No sign today of the Greenland White Fronted Goose only 30 pink footed Geese in the whole area ,change of weather I think moved them to easier feeding
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Dec 3 11:34 AM, 2020
Greenland white-fronted goose in field with 250 pink-footed geese just SW of Holcroft lane 400 yards North of Frank's Farm
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 3rd of December 2020 12:26:12 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Dec 2 2:08 PM, 2020
I Found a Greenland White- Fronted Goose among a roving flock of 100 Pink Footed Geese between Silver Lane and Holcroft Lane to the west of Holcroft Lane early this afternoon, the flock was disturbed by a farmers car and flew east and over Little Wooldon moss until they could barely be seen then they turned turned and came back and landed between Holcroft Lane and Little Woolden Moss on fields out of my view.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 2nd of December 2020 06:05:28 PM
Still generally quiet on the local patch, but if you don't go out you never find out?
Pink footed Geese - 280 flew west first thing with similar number returning east about an hour later
Merlin - male hunting low along the east side fields scattering 180+ Skylark; 150 Linnets; 50+ Starling & 30+ Meadow Pipits in the process but didn't seem to strike anything
Elsewhere on the patch
Stonechat - 2 pair
Reed Bunting (10); Redpoll (2); Goldfinch (20); Siskin (2) feeding in small mixed flock on gravel track & then adjacent trees
Kingfisher - on east pool
Treecreeper - 1; along west edge scarce visitor here
Nuthatch - 1 also along west edge & also a scarce visitor
Pied Wagtail - 2 on west fields
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Nov 28 4:44 PM, 2020
Curlew over west today was unusual for the time of year and 2000+ Starling over the eastern arable today, up to 10000 Starling were seen heading SE last Monday .
THE area is heavily disturbed at the moment especially the eastern arable were there are daily shooters on the private land shooting pigeons normally but recently shooting the Pink Footed Geese ,also the number of people flying birds of prey and dog walkers makes for a less relaxing patch than in previous years and I think numbers especially of Duck seem to be affected towards previous years with very little change daily on the pools and some days 2 out of the 3 pools can be birdless if certain Dog walkers have already been on and allowed the dogs to go in the closed off pools.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 29th of November 2020 08:15:15 AM
Rob Smith said
Sat Nov 28 2:56 PM, 2020
A weekly roundup and peak counts of birds on my local patch included:
Whooper Swan - 7 flew low to SW. Does seem to be a small group moving around the area on occasions.
Pink footed Geese - between 400 - 800 moving mostly east throughout the week with a flock of 200-400 remaining on local fields
Canada Geese - 200 on west pool mainly, slowly dwindling in numbers and not hanging around so much, which might give a few other more timid birds a look-in!
Cormorant - 12 on the west pool raft & in the water. Beats the previous peak of 11 on two dates in 2013?
Heron - 2
Wigeon - 15
Mallard - 39
Tufted Duck - 30
Teal - 20
Gadwall - 4
Pochard - 8
Common Snipe - 13
Jack Snipe - 1
Sparrowhawk - 2 females noted together
Kestrel - 2
Peregrine Falcon - female noted on two dates this week mostly over the east side
Merlin - 1 male along east side
Little Owl - very vocal locally
Tawny Owl - 2 calling around the area
Great spotted Woodpecker - 2 males along tree line
Magpie - 30, numbers slowly increasing in the usual winter roosting area
Raven - 1 flew east
Starling - 1000+ heading south towards dusk
Fieldfare - 40 heading SW, numbers well down on previous years at this time
Skylark - 100 - 150 most days over and around the area
Linnet - 120+ in mixed flock
Chaffinch - 40+ in mixed flock, a bird often overlooked/under recorded
May be of interest if you spot them elsewhere but this last week I found 2 x 1st Winter Black Headed Gulls on the pools,with Blue rings T4R5 and T4R6 , I have had confirmation both were from the same nest and were ringed on the 6th June 2020 in :Walendów ponds, MAZOWIECKIE, POLAND - if they flew in a straight line it would be a journey of 980 miles ( 1577km) I saw them for about 3 days 11th to the 13th on the west pool , I thought it was amazing for these 2 to keep together, considering they possible roost in about 7000 others at penny flash . Most interesting sighting I've had all year at the pools :) Keep an eye out for them on Pennington Flash car park or any local supermarket car park , an amazing journey for such young birds.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 19th of November 2020 05:37:48 PM
Pink footed Geese - 200 settling on east side fields + 100 continuing eastwards
Greylag Goose - 2 among 130 Canada Geese flying east
Wigeon - 9
Pochard - 7
Sparrowhawk - 2 females around area
Stock Dove - 45 on east fields
Starling - 500 on east fields
Jackdaw - 20 flew north
Mistle Thrush - 3
Chiffchaff - 1 among tit flock
Bullfinch - 3 pairs at least around area
Grey Wagtail - 1, uncommon here
Rob Smith said
Sun Nov 15 4:05 PM, 2020
Generally quiet around my local patch but always something to pick up on.
Mute Swan - 1, only the lonely has been here since 16th October and seems happy enough on its own!
Pink footed Geese - 180, in 3 separate small skeins flying S-SW mostly
Greylag Goose - 9 flew low east. Scarce around here but a group of 8 flew SW on 9th November so might be the same mobile group?
Mallard - 54, numbers remaining steady
Tufted Duck - 26, also steady numbers
Gadwall - 4
Pochard - 8
Black headed Gull - 150 on west pool
Kestrel - 2 around area
Kingfisher - 1,
Skylark -70, flew very high SW in 20' vismig
Stonechat - 1 pair along east side
Linnet - 130+ in mixed flock
Siskin - 20 in same mixed flock
Chaffinch - 20 in same mixed flock
Goldfinch - 20 in same mixed flock
And over the past 7 days:
Peregrine Falcon & Sparrowhawk - both females having lazy half hearted diving sessions at each other along east side on 9th
Tawny Owl - 1 calling from local trees on 11th
Canada Goose - 250, including greylag/canada hybrid still with them on west pool
Wigeon - 9, numbers fluctuate daily
Starling - 30 dropping in to roost in reeds on 11th. First time I've seen this happen here and indicative of the maturing pool vegetation
Reed Bunting - 15, dropping into same roost area which they have been doing these past several winters
Pied Wagtail - 20 flying SW at dusk
Lez Fairclough said
Thu Nov 12 9:38 PM, 2020
1-15pm to 3-45pm in unexpectedly pleasant conditions.
Middle pool had a nice M & F Pochard with a couple of Meadow Pipit's in nearby trees.
Large pool had 250+ Canada Geese, 10 Pochard, a couple of Wigeon & a Juvenile Little Grebe.
Other sightings included 2 Redwing, 2 Jay, a hovering Kestrel over the landfill, 2 Coal Tit & the usual armies of Long-Tailed Tits.
Rob Smith said
Tue Nov 3 7:12 PM, 2020
Mute Swan - 6 (3 adults/3 immatures). A single bird has been around for a week and then these turn up after several months absence.
Canada Geese - 200+ including hybrid
Pochard - 10
Mallard - 40
Pintail - single female
Merlin - male along the east side fields
Kestrel - 2 around area
Linnet - 150 along east side fields
Rob Smith said
Thu Oct 22 8:06 PM, 2020
A decent morning session.
Whooper Swan - 5 circled low over the pools before heading out SE
Pink footed Geese - 120 flew SE
Canada Geese - 150 (but previous record high of 435 in 2018 was beaten last week by a total of 475 on west pool. Its a common enough bird but still an interesting site record)
Mallard - 27
Mediterranean Gull - 1 among Canadas before everything got spooked by Whoopers going over & 40+ Mallard landing en masse among geese & gulls
Peregrine Falcon - female along east side cruising slowly behind 200+ panicking Woodpigeon
Lesser Redpoll - 5 among mixed tit flock
Stonechat - 2 pairs
Rob Smith said
Fri Oct 16 8:06 PM, 2020
Whooper Swan - 3 flighting between flooded fields along the east side and west pool
Mute Swan - 1 on east pool
Pink footed Geese - 90 circling area
Pintail - female immature still on west pool
Mallard - 75
Whinchat - 1
Stonechat - 2 pair
Rob Smith said
Sat Oct 10 6:52 PM, 2020
From earlier in the week (7/10) and a couple of interesting records for the site.
Pintail - immature bird on east pool. A rarity here and only the 5th record I have for the pools (c/f immature on 31/12/2009 - 2 on 30/8/2010 - 24/10/2012 & 1 present between 28/10 - 7/11/2015)
Canada Geese - 320 on west pool making it the 2nd highest total for the site to that of 435 on 2/9/2018
Greylag - 2 among flock
Canada Goose hybrid - 1 among same flock
8/10/20
Pink footed Geese - 150 flew NW
Rob Smith said
Mon Sep 28 7:50 PM, 2020
The following were recorded whilst walking the public footpaths around the pools and landfill only (the permissive footpaths on the landfill itself are closed to public access due to vandalism)
Hawfinch - 1 heading south this morning along the east side was an unexpected surprise
Mallard - 86, highest total for the past 18 months
Shoveler - 8, uncommon here
Pochard - 24 (earlier in the week) also scarce here usually
Redwing - 20 flew NE
Chiffchaff - 3 calling, usually when the suns out!
John Williams said
Mon Jun 1 3:54 PM, 2020
09.00-11.30
A pair of Kestrels were patrolling the Eastern boundary of the site together.
6 Buzzards were seen around the site including one having aerial tussle with a single Raven.
2 Sedge Warblers were heard calling, but both remained hidden.
Common Whitethroats abundant. Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap still singing.
Large numbers of Swifts were above the pools together with smaller numbers of House Martins and Swallows.
3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes and a single adult Herring Gull were on the pools.
A scruffy group of around 20 drake Mallards were starting their summer moult on the big pool.
Rob Smith said
Sat Apr 4 4:40 PM, 2020
Usual isolated walk around the local countryside, although some areas are now shut over to the public, which in the longer run might prove beneficial to the local wildlife.
Great crested Grebe - 3
Little Grebe - 8
Tufted Duck - 11
Oystercatcher - 2
Lapwing - 6 territories noted
Kestrel - female
Sky Lark - 15 - 20 territorial pairs
Meadow Pipit - 6 - 8 pairs
Fieldfare/Redwing - 200 mixed flock 70/30
Blackcap - singing male first of the year locally
Chiffchaff- 10 singing males
Bullfinch - 3 pairs
Linnet - 40
Rob Smith said
Wed Mar 25 7:41 PM, 2020
Fortunate in being able to walk out of the back garden and on to local farm land & footpaths that lead to this local patch & beyond if feeling energetic!
Great crested Grebe - 3
Wigeon - 23
Tufted Duck - 30
Pochard - 1, a similar situation to last year when a single immature male hung around for several months
Common Buzzard - 8
Wheatear - 1
Linnet - 6
Great spotted Woodpecker - 3
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Mar 21 5:26 PM, 2020
Of Note today
Wheatear - 2 (1 Male,1 female)
Cetti's Warbler - 1 (first for site for me )
White Wagtail-1
Great Crested Grebe- 1 Pair
Oystercatcher-2
Wigeon- 26
Pochard -4
Little Grebe-8
Rob Smith said
Mon Mar 16 7:13 PM, 2020
Grey Heron - 2
Goosander - 1 pair
Wigeon - 21
Goldeneye - male
Shoveler - 1 pair
Skylark - 40 inc 15 in territorial song
Song Thrush - 10 singing males around the site
Reed Bunting - 7 (4m/3f) around site
Meadow Pipit - 9 inc 2 displaying
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Mar 16 10:07 AM, 2020
Sunday 15th of note
Wigeon- 30
Chiffchaff - 2 singing west side
Goldeneye- 1 Male
Stonechat - 1 pair
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 16th of March 2020 09:56:52 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Mar 11 4:24 PM, 2020
Today
10 buzzard,22 wigeon,4 goosander,200 fieldfare,300 redwing, 20 linnet,1 snipe,2 shoveler,and a marsh harrier heading SW across eastern arable.plus the usual.
Rob Smith said
Tue Mar 10 8:47 PM, 2020
Around the area on a blustery midday session.
Cormorant - 2 inc 1 in breeding plumage Heron - 1 perched in tree Goosander - 2 pair Great crested Grebe - 1 Little Grebe - 4 Greylag Geese - 6 flew NW overhead Tufted Duck - 34 Shoveler - 2 pair Pochard - 3
Sparrowhawk - female perched in tree on edge of west pool Common Buzzard - 2
Oystercatcher - 2 Starling - 300 in fields Fieldfare - 100 in fields
Reed Bunting - 5
John Watson said
Fri Jan 24 9:37 AM, 2020
Report from yesterday morning, just before Rob got there
Similar species, but 2 Snipe flushed (accidentally!) next to footpath, and 2+ Bullfinch
Rob Smith said
Thu Jan 23 6:38 PM, 2020
A grey & damp afternoon around the patch (after failing to get the Siberian Chiffchaff earlier at Glazebury!).
Great crested Grebe - 1 Cormorant - 4 Heron - 2 Mute Swan - 3 (2adults / 1 immature) Goosander - 1 pair Pink footed Geese - 70 flew west, followed shortly later of 15 going east Mallard - 46 Tufted Duck - 28 Wigeon - 12 Pochard - 2 males Gadwall - 8 Teal - 5 Shoveler - 6 (5 males/1 female), uncommon here Goldfinch - 50 Coal Tit - 1, rarely seen on the patch
John Williams said
Wed Dec 11 3:34 PM, 2019
11.00-13.30
On farmland East of the former Silver Lane tip were flocks of 70 Redwings, 35 Fieldfares
and 32 Skylarks, a large gathering of Starlings and a single Kestrel.
Seen around the former tip and pools were 1f Siskin (Unusually solitary), 2 Buzzards, 3 Willow Tits,
10 Reed Buntings and 3 Jays. Small flocks of Redwings were seen throughout the site.
On the pools were 1 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Wigeon, 9 Pochard, 4 Cormorants, 10 Tufted Ducks
and 130 Black Headed Gulls.
Paul Richardson said
Sat Nov 16 4:56 PM, 2019
Pleasant morning with early sun giving way to lightish cloud by 9.30am. 0830-12.00:
Willow Tit - 1 with mixed flock in alders near access track Chaffinch 6 Long Tailed Tit 10 Goldfinch 15+ Blue Tit 7 Wren 3 Robin 2 Goldcrest 1 Redwing 35 Fieldfare 34 Kestrel 3 Buzzard 3 Jay 3 Skylark 15+ mainly on eastern slope of landfill grassland
Waterfowl mainly on west pool: Pochard 28 Tufted Duck 16 Wigeon 2 (m/f pair) Teal 14 Great Crested Grebe 1 plus Coot, Mallard, and 19 Cormorants.
I've never seen a pool before where the majority of the ducks were male Pochard. Very pleasing sight! Record shots attached.
You are right John, I was the bird recorder/BBS surveyor at Risley Moss for many years. Hen Harrier & Marsh Harrier were frequent visitors to the mossland with different birds passing through during the winter period (& occasionally staying over) with up to 3 present on occasions. By the late 00s this had dropped off due possibly, to increased flood works on the mossland, clay shooting compound just south of the reserve & the decline in the population generally?
Rob Smith said
Wed Nov 6 7:28 PM, 2019
It doesn't surprise me given the nature of the surrounding area although increases in people & traffic, HS2, MSA etc makes it even more unlikely in the future sadly.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Nov 5 3:20 PM, 2019
Rob Smith wrote:
Hen Harrier - ringtail drifted low to the east along the top of the landfill at 2.45pm. Real surprise and first record for the area as far as I'm aware?
I saw Hen harriers occasionally on the farmland before the pools were constructed Rob, on one occasion I witnessed a male take, but not hold, a Grey partridge by the old railway lines! Don't think I've seen one since the pools were constructed however. You're right about Water rails, I rarely saw or even heard them at Silver Lane.
John Watson said
Sun Nov 3 9:12 PM, 2019
I'm sure I've seen Hen Harrier at Risley Moss, but not for many years
Rob Smith said
Sun Nov 3 7:18 PM, 2019
A stroll out this pm produced several surprises which really made the day!
Hen Harrier - ringtail drifted low to the east along the top of the landfill at 2.45pm. Real surprise and first record for the area as far as I'm aware?
Water Rail - 1, unusual here
Woodcock - 1, you know they are around but rarely come across them
Other records include:
Kestrel - 2 one noted catching large fat vole!
Canada Geese - 48 on mid pool
Pink footed Geese - 200 on fields along the east side of the landfill
Pochard - 20 (down from the highest peak number of 41 on 21/10/19, I've ever recorded)
Black headed Gull - 70 along with a single Herring & Common Gull
Stonechat - 2
Fieldfare & Redwing - several small flocks back & forth across the area
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Oct 21 3:10 PM, 2019
AM/PM
Pretty constant passage of fieldfare all heading low North West on my silver lane patch today unusually none calling all flying low and fast at least 1750 2 hours 11.00 pm -1.00 pm were they are headed is anyone guess but bodes well for a bumper thrush and waxwing winter also 300+ Redwing,1 Brambling flying with the Fieldfare, 80 Skylark south and earlier a nice Jack snipe, 26 Pochard,1 Shoveler, 2 great Crested Grebe and 6 little Grebe,4 Kestrel,Sparrowhawk and 6 Buzzard also of note.
Phil Oddy said
Mon Oct 14 8:48 AM, 2019
JOHN TYMON wrote:
pm
Amazing movement of Raven heading SW over the Landfill around 1 pm in total 31 went through ,quite a few 1st winter birds but some massive adults also ,one group had 14 individuals ,thats more than ive seen in a group at South Stack strangely a group of 9 head back NW ,so not sure if they were the same birds just moving back.
Raven- 31 > sw
I wonder whether we have a roost at Delamere. On several occasions I have seen the Ravens at Frodsham fly up the Weaver valley.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Oct 12 7:04 PM, 2019
pm
Amazing movement of Raven heading SW over the Landfill around 1 pm in total 31 went through ,quite a few 1st winter birds but some massive adults also ,one group had 14 individuals ,thats more than ive seen in a group at South Stack strangely a group of 9 head back NW ,so not sure if they were the same birds just moving back.
Raven- 31 > sw
Peregrine - 1 big 1st W female being chased at one point by 4 raven
Buzzard - at least 12 south
Sparrowhawk-3
Kestrel-4
Swallow - 5 > south
Pochard-21
Great Crested Grebe- 2
Cormorant-4
Siskin- 16 > south
Meadow Pipit - 12
John Watson said
Sat Oct 12 8:51 AM, 2019
Just to note there were travellers at the start of Silver Lane (near the Noggin) a couple of days ago So, park either in Culcheth or at M62 J11
Rob Smith said
Fri Oct 11 9:04 PM, 2019
Raptors out in force this pm.
Hobby immature circling & then drifted out west -
Sparrowhawk male overhead. - Kestrel 2 over landfill. - Common Buzzard 6 around area.
Other records include - Pochard 26 - Cormorant 4 - Great crested Grebe 2 - Canada Geese 34 - Gadwall 6
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Oct 5 8:43 AM, 2019
Late record 3rd
8 redwing south
23 Pochard
Rob Smith said
Tue Oct 1 8:13 PM, 2019
A wander out to my local area to see what the winds & rain may have brought in, as it was only usual birds albeit a slight increase in numbers of some.
Cormorant - 3
Pochard - 29
Mallard - 53
Tufted Duck - 28
Wigeon - 2
Great crested Grebe - 2
Little Grebe - 4
LBB Gulls - 38 on flooded fields along east side
Herring Gulls - 14, same area
Carrion Crows - 56 same area & far too many!
Kestrel - 3 very mobile birds, moving quickly around various parts of the landfill making you think there were more.
Common Buzzard - 2
Sparrowhawk - male being harassed by single crow until the hawk suddenly turned & began having a go at the crow!
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Sep 26 4:17 PM, 2019
Another mooch on the patch at silver lane pools product some good birds...included
Hobby - 2 (1 male type Direct south and a big female hunting high over landfill)
Wigeon - 5 west pool
Pochard - 12 west pool
Yellow Wagtail - 1 over south amazingly the first of the year for me on silver lane.
Skylark - 200+ south
Meadow pipit - 40+ south
Goldfinch- 120
Great Crested Grebe -2
Sparrowhawk - 2
Kestrel - 4
Reed warbler -1
Chiffchaff - 6
Willow tit- 1
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Sep 23 12:56 PM, 2019
This morning
Hobby - 1 hunting west side of west pool
Pochard - 12
Kingfisher - 1 middle pool
Goldfinch- 75
Snipe- 1
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Little Grebe - 9
Kestrel -4
Buzzard - 4
Chiffchaff - 6
Blackcap - 1 male
Bullfinch - 4
Cormorant - 3
Tufted Duck - 35
Rob Smith said
Sun Sep 8 6:16 PM, 2019
Tree Pipit - 1 briefly perched up & then away south Wheatear - female
House Martins - 100/hour going through this morning 8.15 - 9.15 Swallow - 30/hour
Meadow Pipit - 10/hour
Rob Smith said
Thu Aug 29 7:26 PM, 2019
From this morning 8 - 9am
Kestrel - 3 around top of hill Common Buzzard - 2 same area on thermals Raven - 2 came off fields along east side Swift - 10 drifting south Swallows, House & Sand Martins - slow trickle of birds south feeding as they went Blackcap, Common Whitethroat & Willow Warbler still around
Paul Richardson said
Mon Aug 19 10:47 PM, 2019
Very enjoyable round of the pools from 8am to 11 before the rain hit today. The approach track from the roundabout was alive with birds first thing, and I was pushed to keep count and keep track of what I saw in one particular spell when a multi-species flock moved through the bushes.
31 species in all, including 7 Common Whitethroat (adult and juv), 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Willow Tits, 3 Kestrel, 1 (?2) Sparrowhawk, 9 House Martin, 11 Swallow, 40+ Sand Martin (east pool), and on the water 68 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Adult and 2 Juv Little Grebe, 16 Black Headed Gulls.
Rob Smith said
Fri Aug 16 1:40 PM, 2019
From yesterday:
Tufted Duck - 87 highest total this year & only 3rd highest since I began recording the area in the early 00s (89 in September 2010 & again in 2012) Mallard - 50 Teal - 5
Sand Martin - 50+ hawking over pools along with a few swallows & house martins Alba Wagtails - 20 on horse paddocks to the east Linnet - 20 same House Sparrow - 70 approx. in two separate locations
From 3 days ago: Swift - 300+ among a mixed hirundine flock of 500+
Rob Smith said
Tue Aug 6 7:50 PM, 2019
Great crested Grebe - 2 Black necked Grebe - immature bird on west pool Little grebe - 6 Heron - 1 on raft
Hobby - 3 drifting slowly south at 8.15am accompanied by diving displays, probable family group but sun in wrong direction to be sure! Kestrel - 2
Pied Wagtail - 15 on horse paddocks Yellow Wagtail - 2 on same
Linnets - 15 on farm land
Interesting to observe a mixed flock of birds feeding & darting between trees & adjacent vegetation comprising - Whitethroat 10+; L.Whitethroat 1; Willow Warbler 5+; Chiffchaff 5+; Blackcap 2; Goldfinch 20+; Reed Bunting 4; Bullfinch 4 & a few Blue & Great Tits
Rob Smith said
Thu Jul 25 7:42 PM, 2019
Out early this morning before temperatures got too hot! even the increasing numbers of wildfowl present on the pools were pretty lethargic.
Great crested grebe - 2 Little Grebe - 2 Mallard - 46 Tufted Duck - 50 including 7 young Coot - 49, including 6 young
Whitethroat - 13 mostly young birds in 2 groups Grasshopper Warbler - 1 calling briefly near west pool Sedge Warbler - 2 doing same in same area Reed Bunting - 8 mostly young together south of mid pool
Good selection of dragonflies around as well.
Rob Smith said
Fri Jun 28 6:47 PM, 2019
Two Hobbies interacting over east pool before circling, climbing & eventually heading high out NW
Kestrel female briefly across pools. Used to see a pair here but only female now.
Common Buzzard - 2 around area
Mallard numbers increasing slowly 21 mostly on west pool.
Curlew - heard but not seen
House Martins - 40, with a few Swallows and Swifts among them hawking over mostly west pool
Rob Smith said
Thu May 23 6:48 PM, 2019
50 species on the patch today - singing/displaying/feeding young, including cuckoo, oystercatcher, great crested grebe, yellow wagtail & grasshopper warbler
Matt Bannon said
Sat May 18 7:08 PM, 2019
2 male yellow wagtails up near the first pool by the gate entrance from the m62. Belting views of sedge warbler too. Both posed for great photos!
No sign today of the Greenland White Fronted Goose only 30 pink footed Geese in the whole area ,change of weather I think moved them to easier feeding
Greenland white-fronted goose in field with 250 pink-footed geese just SW of Holcroft lane 400 yards North of Frank's Farm
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 3rd of December 2020 12:26:12 PM
I Found a Greenland White- Fronted Goose among a roving flock of 100 Pink Footed Geese between Silver Lane and Holcroft Lane to the west of Holcroft Lane early this afternoon, the flock was disturbed by a farmers car and flew east and over Little Wooldon moss until they could barely be seen then they turned turned and came back and landed between Holcroft Lane and Little Woolden Moss on fields out of my view.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 2nd of December 2020 06:05:28 PM
Pink footed Geese - 280 flew west first thing with similar number returning east about an hour later
Merlin - male hunting low along the east side fields scattering 180+ Skylark; 150 Linnets; 50+ Starling & 30+ Meadow Pipits in the process but didn't seem to strike anything
Elsewhere on the patch
Stonechat - 2 pair
Reed Bunting (10); Redpoll (2); Goldfinch (20); Siskin (2) feeding in small mixed flock on gravel track & then adjacent trees
Kingfisher - on east pool
Treecreeper - 1; along west edge scarce visitor here
Nuthatch - 1 also along west edge & also a scarce visitor
Pied Wagtail - 2 on west fields
Curlew over west today was unusual for the time of year and 2000+ Starling over the eastern arable today, up to 10000 Starling were seen heading SE last Monday .
THE area is heavily disturbed at the moment especially the eastern arable were there are daily shooters on the private land shooting pigeons normally but recently shooting the Pink Footed Geese ,also the number of people flying birds of prey and dog walkers makes for a less relaxing patch than in previous years and I think numbers especially of Duck seem to be affected towards previous years with very little change daily on the pools and some days 2 out of the 3 pools can be birdless if certain Dog walkers have already been on and allowed the dogs to go in the closed off pools.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 29th of November 2020 08:15:15 AM
A weekly roundup and peak counts of birds on my local patch included:
Whooper Swan - 7 flew low to SW. Does seem to be a small group moving around the area on occasions.
Pink footed Geese - between 400 - 800 moving mostly east throughout the week with a flock of 200-400 remaining on local fields
Canada Geese - 200 on west pool mainly, slowly dwindling in numbers and not hanging around so much, which might give a few other more timid birds a look-in!
Cormorant - 12 on the west pool raft & in the water. Beats the previous peak of 11 on two dates in 2013?
Heron - 2
Wigeon - 15
Mallard - 39
Tufted Duck - 30
Teal - 20
Gadwall - 4
Pochard - 8
Common Snipe - 13
Jack Snipe - 1
Sparrowhawk - 2 females noted together
Kestrel - 2
Peregrine Falcon - female noted on two dates this week mostly over the east side
Merlin - 1 male along east side
Little Owl - very vocal locally
Tawny Owl - 2 calling around the area
Great spotted Woodpecker - 2 males along tree line
Magpie - 30, numbers slowly increasing in the usual winter roosting area
Raven - 1 flew east
Starling - 1000+ heading south towards dusk
Fieldfare - 40 heading SW, numbers well down on previous years at this time
Skylark - 100 - 150 most days over and around the area
Linnet - 120+ in mixed flock
Chaffinch - 40+ in mixed flock, a bird often overlooked/under recorded
Grey Wagtail - 1 still hanging around area
Reed Bunting - 10 in same mixed flock
May be of interest if you spot them elsewhere but this last week I found 2 x 1st Winter Black Headed Gulls on the pools,with Blue rings T4R5 and T4R6 , I have had confirmation both were from the same nest and were ringed on the 6th June 2020 in :Walendów ponds, MAZOWIECKIE, POLAND - if they flew in a straight line it would be a journey of 980 miles ( 1577km) I saw them for about 3 days 11th to the 13th on the west pool , I thought it was amazing for these 2 to keep together, considering they possible roost in about 7000 others at penny flash . Most interesting sighting I've had all year at the pools :) Keep an eye out for them on Pennington Flash car park or any local supermarket car park , an amazing journey for such young birds.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 19th of November 2020 05:37:48 PM
Pink footed Geese - 200 settling on east side fields + 100 continuing eastwards
Greylag Goose - 2 among 130 Canada Geese flying east
Wigeon - 9
Pochard - 7
Sparrowhawk - 2 females around area
Stock Dove - 45 on east fields
Starling - 500 on east fields
Jackdaw - 20 flew north
Mistle Thrush - 3
Chiffchaff - 1 among tit flock
Bullfinch - 3 pairs at least around area
Grey Wagtail - 1, uncommon here
Generally quiet around my local patch but always something to pick up on.
Mute Swan - 1, only the lonely has been here since 16th October and seems happy enough on its own!
Pink footed Geese - 180, in 3 separate small skeins flying S-SW mostly
Greylag Goose - 9 flew low east. Scarce around here but a group of 8 flew SW on 9th November so might be the same mobile group?
Mallard - 54, numbers remaining steady
Tufted Duck - 26, also steady numbers
Gadwall - 4
Pochard - 8
Black headed Gull - 150 on west pool
Kestrel - 2 around area
Kingfisher - 1,
Skylark -70, flew very high SW in 20' vismig
Stonechat - 1 pair along east side
Linnet - 130+ in mixed flock
Siskin - 20 in same mixed flock
Chaffinch - 20 in same mixed flock
Goldfinch - 20 in same mixed flock
And over the past 7 days:
Peregrine Falcon & Sparrowhawk - both females having lazy half hearted diving sessions at each other along east side on 9th
Tawny Owl - 1 calling from local trees on 11th
Canada Goose - 250, including greylag/canada hybrid still with them on west pool
Wigeon - 9, numbers fluctuate daily
Starling - 30 dropping in to roost in reeds on 11th. First time I've seen this happen here and indicative of the maturing pool vegetation
Reed Bunting - 15, dropping into same roost area which they have been doing these past several winters
Pied Wagtail - 20 flying SW at dusk
1-15pm to 3-45pm in unexpectedly pleasant conditions.
Middle pool had a nice M & F Pochard with a couple of Meadow Pipit's in nearby trees.
Large pool had 250+ Canada Geese, 10 Pochard, a couple of Wigeon & a Juvenile Little Grebe.
Other sightings included 2 Redwing, 2 Jay, a hovering Kestrel over the landfill, 2 Coal Tit & the usual armies of Long-Tailed Tits.
Mute Swan - 6 (3 adults/3 immatures). A single bird has been around for a week and then these turn up after several months absence.
Canada Geese - 200+ including hybrid
Pochard - 10
Mallard - 40
Pintail - single female
Merlin - male along the east side fields
Kestrel - 2 around area
Linnet - 150 along east side fields
A decent morning session.
Whooper Swan - 5 circled low over the pools before heading out SE
Pink footed Geese - 120 flew SE
Canada Geese - 150 (but previous record high of 435 in 2018 was beaten last week by a total of 475 on west pool. Its a common enough bird but still an interesting site record)
Mallard - 27
Mediterranean Gull - 1 among Canadas before everything got spooked by Whoopers going over & 40+ Mallard landing en masse among geese & gulls
Peregrine Falcon - female along east side cruising slowly behind 200+ panicking Woodpigeon
Lesser Redpoll - 5 among mixed tit flock
Stonechat - 2 pairs
Whooper Swan - 3 flighting between flooded fields along the east side and west pool
Mute Swan - 1 on east pool
Pink footed Geese - 90 circling area
Pintail - female immature still on west pool
Mallard - 75
Whinchat - 1
Stonechat - 2 pair
From earlier in the week (7/10) and a couple of interesting records for the site.
Pintail - immature bird on east pool. A rarity here and only the 5th record I have for the pools (c/f immature on 31/12/2009 - 2 on 30/8/2010 - 24/10/2012 & 1 present between 28/10 - 7/11/2015)
Canada Geese - 320 on west pool making it the 2nd highest total for the site to that of 435 on 2/9/2018
Greylag - 2 among flock
Canada Goose hybrid - 1 among same flock
8/10/20
Pink footed Geese - 150 flew NW
The following were recorded whilst walking the public footpaths around the pools and landfill only (the permissive footpaths on the landfill itself are closed to public access due to vandalism)
Hawfinch - 1 heading south this morning along the east side was an unexpected surprise
Mallard - 86, highest total for the past 18 months
Shoveler - 8, uncommon here
Pochard - 24 (earlier in the week) also scarce here usually
Redwing - 20 flew NE
Chiffchaff - 3 calling, usually when the suns out!
A pair of Kestrels were patrolling the Eastern boundary of the site together.
6 Buzzards were seen around the site including one having aerial tussle with a single Raven.
2 Sedge Warblers were heard calling, but both remained hidden.
Common Whitethroats abundant. Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap still singing.
Large numbers of Swifts were above the pools together with smaller numbers of House Martins and Swallows.
3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes and a single adult Herring Gull were on the pools.
A scruffy group of around 20 drake Mallards were starting their summer moult on the big pool.
Usual isolated walk around the local countryside, although some areas are now shut over to the public, which in the longer run might prove beneficial to the local wildlife.
Great crested Grebe - 3
Little Grebe - 8
Tufted Duck - 11
Oystercatcher - 2
Lapwing - 6 territories noted
Kestrel - female
Sky Lark - 15 - 20 territorial pairs
Meadow Pipit - 6 - 8 pairs
Fieldfare/Redwing - 200 mixed flock 70/30
Blackcap - singing male first of the year locally
Chiffchaff- 10 singing males
Bullfinch - 3 pairs
Linnet - 40
Fortunate in being able to walk out of the back garden and on to local farm land & footpaths that lead to this local patch & beyond if feeling energetic!
Great crested Grebe - 3
Wigeon - 23
Tufted Duck - 30
Pochard - 1, a similar situation to last year when a single immature male hung around for several months
Common Buzzard - 8
Wheatear - 1
Linnet - 6
Great spotted Woodpecker - 3
Of Note today
Wheatear - 2 (1 Male,1 female)
Cetti's Warbler - 1 (first for site for me )
White Wagtail-1
Great Crested Grebe- 1 Pair
Oystercatcher-2
Wigeon- 26
Pochard -4
Little Grebe-8
Grey Heron - 2
Goosander - 1 pair
Wigeon - 21
Goldeneye - male
Shoveler - 1 pair
Skylark - 40 inc 15 in territorial song
Song Thrush - 10 singing males around the site
Reed Bunting - 7 (4m/3f) around site
Meadow Pipit - 9 inc 2 displaying
Sunday 15th of note
Wigeon- 30
Chiffchaff - 2 singing west side
Goldeneye- 1 Male
Stonechat - 1 pair
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 16th of March 2020 09:56:52 PM
Today
10 buzzard,22 wigeon,4 goosander,200 fieldfare,300 redwing, 20 linnet,1 snipe,2 shoveler,and a marsh harrier heading SW across eastern arable.plus the usual.
Around the area on a blustery midday session.
Cormorant - 2 inc 1 in breeding plumage
Heron - 1 perched in tree
Goosander - 2 pair
Great crested Grebe - 1
Little Grebe - 4
Greylag Geese - 6 flew NW overhead
Tufted Duck - 34
Shoveler - 2 pair
Pochard - 3
Sparrowhawk - female perched in tree on edge of west pool
Common Buzzard - 2
Oystercatcher - 2
Starling - 300 in fields
Fieldfare - 100 in fields
Reed Bunting - 5
Similar species, but 2 Snipe flushed (accidentally!) next to footpath, and 2+ Bullfinch
A grey & damp afternoon around the patch (after failing to get the Siberian Chiffchaff earlier at Glazebury!).
Great crested Grebe - 1
Cormorant - 4
Heron - 2
Mute Swan - 3 (2adults / 1 immature)
Goosander - 1 pair
Pink footed Geese - 70 flew west, followed shortly later of 15 going east
Mallard - 46
Tufted Duck - 28
Wigeon - 12
Pochard - 2 males
Gadwall - 8
Teal - 5
Shoveler - 6 (5 males/1 female), uncommon here
Goldfinch - 50
Coal Tit - 1, rarely seen on the patch
11.00-13.30
On farmland East of the former Silver Lane tip were flocks of 70 Redwings, 35 Fieldfares
and 32 Skylarks, a large gathering of Starlings and a single Kestrel.
Seen around the former tip and pools were 1f Siskin (Unusually solitary), 2 Buzzards, 3 Willow Tits,
10 Reed Buntings and 3 Jays. Small flocks of Redwings were seen throughout the site.
On the pools were 1 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Wigeon, 9 Pochard, 4 Cormorants, 10 Tufted Ducks
and 130 Black Headed Gulls.
Willow Tit - 1 with mixed flock in alders near access track
Chaffinch 6
Long Tailed Tit 10
Goldfinch 15+
Blue Tit 7
Wren 3
Robin 2
Goldcrest 1
Redwing 35
Fieldfare 34
Kestrel 3
Buzzard 3
Jay 3
Skylark 15+ mainly on eastern slope of landfill grassland
Waterfowl mainly on west pool:
Pochard 28
Tufted Duck 16
Wigeon 2 (m/f pair)
Teal 14
Great Crested Grebe 1
plus Coot, Mallard, and 19 Cormorants.
I've never seen a pool before where the majority of the ducks were male Pochard. Very pleasing sight! Record shots attached.
You are right John, I was the bird recorder/BBS surveyor at Risley Moss for many years. Hen Harrier & Marsh Harrier were frequent visitors to the mossland with different birds passing through during the winter period (& occasionally staying over) with up to 3 present on occasions. By the late 00s this had dropped off due possibly, to increased flood works on the mossland, clay shooting compound just south of the reserve & the decline in the population generally?
It doesn't surprise me given the nature of the surrounding area although increases in people & traffic, HS2, MSA etc makes it even more unlikely in the future sadly.
A stroll out this pm produced several surprises which really made the day!
Hen Harrier - ringtail drifted low to the east along the top of the landfill at 2.45pm. Real surprise and first record for the area as far as I'm aware?
Water Rail - 1, unusual here
Woodcock - 1, you know they are around but rarely come across them
Other records include:
Kestrel - 2 one noted catching large fat vole!
Canada Geese - 48 on mid pool
Pink footed Geese - 200 on fields along the east side of the landfill
Pochard - 20 (down from the highest peak number of 41 on 21/10/19, I've ever recorded)
Black headed Gull - 70 along with a single Herring & Common Gull
Stonechat - 2
Fieldfare & Redwing - several small flocks back & forth across the area
AM/PM
Pretty constant passage of fieldfare all heading low North West on my silver lane patch today unusually none calling all flying low and fast at least 1750 2 hours 11.00 pm -1.00 pm were they are headed is anyone guess but bodes well for a bumper thrush and waxwing winter also 300+ Redwing,1 Brambling flying with the Fieldfare, 80 Skylark south and earlier a nice Jack snipe, 26 Pochard,1 Shoveler, 2 great Crested Grebe and 6 little Grebe,4 Kestrel,Sparrowhawk and 6 Buzzard also of note.
I wonder whether we have a roost at Delamere. On several occasions I have seen the Ravens at Frodsham fly up the Weaver valley.
pm
Amazing movement of Raven heading SW over the Landfill around 1 pm in total 31 went through ,quite a few 1st winter birds but some massive adults also ,one group had 14 individuals ,thats more than ive seen in a group at South Stack strangely a group of 9 head back NW ,so not sure if they were the same birds just moving back.
Raven- 31 > sw
Peregrine - 1 big 1st W female being chased at one point by 4 raven
Buzzard - at least 12 south
Sparrowhawk-3
Kestrel-4
Swallow - 5 > south
Pochard-21
Great Crested Grebe- 2
Cormorant-4
Siskin- 16 > south
Meadow Pipit - 12
So, park either in Culcheth or at M62 J11
Late record 3rd
8 redwing south
23 Pochard
A wander out to my local area to see what the winds & rain may have brought in, as it was only usual birds albeit a slight increase in numbers of some.
Cormorant - 3
Pochard - 29
Mallard - 53
Tufted Duck - 28
Wigeon - 2
Great crested Grebe - 2
Little Grebe - 4
LBB Gulls - 38 on flooded fields along east side
Herring Gulls - 14, same area
Carrion Crows - 56 same area & far too many!
Kestrel - 3 very mobile birds, moving quickly around various parts of the landfill making you think there were more.
Common Buzzard - 2
Sparrowhawk - male being harassed by single crow until the hawk suddenly turned & began having a go at the crow!
This morning
Hobby - 1 hunting west side of west pool
Pochard - 12
Kingfisher - 1 middle pool
Goldfinch- 75
Snipe- 1
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Little Grebe - 9
Kestrel -4
Buzzard - 4
Chiffchaff - 6
Blackcap - 1 male
Bullfinch - 4
Cormorant - 3
Tufted Duck - 35
Tree Pipit - 1 briefly perched up & then away south
Wheatear - female
House Martins - 100/hour going through this morning 8.15 - 9.15
Swallow - 30/hour
Meadow Pipit - 10/hour
Kestrel - 3 around top of hill
Common Buzzard - 2 same area on thermals
Raven - 2 came off fields along east side
Swift - 10 drifting south
Swallows, House & Sand Martins - slow trickle of birds south feeding as they went
Blackcap, Common Whitethroat & Willow Warbler still around
31 species in all, including 7 Common Whitethroat (adult and juv), 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Willow Tits, 3 Kestrel, 1 (?2) Sparrowhawk, 9 House Martin, 11 Swallow, 40+ Sand Martin (east pool), and on the water 68 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Adult and 2 Juv Little Grebe, 16 Black Headed Gulls.
From yesterday:
Tufted Duck - 87 highest total this year & only 3rd highest since I began recording the area in the early 00s (89 in September 2010 & again in 2012)
Mallard - 50
Teal - 5
Sand Martin - 50+ hawking over pools along with a few swallows & house martins
Alba Wagtails - 20 on horse paddocks to the east
Linnet - 20 same
House Sparrow - 70 approx. in two separate locations
From 3 days ago:
Swift - 300+ among a mixed hirundine flock of 500+
Great crested Grebe - 2
Black necked Grebe - immature bird on west pool
Little grebe - 6
Heron - 1 on raft
Hobby - 3 drifting slowly south at 8.15am accompanied by diving displays, probable family group but sun in wrong direction to be sure!
Kestrel - 2
Pied Wagtail - 15 on horse paddocks
Yellow Wagtail - 2 on same
Linnets - 15 on farm land
Interesting to observe a mixed flock of birds feeding & darting between trees & adjacent vegetation comprising - Whitethroat 10+; L.Whitethroat 1; Willow Warbler 5+; Chiffchaff 5+; Blackcap 2; Goldfinch 20+; Reed Bunting 4; Bullfinch 4 & a few Blue & Great Tits
Out early this morning before temperatures got too hot! even the increasing numbers of wildfowl present on the pools were pretty lethargic.
Great crested grebe - 2
Little Grebe - 2
Mallard - 46
Tufted Duck - 50 including 7 young
Coot - 49, including 6 young
Whitethroat - 13 mostly young birds in 2 groups
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 calling briefly near west pool
Sedge Warbler - 2 doing same in same area
Reed Bunting - 8 mostly young together south of mid pool
Good selection of dragonflies around as well.
Two Hobbies interacting over east pool before circling, climbing & eventually heading high out NW
Kestrel female briefly across pools. Used to see a pair here but only female now.
Common Buzzard - 2 around area
Mallard numbers increasing slowly 21 mostly on west pool.
Curlew - heard but not seen
House Martins - 40, with a few Swallows and Swifts among them hawking over mostly west pool
50 species on the patch today - singing/displaying/feeding young, including cuckoo, oystercatcher, great crested grebe, yellow wagtail & grasshopper warbler