Flying South  

Twenty two people turned out early for the migration watch on Sunday 28^th September. Unfortunately the weather was not in our favour this year and things got off to a really slow start: only twenty two birds were seen passing south in the first hour.

 The main reason for this was that the wind direction wasn't good and the sun was behind the clouds. Luckily 300 goldfinches were feeding on the shore and in the field, moving regularly between the two. They managed to keep our interest going, especially when they were attacked by a sparrowhawk. A Peregrine which attacked the wood pigeons gave all of us a wonderful view as it went into a stoop from high up

Soon after 8am, the sun started to push through and things looked up - but it was certainly not a good day for migration. The highlights included four wheatears that dropped in and sat on the straw bales; and the skylarks. They sang their beautiful song as they ascended, one would start to go, and others joined in: off they went, counted and half way across some would come back, really frustrating the counters! Two small parties of pink footed geese passed by and later a huge flock of 276 passed over to the south east.

A pair of Kestrels entertained us; also using the straw bales they made several sallies to catch prey, sometimes sitting together, other times keeping well away from each other. Other birds of prey included a merlin and several buzzards. 

There were some good waders on the shore, four black-tailed godwits fed beside some curlew and some bar-tailed godwits flew-by on the tidal bore. These are quite rare in this part of the Mersey. A ringed plover was heard and eventually found. Oystercatchers, greenshank, lapwing, golden plover, dunlin and redshank put in an appearance too.  Also on the shore, amongst the mallard and teal, two pintail were found.

Meadow pipit   42     Skylark            14     Chaffinch         17

Greenfinch        8     Goldfinch         40      Linnet             49

Pied Wagtail    10     Grey wagtail      5      Swallow            8