Hilbre again

Had another attempt at showing Dylan the Grey Seals on Hilbre Island this afternoon and believe it or not the rain held off! The seals came very close to the north-end and down to about 20 feet. It realy is amazing to get so close to these large marine mammals and has got to be one of the regions most memorable wildlife encounters.

Other highlights around the islands included 300+ Sandwich Terns, 5 Shags, Little Egret, Turnstones, and Rock Sea Lavender.

Broad-Leaved Helleborine

I was amazed recently to find a Broad-Leaved Helleborine growing in Wavertree near Wavertree Road and Tunnel Road. I returned to the area today to photograph it. This species is probably the most widespread Helloborine nationally but, however, it is locally very scarce. There was a well known plant growing nearer to Liverpool University which was reported a few years back by Eric Hardy and was thought to be an accidental introduction, but it would appear that there is a small local population as I found another 2 non-flowering plants today away from the first plant.

Hilbre washout

We decided to visit Hilbre Island last Tuesday with the aim of showing our son Dylan his first Grey Seals. Instead of the pleasant trip we expected the heavens opened just as we reached the main island and the rain grew steadily stronger and stronger! However Dylan did see his first seals through the gloom.

Not much showing on the island due to the weather but 2 Little Egrets, 120+ Sandwich Terns, Wheatear, and a Dark-Green Fritilary (unusual between the Great Orme and the Sefton Coast) struggling across the West side of the island in the driving rain!

A special thank you to the Ranger on the Island that generously offered us a lift back to the mainland.

Raven over Greenbank Park

Had a Raven south-east over Greenbank Park yesterday.

Chiff Chaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, 2 Song Thrushes, House Sparrows, Grey Wagtail, family party of Pied Wagtails, and 3 Commas in Wavertree Mystery Park today.

Ivy Broomrape

The area behind the cafe in Calderstones Park has always been a well known site for the nationally scarce Ivy Broomrape (very few sites in the North), this is a really unusual parasitic plant and it has been rumoured that it was introduced by the late Eric Hardy. It has spread over the years and seems to be increasing.

Not much else showing in the park; Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 family parties of Canada Geese (a rare breeder in S.Liverpool), and a Red-Eared Terrapin.

No sign of the Kingfisher from previous visit.

Mossley Hill Safari!

I had a good old mooch around my local (Mossley Hill/Greenbank) area today and found quite a few intresting plant species which are localy scarce, including; Hedge Woundwort, Wild Pea, Enchanters Nightshade, Purple Loostrife, Ramsons, Meadowsweet, Solomons Seal, and Hawks Beard.

Birdlife included a pair of Grey Wagtails which looked like they where in courtship again for a second brood in the Dell area near to the waterfall, and plenty of calling Nuthatches. Three Commas and a Small Tortershell on Penny Lane and a Fox near the bridge on Mossley Hill Drive also.

Honey Buzzard?

A Grey Seal was very close inshore today off the Pier Head at 3.00 pm, nosing at people on the ferry!

I was working in Allerton yesterday near Allerton Golf Course, a Raven (probably a young bird) was in the area all day, an unusual sight perched on house roofs! However I have suspected them of breeding locally over the last couple of years.
Other birds included Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, and at about 4.00 pm a large long winged/tailed raptor flew west on flat to slightly down curved wings. Although not a 100% certain ID, the bird was very reminiscent of Honey Buzzard.

Childwall Woods and Fields

I paid a visit to Childwall Woods and Fields with my son Dylan yesterday (this is his favourite place). We managed to find a reeling Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Buzzard, Comma, and Large Skipper.

There is also a great display of Southern Marsh and Common Spotted Orchids, with large hybrids dominating.

This site has really improved over the years thanks to a number of groups and organisations such as; Lancashire wildlife trust, LCC, and the local friends group. They have produced a very rich and varied site.

Sefton Park

Had a stroll around Sefton Park with the family in tow this afternoon, the park was packed, the weather was hot and sunny; so I didnt expect to see much, hence I didnt bring the camera with me. However I had a few unusual sightings-

Male Little Grebe, calling on the main lake behind the island, there was no sign of any other birds there and is a very intriging local record.
A Green Woodpecker flew low over me above the eastern shore of the lake and landed in trees further on, again this is a very unusual record, I have had regular (albeit in small numbers) early-spring records of Lesser Spots around Sefton Park/Greenbank areas over the last few years and I have suspected them of being resident in small numbers, but this is my first record of Green Woodpeckers in the South-end for five years.
Another unusual record today consisted of a male Black-Tailed Skimmer at the south-end of the main lake. Other insect records included Emperor Dragonfly and Common Blue Damselflys.
The family of Mute Swans, minus the female bird are still doing very well. JUV Grey Wagtail and JUV Pied Wagtail, and flowering Meadow Sweet in the park also.

Mallorca 2010 (no.3)

Had the chance to check the rural areas inland of Calla Millor last week and managed to find a few decent sightings. One of the best things about holiday resorts is that they are all built very close to the coast, and a short walk inland can often reveal good and varied habitats.

Mallorca 2010 (no.2)

Here are some snaps from my recent visits to the Punta de Namer, Mallorca; mentioned in yesterdays post............. well worth a visit, check out the highlights below!

Punta D'Amor - three visits between 13th-20th June (all before breakfast)!

Eagle Owl

Eleonoras Falcon

Balearic Woodchat Shrike

Orphean Warblers
Sardinian Warblers

Specktacled Warblers

Western Bonellis Warblers

Thekla Larks

Short-Toed Larks

2 Nightingales

Cirl Buntings

Serins

Stonechats

Hoopoes

Palid Swifts

Audouins Gulls

Red-Legged Partridges

2 Swallowtails

2 Cleopatras

Spur-Thighed Tortoise

7 Moorish Geckos

Mallorca 2010 (no.1)

I have just returned from a weeks holiday with the family; we where based in Cala Millor (slap bang in the middle of a sprawling resort laden east coast) not the most ideal base for nipping off for a few hours birding ........ I thought.

Here are some images from S'Albufera Marshes, more from the Calla Millor area later.

S'Albufera marshes- 16/6/10

17 Purple Gallinules

3 Crested Coots

Little Bittern

4 Night Herons

4 Purple Herons

4 Temminks Stints

Kentish Plover

32 Stone Curlews

Osprey

2 Moustached Warblers

4 Fan-Tailed Warblers

Great Reed Warblers

Cettis Warblers

Cattle Egrets

European Pond Terrapins

Red-Eared Terrapins

Swallowtail

Clouded Yellow

Southern Gatekeepers

I managed a day at the S'albufera Marshes....... a well known wildlife mecca; however closer to where we where staying (1 mile away) I found the Punta de N'Amer Nature Reserve, a large untouched headland consisting of coniferous and mixed woodland, dune systems, heathland, open grassland, and rocky coastline. I managed three visits to this site (as well as the farmland inland of the resort), I cant say enough of getting out at 6.00 am and returning later for a cooked breakfast and never being missed!

OH and on Sunday 13th I viewed a Marsh Harrier quartering farmland from Speke Airport terminal! A good start eh?

Good news from Sefton Park

Below is a report from Liverpool Daily Post concerning the family of Mute Swans in Sefton Park.

Swan savaged by dog in Liverpool's Sefton Park
May 27 2010 By Laura Jones

THE dog owner involved in the attack on the swan last night has voluntarily contacted police.
She arrived at a south Liverpool station today to be interviewed under caution, although she has not been arrested.
A police spokesperson said: "Arrangements will be made for a police dog handler to visit the woman's home and examine the dog in question, however there is nothing to suggest at this stage that it is a banned breed."

A MUM plunged into a lake in a south Liverpool park in a bid to rescue a swan savaged by a dog. Kit Friery waded through the water as the swan lay dying in Sefton Park lake - the victim of a vicious attack by a bull terrier-type dog. Kit, who was walking in the park with her 10-year-old daughter Rachael, at first waited for the RSPCA to arrive. But after two hours she decided to take matters into her own hands. Despite dragging the injured bird to the safety it later died. It is thought the dog mauled the swan at about 7.30pm - although police officers did not arrive until 9.40pm.
A 31-year-old man who was in the park with his wife said: "We were walking round Sefton Park lake and saw there were two swans on the other side of the lake with five or six cygnets. "There was a pitbull-style dog that went towards the swans and started barking. "Its owner was in her late 20s. She pulled the dog away, but carried on walking towards the swans. The dog overpowered her and went for the swans and dug its teeth into one of the adult swans. "It had hold of it for 20 or 30 seconds. People went towards it. Somebody managed to grab the swan and rip it out of the dog’s jaws and got it into the lake. It was harrowing to watch. The swan was really badly injured. "I think it's another example of this type of dog being uncontrollable - just imagine it going for an infant or a baby. "There really should be a designated area of the park for people letting their dogs run loose. It shouldn't be anywhere near Sefton Park. "It was a dark brown or black pitbull or Staffordshire terrier dog."
Merseyside police today appealed for the owner of the Staffordshire terrier type dog, or any witnesses to the incident, to come forward.
Anyone with information should call neighbourhood police on 0151 777 5354.

The Swan killed in this shocking incident was the female of the pair, there was a fear that the male bird would abandon his six cygnets; however when I visited this afternoon he was still there and all six cygnets are healthy and growing rapidly........fingers crossed.

Also in the park I saw Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Treecreeper, Carp, 2 Siskins, and Meadow Sweet (on the footpath in-between Liverpool University and Liverpool College gronds).