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Post Info TOPIC: Widnes


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RE: Widnes


Sun 25th Feb.

Nice to see Chris Chandler who arrived shortly before I had to go.

Thought Id try my luck with the adult Glaucous Gull thats been visiting WSR Recycling recently but it was a no show, the 3W Kumliens Gull didnt put in an appearance either.

Of note..
- 1w Caspian Gull on sandbanks
- adult Yellow-legged Gull at WSR


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3w Kumlien's Gull gave an excellent close flypast on sandbanks just west of old bridge also seen today by myself and/or others 3 Caspian Gulls. Thanks to Steve T, Dave & Alex for assistance.



-- Edited by Phil Oddy on Saturday 3rd of February 2024 06:04:04 PM

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Large skein of Pink-footed Goose about 150 flew over Widnes this afternoon. Also noticed a few Ring-necked Parakeet around Victoria park the other day

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Sun 28th Jan.
With not even the slightest sniff of a rarity at Redgate in the last couple of weeks, I thought Id try my luck in Widnes.

Nice to see Steve T, Ian Igglesden, Colin Davies, Dan Gornall etc

Of note on the sandbanks..
- adult Caspian Gull .. a corker!
- poss 2w Caspian Gull (same bird Steve T had yesterday)
- poss 2w Yellow-legged Gull

WSR Recycling..
- 1w Caspian Gull .. self found, good looking bird soon obscured
- missed the 3w Kumliens Gull by seconds, both roof sides were crammed with Gulls, handful of birders watching both sides, it was picked up and as we walked round it flew off!


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 28th of January 2024 09:29:47 PM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 28th of January 2024 09:32:41 PM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 28th of January 2024 09:33:43 PM



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Sunday 20th August.
Early morning visit to the sandbanks at Runcorn Bridge.

- Yellow-legged Gulls
Minimum of 3 adults, possibly 5 but one was too distant and the other was asleep so not good enough views were had. Sunlight was a factor so some of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls were becoming a bit deceiving.

I thought I had a Caspian Gull but just didnt get the best of views so that one and a few other possibles of something decent I had to let go!

Also..
- 2 Ravens were patrolling the edge of the sandbanks
- 2 Common Buzzard


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 27th of August 2023 11:32:03 AM

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Easter Sunday 9th April
Early morning visit to the sandbanks under the Runcorn Bridge.

Of note..
- 1 2CY Caspian Gull (another reported earlier)
- 1 3CY Yellow-legged Gull (not 100% but looked ok)
- possible adult Caspian Gull but it disappeared
- 1 Marsh Harrier patrolling the area
- 2 Peregrines hunting together, one caught a Carrion Crow
- 3 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcap
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Redshank


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Originally posted by John Tymon today:

Just West of Old Runcorn Bridge on the Sandbanks looking from the Widnes side 1 x Caspian Gull - 2nd cy , YLG- 1 Adult , Kumlien's Gull - 2nd W/ 3rd Cy Still present 6.30 pm Friday 



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Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Grey Wagtail, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Greenfinch and Buzzard highlights seen around The Bongs this afternoon

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A very surprising find sat next to the brook by Dundalk road playing fields this afternoon. Cattle Egret.

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Sunday 19th June.
Morning visit to West Bank sandbanks under the Old Runcorn Bridge. Tried to time it right with the tide for decent viewing.

Of note
- 1 1st summer Caspian Gull
- 1 adult Yellow-legged
- 1 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Yellowhammer sat in a bush singing away
- 2 Blackcap
- 1 Chiffchaff

Images show
1 of the adult Yellow-legged Gull
2 of the 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull
2 of the 1st summer Caspian Gull
1 of the Caspian and 2s YLG together




-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 21st of June 2022 01:15:52 AM

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Widnes approach road to new bridge
M Yellowhammer in road early AM an unusual sighting

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Mill Green Lane (near Rivendell Garden Centre)
at least 2 Yellowhammers in tall roadside hedges.


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Noticed this little fella as I was opening the front door.....a recent visitor to the garden.

 



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of April 2019 03:47:44 PM

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I spent an hour on Pex Hill this afternoon in Widnes, into the quarry and above up in the woodland I spotted a Common Buzzard above the quarry on thermals.

The following were seen in and around Pex Hill...

1 Goldcrest (a first for me)
5 Long Tailed Tit
10 Blue Tit
2 Great Tit
3 Goldfinch
5 Magpie
5 Robin
1 Crow
2 Wren
1 Common Buzzard
4 Blackbird


All the usual Common Magpie and Wood Pigeon sightings....


Weather was bright with late afternoon sunshine.......a lovely place Pex Hill is although United utilities are doing some work on a pumping station at the moment so there is limited parking as the car park by the observatory is being used by the engineers.



-- Edited by Gary Smith on Tuesday 5th of March 2019 05:54:12 PM



-- Edited by Gary Smith on Tuesday 5th of March 2019 05:55:53 PM



-- Edited by Gary Smith on Tuesday 5th of March 2019 07:13:51 PM

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M62 am

20 plus Pink Footed Geese in a line over motorway this morning. First of season for me.

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Originally posted today by Ken Noone:

Hello all, I'm a new member here, I've had a falcon frequently visiting my garden several times over the last four years, I've never had the opportunity to get a picture of it till this week when I was fortunate enough to see it catch a pigeon, not only that but capture it on my phone, I think it's a peregrine but would love somebody with more knowledge to clarify this, I have a video (from my iPhone unfortunately) I really hope someone can help me identify this beautiful bird of prey. I have attached a short edited video clip I shot, many thanks your help would be really appreciate, Ken





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Late post for Wednesday forgot about this a Sparrowhawk over our site in Runcorn, Pine Road. Not sure on sex as it was really high on thermals. Also seen a buzzard riding on thermals. Both birds seemingly pretty close together riding thermals.

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Late post for this morning, Male Marsh Harrier over Pine Road, Runcorn, heading South West.

Sorry Ian if it's wrong thread, didn't know where to post it.

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No idea where to put this sorry Ian if it's wrong. Been working on Pine road in Runcorn and about 7:45 every morning have had a large flock of Jackdaw over probably about 200+ heading North.

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Quite surprised to observe a Grey Wagtail around our suburban gardens for the last three weeks - at first I'd only heard it and though I was hearing things but it showed well this weekend. Miles from the nearest substantial water so I'll be interested to see if it overwinters here or moves on.

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Pex Hill

3 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk soaring high together over the Quarry.

Plenty of butterflies on the wing Speckled Wood v common

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Many species joining up in bigger flocks observed on my morning walks around Cronton/Pex Hill/Blundells Hill. Highlights so far this week were a mixed finch flock of over 40 birds, a covey of around 18 partridge and this morning a juvenile [dark looking] Peregrine stooping on the Woodpigeon and feral pigeon flocks on all the stubble fields between Pex Hill and the M62. I did wonder if its a bird that's dispersed from Thelwall or somewhere local.

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Two male Sparrowhawks up in the air together over Gorsey Lane [the road to the tip!] this morning seemed to be establishing territorial boundaries.

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Flock of around 20 Waxwings in Ditton Road this morning. Nice Year tick

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Flock of 64 Fieldfare, with a Mistle Thrush and two Starlings mixed in, were using the tall trees around my suburban garden this morning as a roost in between feeding on some local berries. Guess the poor weather had forced them in.

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Went for a wander over the Runcorn Bridge at dusk to see the Starlings up close and saw a Sparrowhawk having a go at the flock - then my sharp eyed daughter spotted that most the the starlings were actually roosting under the road deck of the bridge and not up in the steelwork.

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Tricky to view at 70 mph but there have been big mixed flocks in the stubble field just north of the M62 a mile or so east of Junction 7 for the last three weeks or so - definite IDs include Fieldfare, Jackdaw, Crow, Woodpigeon, Starling etc but there was a large finch flock today - just in case anyone's using the footpaths in the area :)

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 3rd of December 2012 09:26:05 PM

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8 waxwings feeding. On berries under Birch's at side of express way trade park entrance waterloo road Widnes
There now
Mike.

-- Edited by Mike Turton on Monday 3rd of December 2012 05:36:24 PM

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Late report from Sunday evening - Barn Owl flying over Junction 7 M62 as we returned from watching the starlings and waxwings at Leighton Moss

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Lots of Whitethroat on territory over the past fortnight and Yellow Hammer and Chiffchaff still present but best so far this week was a Buzzard flying over my rather suburban garden! Cheered me up and then I read that article about Buzzard "control" in Scotland...

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Over the last week Yellowhammer numbers have dropped back to five or six males on my four mile circuit. Other birds of interest:

Pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers around Pex Hill itself
Grey Partridge now well dispersed and paired off
Pair of Jays in residence
First Chiffchaff of the year at the bottom of Sandy Lane this morning :)
Skylarks now singing consistently

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At least 14 Yellowhammer in a mile of hedgerow at the back of Pex Hill plus a flock of ten Linnet - no skylark this morning but it was a bit gloomy!

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Walk round Pex Hill at dawn this morning produced Skylarks singing and it seemed like a Yellowhammer in every bush - males and females. I can't recall seeing many round that walk before so not sure if they're on territory or some are passing through - I'll be out again to see how numbers are tomorrow at the same time!

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Good start to 2012 with a Tawny Owl perched on the post and rail fence just off J7 of the M62 at 12:45! Turned round for a second look to make sure all the family saw it... Happy New Year all, Peter

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Thanks Ian, can't see a metal ring an the yellow ring is either distorted or just yellow with black stripes - [I'll email you a shot] looks like its got a damaged wing which explains the rather strange location! Peter

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Wild colour-ringed birds should carry a metal ring too Peter and it's common for feral birds to be singly colour ringed.

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For two days now there's been a Barnacle goose in the corner of the winter wheat field at the southern side of the M62 at Junction 7. I guessed it was feral but today saw a yellow plastic leg ring and no sign of a metal one - I'm without scope so will try and get some photos to read the ring/see if its wild...also whilst I was watching it last night flocks of Redwing over and skylark flocks going south

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An emergence of flying ants attracted 800+ Starlings to the vicinity of the Widnes Linkway today, many fly-catching, with 200+ Black-Headed Gulls and a large flock crowded on to a small area of the verge, where there was presumably an ant nest

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Carr Lane pools at Hale Village, [the Widnes/Speke Hale] last night - three yellow wagtails and finally the white form pied that I'd been searching for, for a month! Also probable common sand but couldn't get a decent view - wing pattern on flight looked right though.

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Thanks Sid, I'll have to have a look round Fiddlers - yesterdays bird was about two miles away as the falcon flies, Peter

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The Peregrines do indeed lie in wait on the Runcorn bridge for the Starlings during the roost in winter time and yes the power station is a good place to see them on the towers. With a decent scope they can easily be seen from Moore reserve.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 18th of April 2009 08:59:24 PM

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Peregrine over this time near chemical works NE of Widnes over dual carriageway from Runcorn Bridge to J7 M62 - scared the nearest pigeon who dived for cover and put up the rest that were roosting. I believe they hunt starlings at Runcorn Bridge from time to time but have never seen them there - Fiddlers Ferry must be a possible location?

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From the train back to Manchester tonight, 19.15 p.m. Peregrine falcon over suburbs towaeds Fiddlers' Ferry end of the town, heading west as I was heading easthmm.gif

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