American Golden Plover, Hoylake 8th August 2021

An American Golden Plover was found by local birder Tim Kinch at Hoylake yesterday afternoon. Once I'd managed to sort out transport this morning I headed over to Hoylake.

A first-summer and the sixth record for Cheshire & Wirral, had moved further along the beach, about 200yds west of King's Gap. There was a small group watching the bird when I arrived, so I walked the short distance along the beach to join them, The American Golden Plover was feeding voraciously about 80yds away with other waders including Dunlin & Ringed Plover. The bird was on view the whole time I was on site.

Previous records:
1987 Middlewich, juvenile, 20th to 24th October (B. Bowyer, A. G. Goodwin, D. E. Norbury).
1991 Penketh, juvenile, 13th October (A. Clarke).
2003 Leasowe/Meols, juvenile, 20th September (A. Conlin, M. G. Turner).
2009 Leasowe, 11th October (A. Conlin, P. Woollen).
2012 Hilbre, 23rd September (D. Bates, S. R. Williams, C. J. Williams); presumed same, Red Rocks, 27th September (J. E. Turner).

American Golden Plover, Sandwick 27th September 2015

Photo courtesy Dave Willis

Sunday saw us traveling to the Mainland to try & catch up with a few interesting birds.

Our first attempt proved unfruitful as we tried to see an Eastern Subalpine Warbler which had been inhabiting a garden at Mossbank. The location was in a housing estate, so it was quite amusing to see fully clad birders with wellies, waterproofs, bins, scopes & cameras tramping about the roads of the estate in search of the bird.

Our next target was an American Golden Plover at Sandwick, which we also failed to see. Indeed, we couldn't even see the Golden Plover flock of 400+ birds anywhere in the area! We resolved to call back later on the way back north.

Next we travelled to Toab & had more luck with a Blyth's Reed Warbler in a large thistle bed. Several brief views were obtained of this secretive & skulking bird.

Upon our return to Sandwick the Golden Plover flock was present across a couple of fields. We scanned the flock several times then a helicopter put the whole lot to flight. Fortunately, they settled closer to us. Another scan drew a blank. However, another smaller flock of Plover joined the larger flock, so we scanned again & this time Dave picked up the American Golden Plover & we had excellent 'scope views.