After my Wirral jaunt today I thought it would have been rude to miss out Shotwick Boating Lake so that was my final destination of the day.

Here after a short scan of the lake I picked up the Long-tailed Duck that has been here a while. Also added to my yearlist were Reed Bunting and Little Grebe, the latter seen in the biggest numbers that I have ever seen on a single lake, there must have been at least 30 of them here and the lake isn't that big!

A report of an adult Glaucous Gull in a field near Shotwick Sailing Club proved too tempting so off I went for a mid-morning visit in search of a Plumage Lifer!

I arrived at the BP roundabout (in the report) and started scanning the few 100 or so Gulls on the water and the field behind it, with another birder who was already there. There was only a handful of large Gulls there, a few Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and a few immatures, the rest were Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. A few other birders turned up but didnt stop long after we assured them there was no sign of the Glaucous Gull.

The 1st birder mentioned he was going to check other nearby fields, I thought its probably worth a quick look at the sailing club. I noticed some large Gulls dropping into a nearby private compound (water works?) on the road out of the sailing club near where the winter Swans used to flock. Theres another road to the rifle ranges and I noticed the 1st birder stood on the high path looking at the partially obscured Gulls. It wasnt long before he thought he saw a possible white winger with a pale back but he lost it as it merged into the crowd. Damn, I missed it!

They were all flushed and thats when I picked up on a white winger, I watched it circle round and fly passed the factories, it looked good for the target bird but something in the back of my mind was niggling away ... Id be a lot happier if Id had a better view than of it flying away.
Ill wait for another one, oh well.


Other birds around...
- 2 Little Egret
- 8 Common Buzzard
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Kestrel

I needed to drop some bits off at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB so whilst there I travelled the 8 or so miles (by road) over to Shotwick Boating Lake & Shotwick Fields in Flintshire around midday.

Since I hadn't yet seen a Bewick's Swan in 2016 that was my target. In the field directly by the sailing club a large group of swans were feeding. These consisted mainly of Mute Swans with about 40 of these present, also about 15 Whooper Swans were picked out along with 6 Bewick's Swans. The Bewick's and Whooper Swans didn't mix, staying with their own kind in well defined areas, but mixed with Mute Swans throughout. Some other swans remained unidentified as they were down in dips in the field mainly out of sight. The group could be scoped from Burton Mere Wetlands and I could pick out some Bewick's and Whoopers from there but it was at high zoom in gloomy weather so much better to go round to view

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 12th of December 2016 01:50:56 PM

Shotwick Sailing Club and surrounding area this morning from 9:30 to around 11.

The large group of swans were still in the surrounding fields - the group was around 60 strong with almost equal numbers of Mute Swans, Whooper Swans and, a lifer for me, Bewick's Swans. Bright sunshine at the time gave a really nice opportunity to compare Whoopers and Bewicks side by side.

Also, on the lake, loads of Little Grebes but I couldn't track down the recent Black Necked Grebes. Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Pochard and Coot all well represented.

Around the fields also Reed Bunting, Linnet, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, loads of corvids and, on the way out, a lovely couple of Stonechat on the fenceposts, giving great views.

Kestrel and several Buzzards also around and about.

Sunday 25th January

Early pm visit to Shotwick Lake and adjacent field literally just over the Welsh border in Flintshire.

Lots of Swans in the field next to the Sailing Club lake. They were in large groups but not all together so difficult to put a number
on really.
Mute Swan - approx 40+
Whooper Swan - most numerous, approx 50-60
Bewick's Swan - maybe approx 25-30
(Not seen Bewick's for years, either Martin Mere or Slimbridge with Dad a long time ago)
Black Swan - 1 with a group of Whoopers
Snow Goose type - 1 feeding amongst the Swans, it's black primaries very evident
Rook - lots feeding in the field

A Finch flock - quite mobile around the tyre tracks at the edge of the field where it met the lake perimeter fence.
Rough estimate of around 25 birds consisted of Linnets and Reed Buntings. But when they landed on the wire fencing, a quick scan revealed 6 Twite in there, a welcome shock, and a Meadow Pipit travelling with them too!

Main Sailing Lake...
Black-necked Grebe - 3, very active, constantly diving
Little Grebe - at least 14 (never seen as many together)
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Coot - 50+ with ease
Also Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Mallard.
1 Buzzard circling over (3 more seen over the M56 on way

1 Peregrine - thought it could've been female as it appeared very large but appreciate that it's difficult to tell with just one bird, flew over the lake and scoured the whole area, everything stayed put on the lake though. After about 5 minutes it drifted towards the water works reservoir next to the sailing club and suddenly a mass of Gulls went up with some closely tailing and mobbing it. It didn't catch anything and soon disappeared.

Gulls - mainly Black-headed and Herring, but there was 1 Great Black-backed present too on the lake.

Usuals present...
Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Magpie, Woodpigeon



-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 26th of January 2015 11:24:34 PM

Finally got round to visiting Flint Castle, partly to overcome a phobia I had developed about the place but more importantly to check the Twite flock They duly obliged within in minutes of my arrival at 07.15. I counted 50+ birds. With a couple of Linnet in the flock they were a chatty bunch. Watched them doing their circuit for about an hour. Really good views when they were in the trees just in front of the lifeboat station and then scope required when they went onto the castle walls.

Then nipped over to Kinmel Bay but no sign of the Snow Buntings this time.

Went to Flint Castle this morning and got some great views (via the scope) of the Twite here. At least fifty were seen either perched on the Castle walls or feeding on the marsh at the seaward side. Even closer views were had when they were drinking at a puddle beside the car park when the pink rumps of the males really stood out. A few of them had both coloured and BTO rings.

Superb "little brown jobs" in a lovely setting on a spring-like day.

paul brady wrote:

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For all those fans of guided walks or for those who are just beginning their birding career:

Smuggler's Inn Car Park
Wednesday 20th April
10.30am

A FREE guided walk around the RSPB Point of Ayr reserve

We will be on the look out for migrants but the area should still hold a few of our winter visitors.

The Liverpool tide time is at 1pm and at a height of 9.7m.

Any enquiries please phone 0151 336 7681

---

Thanks to all those that came along - really made it worthwhile!
3 sandwich tern
2 whimbrel
5 white wagtails
were the standouts!

For all those fans of guided walks or for those who are just beginning their birding career: Smuggler's Inn Car Park Wednesday 20th April 10.30am A FREE guided walk around the RSPB Point of Ayr reserve We will be on the look out for migrants but the area should still hold a few of our winter visitors. The Liverpool tide time is at 1pm and at a height of 9.7m. Any enquiries please phone 0151 336 7681

RSPB High Tide Bird Watch at Flint/Oakenholt Marsh yesterday:

On the walk to/from the roost:
2 x common snipe
Jack snipe
Song thrush
Reed bunting (m&f)
Grey plover
Plenty of curlew
Common gull
BH gull
GBB gull
4 x mute swan
Grey wagtail
Pied wagtail
2 x raven

At the roost:
4500+ oystercatcher
4000+ black tailed godwit
2000+ dunlin
1000+ knot
Huge flocks flying in and wheeling in formation, never seen anything like it

Couple of grey plover
c. 6 bar tailed godwit
Shelduck
Teal
Wigeon
Curlew
Mute swan
Lots of pink feet over
Canada geese

Fantastic morning, thanks to Geoff who led the walk, pointed out the various waders and provided some interesting history of the area as well.

Visit to parents in Flint over xmas - on xmas day they had a flock of c.15 bramblings visiting the garden throughout the day, apparently they have had at least 12 every day since.

Great xmas pressie for my daughter - new tick

Visit to my mum & dad in Flint this weekend. On their feeders:

GS Woodpecker
Lots of house sparrows
Chaffinches
Blue tits
Great tits
Goldfinches

The goldfinches appear to be building a nest in one of their trees - is this usual at this time, seemed a bit late to me?

Also, after puzzling over mysterious holes that had appeared in their lawn overnight, they have now discovered a family of three badgers are visiting the garden - I'm v jealous!!

Quick trip down to Flint Point at dusk:

3 little egrets
4 dunlin
common sandpiper
BH gulls
H Gulls
GBB and LBB gulls
6 black-tailed godwits
lots of swallows over
Jay
2 grey herons
oystercatcher (heard)
redshank

-- Edited by Helen Jones on Tuesday 6th of July 2010 06:40:51 AM

Feel free to pop along to an RSPB free guided walk on April 17th at Point of Ayr - we will be on the look out for waders and migrants.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.asp?id=tcm:9-246693

All the details at the above link.