Thursday 15 September 2011

Like Gibraltar

I couldn't believe my eyes today in Greenbank Park as a Common Buzzard was circling over (not that unusual) but within ten minutes it had been joined by at least 14 other birds which mostly appeared from high to the north. Most birds arrived in no more than threes, and all spiraled high over the park for another ten minutes until they gained height and drifted south; apart from three birds which headed north-west. This display duly attracted the attention of a pair of Peregrines which harassed them something rotten! I am certain that this was migrating behaviour rather than local(ish) birds, and was more reminiscent of the Gibraltar straights than urban Liverpool.

Apart from this great sighting three Ring Necked Parakeets where in their usual place in Greenbank Park at 8;30 AM, Grey Heron, male Tufted Duck, 100+ House Martins, Swift (maybe my last for the year?), Hybrid Goose, Farm Goose, Grey Wagtail, nesting Coot, and 2 Red-Eared Terrapins, Red Admiral in the park too.

Elsewhere in the local area there was a large amount of flyover passerines heading south this morning which included at least 200 Mipits, Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, and large numbers of common finches and hirrundines.

Chiff Chaff in song on Dovedale Road, 6 Red Admirals, 5 Speckled Wood, and escaped Russian Vine on Penny Lane

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