Seaforth nr,

5 Little gulls , 4 adults and a 1st summer showed well with a 1st summer med gull today. 200+ common terns with a couple of artics and 20 sandwich terns.

A 1st summer curlew sandpiper was on the causeway with 20 dunlin, 2 knot, 1 lrp and 4 turnstones.

A reed warbler in the reed bed, 2 wheatears and 15 white wags also.

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Richmond bank,

A greenshank, 4 whimbrel and 4 common sandpipers today on the Mersey.
The warblers were very abundant in the area with 4 grasshopper warblers, 9 whitethroats, 1 lesser whitethroat heard singing, 3 sedge warblers, 2 blackcap, 1 chiffchaff and 5 willow warblers.

A male stonechat and 10 swallows also.

Still about 2000 gulls in the area but nothing in them today

Leasowe, Wirral

There was no sign of the reported red rumped swallow in the horse paddocks west of the lighthouse. We gave the area a good search but only a peregrine, 10 swallows, 4 wheatears and 5 white wags.There had been no sign since the initial sighting. A male redstart, male ring ousel and female yellow wagtail were in the horse paddock at the start of Lingham Lane and a lesser whitethroat sang further up the lane.

Seaforth Nr,

It was nice to see 14 little gulls today. My first of the year. A yellow wag went over , 1 whimbrel, 5 wheatears, 3 common sand, 4 sandwich terns with 50 common terns and a willow warbler whilst I was there.

I tried Plex moss to see if any dotterel had dropped in but 2 wheatears were the best of it.

An adult common crane. Acrylic on paper14" x 11"

Hesketh Out Marsh, Lancashire,

The common crane that was found yesterday afternoon was out of view when I arrived. In a ditch about half a mile away I was told from the handful of birders present but no problem because about 2 minutes later 2 loud bangs sounded and the crane took up with the shellduck. It slowly gained height and flew off high to the north.So that was that , only just made it by a few minutes and Tony C cutting it even finer who arrived about 30 seconds before it flew off. The loud bangs are apparently a bird scarer emanating from the Warton air base were they test the euro fighter . So not the best views of this 1st summer common crane but I was really pleased to have connected with this Lancashire rarity.

I then moved on to Seaforth but none of the hoped for little gulls on show today in a cold northwesterly.A very interesting adult herring gull with bright yellow legs was on the long bank probably of the type 'omissus' which breed in the Baltic region.

7 whimbrel flew in, a few white wags and a little owl showed well in the short time I was there.

Pres res

White wagtail male

white wagtail 1st summer female

50 sand martins today with 2 swifts 1 house martin and a handfull of swallows

2 little ring plovers today

2 common sands today

Richmond bank,
The large 3rd cal year iceland gull was on the bank this morning with about a 1000 gulls in the roost, which were mainly lesser black backs. A female marsh harrier was seen distantly over the Mersey and the local crows gave it a good mobbing before it then drifted off south towards Moore. Lots of swallows today hawking insects over the canal and pond. A grasshopper warbler was seen briefly and a blackcap was singing with willow warbler, chiffchaff and a single whitethroat.
A whimbrel flew over calling.

The bullfinch is a real beauty and always a pleasure to see. A shy species but they usually give themselves away with their distinctive calls.
Acrylic on paper

Burrows Lane, Prescot.

A very nice male ring ousel was in a field near the cricket club today. A great find by chris D this afternoon and just rewards for the effort he puts in locally. The resident blackbirds didn't seem too impressed but this big male wasn't going to be intimidated. It was only just over the fence from Prescot reservoirs and there seems to have been a good fall of ousels across the country today.

Seaforth NR,
A pair of bearded tits were in the small reed bed on the reserve today. Found by Tony C these were the first record of this species at seaforth. They were extremely elusive but occasionally gave themselves up as they moved between reed beds.

Common gulls copied from a painting by Lars Jonsson

Prescot res,

5 singing willow warblers in the warm sunshine gave today a real summery feel .The 13 goldeneye were displaying and getting excited. The tufted duck are now down to just 9 and 3 great crested grebes were looking spendid in their plumes.

Richmond bank,

A reeling gropper was in a tangle of brambles and was accompanied by singing chiffchaff and willow warbler. A pair of great crested grebes were displaying on the Mersey and 3 gadwalls were nearby. 4 buzzards kept the gulls on their toes and the juv glaucous gull was present again.

Lots of peacock butterflies out today and a lovely yellow brimstone fluttered past.

A few pics from recent weeks

4th cal year herring gull

3rd cal year herring gull

3rd cal year herring gull

2nd cal year herring gull

Richmond bank,

3000 gulls present on the bank today with about 90% of them being lesser black backs. A juv glaucous gull was present this morning and an adult yellow legged gull was in amongst the lbb gulls.

A couple of swallows and 5 sand martins shot through.

At hale marsh 5 white wagtails with 30 meadow pipits. A swallow and 3 sand martins also.