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May 2019
May is always one of the quietest months and this May I think was even quieter than usual. However, there was one stand out species recorded the Saturday 18th May; two spoonbills in full summer plumage. They were first seen on the estuary then moved to Frodsham No.6 Sludge Lagoons. These were presumably the birds from Burton Mere Wetlands where they have been seen nest building in the heronry. Along with the usual Grey Heron and Little Egrets there are also Cattle and Great White Egrets!
There are also breeding bearded tits, avocets, Mediterranean gulls and marsh harriers. Who would have believed that 20 years ago? Our climate is changing and the birds are responding. We seem to be able to cater quite well for specialist wetland species. It is a pity that the more generalist species like turtle dove, corn bunting and yellow wagtail are not able to respond in such a way as the wider countryside has been denuded of food rich habitats.
Amongst the other birds seen 71 mute swans was a high point for the 18-19 season and is the 4th highest count ever. 780 Canada geese was almost the same as the last two months’, but next month is likely to be ten times that number. 1,200 shelducks is a nationally important count and just 300 less than last month. Generally ducks were in pretty low numbers with just eight teal and no wigeon.
303 cormorants was our highest since last August. There are now 139 nests at Hale Duck Decoy.
Waders were also in low numbers. Only 38 lapwings is surprising given the amount of potential breeding habitat around and a contrasts with 12,500 seen in January. 102 dunlins was quite poor as there is a peak on the Ribble Estuary of migrating dunlin, but they seem to miss us out each year. Whimbrels usually peak in May but only five was less than April’s 26. However, five greenshanks was our highest of 18-19.
Amongst the gulls there is a sizeable colony of lesser black-backed gulls breeding on the banks of the Ship Canal at Runcorn, just north of the Weaver Sluices. I counted 287 birds with about 85 herring gulls in the colony too. 60 common terns at Birkenhead Docks shows that colony is doing well.
5 raptor species included the usual marsh harrier, buzzard, peregrine and kestrel as well as the summer’s first 2 hobbies at Runcorn Sands – Astmoor.
The next count is 16th June and is the last of the 18-19 season as the WeBS year runs from July until June. It is likely to be quiet, except Canada Geese are likely to be approaching their peak numbers. There will also be ducklings around. Don’t forget we don’t count little ducklings, birds have to be at least 2/3 adult size to be counted.
There are also breeding bearded tits, avocets, Mediterranean gulls and marsh harriers. Who would have believed that 20 years ago? Our climate is changing and the birds are responding. We seem to be able to cater quite well for specialist wetland species. It is a pity that the more generalist species like turtle dove, corn bunting and yellow wagtail are not able to respond in such a way as the wider countryside has been denuded of food rich habitats.
Amongst the other birds seen 71 mute swans was a high point for the 18-19 season and is the 4th highest count ever. 780 Canada geese was almost the same as the last two months’, but next month is likely to be ten times that number. 1,200 shelducks is a nationally important count and just 300 less than last month. Generally ducks were in pretty low numbers with just eight teal and no wigeon.
303 cormorants was our highest since last August. There are now 139 nests at Hale Duck Decoy.
Waders were also in low numbers. Only 38 lapwings is surprising given the amount of potential breeding habitat around and a contrasts with 12,500 seen in January. 102 dunlins was quite poor as there is a peak on the Ribble Estuary of migrating dunlin, but they seem to miss us out each year. Whimbrels usually peak in May but only five was less than April’s 26. However, five greenshanks was our highest of 18-19.
Amongst the gulls there is a sizeable colony of lesser black-backed gulls breeding on the banks of the Ship Canal at Runcorn, just north of the Weaver Sluices. I counted 287 birds with about 85 herring gulls in the colony too. 60 common terns at Birkenhead Docks shows that colony is doing well.
5 raptor species included the usual marsh harrier, buzzard, peregrine and kestrel as well as the summer’s first 2 hobbies at Runcorn Sands – Astmoor.
The next count is 16th June and is the last of the 18-19 season as the WeBS year runs from July until June. It is likely to be quiet, except Canada Geese are likely to be approaching their peak numbers. There will also be ducklings around. Don’t forget we don’t count little ducklings, birds have to be at least 2/3 adult size to be counted.
Hobby. © M. Roberts
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Spoonbill. © Mersey WeBS
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Spoombills on the sludge lagoons at Frodsham. © Mersey WeBS
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Cormorants breeding at Hale Duck Decoy. © R. Cockbain
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Mixed waders on Hale Shore. © R. Cockbain
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Gosling crèche on Hale Marsh. © R Cockbain
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March and April 2019
This is a combined summary for March and April as I was busy preparing for the annual indoor Mersey WeBS meeting that we held in early April. That was successful with 18 counters attending. If you are interested in seeing the presentation I can send you a Dropbox link to a PDF version of it.
The March count was a cold and very windy day while the April count was warm and pleasant with plenty of summer migrants, including over 30 wheatears on Frodsham Score. Both were big tides that completely covered the marshes. The highlights of the March count were the 26 whooper swans who had vacated their position on Lordship Lane Fields and moved out onto Ince Marshes. We also had a count of 2,700 redshanks, our third internationally important count of the winter. The April highlights were 3,148 black-tailed godwits, our 4th highest count ever and 26 whimbrel which was our 6th highest count. 250 ravens was quite remarkable and doubles our previous highest count.
Most wildfowl have left the estuary with just 14 mute swans left in April.There were 700 Canada geese in both months and the 482 pink-footed geese in March had gone by April. 1,500 shelduck is nationally important count and was similar in both months, There are many breeding pairs around with quite a colony on the River Weaver. Other ducks were in low numbers.
Although there was a good variety of waders including avocet, little ringed plover and whimbrel, apart from black-tailed godwits and redshanks they were generally in low numbers. April was a rather poor show for raptors with just three species (marsh harrier, buzzard and kestrel) when for the last 5 months we have had 7 species and short-eared owl.
The count is the 19th May. May is usually the quietest month but whimbrel often peaks in May.
The March count was a cold and very windy day while the April count was warm and pleasant with plenty of summer migrants, including over 30 wheatears on Frodsham Score. Both were big tides that completely covered the marshes. The highlights of the March count were the 26 whooper swans who had vacated their position on Lordship Lane Fields and moved out onto Ince Marshes. We also had a count of 2,700 redshanks, our third internationally important count of the winter. The April highlights were 3,148 black-tailed godwits, our 4th highest count ever and 26 whimbrel which was our 6th highest count. 250 ravens was quite remarkable and doubles our previous highest count.
Most wildfowl have left the estuary with just 14 mute swans left in April.There were 700 Canada geese in both months and the 482 pink-footed geese in March had gone by April. 1,500 shelduck is nationally important count and was similar in both months, There are many breeding pairs around with quite a colony on the River Weaver. Other ducks were in low numbers.
Although there was a good variety of waders including avocet, little ringed plover and whimbrel, apart from black-tailed godwits and redshanks they were generally in low numbers. April was a rather poor show for raptors with just three species (marsh harrier, buzzard and kestrel) when for the last 5 months we have had 7 species and short-eared owl.
The count is the 19th May. May is usually the quietest month but whimbrel often peaks in May.
Whooper swans on Ince Marshes with quite an industrial backdrops. © Mersey WeBS
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Whooper swans with a more rural backdrop of Hale Lighthouse. © Mersey WeBS
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Obviously a good breeding season for our whooper swans up in Iceland as the slightly grey looking birds are juveniles. © Mersey WeBS
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Little egrets. © Mersey WeBS
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Black-tailed godwits. © Mersey WeBS
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Peregrine hunting the godwits. © Mersey WeBS
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Red fox in hunting mode. © Mersey WeBS
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The wind was very strong causing erosion to the salt-marsh. © Mersey WeBS
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Summer plumaged black-tailed godwits in April. © Mersey WeBS
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February 2019
February WeBS count day was a warm and pleasant one, very mild for the time of year and some of winter visitors seemed to have taken that as a cue to depart as some key species like dunlin were well down from 30,000 last month to 16,000 this month, while others like black-tailed godwit who usually peak in March, on the spring migration, jumped from 200 in January to 1,300. The dunlin did manage to perform some nice murmurations as they waited for the tide to recede that Dermot managed to capture on video, which you can see on our Facebook page:
Mersey Estuary WeBS
Mersey Estuary WeBS
Waders gathering as tide starts running. © Rob Cockbain
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A tangle of dunlins. © Rob Cockbain
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Murmurating dunlins. © Rob Cockbain
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We were not there at dawn this month so we didn’t see the pink-footed geese leaving the estuary like we did last month when we counted 3,500. However, over 500 grazing on Ince Marshes was a great sight, hopefully one we can get used to. The flock of 26 whooper swans seem to like the fields next to the M56. We have now included these fields as a new WeBS sector. Canada geese had increased from 2,700 to over 4,000 but will soon be departing to find places to breed inland.
Shelduck also increased from 700 to over 1,700. Most wildfowl were slightly down except tufted duck which had a high for the WeBS year of 351 and goldeneye which reached 21 birds.
Six Great Egrets equals the counts in October and November.
Shelduck also increased from 700 to over 1,700. Most wildfowl were slightly down except tufted duck which had a high for the WeBS year of 351 and goldeneye which reached 21 birds.
Six Great Egrets equals the counts in October and November.
Hale Marsh at high tide (from Hale Duck Decoy. © Rob Cockbain
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Teals feeding on edge of marsh. © Rob Cockbain
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Shelducks. © Rob Cockbain
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From the waders, the 3,000 golden plovers had dropped to 1,400 and lapwings had also dropped from 12,500 to 4,000. 87 grey plovers mark a very disappointing winter with our highest count of just 137 being a long way short of our 428 five-year average maximum. Eight purple sandpipers at New Brighton was a winter high. There was drop in dunlin numbers, but an increase in black-tailed godwits and curlews were up from 500 to 1,100. Redshank were also down from 1,800 to 901. However, for the last two months we have not been able to count at Eastham where we know there can be a couple of thousand roosting. Turnstones continued at around 200 as they have been for most of the winter.
Amongst the gulls over 1,100 lesser black-backed gulls was well up on last month’s 100, while herring gull numbers fell from 2,000 to 900.
Amongst the gulls over 1,100 lesser black-backed gulls was well up on last month’s 100, while herring gull numbers fell from 2,000 to 900.
Three great egrets. © M. Roberts
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Wigeon & teal in a gutter at Manisty. © Mersey WeBS
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The female hen harrier has been seen on both sides of the River Mersey. © M Roberts
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There were 3 marsh harriers, the same as last month. One had a damaged wing that looks like it has been shot at. The ring-tail hen harrier made an appearance for the fourth consecutive month. My personal highlight was flushing a short-eared owl from Mount Manisty, that made the 5 mile trudge across the marshes worthwhile. Maybe the same bird has been seen recently at Hale
Some fresh otter footprints were found on the mud in Manisty Bay. © Mersey WeBS
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Short-eared owl at Manisty. © Mersey WeBS
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Manisty Marshes at high tide looking back to Stanlow Point and the oil refinery and the long walk back. © Mersey WeBS
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The March count is on the 24th and is a high tide of 9.8M which should flood most of the saltmarshes and make counting teal and Manisty easier if they have not all gone by then.
I am also preparing for an indoor meeting on the 4th April at Pickering’s Pasture to sum up the 18-19 WeBS year. We will begin at 7pm. All are welcome, but let me know if you are coming so I can ensure we have enough cake!
I am also preparing for an indoor meeting on the 4th April at Pickering’s Pasture to sum up the 18-19 WeBS year. We will begin at 7pm. All are welcome, but let me know if you are coming so I can ensure we have enough cake!
January 2019
We met at Stanlow Oil Refinery at 6.30am and were out on the marshes in total darkness. This is just what I wanted as Andy had reported seeing up to 4,000 pink-footed geese leaving the estuary in the early mornings. Although the sun had risen you would hardly have guessed: at around 8am the estuary was still very murky and misty with quite poor visibility. I could hear a few pink-feet calling and then about 8.20am we began to see large flocks coming off the water and landing on the marshes. Then just before 9am they took off and I counted 1,800, Ian had a further 1.500 at the same time at Stanlow Point, so together with a few other birds we had our first internationally important count of over 3,500 pink-footed geese actually on a WeBS count! Previously we had had 3,500 on a low tide count last winter. However, the record of 4,000 will go down as a roost count. It was quite surreal to be out on the marshes and the dominant goose sound to be that of pinkies rather than Canada geese.
Pink-footed geese. © Mersey WeBS
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Pink-footed geese. © Mersey WeBS
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Other highlights included 26 whooper swans, 700 shelducks and 1,300 wigeon our highest count of the winter. 48 gadwall is the fourth month in a row with over 30, whereas until 10 years ago we had only had one count in double figures. 2,800 teals was nationally important but 600 down on last month. Over 1,300 were on the Frodsham No 6 tank. This area has been really good for them this winter with a counts of 3,000 recorded in January. 92 pintails was just above average. However, on New Year’s day I had 140 pintails on No 6 tank and few days later Paul saw 280 flying out on the Mersey marshes from Frodsham: that is the highest count since 2001. Ten goldeneyes was a marked improvement on one on the December count. Two great egrets was quite low, but I have seen six in recent days, so they are still about in record numbers.
Wigeon in the Gowy Estuary after the high tide. © Mersey WeBS
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Teals at Hale Duck Decoy. © Rob Cockbain
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Golden plover is a species making a welcome return to form with over 3,000 being nationally important and up from 2,600 last month. We have only one count higher than that this century. 12,500 lapwing is double the nationally important threshold and the highest count this century. However, that includes 2,500 at Runcorn Sands and a few other places that were not counted last century. Grey plover on the other hand is disappointing, after a run of 7 years with nationally important numbers (threshold 430) this winter we have managed just 117.
Dunlin numbers were just over 30,000, 9,000 down on last month. 1,800 redshank was nationally important, but 1,000 down on last month’s internationally important count.
Dunlin numbers were just over 30,000, 9,000 down on last month. 1,800 redshank was nationally important, but 1,000 down on last month’s internationally important count.
Lapwings in the murk over Ince Marshes. © Mersey WeBS
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Lapwings. © Mersey WeBS
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Dunlins etc. on Hale Marsh. © Rob Cockbain
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High tide roost on Hale Marsh. © Rob Cockbain
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Two buzzards. © Mersey WeBS
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High tide from Marsh hide at HDD. © Rob Cockbain
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We set a new record for herring gull with over 2,000 seen to leave the estuary at first light. Again we had 7 birds of prey species including both hen and marsh harrier. Stock dove numbers on Ince Marshes are impressive with 340 counted, our highest since we started recording numbers of these birds, which is just a few years ago.
Next count is 24th February. That isn’t the official WeBS date but we have agreed it with the Dee, Alt and Ribble as the tide on the official date was not suitable.
Next count is 24th February. That isn’t the official WeBS date but we have agreed it with the Dee, Alt and Ribble as the tide on the official date was not suitable.
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