Close relations.

Out and about last night enjoying the evening sunshine along the Shropshire Union Canal overlooking the Gowy Water Meadows. Plenty of activity both mammalian and avian and  I managed these photo's of two closely related pairs of species.

The Hare was really nice to see - they're quite scarce around my immediate area although commoner towards the Dee Estuary.

The Mistle Thrush was particularly scruffy looking and had obviously been reading Svensson as it was next seen checking for a cloacal protuberance!

A recent rip to Hilbre was rewarded with proof of breeding for both Robin and Dunnock - a fairly recent phenomonen after being lost as breeding species for awhile.

Art versus extinction.

All for a good cause:

ART v. EXTINCTION TO LAUNCH IN LIVERPOOL THIS WEEK

16 May 2011 -- GHOSTS OF GONE BIRDS is a travelling multi-media art exhibition designed to raise a creative army for conservation.

Its first stop will be in Liverpool on May 19-20^th at the Liverpool School of Art & Design where there will be a Ghosts Gallery Space featuring brand new work by Ralph Steadman, Sir Peter Blake, Rob Ryan, Billy Childish, Desmond Morris, Pete Fowler, Charming Baker, Kai and Sunny, Rebecca Jewell, Olly and Suzi, Dafila Scott and Jamie Hewlett - to name just a few.

Each artist has been asked to adopt a different extinct species of bird and breathe life back into it through their art.   There will be paintings, sketches, sculptures, woodcuts, poems and installation pieces all dedicated to resurrecting such lost creatures as the Red Moustached Fruit Dove, the Mysterious Starling and Reunion Owl.

The exhibition will also feature talks by artists, writers and scientists; as well as a live performance of new music especially written for the project by Jimi Goodwin of Doves on Friday, 20 May.

GHOSTS OF GONE BIRDS will then migrate south, stopping off at the Port Elliot Festival in July; The Bird Fair in August and then take up a three week residency at the Rochelle School Gallery in Shoreditch in November.

THE GHOSTS OF GONE BIRDS project has been created to get people thinking about the diverse range of birds that have already been lost to extinction– and introduce them to the work being done by BirdLife International and the RSPB to stop any more species joining them.

The shows will help raise funds for the frontline conservation projects being carried out by both organisations around the world to protect birds from the myriad threats endangering their continued existence.

GHOSTS OF GONE BIRDS is being jointly run by documentary film-maker/art collector Ceri Levy and creative director Chris Aldhous of ideas agency GOODPILOT.

For further information please contact:

Ceri Levy on 07885 755733

www.facebook.com/ghostsofgonebirds
www.twitter.com/gonebirds

Citrine Wagtrail

Same place, three years later.........................

Red letter day!

What a fantastic day in Cheshire and Wirral today! Despite the persistent rain that deterred many from going out some hardier souls persisted. First up was a text from Frank to say there was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Frodsham No. 6 - a Cheshire tick for me. Off I trundled only to arrive in the middle of a deluge. The bird was found by three guys who weren't sure what it was but luckily Frank was on hand to clinch the i.d.

Unfortunately the weather and distance from the bird meant photo's were strictly of the ' record shot ' genera only.

Whilst at Frodsham Steve rang me to say Colin Wells had found a Broad-billled Sandpiper at Meols but that it had flown off with Dunlin. I didn't think anymore about it until, whilst out walking Molly, Allan texted to say he'd relocated it but that it had flown again but was still in the same general area. Changing the plans I had at home I grabbed the camera and set off! I'd only been at the site less than a couple of minutes before Mal Sarjeant relocated it. magic stuff. Cheshire No. 2 for the day.

Just a shame that poxy male Citirne Wagtail at RSPB Conwy didn't decide to turn up on the paddocks by Leasowe Lighthouse.

Just to prove there were some decent photographs to be had today and to show how bad the weather was here's a selection of Yellow Wagtail photo's from Frodsham. Whilst driving away fro mthe Buff-breasted Sandpiper this stonking bird flew up on the fence in front of the Landrover. I'm sure he's looking at the rain in the first one and saying 'why the fek didn't I stay in Africa?'

Hilbre breakfast.

Not mine but this Dunlin!
Spent the night on Hilbre last night as the early morning tide meant I wouldn't have been able to get on to check for migrants at first light. Up at 04.45 this morning it soon became apparent the westerlies had scuppered any chance of any new migrants dropping in but the sight of several hundred Gannets battling their way out of the bay against the wind along with good numbers of Guillemots heading the same way was quite a spectacle.

Good numbers of Dunlin (2000+) & Ringed Plover (100+) roosting south of Middle Eye including this individual proving the point the early bird does get the worm.

Quite a bit of activity on the pager over the last week with the mega alert going off 4 times:
Audouin's Gull, Calandra Lark & Great Snipe - I'm chilled. But Rock Bunting....................
Unfortunately it was seen four days ago and not since.

Red-rumped Swallow, Leasowe

Same place same bird? Its the third time in 5 years there has been a Red-rumped Swallow around the pony paddocks near Leasowe Lighthouse. This time it was found by John Coup and I managed to get down after work. With Molly huffing and puffing behind me I made quick time from the lighthouse car park to the furthest kissing gate just in time to see the bird disappear distantly over houses. Several brief views later  I finally picked the bird up flying back in from my left and the small group of birders and photographers all enjoyed good views.

Breaking records.

This has been one of the best spring for migrants on Hilbre in recent times and this weekend was no exception with a deluge of birds Saturday albeit slowing to a trickle Sunday. Common Whitethroats ringed number 33 - the best total since the halcyon days of the 70's.

Willow Warbler numbers have also been higher than in recent years and even less than anuual  migrants such as Tree Pipit, Redstart and Garden Warbler have been caught. Other spring goodies include Whinchat.

As well as the migtrant birds the residents are in full breeding mode with juvenile Dunnocks and Robins being adequate proof of confirmed breeding whilst the female of the residnet Blalckbird pair has been seen carrying food.

Flocks of Dunlin, posssilby of the more northern races, are hanging around in theiir breeding plumage and included this leucsitic bird whilst Whimbrel numbers are slowly increasing as the month progresses.

Right  on cue our local House Martins have arrived and there appears to be more birds around than last year. Hopefully they've had a good winter and numbers have genuinely increased. Robins have fledged from the ivy in front of the house whilst we were in Australia and Wrens are feeding young above the porch. I found a Dunnocks nest in the hawthorn hedge yestersay and the Blackbirds are nesting somehere where the Magpies can't find them!

The Moorhens are already incubating their second brood and we've a pair of Greenfinches nesting somewhere nearby.