Several redwing over this morning, and a few more in the hedgerows. Also heard my first fieldfare of the autumn flying over, unfortunately I was under trees at the time so failed to see how many there were. Seven wigeon on Top Pool, a couple of pochard, tufties, coot and seven little grebes, five more wigeon flew in as I watched. Siskin, redpoll, a few meadow pipits, pied wagtails and a lone grey wagtail also over. Four yellowhammers flew over Top Pool, then another single as I walked back to my car - a large quantity of grain has been tipped/spilled by the footpath that leads up to Bates Farm, I suspect they were heading for there.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Oct 7 7:48 PM, 2011
Little on the pools due to on-going pigeon shooting on adjacent fields, however there were seven tufted duck and five little grebes on Top Pool, and a teal with 20+ mallard on Middle Pool. Amazingly, a barn owl flew out of an oak along the eastern footpath by the landfill - first barn owl I've seen here for several years.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Aug 18 8:41 AM, 2011
A new species for my patch list this morning in the shape of a long-overdue goosander, well, two juveniles to be precise. Flushed from Middle Pool, fortunately they landed again on Bottom Pool. Otherwise, there were 17 tufted duck (including the brood of eight juvs), 28 coot, 11 little grebes and a cormorant on Top Pool, the usual moulting mallard on Middle Pool, and a little grebe on Bottom Pool (though I couldn't scan half the pool in case I flushed the goosanders).
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Aug 12 10:40 AM, 2011
Three black-necked and twelve little grebes on Top Pool this morning, plus singles of gadwall and pochard mixed in with the mallard and tufted duck flocks. A brood of eight half-grown tufties on Top Pool too, and a pair of little grebes with three youngsters on Bottom Pool.
-- Edited by Jonathan Platt on Friday 12th of August 2011 10:40:57 AM
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Jul 28 4:11 PM, 2011
No sign of the little egret this morning but three black-necked and nine little grebes on Top Pool, along with twelve tufted duck and twenty-three coot. Very little, apart from moulting mallard, on the other two pools. A yellowhammer is still singing from the bottom hedge and two yellow wagtails flew over.
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Jul 27 8:04 AM, 2011
Excellent Damian! I've certainly never seen little egret at any of the pools. I was there early yesterday morning and didn't see it, so it's either flown in during the day or was under the nearside bank (part of which is difficult to view) . . . wish I'd not overslept this morning or I might have seen it myself!
Cheers Jonathan
Damian Pendlebury said
Tue Jul 26 10:11 PM, 2011
My first visit to Silver Lane today - there was a little egret on the middle lake. Has this been seen there before?
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Jul 19 8:36 AM, 2011
Four black-necked and eleven little grebes on Top Pool this morning. A whimbrel and a ringed plover flew over.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Jul 12 10:13 AM, 2011
Three black-necked grebes (Top Pool) and ten little grebes (9 Top Pool, 1 Bottom Pool) this morning. Reed warblers appear to have bred successfully on Hidden Pool this year, the only tiny patch of Phragmites around the pools - there were at least four birds present last week.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Jul 4 8:10 AM, 2011
Hi Frank,
The black-necked grebes have been present since at least last Tuesday. If they follow their appearances in spring, and at HG Flash in autumn, then numbers will vary from day to day. On Tuesday, for instance, there were three birds, this morning there were five! Obviously, you weren't to know, but I hadn't mentioned them on the forum for fear of disturbance - not the black-necked grebes particularly, but other birds utilizing the Top Pool for breeding. I was probably being over-cautious!
Today was a red-letter day for me at the pools - I saw my first kingfisher of the year! Can't believe I've got to July without seeing one! The last two harish-ish winters must have greatly affected numbers. Other than that there were four adult and one juv. little grebes on Top Pool, plus another on Bottom Pool. Two juvenile yellow wagtails were perched on the landfill perimeter fence, along with several meadow pipits and a skylark. Two yellowhammers were singing from the bottom hedge, last Tuesday a corn bunting was singing from the same area - first one I've heard at the Pools this year I think.
A large long-tailed tit flock along Top Footpath was interesting. As usual at this time of year it was carrying several fledged warblers, including whitethroat, willow warbler and a blackcap.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jul 3 1:04 PM, 2011
Originally posted by Frank Huband this morning:
Two Black-necked Grebes, showing well
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Apr 12 7:40 AM, 2011
A cuckoo flew into the trees to the west of Top Pool 7.00am this morning.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Mar 24 7:42 AM, 2011
Black-necked grebe present again this morning on Top Pool.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Mar 21 8:03 AM, 2011
Black-necked grebe on Top Pool this morning, also 10 little grebes.
Ian Woosey said
Fri Feb 25 11:34 AM, 2011
24/2/11
Took up Jonathan Platt`s kind invitation of a guided tour round his local patch:
Two yellowhammers were singing from the bottom hedge - the first I've heard this year; a pair of grey partridges flushed from the rough above Middle Pool; at least two meadow pipits and four skylarks also mouching around the rough.
Dave Beetham saw a female goldeneye on Top Pool last Friday - unusual here these days.
I spoke to one of the guys who works on the landfill yesterday, he'd seen a long-eared owl roosting on-site last week, apparently it was there for two days in a spot I've seen them before.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Feb 8 9:00 AM, 2011
My first, brief pre-work wander around the pools this year.
Top Pool: 3 little grebes - my first here since November last year. 25 mallard, 2 gadwall, 13 tufted duck, 2 pochard, 5 coot.
Three grey partridge flushed above Middle Pool; a common buzzard flew across Top Pool; 50+ lapwings in fields below the pools; several small flocks of siskins and redpolls buzzing around (five lesser redpoll feeding on birches along Top Path as I walked back to my car).
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Dec 3 7:03 PM, 2010
First chance I've had to walk around the pools for a fortnight. All pools are completely frozen over, apart from Top Pool which had a small ice-hole containing 53 mallard and 14 coot. A woodcock flushed from Top Footpath and promptly flew into a sheep fence! Four common and one jack snipe were seen, the jack was in the ditch beside Silver Lane, by Motorway Wood. Three curlew flew over the field to the east of the landfill. Large numbers of gulls on the landfill this week (though fewer this afternoon than Tues & Wed), up to 1500-2000. They've been gathering on the fields to the east, which is handy as they're very difficult to view on the landfill. Also 1000+ starlings there too.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Oct 21 7:20 AM, 2010
20th October 7.30-8.30am
Bottom Pool: 2 mute swans, 2 herons. Six grey partridge flew off the landfill and at least one unseen siskin flew over. 15-20 meadow pipits on landfill.
Middle Pool: 6 coot, 3 mallard, 1 cormorant. 400+ pinkfeet (heading east) flew over in five skeins, a grey wagtail flew over and I heard a kingfisher piping - only the second sighting of one this year I think?
Top Pool: 8 coot, 14 tufted duck, 6 mallard, 10 little grebes, 1 great crested grebe (unusual here). Siskins calling from Triangle Wood (mainly alder) above the pool and two foxes were on the footpath to the west of the wood.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Sep 28 12:53 PM, 2010
Top Pool: 26 coots, 24 tufted duck, 10 little grebes, 1 cormorant.
Mallard numbers back up to 100+ mark. Buzzard and sparrowhawk along Top (west) Footpath, kestrel and raven on landfill - first raven I've seen there for months. Flock of 150+ jackdaws gathering on the stubble to the east of the pools, what a delightfull, heart-lifting noise they make. Had a wonderful experience with a fox too along the Bottom (east) Footpath, managed to call it in to within a couple of yards!
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 24 3:23 PM, 2010
Mike Baron wrote:
Perhaps I'll take a leaf out of your book next time and wear waders!
Mike
A nice Greenshank on each foot
Mike Baron said
Fri Sep 24 3:14 PM, 2010
John Barber wrote:
Mike Baron wrote:
Mike, the camouflage certainly worked, I never even noticed them.
John
They are so well camouflaged I put them down and now I can't find them!
Perhaps I'll take a leaf out of your book next time and wear waders!
Mike
John Barber said
Fri Sep 24 3:02 PM, 2010
Mike Baron wrote:
Mike, the camouflage certainly worked, I never even noticed them.
Mike Baron said
Fri Sep 24 1:27 PM, 2010
Jonathan Platt wrote:
Nice to meet a wader-clad John Barber, slightly more sensible footwear than Mike's snazzy trainers!
I'll have you know they are my top of the range birding trainers - 17% waterproof and superbly camouflaged (now). I could sneak up on any number of Sabines Gulls in these!
John Barber said
Fri Sep 24 1:25 PM, 2010
Nice to meet you both this morning as well Jonathan.
I hung around for a while but there was still no sign of the teal. I think you're right, it has probably moved on.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Sep 24 9:22 AM, 2010
Had a walk round the pools with Mike Baron this morning, no sign of blue-winged teal unfortunately. Nice to meet a wader-clad John Barber, slightly more sensible footwear than Mike's snazzy trainers! A roe doe on the service road by Motorway Wood was as good as it got.
Has anyone had a look around Rixton Clay Pits? Eighteen teal flushed off Risley Moss yesterday during the thunderstorm, though none of them had blue wings.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 23 8:01 PM, 2010
JOHN TYMON wrote:
And cracking pictures too which proves the find-superb
and I thought careful observation proved the find
Pete Welch said
Thu Sep 23 7:48 PM, 2010
Congratulations to Jonathan - well deserved after all those patch visits! Good luck to everyone with the mud in the morning...
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Sep 23 7:40 PM, 2010
Mike Baron wrote:
There is no one more deserving of a cracking find like this - also a difficult bird to identify.
Congratulations!
And cracking pictures too which proves the find-superb
John Barber said
Thu Sep 23 7:30 PM, 2010
What's the betting that we'll all be there at first light !!
Nick Isherwood said
Thu Sep 23 7:02 PM, 2010
Tom McKinney wrote:
Spent one of the worst afternoons of my life at Silver Lane today. I did all the pools properly (I even waded through the reeds where it was last seen on the third pool), including the hidden one just below the tip. Nothing. No doubt it will pop up again.
Nearly getting struck by lightning (a bolt hit a lorry on the top of the tip!), sinking shin-deep in mud and ripping my trousers on barbed wire have never been high up on my "must do before I die" list of things to do.
And in which world does John Ketley live if this afternoon's torrential downpour are what he considers to be "showers"?
I don't care if someone finds a Mugimaki Flycatcher there tomorrow, I'll not be going back. I'd rather a dose of herpes than suffer that place again.
I have to agree with you there Tom. I walked (waded) round the area in hiking boots. By the time I got back to the car I looked like I'd done the front crawl round the place. Full of sweat and mud!!
Saying that, I'll still go back if it turns up again!! Sucker for punishment!! He he!!
John Barber said
Thu Sep 23 6:54 PM, 2010
Tom McKinney wrote:
Spent one of the worst afternoons of my life at Silver Lane today.
I don't care if someone finds a Mugimaki Flycatcher there tomorrow, I'll not be going back. I'd rather a dose of herpes than suffer that place again.
It was only a bit damp Tom !
Tom McKinney said
Thu Sep 23 6:08 PM, 2010
Spent one of the worst afternoons of my life at Silver Lane today. I did all the pools properly (I even waded through the reeds where it was last seen on the third pool), including the hidden one just below the tip. Nothing. No doubt it will pop up again.
Nearly getting struck by lightning (a bolt hit a lorry on the top of the tip!), sinking shin-deep in mud and ripping my trousers on barbed wire have never been high up on my "must do before I die" list of things to do.
And in which world does John Ketley live if this afternoon's torrential downpour are what he considers to be "showers"?
I don't care if someone finds a Mugimaki Flycatcher there tomorrow, I'll not be going back. I'd rather a dose of herpes than suffer that place again.
Mike Baron said
Thu Sep 23 5:52 PM, 2010
There is no one more deserving of a cracking find like this - also a difficult bird to identify.
Congratulations!
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 23 5:46 PM, 2010
Typically when a rarity isn't present when the hordes arrive, there have been some doubters, though not on here
You genuinely couldn't really miss the bright blue (as per Shoveler coloured) upperwing inner coverts in flight, but for anyone doubting I have put a couple of Jonathon's digiscoped photos on the out-of-county gallery.
John Barber said
Thu Sep 23 4:56 PM, 2010
It wasn't there this afternoon Nick.
I checked all the pools but no sign.
Nick Isherwood said
Thu Sep 23 4:34 PM, 2010
I was there at about 10.00am this morning before the big influx of birders got there. No sign of the bird on the top pool but I did see a teal sized duck with coloured wing panels (blue or green, I couldn't tell as it was only a glimpse) circling around looking to land. It dropped down in the area of the 4th pool but when I went down there I couldn't locate it.
I couldn't spend too much time trying to find it either as I had to be somewhere.
Lets hope it re-appears!!
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 23 3:14 PM, 2010
I've put a couple of birders on site onto the fourth pool Jonathon but no sign as yet
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Sep 23 2:55 PM, 2010
Thanks for the kind words!
Don't have time to draw a more recent map as I'm flat out at work but maybe this might help (click on map to enlarge):
Don't park where it says 'park here', park further back (west) along Silver Lane, towards Risley Prison. The teal was on 3rd (Bottom) Pool this morning.
Has anyone tried the 4th Pool? It's hidden from the footpath and there were mallard on it this morning - we didn't check it but we could hear them.
Dennis atherton said
Thu Sep 23 2:07 PM, 2010
Well done Jonathan. Great find. Super bird Edit, sorry i missplelt your name, how rude of me,
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Thursday 23rd of September 2010 06:00:55 PM
Henry Cook said
Thu Sep 23 12:40 PM, 2010
No further sign by 11.30am this morning. Willow Tit, Stock Dove and c50 Lapwings also present during my visit.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 23 11:17 AM, 2010
Last directions as I'm trying to finalise the awkward directions!
Further directions for Blue-winged Teal at Silver Lane. Footpath now approximately half way along Silver Lane by where metalled road heads north. Follow road north and where it veers right (east) continue north over the stile following the footpath in between two plantations. Once at the ploughed field head right through the hedge and follow to the pools
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 23 11:02 AM, 2010
Please note that access details below were coming in off Warrington Road and now the gate is open half way along Silver Lane the footpath north is approximately half way between Warrington Road and junction 11 M62. It is where the road turns north but there is no parking or vehicular access here.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 23 10:40 AM, 2010
Best access as follows:
Park at the eastern end of Silver lane and take footpath north for 400 yards. Once you come to a ploughed field, follow footpath to the right through hedgerow to view pools which are at the very northern edge of the landfill site.
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Sep 23 10:15 AM, 2010
Henry Cook wrote:
Great find Jonathon! A well deserved reward for your patching of the pools. I hope to pop along later on.
ill second that beltin find,and some reward for all the time you put in on there
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 23 9:37 AM, 2010
Oh and yes, the legs have been seen (appeared unringed) and it behaves in a manner perfectly normal for a wild bird.
Henry Cook said
Thu Sep 23 9:07 AM, 2010
Great find Jonathon! A well deserved reward for your patching of the pools. I hope to pop along later on.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 23 8:54 AM, 2010
Female/immature Blue-winged Teal present this morning and probably for atleast two days now. Found by Jonathon Platt and it's identity confirmed this morning the bird has been utilising all three main pools. This morning it was alone on the 3rd pool east but disappeared into the vegetation along the north-eastern edge and didn't reappear!
Pete Welch said
Tue Sep 21 6:01 PM, 2010
Black Tern still present at lunchtime but it was flying quite high at times and calling a lot before descending back to the pool. I was pleased to see it fishing and frankly amazed to watch it catching dragonflies - I didn't realise terns took them and they seemed to take some getting down! Not much on the paths to the pool as there was a lot of work on the landfill and on the access tracks.
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Sep 21 8:12 AM, 2010
Black tern still present. A peregrine flew over the Bottom Pool.
-- Edited by Jonathan Platt on Friday 12th of August 2011 10:40:57 AM
Cheers
Jonathan
The black-necked grebes have been present since at least last Tuesday. If they follow their appearances in spring, and at HG Flash in autumn, then numbers will vary from day to day. On Tuesday, for instance, there were three birds, this morning there were five! Obviously, you weren't to know, but I hadn't mentioned them on the forum for fear of disturbance - not the black-necked grebes particularly, but other birds utilizing the Top Pool for breeding. I was probably being over-cautious!
Today was a red-letter day for me at the pools - I saw my first kingfisher of the year! Can't believe I've got to July without seeing one! The last two harish-ish winters must have greatly affected numbers. Other than that there were four adult and one juv. little grebes on Top Pool, plus another on Bottom Pool. Two juvenile yellow wagtails were perched on the landfill perimeter fence, along with several meadow pipits and a skylark. Two yellowhammers were singing from the bottom hedge, last Tuesday a corn bunting was singing from the same area - first one I've heard at the Pools this year I think.
A large long-tailed tit flock along Top Footpath was interesting. As usual at this time of year it was carrying several fledged warblers, including whitethroat, willow warbler and a blackcap.
Two Black-necked Grebes, showing well
Took up Jonathan Platt`s kind invitation of a guided tour round his local patch:
1 Brambling
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Grey Partridge
2 Oystercatcher
1 Kestrel
3+ Buzzard
3 Little Grebe
10 Gadwall
4 Siskin
2 Greylag Goose
Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Fieldfares, Redwings, Lapwings, Goldfinches etc
Wellington Boots recommended....
Top Pool: 11 tufted duck, 2 pochard, 8 coot, 4 mallard, 4 little grebes.
Middle Pool: 2 tufted duck, 10 pochard, 9 coot, 16 mallard, 17 Canada geese.
Two yellowhammers were singing from the bottom hedge - the first I've heard this year; a pair of grey partridges flushed from the rough above Middle Pool; at least two meadow pipits and four skylarks also mouching around the rough.
Dave Beetham saw a female goldeneye on Top Pool last Friday - unusual here these days.
I spoke to one of the guys who works on the landfill yesterday, he'd seen a long-eared owl roosting on-site last week, apparently it was there for two days in a spot I've seen them before.
Top Pool: 3 little grebes - my first here since November last year.
25 mallard, 2 gadwall, 13 tufted duck, 2 pochard, 5 coot.
Middle Pool: 21 mallard, 6 tufties, 3 pochard, 8 coot, 1 cormorant.
Bottom Pool: 2 tufties.
Three grey partridge flushed above Middle Pool; a common buzzard flew across Top Pool; 50+ lapwings in fields below the pools; several small flocks of siskins and redpolls buzzing around (five lesser redpoll feeding on birches along Top Path as I walked back to my car).
Bottom Pool: 2 mute swans, 2 herons. Six grey partridge flew off the landfill and at least one unseen siskin flew over. 15-20 meadow pipits on landfill.
Middle Pool: 6 coot, 3 mallard, 1 cormorant. 400+ pinkfeet (heading east) flew over in five skeins, a grey wagtail flew over and I heard a kingfisher piping - only the second sighting of one this year I think?
Top Pool: 8 coot, 14 tufted duck, 6 mallard, 10 little grebes, 1 great crested grebe (unusual here). Siskins calling from Triangle Wood (mainly alder) above the pool and two foxes were on the footpath to the west of the wood.
Middle Pool: 2 coots, 48 tufted duck, 1 little grebe, 1 cormorant.
Bottom Pool: 2 mute swans, 2 dabchicks.
Mallard numbers back up to 100+ mark. Buzzard and sparrowhawk along Top (west) Footpath, kestrel and raven on landfill - first raven I've seen there for months. Flock of 150+ jackdaws gathering on the stubble to the east of the pools, what a delightfull, heart-lifting noise they make. Had a wonderful experience with a fox too along the Bottom (east) Footpath, managed to call it in to within a couple of yards!
A nice Greenshank on each foot
John
They are so well camouflaged I put them down and now I can't find them!
Perhaps I'll take a leaf out of your book next time and wear waders!
Mike
Mike, the camouflage certainly worked, I never even noticed them.
I'll have you know they are my top of the range birding trainers - 17% waterproof and superbly camouflaged (now). I could sneak up on any number of Sabines Gulls in these!
I hung around for a while but there was still no sign of the teal. I think you're right, it has probably moved on.
Has anyone had a look around Rixton Clay Pits? Eighteen teal flushed off Risley Moss yesterday during the thunderstorm, though none of them had blue wings.
And cracking pictures too which proves the find-superb
and I thought careful observation proved the find
And cracking pictures too which proves the find-superb
I have to agree with you there Tom. I walked (waded) round the area in hiking boots. By the time I got back to the car I looked like I'd done the front crawl round the place. Full of sweat and mud!!
Saying that, I'll still go back if it turns up again!! Sucker for punishment!! He he!!
It was only a bit damp Tom !
Nearly getting struck by lightning (a bolt hit a lorry on the top of the tip!), sinking shin-deep in mud and ripping my trousers on barbed wire have never been high up on my "must do before I die" list of things to do.
And in which world does John Ketley live if this afternoon's torrential downpour are what he considers to be "showers"?
I don't care if someone finds a Mugimaki Flycatcher there tomorrow, I'll not be going back. I'd rather a dose of herpes than suffer that place again.
Congratulations!
You genuinely couldn't really miss the bright blue (as per Shoveler coloured) upperwing inner coverts in flight, but for anyone doubting I have put a couple of Jonathon's digiscoped photos on the out-of-county gallery.
I checked all the pools but no sign.
I couldn't spend too much time trying to find it either as I had to be somewhere.
Lets hope it re-appears!!
Don't have time to draw a more recent map as I'm flat out at work but maybe this might help (click on map to enlarge):
https://s707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/jonathan_platt/?action=view¤t=silver-lane-1.jpg&newest=1
Don't park where it says 'park here', park further back (west) along Silver Lane, towards Risley Prison. The teal was on 3rd (Bottom) Pool this morning.
Has anyone tried the 4th Pool? It's hidden from the footpath and there were mallard on it this morning - we didn't check it but we could hear them.
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Thursday 23rd of September 2010 06:00:55 PM
Willow Tit, Stock Dove and c50 Lapwings also present during my visit.
Further directions for Blue-winged Teal at Silver Lane. Footpath now approximately half way along Silver Lane by where metalled road heads north. Follow road north and where it veers right (east) continue north over the stile following the footpath in between two plantations. Once at the ploughed field head right through the hedge and follow to the pools
Park at the eastern end of Silver lane and take footpath north for 400 yards. Once you come to a ploughed field, follow footpath to the right through hedgerow to view pools which are at the very northern edge of the landfill site.
ill second that beltin find,and some reward for all the time you put in on there
I hope to pop along later on.