Hugh’s News – 20 December 2025

While the weather has been rather changeable recently, it has mostly remained mild for the time of year. I came across a late Red Admiral on 8th November, making the most of the warm sunshine.

The conditions were also very pleasant when I made a reccie of West Kirby Marine Lake a couple of weeks before our December field meeting. In stark contrast to the day of the meeting itself! On the Lake, I enjoyed good views of several Goosander including one male. A single, male Common Scoter was also on the Lake. A couple of Turnstone were looking for titbits on the promenade. As the tide came in, waders started to fly in and land on one of the platforms to roost. There were Redshank and Dunlin mostly, with a few Turnstone. Luckily there were no boats or boards to disturb them on that day.

Advanced notice of the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch next month, on the weekend of 23 – 25 January 2026. Spend an hour watching the birds in your garden and record the highest number of bird species that you see at any one time. 

This is the final article of 2025. So, on behalf of the Club and the Committee, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  And we will finish with a festive Blackbird feasting on some Cotoneaster berries.

Hugh