Peregrine Falcon - immature along east side gave some 200 Woodpigeon anxious times. Kestrel - 3 around the area Sparrowhawk, female - over the west pool spooking ca50 immature Black Headed Gulls who when settled back down were following Coot around & attempting to rob them of any weed they brought to the surface! Mistle Thrush - 10 feeding in the cut cornfields near J11 of the M62 Stock Dove - 20 among pigeons & in smaller groups. Finch flock - 120+ over the east side fields. At distance most seem to be Goldfinch. Linnet - 50 with what looked like a Twite among them but the restless flock wouldn't settle close enough to confirm with binoculars. Meadow Pipits - 20 in same fields Swallows & House Martins - light movement of ca 50/hour. Did another roost check 2 nights ago for Swallows which was still active but with small groups of birds flying directly into the roost this time as opposed to gathering over it en masse & then dropping in.
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Aug 29 8:08 PM, 2016
5 hours here today covering the whole site several times
Wheatear- 4 fem/juv
Whinchat - 5 mainly juveniles
Buzzard-5
Swallow - at least 300 per hour passing straight through south
Tree Pipit - 1 a cracking autumn clean new plumaged bird and the first decent shot I have of one attached.
Peregrine Falcon - an immature circling along the east side of the landfill then out east Kestrel - 2 females hunting in different areas around the pools Herons - 3 off the east pool Tufted Duck - 80+ on the west pool Mistle Thrush - 23 flying high & direct to the SW. Its good to see a pair these days so a group of this size was a treat! Tree pipit - also flying south Swallows & House Martins - ca 50/hour heading south Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Whitethroat also noted around the area.
Rob Smith said
Thu Aug 18 4:47 PM, 2016
A walk round at dusk last night produced an impressive display of between 250-300 mostly immature Swallows gathering overhead and then eventually dropping into the reeds of the hidden pool. Over 100 mallard also dropped in after dark to join as many on the east and west pools along with 3 herons.
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Aug 17 11:34 AM, 2016
Quite a few Tree pipits have been moving through recently. I had a single bird on Saturday, at least five yesterday, and another three this morning. A Whimbrel and a Hobby over yesterday too.
Rob Smith said
Sun Aug 7 5:35 PM, 2016
Green Sandpipers x 3 & a single Wood Sandpiper on mid pool & then onto west pool
Great Crested Grebe 2 on west pool along with black necked grebe
Two Ravens flew low south to west over pools
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Jul 12 7:44 AM, 2016
Black-necked grebe still present on West Pool where it's been joined by a juvenile Great crested grebe and a drake Pochard. There's also three broods of Tufted duck on the pool - 6, 3 and 1. Two Yellow wagtails calling from the arable to the east of the landfill.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Jul 7 8:01 AM, 2016
Adult Black-necked grebe on West Pool this morning. Grasshopper warbler reeling from the meadow above Middle Pool.
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Jul 3 5:32 PM, 2016
03.07.2016
Linnet - c80 Mixed flock of mainly young birds
Yellow Wagtail- 5 Juv (strangely mixed in with the linnets ,but nice to see they have nested locally)
Common Buzzard- 1
Tufted Duck - c25 on the west pool including 1 female with a nice brood of 6 newly hatched ducklings.
Sand Martin- 200+ mainly juveniles ,which most likely by the way they were flying have only fledged in the last couple of days if not this morning. All were over the Middle pool and the grassland above the pool.
House Martin - 20 +
Swift- 20+
Blackcap-4
Whitethroat - 1 female with 6 newly fledged young on the west side of the landfill
Skylark -8
Kestrel-1 male
Little Grebe -7
yellowhammer-1
Reed Warbler-c6
Jason Dulhanty said
Fri Jun 10 4:07 PM, 2016
FIrst visit 1 till about 2.30
Got caught in the rain, don't think I have ever been this wet in my entire life
Highlights
Skylark x3 (bogey bird for me)
little grebe
Buzzard
Meadow pipit
Small flock of Goldfinch
Male and female Reed bunting
On the wet walk back to the car about 3 newly fledged Wrens
15+ Starling flock with a few lapwings tagging along
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
John O'Neill said
Mon May 23 10:42 PM, 2016
5:30-6:00 pm
Cuckoo calling sporadically from landfill.
Eventually seen, flying low being mobbed by small birds, poss meadow pipits. Seen again a bit later, still on landfill site, still being mobbed.
M Kestrel.
JOHN TYMON said
Sun May 22 5:02 PM, 2016
I Couldn't be bothered travelling too far today so went for a very wet Walk down Silver Lane pools Risley. I don't know why but it always throws down Monsoon rain just has im in an area with no cover ,and it happened again today - Very wet but still some good birds to be found.
Little Grebe - 4 including one on the tiny pool near the entrance
Cuckoo- 1 Male flew across the rapeseed field on the east side and onto the east pool area Calling all afternoon ,up to me leaving.
Sedge Warbler- 1 by the old maggot farm area
Reed Warbler - 6+
Garden Warbler- 1 male still along the east path
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Male singing on the south side of east pool
Whitethroat - 3
Ringed Plover- 1 Pair
Linnet-6
Stock Dove -38
Common Buzzard- 1 Pair
Swift- c50
House Martin -10 taking mud from the pool at the entrace to the site
Skylark - at least 8 pairs
Lapwing - 4 pairs +
Reed Bunting -8
Coot - 1 with one large young on small pool on the west side of Landfill .
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 22nd of May 2016 05:02:25 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Sun May 8 8:20 PM, 2016
pm
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Male
Reed Warbler- 4 singing from the hidden pool
Meadow Pipit -6
Linnet- 10
Garden Warbler-1 good views on path east of hidden pool
Whitethroat- 8 singing Males
Common Buzzard-1
Yellowhammer- 1 Male
Willow Warbler - 10+
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 8th of May 2016 08:20:27 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Fri May 6 8:01 PM, 2016
Whitethroat-6
Reed Warbler-3
Linnets -8
Yellowhammer-1 Male
Reed Bunting -8
Skylark-4
Lapwing - 10
JOHN TYMON said
Mon May 2 6:47 PM, 2016
PM
Ringed Plover-2
White Wagtail-6
Whitethroat-6
Buzzard-3
Kestrel-1
Little Grebe -4
Linnet-35
Meadow Pipit-6+
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Apr 30 8:50 PM, 2016
Ringed Plover-1 Pair Wheatear- 1 Male/1 Female Buzzard-2 White Wagtail -11 crackin Males in the first field on the right Meadow Pipit- 8 Cormorant-1 Whitethroat- 3 Blackcap-1 Linnet-6
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Apr 26 7:57 AM, 2016
Male Whinchat and three Grasshopper warblers around the east/north side of the landfill, calling Cuckoo from disused railway lines, and an overflying Tree pipit this morning. With Matt Pitt.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Apr 25 8:34 AM, 2016
A Long-tailed duck flew west from the pools this morning. Only very brief view as it banked around the trees at the far end of the West Pool, just got it's back and face pattern before it leveled out and flew directly away from me - I couldn't in all honesty say whether it was a male in summer plumage or a female. Cuckoo also present on disused railway line, and at least three reeling Grasshopper warblers. Male Whinchat was on landfill above Middle Pool Saturday morning.
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Apr 22 7:42 PM, 2016
Mooch after work this afternoon. Cuckoo -2 Ring Ouzel- one male flew briefly off the top of a tree after flying off the landfill and then flew off North east Sedge Warbler-1 Willow Warbler- c10... Common Sandpiper-1 Whitethroat -1 Little Grebe -6 Kestrel-1 Sparrowhawk -1
stuart lewis-gough said
Fri Apr 22 6:07 PM, 2016
Thanks John, much appreciated.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Apr 19 9:11 PM, 2016
Park by the metal gates to the old landfill site. To the east (right when facing the gates) are arable fields, there's a path runs along the edge of the fields - access it from overgrown steps near the Manchester-bound slip road. Follow the path along the edge of the landfill until you reach a gateway on your left, from here you should be able to see the Eastern Pool. Go through the gate and the three main pools are below the path. You can walk all the way around the landfill by following paths. The landfill is still closed to the public.
stuart lewis-gough said
Tue Apr 19 6:13 PM, 2016
Could you give directions to silver lane pools please, from junction 11.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Apr 19 7:47 AM, 2016
Two Grasshopper warblers reeling this morning, one in the ditch just north of the maggot farm, the other by the landfill entrance gate at the east end of Middle Pool. My first Common whitethroats on site too this morning.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Apr 18 7:41 AM, 2016
Male Ring ouzel on west side of landfill this morning, flew north towards pools. With Matt Pitt.
Jonathan Platt said
Sun Apr 17 8:51 PM, 2016
Female Whinchat along the fenceline above the Hidden Pool this morning.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Apr 12 9:18 PM, 2016
Ten Wheaters and two male Yellow wagtails on the eastern arable this afternoon. The Black-necked grebe remains on West Pool but the Whooper has finally disappeared from the flooded rape field. In fact, the plug has - quite literally - been pulled on the 'wader scrape'! The farmer must have cleared a drain or culvert and the water has drained away. A real pity, just as wader passage was getting underway! Two Little ringed plover were present on the mud however.
Rob Smith said
Sun Apr 10 7:42 PM, 2016
Whooper Swan still present on east fields Black necked grebe still on west pool Merlin female across site & then 20' minutes later seen at close quarters trying to take a skylark which it eventually did
Willow Warbler & Blackcap also in now
Rob Smith said
Tue Mar 29 7:46 PM, 2016
Black necked grebe still on west pool Goldeneye-female, also present
Whooper Swan still on flooded fields along with Curlew 4
Rob Smith said
Sun Mar 27 4:33 PM, 2016
A quick walk round and catch up this morning before the rain came in.
Black neck grebe 1 on west pool
Whooper swan 1 on flooded fields to the east along with Greylag goose 1 Shoveler 3 Oystercatcher 3 Ringed Plover 2 (5 earlier in the week) Sand martin 3 Wheatear 1 Chiffchaff singing finally, was seen several times earlier in the week but wasn't in the mood for song!
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Mar 16 11:52 AM, 2016
Black-necked grebe present on West Pool this a.m. Also singing Chiffchaff in wood above the pool.
Rob Smith said
Sun Mar 6 8:19 PM, 2016
Not so much on the pools as in the flooded fields beside them which adds to the interest of the area
A steady increase in wildfowl numbers on the pools, in particular:
Mallard 82 Pochard 14
Great Crested Grebe 1 - a sporadic visitor here!
Rob Smith said
Wed Jan 20 7:50 PM, 2016
From a dusk visit tonight
Magpie 43 into roost
Fieldfare 200 dropping into trees
Starling ca1000 (in 2 groups) heading SW to Woolston?
All accompanied by a fox calling nearby with a frog in its throat, literary sounding like a frog (ribbit ribbit), weird!
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Jan 14 4:17 PM, 2016
A single Whooper swan with two Mute swans on the flooded Eastern arable this afternoon.
Little movement amongst the wildfowl on the pools over recent weeks, hopefully the forecast colder weather will stir things up a little.
Jonathan Platt said
Sun Jan 3 5:00 PM, 2016
Saturday 2nd January:
Very quiet in rain. Totals for all four pools, though a flooded Hidden Pool held just a single Coot!
Mallard - 43
Gadwall - 11
Tufted duck - 20
Pochard - 2
Coot - 64
Little grebe - 2
I walked over the landfill, along the old truck road that runs E to W, and flushed 11 meadow pipits and a Skylark. I'm sure there would have been more had I strayed from the path.
I've been in Scotland over Christmas so haven't been feeding the eastern arable, however five Yellowhammers flushed from the trees by the path as I walked down. I'm now scattering niger seed beneath the alders along this path in the hope of attracting Redpoll, Chaffinch, etc. as I'm sick of feeding an ever-increasing flock of Woodpigeons and Crows on the stubble, though I'll still be feeding a cheap seed mix there!
Rob Smith said
Mon Dec 28 12:28 PM, 2015
Wildfowl numbers fairly static on west pool in recent weeks but include:
Finch flock in trees south of pool: Goldfinch 30 L. Redpoll 6 Siskin 3
On top of hill: Meadow Pipit 28 Skylark 7 Grey Partridge 7
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Oct 29 3:13 PM, 2015
A late female Wheatear on the landscaped landfill this afternoon. One of the guys who works on the site had a Short-eared owl on the grassland at the top of the landfill last week.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Sep 28 4:10 PM, 2015
Two flocks of Crossbills over Silver Lane this morning, heading south. First flock heard only, second flock 12+ birds - flew through a flock of 30+Skylarks so counting was difficult.
Something I forgot to post - I found a Cetti's warbler at the Hidden Pool on 18th August, first one I've seen here.
Many changes taking place at Silver Lane at present as landscaping of the landfill is nearing completion, this will result in a country park around 340 acres in total (if the woodland behind Risley HMP is opened up too). Fantastic views from the top of the old landfill, I'll put something on the 'Discussion' forum when I have time.
John Doherty said
Wed Apr 22 9:59 PM, 2015
Afternoon lurk with jplatt in great conditions produced 2 but probably three cuckoos six wheatear yellowhammers two singing white throats jays buzzards four little grebes grasshopper warbler heard then onto croft for little owl and heard-only corn bunting
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 22nd of April 2015 10:00:01 PM
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Mar 19 2:46 PM, 2015
Two Black-necked grebes still on West Pool this afternoon.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Mar 12 8:18 AM, 2015
Two Black-necked grebes on West Pool this morning.
John Doherty said
Wed Mar 4 10:11 AM, 2015
A two lifer day around the pools with jonplatt where we first did the pools producing eleven teal, buzzards, reed buntings, couple of flushed snipe, three little grebe ... Jonplatt had a water rail scurry across the path which I missed. Then to croft for my first little owl ... He was showing well in the sunshine. Finally holcroft moss for woodcock ... A big unblocker for me, although I had a likely on carrington moss a few years ago ... As the last ebb of light came in a single woodcock flew over our shoulders... One of the best birding experiences of my life given the aura and the site. Thanks Jon!
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Feb 4 3:36 PM, 2015
Corn Bunting numbers up to at least 28 this morning on the arable to the east of the landfill.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Feb 3 11:11 AM, 2015
A pair of Goosander flew over this morning, only my second ever sighting at the pools. A number of passerines have been feeding on the stubble/potato field at the east end of the landfill recently - 100+ Linnets, 70+ Skylarks, 15+ Corn Buntings, plus Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, Fieldfare, etc. A Raven flew over on Friday.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Sep 2 1:58 PM, 2014
First walk around the pools for several months was spoilt somewhat by thick mist, I could barely see thirty yards! A Kingfisher was calling around Middle Pool and at least 15 Little grebes on Top Pool (the mist had cleared somewhat by then).
Jonathan said
Tue May 13 8:06 AM, 2014
Male and female Cuckoo at the pools this morning.
Scott robinson said
Fri Apr 25 9:43 AM, 2014
Cheers Jonathan i thought they was around this area just wasnt 100%.
Thanks again.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Apr 25 9:38 AM, 2014
The pools are basically at the back of Risley HMP. Either park at the arrow here:
Or park by the roundabout at J11 of the M62. Either way, follow the footpath around the old landfill site. If you want to stay dry you MUST wear wellies! You can walk round in an hour but allow at least two if you're birding.
Scott robinson said
Fri Apr 25 9:17 AM, 2014
Can anybody tell me where this site is please?
Cheers scott
John O'Neill said
Fri Apr 25 12:11 AM, 2014
3 Cuckoos present 10,30 AM
Pair flying together along tree line beyond the further of the two main pools.
The m calling as it flew, another cuckoo responded with brief calling from the Tip.
4 Little Grebes on the other main pool.
Stoat from path.
Loads of Butterflies on the wing-Small Tort, Peacocks, Orange Tips, Speckled Wood
Peregrine Falcon - immature along east side gave some 200 Woodpigeon anxious times.
Kestrel - 3 around the area
Sparrowhawk, female - over the west pool spooking ca50 immature Black Headed Gulls who when settled back down were following Coot around & attempting to rob them of any weed they brought to the surface!
Mistle Thrush - 10 feeding in the cut cornfields near J11 of the M62
Stock Dove - 20 among pigeons & in smaller groups.
Finch flock - 120+ over the east side fields. At distance most seem to be Goldfinch.
Linnet - 50 with what looked like a Twite among them but the restless flock wouldn't settle close enough to confirm with binoculars.
Meadow Pipits - 20 in same fields
Swallows & House Martins - light movement of ca 50/hour. Did another roost check 2 nights ago for Swallows which was still active but with small groups of birds flying directly into the roost this time as opposed to gathering over it en masse & then dropping in.
5 hours here today covering the whole site several times
Peregrine Falcon - an immature circling along the east side of the landfill then out east
Kestrel - 2 females hunting in different areas around the pools
Herons - 3 off the east pool
Tufted Duck - 80+ on the west pool
Mistle Thrush - 23 flying high & direct to the SW. Its good to see a pair these days so a group of this size was a treat!
Tree pipit - also flying south
Swallows & House Martins - ca 50/hour heading south
Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Whitethroat also noted around the area.
Over 100 mallard also dropped in after dark to join as many on the east and west pools along with 3 herons.
Great Crested Grebe 2 on west pool along with black necked grebe
Two Ravens flew low south to west over pools
03.07.2016
FIrst visit 1 till about 2.30
Got caught in the rain, don't think I have ever been this wet in my entire life
Highlights
Skylark x3 (bogey bird for me)
little grebe
Buzzard
Meadow pipit
Small flock of Goldfinch
Male and female Reed bunting
On the wet walk back to the car about 3 newly fledged Wrens
15+ Starling flock with a few lapwings tagging along
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
Cuckoo calling sporadically from landfill.
Eventually seen, flying low being mobbed by small birds, poss meadow pipits. Seen again a bit later, still on landfill site, still being mobbed.
M Kestrel.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 22nd of May 2016 05:02:25 PM
pm
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 8th of May 2016 08:20:27 PM
PM
Ringed Plover-1 Pair
Wheatear- 1 Male/1 Female
Buzzard-2
White Wagtail -11 crackin Males in the first field on the right
Meadow Pipit- 8
Cormorant-1
Whitethroat- 3
Blackcap-1
Linnet-6
Mooch after work this afternoon.
Cuckoo -2
Ring Ouzel- one male flew briefly off the top of a tree after flying off the landfill and then flew off North east
Sedge Warbler-1
Willow Warbler- c10...
Common Sandpiper-1
Whitethroat -1
Little Grebe -6
Kestrel-1
Sparrowhawk -1
Black necked grebe still on west pool
Merlin female across site & then 20' minutes later seen at close quarters trying to take a skylark which it eventually did
Willow Warbler & Blackcap also in now
Goldeneye-female, also present
Whooper Swan still on flooded fields along with
Curlew 4
Black neck grebe 1 on west pool
Whooper swan 1 on flooded fields to the east along with
Greylag goose 1
Shoveler 3
Oystercatcher 3
Ringed Plover 2 (5 earlier in the week)
Sand martin 3
Wheatear 1
Chiffchaff singing finally, was seen several times earlier in the week but wasn't in the mood for song!
Whooper Swan 1
Curlew 1
Ringed Plover 2
Oystercatcher 2
Lapwing 150
Stock Dove 20
Reed Bunting 40+ into adjacent reed bed at dusk
Mallard 82
Pochard 14
Great Crested Grebe 1 - a sporadic visitor here!
Magpie 43 into roost
Fieldfare 200 dropping into trees
Starling ca1000 (in 2 groups) heading SW to Woolston?
All accompanied by a fox calling nearby with a frog in its throat, literary sounding like a frog (ribbit ribbit), weird!
Little movement amongst the wildfowl on the pools over recent weeks, hopefully the forecast colder weather will stir things up a little.
Saturday 2nd January:
Very quiet in rain. Totals for all four pools, though a flooded Hidden Pool held just a single Coot!
Mallard - 43
Gadwall - 11
Tufted duck - 20
Pochard - 2
Coot - 64
Little grebe - 2
I walked over the landfill, along the old truck road that runs E to W, and flushed 11 meadow pipits and a Skylark. I'm sure there would have been more had I strayed from the path.
I've been in Scotland over Christmas so haven't been feeding the eastern arable, however five Yellowhammers flushed from the trees by the path as I walked down. I'm now scattering niger seed beneath the alders along this path in the hope of attracting Redpoll, Chaffinch, etc. as I'm sick of feeding an ever-increasing flock of Woodpigeons and Crows on the stubble, though I'll still be feeding a cheap seed mix there!
Gadwall 38
Tufted Duck 29
Wigeon 6
Coot 53
Cormorant 2
Finch flock in trees south of pool:
Goldfinch 30
L. Redpoll 6
Siskin 3
On top of hill:
Meadow Pipit 28
Skylark 7
Grey Partridge 7
A late female Wheatear on the landscaped landfill this afternoon. One of the guys who works on the site had a Short-eared owl on the grassland at the top of the landfill last week.
Something I forgot to post - I found a Cetti's warbler at the Hidden Pool on 18th August, first one I've seen here.
Many changes taking place at Silver Lane at present as landscaping of the landfill is nearing completion, this will result in a country park around 340 acres in total (if the woodland behind Risley HMP is opened up too). Fantastic views from the top of the old landfill, I'll put something on the 'Discussion' forum when I have time.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 22nd of April 2015 10:00:01 PM
Thanks again.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=366075&y=393280&z=115&sv=366075,393280&st=4&ar=y&mapp=idld.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=740&ax=366075&ay=393280&lm=0
Or park by the roundabout at J11 of the M62. Either way, follow the footpath around the old landfill site. If you want to stay dry you MUST wear wellies! You can walk round in an hour but allow at least two if you're birding.
Cheers scott
Pair flying together along tree line beyond the further of the two main pools.
The m calling as it flew, another cuckoo responded with brief calling from the Tip.
4 Little Grebes on the other main pool.
Stoat from path.
Loads of Butterflies on the wing-Small Tort, Peacocks, Orange Tips, Speckled Wood