North Wales coast trip------of contrast

Sunday 29th was the group annual trip down the North Wales Coast. There was snow on the mountains but sun on the coast! What contrast from the weather we have had all week.

Sea watching was poorer than normally, red throated diver werent that plenty, common scoter were splash diving, great crested grebe were in summer plumage. 1 razorbill was a bit better. Waders on the point included oystercatchers, turnstones, ringed plover, 2 dunlin and 1 knot.

We travelled on to the Spinnies which held its usual little egrets and overwintering greenshanks but no kingfisher. The feeders close to the hide gave good views of chaffinch and greenfinch. We travelled back to RSPB Conwy and tried to get a coffee but it now close at 4.30 for drinks with the reserve staying open till 5.15 when they lock the gates.

A good trip as usual with 54 species seen.

Keep birding.

Chris

First cetti's for Wigan

This is a bit of a late post. This is the first cetti's warbler ringed in the Wigan area on 15th March. It turned up when me and John were after snipe!!


Chris

BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH SURVEY BREAKS NEW RECORD

In January events were held around the UK to get more people to take part in the 30th Big Garden Birdwatch.
The figures: More than 552,000 people took part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch, counting over 8.5 million birds, recording 73 species in 279,000 gardens across the UK.
The facts: Blue tits made a massive comeback in the North West after we saw a worrying fall in numbers during last year’s event. In fact, in some parts of the region, more than double the number of this delightful little garden-dweller were spotted during Big Garden Birdwatch weekend.
In Merseyside – 1.99 per garden compared to 0.71 in 2008; and in Lancashire, where garden-watchers logged an average 2.25 per garden (1.45).
And the trend continued in Cheshire with a more modest increase – 2.28 compared to 1.68 last year – and Cumbria, with 3.25 this year compared to 2.64 in 2008.

Last year’s poor showing by blue tits might have been down to wet weather making the 2007 breeding season the worst ever for the garden favourite.
Heavy rain washing away caterpillars and the later emergence of these creatures are likely to have caused a food shortage for blue tits.
Matthew Capper, who helps get people involved in Big Garden Birdwatch, said: “Thank goodness we’ve seen more blue tits in our gardens this year. Big Garden Birdwatch is a great barometer of the fortunes of our garden birds and it’s always worrying when we see sharp declines in a particular kind of bird.
“But we know from years of experience – and from the information we have gathered over 30 years of Big Garden Birdwatch – that it takes a number of years’ results to see real trends emerging. It looks as though 2008 might just have been a blue tit blip.”
Matthew added: “We’re thrilled to have well over half a million people taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch this year. This is a great way for people to get closer to nature and enjoy the benefits of feeding their garden birds.“
Nationally, the house sparrow retained its top spot for the sixth year running with an average of 3.70 seen per garden. The starling, which is a former number one, came in at number two with an average of 3.21 per garden. The blackbird completed the top three with 2.84 per garden.

Keep checking for the Merseyside top ten.

Chris

Package Holiday Birding

In my role of Group Leader I have always received lots of bird holiday travel brochures. I have always looked through them wishing that one day my family would be become birders but there is no hope! So I have always had to do my foriegn birding around a large popular tourist area.

So the groups next speaker Chris Galvin will be able to show me what I and you have been missing. Monday 16th March will see Chris Galvin come to the group to do his talk on Package Holiday Birding. Doors open at Mossley Hill Parish Church at 19.00 for the talk to start at 19.30. Come along to see one of the UK's best wildlife photographers.

Chris

Beginners Woodland Walk

I will be leading a walk on Saturday 28th Feb at the Black Woods. This is a guided walk to look at woodland birds and help people appreciate birds of this habitat. The walks starts at 9.30am, if you want join us be at the corner of Woolton Rd and Aldbourne Ave then.

Last year we even got buzzard on this 2hr trip.

Chris

Meeting and Birds or Birds and meetings!

Phil Antrobus and myself had a meeting with Mersey Ferries about this year's seabird cruises. We had a really good meeting and left the offices to go to New Brighton Marine Lake.

A quick look at the jetty and you could see a number of waders roosting over the high tide.

A good selection of turnstones, dunlin, redshank but best of all 5 purple sandpipers. I managed to get 4 in the picture. The size of these birds can be quite difficult to judge so in the picture I have included a black headed gull.

The best place to see purple sands is Hilbre Island so it was great to find these birds.

If you get a chance try and go and see them over the high tides this week. Chris

2009 marks the

30th
anniversary of

The RSPB's

Big
Garden

Birdwatch.

The 2009 Big Garden Birdwatch takes place at the end of January and all you need to do to take part is watch the local birds in your garden or park for an hour.
Last January, more than six and a half million birds were counted in 236,000 gardens!, were you one of the watchful diligently counting in your garden or local park.This years Big Garden Birdwatch runs on 24-25 January 2009 and we'd love you to take part!

What happened last year?



In last year' s January weekend count the Goldfinch claimed 'Top spot' in Merseyside with an average of 1.64 seen per garden. Nationally with an average of 3.60 seen per garden, the House Sparrow retained its top spot with Starlings coming in second and Blackbirds completing the top three.

Why not Join us at our events at Sefton Park Palm House Sunday 25 January 2009
Our event starts at noon and finish at 4pm.

Closely observe the birds at our feeding stations through telescopes. People will be on hand for identification and general information on Garden Birdwatching and the RSPB. Kids colouring activities. Make your own pine code birdfeeder to take home.

Our friends at Sefton Park have asked wonderful story teller Taffy Thomas back to the Palm House, he'll be telling stories about our feathered friends to all our visiting children.

Meet our new Wildlife explorer team (RSPB WEX) and find out about their great Ticklish Allsorts Roadshow for kids, to be held on the evening of :27th January.

The British Trust for Ornithology BTO will be with us this year, promoting their all year round Garden Birdwatch recording scheme.