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WeBS

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A fantastic day for birds and insects alike during this WeBS count, with conditions being mild and the rain holding off. To start off the day it consisted of 72 Oystercatcher , 16 Black Headed Gull, 5 Common Gull and 8 Herring gull all on Wallacre Field just before the reserve. Next, off it was a walk towards the Mainlake where a small flock of around 5 Goldcrests were picked up and later on in the day both a Male and Female Sparrowhawk . Upon reaching the Mainlake overall counts consisted of 15 Coot , 4 Moorhen , 2 Great Crested Grebes and 17 Tufted Ducks . At the Mainlake I met up with Mr.E.Montieth who had counted 3 Lesser Redpoll , 2 Siskin , 1 Snipe and a First Record of Black Tailed Godwit with the flock being made up of 205 individuals . 3 Bullfinch was also accounted for around the Mainlake and 42 Pink Footed Goose flying over on the way towards the Backpools. On the way to the Backpools a single Water Rail was picked up and when reaching the Backpools it held 2 Dra
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By Elliot Montieth -
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Overall a quiet day at the moss with a trailing roost count producing 157 Woodpigeon, 17 Cormorant, 72 Magpie, 268 gull sp and 1 Buzzard. Elsewhere up to 8 Bullfinches were along the track adjacent to the main lakes south bank with Siskin and Goldfinch for company.   Highlights of the day were the discovery of a Common Goldeneye on the lake; 2nd record for the site. The other being a Med Gull which flew over the lake at dusk in a stream of black-headed gulls. Observer: Elliot Montieth
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By Elliot Montieth -
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The totals from a visible migration session today at the moss: Fieldfare (3), Redwing (103), Brambling (2), Kestrel (3), Chaffinch (64), Bullfinch (14), Buzzard (8), Raven (4), Siskin (13), Lesser Redpoll (6), Sparrowhawk (5), Redshank (1) and Grey Heron (1). Siskin Observer: Elliot Montieth
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WeBs

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One of the best days I have had for WeBS for a while now. Starting things up, there were 2 Ravens high up above the metal bridge.Soon afterward there was a count of 26 coots ,  18 mallards , and 9 Moorhen combined with both the Backpools and Mainlake. The Mainlake held a single mute swan which may suggest that the cygnets have moved on. There was also a Skylark which flew over as well as 7 Tufted Ducks being present. Towards B&Q reed bed a Male Coldcrest was displaying to 2 Females and overall 3 Water Rail were found at the reed bed and Backpools. Walking back from the Reed Bed a Cetti's Warbler was heard.The Kingfisher was present again near the Backpools making a quick dart for cover on the Burket. Upon reaching the Backpools a pair of Female Teals were on the pools and a count of 52 Canada Goose were counted overhead. Tufted Duck (Image By Luke Anderson) Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard around the reserve and flyovers consisted of 3 Cormorants , 3 heron
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WeBs

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The main focus of today was to look out for Wading birds for our monthly count. Starting off this morning was the walk around the whole of Bidston Moss to find any waders which may be elsewhere on the reserve. The first thing that came up was not a wader but it was a Vapourer Moth Caterpillar which is yet another new insect to add to the list. Vapourer Moth Caterpillar (Image Luke Anderson) A Juvenile Smooth Newt was also found near by which was nice to see. While walking around the reserve there was a large flock of Long Tailed Tit s with around 20 next to the path. Nearby there were not one but two Willow Warblers . When reaching the Mainlake I counted about 18 Coot overall as well as 10 Moorhen including a few from the Backpools. 18 Mallards were also counted as well as 6 Canada Geese which flew overhead. Still, present on the lake there were the 5 Mute Swans including the cygnets which have grown exponentially since I had last seen them. Overall the Backpools containe
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22/08/17

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A very disappointing day today with little out. The first round was a walk to the Mainlake were a single Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroats, and 2 Buzzards which were being picked up on the way to the lake. When reaching the lake one Tufted duck was present along with the 5 Swans and 6 Great Crested Grebes . Apart from that only Mallards and Coots were present on the lake. The Backpools still has the 1 Tufted Duck chick which practically looks like a small adult now. No other bird of interest were present, not even the Little Grebes however they are elusive so bets are that they are still there somewhere. The last things included many Copper Underwings under dry bark on the dead trees and a Buff Ermine caterpillar  on the path.  
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9/08/17

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Nice and warm and very patchy today with relatively strong gusts of wind. So to start of the day it was towards to Mainlake were instantly 3 Kestrels were picked up with to being seen and one call. Further on was 1 Male Chaffinch which I don't often see on the Moss. 2 Cormorants flew over and a Single Carbo Cormorant was on the Backpools as with a single Cormorant  on the Burket. 1st Summer Carbo Cormorant at Backpools (Image by Luke Anderson) The usual on the Mainlake with an abundance of Mallard and Coot with a single tufted duck on there. Residence such as the Mute Swan and the 4 Cygnets were still there along with 6 Great Crested Grebes including their chicks. The only other bird on the Mainlake was a pair of Reed Warblers and a possible Grasshopper Warbler based on my view on it but it didn't call so I couldn't get a better identification. Sadly the 2 Common Sandpipers have moved on from the Lake.  Next, it was down to the Backpools where there was an in
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