NORTH WEST

Highlights

August is often the best month for seeing Spotted Crakes, especially juveniles, across the whole of the UK. One was at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, Cheshire, early in the month. A possible Sooty Tern was an intriguing record from Hilbre Island, Cheshire, but could not be relocated

CHESHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: A Spotted Crake was at Burton Mere Wetlands (1st). Caspian Gulls were at New Ferry (14th) and Hoylake (26th). A Hooded Crow was in Birkenhead (15th). HILBRE: Seven Whimbrels roosted (7th). There were 52 Little Terns (7th), 500 Sandwich Terns (10th), Tree Pipit (17th), and Curlew Sandpiper with 3,500 Dunlin (18th). Several Arctic Skuas included two (19th). A fall included 12 Willow Warblers (18th). A Black Tern and four Med Gulls were seen (23rd). MERSEY VALLEY: Hale logged Spoonbill (1st), Great White Egret (2nd), Garganey and six ‘Channel’ Wagtails (14th), two Wood Sandpipers (21st) and two Little Stints (30th). Two Little Stints and Black-necked Grebe were on Frodsham Marsh (7th), with Little Gull (27th). An Osprey was on Norton Marsh (31st). A Curlew Sandpiper influx included seven at Pickering’s Pasture (25th), 12 at Hale (26th) and 26 on Frodsham Marsh (27th). WIRRAL COAST: Storm Petrels were at Hoylake (3rd) and New Brighton (7th), where there were two Arctic Skuas. There were 2,700 Black-tailed Godwits at West Kirby (10th). Short-eared Owls were at Burton Marsh (11th) and Red Rocks (29th). A Twite was unexpected at Birkenhead (12th). Twelve Spoonbills (14th) and 56 Greenshanks (31st) were at Burton Mere Wetlands. Three Redstarts were at Leasowe (14th). A Little Stint was at Parkgate (18th). Four Black Terns roosted at Hoylake (19th) with two at Seacombe (20th). Nine Curlew Sandpipers were at Hoylake (20th). WOOLSTON EYES: Ringing on No1 bed gave Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Tree Pipit, Sand Martin, House Martin, Lesser Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail and Long-tailed Tit. Records included 100 Swifts, Cetti’s Warbler, two Tawny Owls and 400 Swallows. No3 bed ringing team had Reed Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Stock Dove and Cetti’s Warbler. Records were five Black-necked Grebes, two Common Terns, Water Rail, two Kingfishers, 300 Swifts, Curlew, five Green Sandpipers, 160 Lapwings, two Hobbies, seven Grey Wagtails, Tawny Owl, Bittern, three Dunlin, Marsh Harrier, Little Ringed Plover, Goosander, Willow Tit, Wood Sandpiper, 116 Black-tailed Godwits, Peregrine, 62 Shovelers, Redshank, Little Egret and 14 Snipe. Richard Smith (richard@deeestuary.co.uk) and Dave Steel

CUMBRIA

HIGHLIGHTS: Two Quails sang at Thornhill Meadows, Abbeytown (6th). A Great White Egret flew over Siddick Ponds (21st). Curlew Sandpipers included one at Wedholme Flow (1st), two at Bowness-on-solway (17th), one at Port Carlisle (21st) with six (28th), two at Walney Island (22nd) with three (25th), two at Hodbarrow (24th), three at Grune Point (25th), four at Campfield Marsh with three Little Stints (25th), and one at Drumburgh (27th). A Wood Sandpiper was at Walney Island (16th). A Golden Eagle was at Geltsdale (26th). A Dotterel flew over Kendal (28th).

GREATER MANCHESTER

HIGHLIGHTS: A Red Kite flew over Ludworth Moor (17th). Marsh Harriers were at Little Woolden Moss (16th) and Spen Moor, Bury (25th). An Osprey was over Pennington Flash (25th). Two Little Egrets were there (4th-29th), with others at Elton Reservoir (1st & 10th) and two near Bury Road Bridge (7th-25th). ELTON RESERVOIR: A Wood Sandpiper was present (18th), with two Greenshank (6th-24th), Black-tailed Godwits (9th & 12th), three Green Sandpipers and Ruff (14th-23rd), two Common Scoters (4th-13th), Scaup (30th-31st), Tree Pipit (13th), Whinchats (23rd & 29th), two Wheatears, four Redstarts, and a Hobby (14th). MERSEY VALLEY: The Mandarin was at Chorlton WP. A Hobby was over Chorlton Ees (17th). A Green Sandpiper was at Altrincham ETW. PENNINGTON FLASH: Five Common Scoters were seen (3rd-13th). Black Terns passed through (21st-22nd & 30th). A Black-necked Grebe visited (10th-11th). Hobbies flew over (1st & 18th). A Med Gull was seen (11th-12th & 31st). There was a Black-tailed Godwit (8th), Greenshank (21st-31st), and two Green Sandpipers plus a Ruff (30th-31st). A Wheatear passed through (27th) OTHER SITES: Six Common Scoters visited Higher Swineshaw Reservoir (28th). A Garganey was on Pearson’s Flash (1st-18th), with two on Scotman’s Flash (19th). A Hobby was in the Wigan Flashes area (13th). A Turnstone was at Rumworth Lodge (9th). Audenshaw Reservoirs held Scaup (10th), Knot (21st-23rd), Common Scoter (28th) and Whinchat (29th). Lightshaw had two Greenshanks (18th) and a Green Sandpiper flew over. Green Sandpipers were at Hope Carr and Dove Stones. Whinchats were on Little Woolden Moss (1st-13th), Bickershaw Rucks (15th) and Pickley Green (19th). Little Woolden Moss held 41 Yellow Wagtails (2nd), Tree Pipit (13th), three Wheatears, Hobby (11th) and five Greenshanks (19th). Hobbies flew over Croxden Moss (18th) and Pickley Green (19th). A Yellow-legged Gull was in Gorton (13th). Three Redstarts were on Ludworth Moor (16th-17th). Horwich Moors logged Pied Flycatcher (9th), with three (15th), 30 Tree Pipits (17th), 29 Wheatears, two Redstarts, four Crossbills, three Whinchats, five Stonechats, Ruff (15th) and five Black-tailed Godwits (5th). Hollingworth Lake had Redstart (17th) and Pied Flycatcher (29th). A Whinchat and two Tree Pipits were at Sandyforth Mine (17th). Rumworth Lodge had a Tree Pipit (7th), Black-tailed Godwit (10th), and a Green Sandpiper plus Med Gull (14th). Dr Paul Brewster (01606 590 491)

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH MERSEYSIDE

HIGHLIGHTS: The Cattle Egret stayed at Marshside. A Long-tailed Skua was on Ainsdale shore (21st), plus Wryneck (27th-31st). A White-rumped Sandpiper was on Banks Marsh (23rd). EAST LANCASHIRE: Common Scoters included 10 at Stocks Reservoir (12th), with 18 there (13th), and 12 at Alston Reservoir (13th). Ospreys flew over Stocks Reservoir and Longridge. Brockholes recorded Black Tern (19th) and Wood Sandpiper (23rd). FYLDE REGION: Up to four Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers were at several sites. Blackpool had a Purple Sandpiper (20th-22nd), 350 Sandwich Terns (30th), up to three Arctic Skuas, Fulmars, Storm Petrel (3rd) and Black Guillemot (25th). Six Greenshanks were at Wardleys, River Wyre (14th). A Wood Sandpiper was at Bank End (5th). A Little Tern was at St Anne’s (5th). Ospreys flew over Cockersands (16th) and Greenhalgh (24th). A Hobby was at Bank End (4th-5th). Marsh Harriers were there (6th), at Fairhaven (17th) and Warton Marsh (two). Over 60 Tree Pipits were at Fairhaven. Three Spotted Flycatchers were at Warton Bank Lane End (18th), with two Whinchats and Redstart (23rd). Two Whinchats were at Mythop (23rd). Bank End Marsh produced five Yellow Wagtails. Five were at Cockers Dyke (6th-7th), with a Cuckoo (24th). MARTON MERE: Highlights include a Bittern, Water Rails, 10 species of warbler including two Garden Warblers, two Ravens (10th), an Osprey (29th), Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Garganey (from 21st), nine Gadwall, nine Shovelers and 24 Tufted Ducks. SW LANCS-N MERSEYSIDE: Sandwich Terns at Ainsdale peaked at 1,200 mid-month. Four Black Terns were at Seaforth (21st) and Cabin Hill, Formby (22nd). An Osprey was over Lunt (18th), with two Garganey (23rd). The influx of Curlew Sandpipers brought three at Hesketh Out Marsh (1st), 12 on Banks Marsh (23rd) and 11 on Crosby shore. A Little Stint was at Lunt, with six on Banks Marsh (23rd). A Wood Sandpiper was at Martin Mere (31st). Maurice Jones