NORTH WEST

Highlights In association with A first-winter female Lesser Scaup was at Rixton, and Woolston Eyes, Cheshire. Like most regions, the North West also hosted a Redbreasted Goose ‘of unknown origin’, at Martin Mere WWT.

CHESHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: Widnes had a Kumlien’s Gull (1st-25th), and a Glaucous Gull intermittently. A Smew was at Newchurch Common (5th-10th). A Lesser Scaup was at Rixton (14th). An American Wigeon was at Little Neston (15th).

WOOLSTON EYES: No1 bed sightings included 11 Curlews, a Peregrine, Little Ringed Plover, two Ringed Plovers, two Jack Snipe and 14 Whooper Swans. No3 bed ringing team had Teal, Coal Tit, Siskin, Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Blackbird and Chaffinch. Records included three Willow Tits, two Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks, four Marsh Harriers, five Great Crested Grebes, 29 Pochards, 160 Redwings, two Oystercatchers, two Black-necked Grebes, three Stonechats, three Bramblings, a Redshank, 270 Black-headed Gulls and a Whooper Swan. No 4 bed records included two Oystercatchers, two Chiffchaffs, two Goldeneyes and a Dunlin. The count (10th) included a Lesser Scaup, 39 Greylags, 47 Mute Swans, three Shelducks, 163 Shovelers, 179 Gadwall, 134 Mallards, a Pintail, 377 Teal, 54 Pochards, 405 Tufted Ducks, two Goldeneyes, 208 Coots and three Common Gulls. Dave Steel

CUMBRIA

HIGHLIGHTS: The Ring-necked Duck remained at Longtown. A Green-winged Teal was at Fell End (4th-29th). A Richard’s Pipit was at Ulverston (22nd-29th), with a Spotted Redshank there (4th-5th). Great Northern Divers were at Grasmere (1st-24th) and Windermere (4th-7th). Hen Harriers were at Campfield Marsh (3rd) and Eskmeals (12th). Hodbarrow had a Scaup (10th-12th).

Walney Island had Hooded Crow, 60 Twite, a Spoonbill (25th), and 12 Water Pipits at Biggar (25th). Eighty Twite were at Border Marsh (11th). Eight Short-eared Owls were at Alston (9th). A Glaucous Gull was at Workington (12th-29th). Silecroft had a Long-tailed Duck (25th) and two Hooded Crows (25th). Waxwings were at Kendal and Arnside.

GREATER MANCHESTER

HIGHLIGHTS: A Little Gull was at Pennington Flash (4th-5th). A Hen Harrier flew over Swineshaw Reservoirs (20th).

ELTON RESERVOIR: There was a Common Scoter (24th), 13 Whooper Swans (10th) and a Brambling.

MERSEY VALLEY: A Scaup was on Shell Pool

(18th). A Corn Bunting was on Carrington Moss.

PENNINGTON FLASH: There was an Iceland Gull (3rd) and Caspian Gull (16th). Two Yellow-legged Gulls were seen on and off. The Bittern remained.

OTHER SITES: A Garganey was at Cutacre CP (29th). Waxwings included six in Cheadle Hulme (12th), seven in Audenshaw (13th), four in Delph (14th) and 10 in Failsworth (18th). Manchester Mosslands had a Black Grouse, Merlin, three Marsh Harriers and a Corn Bunting. A Bittern flew over Leigh (2nd). The Smew remained at Audenshaw Reservoir, with an Egyptian Goose there (29th). Caspian Gulls were at Milnrow (3rd), and Gorton (10th and 20th). Two Whooper Swans were on Hollingworth Lake (24th). Dr Paul Brewster

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH MERSEYSIDE

EAST LANCASHIRE: Migration over Darwen included 3,200 Woodpigeons, 1,760 Pinkfeet, 1,480 Starlings, 650 Fieldfares, 570 Redwings, 420 Jackdaws, 300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 200 Siskins, Herring Gulls, Meadow Pipits and Greylags, 150, Redpolls, Lapwings and Goldfinches, 80 Blackbirds and Oystercatchers, 60 Curlews, Goosanders, Common Gulls and Whooper Swans, 50 Long-tailed Tits, Sky Larks and White/Pied Wagtails, 30 Reed Buntings, Crossbills, Great Black-backed Gulls, Cormorants and Snipe, 20 Ravens and Twite, and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Scoters and Goldeneyes.

Highlights included Blackcaps (2nd and 18th), a Merlin (8th), six Dunlin (14th), and a Chiffchaff plus three Yellow-legged Gulls (22nd). There was the occasional Little Egret, Kingfisher and Red Kite. Mavis Smith