Gatewarth
1 juv Little Grebe on canal
1 Little Egret on River.
Mixed flock of tits and a few young warblers (chiffchaff and/or willow warblers) in hedges.
John O'Neill said
Tue Sep 10 10:13 PM, 2024
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
6.00pm ish
1 Whinchat (juv/f) in horse paddocks, flitting between fences and ground.
1 Swallow.
John O'Neill said
Mon Sep 9 9:31 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
6pm ish
Juv M Marsh Harrier hunting over fields on far side of River.
2 as Little Grebe with 2 fully grown young on canal.
10or so Swallows, adults and jus, over.
John O'Neill said
Fri Sep 6 6:08 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
PM
1 Common Sandpiper on the River.
1 juv Little Grebe on the canal.
John O'Neill said
Wed Aug 21 10:46 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
PM
Canal
Pair of Little Grebe energetically feeding two very small, very vocal and very cute fledged chicks .
John O'Neill said
Fri Jul 26 12:46 AM, 2024
Gatewarth
PM Yesterday
3 Little Egrets on River.
John O'Neill said
Mon Jul 15 8:37 PM, 2024
Gatewarth AM
Grey Wagtail Horse Paddocks
Fledged / young birds on site included several Swallows, 1 Kestrel (m) , 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
John O'Neill said
Mon Jul 8 8:16 PM, 2024
Sankey Bridges - Gatewarth Mute Swan pair at Sankey Bridges had 4 fledged young. The only Swift nest site locally I am aware of, behind the Sloop Inn, also had young birds fledged. Other fledglings on site included Goldfinch, Willow Warblers and/or Chiffchaff , Reed Warblers.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 8th of July 2024 08:41:12 PM
John Williams said
Tue Jun 11 11:46 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
A Spotted Flycatcher was seen in woodland near the wind pump this afternoon.
John O'Neill said
Mon Jun 10 8:54 PM, 2024
Sankey Bridges - Gatewarth
PM
high tide
1 Common Sandpiper by main outflow channel near wind pump
2 Buzzards
Pair Mute Swans nesting by car park at Sloop Pub
John O'Neill said
Sat Jun 8 11:45 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
yesterday PM
1 Little Egret on River
1 Kestrel
Small post breeding flocks of Starling and Goldfinches.
John O'Neill said
Sat May 11 12:17 AM, 2024
Gatewarth
Lesser Whitethroat particularly vocal today, flitting across the main path into various bushes as it moved. Showing well briefly..
John O'Neill said
Sun May 5 4:08 PM, 2024
yesterday 730pm ish
No Grasshopper Warblers heard, seem either late or lacking this year
Second site tick in a month. a sole Avocet on River
Pair Grey Partridge
John O'Neill said
Tue Apr 30 11:59 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
Swallows nesting at Penketh Hall Stables
1 possibly 2 Lesser Whitethroat singing
John O'Neill said
Wed Apr 24 1:24 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
AM
Lesser Whitethroat and a Cettis Warbler both showing surprisingly well (ie, at all) when singing
Tawny Owl heard . Sounded like a young bird.
John O'Neill said
Tue Apr 23 8:29 AM, 2024
Gatewarth
yesterday pm
Warbler sps for year here reached eight with several Whitethroat singing from bushes on grassed over tip area.
Numbers of Reed Warblers and Blackcap into double figures. Six m Blackcaps all together in one of the taller willows seemingly vying for the tree as their territory, all singing and chasing others off.
John O'Neill said
Sat Apr 20 10:15 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
"Site Tick" yesterday PM
M Goosander in main creek by Windpump
John O'Neill said
Thu Apr 18 12:15 AM, 2024
Gatewarth
yesterday PM
1 Common Sandpiper feeding in main creek close to Windpump.
At least 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling from field sloping down to the Ferry pub.
2 Blackcaps singing brought warbler count for the year to date to 7
John O'Neill said
Wed Apr 17 11:51 AM, 2024
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
yesterday PM
First Swallow of year
Lesser |whitethroat still present, singing a lot more and moving up and down the main hawthorn hedge at top of riverbank. Hopefully settling up territory.
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 15 2:31 PM, 2024
Fiddler's Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
Not been able to get down here for a while so, despite typical Spring conditions (Hail, Rain, Wind) not surprising that the number of warblers seen / heard were up on previous visit...
1 Reed Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
4 or 5 Willow Warblers
At least 10 Chiffchaff
4 Cetti's Warblers
Also one or two Skylark sighing
John O'Neill said
Wed Mar 27 1:31 AM, 2024
Sankey Bridges - Gatewarth
yesterday AM
First Willow Warbler of year
At least 10 Chiffchaff .
John O'Neill said
Wed Mar 20 7:41 AM, 2024
Gatewarth
Yesterday
7 Chiffchaff seen and/or heard .
John O'Neill said
Fri Mar 15 8:25 PM, 2024
Gatewarth
At least 2 Chiffchaff singing on site this PM
Mute Swan nest had M and F birds in / around it on canal
John O'Neill said
Fri Feb 23 3:19 PM, 2024
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
20 plus Golden Plover on River
A few Curlew on far side fields
1 Kestrel hunting. The only raptor present despite high tide.
Terry Long said
Sat Feb 17 1:11 AM, 2024
The cattle Egret was also distant but I have ticked that one for the year
Terry Long said
Sat Feb 17 1:09 AM, 2024
On further reflection I don't think it was a wood sandpiper. I do have it on video but it's a weird acting muddy legged redshank
John O'Neill said
Mon Jan 29 1:50 PM, 2024
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
Bit of a Red Letter Day as the last of the paths still closed for the now completed works was finally re-opened. Access to the site now unrestricted.
4 Little Grebes together on canal (2ad 2 juv)
1 Kestrel
1 Jay
Relatively large loose flock of finches along hedges, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch 100 plus birds.
Terry Long said
Sat Jan 27 6:43 PM, 2024
Both Cattle and Little Egret on the marsh between warf and spikey today. Cattle Egret patch tick for me. Cetti's warbler and Raven other highlights
Andy Slee said
Thu Jan 25 7:45 PM, 2024
I have added a post onto the Richmond Bank thread as you can get down to the river and get good views over the bank now the filter station works have finished.
Terry Long said
Tue Jan 23 10:58 PM, 2024
No other sign of the large robin on the bongs but decent flock of redpoll there. No pale ones though
Terry Long said
Mon Jan 22 4:46 PM, 2024
Sorry lock gates at spike island and the old jubilee bridge on the snig side
Andy Slee said
Sun Jan 21 9:16 PM, 2024
Terry Long wrote:
Wood Sandpiper by the lock gates on sandbank today. Unseasonal I know. Also Rock Pipit by bridge
Which bridge Terry? Ta, Andy
Terry Long said
Sun Jan 21 5:56 PM, 2024
Wood Sandpiper by the lock gates on sandbank today. Unseasonal I know. Also Rock Pipit by bridge
John O'Neill said
Thu Jan 18 7:05 PM, 2024
Fiddlers Ferry- Gatewarth
PM
F Grey Wagtail at horse paddock midden piles. Looking beautiful in bright Winter sunshine. (The wagtail...not the middens.)
Terry Long said
Wed Jan 17 5:19 PM, 2024
Nice one Andy great stuff. Unfortunately I've not been able to do it for a couple of years. I used to do Widnes waterfront to spike island
John O'Neill said
Tue Jan 16 11:15 PM, 2024
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
Early PM
Scattering of snow on ground. Standing water and most of canal iced over.
3 or 4 Siskins in canalside alders.
Great Spotted Woodpecker calling nearby
2 Little Grebe on canal
1 Kestrel hunting over the area where work recently finished.
Small numbers of Fieldfare over
2 Buzzards hunting in tandem on far bank putting up flocks of Curlew (30plus birds) and smaller numbers of Lapwing.
Andy Slee said
Mon Jan 8 10:07 PM, 2024
Terry Long wrote:
Anybody regularly birding the cheshire mersey estuary , have you considered submitting counts as a weBs counter ? The currents weBs team is seriously undermanned in our attempt to map the estuary , some more info on the mersey estuary weBs facebook page or contact the area co-ordinator of the team on dermot.smith@fsmail.net
I've picked up Norton Marsh / Fiddlers Ferry / Penketh Bank & Bar since last summer.
Also got the Gatewarth / Richmond Bank section for the 2024 Win GS Gull Survey.
John O'Neill said
Mon Jan 8 12:55 PM, 2024
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
Access to River possible as most tracks reopened and extensive works appear to be completed.
3 juv Stonechats around midden piles in horse paddocks
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in canal side trees.
30plus Lapwing on sandbanks.
John O'Neill said
Thu Dec 21 2:49 PM, 2023
Gatewarth
AM
A windswept Little Egret in field by Ferry Pub carpark was the first I've seen all year on site.
John O'Neill said
Mon Oct 23 7:24 PM, 2023
Sankey Bridges
4 or 5 Goldcrests in with usual roving flocks of Long Tailed Tits this morning.
John O'Neill said
Tue Oct 10 8:57 PM, 2023
Sankey Bridges
1 Grey Wagtail over canal
Water Rail calling from reeds.
John O'Neill said
Tue Sep 26 1:09 PM, 2023
Gatewarth
1 juv Little Grebe on canal
Mute Swan pair with 3 young
1 Juv Male Kestrel
1 Buzzard
Lots of classic Autumnal sights (unsurprisingly) A Jay carrying a large Acorn in its beak; Flocks of Starlings on pylons ; 20 plus Pied Wagtails feeding on ploughed field inc many young birds.
Main site still inaccessible, no sign of work scheduled to finish months ago being completed. The work on the brook outflow near the Stables has finished though, and the horse fields returned to grass.
John O'Neill said
Mon Sep 4 5:03 PM, 2023
PM Sankey Bridges
Small numbers of post breeding tits and warblers flocking in canalside trees, mainly Long Tailed Tits Two Reed Warblers still singing very half heartedly in reeds.
John O'Neill said
Sat Jul 8 10:52 AM, 2023
Fiddlers Ferry Marina
Poor year for swans on the canal, only one nest seems to have produced young. 2 juv Mute Swans with parents at the marina.
Kestrel hunting over was been mobbed by swallows.
John O'Neill said
Mon Jul 3 12:11 AM, 2023
Sankey Bridges- Gateewarth
Yday AM
Pair Bullfinch
Several Herons including young birds
Reed Warblers seem to have got their second wind, more singing today than recently.
John O'Neill said
Thu Jun 22 11:55 AM, 2023
Fiddlers Ferry-Gatewarth
Pair of Grey Partridge in horse paddocks.
John O'Neill said
Mon Jun 12 1:04 PM, 2023
Gatewarth
At least two broods of fledged Reed Warblers in the canal reeds.
Terry Long said
Thu Jun 1 8:21 PM, 2023
2 immature type Caspian Gull just west of the Runcorn bridge also Peregrine knocking about
John O'Neill said
Wed May 31 9:13 PM, 2023
Sankey Bridges 2pm
F Sparrowhawk making concerted attempts to take at least one of a family group of Long Tailed Tits in canalside trees.
Gatewarth
Cuckoo calling from Old Tip area. First for me for two years here. (To be fair, access has been extremely difficult in that time)
John O'Neill said
Tue May 23 2:35 AM, 2023
Sankey Bridges Reed Warblers singing in reeds , very densely packed. Twenty plus singing males.
1 juv Little Grebe on canal
1 Little Egret on River.
Mixed flock of tits and a few young warblers (chiffchaff and/or willow warblers) in hedges.
6.00pm ish
1 Whinchat (juv/f) in horse paddocks, flitting between fences and ground.
1 Swallow.
6pm ish
Juv M Marsh Harrier hunting over fields on far side of River.
2 as Little Grebe with 2 fully grown young on canal.
10or so Swallows, adults and jus, over.
PM
1 Common Sandpiper on the River.
1 juv Little Grebe on the canal.
PM
Canal
Pair of Little Grebe energetically feeding two very small, very vocal and very cute fledged chicks .
PM Yesterday
3 Little Egrets on River.
Grey Wagtail Horse Paddocks
Fledged / young birds on site included several Swallows, 1 Kestrel (m) , 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Sankey Bridges - Gatewarth
Mute Swan pair at Sankey Bridges had 4 fledged young.
The only Swift nest site locally I am aware of, behind the Sloop Inn, also had young birds fledged.
Other fledglings on site included Goldfinch, Willow Warblers and/or Chiffchaff , Reed Warblers.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 8th of July 2024 08:41:12 PM
A Spotted Flycatcher was seen in woodland near the wind pump this afternoon.
PM
high tide
1 Common Sandpiper by main outflow channel near wind pump
2 Buzzards
Pair Mute Swans nesting by car park at Sloop Pub
yesterday PM
1 Little Egret on River
1 Kestrel
Small post breeding flocks of Starling and Goldfinches.
Lesser Whitethroat particularly vocal today, flitting across the main path into various bushes as it moved. Showing well briefly..
No Grasshopper Warblers heard, seem either late or lacking this year
Second site tick in a month. a sole Avocet on River
Pair Grey Partridge
Swallows nesting at Penketh Hall Stables
1 possibly 2 Lesser Whitethroat singing
AM
Lesser Whitethroat and a Cettis Warbler both showing surprisingly well (ie, at all) when singing
Tawny Owl heard . Sounded like a young bird.
yesterday pm
Warbler sps for year here reached eight with several Whitethroat singing from bushes on grassed over tip area.
Numbers of Reed Warblers and Blackcap into double figures. Six m Blackcaps all together in one of the taller willows seemingly vying for the tree as their territory, all singing and chasing others off.
"Site Tick" yesterday PM
M Goosander in main creek by Windpump
yesterday PM
1 Common Sandpiper feeding in main creek close to Windpump.
At least 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling from field sloping down to the Ferry pub.
2 Blackcaps singing brought warbler count for the year to date to 7
yesterday PM
First Swallow of year
Lesser |whitethroat still present, singing a lot more and moving up and down the main hawthorn hedge at top of riverbank. Hopefully settling up territory.
AM
Not been able to get down here for a while so, despite typical Spring conditions (Hail, Rain, Wind) not surprising that the number of warblers seen / heard were up on previous visit...
1 Reed Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
4 or 5 Willow Warblers
At least 10 Chiffchaff
4 Cetti's Warblers
Also one or two Skylark sighing
yesterday AM
First Willow Warbler of year
At least 10 Chiffchaff .
Yesterday
7 Chiffchaff seen and/or heard .
At least 2 Chiffchaff singing on site this PM
Mute Swan nest had M and F birds in / around it on canal
AM
20 plus Golden Plover on River
A few Curlew on far side fields
1 Kestrel hunting. The only raptor present despite high tide.
AM
Bit of a Red Letter Day as the last of the paths still closed for the now completed works was finally re-opened. Access to the site now unrestricted.
4 Little Grebes together on canal (2ad 2 juv)
1 Kestrel
1 Jay
Relatively large loose flock of finches along hedges, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch 100 plus birds.
I have added a post onto the Richmond Bank thread as you can get down to the river and get good views over the bank now the filter station works have finished.
Which bridge Terry? Ta, Andy
PM
F Grey Wagtail at horse paddock midden piles. Looking beautiful in bright Winter sunshine. (The wagtail...not the middens.)
Early PM
Scattering of snow on ground. Standing water and most of canal iced over.
3 or 4 Siskins in canalside alders.
Great Spotted Woodpecker calling nearby
2 Little Grebe on canal
1 Kestrel hunting over the area where work recently finished.
Small numbers of Fieldfare over
2 Buzzards hunting in tandem on far bank putting up flocks of Curlew (30plus birds) and smaller numbers of Lapwing.
I've picked up Norton Marsh / Fiddlers Ferry / Penketh Bank & Bar since last summer.
Also got the Gatewarth / Richmond Bank section for the 2024 Win GS Gull Survey.
AM
Access to River possible as most tracks reopened and extensive works appear to be completed.
3 juv Stonechats around midden piles in horse paddocks
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in canal side trees.
30plus Lapwing on sandbanks.
AM
A windswept Little Egret in field by Ferry Pub carpark was the first I've seen all year on site.
4 or 5 Goldcrests in with usual roving flocks of Long Tailed Tits this morning.
1 Grey Wagtail over canal
Water Rail calling from reeds.
1 juv Little Grebe on canal
Mute Swan pair with 3 young
1 Juv Male Kestrel
1 Buzzard
Lots of classic Autumnal sights (unsurprisingly) A Jay carrying a large Acorn in its beak; Flocks of Starlings on pylons ; 20 plus Pied Wagtails feeding on ploughed field inc many young birds.
Main site still inaccessible, no sign of work scheduled to finish months ago being completed. The work on the brook outflow near the Stables has finished though, and the horse fields returned to grass.
PM Sankey Bridges
Small numbers of post breeding tits and warblers flocking in canalside trees, mainly Long Tailed Tits
Two Reed Warblers still singing very half heartedly in reeds.
Poor year for swans on the canal, only one nest seems to have produced young. 2 juv Mute Swans with parents at the marina.
Kestrel hunting over was been mobbed by swallows.
Yday AM
Pair Bullfinch
Several Herons including young birds
Reed Warblers seem to have got their second wind, more singing today than recently.
Pair of Grey Partridge in horse paddocks.
At least two broods of fledged Reed Warblers in the canal reeds.
F Sparrowhawk making concerted attempts to take at least one of a family group of Long Tailed Tits in canalside trees.
Gatewarth
Cuckoo calling from Old Tip area. First for me for two years here. (To be fair, access has been extremely difficult in that time)
Sankey Bridges
Reed Warblers singing in reeds , very densely packed. Twenty plus singing males.