10th September, the tanks at Frodsham are excellent for waders and with the
large numbers of Curlew Sandpipers in the country this autumn, it was no
suprise to see 13 at the site, (12 on no 6 tank and 1 on the Weaver Bend.)
A single Green and Common Sandpiper, 40 Redshank and 80 Black-tailed Godwits
were also present.
A late Swift was a suprise.
Moving on to Inner Marsh Farm RSPB to twitch the Spotted Crake which had
been reported earlier in the week. It was still present but showed distantly and for
a few seconds at a time, as it kept close to the reed edge. A lone Water Rail chick
was feeding along the reed edges, with no sign of an adult bird, it seemed
vulnerable.
Another 2 Curlew Sand's, 14 Ruff, 500 Lapwing, 2-4 Green Sandpiper, 2
Hen Harrier (a juv' over the reserve and one over Parkgate)
Peregrine, Merlin and c20 Little Egrets (Parkgate) provided more interest.
Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit and Teal take flight.
Spotted Crake
11th September Point Lynas, Anglesey
With very strong westerley winds battering the North West, i spent 08.30-10.40
at Point Lynas, hoping to find a Sab's Gull.
I didn't, but arrived to find a large movement of Terns and Kittiwakes heading West.
I couldn't count the birds, as there were so many. At least 3000 moved through, mainly
Common and Sandwich with smaller numbers of Arctic and 6 Black.
Totals of: 15 Manx, 2 Balearic Shearwater, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Bonxie,1 Fulmar,
1 Common Scoter and several Porpoise were seen from the lighthouse.
4 Whimbrel came in off the sea and 2 Choughs were near the Lighthouse.
In a sheltered, well vegetated gully, at least a dozen Chiffchaffs and 4 Blackcaps
were feeding out of the wind.
A quiet visit to Cemlyn, with a few Red-Breasted Merganser on the Lagoon.
On the shore at Maltreath, were a wide selection of waders, with 2 more Curlew
Sand's, several Greenshanks, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit. Viewing conditions
were awful in the relentless wind.
Porpoise, Point Lynas
Cormorant
juvenile Herring Gulls
The journey home was halted with a slight detour to twitch the Grey Phalarope at
Pennington. With the light fading, it was feeding up against the reeds and out of the
wind in the extreme north west corner of the flash.
spot the Phalarope
