Ringing update week 23rd February - 1st March. There was no ringing on No1 bed again during the week, but on No3 bed Kieran Foster, Margaret Rawlins, Chris Piner and Mike Miles were joined by Stewart Piner on a morning of reasonably light wind and only a couple of very light showers.

Including 4 Teal picked up in the open trap by Kieran when he came down to feed it during the week, the Duck Trap made 30 captures of 4 species but only 11 Teals were new birds. They set 4 nets and these made 40 captures ( 15 new and 25 retraps). Highlight was 2 new Treecreepers together but it was also nice to see a few Greenfinches making an appearance.

Sightings were limited to a Curlew in flight and 2 Snipes in front of the Frank Linley hide.

Click here to see the ringing species list at 1st March…

Ringing update for week of 2nd - 8th March. Dave Riley was joined by visiting ringer, Sam Bailey, on the Friday, they caught 11 birds with six new, including a Reed Bunting and a Dunnock, amongst the retraps was a Goldcrest, ERN372, that was ringed on 03-10-2014 and not caught since, probably returning to it’s breeding area. Sightings during the session included a Curlew, 5 Snipe, 1 Yellowhammer, 5 Redwing and a singing Mistle Thrush.

The team on No3 bed had an excellent catch of Teal, with 50 in the trap including 27 new, in the catch they also had 2 Mallard (1 new) and retrap Coot and Moorhen. Sightings included 3 Lapwing, a singing Cetti’s Warbler and 3 Lesser Redpolls along with single Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.

Ringing updates for the two weeks 9th - 15th & 16th - 22nd March. During the first week there were two session on No1 bed with just nine new birds caught including the third new Coal Tit of the year.

On No3 bed, the team were out on the Saturday 14th when they caught 67 birds with the 32 new including 6 Mallard, 19 Teal and the first Willow Tit of the year. Mike Miles was also out on the 19th when he caught 39 birds, the 9 new included another Willow Tit, and their first Reed Bunting and Sparrowhawk of the year. A Saturday morning session produced another 8 new Teal along with their first Goldcrest and Lesser Redpoll of the year. One of the retrap Blue Tits was originally ringed in a nest box on 17th May 2008.

Ringing update for week 23rd - 29th March. With no ringing taking place on No1 bed, it was left to the No3 bed to keep up the good work with their duck trapping. They caught 28 duck with the seven new being 2 Mallard and 5 Teal.

Sightings during the session including 3 Black-necked Grebes, Mediterranean Gull, Ruddy Duck, Marsh Harrier, Grey Wagtail and a fly through Red Kite.

Click here to see the ringing species list at 29/03/2015 …

A really rewarding early spring morning?, with some excellent birds recorded. A single Red Kite flew through at mid-day, attracting the attentions of 5 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks, with the raptor cast augmented by 2 sightings of Peregrine and the now regular Marsh Harrier. 2 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Ruddy Duck and 6 Sand Martins added to the masses of commoner species and made for another special morning.

Cheers David (with Dave Steel?, David Spencer, Paul Hazlehurst?, Brian Baird, Helen Allan?, Kelly Ainsworth?, Diane Shepherd, Les Jones and George Dunbar)

Three, possibly four, Black-necked Grebes today and the 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull was still present in front of the John Morgan hide

Oh dear, found another Med Gull pic.

My final photo for today, Lesser black-backed gull. Well done to all who contribute towards keeping the reserve going, it is a great place for a day out.

Here is the very popular Med Gull in flight

Lovely weather today. Good views of Med Gull

A productive morning? started and ended with some good birding on No.3 bed, where Green Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull and Ruddy Duck were the highlights, though no sign of yesterday’s Black-necked Grebe. A single Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was active along the south bank of the bed mid-morning. In between, we were able to make progress with erecting three Kestrel nesting boxes provided by the Highways Agency in relation to security work they are doing under Thelwall Viaduct.

Photo of a second summer Mediterranean Gull

Cheers David (with David Spencer and Brian Baird)

First visit to Woolston for a long time having just renewed my permit - far too long! A cracking day on No 3 Bed with a lifer for me: the handsome pair of Mediterranean Gulls showing really well in front of the main hide. Also the male Ruddy Duck, and several Greylag Geese, Shelduck, Pochard and Gadwall. A single Kestrel appeared several times but no sign of the Marsh Harrier between 3.15 and 6pm. 2 Little Grebe and several Great Crested looking fine, but I missed the Black Necked this time.

The Black-necked Grebe, Marsh Harrier and Mediterranean Gull were all still present today on No. 3 bed. The female Marsh Harrier was also seen hunting over the reeds on No. 4 bed loop. Today’s better light conditions gives me an excuse to post yet another Med Gull picture!

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)from John Morgan Hide

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus)from John Morgan Hide

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)from John Morgan Hide

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) from John Morgan Hide

Snipe on the John Morgan hide scrape.

Marsh Harrier on No. 3 bed

Another picture of today’s Mediterranean Gull. I assume this is a 2nd summer bird.

One Black-necked Grebe was seen this morning from the John Morgan hide although it was quite elusive. Also one Mediterranean Gull was on the scrape in front of the hide(three were reported yesterday). The Marsh Harrier spent the morning on No. 3 bed and flushed 6 Snipe.

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)taken from the south viewing hide, not too bad of a photo considering the distance involved!!

Shoveler (Anas clypeata) from John Morgan Hide

A lovely,early spring morning completing our first Common Bird Transects of the year on No.3 bed and then on No.1 bed. Highlights were: 1 adult female Marsh Harrier, 1 drake Ruddy Duck, 15 Chiffchaffs, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Snipe, 2 Willow Tits, 18 Reed Buntings, 75 Fieldfare, 7 Redwings, 3 Sparrowhawks, 9 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 6 Song Thrushes, 26 Wrens, 9 Dunnocks and 24 Robins.

Cheers David (with Dave Steel?, David Spencer, Paul Hazlehurst?, Brian Baird, Helen Allan?, Diane Shepherd?, George Dunbar? and Les Jones.

Solar eclipse over Woolston Eyes (and over a few other places,too, I guess!)

Cheers David

Not much change this afternoon. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls still present but flew off to the south in mid-afternoon, along with a Cetti’s Warbler near the Tower Hide. Two chiffchaffs were in song and nearly 600 Black-headed Gulls were a constant hive of activity

Photo of a Black-headed Gull

Cheers David

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were present for an hour this morning in front of the John Morgan hide before flying off east. They were first reported yesterday afternoon. Also reported yesterday were a Cetti’s Warbler singing near the John Morgan hide, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker along the south bank of No. 3 bed and a Treecreeper near the footbridge

Nice late afternoon, with a Green Sandpiper on the newly revamped pools on No.4 bed, two Chiffchaffs, a drake Ruddy Duck, 6 Little Grebes, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 120 Teal, 30 Pochard, 10 Shovelers and 8 Shelduck on No.3 bed.

Photo of a Robin from No.3 bed this afternoon.

Cheers David

One of those interesting days when winter and spring birds cross each others’ paths. Chiffchaff and Sand Martin were on No.3 bed, along with a male Brambling, while other good sightings included: a drake Ruddy Duck, a drake Goosander, a Willow Tit, a Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gulls, 12 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, 9 Lesser Redpolls and 21 Pochard. Raptor breeding activity was also evident, with :four Peregrine sightings, probably involving the same male and includiing one of it carrying food in the direction of the regular breeding site; a pair of displaying Sparrowhawks and a pair of displaying Buzzards.

Photo of a Badger under the Morgan Hide feeders a week or so ago.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Alan Warford?, Paul Hazlehurst?, Brian Baird, Diane Shepherd? and George Dunbar?)

Hi a lovely afternoon on the reserve nice sunny spring day.You know the breeding season is approaching as soon as you park the car.The black headed gulls doing the usual squabbling.We saw two bumble bees on the way to the Sybil Hogg hide there didn’t seem to be many small birds about maybe just the time of day.From the Morgan hide saw a male ruddy duck shovelers, pochard, shellduck, a pair of greylag a few canada geese.There were two great crested grebes one just slept.There was a definite signs of birds pairing up no sign of the black necked grebe that we had heard about.We called at pennington flash first thing and saw a coot sitting on a nest making an early start.Look forward to our next visit Gill and Roger Riley

2 summer plumage Black-necked Grebes and 1 Sand Martin were seen and reported by Bert Lloyd from the John Morgan hide this morning.

Here with a panoramic view of the view from the new hide and the hide.

Visited No 4 bed on 07-March-2015 to have a look at the contractor’s work. On the way out two grey partridge flew over the track.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)John Morgan Hide, No3. Bed.

Tufted duck (Aythya filigula)John Morgan Hide, No3 Bed.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)John Morgan Hide, No3 Bed.

Coot (Fulica atra)from John Morgan Hide, No3 Bed

Last night’s Starling roost? held about 230,000 birds,with plenty of raptor activity, too. A Marsh Harrier was constantly in view, a male Peregrine kept cutting through the flock and 5 Sparrowhawks and 3 Buzzards made up the rest of the cast. To add to the spectacle, a Badger came and fed nonchalantly under the Morgan Hide feeders.

Photo of the Marsh Harrier