Hugh’s News – 2 December 2020

I would like to add my thanks to everyone that joined in the Zoom meeting.  It will be the way to go for the next few months!

As we slowly drift into winter, the birds have started to return to my feeders in greater numbers.  Joyce had a male Blackcap and a Jay in her garden.  No photos, but two nice birds for her to see.  Has anyone else had a wintering Blackcap turn up in the last month? Recent studies have shown that Blackcaps wintering in the UK bred across Europe, their breeding range spanning 2,000 km from Northern Spain to southern Poland. Interestingly, Blackcaps wintering in the UK arrived on their continental breeding grounds almost 10 days earlier than other individuals that also bred in that location but which wintered in southern Europe or North Africa.

Bill photographed this endearing Little Owl enjoying the sunshine at its regular spot at Burton Point.  A little group of Redshanks were at West Kirby.

Barry Curnow snapped a Mistle Thrush at the top of a conifer.  Judging by the leaden sky, it was living up to one of its old traditional names of “Stormcock”.  He also told me of good numbers of House Sparrows in the car-park of ALDI Prenton! They do not seem to be scarce around there at least.  The photo is of a cock bird in his garden. There has been a massive decline in these once common birds in recent years, primarily due to the lack of food for chicks and first winter birds.

For those that missed the Zoom Meeting, the new hide at BMW that the Club made a donation towards is now complete, and it should be open to all in the New Year, when the new paths and fencing are finished.  It will be called “Border Hide”, as the English-Welsh border just about runs through it! Here is a sneak preview of what it looks like inside.  There is also a small herd of Highland Cattle on site to add to the interest!

Hugh Stewart