Prescot reservoirs,

A whooper swan over and the first returning goldeneye (f) of the year gave this Saturday a very wintery feel to it. 10 redwing, 7 siskin, and the female stonechat added to this. A juv dunlin moulting into winter was an attractive bird on the causeway. Also 4 wigeon, 1 teal, 39 pochard, 7 little grebe,1 kingfisher,1 artic tern,4 buzzards, 6 skylarks and a tawny owl calling in yates wood. Swallows, martins and mipits moving through, throughout the morning. A large flock of pinkfeet, 500 approx dropped down on to catchdale moss.

3 whooper swans were also reported at Thrapston GP Northants and 8+ at Martin mere today ........

Prescot reservoirs,

A juv little stint was a nice suprise as I walked across the causeway today. It was very confiding as it feed on the edge of the water totally unconcerned by our presence. I noticed on bird guides that there seems to have been a big influx of little stints today.Not suprising with all the north easterlies recently. Also 1 dunlin, an juv artic tern, 1 shoveller, 6 wigeon, 45 pochard, 200 tufted duck, 7 little grebe,1 stonechat, 30 redwing and a swift. Still small numbers of house martins and swallows.

2 kingfishers today have been very showy lately, flying around and fishing at the reservoirs.

BH reported 2 sandwich terns through on Tuesday.

Prescot reservoirs,
Another spotted flycatcher today near the bandscreen. A late common swift went through today with 20 swallows and 9 house martins. 3 skylarks and 11 meadow pipits were on the move as were the newly arrived flock of 26 siskins. The female stonechat was still present in the ranch but no sign of the reed warbler seen earlier by AS. BH had spotted redshank over calling. A kingfisher was showing well around no4 res today.The pochard have now increased to 35 , the little grebe were at 7 and 1 female ruddy duck.
Yesterday in the torrential rain a peregrine, a knot, common sandpiper and a female wheatear were the best of it.
A couple of highlights through the week were lesser spotted woodpecker seen in the ranch feeding in the sallows by A.S. and yellow wagtail seen on the causeway by B.C.

Prescot reservoir,
3 Spotted flycatchers, 1 willow warbler, 4 reed buntings in wheatear corner. The stonechat still present by the pond, 2 skylarks over and 11 meadow pipits. Adult med gull on no4 res.
Juv cormorant and 17 pochard on no3 reservoir. Common sandpiper on cauaseway and Bar tailed godwit calling over.
BH reports pintail and juv little gull yesterday. Both cracking birds for the res and bothI have yet to see here.
BC reports 4 wheatear and a whinchat on thursday.

Prescot reservoirs,

2nd winter med gull and 5 wigeon on no4 res. A swift over no3 res with house martins and swallows.1 snipe flushed from new pond. 1 spotted flycatcher, 2 chiffchaff and a willow warbler around bottom wood.8 grey wag and 10 pied wag today.

My lastest watercolour taken from a photo I took on a cold ,sunny, January morning in 2004 . A good winter for waxwings and these were on Queens drive by the queens pub in Liverpool.

Prescot res,
Med gull on no4 today, 3 sand martins, 13 pochard, 2 little grebe, 1 chiffchaff , 1 grey wag and 4 pied wags.

Crosby marina,
Firecrest in willows in s. e. corner of marina

Prescot rerservoirs,
An adult med gull on post around pr4, Red breasted goose flew over with 40 barnacles, 10 grey wagtails and 14 pied wagtails on the causeway. The juv stonechat still present in the ranch. 2 treecreepers, 10 long tailed tits, 1 coal tit, 1 male blackcap and 2 chiffchaff amongst the tit flock.

Great white egret at Marshside

Prescot Reservoirs,
A spotted flycatcher showing well near the new pond today. The juv stonechat still . Also 5 swift, 150 house martins, 20 swallow, 10 pochard, 3 little grebe,1 common sand, 7 grey wagtails, 4 pied wag, chiffchaff, whitethroat, and willow warbler present. 50 goldfinch in meadow.
Bh reports whinchat in the ranch on thursday.

Marshside RSPB,
I nipped up to Southport after work today to see the great white egret. It was a timely arrival of this bird as I was thinking of going to Lieghton moss to see their great white egret at the weekend. Saved me the journey. I was the only birder there and had the reserve to myself. I was expecting to see a few regular faces . It showed on polly's pool and then flew over the road onto the salt marsh. An impressive bird and a lifer for me.

Garden Wobbler at the res yesterday

Prescot reservoirs,

A female marsh harrier seen at 8.05 heading s.w. by BH was an excellent bird for the res. Several years since the last but given the number of marsh harriers in the north west lately it was no suprise. A juv artic tern was also on show early am.

A report from AS of an eclipse drake garganey next door in the safari park was another good bird for the area.

Prescot reservoirs,

An adult med gull today on no4 res. 10 buzzards up in the air together. 2 common sand, 2 little grebe, yesterdays female redstart was still present, 2 garden warblers and juv stonechat. The red breasted goose went over no4 with 30 barnacles.

Spotted flycatcher at prescot reservoirs

Prescot reservoirs,
A greenshank over no4 and then landing on the causeway and stayed for 30 mins. A spot fly still, in the ranch now. 4 wheatears were new in by the camera mast and the juv stonechat still. 3 pochard 2m 1 f, a pair of ruddy duck. 2 swift 40 swallow and 60 house martins.