23/4/17

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23/4/17

To start of the day it was a walk up to Bidston Moss my joint patch With Elliot Montieth. The very first thing which caught my eye was a pair of Green Finches as i walked up the bridge to get to the main part of the Moss where i had also spotted 2 Adult coots with 2 Chicks overall adding up to 5 coots and 5 chicks throughout the day.
Coot with Chicks
While walking around the main lake and the path leading towards it came up with 8 Specled Wood, 1 holly blue(first for this year), 10 orange tip, 1 Brimstone, 1 peacock, 1 Cabbage White and only 1 comma butterfly.
Male Orange tip
Specled Wood
Holly Blue
Peacock
Whilst i reached the lake i found and heard around 9 Chiffchaff and 5 Blackcaps which appeared to be all male. In the reed bed besides the main lake it was full of warblers which there appeared to be about 2 Reed and 2 Sedge warblers but possibly may of been just Reed. Also I was quite suprised to see a male House Sparrow as they rarely visit this area but not sure if this is due to habitat or distrobution in more rural reserves. Flying high up in the thermals there were a pair of Buzzards making the most of the sun. Below them there was a single Great Crested Grebe with the other possibly on a nest, saying that there was also 2 Mute Swans  with one laying on a clutch of eggs which will hopefuly hatch soon. After observing those swans i walked over to the far end of the lake where i seen a lovely male Reed Bunting in full summer plumage. Unexpectingly though, the highlight of the day was a Common Sandpiper which was a lifer for me and a unexpected find.
Common Sandpiper














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