Previous records of inland European Shag sightings . There are annual records on the Wirral coast around Hilbre , Leasowe and West Kirkby Lake. But the records below show how scarce they are inland in Cheshire.
Woolston Eyes NR Oct 14th 2000
Sutton Res Jan 28th 1998
Woolston MS Canal March 3rd 1996
Two Bosley Res June 4th 1992
Astbury Mere Feb 18 / Mar 2 1990.
Àstbury Mere
Juvenile European Shag still present today and giving excellent views to visiting birders , also Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail.
A couple more images taken by Tracey Stubbs of today's Juvenile European Shag.
Also today The Cloud
Stonechat x 2
Meadow Pipit x 35
Kestrel
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E mail ....memsec@cawos.org
Mark Stubbs comes up trumps again with our first European Shag record since 1989. A single bird was found on 3rd December 1989 and last reported on 18th February 1990. Mark found the bird by the sailing club just after 6-00 this morning and quickly called around to put the news out. Its a good find for inland Cheshire away from the coast. During the week a bird was seen within 500 yds of Astbury Mere in a field exhausted but could not be caught and disappeared into vegetation , hopefully this is the individual . The bird was watched for around four hours constantly diving and did spend many a time eluding visiting birders. A passer bye showed us a photo on his phone from yesterday of the same bird perched up on a willow branch overhanging the water, also local fisherman confirmed that it was present yesterday evening.
Astbury Mere
Kingfisher
Bent Lane
Yellowhammer x 5
Green Woodpecker
Linnet x 2
Lapwing x 50
Sand Martin x 10
Hi
Mow Cop
Buzzard x 10 circling together
Kestrel x 3
Siskin f/o
Meadow Pipit x 3
Mow Cop
Tree Pipit f/o early morning.
Astbury Mere
Reed Warbler x 2
Cloud
Raven x 5
Siskin
Astbury Village
Raven x 2 f/o
Sparrowhawk
Bent Lane
Yellowhammer.
