SOUTH LIVERPOOL BIRDER: June 2013

Monday, 10 June 2013

Save Sefton Park Meadows

Thanks to Paul Slater for the post which I have pasted below:

Thanks for the updates. Nuthatches have also nested in an old concrete lamp-post, alongside the Sefton Park Meadowlands.
You may be aware that the Sefton Park Meadowlands are under threat, at present. The present administration of Liverpool City Council is proposing to sell them off, for housing. In order to do this, the Council has to, by law, advertise their intent to dispose of land that is presently public open space. Last week, in the back pages of the Liverpool Post was a tiny advert, to this effect. People have until 10:00, on Friday 14 June to lodge objections.
Representation can be made by e-mail, to Legal.Planning@liverpool.gov.uk (quoting reference PRT/TIG/Park Ave).
If they dispose of this site, then they will start looking around for other areas of public open space to dispose of. I would urge everybody who cares about open spaces in Liverpool, to object to this appalling idea of the present administration of Liverpool City Council.
Paul Slater

This campaign is a truly worthwhile cause, if the council is successful in selling the land to private developers, the green spaces around the city will potentially become 'fair game' in the constant drive by the council to become a 'facilitator' of corporate development that could see our green spaces decimated, with the usual 'administrative jargon' of the mixing of developments and green spaces as the answer....if you want to see how this doesn't work check Wavertree Technology Park out! If this open space is sold off then what will be next? Alerton Golf Course? Otterspool shore? The list of green space available to people seeking to line their already bulging pockets seems never ending. However, all is not lost; if the site is sold a new concert stage will be built in the park......thanks for that Joe Anderson!

If you would like further information click on the following links

http://saveseftonparkmeadows.org/

https://www.facebook.com/SaveSeftonParkMeadows

https://twitter.com/SaveSeftonParkM

Ynys Hir

Red Kite - Ynys Hir - June 2013

Ynys Hir - June 2013

Whilst on holiday in Wales last week I popped down to Ynys Hir RSPB nature reserve which is currently hosting Springwatch, I have visited the site many times over the years, it is always a fantastic place to watch wildlife and catch up with some of the best summer migrants.

juv Redstart - Ynys Hir - June 2013

I managed to find Wood Warblers, Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers, Garden Warblers all of which are classic species of the Welsh Oak woodlands, other highlights included a Snow Goose on the estuary, Red Kite, Yellow Wagtail, Grass Snake, Common Lizard, Little Egret, and Large Red Damselfly. The reserve is a top spot for Otter but the closest thing to an Otter I could find was an Otter spraint (poo!) on the boardwalk, maybe next time. A full roundup follows:-

Large Red Damselfly - Ynys Hir - June 2013

Wood Warbler - 12
Redstart - 8
Pied Flycatcher - 3
Garden Warbler - 2
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 7
Whitethroat - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 2
Redpoll - 20+
Crossbill - 8 flew North
Snow Goose - 1
Red Kite - 1
Common Buzzard - 2
Little Egret - 1
Grass Snake - 1
Common Lizard - 1
Large Red Damselfly - 30+
Four-Spot Chaser - 2
Ground Ivy
Cuckoo -2

Pied Flycatcher - Ynys Hir - June 2013

Wood Warbler - Ynys Hir - June 2013

Snow Goose - Ynys Hir - June 2013

Sunday, 9 June 2013

Ospreys.....the easy way

While in Wales over the last week we paid a visit to the Dyfi Osprey Project at Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve, it was my five year-old boys first Ospreys so it was a great time for him too, especially as he spotted a Red Kite above the car park at the reserve (a proud moment for me I have to admit). The Osprey's are very well known due to the coverage on Springwatch, and a dedicated group of volunteers provide excellent protection for the birds and detailed information for visitors. The visitor centre and hide provide live feeds of the nest site on HD TVs; this is were I took these dodgy photos from. Apart from the Ospreys great views of Lesser Redpolls and Siskins on the feeders outside of the hide was a nice surprise, as was a larger and very coloured Redpoll (see the right hand bird in the photo) which may have been a Common (Mealy) Redpoll.

A local Catch Up

After being away for a few days (more on this to follow in the next post) on Friday I had a walk around the local area to see how some of the local breeding birds are getting along. In Sefton Park the best find was a family party of at least five young Grey Wagtails at the South-West corner of the lake, they were acting in a uncharacteristic way; moving about the branches of trees rather than feeding on the ground. The adult birds would occasionally appear with food for them, but this wont last for long as they look about ready to fully fledge. On the lake the pair of nesting Great Crested Grebes are still going strong and another third bird is usually to be found at the South-end of the lake opposite the small cafe....fingers crossed that young will appear soon. On the lake Swifts could be seen skimming the surface in search of insects and occasionally dropping their lower jaws into the water to catch a quick drink at top speed; an impressive feat. Small numbers of swallows hunt the area surrounding the lake and House Martins soar higher up above the South-end of the lake, the family of Mute Swans are still all accounted for, however, this cant be said for the Canada Goose family on the main lake which has dropped from five chicks to two; after two have been drowned by the male Mute Swan and another falling victim to another dog attack in the park, the pair of Little Grebes are still present but I couldn't see any new nesting site (but I would love to be wrong). Near the bandstand two Grey Herons hunted in the shallows and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiff Chaff, and Ring-Necked Parakeet could be seen in the Dell area.

In Greenbank Park two pairs of Nuthatch and one pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers are feeding young, two Grey Herons (different birds than Sefton), three Mute Swans, and a Red Eared Terrapin can be seen on the lake. Chiff Chaff and Willow Warbler still occasionally sing and Treecreepers are breeding in the wooded section. A Common Buzzard was mobbed by crows overhead and driven off towards Penny Lane. The clump of Honey Garlic is impressive now in the wooded section opposite Gorsebank Road and is well worth a look being one of only two North-West sites were it grows.