Gatewarth
1 Lesser Whitethroat singing from cover. In field with wind pump.
6 Blackcap
3 Sedge Warblers
John O'Neill said
Sun Apr 30 6:40 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
pm
seen
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Sedge Warblers
heard
5 Grasshopper Warblers
in addition to numerous Whitethroat Willow Warbler Chiff Chaff Reed Warblers
John O'Neill said
Fri Apr 28 7:50 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling 5:45 pm
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 24 9:59 PM, 2017
Sankey Bridges
1 Cetti's Warbler singing , mobile along canal-side vegetation.
2 f Grey Wagtails flycatching from wooden planks on canal
John O'Neill said
Sun Apr 23 10:19 AM, 2017
9AM 1 Grasshiopper Warbler reeling
John O'Neill said
Fri Apr 21 1:18 AM, 2017
Gatewarth
8 - 9 PM
6 Grasshopper Warblers heard reeling tonight as light failed.
More or less scattered across site.
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 17 12:02 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
added to the warbler chorus this morning
4 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
6 Reed Warbler
also 3 m Bullfinch
John O'Neill said
Sat Apr 15 8:16 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
1 Reed Warbler heard singing
1 Cetti's Warbler heard. Brief burst of song from rough overgrown area on top of bank.
John O'Neill said
Wed Apr 12 9:40 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
8-9 PM
Single Grasshopper Warbler reeling incessantly from brambley edge of reedbed in field sloping down to Ferry pub.
After longish wait I managed to see the bird as it flew up to change position.
Mike Mulholland said
Mon Apr 10 9:21 PM, 2017
Cetti's Warbler singing yesterday morning in scrubby area southeast of Richmond Bank also Reed Warbler nearby.
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 10 5:41 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
"2 Swallows over Old Hall Stables
3 Willow Warblers heard singing from old tip area and riverbank
3 Bullfinch
Chiffchaff up to double figures, 3 singing just in the few trees and tiny reedbed round wooden bridge
John O'Neill said
Thu Mar 30 11:02 PM, 2017
Fiddlers Ferry 2 Buzzards up in air together being divebombed by 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls Gatewarth 1 Buzzard being mobbed by a Murder of Crows. Skylark singing.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 30th of March 2017 11:18:32 PM
Rob Smith said
Tue Mar 28 5:46 PM, 2017
Western edge of Cuerdley Marsh adjacent to Sankey Way
Blackcap - 2 Cettis Warbler Chiffchaff - 3
Jack Snipe - 1 on the marsh itself
John O'Neill said
Sat Mar 25 6:53 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
3 Chiffchaff singing, 1 seen flycatching from a tall willow. Chaffinches and a single f Bullfinch also in the same tree.
2 Peacock Butterflies on wing.
John O'Neill said
Tue Mar 21 9:51 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
5pm ish
1 Chiffchaff heard singing from trees along canal
Pair Linnet (m singing) and a m Bullfinch -Old Tip area
John O'Neill said
Tue Mar 14 8:17 PM, 2017
Fiddlers Ferry
6pmish
2 Grey Partridge calling in field along road
John O'Neill said
Sat Feb 25 5:44 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
7 Curlews low over Old Tip. One Kestrel hunting here too.
John O'Neill said
Fri Feb 17 8:45 PM, 2017
Gatewarth
Grey Partridge calling.
Birds moving round bushes and hedges included Bullfinches (5+) Long Tailed Tits(2) Goldcrest (1)
John O'Neill said
Mon Jan 30 6:06 PM, 2017
Fiddlers Ferry
Small active flock of Redpoll feeding in alder trees near water plant 10+
Buzzard and Kestrel hunting
! Song Thrush
Gatewarth
Around 50 Redwing and 30 Fieldfare in fields opposite Penketh Old Hall Stables .Loose flock, few Blackbirds and 2 Mistle Thrush with them as well as Starling, Magpie, Goldfinch and 1 Jay.
1 Buzzard.
John O'Neill said
Sun Jan 22 9:30 AM, 2017
Gatewarth
Constant stream of Fieldfares over, in small numbers, often 2s and 3s, low. Very vocal.
2 M Bullfinch in hedge at top of bank.
John O'Neill said
Mon Dec 26 12:13 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Flock of 10+ Bullfinches flitting round bushes on bank over river were most I've seen here all year. Chaffinch and Goldfinch close but not flocking with larger finches.
pete berry said
Mon Dec 19 3:38 PM, 2016
A Cetti's Warbler was calling and on a couple of occasions bursting into sub-song in the scrubby area just where we gull watch from at Richmond Bank on and off all morning.
John O'Neill said
Sun Dec 4 6:50 PM, 2016
Fiddlers Ferry
Although some work still going on at Penketh Outflow the flooding has completely gone in the adjacent field. No sign remains.
John O'Neill said
Mon Nov 21 12:04 AM, 2016
Fiddlers Ferry
The flash/flooded field at the rear of Penketh Outflow has increased in size, three quarters of the field under water now.
More birds using it too, 50 or so Black Headed Gulls, 11 Mallard , a Moorhen and a Buzzard here today. Probably the site is not going to be challenging Leighton Moss just yet.
John O'Neill said
Sat Nov 19 11:55 PM, 2016
FIDDLERS FERRY
Only 2 young Mute Swans with the adult pair on canal
around 60 Lapwings flying round in tight flock. at least 1 Curlew.
Lots of shooting going on far side of river. (Woodpigeons could be targets ?)
John O'Neill said
Sat Nov 12 4:49 PM, 2016
Fiddlers Ferry
All the work on the sluice at Penketh Outflow has, unsurprisingly perhaps, meant the adjacent field has flooded.
This mini-flash will probably be worth watching, especially if hard weather drives birds off the River.
50 plus Black Headed Gulls, a mallard and a heron all here today. Buzzard over.
4 of this year's Mute Swan young have survived. With the 2 adults on canal.
John O'Neill said
Sat Sep 24 10:41 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
M Kestrel hunting along river.
Large F Sparrowhawk over canal.
John O'Neill said
Sun Sep 18 6:34 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
1 adult Mute Swan on canal with 6 young from this year in tow.
1 Buzzard , large bird perched up heraldically on haystack on far side of River.
16 Grey Herons in long but very straight line on River, like a queue for a Bus.
Terry Long said
Fri Aug 26 9:31 AM, 2016
White stork on river by new bridge construction yesterday 6.30pm
John O'Neill said
Sat Aug 6 6:08 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Fledged warblers in reeds in small pond near wooden bridge over canal, Sedge and Willow.
Buzzard over old tip.
Plenty of Juv Linnets and Magpies about.
Terry Long said
Wed Jul 13 6:33 PM, 2016
Black Tern on the river by new bridge
John O'Neill said
Sun Jul 3 8:15 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Gatewarth, arguably. well into the Summer Birding Doldrums.
A little group of recently fledged Sedge Warblers very much the highlight of a relatively birdless circuit the afternoon. Single Buzzard.
Even the wild orchids going over. Not many butterflies on wing, despite sunny conditions; few Gatekeepers.
A recently deceased Mole an interesting find.
John O'Neill said
Sat Jun 25 6:28 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Numbers of Warblers singing very low now Reed Warblers buzzing around the canal but apart from these, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Whitethroats all in single figures.
Single Buzzard.
Flowers more in evidence. Pyramidal , Bee and Southern Marsh Orchids all out in sloping field between Gatewarth and The Ferry Pub.
Terry Long said
Mon Jun 6 10:59 PM, 2016
Kittiwake swimming on the river at high tide just west of Widnes warth.
John O'Neill said
Sat Jun 4 6:22 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Quiet, still some warblers singing but noticeably fewer than recently
Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler
Reed Buntings also singing
Good nos of Toad Tadpoles
Plenty of Marsh Orchids out. most Southern, a few individual plants looked rather Northern Marsh-ish
John O'Neill said
Sat May 21 1:39 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
wet.
Damp looking buzzard perched up on a pylon.
Lots of warblers singing, in rough order of numbers -Whitethroat, Reed Wabler, Willow Warbler ,Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler
Moorhens with fledged young on canal.
Mike Mulholland said
Mon May 9 10:09 AM, 2016
Mid-morning yesterday good views of a female Marsh Harrier hunting over the marsh at the southern end of Fiddlers Ferry power station also Cetti's Warbler singing near Randle Sluices.
John O'Neill said
Wed May 4 9:53 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
1 poss 2 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
1 each of Kestrel (m) and Sparrowhawk (f) hunting over the old tip
np sight or sound of Lesser Whitethroat
John O'Neill said
Mon May 2 6:55 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Lesser whitethroat in blackthorn hedge and adjacent scrub along main path this pm
John O'Neill said
Tue Apr 26 11:05 PM, 2016
Fiddlers Ferry-Gatewarth
8pm
Pair Mute Swans nesting on canal
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
Numerous Whitethroat and Reed Warblers
Gatewarth
7.30-8.00 pm
4 Grasshopper Warblers reeling
Blackcap
Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers common
Fox trotting up the River on far bank
John O'Neill said
Sun Apr 17 9:35 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in reeds and grasses in sloping field between Gatewarth & Ferry pub.1st of year for me. Intermitent at first then 8.30m started singing non stop. Seen briefly.
Swallows back at Old Hall Stables. Swallows with one Sand Martin hawking over canal.
Tide and blustery wind combined for a very high level of water late morning. Flooding into surrounding grass. A long line of white water visible pushing upriver could've been an example of a tidal bore (?)
Weasel running practically over my feet could have been displaced by high water...or hunting smaller prey displaced ?
Deprived of any sandbanks, the many larger Gulls entertained themselves by picking up clearly inedible detritus from the river flying up to drop their prizes back into the water, fight over it with other gulls etc
Birds seen:
Willow Warbler (first of year) 1
Swallows 3
Chiffchaff at least 4
Bullfinch 1
Glaucous Gull 1
Iceland Gull 1
John O'Neill said
Fri Apr 1 2:00 AM, 2016
Gatewarth
4 Chiifchaff
2Grey Partridge
1Kestrel
min 4max 6 Buzzard
John O'Neill said
Mon Mar 28 9:58 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
1 Chiffchaff singing near canal
1 Buzzard over
John O'Neill said
Mon Mar 21 12:15 AM, 2016
Gatewarth
2 Bullfinch
6 Buzzards
1 Kestrel
John O'Neill said
Sat Mar 12 8:58 PM, 2016
Fiddlers Ferry
Mute Swan on nest. Canal
John O'Neill said
Sun Mar 6 9:32 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Grey Partridge very vocal, late pm. At least 5 heard calling 2 seen.
Buzzard
Kestrel
Jay
Fiddlers Ferry
Lesser Redpoll, 1 showing well in trees round River Pump House
1 Lesser Whitethroat , 8 Common Whitethroats, 2 Cettis Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers and 2 Kestrels along the embankment.
On or above the river :
2 Buzzards, 10 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shovelers, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Lapwing and 1 White Feral Goose.
1 Lesser Whitethroat singing from cover. In field with wind pump.
6 Blackcap
3 Sedge Warblers
pm
seen
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Sedge Warblers
heard
5 Grasshopper Warblers
in addition to numerous Whitethroat Willow Warbler Chiff Chaff Reed Warblers
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling 5:45 pm
1 Cetti's Warbler singing , mobile along canal-side vegetation.
2 f Grey Wagtails flycatching from wooden planks on canal
9AM 1 Grasshiopper Warbler reeling
8 - 9 PM
6 Grasshopper Warblers heard reeling tonight as light failed.
More or less scattered across site.
added to the warbler chorus this morning
4 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
6 Reed Warbler
also 3 m Bullfinch
1 Reed Warbler heard singing
1 Cetti's Warbler heard. Brief burst of song from rough overgrown area on top of bank.
8-9 PM
Single Grasshopper Warbler reeling incessantly from brambley edge of reedbed in field sloping down to Ferry pub.
After longish wait I managed to see the bird as it flew up to change position.
Cetti's Warbler singing yesterday morning in scrubby area southeast of Richmond Bank also Reed Warbler nearby.
"2 Swallows over Old Hall Stables
3 Willow Warblers heard singing from old tip area and riverbank
3 Bullfinch
Chiffchaff up to double figures, 3 singing just in the few trees and tiny reedbed round wooden bridge
Fiddlers Ferry
2 Buzzards up in air together being divebombed by 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls
Gatewarth
1 Buzzard being mobbed by a Murder of Crows.
Skylark singing.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 30th of March 2017 11:18:32 PM
Blackcap - 2
Cettis Warbler
Chiffchaff - 3
Jack Snipe - 1 on the marsh itself
3 Chiffchaff singing, 1 seen flycatching from a tall willow. Chaffinches and a single f Bullfinch also in the same tree.
2 Peacock Butterflies on wing.
5pm ish
1 Chiffchaff heard singing from trees along canal
Pair Linnet (m singing) and a m Bullfinch -Old Tip area
6pmish
2 Grey Partridge calling in field along road
7 Curlews low over Old Tip. One Kestrel hunting here too.
Grey Partridge calling.
Birds moving round bushes and hedges included Bullfinches (5+) Long Tailed Tits(2) Goldcrest (1)
Small active flock of Redpoll feeding in alder trees near water plant 10+
Buzzard and Kestrel hunting
! Song Thrush
Gatewarth
Around 50 Redwing and 30 Fieldfare in fields opposite Penketh Old Hall Stables .Loose flock, few Blackbirds and 2 Mistle Thrush with them as well as Starling, Magpie, Goldfinch and 1 Jay.
1 Buzzard.
Constant stream of Fieldfares over, in small numbers, often 2s and 3s, low. Very vocal.
2 M Bullfinch in hedge at top of bank.
Flock of 10+ Bullfinches flitting round bushes on bank over river were most I've seen here all year. Chaffinch and Goldfinch close but not flocking with larger finches.
Although some work still going on at Penketh Outflow the flooding has completely gone in the adjacent field. No sign remains.
The flash/flooded field at the rear of Penketh Outflow has increased in size, three quarters of the field under water now.
More birds using it too, 50 or so Black Headed Gulls, 11 Mallard , a Moorhen and a Buzzard here today. Probably the site is not going to be challenging Leighton Moss just yet.
Only 2 young Mute Swans with the adult pair on canal
around 60 Lapwings flying round in tight flock. at least 1 Curlew.
Lots of shooting going on far side of river. (Woodpigeons could be targets ?)
All the work on the sluice at Penketh Outflow has, unsurprisingly perhaps, meant the adjacent field has flooded.
This mini-flash will probably be worth watching, especially if hard weather drives birds off the River.
50 plus Black Headed Gulls, a mallard and a heron all here today. Buzzard over.
4 of this year's Mute Swan young have survived. With the 2 adults on canal.
M Kestrel hunting along river.
Large F Sparrowhawk over canal.
1 adult Mute Swan on canal with 6 young from this year in tow.
1 Buzzard , large bird perched up heraldically on haystack on far side of River.
16 Grey Herons in long but very straight line on River, like a queue for a Bus.
Fledged warblers in reeds in small pond near wooden bridge over canal, Sedge and Willow.
Buzzard over old tip.
Plenty of Juv Linnets and Magpies about.
Gatewarth, arguably. well into the Summer Birding Doldrums.
A little group of recently fledged Sedge Warblers very much the highlight of a relatively birdless circuit the afternoon. Single Buzzard.
Even the wild orchids going over. Not many butterflies on wing, despite sunny conditions; few Gatekeepers.
A recently deceased Mole an interesting find.
Numbers of Warblers singing very low now Reed Warblers buzzing around the canal but apart from these, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Whitethroats all in single figures.
Single Buzzard.
Flowers more in evidence. Pyramidal , Bee and Southern Marsh Orchids all out in sloping field between Gatewarth and The Ferry Pub.
Quiet, still some warblers singing but noticeably fewer than recently
Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler
Reed Buntings also singing
Good nos of Toad Tadpoles
Plenty of Marsh Orchids out. most Southern, a few individual plants looked rather Northern Marsh-ish
wet.
Damp looking buzzard perched up on a pylon.
Lots of warblers singing, in rough order of numbers -Whitethroat, Reed Wabler, Willow Warbler ,Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler
Moorhens with fledged young on canal.
Mid-morning yesterday good views of a female Marsh Harrier hunting over the marsh at the southern end of Fiddlers Ferry power station also Cetti's Warbler singing near Randle Sluices.
1 poss 2 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
1 each of Kestrel (m) and Sparrowhawk (f) hunting over the old tip
np sight or sound of Lesser Whitethroat
Lesser whitethroat in blackthorn hedge and adjacent scrub along main path this pm
8pm
Pair Mute Swans nesting on canal
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
Numerous Whitethroat and Reed Warblers
7.30 -8.00 pm
2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling
4 Whitethroat
7.30-8.00 pm
4 Grasshopper Warblers reeling
Blackcap
Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers common
Fox trotting up the River on far bank
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in reeds and grasses in sloping field between Gatewarth & Ferry pub.1st of year for me. Intermitent at first then 8.30m started singing non stop. Seen briefly.
Swallows back at Old Hall Stables. Swallows with one Sand Martin hawking over canal.
Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff ,Reed Warblers singing.
Tide and blustery wind combined for a very high level of water late morning. Flooding into surrounding grass. A long line of white water visible pushing upriver could've been an example of a tidal bore (?)
Weasel running practically over my feet could have been displaced by high water...or hunting smaller prey displaced ?
Deprived of any sandbanks, the many larger Gulls entertained themselves by picking up clearly inedible detritus from the river flying up to drop their prizes back into the water, fight over it with other gulls etc
Birds seen:
Willow Warbler (first of year) 1
Swallows 3
Chiffchaff at least 4
Bullfinch 1
Glaucous Gull 1
Iceland Gull 1
4 Chiifchaff
2Grey Partridge
1Kestrel
min 4max 6 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff singing near canal
1 Buzzard over
2 Bullfinch
6 Buzzards
1 Kestrel
Mute Swan on nest. Canal
Grey Partridge very vocal, late pm. At least 5 heard calling 2 seen.
Buzzard
Kestrel
Jay
Fiddlers Ferry
Lesser Redpoll, 1 showing well in trees round River Pump House