Happy new year to all our members and followers

So as we say goodbye to 2013 we find several of our clan (who are secret ticker rivals) dashing to Denhall Quay, Burton in search of rarities to finish the year off.

Siberian Chiff Chaff - L Bimson

They weren't disappointed as they were treated to  great views of Buff bellied pipit and Siberian chiffchaffs.

Gt Northern Diver-  R Blythe

And on the other side of the Mersey, a Gt Northern diver admired the storm battered pier at Southport Marine lake!

But that's not the only good news, RSPB Liverpool is on the up with more people joining our clan. Some are seasoned birders who probably know more than they're willing to admit, and then there are the novices like Brian & Janet, who only joined us last month at the December indoor meeting. Yesterday Brian sent me an email.

' My first photo of a Kingfisher  last week thought you might be interested, all the best'

Kingfisher - B Johnson

You bet we're interested Brian, it's always nice to see what folks are up to and what they've seen. Always happy to share, as I believe we learn a lot from others. 

So I hope we'll see you all in 2014, lots of great speakers, lots of great field trips and a few RSPB events at a well known park and on the high seas!

See you all on the Sunday 5th January?

http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/Liverpool/events/

Laura (Bimo the Comms)

April Fools on a bit of a twitch

Marsh from Denhall Lane

Whilst Chris was in Speke/Garston, Sean and I decided to go and see what was happening in Leasowe as far as migrants were concerned.  A cold easterly wind blowing, there was nothing unusual about, no doubt the cold weather holding the migrants back. A few linnets, meadow pipits and pied wagtails on the paddocks.  A bitterly cold walk along the front produced little other than a few gulls and redshanks.

On then to Red Rocks which again was quiet, a few shelduck on the sands and a solitary knot and a redshank.  A brief stop in West Kirby by the Marine Lake which only seemed to have a selection of gulls.  Were we doomed?

No, as they say no gain without pain, on to Denhall Quay, by The Harp at Neston.  We parked up where there were already a few birders with scopes lined up in search of the drake American Wigeon.  After only a couple of minutes the bird which had been quite elusive appeared.  Larger than our Eurasian one and with a cream rather than yellow stripe down the face we were in luck at last.  There was no sign of the female black redstart that had been reported in a garden near The Harp so it was on to Neston Sewage Works for the Ware Pipit.  A muddy walk in parts (wellies advisable) with a great spotted woodpecker and a few redwings on the way took us to the view point over the fence on to number 4 bed.  A selection of birds were around the sewage works including grey and pied wagtails, wren, song thrush, chiffchaff and a couple of goldcrests displaying right in front of us in a tree.  There was also a meadow pipit which we were trying to convince ourselves could be the water pipit in winter plumage until of course the real thing appeared on the metal rail in front of us in full summer plumage.  What a little stunner with pinky peach chest and a grey head with a distinct white eye stripe.  Back to the car and a short walk further up past The Harp for another look for the Yankee wigeon produced our first Wheatear of the year and another view of the wigeon.  Finally, on to Denhall Lane near Inner Marsh Farm, in the hope of a hen harrier to round up the day, found another two wheatears (male and female)here, but  no such luck on the hen harrier front unfortunately but a grand day out never the less.

Ann(Tomo)