I know, unusual for me to head west, but a new year and a new list, it had to be done, but the draw of some good birds, I had to overlook it. So it was the West Coast near Liverpool, our first call was to RSPB Marshside. First port of call on arrival was the hide, we were overwhelmed by the sight of so many Pintail present, other highlights were great numbers of Black tailed Godwits, Golden Plovers, Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall, were also present, a fly over flock of Curlew, but also a single bird on the ground, but distant, a pair of Little Grebe seen close to the hide with a few Little Egret also distant. Gulls seen were Black headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black backed Gulls and Common Gulls, other birds seen were Redshank giving off their distinctive calls, and a few Ruff also distant and also a distant Marsh Harrier hunting the saltmarsh, with eruptions of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks as it passed over.
The news broke of the Black throated Diver down Crosby Marine Lake, we all pilled into the car and we were soon down at Crosby Marine looking for the Diver, it was still present we just needed to find it. Cormorants, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron, Little Egret, where was the diver, conditions were difficult with the choppy waters, but eventually the call went up and we were soon onto it, however it proved difficult getting good views due to it diving and the choppy waters. The location of the Diver was distant but it appeared to be making its way towards us, continually diving and popping up closer and closer, it eventually popped up close by giving good views but briefly.
RSPB Burton Mere was our next reserve to drop into, busy here, we were here mainly for some woodland species. Burton Mere gave us Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long tailed Tit, with fly over Pink footed Geese.
Our final call of the day was down to Parkgate for the Raptor Roost. We found our place to stand and stated watching, Marsh Harriers were plenty with a close by Stonechat, of which I didn’t see, Little and Great White Egrets. The stars of the show and the birds we had come to see eventually came in, the first being the Male, a grey bird flew straight across our field of view, Hen Harriers, very much and sadly one of the most persecuted birds in the UK, it took a while before the females showed, but all three birds gave us great views and it was fantastic to see such splendid birds in action.
Bird List for the Day : Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Black throated Diver, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Golden Plover, Goldeneye, Great Black backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink footed Goose, Pintail, Redshank, Robin, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Rook, Ruff, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Starling, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon (52)
Huddsbirder 