BIRDING WITH YOUR GROUP LEADER 

 Hello everyone,                           

  Well, we’re half way through Liverpool ’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008 now and there’s certainly been some changes, not least to the city with new buildings springing up everywhere!  To celebrate the changes, we have a new logo – the Leach’s Petrel is still there but the city’s skyline has been brought up to date with the addition of the Echo Arena, high-rise apartments and the Liverpool 1 project.  And thanks to the wonders of modern technology, as the city skyline continues to evolve, we can keep up with it adding buildings and removing the cranes as we go.  You may also notice some changes to this newsletter.  Since the departure of Danny Amey, Stephen Menzie has taken the helm as editor.  We’d like to thank Danny for all his help over the years and wish him all the best for his new life in Australia !

                                                                        Enjoy your birding                Chris

HIGHLIGHTS OF FIELD TRIPS September – April 2008

A stroll around Hooton in warm and sunny September weather was rewarding with excellent views of Buzzard, with four in the air together soaring high on a thermal.  A Jay was watched burying acorns ready for the winter and a pair of Little Grebes showed well after lunch.  A November trip along the Mockbeggar Trail was good, despite the strong north-westerly wings, with close views of a variety of waders, Stonechat and a Sparrowhawk.  Mammal interest was provided by a Stoat scurrying across the road in front of us. Marbury County Park was as good as usual for lake and woodland birds with the undoubted highlight being a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  Good numbers of winter thrushes were also seen.              The annual December trip to Marshside saw the group catching up with .the usual hordes of waders and waterfowl, with the added bonus of the.long staying Glossy Ibis.  A stop off on the way home at Ainsdale gave good views of Snow Buntings in the rain..

2008 started well on the Sefton coast with excellent views of Buzzard .and flocks of waders, including some close sightings of Curlew..A trip to a local venue, around Sefton.park and Otterspool, in late January saw the group catching up with a surprisingly varied numbers birds.Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes.were seen on the lake, while the..woodland held Redwings, Siskins, Treecreepers..and Stock Doves.

Something a little different in February; another local walk but with the emphasis on learning to identify common birds.Our walk around Childwall woods was excellent for Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Stock Doves, Treecreepers and Nuthatches.  A Buzzard was overhead and a Goldcrest lookedslightly out of place in the conifers on the Woolton Road roundabout!

Late in the month, the group paid a visit to Mere Sands Wood, near Rufford.  An excellent reserve with a good feeding station, attracting the usual birds as well as Water Rail! 

Our annual trip to Llanfairfechan along the north Wales coast didn’t disappoint.  Despite the wind, we managed a variety of divers, grebes and scoters from the promenade.  An early Chiffchaff was at the sewage works (or was it a wintering bird?) though biggest surprise of the day was reserved until last when we headed in land to take a look at a Hoopoe that had swapped it’s Mediterranean home for a wet Welsh hillside near Llanrwst!

Black-winged Stilts Breed in Cheshire !

More at home on the salt pans of southern Europe than the flashes of north-west England , a pair of Black-winged Stilts on Neumann’s Flash – part of the Marbury Country Park & Anderton Nature Park complex just outside Northwich, Cheshire - was a rare sight in itself.

However, when the pair showed signs of breeding, hopes were raised that they stay on and nest.  With just four successful nestings of the species in the UK , plus an additional three attempting ending in failure, all eyes were watching to see how this pair would get on.  Withfavourable weather and a 24-hour watch set up by the RSPB, the pair successfully hatched three chicks on 28^th May.  Sadly, though, only one of the chicks made it through the night.  The single chick did well, growing quickly and showing well to the crowds of visitors who came to view the family from the RSPB’s stilt watchpoint.  Unfortunately, on the morning of June 21^st there was no sign of the chick, presumed predated overnight.  The parent birds stayed for a week or two before moving south back to warmer climes, stopping off briefly in the New Forest , Hampshire.  Finger’s crossed they’ll be back for another try next year, hopefully with a bit more luck!

Don't forget the next short local walk : 

SATURDAY 13^TH SEPTEMBER                    CROSBY

Meet 9.30am at the Crosby Coastguard car park in Hall Road Crosby.  The idea of this walk is to get you more familiarised with Wading birds.  This will be a short walk looking at Estuary birds in their natural habitat.  Species should include, shanks, plovers, godwits and lots more.

LEADER: CHRIS TYNAN (Tel:480 7938 or Mobile 07831 352870)

September 15^th  We start the new season with Southport wildlife photographer Mike McKavett.  Mike will be taking us on a journey ‘From Mitilini to Antalya ’ through the Balkans and further in search of the special birds.  His photographs have been front covers on many of the best bird magazines.  I just wish I could take a few as good!

**** Seabird Cruise 

The Mersey Ferry Wildlife Birders Cruise will be held on

Wednesday 24 September 2008 .

The cruise departs Seacombe at 1.00pm , Pier Head at 1.10pm and Woodside at 1.20pm .

Ticket prices £10.00 adults and £5.00 children (age 3-15yrs).  Cruise duration is approximately 3 hours.  This is the best way to enjoy the Mersey and the Sefton Coast and see the birds as well!!

SUNDAY 5^th OCTOBER

Frodsham Marsh: Meet 10.30am at Gleave’s Garden Centre before heading down onto Frodsham Marsh for a look at the settling tanks for waders.  We will then head down to the Weaver Bend for the chance of more waders and wildfowl.

Leader: Stephen Menzie (Tel: 0151 428 5409)

October 20^th                Please extend a warm welcome to our new speaker Geoff Simpson.  Geoff won international wildbird photographer of the year 2005 from a picture he took near his home in the Peak district.  His talk will be on Vision World, it’s an intriguing title!

SATURDAY 15^th NOVEMBER

Rufford: Meet 10:35am in Rufford Station car park. A mossland walk around Rufford and the ‘low meadow’ areas, which will hopefully be flooded attracting Whooper Swans, geese and waders. Large finch flocks are also likely.  No guaranteed facilities. Telescopes may be useful.

November 17              It’s a change of month but we extend a very warm welcome to one of our most regular and hugely popular speakers, Gordon Yates.  Tonight’s films will illustrate to us ‘Bird Habitat of the Pennines and Scotland ’.  As usual it is a one off night to thoroughly enjoy, come early to claim your seat.

December 1^st              For the last talk of the year we welcome one of our own members.  Anne Rothwell will be showing us lots of her wonderful pictures of ‘My Wildlife Garden ’.  Anne has won lots of awards for her pictures, what a wonderful Christmas treat.  

SUNDAY 7^th DECEMBER

Marshside: A return to a very popular venue. Meet 10:30am at the Sand Washing Plant car park, opposite the RSPB Marshside reserve 1 mile north of Southport along the coast road.  Wader flocks, geese, swans and raptors should all be encountered.  Please remember to bring your RSPB membership card and wrap up warm!

Leader: Chris Tynan (Tel: 0151 480 7938 or       Mobile: 07831 352870)