Mersey Birders

A rainy morning with SE winds veering SW by mid-morning, and then clearing with warm sunshine by the afternoon, a few more Sedge Warblers in overnight, with a minimum of 6, a single Willow Warbler, but 5+ Whitethroats was all that were found in the bushes/reedbed, and still 12+ Greenland Wheatears scattered around.

Dunlin Seaforth NR 17th May 2012

Plenty of hirundines and Swifts flying low over the pool in the ealy morning rain, with 8+ Sand Martins, 50+ Swifts, 15+ House Martins and 20+ Swallows, but nothing with bits of white or orange on rumps sadly.

Swift Seaforth NR 17th May 2012

Still 9 Little Gulls feeding over the pool, all 1sts birds, possible stayers for the summer?

Good numbers of Common Terns in with over 400+, with only 4 rafts out at the moment, the need to get another one or two out will have to be done soon, only 4 Sandwich Terns in and less evident now that the commons have made their presence felt, with the coming and going from the bay of feeding birds, it was almost a foregone conclusion, that a Roseate Tern would put in an appearance today, and sure enough, a bird was heard calling and then picked up soon after it had landed for a bathe.

Roseate Tern Seaforth NR 17th May 2012

Roseate Tern Seaforth NR 17th May 2012

Roseate Tern Seaforth NR 17th May 2012

It stayed for 15 mins before flying off, only to return again at 15.30 and staying until 15.50, interestingly this bird was unringed, unlike the female that bred with a Common Tern in the docks two years ago, it was also nicely tinged pink on the breast and was very vocal and did display a couple of times, suggesting it was a male.

The two Ravens put in an appearance after being absent for some time, looking quite raggedy with missing inner primaries and or secondries.

Raven Seaforth NR 17th May 2012

Not north-westerlies again!, the poor spring continues to be dogged by the wrong wind direction, what should be an excellent time for connecting with something rare or scarce turning up has been blocked again by another low pressure system, some birds are sneaking through, but there has to be a backlog of birds to come, given some decent southerlies.

At Seaforth, it has got that dreaded summer feel to it already, and its only the second week of May, if things don't change soon it could be all over, people could be running on to the pitch, and the fat lady might be singing!

Plenty of Swifts screaming around the reserve, with at least 35+, with 5 Sand Martin, 10 House Martin and just a few Swallows.

Swift Seaforth NR 12th May 2012

Swift Seaforth NR 12th May 2012

Swift Seaforth NR 12th May 2012

House Martin Seaforth NR 12th May 2012

Just 13 Little Gulls in today, and 8 Sandwich Terns, but 300+ Common Terns busy claiming a space on one of the four rafts that are currently out, at least another 5 to go out yet.

The 2 Sedge Warblers in the reed bed still  present from the other day, with another singing from the buckthorn by hide C, and at least 4 Whitethroat with the first 2 females seen, while 20+ Wheatears are still present but just 2 White Wagtails.

Pied Wagtail Seaforth NR 12th May 2012

Sedge Warbler Seaforth NR taken on 10th May 2012

Sedge Warbler Seaforth NR  in display flight taken on 19th may 2012

Bird of the day was found by Tony Von Smallhausen, when he called to say there was a Cuckoo near the scrape by hide C, a true rarity anywhere these days, we quickly legged it round only to see it in flight heading for Mount Shepherd where it landed in view on the side of the mound, before flying again into one of the large willows.

A single Whimbrel headed north, and a couple of Dunlin dropped in but no decent wader movements of any note today.

A brief visit on Thursday on a gloomy showery day, didn't produce much apart from 1 Arctic Tern, bird of the day would have been the Osprey that flew over the reserve, missed by me.

The big dread was slow in reaction, started with the usual terns getting up, then they went quite and dropped, at that point everything else took flight, I dashed out after grabbing my camera, but saw nothing, this was seen at Leasowe which then headed west, so had come over here from the north and headed sw, not the usual direction at this time of year, oh well!

Slightly better migrating conditions with a SE wind, but not a lot moving really, 43 Swallow, 18 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin and 10 Swift, a single Whimbrel flew through calling and 2 groups of Gannets flew north offshore, totaling 9.

Still 20+ Wheatears, but only 5 White Wagtails, while 3 Yellow Wagtails dropped in briefly on the long bank, 2 males and a female, stunningly bright in the sunshine.

Male Yellow Wagtail Seaforth NR 6th May 2012

Reed Bunting Seaforth NR 6th May 2012

As ever the sound of terns dominates the reserve, with 128 Sandwich Terns and now 120 Common Terns.

Common Terns Seaforth NR 6th May 2012

Small groups of Dunlin moved through with a total of 37, 3 Common Sands still about and a single Redshank was present after a few days of none.

The warm sunshine had 3 Common Buzzards on the move with 2 coming across the river from the Wirral heading east and another going north, but no sign of any hoped for Ospreys in good conditions.

Most of the Little Gulls have moved on now, leaving what maybe a summering flock of immature birds, with 53 1sts + 6 2nds + 1ads.

1sts Little Gull Seaforth NR 6th May 2012

Still not a regular bird here, a Little Egret was located roosting on the saltwater pool, before it flew off south.

Little Egret Seaforth NR 6th May 2012

Up at an unearthly hour just as the sun was breaking over the tops of the houses, a ground frost and the cold light of day, it was bitterly cold, but a light SE wind, and the first movers were 2 Whimbrel, calling as they headed east.

A couple of singing Willow Warblers, 3-4 Whitethroats on territory, a Blackcap also appears to be holding ground here, a single Chiffchaff and Sedge may be just singing as they pass through, still good numbers of Wheatears with 30+ scattered about the place.

A good steady passage of hirundines resulted in 25 House Martins, 40 Swallows, 6 Sand Martins and 23 Swift, another Whimbrel flew through, as well as small groups of Dunlin with a total of 60, and 4 Common Sandpipers were new arrivals.

Common Sandpipers Seaforth NR 5th May 2012

Common Sandpiper Seaforth NR 5th May 2012

Common Sandpiper Seaforth NR 5th May 2012

A single Arctic Tern was present amongst 118 Sandwich and 100+ Common Terns, while the Little Gulls 95 (83 1sts + 7 2nds + 5ads), some of which may have left as a group of 52 birds got up and circled the reserve high up, some returned but the others were lost to sight.

2nds Little Gull Seaforth NR 5th May 2012

Common Tern with sandeel Seaforth NR 5th May 2012

The sounds of terns calling can now be heard from the car park, a sure sign of an increase, a lot more Common Terns have now arrived to join the still passing Sandwich Terns, now over 100+ Common and more Sandwich coming in to 252, but amongst them were 3 Arctic Terns.

Arctic Tern Seaforth NR 4th May 2012

Arctic Tern Seaforth NR 4th May 2012

Just some of the sandwich Terns at Seaforth NR 4th May 2012

The Little Gulls are still lingering with some birds seen leaving again, but still 90 birds, the vadt majority are 1sts birds, and showing well as they feed in front of the hide.

Other migrants included Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, 15 Wheatear, 10 White wagtails and 70 Swallows seen moving through.

Looks like they may have got the weather forecast mixed up with the day before, as it was the complete opposite of what it should have been, too much cloud, and not the wall to wall sunshine that was promised.

Great Crested Grebes Seaforth NR 3rd May 2012

Still a few birds left over from yesterday, 2 female and 1 male Redstart, 40+ Wheatears, 4+ Whitethroat, 2 female Blackcap, but a lot less Willow Warblers with only 8 and 1 Chiffchaff which looked quiet pale, but elusive, seen only once, no Whinchats today, but a flyover Redpoll flew south.

record shot through the fence of a male Redstart Seaforth NR 3rd May 2012

a much better record shot from Steve "Yoda" Young www.birdsonfilm.com

The Little Gulls reached a total of 117, mostly 1sts birds, Sandwich Terns built up again to over 100, including a co;our ringed bird, details will be sent off to see were its from, and possibly the origins of the flock?,and the Common Terns about the same, the Black and Arctic Terns had departed.

1sts Little Gull Seaforth NR 3rd May 2012

1sts Little Gull Seaforth NR 3rd May 2012

A small party of 5 Bar-tailed and 4 Black-tailed Godwits arrived, 2 Common Sands, 8 Dunlin and 1 Little Ringed Plover, but nothing else moving.

A single male Yellow Wagtail paid a brief visit, while White Wagtails were on the low side with only about 10 seen, and finally a singing Sedge Warbler was in the reedbed.

A much better day than had been forecasted, with light easterlies early am, and more sunshine than predicted, the first signs of another all was evident, around the visitor centre bushes, 6+ Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcap, one or two Redstarts and a Chiffchaff.

Further walking around the reserve produced, 60 Wheatears on the long bank in front of hide C, constant movements of Swallows overhead, with lesser numbers of House Martins, 2 Whinchats (male and female), 3 Redstarts (male and 2 female), more Willow Warblers which appeared to be moving through rather than being just grounded birds, 3+ Whitethroats and 15 White Wagtails.

Wheatear Seaforth NR 2nd May 2012

The Black Tern was still present, with a big overnight increase of Common Terns with 90+, a few Sandwich Terns, 1 Arctic Tern and 160 Little Gulls with two groups seen going inland during the day.

More Wheatears came in during the day making a total of at least 90+ birds (10 ringed), more Willow Warblers and Whitethroats seen, so todays totals were as follows.

90+Wheatear                                            4 Common Redstart

2 Whinchat                                                30+ Willow Warbler

5+ Whitethroat                                          1 Chiffchaff

2 Blackcap                                                15 White Wagtail

Other birds seen included a Whimbrel heading east, Little Owl, 8 Dunlin, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Long-tailed Tits.

A dull overcast morning with stratocumulus from east to west, and a stiffening easterly blowing, felt decidedly more like a March day than the 1st of May, it was too windy around the bushes to view anything, what I did see, was brief and being blown long distances between bushes.

Brief views of a couple of Willow Warblers, a Song Thrush, the first for a long time here, but not much else, the area behind hide C looked birdless compared to yesterday, but along the bank in front a fair few Wheatears were still around, with at least 18+.

The rain started mid morning, light at first and then heavier just after dinner time, another male Yellow Wagtail touched down behind hide A, with another flying over the long bank, more Wheatears dropped in, making at least 30+, good numbers of Swallows appeared with 75+, 40 Swift, 12 house Martins, 6 Sand Martin.

Yellow Wagtail Seaforth NR 1st May 2012

Sand Martin Seaforth NR 1st May 2012

A Black Tern dropped in and started to feed with the Little Gulls which built up to a credible 133, (80 1sts + 8 2nds + 45 Ads), 20 Common Terns and about the same with Sandwich Terns.

record shot of Black Tern Seaforth NR 1st May 2012

The Little Ringed Plover still present, a party of 6 dunlin shot through calling as they went, 6 Whimbrel flew south offshore, at least 1 Common Sandpiper was around the pool edge, with 4 Knot.

Late afternoon a male Whinchat was located at the top end of the causeway, the first of the year, not long after a male Redstart was found on the long bank using a willow for cover and dropping down to catch stuff on the deck, another first for the year.

Mostly absent this morning an influx of White Wagtails also occurred with at least 30+ joining the growing number of Wheatears on the long bank.

Best bird of the day was the first ever male Pied Flycatcher for the reserve and only the 3rd record, a stunning bird located by the visitor centre bushes, it showed well in the now pouring rain, a poor record shot was taken as the wind was pretty blowy and a wet lens on the scope, not ideal digi-scoping weather, it wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get onto between the branches of the willows, so I gave up and just enjoyed it, getting better views by this time.

record shot in poor weather Pied Flycatcher Seaforth NR 1st May 2012

Light SE winds, sunshine and a hope of some movement, after weeks of frustrating north oriented winds, a Willow Wabler singing in the bushes, followed by another further up, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap but none of the birds I was hoping for.

It was obvious there had been an increase in Wheatears, with 35+ counted all over the reserve, still only 20+ White Wags, a Whimbrel flew north over the marina, lots of Swallows, a few Swifts and House and Sand Martins zooming through.

Wheatear Seaforth NR 30th April 2012

Looking towards the radar tower from the hide a Whimbrel flew past and then 3 Black Terns zipped past, and disappeared behind the mound as they flew south down the river Mersey, without coming in.

Another 2 Whimbrels dropped in, on the causeway for a brief stay before they too flew onto their next destination, and then a stunning male Yellow Wagtail flew onto the long bank for a 2 minute stay before flying off, at last!

Whimbrel Seaforth Nr 30th April 2012

The Little Gulls started to build during the morning, and beat the previous best by 7 to reach 150, 89 1sts + 8 2nds + 53 Ads, with quite a few pink flushed birds.

A Common Sand and LRP, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Knot and a couple of Dunlin were noted for the waders, while the Sandwich Terns made it to a low 37 and Common's to just 20, this time last year there were 200+, so the bad weather has also severely delayed them too.

Great Crested Grebe Seaforth NR 30th April 2012

A couple of Common Buzzards were on the wing with a bird heading across from the Wirral, headed east, a couple of Peregrines flew down river after sparring with each other, but despite favourable conditions, no other big raptors appeared.

Lets see what tomorrow brings!

The forecast had several amber flood alerts for most of the country, in what has been labelled the wettest drought ever!!, the clouds opened up about 8.00am with moderate rain, bringing in the usual Swallows and Swifts, and the odd House Martin.

The light didn't really improve for most of the time I was there, so didn't really bother trying to get any pics today, despite 53 Little Gulls performing in front of the hide, pattering like petrels in the now strong winds from the east.

Small groups of Common and Sandwich Terns dropped in with the Commons joining in with the Little Gulls picking from the surface of the pool, it wasn't until 12.30, that an Arctic Tern arrived and showed them how to do it more elegantly, with long tail streamers bobbing as it dipped down to snatch insects from the water.

Lots of Wheatears were scattered around the reserve with at least 12+, and about 20 White Wagtails still, a single Willow Warbler picked its way through the willows by the visitor centre, but not much else was moving.

The rain got gradually worse, not long after the Arctic came in, and dropped a few Dunlin with 4 tundrae race Ringed Plovers, a Little Ringed Plover appeared on the causeway, a few Knot, and a Turnstone.