one of those nice encounters at the pool this afternoon,nothing rare,but thats not what im about anyway and after a pretty fruitless visit to penny ,I decided to pop into the pool on my way home.and decided to walk round the pool ,when half way round it started to rain ,and almost immediately 4 dunlin dropped in about 200 yards away,1 dunlin decided to fly off to join a little ringed plover on the other side of the pool,so the 3 remaining dunlin then started to feed and walk towards me. I made the decision to sit down as close to the edge as I could and waited with the camera at the ready.The Dunlin continued to come towards me until they were about 8 feet away.so about 200 shots later,they just turned around and walked away,so for any budding bird photographers,take this tip,don't chase waders or they will fly,sit down as low as possible and let them come to you. Dunlin are not that common at the pool and a close encounter like this for me at the pool is unique,as normally they either fly through without stopping or get moved on by dogwalkers,I know they are common but that 20 minute encounter took away a weeks stress I had built up at work,watching them feed and preen and splash about, before they move on to the north to breed somewhere. I will post a few shots of the Dunlin on my Flikr site at the weekend,for anyone who wants to see them.
other birds at the pool this afternoon Common Sandpiper-2 Swift-200+ swallow-500+ house martin- 50+ Sand Martin-200+
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 27th of April 2012 07:01:03 PM
Mike Baron said
Fri Apr 27 3:09 PM, 2012
Dunlin present this morning plus Common Sandpiper
DavidBowman said
Thu Apr 26 11:40 PM, 2012
Went down at 3.00 pm, ahead of an incoming squall. Got soaked but well worth it
Plenty of hirundines (70 Swallows and 30 Sand Martins) were over the Pool and 7 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Common Sandpipers were around the edge. When the heavens opened 3 Arctic Terns flew through, heading east, 2 Swifts and 40 House Martins came in with them but stayed to feed low over the water. Altogether, short but sweet.
Cheers David
Mike Baron said
Wed Apr 25 3:29 AM, 2012
3 Common Sandpipers and 4 Little Ringed Plovers this evening
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Apr 24 2:33 PM, 2012
Mike Baron wrote:
This morning there was b***er all except for the local Kestrels canoodling on a telegraph pole and two pairs of Canada Geese begging for food.
This evening around 30 Tufted Ducks had dropped in with a total of 10 Great Crested Grebes. This is a regular pattern at the moment with birds gone by dawn and back late evening. The waders are skulking and seem to disappear and reappear at will.
Also this evening:
White Wagtail Common Sandpiper 4 Little Ringed Plovers 80+ Swallows 6 House Martins Sand Martin
Wish I knew where the waders go to,as i walked right round twice at 3pm and apart from the 1 little ringed there was nowt really,Like you say seems mid day the dogwalkers have pushed everything off then they return late afternoon onwards,its a wierd place :)
Mike Baron said
Tue Apr 24 5:15 AM, 2012
This morning there was b***er all except for the local Kestrels canoodling on a telegraph pole and two pairs of Canada Geese begging for food.
This evening around 30 Tufted Ducks had dropped in with a total of 10 Great Crested Grebes. This is a regular pattern at the moment with birds gone by dawn and back late evening. The waders are skulking and seem to disappear and reappear at will.
Also this evening:
White Wagtail Common Sandpiper 4 Little Ringed Plovers 80+ Swallows 6 House Martins Sand Martin
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Apr 23 11:32 PM, 2012
pm 1 little ringed plover plenty sand martin ,swallows and House Martin Common Buzzard -1 plus the usuals water levels very low.
Mike Baron said
Mon Apr 23 12:07 AM, 2012
Arctic Tern present this evening
Mike Baron said
Sun Apr 22 5:12 PM, 2012
And male Yellow Wagtail plus:
Common Sandpiper 2 Little Ringed Plovers 3 Blackcaps Willow Warbler 10 Tufted Ducks 9 Great Crested Grebes 3 Coot 20+ Swallows 2 House Martins
-- Edited by Mike Baron on Sunday 22nd of April 2012 06:58:21 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Apr 21 11:32 PM, 2012
Just a warning to anyone going to the pool,theres been a few unsavory characters hanging around the trees at the north end,not kids,fellas in there 20s,be wary as theres been muggings in the past,and im sure today i was being stalked by one,but couldn't be bothered with the hassle of confronting him,so went back to the car instead -just be careful out there
DavidBowman said
Sat Apr 21 10:23 PM, 2012
Quick stop on my way back from Woolston:
Wheatear 2 females Little Ringed Plover 1 Redshank 1 Stock Dove 5 Sand Martin 6 Swallow 9 House Martin 2 Lapwing 2 plus the usual odds and ends.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Tue Apr 17 1:24 AM, 2012
Seven Little Ringed Plovers, c55 Swallows, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 10 Pied Wagtails and 15 Linnets at tea-time today.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Mon Apr 16 12:13 AM, 2012
I Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers and 4 Little Ringed Plovers early this morning.
Cheers David
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Apr 14 11:42 PM, 2012
1 Common Sandpiper 2 redshank and a few hundred mixed sand martin,swallows,house martin.
Mike Baron said
Sat Apr 14 3:36 PM, 2012
Green Sandpiper this morning
Mike Baron said
Sat Apr 14 3:17 AM, 2012
6 Little Ringed Plovers still this evening plus 25+ Swallows and 35+ Sand Martin and single House Martin
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Apr 14 12:47 AM, 2012
Mike Baron wrote:
3 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers at dusk yesterday
Still 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plover this Afternoon,but they won't last long as they were disturbed 5 times in 15 mins,with dogwalkers that always insist on walking along the waters edge,instead of sticking to the higher paths. also 2 oystercatcher and great crested grebes trying to mate on the dry sandbank,without any chance of ever getting away with nesting,on the pool any more,as the water is so low the reedbed is about 50 yards up the dry land now due to the water extraction-it will be a puddle soon What once was one of the best birding sites in north cheshire.
Mike Baron said
Fri Apr 13 3:17 PM, 2012
3 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers at dusk yesterday
DavidBowman said
Fri Apr 13 2:03 AM, 2012
Half an hour at teatime today - 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Swallows, 9 Sand Martins, 12 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Pied Wagtails, 2 Lapwings, 2 Linnets, 3 Buzzards and 1 Kestrel.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Thu Apr 12 1:29 AM, 2012
Quick stop on my way back from Woolston - 30 Sand Martins, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshanks and 4 Oystercatchers.
Cheers
David
Mike Baron said
Sun Apr 8 11:28 PM, 2012
Common Sandpiper this afternoon and 4 Little Ringed Plovers plus usual suspects
DavidBowman said
Thu Apr 5 12:58 AM, 2012
Had better luck this afternoon, with 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshanks, 9 Sand Martins and 2 Oystercatchers.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Wed Apr 4 9:26 PM, 2012
Nice one Mike. I'll have to try and get down today and see if I have any better luck
Cheers David
Mike Baron said
Wed Apr 4 7:35 PM, 2012
Lunch time visit. Very cold and windy. 2 House Martins plus 4 Sand Martins. Also 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshanks, 2 Oystercatchers, 20 Tufted Duck, 5 Coot and 5 Great Crested Grebe and Mute Swan. Unsurprisingly no singing birds.
DavidBowman said
Wed Apr 4 1:49 AM, 2012
The Flash was relatively quiet this afternoon, with just 2 Oystercatchers alongside the usual bits and pieces. So I took the chance to do a long walk through the surrounding farmland and woodland. Best find was an occupied Buzzard's nest - my first for the Winwick area.
Other counts included:
Pied Wagtail 1 Grey Partridge 2 Yellowhammer 16 Corn Bunting 3 Tree Sparrow 10 Linnet 16 Meadow Pipit 4 Buzzard 3 Chiffchaff 7 in song Nuthatch 1 in song Skylark 2 in song Robin 21 in song Great Tit 10 in song Blue Tit 8 in song Coal Tit 1 in song Greenfinch 4 in song Goldfinch 2 in song Stock Dove 4 Woodpigeon 120 including 5 displaying Wren 10 in song Song Thrush 1 in song House Sparrow 42 in colonies of 10,6,8,4 and 14 Goldfinch 2 in song Jackdaw 2 entering chimney pots, suggestive of breeding Mistle Thrush 3 Blackbird 33 including 5 in song
Cheers David
Mike Baron said
Mon Apr 2 12:51 AM, 2012
Two Little Ringed Plovers flew in this evening
DavidBowman said
Sat Mar 31 9:07 PM, 2012
Missed the Little Ringed Plover, Mike but still not a bad half-hour. One Redshank and 11 Sand Martins were present at 1.00 pm. Also, 8 Lapwings, 55 Linnets and 24 Goldfinches.
Thanks Brian. I'll go and have a nosey as soon as I get a minute!
Cheers David
Brian Baird said
Thu Mar 29 9:10 PM, 2012
David The Little Owl can be seen about half way down Lady Lane Croft, before the Church, in an oak tree behind some bales of straw opposite Brook House Farm. Apparently its regular here. Good luck Brian
DavidBowman said
Thu Mar 29 5:52 PM, 2012
No doubt our paths will cross again before too long, Brian
Nice one with the Little Owl, too. Whereabouts was it? Stlll haven't found one myself since moving to the Winwick area.
Cheers
David
Brian Baird said
Thu Mar 29 3:40 AM, 2012
In the field behind the kennels on the approach to the flash this morning were - 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Skylarks, 2 Pied Wagtails,5 Lapwing (one displaying), 2 Carrion Crow, 3 Blackbirds, 3 Black-headed Gulls, a Dunnock and a Chaffinch.
Sadly no sign of the Little Ringed Plover at the pool, but several Great Crested Grebes were performing their courtship display. The Little Owl later at nearby Croft made up for my disappointment.
It must have been one, David Bowman, I saw striding off in the distance, sorry to have missed you!!
DavidBowman said
Wed Mar 28 5:45 PM, 2012
Called down today at 9.30 am but things were relatively quiet. Two Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings, 12 Great Crested Grebes and a Stock Dove were the only birds of note.
Cheers David
Mike Baron said
Wed Mar 28 4:02 AM, 2012
DavidBowman wrote:
Nice, Mike. Good to see that Black-necked Grebes haven't totally abandoned the flash
I've been staying at Harlech for a week with Em and have been itching to know what's been going on here (Winwick and Woolston!). No internet and no TV in the place we were staying. I had my 'bins with me on all our walks and migration was really kicking off on that coast. By 23rd March had had: Willow Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Sandwich Tern and Common Sandpiper.
Hope to get down to the Flash (and to Woolston) tomorrow to see what's around.
Cheers David
Hi David
Glad you and Em had a good time and to be honest, apart from the short-staying BNG's, you didn't miss much.
There have been kids swimming in the pool and having barbeque's already - same in Rixton.
Still a few Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers around and the usual male Sparrowhawk was entertaining them this evening!
See you soon
Mike
Doc Brewster said
Wed Mar 28 3:27 AM, 2012
John, I was there too on Sunday morning and agree disturbance was not good As well as a couple of dogs in the flash there were a few teenagers enjoying the weather using it as a beach. There's no blame attached as it is a publically accessible site for all users, but as soon as I saw all this I knew that the Black-necked Grebes would be absent.
DavidBowman said
Wed Mar 28 2:05 AM, 2012
Nice, Mike. Good to see that Black-necked Grebes haven't totally abandoned the flash
I've been staying at Harlech for a week with Em and have been itching to know what's been going on here (Winwick and Woolston!). No internet and no TV in the place we were staying. I had my 'bins with me on all our walks and migration was really kicking off on that coast. By 23rd March had had: Willow Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Sandwich Tern and Common Sandpiper.
Hope to get down to the Flash (and to Woolston) tomorrow to see what's around.
Cheers David
Mike Baron said
Wed Mar 28 1:20 AM, 2012
Little Ringed Plover this evening. Just four Wigeon left
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Mar 27 7:15 PM, 2012
DavidBowman wrote:
Nice, Mike. Good to see that Black-necked Grebes haven't totally abandoned the flash
John Tymon wrote They didn't last long with all the disturbance at the weekend ,they had gone by sunday morning
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 27th of March 2012 07:17:31 PM
Mike Baron said
Sat Mar 24 3:19 PM, 2012
Plus Chiffchaff
Mike Baron said
Sat Mar 24 3:03 PM, 2012
2 stonking breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebes this morning
Mike Baron said
Tue Mar 20 3:57 AM, 2012
DavidBowman wrote:
That doesn't sound good, Mike. Do you know if anyone in Warrington's Planning Department takes any interest in the site? Or if there were any limitations on the planning consent for water extraction? Seems tragic to see it go down the pan
Cheers David
Hi David
The Natural Environment Officer from the council keeps in touch with UU - unfortunately the pool is privatle owned and if the owner allows the water abstraction there is nothing anyone can do.
Two pairs of Oystercatchers today having a falling out - otherwise same as.
Rgds
Mike
DavidBowman said
Sun Mar 18 2:53 AM, 2012
That doesn't sound good, Mike. Do you know if anyone in Warrington's Planning Department takes any interest in the site? Or if there were any limitations on the planning consent for water extraction? Seems tragic to see it go down the pan
Cheers David
Mike Baron said
Sun Mar 18 12:53 AM, 2012
DavidBowman wrote:
Stopped for half-an-hour on my way back from Woolston, hoping that the arrival of Black-necked Grebes there would have been matched at Houghton Green. No such luck. The Pool was fairly quiet, with: 2 Oystercatchers, 37 Wigeon, 4 Pied Wagtails, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Lapwing and 26 Black-headed Gulls.
Cheers David
Hi David
I think we will be very lucky if we see any BNG's here this year. They usually turn up at HGF before Woolsten, however they don't seem to like HGF when the water level drops. Not sure why - perhaps its because it usually brings a largish influx of Great Crested Grebes?
I made discrete enquiries a few weeks ago through the council and it seems that UU will continue to extract water from HGF. The water level now is, I estimate, around 40% of the level 2 years ago. If the current "drought" continues, I can see HGF being just a muddy puddle by the end of the year.
Cheers
Mike
DavidBowman said
Sat Mar 17 8:58 PM, 2012
Stopped for half-an-hour on my way back from Woolston, hoping that the arrival of Black-necked Grebes there would have been matched at Houghton Green. No such luck. The Pool was fairly quiet, with: 2 Oystercatchers, 37 Wigeon, 4 Pied Wagtails, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Lapwing and 26 Black-headed Gulls.
Cheers David
Mike Baron said
Tue Mar 13 1:15 AM, 2012
Black-tailed Godwit present this evening with the usual suspects
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Mar 11 10:08 PM, 2012
pm 2 oystercatcher 18 great crested grebe 1 little grebe c50 wigeon c25 tufted duck common buzzard -2 plus somebody with a monster lens lying in the mud on the south bank
Brian Baird said
Sun Mar 11 4:18 AM, 2012
No sign of Ringed Plovers between 9 and 10am this morning, but a Redshank was noted with 5 Lapwing and the 2 Oystercatchers. Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Mallard and Gt. C. Grebes all still present.
Mike Baron said
Sat Mar 10 12:53 AM, 2012
2 Ringed Plovers again this morning plus the Oystercatcher pair. 52 Wigeon and 22 Tufties plus 14 Great Crested Grebes
I made the decision to sit down as close to the edge as I could and waited with the camera at the ready.The Dunlin continued to come towards me until they were about 8 feet away.so about 200 shots later,they just turned around and walked away,so for any budding bird photographers,take this tip,don't chase waders or they will fly,sit down as low as possible and let them come to you.
Dunlin are not that common at the pool and a close encounter like this for me at the pool is unique,as normally they either fly through without stopping or get moved on by dogwalkers,I know they are common but that 20 minute encounter took away a weeks stress I had built up at work,watching them feed and preen and splash about, before they move on to the north to breed somewhere.
I will post a few shots of the Dunlin on my Flikr site at the weekend,for anyone who wants to see them.
other birds at the pool this afternoon
Common Sandpiper-2
Swift-200+
swallow-500+
house martin- 50+
Sand Martin-200+
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 27th of April 2012 07:01:03 PM
Plenty of hirundines (70 Swallows and 30 Sand Martins) were over the Pool and 7 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Common Sandpipers were around the edge. When the heavens opened 3 Arctic Terns flew through, heading east, 2 Swifts and 40 House Martins came in with them but stayed to feed low over the water. Altogether, short but sweet.
Cheers David
Wish I knew where the waders go to,as i walked right round twice at 3pm and apart from the 1 little ringed there was nowt really,Like you say seems mid day the dogwalkers have pushed everything off then they return late afternoon onwards,its a wierd place :)
This evening around 30 Tufted Ducks had dropped in with a total of 10 Great Crested Grebes. This is a regular pattern at the moment with birds gone by dawn and back late evening. The waders are skulking and seem to disappear and reappear at will.
Also this evening:
White Wagtail
Common Sandpiper
4 Little Ringed Plovers
80+ Swallows
6 House Martins
Sand Martin
1 little ringed plover
plenty sand martin ,swallows and House Martin
Common Buzzard -1
plus the usuals
water levels very low.
Common Sandpiper
2 Little Ringed Plovers
3 Blackcaps
Willow Warbler
10 Tufted Ducks
9 Great Crested Grebes
3 Coot
20+ Swallows
2 House Martins
-- Edited by Mike Baron on Sunday 22nd of April 2012 06:58:21 PM
Wheatear 2 females
Little Ringed Plover 1
Redshank 1
Stock Dove 5
Sand Martin 6
Swallow 9
House Martin 2
Lapwing 2 plus the usual odds and ends.
Cheers David
Cheers David
Cheers David
2 redshank
and a few hundred mixed sand martin,swallows,house martin.
Still 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plover this Afternoon,but they won't last long as they were disturbed 5 times in 15 mins,with dogwalkers that always insist on walking along the waters edge,instead of sticking to the higher paths.
also
2 oystercatcher
and great crested grebes trying to mate on the dry sandbank,without any chance of ever getting away with nesting,on the pool any more,as the water is so low the reedbed is about 50 yards up the dry land now due to the water extraction-it will be a puddle soon
Cheers David
Cheers
David
Cheers David
Cheers
David
Other counts included:
Pied Wagtail 1
Grey Partridge 2
Yellowhammer 16
Corn Bunting 3
Tree Sparrow 10
Linnet 16
Meadow Pipit 4
Buzzard 3
Chiffchaff 7 in song
Nuthatch 1 in song
Skylark 2 in song
Robin 21 in song
Great Tit 10 in song
Blue Tit 8 in song
Coal Tit 1 in song
Greenfinch 4 in song
Goldfinch 2 in song
Stock Dove 4
Woodpigeon 120 including 5 displaying
Wren 10 in song
Song Thrush 1 in song
House Sparrow 42 in colonies of 10,6,8,4 and 14
Goldfinch 2 in song
Jackdaw 2 entering chimney pots, suggestive of breeding
Mistle Thrush 3
Blackbird 33 including 5 in song
Cheers David
Cheers David
2 Redshanks
2 Oystercatchers
4 Stock Doves
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
5 Coot
1 Mute Swan
33 Tufted Duck
5 Great Crested Grebe
Cheers David
The Little Owl can be seen about half way down Lady Lane Croft, before the Church, in an oak tree behind some bales of straw opposite Brook House Farm. Apparently its regular here.
Good luck
Brian
Nice one with the Little Owl, too. Whereabouts was it?
Cheers
David
2 Grey Partridge, 2 Skylarks, 2 Pied Wagtails,5 Lapwing (one displaying), 2 Carrion Crow, 3 Blackbirds, 3 Black-headed Gulls, a Dunnock and a Chaffinch.
Sadly no sign of the Little Ringed Plover at the pool,
The Little Owl later at nearby Croft made up for my disappointment.
It must have been one, David Bowman, I saw striding off in the distance, sorry to have missed you!!
Cheers David
Hi David
Glad you and Em had a good time and to be honest, apart from the short-staying BNG's, you didn't miss much.
There have been kids swimming in the pool and having barbeque's already - same in Rixton.
Still a few Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers around and the usual male Sparrowhawk was entertaining them this evening!
See you soon
Mike
I've been staying at Harlech for a week with Em and have been itching to know what's been going on here (Winwick and Woolston!). No internet and no TV in the place we were staying. I had my 'bins with me on all our walks and migration was really kicking off on that coast. By 23rd March had had: Willow Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Sandwich Tern and Common Sandpiper.
Hope to get down to the Flash (and to Woolston) tomorrow to see what's around.
Cheers David
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 27th of March 2012 07:17:31 PM
Hi David
The Natural Environment Officer from the council keeps in touch with UU - unfortunately the pool is privatle owned and if the owner allows the water abstraction there is nothing anyone can do.
Two pairs of Oystercatchers today having a falling out - otherwise same as.
Rgds
Mike
Cheers David
Hi David
I think we will be very lucky if we see any BNG's here this year. They usually turn up at HGF before Woolsten, however they don't seem to like HGF when the water level drops. Not sure why - perhaps its because it usually brings a largish influx of Great Crested Grebes?
I made discrete enquiries a few weeks ago through the council and it seems that UU will continue to extract water from HGF. The water level now is, I estimate, around 40% of the level 2 years ago. If the current "drought" continues, I can see HGF being just a muddy puddle by the end of the year.
Cheers
Mike
Cheers David
2 oystercatcher
18 great crested grebe
1 little grebe
c50 wigeon
c25 tufted duck
common buzzard -2
plus somebody with a monster lens lying in the mud on the south bank
Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Mallard and Gt. C. Grebes all still present.