After an early start this morning a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling along Brook Furlong Lane and after a little wait the Rosy Starling put in an appearance for a couple of minutes on the fenceline of No.1 tank.
Looking out to the Mersey Estuary over the high tide and 21 Grey Heron and 6
Little Egret were by the Weaver Sluices.
Moving down to the River Weaver, an adult Mediterranean Gull flew down the
Weaver Estuary and a Little Ringed Plover was on the Weaver Bend.
No.6 tank held 3 Northern Shoveler, 29 Eurasian Teal, 15 Common Pochard, 5 Common Redshank, 3 Common Ringed Plover and a Western Yellow Wagtail amongst the regulars.
Once the sun came out lots of butterflies appeared with at least 300 Small Tortoiseshell counted along the track by No. 3 tank and a Black-tailed Skimmer was hunting over the ‘phalarope pool’ on No.3 tank.
Observer: Alyn Chambers (image 1).
Like Alyn I also started at Brook Furlong Lane this morning where there was plenty of birds still in song including Common Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler, Wren, Blackbird and Song Thrush all being noted.
A pair of European Stonechat were on the fence along Alder Lane and one of their offspring was sat on the fence alongside the pipeline. A large flock of Eurasian Starling were moving across the fields, but I couldn’t spot the rosy.
Out on the Mersey Estuary a flock of c80 Pied Avocet were feeding at the edge of the channel and the injured Pink-footed Goose was still going strong and making its way along the bank. A juvenile Common Ringed Plover was at the river edge with a Common Redshank for company.
The Common Swift were again massing over the river and fields.
Onward to No.6 tank and c300 Black-tailed Godwit were in the shallows and a Western Marsh Harrier hunted over the reed bed. A male Western Yellow Wagtail was feeding on the track near to the ‘phalarope pool’ and another 2 birds were seen at the model flying field on Lordship Marsh.
A return visit to Marsh Farm in the afternoon to try for the Rosy Starling was again unsuccessful with a large flock of sturnus noted moving from field to field.
A look over the River Weaver and the Black Tern was hawking insects off the surface of the water and the 1st summer Little Gull was back again.. A male Western Marsh Harrier was hunting over No.1 tank.
Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were all over the marsh with smaller numbers of Meadow Brown being seen.
Observer: Paul Ralston (images 2-13).
Black Tern image 14 by Andy Dutton.
