Summary June 2026
New “Year Ticks” in June 2026: 13
New “Life Ticks” in June 2026: 0
Total Species for Year so far: 140
The first birding group outing of June was the Goyt Valley and Dane Bank Quarry on the 2nd June when we managed to get five year ticks – Wheatear, Red Grouse, Treecreeper, Meadow Pipit and Tree Pipit. We didn’t get to the following session which was scheduled to be Frodsham Marshes because we had only just got back from a trip to Scotland where we got a year-tick Grey Partridge from the window my nephew’s house!
On our return, we had a very brief break before we had our birding group overnighter to Anglesey on 15-16th June 2026. Over the two days we logged forty-six species of birds with eight year-ticks; Guillemot, Razorbill, Chough, Rock Pipit, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Guillemot and Greenfinch
Between the 22nd and 26th of June there was a big heatwave (or what we used to call Summer) so we decided not to go to the 23rd June trip to Marbury as the heat was due to be in the 30s in open areas. We did, however manage to get to the last date of the birding terms which was a trip to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands on 30 June 2026 which was due to be followed by lunch and a planning session for the next term at Pesto at the Yacht on the A540 just past Shotwick Lane which is on our way back home. The birding was modest but notable for several Ruffs mostly in near-breeding plumage but with a single Ruff complete with a ruff. A Marsh Harrier, a few Mediterranean Gulls, a Ringed Plover and that was about it; still a nice morning and it defied the weather forecasts which predicted a break in the recent weather and the return of thunderstorms and rain.
On which topic, the month was characterised by some “record breaking” hot weather that lasted for about ten days before returning to normal Summer weather. There were some 30+ degrees days in some areas of the country but up our way it was just like a nice summery spell. The hottest of it came to an end at the end of the month when humidity and really high temperatures fell away.
The hot weather has been attracting hordes of Magpies wanting to bath in our various watery places in our garden. In keeping with RSPB and BTO advice, we have stopped feeding the birds for the summer, so there aren’t that many coming into the garden unless it is for a drink and that is often early in the morning with the sun coming up about 5am. A Dunnock and Wren have both been singing, the latter almost continuously for hours some days. A Collared Dove came in to bath and the usual Wood Pigeons, of course. We occasionally see Ring-necked Parakeets flying over the garden but, now that we don’t have food out, they aren’t bothering us much. I don’t doubt that they check it out regularly, though.
One late afternoon a flock of Swifts were hunting in the sky above our garden. A few House Sparrows pop in for a bath and we have seen the odd Blackbird but the garden has been quite quiet due to the change in feeding regime that we are following.
| Species | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wheatear | 02-Jun-26 | Upper Goyt Valley and Quarry |
| Red Grouse | 02-Jun-26 | Upper Goyt Valley and Quarry |
| Treecreeper | 02-Jun-26 | Upper Goyt Valley and Quarry |
| Meadow Pipit | 02-Jun-26 | Upper Goyt Valley and Quarry |
| Tree Pipit | 02-Jun-26 | Upper Goyt Valley and Quarry |
| Grey Partridge | 06-Jun-26 | Ellon, Aberdeenshire |
| Guillemot | 15-Jun-26 | South Stack |
| Razorbill | 15-Jun-26 | South Stack |
| Chough | 15-Jun-26 | South Stack |
| Rock Pipit | 15-Jun-26 | South Stack |
| Raven | 15-Jun-26 | South Stack |
| Arctic Tern | 15-Jun-26 | Cemlyn Bay |
| Sandwich Tern | 15-Jun-26 | Cemlyn Bay |
| Black Guillemot | 16-Jun-26 | Fish Docks, Holyhead |
| Greenfinch | 16-Jun-26 | Llanferfechan, North Wales |