I remembered Id kept a photo of a particular Common Buzzard I saw at distance in a field near Puddington / Burton Mere area back in December 2015 (ref my post of same date), I sent an image to Ian at the time as I was making comparisons to Rough-legged which it wasnt. Could this be one of the pale parental birds that has been mentioned? Sorry its not clearer as it was at distance and if I remember correctly it wasnt the best of weather conditions for photos. Cheers
Im fairly local and I and others have seen this bird a few times over the last 3 years, though, fairly infrequently, it has to be said. Maybe it is the offspring of the bird you saw 10 years ago?
Cheers
Pat
Rob Smith said
Thu Sep 6 7:12 PM, 2018
I used to work in the Hale area until about 10 years ago when a similar bird was recorded there in 2008. Unless there has been others I don't think this is the same bird?
Patrick Earith said
Thu Sep 6 7:54 AM, 2018
Its been around a few years now and is often misidentified as an Osprey! This is the best photo of it anyone has managed to get though afaik, so, well done Rob!
Roger Baker 3 said
Wed Sep 5 11:22 PM, 2018
Certainly a bonnie bird that Rob .... could do with something like that turning up round our end to liven things up !
Roger.
Rob Smith said
Wed Sep 5 8:00 PM, 2018
Leucistic Buzzard - A cracking bird to view and a real rarity (see photo). Watched it for about 30' this morning as it fed on a Canada goose for most of that time. It eventually took off, caught a thermal and drifted off to the SW but it could be back!
Other than that just 6 White Wagtails & a Kestrel to keep it company.
PM
2 m Yellow Wagtail and 2 m White Wagtail together, feeding in field with horses
1 f Wheatear very active in front of pools
John O'Neill said
Tue Aug 15 11:24 PM, 2017
PM
Single Egyptian Goose . Canada and Greylag Geese not associating with the Egyptian.
Small nos of Black Tailed Godwits, Lapwings. No other waders.
Rob Smith said
Thu Aug 10 6:36 PM, 2017
am Black Tailed Godwits - 25 Green Sandpiper - 2 (opp side of road) Common Sandpiper - 1 Ruff - 1 Whimbrel - 1 Cormorant - 40 decorating trees on marsh!
White Wagtails - 7 Kingfisher - 1 along brook Swifts - 50 to 100 at times Swallow & House Martins - small numbers continually drifting south along with an occasional Sand martin
John O'Neill said
Sun Jun 25 8:03 PM, 2017
PM
4 Avocets 2 Adult 2 well grown young
Black Tailed Godwit flock growing in number, 100+
John O'Neill said
Tue May 23 7:52 PM, 2017
PM
3 Avocet
2 Stock Doves
Doc Brewster said
Mon May 22 9:05 PM, 2017
sid ashton wrote:
I suppose the M62 towards Liverpool and then the Knowsley Expressway A5300 would be a way to avoid Runcorn/Widnes,
a bit further but hopefully less time on the road. It seems a shame to be put off going to the pools by traffic congestion.
Good tip, Sid, I agree that would probably be a way to avoid the congestion bottleneck. Hope others wanting to go take note of these posts
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 22nd of May 2017 09:06:42 PM
sid ashton said
Mon May 22 6:23 PM, 2017
Doc Brewster wrote:
sid ashton wrote:
Had a couple of hours at the pools today hoping to see the reported Channel Wagtail. No luck there but a nice variety of other species including Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin on the pools with a female Marsh Harrier over the wood. Horrendous journeys both ways, 3.5 hours for the round trip in the car was not good
Getting over to the pools is not much fun these days, the traffic has become a real pain on that section, don't really know a way around it, Sid, sorry to hear about your experience, not much fun Those hybrid wagtails are almost annual at Marbury nowadays, I will put news on here if one turns up again this year, possibly a bit late but may still be time. It is great you bring it up as I was discussing with another forum member why so many hybrids like the two Hale birds turn up these days, we used to get a few Blue-headed Wagtails in the Uk, especially at Frodsham in the NW. If each paired up with a UK Yellow then it may produce between 4 and 10 hybrid 'Channel Wagtails' per year, hence the large numbers now reported.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 22nd of May 2017 05:58:45 PM
I suppose the M62 towards Liverpool and then the Knowsley Expressway A5300 would be a way to avoid Runcorn/Widnes, a bit further but hopefully less time on the road. It seems a shame to be put off going to the pools by traffic congestion.
Doc Brewster said
Mon May 22 5:57 PM, 2017
sid ashton wrote:
Had a couple of hours at the pools today hoping to see the reported Channel Wagtail. No luck there but a nice variety of other species including Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin on the pools with a female Marsh Harrier over the wood. Horrendous journeys both ways, 3.5 hours for the round trip in the car was not good
Getting over to the pools is not much fun these days, the traffic has become a real pain on that section, don't really know a way around it, Sid, sorry to hear about your experience, not much fun Those hybrid wagtails are almost annual at Marbury nowadays, I will put news on here if one turns up again this year, possibly a bit late but may still be time. It is great you bring it up as I was discussing with another forum member why so many hybrids like the two Hale birds turn up these days, we used to get a few Blue-headed Wagtails in the Uk, especially at Frodsham in the NW. If each paired up with a UK Yellow then it may produce between 4 and 10 hybrid 'Channel Wagtails' per year, hence the large numbers now reported.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 22nd of May 2017 05:58:45 PM
sid ashton said
Mon May 22 5:45 PM, 2017
Had a couple of hours at the pools today hoping to see the reported Channel Wagtail. No luck there but a nice variety of other species including Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin on the pools with a female Marsh Harrier over the wood. Horrendous journeys both ways, 3.5 hours for the round trip in the car was not good
Ian Coote said
Sat May 6 10:17 AM, 2017
09:45hrs: Greenshank, 2 Swift
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of May 2017 10:37:17 AM
John O'Neill said
Sat May 6 10:12 AM, 2017
AM 1 Greenshank
John O'Neill said
Mon May 1 5:51 PM, 2017
PM 1 F Marsh Harrier hawking over the small reed bed at back of pools.
A pair of Whinchats with Wheatear in poolside fields viewable from Carr Lane. Active.
2 M Ruff coming into summer plumage
-- Edited by John O'Neill on Monday 1st of May 2017 05:52:26 PM
John O'Neill said
Sun Apr 16 5:32 PM, 2017
PM
3 Wheatear
2 Dunlin
2 Avocet
1 Kestrel mobbed by House Martin (several Swallow and Sand Martins also present)
1 Grey Partridge
20+ Black Tailed Godwit a few in summer plumage
3 White Wagtail
John O'Neill said
Wed Apr 12 9:34 PM, 2017
PM
1 male Yellow Wagtail
2 Swallows
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Grey Partridge
1 Ruff
1 f Sparrowhawk low over pools
no wheatear
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 10 10:41 AM, 2017
AM
4 House Martins
1 Swallow
2 Little Ringed Plover
1 f Yellow Wagtail
at least 5 Wheatear
Rob Smith said
Thu Feb 9 6:57 PM, 2017
Merlin, male - flew low across pools heading west Buzzard & Kestrel perched up on posts/trees Lapwing - 500 Black tailed Godwits - 3 plus a few Shoveler & plenty of Teal & Mallard
First visit here this afternoon, two hours from 1pm, sunny and hot.
Wood Sandpiper seen on pool/flooded field to the west of Carr Lane, viewed from the cut out in the hedge. Also here c.6 Snipe, Kingfisher, 2 Buzzard soaring above and a juvenile Hobby that flew in calling loudly.
Over on the main pools were in excess of 100 Black tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff, Kestrel, Yellow Wagtail and a very possible second Wood Sandpiper, although in view of distance and heat haze, I couldn't be one hundred per cent certain.
John O'Neill said
Mon Aug 22 9:41 PM, 2016
2 Wood Sandpipers and at least 4 Little Ringed Plover this afternoon.
John Watson said
Sun Aug 21 6:53 PM, 2016
2 Wood Sandpipers, W of Carr Lane. Also Green Sandpiper reported
Nice that someone has trimmed the hedge leaving a gap to view through
John Watson said
Sun Jul 24 10:46 AM, 2016
According to RBA, Glossy Ibis here mid-am today "in flooded field by Carr Lane". Not sure which side, but if it's W side then stepladder might be needed
Presumably the bird from Lunt Meadows
John Watson said
Mon Jul 18 7:47 AM, 2016
Garganey, ad m eclipse. W of Carr Lane, Sunday pm
Needed a step ladder to view over the tall vegetation
-- Edited by John Watson on Monday 18th of July 2016 07:49:14 AM
Rob Creek said
Sun Jul 17 1:53 PM, 2016
Saturday 16th July Late afternoon visit with Simon Gough and Chris Chandler.
- Wood Sandpiper 1 brief view and a bit distant too, on far side of the large pool viewed from Town Lane. - Greenshank 1 - Black-tailed Godwit 50+ - Avocet - Redshank - Ruff in lovely speckled plumage - Marsh Harrier 1 great views of what I think was a juv - Common Buzzard 2 - House Martin and Sand Martin - Skylark - Stock Dove - Shoveler - Gadwall
I thought I had a female Garganey swimming with some of the Gadwall but with 3 being reported I would've expected to see the 3 together maybe so on review I'm not too sure. The Ducks we saw on the banking were definitely Gadwall so I think we dipped on the Garganey.
Wood Sandpiper still present this morning at the back of the pool favouring the margins of the tall vegetation
steven burke said
Sun May 8 12:07 AM, 2016
7th may. 7.45pm
brilliant views of the wood sandpiper as it fed in the small pool of water in the cow field viewed from carr lane, it then decided to fly over carr lane & land in the field with a larger amount of water & was even closer
1/4 second view of Wood Sandpiper at distant end of pool, W of Carr Lane at 17:00 Then, it came out of reeds/etc at 17:30 for a few minutes Patience & different angles needed
Doc Brewster said
Fri May 6 10:53 PM, 2016
Having an afternoon free I braved the Runcorn Bridge roadworks and headed to Carr Lane Pools. A lengthy search of the main site revealed 2 Wheatears, about 7 Redshanks. On the opposite side of the road three Little Egrets pranced around in display and nearby a Greenshank was feeding. Despite an extensive search I could not find the reported Wood Sandpiper. But luck was on my side when a mate turned up to direct me to another pool, not really part of the main complex. This one is a small, well vegetated pool on the west side of Carr Lane near the bridge over the stream, so not viewing from Town Lane where the 'gate viewpoint' is, and where we usually view from. Straight away as I lifted my bins there was the Wood Sandpiper at the back of the pool amongst emergent vegetation and being quite skulky, but giving excellent scope views. I rang RBA with the corrected directions, as another birder I know who joined us confirmed this to be its favoured pool and where it has been 99.9% of the time in spite of info service messages giving a different impression.
John O'Neill said
Sun May 1 11:44 AM, 2016
1 Common Sandpiper on pools this morning
Patrick Earith said
Sun May 1 10:19 AM, 2016
Another good day here yesterday.
female Redstart, in same hedge as the male reported by Steven below
female Pied Flycatcher, in willows by the red gate near the bridge on Carr Lane. At least 2 Sedge Warblers in the reedbed across the road from here too
On and around the pools themselves were 2 Whimbrel (unusual to see them on the pools rather than on Hale Marsh), 4 Yellow Wagtail, but, no sign of the recent 'Channel' Wagtail. Plenty of White Wagtail here still and some Swift coming through as well.
Earlier, a Red Kite had been reported too.
steven burke said
Sun Apr 24 10:32 PM, 2016
I tried my luck here after Astley moss for the glossy ibis but no joy in the almost 5 hours here & in some rain. despite the no show I still enjoyed the birds I did see...
1 redstart, male, it was over town lane opposite the pools in a small hedgerow, I managed to get another chap on it called ian who I have met before. 1 short eared owl, sat in the field next to carr lane opposite the pools, I noticed it at 5.15pm & was still sat there when I left around 6.45pm,it was real I managed some pics & video. 3 yellow wagtails 1 channel wagtail 40+ pied & white wagtails 47 black tailed godwit 8 redshank 2 little ringed plover 1 wheatear 2 buzzard 1 kestrel 1 little egret 27 shelduck gadwall, teal, shoveler & lapwing few skylarks & meadow pipits around several swallows, sand martins, house martins, plus 4 swifts, my first of the year.
1 corn bunting & 2 wheatear at the farm on carr lane where the corncrake was last year.
whilst on my way here from Astley moss when going along the A5300 knowsley expressway between the M62 & A562 a red kite went low over from east to west
1 male redstart (seen very distantly from the town lane viewing point, but when I went to care lane hoping for better views There was no sign of it) 1 channel wagtail 2 yellow wagtail 2 wheatear 7 avocet
Rob Creek said
Sun Apr 17 8:20 AM, 2016
Saturday 16th April - teatime visit approx 6pm - 7pm with Simon Gough.
- Yellow Wagtail, a group of 8 birds in total, 2 of which were... - Channel Wagtail, distant at first but eventually came closer following the Hereford Cattle. (1 bird had a slightly bluer head, the other having a more pale grey head) - Wheatear 1 - Meadow Pipit 1 - Skylark 1 - Avocet 10+ - Black-tailed Godwit 5 - Redshank, not counted, quite a few around - Raven 1 - Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin.
Quick PM visit to try to spot Patrick's reported Redstart .. still present , a bit distant flitting round a hawthorn bush.
Also seen
At least 7 Yellow Wagtails
1 m Wheatear
6 Avocet
3 Black Tailed Godwit
Plenty of Swallows with my first House Martins of the year (at least 3 birds)
Patrick Earith said
Wed Apr 13 8:53 PM, 2016
A quick evening visit
In the horse field adjacent to the Pools was a cracking male Redstart (digiscope pic attached) Lovely stuff! Also, in this field were a male Yellow Wagtail and a male Wheatear.
On and around the Pools were 6 Avocet, the regular pale Buzzard, 3 White Wagtail and a dozen or so Black-tailed Godwit amongst the usual fare.
9 Avocet, very active
4 Black Tailed Godwit
3 White Wagtail
John Watson said
Mon Apr 4 8:10 AM, 2016
Sun 3rd April 5pm
1 Yellow Wagtail (m) from Carr Lane 2 obvious pairs Avocet 4 Black-Tailed Godwit 1 stunning Golden Plover
steven burke said
Sun Apr 3 11:26 PM, 2016
late post for yesterday evening 2nd april.
2 yellow wagtails, both stunning males. 1 little ringed plover 3 black tailed godwit 1 snipe 2 avocet 8 redshank 15+ pied wagtails 1 grey heron lapwing & teal. 1 grey partridge in field on opposite side of the pools.
M Gannon said
Thu Mar 31 12:55 PM, 2016
Late post from yesterday
I visited the pools to try and catch up with the little ringed plovers that had been seen over the past few days. Unfortunately, there was no sign of them, but at least there was a consolation in the form of my first merlin in a while. A local border found the bird, which was initially very distant, in a tree on the adjacent hale marsh, but over time it came closer and closer until eventually it landed in a dead tree, only about 20 feet away. It was the first time I had seen a merlin as more than a speck flying in the distance, so it made up for missing the plovers!
The pools themselves were very quiet, with only 4 avocets, 2 ruff and about 50 black tailed godwits of note
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Jun 9 9:49 PM, 2015
Just had a text from Karl Bishop that the Corncrake has not shown or called today and he was still there at 9pm,so may have moved on. cheers John
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Jun 8 9:55 PM, 2015
After a 5-hour wait from 1.30pm it was all worth it in the end. After no sight nor sound at 6.30pm a young lad up all the way from Bristol saw the Corncrake run across the road from the field behind the 12 or so friendly and 'chatty' birders on the long vigil It then called at last and 10 minutes later finally showed courting a Grey Partridge which rebuffed it with a peck. Undeterred the Corncrake pursued the Grey Partridge with a worm in its beak. Then we saw it singing. Superb stuff. The supporting cast included
Linnets 50+ Grey Partridge 4 Pheasant male and female with 5 chicks Corn Bunting singing Shelduck 2 flyover Cormorant 2 flyover Buzzard 2 Kestrel male
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Monday 8th of June 2015 09:56:15 PM
Jim Caulfield said
Mon Jun 8 8:30 PM, 2015
18:40
Managed a view, albeit restricted by clover, of the corncrake as it was calling tonight. Many thanks to the birders present for their help in locating - it was said that the bird ran across the road earlier, whilst all bar one or two of us were focussed on the paddock !
-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Monday 8th of June 2015 08:31:59 PM
I remembered Id kept a photo of a particular Common Buzzard I saw at distance in a field near Puddington / Burton Mere area back in December 2015 (ref my post of same date), I sent an image to Ian at the time as I was making comparisons to Rough-legged which it wasnt. Could this be one of the pale parental birds that has been mentioned?
Sorry its not clearer as it was at distance and if I remember correctly it wasnt the best of weather conditions for photos.
Cheers
Common Snipe - 8 in close proximity to each other
Teal - 50+
Shoveler - 10
Little Egret - 1
Heron - 1
Pied Wagtail - 5
Sparrowhawk - male shot through over the snipe
Kestrel - female
Rob,
Im fairly local and I and others have seen this bird a few times over the last 3 years, though, fairly infrequently, it has to be said. Maybe it is the offspring of the bird you saw 10 years ago?
Cheers
Pat
Its been around a few years now and is often misidentified as an Osprey! This is the best photo of it anyone has managed to get though afaik, so, well done Rob!
Roger.
Leucistic Buzzard - A cracking bird to view and a real rarity (see photo). Watched it for about 30' this morning as it fed on a Canada goose for most of that time. It eventually took off, caught a thermal and drifted off to the SW but it could be back!
Other than that just 6 White Wagtails & a Kestrel to keep it company.
2 m Yellow Wagtail and 2 m White Wagtail together, feeding in field with horses
1 f Wheatear very active in front of pools
Single Egyptian Goose . Canada and Greylag Geese not associating with the Egyptian.
Small nos of Black Tailed Godwits, Lapwings. No other waders.
Black Tailed Godwits - 25
Green Sandpiper - 2 (opp side of road)
Common Sandpiper - 1
Ruff - 1
Whimbrel - 1
Cormorant - 40 decorating trees on marsh!
White Wagtails - 7
Kingfisher - 1 along brook
Swifts - 50 to 100 at times
Swallow & House Martins - small numbers continually drifting south along with an occasional Sand martin
4 Avocets 2 Adult 2 well grown young
Black Tailed Godwit flock growing in number, 100+
3 Avocet
2 Stock Doves
I suppose the M62 towards Liverpool and then the Knowsley Expressway A5300 would be a way to avoid Runcorn/Widnes,
a bit further but hopefully less time on the road. It seems a shame to be put off going to the pools by traffic congestion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good tip, Sid, I agree that would probably be a way to avoid the congestion bottleneck. Hope others wanting to go take note of these posts
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 22nd of May 2017 09:06:42 PM
Getting over to the pools is not much fun these days, the traffic has become a real pain on that section, don't really know a way around it, Sid, sorry to hear about your experience, not much fun
Those hybrid wagtails are almost annual at Marbury nowadays, I will put news on here if one turns up again this year, possibly a bit late but may still be time. It is great you bring it up as I was discussing with another forum member why so many hybrids like the two Hale birds turn up these days, we used to get a few Blue-headed Wagtails in the Uk, especially at Frodsham in the NW. If each paired up with a UK Yellow then it may produce between 4 and 10 hybrid 'Channel Wagtails' per year, hence the large numbers now reported.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 22nd of May 2017 05:58:45 PM
Had a couple of hours at the pools today hoping to see the reported Channel Wagtail. No luck there but a nice variety of other species including Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin on the pools with a female Marsh Harrier over the wood. Horrendous journeys both ways, 3.5 hours for the round trip in the car was not good
09:45hrs: Greenshank, 2 Swift
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of May 2017 10:37:17 AM
PM
1 F Marsh Harrier hawking over the small reed bed at back of pools.
A pair of Whinchats with Wheatear in poolside fields viewable from Carr Lane. Active.
2 M Ruff coming into summer plumage
-- Edited by John O'Neill on Monday 1st of May 2017 05:52:26 PM
3 Wheatear
2 Dunlin
2 Avocet
1 Kestrel mobbed by House Martin (several Swallow and Sand Martins also present)
1 Grey Partridge
20+ Black Tailed Godwit a few in summer plumage
3 White Wagtail
1 male Yellow Wagtail
2 Swallows
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Grey Partridge
1 Ruff
1 f Sparrowhawk low over pools
no wheatear
4 House Martins
1 Swallow
2 Little Ringed Plover
1 f Yellow Wagtail
at least 5 Wheatear
Merlin, male - flew low across pools heading west
Buzzard & Kestrel perched up on posts/trees
Lapwing - 500
Black tailed Godwits - 3
plus a few Shoveler & plenty of Teal & Mallard
Wood Sandpiper 3
Snipe 6
Egyptian Goose 1
Kestrel female
2 Wood sandpiper
1 Hobby
1 Peregrine
2 Kestrel
2 Buzzard
20 Snipe
11 Ruff
1 Little ringed plover
300 Black tailed godwit
Wood Sandpiper seen on pool/flooded field to the west of Carr Lane, viewed from the cut out in the hedge. Also here c.6 Snipe, Kingfisher, 2 Buzzard soaring above and a juvenile Hobby that flew in calling loudly.
Over on the main pools were in excess of 100 Black tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff, Kestrel, Yellow Wagtail and a very possible second Wood Sandpiper, although in view of distance and heat haze, I couldn't be one hundred per cent certain.
Nice that someone has trimmed the hedge leaving a gap to view through
Presumably the bird from Lunt Meadows
Needed a step ladder to view over the tall vegetation
-- Edited by John Watson on Monday 18th of July 2016 07:49:14 AM
Late afternoon visit with Simon Gough and Chris Chandler.
- Wood Sandpiper 1 brief view and a bit distant too, on far side of the large pool viewed from Town Lane.
- Greenshank 1
- Black-tailed Godwit 50+
- Avocet
- Redshank
- Ruff in lovely speckled plumage
- Marsh Harrier 1 great views of what I think was a juv
- Common Buzzard 2
- House Martin and Sand Martin
- Skylark
- Stock Dove
- Shoveler
- Gadwall
I thought I had a female Garganey swimming with some of the Gadwall but with 3 being reported I would've expected to see the 3 together maybe so on review I'm not too sure.
The Ducks we saw on the banking were definitely Gadwall so I think we dipped on the Garganey.
brilliant views of the wood sandpiper as it fed in the small pool of water in the cow field viewed from carr lane, it then decided to fly over carr lane & land in the field with a larger amount of water & was even closer
Then, it came out of reeds/etc at 17:30 for a few minutes
Patience & different angles needed
Having an afternoon free I braved the Runcorn Bridge roadworks and headed to Carr Lane Pools. A lengthy search of the main site revealed 2 Wheatears, about 7 Redshanks. On the opposite side of the road three Little Egrets pranced around in display and nearby a Greenshank was feeding. Despite an extensive search I could not find the reported Wood Sandpiper. But luck was on my side when a mate turned up to direct me to another pool, not really part of the main complex. This one is a small, well vegetated pool on the west side of Carr Lane near the bridge over the stream, so not viewing from Town Lane where the 'gate viewpoint' is, and where we usually view from. Straight away as I lifted my bins there was the Wood Sandpiper at the back of the pool amongst emergent vegetation and being quite skulky, but giving excellent scope views. I rang RBA with the corrected directions, as another birder I know who joined us confirmed this to be its favoured pool and where it has been 99.9% of the time in spite of info service messages giving a different impression.
Another good day here yesterday.
female Redstart, in same hedge as the male reported by Steven below
female Pied Flycatcher, in willows by the red gate near the bridge on Carr Lane. At least 2 Sedge Warblers in the reedbed across the road from here too
On and around the pools themselves were 2 Whimbrel (unusual to see them on the pools rather than on Hale Marsh), 4 Yellow Wagtail, but, no sign of the recent 'Channel' Wagtail. Plenty of White Wagtail here still and some Swift coming through as well.
Earlier, a Red Kite had been reported too.
1 redstart, male, it was over town lane opposite the pools in a small hedgerow, I managed to get another chap on it called ian who I have met before.
1 short eared owl, sat in the field next to carr lane opposite the pools, I noticed it at 5.15pm & was still sat there when I left around 6.45pm,it was real I managed some pics & video.
3 yellow wagtails
1 channel wagtail
40+ pied & white wagtails
47 black tailed godwit
8 redshank
2 little ringed plover
1 wheatear
2 buzzard
1 kestrel
1 little egret
27 shelduck
gadwall, teal, shoveler & lapwing
few skylarks & meadow pipits around
several swallows, sand martins, house martins, plus 4 swifts, my first of the year.
1 corn bunting & 2 wheatear at the farm on carr lane where the corncrake was last year.
whilst on my way here from Astley moss when going along the A5300 knowsley expressway between the M62 & A562 a red kite went low over from east to west
1 channel wagtail
2 yellow wagtail
2 wheatear
7 avocet
- Yellow Wagtail, a group of 8 birds in total, 2 of which were...
- Channel Wagtail, distant at first but eventually came closer following the Hereford Cattle.
(1 bird had a slightly bluer head, the other having a more pale grey head)
- Wheatear 1
- Meadow Pipit 1
- Skylark 1
- Avocet 10+
- Black-tailed Godwit 5
- Redshank, not counted, quite a few around
- Raven 1
- Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin.
Also seen
At least 7 Yellow Wagtails
1 m Wheatear
6 Avocet
3 Black Tailed Godwit
Plenty of Swallows with my first House Martins of the year (at least 3 birds)
A quick evening visit
In the horse field adjacent to the Pools was a cracking male Redstart (digiscope pic attached) Lovely stuff! Also, in this field were a male Yellow Wagtail and a male Wheatear.
On and around the Pools were 6 Avocet, the regular pale Buzzard, 3 White Wagtail and a dozen or so Black-tailed Godwit amongst the usual fare.
Of note...
- 10 Avocet
- 16 Black-tailed Godwit
- 10+ Redshank
- Lapwing dotted around
- Meadow Pipit 1
- Skylark 2
4 Black Tailed Godwit
3 White Wagtail
1 Yellow Wagtail (m) from Carr Lane
2 obvious pairs Avocet
4 Black-Tailed Godwit
1 stunning Golden Plover
2 yellow wagtails, both stunning males.
1 little ringed plover
3 black tailed godwit
1 snipe
2 avocet
8 redshank
15+ pied wagtails
1 grey heron
lapwing & teal.
1 grey partridge in field on opposite side of the pools.
I visited the pools to try and catch up with the little ringed plovers that had been seen over the past few days. Unfortunately, there was no sign of them, but at least there was a consolation in the form of my first merlin in a while. A local border found the bird, which was initially very distant, in a tree on the adjacent hale marsh, but over time it came closer and closer until eventually it landed in a dead tree, only about 20 feet away. It was the first time I had seen a merlin as more than a speck flying in the distance, so it made up for missing the plovers!
The pools themselves were very quiet, with only 4 avocets, 2 ruff and about 50 black tailed godwits of note
cheers John
Linnets 50+
Grey Partridge 4
Pheasant male and female with 5 chicks
Corn Bunting singing
Shelduck 2 flyover
Cormorant 2 flyover
Buzzard 2
Kestrel male
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Monday 8th of June 2015 09:56:15 PM
Managed a view, albeit restricted by clover, of the corncrake as it was calling tonight. Many thanks to the birders present for their help in locating - it was said that the bird ran across the road earlier, whilst all bar one or two of us were focussed on the paddock !
-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Monday 8th of June 2015 08:31:59 PM