NORTH WEST
Highlights
A first-winter drake Hooded Merganser present at Tatton Park, Cheshire from late January to 8 February will probably be consigned to the ‘dubious’ pile (this species is notorious for being kept in collections). A probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat was photographed in a garden in Carlisle, Cumbria.
CHESHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A drake Green-winged Teal was at Ince Marshes (7th). A Siberian Chiffchaff was in a garden at Wallasey (5th-23rd). A Dusky Warbler was photographed at Mere Farm Quarry, Chelford (10th).
WOOLSTON EYES: Ringing on No1 bed gave Chaffinch, Willow Tit, Lesser Redpoll and Goldfinch. Sightings included four Snipe, two Ravens, two Goosanders, a Peregrine, two Rooks, a Barn Owl, 18 Reed Buntings, a Brambling, five Water Rails, a Little Grebe and ten Buzzards. No 4 bed had two Oystercatchers, two Green Sandpipers, 35 Lapwings, 30 Linnets, 180 Black-headed Gulls and 200 Pinkfeet.
No3 bed ringing had Teal, Brambling, Chiffchaff and Coal Tit. Records included 260 Pinkfeet, 12 Bullfinches, two Willow Tits, two
Lesser Redpolls, an Oystercatcher, 50 Teal, 12 Common Gulls, a Marsh Harrier, Great Black-backed Gull, two Woodcocks, two Ravens, two Wigeon, 67 Pochards, 170 Tufted Ducks, a Merlin, 80 Redwings, 100 Lapwings, 6,000 Starlings, three Sparrowhawks, nine Curlews, a Pintail, Garganey, Mediterranean Gull, Scaup, 720 Black-headed Gulls, four Cetti’s Warblers and a Peregrine. Dave Steel
CUMBRIA
HIGHLIGHTS: A redhead Smew remained on the ponds at Longtown (1st-16th), and an Iceland Gull was there (16th-19th). Chapel Island had a Long-tailed Duck (5th), and one was off South Walney NR (22nd), where there was a first-winter Scaup (23rd). Two Russian White-fronted Geese were with c.2,000 Pink-footed Geese at Houghton (7th). Up to two Firecrests were at Crosscanonby (7th-17th). Holme had a Great White Egret (9th). A Short-eared Owl was at Wythop Mill (9th). A Water Pipit was at Grange-over-Sands (13th), and a female Black Redstart was there (13th-14th). Thirty Twite were at Rockcliffe Marsh (13th). A Scaup was at Ormsgill Reservoir (16th-18th). Up to three Great White Egrets were at Far Arnside (21st-28th). A Great Northern Diver was at Windermere (26th), with two and a Red-throated Diver (27th). A male Hen Harrier flew through Campfield Marsh RSPB (26th). Skinburness had two Tundra Bean Goose with Pinkfeet and Barnacle Geese (27th). A Hooded Crow was at Sellafield (27th). A Great Northern Diver was at Urswick Tarn (27th).