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Dec 10 2013
Birding Group Visit to Dunham Massey 10th December 2013
Birding Group Visit to Dunham Massey 10th December 2013
The last birding group day out before Christmas was to Dunham Massey. It started out a nice morning but gradually got duller. As we left the car park we saw a small flock of Redwing fly over the park but this was not an indication of things to come as, unfortunately, it was not one of our better visits notable for the lack of Woodpeckers, Mistle and Song Thrushes and Jays. We did see a couple of Treecreepers and Nuthatches but that was about it. We spent a long time examining a flock of Chaffinches looking for a Brambling and, whilst I did think I might have got a brief glance, we concluded that nobody had it for long enough to say for sure. We had lunch there and made a preliminary sketch of the potential venues for our days out for the first few months of 2014.
Dec 07 2013
Visit to Hoylake and Parkgate for High Tide 7th December 2013
Visit to Hoylake and Parkgate for High Tide 7th December 2013
Dunlin, Hoylake, 7th December 2013
We dropped in at Burton Mere Wetland in the morning hoping to see the Little Stint. We were disappointed with that but undaunted we headed off for Hoylake for a high tide of approximately 9.8 m (32.1 ft) at around 2pm. We had intended to go there on the 5th but the weather was so bad that it was dangerous to drive with very high winds on the motorway and extensive flooding on the Wirral. The usual magic combination of low pressure, high tide and strong westerly winds all came together on the fifth to produce storms and flooding in many parts of the country. At Parkgate, for the first time in seven or eight years, the water came all the way in and the old baths car park was reported to be flooded half an hour before high tide. At New Brighton the promenade was inundated and the local Morrissons car park was completely flooded with some cars actually floating! A little more than ideal, then. This tide was a little lower and the high winds had gone. Still it was a nice spectacle anyway. Continue reading
Dec 07 2013
Visit to Burton Mere Wetlands 7th December2013
Visit to Burton Mere Wetlands 7th December 2013
We were due to visit Burton Mere Wetlands and Hoylake on the 5th but the weather was so bad that we decided not to risk the weather and the roads. By the 7th the weather had calmed down a bit so we decided to go to Hoylake for a slightly less high tide than that due on the 5th. Since this was a bit later in the day we decided to take in Burton Mere Wetlands before heading off for Hoylake. In particular I was hoping to see the Little Stint that has been seen there regularly of late.
Dec 05 2013
Visit to Hoylake and Parkgate for High Tide : 5th December 2013
Visit to Hoylake and Parkgate for High Tide : 5th December 2013
We had high hopes for a visit to Hoylake and Parkgate for a 9.9 metre high tide (12.24pm at Liverpool) that wasn’t really a birding group date but several of the group had planned to go there. Unfortunately the combination of low pressure, high tide and gale-force westerly winds led to this at New Brighton.
New Brighton at High Tide
The situation wasn’t much better at Hoylake and at Parkgate the water came right up to the promenade and the old baths car park was under water half an hour before high tide ! A truck was blown over on the motorway and crushed two cars so we probably made the correct decision to stay at home and try later in the week when the gales had calmed down a bit.
Dec 02 2013
Birding Group Visit to Burton Mere Wetlands / Inner Marsh Farm : 2nd December 2013
Birding Group Visit to Burton Mere Wetlands / Inner Marsh Farm: 2nd December 2013
For various reasons the birding group visit this week was moved to Monday rather than Tuesday and was at Burton Mere Wetlands on a cloudy and overcast – but dry – day. The rumoured Golden Plover and Little Stint refused to make an appearance but there was a good showing of Wigeon and Teal and there were a few Black-tailed Godwit and a pair of Dunlin. At the back were a few Snipe and in the reeds to the left of the hide we found a Wren and a Stonechat.
Nov 30 2013
Summary November 2013
Summary November 2013
Garden
November started off quietly in the garden and it seems like, although we do occasionally see Tits, Blackbirds and Goldfinches, the birds are not yet ready to return from their normal habitats to gardens for the autumn. Autumn is afoot, however, and the leaves are falling enough to leave some trees bare. By the 20th the weather had got much colder and wetter and by the end of the month we started to see several Blackbirds, largely living off berries from the Mountain Ash trees, a pair of Robins, lots of Blue Tits, House Sparrows occasionally and there must also be Dunnocks because you can hear them singing.
Nov 26 2013
Birding Group Visit to Frodsham Marsh : 26th November 2013
Birding Group Visit to Frodsham Marsh : 26th November 2013
We were driving up the lane leading to the parking place at Frodsham and as we drove along a Kestrel flew parallel to the car for a while giving us really close views. As it peeled off and flew into the distance we started to see a mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare feeding on the berries on the bushes and trees that line the lane. As we parked up we could see a classic “Buzzard on a post” and we heard the unmistakable call of a Curlew. We looked up and there we saw the bird fly towards the river. We followed it down to the river along the low path at the edge of a marshy strip which was mercifully drier than usual. At the river there were a wide variety of birds to be seen. As well as Tufted Ducks there was a small flock of Goldeneye and at the end of the pier in the distance was a small number of Pochard and some Mallards. Nearer to the shore there were a few Little Grebes and on the shore a few Cormorants; a Grey Heron flew over
Nov 19 2013
Birding Group Visit to WWT Martin Mere 19th November 2013
Birding Group Visit to WWT Martin Mere 19th November 2013
With the weather forecast indicating rain and possible snow, we were lucky that our birding group day landed just before the start of a spell of cold and wet weather. In fact, after a little bit of defrosting of the car, we had a fine day with no rain at all and often clear blue skies. When we got to WWT Martin Mere reserve it was obvious that they had had a slight fall of snow there overnight but it was clear for us – if cold. At this time of year we were hoping to have good views of Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese and perhaps Marsh Harriers and any other raptors attracted to the site as the numbers of birds increases.
Nov 12 2013
Birding Group Visit to Sandbach Flashes 12th November 2013
Birding Group Visit to Sandbach Flashes 12th November 2013
We had a lovely morning for the birding group visit to Sandbach Flashes. As usual we had a quick look at Pump House Flash which was pretty full of water. There were large numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls and Black-headed Gulls as well as Coots. There were Wigeon grazing on the grass. We walked down the lane towards the farm but the fields to the right were pretty empty. On Elton Hall Flash there were large numbers of Mallard and some Shelduck, Shovelers and Teal and as the water got deeper there were Tufted Ducks and a couple of Goosander. As we walked back up the lane a small flock of Long-tailed Tits tumbled from tree to tree. Continue reading
Nov 05 2013
Birding Group Visit to Parkgate and Hoylake 5th November 2013
Birding Group Visit to Parkgate and Hoylake 5th November 2013
We have been to Parkgate a few times now, usually for the high tides, and this was our reason again today. Often we go for the Spring high tides but this was rather different. It was a 9.8 metre tide, which we have had before but the wind had added to the effect to give us one of the most splendid wildlife displayswe have had there. The only disappointment was the lack of raptors but at least a couple of the group did see a single Short-Eared Owl. That apart, however, the whole event was a a spectacular affair. Continue reading