28.03.15. Birdlog
Out this morning before the rain came and a short walk from Ince Berth and along the Holpool Gutter. A couple of hundred Curlew in the fields near the berth and a small party of 20 Black-tailed Godwit overhead. On the Manchester Ship Canal were Mallard, Gadwell, Coot and a single Great Crested Grebe with many Shelduck on the bank. 3 Little Egret flew east along the canal and a Chiffchaff was calling in the hawthorn bushes. A flock of Redshank were spooked by a low flying Common Buzzard and were joined by several Oystercatcher calling as they went.
The only other raptors seen were a pair of copulating Kestrel seen along the canal path. The swan herd held 13 Whooper and 30 plus Mute with more Curlew feeding amongst them. A Green Sandpiper was on the gutter as was another Chiffchaff.
Observer: Paul Ralston (images 1-2).
Later in the afternoon I paid a visit to the marsh after Frank had heard a Cetti’s Warbler singing at a known site. I walked up to the mitigation area on No.3 tank where there were 3 Ruff, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank and a pair of Lapwing. 2 Gadwall, 24 Common Teal, 3 pairs of Shoveler and 4 Common Shelduck.
A couple of singing Skylark were high above No.5 tank while just below on No.6 tank had 124 Common Teal, 14 Tufted Duck, 23 Mallard, 12 Common Shelduck and 4 Mute Swan.
A small flock of Redshank contained 2 additional Ruff from the birds already mentioned.
Observer: WSM (images 4-6).
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