Sunday 24 July 2016

Waders, Terns and Gulls

Weather: Warm and sunny, some rain showers.

The Autumn roost on Hoylake shore continues to build. Returning waders over this weekends tides included 4 Grey Plover, 38 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Bar tailed Godwit, 12 Ringed Plover, 1000 Dunlin and 37 Sanderling.  Tern numbers also continue to increase with the roost holding approximately 600 Sandwich Tern, 22 Common Tern and 4 Little Tern. Offshore several Gannet, Common Scoter and Great crested Grebes are present. 
The Gull roost of 1500 large mixed Gulls currently contains 2 Yellow legged Gulls, an adult and a 3rd yr bird. As expected at this time of year Mediteranean Gulls start to build. There are currently a minimum of 7 birds on the North Wrral Shore, 2ad summer, 2 moulting adults , 2 second summer and a 1st summer bird.

Migrants at the Ligthouse in recent days have included our first returning 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Garden Warbler near Lingham bridge. Grasshopper Warbler have had some breeding succcess with at least two broods being recorded. Yesterday saw a small movement of Swift with 35 passing late afternoon along with 3 Sand Martin and 14 Swallow. Highlight of the day however was an adult Cuckoo seen at Lingam Lane shortly after lunch. Seen briefly it remained elusive for the rest of the day.

GC, EW


 

 

Wednesday 13 July 2016

Waders return

Weather: SW-3, sunny with cloudy spells.

With little to report over the last few weeks we are pleased to report birds are once again starting to move at the Lighthouse. This week has seen the arrival of returning waders. Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher numbers have all started to build on Hoylake foreshore. Black tailed Godwit (once a scarce bird on the foreshore) have become commoner during recent years however a flock of 50 dropping in was one of our highest counts. The first Turnstone of the autumn arrived today whilst a single adult Med Gull will no doubt be the first of the usual autumn build up. On Monday a Common Sandpiper fed amongst the rocks at 'Greenshank Groyne'. With some stiff onshore winds good numbers of Gannets, Manx Shearwaters and Sandwich Terns are to be regularly seen offshore whiilst the wintering flock of Great crested Grebes have already built up to 34.
Black tailed Godwits (Allan Conlin)

Turnstone (Eddie Williams)