An Avocet was found today by a Dee Estuary Voluntary Warden Mike Hart (who was wardening the wader roosts at West Kirby beach) as it flew in from over the Royal Liverpool Golf Course and landed on the salt marsh at West Kirby. The news filtered through later in the afternoon (thanks to Richard Smith of http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/) and several Obs members rushed down to see the bird which was fortunately still present now on the beach further north (opposite the south end of Red Rocks LNR).
Towards dusk the bird was seen to fly out towards Hilbre but it circled back round and landed back on the saltmarsh.
We believe this is only the third record of Avocet for the Hilbre recording area (this is being checked); both previous records involved birds flying over - 3 near Little Eye on 7 October 1972 and two flying over Red Rocks and heading towards Hilbre in late May 1949!
Despite the recent upsurge of records for Wirral and now that the species has bred at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB it is surprising that the first modern record has come in the winter - but that's birding, expect the unexpected!
Back on the island 3 more Lapwing were noted today, as well as 450 Curlew plus a Peregrine. However, focus was mainly on the sea with 21 Red-throated Divers, 10 Great Crested Grebes a single Razorbill and presumably the same Great Northern Diver that was seen yesterday.
[DB + BSB, MGT, CJW et al 'twitching' the Avocet]
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