Hi John, with reference to images below... from J-11 roundabout follow main path from access barrier up the hill, first time was singing in hedgerow at bottom of embankment between skip and locked gates, then 2nd time was just passed the skip in same hedgerow but it wasnt singing, it was moving stealthily through the cover.
Cheers
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 16th of May 2021 10:29:15 AM
Cheers Rob had one there this morning brief view and sang once
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 16th of May 2021 11:49:09 AM
Thats brilliant John, I think the site is an interesting one, with many different habitats in a fairly small and easily accessible area, absolutely alive with birdsong of all types.
JOHN TYMON said
Sun May 16 11:18 AM, 2021
Rob Creek wrote:
Hi John, with reference to images below... from J-11 roundabout follow main path from access barrier up the hill, first time was singing in hedgerow at bottom of embankment between skip and locked gates, then 2nd time was just passed the skip in same hedgerow but it wasnt singing, it was moving stealthily through the cover.
Cheers
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 16th of May 2021 10:29:15 AM
Cheers Rob had one there this morning brief view and sang once
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 16th of May 2021 11:49:09 AM
Rob Creek said
Sun May 16 10:27 AM, 2021
Hi John, with reference to images below... from J-11 roundabout follow main path from access barrier up the hill, first time was singing in hedgerow at bottom of embankment between skip and locked gates, then 2nd time was just passed the skip in same hedgerow but it wasnt singing, it was moving stealthily through the cover.
Cheers
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 16th of May 2021 10:29:15 AM
Not as many birds but of note... - 3 Blackcap singing - 3 Chiffchaff (2 close up together) - Yellow Wagtail singing not seen - Common Whitethroat seemingly everywhere - 1 Lesser Whitethroat - 2 Skylark - 2 Song Thrush - 1 Little Grebe - 2 Sand Martins through
Be interested were you are seeing the regular lesser whitethroat ,I do the site all over more or less daily and had the one in brief song about 2 weeks ago,none noted since ,they don't breed on site so would be interested in were you are getting that pm me if you wish?
Rob Creek said
Sat May 15 11:33 AM, 2021
Fri 14th May.
Same area as below, tacho break.
Not as many birds but of note... - 3 Blackcap singing - 3 Chiffchaff (2 close up together) - Yellow Wagtail singing not seen - Common Whitethroat seemingly everywhere - 1 Lesser Whitethroat - 2 Skylark - 2 Song Thrush - 1 Little Grebe - 2 Sand Martins through
Rob Creek said
Wed May 12 9:05 PM, 2021
Tuesday 11th May.
M62 Junction 11, near Silver Lane Pools.
Stopped off for an afternoon break on way back to depot from Culceth. A quick scout around the wooded area along the path near the roundabout then I walked further up towards the pool looking out over the fields.
- 1m Yellow Wagtail (singing on soil patch in field) - 4m Whitethroat (3 in one thicket) - 1 Lesser Whitethroat rattling away - 4 Willow Warbler min (2 seen) - 2 Chiffchaff (1 seen, another singing) - 4 Blackcap (1m 1f seen together, 2 more singing) - 1 Skylark - 3 Common Swift over - 1m Reed Bunting - 1m Greenfinch - 2 Long-tailed Tit - 2 Song Thrush - 1 Stock Dove over - 3 Common Buzzard - and a nice bonus was a Garden Warbler singing away but I only caught a brief glimpse as it skulked its way through the bushes and foliage, never have much luck trying to get a shot of these!
A busy little place birdwise and a very productive tacho break.
Pretty decent day for the pools today as they have been deadly recently , but one of those 1 in 100 visits were you get a few nice birds. Starting very early it was nice to get a pair of Yellow Wagtail, a Pair of Grey Partridge, 1 cracking Male Whinchat , none of which were present after 9 am , a Lesser Whitethroat singing, Grasshopper Warbler-1, Sedge Warbler -1, lots of Whitethroat, Reed Warblers, and Willow Warbler then a bonus while doing some Vis Migging while having a brew , picked up a 2nd CY Male Marsh Harrier flying from the Little Wooldon moss area high South PAST Risley Moss ending up somewhere towards Woolston Eyes, all in all a great day on the pools. When I left at 1 pm there was very little about , it always seems in the main that early mornings are best.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 1st of May 2021 05:42:01 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Apr 21 7:46 PM, 2021
Its been a very slow Spring Passage at Silver Lane with things arriving in dribs and drabs , in the last week highlights have been Tree Pipit on 2 occasions flying off North , Wheatear, Reed Warbler, and 3 Whitethroat yesterday, today was a bit better with a Cuckoo flying North, and a Male Yellow Wagtail finally, plenty Willow Warbler and Hurrundines around the area too. The pools themselves have been fairly quiet with the first Mallard Ducklings the other day the highlight and on and off Great Crested Grebes which seem to come and go daily and quite a few pairs of Little Grebe. Also Today a Male Buzzard was displaying by carrying round a live Frog and and showing it to the female see picture ,I cant remember seeing that before.
29 Whooper Swans Flew over North about 1050 this morning , headed out over Culcheth, Bents and the east of Leigh
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 1st of April 2021 08:40:54 PM
John Watson said
Tue Feb 23 9:20 AM, 2021
A very pleasant walk y'day 22/2 around the site; not too many other folk around, despite it being quite warm
Highlights: ~8 Wigeon W pool 7 Stonechat (mmf at top of hill being territorial, mmmf on S side of long pool) ~20 Meadow Pipit in bush, E side of hill) 10+ Skylark, plenty of singing Song Thrushes audible everywhere 1-2 Kestrel (m) 2 Gadwall (pair) 1 Grey Heron
Just NE of the pools, many Fieldfare & Redwing just N of the bridge under disused railway
Quite a few small flies around
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Feb 22 6:52 PM, 2021
Halfway through lock down update - were nearly there :)
Daily visits (52 days I have visited this year for my couple of hours mooch , which has produced a few highlights , here's a taster
Marsh Tit in early January
Woodcock - 4 Together at one point , but almost daily in the frosty conditions over the last month
Golden plover - 7 that got lost in the fog and were down on the landfill summit probably my highlight so far this year so far.
Wigeon - up to 52 for me in the last few months , with generally 37 as a normal for most of the winter including one which may have been a hybrid American/Eurasion Wigeon
Oystercatcher - first seen a week or so ago , almost daily since waiting for its mate
Stonechat - still 5 today around the site as they have more or less all year
Merlin and Peregrine on various dates including today towards Holcroft Moss
Pink Footed Geese - have varied daily from 400 one day last week going over to 5 only down feeding today
Chiffchaff - 1 regular during the last month
Meadow pipit - quite a rise in these yesterday , with 75+ on the landfill with regularly well over 100 Skylarks around the site.
All in all the daily walks in all weathers have mainly been enjoyable with nothing really rare and now the next few days there's the hope of a few Summer Migrants appearing with these favorable winds
So thats it for now, see you on the other side of Lock down and the hope of a better Covid free future .For now please still stay local until its ok for us to move around ,always remember staying alive is more important than seeing a rare bird. Stay Safe :)
John
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 22nd of February 2021 06:54:54 PM
Rob Smith said
Mon Feb 22 9:55 AM, 2021
Yesterdays pleasant walk round the patch had a definite touch of Spring
Wigeon - 24 restless & flighty birds. But 48 (November 2020) were present earlier in the week which equals the highest total recorded here this winter to date
Tufted Duck - 33
Gadwall - 3
Pochard - 1, this solitary bird has been here for a while, as did another - or same bird, 2 years ago around the same time
Heron & Cormorant - 1 of each
Oystercatcher - 1, first of the year for the site
Lapwing - 30, flew NW overhead
Carrion Crow - 35, a real "murder" of these birds was taking place in local trees, loads of noise, chasing, fighting going on!
Kestrel - 1 female
Common Buzzard - 2
Treecreeper - 1, nice to know its still around has been missing this past month
Stonechat - 1 pair still around, will soon be moving on I guess
Goldfinch - 15
Siskin - 15+, earlier in the week
Song Thrush - the sound of 15 males in full song providing the sound track during the walk!
Fieldfare - 15
Mistle Thrush - 2
Skylark - 12+ singing from the top of the landfill
Meadow Pipits - 20+ active in the same area
Lez Fairclough said
Wed Feb 17 9:13 PM, 2021
2-45pm to 5-15pm - Pools now fully thawed.
100+ Fieldfare in a newly ploughed field probably many more but difficult to see with the furrows, plus a single male Pheasant.
Around the pools areas male & female of Chaffinch & Bullfinch with a single Reed Bunting & 5 Redwing.
About 50 Linnet going to & fro from stubble field to trees bordering pools where there was also 3 Jay & 2 Goldcrest.
On the largest main pool were 40 Wigeon of which two thirds were male, a pair of Goosander & a single Oystercatcher.
The only raptors seen were 2 Buzzard as I was just leaving at dusk.
Rob Smith said
Tue Feb 16 6:48 PM, 2021
From a previous visit 2 days ago ith pools still partially frozen over.
Yellow legged Gull - adult, winter, among 70 Black headed Gulls
Herring Gull & Common Gull - 1 each
Canada Goose - 7
Mallard - 55
Wigeon - 36
Gadwall - 4
Teal - 2
Stock Dove - 70
Fieldfare - 200
Redwing - 30
Stonechat - 3 (2m/1f)
Goldfinch - 50
Rob Smith said
Tue Feb 9 8:21 PM, 2021
Not much moving around the area, pools partially frozen over but enough free water to keep some wildfowl from wandering off elsewhere.
Wigeon - 38
Mallard - 26
Pochard - 2
Teal - 2
Goldeneye - pair present on 7/2, rarity here
Lesser black back Gull - 3
Kestrel - female on top of landfill along with
Stonechat - 5
Skylark - 100 on east arable fields
Rob Smith said
Thu Feb 4 2:52 PM, 2021
There is no real reason for locating an MSA here, it will cause huge problems to what is already a chaotic junction at the best of times (even with lockdown in operation) and it will definitely not enhance the habitat and wildlife found here, the site is slowly maturing into a diverse and wildlife rich area and doesn't need help! People pressure currently is a problem which would only get worse if its opened up to what the developers are looking to do. Currently there is hold on plans because of HS2 concerns?
With increasing daylight hours local wildlife is slowly responding and becoming more visible & vocal. Over the past few days popping out of my back gate and taking the footpaths onto the local patch mange to record the following highlights:
Pink footed Geese - 100 heading west, not so regular around the area currently.
Wigeon - 28, flock slowly thinning out
Tufted Duck - 39
Cormorant - 2,
Goosander - pair
Black headed Gulls - 100
Common Buzzard - 3
Sparrowhawk - male & female active around the area most days
Woodcock - single
Stock Dove - 70+
Woodpigeon - 500+
Great spotted Woodpecker - 3, a lot of aggro going on between them as spring approaches
Nuthatch - 1, not been around for awhile
Mistle Thrush - 3 on west arable fields
Song Thrush - 5+ already singing around the area
Reed Bunting - 6 together along the east edge
John Watson said
Sun Jan 31 1:01 PM, 2021
More info:
It replaces the entire 1st field heading North from J11. The hedge where the Red-Backed Shrike was a few years back would be destroyed, and no doubt the Pools area & ruck will get numerous people wandering around
It would occupy 16.8 hectares of land belonging to Hoyles Moss Farm and UK Waste Mgmt. This is about twice the size of the existing service station just 5 ˝ miles to the West. Its for 536 cars, 15 motorbikes & 137 lorries & buses, and a Hotel
Heres the summary: Erection of a Motorway Service Area including Facilities Building, up to 100 bedroom Hotel, service yard, Fuel Filling Station, Electric Charging Station, parking facilities for each category of vehicle, access and internal circulation roads, structured and natural landscaping with outside amenity space/picnic space and dog walking zone, pedestrian and cycle links, boundary fencing, surface water drainage areas, ecological mitigation, pumping station(s), substation(s), retaining structures and associated infrastructure and earthwork
"ecological mitigation" - hmm
I guess this plan is linked to the HS2 link route which passes right through Silver Lane Pools, but that might not happen because of fierce local opposition
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Jan 30 3:16 PM, 2021
Objections can still be sent in for the proposed motorway Service station ,that will devastate the Eastern arable area at Silver Lane pools . The Service station which in reality is pretty pointless as there is already one a few miles west at Birchwood, would devastate a great greenbelt , farmland area, were there is a wetland area that contains both large numbers of Common Snipe in winter and smaller numbers of Jack Snipe. The site is also home in winter of almost 400 Skylark , 200 linnet, Merlin and Peregrine,Pink Footed Geese along with other fairly uncommon farmland birds such as Corn Bunting. Please read the planning and all the letters to get more detail here and object if possible . Application Number:2019/35726 Warrington Borough Council planning application site
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 30th of January 2021 03:17:50 PM
Rob Smith said
Sun Jan 24 8:21 PM, 2021
Icy start this morning with some pools partially frozen over and footpaths gradually turning to mud.
Pink footed Geese - 120, on NE arable field.
Canada Geese - 100, flew low to the west, been absent most of the month.
Mallard - 66, a slight increase on recent counts.
Wigeon - 32,
Pochard - 7
Tufted Duck - 26
Black headed Gull - 100
Peregrine Falcon - female upsetting local lapwings
Lapwing - 300, in a restless flock over the eastern arable areas
Rob Smith said
Sun Jan 17 7:09 PM, 2021
A bit more bird action around the patch today and a good excuse to continue restocking the multiple feeding stations created during the freeze back in December.
Greylag Geese 2, flew low to the west
Pink footed Geese 3, flew east, a complete change from the 100s present earlier in the year!
Wigeon 38, fairly settled numbers currently.
Shoveler 2, among mallard on the east pool
Goosander 2, nice to have the pair back following the freeze
Gadwall 2, never common or regular
Skylark 120+, by their panic actions suspect put up by a raptor but never saw it!
On the way back and just when you thought it was all over ...., this single field came alive with ca1000 feeding birds with more dropping in as I stood there, impressive & it included
Starling - 500+
Fieldfare - 300+
Redwing - 20+
Mistle Thrush - 7
Blackbirds - 20+
Goldfinch - 50+
+ Pied Wagtails, Song Thrush & Meadow Pipits
Silver Lane Recorder 2004 2020
Rob Smith said
Tue Jan 12 8:29 PM, 2021
A pleasant ice free stroll and viewing in the sunshine this morning with a lot more activity than recently, of note
Greylag Geese - 15, flew low westwards
Wigeon 35
Mallard 28
Pochard - 5
Gadwall 3
Sparrowhawk male, hunting along east side
Magpie 18,
Stonechat 2 pair
Fieldfare 40
Redwing 10
Mistle Thrush - 2
Meadow Pipit 30+
Skylark 30+
Common Redpoll 10, feeding on willowherb seed heads
Wren despite the lengthy ice bound conditions quite a few are popping up around the area
Silver Lane Recorder 2004 - 2021
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Jan 9 9:07 PM, 2021
Nice clear start to the morning fog arrived by 10.00am . Nice to see 2 Little Grebe back on the 8 foot slither of water on the west side of the west pool , a fly through of 32 Lapwing low , 50 Goldfinch , 100 Chaffinch, 8 Yellowhammer, 16 Mallard , 2 Stonechat , 2 Kestrel, 4 Snipe and a Sparrowhawk were more or less it as the Fog came down thick by 11. I left a bit of food round the site for the birds and vole family that lives near my brew spot.
I feel this will be my last post from Silver Lane at least until we come out of Lockdown , but more likely until things are back to normality towards the end of Summer , as Rob said in his post below ,the site is under pressure from people, as they try to stay local and suddenly we have a procession of dog walkers, walkers ,joggers etc similar but not to the level of Pennington Flash but greater than normal which is also affecting the bird life at the site , its my place for solitude, that basically is too busy at the moment , and I feel it inappropriate to encourage others to come to the sight by posting sightings which encourage people to visit, a site that after early morning is hard to social distance, as is needed and required at the moment. I haven't got the will or need to post my sightings at the moment , other things are more important to me.
See you all on the other side of this situation
Take care Stay local, Stay safe and enjoy whatever you find wherever you are, Don't take risks just to see another bird, they will be here after this mess is over :)
I will leave you with a picture of the clear sunrise this morning at Silver Lane.
Rob Smith said
Sat Jan 9 7:08 PM, 2021
Mist reducing visibility to ca50metres and not really lifting to mid pm, but managed to glimpse,
Merlin - female, cutting low through the mist & out SE, my first of 2021
Kestrel - female, moving around the area
Moorhen - 2, reduced to foraging in ditch with running water, as all pools iced over
Fieldfare - 40, NE fields & trees
Long tailed Tits - 10, high up in oak tree looking for food
Bullfinch - 2 pairs at least recorded
Chaffinch & Reed Bunting - several along the east side
Was amazed to see the number of cars parked in the usual places & people walking together around the pools who seem oblivious to the recent restrictions!
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Jan 8 12:02 PM, 2021
Pretty dour on the patch this morning all the pools frozen most birds have left the site only things of note 22 Mallard , 150+ Chaffinch and 2 Stonechat . 150 Linnets and 200 Skylark on the eastern arable in fact a pretty typical day on the pools recently .
I have done 300 visits to Silver Lane in the last 12 months with a few highlights such as finding the Greenland White fronted Goose, or finding Redstart and spotted Flycatcher in Spring although both were less than 30 second views, but you only get rewards on a patch like this with persistence and that gives you the lift needed to carry on visiting. :) I would encourage everyone at the moment who enjoys birding or the outside to find the nearest place to home that has a bit of habitat , even a local park or bit of farmland and try a year of patching the site and recording it. and it may be quiet at first but soon the odd decent bird will be found , even now if I see a flock of Yellowhammer as I did the other day or a Stonechat it makes my days mooching worth it, but you need to go in all weathers as generally, you find something rare or different on the days that are the worst weather conditions.
stay local, stay safe and enjoy whatever you find wherever you are :)
Rob Smith said
Thu Jan 7 8:11 PM, 2021
Mallard - 34, on ice and last remaining open water Lesser black backed Gull - 3, on ice with Herring Gull - 3 Common Gull - 1
For Info
During 2020, the Silver Lane Pools and surrounds recorded a years site list of 124 birds which, when considering the lockdown & travel restrictions proved to be a good count for the year. This included 31 Red and 34 Amber listed birds (as per BoCC4). Birds of interest passing through on migration or briefly stopping over included:
Whooper Swan White-fronted Goose, Greenland Common Scoter Goldeneye Black necked Grebe Hen Harrier Osprey Red Kite Ring Ouzel Garden Warbler Treecreeper Whinchat Redstart Spotted Flycatcher Hawfinch
Although I have been monitoring the bird life of Silver Lane Pools since 1995, the early years of recording were hampered by operational restrictions, high levels of disturbance and poor access to the area and produced little notifiable data. As conditions and habitats began to improve so recording became easier resulting in an improving range of species seen on/over/around the site. I do not claim that these are definitive totals as the majority of records were compiled from my own data with some from other sources and the public domain. However, the sum totals can serve as a reference point for the site in the absence of any other data, and they are:
2005 2010; 116 species 2011 2015; 141 species 2016 2020; 156 species
So, what will the next 5 years bring, we shall see?
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Jan 7 1:14 PM, 2021
1st Winter Black Headed Gull on the West pool with Blue ring T4R6 again today stood on the Ice , I have had confirmation last year it was ringed on the 6th June 2020 in :Walendów ponds, MAZOWIECKIE, POLAND. All pools totally Frozen only Mallard left on ice and 4 Stonechat around the site , 300 Skylark on the eastern Arable .
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Jan 6 6:57 PM, 2021
May be of interest if you spot it elsewhere but today I found again the 1st Winter Black Headed Gull on the West pool with Blue ring T4R6 , I have had confirmation last year it was ringed on the 6th June 2020 in :Walendów ponds, MAZOWIECKIE, POLAND. I first found it at Silver Lane in November.
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Jan 4 3:45 PM, 2021
A few Highlights the last few days are c200 Linnets and 250+ Skylark along with 1500 Starling and Peregrine on the private Eastern Arable and 25 Lesser Redpoll, 20 Siskin, Woodcock, Jack Snipe , Corn Bunting , Yellowhammer and 34-39 Wigeon and 4 Stonechat still in the area.
Rob Smith said
Sat Jan 2 8:20 PM, 2021
Despite a cold start (-4c) there was a bit more activity around the patch today. Pools still mostly iced over with the result that diving duck in particular, have disappeared with just a few dabbler duck & other birds roosting on the ice or what open water could be found!
Mallard - 56
Wigeon - 32
Teal - 4
Black headed Gulls - 40
Water Rail - 1, persistent calling from reeds on an iced over pool
Away from the pools and around the area
Kestrel - 1, female
Sparrowhawk - 1, male, over west pool spooking the gulls
Stock Dove - 100+
Lapwing - 15
Treecreeper - 1, nice to see it was still around & a good tick for the 2021 list!
Yellowhammer - 6, with
Reed Bunting - 6, along the east edge of the landfill
Finch Flock - 60+, linnet, chaffinch, goldfinch +, but too far over to be precise
Dunnock - 4, together & sort of getting on which was interesting?
Silver Lane Recorder 2004 - 2020
Rob Smith said
Fri Jan 1 8:39 PM, 2021
Pools slowly thawing with the ice sheets and a few areas of open water being used by gulls and waterfowl. Noticeably quiet with just the usual birds providing some interest to get the New Year count on the local patch off to a fair start.
Mute Swan - 1, came in from the east & dropped onto the west pool
Grey Heron - 1
Mallard - 32
Wigeon 34
Gadwall - 2
Herring Gull - 3, uncommon here, but often appears when weather conditions worsen
Common Gull - 1, scarce visitor
Lesser black backed Gull - 2, been hanging around for days
Black headed Gulls - 50+
Mistle Thrush - 2
Fieldfare 12 among a few starlings
Plus a few more of the usual's around the patch
Silver Lane Records 2004 - 2020
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Jan 1 7:21 PM, 2021
A final total of 51 Species today Including the 39 Wigeon still, 8 Pink footed Geese , Pochard, 4 Stonechat , Merlin and Peregrine towards Holcroft moss, both headed off towards Little Wooldon Moss , and plenty of the usual birds including a decent size Linnet flock on the eastern Arable too :)
-
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 1st of January 2021 07:31:50 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Dec 31 6:07 PM, 2020
Only things on note today was 37 Wigeon again and 2 Stonechat with decent numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare .
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Dec 30 8:32 PM, 2020
Well freezing fog on the patch today a birdwatchers dream lol Well I still saw Redwing 50+, Wigeon 37+ , Common Gull - 2 , Stonechat -2, Goldcrest- 1 plus a few of the usual's although the I could only see about 100 yards in front of me at any time. Pictures a couple of landscapes from today .
Rob Smith said
Wed Dec 30 7:59 PM, 2020
All pools frozen over apart from a small area on the west pool which, combined with a freezing fog limited visibility and birdlife, but in the gloom managed to pick up a few species.
Goldeneye - male took flight off the west pool & disappeared north and into the fog
Black headed Gulls - 50+ mostly on the ice
Lesser Black back Gull - 2, likewise
Woodcock - 1, nearly tripped over it
Common Snipe - 6
Bullfinch - 6, 4 males/2 females together in a group
Redpoll - 20+, feeding mainly on low growing vegetation
Finch/Bunting flock - 120+, in the gloom counted at least 3 Yellowhammer & 6 Reed Bunting among them but could have been many more otherwise flock made up of Chaffinch, Goldfinch & Linnet
Silver Lane Recording 2004 - 2020
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Dec 29 5:47 PM, 2020
250 Pink Footed Geese over west in 2 groups , 42 Wigeon and a stonking Adult Yellow Legged Gull (first ever confirmed on the patch for me ) were about the best today
Rob Smith said
Sun Dec 27 7:23 PM, 2020
Walkers out numbered the wildlife today on the patch, but the sunshine was an excuse to get some fresh air!
Wigeon - 48, on west pool, only record of note. Its interesting how/why & where these birds come from/go to as numbers vary daily from a few to many & back again!
Rob Smith said
Sat Dec 26 8:06 PM, 2020
A quiet day generally so mostly about regular birds.
Wigeon - 14
Pochard 13
Tufted Duck 27
Mallard 30
Teal 2
Goosander the pair seem happy enough on middle pool
Black headed Gull - 50
Kestrel 1, male
Merlin male, shot through flock of Skylark without any attempt at striking, eaten elsewhere perhaps!
Fieldfare 40, numbers well down on usual counts around here at this time of year
Redwing 10, as above
Skylark 300+ feeding across two eastern arable fields, easier to count when spooked by a raptor!
Long tailed Tit 20 in single mixed flock
Coal Tit 2, in mixed flock above, scarce visitor normally
Siskin 4, among small flock of Goldfinch
Silver Lane Recorder 2004-2020
-- Edited by Rob Smith on Saturday 26th of December 2020 08:10:01 PM
-- Edited by Rob Smith on Saturday 26th of December 2020 08:11:25 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Dec 26 1:30 PM, 2020
c 1500 Pink Footed Geese still south of the M62 , SW of Holcroft Moss , 6 Stonechat, 14 Wigeon , 200 Fieldfare flying south and the usuals :)
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Dec 24 9:35 AM, 2020
Another crackin' Sunrise on the patch this morning , The Geese fest continues 800-1000 pink footed Geese South of m62 ,SW of Holcroft Moss at Dawn this morning, Kingfisher, 34 Wigeon,4 Shoveller , 25 Tufted Duck , 12 Pochard,4 Little Grebe ,2 Kestrel ,200 Skylark, 1 Goosander ,6 Bullfich and the usuals.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 24th of December 2020 11:53:13 AM
Rob Creek said
Thu Dec 24 8:25 AM, 2020
Hi John, Im not sure if your Greenlander is the only one in the North West, Stuart Darbyshire had one on one of the Crossens marshes towards the end of November, albeit a 1st W, so yours could be the only adult? I had a flyover on 20th Nov at Crossens Outer Marsh too but couldnt assign it to a species sadly! Cheers
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Dec 23 12:41 PM, 2020
The unprecedented Pink Footed Geese occurrence of this Autumn/Winter finally came to an end today ,with none on the eastern arable at Silver Lane Pools this morning for the first time for a couple of months, and what a couple of months its been and the pioneer of birding the site Jon Platt agreed there has been nothing like it at the site, there has always been a Few Pink Footed Geese on the fields either side of Holcroft Lane , even back to the 1970s I remember seeing the odd small flock along there, but to have 3000+ roosting at Woolston Eyes and up to 1900 feeding on the eastern side of silver lane was something no one ever expected would happen and lead to me finding the Greenland White fronted Goose among them , the only one I've heard of in the North west this Winter and to see it also fly into Greater Manchester on several occasions was a magic few days on the patch and definitely the bird of the year at Silver Lane and was around at least 2 days , apart from that its been a fairly mediocre winter so far at Silver Lane , 41 Wigeon yesterday was the maximum I've seen for that species this winter, which seem to go and feed in the mornings and arrive back in the afternoons, well down on previous years. Today the highlight was a Chiffchaff, along with Peregrine again, 250+ Stock Dove including the Leicistic bird, 300 Lapwing travelling North over Irlam was also a good number , so here's a final shot of the Greenland Whitefronted Goose , find of the winter for me and I don't think ever to be repeated at the site
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 23rd of December 2020 12:42:41 PM
Wigeon - 32, numbers varying considerably on a daily basis
Pochard - 15, numbers slowly increasing
Shoveler - 1 pair, scarce visitor
Goosander - 1 pair
Water Rail - 1
Woodcock - 1, flushed from short coarse grassland area by dog. Over the years have had similar surprise with birds being flushed from open mossland and marshland during Winter Bird Surveys.
Lesser black backed Gull - 1, among 40 black headed gulls (some coming into summer plumage!)
Kestrel - 2, male & female around the landfill
Mistle Thrush - 3, on arable fields to the west
Fieldfare 20, flew north
Stonechat - 5, 2 pair + 1 male
Silver Lane Recorder 2004-2020
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Dec 22 8:01 PM, 2020
Still 500 Pink Footed Geese just south of the M62 Towards the SE side of Holcroft Moss this morning and early afternoon. They are on private land with little disturbance so seem more settled than previous weeks also in this area today 3000+ Woodpigeon, 500+ Stock Dove , 300+ Skylark and 1000 mixed Corvids , Peregrine also in the area.
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Dec 20 1:01 PM, 2020
Still 800-1000 Pink Footed Geese just south of the M62 Towards the SE side of Holcroft Moss this morning and early afternoon. They are on private land with little disturbance so seem more settled than previous weeks
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Dec 18 7:55 PM, 2020
Still 1000-1200 Pink Footed Geese just south of the M62 Towards the SE side of Holcroft Moss this morning and early afternoon.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 18th of December 2020 07:56:01 PM
Rob Smith said
Fri Dec 18 7:50 PM, 2020
A quick wander around today produced some interest
Wigeon - 14
Pochard - 11
Grey Partridge - 2, its been 18 months since the last recording of this species in, on or around the area, very sad really but symptomatic of the times and farm land in general these days
Starling - 2000+, in fields north of Franks farm
Linnet - 50, flock size has reduced over the past couple of weeks
Chaffinch - 40, accompanied by
Brambling 2, which has also been a rare occurrence around the area in recent times
Silver Lane Recorder 2004-2020
Rob Smith said
Mon Dec 14 7:18 PM, 2020
A real mud bowl in places today, but at least the rain kept off!
Mute Swan 2 on east pool, infrequent visitor compared to previous years
Pink footed Geese 600+ in three flocks around area. 200 on eastern arable, 200 on NE fields, 200 up from fields SE of M62
Pochard 14
Mallard 70
Tufted Duck 33
Black headed Gulls 50
Lapwing 200. Split between 100 on east arable & 100 over west arable fields
Sparrowhawk male
Kestrel female
Starling 3000, initially a flock of 500 on eastern arable field which then joined up with a murmuration of ca2500 swirling around fields SE of Silver Lane & M62. An impressive sight!
Treecreeper 1
Silver Lane Recorder 2004-2020
John Watson said
Sun Dec 13 12:31 PM, 2020
Seems an expensive, ineffective & dangerous idea, if that's what's going on
The folk living in the farm buidings aren't necessarily farmers. I understand many (most?) of the farms around here are actually managed by a super-farm (Winwick I think?) because they've got all the facilities, equipment & vehicles. Financially more efficient these days. That's why we get large tractors frequently hurtling through Culcheth
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Dec 12 12:59 PM, 2020
1000 - 1300 Pink Footed Geese over and around the area South and East of Holcroft Lane this morning in several large flocks , I have a feeling the farmers are paying a Helicopter and small plane to buzz the area to get rid of the geese as they were disturbed 6 times today by the Helicopter and headed towards Little Wooldon and attempted to land there , but came back up and split into 6 groups going in all directions when I left. 2000 Starling 1500 Woodpigeon , and 200 Skylark also on the Stubble Fields to the south of Holcroft Lane.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 12th of December 2020 01:53:02 PM
Rob Smith said
Sat Dec 12 10:53 AM, 2020
As of yesterday pm.
Pink footed Geese - 6-700 on east fields before being spooked by helicopter, skein wheeled around for a while & then headed out east & beyond Lower Woolden.
Goosander - 3, 2m/1f. None for ages & then several around for a few days
Tawny Owl - male calling for a while from local trees
Water Rail - 1, a sporadic visitor
Woodcock - 1, scarce but probably overlooked in its usually haunts
Treecreeper - 2, uncommon but seems to have been a light influx into the area recently
Thats brilliant John,
I think the site is an interesting one, with many different habitats in a fairly small and easily accessible area, absolutely alive with birdsong of all types.
Cheers Rob had one there this morning brief view and sang once
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 16th of May 2021 11:49:09 AM
with reference to images below... from J-11 roundabout follow main path from access barrier up the hill, first time was singing in hedgerow at bottom of embankment between skip and locked gates, then 2nd time was just passed the skip in same hedgerow but it wasnt singing, it was moving stealthily through the cover.
Cheers
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 16th of May 2021 10:29:15 AM
Be interested were you are seeing the regular lesser whitethroat ,I do the site all over more or less daily and had the one in brief song about 2 weeks ago,none noted since ,they don't breed on site so would be interested in were you are getting that pm me if you wish?
Same area as below, tacho break.
Not as many birds but of note...
- 3 Blackcap singing
- 3 Chiffchaff (2 close up together)
- Yellow Wagtail singing not seen
- Common Whitethroat seemingly everywhere
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat
- 2 Skylark
- 2 Song Thrush
- 1 Little Grebe
- 2 Sand Martins through
M62 Junction 11, near Silver Lane Pools.
Stopped off for an afternoon break on way back to depot from Culceth.
A quick scout around the wooded area along the path near the roundabout then I walked further up towards the pool looking out over the fields.
- 1m Yellow Wagtail (singing on soil patch in field)
- 4m Whitethroat (3 in one thicket)
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat rattling away
- 4 Willow Warbler min (2 seen)
- 2 Chiffchaff (1 seen, another singing)
- 4 Blackcap (1m 1f seen together, 2 more singing)
- 1 Skylark
- 3 Common Swift over
- 1m Reed Bunting
- 1m Greenfinch
- 2 Long-tailed Tit
- 2 Song Thrush
- 1 Stock Dove over
- 3 Common Buzzard
- and a nice bonus was a Garden Warbler singing away but I only caught a brief glimpse as it skulked its way through the bushes and foliage, never have much luck trying to get a shot of these!
A busy little place birdwise and a very productive tacho break.
Pretty decent day for the pools today as they have been deadly recently , but one of those 1 in 100 visits were you get a few nice birds. Starting very early it was nice to get a pair of Yellow Wagtail, a Pair of Grey Partridge, 1 cracking Male Whinchat , none of which were present after 9 am , a Lesser Whitethroat singing, Grasshopper Warbler-1, Sedge Warbler -1, lots of Whitethroat, Reed Warblers, and Willow Warbler then a bonus while doing some Vis Migging while having a brew , picked up a 2nd CY Male Marsh Harrier flying from the Little Wooldon moss area high South PAST Risley Moss ending up somewhere towards Woolston Eyes, all in all a great day on the pools. When I left at 1 pm there was very little about , it always seems in the main that early mornings are best.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 1st of May 2021 05:42:01 PM
Its been a very slow Spring Passage at Silver Lane with things arriving in dribs and drabs , in the last week highlights have been Tree Pipit on 2 occasions flying off North , Wheatear, Reed Warbler, and 3 Whitethroat yesterday, today was a bit better with a Cuckoo flying North, and a Male Yellow Wagtail finally, plenty Willow Warbler and Hurrundines around the area too. The pools themselves have been fairly quiet with the first Mallard Ducklings the other day the highlight and on and off Great Crested Grebes which seem to come and go daily and quite a few pairs of Little Grebe. Also Today a Male Buzzard was displaying by carrying round a live Frog and and showing it to the female see picture ,I cant remember seeing that before.
29 Whooper Swans Flew over North about 1050 this morning , headed out over Culcheth, Bents and the east of Leigh
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 1st of April 2021 08:40:54 PM
Highlights:
~8 Wigeon W pool
7 Stonechat (mmf at top of hill being territorial, mmmf on S side of long pool)
~20 Meadow Pipit in bush, E side of hill)
10+ Skylark, plenty of singing
Song Thrushes audible everywhere
1-2 Kestrel (m)
2 Gadwall (pair)
1 Grey Heron
Just NE of the pools, many Fieldfare & Redwing just N of the bridge under disused railway
Quite a few small flies around
Halfway through lock down update - were nearly there :)
Daily visits (52 days I have visited this year for my couple of hours mooch , which has produced a few highlights , here's a taster
Marsh Tit in early January
Woodcock - 4 Together at one point , but almost daily in the frosty conditions over the last month
Golden plover - 7 that got lost in the fog and were down on the landfill summit probably my highlight so far this year so far.
Wigeon - up to 52 for me in the last few months , with generally 37 as a normal for most of the winter including one which may have been a hybrid American/Eurasion Wigeon
Oystercatcher - first seen a week or so ago , almost daily since waiting for its mate
Stonechat - still 5 today around the site as they have more or less all year
Merlin and Peregrine on various dates including today towards Holcroft Moss
Pink Footed Geese - have varied daily from 400 one day last week going over to 5 only down feeding today
Chiffchaff - 1 regular during the last month
Meadow pipit - quite a rise in these yesterday , with 75+ on the landfill with regularly well over 100 Skylarks around the site.
All in all the daily walks in all weathers have mainly been enjoyable with nothing really rare and now the next few days there's the hope of a few Summer Migrants appearing with these favorable winds
So thats it for now, see you on the other side of Lock down and the hope of a better Covid free future .For now please still stay local until its ok for us to move around ,always remember staying alive is more important than seeing a rare bird. Stay Safe :)
John
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 22nd of February 2021 06:54:54 PM
Yesterdays pleasant walk round the patch had a definite touch of Spring
Wigeon - 24 restless & flighty birds. But 48 (November 2020) were present earlier in the week which equals the highest total recorded here this winter to date
Tufted Duck - 33
Gadwall - 3
Pochard - 1, this solitary bird has been here for a while, as did another - or same bird, 2 years ago around the same time
Heron & Cormorant - 1 of each
Oystercatcher - 1, first of the year for the site
Lapwing - 30, flew NW overhead
Carrion Crow - 35, a real "murder" of these birds was taking place in local trees, loads of noise, chasing, fighting going on!
Kestrel - 1 female
Common Buzzard - 2
Treecreeper - 1, nice to know its still around has been missing this past month
Stonechat - 1 pair still around, will soon be moving on I guess
Goldfinch - 15
Siskin - 15+, earlier in the week
Song Thrush - the sound of 15 males in full song providing the sound track during the walk!
Fieldfare - 15
Mistle Thrush - 2
Skylark - 12+ singing from the top of the landfill
Meadow Pipits - 20+ active in the same area
2-45pm to 5-15pm - Pools now fully thawed.
100+ Fieldfare in a newly ploughed field probably many more but difficult to see with the furrows, plus a single male Pheasant.
Around the pools areas male & female of Chaffinch & Bullfinch with a single Reed Bunting & 5 Redwing.
About 50 Linnet going to & fro from stubble field to trees bordering pools where there was also 3 Jay & 2 Goldcrest.
On the largest main pool were 40 Wigeon of which two thirds were male, a pair of Goosander & a single Oystercatcher.
The only raptors seen were 2 Buzzard as I was just leaving at dusk.
From a previous visit 2 days ago ith pools still partially frozen over.
Yellow legged Gull - adult, winter, among 70 Black headed Gulls
Herring Gull & Common Gull - 1 each
Canada Goose - 7
Mallard - 55
Wigeon - 36
Gadwall - 4
Teal - 2
Stock Dove - 70
Fieldfare - 200
Redwing - 30
Stonechat - 3 (2m/1f)
Goldfinch - 50
Not much moving around the area, pools partially frozen over but enough free water to keep some wildfowl from wandering off elsewhere.
Wigeon - 38
Mallard - 26
Pochard - 2
Teal - 2
Goldeneye - pair present on 7/2, rarity here
Lesser black back Gull - 3
Kestrel - female on top of landfill along with
Stonechat - 5
Skylark - 100 on east arable fields
There is no real reason for locating an MSA here, it will cause huge problems to what is already a chaotic junction at the best of times (even with lockdown in operation) and it will definitely not enhance the habitat and wildlife found here, the site is slowly maturing into a diverse and wildlife rich area and doesn't need help! People pressure currently is a problem which would only get worse if its opened up to what the developers are looking to do. Currently there is hold on plans because of HS2 concerns?
With increasing daylight hours local wildlife is slowly responding and becoming more visible & vocal. Over the past few days popping out of my back gate and taking the footpaths onto the local patch mange to record the following highlights:
Pink footed Geese - 100 heading west, not so regular around the area currently.
Wigeon - 28, flock slowly thinning out
Tufted Duck - 39
Cormorant - 2,
Goosander - pair
Black headed Gulls - 100
Common Buzzard - 3
Sparrowhawk - male & female active around the area most days
Woodcock - single
Stock Dove - 70+
Woodpigeon - 500+
Great spotted Woodpecker - 3, a lot of aggro going on between them as spring approaches
Nuthatch - 1, not been around for awhile
Mistle Thrush - 3 on west arable fields
Song Thrush - 5+ already singing around the area
Reed Bunting - 6 together along the east edge
It replaces the entire 1st field heading North from J11. The hedge where the Red-Backed Shrike was a few years back would be destroyed, and no doubt the Pools area & ruck will get numerous people wandering around
It would occupy 16.8 hectares of land belonging to Hoyles Moss Farm and UK Waste Mgmt. This is about twice the size of the existing service station just 5 ˝ miles to the West. Its for 536 cars, 15 motorbikes & 137 lorries & buses, and a Hotel
Heres the summary: Erection of a Motorway Service Area including Facilities Building, up to 100 bedroom Hotel, service yard, Fuel Filling Station, Electric Charging Station, parking facilities for each category of vehicle, access and internal circulation roads, structured and natural landscaping with outside amenity space/picnic space and dog walking zone, pedestrian and cycle links, boundary fencing, surface water drainage areas, ecological mitigation, pumping station(s), substation(s), retaining structures and associated infrastructure and earthwork
"ecological mitigation" - hmm
I guess this plan is linked to the HS2 link route which passes right through Silver Lane Pools, but that might not happen because of fierce local opposition
Objections can still be sent in for the proposed motorway Service station ,that will devastate the Eastern arable area at Silver Lane pools . The Service station which in reality is pretty pointless as there is already one a few miles west at Birchwood, would devastate a great greenbelt , farmland area, were there is a wetland area that contains both large numbers of Common Snipe in winter and smaller numbers of Jack Snipe. The site is also home in winter of almost 400 Skylark , 200 linnet, Merlin and Peregrine,Pink Footed Geese along with other fairly uncommon farmland birds such as Corn Bunting. Please read the planning and all the letters to get more detail here and object if possible . Application Number:2019/35726 Warrington Borough Council planning application site
https://planning.warrington.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display
Thanks
John
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 30th of January 2021 03:17:50 PM
Pink footed Geese - 120, on NE arable field.
Canada Geese - 100, flew low to the west, been absent most of the month.
Mallard - 66, a slight increase on recent counts.
Wigeon - 32,
Pochard - 7
Tufted Duck - 26
Black headed Gull - 100
Peregrine Falcon - female upsetting local lapwings
Lapwing - 300, in a restless flock over the eastern arable areas
A bit more bird action around the patch today and a good excuse to continue restocking the multiple feeding stations created during the freeze back in December.
Greylag Geese 2, flew low to the west
Pink footed Geese 3, flew east, a complete change from the 100s present earlier in the year!
Wigeon 38, fairly settled numbers currently.
Shoveler 2, among mallard on the east pool
Goosander 2, nice to have the pair back following the freeze
Gadwall 2, never common or regular
Skylark 120+, by their panic actions suspect put up by a raptor but never saw it!
On the way back and just when you thought it was all over ...., this single field came alive with ca1000 feeding birds with more dropping in as I stood there, impressive & it included
Starling - 500+
Fieldfare - 300+
Redwing - 20+
Mistle Thrush - 7
Blackbirds - 20+
Goldfinch - 50+
+ Pied Wagtails, Song Thrush & Meadow Pipits
Silver Lane Recorder 2004 2020
A pleasant ice free stroll and viewing in the sunshine this morning with a lot more activity than recently, of note
Greylag Geese - 15, flew low westwards
Wigeon 35
Mallard 28
Pochard - 5
Gadwall 3
Sparrowhawk male, hunting along east side
Magpie 18,
Stonechat 2 pair
Fieldfare 40
Redwing 10
Mistle Thrush - 2
Meadow Pipit 30+
Skylark 30+
Common Redpoll 10, feeding on willowherb seed heads
Wren despite the lengthy ice bound conditions quite a few are popping up around the area
Silver Lane Recorder 2004 - 2021
Nice clear start to the morning fog arrived by 10.00am . Nice to see 2 Little Grebe back on the 8 foot slither of water on the west side of the west pool , a fly through of 32 Lapwing low , 50 Goldfinch , 100 Chaffinch, 8 Yellowhammer, 16 Mallard , 2 Stonechat , 2 Kestrel, 4 Snipe and a Sparrowhawk were more or less it as the Fog came down thick by 11. I left a bit of food round the site for the birds and vole family that lives near my brew spot.
I feel this will be my last post from Silver Lane at least until we come out of Lockdown , but more likely until things are back to normality towards the end of Summer , as Rob said in his post below ,the site is under pressure from people, as they try to stay local and suddenly we have a procession of dog walkers, walkers ,joggers etc similar but not to the level of Pennington Flash but greater than normal which is also affecting the bird life at the site , its my place for solitude, that basically is too busy at the moment , and I feel it inappropriate to encourage others to come to the sight by posting sightings which encourage people to visit, a site that after early morning is hard to social distance, as is needed and required at the moment. I haven't got the will or need to post my sightings at the moment , other things are more important to me.
See you all on the other side of this situation
Take care Stay local, Stay safe and enjoy whatever you find wherever you are, Don't take risks just to see another bird, they will be here after this mess is over :)
I will leave you with a picture of the clear sunrise this morning at Silver Lane.
Mist reducing visibility to ca50metres and not really lifting to mid pm, but managed to glimpse,
Merlin - female, cutting low through the mist & out SE, my first of 2021
Kestrel - female, moving around the area
Moorhen - 2, reduced to foraging in ditch with running water, as all pools iced over
Fieldfare - 40, NE fields & trees
Long tailed Tits - 10, high up in oak tree looking for food
Bullfinch - 2 pairs at least recorded
Chaffinch & Reed Bunting - several along the east side
Was amazed to see the number of cars parked in the usual places & people walking together around the pools who seem oblivious to the recent restrictions!
Pretty dour on the patch this morning all the pools frozen most birds have left the site only things of note 22 Mallard , 150+ Chaffinch and 2 Stonechat . 150 Linnets and 200 Skylark on the eastern arable in fact a pretty typical day on the pools recently .
I have done 300 visits to Silver Lane in the last 12 months with a few highlights such as finding the Greenland White fronted Goose, or finding Redstart and spotted Flycatcher in Spring although both were less than 30 second views, but you only get rewards on a patch like this with persistence and that gives you the lift needed to carry on visiting. :) I would encourage everyone at the moment who enjoys birding or the outside to find the nearest place to home that has a bit of habitat , even a local park or bit of farmland and try a year of patching the site and recording it. and it may be quiet at first but soon the odd decent bird will be found , even now if I see a flock of Yellowhammer as I did the other day or a Stonechat it makes my days mooching worth it, but you need to go in all weathers as generally, you find something rare or different on the days that are the worst weather conditions.
stay local, stay safe and enjoy whatever you find wherever you are :)
Mallard - 34, on ice and last remaining open water
Lesser black backed Gull - 3, on ice with
Herring Gull - 3
Common Gull - 1
For Info
During 2020, the Silver Lane Pools and surrounds recorded a years site list of 124 birds which, when considering the lockdown & travel restrictions proved to be a good count for the year. This included 31 Red and 34 Amber listed birds (as per BoCC4). Birds of interest passing through on migration or briefly stopping over included:
Whooper Swan White-fronted Goose, Greenland Common Scoter
Goldeneye Black necked Grebe Hen Harrier
Osprey Red Kite Ring Ouzel
Garden Warbler Treecreeper Whinchat
Redstart Spotted Flycatcher Hawfinch
Although I have been monitoring the bird life of Silver Lane Pools since 1995, the early years of recording were hampered by operational restrictions, high levels of disturbance and poor access to the area and produced little notifiable data. As conditions and habitats began to improve so recording became easier resulting in an improving range of species seen on/over/around the site.
I do not claim that these are definitive totals as the majority of records were compiled from my own data with some from other sources and the public domain. However, the sum totals can serve as a reference point for the site in the absence of any other data, and they are:
2005 2010; 116 species
2011 2015; 141 species
2016 2020; 156 species
So, what will the next 5 years bring, we shall see?
1st Winter Black Headed Gull on the West pool with Blue ring T4R6 again today stood on the Ice , I have had confirmation last year it was ringed on the 6th June 2020 in :Walendów ponds, MAZOWIECKIE, POLAND. All pools totally Frozen only Mallard left on ice and 4 Stonechat around the site , 300 Skylark on the eastern Arable .
May be of interest if you spot it elsewhere but today I found again the 1st Winter Black Headed Gull on the West pool with Blue ring T4R6 , I have had confirmation last year it was ringed on the 6th June 2020 in :Walendów ponds, MAZOWIECKIE, POLAND. I first found it at Silver Lane in November.
A few Highlights the last few days are c200 Linnets and 250+ Skylark along with 1500 Starling and Peregrine on the private Eastern Arable and 25 Lesser Redpoll, 20 Siskin, Woodcock, Jack Snipe , Corn Bunting , Yellowhammer and 34-39 Wigeon and 4 Stonechat still in the area.
Mallard - 56
Wigeon - 32
Teal - 4
Black headed Gulls - 40
Water Rail - 1, persistent calling from reeds on an iced over pool
Away from the pools and around the area
Kestrel - 1, female
Sparrowhawk - 1, male, over west pool spooking the gulls
Stock Dove - 100+
Lapwing - 15
Treecreeper - 1, nice to see it was still around & a good tick for the 2021 list!
Yellowhammer - 6, with
Reed Bunting - 6, along the east edge of the landfill
Finch Flock - 60+, linnet, chaffinch, goldfinch +, but too far over to be precise
Dunnock - 4, together & sort of getting on which was interesting?
Silver Lane Recorder 2004 - 2020
Mute Swan - 1, came in from the east & dropped onto the west pool
Grey Heron - 1
Mallard - 32
Wigeon 34
Gadwall - 2
Herring Gull - 3, uncommon here, but often appears when weather conditions worsen
Common Gull - 1, scarce visitor
Lesser black backed Gull - 2, been hanging around for days
Black headed Gulls - 50+
Mistle Thrush - 2
Fieldfare 12 among a few starlings
Plus a few more of the usual's around the patch
Silver Lane Records 2004 - 2020
A final total of 51 Species today Including the 39 Wigeon still, 8 Pink footed Geese , Pochard, 4 Stonechat , Merlin and Peregrine towards Holcroft moss, both headed off towards Little Wooldon Moss , and plenty of the usual birds including a decent size Linnet flock on the eastern Arable too :)
-
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 1st of January 2021 07:31:50 PM
Only things on note today was 37 Wigeon again and 2 Stonechat with decent numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare .
Well freezing fog on the patch today a birdwatchers dream lol Well I still saw Redwing 50+, Wigeon 37+ , Common Gull - 2 , Stonechat -2, Goldcrest- 1 plus a few of the usual's although the I could only see about 100 yards in front of me at any time. Pictures a couple of landscapes from today .
All pools frozen over apart from a small area on the west pool which, combined with a freezing fog limited visibility and birdlife, but in the gloom managed to pick up a few species.
Goldeneye - male took flight off the west pool & disappeared north and into the fog
Black headed Gulls - 50+ mostly on the ice
Lesser Black back Gull - 2, likewise
Woodcock - 1, nearly tripped over it
Common Snipe - 6
Bullfinch - 6, 4 males/2 females together in a group
Redpoll - 20+, feeding mainly on low growing vegetation
Finch/Bunting flock - 120+, in the gloom counted at least 3 Yellowhammer & 6 Reed Bunting among them but could have been many more otherwise flock made up of Chaffinch, Goldfinch & Linnet
Silver Lane Recording 2004 - 2020
250 Pink Footed Geese over west in 2 groups , 42 Wigeon and a stonking Adult Yellow Legged Gull (first ever confirmed on the patch for me ) were about the best today
Walkers out numbered the wildlife today on the patch, but the sunshine was an excuse to get some fresh air!
Wigeon - 48, on west pool, only record of note. Its interesting how/why & where these birds come from/go to as numbers vary daily from a few to many & back again!
-- Edited by Rob Smith on Saturday 26th of December 2020 08:10:01 PM
-- Edited by Rob Smith on Saturday 26th of December 2020 08:11:25 PM
c 1500 Pink Footed Geese still south of the M62 , SW of Holcroft Moss , 6 Stonechat, 14 Wigeon , 200 Fieldfare flying south and the usuals :)
Another crackin' Sunrise on the patch this morning , The Geese fest continues 800-1000 pink footed Geese South of m62 ,SW of Holcroft Moss at Dawn this morning, Kingfisher, 34 Wigeon,4 Shoveller , 25 Tufted Duck , 12 Pochard,4 Little Grebe ,2 Kestrel ,200 Skylark, 1 Goosander ,6 Bullfich and the usuals.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 24th of December 2020 11:53:13 AM
Im not sure if your Greenlander is the only one in the North West, Stuart Darbyshire had one on one of the Crossens marshes towards the end of November, albeit a 1st W, so yours could be the only adult?
I had a flyover on 20th Nov at Crossens Outer Marsh too but couldnt assign it to a species sadly!
Cheers
The unprecedented Pink Footed Geese occurrence of this Autumn/Winter finally came to an end today ,with none on the eastern arable at Silver Lane Pools this morning for the first time for a couple of months, and what a couple of months its been and the pioneer of birding the site Jon Platt agreed there has been nothing like it at the site, there has always been a Few Pink Footed Geese on the fields either side of Holcroft Lane , even back to the 1970s I remember seeing the odd small flock along there, but to have 3000+ roosting at Woolston Eyes and up to 1900 feeding on the eastern side of silver lane was something no one ever expected would happen and lead to me finding the Greenland White fronted Goose among them , the only one I've heard of in the North west this Winter and to see it also fly into Greater Manchester on several occasions was a magic few days on the patch and definitely the bird of the year at Silver Lane and was around at least 2 days , apart from that its been a fairly mediocre winter so far at Silver Lane , 41 Wigeon yesterday was the maximum I've seen for that species this winter, which seem to go and feed in the mornings and arrive back in the afternoons, well down on previous years. Today the highlight was a Chiffchaff, along with Peregrine again, 250+ Stock Dove including the Leicistic bird, 300 Lapwing travelling North over Irlam was also a good number , so here's a final shot of the Greenland Whitefronted Goose , find of the winter for me and I don't think ever to be repeated at the site
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 23rd of December 2020 12:42:41 PM
Wigeon - 32, numbers varying considerably on a daily basis
Pochard - 15, numbers slowly increasing
Shoveler - 1 pair, scarce visitor
Goosander - 1 pair
Water Rail - 1
Woodcock - 1, flushed from short coarse grassland area by dog. Over the years have had similar surprise with birds being flushed from open mossland and marshland during Winter Bird Surveys.
Lesser black backed Gull - 1, among 40 black headed gulls (some coming into summer plumage!)
Kestrel - 2, male & female around the landfill
Mistle Thrush - 3, on arable fields to the west
Fieldfare 20, flew north
Stonechat - 5, 2 pair + 1 male
Silver Lane Recorder 2004-2020
Still 500 Pink Footed Geese just south of the M62 Towards the SE side of Holcroft Moss this morning and early afternoon. They are on private land with little disturbance so seem more settled than previous weeks also in this area today 3000+ Woodpigeon, 500+ Stock Dove , 300+ Skylark and 1000 mixed Corvids , Peregrine also in the area.
Still 800-1000 Pink Footed Geese just south of the M62 Towards the SE side of Holcroft Moss this morning and early afternoon. They are on private land with little disturbance so seem more settled than previous weeks
Still 1000-1200 Pink Footed Geese just south of the M62 Towards the SE side of Holcroft Moss this morning and early afternoon.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 18th of December 2020 07:56:01 PM
A quick wander around today produced some interest
Wigeon - 14
Pochard - 11
Grey Partridge - 2, its been 18 months since the last recording of this species in, on or around the area, very sad really but symptomatic of the times and farm land in general these days
Starling - 2000+, in fields north of Franks farm
Linnet - 50, flock size has reduced over the past couple of weeks
Chaffinch - 40, accompanied by
Brambling 2, which has also been a rare occurrence around the area in recent times
Silver Lane Recorder 2004-2020
A real mud bowl in places today, but at least the rain kept off!
Mute Swan 2 on east pool, infrequent visitor compared to previous years
Pink footed Geese 600+ in three flocks around area. 200 on eastern arable, 200 on NE fields, 200 up from fields SE of M62
Pochard 14
Mallard 70
Tufted Duck 33
Black headed Gulls 50
Lapwing 200. Split between 100 on east arable & 100 over west arable fields
Sparrowhawk male
Kestrel female
Starling 3000, initially a flock of 500 on eastern arable field which then joined up with a murmuration of ca2500 swirling around fields SE of Silver Lane & M62. An impressive sight!
Treecreeper 1
Silver Lane Recorder 2004-2020
The folk living in the farm buidings aren't necessarily farmers. I understand many (most?) of the farms around here are actually managed by a super-farm (Winwick I think?) because they've got all the facilities, equipment & vehicles. Financially more efficient these days. That's why we get large tractors frequently hurtling through Culcheth
1000 - 1300 Pink Footed Geese over and around the area South and East of Holcroft Lane this morning in several large flocks , I have a feeling the farmers are paying a Helicopter and small plane to buzz the area to get rid of the geese as they were disturbed 6 times today by the Helicopter and headed towards Little Wooldon and attempted to land there , but came back up and split into 6 groups going in all directions when I left. 2000 Starling 1500 Woodpigeon , and 200 Skylark also on the Stubble Fields to the south of Holcroft Lane.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 12th of December 2020 01:53:02 PM
As of yesterday pm.
Pink footed Geese - 6-700 on east fields before being spooked by helicopter, skein wheeled around for a while & then headed out east & beyond Lower Woolden.
Goosander - 3, 2m/1f. None for ages & then several around for a few days
Tawny Owl - male calling for a while from local trees
Water Rail - 1, a sporadic visitor
Woodcock - 1, scarce but probably overlooked in its usually haunts
Treecreeper - 2, uncommon but seems to have been a light influx into the area recently