpolls. Once again I was struck by how easy the bird was to pick out from the flock, and apart from the id features noted last week, today I paid particular attention to the birds back, which had two obvious pale lines down the middle when compared to the accompanying Lessers which did not show this feature. I think that you can just about see the lines on one of last weeks photos. No chance of a photo this morning, it was very dull and the birds were very skitish, any movement and they were off back into the trees with no guarentee that they would return to the same spot to feed, so I didn't bother trying. Despite having seen quite a few Mealys over the years, this is a very educational bird for me, and has allowed me to get back up to speed with Mealy identification.
I walked (or crept) past the SW corner 4 times today, and on the first 3 occasions didn't see sight nor sound of a Water Rail, but then on the 4th occasion there were 2 birds chasing each other through the Alder Carr completely oblivious to my presence!
Even more strange, on my first lap of the mere there was just one female Goosander, yet on my second lap it was with a drake! Presumably the latter flew in at some stage. If I'd gone home after my first lap I'd have been disapponted, with Bullfinch and female Goosander about the only good birds to report!
Water Rail 2 in SW corner, chasing each other through Alder Carr
Lesser Redpoll 10
Siskin 30
Goldfinch 50
Bullfinch 1 male
Snipe 2
Willow Tit 1
Goldcrest 2
Goosander 2 (male and female)
Tufted Duck 6
Cormorant 6
Song Thrush 2 singing
The Mealy Redpoll was a great view, feeding with the finch flock on the ground. I was even more prepared for it than last week, having spent the past few days reading various books, browsing the internet and generally researching the identification features of the redpolls. Once again I was struck by how easy the bird was to pick out from the flock, and apart from the id features noted last week, today I paid particular attention to the birds back, which had two obvious pale lines down the middle when compared to the accompanying Lessers which did not show this feature. I think that you can just about see the lines on one of last weeks photos. No chance of a photo this morning, it was very dull and the birds were very skitish, any movement and they were off back into the trees with no guarentee that they would return to the same spot to feed, so I didn't bother trying. Despite having seen quite a few Mealys over the years, this is a very educational bird for me, and has allowed me to get back up to speed with Mealy identification.
I walked (or crept) past the SW corner 4 times today, and on the first 3 occasions didn't see sight nor sound of a Water Rail, but then on the 4th occasion there were 2 birds chasing each other through the Alder Carr completely oblivious to my presence!
Even more strange, on my first lap of the mere there was just one female Goosander, yet on my second lap it was with a drake! Presumably the latter flew in at some stage. If I'd gone home after my first lap I'd have been disapponted, with Bullfinch and female Goosander about the only good birds to report!
Friday, 8 February 2013
Birding the mosslands
I spent a few hours on the South West Lancs mosslands today, and saw a decent selection of birds. At least 2 ringtail Hen Harriers, Barn Owl, Peregrine, around 6000 Pink-footed Geese, Corn Buntings, Reed Buntings and Red-legged Partridge were the highlights. Also at least 4 Brown Hares. Year 127 
This flat featureless landscape is a haven for birds. 
Phragmites australis (Common Reed) lines many of the ditches in the area.
This flat featureless landscape is a haven for birds. 
Phragmites australis (Common Reed) lines many of the ditches in the area.
Monday, 4 February 2013
Mealy Redpoll Eccleston Mere
Common "Mealy" Redpoll 1Lesser Redpoll 8Siskin 5Goldfinch 40Teal 2 male and female Tufted Duck 7Lapwing 100 flew over heading in the direction of Prescot Reservoirs Year 125 
Given the relatively large numbers of Lesser Redpolls at the mere this winter, I'm not entirely surprised that there is a Mealy with them, and I have been looking out for them. It was a good day for observing the finch flock today, because they were feeding mainly on the ground, probably due to the strong winds, and I was surprised at how easy the Mealy was to pick out. On the ground it was clearly larger and bulkier than the Lesser Redpolls and greyer in tone. It also had two distinctly white wing bars and white edges to the tertial feathers. Best of all though, when I first saw it, it was sitting low down on a branch preening, and I saw very well its white, streaked rump. The photos are poor, but they do show the white wing bars and the white edges to the tertial feathers quite well.There have been Mealys at the mere in the past, and they are probably under recorded, but this was my first at the mere since I saw a flock of 20 in 1996. Lesser Redpoll is the species which breeds in Britain, Common Redpoll is a continental species, breeding in Scandinavia. Until recently they were considered races of the same species, but they are now seperate species. There is an informative article about identifying mealys here. Click here to see photos of a Mealy I photographed in the hand on Hilbre in 2009.
Given the relatively large numbers of Lesser Redpolls at the mere this winter, I'm not entirely surprised that there is a Mealy with them, and I have been looking out for them. It was a good day for observing the finch flock today, because they were feeding mainly on the ground, probably due to the strong winds, and I was surprised at how easy the Mealy was to pick out. On the ground it was clearly larger and bulkier than the Lesser Redpolls and greyer in tone. It also had two distinctly white wing bars and white edges to the tertial feathers. Best of all though, when I first saw it, it was sitting low down on a branch preening, and I saw very well its white, streaked rump. The photos are poor, but they do show the white wing bars and the white edges to the tertial feathers quite well.There have been Mealys at the mere in the past, and they are probably under recorded, but this was my first at the mere since I saw a flock of 20 in 1996. Lesser Redpoll is the species which breeds in Britain, Common Redpoll is a continental species, breeding in Scandinavia. Until recently they were considered races of the same species, but they are now seperate species. There is an informative article about identifying mealys here. Click here to see photos of a Mealy I photographed in the hand on Hilbre in 2009.
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Rivington Reservoirs
Goosander 13 (8 males, 5 females) Yarrow Reservoir. Goldeneye 4 females Angelzark Reservoir. Buzzard 1 Raven 1 
Goosanders on Yarrow Reservoir and Anglezark Reservoir. 
The walls at Rivington are covered in ferns, such as this Polypody, bryophytes and lichens. 
I've never seen such a blue lichen as this. It was just a small patch, and in life was even bluer than it appears in the photo. You would think it would be easy to identify, but the nearest I can get it to is Cobalt Crust Terana caerulea, but according the the NBN Gateway, that species doesn't occur in the area, although it is as close as Merseyside.
Goosanders on Yarrow Reservoir and Anglezark Reservoir. 
The walls at Rivington are covered in ferns, such as this Polypody, bryophytes and lichens. 
I've never seen such a blue lichen as this. It was just a small patch, and in life was even bluer than it appears in the photo. You would think it would be easy to identify, but the nearest I can get it to is Cobalt Crust Terana caerulea, but according the the NBN Gateway, that species doesn't occur in the area, although it is as close as Merseyside.
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Dee Estuary
Another fantastic day out, in glorious weather and with some great birds! I went onto Wirral, started at Hilbre Island, then onto Parkgate, next Decca Pools (Burton Marsh), then Burton Mere Wetlands before ending the day at Cop Pool near Connahs Quay. Lots of great birds, including 7 new birds for the year, putting me on 124 species so far in 2013. First stop Hilbre......
Hilbre Island
An exhilarating visit to Hilbre, chilly yes, breezy also, but bright blue skies and crystal clear views right over to the Great Orme and what I assume was Carnedd Clywelyn in Snowdonia. There were lots of birds about, including probably about 2000 Knot, 130 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Purple Sandpipers and at least 5000 Herring Gulls on the West Hoyle Bank.
Purple Sandpipers.
Pale-bellied Brent Geese.
Knot and Oystercatchers.
Looking towards the Point of Air, with a snow covered Carnedd Clywelyn behind.
Next onto Parkgate....
Purple Sandpipers.
Pale-bellied Brent Geese.
Knot and Oystercatchers.
Looking towards the Point of Air, with a snow covered Carnedd Clywelyn behind.
Next onto Parkgate....
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