NORTH WEST
Highlights
Lanacashire’s
Belted
Kingfisher was back in position from mid-month, spending most of its time along the River Darwen at Roach Bridge, Samlesbury (and accessible for the usual £10 fee!). The Long-billed Dowitcher was at Fluke Hall, Lancashire.
CHESHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: Rostherne Mere had a Yellow- legged Gull (5th). Acre Nook Sand Quarry had a Black- necked Grebe (10th-13th), Ring- necked Duck (28th-31st) and Little Ringed Plover (12th). Burton Mere Wetlands had four Ruddy Shelducks (1st), a Short- eared Owl, Bittern (8th), six Spotted Redshanks, a Long-tailed Duck, seven Garganeys, a Siberian Chiffchaff (26th), five Cattle Egrets, and Little Gull (29th). Burton Marsh had a Short- eared Owl, Hen Harrier, three Twite (3rd) and four Ruddy Shelducks.
Frodsham Marsh had two Short- eared Owls, two Cattle Egrets (20th) and a Garganey. Pickerings Pasture had a Little Stint (16th). Ince Marshes had five Cattle Egrets. Astbury Mere CP had a Black- necked Grebe (22nd-24th). Sandbach Flashes had two Garganeys (19th) and two Avocets (23rd). Little Neston had a Hen Harrier and 18 Whooper Swans (24th). A Bittern was at Marbury CP (3rd-11th). Four Snow Buntings were at Wallasey (4th-5th). Leasowe had a White Wagtail (20th-23rd) and Osprey (23rd).
Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands had a Short- eared Owl, three Hen Harriers, five Twite (12th) and two Wheatears (12th). Two Smew were at Lapwing Hall Pool. Hoylake had a Little Gull (6th) and three White Wagtails (29th). Heswall had a Hen Harrier (11th) and two Short- eared Owls (14th). Siberian Chiffchaffs were at Heswall (6th) and Silver Lane Pools (8th). Hilbre had two Little Gulls (9th), a Snow Bunting (17th), 25 Little Gulls (24th-25th) and a Ring Ouzel (30th). A Caspian Gull was at Widnes (9th-20th).
WOOLSTON EYES:
Reserve-wide counts included 66 Robins, eight Song Thrushes, 335 Tufted Ducks, 60 Pochards, 780 Black- headed Gulls, 250 Lapwings, 20 Great Crested Grebes, six Oystercatchers, 54 Chiffchaffs, 57 Gadwall, 39 Little Grebes, 25 Black- necked Grebes, 16 Shelducks, three Little Ringed Plovers, 110 Coots, a Redshank and 100 Lesser Black- backed Gulls.
Ringing activities on No1 bed gave Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch, Brambling, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer and Redwing. Sightings included two Siskins, a Peregrine, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, three Ravens, 12 Redwings and a Goldcrest.
No3 bed ringing team had a Brambling, Sparrowhawk, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Magpie, Treecreeper, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Dunnock and Redwing. Records included 20 Redwings, a Red Kite, eight Sand Martins, a Little Egret, 190 Bramblings, a Willow Warbler, two
Garganeys, three Mediterranean Gulls, five Marsh Harrier and 21 Wigeon.
No 4 bed records included a Curlew, two Pintails, two Wigeon, two Ravens, four Grey Wagtails, Wheatear, two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, two Sand Martins, two Mediterranean Gulls, a Swallow and three Blackcaps. Dave Steel
CUMBRIA
HIGHLIGHTS: A Ring- necked Duck was at Longtown (1st), with two (4th-21st). A Great White Egret was at Brigsteer (1st-13th), with a Cetti’s Warbler there (13th). A White-tailed Eagle was at Brough (2nd). Hodbarrow had a Great Northern Diver (3rd- 6th). South Walney had a Hooded Crow, Scaup (3rd-20th), an Arctic Skua and Sandwich Tern (18th), a Ring Ouzel (29th) and three Velvet Scoters (31st). Three Water Pipits were at Biggar. A Yellow- legged Gull was at Whitehaven (6th). Siddick Ponds had a Scaup (7th). Two Smew were on Ennerdale Water (8th).
Six Whooper Swans were on Ambleside (10th), with 18 at Talkin Tarn (20th). Fifty Twite were at Selker Bay (10th). A Spoonbill was at Askam- in- Furness (12th). A Scaup was at Sunbiggin Tarn (15th). Ring Ouzels were at Torver High Common (15th) and Geltsdale (16th). Two Garganeys were at Whitrigg Marsh (18th). Ospreys were at Bassenthwaite Lake (22nd), Esthwaite Water (24th-25th), Cogra Moss (27th), Whitbarrow Scar (29th) and Longtown (31st). A Hooded Crow was at Goat’s Water (24th).
GREATER MANCHESTER
HIGHLIGHTS: A release-scheme White-tailed Eagle flew over Bury (20th). An Osprey flew over Daisy Nook CP (31st). The Red-throated Diver remained at Watergrove Reservoir. A Black- necked Grebe was at Audenshaw Reservoirs (12th). The first Ring Ouzel was at Winter Hill (28th).
ELTON RESERVOIR:
There was a Little Ringed Plover (4th), Bar-tailed Godwit (28th), Kittiwake (30th), Whooper Swan (7th), two Mediterranean Gulls, and a White Wagtail plus Rock Pipit (24th).
PENNINGTON FLASH:
There were two Bitterns (6th), a Garganey (23rd-31st), House Martin (30th), three Mediterranean Gulls and nine Black-tailed Godwits,
MERSEY VALLEY:
Red Kites flew over Shell NR (9th) and Carrington Moss (27th). A Dipper was near Flixton. A Green Sandpiper was near Banky Meadow.
OTHER SITES:
Two Caspian Gulls were seen on and off in Gorton. An Iceland Gull was at High Rid Reservoir (27th). Two Common Scoters flew over Stalybridge (10th). A Swallow was at Offerton (18th). Audenshaw Reservoir logged a Rock Pipit (18th) and Grey Plover (19th). A Black Restart was on Ludworth Moor (24th-25th). The first Willow Warblers were at Bickershaw and Little Woolden Moss (24th).
A Hen Harrier flew over Cutacre CP (24th) with an Avocet there (26th). A Garganey was at Lightshaw Hall Flash (27th). Three Wheatears were on Little Woolden Moss (19th). Other Manchester Mosslands sightings included a Merlin, two Marsh Harriers, two Mediterranean Gulls, a Pintail,
NORTH LANCASHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: Twelve Garganeys were at Leighton Moss/Barrow Scout, with two at Plover Scar (19th), three off Heysham (21st) and two at Cinderbarrow (21st-24th). A Tundra Bean Goose was at Aldcliffe (12th-14th). The Ring- necked Duck was at Clearwater Fishery (4th-16th). The Long- billed Dowitcher remained at Fluke Hall (to 16th). A Great Northern Diver was off Heysham (24th). If accepted, a Woodlark at Fluke Hall would be our rarest bird of the period.
HEYSHAM OBSERVATORY:
Pale- bellied Brent Geese peaked at 62 and were joined by two dark- bellied birds (15th), and one (23rd). The Shag remained (to 24th). At least 69 Whooper Swans moved through (8th). There were eight Jack Snipe on Ocean Edge saltmarsh (2nd), two Pintails, (4th), 612 Eiders (6th), a Wheatear (13th) and Green Sandpiper (31st).
LEIGHTON MOSS: There were six booming Bitterns, a site record 91 Avocets, ten Ruff (27th), three Med Gulls, a small Pink-footed Goose flock, which included a Russian Whitefront (from 12th) and Barnacle Goose (from 19th), a Swallow (15th) and Osprey (29th). Twelve Hawfinches were in the Gaitbarrows/Coldwell area
LUNE ESTUARY:
The Cockersands Snow Bunting remained (to 8th), with another north of Pott’s Corner (31st). A Short- eared Owl was at Conder Pool, with a Water Pipit there (21st). An Osprey flew over Lancaster (23rd). A Red Kite was tracked north up the Lune Estuary corridor (12th). Waders included a Spotted Redshank at Conder Green (from 27th), Ruff at Conder (19th) and Aldcliffe (27th), Greenshanks at Bank End (17th) and Aldcliffe (20th) and two Green Sandpipers in the Aldcliffe area, where the first Little Ringed Plover was seen (16th). Ten Avocets returned.
OTHER SITES:
The Black Redstart remained at Sandylands (to 7th). Red Kites were at Gaitbarrows (5th), High Tatham (8th) and Gressingham (19th). A Ring Ouzel was on Clougha (15th). A Brambling was at Thrushgill (25th). An Osprey flew over Upper Hindburndale (27th).