15.03.14. Birdlog (WeBS Count)
A count of duck and shorebirds on No.6 tank during the high tide was again rather low-key. However, a count is a count and 84 Common Teal, 23 Common Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 12 Mallard, 12 Shoveler and 7 Cormorant were the only waterfowl present.
300 Dunlin, 45 Lapwing, 150 Golden Plover, 230 Black-tailed Godwit, 54 Curlew and 4 Ringed Plover made up the rest of the count.
Nearby on No.5 tank were 2 Common Buzzard, 12 Raven, 2 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest.
The Weaver estuary had 4 Goldeneye, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, a single Gadwall and 6 Oystercatcher, 5 Avocet watched flying low over the water before heading over the Weaver Sluice gates and to Frodsham Score beyond.
The Weaver Bend held a Little Grebe, 3 additional Avocet, 3 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Shoveler, 48 Common Teal, 28 Tufted Duck and 2 Goldeneye.
The tall blue-topped chimney at Weston Point had the usual Peregrine watching the river below for a short period.
The 5 Whooper Swan were again on Lordship Marsh by the M56 motorway.
Observer and image: WSM
