St Helens (Sankey) canal path near Fiddle I'th Bag pub 15.30
2 Whitethroat 5+ Willow Warbler (calling) 3 Chiffchaff 1 Sand martin many Swallows
Dave Riley said
Mon Apr 29 11:45 PM, 2013
A walk from the community centre today, 8 Wheatears seen in a field adjacent to Clay Lane with a further 2 in horse paddocks near Farmers Lane also 1 Yellow Wagtail in fields Tan House Lane and Old Alder Lane
Brian Baird said
Tue Apr 23 5:00 AM, 2013
2 House Martins feeding over the paddocks with 6 Swallows along Old Alder Lane today and a female Blackcap in the hedges.
It will soon be swift and fiddle beer garden time.
John Williams said
Wed Apr 17 4:02 AM, 2013
14.30-16.00
Walk from Causey Bridge to Sankey Canal ( Red House Farm) & back via Fiddle pub and Alder Lane.
5 Lapwings and a pair of Oystercatchers on newly sown fields. 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Reed Buntings, 10 Yellowhammers (most near Causey Bridges farm).
Near Red House Farm 40+ Swallows and a single House Martin swooping low mainly along the Sankey Canal.
The flooded paddock opposite as now largely dried up, sadly no waders around just a Moorhen and 4 Mallard on the remaining pool.
The dry paddocks nearby though held a flock of 40 Fieldfares, 4 Mistle Thrushes and 5 Wheatears.
There was a steady south bound passage of adult Lesser Black Back and Herring Gulls throughout, some of which chased the swooping Swallows at Red House Farm.
Although the impression I got was that it was just for fun, maybe they did it to impress, they certainly did'nt catch one?.
Near Causey Bridges farm were 4 Collared Doves and a single Buzzard.
A single Peacock butterfly was by the canal.
Dave Riley said
Sat Apr 13 2:41 AM, 2013
Had a quick stroll from the Fiddle i' the Bag late afternoon and along the St. Helens Canal, saw my first Sand Martins (7) and Swallows (4) of the year, also 20 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare and 4 Yellowhammers.
Pete Welch said
Tue Apr 9 4:52 AM, 2013
Been watching that pool/flood as I've driven past for ages and wondering when it would attract something other than Mallard, Moorhen and the odd Teal :)
Brian Baird said
Tue Apr 9 3:28 AM, 2013
1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plovers in muddy pool in front of Fiddle in the Bag pub this evening.
At least 250 Fieldfare were in the field east of Clay Lane this afternoon with 48 Lapwings and approx 50 Starlings. Never seen so many, it seemed like the ground was moving as I watched them. A Brown Hare scampering across the field and two Buzzards circling overhead added to the scene.
Ben Smart said
Wed Mar 27 5:40 AM, 2013
Large flock of approx 30 Fieldfare with a smaller number of Redwing in the field between Clay lane and Joy Lane, Burtonwood, plus a single Red-legged Partridge in the same field.
Brian Baird said
Mon Mar 25 11:18 PM, 2013
35 Golden Plover in one of the ploughed fields along Alder Lane this morning, with 2 Lapwings and 3 Common Gulls. The horse paddocks nearby, at Old Alder Lane had a mixed flock of around 40 Fieldfares with a few Redwings plus another flock of at least 20 Meadow Pipits with Corn Buntings, Skylarks, Starlings and Pied Wagtails all busy feeding.
Pete Astles said
Mon Mar 11 9:51 PM, 2013
Peregrine today in sky over fiddle inth bag
Pete Astles said
Tue Feb 26 7:17 AM, 2013
Another merlin today might have been the same bird I saw the other week. Flew low accross the road in front of my car on the bridge on alder lane approaching the fiddle.
Pete Astles said
Sat Feb 9 2:56 AM, 2013
Amazing thing happened today at midday driving past the hospital towards burtonwood a merlin flew alongside my car in the field for about hundred yards then landed on a fence post. It was yards from me all the time and a perfect view of a merlin the difference between it and a kestrel was totally obvious.
Brian Baird said
Sat Jan 26 4:02 PM, 2013
Mike Baron wrote:
Mixed flock in stubble field off Farmers Lane this morning:
Well done for finding these in such good numbers. It's obviously a very under watched / reported area. Just wondered though, if the Tree Sparrows had followed you from Waterworks Lane, Winwick looking for a freebie.
Cheers Brian
-- Edited by Brian Baird on Sunday 27th of January 2013 02:22:44 PM
Mike Baron said
Fri Jan 25 6:38 PM, 2013
Mixed flock in stubble field off Farmers Lane this morning:
driving down alder lane this morning pretty sure I saw a red kite flying southerly direction
Brian Baird said
Tue Nov 6 4:26 AM, 2012
Afternoon stroll around the Old Alder Lane area and footpaths produced :-
18 Pied Wagtail - feeding in newly sewn field 100 Starlings - in horse paddocks 150 Jackdaws - flying to roost 15 Redwing 3 Mistle Thrush 4 Lapwing 14 Black - headed Gulls 1 Buzzard 5 Mallard 1 Moorhen 1 Grey Heron 6 Collared Dove 2 Robin 2 Blue Tits
Brian Baird said
Tue Oct 9 12:05 AM, 2012
A walk along a couple of the footpaths this morning in the pleasant conditions revealed:-
7 Skylark 4 Meadow Pipit 7 Robin 4 Collared Dove 4 Jay 8 Crow 2 Blackbird 2 Chaffinch 4 Blue Tit 1 Dunnock 1 Gt. Tit 23 Starling 80+ Herring Gull 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull 39 Jackdaw 10+ Magpie 100+ Woodpigeon 2 Buzzard plus a Speckled Wood and a Red Admiral active in the sunshine.
Brian Baird said
Wed Aug 15 4:09 AM, 2012
A Kingfisher flew up Sankey Brook towards Causey Bridges Farm this afternoon from underneath the M62 at Gemini, whilst I was admiring two Banded Demoiselle dragonflies at the under pass by Harveys Furniture depot. Two Grey Wagtail were here last week but not today.
I followed the footpath to the farm and found three more male Demoiselles fluttering above the Brook at Causey West Bridge (north side) on old Alder Lane.
Also had good views of a Buzzard circling and calling over the fields here.
Dave Riley said
Tue Aug 14 5:32 AM, 2012
Three excellent ales this evening, I only had the RS Mexico (Cottage Brewery) after the initial samples, the food also excellent. It's always well worth checking out the paddocks for finches and wagtails, while Yellowhammers are also regular around there.
Pete Astles said
Tue Aug 14 3:34 AM, 2012
Good real ale in the fiddle plus you can go birding without leaving your seat in the beer garden. Its gets no better than that plus the landlord lets you try the ales before you buy.
Dave Riley said
Tue Aug 14 3:00 AM, 2012
150+ Linnets, 20+ Goldfinches, 20+ Greenfinches, 8 Pied Wagtails and 1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail in the horse paddocks opposite Fiddle I'th Bag at about 10.30 am, second field back from Alder Lane.
Pete Welch said
Wed Jun 27 2:17 AM, 2012
That's a real shame - I've seen them cross the M62 there a couple of times in the last few years
Nick Isherwood said
Tue Jun 26 5:14 PM, 2012
On the way to work this moring I had the sad sight of a dead Barn Owl on the hard shoulder of the M62 near to Burtonwood Services.
Brian Baird said
Sun Apr 8 3:32 AM, 2012
A brief visit before lunch today but no sign of any Wheatear. However the following were seen or heard singing :-
A female Wheatear in the fields here this afternoon as I walked along the footpaths, north of the M62, and along Old Alder Lane to Causey Bridges. Also seen on a cold and windy day - Lapwing 4 Skylark 1 Meadow Pipit 4 Wood Pigeon 20+ Buzzard 1 Goldfinch 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Starling 6 Collared Dove 2 Mallard 2 Herring Gull 10 Carrion Crow 4 Magpie 6 Blue Tit 2 Kestrel 1
2 Whitethroat
5+ Willow Warbler (calling)
3 Chiffchaff
1 Sand martin
many Swallows
2 House Martins feeding over the paddocks with 6 Swallows along Old Alder Lane today and a female Blackcap in the hedges.
A walk over the adjacent fields produced -
2 Wheatears
6 Skylarks
12 Lapwings
2 Yellowhammers
2 Chaffinches
2 Robins
5 Blackbirds
1 Heron
1 Oystercatcher
1 Linnet
2 Buzzards
40 Woodpigeon
Walk from Causey Bridge to Sankey Canal ( Red House Farm) & back via Fiddle pub and Alder Lane.
5 Lapwings and a pair of Oystercatchers on newly sown fields. 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Reed Buntings, 10 Yellowhammers (most near Causey Bridges farm).
Near Red House Farm 40+ Swallows and a single House Martin swooping low mainly along the Sankey Canal.
The flooded paddock opposite as now largely dried up, sadly no waders around just a Moorhen and 4 Mallard on the remaining pool.
The dry paddocks nearby though held a flock of 40 Fieldfares, 4 Mistle Thrushes and 5 Wheatears.
There was a steady south bound passage of adult Lesser Black Back and Herring Gulls throughout, some of which chased the swooping Swallows at Red House Farm.
Although the impression I got was that it was just for fun, maybe they did it to impress, they certainly did'nt catch one?.
Near Causey Bridges farm were 4 Collared Doves and a single Buzzard.
A single Peacock butterfly was by the canal.
1 wheatear
2 lapwing [ displaying]
1 buzzard
A Brown Hare scampering across the field and two Buzzards circling overhead added to the scene.
The horse paddocks nearby, at Old Alder Lane had a mixed flock of around 40 Fieldfares with a few Redwings plus another flock of at least 20 Meadow Pipits with Corn Buntings, Skylarks, Starlings and Pied Wagtails all busy feeding.
Hi Mike
Well done for finding these in such good numbers. It's obviously a very under watched / reported area.
Just wondered though, if the Tree Sparrows had followed you from Waterworks Lane, Winwick looking for a freebie.
Cheers Brian
-- Edited by Brian Baird on Sunday 27th of January 2013 02:22:44 PM
25+ Corn Buntings
22+ Yellowhammers
45+ Chaffinches
3 Tree Sparrows
2 Reed Buntings
plus House Sparrows and Greenfinches
18 Pied Wagtail - feeding in newly sewn field
100 Starlings - in horse paddocks
150 Jackdaws - flying to roost
15 Redwing
3 Mistle Thrush
4 Lapwing
14 Black - headed Gulls
1 Buzzard
5 Mallard
1 Moorhen
1 Grey Heron
6 Collared Dove
2 Robin
2 Blue Tits
7 Skylark
4 Meadow Pipit
7 Robin
4 Collared Dove
4 Jay
8 Crow
2 Blackbird
2 Chaffinch
4 Blue Tit
1 Dunnock
1 Gt. Tit
23 Starling
80+ Herring Gull
13 Lesser Black-backed Gull
39 Jackdaw
10+ Magpie
100+ Woodpigeon
2 Buzzard
plus a Speckled Wood and a Red Admiral active in the sunshine.
A Kingfisher flew up Sankey Brook towards Causey Bridges Farm this afternoon from underneath the M62 at Gemini, whilst I was admiring two Banded Demoiselle dragonflies at the under pass by Harveys Furniture depot. Two Grey Wagtail were here last week but not today.
I followed the footpath to the farm and found three more male Demoiselles fluttering above the Brook at Causey West Bridge (north side) on old Alder Lane.
Also had good views of a Buzzard circling and calling over the fields here.
A brief visit before lunch today but no sign of any Wheatear. However the following were seen or heard singing :-
Skylark 2
Blackbird 2
Grey Partridge 2 pairs
Pheasant 1
Reed Bunting 2
Yellowhammer 1
Chaffinch 1
Woodpigeon 28
Magpie 2
Kestrel 1
Chiffchaff 1
Carrion Crow 1 pair
Lapwing 4
Skylark 1
Meadow Pipit 4
Wood Pigeon 20+
Buzzard 1
Goldfinch 2
Mistle Thrush 1
Starling 6
Collared Dove 2
Mallard 2
Herring Gull 10
Carrion Crow 4
Magpie 6
Blue Tit 2
Kestrel 1