Evening visit revealed 3 grey partridge, 2 swallow, 4 singing sedge warbers, loads of chiffchaff and whitethroats and a reed bunting.
JOHN TYMON said
Mon May 13 5:22 PM, 2019
Today again 2 wheatear at least one looks like a big Greenland race bird.apart from that all the usuals present
Matt Bannon said
Sun May 12 7:16 PM, 2019
Wheatear x2 at the pool near the main gate entrance from the m62 junction. Kestrel, Buzzard, and a single swift hawking the top of the old tip. Lost count of the skylarks up there.
Also of note several chiffchaff and whitethroats. 2 gadwall on the lower pool.
JOHN TYMON said
Sun May 12 4:24 PM, 2019
1 female Wheatear only thing of note today
Matt Bannon said
Sat May 11 4:18 PM, 2019
Gorgeous afternoon. Highlights included; Sedge and Reed Warbler. Lots of Whitethroats. 2 Wheatear. Grey wagtail. 3 swallows, 2 house martins and a swift. Skylarks everywhere. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. I love this place!
JOHN TYMON said
Tue May 7 2:02 PM, 2019
Mooch on the patches this morning starting with Silver Lane pools were it was nice to find a crackin' Male Whinchat and 3 Wheatear and also of note 3 Sedge Warbler and the largest number of Whitethroat I think ive seen in one area at least 28 singing Males across the sight,there was 9 singing males in one 300 yard path
JOHN TYMON said
Wed May 1 1:26 PM, 2019
1 fem wheatear only thing of note today
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 22 7:00 PM, 2019
A Cuckoo briefly calling from grassed over landfill area 430pm
Rob Smith said
Sun Apr 21 2:39 PM, 2019
Sunshine brought out the warblers along the north and east sides this morning which included:
Grasshopper W - 2 Reed W - 4 Sedge W - 1 Whitethroat - 2 Blackcap - 6 Chiffchaff - 7 Willow W - 14
Garden Warbler - first of year & earlier than previous records in 2013 & 2014 by about 2 weeks. Interestingly this bird was singing along the east ridge & in roughly the same area as the 2013 bird.
Rob Smith said
Sun Apr 14 2:55 PM, 2019
Cool morning stroll around local patch.
Great crested Grebe - 2 Shelduck - 2 Oystercatcher - 2 Redshank - 1 flew SW & calling Fieldfare - 70+ on horse paddocks to the east, surely must be heading out any day soon? Ring Ouzel - calling & then flew NE Stock Dove - 4 pairs around area Wheatear - 2 males down east side Swallows - 2 around farm Willow Warbler - 7 territories around area, slowly increasing presence Blackcap - 3 only around area currently Linnet - 2 pairs resident along the east side area Yellowhammer - 2 males singing along east side Corn Bunting - brief call from east side
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Apr 11 3:47 PM, 2019
First Reed warbler of the year at the hidden pool and 3 great Crested Grebe on the west pool
Paul Richardson said
Sat Apr 6 10:45 PM, 2019
First visit to Silver Lane this year. "Lowland" areas relatively quiet, but it's all happening up on the landfill.
On landfill: Skylark 40+ basically I lost count. Pairs interacting in every direction. Quite an experience simply to walk among them! Meadow Pipit - 38 Snipe 2 Grey Partridge 2
Elsewhere: Dunnock 10, Bullfinch 3, Wren 20, Long Tailed Tit 4, Goldfinch 4, Blackbird 12, Sand Martin 1 (!), Great Tit 4, Song Thrush 3, Robin 9, Chiffchaff 5, Blue Tit 7, Willow Warbler 1 (my first visual of the year), Greenfinch 1, Reed Bunting 8, Willow Tit 2, Common Buzzard 2, Sparrowhawk 2, Lesser Black Backed Gull 2
On the water mainly west pool - others very quiet: Tufted Duck 10, Coot 6, Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 2, Oystercatcher 2 on pontoon, Cormorant 1, Gadwall 6. + Mallard, Moorhen
The Sparrowhawks were a m/f pair, seen flying north to south over the area, but later returned and circled several times over the west pool, in some form of low-key display flight. Nice to watch.
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Apr 4 8:16 PM, 2019
Only thing of note the last few days was a female Wheatear still present this afternoon and 100+ Sand Martin
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Mar 31 3:04 PM, 2019
of note am
Ring Ouzel 1st Summer Male on Landfill flew nw at 11am
Wheatear 8 (7m,1f)
Snipe- 40 they must have been migrants on the move as they were down feeding,the most ive had at the sight
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Mar 28 8:48 PM, 2019
Of note today a Female Common Scoter 2nd for site and an early Willow Warbler
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Mar 19 3:56 PM, 2019
Only things of real note today on the pools were 2 Shelduck and 17 Wigeon
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 19th of March 2019 03:56:29 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Mar 4 2:41 PM, 2019
04.03.2019
5 Chiffchaff (3 in one tree) obviously just come in ,as they were lean,clean and hungry,you can always tell spring migrants :)also nice to get the 3 small finch species feeding on the Hazel catkins along the western valley,Siskin (6),Redpoll(10) and Goldfinch(20).Also noticeable on the mooch was over 1000 starling on the Eastern Arable,and over 60 on the landfill,also of note Great Crested Grebe (1) Little Grebe (6)and Pochard (6) on the western pool along with Black Headed Gull(120) and Cormorant(3). Of the resident species most notable were at least 20 pairs of Skylark on territory on the Landfill . :)
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Feb 27 9:41 PM, 2019
Silver Lane pools 27.02.2019
Tree Sparrow- 2
Redpoll 10
Pochard-9
Snipe-1
Great Crested Grebe-1
Treecreeper-1
plus the usuals
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Feb 17 3:42 PM, 2019
PM 17.02.2019 OF NOTE
Wigeon- 87 (largest number I think I've had at the pools) West pool
Goosander- 5
Oystercatcher- 2
Fieldfare-85
Little Grebe- 4
Cormorant-2
Teal-12
Gadwall- 29 (east pool)
Chiffchaff-1
Tufted Duck -28
Pochard- 8
Skylark - at least 20 pairs on Landfill
Meadow Pipit-6
Buzzard-2
Kestrel-1
Rob Smith said
Sun Feb 17 9:58 AM, 2019
A dusk/dark walk around yesterday evening.
Wigeon - 55
Tufted Duck - 21
Pochard - 12
Oystercatcher - 1 on raft
Common Snipe - 20 off landfill mound
Ringed Plover - 2
Whimbrel - possibly, called very briefly in flight after dark, very early if so?
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Feb 10 3:55 PM, 2019
Gadwall- 17 Goosander- 7 Shelduck-1 female Pochard -11 Tufted Duck -26 Snipe -1 Buzzard-4 Raven-2 Skylark- 10 pairs back on the breeding area
Rob Smith said
Sun Feb 3 4:01 PM, 2019
A frozen landscape but a small patch of open water on the west pool was occupied by:
Heron - 1
Wigeon - 35
Mallard - 29
Pochard - 4
Gadwall - 4
Coot - 18
Black headed Gulls - 150 on the ice
LBB Gull - 1 on the ice
Treecreeper - 1 nearby trees
Mistle Thrush - 1 pair near New Hall farm
Rob Smith said
Mon Jan 21 3:37 PM, 2019
A stroll around the northern half of my local patch on a cool misty morning.
Cormorant - 3 Heron - 2 Tufted Duck - 30 Teal - 19 highest total for several years -c/f 23 in 2014 Pochard - 12 Gadwall - 3 Mallard - 5. consistently & alarmingly low totals these days! Shoveler - 1 male Shelduck - 1, rare here Goosander - 4 males Coot - 20 Kingfisher - 1
Fieldfare - 150 Song Thrush - 6 in song
Meadow Pipit - 20 dropped into meadow near mid pool
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Jan 8 1:19 PM, 2019
This Morning
3 wigeon,6 Goosander, 11 Pochard ,2 grey heron,1 Merlin over going east,2 Buzzard, 2 kestrel,1 Snipe,6 Skylark and a Stonechat,
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jan 3 4:31 PM, 2019
Originally posted on Jan 1st, by Matt Bannon:
161 in the fields to the north of silver lane landfill tip in Risley at 11:45am today
Matt Bannon said
Tue Jan 1 9:14 PM, 2019
11:30am to 1:30pm. Male stonechat, 161 x pink footed geese in the fields to the north of the site, goosander x1, shoveler, tufted duck, gadwall. 3 x whooper swans flying east towards croft.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 1st of January 2019 09:17:38 PM
Rob Smith said
Sun Dec 30 7:53 PM, 2018
Damp & dismal morning but some interest around the northern pools.
4 goosander on the pools, redpoll, willow tit and a goshawk that initially sent my heart racing until i saw the telementry on its back
Rob Smith said
Mon Dec 10 9:48 AM, 2018
From yesterday.
Mute Swan - 2 adults on east pool Pink footed Geese - 110 in 2 skeins going east + 1 on its own heading west! Cormorant - 5 Heron - 1 Little Grebe -2 Wigeon - 47 Tufted Duck - 19 Pochard - 2 Coot - 14 Buzzard - 3 Kestrel - 1 female Fieldfare - 40 Redwing - 10 Mistle Thrush - 1 Pheasant - 5 males Chaffinch - 20 Brambling - 6 flying south
Matt Bannon said
Sat Nov 17 9:21 PM, 2018
Nice to meet you all.
Its a fantastic area. What is the best way to access the lakes area of the site?
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Nov 17 8:36 PM, 2018
Matt Bannon wrote:
1 Merlin 1 kestrel 4 buzzard 9 snipe 140 pink-footed geese in fields to the East 2 redwing 4 fieldfare 1 mistle thrush 2 stonechat Numerous skylark 20 meadow pipit 1 reed bunting My first ever visit to this location. I will defo be coming back. Is it done regulary by anyone?
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 17th of November 2018 08:17:36 PM
see posts below 3 regulars me ,Rob,and Jonathan Platt
Matt Bannon said
Sat Nov 17 10:47 AM, 2018
1 Merlin 1 kestrel 4 buzzard 9 snipe 140 pink-footed geese in fields to the East 2 redwing 4 fieldfare 1 mistle thrush 2 stonechat Numerous skylark 20 meadow pipit 1 reed bunting My first ever visit to this location. I will defo be coming back. Is it done regulary by anyone?
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 17th of November 2018 08:17:36 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Nov 16 4:23 PM, 2018
AM/PM
Merlin - 1 Fem/imm went past me at about 6 feet .
Pink Footed Geese - 620 on the eastern Arable,nice to have these almost resident on my patch this winter during the day.
Meadow Pipit- 40+
Skylark-10
Fieldfare - 150+
Redwing-200+
Siskin -12 in the west valley woodland
Redpoll- 6
Goldfinch- 100+ in various flocks
Buzzard-3
Kestel-4
Stonechat- 1 pair- same birds as the last few weeks
Jay-6
Teal-8
Rob Smith said
Tue Nov 6 7:02 PM, 2018
A dawn wander around the pools.
Pochard - 13
Tufted Duck - 18
Mute Swan - 3 immatures. First record here since spring as we no longer have a resident pair
Cormorant - 3
Treecreeper - south of west pool. First ever record here for me
Willow Tit - 1, along east side. Locally rare & only my 3rd record in over 15 years on this site
Goldcrest - 1
Siskin - 3 on alders
Bullfinch - 5 around site
Fieldfare - 80 flew SW & then smaller parties around the area
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Nov 5 9:29 PM, 2018
A few hours around the pools this morning produced
Pochard-10
Teal-10
Skylarks - plenty and 5 in full display song over the landfill,can't remember that in November before
Kestrel-3
Buzzard-3
Stonechat-3
Cormorant-3
Meadow Pipit-55
Pink Footed Geese - 176- >east
Lapwing -160
Fieldfare - 130 > S
Redwing- 120 > S
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Oct 30 1:50 PM, 2018
A couple of hours mooch at Silver Lane pools Risley produced very little really ,and not much bird movements ,but of note I found the following...
Pochard-14
Little Grebe-4
Wigeon - 4
Stonechat- 3 (2m.1f)
Kestrel-3
Snipe-5
Pink footed Geese- 400+ could be seen from the landfill feeding in a field to the NE of Holcroft lane Culcheth
Meadow Pipit- 25
Skylark - 4
Rob Smith said
Tue Oct 16 7:13 PM, 2018
Interesting comparison as I was on the grounds 8.00 - 9.30am
Vismig: Woodpigeon - 246 Meadow Pipit - 68 Skylark - 33 Chaffinch - 13 Tree Sparrow - 4 Reed Bunting - 6 Song Thrush - 8 singles moving south
Otherwise: Wheatear - 2 on top of hill Fieldfare - 4 Redwing - 7 Kestrel - 4 Common Buzzard - 2 dark birds Common Snipe - 1 circling hill Lapwing - 50 along east edge
West Pool: Pochard - 9 inc 7 males Cormorant - 1 still in breeding plumage
My first visit to this site, and I was impressed, pity about the rain.
2 Buzzards over the farmland. A flock of 43 Fieldfares roamed the area near the pools, also here were a group of 6 Reed Buntings.
A male Kestrel was in the same area and was seen flying just above the tops of the bushes, noticeably on the hunt for small birds.
Just as I was thinking this falcon was being ambitious enough to try and catch a Fieldfare, as he flushed them from the bushes, a closer check revealed a small flock
of Blue and Great tits in the same thicket, plus the Reed Buntings.
On the largest pool were 15m+2f Pochard, a noteworthy sight nowadays, 1m Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe and 6 Tufted Ducks.
Close by the motorway junction, seemingly attracted by blackthorns crammed with juicy sloes, were a flock of 10 Blackbirds and a single Song Thrush.
A single Willow Tit was in the same area.
Rob Smith said
Sat Oct 13 7:25 PM, 2018
An exhilarating walk around the edge of the pools in the strong winds. Amongst the flying leaves managed to catch a bit of bird activity as they moved with difficulty from bush to bush!
Common Buzzard - 2 trying to hunt over the fields in the wind Kestrel - 1 ditto
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Oct 9 5:53 PM, 2018
of note today
Merlin - 1 Male on eastern arable Fieldfare-4 flying south Redwing- 3 flying south Pochard -10 Buzzard-5 Peregrine -1 Male
40+ skylark
plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 9th of October 2018 05:53:34 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Oct 7 5:13 PM, 2018
11.30-2 pm of note
4 Golden Plover on eastern arable with 200 Lapwing
1 Crossbill flying south
70 meadow pipit on Landfill
6 Kestrel
2 Buzzard
2 Grey Partridge
Rob Smith said
Fri Oct 5 7:37 PM, 2018
Whooper Swan - rather weirdly, a single flew low to the west calling as it went at around 9.30am this morning
Kingfisher - east pool. Seems to be absent from the area for some time & then you start seeing it on every visit!
Teal - 11 on same pool
Otherwise pools & surrounds very quiet.
Rob Smith said
Mon Oct 1 7:54 PM, 2018
Kingfisher - east pool Great spotted woodpecker - over east pool Swallows - 6 south Skylark - 15 south
Kestrel - 3 top of hill Sparrowhawk - traveling fast & low up path of hill Common Buzzard - 3 around area Wheatear - 1 Common Snipe - up from edge of path Tree Pipit - heading south
Pochard - 10 on west pool
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Sep 30 3:20 PM, 2018
of note
Pink Footed Geese - 550 over the eastern Arable and most dropped down on fields NE of Holcroft lane +75 west over the landfill
Alba Wagtails - 30 on Eastern arable with at least 6 White Wagtail
Pochard- 11
Goldfinch -36
Stock Dove- 39
Rob Smith said
Sat Sep 22 6:18 PM, 2018
Canada Geese - 435 on west pool, highest count since my records began here over 15 years ago Greylag Geese - 3 among the Canadas Pink footed Geese - 30 low east to west, 20 dropped in with Canadas whilst 10 continued west Great crested Grebe - still on west pool Pochard - single male on mid pool
Vismig between 8 - 9am this morning. From top of the hill and on a broad front between 400+ passerines moving south in the hour. Of those closer and identifiable included: Crossbill - 10 Woodlark - 2 Meadow Pipit - 130+ Skylark - 60+ Pied Wagtail - 3 Chaffich - 10 Swallows - 3 but heading fast north!
Rob Smith said
Mon Sep 17 7:21 PM, 2018
Peregrine Falcon - 2 adults flew SW together Kestrel - male & female around area Great spotted Woodpecker - flew across pools Great crested Grebe - 1 on west pool
Pied Wagtail - 15 + 2 White Wagtails on horse paddocks Linnets - 70 in single flock Goldfinch - 80 with a few linnet amongst them
Swallows - slow trickle of birds ca 30/hour along with a few House martins
Chiffchaff - 3 around area
Rob Smith said
Mon Sep 10 6:30 PM, 2018
Low key visible migration monitored this morning for about 90'
Tree Pipit - 2 Meadow pipit - 80 Skylark - 43 Swallow - 15 House Martin - 30 Wheatear - 1 Jay - 5, flying unusually high south Chaffinch - 10 Reed Bunting - 5
Other birds around the area included Canada Geese - 100 Cormorant - 2 Carrion Crow - 16 Kestrel - 2 Common Buzzard - 5 Sparrowhawk - male, buzzing one of the buzzards Lapwing - 80
Tawny Owl - calling for awhile at around 10am! White Wagtail - 4
1 female Wheatear only thing of note today
Gorgeous afternoon. Highlights included; Sedge and Reed Warbler. Lots of Whitethroats. 2 Wheatear. Grey wagtail. 3 swallows, 2 house martins and a swift. Skylarks everywhere. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. I love this place!
Mooch on the patches this morning starting with Silver Lane pools were it was nice to find a crackin' Male Whinchat and 3 Wheatear and also of note 3 Sedge Warbler and the largest number of Whitethroat I think ive seen in one area at least 28 singing Males across the sight,there was 9 singing males in one 300 yard path
Sunshine brought out the warblers along the north and east sides this morning which included:
Grasshopper W - 2
Reed W - 4
Sedge W - 1
Whitethroat - 2
Blackcap - 6
Chiffchaff - 7
Willow W - 14
Other birds included:
Great crested Grebe - 2
Shelduck - pair
Tufted Duck - 24
Teal - pair
Herring Gull - 1
Fieldfare - 25
Shelduck - 2 on east pool
Great crested Grebe - 3 west pool
Garden Warbler - first of year & earlier than previous records in 2013 & 2014 by about 2 weeks. Interestingly this bird was singing along the east ridge & in roughly the same area as the 2013 bird.
Cool morning stroll around local patch.
Great crested Grebe - 2
Shelduck - 2
Oystercatcher - 2
Redshank - 1 flew SW & calling
Fieldfare - 70+ on horse paddocks to the east, surely must be heading out any day soon?
Ring Ouzel - calling & then flew NE
Stock Dove - 4 pairs around area
Wheatear - 2 males down east side
Swallows - 2 around farm
Willow Warbler - 7 territories around area, slowly increasing presence
Blackcap - 3 only around area currently
Linnet - 2 pairs resident along the east side area
Yellowhammer - 2 males singing along east side
Corn Bunting - brief call from east side
On landfill:
Skylark 40+ basically I lost count. Pairs interacting in every direction. Quite an experience simply to walk among them!
Meadow Pipit - 38
Snipe 2
Grey Partridge 2
Elsewhere:
Dunnock 10, Bullfinch 3, Wren 20, Long Tailed Tit 4, Goldfinch 4, Blackbird 12, Sand Martin 1 (!), Great Tit 4, Song Thrush 3, Robin 9, Chiffchaff 5, Blue Tit 7, Willow Warbler 1 (my first visual of the year), Greenfinch 1, Reed Bunting 8, Willow Tit 2, Common Buzzard 2, Sparrowhawk 2, Lesser Black Backed Gull 2
On the water mainly west pool - others very quiet:
Tufted Duck 10, Coot 6, Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 2, Oystercatcher 2 on pontoon, Cormorant 1, Gadwall 6. + Mallard, Moorhen
The Sparrowhawks were a m/f pair, seen flying north to south over the area, but later returned and circled several times over the west pool, in some form of low-key display flight. Nice to watch.
Only thing of note the last few days was a female Wheatear still present this afternoon and 100+ Sand Martin
of note am
Of note today a Female Common Scoter 2nd for site and an early Willow Warbler
Only things of real note today on the pools were 2 Shelduck and 17 Wigeon
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 19th of March 2019 03:56:29 PM
04.03.2019
5 Chiffchaff (3 in one tree) obviously just come in ,as they were lean,clean and hungry,you can always tell spring migrants :)also nice to get the 3 small finch species feeding on the Hazel catkins along the western valley,Siskin (6),Redpoll(10) and Goldfinch(20).Also noticeable on the mooch was over 1000 starling on the Eastern Arable,and over 60 on the landfill,also of note Great Crested Grebe (1) Little Grebe (6)and Pochard (6) on the western pool along with Black Headed Gull(120) and Cormorant(3). Of the resident species most notable were at least 20 pairs of Skylark on territory on the Landfill . :)
PM 17.02.2019 OF NOTE
Wigeon- 87 (largest number I think I've had at the pools) West pool
Goosander- 5
Oystercatcher- 2
Fieldfare-85
Little Grebe- 4
Cormorant-2
Teal-12
Gadwall- 29 (east pool)
Chiffchaff-1
Tufted Duck -28
Pochard- 8
Skylark - at least 20 pairs on Landfill
Meadow Pipit-6
Buzzard-2
Kestrel-1
A dusk/dark walk around yesterday evening.
Wigeon - 55
Tufted Duck - 21
Pochard - 12
Oystercatcher - 1 on raft
Common Snipe - 20 off landfill mound
Ringed Plover - 2
Whimbrel - possibly, called very briefly in flight after dark, very early if so?
Gadwall- 17
Goosander- 7
Shelduck-1 female
Pochard -11
Tufted Duck -26
Snipe -1
Buzzard-4
Raven-2
Skylark- 10 pairs back on the breeding area
A frozen landscape but a small patch of open water on the west pool was occupied by:
Heron - 1
Wigeon - 35
Mallard - 29
Pochard - 4
Gadwall - 4
Coot - 18
Black headed Gulls - 150 on the ice
LBB Gull - 1 on the ice
Treecreeper - 1 nearby trees
Mistle Thrush - 1 pair near New Hall farm
A stroll around the northern half of my local patch on a cool misty morning.
Cormorant - 3
Heron - 2
Tufted Duck - 30
Teal - 19 highest total for several years -c/f 23 in 2014
Pochard - 12
Gadwall - 3
Mallard - 5. consistently & alarmingly low totals these days!
Shoveler - 1 male
Shelduck - 1, rare here
Goosander - 4 males
Coot - 20
Kingfisher - 1
Fieldfare - 150
Song Thrush - 6 in song
Meadow Pipit - 20 dropped into meadow near mid pool
This Morning
3 wigeon,6 Goosander, 11 Pochard ,2 grey heron,1 Merlin over going east,2 Buzzard, 2 kestrel,1 Snipe,6 Skylark and a Stonechat,
Originally posted on Jan 1st, by Matt Bannon:
161 in the fields to the north of silver lane landfill tip in Risley at 11:45am today
11:30am to 1:30pm. Male stonechat, 161 x pink footed geese in the fields to the north of the site, goosander x1, shoveler, tufted duck, gadwall. 3 x whooper swans flying east towards croft.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 1st of January 2019 09:17:38 PM
Damp & dismal morning but some interest around the northern pools.
Cormorant - 4
Tufted Duck - 29
Pochard - 9
Gadwall - 3 pairs
Shoveler - 2 pairs
Little grebe - 1
Heron - 1
Coot - 19
Kestrel - 1
Mistle Thrush - 2 singing birds heard
Song Thrush - 9 (6 singing birds + 3 foraging in bushes)
Blackbirds - 20+ around the area
Fieldfare - 120
Redwing - 20
Long tailed Tit flock - 15+
A mooch late morning to late afternoon of note
Wigeon- 9
Pochard- 11
Goosander-1
Cormorant-4
Yellowhammer-10
Goldfinch-100
Kestrel-2
Mute Swan - 2 adults on east pool
Pink footed Geese - 110 in 2 skeins going east + 1 on its own heading west!
Cormorant - 5
Heron - 1
Little Grebe -2
Wigeon - 47
Tufted Duck - 19
Pochard - 2
Coot - 14
Buzzard - 3
Kestrel - 1 female
Fieldfare - 40
Redwing - 10
Mistle Thrush - 1
Pheasant - 5 males
Chaffinch - 20
Brambling - 6 flying south
see posts below 3 regulars me ,Rob,and Jonathan Platt
1 Merlin 1 kestrel 4 buzzard 9 snipe 140 pink-footed geese in fields to the East 2 redwing 4 fieldfare 1 mistle thrush 2 stonechat Numerous skylark 20 meadow pipit 1 reed bunting My first ever visit to this location. I will defo be coming back. Is it done regulary by anyone?
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 17th of November 2018 08:17:36 PM
A dawn wander around the pools.
Pochard - 13
Tufted Duck - 18
Mute Swan - 3 immatures. First record here since spring as we no longer have a resident pair
Cormorant - 3
Treecreeper - south of west pool. First ever record here for me
Willow Tit - 1, along east side. Locally rare & only my 3rd record in over 15 years on this site
Goldcrest - 1
Siskin - 3 on alders
Bullfinch - 5 around site
Fieldfare - 80 flew SW & then smaller parties around the area
A few hours around the pools this morning produced
Pochard-10
Teal-10
Skylarks - plenty and 5 in full display song over the landfill,can't remember that in November before
Kestrel-3
Buzzard-3
Stonechat-3
Cormorant-3
Meadow Pipit-55
Pink Footed Geese - 176- >east
Lapwing -160
Fieldfare - 130 > S
Redwing- 120 > S
Interesting comparison as I was on the grounds 8.00 - 9.30am
Vismig:
Woodpigeon - 246
Meadow Pipit - 68
Skylark - 33
Chaffinch - 13
Tree Sparrow - 4
Reed Bunting - 6
Song Thrush - 8 singles moving south
Otherwise:
Wheatear - 2 on top of hill
Fieldfare - 4
Redwing - 7
Kestrel - 4
Common Buzzard - 2 dark birds
Common Snipe - 1 circling hill
Lapwing - 50 along east edge
West Pool:
Pochard - 9 inc 7 males
Cormorant - 1 still in breeding plumage
2 hour mooch 11am-1pm
Snipe - 4 Flying South
Stonechat - 1 female/imm
Siskin -1 flying South
Brambling - 1 flying SE
Kestrel-4
Buzzard-4
Wigeon-4 (west pool)
Pochard-14
Cormorant-2
Redwing -25 flying south
Song Thrush -10
Skylark-25
Meadow Pipit-10
Yellowhammer-1
Reed Bunting -5
Little Grebe- 4
Picture Stonechat
My first visit to this site, and I was impressed, pity about the rain.
2 Buzzards over the farmland. A flock of 43 Fieldfares roamed the area near the pools, also here were a group of 6 Reed Buntings.
A male Kestrel was in the same area and was seen flying just above the tops of the bushes, noticeably on the hunt for small birds.
Just as I was thinking this falcon was being ambitious enough to try and catch a Fieldfare, as he flushed them from the bushes, a closer check revealed a small flock
of Blue and Great tits in the same thicket, plus the Reed Buntings.
On the largest pool were 15m+2f Pochard, a noteworthy sight nowadays, 1m Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe and 6 Tufted Ducks.
Close by the motorway junction, seemingly attracted by blackthorns crammed with juicy sloes, were a flock of 10 Blackbirds and a single Song Thrush.
A single Willow Tit was in the same area.
An exhilarating walk around the edge of the pools in the strong winds. Amongst the flying leaves managed to catch a bit of bird activity as they moved with difficulty from bush to bush!
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 2
Long tailed Tit - 15+
Coal Tit - 2
Bullfinch - 3
Common Buzzard - 2 trying to hunt over the fields in the wind
Kestrel - 1 ditto
of note today
Merlin - 1 Male on eastern arable
Fieldfare-4 flying south
Redwing- 3 flying south
Pochard -10
Buzzard-5
Peregrine -1 Male
40+ skylark
plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 9th of October 2018 05:53:34 PM
11.30-2 pm of note
Whooper Swan - rather weirdly, a single flew low to the west calling as it went at around 9.30am this morning
Kingfisher - east pool. Seems to be absent from the area for some time & then you start seeing it on every visit!
Teal - 11 on same pool
Otherwise pools & surrounds very quiet.
Great spotted woodpecker - over east pool
Swallows - 6 south
Skylark - 15 south
Kestrel - 3 top of hill
Sparrowhawk - traveling fast & low up path of hill
Common Buzzard - 3 around area
Wheatear - 1
Common Snipe - up from edge of path
Tree Pipit - heading south
Pochard - 10 on west pool
of note
Pink Footed Geese - 550 over the eastern Arable and most dropped down on fields NE of Holcroft lane +75 west over the landfill
Alba Wagtails - 30 on Eastern arable with at least 6 White Wagtail
Pochard- 11
Goldfinch -36
Stock Dove- 39
Canada Geese - 435 on west pool, highest count since my records began here over 15 years ago
Greylag Geese - 3 among the Canadas
Pink footed Geese - 30 low east to west, 20 dropped in with Canadas whilst 10 continued west
Great crested Grebe - still on west pool
Pochard - single male on mid pool
Vismig between 8 - 9am this morning. From top of the hill and on a broad front between 400+ passerines moving south in the hour. Of those closer and identifiable included:
Crossbill - 10
Woodlark - 2
Meadow Pipit - 130+
Skylark - 60+
Pied Wagtail - 3
Chaffich - 10
Swallows - 3 but heading fast north!
Peregrine Falcon - 2 adults flew SW together
Kestrel - male & female around area
Great spotted Woodpecker - flew across pools
Great crested Grebe - 1 on west pool
Pied Wagtail - 15 + 2 White Wagtails on horse paddocks
Linnets - 70 in single flock
Goldfinch - 80 with a few linnet amongst them
Swallows - slow trickle of birds ca 30/hour along with a few House martins
Chiffchaff - 3 around area
Low key visible migration monitored this morning for about 90'
Tree Pipit - 2
Meadow pipit - 80
Skylark - 43
Swallow - 15
House Martin - 30
Wheatear - 1
Jay - 5, flying unusually high south
Chaffinch - 10
Reed Bunting - 5
Other birds around the area included
Canada Geese - 100
Cormorant - 2
Carrion Crow - 16
Kestrel - 2
Common Buzzard - 5
Sparrowhawk - male, buzzing one of the buzzards
Lapwing - 80
Tawny Owl - calling for awhile at around 10am!
White Wagtail - 4