Hugh’s News – 16 September 2021

Bill Wonderley obtained this wonderful photo of a Cattle Egret from the new Border Hide at Burton Mere Wetlands. It had been reported along with 19 Great Egrets and several Little Egrets!

At the same site, a friendly Pheasant posed on a fence for me. It may be a marmite bird, but they are colourful!

Paul Rowland also had a close encounter, with a juvenile Herring Gull. A bit too close for his car – the bird left its calling card!

My garden is still quiet as far as birds are concerned, although I am sure this will change when autumn creeps in. However, the Buddleia has been teeming with butterflies in the recent sunny periods, especially Red Admirals.

Talking of autumn, Barry Curnow saw a skein of Pink-footed Geese overhead on 5th September.  These early birds were probably non-breeders, and numbers will continue to build up over the next couple of months.

A trip report on our visit to Hilbre has already been posted – we hope you enjoyed reading it.  We have added a couple more wader photographs from the day for you to see.

Hugh Stewart