Hugh’s News – 31 March 2023

It is 4 weeks since the last Hugh’s News, and as predicted the summer migrants have now started arriving in earnest. Wheatears, Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins have all been spotted locally, especially along the North Wirral coast.

A single Reed Warbler was heard at Parkgate, and a pair of Little Ring Plover were seen there too.  The numbers of our summer visitors will continue to build over the next few weeks, and more species will start to return too.

Nationally there has been a small influx of wandering Alpine Swifts into the UK, and at least one has been seen around Wirral on a few occasions this week. “Our” Common Swifts have yet to arrive back, so keep a look out for an over-sized, black and white Swift – it may still be around!

I noticed that the local farmer has been busy planting potatoes around Thornton Hough, attracting hundreds of Black-headed Gulls to feast on the exposed invertebrates behind the plough.

We have attached more photos of the birds we saw at Pennington Flash, courtesy of Ellie, Colin, Bill and me. Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, nesting Great-crested Grebes, Wren and Stock Dove are featured.

If you haven’t been watching Richard Attenborough’s Wild Isles series (why not?!), you might want to make a special effort on Sunday 2nd April on BBC1 at 7pm.  The programme will feature wading birds and Peregrines of the Dee Estuary and our very own Ranger, Matt Thomas!

Hugh