Terek Sandpiper, Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB 9th July 2019

A Terek Sandpiper appeared at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB early evening. Identified by local birder Dave King, this is the third record for Cheshire & Wirral & a new bird for the UK for me.

I'm curently without transport, so was relieved local birder Colin Schofield offerd a lift to BMW. The Terek Sandpiper was on view as soon as we arrived about 8.30pm, feeding on the far side of the main scrape. There were a lot of folks present as we squeezed through & set up our gear. Although views were distant, they were continuous as the bird fed all along the edge of the mud. However, I found it impossible to get anything like a decent photo, so the bleary image above will have to do... Actual views through the 'scope were much better, especially as the last of the setting sun's rays illuminated the bird's plumage and bright yellow legs.

Many thanks to RSPB Warden Graham Jones for keeping the reserve open and thanks to Colin for enabling me to see this bird.

Previous records: 
1999 Frodsham, No.5 Tank, 26th to 27th April (G. Bellingham).
2009 Heswall Shore, 14th to 15th July (S. Hinde).

Gull-billed Tern, Thurstaston 4th July 2019

A Gull-billed Tern was found at Thurstaston yesterday, 3rd July 2019, by local birder Steve Hinde. This is the ninth record for Cheshire & Wirral, with three in the last five years. I didn't have transport yesterday, so was resigned to dipping on not only a new local, but also new UK bird for me, since they rarely stay long.

Fortunately, the Gull-billed Tern was still present this morning, so I hastily arranged transport & headed over to Thurstaston, arriving mid-morning. It was difficult looking into the sun & the bird was mostly quite a distance away, but did cruise past the assembled throng a couple of times before disappearing south with the oncoming tide. I resolved to return later, after the tide since the bird was quartering the mud flats repeatedly before the tide covered them.

It was well worth returning later because views were much better, with the Gull-billed Tern not only flying to and fro, but landing for lengthy periods on the mud flats with views not compromised by the light & heat haze of earlier in the day.

Previous records:
1976 Red Rocks, adult, 2nd & 4th August (E. J. Abraham, J. Jones, D. Woodward).
1982 Hoylake, 8th July (J. G. Jones).
1987 Weaver Estuary, 31st May (P. Jordon).
1989 Burton Marsh, 16th June (B. S. Barnacal).
1995 Frodsham, No.6 Tank, 31st July (W. S. Morton).
2002 Inner Marsh Farm, 18th May (E. J. Abraham, B. S. Barnacal, C. Wells).
2015 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, 3rd July (per A. H. Pulsford).
2018 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, 23rd to 24th May (S. Skelton).

Some of the crowd mid-morning... staring into the sun