|
14th JANUARY
SEFTON
COAST
| Cormorant |
Pink
footed Goose |
Stonechat |
| Mallard |
Grey
Heron |
Long
tailed tit |
| Pheasant |
Collared
dove |
Coal
tit |
| Lapwing |
Wood
pigeon |
Blue
Tit |
| Knot |
Meadow
pipit |
Great
tit |
| Dunlin |
Starling |
Lesser
black backed gull |
| Curlew |
Blackbird |
Herring gull |
| Shelduck |
Wren |
Great
black backed gull |
| Oystercatcher |
Dunnock |
Magpie |
| Black
tailed godwit |
Robin |
Jackdaw |
| Grey
Plover |
Skylark
|
Carrion
crow |
| Moorhen |
Chaffinch |
Pied
wagtail |
| Redshank |
Greenfinch |
Turnstone |
| Leader:
Dave
Hardy
Weather was sunny but the odd breeze blew
very cold. Good views of Stonechat and an early
Bumblebee.
Total Species Seen
39
|
29th JANUARY
LLANFAIRFECHAN
| Red
throated diver |
Pintail |
Wren |
| Great
northern diver |
Pochard |
Dunnock |
| Little
grebe |
Tufted
duck |
Robin |
| Great
crested grebe |
Common
scoter |
Blackbird |
| Slavonian
grebe |
Goldeneye |
Song
thrush |
| Cormorant |
Reed
bunting |
Mistle
thrush |
| Little
egret |
Sparrowhawk |
Chiffchaff |
| Grey
heron |
Buzzard |
Goldcrest |
| Canada
goose |
Kestrel |
Firecrest |
| Shelduck |
Peregrine |
Long
tailed tit |
| Wigeon |
Water
rail |
Coal
tit |
| Gadwall |
Moorhen |
Blue
tit |
| Teal |
Coot |
Great
tit |
| Mallard |
Oystercatcher |
Treecreeper |
| Lapwing |
Redshank |
Magpie |
| Knot |
Greenshank |
Jackdaw |
| Dunlin |
Turnstone |
Rook |
| Snipe |
Black
headed gull |
Carrion
crow |
| Black
tailed godwit |
Common
gull |
Raven |
| Curlew |
Lesser
black backed gull |
Starling |
| Red
breasted merganser |
Meadow
pipit |
House
sparrow |
| Herring
gull |
Grey
wagtail |
Chaffinch |
| Great
black backed gull |
Pied
wagtail |
Greenfinch |
| Wood
pigeon |
Redpoll |
Goldfinch |
| Collared
dove
|
Leader:
Eddie Seal Weather was sunny but the odd breeze blew
very cold. The sea was calm close in to shore, but
choppy further out. Red Throated & Great Northern
Divers present, Divers and grebes stayed quite a
distance out; but the highlight of the seawatch was the
Peregrine Falcon that flew over our heads and out to
sea. Greenshank's were seen at the Spinnies
reserve, this is a good site for them to over-wintering.
The sewage site at Llanfairfechan is always a good site
for the odd warbler and we saw Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and
a surprising Firecrest. Conwy was good for views
of Water Rail
.
Total Species Seen
73 New Year 06, Total 78
|
SATURDAY
11th
FEBRUARY
WIGAN
FLASHES
| Cormorant |
Goldcrest |
Willow
Tit |
| Mallard |
Grey
Heron |
Long
tailed Tit |
| Goldfinch |
Wood
pigeon |
Blue
Tit |
| Bullfinch |
Greylag Goose |
Great
tit |
| Gt Crested Grebe |
Starling |
Lesser
black backed gull |
| Mute Swan |
Blackbird |
Common
Gull |
| Snipe |
Wren |
Black
Headed Gull |
| Canada
Goose |
Teal |
Magpie |
| Gadwall |
Robin |
Shoveler |
| Goldeneye |
Ruddy
Duck
|
Carrion
crow |
| Moorhen |
Chaffinch |
Reed Bunting |
| Tufted Duck |
Greenfinch |
Pochard |
| Kestrel |
Pied
wagtail
|
Grey Wagtail |
| Coot |
| Leader:
John
Clegg
A very rewarding day despite the overcast
conditions. As
usual lots of waterbirds were showing around the
Flash’s but really good views of willow tit and
bullfinch.
Total Species Seen
40
New Year 06, Total 84 |
SUNDAY
26th
FEBRUARY
MERE
SANDS WOOD
| Kingfisher |
Pink
footed Goose |
Black
headed gull |
| Jay |
Grey
Heron |
Long
tailed tit |
| Little
grebe |
Collared
dove |
Coal
tit |
| Great
crested grebe |
Wood
pigeon |
Blue
Tit |
| Moorhen |
Magpie |
Great
tit |
| Mallard |
Starling |
Greylag
Goose |
| Coot |
Blackbird |
Canada
goose |
| Shelduck |
Wren |
Carrion
crow |
| Lapwing |
Dunnock |
Kestrel |
| Teal |
Robin |
Pied
wagtail |
| Gadwall |
Skylark
|
Gt
Spotted Woodpecker |
| Moorhen |
Chaffinch |
Greenfinch |
| Leader:
Dave Hardy Overcast, cool day. Good views of a Jay
and Woodpecker, fleeting sightings of kingfisher from the
Rufford hide.
Total Species Seen
36
New Year 06, Total 86 |
11th
MARCH
WITTON
COUNTRY PARK
| Mistle
thrush |
Wren |
| Sparrowhawk |
Dunnock |
| Goldcrest |
Robin |
| Long
tailed tit |
Blackbird |
| Bullfinch |
Nuthatch |
| Blue
tit |
Rook |
| Moorhen |
Black
headed Gull |
| Chaffinch |
White
wagtail |
| Greenfinch |
Canada
goose |
| Goldfinch |
Great
tit |
| Pheasant |
Wood
pigeon |
| Magpie |
Mallard |
| Crow |
Treecreeper |
|
Leader: Howard
Mills
A
mixed Habitat of Woodland, River, Ponds and Open
areas. A very quiet day, but nevertheless we had some good
highlights, such as seeing the White Wagtail for the
first time. Other notable and excellent sightings were
of Nuthatch Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Bullfinch.
Total Species Seen
26
New Year 06, Total 87 |
Tuesday
21st
MARCH
BRADLEIGH
LOOP
| Mistle
Thrush |
Wren |
| Pied Wagtail |
Dunnock |
| Song
Thrush |
Robin |
| Long
Tailed Tit |
Blackbird |
| House
Sparrow |
Starling |
| Blue
Tit |
Mute
Swan |
| Moorhen |
Lapwing |
| Chaffinch |
Herring
Gull |
| Greenfinch |
Cormorant |
| Goldfinch |
Great
Tit |
| Collared
Dove |
Wood
Pigeon |
| Magpie |
Mallard |
| Crow |
|
|
Leader: Howard Mills
A
mixed Habitat of country lanes and towpaths, open
areas.
A very quiet day, mainly overcast with a cold
wind. Nevertheless we had some good
highlights, such as seeing good flocks of Long Tailed
Tits plus enough Blackbirds to make a pie! However the
main highlight was a lone cormorant which landed on the
top of a electricity pylon, ands just sat there for
nearly 10 minutes.
Total Species Seen
25
New Year 06, Total 87 |
SUNDAY 23rd APRIL
CONWY
RSPB RESERVE
|
Leader: Stephen Menzie
Conwy RSPB reserve couldn’t be
easier to get to. There’s
none of the usual half an hour down tight country lanes
to get to this place!
The reserve was formed from waste dumped on the
banks of the Conwy Estuary when then Conwy road tunnel
was built and is found directly of the junction of the
A55. With a
lot of careful management from the RSPB, the new
environment created is beginning to establish well and
is becoming a haven for wildlife and visitors alike.
The reserve is usually incorporated into a winter
visit for the group so it made a nice change to visit on
a sunny spring day.
The walk started in the excellently equipped
visitor centre from where 4 Black-tailed Godwits
were seen. Outside
from the boardwalk, the first migrant Sedge Warblers
of the year were singing although viewing them was
somewhat more difficult.
Good numbers of Sand Martin were passing
overhead with smaller numbers of Swallows and House
Martins. At
least 3 Swift were also noted passing over high
up – another year tick for the group.
Further round the reserve, more
summer visiting warblers were enticed to sing by the
warm sunshine: Whitethroat,
Willow Warbler, Blackcap and a Reed Warbler
were all seen well.
On the lagoons were all the usual suspects – Moorhen,
Coot, Mallard, Gadwall, Shelduck and both of the
commoner Grebes.
A Little Egret fed along the edge of a
small clump of reeds giving the group a good view of
this rapidly expanding species.
Only a few years back this would have been a good
scarcity on the reserve.
Now they are breeding!
Two Common Sandpipers put on an excellent
show from the second hide as they ‘bobbed’ their way
around the island.
A
male Reed Bunting gave good views as it sang from
its exposed song post.
At the far end of the reserve, a red tail rapidly
flying into a thicket was a giveaway sign of a Redstart,
but only a few managed to connect with the bird as it
disappeared, never to be seen again.
On the estuary salt marsh, close examination of a
flock of at least 40 wagtails proved them to be
exclusively White Wagtails (The continental race
of our own Pied Wagtail and a regular spring migrant
through the U.K.). A
quartet of Wheatears was along the breakwater
rocks by the coastal path, showing down to a matter of
yards at times.
Back at the visitor centre it was
time for a well-earned cup of coffee and more time to
enjoy superb close views of the reserves commonest
species through the panoramic window.
Despite the late arrival of the
trip leader (!), the walk was a success with wide
variety of species seen, from water birds to migrants,
with a day list of at least 50 species.
Conwy reserve more than proved its worth as a
summer location as well as a winter hot spot.
Total Species Seen 50
New Year 06, Total 98 |
Saturday
29th APRIL
RED
ROCKS
| Mistle
Thrush |
Swallow |
| Pied
Wagtail |
Dunnock |
| Knot |
Robin |
| House
Sparrow |
Blackbird |
| House
Martin |
Starling |
| Blue
Tit |
Heron |
| Moorhen |
Shelduck |
| Chaffinch |
Herring
Gull |
| Greenfinch |
Cormorant |
| Goldfinch |
Canadian
Goose |
| Wheatear |
Wood
Pigeon |
| Magpie |
Mallard |
| Crow |
Skylark |
| Kestrel |
Whitethroat |
| Blackcap |
Swift |
| Oystercatcher |
Curlew |
| Song
Thrush |
Raven |
| Reed
Bunting |
Linnet |
| Pheasant |
Coot |
| Buzzard |
Tufted
Duck |
| Wren |
|
|
Leader: Howard Mills
Red
Rocks consist of two main habitats, south towards West
Kirby, are Red Rocks Marsh, Reed beds and Sand dunes and
to the north Hilbre Point overlooking Bird Rock and East
Hoyle sand bank. Red Rocks Marsh is a nature reserve
part of which maintained by the Cheshire
Wildlife Trust.
Howard led the way on a dry and sunny April day with a
cool northerly breeze.
A slow start initially but after lunch events
improved dramatically with good sightings of Wheatear
and Whitethroats amongst others. A good selection of
butterflies were seen especially Orange Tip. Grey
Squirrels were out and about. The best event of the day
was towards the end of the walk, when we witnessed bit
of aerial 'bovver' between a Buzzard and a Raven.
Total Species Seen
41
New Year 06, Total 100 |
Sunday
21st MAY
BLACKTOFT
SANDS RSPB RESERVE
| Tufted
Duck |
Gt Crested Grebe |
| Pied Wagtail |
Dunnock |
| Shoveler |
Ruddy
Duck |
| Marsh
Harrier |
Blackbird |
| House
Sparrow |
Stock
Dove |
| Blue
Tit |
Mute
Swan |
| Moorhen |
Tree
Sparrow |
| Chaffinch |
Black
Headed Gulls |
| Bearded
Tit |
| |