Alarm sounded at 5am and after some breakfast I made the trip to Overpool train station for the 6.20 to Moreton. After changing at Birkenhead Central and making the walk over to Conway Park, (due to Hamilton Square being refurbished) I reconnected with the West Kirby train and arrived at Moreton at 7.15am.
1st birds off the train were Mallards and Moorhens in the ponds next to the station. As I approached the River Birkett I could see two Teal that quickly flushed and flew further downstream. On the approach to the lighthouse I noticed lots of Greenfinches in the surrounding trees as well as a few Goldfinches. Near to the lighthouse 4 Curlews were feeding in the grass adjacent to it. A quick look on the seafront produced a Little Egret and several Redshank dotted around in small pools as the tide was well out.
I decided to walk along the coastal path the horse riders use and scan the paddocks. This rewarded me with my 1st Wheatear of the year a stunning male on a pile of not so stunning horse manure!! Several Skylarks were also in the fields along with quite a few calling 'tseep tseep' Meadow pipits. Overhead Linnets called as they flew over and made their way across to the other side of the paddocks. Just before the turn off to the kissing gates an area of scrub produced at least half a dozen Stonechats, always great to see. Another male Wheatear was further along in some sandy grass and yet another past the caravan park near to Pams Ponys paddocks.
Walking back on myself through the kissing gates I scanned the paddocks and saw a couple of pied wagtails and some more linnets, pipits and skylarks. A cock pheasant called from the fields alongside the hedgerow and back towards the ponds a few Reed Buntings were calling. I heard a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and also heard a Little Owl in the distance.
The Little Owl was calling for quite a while around 8.55am so I approached Lingham Lane bridge and looked into the field by the green five barred gate to see if I could spot him, alas no. It did call a bit later on but sounded a lot further back than when I had first heard it :(
Over the Birkett, a couple of Goldcrests provided good viewing darting back and to like tiny hummingbirds whilst hunting small insects. A pair of Mistle Thrush were in nearby fields and Collared Doves were calling, Spring is defo here.
Another lap around the ponds produced a singing Chiffchaff and some more Reed Buntings. I stopped on the front for a cuppa and a sandwich and scanned the tideline to see a huge raft of Common Scoters that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. News came in later that local birder Allan Conlin had discovered Wirrals 1st Surf Scoter in amongst the flock, very well done :-)
I watched the Greenshank chasing a Redshank around the Groyne which was quite amusing and the as the tide came in a dog walker got cut off by the incoming tide and the hovercraft was launched from New Brighton to come and rescue her!! Time was ticking on so I called it a day and headed for the train and home. An enjoyable day and I will be back in April.
1st birds off the train were Mallards and Moorhens in the ponds next to the station. As I approached the River Birkett I could see two Teal that quickly flushed and flew further downstream. On the approach to the lighthouse I noticed lots of Greenfinches in the surrounding trees as well as a few Goldfinches. Near to the lighthouse 4 Curlews were feeding in the grass adjacent to it. A quick look on the seafront produced a Little Egret and several Redshank dotted around in small pools as the tide was well out.
I decided to walk along the coastal path the horse riders use and scan the paddocks. This rewarded me with my 1st Wheatear of the year a stunning male on a pile of not so stunning horse manure!! Several Skylarks were also in the fields along with quite a few calling 'tseep tseep' Meadow pipits. Overhead Linnets called as they flew over and made their way across to the other side of the paddocks. Just before the turn off to the kissing gates an area of scrub produced at least half a dozen Stonechats, always great to see. Another male Wheatear was further along in some sandy grass and yet another past the caravan park near to Pams Ponys paddocks.
Walking back on myself through the kissing gates I scanned the paddocks and saw a couple of pied wagtails and some more linnets, pipits and skylarks. A cock pheasant called from the fields alongside the hedgerow and back towards the ponds a few Reed Buntings were calling. I heard a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and also heard a Little Owl in the distance.
The Little Owl was calling for quite a while around 8.55am so I approached Lingham Lane bridge and looked into the field by the green five barred gate to see if I could spot him, alas no. It did call a bit later on but sounded a lot further back than when I had first heard it :(
Over the Birkett, a couple of Goldcrests provided good viewing darting back and to like tiny hummingbirds whilst hunting small insects. A pair of Mistle Thrush were in nearby fields and Collared Doves were calling, Spring is defo here.
Another lap around the ponds produced a singing Chiffchaff and some more Reed Buntings. I stopped on the front for a cuppa and a sandwich and scanned the tideline to see a huge raft of Common Scoters that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. News came in later that local birder Allan Conlin had discovered Wirrals 1st Surf Scoter in amongst the flock, very well done :-)
I watched the Greenshank chasing a Redshank around the Groyne which was quite amusing and the as the tide came in a dog walker got cut off by the incoming tide and the hovercraft was launched from New Brighton to come and rescue her!! Time was ticking on so I called it a day and headed for the train and home. An enjoyable day and I will be back in April.
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