Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society Registered Charity 500685 www.lacfs.org.uk Publication No. 111 Lancashire Bird Report 2007 The Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside S. J. White (Editor) D. A. Bickerton, G. Clarkson, S. Dunstan, R. Harris C. Liggett, B. McCarthy, P. J. Marsh, S.J. Martin, J. F. Wright. 2 Lancashire Bird Report 2007 CONTENTS Introduction .................................................... Dave Bickerton & Steve White ......... 3 Review of the Year ....................................................................... John Wright ......... 5 Systematic List Swans .................................................................................. Charlie Liggett ......... 9 Geese & ducks .............................................................. Graham Clarkson ....... 11 Gamebirds ............................................................................ Steve Martin ....... 27 Divers to cormorants.............................................................. Bob Harris ....... 30 Herons to birds of prey ................................................ Stephen Dunstan ....... 36 Rails ....................................................................................... Steve Martin ....... 44 Oystercatcher to plovers ........................................................ Bob Harris ....... 47 Knot to phalaropes ................................................................ Steve White ....... 51 Skuas ....................................................................................... Pete Marsh ....... 64 Gulls ................................................................................... Dave Bickerton ....... 66 Terns to auks .......................................................................... Steve White ....... 73 Doves to thrushes .......................................................... Barry McCarthy ....... 78 Warblers to flycatchers ......................................................... Steve White ....... 13 Bearded Tit to buntings .................................................. Dave Bickerton ..... 111 Escapes and feral birds ......................................................... Steve White ..... 131 Lancashire Ringing Report ......................................................... Pete Marsh ..... 134 Firsts for Lancashire ..................................................................... Steve White ..... 146 Dragonflies in Lancashire in 2007 ............................................. Steve White ..... 147 BBS population trends in Lancashire ....................................... Steve White ..... 149 Earliest and Latest Migrant Dates ............................................. Steve White ..... 151 Submission of Records & Rarities ............................................................... ..... 153 Birding Site Map .............................................................................................. ..... 156 List of Contributors ......................................................................................... ..... 158 Cover photograph: Woodchat Shrike at Marshside by Steve Young. Lancashire Bird Report 2007 3 Introduction D.A.Bickerton & S.J.White Welcome once again to the annual bird report for Lancashire and North Merseyside. Yet again we have had to summarise a staggering number of records from a very large number of contributors – thanks to all concerned. We’re delighted to welcome Marshside warden, Graham Clarkson to the writing team this year. If anyone else would like to help writing the species accounts or to contribute an article, please get in touch. The Lancashire avifauna At the beginning of 2008, we published our landmark book “The Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside”, an update on the status of the avifauna of our region since Oakes’s publication back in the 1950s. It has taken some time in preparation from the initial concept over ten years ago but with a thorough review of the partially completed species accounts, the dedication of all the editors and authors, and the not inconsiderable help from the publisher, the project came to fruition. It is certainly a magnificent book and well received in the birding press and by readers alike. The Society has put considerable resources into getting the book published and is starting to recoup those in preparation for the funding of publication of future projects. Copies are still available from the shops at Leighton Moss, Martin Mere and Mere Sands Wood, or online from Subbuteo Natural History Books www.wildlifebooks.com Corrections to the avifauna Inevitably, a number of mistakes and omissions have come to light since the publication of the avifauna. These are being collated and we intend to publish them in a future edition of the annual bird report – hopefully next year – and on the website so that the historical record is as accurate as we can make it. Further comments on the text are very welcome and should be sent to Steve White. Atlas surveys of wintering and breeding birds In common with at least another 35 counties we are aiming to cover every tetrad in the county for the winter and breeding bird surveys currently being organised nationally by the BTO, with the aim of publishing a ‘New Atlas’ of Lancashire’s birds. If you haven’t signed up to do your bit yet, then please consider doing so – the surveys still have three years to run. If just a fraction of the county’s birders did one tetrad each year, we would easily meet our target. But even if you can’t manage the formal survey, please keep submitting records to the bird report in as much detail as possible – including those of common species – all records will be incorporated into the atlases. The results for winter 2007/08 have now been collated. Almost 40% of the county was covered and more than 60,000 records accumulated. Dragonfly survey We’ve been hit by yet another terribly wet summer that hasn’t been conducive to recording. However we still continue to collect the data you send us and by the end of next year, should have enough to analyse. 2007’s results are summarised in a separate article in this report. 4 Lancashire Bird Report 2007 Reserve developments The purchase of Brockholes Quarry by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, thanks in large measure to the generous financial support of birders throughout the county, will secure this important central Lancashire site. The RSPB, meanwhile, has just breached the seawall at Hesketh Out Marsh, creating what will undoubtedly become a major birdwatching site on the south Ribble marshes. Photographs and Illustrations Thanks again to Nicola Breaks and Tony Disley for providing some more illustrations this year and for the submission by another young birder, Zac Hinchcliffe. If you have any line drawings that we could use in our publications, please send them to the secretary. As more and more people take up the passion for digital photography, we are starting to see more submissions for inclusion. We welcome submissions from anyone – common bird images will need to be of high quality with some particular ornithological interest. For rarities, we accept what we’re given! In this issue there are the usual high quality contributions from Steve Young and Mike Malpass as well some excellent images from a host of other contributors. Thank you very much! Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society: Membership Membership of the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society is £10 per annum – this includes a copy of the Lancashire Bird Report and any General Reports published. Members taking the Cheshire Bird Report as well pay £17. 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 the North West – we are regularly asked for our opinion on developments 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 and BTO 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 web site or directly from the Honorary Secretary. Our website address is www.lacfs.org.uk Elected Officials of the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society Chairman: Dr Frank Walsh, 80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancs, FY8 1BN Tel: 01253 737765 email: [email protected] Secretary: Dave Bickerton, 64 Petre Crescent, Rishton, Lancs, BB1 4RB Tel: 01254 886257 or 07779 822091 email: [email protected] Treasurer: Alex Whitlock, 9 Sykefield, Brierfield, Lancs. BB9 5NB email: [email protected] Report Editor and Lancashire Bird Recorder: Steve White, 102 Minster Court, Crown Street, Liverpool, L7 3QD Tel: 0151-707 2744 (home) or 0151-920 3769 (work) email:[email protected] Next Annual General Meeting, 10am Saturday 7th March 2009 at Mere Sands Wood. Lancashire Bird Report 2007 5 Review of the Year, 2007 John Wright (Weather information courtesy of Ted Boden) January Very mild, except for one colder interlude around the 22nd to 26th. Rainfall above average for the month, despite a fairly dry last week to the month. Widespread strong winds on the 18th. The year began with a large gathering of 1000 Woodpigeons at Roddlesworth Plantations on the 1st with a hefty flock of 750 Bramblings roosting in rhododendrons at nearby Belmont. Up to five Hawfinches were seen at Woodwell throughout the month. The Silverdale area is now the only place you