Male Cuckoo was singing from the old railway lines this morning. First Reed warbler back at the Hidden Pool, four Common whitethroat (there was only one yesterday) and three Wheatear on the landfill.
John Doherty said
Wed Apr 23 8:09 PM, 2014
Male and female Cuckoo, with male singing, at 4.45pm. I had heard him briefly as I walked round (wellies needed, or you'll catch trenchfoot!) and seen two jays, plus usual Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits, plus three Swallows were skimming the waters. I walked over beyond the old railway line and saw a massive Buzzard, plus a Corn Bunting on the wires.
As I was doubling back I heard the Cuckoo singing again and ran around to find the pair on the fenceposts in the middle of the pools (the tip side, right by the footpath) they then moved over to the tip whereupon they were lost on the horizon.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 23rd of April 2014 08:48:39 PM
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Apr 3 10:38 AM, 2014
6.30-7.30am
Quiet again. There was a female Stonechat on the fence above Bottom Pool, presumably making it's way from wintering to breeding grounds? A Willow warbler was singing from the landfill by the Top Footpath, first I've heard this year.
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Apr 2 11:00 AM, 2014
6.30-7.30am
Quiet. Of interest were a pair of Teal on the pond by the old sheds, three pairs of Grey partridge and an increase in Tufted duck from the last few days. Only new migrants in were three Blackcaps. Fieldfare remain and were communally singing in the Bottom Hedge.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Apr 1 1:07 PM, 2014
6.30-8.00am (with Matt Pitt)
Not many migrants - 4-5 Chiffchaffs and a lone Sand martin. Five Curlew flew over and a Woodcock flushed from the edge of Motorway Wood.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Mar 31 8:05 AM, 2014
Two brilliant birds this morning - Long-eared owl and Green woodpecker - just about annual at the pools. Great crested grebe on Top Pool, along with four Little grebes. A Corn bunting flew over Top Pool too, I've not seen one in this area for several years. Didn't have time to cover the other pools due to annoying BST! Little ringed plover near work this morning too.
John Doherty said
Fri Mar 28 7:19 PM, 2014
Highlights from PM visit, with twin brother Jamie who also endured a wait for Cetti's at the Flash!
Two Sand Martin 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Grebe and 1 M Pochard (Largest pool) Tufted Ducks, Gadwalls
Buzzards around, Reed Buntings seen and heard, Chiffchaff (1) singing
Total mudbath, specially around the largest pool.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Friday 28th of March 2014 07:22:46 PM
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Mar 25 8:21 AM, 2014
Three Sand Martins hawking over Top Pool this morning.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Mar 21 9:10 AM, 2014
6.15-7.30am
First two Chiffchaffs of the year were the only sign of migration apart from a decent passage of Meadow Pipits overhead. 100+ Fieldfare feeding on a recentlly-drilled field to the east of the landfill, this field has also attracted a small flock of 7 Corn Buntings this week. Three pairs of Grey Partridge was a decent count these days. 21 Gadwall on Bottom Pool, three Little Grebes on Top Pool. Usual Tufted Duck, Coot, etc.
Checked a spot near work looking for Little Ringed Plover (there's been a pair of Ringed Plover there since early March). No sign of the LRP's but found a female Wheatear.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Feb 21 2:37 PM, 2014
Managed my first complete walk around the pools this year this morning. Of note were four Pochard on Top Pool and a staggering 33 Gadwall on Bottom Pool. A Yellowhammer was singing from the bottom hedge and a Willow Tit was on the landfill by the Motorway Wood. Plenty of small passerines around in general.
John O'Neill said
Thu May 23 7:00 AM, 2013
Cuckoo flying low over landfill. 9.00am
Jonathan Platt said
Mon May 20 3:52 PM, 2013
Long-tailed Duck still present. A Cuckoo on the landfill.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri May 17 9:02 PM, 2013
Long-tailed duck still present.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu May 16 2:53 PM, 2013
Long-tailed duck still present. A Curlew was on Middle Pool.
John Doherty said
Tue May 14 8:24 PM, 2013
I managed to get the Long Tailed Duck after a long pilgrimage - worth it because it was a lifer. Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler could be heard but better still, a CUCKOO flew right down the pools and sang briefly (unseen) from the far side from the tip. A Jay, 2 Reed Buntings several Lapwings and 3 Buzzards were in the vicinity.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 14th of May 2013 08:24:37 PM
Jonathan Platt said
Tue May 14 2:39 PM, 2013
Long-tailed Duck still present on Top Pool. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling amongst the saplings to the right of the Top Pool gate. There are now three Reed and two Sedge Warblers singing from the postage-stamp-sized Phragmites bed on Hidden Pool.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon May 13 3:26 PM, 2013
Female Long-tailed duck still present.
John Doherty said
Sun May 12 7:19 PM, 2013
Hope it stays for a few days. Anyone kind enough to PM exact directions as I've never been, cheers in advance.
John O'Neill said
Sun May 12 2:29 AM, 2013
8.30 am this morning Long Tailed duck showing very well.
Thanks for reporting this Johnathan, much appreciated.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri May 10 3:01 PM, 2013
Long-tailed duck still present.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu May 9 2:24 PM, 2013
Female Long-tailed Duck on Top Pool at 6.30am, presumably the Woolston bird?
Jonathan Platt said
Fri May 3 3:00 PM, 2013
5.30-7.15am
A Cuckoo and a Grasshopper Warbler were of note this morning. Two Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler at the Hidden Pool. An unseen Roe Deer barked at me from the edge of the wood only feet away as I was leaning against the gate at Top Pool, shortening my life by around five years. As I was walking along Silver Lane by the motorway, I spotted a Fox on the landfill. I leaned against a concrete gate post and called. The Fox came racing down the hill, through the fence and stood with it's front paws on a lump of concrete, the width of the lane away, before realising something was wrong and loping off back through the fence!
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Apr 26 2:52 PM, 2013
6.00-7.15am
Two Common Sandpipers, two Grasshopper Warblers (one flushed from the path!), an unseen Yellow Wagtail calling from the vicinity of Middle Pool and an overflying Tree Pipit this morning. At least one Sedge Warbler has joined the Reed Warbler at Hidden Pool. Last night a Cuckoo was on the old railway lines.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Apr 23 5:25 PM, 2013
6.30-7.30am
A fine male Whinchat, seven Wheatear and a Common Sandpiper around the pools this morning. A Reed Warbler was singing from the Hidden Pool.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Mar 26 6:19 PM, 2013
6.30-7.30am
A bleak hour around the pools this morning - freezing easterly, snow flurries and no sun. Bird song was notable only by it's absence. The Great Crested Grebes have gone but two new Little Grebes have arrived, as have four Pochard. Otherwise it was:
At least seven Teal were present on Hidden Pool, most I've seen here for some time.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Mar 21 8:13 PM, 2013
A pair of Great Crested Grebes on Top Pool were new in, though the Little Grebes have disappeared. The Goldeneye drake remains, as do the Shelduck and Wigeon pairs. Two male Yellowhammers were singing along the landfill entrance road at the east end of the site, first I've seen in this particular spot for several years.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Mar 19 6:33 PM, 2013
6.30-7.30am
Usual wildfowl on the pools this morning. The drake Goldeneye remains on Top Pool and three Little Grebes were new. Bottom Pool held only a few duck but quite a variety with six Mallard, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Wigeon, a pair of Shelduck and a pair of Coot!
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Mar 14 2:17 AM, 2013
12th March - 6.30-7.30am
First pre-work amble of the year around the pools. Nothing out of the ordinary - a drake Goldeneye on the Top Pool was unusual and a count of 78 Mallard was high for this time of year, possibly a result of the cold weather freezing local ponds. Two Yellowhammers and eight Redpoll over, and several Siskins calling around the site. A Fox was mouching around the shore of Middle Pool too.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Feb 8 7:26 PM, 2013
1.30-2.45pm
Pools were quiet - 34 Mallard, 23 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard and just 8 Coot - but a pair of Shelduck on Hidden Pool was unusual. 400 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing and 100 Starlings were feeding on stubble at the back of the prison. Several Siskins knocking about, including a pair feeding on Alder just above my head along First Footpath. Three Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk soaring in the sunshine above Motorway Wood.
-- Edited by Jonathan Platt on Friday 8th of February 2013 07:31:42 PM
Jonathan Platt said
Sat Feb 2 2:46 AM, 2013
2.30-3.30pm
Not a great deal about, partially due to the rain perhaps. The pools were quiet but there was a pair of Gadwall on Middle Pool. I did however find a female Stonechat. This is the first Stonechat I've seen here since the first cold winter in 2009/10. Prior to then up to three wintered around the pools annually.
DavidBowman said
Mon Jan 21 8:17 AM, 2013
Hi Greg, would be good to catch up - still down there every Saturday plus several times in the week. Let me know when would suit.
Cheers David
-- Edited by DavidBowman on Monday 21st of January 2013 08:19:28 AM
Greg Baker said
Sun Jan 20 6:30 PM, 2013
Good idea. Will be in touch as would be good to see new developments.
Catch up soon.
Greg
DavidBowman said
Sat Jan 19 11:48 PM, 2013
Well hello Mr Baker! Still struggling with raptor ID, I see One of these days I'll take you to my Goshawk study sites in Wales and help you to get your eye in. Any chance of getting you down to Woolston for a refresher any time soon?
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Tue Jan 8 8:40 PM, 2013
Time for another BTO Thrush Survey, on a grey morning with light drizzle Along with the thrushes were 75 Goldfinches, 1 Goldcrest, 9 Pied Wagtails, 16 Pochard, 29 Tufted Ducks, 18 Coot, 220 Black-headed Gulls and 2 little Grebes. Thrush numbers (mainly feeding on the stubbles adjacent to the pools) were: 12 Blackbirds, 124 Redwings, 217 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush and 10 Mistle Thrushes.
Cheers David
Greg Baker said
Tue Jan 8 4:18 PM, 2013
DavidBowman wrote:
Time for another BTO Thrush Survey, on a grey morning with light drizzle Along with the thrushes were 75 Goldfinches, 1 Goldcrest, 9 Pied Wagtails, 16 Pochard, 29 Tufted Ducks, 18 Coot, 220 Black-headed Gulls and 2 little Grebes. Thrush numbers (mainly feeding on the stubbles adjacent to the pools) were: 12 Blackbirds, 124 Redwings, 217 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush and 10 Mistle Thrushes.
Cheers David
Wot no Goshawks ...
DavidBowman said
Thu Dec 13 10:08 PM, 2012
A rewarding couple of hours, doing my BTO Thrush Survey in the area round the pools. Best bird was a female Merlin, my first local one of the winter, which chased a Meadow Pipit along the side of the Tip. The pools themselves were mainly frozen, the open water holding 48 Mallards, 19 Coot, 60 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Common Gull. The thrush totals were: Blackbird 44, Fieldfare 231, Redwing 11 and Mistle Thrush 5.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Wed Oct 17 9:11 PM, 2012
Went for a quick walk round the pools. Wildfowl numbers were similar to the other day but on the fields 8 Mistle Thrushes, 41 Stock Doves, c.270 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels were noted.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Fri Oct 12 9:03 PM, 2012
Started my second BTO Winter Thrush Survey this morning. I've been lucky with this square as it contains these pools, which I'd heard of but never got round to visiting. Birds seen included:
A juvenile Peregrine, carrying what looked like a pigeon, was chased across the fields behind Risley HMP by a Buzzard as we walked down to the pools.
Top Pool: 38 Coot 6 Little Grebes 5 Mallard 2 Pochard 68 Tufted Duck 127 Canada Geese
Middle Pool: 1 Coot 2 Mallard 3 Tufted Duck 4 Pinkfeet (looked like a pair with two juvs)
Bottom Pool: Nothing!
Hidden Pool: 70+ Mallard 2 Shovelor
Also around were 7 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 2 Jays, and a dozen Linnets. A dozen House Martins and a single Sand Martin were hawking insects over over Top Pool.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon May 21 8:25 PM, 2012
Two great-crested grebes on Top Pool this morning was unusual, as were two common terns fishing on Middle Pool before flying off to the east. A yellow wagtail was calling from the arable east of the landfill.
Jonathan Platt said
Wed May 16 4:03 PM, 2012
A fabulous four cuckoos at the Pools this morning - three perched on a fence line between Top and Middle pools whilst a fourth bird was singing from the direction of New Hall Farm. Also present were at least seven wheatear, two yellowhammers singing from the Lower Hedge and a corn bunting singing from the arable to the east of the landfill. There were roe deer slots by the old sheds on the east side too.
Jonathan Platt said
Sat May 12 4:49 PM, 2012
The pools were dead this morning with only a few coot and mallard showing. However, on the fence surrounding the sapplings between Middle and Bottom Pool were five wheatear, a whinchat and two cuckoos! As I watched them a yellow wagtail flew over and a couple of yellowhammers sang from the Lower Hedge.
At the Hidden Pool single reed and sedge warblers were singing. Another sedge was singing from the trees and ditch along the nearby footpath. A reed warbler was also singing from here, I tried to find this bird as it seemed an odd place for a reed warbler when there was a small phragmites bed within 30yds. It sang sporadically for five minutes but I only had brief views before it disappeared.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Apr 17 2:30 AM, 2012
A fairly uninspiring wander around the pools with Bob Potts this evening was enlivened by my first cuckoo of the year, perched on the landfill fence above Bottom Pool. My first cuckoo at Silver Lane last year was four days earlier, on the 12th.
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Mar 21 2:59 PM, 2012
Black-necked grebe present on Top Pool this morning. Also a male goldeneye has been present for a few weeks, a scarce bird on the pools.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Mar 1 4:14 AM, 2012
Two great crested grebes on Top Pool this morning, generally scarce birds here. Otherwise:
Top Pool: 30 tufted duck, 22 coot, 2 gadwall, 10+ mallard, 3 little grebes. Calling golden plover over as I was counting.
Middle Pool: 11 tufties, 6 coot, 2 pochard, 15+ mallard, 2 oystercatchers. Curlew flushed from the fields behind the pool.
Bottom Pool: 4 coot, 5 pairs gadwall, 2 mallard. A little grebe was calling from either here or Hidden Pool - didn't have time to check. Yellowhammer singing from Big Hedge behind pool.
Another curlew flew over as I walked along Top Footpath and 30+ fieldfare were quietly, beautifully communally singing from an oak tree behind HMP Risley.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Feb 2 8:01 PM, 2012
Two dead mute swans in the fenced-off rough at the back of Middle Pool at dawn this morning, a fox was dining on one of them. I noticed a live swan in there yesterday, I wonder if they had problems taking off (because of the fence) and the fox had killed them both last night?
Otherwise, there were 14 pochard, 14 tufted duck, c70 mallard and 42 coot on Top Pool, the other two pools were frozen. Yesterday a woodcock flushed from the wood behind Risley HMP and there was a covey of a dozen grey partridge on the path above Top Pool, the largest covey I've seen here for several years.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Dec 16 7:23 PM, 2011
A pinkfoot in with eight Canada geese on Middle Pool, otherwise usual stuff. A dog fox following a vixen up by Top Pool came within five yards of me.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Dec 9 6:54 PM, 2011
A merlin flew over the east end of Bottom Pool this afternoon.
Plenty of redwing along the top footpath, a fox wandered across Silver Lane and into Motorway Wood.
mightymaiden said
Sun Nov 6 7:43 PM, 2011
Had a wonder this afternoon. Fairly quiet, the usual tufted ducks, mallards, coots, moorhens and swans. There where 3 little grebes and also half a dozen wigeon all on the top pool with 3 pochard. Walking back got good views of a buzzard perched on a post and also 3 redwing and 1 fieldfare in the trees.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Oct 14 10:10 AM, 2011
Lots of redwing (800+) and fieldfare (200-300) over this morning as I walked back to my car (8.00-8.20am), all heading south-west. They were still flighting over as I pulled into the car park at work in Risley.
As I was doubling back I heard the Cuckoo singing again and ran around to find the pair on the fenceposts in the middle of the pools (the tip side, right by the footpath) they then moved over to the tip whereupon they were lost on the horizon.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 23rd of April 2014 08:48:39 PM
Quiet again. There was a female Stonechat on the fence above Bottom Pool, presumably making it's way from wintering to breeding grounds? A Willow warbler was singing from the landfill by the Top Footpath, first I've heard this year.
Quiet. Of interest were a pair of Teal on the pond by the old sheds, three pairs of Grey partridge and an increase in Tufted duck from the last few days. Only new migrants in were three Blackcaps. Fieldfare remain and were communally singing in the Bottom Hedge.
Not many migrants - 4-5 Chiffchaffs and a lone Sand martin. Five Curlew flew over and a Woodcock flushed from the edge of Motorway Wood.
Two Sand Martin
2 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Grebe and 1 M Pochard (Largest pool)
Tufted Ducks, Gadwalls
Buzzards around, Reed Buntings seen and heard, Chiffchaff (1) singing
Total mudbath, specially around the largest pool.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Friday 28th of March 2014 07:22:46 PM
First two Chiffchaffs of the year were the only sign of migration apart from a decent passage of Meadow Pipits overhead. 100+ Fieldfare feeding on a recentlly-drilled field to the east of the landfill, this field has also attracted a small flock of 7 Corn Buntings this week. Three pairs of Grey Partridge was a decent count these days. 21 Gadwall on Bottom Pool, three Little Grebes on Top Pool. Usual Tufted Duck, Coot, etc.
Checked a spot near work looking for Little Ringed Plover (there's been a pair of Ringed Plover there since early March). No sign of the LRP's but found a female Wheatear.
A Jay, 2 Reed Buntings several Lapwings and 3 Buzzards were in the vicinity.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 14th of May 2013 08:24:37 PM
Thanks for reporting this Johnathan, much appreciated.
A Cuckoo and a Grasshopper Warbler were of note this morning. Two Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler at the Hidden Pool. An unseen Roe Deer barked at me from the edge of the wood only feet away as I was leaning against the gate at Top Pool, shortening my life by around five years. As I was walking along Silver Lane by the motorway, I spotted a Fox on the landfill. I leaned against a concrete gate post and called. The Fox came racing down the hill, through the fence and stood with it's front paws on a lump of concrete, the width of the lane away, before realising something was wrong and loping off back through the fence!
Two Common Sandpipers, two Grasshopper Warblers (one flushed from the path!), an unseen Yellow Wagtail calling from the vicinity of Middle Pool and an overflying Tree Pipit this morning. At least one Sedge Warbler has joined the Reed Warbler at Hidden Pool. Last night a Cuckoo was on the old railway lines.
A fine male Whinchat, seven Wheatear and a Common Sandpiper around the pools this morning. A Reed Warbler was singing from the Hidden Pool.
A bleak hour around the pools this morning - freezing easterly, snow flurries and no sun. Bird song was notable only by it's absence. The Great Crested Grebes have gone but two new Little Grebes have arrived, as have four Pochard. Otherwise it was:
35 Tufted Duck
38 Mallard
11 Coot
2 Wigeon
1 Goldeneye
3 Snipe
At least seven Teal were present on Hidden Pool, most I've seen here for some time.
Usual wildfowl on the pools this morning. The drake Goldeneye remains on Top Pool and three Little Grebes were new. Bottom Pool held only a few duck but quite a variety with six Mallard, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Wigeon, a pair of Shelduck and a pair of Coot!
First pre-work amble of the year around the pools. Nothing out of the ordinary - a drake Goldeneye on the Top Pool was unusual and a count of 78 Mallard was high for this time of year, possibly a result of the cold weather freezing local ponds. Two Yellowhammers and eight Redpoll over, and several Siskins calling around the site. A Fox was mouching around the shore of Middle Pool too.
Pools were quiet - 34 Mallard, 23 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard and just 8 Coot - but a pair of Shelduck on Hidden Pool was unusual. 400 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing and 100 Starlings were feeding on stubble at the back of the prison. Several Siskins knocking about, including a pair feeding on Alder just above my head along First Footpath. Three Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk soaring in the sunshine above Motorway Wood.
-- Edited by Jonathan Platt on Friday 8th of February 2013 07:31:42 PM
Not a great deal about, partially due to the rain perhaps. The pools were quiet but there was a pair of Gadwall on Middle Pool. I did however find a female Stonechat. This is the first Stonechat I've seen here since the first cold winter in 2009/10. Prior to then up to three wintered around the pools annually.
Cheers David
-- Edited by DavidBowman on Monday 21st of January 2013 08:19:28 AM
Catch up soon.
Greg
Cheers David
Cheers David
Wot no Goshawks ...
Cheers David
Cheers David
Linnet 5
Sparrowhawk 1
Buzzard 6
Kestrel 2
Starling 6
Cormorant 5
Canada Goose 273
Tufted Duck 51
Pochard 45
Coot 21
Teal 2
Little Grebe 3
Common Gull 8
Wigeon 5
Mallard 5
Goldfinch 8
Pied Wagtail 1
Cheers David
Top Pool:
38 Coot
6 Little Grebes
5 Mallard
2 Pochard
68 Tufted Duck
127 Canada Geese
Middle Pool:
1 Coot
2 Mallard
3 Tufted Duck
4 Pinkfeet (looked like a pair with two juvs)
Bottom Pool:
Nothing!
Hidden Pool:
70+ Mallard
2 Shovelor
Also around were 7 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 2 Jays, and a dozen Linnets. A dozen House Martins and a single Sand Martin were hawking insects over over Top Pool.
At the Hidden Pool single reed and sedge warblers were singing. Another sedge was singing from the trees and ditch along the nearby footpath. A reed warbler was also singing from here, I tried to find this bird as it seemed an odd place for a reed warbler when there was a small phragmites bed within 30yds. It sang sporadically for five minutes but I only had brief views before it disappeared.
Top Pool: 30 tufted duck, 22 coot, 2 gadwall, 10+ mallard, 3 little grebes. Calling golden plover over as I was counting.
Middle Pool: 11 tufties, 6 coot, 2 pochard, 15+ mallard, 2 oystercatchers. Curlew flushed from the fields behind the pool.
Bottom Pool: 4 coot, 5 pairs gadwall, 2 mallard. A little grebe was calling from either here or Hidden Pool - didn't have time to check. Yellowhammer singing from Big Hedge behind pool.
Another curlew flew over as I walked along Top Footpath and 30+ fieldfare were quietly, beautifully communally singing from an oak tree behind HMP Risley.
Otherwise, there were 14 pochard, 14 tufted duck, c70 mallard and 42 coot on Top Pool, the other two pools were frozen. Yesterday a woodcock flushed from the wood behind Risley HMP and there was a covey of a dozen grey partridge on the path above Top Pool, the largest covey I've seen here for several years.
Top Pool: 52 coot, 15 pochard, 16 tufted duck, 3 gadwall, 1 teal.
Middle Pool: 7 tufties, 31 mallard, 30+ Canada geese.
Plenty of redwing along the top footpath, a fox wandered across Silver Lane and into Motorway Wood.