NORTH WEST

Highlights

A lovely (aren’t they all?) Wilson’s Phalarope (a first-winter) was at Martin Mere on the last couple days of the month to 1 October. A Bonaparte’s Gull was the rarest bird in Cheshire. Meanwhile the Long-billed Dowitcher continued its long stay in Cumbria, at Anthorn.

CHESHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB had Cattle Egrets, a first-winter Spotted Crake (2nd-27th), Curlew Sandpipers, Ruddy Shelduck, Great White Egret, Little Stint, Garganey, Pectoral Sandpiper (27th-30th), Whinchat and Hen Harrier. A Sabine’s Gull was at New Brighton (5th), one was at Leasowe (5th), two were at Meols (5th), and one was at Hale (8th-17th). A Cattle Egret was at Neumann’s Flash (27th-30th). Leach’s Storm Petrels were at New Brighton (5th & 9th), Wallasey (5th) and New Brighton (5th). A Long-tailed Skua was at Frodsham (9th). Two Cranes flew over Capesthorne Hall (26th).

WOOLSTON EYES: No1 bed ringing team had a Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler and Blackcap. Sightings included 85 Swallows, 162 House Martins, 22 Siskins, a Kingfisher, Hobby, Green Sandpiper, Raven, two Tawny Owls, two Peregrines and three Water Rails. No3 bed ringing team had a Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Jay, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Stonechat, Water Rail and Moorhen.

No3 bed records included a Marsh Harrier, Garganey, Kingfisher, Osprey, Swift, Black-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, Water Rail, Pintail, Raven, Dunlin, two Hobbies, two Green Sandpipers, 50 Swallows, 155 Shovelers, 85 Teal, 50 House Martins, two Grey Wagtails, two Snipe, two Cetti’s Warbler, nine Wigeon, 12 Lesser Redpolls, seven Song Thrushes, three Willow Tits and 18 Redwings.

No4 bed sightings included two Swifts, 30 House Martins, two Green Sandpipers, 13 Snipe, a Wheatear and Stonechat. Visible migration (12th) produced a Great White Egret, 39 Cormorants, 58 Stock Doves, 26 Skylarks, 460 Swallows, 118 House Martins, 286 Meadow Pipits, 21 Lesser Redpolls and 25 Pinkfeet. The Wildfowl Count (22nd) logged a Little Egret, 146 Mallards, 81 Shovelers, 60 Lapwings, 100 Gadwall and 162 Teal. Dave Steel

CUMBRIA

HIGHLIGHTS: The Long-billed Dowitcher remained around Anthorn (1st-26th), with Curlew Sandpipers there. Bowness-on-Solway had Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. A Hooded Crow was at Whitehaven. South Walney

NR had a Black Guillemot (3rd), Curlew Sandpiper, Great Northern Diver (12th), and a Melodious Warbler (21st). Two Little Stints were at Eskmeals CWT (5th). A Garganey was at Campfield Marsh RSPB (16th). Two Great White Egrets were at Sunbiggin Tarn (17th), and one was at Arnside (22nd). An adult Little Gull was at Sellafield (22nd). A Dotterel was at Mawbray (25th). Whooper Swans started to pass through (26th).

GREATER MANCHESTER

HIGHLIGHTS: A Wryneck was on Horwich Moors (1st-4th). Caspian Gulls were at Hollingworth Lake (1st-7th) and Pennington Flash on and off (5th-9th). A Great White Egret flew through Elton Reservoir (14th), with a Sabine’s Gull there (17th). Great White Egrets flew over Pennington Flash (19th and 26th), with another at Crime Lake, Failsworth (28th).

ELTON RESERVOIR: An Osprey flew over (14th). Two Hobbies were seen intermittently. Eight Whooper Swans dropped in (27th). A Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher were seen (1st), with a Whinchat (4th) and Jack Snipe (22nd).

MERSEY VALLEY: Three Whooper Swans were at Carrington Moss (29th-30th), with a Whinchat there (6th). A Hobby was Jack Lane (2nd). Two Mandarins were at Urmston Meadows.

PENNINGTON FLASH: There was a Short-eared Owl (9th), Common Scoter (27th), Garganey (2nd-10th), with two (11th-14th), a Ruff (10th), Redwing (22nd) and two Mediterranean Gulls.

OTHER SITES: Two Whooper Swans were at Bickershaw Flash (6th). Manchester Mosslands had a Hen Harrier (1st), Curlew Sandpiper (2nd), Little Stint (2nd) and Osprey (2nd). Horwich Moors had a Turtle Dove (4th), ten Twite (2nd), Ospreys (17th and 18th), four Hen Harriers (20th28th), a Jack Snipe (20th), Black Redstart, and a total of 62 Ring Ouzels. Audenshaw Reservoirs logged Knot (1st-8th and 23rd), with three (6th), a Little Stint (4th), Turnstone (20th-27th) and Grey Plover (21st-23rd). Two Whinchats were at Shaw Moss near Hollingworth (7th). Dr Paul Brewster (01606 590 491)

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH MERSEYSIDE

EAST LANCASHIRE: Migration minima over Darwen included 8,400 Meadow Pipits, 2,185 House Martins, 1,420 Swallows, 790 Siskins, 700 Woodpigeons and Pinkfeet, 620 Chaffinches, 540 Linnets, Goldfinches and Lapwings, 460 Starlings, 300 Pied Wagtails, 100 Crossbills and Redpolls, 80 Willow Warblers, 65 Swifts and Long-tailed Tits, 50 Greenfinches, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Blackbirds, 40 Wheatears, 35 Cormorants and Mistle Thrushes, 19 Ring Ouzels, 15 Jays, Buzzards and Snipe, and fewer than ten Twite, Song Thrushes, Ravens, Great Black-backed Gulls, Chiffchaffs, Golden Plovers, Tree Pipits, Sand Martins, Yellow Wagtails, Bramblings, Sedge Warblers and Whinchats. There were Spotted Flycatchers (1st and 6th), a Green Woodpecker (3rd), and a Jack Snipe and Osprey (15th). Mavis Smith