Bidston Moss

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.  

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 the...

A annoyingly patchy day with both sun and cloud constantly going on and off. There was mild gusts of wind and it was pretty warm throughout. Another day based around the Mainlake started off with a great bird, a Common Sandpiper but not only one but two. The pair had spent the day around the lake feeding in and around the boarders of the lake. Two Kestrels were heard near by and happily the 4 Mute Swan cygnets are still there and they have thankfully not been predated on. The Male Mute Swan is also still there with the cygnets. The 4 Great Crested Grebe chicks are also still there and they are practical the same size as the adult bird. Numbers of Tufted Ducks have increased with about 6 birds being present. 1 of 2 Common Sandpipers next to the Mainlake (Image By Luke Anderson) Apart from those few birds there was nothing else of interest so its now down to the insects. To the area between the Metal Bridge and the Mainlake that is were most of the insect searches go on. In t...