December 2020 Mersey Estuary WeBS
Coronavirus has continued to hamper, but not stop, our counts. We still cannot get access to Manisty through Stanlow Oil Refinery and this month several counters in Level 3 areas couldn’t travel to Level 2 areas to do a count. As I was self-isolating, it meant we didn’t have enough counters to cover Manisty Bay or Ince Marshes properly, with no one at Stanlow Point, so there are some big gaps in this month’s coverage. However, the count still produced a record high (398 tufted duck), a new species (black redstart) and a rarity (cattle egret).
The 2,343 Canada Geese were similar to last month, whereas 94 pink-footed geese were down from the 1,200 last month and the 3,500 a couple of week’s ago, on the Icelandic Breeding Goose Census. Thirty five mute swans were the highest this WeBS year. Three whooper swans was the highest on a WeBS count, but I know there are more in the area.
800 shelducks was down on last month’s 1,000 but still nationally important. 163 shovelers were down on last month’s 249. 1,200 wigeons were down on last month’s 1,400 but I know there would be more birds uncounted at Stanlow and in Manisty Bay. 2,000 teals was slightly down on 2,300 last month, but again there would be loads more at Stanlow and Manisty Bay. However, 398 tufted duck, most of which were on the River Weaver Estuary, beat the previous record of 390.
Six great egrets was down on last month’s eight and September’s record of fourteen. Little egrets were also down from 35 to just 16. However, there was a cattle egret at Ince Marsh fields.
877 oystercatchers were the same as last month. 1,500 lapwings was half last month’s and a little disappointing, in previous December counts we have had over 10,000 but they are quite erratic in their appearance and some cold weather in the east of the country will boost our numbers. 1,000 curlews was a good count, though just below last month’s nationally important 1,300 and again there will have been birds not counted.
877 oystercatchers were the same as last month. 1,500 lapwings was half last month’s and a little disappointing, in previous December counts we have had over 10,000 but they are quite erratic in their appearance and some cold weather in the east of the country will boost our numbers. 1,000 curlews was a good count, though just below last month’s nationally important 1,300 and again there will have been birds not counted.
The biggest impact of not counting from Stanlow Point was on dunlin. Only 193, when I would have expect 40,000, is quite a difference and the low high tide meant that they probably stayed at Stanlow and didn’t make it down to Frodsham Score where I had some counters.
2,300 redshank was nationally important but only half last month’s 5,600 which was the highest for nearly 20 years.
Raptors were in short supply with neither peregrine or merlin seen, but a short-eared owl at Frodsham was a good find. However, the best find was a new bird for Mersey WeBS and only the third Frodsham record - a female black redstart found by Alyn.
Looking forward to 2021 and some great bird counts.
2,300 redshank was nationally important but only half last month’s 5,600 which was the highest for nearly 20 years.
Raptors were in short supply with neither peregrine or merlin seen, but a short-eared owl at Frodsham was a good find. However, the best find was a new bird for Mersey WeBS and only the third Frodsham record - a female black redstart found by Alyn.
Looking forward to 2021 and some great bird counts.
The tide made little impression on Hale Marsh. © Rob Cockbain
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Teals displaying on Decoy Pond. © Rob Cockbain
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Cattle egret hiding behind a pig! © Mersey WeBS
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Female black redstart. © Mersey WeBS
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November 2020 Mersey Estuary WeBS
The lockdown did not affect our count too much as people are allowed out for outdoor recreation, like birdwatching and people probably didn’t have too much else to do anyway! The count is an underestimate as we were not able to fully count Manisty as we can’t get access through the refinery at present.
Despite the forecast the weather was relatively kind to me at least, with just one good soaking. However, the wind meant there was a half metre tidal surge which, on top of a very high tide, completely covered the marshes to a good depth. Such tides makes counting some birds like Teal easier, as they can’t hide in the vegetation and float on the water.
Despite the forecast the weather was relatively kind to me at least, with just one good soaking. However, the wind meant there was a half metre tidal surge which, on top of a very high tide, completely covered the marshes to a good depth. Such tides makes counting some birds like Teal easier, as they can’t hide in the vegetation and float on the water.
We had one record breaking count - 95 pochards on the Weaver Estuary and had six counts of national or international importance. I was out very early, before it got light, hoping to see masses of pink-footed geese on the estuary. 1,200 was a bit disappointing, but at the end of October Andy did a dawn count, from the comfort of his home that overlooks the estuary, and counted 5,990 pink-footed geese, this is our first internationally important count of the winter. Canada geese were about the same as last month with 2,400. Last month’s 12 barnacle geese had dropped to 8. The whooper swans on the fields at Frodsham had departed so didn’t feature on this count.
Over 1,000 shelducks was similar to the last few months and is nationally important. 249 shovelers was the highest this winter and the third month in a row with over the 190 national importance threshold. 1,400 wigeons were about average for the last 5 years but higher than last winter’s maximum. 2,300 teals was less than last month, but frustrating that we couldn’t count Manisty Bay as that is good for teal and the high tide would have meant an easy count.
As mentioned, 95 pochards is a new record. 353 tufted ducks was just above the 5 year average. 18 goldeneyes was a sign winter has arrived.
Both 35 little and 8 great egrets were about half last month’s count.
Amongst the waders it was good to hold onto 7 avocets - will they stay for the winter? 366 grey plovers was nationally important, slightly down on last month. For me the most notable wader was curlew, 1,300 was our first nationally important count for four years. However, with such a high tide over half of these were counted in the surrounding fields that are outside the Special Protection Area. Three ruffswere at Oglet which was a first from that site, they are usually at Frodsham. 32,000 dunlins was impressive and I took some nice video of the gathering at Stanlow Point. However, it is below our average of 52,000! 5,100 redshanks was the highest count since we had 11,000 in 2001-02.
Both 35 little and 8 great egrets were about half last month’s count.
Amongst the waders it was good to hold onto 7 avocets - will they stay for the winter? 366 grey plovers was nationally important, slightly down on last month. For me the most notable wader was curlew, 1,300 was our first nationally important count for four years. However, with such a high tide over half of these were counted in the surrounding fields that are outside the Special Protection Area. Three ruffswere at Oglet which was a first from that site, they are usually at Frodsham. 32,000 dunlins was impressive and I took some nice video of the gathering at Stanlow Point. However, it is below our average of 52,000! 5,100 redshanks was the highest count since we had 11,000 in 2001-02.
October 2020 Mersey Estuary WeBS Count
We had four fantastic highlights on this month’s WeBS count:
- The highest count of Pintail this century on the estuary
- Pink-footed Geese outnumbered Canada Geese
- We set a new record for Great Egrets
- And most remarkable of all we had a genuine rarity found by Dan: a red-throated pipit.
Skein of pink-footed geese over the estuary.
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Pink-footed Goose numbers have been increasing rapidly in recent years, four years ago our highest count was 397 birds, we now regularly get thousands. The birds roost on the estuary overnight so our biggest counts are usually made by Andy, whose house overlooks the estuary, as they leave in the morning. We began our count this Sunday at 8am and so were able to witness them leaving the estuary. We counted 2,850 leaving the estuary and with a few hundred still present we recorded 3,200. Hopefully these will increase over the winter and we can beat last winter’s record of 7,400. Meanwhile the ever present Canada Geese numbered just under 2,000.
We had one Whooper Swan and 20 Mute Swans. |
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Amongst the ducks the highlight was a flock of over 350 pintails that Toni and Ray found at Eastham. With a few others around the estuary we had a nationally important count of 416. For over 20 years, during the 1970s and 1980s, the Mersey Estuary was by far and away the best place for pintail in the UK with a peak of over 18,000 recorded in 1980-81. From 1970 until 1990 each year there were least 5,000 birds, with 7 years recording over 10,000. However, since 1990 there has been a steady decline and since 2006 counts have been below 100, not even nationally important. In 2018 I saw a flock of 280 and last year we had 163, so perhaps they are making a comeback. The best place for pintail is the Dee Estuary with an average of 5,500 and I have long hoped some would spill over into the Mersey.
Shelducks were down to 630, still nationally important but a lot less than the moulting flock of 5,000 in August. 207 shovelers is nationally important and similar to last month. 2,500 teals is about average for the last few years, but is well short of the 4.500 threshold for national importance, after this was raised from 2,000. |
Eclipse male shoveler at Hale Duck Decoy. © RP Cockbain
Male shoveler at Hale Duck Decoy. © RP Cockbain
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Herons and egrets continued to show in good numbers with 89 grey herons and 64 little egrets. The egrets were less than half last month’s record breaking 133. However, the great egret went one better than last month’s record with 12 birds seen.
Great and Little Egrets © Mersey WeBS
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Great and Little Egrets © Mersey WeBS
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Great and Little Egrets © Mersey WeBS
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Amongst the waders it was pleasing to see the avocets were still around with 29 counted by the Weaver Sluices. Will they begin to winter here like they do on the estuaries in the SW? 2,800 lapwings was good but hopefully we will get much higher counts later in the winter. 404 grey plovers was a nationally important count and continues to make this a key species for the estuary. 298 ringed plovers was a good count for this time of year. However, 775 curlews is the highest count this autumn, under half our normal average maximum and so marks a very poor autumn for this species.
Black-tailed godwits use the estuary as a stopover between their breeding grounds in Iceland and their winter home in Spain and Portugal. October saw a major departure with numbers dropping from 2,463 in September to just 6 this month. They were even out-numbered by 12 bar-tailed godwits. 9,000 dunlins were nice to see but next month I expect up to four times that figure. 2,800 redshanks was similar to last month and internationally important.
Black-tailed godwits use the estuary as a stopover between their breeding grounds in Iceland and their winter home in Spain and Portugal. October saw a major departure with numbers dropping from 2,463 in September to just 6 this month. They were even out-numbered by 12 bar-tailed godwits. 9,000 dunlins were nice to see but next month I expect up to four times that figure. 2,800 redshanks was similar to last month and internationally important.
We had 6 raptor species with four merlins, one of which sat right in front of us while we had out lunch near Stanlow Point.
Amongst the passerines Dan recorded a good movement of skylarks and meadow pipits with over 100 of each passing Oglet and a real rarity with a red-throated pipit calling and flying up the Estuary, a really good find.
Next month should have bigger numbers of dunlins, lapwings and swans and hopefully more pink-footed geese. However, with new restrictions coming into force to combat Covid-19 we might not be able to do as good a count as we did this month.
While the estuary is fairly well covered in most areas we have not been able to get counts for many of the Wirral sites like Birkenhead Docks, the Narrows or the New Brighton Marine Lake so if any birders who live in the Wirral would like to volunteer I would be grateful to hear from you.
Amongst the passerines Dan recorded a good movement of skylarks and meadow pipits with over 100 of each passing Oglet and a real rarity with a red-throated pipit calling and flying up the Estuary, a really good find.
Next month should have bigger numbers of dunlins, lapwings and swans and hopefully more pink-footed geese. However, with new restrictions coming into force to combat Covid-19 we might not be able to do as good a count as we did this month.
While the estuary is fairly well covered in most areas we have not been able to get counts for many of the Wirral sites like Birkenhead Docks, the Narrows or the New Brighton Marine Lake so if any birders who live in the Wirral would like to volunteer I would be grateful to hear from you.
Dunlins remained in flight, without lroosting on the marsh. © Mersey WeBS
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A female merlin. © Mersey WeBS
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Stanlow Point with the tide coming in. © Mersey WeBS
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Stanlow Point with the tide in. © Mersey WeBS
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September 2020 Mersey Estuary WeBS Counts
This month’s count, done in beautiful, warm, sunny weather brought record numbers of four species, the return of several wintering species and a good passage of waders with 20 species seen.
In July we set a new record for Avocets with 136 seen on the WeBS count and Bill seeing more than that a few days later. Then in August we did not see any, so I was surprised to see several large flocks when I arrived for the count at Ince Marshes, with Ian counting 179 at Ince and Bill counting 51 on No6 bed at high tide. This is a new record of 230, which is above the nationally important threshold.
In July we set a new record for Avocets with 136 seen on the WeBS count and Bill seeing more than that a few days later. Then in August we did not see any, so I was surprised to see several large flocks when I arrived for the count at Ince Marshes, with Ian counting 179 at Ince and Bill counting 51 on No6 bed at high tide. This is a new record of 230, which is above the nationally important threshold.
The two egret species were also breaking records with 11 great-white egrets and 133 little egrets, breaking the previous records of 6 and 60 respectively. The little egret count is also our first above the newly revised nationally important threshold. Four yellow-legged gulls was also a record.
Three great egrets together. © Mersey WeBS
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Three great egrets with Hale Lighthouse in the background © Mersey WeBS
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A party of little egrets. © Mersey WeBS
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Part of the little egret roost at Hale Duck Decoy. © Rob Cockbain
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Canada geese totalled just over 2,000; similar to last month. However, we also had some pink-footed geese arriving for the winter with 161 seen, with some Oglet and some on Ince Marshes. There was also one whooper swan seen.
Shelduck numbers were quite low at less than 1,000. Amongst the other ducks there were 240 shovelers, which is nationally important. 181 wigeons and 39 pintails are a sign of birds arriving for the winter and teal numbers had doubled to 700.
Shelduck numbers were quite low at less than 1,000. Amongst the other ducks there were 240 shovelers, which is nationally important. 181 wigeons and 39 pintails are a sign of birds arriving for the winter and teal numbers had doubled to 700.
Shelducks © Mersey WeBS
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Teal - Hale Duck Decoy. © RP Cockbain
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Shovelers at Hale Duck Decoy © RP Cockbain
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Apart from the avocets, waders were not in record beating numbers; but it was the variety - with a number of what are often scarce birds on the estuary, including three curlew sandpipers, one little stint, three greenshank, nine ruffs, three knots and three bar-tailed godwits. Two thousand five hundred black-tailed godwits are internationally important and the highest of this WeBS year, whereas the 3,000 redshanks was less than last month’s 3,500, but still internationally important. Curlew numbers were disappointing with just 700 when our 5 year average is just under 2,000.
Redshank at mouth of R. Gowy © Mersey WeBS
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Redshanks at Pickerings Pasture. © Mersey WeBS
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6 raptor species were seen included the first two returning merlins.
Landmarks of the Mersey Estuary. © Mersey WeBS
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Ince Marshes (covered by tide) from Stanley Point © Mersey WeBS
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July and August 2020 Mersey Estuary WeBS Counts Summary
After the pause, due to Covid-19, we have re-started bird counts on the Mersey Estuary.
This post is a combined July and August summary and although I have not had all counts in yet we have had a pretty impressive start to the year.
After just two months of new Webs year we have already broken four records, recorded a new species and had four species in internationally important numbers and two species in nationally important numbers. And we are still not counting the whole site as we cannot cover all of Manisty due to understandable coronavirus restrictions at Stanlow.
The record breakers were eider with seven seen at Ince on the July count, little egret with ninety-eight in August breaking the previous record of 60. I thought this figure would be above the nationally important threshold, however, these thresholds have recently been revised and little egret has gone from 45 up to 110, to account for the increase in these birds in the UK. It is interesting that the international figure dropped 200 indicating that they are doing so well across all of Europe.
Another record breaker, and this one is above the nationally important threshold, was cormorant with 573 recorded in July. The previous record 544 was set last year. 136 avocets in July also beat the previous record of 83, also set last year and is above the recently raised nationally important threshold of 87. This has been increased by 12. We didn’t see any avocets in August.
This post is a combined July and August summary and although I have not had all counts in yet we have had a pretty impressive start to the year.
After just two months of new Webs year we have already broken four records, recorded a new species and had four species in internationally important numbers and two species in nationally important numbers. And we are still not counting the whole site as we cannot cover all of Manisty due to understandable coronavirus restrictions at Stanlow.
The record breakers were eider with seven seen at Ince on the July count, little egret with ninety-eight in August breaking the previous record of 60. I thought this figure would be above the nationally important threshold, however, these thresholds have recently been revised and little egret has gone from 45 up to 110, to account for the increase in these birds in the UK. It is interesting that the international figure dropped 200 indicating that they are doing so well across all of Europe.
Another record breaker, and this one is above the nationally important threshold, was cormorant with 573 recorded in July. The previous record 544 was set last year. 136 avocets in July also beat the previous record of 83, also set last year and is above the recently raised nationally important threshold of 87. This has been increased by 12. We didn’t see any avocets in August.
Roosting cormorants. © Rob Cockbain
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Cormorant at Hale Duck Decoy. © Rob Cockbain
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Cormorant youngsters on nest. © Rob Cockbain
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Canada geese peaked in July with 4,298, about half the previous record set 4 years ago. Their numbers have stopped increasing and may well be decreasing, but there are still a huge number of geese using the site in the summer post-breeding moult. There has been one pink-footed goose, seen on the July count, that seems to be summering here. Amongst the Canadas at Hale were six feral barnacle geese.
Shelduck with ducklings - Hale Marsh. © Rob Cockbain
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The Mersey is the best place in the UK for shelduck, with around 10,000 sometimes appearing in July and August. However, there are fewer around this year with just 5,000 counted in August. I was contacted by the Ribble and they said they had recorded their highest count ever with 3,700 birds. Previously they had only had two counts above 1,000, so perhaps some “our” birds have found the Ribble to their liking.
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Two garganey are always nice to find: both were at Frodsham, along with the first returning wigeon. The two most remarkable ducks in August were a common scoter and a goldeneye, both on the Ship Canal in August. In July the most remarkable ducks were seven eider.
Little egrets were all over the place with ninety eight counted and there are usually some on Manisty marshes which we were not able to count fully, so the number could have been over 100 and maybe exceeded the new nationally important threshold of 110.
There were two great egrets and I found a cattle egret on the Ship Canal which Paul had earlier seen on Ince Marshes. It perched in a hawthorn and then flew west along the canal.
There were two great egrets and I found a cattle egret on the Ship Canal which Paul had earlier seen on Ince Marshes. It perched in a hawthorn and then flew west along the canal.
.Cattle egret on the Manchester Ship Canal © Mersey WeBS
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High tide little egret roost. © Rob Cockbain
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One of two newly fledged little egrets at Hale Duck Decoy. © Rob Cockbain
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Ringed plovers always peaks in August and this year we hit 1,300. This is the 7th time they have been over 1,000, since counting waders began in 1970. In the last eight years we have exceeded 1,000 five times. This is because we are now including casual counts; made mostly by Rob at Hale, outside the WeBS counts, as we know the ringed plover move through quite quickly and so the WeBS count often misses their peak. Counts of over 540 are internationally important.
Eighty five grey plovers included many birds still in at least partial summer plumage and when I got home and looked at my pictures I noticed one had a red flag on its leg but so far I have not been able to find out where it was ringed.
Two thousand one hundred black-tailed godwits were similar to last month and is internationally important. However, I know that Frodsham has had over 2,500 roosting on No 6 bed in recent weeks. 3,400 redshanks is internationally important, while 8 greeshanks, all at Eastham, meets the new lowered nationally important threshold for greenshank.
The new species for the Mersey was an Arctic Tern seen by Toni and Ray at Eastham in July.
Six raptor species included a hobby and two marsh harriers together. 14 kestrels isn’t record breaking but at Ince I had six in the air together, all of them young birds, so it seems it has been a good breeding season for this species.
Amongst the passerines there were a few wheatears passing but most notable for me were at least 12 yellow wagtails passing over and calling with several also on the ground.
September is always an interesting month for birding with many migrants on the move. There should be plenty of waders about and curlew and redshank often peak in September or October.
Eighty five grey plovers included many birds still in at least partial summer plumage and when I got home and looked at my pictures I noticed one had a red flag on its leg but so far I have not been able to find out where it was ringed.
Two thousand one hundred black-tailed godwits were similar to last month and is internationally important. However, I know that Frodsham has had over 2,500 roosting on No 6 bed in recent weeks. 3,400 redshanks is internationally important, while 8 greeshanks, all at Eastham, meets the new lowered nationally important threshold for greenshank.
The new species for the Mersey was an Arctic Tern seen by Toni and Ray at Eastham in July.
Six raptor species included a hobby and two marsh harriers together. 14 kestrels isn’t record breaking but at Ince I had six in the air together, all of them young birds, so it seems it has been a good breeding season for this species.
Amongst the passerines there were a few wheatears passing but most notable for me were at least 12 yellow wagtails passing over and calling with several also on the ground.
September is always an interesting month for birding with many migrants on the move. There should be plenty of waders about and curlew and redshank often peak in September or October.
Dermot Smith
Flock of grey plover; one bird on the right has a red flag on its leg. © Mersey WeBS
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Close up of the bird with a red flag on its leg which means it was ringed on the Alt Estuary. © Mersey WeBS
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Marsh harrier - Ince Marshes. © Mersey WeBS
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