Sunday 22 May 2011

Cricket, Garlic, Ravens; and not much else!

Wildflowers at Greenbank Park I recently found this clump of Honey Garlic at Greenbank Park in the wooded area, this was a first for me and quite an unusual find; I am led to believe. A striking plant standing about 3ft high and with multiple flower heads. Jackdaws, Grey Wagtail, Mistle and Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Chiff Chaff, Blackcap, are all either nesting or on territory in the park, along with the Mute Swans still sitting on eggs and 3 pairs of Coots nesting. A pair of Grey Wagtails nesting on the front of the Brookhouse Pub, Smithdown Road at the moment regularly come into Greenbank Park to feed also.

Mute Swan (on nest), Greenbank Park I visited Liverpool Cricket Club to watch Lancashire vs Yorkshire on Wednesday (Lancs eventually won on Saturday) and apart from the cricket I saw 2 Buzzards (with one bird mewing), Kestrel (not a common bird anymore in the area), Sparrowhawk, Swift, Swallows, and a Chiff Chaff on territory.

Honey Garlic, Greenbank ParkGoldcrests singing and Three-Cornered Garlic flowering off Mill Lane Wavertree on Thursday as was Wood Anemone until recently.
Yesterday over the house I had a Raven heading west and a pair of Swifts (they are really thin on the ground this spring), and a Peregrine over the City Centre.
3 pairs of Blackcap and a nesting pair of Pied Wagtails in Wavertree Mystery.

Honey Garlic, Greenbank Park
Honey Garlic, Greenbank Park
Honey Garlic, Greenbank ParkA pair of Raven on Stanley Road Bootle today as was one last Sunday.

Time realy hasnt been on my side of late...................two more weeks of hectic schedule and then some free time at last! I am sick of missing things..................Broad Billed Sandpiper, Citrine Wagtail, Black Headed Wagtail, Red Rumped Swallow; just to name a few!

Monday 9 May 2011

Conwy Valley

Me and a mate went for a great long walk (17 miles) on Thursday in the Conwy Valley. It has become quite a skill of mine to spot wildlife whilst trying to keep up with an 'OUT AND OUT' walker, and involves a lot of running to keep up! You really do realise that many walkers don't take in any of their natural surroundings! But I am slowly trying to convert Trev! Do any birders actualy go on decent walks too? We started off from Trefriw village and climbed up the 'steepest road in Wales' past the cemetery and up onto the tops, past Llyn Cowlyd resevoir, over the Pen Llithrig Y-Wrach ridge and down the into Ogwen Valley and on to Capel Curig, then past Llyn Crafnant and Llyn Geirionydd and back to Trefriw village.
I managed to connect with some decent species, including; a male Honey Buzzard , female Merlin, 5 Pied Flycatchers, 20+ Wood Warblers, 10+ Redstarts, Garden Warbler, 50+ Siskins, male Ring Ouzel (singing), Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Red Breasted Mergansers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 12+ Common Buzzards, 5 Little Egrets, Pearl-Bordered Fritilary, Orange Tips, Butterwort, and woodlands full of bluebells.