19.04.15. Birdlog (WeBS Count)
It was total gridlock on the marsh this morning. A group from RSPB Southport were doing the circuit (and had spotted 3 Wheatear which we never saw), as well as numerous ramblers, dog walkers and birders. The banks were alive with birdsong; Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler all competing with each other and a Skylark climbing high trilling above them all.
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The mitigation tank held 2 stunning male Shoveler, Coots, Mallards, Teal, Shelduck, Oystercatchers and a Whimbrel (which later flew on to No.6 Tank)..
The male Marsh Harrier was quartering No.6 tank and then flew off towards the Weaver Bend straight over our heads! 6 Buzzard were riding the thermals high over the chimneys on the Helsby side, as small flocks of birds started to fly in escaping the high tide.
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No.6 tank held the main even though today with 74 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Golden Plover, 9 Dunlin, 67 Teal, 35 Tufted Duck, 5 Redshank, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Snipe and a nesting Grey Heron pair. Also present were Mute Swans, Shelduck, Cormorants, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Canada Geese and Mallards.
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A flock of about 50 Curlew circled the tank but didn’t settle. There was also a Yellow Wagtail feeding on the mud at the waters edge on the tank. About 50 Swallows, 2 House Martins and 2 Sand Martins were feeding over the water.
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Observers: Findlay and Heather Wilde (images 1-2).
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Some additional and some overlapping sightings involved:
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A very cold day but a few bits and pieces. Heather got some nice pictures including the male Marsh Harrier over No.6 tank. I saw the f/imm bird over No.4 onto 6.
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Frodsham Score had 30+ Raven and 4 Buzzard. The Whimbrel on No.6 tank flew over me towards there whilst I was on No.3 tank. 23 Oystercatcher on the Score plus a pair at the Pumping Station.
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11 Sand Martin and 2 Swallow on a fence opposite the Pumping Station. 10+ Swallow south over No.6 tank.
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1 Common Snipe at the Canal Pools. Also a male Wigeon on the Score.
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Out of the 74 (Heather’s count) Black-tailed Godwit on No.6 tank, two were colour-ringed. I couldn’t make out one of them, but the other was pale green over black above knee left leg, blue over red above knee right leg.
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Observer: Tony Broome (images 3-4)
