Migration Watch at Hale Lighthouse

Hale Head is well known as a migration watch point, as the birds are funnelled down before eventually being forced to make the river crossing in a Southerly direction. Many species, like the skylarks and pipits, use the local fields for feeding and the finches and warblers often stop briefly in the local gardens and wooded areas.

Migration Watch 2007   CAC

The annual migration watch took place at Hale on Sunday,October 7th, 2007, from 0700 to 1100. Although it was chilly at dawn, the sun soon warmed us up, but it remained a bit misty over the river. Twenty seven people turned up for the event, including several children. Not everyone stayed for the full time. Some wandering off along the Mersey Way to Within Way or towards Hale Park, to stretch their legs and pick up some different species.

The ranger tries to choose a morning when the tide is rising, as this brings better views of waders and ducks etc. on the river. An eye is kept open for birds of prey and other local species.

The watchers count every bird that crosses the river. This year 18 species made the crossing, the most numerous being a minimum of 2,695 woodpigeons. This was a bit disappointing compared to larger numbers of birds and species in previous years and over the few days prior to this count. Hale is not the only spot to look for these migating birds. Any spot along the north-shore could be suitable.

Species seen migrating across the river

Woodpigeon    2695   Collared dove   2   Skylark           27    Meadow pipit   41

Pied wagtail       47      Grey wagtail    5   Wheatear         1     Starling          33

Jackdaw            31      Rook              3   Tree sparrow    6     Chaffinch        85

Linnet             120      Siskin             2   Goldfinch        33    Greenfinch       6

Yellowhammer     1     Reed bunting   2

The birds seen on the river included:

Grey Heron         2

Mallard            220    Teal              45    Wigeon              1      Shelducks      15

Ringed plover    30    Grey plover      2    Golden plover   264     Lapwing         30

Dunlin              20     Snipe             2    Black-tailed Godwit 1    Curlew          200

Redshank         45    Turnstone        1

A good number of common birds were also seen and both redwings and fieldfare (winter migrants) also put in an appearance. A peregrine falcon was watched for some time circling high above the lighthouse.

Small copper and small tortoiseshell butterflies were noted and seven red admirals were observed crossing the river heading southwards.

Some of the birds seen

Redshank & Black-headed gulls                Ringed Plover   CAC

Reed Bunting on the hedge  CAC