NORTH WEST
Highlights In association with Not wishing to be left out of the Alpine Swift invasion, Lancashire produced one over Marshside, and Cheshire had a few including one over the visitor centre of Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, which also hosted a Long-billed Dowitcher in the last couple of weeks of March.
CHESHIRE HIGHLIGHTS:
Two Cranes went over Hartford (16th). The White-throated Sparrow was still in a private garden at Northwich (18th). Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB had a Long-billed Dowitcher, plus Cattle Egret, and up to 10 Spotted Redshanks. Alpine Swifts were at Hoylake and Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB late in the month. WOOLSTON EYES:
Reserve-wide counts included 29 Greylags, 37 Mute Swans, 19 Shelducks, 197 Shovelers, 187 Gadwall, 279 Teal, 47 Pochards, 3,565 Tufted Ducks, 153 Coots, six Black-necked Grebes, 53 Chiffchaffs, nine Skylarks and 141 Coots.
Ringing on No1 bed included Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Stock Dove, Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler. Sightings included five Water Rails, two Oystercatchers, 30 Redwings, a Grey Wagtail, four Cetti’s Warblers, 15 Lesser Redpolls and a Curlew.
No3 bed ringing team had Teal, Magpie, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch and Chiffchaff. Records included 200 Pinkfeet, two Marsh Harriers, 80 Chaffinches, 75 Greenfinches, 14 Bullfinches, eight Wigeon, a Jack Snipe, Raven, Brambling, two Mediterranean Gulls, three Sand Martins, a Blackcap, 26 Fieldfares, two Little Ringed Plovers and an Osprey.
No 4 bed logged six Oystercatchers, 112 Gadwall, 260 Sand Martins, 15 Song Thrushes 21 Robin, three Cetti’s Warblers, a Wheatear, 16 Wigeon, 19 Lesser Redpolls, a Marsh Harrier and two Willow Warblers. Dave Steel
CUMBRIA HIGHLIGHTS:
The drake Green-winged Teal remained around Tindale Tarn (5th), with a redhead Smew there too. A drake Green-winged Teal was at Port Carlisle (7th), with it or another reported at Campfield
Marsh RSPB (26th). A first-winter white morph Snow Goose was with Pink-footed Geese at Newton Marsh (5th-7th). A White Stork of unknown origin was over Dalton-in-Furness (13th).
GREATER MANCHESTER
An Alpine Swift flew over Elton Reservoir (31st). A Spoonbill was on Pennington Flash (24th). A Ring-billed Gull was reported in Oldham (12th). The Smew remained at Audenshaw Reservoirs. A Waxwing was in Bolton (1st-17th). The Firecrest remained in Dukinfield.
There was a Common Scoter (6th), with two (25th), 72 Whooper Swans over (26th), a Jack Snipe and Mediterranean Gull.
There were seven Black-necked Grebes (22nd), an Avocet (28th), a Common Scoter (6th-31st), with five (19th), 31 Whooper Swans over (3rd), two Black-tailed Godwits throughout, with 39 over (17th), two Mediterranean Gulls, the first Sand Martin (13th) and Little Ringed Plover (24th).
Common Scoters were on Sale WP (6th) and at Irlam (19th). A Green Sandpiper was at Banky Meadow (31st). Eleven Whooper Swans flew over Altrincham ETW (27th).
A Black Redstart was in Castlefield, Manchester (2nd). Two Common Scoters were on Scotman’s Flash and one on Hollingworth Lake (19th). Watergrove Reservoir had 15 Whooper Swans over (2nd). Audenshaw Reservoir had two Avocets, a Caspian Gull, Kittiwake, four Common Scoters, a Garganey, Rock Pipit, two White Wagtails and a Yellow Wagtail.
Horwich Moors flyovers included 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (11th), 39 Whooper Swans (27th) and two Crossbills (11th). Manchester Mosslands had a Short-eared Owl (18th and 21st), Yellow Wagtail (27th), White Wagtail (31st), two Merlins, three Marsh Harriers and five Corn Buntings.
NORTH LANCASHIRE
The Ring-necked Duck remained at Leighton Moss. Three Tundra Bean Geese remained in North Fylde (to 7th). The presumed escapee Lesser White-fronted Goose was there (to 12th), then at Leighton Moss (26th-27th). Two Cranes flew over Warton (7th).
At least 70
Stonechats passed through, including 25 (18th). Pale-bellied Brent Geese reduced from 77 (4th) to six (by 31st). A dark-bellied bird was present (5th). The Shag remained, with another (12th). Three Kittiwakes remained in the harbour and passage birds peaked at 90 (25th). The first Wheatear was rather late (18th).
First dates included Sand Martin (15th), Swallow (20th), House Martin (27th) and Willow Warbler (29th). An Osprey was off Jenny Brown’s Point (27th). There was a Garganey (31st). Seven Bitterns boomed. There were 17 Whooper Swans (18th), with flocks of 17 and 11 (29th). Red Kites were seen (3rd and 25th). The Russian White-fronted Goose and Water Pipit remained. Four Little Gulls were seen (6th).
Two Bewick’s Swans remained. Huge flocks of Pinkfeet held 11 Russian Whitefronts and eight Barnacle Geese. Various Lune Valley sites recorded nocturnal Common Scoter migration (23rd and 30th). A Yellow-legged Gull was at Fluke Hall (12th-19th), with a Little Gull there (26th). The Hen Harrier continued its large circuit over the area. A Ruff was at Conder, with two at Wenningfoot (28th). Conder Pool held four Little Ringed Plovers (31st). A Ring Ouzel was at Cocker’s Dyke (23rd). Stonechats included eight at Aldcliffe (20th).
A Pheasant in-off the sea at Morecambe Stone Jetty was a remarkable record (25th). A Purple Sandpiper was nearby (21st). A Russian White-fronted Goose was at Wyreside Fisheries (11th). Three Little Gulls visited Pine Lake (13th), with another (28th-30th). An Osprey flew over Lowgill (18th).