Fiddlers Ferry
good nos f Fieldfre feeding in roadside fields with Starlings
Gatewarth
pr Bullfinch
1 Cettis Warbler heard singing
John O'Neill said
Sun Mar 8 11:05 AM, 2020
Gatewarth
Several Cetti's Warblers singing from round the site Probably 4 birds
Many birds paired up, Dunnocks singing and displaying
Linnets, Long Tailed Tits, Song Thush, Reed Bunting
John O'Neill said
Sun Mar 1 11:16 AM, 2020
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
Cetti's Warbler singing briefly from reeds in the Water Plant fenced in area
John O'Neill said
Wed Feb 12 8:51 AM, 2020
Fiddlers Ferry
late afternoon y/day
The nest building Coot hopefully hadn't expended too much effort in its task....weather conditions (high water level, wind) had meant all evidence of the nesting had been totally removed.
Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from close to last year's nest site. Little patch of woodlands here flooded.
Murmurations of Starlings giving nice sighting. 2 to 3 hundred birds
John O'Neill said
Sun Jan 19 11:01 AM, 2020
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
A freezing fog had rolled in making viewing conditions less than ideal....far bank of River invisible in mists.
Loose flocks of Redwing were strung along hedges and also flying over.
Nicely marhed juv m Stonechat gave close views (fortunately) in canalside scrub. Nearby, a Robin was flitting between Molehills repeatedly. presumably looking for easy meal of earthworms.
Good finch numbers in alders and other hedgerow trees, mainly Chaffinch and Goldfinch. 4 colourful male Bullfinches feeding on a hip laden Dog Rose. One was making a fair stab at hovering as it fed.
A Coot was disdainfully ignoring the Wintery conditions to concentrate on constructing an untidy nest in the canal.
John O'Neill said
Thu Jan 2 12:50 PM, 2020
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
Birds in mixed trees round Water Plant inlcuded 1 f Brambling in with Chaffinches and 10 plus Redwing
1 Cettis Warbler gave brief burst of song from canalside reeds
2 Buzzards over
2 flocks of Larwing on River. Prob around 50 birds in total
John O'Neill said
Sun Dec 1 1:57 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
AM
Small mixed flocks of Blackbirds, Redwing and Fieldfare gorging on ice rimed berry laden bushes, hedges and trees in a Wintery morning scene,
John O'Neill said
Sun Nov 10 12:27 PM, 2019
Gatewarth Small nos of Redwing feeding with Blackbirds in Hawthorns 1 f Sparrowhawk hunting low over Old Tip 50plus Lapwings on River
-- Edited by John O'Neill on Sunday 10th of November 2019 12:28:25 PM
John O'Neill said
Tue Oct 29 12:07 PM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
Active mixed flocks gorging on/in berry laden bushes - Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Robins, Dunnocks ,Reed Buntings ,Blackrids,Song Thrushes were joined by a single Fieldfare.
Small numbers of very vocal Pink Footed Geese over
1 Buzzard
John O'Neill said
Thu Oct 10 8:26 PM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth pm 4 Adult and 5 Juv Mute Swans on canal 2 Buzzards hunting along River as a pair 1 Chiffchaff in bushes near Railway
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 10th of October 2019 08:41:59 PM
John O'Neill said
Sun Sep 29 12:38 PM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
Soggy. Standing water in fieilds , small flocks of Black Headed Gulls attracted.
Stream of Skylarks high over in 2s and 3s.
1 Jay
John Williams said
Thu Aug 8 11:33 PM, 2019
15.00-18.00
Mersey sandbanks Ferry Inn to Sankey Brook :
300+ Lapwings, 2 Black Tailed Godwits, 8 Cormorants and 1 Grey Heron.
Lots of gulls around the river, but nothing uncommon amongst them.
Several juvenile Lesser Black Backed Gulls were really pestering the adults for food.
Gatewarth (Landscaped former landfill) : 2 Buzzards, 6 Common Whitethroats and 1m Blackcap.
A female Tufted Duck escorted 2 small ducklings on the St. Helens canal.
A roost of 60+ Starlings had built up on a nearby electric pylon as I was leaving.
John O'Neill said
Sun Jul 21 3:52 PM, 2019
Sankey Bridges - Gatewarth
AM
Nice confiding party of Long Tailed Tits feeding on Rosebay Willowherb flowers was mostly made up of young birds, not yet sporting their full length tails.
1 Jay
A few Reed Warblers still (just about) singing from canal side reeds.
John O'Neill said
Mon Jul 8 9:04 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
late pm
Warblers singing
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Cettis Warbler
Several Blackcap
Several Whitethroat inc one feeding on horse paddocks, hopping on ground like a blackbird. 1 young bird begging food from parent in bushes.
4 Buzzards hunting together on far side of river.
John O'Neill said
Sun Jun 30 8:11 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
5.30pm ish
Warblers seen and/ or heard in sunshine:
1 Grasshopper Warbler (grassed over tip)
1 Lesser Whitethroat (riverside scrub)
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaff
John O'Neill said
Sat Jun 29 11:19 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
At least 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling from scrub and reeds on River bank 09.30 pm
John O'Neill said
Wed Jun 26 12:33 AM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry
2 Adult Mute Swans were escorting 6 cygnets on the canal this evening.
John O'Neill said
Sat Jun 1 7:14 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
Nice to watch an adult Great Spotted Woodpecker busy feeding a young bird. The young Woodpecker 's head fully out of the nesting hole . Both birds vocal. The second adult flew up tp the dead tree the nesthole was in later.
Mixed flocks of fledged birds : tits, finches, house sparrows, in hedges.
John O'Neill said
Mon May 13 12:27 AM, 2019
Gatewarth
PM lots of warblers singing in the sunshine
1 Lesser Whitethroat on river bank scrub
3 Cettis Warbler , one showing well
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
Numerous Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat
John O'Neill said
Mon May 6 1:22 AM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry
Mute Swan nest deep in reeds
John O'Neill said
Wed May 1 5:39 PM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry
Walk along canal almost to Gatewarth
2 Cettis Warblers, many Reed Warblers and at least 1 Grasshopper Warbler all heard singing 5.00pm ish
John O'Neill said
Sun Apr 28 5:00 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
Atypically good, and prolonged, views of a Grasshopper Warler reeling from atop a bramble thicket. The vibrations of its throat could be seen as it sang and also the distinctive head turning technique to mask its position from hearers.
4 Bulfinch
1 Great Crested Grebe.
6 or 7 Buzzards soaring high joined by a Sparrowhawk.
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 22 7:03 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
no soon said than done
Sedge Warbler this AM singing from tops of Hawthorne bushes
Goldfinches collecting nesting material
5 plus Swallows
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 22 8:36 AM, 2019
thanks Rob
Sedge Warbler is the other warbler I was thinking of !
Rob Creek said
Mon Apr 22 7:45 AM, 2019
Hi John. Just a quick observation in that youve only listed 6 Warbler species so far this year, and only 8 last year, those being...
...Cettis Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, and Grasshopper Warbler this year with the extra 2 for last year being...Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat. Did you mean 6/8? Cheers
John O'Neill said
Sun Apr 21 10:06 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
8-9 pm
2 reeling Grasshopper Warblers heard. 1 seen.
This means seven ninths of regular warbler species that usually occur here seen this year so far.
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 15 11:03 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
2 Reed Warblers seen - canal
Green Woodpecker heard qute distant from direction of Fiddlers Ferry pub
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
10 plus Chiffchaff
1 Cettis Warbler
1 M Bullfinch
John O'Neill said
Sat Mar 23 12:17 PM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Cettis Wablers
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Buzzard
1 Jay
John O'Neill said
Sun Mar 17 4:13 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
Quite sunny but not very Spring like, cold and windy. Fields and paths flooded.
Only warbler singing was a Cettis from the canal side reeds.
2 Buzzards flying v close together calling to each other.
1 m Kestrel
John O'Neill said
Sat Mar 9 1:53 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
Cettis Warbler heard singing from cover in field sloping down to Fiddlers Ferry
The hawthorn hedge at top of bank has been flailed back heavily. Not great news for nesting birds this Spring, but at least not grubbed out completely.
John O'Neill said
Sat Feb 23 11:12 AM, 2019
Gatewarth
830AM
1 very mobile Cetti's Warbler in full enthusiastic song from cover . ranging from canal side to Old Tip area.
John O'Neill said
Thu Feb 14 7:06 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
Pair Stonechat active and eailsy visible perched on brambles in field sloping down to Ferry Pub.
1 f Grey Wagtail on canal towpath.
John O'Neill said
Sat Feb 9 11:15 AM, 2019
Gatewarth - Fiddler Ferry
12 Curlews on River
1 m Stonechat in brambley canal side rough
1 m Kestrel just about managing to hover in strong gusty wind
John O'Neill said
Sun Feb 3 9:40 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
pm
Brief burst of song from a Cetti's Warbler
30+ Teal on River
John O'Neill said
Wed Jan 23 6:04 PM, 2019
Gatewarth
High tide. Foggy.
2 Buzzards
1 m Bullfinch
John O'Neill said
Sun Jan 13 9:56 PM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry-Gatewarth
pm
Wet. Driving fine rain gusting in off River. The wet weather made a Robin's decision to indulge in a long bath in a puddle on the path seem a bit pointless.
1 Jay in hedge on top of bank.
1 Grey Wagtail on large midden.
1 Fieldfare and 2 Mistle Thrush with small flock of Starlings in fields.
John O'Neill said
Thu Jan 3 4:06 PM, 2019
Fiddlers Ferry
PM
30plus Pink Footed Geese in straggley "V" lowish. Prob coming off fields on other side of River.
John O'Neill said
Fri Dec 28 10:11 AM, 2018
Fiddlers Ferry
1 Great Crested Grebe on River
20+ Redshank in tight flock
John O'Neill said
Sun Dec 2 9:57 AM, 2018
Fiddlers Ferry-Gatewarth
Wet and muddy early morning.
A Buzzard hulking on a small fencepost looked drenched.
Dunnocks and especially Wrens seemded to be singing prominently, presumably establishing or reestablishing territories for next Spring, even if that event seemed far off today.
Single Great Spotted Woodpecker seen.
John O'Neill said
Sun Nov 25 11:03 AM, 2018
Fiddlers Ferry-Gatewarth
Horse fields : 1 Buzzard being mobbed enthusiastically by 2 Crows
1 f Grey Wagtail
Old Tip : 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over.
John O'Neill said
Sun Nov 11 11:40 AM, 2018
Fiddlers Ferry-Gatewarth
AM
Several flocks of Long Tailed Tits
2 Curlew feeding in farm fields
Fieldfare audible over
1 Cettis Warbler almost singing
John O'Neill said
Sun Oct 28 4:56 PM, 2018
Gatewarth
Single Redwing feeding on berry laden hedges with Blackbirds was first of the season for me.
Tidal Bore (I think) visible in the River at high tide.
John O'Neill said
Mon Oct 22 10:05 AM, 2018
Gatewarth
AM
1 Cettis Warbler heard singing.
1 f Grey Wagtail.
Tight flock of 12+ Reed Buntings feeding methodically along a long hawthorn hedge like a flock of finches.
John O'Neill said
Sun Oct 21 2:18 PM, 2018
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
m Stonecchat still present.
12 + Goldfinches also here on teazles
1 F Sparrowhawk hunting v low (inches off ground) along hedge, stopping to perch up on fences.
1 f Grey Wagtail.
1 Buzzard
John O'Neill said
Sat Oct 20 11:46 AM, 2018
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
1 M Stonechat perching up on dead heads of thistles/sedges/grasses just past the water plant building compound. Right up to the River bank. Active.
good nos f Fieldfre feeding in roadside fields with Starlings
Gatewarth
pr Bullfinch
1 Cettis Warbler heard singing
Several Cetti's Warblers singing from round the site Probably 4 birds
Many birds paired up, Dunnocks singing and displaying
Linnets, Long Tailed Tits, Song Thush, Reed Bunting
AM
Cetti's Warbler singing briefly from reeds in the Water Plant fenced in area
late afternoon y/day
The nest building Coot hopefully hadn't expended too much effort in its task....weather conditions (high water level, wind) had meant all evidence of the nesting had been totally removed.
Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from close to last year's nest site. Little patch of woodlands here flooded.
Murmurations of Starlings giving nice sighting. 2 to 3 hundred birds
AM
A freezing fog had rolled in making viewing conditions less than ideal....far bank of River invisible in mists.
Loose flocks of Redwing were strung along hedges and also flying over.
Nicely marhed juv m Stonechat gave close views (fortunately) in canalside scrub. Nearby, a Robin was flitting between Molehills repeatedly. presumably looking for easy meal of earthworms.
Good finch numbers in alders and other hedgerow trees, mainly Chaffinch and Goldfinch. 4 colourful male Bullfinches feeding on a hip laden Dog Rose. One was making a fair stab at hovering as it fed.
A Coot was disdainfully ignoring the Wintery conditions to concentrate on constructing an untidy nest in the canal.
AM
Birds in mixed trees round Water Plant inlcuded 1 f Brambling in with Chaffinches and 10 plus Redwing
1 Cettis Warbler gave brief burst of song from canalside reeds
2 Buzzards over
2 flocks of Larwing on River. Prob around 50 birds in total
AM
Small mixed flocks of Blackbirds, Redwing and Fieldfare gorging on ice rimed berry laden bushes, hedges and trees in a Wintery morning scene,
Gatewarth
Small nos of Redwing feeding with Blackbirds in Hawthorns
1 f Sparrowhawk hunting low over Old Tip
50plus Lapwings on River
-- Edited by John O'Neill on Sunday 10th of November 2019 12:28:25 PM
Active mixed flocks gorging on/in berry laden bushes - Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Robins, Dunnocks ,Reed Buntings ,Blackrids,Song Thrushes were joined by a single Fieldfare.
Small numbers of very vocal Pink Footed Geese over
1 Buzzard
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
pm
4 Adult and 5 Juv Mute Swans on canal
2 Buzzards hunting along River as a pair
1 Chiffchaff in bushes near Railway
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 10th of October 2019 08:41:59 PM
Soggy. Standing water in fieilds , small flocks of Black Headed Gulls attracted.
Stream of Skylarks high over in 2s and 3s.
1 Jay
Mersey sandbanks Ferry Inn to Sankey Brook :
300+ Lapwings, 2 Black Tailed Godwits, 8 Cormorants and 1 Grey Heron.
Lots of gulls around the river, but nothing uncommon amongst them.
Several juvenile Lesser Black Backed Gulls were really pestering the adults for food.
Gatewarth (Landscaped former landfill) : 2 Buzzards, 6 Common Whitethroats and 1m Blackcap.
A female Tufted Duck escorted 2 small ducklings on the St. Helens canal.
A roost of 60+ Starlings had built up on a nearby electric pylon as I was leaving.
AM
Nice confiding party of Long Tailed Tits feeding on Rosebay Willowherb flowers was mostly made up of young birds, not yet sporting their full length tails.
1 Jay
A few Reed Warblers still (just about) singing from canal side reeds.
late pm
Warblers singing
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Cettis Warbler
Several Blackcap
Several Whitethroat inc one feeding on horse paddocks, hopping on ground like a blackbird. 1 young bird begging food from parent in bushes.
4 Buzzards hunting together on far side of river.
5.30pm ish
Warblers seen and/ or heard in sunshine:
1 Grasshopper Warbler (grassed over tip)
1 Lesser Whitethroat (riverside scrub)
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaff
At least 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling from scrub and reeds on River bank 09.30 pm
2 Adult Mute Swans were escorting 6 cygnets on the canal this evening.
Nice to watch an adult Great Spotted Woodpecker busy feeding a young bird. The young Woodpecker 's head fully out of the nesting hole . Both birds vocal. The second adult flew up tp the dead tree the nesthole was in later.
Mixed flocks of fledged birds : tits, finches, house sparrows, in hedges.
PM lots of warblers singing in the sunshine
1 Lesser Whitethroat on river bank scrub
3 Cettis Warbler , one showing well
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
Numerous Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat
Mute Swan nest deep in reeds
Walk along canal almost to Gatewarth
2 Cettis Warblers, many Reed Warblers and at least 1 Grasshopper Warbler all heard singing 5.00pm ish
Atypically good, and prolonged, views of a Grasshopper Warler reeling from atop a bramble thicket. The vibrations of its throat could be seen as it sang and also the distinctive head turning technique to mask its position from hearers.
4 Bulfinch
1 Great Crested Grebe.
6 or 7 Buzzards soaring high joined by a Sparrowhawk.
no soon said than done
Sedge Warbler this AM singing from tops of Hawthorne bushes
Goldfinches collecting nesting material
5 plus Swallows
thanks Rob
Sedge Warbler is the other warbler I was thinking of !
Just a quick observation in that youve only listed 6 Warbler species so far this year, and only 8 last year, those being...
...Cettis Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, and Grasshopper Warbler this year with the extra 2 for last year being...Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.
Did you mean 6/8?
Cheers
8-9 pm
2 reeling Grasshopper Warblers heard. 1 seen.
This means seven ninths of regular warbler species that usually occur here seen this year so far.
2 Reed Warblers seen - canal
Green Woodpecker heard qute distant from direction of Fiddlers Ferry pub
2 Swallows
2 House Martins
1 Cettis Warbler
2 Blackcap
Cuerdley Marsh/R. Mersey yesterday:
Marsh Harrier - immature male heading slowly eastwards across marsh
Little Egret - 2
Ringed Plover - pair
Common Snipe - 3
Jack Snipe - 1
Northern edge adjacent to Sankey Canal:
Cettis Warbler - 4
Yellowhammer - male
several Chiffchaff & Blackcap
Walked from level crossing by Fiddlers Ferry pub car park to Sankey Brook and back.
River Mersey :
8 Redshanks, 10 Shelducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Cormorants and 2 Grey Herons.
Former Gatewarth Tip site and area along St Helens canal:
1m Yellowhammer, 1f Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzards, 2 Willow Warblers, 4m Blackcaps, 1 Linnet, 2m+1f Bullfinches, 8 Jays, 2 Greenfinches
and 2 singing Chiffchaffs.
Nothing uncommon amongst the gulls on the river, although there were 8 adult Common Gulls, and no Great Black Backs.
Cettis Warblers gave short bursts of song at 4 separate points, but none were seen.
5 or 6 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap
10 plus Chiffchaff
1 Cettis Warbler
1 M Bullfinch
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Cettis Wablers
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Buzzard
1 Jay
Quite sunny but not very Spring like, cold and windy. Fields and paths flooded.
Only warbler singing was a Cettis from the canal side reeds.
2 Buzzards flying v close together calling to each other.
1 m Kestrel
Cettis Warbler heard singing from cover in field sloping down to Fiddlers Ferry
The hawthorn hedge at top of bank has been flailed back heavily. Not great news for nesting birds this Spring, but at least not grubbed out completely.
830AM
1 very mobile Cetti's Warbler in full enthusiastic song from cover . ranging from canal side to Old Tip area.
Pair Stonechat active and eailsy visible perched on brambles in field sloping down to Ferry Pub.
1 f Grey Wagtail on canal towpath.
12 Curlews on River
1 m Stonechat in brambley canal side rough
1 m Kestrel just about managing to hover in strong gusty wind
pm
Brief burst of song from a Cetti's Warbler
30+ Teal on River
High tide. Foggy.
2 Buzzards
1 m Bullfinch
pm
Wet. Driving fine rain gusting in off River. The wet weather made a Robin's decision to indulge in a long bath in a puddle on the path seem a bit pointless.
1 Jay in hedge on top of bank.
1 Grey Wagtail on large midden.
1 Fieldfare and 2 Mistle Thrush with small flock of Starlings in fields.
PM
30plus Pink Footed Geese in straggley "V" lowish. Prob coming off fields on other side of River.
1 Great Crested Grebe on River
20+ Redshank in tight flock
Wet and muddy early morning.
A Buzzard hulking on a small fencepost looked drenched.
Dunnocks and especially Wrens seemded to be singing prominently, presumably establishing or reestablishing territories for next Spring, even if that event seemed far off today.
Single Great Spotted Woodpecker seen.
Horse fields : 1 Buzzard being mobbed enthusiastically by 2 Crows
1 f Grey Wagtail
Old Tip : 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over.
AM
Several flocks of Long Tailed Tits
2 Curlew feeding in farm fields
Fieldfare audible over
1 Cettis Warbler almost singing
Single Redwing feeding on berry laden hedges with Blackbirds was first of the season for me.
Tidal Bore (I think) visible in the River at high tide.
AM
1 Cettis Warbler heard singing.
1 f Grey Wagtail.
Tight flock of 12+ Reed Buntings feeding methodically along a long hawthorn hedge like a flock of finches.
m Stonecchat still present.
12 + Goldfinches also here on teazles
1 F Sparrowhawk hunting v low (inches off ground) along hedge, stopping to perch up on fences.
1 f Grey Wagtail.
1 Buzzard
AM
1 M Stonechat perching up on dead heads of thistles/sedges/grasses just past the water plant building compound. Right up to the River bank. Active.