Hugh’s News – 29 January 2021

Our first Zoom Speaker meeting on Thursday seems to have been well received by members, judging be the feedback the Committee has seen. The technology worked – thank goodness – and 38 members signed in for a lively presentation by Mike Leach. So we can look forward now to the next one in February featuring Keith Offord. Details will again be sent out a few days before the day.

Peter Ham has sent in this wonderful picture of a male Kingfisher putting on a great display in front of him during a walk along Leasowe prom, by the groyne. You can identify it as a male from the all black bill; females have a reddish base to the lower mandible.

Peter also sent in winter-plumaged Common Gull from the same place and time.  He thinks they look more attractive than the larger Herring and Black-back Gulls seen along there, and I tend to agree with him.  I think it is the rounder head shape makes them look less fearsome.  A few days later Peter came across the small flock of 8 Snow Buntings still present on the beach near the Lifeboat Station.  I love this composition of three of the birds.

Bill’s contributions feature a Redwing beside the Parkgate Old Baths car park. The sun has illuminated the bird beautifully to enhance its red and chestnut hues.  He also managed another photo of a male Goosander at West Kirby Marine Lake, which continues to hold a nice mix of Goosanders, Red-breasted Mergansers and the occasional Goldeneye.

In other bird news, 17 Purple Sandpipers were roosting on Hilbre, a good number for this speciality wading bird compared to recent years.  Easier to see are the 5 birds on the pontoon at New Brighton Marine Lake over the high tide yesterday!  The Bittern is still being reported flying in to Neston Reed Bed at dusk most evenings.

Hugh Stewart