Monday 14 March 2016

Monday 14th March 2016

Weather;  Fine and sunny. Wind SE F1

Chiffchaff. (P. Collybita) Neston sewage works.    EW

Firecrest (fem) Neston sewage works.    EW
The very pale Chiffchaff remains in bushes at the south-east corner of Neston sewage works today but only put in a very brief appearance mid-afternoon. It's racial identity remains unclear as views and photographs have been inconclusive. It tends to hover frequently and also remains in the back of the bushes unlike the 7 or so other 'normal' collybita race birds also present. Some of these may be newly arrived migrants as their numbers are building up gradually with some in song.
Water Pipit moulting into breeding plumage. Has lost most of it's underpart streaking and has gone very pale grey on head and upper mantle. Some traces of a pink flush underneath could be seen in life. Terrible shot but they don't allow a close approach. This bird will look fantastic in a week or two.   EW
A Cetti's Warbler was present here although calling much more than singing and only affording the briefest of glimpses. A Firecrest also appeared at midday and showed intermittently through the early afternoon. A winter plumaged Water Pipit was present in the boggy field to the south of the sewage works this morning. A separate bird was present around midday and into the afternoon. This was moulting into summer plumage and stood out like a sore thumb amongst the ten or so Meadow Pipits feeding with it. 4 Grey Wagtails were in the area and around 15 Redwing flew east over Denhall Quay.     Observers MGT, EW


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