16th November 2021

 Weather: SE force 1/2, later S 1/2 cloudy, pleasantly warm

 A dark trip across for some to beat the early tide. Just 6 Redwing heard over this morning but there were 7 Blackbirds and 5 Song Thrushes on the ground, but only one of each was caught for ringing.

A good record this morning was of a Snow Bunting flying overhead to the south, although perhaps less exciting were 3 Skylarks doing the same journey. Several Meadow Pipits, a Siskin and a Starling also came through. Most interesting among the waders was the increase of Purple Sandpipers to 15, let us hope this bodes well for numbers this winter as they have been a disappointment over the last few years.

A Raven flew over high to the east and then appeared down the east side, and later 2 Ravens were seen doing acrobatics on thermals over Middle Eye.

Large flocks of waders, Knot in particular, were flying about the estuary and roosting on West Kirby beach. The Brent reached a new high of 393 birds in cluding 2 dark-bellied birds. There were 8 Little Egrets and 6 Grey Herons. Shelduck numbered 375 and Curlew 396 around the islands area and 82 Common Scoter were on the sea, also a Great Crested Grebe, while a close Red-throated Diver at the north end (probably the same bird as yesterday) was even nearer today.

Several birds were retrapped today, most were recent arrivals, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes etc. also a Rock Pipit which seems to take a liking to the mealworms in the potter traps.  

Photos JE, AS, SRW