Ringing Update

Dave Riley was on No1 bed on Tuesday when he caught 19 birds, amongst the 6 new were 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Dunnocks, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Reed Bunting, a further 2 Willow Warblers were retrapped both having been ringed as adults in 2012. Sightings during the session included 1 Kingfisher and 1 Reed Warbler.

The No3 bed team were out on the Friday and Saturday when they caught 78 birds over the two sessions. The 33 new included another 2 Mallard and 1 Teal along with their first Grasshopper Warbler for two years, 10 Blackcaps and single Woodpigeon, Willow Tit and Lesser Redpoll. Sightings during the session included Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, 2 (possibly 3) Grasshopper Warblers and a pair of Red-crested Pochards.

Other sightings during the week included: 2 Mediterranean Gulls (13th), 1 Whimbrel, 3 Little Ringed Plovers (16th), 7 Dunlin, 18 Black-necked Grebes, 35 Black-tailed Godwits 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshanks, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 75 Swallows, 33 Sand Martins and 5 House Martins (all 17th), 3 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (18th), 2 Marsh Harriers (both on No.3 bed), 6 Little Ringed Plovers, c.20 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 10 Whitethroats, 14 Blackcaps, 24 Willow Warblers, 19 Chiffchaffs, 10 House Martins, 12 Swallows, 5 Sand Martins, Lapwing with 4 young and 2 Snipe (all 19th).

Ringing Update

Dave Riley was on No1 bed the Wednesday, ringing at the eastern end of the bed for the first time this year. He caught 16 birds with 11 new, including his first Wren, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, 4 Lesser Redpolls were also ringed. Amongst the retraps were 2 Chiffchaffs, both from 2013 and a Lesser Redpoll, originally ringed on 30th October 2013 but not caught since.

The success of the duck trap on No3 bed continues with the captures of a new Teal and the reserves first Tufted Duck, which is also only the fourth for the Merseyside Ringing Group. In total, 67 birds were caught during the morning with 34 new including 4 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps and 10 Lesser Redpolls, sightings during the session included 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

Other sightings during the week included the following: 1 House Martin (7th), 1 Ruff, 2 Redshanks, 8 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers (all 8th), 13 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Raven flying east, plus 22 House Martins, 5 Swallows, 8 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks (all 9th), 2 Little Egrets flying, 2 Grasshopper Warblers reported from No.4 bed, a single White Wagtail on the scrape in front of the Morgan Hide, 10 Black-necked Grebes from the same hide and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. Other good counts included: 175 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 18 Blackcaps, 20 Willow Warblers and 38 Chiffchaffs (all 13th).

Ringing Update

Dave Riley was on No1 bed on the Friday, catching 27 birds with 13 new including 4 Chaffinch and 6 Greenfinch amongst the retraps were a Chaffinch originally ringed on 3rd April 2009and a Reed Bunting originally ringed on 26th June of the same year. Sightings during the session included a Red-legged Partridge on the track south of No2 bed, 4 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 11 Sand Martins, 1 Swallow and a Siskin.

The No3 bed team were out on the Saturday morning and caught 56 birds with the 25 new including 2 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 2 Jays, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps and 4 Lesser Redpolls, sightings during the morning included 3 Snipe.

Other sightings during the week included 2 Little Gulls, 2 Marsh Harriers, Jack Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Willow Warbler (all 31st), a reserve wide count of 96 Chiffchaffs, Little Egret, Goldeneye and 63 Shoveler (all 2nd), Egyptian Goose, 5 Willow Warblers and 8 Black-necked Grebes (all 6th).

Common Sandpiper from the Morgan hide Roger Riley

Another good day at the reserve todays sightings aswell as the regular included 14 mute swans .Two little grebe highest count seven blacknecked grebe and four great crested aswell as two nesting.Two lesser black backed gulls 5 graylag a pair with two chicks.Two male shovelers, several lapwings causing havoc with the black headed gulls.A blackcap behind the morgan hide and several buzzards circling from time to time.The pied wagtail also showed infront of the morgan hide.We saw one last saturday alongside a dunlin and a sighting of two male marsh harriers mid afternoon.Roger and Gill Riley

Mediterranean Gull this morning on No3 Bed from the John Morgan Hide - reported by Les Jones

Crow (Corvus corona)from viewing screen south pool.

Pochard (Aythya farina)from viewing screen south pool

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)from the John Morgan Hide

Coot (Fulica atra)from the John Morgan Hide

Lapwing (Vanellus vanillas)from the John Morgan Hide

Black-necked Grebe (podiceps nigricollis) from the Rotary Hide

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)from Rotary Hide

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanics)by Sybil Hogg Hide

Spring is in the Air

Snipe

Shell Duck Landing

View of reedbed

The warm, sunny weather produced excellent counts of butterflies. Reserve-wide totals were 107 Peacock, 53 whites (nearly all Green-veined), 63 Small Tortoiseshell, 13 Orange Tip (including two females on Garlic Mustard - probably ovi-positing), 3 Speckled Wood and a single Small White. Warblers were also plentiful with 41 Chiffchaffs, 27 Willow Warblers, 33 Blackcaps, 16 Whitethroats and a Grasshopper Warbler on No.3 bed. On No.1 bed a Little Grebe had 4 small young and on the canal Sand Martins were around a potential nest-site. One of the resident Peregrines was on the viaduct. On No.3 bed 18 Black-necked Grebes were showing although earlier in the day Brian Martin had counted 24. Photo; Cowslips on no.3 bed

Pheasant Walking

Small Tortoiseshell

PEACOCK BUTTERFLY ON DANDELION

ChiffChaff singing just by bridge

Wren Singing next to pathway from bridge

An evening visit in the hope that the Arctic Terns were still about. Unfortunately they were not but I counted 31 Black-necked Grebes on No.3 bed and about 30 Pied Wagtails and one White Wagtail in front of the Morgan Hide. A pair of Greylag Geese were in front of the frank Linley hide with 2 small young. At Latchford Locks was a female Mallard with 10 tiny young.

Hi another enjoyable few hrs at the reserve.We had a walk around the reserve before going to the morgan hide.We saw brimstone small tortoiseshells and lots of peacock butterflies.Popped into the south hide saw male ruddy duck first sighting of one for a few weeks. Pochards and black headed gulls also showing.A visit to the other hides showed lots of the usual ducks including black necked grebes.Lastly called in at the morgan hide where we saw one snipe briefly showing from the reeds close to the hide.Again another sighting of a male ruddy duck right over on the east side.Lots of black grebe pochard shellducks , shovelers etc; A great crested grebe sitting on a nest.On leaving the reserve a female mallard with fourteen young.We also called at the weir and saw the kingfisher in flight.Look forward to our next visit Gill and Roger Riley

With an easterly blowing and the prospect of showers to bring migrants down, I went onto No.3 bed at first light. Soon, 3 Arctic Terns dropped in, followed by two more groups of 3 and 4. None of them stayed for long, all heading off to the north-west. Then a Little Ringed Plover dropped onto the scrape, along with 4 Snipe, while a Redshank flew through. Two Marsh Harriers were constantly active, with the male eventually leaving to the north. Out on the water at least 20 Black-necked Grebes and a drake Ruddy Duck were active, with 38 House Martins, 20 Swallows and 5 Sand Martins overhead, with another Redshank dropping onto the scrape. On the Meadows, a Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Sedge Warblers were in song, with a Garden Warbler singing away from by the No.3 bed car park by mid-afternoon.

Photo of a Common Snipe on the Morgan Hide scrape today

Cheers David

Carrion Crow near Sybil Hogg Hide

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)with nesting material from John Morgan Hide

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)from John Morgan Hide

Lapwing (Vanellus vanillas)from John Morgan Hide

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)from John Morgan Hide

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)from viewing screen, south pool

Tufted Ducks on No.3 Bed

Dunnock on Pathway from Suspension Bridge

Another lovely April day. I found my first Mallard brood of the year; a female with 3 small young on the west pool of No.1 bed. There were 22 Black-necked Grebes and a Grasshopper Warbler on no.3 bed.

Distant shot of the Red-crested Pochard from John Morgan Hide. We leave the admissibility of the “tick” to others, smart looking birds and nice to see them in any event.

Brian and Helen

After the excitement of the Red-crested Pochards and Marsh Harrier,this Yellow Wagtail dropped in briefly in front of the John Morgan hide.

Brian and Helen Burnett

Another thoroughly enjoyable spring morning, covering from No.3 bed to Bollin Point at the eastern end of the Reserve. Highlights were: a pair of Red-crested Pochard and a Marsh Harrier (both on No.3 bed), 6 Little Ringed Plovers, c.20 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warblers, 10 Whitethroats, 14 Blackcaps, 24 Willow Warblers, 19 Chiffchaffs, 10 House Martins, 12 Swallows, 5 Sand Martins, Lapwing with 4 young and 2 Snipe.

Cheers David (with Dave Steel, David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird and Les Jones)

Yesterday’s wader passage doesn’t appear to have been repeated today but there had been an arrival of warblers overnight. A walk around No. 4 bed produced 3 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge, 2 Reed and 1 Grasshopper Warbler. A Lesser Whitethroat was also singing along the river bank on Paddington Meadows and could be viewed from No. 4 bed sluice. Not surprisingly numerous butterfly were showing in the sunny conditions with my first Small Copper of the year.

Black-necked Grebe (podiceps nigricollis) from Rotary Hide

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) from John Morgan Hide

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) from John Morgan Hide

Dunlin, Lapwing, Black headed gull from John Morgan Hide

Dunlin (Calidris alpine)from John Morgan Hide

This mornings Dunlin

Picture of a drake Gadwall from the Morgan Hide this morning.

Cheeers David

Picture of a drake Pochard from the Morgan Hide this afternoon

Cheers David

One of those days at Woolston when birds are constantly moving through and you feel like you need eyes in the back of your head. Early on, David Spencer had a Dunlin, a Reed Warbler and 18 Black-necked Grebes. Later in the morning Dave Steel watched 35 Black-tailed Godwits and 7 Dunlins think about landing before flying on. After lunch I spent a few hours, initially on No.4 bed, where a Ringed Plover and a Dunlin were with 2 Redshanks. Walking off the bed, both Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler were singing and showing well. Then onto No.3 bed, where another Black-tailed Godwit and a Yellow Wagtail dropped onto the scrape in front of the Morgan Hide. Over the lagoon, 75 Swallows, 33 Sand Martins and 5 House Martins were feeding actively, along with masses of the commoner stuff

Picture of a Little Grebe from the Morgan Hide

Cheers David

1 Reed Warbler and 8 singing Willow Warblers on No1 bed this morning

Dave

A quiet afternoon at the reserve until 2 Mute Swans decided to chase each other, just managed to capture this one. Saw 8 Black Necked Grebes and A Common Snipe from the John Morgan hide and a male Blackcap on the path just after the bridge

1 Whimbrel this morning from the John Morgan hide, it flew in at c9:30 and stayed for about 20 minutes before flying off south. 3 Little Ringed Plovers joined it briefly on the scrape. Also recorded today 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Grasshopper Warbler.

A beautiful spring day with wall to wall sunshine! Lots of butterflies on the wing. Reserve-wide totals were; 81 Peacock, 77 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 Small White, 7 Orange Tip, 4 Brimstone, 3 Speckled Wood and 2 Green-veined White. On No.3 bed there were 15 Black-necked Grebes. Photo; Female Brimstone on No.4 bed

Grasshopper Warbler reported on No.3 bed today and yesterday. Also probable Reed Warbler singing by the John Morgan hide, although barely audible against the background noise from the gulls and geese. This Lesser Redpoll was one of three seen by the Tower Hide.

The Mediterranean Gulls were still present on No.3 bed this morning. Also good numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins and the odd House Martin. I counted at least 14 Black-necked Grebes and probably 16.

A really good Spring morning, covering Nos.1, 2 and 3 beds. Highlights were a pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls, which dropped into No.3 bed at lunchtime, 2 Little Egrets flying south over the same bed, 2 Grasshopper Warblers reported from No.4 bed, a single White Wagtail on the scrape in front of the Morgan Hide, 10 Black-necked Grebes from the same hide and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. Other good counts included: 175 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 18 Blackcaps, 20 Willow Warblers and 38 Chiffchaffs.

In addition, Kieran Foster and Mike Baron managed to ring a drake Tufted Duck (see photo), a first for the Reserve and only the fourth ever ringed by the Merseyside Ringing Group in more than fifty years of ringing.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird and Les Jones)

Photo of a Snakeshead Fritillery from No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

Photo of a Comma from No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

A lunchtime visit to No.3 bed produced a Curlew, 9 Black-necked Grebes, 11 Sand Martins,1 Swallow, 2 Blackcaps,4 Willow warblers plus loads of Ciffchaffs. Butterflies included: Brimstone, Orange-tip, Comma, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells.

Photo of a Peacock from No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

A couple of hours sunshine in the middle of the day meant that I was able to monitor the Butterfly Transect for the first time this year. I counted 30 Small Tortoiseshells on No.3 bed before it clouded over again. 18 of these were on Dandelions on the South Meadow path. Also on No.3 bed were 11 Peacock and my first green-veined White of the year.

A quick couple of hours on No.3 bed this afternoon - 13 Black-necked Grebes , with 8 showing and displaying in front of the Morgan Hide. One Raven flying east, plus 2 House Martins, 5 Swallows and 20 House Martins feeding over the east bank. Raptors were active, too, with 8 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks soaring.

Cheers David

After last week’s excellent count of Chiffchaff numbers were reduced today with a total of 59. A Green Woodpecker was calling on No.1 bed and on No.3 were 13 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Swallow. On No.4 bed as the sun came out were 18 Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Peacock and my first Orange Tip of the year. Photo; Wild Cherry on no.4 bed

Got down onto No.3 bed early this morning, at 6.00 am and had the Morgan Hide to myself for the first couple of hours. Breakfast highlights were: 1 Ruff, 2 Redshanks, 8 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Snipe, 8 Little Grebes, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 830 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Willow Tits, 3 Swallows and 4 Sand Martins.

I’ve put a short video of some of the morning’s birds onto Youtube, if anyone’s interested!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZEm4evDyEA

Photo of one of this morning’s Redshanks

Cheers David

Bluebells, No3 Bed

A fabulous warm spring day on the Reserve, with plenty of Butterflies around. I counted 2 Orange Tips, 12 Peacocks, and 10 Tortoiseshell.

I was happy to be able to get a shot of the Orangetip, its been on my wish list for a while :)

The passage of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls appear to have slowed but Great Black-backed Gulls are still being seen, with two adults arriving today. Also today 1 House Martin.

Cowslips in the wild flower meadow

Pochard - male on No 3 bed

One of two Marsh Harriers reported (photograph taken by Paul Hazelhurst)

Photo of yesterday’s Egyptian Goose which appeared to get chased off by the Black-headed Gulls

A brief visit to No1 bed this morning to top up the feeders, there were 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps and numerous Chiffchaffs singing. On No3 later there was no sign of the Egyptian Goose from yesterday, but 8 Black-necked Grebes and a lone Ruddy Duck were seen.

Great Crested Grebe from the John Morgan hide

From the John Morgan hide this morning, approximately 20 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 7 Black-necked Grebes, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two 2nd cy Herring Gulls and 2 Common Gulls. The deeper water immediately below the hide is proving attractive to Great-crested Grebes.

A survey of the whole reserve resulted in an excellent total of 89 singing male Chiffchaffs. As a further 7 were known to be on the north bank of No.1 bed this makes a grand total of 96 plus another 6 heard singing just off the reserve! The passage of Herring Gulls continues with 90 drifting eastwards over No.4 bed between 8 and 9a.m. By the time I reached No.3 bed at lunchtime there was no sign of the Little Egret but 12 Swallows were over the north east corner and Shovelers totalled 63. Six Black-necked grebes were present. A female Goldeneye was on the river between Nos. 2 and 3 beds.

One Little Egret in the NE corner of No. 3 bed this morning. It was only seen in flight from the hide but it could be viewed poorly from the footpath which runs along the the bank of No. 2 bed. Also a few Swallows, Sand Martins and Blackcaps. I did not count the Black-necked Grebes this morning but there was a single bird calling and patrolling in front of the John Morgan hide, perhaps a new arrival.

Jews Ear Fungi found near the river surrounding Bed 3.

I was looking out for Kingfisher activity, but saw none unfortunately today. There were some Great Crested Grebe on the water, with some Tufted Duck

A lovely afternoon at the reserve lots of activity on the water.There was a good fight going on with three great crested grebes it lasted three mins or so really viscious not seen one like that before.We saw seven in total one appeared to be sitting on a nest.We also saw two little grebe and four black necked grebes.A snipe flew onto the nearest spit by the feeders then flew into the reeds at the back of the feeders where we discovered ther was another one.They appear to be a pair.No sign of the ruddy ducks today lots of the usual ducks and gulls.We called at Moore reserve in the morning and saw the lesser spotted woodpecker a first for us unfortunately too quick to get a picture.Look forward to our next visit.Roger and Gill Riley