Catch the spring symphony at RSPB Dee Estuary nature reserve this May

It’s a noisy time of year, as our resident birds are joined by a variety of summer migrants, all of whom are busy preparing for another breeding season on our doorstep. Springtime is the best time of year to enjoy birdsong, and the RSPB Dee Estuary team are hosting two exciting events to help visitors learn more about the different songs that can be heard all around us.

“Birdsong and Breakfast” on Sunday 13 May offers the chance to discover a variety of warblers busily establishing breeding territories at this time of year, whilst the marsh is peppered with other summer migrants such as wheatears, and alive with the songs of skylarks and meadow pipits. This early morning walk provides an opportunity to see and hear Burton Marsh coming to life for the day in this busy time for nesting and migrating birds. Booking essential. Time: 7-10am. Cost: £15 (£12 RSPB members) which includes a cooked breakfast and drink at Nets Café.

 

“Birdsong for Beginners” on Sunday 27 May is the perfect time for less experienced birdwatchers to learn more about different bird songs in the woodland and around the reedbed at Burton Mere Wetlands. Get tips on identification and general advice about wildlife watching. This time of year, birds are particularly vocal as they sing to defend territories and attract a mate. Booking essential. Time: 8.30-10.30am. Cost: £10 (£8 RSPB members).

Venue: Birdsong and Breakfast - RSPB Burton Marsh, Station Road, Burton, Cheshire, CH64 0TG

Birdsong for Beginners - RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton, Cheshire, CH64 5SF

 

Contact: For further details visit rspb.org.uk/burtonmerewetlands To book, phone the visitor centre on 0151 353 2720 or email deeestuary@rspb.org.uk

Help us create a safer home for seabirds on the Shiant Isles.

JUST 51 PENCE CAN MAKE A SQUARE METRE SAFER FOR SEABIRDS ON THE SHIANTS, in total there are 2,200,000 square metres to be cleared of rats.

Puffins and Razorbills Shiants - RSPB image J Richardson

Situated in the stormy seas off the Outer Hebrides, the Shiants are a noisy, sea-salty breeding ground in the Atlantic where seabirds raise their young.

The isles are already home to 10 per cent of the UK population of puffins, and seven per cent of our razorbills.

But there could be many, many more.

Year after year, significant numbers of Shiant Isle seabird chicks are killed by non-native black rats.

Black rat

But with your help we'll remove the rats for good so that the full potential of the islands' seabirds can finally be realised.

What we'll be doing

With your support we can restore and secure seabird populations on these amazing islands.

We aim to remove the rats in time for the summer 2016 seabird breeding season and every one after that. 

The entire project will cost £1.13 million and we have secured 70 per cent of the total cost from the EU LIFE+ fund, Scottish Natural Heritage and major private donors to the RSPB.

But your support is critical to get us over the finish line. We need £345,000 before 18 May this year to get to work.

Fortunately, we don't have to imagine the impact of removing rats from the isles as we've witnessed similar projects around the UK and the globe. Likely consequences include:

A dramatic benefit to seabird populations. The populations of puffins, razorbills, guillemots and shags - species struggling around the UK - will raise more chicks. Removing the rats from the island of Lundy, off the coast of Devon, saw Manx shearwater numbers increase tenfold and there are now four times as many puffins.

The return of Manx shearwaters to the islands. We've found Manx shearwater bones on the Shiants, which strongly indicates that they once bred there. But they simply won't return as long as the rats remain. We have to remove the rats now, or Manx shearwaters and other species like storm petrels will never come back.

A significant boost for the islands' small populations of other ground-nesting birds. Twites, oystercatchers, skylarks, wheatears and curlews should also benefit once they can breed safe from rat predation. Your donation will help secure their future.

After studying all the options, specialists concluded that the only safe and effective way to eradicate the rats is to lay poison in bait stations around the islands for them to consume. The operation will take place in winter, when the rat population is at its lowest and most of the seabirds are away feeding at sea. Careful measures will be used to reduce the risks to all the other wildlife on the islands.

By next summer the rats should be gone. But our project will continue for another three years, doing all we can to stop rats returning; monitoring how the seabirds fare in their safer island home and encouraging species like Manx shearwaters to return.

Can you help us save the seabirds of the Shiant Isles?

Copy and paste link

https://www.rspb.org.uk/applications/donations/single/index.aspx?dt=APLITH0653

A few words for the RSPB blog - Hilbre Haze

On Sunday I met up the MNA group for an early start on the slipway at West Kirby for 09:15hrs and the small group then walked over to Hilbre Island  for a high tide stay-over, which took us about 3/4 hr to walk across the sands to the bird reserve.

There was little wind which didn't dissipate the localised sea mist which hung around all day but did make an effort to lift for a while during our stay.

While there we saw quite a few small migrating birds that had stopped off for a rest and a quick feed. Also a few nosy Grey seals were seen bobbing up and down around the island just keeping an eye on us.

The usual wading birds were seen and a flotilla of Brent geese majestically passed the island at one point. Through the mist we could just see a few hundred common Scoters which looked like a large oil slick, as there was that many of them.

The volunteer bird recorder who had set caged traps around the island had caught several small birds in them and brought them over in soft white bags to show them to us. Pointing out the feather length differences between a first year bird and an adult bird returning from Africa. He blew onto the bird's chest feathers to separate them, for us to see how much yellow fat was left through their thin skin after their long journey.

Among these birds were a small Gold Crest, a Wheatear, which had stunning feather plumage.

We were allowed to watch him ringing, measuring, weighing and recording the birds statistics into his log, which would then be transferred onto a national computer data base. So that the individual ring identification numbers can quickly be accessed and can make a data comparison. 

One that he had just caught in a mist net had flown all the way from Africa ... which is just amazing when you come to think about it. As these birds only weigh a few grams. 

It was around 16:00hrs when the tide had receded sufficiently enough for us to walk back across the sand to Hoylake.

The mist rolled in even thicker, so i just followed the tracks in the wet sand of the vehicles that had driven to and from the island after the tide had receded.

The visitors who were still on the island and those returning to the mainland, got caught out by the mist, which was very disorientating and had to call the RNLI life guard for help, who fortunately was at hand and parked up on the island on his quad bike. He sounded his horn so they could get a bearing on him and to follow him back to the mainland ... 

As soon as i drove away from the coast and onto the M53 Wirral motorway to return back home. The sun was cracking the flags and had been a warm summer's day by all accounts.

A lovely day was had by all, disregarding the sea mist but seeing those lovely birds close up was a real treat.

Neil ............ 

Point of Ayr - a Sunday outing

Eventually got out today with my camera with Rhodie to the Point of Ayr .. nice and mild winds, good variety of birds managed to get some clear shots of them - Neil

The RSPB’s Point of Ayr reserve at Talacre is on the north-west corner of the Dee Estuary, a relatively small area comprising sand flats, mud banks, saltmarsh, scrub, sand dunes and fresh water pools. It therefore attracts a very good range of estuary birds. Being next to the Irish Sea it is also favoured by seawatchers, often being the first landfall for migrating birds crossing over from the North West coast of England. 

The scrub ,wildflower meadows and sand dunes are

good for skylarks, meadowpipits, wheatear, stonechats and warblers.

In winter thousands of waders and wildfowl  gather on the mudflats including  greylag, dunlin, redshank, godwit, curlew, knot, and sanderling.  When the tide rises, the birds are forced onto the nearby marshes. The carefully positioned open backed  hide gives close views of the feeding birds.

There is a 75 mile (1 km) seawall path. Wide, level and surfaced - the seawall is accessible to wheelchairs/pushchairs. The hide is 0.75 mile (1 km) from reserve entrance.  One fixed bench without back.

Previous blog on area:

http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/little-terns-at-gronant.html

More Anglesey wanderings

Looking towards the Ferry terminal Holyhead

Another sunny day, another visit to the holy isle. Bill and I have been walking the Anglesey coastal path. This time we did a short section from Penrhos Coastal Park to Holyhead and Trearddur bay to Rhoscolyn.

Penrhos Coastal Park & Nature Reserve overlooks the sandbanks and mudflats of the Beddmanarch Bay.  Obviously a local favourite for its beach and dog walking territory as the car park was chokka, ice cream & snack van in situ.  As on our previous walk more stunning views, this time towards Holyhead Mountain   and the main isle.

The watchful wader - Curlew

The park is known to attract a variety of seabirds, wildfowl and waders.  In July you’d have found the group on Holyhead prom looking for tysties (black guillemots). I have to admit despite the glorious weather there weren’t many birds out sunbathing, a few gulls, oystercatcher, shag and the highlight of the area an obliging Curlew on the shore.

There are Mixed deciduous & coniferous woods along the path, mixed flocks of Tits, Wren, Chaffinch & Robin were seen and heard flitting along the woodland fringe of the path.

Shady resting place for beloved pets

Along the wooded area of the path  you will come across the pet graveyard, memorials to beloved Brandy, Barney and Tiggy puss to name a few, endearing but sad all the same

The Park also has a number of freshwater ponds and ditches to several small pockets of reed bed. The pond by the car park had a few Mallards, duck food available at the van! 

Trearddur Bay is welsh for Arthur's town.it has 2 beaches, one a fine sandy sweeping curve favourited by families, the other smaller with a flotilla of moored boats, canoes and surfboarders.

Trearddur's sailors

This is 'the' walk to  do, the scenery and coastal formations form Trearddur to Rhoscolyn are to be seen, on a clear day the vista stretches out before you towards the Snowdonia Mountains. Besides if your favoured you will be accompanied by Stonechats, Ravens and Choughs - fantastic.

Kronker the Raven

The path goes across the grassy headlands,the cliff top route includes an ancient well, two sea arches and a stunning view with every step! 

Coastal path

The Black arch 

Further on the White Arch, an impressive gleaming white rock arch,

White arch

At Porth Saint. The rocks here are very colourful, ranging from rusty brown to pink, and are Cambrian in origin, and show a huge geological fold in the rocks.

Porth Saint

Cliff top rest with a view

The lookout- now run by volunteers

The Coastguard Lookout post at the highest point of the walk. The lookout is a superb viewpoint, wonderful views of the distant mountains and the Llyn Peninsula, close inshore is a rocky island, Ynys Gwylanod (Isle of Seagulls) with the navigational Rhoscolyn beacon tower on it.

View towards wales

Beacon island

Oh and just to finish this was  a lovely Windy Wheatear on Leasowe Prom the day after!!

The Leasowe light brigade go Wirral birding

Looking towards Leasowe lighthouse from path to Meols 

The Leasowe light brigade (8 of us in total - not even a squad really) joined Chris bright and early on Saturday.  A wonderful cheery sunny morning with clear views across the river to the wind farm and Formby dunes.

Arriving at the car park it was obvious others had the same idea, besides the early dog walkers, a multitude of birders, telescopes at the ready where either in situ on the sea wall searching through the gulls, or beating a path to the Lingham lane area, where we were to follow. Not a sign of the Iceland gull, but really nice views of a gang to terns, commons and jazzy sandwiches!

Wheatear -Paddocks  Leasowe - L Bimson

On our way, hardly a charge but more of a spring saunter inland, were it was noticeably warmer than on the raised embankment path. The area around Leasowe lighthouse includes scrubland, areas of standing water, wildflower meadows and reedbeds.  We headed down the footpath leading to the paddocks; this whole area behind the coastal embankment is a haven for resting migrants and nesting birds. Chiffchaff and blackcaps were amongst the more common finches in the shrubs and hedges. Early swallows sweeped the fields.  Our pal Sean had visited during the week and had reported wheatear, whinchat and redstart,  so we were pleased to see the first of our targets, a striking wheatear popping  about the fields with others such as linnets, meadow pipits, skylarks and white wagtails, in fact wheatears turned out to be plentiful, over half a dozen in one paddock.  Or second quarry a whinchat was seen distantly through John’s scope further a field, but had flown by the time we got to a closer vantage point.

Moving on to Park Lane by the farm, a party of birders put us on  to the spot the redstart had been seen, sure enough a little further down the lane a couple of telescopes were trained on it! What a beauty, a striking male redstart perched in a field edge shrub, flitting down to the grass and back...marvellous.

Stonechat -N prendergast

No sign of the whinchat so we headed back towards the coastal path which gave us good views of the shore line and of the enclosed common/sandy area. This was to prove fortuitous. Whilst observing some splendid feisty stonechats, sparrows, linnets and goldfinches in a patch of flowering gorse, a whinchat was seen being mobbed by a male stonechat, not happy the other chat was on his patch!

Looking out to sea we focused our attention on a mixture of feeding waders, as well as a little egret and a curlew, no whimbrel today.

Returning through the reed bed area we discussed and observed the differences between chiffchaff and willow warbler, the legs have it apparently; chiffchaffs always dark, willow warbler more pinkish. More blackcaps recorded and a reed bunting, sedge warbler heard but not seen. As well as the migrants, the warmer weather had brought some others out to play. Peacock and Tortoiseshell butterflies flitted about, huge bumble and red-tailed bees explored the grassland, and a yellow flourish of daffodils, primroses and celandines lifted their heads to the blue skies.

Male Blackcap  at leasowe- N prendergast 

Time to leave, however a detour was in the air, a desperate twitch ensued, apparently a blue winged teal was sunning itself at the old RSPB Inner Marsh farm pools.  Well it was only 25 minutes away as the crow flies. 

Kestrel  at IMF -N prendergast

Arriving at the reserve, we were told it was showing well and had been snoozing in front of the hide for 3hrs, however our grand day out was about to end on a slightly sour note, as we approached said hide, the birding community were telling us the bird had moved, as it happened it had moved to the furthest pool from the hide, beyond binos!  An enclave of birders with telescopes packed the far end of the hide, promising if it came into view they would give is a gander, but they weren’t giving up their seats!  After 30mins or so we resignedly gave up the twitch, jobs to do, people to see…we left the enclave to their vigil.  Still the avocets and godwits were resplendent in the sunshine, and the newly arrived whitethroats were ticks for the day.

Oystercatcher and avocets IMF - L Bimson

Our Wirral Day list : 64 species

Little egret, grey heron, mute swan, canada goose, shelduck, gadwall, teal,  mallard, shoveler,  tufted duck, common  scoter, buzzard, kestrel, pheasant, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, ringed plover, lapwing, dunlin, black tailed godwit, curlew, redshank, turnstone, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull , herring gull, sandwich tern, common tern, wood pigeon, skylark, sand martin, swallow, meadow pipit, white wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, redstart, whinchat, stone chat, wheatear, blackbird, house sparrow, mistle thrush, whitethroat, blackcap, chiff chaff, willow  warbler, blue tit, great tit, long tailed  tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, reed bunting.

River Birket, Leasowe

Bimo