Raddes Warbler - Leasowe, Wirral - 16th Oct 2007.

A walk around my local patch, Brockholes Quarry, was rudely interrupted by news of this Raddes Warbler, south of Leasowe Lighthouse, Wirral.

Arriving at the twitch site at 14:30, almost an hour passed with no sight or sound of the bird. Then at 15:30 the Raddes began calling and was soon located in amongst the vegetation of the overgrown embankment it was frequenting. Several further excellent binocular and scope views were had of the bird up to 18:00, but the Raddes could go missing for 30-60 min periods, then usually it would be located by call which was especially nice to hear as I can't recall having heard Raddes in the field before. A superb bird. Due respect to the finder of this major NW rarity.

Back at the car, a short walk to the beach was rewarded with a distant adult Med Gull amongst hordes of Black-headed Gulls and a female Peregrine perched on the beach.

Looking across to the Seaforth and Formby Point coastline, it dawned how close this bird was to Lancashire.Above: The Raddes Warbler was frequenting the weedy embankment beyond the hedgerow on the opposite side of the public footpath.

Above: A section of the assembled birders watch the Raddes from the adj Golf Course edge.