Other raptors noted were Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and several Kestrel.
Frodsham Score was alive with birds and included several Little Egret with a Great White Egret present. 96 Pink-footed Goose, c1000 Canada Goose and numerous Greylags were also feeding on the marsh grass with a 16 Whooper Swan. Although the tide wasn’t particularly high it was enough to force the 400 Wigeon off the river to feed on the turf. Small flocks of Dunlin could be see in clusters.
The Golden Plover flocks have increased over the last few weeks with c1000 birds circling the marsh and what was presumably part of this flock relocated to No.6 tank later?
A thorough watch over No.6 tank was really rewarding with decent numbers and variety of species. A drake Goldeneye was a surprise and not usually a species that occurs here. 29 Pintail (pairs) were again unexpected and a good count for this side of the estuaries. The more usual species included 187 Shoveler, 26 Common Pochard, 42 Tufted Duck, drake Wigeon, 23 Gadwall, 49 Mallard and 67 Common Shelduck. Shorebirds featured a few Dunlin, c100 Black-tailed Godwit, 1000 Lapwing and 760 Golden Plover.
A Mediterranean Gull was seen from Marsh Farm (TB).
Two Stonechat were by the farm and another two were on No.4 tank while a Goldcrest was also seen.
The Cormorant tree held 11 birds with 2 ‘sinensis’ present.
‘TB’ had a conversion with an eccentric farmer who spent his time talking Bullocks!
Observers: Tony Broome, Paul Crawley (images 7-8), WSM (Images 1-6 & 9).
