Voluntary Wardens needed at Gronant

Spring Migration 2000

• March 12 1999  Wheatear at Hilbre
• March 13 1999  White Wagtail at Hilbre
• March 17 1999  Chiffchaff at Thurstaston
• March 27 1999  Sand Martin at Hilbre
• April 2     1999  Willow Warbler at Hoylake
• April 8     1999  Swallow at Red Rocks

The earliest sightings for the year 2000 will be published in future newsletters. If you see an early sighting of any summer migrant please e-mail me, I'll let you know if it is a first sighting and put in the latest sightings page. It will be fascinating to see how the dates differ from year to year.

Bird Highlights March 1999 to Feb. 2000

It was a good year for twitchable birds - my definition of a good twitchable bird being a rarity easily seen without disturbance and hanging around for several days! In September a Red-necked Phalarope stayed at Inner Marsh Farm for at least ten days. This was followed by a Red-backed Shrike at nearby Burton which stayed for a total of 47 days during September and October. Unusually this was an adult female, most migrants of this species seen in this part of the country are juvenile. Next a Hoopoe turned up at Hoylake for 15 days, last seen on November 4th. Due to its rather pale washed out plumage this was thought to be an Eastern bird. On the other side of the estuary at Oakenholt and Greenfield Dock a Richard's Pipit was  present from the end of November and throughout December.

Many rarities only stayed for a short period, or just seen flying over. These included a pair of Common Cranes flying over Irby (near  Heswall) in March, a Nightingale at Heswall and Golden Oriole at Thurstaston (both in May).

Raptors included two Hen Harrier roosting at Gayton at the end of the 1998/99 Winter, unfortunately no Hen Harriers have been seen this past winter. The spring of 1999 saw the usual passing Osprey, two at  Inner Marsh Farm and another at Hilbre. Common Buzzards are increasing in this area and this was demonstrated by the sighting of no less than 15 at Inner Marsh Farm in one day in October. It was also good to see plenty of Peregrine Falcons, I was lucky enough to see five in one hour on Heswall shore. Short-eared Owls roost in the long grass and reeds on Parkgate Marsh and ten of these birds were seen on Christmas Eve flushed by the high tide. 

There was a good passage of Curlew Sandpiper in the Autumn. The highest count of this lovely little wader was 23 at Heswall. The Autumn also brought a good number of Greenshank (45), Green Sandpiper (9) and Little Stint (5) to Inner Marsh Farm. 

Both the Common Tern colony at Shotton and the Little Tern colony at Gronant had excellent breeding success with about 500 and 100 fledglings at each respectively. 

Wildfowl included six Ruddy Shelduck seen both at Inner Marsh Farm and Point of Ayr during August. Also at Inner Marsh Farm was an American Wigeon in May and December, and a pair of Smew seen on and off most of the winter. A drake Long-tailed Duck complete with long tail graced West Kirby marine lake in November.

Both Spoonbill and Little Egret have been seen regularly at Burton and Parkgate. Four Spoonbill visited Inner Marsh Farm for a short time in the Autumn but the Mauritanian Spoonbill is the one seen most often. This is the Spoonbill which arrived in this country on a ship before being released at Slimbridge and then making its own way up here.