Hugh’s News – 11 September 2022

Hopefully you have seen our new Programme already, and are looking forward to another interesting and varied set of meetings over the coming year; as well as the regular Trip Reports and Hugh’s News.  We trust you enjoy all the Club’s activities.

New member John Carus and his wife had a wonderful encounter in their garden when a Sparrowhawk landed in the bird bath in their garden in Meols. It stayed for 20 minutes.  Apparently a Wood Pigeon was close by for much of the time but the hawk wasn’t interested – maybe the pigeon was too big for it. What a brilliant experience. Sparrowhawks know their territory well and will visit the same gardens on a loop, especially if they know there are feeders present.  So John may well get more visits.

Bill made a trip to Whixall Moss where he saw this adult female Red-backed Shrike.  No longer a (regular) British breeding bird, a few turn up as drift migrants, mostly on the East coast.  So it was great to have one over our side of the country!  Sadly though, it won’t stay through until our scheduled visit to Whixall next July.

Ellie has shared the images of a posing Sedge Warbler and a charming, juvenile Little Ringed Plover.  Both photos were taken at Lunt Meadows where the two species breed (amongst many others). We will definitely have to put this reserve into our next Programme, it a lovely site.

Moving away from birds temporarily, Ellie also managed to snap a Red Darter dragonfly on a reed.  And following on from my photo of a Speckled Wood in last month’s issue, John Gill has sent in his photo of one that he saw on the Wirral Way, typically posing in the dappled sun.

Still on the same theme, my eye was drawn to the bright colour of this Red Underwing moth that landed on a post beside me.  As the name implies, the red is often hidden when the moth is at rest so I was lucky to get this view.  You can also see how its general plumage blends in brilliantly with the wood.

Hugh