With the extended Easter break I headed down to Garston in search of some spring migrants following on from a report of a black redstart somewhere between Garston and Speke on Saturday.Saturday had been a warm day but Easter Sunday was yet again a blast of cold.
Tide was just on the turn so it was great to see around 200 + black tailed godwit along the shore and some had started to moult into there summer plumage. A ringed plover, couple of sanderling, dunlin and oystercatchers were probing around. The redshank were bobbing u and down while the shelduck were trying to sort out who was more dominant.
Someone has been setting fire to the grass's, bracken and reeds on the site. Lots of dog walks today and a few meadow pipits bouncing about. Mallard and teal were on the river and a buzzard cam out for the trees and headed to the lapwing breeding pools for a drink.
3 kestrels were around the reserve and as I walked off the reserve to check if the lapwings were holding territory on the pools a peregrine flew past and dived over the bank on to the estuary in search of a meal. I soon lost sight of him and continued searching for lapwings and grey partridges but there was none around.A grey heron flushed out of the pools and a single snipe lifted and zig zaged away.
It wont be long before these area are full of waders and birds song. Oh yer and it better warm up too.
Chris
4 comments:
Chris,
Had a walk round same area yesterday 4-6pm, not much except 2 chiffchaff in trees near Speke Hall end and flushed 12plus snipe from the corner near the road.
Went to Wirral with Thomo today.....2 lifers. Good view of drake American wigeon at Denhall quay and lovely Water pipit (2) at Neston sewage works, great birds going into summer plumage, also quite a few chiffchaff there. First Wheatear of the year as well.
Sean.
Hi Sean, I missed the water pipits but saw the black redstart by the Harp Inn on Saturday while out for a walk with Dan and Belinda.
Chris, we missed out on the black redstart but 2 out of 3 aint bad. Where about was the black redstart seen in the Speke Garston area, as I might have a look tomorrow pm.
cheers Sean.
Hi Sean the info was poor but seen between Garston and Speke was all I got.
Chris
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