Birding is truly back on the menu after my working day. I set off for the marsh with the intention of watching the ducks on No.6 tank but the stiff icy cold westerly and my thin coat put paid to that. I used the comfort of the car and selected to park up overlooking the mitigation area on No.3 tank. Although fully flooded and hopefully attractive to migrants in the next couple of months tonight it was a little understated. Lapwings out over Frodsham Score were disturbed by a low flying rozzer chopper and they flew up and down in impressive numbers. There were 12 Redshank on the flooded scrapes but these were soon joined by Lapwing moving in to roost from the river. A small flock of Fieldfare were feeding on the short turf by the Canal Pools.
Shortly after the Starling flocks began to arrive and most stopped off for a collective bathe in the pools before moving off towards the bridge. Dave Craven over on the north side of the river estimated c35000 birds coming into roost on the bridge so I would be happy to agree with that number being present on No.3 tank.
On No.6 tank the Tufted Duck numbers had increased from yesterday with 24 birds along with 44 Common Pochard, 174 Shoveler, 300 Common Teal and a selection of Common Shelduck. A flock of 70 Curlew flew in from the south for the night. There were 800 Lapwing on the tank with a solitary Ruff for company. The Cormorant roost numbered 9 birds two of which were ‘sinensis‘.
The usual Raven were hanging out waiting for more mutton laying about in the fields to feast on. A Common Buzzard was extremely tame on No.5 tank and a Peregrine was sat on top of the big chimney at Weston Point.
The Liverpool skyline was clearly visible looking out from the track on No.3 tank.
Observer and images: WSM.
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Lovely comments and excellent pics.
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