22.07.14. Birdlog

22.07.14. Birdlog

The Red-necked Grebe continues its summer sabbatical without a care along the River Weaver.

Walking alongside the water to the I.C.I tank culminated in a variety of shorebirds with 10 Oystercatcher, 260 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper. Additionally 170 Curlew were on Frodsham Score.

On the Shooters’ Pools a Green Sandpiper shared the area with an adult and juvenile Red-legged Partridge. The highlight in beautiful summer sunshine was an Emperor Dragonfly a species under recorded here.

Elsewhere 10 Yellow Wagtail from No.5 tank to Marsh Farm and 1,000 Starling at the latter site. The blue-topped chimney at Weston Point harboured the Peregrine.

Typically for this summer, butterflies were about in considerable numbers which included: 80 Peacock (30 in one Buddleia bush), 10 Small Tortoisehell, 1 Comma, 50 Meadow Brown, 100 Gatekeeper, 5 Green-veined White,  1 Great White and 5 Small White, 2 Red Admiral and a single notable Common Blue.

Observer and images: Tony Broome.

From dusk I was stood watchman-like overlooking the Weaver Sluices on the incoming tide. From my position I could see a gathering of 1,000 Common Shelduck, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Dunlin, 300 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Little Egret but hardly the leg work TB put in today.

Observer: WSM