Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society Registered Charity 500685 www.lacfs.org.uk Publication No. 119 2015 Lancashire Bird Report 2014 The Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside S. J. White (Editor) D. A. Bickerton, M. Breaks, S. Dunstan, K. Fairclough, N. Godden, R. Harris, B. McCarthy, P. J. Marsh, S.J. Martin, T. Vaughan, J. F. Wright. 2 Lancashire Bird Report 2014 CONTENTS Introduction Dave Bickerton 3 Review of the Year John Wright 4 Systematic List (in the revised BOU order) Swans Tim Vaughan 9 Geese Steve White 10 Ducks Nick Godden 14 Gamebirds Steve Martin 24 Divers to cormorants Bob Harris 27 Herons to Spoonbill Steve White 30 Grebes Bob Harris 34 Red Kite to Osprey Keith Fairclough 34 Rails and Crane Steve White 38 Avocet to plovers Tim Vaughan 40 Whimbrel to Snipe Steve White 45 Skuas Pete Marsh 55 Auks to terns Steve White 57 Gulls Mark Breaks 61 Doves to Woodpeckers Barry McCarthy 66 Falcons Keith Fairclough 73 Golden Oriole to tits Dave Bickerton 75 Larks to hirundines Barry McCarthy 81 Warblers to Waxwing Stephen Dunstan 85 Nuthatch to starlings Dave Bickerton 91 Dipper, thrushes and chats Barry McCarthy 93 Dunnock to sparrows Stephen Dunstan 103 Wagtails and pipits Barry McCarthy 104 Finches to buntings Dave Bickerton 110 Escapes and Category D Steve White 119 Lancashire Ringing Report Pete Marsh 121 First for Lancashire Buff-bellied Pipit, Cockersand Stuart Piner 137 Autumn migration of Grey Wagtails Pete Marsh 139 Obituary: Eric Ward Peter Hornby 141 Dragonflies in 2015 Steve White 142 Migrant dates Steve White 143 Rarities Steve White 144 Contributors 146 Front cover: Shore Lark, Fleetwood by Steve Young Back cover: Kingfisher, Seaforth by Steve Young Lancashire Bird Report 2014 3 Introduction Dave Bickerton It doesn’t seem a year since I was writing the introduction to our centenery edition yet work on the 2015 report will start in three months time! The collation of more and more submissions into a readable report is certainly a challenge but one that a committed group of volunteers takes on annually. Whether it’s writing species accounts or articles or serving on the rarities committe, we’re grateful of the time they give freely. We’ve decided to continue on the full-colour theme of the last report which many of you have commented upon as it is really important that we keep the circulation as high as possible. If you’ve bought this or are a member of the Society, then thank-you for your support. The low cover price is subsidised from other income we get such as the supply of bird data to consultants but we are alway looking for new members. Do you know of anyone who really should be a member? The Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society is now into its second century and the publication of the very-well received ‘Dragonfly Atlas’ demonstrated our commitment to publishing information on faunal groups other than birds. We have a book on mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish in preparation and are discussing something on the lepidopteran front. This year we have the usual systematic list summarising the records of over 250 species recorded in the area during 2014. There are also articles on Grey Wagtail migration and the finding account of Lancashire’s first Buff-bellied Pipit. I feel that there is a lot more emphasis being placed on local patch birding these days by many of you - we have a short obituary on Eric Ward, a man whose local patch in Rossendale was one of the most thoroughly studied in the country. I do hope you enjoy this year’s report and if you hve any comments, drop me a line. Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society Elected Officials of the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society Chairman:Alex Whitlock, 9 Sykefield, Brierfield, Lancs. BB9 5NB e-mail: [email protected] Secretary: Dave Bickerton, 64 Petre Crescent, Rishton, Lancs, BB1 4RB Tel: 01254 886257 e-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: Rob Yates 68 Shore Road, Hesketh Bank, Preston, Lancashire PR4 6RD e-mail: [email protected] Report Editor and Lancashire Bird Recorder: Steve White, 102 Minster Court, Crown Street, Liverpool, L7 3QD Tel: 0151-707 2744 e-mail: [email protected] Next Annual General Meeting will be held on 10am Saturday 5th March 2016 – see website for details of location which will be announced nearer the date. Membership of the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society is still just £10 per annum – this includes a copy of the Lancashire Bird Report posted to your home address and any General Reports published (this included the ‘Dragonfly Atlas’ in 2015). The Society is a non-profit making charity, run totally by volunteers who give many hours of their time freely. It provides data that are key in many aspects of conservation in Lancashire – we are regularly asked for our opinion on develop- ments that may have an ecological impact or for information regarding areas of the county that need protection. We work closely in association with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, RSPB, BTO, Butterfly Conservation, etc. and many members are active in those organisations. So if you aren’t already a member, please consider joining us and supporting the work we do. Details can be obtained from the website (www.lacfs.org.uk) or directly from the Honorary Secretary. We regularly have a stand at the North-west Bird Fair held at Martin Mere in November and look forward to meeting many members there. 4 Lancashire Bird Report 2014 Review of 2014 John Wright January The month was very unsettled, with a continuation of the run of deep Atlantic low pressure systems from December 2013. These brought further spells of very strong wind and heavy rain. Mid-month saw some brief sunny spells, but the rain continued with few dry days and some high rainfall accumulations. The westerly weather resulted in a mild month with a notable absence of frosts. This stormy weather brought a host of unusual sightings for the start of the new year. On the 1st these included a Great Northern Diver on Southport Marine Lake, 92 Red-throated Divers off Blackpool, a Great Skua and a Velvet Scoter off Rossall and a Shag in Blackpool’s Stanley Park. On the 2nd redhead Smews were seen at Dean Clough Reservoir and Hesketh Out Marsh. This displaced theme continued with a Leach’s Petrel off Rossall on the 3rd. A male Black Redstart was at Heysham Red Nab on the 4th, the first of 23 recorded in the county this year. More regular winterers included impressive counts of 5000 Black-tailed Godwits and 300 Skylarks at Marshside, 62508 Wigeon on the Ribble, 1055 Greylag Geese in Lancaster and District and 304 Mute Swans on the Lune Estuary. A Bittern showed well at Brockholes from the 9th and a Glaucous Gull was on the Wyre Estuary from the 12th. An unusual inland winter movement of Shelduck brought 18 to Lower Foulridge, seven to Stocks and five to both Dean Clough and Fishmoor Reservoirs on the 13th. A Glossy Ibis with a flock of Little Egrets at Thurnham Hall from the 16th was a sign of the times and the mild weather. February February was another stormy, very unsettled and wet month. During the first half the weather was dominated by a succession of major winter storms, continuing a sequence from late January. These brought strong winds, heavy rain and significant weather impacts including flooding. Although the stormy weather ended on the 15th, the rest of the month remained unsettled but mild. The month began with the spectacle of 10000 Dunlin wheeling over Marshside on the 1st. There was a flurry of Snow Buntings across the county with 25 at a moorland feeding site in north Rossendale, seven on the top of Pendle Hill, seven frequenting the beach between St Annes and Starr Gate, three on Pilling Marsh and one at Fleetwood. At least three Lapland Buntings also frequented the Rossendale site. Bramblings were present in good numbers with the largest flock of 400 seen at Turton Tower on the 4th. The stormy weather continued to impact on seabirds and an exhausted Puffin was taken into care at Rossall Point on the 7th. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good and the discovery of a pristine adult Ross’s Gull at Leighton Moss on the afternoon of the 9th was testament to that; present with a Guillemot, a Kittiwake and a Long-tailed Duck on the Public pool it also fed in nearby fields. This eighth for the county delighted all who managed to see it before it headed off to roost and was not seen again. First one then two Siberian Chiffchaffs were found at Martin Mere from the 19th, including a singing male. They could be seen alongside several nominate Chiffchaffs and proved very educa- tional. A Lesser Whitethroat was an unseasonal visitor to a Heysham bird table. Waxwings were very scarce this year. As a result four birds lingering in the traditionally favoured Weir Street Car Park in Blackburn proved very popular. March The month was very unsettled, with a continuation of the run of vigorous Atlantic low pressure systems that had characterised the early year. The first half saw a succession of winter storms bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Despite some brief sunny spells, the rain continued, with few dry days and some high rainfall accumulations for many areas. Again this was a mild month with a notable absence of frosts and snow. A Slavonian Grebe appeared on Southport Marine Lake from the 3rd with another at Rossall Point on the 10th.