Liverpool RSPB's BIG New year birdwatch

After getting up nice and early with a scrapping of ice from the windscreen, it was up to the Speke/Garston LNR for Liverpool RSPB's BIG New Year Birdwatch and the start of many peoples New Year birdlists. Sunday compared to the previous days total washout, dawned cold, dry, sunny, with a slight breeze with little wind chill. 35 intrepid birders joined the throng eager to start the walk, ears pricked binos at the ready.

A great start even before the last boot was laced and the car park left we had seen Blackbird, Woodpigeon, L.B.B.Gull, Goldfinch, Flocks of Starling, a Grey Heron in flight and hunting Kestrel. Walking the path toward Garston shore we spotted Redwing perched in the trees, soon joined by 2 more of the Turdus species Mistle thrush and singing Song thrush. The Kestrel we had seen hunting earlier came to perch in the trees close to the path giving us great views of her sunlit plumage, she didn't seem to be bothered by the gawping humans 20 0dd feet away! Shortly after it was joined by the tercel, male and female together.

A Greenfinch was the last to be ticked off before we moved onto the river birds. Along the shoreline probing the mud ( MERSEY MUD MATTERS -website article) we found Redshank, Cormorant, Herring gull, Black Headed Gull, Curlew, Teal, Mallard, Lapwing, and a magnificent yet menacing Gt.Black Backed Gull. Overhead being mobbed by crows an unconcerned Buzzard scanned the reserve blow. In the breeze swept reeds between the mudbanks and the path Reed Buntings flitted between the stalks, a Wren called out and was duly ticked. Back on the river we had 3 Shelduck bobbed along, quickly out done by a flock of Dunlin, twisting and turning in flight along the shore looking for the best bit of mud to alight on. A Turnstone was observed, doing what it does best, turning stones, piping Oystercatcher completed the picture.

Turning away from the shore scanning the fields around the warehouses, we ticked off Magpie, Collared Dove, and Carrion Crow. And a then at mega for the day the strange distant bird acting like a kestrel turned out to be a Peregrine perched onto the corner of the B&M building, then swooping through the buildings and onto Speke Hall Woods. Spreading out for walk through the marshy grassy area, our stealthy band of 'beaters'! Flushed out a marvellous Brown Hare, a covey of 5 Grey Partridge, a Skylark, a Snipe and a Meadow Pipit.

Moving on to our second stop of the day we re -grouped by Sefton Park Lake (Along with a large proportion of Sunday strolling Liverpudlian families enjoying the sunny weather- the swans, geese and ducks were all well fed that day) The tick list grew, as we added feral Pigeon, Mute swan, Common gull, Coot, Canada goose, Moorhen, 4 gorgeous Little Grebes, and a sprightly lakeside Grey Wagtail. Leaving the lake and into the trees we espied, along with the resident Grey Squirrels and Rats, Blue tit, a good view of a Ring neck parakeet (a first for many of our group), Long tailed tits, Great tits, hunting Sparrowhawk, Robin, Chaffinch, and a posing Jay perched on a branch probably keenly watching where the resident Grey’s were burying their monkey nuts. A Pied Wagtail and 4 Mistle thrush's were on the playing fields avoiding the footballers.

A short walk over to nearby Greenbank Park gave us a Tufted duck, a Jackdaw, another sighting of the Ring necked Parakeet and a handsome male Goldeneye on the lake.

Back to our cars for a quick drive to the Black Woods in Childwall gave us Nuthatch, Coal tit, female Great spotted Woodpecker and male Great spotted woodpecker as "Ged" our Woodpecker expert pointed out at the last indoor meeting 'Red on the crown'! Stock dove and to finish off as the sun was going down we got lovely Brambling.

60 birds in total, not bad for a day in local parks.

BIRD REPORT COMPILED BY CHRIS STOREY THE TICKMASTER!

And a little bit from me!

Laura

Avocets at RSPB Marshside. Make a Date.

Nature lovers and their families are invited to visit RSPB Marshside to see one of the UK’s most charismatic waterbirds in action. From 1 April, staff and volunteers will be hosting the Marshside Avocet Date with Nature, showcasing the iconic black and white birds with the upturned bill, which have made the Southport reserve their home during the breeding season. Avocets, the emblematic species of the RSPB, have been breeding at RSPB Marshside for the past 10 years with the number of pairs rising from 1 in 2001 to 37 in 2010. This year, 32 avocets have already returned to the reserve. The birds are attracted to the specially created islands, which have been covered in cockle shells to mimic their preferred nesting habitat. Alex Pigott, warden at RSPB Marshside, says: “Avocets are fascinating birds to watch during breeding season as they get really protective and will chase away anything that they think might pose a threat to their young. It is not unusual for them to scare off other birds twice their size. “As many of the avocets nest near our main hide, visitors should be able to get great views of these birds. We hope to get as many people visiting as possible and would particularly love to see children enjoying these wonderful birds.” Besides avocets, RSPB Marshside also boasts the greatest concentration of breeding waders of any other nature reserve in the UK with large numbers of lapwings, redshanks and oystercatchers The Marshside Avocet Date with Nature runs from 1 April to 4 July every Friday to Monday 10am to 5pm at the main hide.

Disneyland Paris birdwatching

A family holiday to Eurodisney with a load of none birders and not allowed to bring the bins isnt the best thing for a birder.

I have been here a few times in October with kids and had a number of common species but not a great deal apart from crested tit while queueing for Thunder Mountain in 2004. I thought it was a passing bird.

So, Valentines day flying to Paris sounded romantic. Tuesday morning up and early and off to the park. Common species like mallard, crow, house sparrow, chaffinch, black headed gull were easy to see.

I soon added cormorant, blackbird, wood pigeon, canada goose and kept queueing for rides. Moorhen, greenfinch, sparrowhawk, magpie, collared dove and redpoll finished off day1.

We stayed in the Cheyenne which is a cowboy themed hotel but as my eyes kept scanning the skies no birds of prey or anything different than listed. I walked through to Newport Bay Hotel on our last day and added blue, coal, great and long tailed tit, rook, dunnock, goldcrest, pied wagtail. A large flock of serin were feeding by the main lake at the hotel. I walked through the hotel out on to the circular road adding jay and out on to the open fields hearing pheasant, wren, skylark and watching a reed bunting and kestrel.

Last rides were the order of the day and back to Thunder Mountain and I heard, then saw the crested tit again in the pine trees by the fastpass entrance. What a way to finish the trip.

Chris

Speke Garston Coastal Park part1

I spent some time last year visiting this site as part of 'Birdwatching by Bike' for Liverpool City Council's Cycling Speke. I thought it would be a good place in Liverpool for the group to have a regular visit to, and see what birds and wildlife visit the site through the year.






A good turn out for the first walk on Sat 12th Feb allowed us to see a number of birds species such as woodland, waders and grassland types.


We saw 32 different birds with the highlights being, 2 stonechats, grey partridge ( very rare in a built city ) and lapwings getting ready to hold breeding territory, if they can survive the crows!






Watching stonechat's fly catching.



Next walk here according to the membership card is Sat 30th April but due to double booking we will be visiting again on Sat 16th April at 9.30


Enjoy the birds Chris.

Drama at the Dee

A dramatic natural event can be witnessed this month as Spring tides are due to inundate RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve, at Parkgate.

Spring tides only happen on a handful of occasions each year. If the weather conditions are right, they are so high that they actually flood the whole saltmarsh.

This natural occurrence becomes a real wildlife spectacle as the more secretive birds and creatures that normally live there, like water rails, snipe, harvest mice, and water voles, flee the rising tide and are brought closer inland. This in turn can attract the most amazing birds of prey, like ghostly grey hen harriers, gliding short-eared owls, and high speed merlins as well as the majestic grey herons and little egrets who take advantage of the situation.

Paul Brady, RSPB Visitor Development Officer, said: “Watching the tide surge towards you with the Welsh hills as a stunning backdrop is thrilling. Add to that the sights and sounds of huge flocks of birds, along with the excitement of expert predators doing what they do best, makes it an experience to remember.”

He added: “The wildlife can come so close on these tides that one year someone actually had a bird that’s normally very hard to see, a water rail, hiding in his rucksack!”

In the winter, the marshland of the Dee Estuary is an internationally important habitat for a vast numbers of ducks and wading birds.

These free RSPB High Tide Bird Watch events are running on Saturday 19 February at 10 am, Sunday 20 February at 11 am and Monday 21 February at 11.30 am.

Everyone is welcome to come along to the Old Baths Car Park, Parkgate, where expert staff and volunteers will be on hand to showcase the action.

Garden birds in Merseyside need you

The world’s biggest ever wildlife survey - the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch - takes place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 January 2011 and we need you.

Last year, over half a million participants recorded 8.5 million birds across 280,000 gardens, helping us monitor the birds visiting our gardens over the winter period.

In Merseyside more than 5,000 people took part in last year’s survey, recording the blackbird as the most common garden bird in the county (1).

This year we’re looking for even more people in Merseyside to take part. We really could do with your help as the more results we receive, the clearer the picture we can paint of the situation. We are particularly interested in finding out what effect the freezing conditions have had on species of garden birds.

Taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch is simple and it’s suitable for all the family. The survey provides a fun and educational activity in the depths of winter.

Carolyn Jarvis, the RSPB’s People Engagement Manager for Northern England, said: “Big Garden Birdwatch is great for the whole family to do together.

“It only takes an hour, but taking part can make a real difference to our knowledge of garden birds, helping us to work out which ones are doing well and which ones need help.”

If you haven’t got children, use the Birdwatch as a great excuse to sit back and watch the wildlife outside your window for 60 minutes of your day.

Carolyn continues: “You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home to take part – in fact, it is better if you stay indoors so as not to disturb the birds in your garden.”

Results from 2010 survey provided a good understanding of how birds were coping with the prolonged cold spell we experienced at the start of last year. Unusually high numbers of countryside birds like fieldfares and bullfinches were spotted in Merseyside gardens. More usually found in fields and farmland trees and hedgerows, these birds visited our gardens for food when they couldn’t find enough in their usual haunts.

To do your bit for garden birds, simply spend one hour over the weekend 29/30 January 2011 counting the birds in your garden or local park and record the highest number of every bird species seen at any one time.

The RSPB and partners are also running lots of Big Garden Birdwatch events and activities across the UK leading up to and over the weekend of 29 and 30 January.

Over at Sefton Park Palm House on 23 January, the RSPB’s Liverpool Local Group are setting up a variety of bird feeders and will be on hand to give advice on bird identification and looking after wildlife in your garden (noon to 4pm).

For further information and online resources to help you with your birdwatch, visit the RSPB website, www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch. An online results form will be available from Saturday 29 January until 18 February 2011.

Alternatively, call 0300 456 8330 to request a Big Garden Birdwatch form to be sent to you (calls charged at standard rate). The hotline number will be in operation until 28 January.

Last years most numerous Merseyside bird was the blackbird.

Woodland birds

The groups next walk will be Childwall Woods in South Liverpool. This walk is for beginneers looking for woodland species. Meet at 9.30am at the corner of Woolton Rd and Aldbourne Ave for a 2hr walk.

Not sure if we will have snow but wrap up.

Chris