2017 new year field trip

Today started cold and fresh on our first field trip of the year which, makes a change from last years rain. With the 2nd in January being a bank holiday it certainly gave lots of us a chance to get out and those that did really enjoyed the day.

This field trip has always been about enthusing and showing how many species can be found in Liverpool and we thought we would be on to break our record of 62.One of our first birds of the day was greenfinch in the trees by the car park followed by goldfinch, blackbird, wood pigeon and kestrel.

As we started to walk towards the estuary 2 mute swans flew out of the river towards town. As it was low tide the exposed mud banks were quite some distance out but telescopes we were able to show, redshanks, curlew, dunlin, oystercatcher, turnstone,mallard, teal, grey herons, cormorant, black headed, herring and lesser black backed gulls.

As we walked back from the shore 2 ravens conked their way into view and a solitary crow helped show off the size difference. We continued the walk checking the estuary as a great black backed gull flew past, but small birds kept flying about. Robins kept jumping about on the path in front of the main group, grey wagtail flew over the back of the group and in the vegetation dunnocks, wrens, reed bunting and a fly over meadow pipit. We stopped as the call of a fieldfare flew into a large shrub.  As we reached the sailing club a local dog walk told us how his dogs had flushed 3 short eared owls on the saltmarsh, we were very excited by this news. 

A single ringed plover and common gull was at the end of the slip way and 4 grey partridges flew off the marsh never an easy bird to see well.   

2 Skylarks flushed out of one of the meadows and a walk up towards the business park helped add more meadow pipits but even better some showy stonechats and 2 common snipe. A few blue tits were in this area with song thrush and mistle thrush but we had failed to see so many common species. The list stood at 40 species.

We walked back to the car to find 4 back windows had been smashed and it really spoilt a wonderful start to the year. Some went one to Sefton Park to try and add more species but the day had been ruined.

Chris Tynan

Leader

Footnote

Several members of the group have contacted various agencies including liverpool council, peel holdings and mps about  the  damage and we await further contact and hopefully progress in making this site  secure for visitors.

(I have to say its not a happy start to the year. I led a walk around the reserve yesterday with 31 other people. We started at 9am and returned to the cars in the car park just after midday.

We returned to find 4 of the groups cars had had their back windows smashed and their boots ransacked. Considering the car park was full of cars it could have been all of them! The car park had lots of glass from other windows which makes you wonder that whatever low life is responsible for this vandalism is there with some degree of regularity.

I really like showing off this reserve to members and the general public but it makes me feel that RSPB Liverpool wont be leading any more walks here until security improves.

All 4 incidents were reported to Merseyside Police. Some of the group have now contacted the local councillors and MP through emails and social media.

I feel I have to let you know of these incidents).

3 visitors to the Mersey

A quick visit on Saturday morning to Speke Garston Coastal Park paid dividends before the visit of the 3 Queens.

Standing on the old ship looking over Garston shore I spotted three sanderlings in with the dunlin and ringed plover. One of the sanderlings had colour rings and a flag bingo!! You can get great recovery records on waders.

I watched the bird for over 30minutes but it always stayed just on the scopes edge. Finally I was happy that the birds right leg had yellow, green flag and red and the left leg had two reds. A quick email and a day later we have the record for the this bird.
The bird was ringed 6/7/2011 in Hochstetter Forland Greenland. The bird was next found 14/11/2013 at Walvis Bay Namibia by Mark Boorman. The bird returned to Namibia and was last seen in November 2014. A remarkable journey of 7148 miles one way!

Chris

 

 



 

Big New Year Day Out 2015

Monty- ready for action  - Laura B

Another year another New Year birdwatch, but this year we had a special guest, honorary member Monty the Adelie penguin from the Lewis's Christmas TV ad fame. http://www.johnlewis.com/christmas-advert-2014-montys-christmas

Monty leads the way- Neil P

Monty will be with is for a few weeks before heading for his new nest, determined by a winning raffle ticket. Monty is to be raffled in aid of the UK overseas territories appeal.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/joinandhelp/donations/campaigns/ukot/index.aspx

It was sparkling winter’s day -4 on the thermometer, frosty and beautiful.

Sunrise over the reserve - Laura B

The Garston shore waders were already assembled waiting for the incoming tide to move ‘em along. On the mudflats/marshes we could see redshank, oystercatcher, lapwing, curlew, dunlin and one black tailed godwit. 

Frosty redshank -Neil P

Various gulls were parading, overlooked by a Gtr black back observing from a high pole. Teal and shelduck were gliding along on the river.  

Buzzard  -Neil P

A buzzard swooping from the shore to  the woods entertained us for a wee while.

Walking along the frosty, somewhat slippery   path, smaller foragers were found, wren, linnet, reed bunting, goldfinch, blackbird, dunnock, robin, great and blue tits.

Kestrel -Neil P

As we approached Speke Hall we sighted another buzzard soaring and a gt spotted woodpecker was perched high in the woodland fringe.

The fields in between the industrial units and the pathway have become a traditional ‘flushing’ area. 4 members with the most waterproof footwear (the field was more of a bog due to the recent rain) formed our usual 'flushing' party line ready to sweep the field, while the rest of us moved ahead of them ready to see what might startle. Inevitably we succeeded in flushing snipe, jacksnipe and meadow pipit, but no skylark?

Team Sefton Park - Laura B

No peregrine perched on the units today, but we did see a kestrel hunting over the reserve grasslands, vigilant as the frost began to thaw.

Moving on to our next stop Sefton park. We found hundreds of Liverpool residents had had the same idea, including the model boat society, whose little launches struggled in the lake, bumping along the edge of the ice that still covered a large portion of the lake.

Mute swans - Laura B

All the  usual suspects where there, a family of mute swans with 7 cygnets, canadian geese, mallards and hybrids, grey heron, coots, moorhen,  cormorant, a zillion black headed gulls, quite a few common gulls, a couple of herring gulls. And a solitary pochard!

Little grebe- Laura B

Once more the little grebes, brought smiles of admiration, tiny, fluffy dabchicks, 14 counted on the day.  No mandarins or tufties insight.

Off to the feeding station, where we were pleased to find a goldcrest in a conifer along the path, nuthatch and goldfinch in the same area.

As we approached  the little bridge over the steam the familiar ‘squeaky dog call’ alerted us to a party of ring-necked parakeets in the beech trees above, peeling bark or seed eating feverishly. 9 in total, were not yet inundated with these colourful characters, so still a pleasure to see their ultra bright plumage.

Ring necked parakeet- Laura B

The feeding station seemed quieter than previous years, even fewer squirrels! Great and blue tits, robins, blackbirds, nuthatch, crows, magpies, collared dove and jay.

We moved on further down the path towards the fairy glen. A mistle thrush flew over. A small flock of long tailed tits were busy feeding, and a song thrush was foraging in the leaf litter. (I miss all the song thrushes from when I was child)

Turning onto the drive toward the palm house  we observed a couple of buzzards being mobbed by crows, one of the birds had a square green wing tag on its right wing, alas it didn’t come close enough again for us to identify any letters or numbers.  Similarly a sparrowhawk became the crows’ next victim

The main field is usually good for mistles and foreign thrushes’ fieldfare and redwing, but only crows today. However we did eventually find a small party of redwings close to the hedge that surround the palm house.

Back around the lake on our way back to the car park, we diligently scanned the numerous gulls once more for rarer finds, success, another highlight a Mediterranean gull, speckled head and blood-red bill, how did we miss it on the first pass?

Med gull - Laura B

We ended the day at the Black Woods in Childwall. Unspoilt mature woodland which always has the promise of Woodpeckers, long tailed tits, treecreepers and tawny owls. Today’s catch were Stock dove, gt spotted woodpecker, long tailed tit and chaffinch.

Another grand  day out, our total for the day 57 species.
List: Blackbird, black Headed Gull, black tailed godwit, blue tit, buzzard, canada geese, crow, chaffinch, coal tit,  collared dove, common Gull, common Snipe, coot, cormorant, curlew, dunlin, goldcrest, goldfinch, great black backed gull, gt spotted woodpecker, gt tit, greenfinch, grey heron, herring gull, jackdaw, jack snipe, jay, kestrel, lapwing, lesser black back gull, linnet, little grebe, long tailed tit, magpie, mallard, meadow pipit, mediterranean gull, mistle thrush, moorhen, mute Swan, nuthatch, oystercatcher,  pigeon ,pied wagtail, pochard,  redshank, reed bunting, ring necked parakeet, robin, shelduck, sparrowhawk, starling, stock dove, teal, wood pigeon, wren.
Laura

Happy New Year to all our readers

Greetings all.

Sending you best wishes for a Happy Healthy Successful New year.

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and for those who over-indulged last night your  sore heads are recovering!

Welcome to 2015, and a great ‘Birding’ year ahead of us.

I’ve spent the morning chillin by the window, and before the world went dark and the heavens opened ‘the Nook’ had seen 16 different species visiting the buffet table. My first bird of 2015 was a Blue tit, followed by blackbird, house sparrow, robin, goldfinch, feral pigeon, great tit, starling, wren, jay, wood pigeon, greenfinch, coal tit, dunnock, chaffinch and  magpie.  I’m sure there’s a sparrowhawk somewhere, birds very skittish.

So, what was your first bird??

Our membership has had a  busy year, bore out by the number of blog entries we had this year , a whopping 116 (so see blog monthly menu if your looking for some quiet  inspiration or amusement whilst its raining)

Remember our blog is our voice, your voice, so feel free to send blogs or  snippets for uploading.

Laura  

RSPB Liverpool has sent you an update about -

Event: THE BIG NEW YEAR BIRDWATCH

When: Sunday 4th January 2015

Time: 09:00 to ?!

Meet at the Speke Garston Coastal Park reserve car park at the end of Blackburne Street /Garston Shore Rd.
Postcode: L19 8JD

GET YOUR TICK LIST OFF TO A FLYING START

An ideal way to start the new year. Join us on our annual wildlife trip around Liverpool, getting out early to try and see as many birds as we can find in a day in Liverpool. A good variety of birds will be seen, going on to other sites such as Sefton park and Childwall woods, aiming to increase our total. Last year we found 58 different species - including Jack snipe, treecreeper and parakeet. Stay out with us as long as you wish, but you could be out till dusk.

Tiolet and Cafe Facilities Sefton Park only.

Car sharing possible contact leader.

Chris :  Christtynan@aol.com

Easy walk, but Garston coastal path could be muddy, and this part of the walk is not suitable for wheelchairs.

http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/2014-big-new-year-birdwatch.html

     http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/big-day-watch.html

Be there!

Speke Garston Coastal Reserve's 10th Birthday celebrations

Anne & Ingrid muck in....way to go girls

Litter-picking on a grand scale !

Two members of the Liverpool local RSPB group and also the Ramblers Association joined teams from the city council, South Liverpool Housing and Peel Holdings on a massive beach clean-up down at Speke/Garston coastal reserve on friday 02/05/14. The event was organised as part of a celebration of 10 years of this reserve, and produced a record 5 skips of rubbish after the winter storms. The sun shone, the shore line looked infinitely more attractive once relieved of its load of old bottles and other plastic, and there were lots of opportunities to talk about the birds that use the estuary, especially in winter. All in all, everyone agreed it was an excellent way to spend a Friday morning ! -  Anne Pope

Saturday 3rd saw some of the group back for the open day - planned to include leisure and walking activities to promote the 70 acre Speke Garston Coastal reserve and encourage people to use this great natural resource. 

Sheltered in the Liverpool sailing clubs meeting room, 

Information tables laid out ready for the public

Chris positioned on the balcony with telescope.. what a tremendous view of the river, marsh and and beyond. Members of the public were able to talk to Chris and see the birds on mudflats and shrubland, whimbrel, dunlin, mallard, shelduck, oystercatchers, canadian geese, kestrels, sedge warbler, whitethroats, skylarks and wheatears to name a few.

We were joined by the Ramblers association, Bikeright, NHS Liverpool community health and the Garston Historical Society. 

Walkers on the reserve path

Buffet and a mega Birthday cake was generously supplied by the sailing club and was served to all who entered, a welcome break after one of the 'Brisk walks"! 

Landscaped Birthday cake

Local dog walkers were hailed to join us from the balcony! Although the pooches didn't get to eat the cake.

And as it was a special occasion for the community, a Garston Eagle was invited. Maria Eagle mp for Garston came in the afternoon to cut the cake and undertake the Sailing club big 'power switch on' - after securing a grant the sailing club has been able to build a new new multi million pound clubhouse, connected to electricity for the first time! 

RSPB leader Chris Tynan meets local Mp Maria Eagle

Needless to say RSPB Liverpool never miss an opportunity and we asked Maria to support the Westminister debate/referendum on the Maltese migration bird massacre.

http://www.chrispackham.co.uk/
http://www.birdlifemalta.org/view.aspx?id=444#.U2yu6fk7vTp
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stop-spring-hunting-on-malta#home

And we were pleased to see Maria tweeted her support 

Maria Eagle MP ‏@meaglemp May 7
'The slaughter of migratory birds in Malta is abhorrent and Owen Paterson should raise this issue with officials at European Union asap'

For the last 3yrs Liverpool RSPB has started their Big new year bird watches at this reserve, and hope a higher profile will improve facilities and accessibility on the reserve. (Easy walk, but Garston coastal path could be muddy, and parts of the path walk not suitable for wheelchairs)

The opening of the gate to Speke hall grounds gives you the opportunity to extend a walk/use facilities....(charge may apply).

Speke Garston Coastal Park reserve car park at the end of Blackburne Street /Garston Shore Rd. L19 8JD

Read about our field trips

http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/big-day-watch.html
http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2012_01_01_archive.html

Laura

http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/Liverpool/reports/360370/

2014 Big New Year Birdwatch

Garston shore

24 bravely ventured out on our new year birdwatch, a promising start weather wise rapidly went down hill at dinner time, when as we say in Liverpool 'It chucked it down' and we had to take shelter in our cars and Sefton park’s cafe.

Speke Garston shore is usually good for waders and we were not disappointed; after gawping at a wily fox on the tide line for 5 minutes we focused on the birds. On the mudflats/marshes we saw redshank, ringed plover, oystercatcher, turnstone and dunlin. Various gulls were parading including some Gt black back's feeding on a dead fish. Swans were on the river alongside Canadian geese, widgeon, shelduck, mallard and teal.

Walking along the path, smaller foragers were found, wren, reed bunting, goldfinch, blackbird, dunnock, robin, great and blue tits.

A splendid male pheasant trotted along the shore at the bottom of the embankment, accompanied by a rabbit!

Team on the path, checking out the Curlew

The fields in between the industrial units and the pathway have proved fruitful in the past and have revealed hidden gems. Several curlew were feeding on the grass in the field. Some members of the group formed our usual ‘flushing’ party line ready to sweep a particulary wet field with pools, while the rest of us moved ahead of them ready to see what their activities might achieve. Success, first to flush was meadow pipit, then skylark, and best of all snipe and jack snipe.

No peregrine on the units today, but we did see kestrel and buzzard.

Moving on to our next stop Sefton park. Eventually the downpour abated and set off around the lake. All the usual suspects where there, mute swans with Cygnet's, Canadian geese, mallards, a cormorant, a zillion black headed gulls with a few common gulls in the mix, however stars of the lake had to be half a dozen or so little grebes ducking and diving in the rain. No mandarins or tufties today.

We headed to the feeding station, here with the squirrels and pigeons were great and blue tits, robins, blackbirds, gt spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, crows, magpies, collared dove and jay. No parakeets, so we moved on further down the path towards the fairy glen. A flock of long tailed tits were busy feeding, in the same tree as a super little treecreeper.

A squeaky dog call alerted us to parakeets being in the vicinity, but where?  eventually Chris espied one in a large tree by the palm house, in fact on closer observation there turned out to be not one  but five bright green keets, unbothered by us or the miserable weather. 

 

Greenbank Park

We decided to make a quick diversion to the nearby Greenbank Park as the last venue of the day. Here was a forlorn single male tufted duck swimming with the mallards and Aylesbury duck hybrids. Mistle thrushes fed in the field adjacent to the park, but no foreign thrushes fieldfare and redwing. A solitary Grey heron sat on the raft in the middle of the lake, a patient, stealthy predator, waiting for his fish dinner to swim past.

In the end we had seen 58 species in total, not a bad tally for a curtailed trip in less than clement weather!

Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Geese, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Snipe, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Jack Snipe, Jay, Kestrel, Linnet, Lesser black backed Gull, little Grebe, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Ring Necked Parakeet, Ringed Plover, Robin, Skylark, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal,Treecreeper,Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Whooper Swan, Widgeon, Wood Pigeon, Wren

Laura

Singing warblers in the rain

Had an early evening stroll around Speke Garston Coastal park with Ged Clarke from the BBC.
We were out looking at local urban wildlife sites for a possible BBC piece about local North West wildlife.
As the rain started to stop the breeding birds started to sing.
There seemed to be warblers everywhere as well as goldfinch's.
One goldfinch perched up on a stick and lacked any red around its face reminding me of a juvenile bird. Looking around there seemed to be large numbers of goldfinch's with the odd greenfinch.
6 oystercatchers were on the mud as well as 3 whimbrels, a few mallards and 6 shelducks.
It was great to see the reeds and sedges had grown back after the fires on site. A few percy sedge warblers were holding territory in the thicker vegetation and whitethroats were flying up and doing there song. No sign of any lapwings breeding. Chris