Dave Craven
@daveliverbirder.bsky.social
Some people believe #patchbirding is a matter of life and death, I can assure you it’s much more important than that….
Dry but a cold biting wind for #patchbirding Green Sand, 3 GWE, Marsh Harrier, Rook, Cetti’s, 7 Stonechat, 3 Tree Sparrow, 3 Rock Pipit, Brambling, 4 Siskin but bittersweet to find a Russian White-Front, not in good way but couldn’t get close to help ☹️
February 18, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Dry but a cold biting wind for #patchbirding Green Sand, 3 GWE, Marsh Harrier, Rook, Cetti’s, 7 Stonechat, 3 Tree Sparrow, 3 Rock Pipit, Brambling, 4 Siskin but bittersweet to find a Russian White-Front, not in good way but couldn’t get close to help ☹️
…..and stunning views of the ‘wild’ Snow Goose on the Marine Lake at Southport. Really let itself down after its early credentials 😂
February 17, 2026 at 3:19 PM
…..and stunning views of the ‘wild’ Snow Goose on the Marine Lake at Southport. Really let itself down after its early credentials 😂
Quick whistle stop tour of Marshside whilst visiting the folks was pretty good! 2 Russian White Fronts, Smew, Scaup, Ringtail Hen, Merlin, Peregrine, 5 Ruff and stacks of Pinkies, Ducks and waders….bit of #patchbirding envy!!
February 17, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Quick whistle stop tour of Marshside whilst visiting the folks was pretty good! 2 Russian White Fronts, Smew, Scaup, Ringtail Hen, Merlin, Peregrine, 5 Ruff and stacks of Pinkies, Ducks and waders….bit of #patchbirding envy!!
Afternoon #patchbirding Water Rail, 20 Avocet, 60 Grey, 50 Golden Plover, 2 Turnstone, Knot, 10k Dunlin, 9 Cattle Egret, 6 GWE, Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti’s, 4 Stonechat, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Rock Pipit. Amazingly saw some blue sky AND dodged some stormy bursts 💪
February 15, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Afternoon #patchbirding Water Rail, 20 Avocet, 60 Grey, 50 Golden Plover, 2 Turnstone, Knot, 10k Dunlin, 9 Cattle Egret, 6 GWE, Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti’s, 4 Stonechat, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Rock Pipit. Amazingly saw some blue sky AND dodged some stormy bursts 💪
Lots of Pinkies moving about this morning on #patchbirding and finally found a few more Russian White Fronts. 2 N over Carr Lane, single S over Within Way and finally a single looking a little lost drifting in on the tide of the Lighthouse 😁 #goosing
February 14, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Lots of Pinkies moving about this morning on #patchbirding and finally found a few more Russian White Fronts. 2 N over Carr Lane, single S over Within Way and finally a single looking a little lost drifting in on the tide of the Lighthouse 😁 #goosing
Afternoon #patchbirding 4 Barnacle Geese, Tufted Duck, Water Rail, 200 Golden Plover, 19 Knot, GWE, Marsh Harrier, Rook, 3 Cetti’s, 7 Stonechat, 3 Tree Sparrow, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin and something bright in the sky which I could do with some ID help 😁
February 8, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Afternoon #patchbirding 4 Barnacle Geese, Tufted Duck, Water Rail, 200 Golden Plover, 19 Knot, GWE, Marsh Harrier, Rook, 3 Cetti’s, 7 Stonechat, 3 Tree Sparrow, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin and something bright in the sky which I could do with some ID help 😁
Decent views of the Great tailed Grackle as it came into roost at Speke again. Wet feet and locked in wasn’t as much fun….thanks @birderjack.bsky.social for the escape route 😂😂
February 7, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Decent views of the Great tailed Grackle as it came into roost at Speke again. Wet feet and locked in wasn’t as much fun….thanks @birderjack.bsky.social for the escape route 😂😂
ANOTHER cold & grey dawn #patchbirding 2 Water Rail, 30 Grey Plover, Green Sand, 5 GWE, 2 RN Parakeet, 3 Cetti’s, Firecrest, 4 Stonechat, 5 Tree Sparrow, 7 Rock Pipit, Redpoll, 12 Siskin…..when does it get warmer again? 🥶
February 7, 2026 at 10:50 AM
ANOTHER cold & grey dawn #patchbirding 2 Water Rail, 30 Grey Plover, Green Sand, 5 GWE, 2 RN Parakeet, 3 Cetti’s, Firecrest, 4 Stonechat, 5 Tree Sparrow, 7 Rock Pipit, Redpoll, 12 Siskin…..when does it get warmer again? 🥶
Grey (but dryer and calmer) afternoon #patchbirding Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, Water Rail, 40 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstone, 8 Knot, 8 GWE, Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti’s, Blackcap, 2 Stonechat, 4+ Tree Sparrow, 3 Rock Pipit.
February 1, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Grey (but dryer and calmer) afternoon #patchbirding Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, Water Rail, 40 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstone, 8 Knot, 8 GWE, Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti’s, Blackcap, 2 Stonechat, 4+ Tree Sparrow, 3 Rock Pipit.
Cold blustery dawn #patchbirding Water Rail, 4 GWE, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cetti’s, 4 Rock Pipit the best of not a lot….been a slow January all round.
January 31, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Cold blustery dawn #patchbirding Water Rail, 4 GWE, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cetti’s, 4 Rock Pipit the best of not a lot….been a slow January all round.
A day off work for #patchbirding Water Rail, Com Sand, 1+ Green Sand, 2 Turnstone, 30+ Knot, 1+ Caspian Gull, YLG, 6 GWE, Merlin, Peregrine, Cetti’s, 4 Stonechat, 5 Rock Pipit, 2 Bullfinch, Yellowhammer….and a wannabe Iceland Gull.
January 30, 2026 at 10:43 PM
A day off work for #patchbirding Water Rail, Com Sand, 1+ Green Sand, 2 Turnstone, 30+ Knot, 1+ Caspian Gull, YLG, 6 GWE, Merlin, Peregrine, Cetti’s, 4 Stonechat, 5 Rock Pipit, 2 Bullfinch, Yellowhammer….and a wannabe Iceland Gull.
Sadly this nest hole was being used by a pair of Great spotted Woodpecker only 3 days ago ☹️ Kicked out by the ever increasing population of Ring necked Parakeets in South Liverpool……not good news for our native breeding #bird species.
January 29, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Sadly this nest hole was being used by a pair of Great spotted Woodpecker only 3 days ago ☹️ Kicked out by the ever increasing population of Ring necked Parakeets in South Liverpool……not good news for our native breeding #bird species.
Late afternoon/dusk mooch around a mizzley and breezy Lunt. Pochard, 3 Goosander, Water Rail, 3 Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, 2 RN Parakeet, 2 Cetti’s, 2 Stonechat the best. Nice change of scenery from #patchbirding - though the FOMO was kicking in 😂😂
January 25, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Late afternoon/dusk mooch around a mizzley and breezy Lunt. Pochard, 3 Goosander, Water Rail, 3 Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, 2 RN Parakeet, 2 Cetti’s, 2 Stonechat the best. Nice change of scenery from #patchbirding - though the FOMO was kicking in 😂😂
Eventually after a bit of a wait the Great tailed Grackle showed quite well just pre roost. Cracking #patchbirding find by @birderjack.bsky.social 😁 Cheers
January 24, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Eventually after a bit of a wait the Great tailed Grackle showed quite well just pre roost. Cracking #patchbirding find by @birderjack.bsky.social 😁 Cheers
Finally getting in on the goose influx with a Russian White Front at BMF on #patchbirding Not an easy bird to see here 😁
January 24, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Finally getting in on the goose influx with a Russian White Front at BMF on #patchbirding Not an easy bird to see here 😁
Dawn #patchbirding 3 Water Rail, 6 Golden Plover, Woodcock, Green Sand, 4 Turnstone, 2 GWE, 2 Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, 2 Tawny Owl, 6 Cetti’s, 2 Stonechat, 4 Rock Pipit before the “guardians” started to shoot anything that moved 🥺
January 17, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Dawn #patchbirding 3 Water Rail, 6 Golden Plover, Woodcock, Green Sand, 4 Turnstone, 2 GWE, 2 Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, 2 Tawny Owl, 6 Cetti’s, 2 Stonechat, 4 Rock Pipit before the “guardians” started to shoot anything that moved 🥺
Dire afternoon #patchbirding in the wind and murk. 2 Water Rail, 2 Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Com Sand, Green Sand, 5 Turnstone, Marsh Harrier, Rook, 2 Cetti’s, 5 Stonechat, 5 Rock Pipit…At least it stayed dry!!
January 11, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Dire afternoon #patchbirding in the wind and murk. 2 Water Rail, 2 Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Com Sand, Green Sand, 5 Turnstone, Marsh Harrier, Rook, 2 Cetti’s, 5 Stonechat, 5 Rock Pipit…At least it stayed dry!!
Dawn footy and afternoon #patchbirding 3 Pintail, 3 Water Rail, 70 Grey, 50 Golden Plover, Jack Snipe, Com Sand, Turnstone, 10k Dunlin, GWE, Marsh Harrier, 4 RN Parakeet, Rook, 3 Cetti’s, 4 Stonechat, 7 Rock Pipit, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Redpoll. Busy everywhere in the winter sunshine!
January 10, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Dawn footy and afternoon #patchbirding 3 Pintail, 3 Water Rail, 70 Grey, 50 Golden Plover, Jack Snipe, Com Sand, Turnstone, 10k Dunlin, GWE, Marsh Harrier, 4 RN Parakeet, Rook, 3 Cetti’s, 4 Stonechat, 7 Rock Pipit, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Redpoll. Busy everywhere in the winter sunshine!
Freezing afternoon #patchbirding Pintail, 2 Water Rail, 4 Avocet, 30 Grey, 550+ Golden Plover, Jack Snipe, 7 Turnstone, 20 Knot, Med Gull, Cattle Egret, 3 GWE, Peregrine, Rook, 7 Stonechat, 3 Tree Sparrow, 7 Rock Pipit…and some brutal snow/ice showers 🥶❄️
January 4, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Freezing afternoon #patchbirding Pintail, 2 Water Rail, 4 Avocet, 30 Grey, 550+ Golden Plover, Jack Snipe, 7 Turnstone, 20 Knot, Med Gull, Cattle Egret, 3 GWE, Peregrine, Rook, 7 Stonechat, 3 Tree Sparrow, 7 Rock Pipit…and some brutal snow/ice showers 🥶❄️
Cold dawn #patchbirding that started clear before the 1st snow of the year ❄️ 7 Whooper, 2 Water Rail, Jack Snipe, Com Sand, 6 GWE, Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, 2 Rook, Chiffchaff, 9 Cetti’s, 3 Stonechat, 5 Rock Pipit, Redpoll and a few easy NFY 🥶
January 2, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Cold dawn #patchbirding that started clear before the 1st snow of the year ❄️ 7 Whooper, 2 Water Rail, Jack Snipe, Com Sand, 6 GWE, Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, 2 Rook, Chiffchaff, 9 Cetti’s, 3 Stonechat, 5 Rock Pipit, Redpoll and a few easy NFY 🥶
First #patchbirding of 2026💪 - 7 Whooper Swan, 3 Water Rail, Jack Snipe, Com Sand, Green Sand, GWE, 5 Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Rook, 6 Cetti’s, 1+ Firecrest, 3 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 2 Stonechat, 6 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin. Up to 76 and plenty of stuff still to see 😁
January 1, 2026 at 11:05 AM
First #patchbirding of 2026💪 - 7 Whooper Swan, 3 Water Rail, Jack Snipe, Com Sand, Green Sand, GWE, 5 Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Rook, 6 Cetti’s, 1+ Firecrest, 3 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 2 Stonechat, 6 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin. Up to 76 and plenty of stuff still to see 😁
Well that’s 2025 done for #patchbirding 170 species in total, but depressingly low numbers of migrants in both Spring and Autumn ☹️ 2 Lesser Scaup, Manx Shearwater were new additions, Temminck’s Stint, Kumlien’s, 3 Quail, Twite were decent. All starts again tomorrow 😁💪🍾
December 31, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Well that’s 2025 done for #patchbirding 170 species in total, but depressingly low numbers of migrants in both Spring and Autumn ☹️ 2 Lesser Scaup, Manx Shearwater were new additions, Temminck’s Stint, Kumlien’s, 3 Quail, Twite were decent. All starts again tomorrow 😁💪🍾
Dusk dog walk at Lunt with the crowds. Brief view of the SEO, but nicer to see Barn Owl, Goosander, Goldeneye, 2 Stonechat, Water Rail and plenty of Cetti’s.
December 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Dusk dog walk at Lunt with the crowds. Brief view of the SEO, but nicer to see Barn Owl, Goosander, Goldeneye, 2 Stonechat, Water Rail and plenty of Cetti’s.
Met up with friends for a ‘non-birding’ walk on the darkside (aka the Wirral) 😁 10 Goosander at Royden Park were nice. Ended up with fish n chips at Parkgate with SEO, Barn Owl, Merlin, 8+ Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Rail…not bad for ‘not’ birding 😂
December 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Met up with friends for a ‘non-birding’ walk on the darkside (aka the Wirral) 😁 10 Goosander at Royden Park were nice. Ended up with fish n chips at Parkgate with SEO, Barn Owl, Merlin, 8+ Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Rail…not bad for ‘not’ birding 😂
Another murky dawn #patchbirding 7 Whooper Swan, 3 Water Rail, 60 Grey Plover, Jack Snipe, Com Sand, Green Sand, 2 Turnstone, YLG, 6 GWE, 4 Marsh Harrier, SEO, Rook, Chiffchaff, 8 Cetti’s, 4 Stonechat, 4 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin.
December 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Another murky dawn #patchbirding 7 Whooper Swan, 3 Water Rail, 60 Grey Plover, Jack Snipe, Com Sand, Green Sand, 2 Turnstone, YLG, 6 GWE, 4 Marsh Harrier, SEO, Rook, Chiffchaff, 8 Cetti’s, 4 Stonechat, 4 Rock Pipit, 2 Siskin.