Tuesday 22 February 2011

Waxwing 12

I was working in Bootle on Sunday morning from about 5:30 am, by about 7.00 am a flock of around 25 Waxwings flew out of their roost in the tall Leylandii trees at the back of the large car park opposite Merton House, Stanley Road, and flew off low North. This may well have been a regular roosting site for them as they have been in the area in varying numbers since December. Also 10 Cormorants over.

85 Redwings on Wavertree Mystery yesterday.

Friday 18 February 2011

Odds and Sods

It has been relatively quiet due to work/Uni/Family commitments! Yet I managed to see a few goodies in between; last Sunday I had a flock of about 10 Waxwings over Stanley Road, Bootle which seemed to go down behind the magistrates court, Grey Heron and a hunting Peregrine there too. On Monday a Sparrowhawk displayed over UoL at Brownlow Hill. The yellow ringed female Pintail is still at Greenbank Park along with calling Nuthatches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, pair of Mute Swans, and a Grey Wagtail. On Thursday afternoon a female Peregrine was around the Metropolitan Cathedral, and a singing Blackcap on Mossley Hill Drive, Sefton Park, along with singing Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Nuthatch, and Redwing; Spring is nearly Sprung!

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Cormorants in Sefton

I had a look for the Aigburth Road Waxwing flock yesterday morning (around 60 birds recently), however there was no sign of them, although the Cotoneasters they have been feeding on are clearly evident; with one tree being half stripped. I cant always get lucky with this species I suppose!
In Sefton Park an adult and a 1stw Cormorant were on the lake, at times striking the unmistakable 'wings out' pose, much to the delight of passers by. The female Mandarin was still present, and the 4 Little Grebes; clearly displaying and one bird starting to nest build. Coots are well on the way with their nests as are the pair of Mute Swans (female already sitting on the nest). Other birds included a further 13 Mute Swans, 30+ Siskins, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, hybrid Goose and the female Pintail back in Greenbank Park.



A pair of Peregrines over Liverpool University yesterday too, with 13 Fieldfares on Long Lane playing fields, Wavertree on Monday.



Saturday 5 February 2011

Waxwings on the march

I was lucky enough to spot 17 Waxwings over the City Centre today at 12:15 whilst I was on the TUC organised anti-government funding cuts march and rally! The birds flew over St Georges Hall, presumably from the area in Scotland Road they have been frequenting, they then circled over Lime Street/Copperas Hill area for a couple of minutes before heading South towards Toxteth, a strange sight indeed over the City! A Peregrine over the city too, as one was yesterday over University of Liverpool.