NORTH WEST

Highlights

Rarer birds in the region included Little Bunting at Woolston Eyes NR, Cheshire, a smattering of Richard’s Pipits, American Wigeon and American Golden Plover, and White-rumped Sandpiper at Banks Marsh, Lancashire. A Kentish Plover was at Southport, Lancashire.

CHESHIRE

WOOLSTON EYES: Ringing on No1 bed included Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Lesser Redpoll, Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Willow Tit and Little Bunting. Sightings included a Snipe, two Green Sandpipers, 19 Buzzards, two Kingfishers, six Grey Wagtails, a Tawny Owl, three Ravens, two Swallows, 50 SkyLarks, 250 Meadow Pipits, 38 Pinkfeet, 26 Redwings, 40 Linnets, 66 Reed Buntings and nine Fieldfares. No3 bed ringing team had Kingfisher, Cetti’s Warbler, Treecreeper, Meadow Pipit, Lesser Redpoll, Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit and Long-tailed Tit. Records included a Jack Snipe, 16 Wigeon, 23 Snipe, two Cetti’s Warblers, a Garganey, Green Sandpiper, 550 Redwings, two Water Rails, a Stonechat, Goosander, Kumlien’s Gull and six Egyptian Geese. A visible migration watch (31st) produced a Peregrine, Merlin, Hawfinch, three Golden Plovers, 2,027 Redwings, 531 Fieldfares, 130 Pinkfeet, five Lesser Redpolls, five Siskins, six Bramblings, a Woodcock, two Tawny Owls, 38 Blackbirds, a Dunlin and Raven. Wildfowl included a Goldeneye, 420 Teal, 95 Shovelers, 70 Greylags and 180 Gadwall. Dave Steel

GREATER MANCHESTER

HIGHLIGHTS: A Ring-necked Duck dropped into Cutacre CP (5th). A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in Horwich (16th). Possible Rose-coloured Starlings flew over Elton Reservoir (29th) and Horwich (30th). Four Waxwings were at Horwich Moors briefly (25th). two Great White Egrets flew over Whitefield (28th) and three were at Royton (30th). A Great White Egret was at Pennington Flash and then flew to Lightshaw Hall Flash (7th) and singles flew over Little Woolden Moss (30th) and landed briefly at Audenshaw Reservoir (31st). A Gannet flew over Blackstone Edge Reservoir (6th). A Ruddy Duck was briefly on Heaton Park Reservoir (12th-13th). ELTON RESERVOIR: A Common Scoter dropped in (7th). A Rock Pipit was seen (30th). PENNINGTON FLASH: A Little Gull was present (2nd-3rd). A Common Scoter was seen (7th). MERSEY VALLEY: A Ring Ouzel flew over Stretford Meadows (16th). A Red Kite flew over Carrington Moss (22nd). A Marsh Harrier flew through Shell NR (6th). OTHER SITES: The Little Gull remained at High Rid Reservoir (1st-27th) as well as a Scaup (7th-12th), 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (22nd) and two Ring Ouzels (7th). A Ring Ouzel was on Ludworth Moor (13th), two were on Holcombe Moor (15th) and one flew over Reddish (16th). A Black-necked Grebe was on Heaton Park Reservoir (5th) as were three Scaup (19th). Audenshaw Reservoir sightings included a Common Scoter (1st), Garganey (8th-15th) and a Rock Pipit (8th) Sightings from Horwich Moors included two Hen Harriers (3rd-15th), 25 Ring Ouzels over and three Black Redstarts. Dr Paul Brewster

NORTH LANCASHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: There was a localised fall in the Heysham area of 14 Yellow-browed Warblers (13th), including three together in one tree (13th-15th). Earlier, one was on Heysham Head (4th), with perhaps lingering birds at Heysham (16th & 18th) and Middleton (19th). Heysham also had a Ring Ouzel and Siberian Chiffchaff (15th). Garganeys remained at Leighton Moss throughout and at Conder Green (to 6th). Snow Buntings were on Plover Scar (16th-17th) and over Heysham (17th). A Black Redstart was at High Tatham (24th). A Purple Sandpiper was at Heysham (from 26th). Two Cattle Egrets were near Cockersands (16th). HEYSHAM BIRD OBSERVATORY: Westerlies saw a Great Skua (8th), Little Gull (9th) and 14 Mediterranean Gulls behind the Ben My Chree (10th). Another Little Gull remained throughout. There were late Garden Warblers (2nd & 14th), Cetti’s Warblers at Middleton (14th & 30th) and Heysham (14th), Yellowhammers (5th & 18th) and two Stonechats (28th-29th). Passage birds included six Bullfinches (23rd), 1,300 Redwings (20th) and 1,370 Pink-footed Geese (21st). Unexpected was a Stock Dove migrating with Woodpigeon (23rd). Three Goldeneyes were inshore (29th). A tardy Swallow flew south (29th) followed by the first Woodcock of the autumn (31st). LEIGHTON MOSS: Bearded Tits showed well for photographers. There was a Hen Harrier scrapping with one or more of the eight Marsh Harriers on several occasions. Two Scaup appeared from mid-month. Two Spoonbills were on the Eric Morecambe Pool (30th). A Little Stint was seen (23rd) and one or two Curlew Sandpipers lingered throughout. Five Great White Egrets were seen. LUNE ESTUARY: Five Hawfinches were at the Crook of Lune (28th), a late Chiffchaff at Aldcliffe (31st), two Great White Egrets on Colloway Marsh throughout, 175 Little Egrets in the Ashton Hall roost (13th), a Scaup in the Conder Pool area (from 13th) and an injured Curlew Sandpiper at Cockersands throughout. DARWEN: There were 31,000 Woodpigeons; c.20,000 Redwings and Fieldfares; 8,950 Pink-footed Geese; 6,930 Starlings; 5,320 Meadow Pipits; 1,750 Chaffinches; 1,590 Linnets; 1,000 Goldfinches; 865 Jackdaws; c.450 Lapwings, Greenfinches and Swallows; 400 Siskins; c.300 redpolls and Pied Wagtails; c.200 Bramblings, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes; 140 Sky Larks; c.100 Mistle Thrushes, Crossbills and House Martins; 85 Reed Buntings; c.60 Whooper Swans and Long-tailed Tits; c.40 Ravens, Goldcrests and Goosanders; c.30 Grey Wagtails, Bullfinches and Jays; c.20 Twite, Cormorants and Rooks; 11 Ring Ouzels and less than 10 Snipe, Tree Pipits and Wheatears. HIGHLIGHTS: Best records were Hen Harrier (3rd & 15th) Merlin. (4th & 28th) Marsh Harrier (19th) and Jack Snipe (30th). Pete Marsh, Mavis Smith (Darwen)