18.02.16. Birdlog

An evening bird watch along the track bordering to the south No.6 and to the north No.5 tanks. There was 11 Chaffinch in Elder trees and several Blue Tit. The water level on No.6 tank is the at the fullest I’ve ever seen and it extends out towards the centre of the tank. It is obvious that the recent periods of rain have helped to rise the water levels here which have the benefit of encouraging ducks to settle and feed. A count of 28 Pochard with 8 Tufted Duck, c200 Shoveler, 180 Common Teal, 40 Common Shelduck, 14 Mallard and 7 Gadwall were to be expected. Also present at the Cormorant roost were 15 carbo’s and c4 sinensis birds. The sound of amorous Water Rails were heard this evening with squeaks, grunts and squeals emitting from the flooded reed beds, if that amounts to a romantic love song then the females are easily impressed.

The number of Common Buzzard are quite impressive with a scan revealing 8 birds. Raven were again in good numbers and a gathering of Starlings didn’t linger for long and continued their flight onto their roost sites elsewhere

.Observer and images: WSM

14.02.16. Birdlog

An Avocet was new in to the marsh but the Glossy Ibis across the M56 on Gowy Meadows just needs a little shove.

Observer: Alyn Chambers.

Out this morning from Ince Berth over to No.4 and around No.6 tanks and back along the Manchester Ship Canal path. There were 3 Little Egret flew over the berth and out on to the salt marsh where several more were feeding. The Great black-backed Gull v Raven v Common Buzzard were sharing the spoils out on the Frodsham Score. A few Redwing and Fieldfare were in the hawthorn bushes along the canal path and a mixed flock of finches held a few Reed Bunting. A walk over to No.4  and Blackbird and Song Thrush were in good numbers as were Robin, Wrens and Dunnock. A couple of Common Snipe were flushed from the reeds as I walked by. I met Tony B on the path along No.6 tank who was on a mission to find Jack Snipe which are quite rare to see on marsh. More Common Buzzard and Raven sat on the fence overlooking the lambing fields and a Sparrowhawk left its perch and crossed 6 putting Common Teal into the air.

There were good numbers of Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard and Shelduck were on the partly frozen water. Lordship lane was quiet apart from more finches feeding on the bank of No.6 and a couple of Kestrel hunting in the area. Back on to the canal path more Common Shelduck and Gadwall on the ship canal and a Merlin flew fast and low over the score putting Lapwing Golden Plover and startling up a small party of Redshank which flew back and forth calling in alarm. 2 Foxes were noted on the walk looking splendid in there winter coats and their location is withheld for obvious reasons.

Observer: Paul Ralston (and images 1-3).

Birdlog update:

 

I thought that I’d brave the low temperatures and headed for the marsh via a coffee infusion to pick up and to pick me up a latte with mint. I parked up by No.4 tank and sipped on my hot drink. It was bitterly cold and the NE wind was strong enough to make scoping the Score difficult. A Great White Egret and at least 6 Little Egret stalked about in the distance.

I had a look for snipe. No.3 held 8 Common Snipe but no Jack Snipe. Skylark were in evidence with at least 10, one of them trying to sing, but the wind was too strong. The tank was covered in lambs and a sense that Spring was on the way was tangible. Around 2500 Lapwing and 200 Golden Plover fed on the cropped grass.

Common Kestrel numbers seemed to have dropped with only singles on No.4 and No.6. No.6 held 3 male and 2 female Stonechat, feeding actually in amongst the phragmites rather than along the bank as usual. There were a lot of small flies in the air and out of the wind on the south-facing bank it was positively warm. But it was quiet generally.

I decided to go and have a look in the wooded area for a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker and Willow Tit that were reported on Bird Track last week. The LSW would be a first for the patch! 3 Fieldfare noisily chacked away as I passed by and as I returned to Lordship Lane, a Kingfisher hurtled past me down the ditch.

Around 48 Curlew fed in the fields as I headed back to the NE corner of No.4 for the tide. Apart from around 2000 Dunlin and a handful of Grey Plover, I couldn’t see anything clear enough to identify, the wind strong enough to still be buffeting the scope and making my eyes water.

 

I saw that a lot of gulls were coming in from the south over No.5, so headed for the corner of 3, 5 and 6. There was an obvious movement in from over Frodsham Hill with some birds dropping in to No.6 before moving on to the Mersey. In about an hour, over 2000 Black-headed Gull, 500 Common Gull and 300 or so big gulls flew over No.6 and No.5, and I’d missed lots by the time I got into position. The best of the pick were 2 Mediterranean Gull, both coming off the water on No.6, a second summer firstly, followed by an adult some twenty minutes later.

I waited in the bitter cold for the owls, but none appeared and I left for home, the heating in the car turned up to full to thaw me out.

Observer: Tony Broome (and images 4-20).

Additional information includes 2 Ruff on fields near the Growhow works, 13 Ring Plover on No.6 again, 4 Fieldfare on Lordship marsh and 30 Black-tailed Godwit flying over No.5. There was also a Great Crested Grebe on the Manchester Ship Canal.

Observer: Paul Crawley (and images 21-24)

13.02.16. Birdlog

A male Stonechat was on No.1 tank. Over on No.6 tank the flock of Shoveler from yesterday increased to 160 birds while 40 Curlew were hanging out on south-west corner of that tank.

There was a gathering of 23 Ringed Plover, 20 Pied Wagtail and 20+ Chaffinch. A Water Rail was calling from the reed beds. A Merlin flew over No.3 as did a Common Snipe. 2000 Lapwing were present on No.3 with small numbers of 100 Dunlin, Redshank and 150 Golden Plover.

A few thousand Starling were later seen on No.3. A total of 8 Buzzard over marsh along with varying amounts of Raven and 2 Kestrel. A Stoat ran across Brook Furlong track and a Vulpes vulpes was hiding from prying eyes (if you’re know what we mean).

A Short-eared Owl was over No.5 then over no.6. Lastly a Little Grebe with 4 Tufted Duck on the ‘Splashing pool’.

Observer: Paul Crawley (and images).

A Coal Tit was at the CEGB pools.

Observer: Frank Duff.

12.02.16. Birdlog

After work walk from Marsh Lane to the mitigation area on No.3 tank taking in No.6 tank on the way.

The Cormorant roost included a mixture of 15 carbo’s and at least 4 ‘sinensis‘. Nearby the Pochard flock had increased on my previous count with 41 birds present and a much reduced count of 21 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 200 Common Teal and 114 Shoveler.

The Starling pre-roost bathe started gathering soon after our arrival overlooking No.3 tank with an estimate of 5,000 birds. Again there was no obvious signs of any raptors which is puzzling and thus no murmurations to speak of.

A Short-eared Owl was hunting the grassy banks of No.6 tank with the occasional sortie out over the reed beds.

Observers: Sparky, WSM (and images).

11.02.16. Birdlog

The last hour along the Manchester Ship Canal from Ince Berth. A Grey Wagtail was again feeding near the berth and the Whooper Swan herd was out near the river. There were 2 Great white Egret a long way out on Ince salt marsh where several Great Black-backed Gull and Raven were feeding on a lamb carcasses possibly caught out by the high tide.

Also noted on the canal were 3 Great Crested Grebe were amongst a large raft of Coot with a few Mallard and Gadwall mixed in. A Short-eared Owl was hunting the canal bank in the fading light and a Little Egret flock dropped into a field by the berth in the near darkness.

Observer and images: Paul Ralston

10.02.16. Birdlog

I managed just the hour before dark and it’s now possible to do a little bird watch after work. The sound of bleating lambs on No.3 tank hanging in a chill wind heralds Spring in the air.

A fine evening and watching the sun sliding out of the day over the Growhow works produced an atmospheric Short-eared Owl as it quartered the raised banks of No.6 tank. The Raven numbers are steadily building with sheep carcasses laying about encouraging them to come in from their Welsh stronghold. I countered over 34 birds gorging themselves with a few Great Black-backed Gulls in attendance.

A smattering of aytha ducks were again on No.6 tank with 140 Shoveler all engaged in nuptial display. While nearby several Tufted Duck and c100 Common Teal were present. The Cormorant roost included 4 ‘sinensis‘ birds.

The Starling gathering was impressive with c7000 birds although without any raptors to harass them there wasn’t any murmurations to be seen.

Over on the blue-topped chimney at Weston Point was a Peregrine feeding on its dinner. Leaving the marsh along Moorditch Lane a Sparrowhawk and a female Merlin shot past. A bit late for their supper I thought!

Observer: WSM.

Image by Paul Crawley.

Earlier in the day and on the tide the Great White Egret and 18 Whooper Swan were noted on Frodsham Score by Dave Craven from the Hale side of the river. You can read more about Dave’s day here: http://birdingtheboundary.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/fire-in-hole.html?m=1

Frodsham Marsh Bird Checklist

Frodsham Marsh Bird Checklist (Updated 2016)

A link below to the new bird list which is in excel otherise scroll down to see the list in its entirety.

Frodsham Marsh Bird List 2016.

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This was a very interesting exercise as I was comparing today’s situation with the description that Martin Garner & WSM used in their ‘Birds of Frodsham Marsh’ book which had records up to September 30th 1987 and later ‘The Birds of Frodsham Marsh – Supplement’ (WSM) which covered the period up to 1991. I wasn’t surprised by what I read, but it did bring home just how many of our local birds have declined. A few have increased in number.

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I won’t go into detail, but look at the following: 4000 White-fronted Geese in 1947, Pochard 520 in 1984, Common Buzzard – only 9 records in total up to 1987, Eurasian Hobby, only 8 records, Grey Partridge (wild!) up to 50 breeding pairs, Coot 600 in 1982, Oystercatcher maximum of 10, Little Stint 311, Curlew Sandpiper 170, Common Snipe 300, Woodcock – only one record, Curlew 3000, Collared Dove 250 in one flock, Turtle Dove – annual in small numbers, Cuckoo – common, Eurasian Skylark – up to 60 pairs breeding, Yellow Wagtail – one flock of 200, Whinchat – 5 pairs breeding, Raven – a rare vagrant, 2 records, Brambling a flock of 2000, Greenfinch – flock of 400, Linnet – 50 pairs bred annually, Yellowhammer – Breeding resident and one flock of 70, Corn Bunting – scarce breeding resident – 15 singing males and a flock of 30 in one winter. Compare these records with what we know today!

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Many common names have changed and I’ve used common sense when applying them to the list. We have divers, not loons and Goosanders are not Common Mergansers etc. The order and scientific names have changed to match the current BOURC list which may look weird in places. Look how far apart Spotted and Pied Flycatchers have become.
The status descriptions aren’t scientifically proven. They simply reflect the likelihood of seeing a species on a visit to Frodsham Marsh. We always have a very lethargic bit of fun with a year list and Frank Duff did very well in 2015. I’ve also used a ‘traffic light’ system to indicate what you can reasonably expect to see if you attempt a year list.

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Green – for Go – and you should definitely see 96 species without too much effort.
Amber – for Get Ready – to add 51 species if you put a bit more time and searching in.
Red – Stop! – you’ve found one of 113 goodies, get out your phone and ring Bill, Tony or Frank!

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It’s all a bit of fun and if you see all green and amber species, you’ll have a fair list, 147 in total. But there are always one or two red species about, so 150+ is possible. There are also many species missing but are potential additions sooner or later…(Black-crowned) Night Heron, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Killdeer, Greater Sand Plover, American Golden Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Caspian Gull, (European) Nightjar, (European) Bee-eater, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Woodlark, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler, Marsh Tit, (Red-billed) Chough and Little Bunting?

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Give it a go and send us you total and we’ll add it to our table on the blog. If the list doesn’t open for you please email here for an excel version: birders260@btinternet.com

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Written and compiled by: Tony Broome & WSM.

 

The Full list is listed below.

     Species                                         Scientific Name                                 Current Status

1   Mute Swan                                      Cygnus olor                        Common/migrant/breeds

2   Whooper Swan                               Cygnus cygnus                     Passage/winter visitor

3   Bewick’s Swan                          Cygnus columbianus bewickii    Scarce migrant/winter

4    Bean Goose (Tundra/Taiga)           Anser fabalis                        Very rare winter visitor

5    Pink-footed Goose                       Anser brachyrhynchus        Passage migrant/winter

6    Eurasian White-fronted Goose        Anser albifrons albifrons          Rare winter visitor

      Greenland White-fronted Goose      Anser albifrons flavirostris      Rare winter visitor

7    Greylag Goose                                   Anser anser                       Feral population/wild?

8    Greater Canada Goose                     Branta canadensis             Common, does breed

9    Barnacle Goose                                 Branta leucopsis             Rare winter and/or feral

10   Dark-bellied Brent Goose                Branta bernicla bernicla       Scarce winter visitor

       Pale-bellied Brent Goose                 Branta bernicla hrota               Rare winter visitor

11   Egyptian Goose                                 Alopochen aegyptiaca               Rare feral visitor

12   Ruddy Shelduck                                Tadorna ferruginea             Rare/continental feral

13   Common Shelduck                            Tadorna tadorna         Common breeds/passage

14   Mandarin Duck                                   Aix galericulata                          Rare feral visitor

15   Eurasian Wigeon                               Anas penelope          Winter/occasional Summer

16   American Wigeon                             Anas americana          Rare migrant/winter visitor

17   Gadwall                                              Anas strepera                Common winter/breeds?

18   Eurasian Teal                                    Anas crecca                 Common winter/has bred

19   Green-winged Teal                           Anas carolinensis             Very rare winter visitor

20   Mallard                                              Anas platyrhynchos      Common resident/breeds

21   Northern Pintail                                Anas acuta                          Regular winter visitor

22   Garganey                                          Anas querquedula                         Scarce migrant

23   Northern Shoveler                           Anas clypeata                  Common winter/breeds

24   Red-crested Pochard                      Netta rufina                                  Rare/feral visitor

25   Common Pochard                           Aythya ferina                                             Scarce

26   Ring-necked Duck                           Aythya collaris                           Very rare migrant

27   Ferruginous Duck                           Aythya nyroca                             The only record

28   Tufted Duck                                     Aythya fuligula                  Common breeder/winter

29   Greater Scaup                                 Aythya marila                 Very scarce/winter visitor

30   Lesser Scaup                                  Aythya affinis                               Very rare migrant

31   Common Eider                               Somateria mollissima          Very rare winter visitor

32   Long-tailed Duck                            Clangula hyemal           Rare migrant/winter visitor

33   Common Scoter                              Melanitta nigra                                   Rare migrant

34   Velvet Scoter                                   Melanitta fusca                   Very rare winter visitor

35   Common Goldeneye                      Bucephala clangula               Regular winter visitor

36   Smew                                               Mergellus albellus               Very rare winter visitor

37   Red-breasted Merganser              Mergus serrator              Very scarce winter visitor

38   Goosander                                      Mergus merganser                 Very scarce migrant

39   Ruddy Duck                                   Oxyura jamaicensis          Once common/now rare

40   Common Quail                              Coturnix coturni                       Rare summer visitor

41   Red-legged Partridge                   Alectoris rufa                                   Introduced/feral

42   Grey Partridge                              Perdix perdix                                   Now introduced

43   Common Pheasant                      Phasianus colchicus                        Introduced/feral

44   Red-throated Diver                      Gavia stellata                                Rare winter visitor

45   Black-throated Diver                   Gavia arctica                                Rare winter visitor

46   Great Northern Diver                  Gavia immer                                  Rare winter visitor

47   Northern Fulmar                          Fulmarus glacialis                            Very rare visitor

48   Manx Shearwater                         Puffinus puffinus                             The only record

49   European Storm Petrel               Hydrobates pelagicus                     The only record

50   Leach’s Petrel                               Oceanodroma leucorhoa                 Very rare visitor

51   Northern Gannet                           Morus bassanus                             Very rare visitor

52   Great Cormorant                           Phalacrocorax carbo carbo       Common/ has bred

       Continental Cormorant                 Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis     Scarce, has bred

53   European Shag                              Phalacrocorax aristotelis                       Rare visitor

54   Eurasian Bittern                             Botaurus stellaris                Very rare winter visitor

55   Western Cattle Egret                     Bubulcus ibis                     Very rare summer visitor

56   Little Egret                                       Egretta garzetta                        Common/has bred

57   Great White Egret                            Ardea alba                         Rare in small numbers

58   Grey Heron                                       Ardea cinerea                Common resident/breeds

59   Eurasian Spoonbill                          Platalea leucorodia                            Rare migrant

60   Little Grebe                                       Tachybaptus ruficollis     Common breeder/winter

61   Great Crested Grebe                       Podiceps cristatus        Passage/ common winter

62   Red-necked Grebe                           Podiceps grisegena               Rare migrant/winter

63   Black-necked Grebe                         Podiceps nigricollis                      Scarce migrant

64   Slavonian Grebe                                Podiceps  auritus                      The only record

65   European Honey Buzzard                Pernis apivorus                        Very rare migrant

66   Red Kite                                               Milvus milvus                      Very scarce migrant

67   Western Marsh Harrier                      Circus aeruginosus        Scarce migrant/breeds

68   Hen Harrier                                          Circus cyaneus          Uncommon winter visitor

69   Montagu’s Harrier                               Circus pygargus      Very rare passage migrant

70   Northern Goshawk                              Accipiter gentilis                       Very rare visitor

71   Eurasian Sparrowhawk                      Accipiter nisus                 Resident and migrant

72   Common Buzzard                               Buteo buteo                            Resident breeder

73   Rough-legged Buzzard                      Buteo lagopus                Very rare winter visitor

74   Western Osprey                                  Pandion haliaetus              Very scarce migrant

75   Common Kestrel                                 Falco tinnunus         Common/passage migrant

76   Merlin                                                    Falco columbarius          Scarce migrant/winter

77   Eurasian Hobby                                   Falco subbuteo                Very scarce summer

78   Peregrine Falcon                                  Falco peregrinus                                 Resident

79   Water Rail                                              Rallus aquaticus                  Winter/does breed

80   Spotted Crake                                       Porzana porzana                               Very rare

81   Corncrake                                              Crex crex                                           Very rare

82   Common Moorhen                                Gallinulachloropus               Common resident

83   Eurasian Coot                                        Fulica atra                   Common/breeds/winter

84   Common Crane                                      Grus grus                                         Very rare

85   Eurasian Stone-curlew                          Burhinus oedicnemus          The only record

86   Black-winged Stilt                                  Himantopus himantopus          Rare/has bred

87   Pied Avocet                                             Recurvirostra avosetta        Scarce/has bred

88   Eurasian Oystercatcher                         Haematopus ostralegus      Resident/migrant

89   European Golden Plover                        Pluvialis apricaria                  Common winter

90   Grey Plover                                               Pluvialis squatarola              Passage/winter

91   Northern Lapwing                                     Vanellus vanellus              Common/breeds

92   Little Ringed Plover                                   Charadrius dubius             Summer/breeds

93   Common Ringed Plover       Charadrius hiaticula ummer     Common/migrant/breeds

       Northern Ringed Plover                            Charadrius hiaticula tundrae           Migrant

94   Kentish Plover                                           Charadrius alexandrinus   The only record

95   Eurasian Dotterel                                        Charadrius morinellus    Very rare migrant

96   Whimbrel                                               Numenius phaeopu    Scarce passage migrant

97   Eurasian Curlew                                   Numenius arquata      Common migrant/winter

98   Black-tailed Godwit                      Limosa limosa islandica    Common summer/winter

99   Bar-tailed Godwit                                 Limosa lapponica         Scarce passage/winter

100  Ruddy Turnstone                                 Arenaria interpres     Scarce passage migrant

101  Red Knot                                              Calidris canutus                        Passage/winter

102  Ruff                                                       Philomachus pugnax                Passage/winter

103  Sharp-tailed Sandpiper                      Caldris acuminata                   The only record

104  Broad-billed Sandpiper                 Limicola falcinellus       Very rare passage migrant

105  Curlew Sandpiper                               Calidris ferruginea             Passage/has winter

106  Stilt Sandpiper                                    Micropalama himantopus        The only record

107  Temminck’s Stint                                Calidris temminckii         Rare passage migrant

108  Sanderling                                            Calidris alba                             Passage/winter

109  Dunlin                                                    Calidris alpina schinzii             Passage/winter

        Dunlin                                                    Calidris alpina alpina              Scarce passage

        Dunlin                                                    Calidris alpina artica               Scarce passage

110  Baird’s Sandpiper                                Calidris bairdii                       Very rare migrant

111  Little Stint                                              Calidris minuta            Passage/scarce winter

112  White-rumped Sandpiper                     Calidris fusci                        Very rare migrant

113  Buff-breasted Sandpiper                      Calidris subruficollis            Very rare migrant

114  Pectoral Sandpiper                                Calidris melanotos                     Rare migrant

115  Semi-palmated Sandpiper                     Calidris pusilla                     The only record

116  Wilson’s Phalarope                                 Phalaropus tricolor            Very rare migrant

117  Red-necked Phalarope                           Phalarope phalaropus       Very rare migrant

118  Grey Phalarope                                        Phalaropus fulicarius        Very rare migrant

119  Terek Sandpiper                                       Xenus cinereus                 The only record

120  Common Sandpiper                                 Actitis hypoleucos        Summer/rare winter

121  Green Sandpiper                                      Tringa ochropus     Passage migrant/winter

122  Spotted Redshank                                    Tringa erythropus        Passage/rare winter

123  Common Greenshank                               Tringa nebularia          Passage/rare winter

124  Lesser Yellowlegs                                      Tringa flavipes                Very rare migrant

125  Marsh Sandpiper                                        Tringa stagnatilis             The only record

126  Wood Sandpiper                                         Tringa glareola    Scarce passage migrant

127  Common Redshank                                    Tringa totanus   Passage/winter/has bred

128  Jack Snipe                                  Lymnocryptes minimus     Very scarce winter visitor

129  Long-billed Dowitcher               Limnodromus scolopaceus            Very rare migrant

130  Eurasian Woodcock                          Scolopax rusticola     Very scarce winter visitor

131  Common Snipe                                  Gallinago gallinago        Common/migrant/winter

132  Great Snipe                                           Gallinago media                        The only record

133  Collared Pratincole                            Glareola pratincola                  The only record

134  Pomarine Skua                                Stercorarius pomarinus   Very rare – two records

135  Arctic Skua                                       Stercorarius parasiticus           Very rare migrant

136  Long-tailed Skua                              Stercorarius longicaudus          The only record

137  Great Skua                                        Stercorarius skua                     Very rare migrant

138  Razorbill                                                    Alca torda                          The only record

139  Common Guillemot                                  Uria aalge             Very rare summer visitor

140  Little Tern                                                   Sterna albifrons               Very rare migrant

141  Gull-billed Tern                                   Gelochelidon nilotica    Very rare – two records

142  Black Tern                                               Chlidonias niger           Rare/irregular migrant

143  White-winged Black Tern                      Chlidonias leucopterus       Very rare migrant

144  Sandwich Tern                                        Sterna sandvicensis                 Rare migrant

145  Common Tern                                          Sterna hirundo                Migrant/occasional

146  Arctic Tern                                                Sterna paradisaea    Rare passage migrant

147  Sabine’s Gull                                            Larus sabini            Very rare – Two records

148  Black-legged Kittiwake                            Rissa tridactyla              Very scarce visitor

149  Black-headed Gull                           Chroicocephalus ridibundus   Common/has bred

150  Little Gull                                                   Hydrocoloeus minutus        Scarce/migrant

151  Franklin’s Gull                                            Larus pipixcan                 The only record

152  Mediterranean Gull                            Larus melanocephalus  Scarce passage/winter

153  Common Gull                                               Larus canus      Common passage/winter

154  Ring-billed Gull                                             Larus delawarensis   Rare – two records

155  Lesser Black-backed Gull             Larus fuscus graellsii    Resident, breeder/migrant

        Lesser Black-backed Gull              Larus fuscus intermedius           Common/breeds

156  European Herring Gull                   Larus argentatus argenteus        Resident/breeds

        Scandinavian Herring Gull             Larus argentatus argentatus         Scarce/winter

157  Yellow-legged Gull                           Larus michahellis              Very scarce passage

158  Iceland Gull                                        Larus glaucoides                    Rare winter visitor

159  Glaucous Gull                                    Larus hyperboreus                Rare winter visitor

160  Great Black-backed Gull                   Larus marinus                      Common, has bred

161  Stock Dove                                          Columba oenas            Passage migrant/winter

162  Common Wood Pigeon                      Columba palumbus      Passage/winter/breeds

163  Eurasian Collared Dove                     Streptopelia decaocto              Scarce/ breeder

164  European Turtle Dove                         Streptopelia turtur                      Now very rare

165  Common Cuckoo                                  Cuculus canorus               Summer, has bred

166  Western Barn Owl                                 Tyto alba                        Local resident/winter

167  Little Owl                                                  Athene noctua             Very Rare, has bred.

168  Tawny Owl                                                Strix aluco                   Rare – breeds locally

169  Long-eared Owl                                        Asio otus             Scarce/irregular/has bred

170  Short-eared Owl                                        Asio flammeus          Irregular spring/winter

171  Common Swift                                           Apus apus              Summer/breeds locally

172  Eurasian Hoopoe                                        Upupa epops                  The only record

173  Common Kingfisher                                    Alcedo atthis         Resident/winter visitor

174  Green Woodpecker                                     Picus viridis       Very rare irregular visitor

175  Great Spotted Woodpecker                       Dendrocopos major        Resident/migrant

176  Red-backed Shrike                                      Lanius collurio               Very rare migrant

177  Great Grey Shrike                                        Lanius excubitor           Very rare migrant

178  Woodchat Shrike                                          Lanius senator              The only record

179  Eurasian Magpie                                           Pica pica       Common breeding resident

180  Eurasian Jay                                                  Garrulus glandarius    Resident/passage

181  Western Jackdaw                                          Corvus monedula        Common/migrant

182  Rook                                                               Corvus frugilegus  Breeds/locallymigrant

183  Carrion Crow                                                 Corvus corone            Breeding resident

184  Hooded Crow                                                 Corvus cornix           Rare – two records

185  Northern Raven                                              Corvus corax              Common/migrant

186  Goldcrest                                                         Regulus regulus              Migrant/winter

187  Common Firecrest                                          Regulus ignicapilla            Two records

188  Eurasian Blue Tit                                            Parus caeruleus        Breeding resident

189  Great Tit                                                           Parus major               Breeding resident

190  Coal Tit                                                             Periparus ater     Scarce migrant/winter

191  Willow Tit                                                          Poecile montana  Rare irregular visitor

192  Bearded Tit                                                       Panurus biarmicus                 Very rare

193  Eurasian Skylark                                              Alauda arvensis        Resident/migrant

194  Shore Lark                                                        Eremophila alpestris  The only record

195 Sand Martin                                                       Riparia riparia            Migrant/has bred

196  Barn Swallow                                                    Hirundo rustica           Summer/breeds

197  Common House Martin                                    Delichon urbica            Migrant/breeds

198  Red-rumped Swallow                                       Cecropsis daurica    The only record

199  Cettis Warbler                                                    Cettia cetti    Rare resident – has bred

200  Long-tailed Tit                                                    Aegithalos audatus Common resident

201  Common Chiffchaff             Phylloscopus collybita collybita   Summer/scarce winter

        Siberian Chiffchaff               Phylloscopus collybita tristis               The only record

202  Willow Warbler                      Phylloscopus trochilus         Common migrant, breeds?

203  Eurasian Blackcap                                              Sylvia atricapilla        Migrant, breeds

204  Garden Warbler                                                   Sylvia borin            Passage migrant

205  Lesser Whitethroat                                              Sylvia curruca         Scarce summer

206  Common Whitethroat                                          Sylvia communis     Migrant/breeder

207  Common Grasshopper Warbler                         Locustella naevia  Summer breeder

208   Savi’s Warbler                                                        Locustella luscinioides   The only record

209  Aquatic Warbler                                                   Acrocephalus paludicola   Very rare

210  Sedge Warbler                                 Acrocephalus schoenobaenus   Summer/breeds

211  Eurasian Reed Warbler                   Acrocephalus scirpaceus           Summer/breeds

212  Bohemian Waxwing                        Bombycilla garrulus                Rare – two records

213 Eurasian Nuthatch                                              Sitta europaea              Rare resident

214  Eurasian Treecreeper                                         Certhia familiaris          Rare resident

215  Eurasian Wren                                                     Troglodytes troglodytes      Resident

216  Common Starling                                                 Sturnus vulgaris     Resident/breeds

217  Ring Ouzel                                                             Turdus torquatus  Passage migrant

218  Common Blackbird                                               Turdus merula       Resident/breeds

219  Fieldfare                                                                  Turdus pilaris         Common/winter

220  Song Thrush                                                           Turdus philomelos Resident/winter

221   Redwing                                                                   Turdus iliacus          Migrant/winter

222  Mistle Thrush                                                  Turdus viscivorus  Uncommon resident

223  Spotted Flycatcher                                         Muscicapa striata          Scarce migrant

224  European Robin                                              Erithacus rubecula     Resident/migrant

225  Common Nightingale                                     Luscinia megarhynchos   Two records

226  Bluethroat                                                        Luscinia svecica svecica  One record

227  European Pied Flycatcher                              Ficedula hypoleuca           One record

228  Black Redstart                                                 Phoenicurus ochruros       One record

229  Common Redstart                                           Phoenicurus phoenicurus         Migrant

230  Whinchat                                                          Saxicola rubetra       Passage/has bred

231  European Stonechat                             Saxicola rubicola hibernans  Passage/ winter

232  Northern Wheatear                           Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe  Migrant,has bred

        Greenland Wheatear                      Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa Passage/has bred

233  Dunnock                                          Prunella modularis                     Common resident

234  House Sparrow                               Passer domesticus   Scarce visitor/local breeder

235  Eurasian Tree Sparrow                  Passer montanus           Scarce passage migrant

236  Western Yellow Wagtail                 Motacilla flava                 Summer/migrant,breeds

        Blue-headed Wagtail                      Motacilla flava flava                         Rare/has bred

        Channel Wagtail                              Motacilla flava flava x flavissima    Rare/has bred

237  Grey Wagtail                                    Motacilla cinerea                Passage/winter visitor

238   Pied Wagtail                                     Motacilla alba yarrelli     Common/migrant/breeds

         White Wagtail                                  Motacilla alba alba         Scarce passage migrant

239    Richard’s Pipit                                Anthus richardi                      Rare migrant/winter

240    Tawny Pipit                                     Anthus campestris                            One record

241    Tree Pipit                                         Anthus trivialis                  Rare passage migrant

242    Meadow Pipit                                   Anthus pratensis        Common/breeds/passage

243    Eurasian Rock Pipit                        Anthus petrosus                   Rare migrant/winter

244    Water Pipit                                       Anthus spinoletta                 Rare migrant/winter

245    Common Chaffinch                        Fringilla coelebs             Resident/migrant/winter

246    Brambling                                        Fringilla montifringilla        Scarce migrant/winter

247    European Greenfinch                     Chloris chloris                          Resident/migrant

248    European Goldfinch                        Carduelis carduelis       Resident/migrant/winter

249    Eurasian Siskin                                Carduelis spinus         Scarce passage migrant

250    Common Linnet                                Carduelis cannabina    Common migrant/winter

251    Twite                                                   Carduelis flavirostris      Scarce migrant/winter

252    Lesser Redpoll                                  Carduelis cabaret           Scarce migrant/winter

253    Common Redpoll                              Carduelis flammea flammea         Rare migrant

254    Red Crossbill                                      Loxia curvirostra                           One record

255    Eurasian Bullfinch                   Pyrrhula pyrrhula pileata      Scarce resident, breeds

256    Hawfinch                              Coccothraustes coccothraustes                 One record

257    Snow Bunting                      Plectrophenax nivalis                      Rare migrant/winter

258    Lapland Bunting                  Calcarius lapponicus                       Rare migrant/winter

259    Yellowhammer                     Emberiza citrinella                  Scarce migrant, has bred

260    Common Reed Bunting      Emberiza schoeniclus                         Resident/migrant

261    Corn Bunting                       Embiriza calandra                   Scarce migrant, has bred

The list stands at 261 as from 2017.

07.02.16. Birdlog

 A five-mile hike around No.4 tank today produced the following: c1000 Lapwing with a few Golden Plover, Dunlin, Ruff and Redshank thrown into the mix on the fields opposite the Growhow works by the Ince marsh fields.

The walk along Lordship Lane produced 3 Common Buzzard, 4 Pied Wagtail and a Peregrine flew towards Helsby. A large mix flock of Linnet and c60 Goldfinch, the odd Dunnock and Wren along the hedgerow with a pair of Reed Bunting in the reeds nearby.

I met Tony at the ‘Splashing Pool’ which held a few Tufted Duck and Mallard, another Peregrine headed out towards the estuary. The rain could be seen coming in from the distance and coming right towards us.

There were 2 Kestrel were battling the wind on No.4 tank while a Grey Wagtail, 6 Common Snipe and a handful of Curlew were the highlights there.

Back on Lordship Lane and the Lapwing flock that was present earlier had taken the opportunity in my absence to vacate the area along with the Golden Plover, Redshank and Dunlin but were joined by 4 Common Buzzard.

Observer: Shaun Hickey (images 2-4 & 9).

Over on No.1 tank were a couple of  Stonechat on No.1 and No.5 tank. 50 Pied wagtails all over the marsh, it was too windy to count No.6 tank but c30 Curlew over the far side. 3 Fieldfare were also noted. A few Pied Wagtail were again present in the horse paddock fields.

Observer: Paul Crawley (images 1, 5-6 & 8).

A short walk  along the canal from Ince Berth to the Holpool Gutter. A Grey Wagtail feeding by the berth and a Kingfisher flew along the Manchester Ship Canal. A large raft of Coot on the water with even more on the canal bank. There were several Mallard and Tufted Duck which took to the air as I made my way along the path leaving a Great Crested and Little Grebe behind. 3 Mute Swan were on the field with a large mixed flock of Lapwing and Golden Plover with a few Curlew and Redshank amongst them.

A Great White Egret with 2 Little Egret sat out on Ince marsh and a flock of 25 more Little Egret were still feeding on the field near the berth as it was getting dark.

Observer: Paul Ralston (image 7 & 16).

After the bright sunshine of the first part of the day it soon reverted back to form and with the clouds rolling in from the west came a period of…yes, you’ve guessed it…rain.

Additional No.4 tank and Foundations for the Wind Farm (Shaun Hickey).

Additional information and images (10-15) curiosity of Tony Broome.

An unkindness of Raven at dusk.

06.02.16. Birdlog

A right old miserable day it was as far as the weather was concerned. It didn’t really stop raining from start to finish but with a weeks work under the belt and a Saturday free to go birding even the weather couldn’t put me off.

I started off watching the duck from the east side of No.6 tank and between wiping the rain drops from spectacles, bins and scope and repeating the process time after time I managed a fair old count. The Common Pochard (and 40 present) are in the news with regard to their dwindling numbers and I’ve been sending my counts to http://www.ducksg.org/ for their records. A gathering of Tufted Duck included 52 birds with an additional 12 at the Splashing pool noted later. There was a pair of Pintail, 34 Gadwall, 100 Mallard and 145 Shoveler present with 200 Common Teal hiding in the flooded daisy beds. I met PR who was on his way back to Godscroft and his car and we both enjoyed a chat and he told me about a Marsh Harrier over on No.4 tank.

After filling my boots with ducks I walked over to No.4 tank in the hope of seeing the harrier and tried to ignore the persistent rain. Stopping off at the extensively flooded No.3 tank it was good to see c1000 Lapwing gathered with a couple of hundred Golden Plover, the occasional Dunlin, 4 Redshank and a Ruff.

The Lapwing flocks were edgy and frequently took flight. Eventually I got to my destination and looking out to Frodsham Score gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in watching out on the river and marshes. A Chiffchaff momenterally drew my attention to its presence in ushes close to the bank by calling.

It was good to see the tall white duke aka Great White Egret strutting its stuff in one of the tidal gutters while the smaller  Little Egrets were busy flying about. The herd of Whooper Swan are staying further out on the salt marsh along with a couple of presumed Icelandic Greylag Goose in close attendance.

The many hundreds of Canada Goose out on the score included a flock of c100 Pink-footed Goose, 100 Wigeon and a few scattered groups of large gulls.

Walking along the tracks on No.4 tank I flushed a Water Pipit that rose from the ground calling before flying high. It disappeared without returning over and down onto the flooded No.3 tank. A good size flock of 200 Linnet were good to see in their energetic bouncy flight.

Returning back to Moorditch Lane and the Ravens were everywhere in the fields, on the marsh and just generally hanging about waiting to clear up the sheep and lamb carrion that is surely about to provide a feast for them.

Observers: Paul Ralston, WSM (and images).

05.02.16. Birdlog

We managed the last hour of daylight walking along Moorditch Lane where there were 54 Pied Wagtail feeding in the horse paddock and a brief view of an owl which disappeared without trace. 

No.5 tank had ewes feeding lambs and a couple of malnourished sheep needed some attention while overhead 20 Raven gathered over the track before heading south for the night.

Making our way along the track on No.5 tank to see the Starling gathering with many perched up in a tree on the bank. The flock were bathing on the flooded fields on the mitiagtion area on No.3 tank before finally gathering in a flock of c7000 and departing to the east.

The water on No.6 tank was its most flooded with the water extending further out to the west. A good size gathering of duck included: 47 Mallard, 27 Gadwall, 230 Common Teal, 34 Common Pochard, 34 Tufted Duck and roosting up on the tree were 12 Cormorant including a couple of ‘sinensis’ forms.

Observers: Sparky, WSM (images 1-3 & 5).

Image 4 by Paul Ralston.