JOHN TYMON wrote:

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Brian Burnett wrote:

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I wonder if it was the same bird as the one on our nearby patio at dusk (one heck of a garden tick)

Brian and Helen

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I would have thought it was more likely a sparrowhawk on the patio than a goshawk,I daupt one has ever been seen on a patio anywhere.I may be wrong though,but would have thought a sparrowhawk would be the most likely in the garden.

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Fill your boots.
Goshawk in UK garden photos

Cheers
Jason

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Or was Brian referring to the Red-legged Partridge

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I see ,I thowt it were strange

Or was Brian referring to the Red-legged Partridge

Brian Burnett wrote:

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I wonder if it was the same bird as the one on our nearby patio at dusk (one heck of a garden tick)

Brian and Helen

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I would have thought it was more likely a sparrowhawk on the patio than a goshawk,I daupt one has ever been seen on a patio anywhere.I may be wrong though,but would have thought a sparrowhawk would be the most likely in the garden.

Hi Brian and Helen, sounds like you live close to (or in) Weir Lane. If so, chances are it was the same bird. Not more than a handful of sightings at Woolston in 34 years birding there, so it's a brilliant garden tick

Cheers David

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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Brian Burnett wrote:

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I wonder if it was the same bird as the one on our nearby patio at dusk (one heck of a garden tick)

Brian and Helen

---

I would have thought it was more likely a sparrowhawk on the patio than a goshawk,I daupt one has ever been seen on a patio anywhere.I may be wrong though,but would have thought a sparrowhawk would be the most likely in the garden.

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Sure there is a photo that I have seen, will have a look.

Cheers
Jason

-- Edited by JasonAtkinson on Sunday 26th of February 2012 06:59:53 PM

-- Edited by JasonAtkinson on Sunday 26th of February 2012 07:01:18 PM

I wonder if it was the same bird as the one on our nearby patio at dusk (one heck of a garden tick)

Brian and Helen

Nearly forgot - Dave Steel had a Red-legged Partridge, in Weir Lane early this morning, which is a good bird for Woolston !

Cheers David

After a brilliant early morning at Rixton, wandered down onto No.1 bed and was rewarded with a pair of Peregrines displaying, high overhead and a Kingfisher on the Ship Canal. Was chatting to Dave Riley and Ron Brumby when we all looked up to see a stunning male Goshawk powering north, at low level across the bed. It was in sight for several minutes, enabling good field notes to be taken. Six Buzzards, 7 Redwing and a Goldcrest were also of interest.

Then went on to No.3 bed, where 1 Curlew, 2 Woodcock and 4 Ruddy Duck, plus c.640 noisy Black-headed Gulls were the highlights.

Cheers David

A pair of Gt. Crested Grebes in courtship display on No. 3 Bed this afternoon plus Gt. Spotted Woodpecker and Bullfinch on feeders with Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Blue and Gt. Tits.
Over 200 Black - headed Gulls now back on territory.
Pochard, Gadwall, Teal, Cormorant, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Lapwing and Tufted Duck also noted.
A male Goldeneye was at Woolston Weir as I left.

Makes sense, Ian. I aso should have said that I don't put Ruddy records on here from any other sites, as I'm aware of the sensitivities about the issue.

Cheers David

Hi Ian/Jason, WECG's policy is one of openness, as is CAWOS's. The general view on the committee was to support our colleague conservationists in Spain, though not without a lot of heart searching.

As the records are published in both the CAWOS and WECG Annual Reports, there doesn't seem to be much point in concealing records from fellow birders

I don't have a problem with not putting Ruddy records on this site, though, Ian, if it's causing dissonance with Manchester's approach.

let me know what you think.

Cheers David

Don't worry David, it would have been edited before now if I felt it necessary

Though the GMBRG currently withholds infomation on Ruddies and as County Recorder I follow that lead on the Greater Manchester sightings forum (because I really can't wear two hats at once!), I allow the rest of the forums to follow the decisions from their respective counties

Manchester Birding isn't an official website/forum for the GMBRG or the county of GM in general, though my own role in both sometimes blurs that fact




-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 21st of February 2012 12:11:03 PM

I think DEFRA's stance of "eradicate all Ruddy Ducks" still stands, so whilst there are birds there are marksmen. Though I did hear they were only targeting male birds? Not quite sure though.

Cheers
Jason

JasonAtkinson wrote:

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Excellent news David. I think we will reap the benefits I'm sure.
Best keep the Ruddy's under wraps? DEFRA might be watching!

Cheers
Jason

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CAWOS seem to openly publish their Ruddy Duck sightings in their county report. Certainly here in GM we don't and as a website I remove all county sightings.

What is the current situation with DEFRA and Ruddies?

Excellent news David. I think we will reap the benefits I'm sure.
Best keep the Ruddy's under wraps? DEFRA might be watching!

Cheers
Jason

Down at Woolston, on No.3 bed this morning, for a meeting with representatives of the Ship Canal Company. Very positive too, as they formally confirmed their support for our bid for Higher Level Stewardship for the Reserve. This should come on stream in April of this year and allow us to undertake substantial restoration work on the reed beds, which are in the process of drying out and becoming less productive. It should also enable us to open up some better viewing from the hides, with some better habitat for waders etc. All being well, work should start in August this year and be completed the following autumn.

Anyway, not much time for birding but c.450 Black-headed Gulls were back at the breeding colony, 3 Ruddy Ducks were present and there was a noticeable influx of Great Crested Grebes.

Cheers David

Spent the morning with Dave Steel and Les Jones, wandering round the eastern end of the Reserve. Drizzly at first but clearing to make a nice late morning. Totals included:

Goldeneye 2
Little Grebe 5
Common Buzzard 8
Kestrel 3
Lapwing 140
Snipe 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Green Woodpecker 2
Skylark 6
Meadow Pipit 6
Grey Wagtail 1
Blackbird 35
Fieldfare 58
Coal Tit 2
Jackdaw 250
Chaffinch 68
Linnet 25

Cheers David

You'll get your reward, Jason, when you pull that first for the Western Pal out of a net one October morning

Cheers David

Great numbers David, better than our measly 7 bird haul! This morning!

Cheers
Jason

Spent the morning with Les Jones wandering round No.3 bed and through No.1 bed to Bollin Point. Despite the low temperature there was a fair amount of open water on No.3 bed, with 12 Shoveler, 30 Teal and half-a-dozen Coot working hard to keep it open. Most of the waterbirds were spread between the Weir Pool and Bollin Point. Totals incuded:

1 Goosander (male at Bollin Point)
24 Shoveler
32 Coot
19 Jays
60 Teal
1 Mooorhen
1 Water Rail
2 Sparrowhawks
23 Cormorants
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
15 Greenfinches
3 Common Gulls
12 Chaffinches
1 Peregrine
4 Great Crested Grebes
971 Tufted Duck
63 Mallard
3 Goldeneye
4 Grey Herons
13 Mute Swans
29 Pochard
11 Gadwall
22 Redpolls
35 Blackbirds
1 Coal Tit
2 Redwings
3 Common Buzzards
7 Song Thrushes
1 Willow Tit
2 Kestrels
2 Shelduck
3 Wigeon
1 Canada Goose
75 Black-headed Gulls + the usual odds and ends.

Cheers David

On a crisp, cold morning walked with Les Jones round No.3 bed and then all the way down to Bollin Point and back. No.3 bed was frozen over except for a small patch being kept open by 37 teal and 6 Coot. One of the features of the morning was the steady trickling through of Redwing, ahead of the coming weather. Everywhere we walked during the morning birds were filtering past. Thousands must been involved as we counted over 400 during our walk, along with 42 Blackbirds and a few Fieldfare. As usual, the Morgan hide feeders and the seed crop were the most productive areas of No.3 bed, with c.130 Chaffinches, c.45 Greenfinches, and 1 Redpoll counted. A Water Rail, calling from the reed beds was also noteworthy.

On the walk down to Bollin Point, the Ship Canal was highly productive, with 4 Whooper Swans setting the tone by flying past us, heading eastwards. Other good counts included: 133 Mallard, 74 Gadwall, 38 Teal, 237 Tufted Duck, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 32 Pochard and 7 Mute Swans. In the drier areas 13 Bullfinches, 9 Jays, 4 Song Thrushes, 2 Meadow Pipits, 5 Buzzards, 26 Lapwings, 350 Wood Pigeons plus the steady movement of thrushes kept us on our toes.

By Thelwall Viaduct a pair of Peregrines was present and 3 Kestrels included a displaying pair, while the ever present Stock Doves flew nervously around. Altogether, a really good morning.

Cheers David

Spent a nice morning with Les Jones wandering round Nos. 2 and 3 beds. Nothing out of the ordinary but highlights were; an Oystercatcher flying west along the Ship Canal, 110 Chaffinches, 15 Reed Buntings, 12 Linnets, 3 Song Thrushes and c.60 Greenfinches feeding around the seed-crop and feeding stations, plus c.160 Teal, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 75 Tufted Duck, 40 Mallards and a Little Grebe in the wetter areas.

Cheers David

Given the crisp sunny weather on Saturday, Dave Steel, Les Jones and I decided to spend the morning on top of the "hill" (capped tip-site really) at the eastern end of the Reserve, to see what movements the weather triggered. We didn't pick up anything out of the ordinary but it was one of those days when it was a privilege just to be out.

Highlights included: 1 Raven, 3 Siskins, 34 Redpolls, 37 Fieldfares, 5 Song Thrushes, 32 Redwings, 19 Blackbirds, 709 Woodpigeons, 2331 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 19 Herring Gulls and 1 Great Black-backed Gull. The morning finished with a male Peregrine flying with prey towards a local nest-site, presumably to start courtship feeding the female.

Cheers David

Met up with Dave Steel, Les Jones, Sue Haddock, Dave Riley and two friends from Wilmslow and walked the Reserve in generally good, breezy weather. At Woolston Weir 3 Goldeneye were with the Tufted Ducks and at the No.4 bed entrance barrier a pair of Sparrowhawks were in early display. On the east side of No.2 bed, 600 Teal, 85 Mallard and 6 Shoveler were feeding among the flooded trees and vegetation and a few Chaffinches, Reed Buntings and Redwings were noted.

Walking from No.1 bed down to Bollin Point 5 Buzzards, a Kestrel, 42 Lapwing and 3 Song Thrushes were seen, along with c.220 Black-headed Gulls on a flooded field to the south of the Ship Canal. At Bollin Point 6 Little Grebes were a good find, along with 3 distant Goldeneyes. Heading up to the top of Butchersfield Tip we flushed 3 Siskins, 17 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Goldfinches, 11 Bullfinches and a single Woodcock. Back on No.1 bed 3 Herring Gulls headed west as we were enjoying a bite to eat.

Finishing the day on No.3 bed c.120 Chaffinches were feeding in the seed crop, 3 Bullfinches on the feeders, the usual wildfowl were present and 2 Goldcrests ended another good day.

Cheers David

Sounds good fun, Jason - have one for me!

Cheers David

Hi David

Not down Saturday due to a probable drunken evening in Leeds tomorrow!


Cheers
Jason

Hi Jason, always good to see you getting results for all the effort you put in. Are you down this Saturday? If so, I'll catch up with you then . Happy New Year to you to - and to City (even though you tonked us 3-0).

Cheers
David

A good haul David. Weather permitting we are back tomorrow for another go for Snipe. Set 4 nets last Saturday and promptly caught a Jack Snipe (in the Cettis ride) then re captured it in front of the FL hide.ifmi don't see you happy new year.

Cheers
Jason

A cool, drizzly morning but with plenty of birds around. At Woolston Weir 7 Goldeneye were among the scores of Tufted Duck and the odd Shelduck. Walking across the footbridge into No.3 bed I noticed two Kingfishers perched below the bridge. Getting into the Morgan hide and settling in for a good scan and shelter from the rain there were plenty of Teal in view, with smaller numbers of Pochard, Mallard andTufted Duck. On the feeders, 60 Greenfinches and 50 Chaffinches were dominating the other birds, with a couple of Willow Tits darting in and out. Around the Seed Crop were at least a hundred more Chaffinches, with 3 Song Thrushes and 11 Pheasants also making use of the abundant seed crop. Walking off the bed a few Goldcrests were moving, along with some large tit flocks and a good number of Blackbirds.

Altogether a soggy but refreshing morning!

Cheers David

A Migration Watch this morning with Dave Steel, Les Jones and Sue Haddock. Not ideal conditions with light westerlies and intermittent drizzle, so not too much was moving.

Highlights were three Woodcock, 250 Fieldfare, 3,000+ Woodpigeons and 19 Siskins.

Cheers David

A mix of bright sunny weather and squalls this morning made the Morgan Hide in No.3 bed a good place to take occasional shelter. Two Woodcocks flushed from underfoot as I walked towards the Tower Hide and 47 Pinkfeet headed south-east. Eighty Teal were in front of the Morgan Hide and 178 Chaffinches were counted flying onto the bed from a roost on No.2 bed, in the first hour after dawn. The Chaffinch flock feeding on the seed crop is now well in excess of 200 and includes a fair few Reed Buntings. Four Redwing, 60 Greenfinches and 24 Linnets were other counts made.

Cheers David

A lovely clear morning, with birds moving everywhere. Totals included: 4 Woodcock, 7,600 Woodpigeons moving north in the first hour after dawn, 150 Starlings leaving the No.3 bed roost, 1 Water Rail, 2 Sparrowhawks (incl. one trying to take a Moorhen), 160 Chaffinch, 60 Greenfinch, 4 Redpolls, 21 Reed Buntings, 9 Song Thrushes, 25 Blackbirds, 1 Shelduck, 1 Goldeneye and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Cheers David

Did the monthly Migration Watch from Butchersfield Tip, with Dave Steel and Les Jones, (at the easten end of the Reserve). Quietish but with some real highlights. We flushed a Short-eared Owl at dawn and then at 7.00 ish we picked up an estimated 35,000 Starlings coming in from a roost in the Manchester direction. They were being harried by a Peregrine before dispersing all over the Woolston/Rixton Mosses where they fed and sporadically entertained us, throughout the morning, by swirling and swooping whenever a raptor passed over. Other sightings included 15 Buzzards, one Merlin, 6 Kestrels, 5 Sparrowhawks and a few Siskins and Goldcrests.
Meanwhile, on No.3 bed, the Ringing Team caught another Cetti's Warbler, the second in three weeks.

Cheers David

A quick visit to No.3 bed, with impressive numbers of "seed-eaters" around the winter feed meadow. Totals include: 120 Chaffinches, 65 Greenfinches, 12 Linnets, 8 Goldfinches and 12 Reed Buntings.

Other sightings included: 3 Snipe, 2 Goldcrests, 37 Shoveler, 48 Mallard, 30 Tufted Duck, 2 Water Rails, 18 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Fieldfare and 2 Willow Tits.

Cheers David

A good morning on No.3 bed, with lots of movement but no sighting of the Bittern. The most impressive sight was of 8 skeins of Pink-footed Geese, totalling c.1,500 birds, all heading east. Then the ringing team re-trapped last weeks Cetti's Warbler, which was nice. Other interesting counts included c. 250 finches feeding around the seed crop on the North Meadow. These comprised: 150 Chaffinches, 70 Greenfinches and 30 Goldfinches, with maybe 20 or so Reed Buntings for good measure. Four Collared Doves and 8 Stock Doves, both uncommon on No.3 bed, were also benefiting from the seed crop, while just 6 Fieldfares passed over. In the wetter areas 12 Snipe, 1 jack snipe and 110 Teal were the best counts.

Cheers David

Couple of good sightings reported today, both from No.3 bed. A permit holder saw a Bittern in the ride through the reeds below the Tower Hide. It apparently flew not long after dawn and dropped in again about 70 yards away.

Mike Miles also managed to mist-net a first year Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on the North Meadow. Good chance of both birds sticking around.

Cheers David

Nice one, Jason (hope you liked the new ride and bay, by the way!). Cracking bird in the hand aren't they? As well as all the Woolston ones, I managed to ring a load of them in the Albufeira in Mallorca and they remain one of my favourite warblers. Keep up the good work

Cheers

David.

DavidBowman wrote:

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One Cetti's Warbler trapped and ringed on No.3 bed this morning by Kieran Foster and the ringing team.

Cheers

David

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First bird I took out of the net, makes the 5am start worthwhile

Cheers
Jason

One Cetti's Warbler trapped and ringed on No.3 bed this morning by Kieran Foster and the ringing team.

Cheers

David

Did the monthly Migration Watch, with Dave Steel and Les Jones, from our usual perch on top of Butchersfield Tip. The morning started well with a couple each of Crossbill and Brambling, among the large numbers of thrushes. It finished well, too, when a large immature female Goshawk flew in to join nine circling Buzzards. It eventually stooped down onto a flock of Wood Pigeons before disappearing onto Rixton Moss. Highlights were:

Crossbill 2
Brambling 2
Siskin 7
Redpoll 24
Goshawk 1
Raven 2
Peregrine 1
Kestrel 3
Sparrowhawk 5
Common Buzzard 16
Redwing 472
Fieldfare 960
Skylark 49
Meadow Pipit 108
Pink-footed Goose 250
Wood Pigeon 4,400

Cheers David

A typical autumn morning at Woolston, with winter thrushes at last starting to move through and a reminder of summer with late Swallows moving south. Counts on No.3 bed incuded:

Swallow 6
Grey Partridge 26
Fieldfare 260
Redwing 367
Snipe 1
Ruddy Duck 2
Gadwall 48
Lapwing 3
Teal 25
Pochard 14
Tufted Duck 70
Starling 120
Wigeon 10
Canada Goose 47
Skylark 1
Greenfinch 54
Chaffinch 25
Reed Bunting 5
Common Buzzard 4
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 2

Cheers David

This looks like being the year of the Grey Partridge! With some amazingly high counts in the Winwick area, where I live, its probably not surprising that some have turned up at Woolston. Although they used to breed across the Reserve in reasonable numbers, they have been extremely scarce for the past ten years. I was blown away this morning, when 40 were flushed from the seed crop on No.3 bed - an unprecedented count. In addition, a single Green Sandpiper was on the Loop of No.4 Bed.

Cheers
David

Spent the first couple of hours after dawn in the Morgan Hide on No.3 bed, then had a wander round No.2 bed and down through No.1 bed to Bollin Point.

Highlights included two Marsh Harriers (an adult female and an immature bird with no creamy shoulder flashes), two Green Sandpipers, one Snipe, two Peregrines, 120 Teal, 130 Gadwall, 50 Shoveler, 6 Chiffchaffs, 5 Reed Buntings, three Sparrowhawks, 12 Common Buzzards and one Water Rail.

Some good birds and a lovely sunny day - despite the forecast!!

Cheers

David

A permit-holder reported a drake Garganey today (from The Morgan Hide) but I couldn't relocate it. One Green Sandpiper and 3 Snipe were present, though, from the hide on the south bank.

Cheers

David

Highlights of morning of 3/9/11. Counts from across whole Reserve: Lapwing 127, Hobby 1 (flew from regular No.3 bed roost), Shoveler 27, Greylag 1, Canadas 28, Ruddy Duck 1 F, Swallow 21, Kestrel 3, Sparrowhawk 5, Buzzard 9, House Martin c.330 (passed through in 30 minutes), Green Sandpiper 1, Great Black-backed Gull 1, Linnet c.45, G.C. Grebe 21, Tufted Duck 75, Goldfinch c.45, Jay 19, Peregrine 1 imm, Green Woodpecker 1, Rook c.80, Gadwall 167.

Cheers

David Bowman

Hobby flew across the M6 at the Thelwall viaduct and onto the reserve late afternoon

Hi Steven,

You had a good day there on Tuesday, I was down the day before looking for Water Rail and I have still not seen one.

The kingfisher sighting is especilly good as there have been very few sightings this year.

Did you put any of your sightings in the log book, as I am in the process of adding all the records to the "record" web site which collates cheshire sightings.?

11.00am-2.00pm

1 Hobby put on a spectacular display catching dragonflies over the NW pool.
2 BN Grebes still - NW pool
1 well grown young Water Rail briefly. Also 3 squealing Water Rail heard
1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler near the composting toilet. Couldn't see it though!
2 Kingfishers on R.Mersey
1-2 Willow Tits
2 juv Shelduck
2 pairs Ruddy Duck plus 3 young
A few young and adult BH Gulls left
GS Woodpecker - heard
Female Blackcap plus 2 young
3 Bullfinch
1 Greenfinch
3 Reed Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
5 Cormorant
4 Heron
c.10 Lapwings over west
1 Jay
4 Pochard
1 adult Canada Goose & 1 well grown young
Broods of Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Coots, Moorhen, Dabchick, Whitethroat, Blue Tit, LT Tit, Reed Bunting, Pheasant
Also Swift, Magpie, 2 Carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Mute Swan, Teal, Shoveler
Lots of Hawker Dragonflies, peacock, gatekeeper, comma and red admiral butterflies

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 3rd of August 2011 09:14:14 AM

A mid afternoon visit to number 3 bed produced a very nice surprise - a possible Yellow-Legged Gull in front of the main hide.

The bird gave good views without moving a great deal, probably because it appears to have an injured right leg.

I've taken photo's and I'm hoping to get a positive Id sometime soon.

Latest: Don't these Gulls just drive you mad ! It seems my Yellow-Legged Gull is almost certainly a Lesser Black Backed - what a shame.



-- Edited by John Barber on Tuesday 17th of May 2011 09:39:52 PM

-- Edited by John Barber on Tuesday 17th of May 2011 10:24:51 PM