Buzzard and Kestrel up hunting despite light persistent rain
John O'Neill said
Thu Feb 18 6:34 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from trees near canal
Buzzard low over Old Tip
Brian Baird said
Mon Feb 8 7:54 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Whooper Swan still present at Moss Side Farm fields, south of the river, this afternoon, viewed from top path.
Many thanks to all for posting the first sighting of the bird on the Richmond Bank thread last week.
Gt. Crested Grebe, Shelduck and Cormorant in river.
John O'Neill said
Sun Jan 24 5:25 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
m Great Spotted Woodpecker high in tall tree calling repeatedly.
4 Curlews on river
Woodpigeons on far side of river so numerous when took off noise of wings audible from where I was
John O'Neill said
Sun Jan 10 6:31 PM, 2016
Gatewarth
Big numbers of Woodpigeon (lots lined up on hedges on far side) Corvids and Starlings.
3 Meadow Pipits Old Tip area.
Standing water on fields.
dave broome said
Fri Jan 8 4:55 PM, 2016
A short distance away from the south side of the R Mersey, at Oxmoor LNR, Runcorn this afternoon, birds included 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Water Rail, 7 Snipe, 2 Gadwall and 1 Siskin
John O'Neill said
Mon Dec 7 2:24 AM, 2015
Fiddlers Ferry
Skein of 40 plus Pink Footed Geese low over.
Vocal Water Rail calling in canalside reeds close to level crossing.
Gatewarth
Buzzard and Kestrel over old tip area
John O'Neill said
Wed Nov 4 10:30 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
Buzzard perched up on fsr bank
Water Rail (poss 2) calling from reedbed on canal
Skylarks over
Meadow Pipit on Old Tip
John O'Neill said
Sun Nov 1 8:13 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
30+ Redwing with Blackbirds and Robins feeding in hawthorn hedges and bushes.
First of the winter for me.
Mike Mulholland said
Tue Oct 27 9:12 AM, 2015
A male and a female Stonechat on Norton Marsh yesterday.
John O'Neill said
Sat Oct 24 12:39 AM, 2015
Gatewarth
M Kestrel hunting low over sloping fields
20 plus Gadwall on Canal with Mallard
Mike Mulholland said
Sun Oct 4 8:44 PM, 2015
A single Ruff with 200+ Lapwing on the Mersey mudflats west of Norton Marsh this morning + Golden Plover, Curlew and Dunlin, also single Stonechat on Norton Marsh and 4 Green Sandpipers on the south bank of the ship canal. Yesterday a female Mandarin Duck on the ship canal.
John O'Neill said
Sat Sep 19 10:05 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
F Sparrowhawk over old tip area
Swallow numbers right down...only a couple seen today
Mike Mulholland said
Sun Sep 6 11:32 AM, 2015
Excellent views this morning of a juvenile Peregrine hunting over Norton Marsh and the Mersey viewed from Halfway House watchpoint. Also Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Redshank.
John O'Neill said
Mon Aug 31 8:41 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
Mixed flocks of tits and warblers moving thru hedgerows , mainly Long Tailed Tits, Willow warblers and Whitethroats.
Jay
50+ Goldfinches, many young birds.
Swallows gathering , many lining up on fences. Clearly preparing for leaving. Couldn't blame them...weather was miserable.
John O'Neill said
Tue Aug 18 11:14 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
Whitethroats inc young birds in hedges.
Common Shrew near Old Hall.
John O'Neill said
Mon Aug 17 1:38 AM, 2015
Gatewarth
Lots of fruit / berries in the hedges and bushes. Birds feeding inc Robins, Blackbirds, Blackcap, Whitethroat.
House Sparrows seem to have had a good year, big post breeding flock near the Old Farm.
Despite being quite early (8am-ish) sunny and warm , loads of Gatekeepers on wing.
John O'Neill said
Sun Jul 5 10:20 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
This year's brood of Mute Swans almost fully grown and starting to get white adult plumage. Still cramming onto nest on canal, though. Looked a bit overcrowded.
Buzzard over old tip.
John O'Neill said
Tue Jun 23 10:39 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
Pair of Mute Swans on canal with 7 cygnets
Good display of orchids, lots of Marsh Orchids fully out, 4 Pryamidal spikes starting to flower
F Brimstone and 1 Meadow Brown
John O'Neill said
Sat Jun 6 10:33 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
Buzzard been mobbed by a murder of crows
2 Kestrels
Lots of flowers out inc Marsh Orchids, Southern Marsh type in the main. Couldn't find any Bee Orchids.
John O'Neill said
Mon May 25 7:27 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
2 Buzzards over old tip
Sand Martins and House Martins hawking with Swallows over canal
Marsh Orchids just coming out. One Northern Marsh furthest out.
John O'Neill said
Sat May 9 10:19 PM, 2015
Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
Warbler numbers up, Reed W, Whitethroat, Willow W & Chiffchaff all present in good numbers.
No sign of Lesser Whitethroat today.
Sand Martin hawking with Swallows .
2 Grey Partridge
John O'Neill said
Wed Apr 29 11:09 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
Big influx of Blackcaps this evening. 20+ in bushes and hedges, all rather skulking.
Lesser Whitethroat singing.
John O'Neill said
Tue Apr 28 9:45 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
8.00pm-ish
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling from Old Tip
1 Lesser Whitethroat mobile in tall hedge at top of bank
John O'Neill said
Wed Apr 22 10:13 PM, 2015
Fiddlers Ferry to Gatewarth 2.00pm
Really high tide.
Reed Warblers and Whitethroats arrived en masse. Loads of both.
3 Grasshopper Warblers reeling
Single Blackcap seen
Single Lesser Whitethroat rattling from hawthorns at top of bank at Gatewarth.Seen briefly.
2 Buzzards hunting together, low over Old Tip then drifted higher over River. Kept v close to each other .
John O'Neill said
Wed Apr 22 12:10 AM, 2015
Gatewarth
At least 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling including one from Old Tip
Pair Grey Partridge
John O'Neill said
Sun Apr 19 9:10 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
My 1st Whitethroat of year skulking in bushes along main track. Singing rather half-heartedly.
John O'Neill said
Sun Apr 19 12:55 AM, 2015
Gatewarth
8.00-9.00pm 18th/04
At least two Grasshopper Warblers reeling in reeds/scrub at bottom of field in between reserve and Ferry Pub. One showed briefly
Willow Warblers all over.Easily double figures
1 Chifchaff
1 Reed Warbler singing
Buzzard and Kestrel still flying.
John O'Neill said
Mon Apr 13 12:59 AM, 2015
Gatewarth
1 Swallow over old tip
Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler singing
Pair of Kestrels hunting together
John O'Neill said
Mon Mar 30 2:45 AM, 2015
yesterday
Gatewarth
Chiffchaff from wooden bridge just inside reserve 1st of year for me
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 30th of March 2015 09:05:36 AM
John O'Neill said
Sat Mar 14 11:36 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
9am ish
2 Whooper Swans high over
2 Bullfinch in bushes
John O'Neill said
Wed Mar 11 2:39 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
M Sparrowhawk low over old tip flying down to riverside
2 Buzzards over farm
John O'Neill said
Sun Mar 8 11:39 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
No luck for me with seeing or hearing any Firecrests today.
Plenty of Bullfinch about (20+)
1 Glaucous Gull and 1 Iceland Gull on River.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 5 12:59 PM, 2015
Now two Firecrests present at Richmond Bank!!
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 5 11:46 AM, 2015
Firecrest singing and showing superbly well at 11:30 today, flycatching occasionally from the hawthorns along the bank at Richmond Bank, but moves through fairly quickly.
pete berry said
Tue Mar 3 3:57 PM, 2015
A Firecrest in the brambles behind where we sit to watch the gulls on Richmond Bank(first heard last week by Ian)
Nick Isherwood said
Tue Feb 17 7:29 PM, 2015
Two Willow Tits singing today in the bushes by the car park at the wastewater treatment works.
Brian Baird said
Tue Feb 17 5:33 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
A pair of Oystercatchers on the mud opposite the Pumping Station this afternoon -same time as last year!
Seven Fieldfare plus singles of Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail and Buzzard were at Penketh Hall paddocks.
Both Kestrel and Buzzard were hunting over the old tip area.
John O'Neill said
Wed Feb 11 10:40 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
Paddocks past stables- Small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare
4 Bullfinches in tall hedge at top of bank.
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
Mike Mulholland said
Tue Feb 10 8:08 PM, 2015
Approximately 10,000 gulls on the mudflats to the west of Norton Marsh late morning including 1 juvenile Iceland Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull
Plus Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush and Kestrel were the highlights this morning.
John O'Neill said
Sat Jan 31 8:58 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
AM
F Grey Wagtail
Mike Mulholland said
Sat Jan 24 8:26 PM, 2015
High water at Fiddlers Ferry today was 4.0 metres at 14.56, despite a WNW wind the river didn't come over Norton Marsh, so no small mammal activity but had a good view of a juvenile Glaucous Gull, also an adult Yellow-legged Gull as well as Redshank, Snipe, Lapwing, Curlew, Shelduck and cormorant.
John O'Neill said
Sun Jan 18 7:47 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
1 m Stonechat old tip
Flock c30 Redpoll high in trees near the Water Plant between Gatewarth & Fiddlers Ferry. Mobile but didn't seem to be feeding, I didn't see any go to the alders here.
1 Jay over.
Brian Baird said
Mon Jan 12 9:21 PM, 2015
Gatewarth
1000+ Starlings (murmuration) over the old Sewage Pools at dusk today was a great spectacle, and the most I've seen here for ages.
John O'Neill said
Mon Jan 12 1:26 AM, 2015
Gatewarth
1 f Bullfinch in bushes at top of River Bank. 3 more in tall hedge along main path 1m2f.
John O'Neill said
Mon Dec 29 2:56 PM, 2014
Gatewarth
F Great Spotted Woodpecker vocal in trees near Penketh Old Hall
F Grey Wagtail in stoney gutter adjacent to Old Tip
Pair Bullfinch Old Tip
1 Great Crested Grebe on River
Fieldfare over
John O'Neill said
Tue Dec 23 9:43 PM, 2014
Pickerings Pasture
Scrape
1 m Kingfisher hovering low over water
2 Little Grebes
Brian Baird said
Mon Nov 24 5:19 PM, 2014
Gatewarth
Highlights this morning included a Stonechat, a pair of Bullfinches and a Buzzard on the old tip area.
A female Goosander was swimming in the river as the tide rushed up, whilst a Kingfisher flew low over the water at the same time.
Meanwhile a Fox ambled along the north bank past a couple of Magpies.
John O'Neill said
Sat Nov 1 10:32 PM, 2014
Gatewarth
Plenty of Redwings in the hedges with Blackbirds and Tits. One Redwing absolutely hoovering up the berries on a hawthorn.
Single Kestrel hunting.
3 or 4 Meadow Pipits on Old Tip.
1 Bullfinch (f) in hedge
Buzzard and Kestrel up hunting despite light persistent rain
Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from trees near canal
Buzzard low over Old Tip
Gatewarth
Whooper Swan still present at Moss Side Farm fields, south of the river, this afternoon, viewed from top path.
Many thanks to all for posting the first sighting of the bird on the Richmond Bank thread last week.
Gt. Crested Grebe, Shelduck and Cormorant in river.
m Great Spotted Woodpecker high in tall tree calling repeatedly.
4 Curlews on river
Woodpigeons on far side of river so numerous when took off noise of wings audible from where I was
Big numbers of Woodpigeon (lots lined up on hedges on far side) Corvids and Starlings.
3 Meadow Pipits Old Tip area.
Standing water on fields.
A short distance away from the south side of the R Mersey, at Oxmoor LNR, Runcorn this afternoon, birds included 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Water Rail, 7 Snipe, 2 Gadwall and 1 Siskin
Skein of 40 plus Pink Footed Geese low over.
Vocal Water Rail calling in canalside reeds close to level crossing.
Gatewarth
Buzzard and Kestrel over old tip area
Buzzard perched up on fsr bank
Water Rail (poss 2) calling from reedbed on canal
Skylarks over
Meadow Pipit on Old Tip
30+ Redwing with Blackbirds and Robins feeding in hawthorn hedges and bushes.
First of the winter for me.
A male and a female Stonechat on Norton Marsh yesterday.
M Kestrel hunting low over sloping fields
20 plus Gadwall on Canal with Mallard
F Sparrowhawk over old tip area
Swallow numbers right down...only a couple seen today
Mixed flocks of tits and warblers moving thru hedgerows , mainly Long Tailed Tits, Willow warblers and Whitethroats.
Jay
50+ Goldfinches, many young birds.
Swallows gathering , many lining up on fences. Clearly preparing for leaving. Couldn't blame them...weather was miserable.
Whitethroats inc young birds in hedges.
Common Shrew near Old Hall.
Lots of fruit / berries in the hedges and bushes. Birds feeding inc Robins, Blackbirds, Blackcap, Whitethroat.
House Sparrows seem to have had a good year, big post breeding flock near the Old Farm.
Despite being quite early (8am-ish) sunny and warm , loads of Gatekeepers on wing.
This year's brood of Mute Swans almost fully grown and starting to get white adult plumage. Still cramming onto nest on canal, though. Looked a bit overcrowded.
Buzzard over old tip.
Pair of Mute Swans on canal with 7 cygnets
Good display of orchids, lots of Marsh Orchids fully out, 4 Pryamidal spikes starting to flower
F Brimstone and 1 Meadow Brown
Buzzard been mobbed by a murder of crows
2 Kestrels
Lots of flowers out inc Marsh Orchids, Southern Marsh type in the main. Couldn't find any Bee Orchids.
2 Buzzards over old tip
Sand Martins and House Martins hawking with Swallows over canal
Marsh Orchids just coming out. One Northern Marsh furthest out.
Warbler numbers up, Reed W, Whitethroat, Willow W & Chiffchaff all present in good numbers.
No sign of Lesser Whitethroat today.
Sand Martin hawking with Swallows .
2 Grey Partridge
Big influx of Blackcaps this evening. 20+ in bushes and hedges, all rather skulking.
Lesser Whitethroat singing.
8.00pm-ish
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling from Old Tip
1 Lesser Whitethroat mobile in tall hedge at top of bank
Really high tide.
Reed Warblers and Whitethroats arrived en masse. Loads of both.
3 Grasshopper Warblers reeling
Single Blackcap seen
Single Lesser Whitethroat rattling from hawthorns at top of bank at Gatewarth.Seen briefly.
2 Buzzards hunting together, low over Old Tip then drifted higher over River. Kept v close to each other .
At least 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling including one from Old Tip
Pair Grey Partridge
My 1st Whitethroat of year skulking in bushes along main track. Singing rather half-heartedly.
8.00-9.00pm 18th/04
At least two Grasshopper Warblers reeling in reeds/scrub at bottom of field in between reserve and Ferry Pub. One showed briefly
Willow Warblers all over.Easily double figures
1 Chifchaff
1 Reed Warbler singing
Buzzard and Kestrel still flying.
1 Swallow over old tip
Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler singing
Pair of Kestrels hunting together
Gatewarth
Chiffchaff from wooden bridge just inside reserve 1st of year for me
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 30th of March 2015 09:05:36 AM
9am ish
2 Whooper Swans high over
2 Bullfinch in bushes
M Sparrowhawk low over old tip flying down to riverside
2 Buzzards over farm
No luck for me with seeing or hearing any Firecrests today.
Plenty of Bullfinch about (20+)
1 Glaucous Gull and 1 Iceland Gull on River.
A Firecrest in the brambles behind where we sit to watch the gulls on Richmond Bank(first heard last week by Ian)
A pair of Oystercatchers on the mud opposite the Pumping Station this afternoon -same time as last year!
Seven Fieldfare plus singles of Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail and Buzzard were at Penketh Hall paddocks.
Both Kestrel and Buzzard were hunting over the old tip area.
Paddocks past stables- Small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare
4 Bullfinches in tall hedge at top of bank.
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
Stonechat - 1F
Bullfinch - 1M,2F
Goldfinch - 25
Reed Bunting - 6
Plus Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush and Kestrel were the highlights this morning.
AM
F Grey Wagtail
1 m Stonechat old tip
Flock c30 Redpoll high in trees near the Water Plant between Gatewarth & Fiddlers Ferry. Mobile but didn't seem to be feeding, I didn't see any go to the alders here.
1 Jay over.
1000+ Starlings (murmuration) over the old Sewage Pools at dusk today was a great spectacle, and the most I've seen here for ages.
1 f Bullfinch in bushes at top of River Bank. 3 more in tall hedge along main path 1m2f.
F Great Spotted Woodpecker vocal in trees near Penketh Old Hall
F Grey Wagtail in stoney gutter adjacent to Old Tip
Pair Bullfinch Old Tip
1 Great Crested Grebe on River
Fieldfare over
Scrape
1 m Kingfisher hovering low over water
2 Little Grebes
Highlights this morning included a Stonechat, a pair of Bullfinches and a Buzzard on the old tip area.
A female Goosander was swimming in the river as the tide rushed up, whilst a Kingfisher flew low over the water at the same time.
Meanwhile a Fox ambled along the north bank past a couple of Magpies.
Plenty of Redwings in the hedges with Blackbirds and Tits. One Redwing absolutely hoovering up the berries on a hawthorn.
Single Kestrel hunting.
3 or 4 Meadow Pipits on Old Tip.