Pages

24 Oct 2010

A jewell on the Wirral.

What a little stunner! 1st winter male Firecrest caught by Hilbre regular John Elliot at a private site on the Wirral and he was good enough to let me ring it.




A great start to the weekend and quickly followed by a winter plumaged Slavonian Grebe found by Steve Barber over near Chelford. A county tick for Mark Payne so I quickly grabbed the 'scope and Molly and trundled off to pick him up. Luckily for us Frank Duff relocated the grebe just as we pulled up!

Running repairs were needed to the Landrover under torch light when I got home to cure a leaking injector before the trip to Hilbre on Sunday.

A beautiful dawn was breaking as we left the West Kirby shore and as we arrived on Hilbre good numbers of pipits and finches were passing overheard but birds actually on the Islands were a bit scarce.
Still, a Reed Bunting and two Greenfinches were nice to ring.




A few birds were also moving on the sea with a handful of Red-throated Divers and  Great-crested Grebes  among smaller numbers of auks and Common Scoter. Also seen was this interesting looking bird which showed plenty of big foot beyond the tail and a dagger like bill..........Black-throated Diver!

2 comments :

Mark Feltham said...

Oooo. Now THAT is a bird I don't think I'll ever get on the patch... BTD - doh!

Phil Woollen. said...

You never know!