February and March 2022 Mersey WeBS counts
The February count was rather disrupted by the storms, meaning we could not cross the Ship Canal, so it was an incomplete count. The March count had better coverage, and one species, cattle egret, set a new record with 9 birds recorded beating the previous record, set in January this year, of 4. There were three species were of international importance and two of national importance.
The February count was rather disrupted by the storms, meaning we could not cross the Ship Canal, so it was an incomplete count. The March count had better coverage, and one species, cattle egret, set a new record with 9 birds recorded beating the previous record, set in January this year, of 4. There were three species were of international importance and two of national importance.
Canada Geese were down to 674 from 3,300 in January but that is likely to be not being able to count all of Ince Marshes. However, Pink-footed geese were still in big numbers with 5,658 on the marshes at Ince Marshes. At this time of year they don’t leave the estuary at first light but stay on the marshes to feed.
Nineteen mute swans were around the estuary and at Frodsham the herd of 29 Whooper Swans were still in residence.
There were 1,100 shelducks which is nationally important. Most of the 160 shovelers were on Frodsham lagoons. Twenty seven goldeneyes on the Weaver in February was the highest count of the winter. Other duck species were in quite small numbers.
Nineteen mute swans were around the estuary and at Frodsham the herd of 29 Whooper Swans were still in residence.
There were 1,100 shelducks which is nationally important. Most of the 160 shovelers were on Frodsham lagoons. Twenty seven goldeneyes on the Weaver in February was the highest count of the winter. Other duck species were in quite small numbers.
Forty four little egrets was similar to January, just one great egret was a surprisingly low number, whereas 9 cattle egrets was a new record. 315 cormorants are the birds returning to Hale to breed. In March the wintering dunlin were making their way back north with just 500 seen, However, we had internationally important numbers of black-tailed godwit (2.400) and redshank (2,600). There were five purple sandpipers at New Brighton Marine Lake. Our highest avocet count of the WeBS year was 163 (nationally important) made as a casual count in early March from Frodsham Marsh Farm as the birds left the lagoon at Weston point to feed on the falling tide by the Weaver Sluices.
One Mediterranean Gull was the only remarkable sighting amongst the gulls. The usual six raptor species were present (marsh harrier, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, merlin and peregrine).
One Mediterranean Gull was the only remarkable sighting amongst the gulls. The usual six raptor species were present (marsh harrier, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, merlin and peregrine).
December 2021 and January 2022 Mersey WeBS counts
The December count was a disaster with thick fog making visibility very poor. However, January was a record-breaking count. We had three species in internationally important numbers (pink-footed geese, black-tailed godwits and dunlins) and three nationally important (shelducks, lapwings and redshanks) and one species was a record breaker, Toni and Ray had 19 jack snipe at Eastham Locks, while I trudged all the way across Manisty Marshes and didn’t see any jack snipe!
The December count was a disaster with thick fog making visibility very poor. However, January was a record-breaking count. We had three species in internationally important numbers (pink-footed geese, black-tailed godwits and dunlins) and three nationally important (shelducks, lapwings and redshanks) and one species was a record breaker, Toni and Ray had 19 jack snipe at Eastham Locks, while I trudged all the way across Manisty Marshes and didn’t see any jack snipe!
I did a dawn goose count, I counted from Ince village, counting 8,956 leaving the estuary flying south between 7:45 and 9:00. I could see there were still several hundred on the marshes, but could not count them accurately. Later Ian counted 700 on Ince Marshes during the WeBS count, so in total we had 9,658, our second highest count, the highest being 13,400 counted last winter by Andy. There were 3,298 Canada Geese.
There were 36 mute swans around the estuary, while at Frodsham the herd of 26 whooper swans were accompanied by 4 Bewick’s swans.
1,789 shelduck were nationally important and similar to November. A ruddy shelduck was found at Runcorn Sands by Lee. Shoveler numbers have dropped from 291 in November to just 54 in January. There were just over 1,000 wigeons. 1,678 teals was only half the November count, however, the tide this month was very low and so it was hard to count teal at Manisty whereas the much higher tide at Manisty in November enabled me to count 1,200 teals as they floated on the flooded marsh, whereas this month there could have been 1,200 but they were hidden by the marsh vegetation. The most remarkable duck was an eider at the mouth of the estuary seen by Tim.
1,789 shelduck were nationally important and similar to November. A ruddy shelduck was found at Runcorn Sands by Lee. Shoveler numbers have dropped from 291 in November to just 54 in January. There were just over 1,000 wigeons. 1,678 teals was only half the November count, however, the tide this month was very low and so it was hard to count teal at Manisty whereas the much higher tide at Manisty in November enabled me to count 1,200 teals as they floated on the flooded marsh, whereas this month there could have been 1,200 but they were hidden by the marsh vegetation. The most remarkable duck was an eider at the mouth of the estuary seen by Tim.
Just 45 little egrets were only a third of November’s 123. However, there were 9 great-white egrets and 4 cattle egrets. 273 coots were the second highest count ever, the highest count of 322 was in August.
Amongst the waders lapwings occurred in nationally important numbers with 6,202. 1,500 golden plovers was a good count but not as many as the 2,000 in October. 311 grey plovers was our highest count of the winter and just 20 short of being nationally important. Black-tailed godwits have remained in internationally important numbers with 2,200, a slight increase on November. Dunlin numbers were disappointing with just 13,600 counted. However, a few weeks ago Rob had 28,000 at Hale. There was just one purple sandpiper at the New Brighton Marine Lake Pontoon. In total we had 20 jack snipe, a new record. 1,374 redshanks is nationally important but only half the November count.
Amongst the gulls the only remarkable one was a yellow-legged gull found by Alyn at Stanlow Point.
