Many gulls coming and going at 1st pool, quick count gave: Black-headed - 120+ Common - 2 Lesser black-back - 14 Great black-back - 3 Herring - 9
Large tit flock in the motorway wood meant I was late for work again. Worth it though - mainly long-tailed tits, but smaller no's of blue, coal and great and at least one willow tit - first one I've seen here since spring. At least 4 goldcrests tagging along too.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Oct 31 3:09 PM, 2008
Silver Lane Pools - 6.45-8.15am
Bullfinch - 4 Siskin - 4 (dropped into alders, first I've seen here this winter) Fieldfare - 40+ on passage, plus 8 dropped into hedge Redwing - 10+ (at least 10 from hedgerows, several birds on passage) Tufted duck - 16 (1st pool) Pochard - 4 (1st pool) Shovellor - 3 (1st pool) Coot - 72 (1st pool) Mallard - 18 (10 1st pool, 8 3rd pool) Kingfisher - 1 (2nd pool) Buzzard - 2 Stonechat - 1 (above 2nd pool) Meadow pipit - 7 (6 above 2nd pool, 1 on passage) Mute swan - 7 (3rd pool) Canada goose - 42 (3rd pool) Jay - 2
Quick visit yesterday to 1st pool, highlight of which was 3 wigeon anongst usual stuff. Large tit flock on Silver Lane held mainly lt, but varying no's of blue, great and coal, and several goldcrests (2 seen, more heard).
109 Redwing - 41 south at 11:05, 10 feeding on berries by path and showing well with rest heading nw in dribs and drabs 10 Jays 2 Stonechats 3 Goldcrest 2 Coal Tit 40+ Long-tailed Tit 2 Buzzard 11 Skylark 10 Mipit 1 Grey Wagtail 15+ Siskin 14 Goldfinch 1 Snipe
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Oct 16 11:35 AM, 2008
15 October - 1.30-3.00pm
1st Pool Pair ruddy shelduck 16 tufted duck 65 coot 25+ mallard 2 little grebe
Other pools empty apart from 3 mute swans on 3rd pool.
Other birds included 1 buzzard, 30+ linnet flock on landfill, at least 6 redwing (flew out of hedge on far side), more jays than usual (prob. 10-12), 4 stonechats (3 above 2nd pool, 1 f. again east end of landfill).
Weird thing happened: Around 2.00pm all the duck on 1st pool flushed (inc. r. shelduck, which flew north). Suspected a buzzard, but none in sight. On the far side of the pool I spotted what I thought was a coot thrashing around in the water, then realised it was a carrion crow! It was around five yards from the bank and managed to flap its way ashore. I'm sure this is what flushed the duck, but no idea how it ended up in the water (did consider a peregrine had knocked it down, but duck generally don't like moving from water when a large falcon is above them, and no reaction from vast local woodpigeon population)?
all on pool 1 except for mute swans, which were on pool 3.
A flock of canada geese on pool 1 held an emperor goose hybrid.
Lack of birds on the two most remote pools makes me suspicious someone may be shooting around them - even the mute swans swam off when they saw me!
Other birds included 3 kestrels, at least 5 buzzards, and a female stonechat at the east end of the landfill (up to four stonechats have wintered around here in previous years).
Last month was quiet, though I only managed 8 visits. Pochard (up to seven) were present most visits, and a kingfisher on 4th was a first for me at this site.
I see ravens very occasionally during winter flighting from the landfill, but I haven't seen any at such an early date before, nor have I seen them foraging away from the landfill itself. Initially, I saw a single bird circling over the disused railway lines, towards Holcroft Lane. Eventually it disappeared behind the lines, a few minutes later it reappeared and flew towards Risley HMP, calling occasionally, before circling back. Another raven then rose from behind the lines and joined it, they then flew to the landfill.
I walked right round the landfill today, the flooding at the east end has subsided a great deal (despite heavy rain today) and is just about passable without the need for wellies!
Jonathan
Jonathan said
Fri Aug 29 10:38 PM, 2008
Hi Mike,
I walked all the way round the landfill a couple of weeks ago, the east end was flooded as usual - spent the rest of the evening walking about with boots full of 'tip juice'! Last two occasions I've walked from Silver Lane end, then turned back at the last pool and re-traced my steps. If you want to walk right round, I'd wear wellies.
Cheers Jonathan
Mike Baron said
Fri Aug 29 9:04 PM, 2008
Hi Jonathan
Long time no see - will I still need bog snorkling gear for the path around the pools?
Mike
Jonathan said
Fri Aug 29 8:50 PM, 2008
6.30am - 8.00am
6 little grebe (4 - 1st pool, 1 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd) 8 tufted duck (1st pool) 2 gadwall (1st pool) 33 coot (including one still nesting) 19 mallard (5 - 1st pool, 14 - 3rd pool) 3 grey herons (1 - 1st pool, 2 - 4th pool) 7 mute swans (6 - 1st pool, 1 - 2nd) 1 dunlin (2nd pool) 1 ringed plover (flew over calling)
+ 1 skylark, 3 mipits, 1 kestrel, 1 male sparrowhawk, 1 buzzard, large band of lt tits, goldfinches, linnets, bullfinch, jays, etc.
Jonathan
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Aug 27 8:18 PM, 2008
12.45 - 1.30
6 little grebe
7 tuffted duck
38 coot (+2 on 2nd pool)
4 mallard
1 curlew (fly-by)
1 cormorant
1 grey heron
1 mute swan (3rd pool)
green sandpiper (heard only, on 2nd pool)
+ buzzard, kestrel, 3 goldfinch, 21 (2, 5 & 14) linnet, 5 bullfinch, 3 jays, 5 stock doves, etc.
Small passage of sand martins, 15-20 birds.
Jonathan
Siskin - 1
Blackbirds - 27+
Bullfinch - 5 (3 + 2)
Redwing - 30+
Goldcrest - 7+
Jay - 2
Buzzard - 4
Goldfinch - 17 (1 + 9 + 7)
Song thrush - 8
Tufted duck - 17 (1st pool)
Pochard - 4 (1st pool)
Little grebe - 1 (1st pool)
Mute swan - 7(4 1st pool, 3 2nd pool)
Meadow pipit - 11
Grey partridge - 11
Mistle thrush - 4
Common snipe - 1
Fieldfare - 4
Stonechat - 2
Many gulls coming and going at 1st pool, quick count gave:
Black-headed - 120+
Common - 2
Lesser black-back - 14
Great black-back - 3
Herring - 9
Large tit flock in the motorway wood meant I was late for work again. Worth it though - mainly long-tailed tits, but smaller no's of blue, coal and great and at least one willow tit - first one I've seen here since spring. At least 4 goldcrests tagging along too.
Bullfinch - 4
Siskin - 4 (dropped into alders, first I've seen here this winter)
Fieldfare - 40+ on passage, plus 8 dropped into hedge
Redwing - 10+ (at least 10 from hedgerows, several birds on passage)
Tufted duck - 16 (1st pool)
Pochard - 4 (1st pool)
Shovellor - 3 (1st pool)
Coot - 72 (1st pool)
Mallard - 18 (10 1st pool, 8 3rd pool)
Kingfisher - 1 (2nd pool)
Buzzard - 2
Stonechat - 1 (above 2nd pool)
Meadow pipit - 7 (6 above 2nd pool, 1 on passage)
Mute swan - 7 (3rd pool)
Canada goose - 42 (3rd pool)
Jay - 2
Quick visit yesterday to 1st pool, highlight of which was 3 wigeon anongst usual stuff.
Large tit flock on Silver Lane held mainly lt, but varying no's of blue, great and coal, and several goldcrests (2 seen, more heard).
Info thanks to Steve Christmas.
1st pool -
2 Little Grebe
26 Mallard
62 Coot
18 Tufted Duck
59 Canada Goose
143 Black-headed gulls
3 Moorhen
3rd pool
4 Mute Swan (2 juvs)
Elsewhere:
109 Redwing - 41 south at 11:05, 10 feeding on berries by path and showing well with rest heading nw in dribs and drabs
10 Jays
2 Stonechats
3 Goldcrest
2 Coal Tit
40+ Long-tailed Tit
2 Buzzard
11 Skylark
10 Mipit
1 Grey Wagtail
15+ Siskin
14 Goldfinch
1 Snipe
1st Pool
Pair ruddy shelduck
16 tufted duck
65 coot
25+ mallard
2 little grebe
Other pools empty apart from 3 mute swans on 3rd pool.
Other birds included 1 buzzard, 30+ linnet flock on landfill, at least 6 redwing (flew out of hedge on far side), more jays than usual (prob. 10-12), 4 stonechats (3 above 2nd pool, 1 f. again east end of landfill).
Weird thing happened: Around 2.00pm all the duck on 1st pool flushed (inc. r. shelduck, which flew north). Suspected a buzzard, but none in sight. On the far side of the pool I spotted what I thought was a coot thrashing around in the water, then realised it was a carrion crow! It was around five yards from the bank and managed to flap its way ashore. I'm sure this is what flushed the duck, but no idea how it ended up in the water (did consider a peregrine had knocked it down, but duck generally don't like moving from water when a large falcon is above them, and no reaction from vast local woodpigeon population)?
Jonathan
58 coot
23 tuffted duck
4 little grebe
19 mallard
2 herons
2 mute swans
all on pool 1 except for mute swans, which were on pool 3.
A flock of canada geese on pool 1 held an emperor goose hybrid.
Lack of birds on the two most remote pools makes me suspicious someone may be shooting around them - even the mute swans swam off when they saw me!
Other birds included 3 kestrels, at least 5 buzzards, and a female stonechat at the east end of the landfill (up to four stonechats have wintered around here in previous years).
Last month was quiet, though I only managed 8 visits. Pochard (up to seven) were present most visits, and a kingfisher on 4th was a first for me at this site.
Jonathan
10 tufted duck (7-1st pool, 3-2nd)
41 coot (39-1st, 2-2nd)
6 little grebe (1st pool)
5 mallard (3rd pool)
4 teal (3rd pool)
2 herons (1st & 4th pools)
1 buzzard
2 ravens
I see ravens very occasionally during winter flighting from the landfill, but I haven't seen any at such an early date before, nor have I seen them foraging away from the landfill itself. Initially, I saw a single bird circling over the disused railway lines, towards Holcroft Lane. Eventually it disappeared behind the lines, a few minutes later it reappeared and flew towards Risley HMP, calling occasionally, before circling back. Another raven then rose from behind the lines and joined it, they then flew to the landfill.
I walked right round the landfill today, the flooding at the east end has subsided a great deal (despite heavy rain today) and is just about passable without the need for wellies!
Jonathan
I walked all the way round the landfill a couple of weeks ago, the east end was flooded as usual - spent the rest of the evening walking about with boots full of 'tip juice'! Last two occasions I've walked from Silver Lane end, then turned back at the last pool and re-traced my steps. If you want to walk right round, I'd wear wellies.
Cheers
Jonathan
Long time no see - will I still need bog snorkling gear for the path around the pools?
Mike
6 little grebe (4 - 1st pool, 1 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd)
8 tufted duck (1st pool)
2 gadwall (1st pool)
33 coot (including one still nesting)
19 mallard (5 - 1st pool, 14 - 3rd pool)
3 grey herons (1 - 1st pool, 2 - 4th pool)
7 mute swans (6 - 1st pool, 1 - 2nd)
1 dunlin (2nd pool)
1 ringed plover (flew over calling)
+ 1 skylark, 3 mipits, 1 kestrel, 1 male sparrowhawk, 1 buzzard, large band of lt tits, goldfinches, linnets, bullfinch, jays, etc.
Jonathan