Latest Sightings
There is no concerted effort to keep this page up to date now: the Ribble Estuary Birding Facebook Group is probably the best place for sightings that people are prepared to share – and see the other links on the home page for sightings further afield.
Feel free to submit latest sightings news as comments below. The first time you do this your comment will need to be approved before appearing; thereafter your posts will appear in real time. The date will appear automatically; please give the time of your sighting. If it doesn’t pertain to Marshside please also give the location!
Latest news posted here appears as the TOP comment.
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Welcome …
This blog originally had a grand purpose for birding around Marshside and beyond. The map and info Pages section is still useful for that, but for rolling news of sightings and general discussion that purpose has perhaps been overtaken by the ease of use of other web developments, and I’d particularly recommend taking a look at the Ribble Estuary Nature Facebook Group.
These pages are now a repository for me to share photos and videos of my birding in and around Merseyside and occasionally further afield, and to provide me with an outlet for the occasional rant. You’ll find digiscoped photos and videos with a bit of reportage as the main posts; some useful birding info and resources are in the static Pages section.
Short form url: http://ow.ly/3b5PK
For other, more regular, blogs I recommend that everyone keeps a daily eye on John Dempsey’s Birdblog – probably the best online birding journal in the world (Theakston’s Best please, John …) as well as other local blogs of which there are links below. Of these, Colin Bushell’s Ribble to Amazon is currently the most regularly and enthusiatically updated and carries most useful information.
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Comments & Sightings
jstannage on Discussion Frank Whitney on Latest Sightings Simon Glinn on Moore and Pennington Flas… Roger John LITTLE on Moore and Pennington Flas… phil boardman on Latest Sightings Simon Glinn on Latest Sightings Simon Glinn on Latest Sightings Simon Glinn on Latest Sightings Frank Whitney on Latest Sightings Frank Whitney on Latest Sightings
Blogroll
- Another Place ~ Pete Kinsella
- Bill Aspin ~ Brockholes
- Brockholes Sightings Facebook
- Colin Bushell’s Blog
- Dave Bickerton’s Blog
- Dee Estuary Sightings
- Hilbre Island Blog
- Manchester Sightings
- Martin Mere Sightings
- Menzie Birding
- Mike Watson ~ E. Lancs
- Moore N.R. Sightings
- North Wales Sightings
- Paul Shenton ~ Flintshire
- South Liverpool Birder
- St Helens Sightings
- Steve Tomlinson
- Tony Conway ~ Seaforth
- Wirral Birder
The Big Websites
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Flickr Photos
More Photos
From Graham ~
Juv Hobby catching dragonflies over Rimmer’s marsh at Marshside this afternoon, flew off over Hesketh golf course at about 4pm. Garganey on Fairclough’s pool. 14 Kestrels in the Marshside area and a juv Marshside Harrier over the saltmarsh. Eleven Pink-feet at Marshside again today, 15 yesterday, eleven on Saturday. Several hundred Teal in and c.700 Black-tailed Godwits.
At Hesketh out marsh today Tony Baker reported two juv Marsh Harriers, two Merlins, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard. A juv Hen Harrier was there last week.
Eleven Marsh Harriers were recorded on the estuary on 23th August.
The RSPB reserve at Hesketh out marsh opens on Saturday 10th October, there will be staff and volunteers on duty then to welcome visitors and to answer any questions.
Elsewhere, 3 Marsh Harriers over Downholland Moss, on at Martin Mere plus a Yellow Wag there; a couple of Curlew Sandpipers at Hoylake, another at Inner Marsh Farm, with 4 Curlew Sandpipers with the Bairds Sandpiper still at Dulas beach on Anglesey.
Yellow-legged Gull at Hoylake yesterday (2) and today at Ainsdale, possible Citrine Wagtail on Hilbre today where yesterday there was a Sabine’s Gull, 5 Arctic and a Long-tailed Skua.
one wheatear and two juv marsh harriers broad la north altcar today
Martin Mere, 22/8/09, 2.30pm. Wilsons Phalarope still at Martin Mere today, it was with a flock of waders including ruff and lapwing. I saw it from the Ron Barker hide, alough it had been fyling to and from the mere throughout the day. Also seen was a marsh harrier, avocet, several buzzards, black tailed godwit and a couple of snipe.
Martin Mere, 21/8/09, 4.15pm Wilsons Phalarope from Ron Barker Hide, also 1 greenshank and a water rail.
a juv female peregrine over lunt in sefton hunting the withins and 22 tree sparrows two common terns towards crosby at 4 45 pm today .
a possible Great White Egret which flew south – Burton Marsh, early morning.
hello all. shots of wood sandpiper at marshside today on my flickr & a lot more to .
Marshside: Wood sand still at Junction pool 2PM; great crested grebe from Sandgrounders on Rainfords lagoon.
9 august 09 marshside rspb
1 juv hobby flew west at 10.05am from the direction of the sewage works.
2-3 juv merlins,2 juv peregrines, 2 buzzard,3 sparrowhawks,
8 kestrels.
1 juv wood sandpiper on juction pool.
1 curlew sand with 4 dunlin pollys pool +
3 little egrets.also yellow wagtail reported.
1 wheatear from nels.
August 9:
1 male Rose-ringed Parakeet present 06:45 to 07:15, 2 juv Green Woodpecker, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Willow Warbler, 1 Golden Plover over calling – Red Rocks.
1 Roseate Tern (juv), 5 Arctic Tern, 631 Common Tern, 8 Little Tern, 763 Sandwich Tern, 1,500 Black-headed Gull and 199 Common Tern – West Kirby Shore at high tide.
2 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 5 Ruff, 1 Marsh Harrier (juv fem), 3 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Water Rail – Inner Marsh Farm.
martin mere juv Wood Sandpiper from the Ron Barker Hide,13 ruff.3 Green Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail also from the Ron Barker Hide. Eclipse Garganey on the Mere. 3 juv Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine,4 Common Buzzard, Also Kingfisher noted.
Brockholes Wetland LWT – 8th & 9th Aug 09.
8th: 1 juv Hobby, 1 Juv Marsh Harrier, 1 juv Garganey.
9th: 1 Juv Hobby, 1 Garganey, 3 juv Greenshank.
August 7:
21 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Greenshank – Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, 1 Greenshank by the River Birket.
hello all thanks to simon for posting one of my shots of the kingfishers i am not in work next week so i hope to get out and about in and around the north west . has any one seen the hobby that was at meresands but now longer there in the last three weeks it had a damaged right wing and was flying a bit odd at times let me now wear and when if you can thanks ..happy birding .
Little Stint at Marshside yesterday. Jason had 6 Mediterranean Gulls in Walton Park today (see photos). 2 Garganey and 2 Green Sandpipers, Marsh Harrier, at Martin Mere. Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint at Frodsham. Honey Buzzard reported at Brockholes yesterday.
From Graham:
At Marshside last couple of days;
4800 Dunlin on Marshside sands and 730 Knot on Polly’s pool for most of Sunday afternoon – an impressive sight. Female Marsh Harrier over saltmarsh on Sunday and Sutton’s Marsh this morning. Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover from Sandgrounders today, two Greenshank on Fairclough’s pool this afternoon. Hundreds of Martins moving through today, equal numbers of Sand Martin to House Martins maybe 300-400 of each, been lots of Sand Martins for the last week. Over 1300 Starlings on the saltmarsh, many Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Meadow Pipits around the sand works site.
Common Gulls are back on the reserve after a two month absence with up to five on Sutton’s marsh in the past week, up to 20 Curlew, five Golden Plover and three Snipe there yesterday. The female teal still has three young, several female Gadwall and Shoveler also still have broods. Little Grebes are feeding an almost fledged chick around Polly’s creek. Nine Avocet young fledged at Marshside this year.
hello all up to four yellow wagtails on curlew lane rufford on the dung heaps at 430 to 6 pm today .
Mediterranean Gulls today at Otterspool Prom (2), Heswall (and 2 Whimbrel, Peregrine, 18 Little Egret), and West Kirby, with 600+ Sandwich Terns at West Kirby too. Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, and Ruff at Inner Marsh Farm. Common Sandpiper and Peregrine at Brockholes. 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 8 Ruff, 10 Snipe, Common Terns, Tawny Owls all at Martin Mere. 65 Common Scoter, 110 Gannets, 25 Sandwich, 22 Common and 12 Arctic Tern from Formby Point.
TEREK SANDPIPER refound at Heswall 6.40am, still present 7.09am on Dee Estuary opposite Heswall Fields NT. Park near Sheldrakes Restaurant.
No sign of TEREK SANDPIPER at 9.30am. High tide is c. 5pm.
7 Roseate Terns at Seaforth this lunchtime.
TEREK SANDPIPER seen with Redshank on West Kirby Marine Lake mud at 2.20pm, then flew off towards Thurstaston, also 74 Sandwich Tern.
TEREK SANDPIPER at Heswall, off Target Rd, again 4.45pm.
Terek sand till 7pm then flew north myself,mike,neil,little chris and bones enjoyed a nice dipp in the dee, after missing the bird by 5 mins.
What a bummer! Did I tell you about the one on the beach outside my hotel room in Muscat last autumn?
Med Gull (adult; ringed) at Brockholes, 15.00 today; 3 Med Gulls at West Kirby. At Heswall, a Greenshank, 200 Redshank including one leucistic bird, 18 Little Egrets and a Peregrine.
(orig. posted by Jason, deleted by accident) Tuesday 14th July ~ Heswall, unconfirmed reports of a TEREK SANDPIPER off Target Road at 4.30Pm.
Word is that there was a POSSIBLE Gull-billed Tern at West Kirby yesterday, flushed before a definitive ID was made but seen by good people … not enough info to go on the wires, but if you’re heading WK way “keep your mind as open as your eyes” …
3 Mediterranean Gulls at West Kirby, Wirral, today. Spotted Redshank at Inner Marsh Farm. Ruddy Shelduck 4 miles WSW of Macclesfield at Redes Mere this afternoon.
I was at West Kirby Marine lake from 11.00 to 13.00 and scanned every Gull present more than once!!!! At what time were the reported 3 Med Gulls presnt please?
Sid – they came on the wires around 4.45pm.
Also, Black-necked Grebe yesterday evening at Frodsham no. 6 tank.
M’yside 2.Roseate Terns Seaforth LWT. Permit only; non-permit holders view thru Crosby Marine Park fence. Take Cambridge Road west off A565 SJ.319.973
July 9:
2 Mediterranean Gull (1 ad and 1 2nd sum) West Kirby Marine Lake.
Anglesey 2+Black Guillemots Holyhead in fish harbour this morning.
Lancs martin mere spoonbill on sunley’s marsh at 4.30pm
Lancs Hobby y’day Leighton Moss RSPB still in morning.
Formby Point on Wednesday, 10.40am – 12.50pm, adult Puffin going north, close in. Med Gull was still around offshore.
Euronews France: White-tailed Plover ad y’day Brenne at Meziereserve en Brenne (for 2nd day)
Lancs 4.Med Gulls (3.ads +1s) Heysham at Red Nab at high tide.
Wirral 2ad med gulls gilroy nature park west kirby.
Lancs Little Egret again Colne at Lower Foulridge Resr at 11am.
Lancs Wood Sand y’day Leighton Moss RSPB +Hobby 7.Little Gulls 3.Marsh Harriers LRP 2.Spot’shanks 6.Greenshanks
Lancs Wood Sand again 3mls east of Blackpool at Mythop east of Chain Lane junction on flood north of Mythop Road.
Lancs 2.Spot’shanks Conder Green still on Conder Estuary.
Lancs Black Guillemot y’day flew south past Cleveleys at 9.55am +Med Gull.
Gtr.Man Pennington Flash Ctry Park Little Egret from New Ramsdales Hide 6am only.
Wirral 3.Arctic Skuas (all dark morphs) off Red Rocks late morning.
Gtr Mancs Elton Res Med Gull 2s (boathouse with 5 BH Gull)5
Little-Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper 1 (wader point)
national news: Highland RIVER WBLR male singing still 3/4ml north of Applecross in scrub by cemetery behind heritage centre NG.712.458.
Lancs 5.Med Gulls (3 ads + 2.1s) Heysham at Red Nab.
Anglesey 1 Roseate Tern still Cemlyn Lagoon NWWT.
Lancs Possible spoonbill flew high over martin mere early afternoon.
Lancs: Hobby Holmes Chapel at 8.30am at Saltersford farm SJ.777.680<
national news: Highland RIVER WBLR male singing still 3/4ml north of Applecross in scrub by cemetery behind heritage centre and showing well NG.712.458.
Lancs 4.Med Gulls (all ads) Pilling Lane on Preesall Sands at Cocker’s Dyke at 12.08pm. Spot’shank Conder Green still on Conder Pool.
Lancs 4.Med Gulls (2 ads + 2.1s) Heysham at Red Nab at 10.30am.
Wirral 2.Med Gulls (ad +2s) West Kirby Marine Lake.
Gwent Black Redstart male near Newport between Caerleon Road +The Moorings + ad.Med Gull.
Anglesey Roseate Tern Cemlyn Lagoon NWWT.
5th july M’yside 2 Roseate Tern still Seaforth LWT. Permit only; non-permit holders view thru Crosby Marine Park fence. Take Cambridge Road west off A565 SJ.319.973
July 5:
1 Med Gull (ad) at high tide Heswall Shore.
20 Little Egret, and 1 Merlin Parkgate Marsh.
1 Med Gull (ad) and 1 Greenshank over Meols Shore.
Brockholes Wetland LWT – 5th July 2009
Hobby, early afternoon.