A morning walk 6.50am-9.00am down the Sankey Valley from Newton to Haydock and back. The place was alive with warblers.

many Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
many Chiffchaff
3 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Garden Warbler

2 Stock Dove
4+Yellowhammer
4 Reed Bunting
1 Grey Heron
1 Nuthatch
10 Long Tailed Tits

24 Gadwall on Newton Lake this morning, brood of fledged Nuthatch also present by the lake

Newton Le Willows - Bertram Street Allotments

A number of birds seen while digging over a patch for tomatoes yesterday

1 whitethroat
1 Chiffchaff
1 Swallow

Further birds seen before yesterday include of;

1 Raven
1 Sparrowhawk
Blue Tit
Great Tit

Total up to 19

At Newton Lake, Willow Park this morning: 1 Shelduck, 9 Gadwall, singing Goldcrest

The back yard was busy today at 1.30pm
1 Black Redstart
2 Grey Wagtails 1m 1f
1 Wood Pigeon

The overwintering Grey Wagtail female looks like she has attracted a male, but as there is no water near I would expect they should leave soon.

Black Redstart once again feeding in my back yard at 12.50pm. Just realised that it has been here for a month now.

-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Sunday 8th of March 2015 12:58:33 PM

1 Shelduck, 10 Gadwall, 1 Goosander, min 48 Teal on Newton Lake this morning

Black Redstart on roofs of 2-8 Brookfield Street, Earlestown 08:10-08:20 this morning

Lawrence thanks for the early post much appriciated, The bird was showing when I arrived singing perched on top of your chimney pot, viewed from the pavement gave very close views, The species seems to have in this country at least an affinity with interesting period architecture, Supported in this case by the fact it seems to favour your ornate chimney pot above the more functional featureless ones on offer by your neighbours.



-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Saturday 28th of February 2015 11:14:06 AM

Black Redstart feeding in my back yard at 7.15am this morning.

Hi Mark

I saw the Black Redstart last on Tuesday, but have been working since so have had little time at home. I will have a look tomorrow morning early and post if I see it.

Hi Frank

I will keep my eye out for you.

Lawrence

Lawrence is the Black Redstart still showing?

Might just pop up from work tomorrow for the Black Redstart , so if you see me give me a shout

-- Edited by Frank Whitney on Thursday 26th of February 2015 09:34:30 PM

This morning at Newton Lake in Willow Park, birds included 2 Little Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 11 Gadwall and at least 66 Teal

Lawrence, Jon thanks for the info, I'll have another look next Sat morning, Hopefully the bird will still be around.

At Newton Lake this morning: 1 Goosander, 2 Shelduck, 6 Gadwall, 66 Teal

Mark Burgess wrote:

---

Steven your timing is obviously better than mine, I was there at 8.30am till 8.55am viewing from the grassed area at the end of the back alley, No sign of the bird for me, I gave up in the end as I felt a little self conscious scanning the rooftops in a densly populated area.

---

Mark, the bird was showing on the chimneys at the back of No 6 at about 10.15 this morning

Hi Mark

It tends to spend more time near the other gates at the other end of the alley between my house and the back of Cheshire plumbing supplies. I will let any neighbours know what the various bird watchers are doing if they get concerned, but as yet they have no problem that I have come across. I have seen a number of birders outside my house and have let them through the gates for a look and all has been fine up to now. If I see you I will let you through. As with all residential birds the discretion of the birders is most welcome.

I have just had the Black Redstart and Grey Wagtail feeding in my back yard at 12.00.

Steven

Thanks for the conformation of the sex of the Sparrowhawk. Its good to see them around here more regularly.

Lawrence

Steven your timing is obviously better than mine, I was there at 8.30am till 8.55am viewing from the grassed area at the end of the back alley, No sign of the bird for me, I gave up in the end as I felt a little self conscious scanning the rooftops in a densly populated area.

Black redstart on chimney of Brookfield st at 8.25am it then flew down towards the waste land behind the opposite houses, could not see it though.
Whilst waiting for the train at earlestown the chimney is still clearly visible from platform 4 but no signs whilst waiting for the train.
Lawrence, there was a female sparrowhawk lingering around the area while I was waiting for the train.

A Sparrowhawk (sex undeterminable as distant) has just flushed the resident flock of Feral Pigeons over the road from my house. This bird was a reasonable size but definitely a Sparrowhawk. Black Redstart still sitting on next doors chimney.

-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Saturday 21st of February 2015 10:33:14 AM

The Black Redstart appeared a couple of times on the roofs of 2-8 Brookfield Street, Earlestown between 08:10 and 08:20 this morning

-- Edited by dave broome on Friday 20th of February 2015 08:26:32 AM

That's possibly the bird I saw, just put it down as a large female sparrowhawk.
It went through at the opposite end of the houses from the Black Redstart.
I didn't get chance to photograph it.

Sorry, the link didn't work so I sent it to Rare bird alert on an email

-- Edited by M Gannon on Wednesday 18th of February 2015 05:38:51 PM

A very newsworthy report from around 10:30 this morning. I managed to find the black redstart on its favoured chimney and took several shots. However, when I was about to leave, I saw what I thought a sparrowhawk circling nearby. But then, another birdwatcher with a lot more experience than me said that the bird actually resembled a goshawk in the shape and flight style. I'd never saw a goshawk, so I wasn't sure what to look for. I took some pictures, and as soon as I can I'll put a link to them on this page. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Black Redstart still showing well on the chimneys of the terraced housing along Brookfield Street, Newton-Le-Willows. Seems to be favouring the 'spiked' chimney pot nearer the main road end.

Black Redstart showing very well this lunchtime, feeding on Lawrences back wall, and it was bin day so the alley gates were open
Nice to meet Lawrence, cheers for the heads-up as to its location.
Also Sparrowhawk zoomed through at the top end of the street.

Hi Colin

It is good to see that my chimney is now famous on the web. I am glad you saw it.

Lawrence

Hi Lawrence,
Thanks for the updates. I saw it myself today. We drove down Brookfield street and parked at the end of the terrace on the right hand side. Then we stood on the grass and looked down the alley between Brookfield street and Collingwood road. We could see it quite distantly on top of a chimney, but by walking down Collingwood road we found a gap in the houses and fortunately could see the bird much closer, still on top of the chimney. I put some photos on my blog here http://birdingsthelens.blogspot.co.uk/.

Only the second black redstart I have ever seen in St Helens borough.

Colin



-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 16th of February 2015 11:06:48 PM

Black Redstart feeding in back yard this morning.

The Black Redstart has returned to the feeder in my back yard this morning so it looks like it may be here for a while yet. It is also joined by the winter resident Grey Wagtail.

I was out all yesterday so no sighting, but all the food was gone so I assume the Black Redstart and Grey Wagtail have fed well. I put more food out last night but have yet to see her (it looks like a female) today. I will post as soon as she re-appears.

Any more sightings Lawrence?

Cheers Lawrence, I might find time in my schedule to take a look :)

Hi Paul
No my house backs onto the backs of Hope Street. It is feeding at the moment in the back yard but the back alley is behind alley gates. It often sits on the rooftops of the surrounding houses so may be visible.

I'm just leaving to look for the Laughing Gull.
Thanks
Lawrence

That would be a fantastic find Lawrence, does your house back onto the derelict land of Houghton street?

1 Shelduck and min 73 Teal on Newton Lake this morning

To my amazement I have just seen a Black Redstart in my back yard in Brookfield Street, Newton Le Willows. We also have our winter resident Grey Wagtail which along with a robin, Blackbird, Wood pigeon and the odd Jackdaw and Magpie are our only visitors.

Only a few birds visit our yard eve though we put food out in the winter which makes this one all the more surprising.

Much Hapiness

4 Shelduck and 81 Teal on Newton Lake, Willow Park this morning

Monday 2nd Feb: 4 Shelduck, 68 Teal

At Newton Lake today, birds included 2 Shelduck, 1 Goosander and 66 Teal

Newton Le Willows - Bertram Street Allotments

Update on the ongoing list as I was working in the allotment today. Old Total 1

Herring Gull
Black headed Gull
Feral Pigeon
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Robin
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
Goldfinch

New Total 12. I will post when more seen.

Newton Le Willows - Bertram Street Allotments

I have noticed a number of birds on my allotment so I thought I would start an ongoing list and post new and interesting birds as I see them while digging over winter.

No 1 = Great Spotted Woodpecker (flying and calling)

It will be interesting to see how many species I can see. The site is off Market Street and is surrounded by houses but there are a number of trees and some green space as well.

Today's sightings:

1 kingfisher
30 teal
3 gadwall
7 tufted duck
1 buzzard
5 little grebe

By coincidence, not in Newton, but in Cheshire, I had my first ever Jay over my garden in Moulton near Northwich last week. Granted I'm at work most days so miss a lot of the time at my house but this species has taken 15 years to get on the garden list!!

A red letter day. The first Jay to fly over my house in 10 years living here. I live over the road from Earlestown railway station.

-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Wednesday 8th of October 2014 09:19:09 AM

Newton Lake pm-of note
Gadwall-1 pair
Tufted Duck-4
Nuthatch-1

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

Jon Taverner wrote:

---

No sign of it so far.

---

Just had an e-mail from Jon as hes just left the lake and there has been no sign all morning up to now.What I did notice last night was it was sticking with a female Tufted all the time,so may have followed that somewhere,but last night it looked really tired,so could have had a good rest then moved on further north as tends to happen with these American vagrants,that still migrate as though they are still in the USA,so could be in the Lake District now,but penny will be worth checking as the tufted may travel from Newton to the SE bay at penny.
Glad I went last night as it was in the best condition of any Male ring necked duck I have seen in the wild.
Lets hope it returns later today



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 8th of April 2014 12:51:46 PM

---

You're right John, it really was a good looking bird and in almost pristine condition. And I'm glad I took the trouble to go and see it otherwise would've regretted it. I heard one birder say he didn't think it was going anywhere in a hurry, and I remember thinking Don't bank on it mate...if that female Tufted Duck decides to go then he's going with her. I thought it was rather comical the way he kept swimming closer to her when she drifted away so he must've been watching her most of the time!
Cheers
Rob

-Makes sense John. April seems to be a good month for these to turn up (certainly holds true for Co. Durham over the last decade).
If the Newton bird has indeed now headed off north, it's only 7/8 kms due north to Wigan Flashes.....

Jon Taverner wrote:

---

No sign of it so far.

---

Just had an e-mail from Jon as hes just left the lake and there has been no sign all morning up to now.What I did notice last night was it was sticking with a female Tufted all the time,so may have followed that somewhere,but last night it looked really tired,so could have had a good rest then moved on further north as tends to happen with these American vagrants,that still migrate as though they are still in the USA,so could be in the Lake District now,but penny will be worth checking as the tufted may travel from Newton to the SE bay at penny.
Glad I went last night as it was in the best condition of any Male ring necked duck I have seen in the wild.
Lets hope it returns later today



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 8th of April 2014 12:51:46 PM