5th April 2013



male Merlin



At least one first for the year today when 2 Sandwichs Terns made it to the island, but still no luck with Wheatear or Sand Martin as the wind stayed in the north east and the sum total of moving birds were a few Meadow Pipits, a Goldfinch, 4 Pied and 2 White Wagtails. A Merlin was present for some time in the morning as one has been intermittingly over the last week or so. The only duck were 8 Wigeon off the west side. Best sightings on the sea (apart from the Sandwich terns) were 8 Red-breasted Mergansers and 12 Great Crested Grebes. The Red-tailed Hawk (presumably an escape) that has been around the West Kirby area for some time recently was seen from the island over West Kirby being mobbed by gulls, in the morning and again in the early afternoon.

(AEH,CLW,SRW,TGW,GIW,FPW,CJW)                 photo SRW