Thursday 14 December 2017

14th December 2017

Weather:  WSW 3-4, 3/8 cloud, moderate vis


As the tide ebbed waders were very much in evidence particularly between Little Eye and the Tanskey Rocks again. 



Good counts of Grey Plover (422), Knot (5,000), Dunlin (2,000), Curlew (328), Oystercatcher (7,500) and Ringed Plover (56) were made as well as a very impressive winter count of 1,200 Sanderling on the east hoyle bank.


Less impressive were the low numbers of Turnstone and Redshank (56) around the islands a noticeable decrease around the islands themselves over the last few winters.


Brent Geese numbered 292 Pale and a single dark between Middle and Hilbre as the tide ebbed and included the Canadian ringed bird and two Icelandic ringed birds.

Five Eiders remained in the gutter and around the North End and a flock of 24 Linnet were feeding on the North End of Middle after the tide but nothing else of note could be found amongst them. 


A single red-head Goosander remained on West Kirby Marine Lake with 8 Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes.

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