On the way back from The Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, George Dunbar and I made a brief stop. No sign of yesterday's two Mediterranean Gulls among the 750 Black-headed Gulls, 13 Common Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Two Oysercatchers and 11 Tufted Dck were also present.
Cheers David
Doc Brewster said
Thu Mar 5 9:20 AM, 2015
JOHN TYMON wrote: I never thought that would happen in this day and age ,its a warning to everyone ,enjoy what you have as you never know whats going to happen. Formerly my local patch when only me knew how good it was really and one of the best sites in the area,200+ wigeon all winter ,Black necked grebes were so common in spring and summer ,I hardly took much notice on most visits, Black Terns waders in abundance in spring, and the water board was given permission to extract water to send to st Helens and look whats happened. I f the pool had been owned by the public or Warrington council ,it would never have happened, but because it was privately owned ,there was nothing that could have been done, as the owner allowed the extraction. I cannot visit any more ,it annoys and upsets me as much at the same time. Its tragic what can happen to a great wildlife site if not protected in any way.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 5th of March 2015 06:38:39 AM
In total agreement John, this is such a shame for a fantastic site, as you say a warning to us all to appreciate the locations we cover now. Fond memories of my first ever Lesser Yellowlegs here in the 1990's.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 5th of March 2015 09:21:25 AM
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Mar 5 6:37 AM, 2015
Pete Astles wrote:
Holy moly !!!!!!!
Drove past today on way back from the eyes almost ALL the water has gone
Pretty much the finish of this place by the looks why is it being drained ?
I never thought that would happen in this day and age ,its a warning to everyone ,enjoy what you have as you never know whats going to happen. Formerly my local patch when only me knew how good it was really and one of the best sites in the area,200+ wigeon all winter ,Black necked grebes were so common in spring and summer ,I hardly took much notice on most visits, Black Terns waders in abundance in spring, and the water board was given permission to extract water to send to st Helens and look whats happened. I f the pool had been owned by the public or Warrington council ,it would never have happened, but because it was privately owned ,there was nothing that could have been done, as the owner allowed the extraction. I cannot visit any more ,it annoys and upsets me as much at the same time. Its tragic what can happen to a great wildlife site if not protected in any way.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 5th of March 2015 06:38:39 AM
Pete Astles said
Wed Mar 4 11:40 PM, 2015
Holy moly !!!!!!!
Drove past today on way back from the eyes almost ALL the water has gone
Pretty much the finish of this place by the looks why is it being drained ?
DavidBowman said
Wed Nov 5 2:06 PM, 2014
Did a quick stop at the ever-dwindling pool, on my way back from Woolston Eyes. Highlight was a late Common Sandpiper.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Wed Oct 8 1:44 PM, 2014
Had a wander round Winwick this morning, starting with 9 Tree Sparrows among the House Sparrows in the garden, plus 2 Common Gulls among the score of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the field behind the house. A Sparrowhawk then came into the garden, spooking everything, So I set off for Houghton Green Pool, where the much reduced water levels meant that just 1 Redshank, 44 Mallards and 1 Coot were the on the water. Around the margins, however, masses of seed-bearing plants were attracting lots of passerines, with 115 Linnets, 42 Meadow Pipits and 11 Reed Buntings counted. Then, walking up Highfield Lane, 3 Yellowhammers, 135 Starlings, 5 Skylarks, 10 Linnets and 4 Swallows (still around the farm) were noted. Checking out a boggy copse, looking for Teal, instead produced an early Woodcock. Then homewards along Waterworks Lane to finish with 35 Skylarks, 2 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Redpolls. Then a nice cup of tea!
Cheers David
colin davies said
Tue Aug 26 8:33 PM, 2014
7 - 7:30pm today, 4 common sandpipers, 8 yellow wagtails, 2 common swifts, 18 tufted ducks, 2 little grebes
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Aug 25 3:51 PM, 2014
Quick pop in this aft Ruff- 1 Juvenile Little Grebe-2 Little ringed plover-1 Common Sandpiper-1
colin davies said
Sun Aug 24 10:29 AM, 2014
9- 9:45am today, 1 ruff still present, 4 common sandpipers, 2 tree pipits over calling, 1 yellow wagtail, 2 pochard, 35 lapwing, 2 little grebes, 1 swift.
colin davies said
Sat Aug 23 8:52 PM, 2014
I called in this evening to find the ruff still present, also common sandpiper 2, yellow wagtail 1, little grebe 2 (ad & juv.), Canada goose 31
colin davies said
Fri Aug 22 9:13 AM, 2014
Called in for 10 minutes this morning, 2 common sandpipers, 20+ Lapwing. No sign of the ruff.
colin davies said
Thu Aug 21 9:28 PM, 2014
Not a bad 45 minutes at the flash this evening, Ruff 1 (photo on blog), Mediterranean gull 1 juvenile, Tree Pipit 1 over calling, Yellow wagtail 1, Common sandpiper 1, white wagtail 1
John Watson said
Thu Aug 21 3:51 PM, 2014
3pm
1 Little Grebe 1 Yellow Wagtail (juv) briefly 2 Common Sand 1 Ruff 2+ Sand Martins ~50 House Martins ~150 Swallows
No sign of Black-Necked Grebe
Perhaps this thread should be renamed "Houghton Green Puddle"
-- Edited by John Watson on Thursday 21st of August 2014 03:52:56 PM
M Gannon said
Tue Aug 19 11:33 PM, 2014
This afternoon:
4 common sandpiper 1 black necked grebe (moulting adult) 2 buzzard 2 kestrel 3 little grebe
Also a strange wader standing amongst the black headed gulls. after about 15 minutes of trying to find it's id, the best we could come up with was a moulting juvenile ruff, but I'm not 100 percent sure. Still, a very good first visit to this site
colin davies said
Sun Aug 17 8:56 PM, 2014
Great views of a hobby hunting swallows over the flash this evening. Also black-necked grebe still present, 2 common sandpipers, 2 little ringed plovers and 2 little grebes.
colin davies said
Fri Aug 15 9:43 PM, 2014
Black-necked grebe still present this morning, also 3 common sandpipers.
Pete Astles said
Thu Aug 14 11:17 PM, 2014
Coming from winwick down mydelton lane right to warrington cinnamon brow the road goes over m62 just before that park to the left and follow the obvious oath to the pool (public footpath)
M Gannon said
Thu Aug 14 10:32 PM, 2014
Where about is houghton green flash, and where should I park for it? Thanks.
colin davies said
Wed Aug 13 2:24 PM, 2014
I was there at 7:45am this morning when there was a Little Egret. Photos on my blog (Occasionally Birding St Helens). Also moulting Black-necked grebe.
Colin
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 13th of August 2014 02:25:18 PM
DavidBowman said
Wed Aug 13 12:04 PM, 2014
A really rewarding morning doing the monthly Peel Hall Bird Survey. As usual, the area covered included Houghton Green Pool. Highlights were all from the Pool, with 1 summer plumage Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 220 Goldfinches and masses of hirundines and Swifts feeding low over the water. Totals, then, were: Dunlin 1, Common Sandpiper 3, Little Ringed Plover 1, Lapwing 23, Coot 7, Great Crested Grebe 1, Goldfinch 244, Swift 32, Swallow 135, House Martin 26, Sand Martin 10, Pied Wagtail 7, Common Gull 3, Linnet 14, Song Thrush 2, Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 1, Reed Bunting 1, Cormorant 1, Kestrel 5, Buzzard 3, Greenfinch 8, Mallard 56, Tufted Duck 9, Lesser Black-backed Gull 8, Black-headed Gull 11, Carrion Crow 28, Collared Dove 24, Wood Pigeon 110, Magpie 25, Robin 6, Blackbird 16, Wren 5, House Sparrow 50, Starling 41, Great Tit 12, Blue Tit 10, Bullfinch 2, Meadow Pipit 9, Rook 50, Jackdaw 11, Feral Pigeon 20, Dunnock 3.
Cheers David (with Ste Dodd and George Dunbar)
Andrew Mitchell said
Sun Aug 10 8:06 PM, 2014
An hour this evening from 6.15, during a break in the rain.
1 each of Black Necked Grebe, Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe Masses of Swallows and Sand Martins with a few Swifts too 20 or so Pied Wagtails, with two Yellow Wagtails providing a bit of colour 10 Lapwing 5 Common Sandpiper 1 Little Ringed Plover 30-40 Mallard A few Tufted Duck and Coot
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Aug 9 2:47 PM, 2014
On Whats left of the pool, which was once in the top 10 inland sites in the county, and now has been emptied almost by the water authorities extracting water from it.
Anyway pm Black Necked Grebe-1 Moulting adult Little Grebe-1 Great crested Grebe-1 Juv Mallard-40 Tufted Duck-2 Linnet-20 Sand Martin-20
Anyone passing its worth a quick look as those massive muddy edges could easily hold some waders on passage. and you never know it wasn't that long ago the pool had a lesser yellowlegs.
Dave Riley said
Tue Jul 8 11:31 PM, 2014
I remember walking around there regularly 35 years ago when it was basically a puddle in a hollow, although Little Grebe was breeding there, 45 years ago, it was part of Sharp's farm, before the 'Quarry' was created.
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Jul 8 8:50 PM, 2014
Nick Isherwood wrote:
Drove past here at lunchtime and couldn't believe how low the water level is now. Looks more like a big puddle.
Yep a wonderful wildlife site totally ruined by water extraction, I cannot go myself any more ,it saddens me so much at what once was a site that would hold a dozen black necked grebes at this time of year, and was my local patch for almost a decade. you wouldn't think in the modern supposedly enlightened age what has happened to the pool would be allowed to happen. :(
Nick Isherwood said
Tue Jul 8 7:45 PM, 2014
Drove past here at lunchtime and couldn't believe how low the water level is now. Looks more like a big puddle.
Matt Pitt said
Wed Jun 25 10:26 PM, 2014
Afternoon trip here with my daughter and we were greeted by two Common Tern circling over the pool on arrival. First for me at this site!
Cheers Matt
Matt Pitt said
Sun Jun 1 8:19 AM, 2014
Lovely morning walk around the flash produced: Pochard 2 Tufted duck 6 Canada Geese 10 Redshank 1 Peregrine falcon 1, made one swoop down over the flash then quickly disappeared. Also Whitethroat 2 Song Thrush 2 Reed Bunting 1 Nuthatch 1 Swifts 100 plus and a few Sand Martin.
Cheers Matt
Matt Pitt said
Sun Apr 27 8:22 AM, 2014
Early morning circuit around the flash. Seemed a little quiet on arrival though there was a single Ringed Plover amongst the Lapwing and mixed Corvids on the ploughed field leading up to the flash. I had a wander around the margins which produced amongst the usuals
Back on the flash its self a pair of Greylag geese had arrived which was something different then later a trio of Shelduck came in looking very handsome in early morning sunshine. Very nice surprise for me here!
Cheers Matt
Dave Riley said
Sat Apr 26 3:28 PM, 2014
A stroll around the eastern side of the flash, not a lot happening, but there was a White Wagtail, 1 Redshank and 1 male Wigeon, also a Mallard with 7 duckilings
Austin Morley said
Wed Apr 23 12:16 PM, 2014
The highlights from this mornings visit 1 yellow wagtail and 2 common sandpipers
Andrew Mitchell said
Fri Apr 18 8:07 PM, 2014
An hour this morning, 9.30 to 10.30 am:
1 Yellow Wagtail - an absolute stunner, flitting round the edge of the flash 2 White Wagtail 5 Common Sandpiper 3 Little Ringed Plover (possibly more) 3 Redshank 2 Oystercatcher 4 Lapwing 10 Tufted Duck 4 Mallard 2 Gadwall 1 Wigeon 4 Great Crested Grebe 1 Little Grebe 2 Coot 2 Cormorant 5 Black Headed Gull 2 Herring Gull 1 Song Thrush Mixed Corvid flock, including Rook, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw
Damian Pendlebury said
Sun Apr 13 9:04 PM, 2014
I was working in Manchester today and had my first look around Houghton's Green Flash on the way home...
Little Ringed Plover 4-6 Common Sandpiper 2 Dunlin 2 Yellow wagtail 1 White Wagtail 1 Swallows and sandmartins about 15 of each Widgeon 1 Tufted Ducks 5 Lots of linnets and and few meadow pipits
The Little Ringed Plovers were hard to count as there were a few kids walking around in front of me flushing them off, there were definitely 4 but probably 6. I'll post some photos on the St Helens Bird Blog (Out of Area tab) later.
I'll be back again now I know where to park!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 13th of April 2014 09:07:49 PM
-- Edited by Damian Pendlebury on Sunday 13th of April 2014 10:51:42 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Apr 11 5:23 PM, 2014
PM Common Sandpiper-1 White Wagtail-8 Oystercatcher-4
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 11th of April 2014 05:24:13 PM
DavidBowman said
Thu Apr 10 3:12 PM, 2014
Did an early morning Common Bird Survey at Peel Hall, near Winwick, on behalf of the Peel Hall Conservation Group (PHCG) which Ste Dodd and I have been involved in setting up. Also included Houghton Green Pool in the survey. Full results will be on the PCHG Facebook site but highlights were: 1 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshanks, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 White Wagtails, 1 Wheatear (at Houghton Green), 3 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Grey Partridges and 2 Willow Tits (at Peel Hall)
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Tue Apr 8 2:27 PM, 2014
A rewarding twenty minute stop-over on my way back from Woolston, with: 1 Dunlin, 3 Redshanks, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers, 8 White Wagtails, 1 Wheatear and 14 Sand Martins.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Sat Mar 22 3:19 PM, 2014
A quick stop on my way back from Woolston: 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshanks, 6 Sand Martins and 15 Wigeon.
Cheers
David
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Mar 21 3:53 PM, 2014
I can't believe how much water has been allowed to be extracted from the pool, its no more than a large pond now, and a shadow of its former self.which is a shame for a sight that was once so important for Black Necked grebes on migration.
of note Little ringed plover-2 Redshank-3 Oystercatcher-2 Wigeon-12 Linnet-6 Corn Bunting-1
DavidBowman said
Mon Mar 17 7:32 PM, 2014
2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank and 3 Oystercatchers this afternoon.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Sat Mar 15 3:08 PM, 2014
It was nice to see the flash delivering the goods again Mike - I called in to do the wildfowl count for Brian and was chuffed to see the birds you'd obviously had earlier.
Cheers David
Mike Baron said
Sat Mar 15 1:55 PM, 2014
Little Ringed Plover today plus White Wagtail and four Redshanks
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Mar 14 8:36 PM, 2014
1500-15.30 Wigeon-29 Shoveler-1 Male Redshank-3 Oystercatcher-3 Great Crested Grebe-2
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Mar 9 4:26 PM, 2014
15.30 WIGEON -41 GOLDENEYE-1 MALE REDSHANK-2 OYSTERCATCHER-2 POCHARD-4 TUFTED DUCK-10
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Mar 1 7:59 PM, 2014
2 quick pop ins today 10.45 & 15.30 Wigeon-48 Cormorant-6 Redshank-1 Black Headed Gull-70 Lapwing-10 Common Buzzard-2
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Feb 24 6:47 PM, 2014
Pete Astles wrote:
Nice to see so many wigeon on
Only about a third of what would have been the norm 10 years ago, before the water started to be extracted, I have had 200+ at this time of year, and this winter is the least number of widgeon at the pool in winter that I can ever remember :(
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 24th of February 2014 06:48:43 PM
Very little of note apart from
Linnet-25
Lapwing - 1 pair with 3 young
Shelduck-1 Female
Common Sandpiper-1
Swallow-1
:)
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Redshank
4 Wigeon
2 Pied Wagtail
6 Mallard
Little Ringed Plover - 4
Oystercatcher-2
Cheers David
In total agreement John, this is such a shame for a fantastic site, as you say a warning to us all to appreciate the locations we cover now. Fond memories of my first ever Lesser Yellowlegs here in the 1990's.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 5th of March 2015 09:21:25 AM
I never thought that would happen in this day and age ,its a warning to everyone ,enjoy what you have as you never know whats going to happen. Formerly my local patch when only me knew how good it was really and one of the best sites in the area,200+ wigeon all winter ,Black necked grebes were so common in spring and summer ,I hardly took much notice on most visits, Black Terns waders in abundance in spring, and the water board was given permission to extract water to send to st Helens and look whats happened. I f the pool had been owned by the public or Warrington council ,it would never have happened, but because it was privately owned ,there was nothing that could have been done, as the owner allowed the extraction.
I cannot visit any more ,it annoys and upsets me as much at the same time.
Its tragic what can happen to a great wildlife site if not protected in any way.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 5th of March 2015 06:38:39 AM
Drove past today on way back from the eyes almost ALL the water has gone
Pretty much the finish of this place by the looks why is it being drained ?
Cheers David
Cheers David
Ruff- 1 Juvenile
Little Grebe-2
Little ringed plover-1
Common Sandpiper-1
1 Little Grebe
1 Yellow Wagtail (juv) briefly
2 Common Sand
1 Ruff
2+ Sand Martins
~50 House Martins
~150 Swallows
No sign of Black-Necked Grebe
Perhaps this thread should be renamed "Houghton Green Puddle"
-- Edited by John Watson on Thursday 21st of August 2014 03:52:56 PM
4 common sandpiper
1 black necked grebe (moulting adult)
2 buzzard
2 kestrel
3 little grebe
Also a strange wader standing amongst the black headed gulls. after about 15 minutes of trying to find it's id, the best we could come up with was a moulting juvenile ruff, but I'm not 100 percent sure.
Still, a very good first visit to this site
Colin
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 13th of August 2014 02:25:18 PM
Cheers David (with Ste Dodd and George Dunbar)
1 each of Black Necked Grebe, Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe
Masses of Swallows and Sand Martins with a few Swifts too
20 or so Pied Wagtails, with two Yellow Wagtails providing a bit of colour
10 Lapwing
5 Common Sandpiper
1 Little Ringed Plover
30-40 Mallard
A few Tufted Duck and Coot
Anyway pm
Black Necked Grebe-1 Moulting adult
Little Grebe-1
Great crested Grebe-1 Juv
Mallard-40
Tufted Duck-2
Linnet-20
Sand Martin-20
Anyone passing its worth a quick look as those massive muddy edges could easily hold some waders on passage. and you never know it wasn't that long ago the pool had a lesser yellowlegs.
Yep a wonderful wildlife site totally ruined by water extraction, I cannot go myself any more ,it saddens me so much at what once was a site that would hold a dozen black necked grebes at this time of year, and was my local patch for almost a decade. you wouldn't think in the modern supposedly enlightened age what has happened to the pool would be allowed to happen. :(
Cheers Matt
Pochard 2
Tufted duck 6
Canada Geese 10
Redshank 1
Peregrine falcon 1, made one swoop down over the flash then quickly disappeared.
Also
Whitethroat 2
Song Thrush 2
Reed Bunting 1
Nuthatch 1
Swifts 100 plus and a few Sand Martin.
Cheers Matt
2 Jays,
1 Blackcap (M),
1 Chiffchaff,
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,
Back on the flash its self a pair of Greylag geese had arrived which was something different then later a trio of Shelduck came in looking very handsome in early morning sunshine. Very nice surprise for me here!
Cheers Matt
1 Yellow Wagtail - an absolute stunner, flitting round the edge of the flash
2 White Wagtail
5 Common Sandpiper
3 Little Ringed Plover (possibly more)
3 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
4 Lapwing
10 Tufted Duck
4 Mallard
2 Gadwall
1 Wigeon
4 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
2 Coot
2 Cormorant
5 Black Headed Gull
2 Herring Gull
1 Song Thrush
Mixed Corvid flock, including Rook, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw
Little Ringed Plover 4-6
Common Sandpiper 2
Dunlin 2
Yellow wagtail 1
White Wagtail 1
Swallows and sandmartins about 15 of each
Widgeon 1
Tufted Ducks 5
Lots of linnets and and few meadow pipits
The Little Ringed Plovers were hard to count as there were a few kids walking around in front of me flushing them off, there were definitely 4 but probably 6. I'll post some photos on the St Helens Bird Blog (Out of Area tab) later.
I'll be back again now I know where to park!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 13th of April 2014 09:07:49 PM
-- Edited by Damian Pendlebury on Sunday 13th of April 2014 10:51:42 PM
Common Sandpiper-1
White Wagtail-8
Oystercatcher-4
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 11th of April 2014 05:24:13 PM
Cheers David
Cheers David
Cheers
David
of note
Little ringed plover-2
Redshank-3
Oystercatcher-2
Wigeon-12
Linnet-6
Corn Bunting-1
Cheers David
Cheers David
Wigeon-29
Shoveler-1 Male
Redshank-3
Oystercatcher-3
Great Crested Grebe-2
WIGEON -41
GOLDENEYE-1 MALE
REDSHANK-2
OYSTERCATCHER-2
POCHARD-4
TUFTED DUCK-10
Wigeon-48
Cormorant-6
Redshank-1
Black Headed Gull-70
Lapwing-10
Common Buzzard-2
Only about a third of what would have been the norm 10 years ago, before the water started to be extracted, I have had 200+ at this time of year, and this winter is the least number of widgeon at the pool in winter that I can ever remember :(
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 24th of February 2014 06:48:43 PM