27.07.13. Birdlog
A Green Sandpiper, Turnstone and Dunlin on No 6 tank.
Observer: Frank Duff.
Across the marsh at the Weaver Bend were 4 Oystercatcher, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 20 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 2 Ringed and Little Ringed Plover.
The female Marsh Harrier was mobbed by a Buzzard over the river and continued on her way west and a pair of Raven were cronking loudly nearby.
Passage of Swallows moving south east with a flock of 150 plus hundreds of Swifts feeding over Weston Point/Weaver estuary.
Observer: WSM.
Additionally No 6 tank still attracted some of the more commoner species with Tufted Duck, Shelduck and Canada Geese being evident.
Observers: Harley and Heather Wilde, Shaun Hickey and Keith
Image: Heather Wilde.
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Nature Notes #23
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The Summer of the Butterfly Boom
Birders visiting the marsh all made comment on the profusion of butterflies out and about today. The rising temperatures (my car read 36 degrees at 16.45) in the calderon that is the marsh attracted a bloom of these winged painted palettes. Notable was the Gatekeeper (I countered 300 along the track south of the I.C.I tank) with reduced numbers of Small Tortoiseshell, and Meadow Brown following up behind. Large, Small, Green-veined Whites. Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Large Skipper and Six-spot Burnet Moth adding to the colour swash.
Probably the best spot to get close photographs is along the Ragwort covered track south side of the I.C.I tank (access from Ship Street, Frodsham).
