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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> Cheshire and The Wirral -> Burtonwood
Post Info TOPIC: Burtonwood
John Williams


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RE: Burtonwood
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11.00-14.30

Sankey Valley Trail (Causey Bridge to Newton Brook) : 1m Yellowhammer, 1 Kestrel and 2 Goldcrests.

Horse paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub : 2 adult+4juv Mute Swans on the flood area, water level really high so no exposed shoreline.

4 Tree Sparrows in a nearby hawthorn hedge.

Arable farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : 1f Merlin, 3 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzards, 3 Linnets, 3 Yellowhammers, 2 Reed Buntings,

2 Tree Sparrows, 4 Meadow Pipits and 1 Mistle Thrush. A skein of 12 Pink footed Geese flew over heading NW.

Every hawthorn hedge seemed to hold a few Redwings and Blackbirds, but no sign of Fieldfares yet.

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John Williams
Karl Bishop


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Green Sandpiper still present @11.00 hours this morning 28th

-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Thursday 28th of October 2021 09:26:52 PM

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Lawrence Hindley


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Green Sandpiper on flooded field opposite fiddle ith bag.

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L Hindley
John Williams


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11.00-14.00

Sankey Valley Trail (Causey Bridge to Newton Brook): 6 Tree Sparrows, 1 Song Thrush and 4 Swallows.

Partially flooded horse paddock opposite the former Fiddle pub : 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Gadwall and a group of 8 Moorhens.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook: 3 Tree Sparrows, 13 Linnets, 3 Yellowhammers, 4 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel,

1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Ravens and a charm of 6 Goldfinches. Also a steady trickle of Swallows in small groups moving West. A flock of 160+ Lapwings.

-- Edited by John Williams on Wednesday 29th of September 2021 05:45:07 PM

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John Williams
John Williams


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Afternoon walk

Sankey Valley Trail (Causey Bridge to Newton Brook): 1 Sparrowhawk. 1 Chiffchaff (Amongst a flock of Long tailed and Blue Tits).

Partially flooded horse paddock opposite the former Fiddle pub : 2 Snipe and 1 Green Sandpiper.

A flock of 30 Tree Sparrows on a hawthorn hedge by stables behind the flooded paddock.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : 1 Corn Bunting alongside a flock of 28 Linnets on wires by Phipps Brook, with

at least another 30 Linnets in nearby stubble. 2 Buzzards and 2 (m+f) Kestrels.

A covey of 14 Grey Partridges and a flock of 35 Rooks.



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John Williams
Lawrence Hindley


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Green Sandpiper and snipe at flooded field opposite fiddle ith bag.

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L Hindley
John Williams


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15.00-18.00

Sankey Valley Trail (Causey Bridge to Newton Brook): 1 singing Yellowhammer, 1 Linnet, 1 Buzzard and a group of 4 Pied Wagtails.

Paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub : 1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtails and a flock of 25 Rooks.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : 1 Corn Bunting (The 1st one I've seen around here since the 1980s), 1 Kestrel,

2 Buzzards, 17 Tree Sparrows (3 small flocks), 15 Swifts (Appeared to be feasting on the swarms of winged ants in the area) and 22 Linnets.


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John Williams
John Williams


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Flooded paddock opposite the former Fiddle pub

Brief visit at 8.00am.

The pair of Ringed Plovers reported by Rob were still there, and appeared to have a least 1 tiny chick in their care.

They must have been discreetly tucked in somewhere when I visited last Monday as the only waders I found then were Lapwings.

4 adult Lapwings were by the pool this morning, together with 2 near full grown youngsters.

The 2 Mallard broods, still at least 12 small ducklings in total, where finding it hard to keep up with their anxious mothers.

Whereas 2 Coot families appeared far more relaxed, with the tiny youngsters being gently fed by their parents.

Also a single Oystercatcher flew in, whilst a lone Buzzard posed on the fence of an adjacent paddock.

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John Williams
Rob Smith


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This morning on the flooded paddock were:

Ringed Plover - 2

Oystercatcher - 3

Redshank - 1

Lapwing - 6 adults & 4 young

Mallard - 2 females & 13 young

Shelduck - 1 + what looked like a hybrid shelduck x ??

Grey Heron briefly before just about every adult bird escorted it from the premises!

Coot - 6 adults & 8 young

Kestrel - female hovering over adjacent fields


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John Williams


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Afternoon walk.

Sankey Valley Trail (Causey Bridge to Newton Brook):

2 Lapwings and 1 Kestrel.

The previously flooded horse paddock alongside the trail is now completely dry.

Flooded paddock opposite the former Fiddle pub :

1 Little Grebe, 8 adult + 1 half grown young Lapwings, 1 Grey Heron and 7 House Martins.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook:

3 Yellowhammers (inc 1 singing male), 24 Linnets, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylarks, 3 Mistle Thrushes and 1 Grey Partridge.




-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 15th of June 2021 12:22:32 PM

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John Williams
John Williams


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16:00-18.30

Flooded horse paddock alongside the Sankey Valley Trail (Now being drained) :

1 Ringed Plover, 1 Gadwall, a brood of 6 tiny Mallard ducklings and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Alongside Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook :

1 singing Whitethroat, 4 Lapwings, 6 Linnets,1 singing Willow Warbler and 3 singing Chiffchaffs.

By Sankey Brook a pair of Linnets were trying to tempt a Magpie away from a bramble patch.

Horse paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub :

4 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Lapwings, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 2 tiny Coot chicks with their parents.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : 10 Linnets, 5 Reed Buntings, 2 singing Skylarks, 5 Lapwings and 1 Whitethroat.

Oddly no Yellowhammers were seen throughout.



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John Williams
Dave Riley


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Very brief visit to the flooded horse paddocks opposite the Fiddle, sightings included:

1 Whinchat
3 Wheatears
2 Yellow Wagtails
2 Ringed Plovers
Plus all the usuals

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Stephen Wende


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Flooded horse paddock opposite Fiddle pub

 

2 Little Ringed Plover

2 Oystercatcher

2 Redshank

6 Lapwing

4 Stock Dove

2 Tree Sparrow

2 Swallow



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John Williams


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Morning walk

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook : 3 singing Chiffchaffs, 1 singing Blackcap and 1 Lapwing.

Sankey Brook & surrounding farmland : 1 Little Owl, 47 Linnets (Single flock of 44), 12 Lapwings, 6 Tree Sparrows,

2 Reed Buntings, 2 Grey Herons, 1m Kestrel, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylarks, 3 Yellowhammers, 30 Lesser Black backed Gulls

and 4 adult Herring Gulls. The large gulls were in a single flock on a recently ploughed field. If an individual gull wandered

from the flock, the resident Lapwings vigorously mobbed it.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub : 5 Shovelers.

No Buzzards were seen throughout which seems odd !!.

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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook : 2 Grey Wagtails by Newton Brook.

2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Lapwings.

Sankey Brook : 1 Grey Heron and 1 Cormorant.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub : (In addition to John's sightings)

1 additional Redshank, 6 Teal, 6 Gadwall and 8 Lapwings.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook :

2 Oystercatchers, 2 Yellowhammers, 1 Kestrel, 15 Skylarks, a flock of 42 Stock Doves, 2 Reed Buntings,

a flock of 13 Fieldfares, 13 Linnets and 1 Buzzard.




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John Williams
JOHN TYMON


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Flood opposite Fiddle 11.00 5 Redshank 1 Wigeon 2 oystercatchers 6 shoveler

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John Williams


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Morning walk

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook: 2 Grey Wagtails by Newton Brook.

2 Buzzards, 1 singing Yellowhammer, a flock of 6 Linnets and 2 Grey Herons.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub : 2 Oystercatchers, 5 Shovelers, 8 Teal,

10 Lapwings, 4 Tree Sparrows and 1 Kestrel.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : 4 Buzzards, 1 Tree Sparrow, 6 Yellowhammers,

14 Skylarks (4 in song flight), 6 Linnets, 3 Meadow Pipits, 10 Lapwings (All now on territory), and a flock of 72 Stock Doves.


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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook: 2 Little Ringed Plovers on the flooded paddock alongside the

trail. 1 Cormorant (On pylon) and 1 Buzzard.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub : 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Gull, 11 Gadwall, 10 Teal,

20 Lapwings and a pair of Stock Doves. All the Shovelers have now left.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : 8 Linnets, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Buzzards, 4 Reed Buntings,

9 Yellowhammers, a flock of 60 Stock Doves, 1f Kestrel and 5 Skylarks.

All the larks were on a huge mound of rotted manure alongside Phipps Brook.








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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook

2 Oystercatchers with large numbers of Black headed Gulls following the plough on a field alongside Sankey Brook.

1m Yellowhammer, 1 Buzzard, 2 Cormorants (On Pylon) and a flock of 13 Linnets.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub.

5 Shovelers, 10 Gadwall, 8 Lapwings, 6 Tree Sparrows, 3 House Sparrows* and 1 Buzzard.

*Only the second time that I've found House Sparrows here, the site has always been a regular haunt for Tree Sparrows though.

I just hope that their urban cousins don't gradually usurp the Tree Sparrows, a situation that has occurred elsewhere,

notably at Sandbach Flashes.

Farmland West of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook :

15 Yellowhammers, 7 Reed Buntings, 5 Buzzards, 1f Kestrel, 7 Linnets, 28 Lapwings (Many now on territory) and 3 Skylarks.





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John Williams
John Williams


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Lunchtime.

Gave up on my usual walk as the main paths appeared a little crowded, so just briefly checked on the flooded horse

paddock opposite the former Fiddle pub.

I have recently seen people climb over the fence to feed the ducks and gulls, when that's the case there is little point in

searching for any rarer or shyer species. However it looks like word has got out amongst the gulls about the easy handouts,

as lots of them were on the pool today. This included 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Common, 2 adult Herring,

31 adult Lesser Black Backs and lots of Black Headed Gulls.

Also on the pool were 1 Green Sandpiper (Flew off towards Sankey Brook), 5 Shovelers, 1 Lapwing and 12 Gadwall.


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John Williams
John Williams


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Midday walk

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook :

10 Linnets, 2 Yellowhammers, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Reed Buntings, a pair of Mistle Thrushes, 1 Treecreeper,

a flock 100+ Stock Doves (Unusual as they are normally in mixed gatherings with Woodpigeons here), 2 Song Thrushes,

6 Buzzards and 1 singing Skylark. The real highlight was finding 12 Tree Sparrows on my walk, it's been quite a while since

I last seen any around here. 6 were seen by Phipps Brook, whilst another group of 6 were noted at the horse paddocks alongside Alder Lane.







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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook :A flock of 7 Fieldfares and 11 Redwings.

Flooded paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub : 9 Shovelers and 7 Gadwall.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : : 2 Ravens, 3 Buzzards, 1m+1f Kestrels, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,

1 Mistle Thrush, 6 Meadow Pipits and a flock of 13 Fieldfares. A single Grey Wagtail was by Phipps Brook.

A skein of 48 Pink footed Geese were seen flying South. The female Kestrel was seen chasing a male Blackbird, which only

escaped by diving into a hawthorn hedge. She appeared reluctant to give up the chase, and after resting nearby for a while she

returned to the hedge, which contained several Blackbirds, and hovered just above it before settling on the ground alongside.



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John Williams
John Williams


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Afternoon walk

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook : 1 Kestrel.

A huge flock of Jackdaws on the newly manured field bordering the SVT and M62.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : 1 Peregrine (Chasing Woodpigeons but not seen to catch one), 45 Lapwings,

2 Buzzards, 4 Redwings, 40 Linnets (Single flock), 7 Meadow Pipits, 2 Song Thrushes, a pair of Collared Doves and 1 Grey Heron.




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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook : 1 Kestrel and 1 Buzzard.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the closed Fiddle i'th Bag pub : 6 Coots stood together on the ice.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook : 3 Snipe, 19 Yellowhammers, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Buntings, 2 Skylarks,

1 Kestrel, 2 Buzzards, 3 Fieldfares and 2 Cormorants.

A group of 24 Golden Plovers were with 78 Lapwings on a field alongside the M62.



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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk.

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook :

7 Fieldfares, 14 Redwings, 1 Buzzard and 4 Cormorants.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the closed Fiddle i'th Bag pub :

The Shovelers have now disappeared, only a few Mallard, Coot etc, remain.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook :

A single flock of 306 Fieldfares mixed with similar numbers of Starlings plus a few Redwings.

2 Buzzards, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Skylarks, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Linnets, 10 Yellowhammers and a charm of 16 Goldfinches.

240 Lapwings rested on a very soggy field alongside the M62.

A single Cormorant fished the fast flowing and swollen Sankey Brook.



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John Williams
John Williams


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Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook :

1 Willow Tit, 4 Cormorants (Resting on a pylon), 1 Buzzard and a flock of 22 Meadow Pipits.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the closed Fiddle i'th Bag pub :

2 drake Shovelers and 1 Collared Dove.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook :

2 Buzzards, 1m Kestrel, a flock of 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 flocks of Yellowhammers 10 + 36 (They appear to be doing really well here),

1 Reed Bunting, 10 Linnets and a covey of 4 Grey Partridges (The first I've seen around Burtonwood for years).



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John Williams
John Williams


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Today I opted to walk North along the Sankey Valley Trail, which adjoins my home, rather than South to Gatewarth and Moore.


Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook: 2 Kestrels, 27 Redwings and a pair of Collared Doves.

Flooded horse paddocks opposite the closed Fiddle pub.: 3 Shovelers, 7 Gadwall an a 1st winter Mute Swan.

A surprise find was a resplendent Kingfisher seen alongside a ditch swollen by recent rain, just to the South of the paddocks.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook: 65 Lapwings, 10 Linnets, 5 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 30 Fieldfares and 14 Yellowhammers.

A pleasant surprise to find so many Yellowhammers, 10 were in a single flock close to a spot where some grain had been spilt.

108 Feral Pigeons and a pair of Collared Doves were on a barn roof at Causey Bridge Farm.





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John Williams
John Williams


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10.30-14.00

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook

2 Yellowhammers, 240 Lapwings, 1m Bullfinch, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk

plus a winter thrush flock consisting of 25 Fieldfares and 10 Redwings.




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John Williams
John Williams


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10.00-13.00

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook

2 Song Thrushes, 1m Kestrel and 2 Cormorants. A skein of 125 Pink Footed Geese flew over heading East.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook

7 Buzzards (All appeared to be focussed on worm catching in the soggy fields, and showed little interest in the large flocks of

thrushes and starlings nearby), 2 Kestrels, 5 Yellowhammers, 260+ Fieldfares, 20 Linnets, 20 Stock Doves and 2 Common Gulls.

Horse Paddocks opposite the former Fiddle pub

1f Sparrowhawk (Shot low across the paddocks and adjoining fields, a noticeably chunky and powerful looking bird that at first gave the

impression of being a large partridge) 5 Tree Sparrows, 1 Kestrel and 40 Black Headed Gulls.



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John Williams
John Williams


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10.30-14.00

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook

4 Goldcrests moving around with a flock of Blue and Great Tits. 1 Kestrel.

Farmland west of Alder Lane & Sankey Brook

A single Curlew was a surprise find amongst a group of Woodpigeons on a field by Forest Farm.

Another surprise was a group of 13 Buzzards which appeared to be hunting for worms on a soggy field alongside the M62,

small numbers of Black headed Gulls were doing the same, but noticeably gave the raptors plenty of room.

As on my last visit there were large numbers of winter thrushes and Starlings around, although now they seem to be more

focussed on the hawthorn thickets near Burtonwood services. The Starlings especially were easily spooked and nervous about the

gathering of Buzzards nearby, although just 1 Buzzard showed any real interest in a possible bird lunch.

On several occasions the Starlings formed a small but quite spectacular murmuration.

Also seen in the area were 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Kestrel and 2 Grey Herons.

The flooded horse paddock opposite the former Fiddle pub held 40 Black headed Gulls, a single Goldcrest and 7 Tree Sparrows

were in the nearby hedgerows, whilst a Buzzard rested on a nearby post.

What I initially thought was a Snipe flying overhead turned out to be a Noctule sized bat when viewed through my bins, certainly a daytime

first for me.



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John Williams
John Williams


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12.00-15.00

Farmland West of Sankey Brook :

500+ Lapwings with Starlings and Black Headed Gulls on very soggy farmland just North of the M62.

Huge numbers of winter thrushes were around the fields and hedgerows too, impossible to count the Redwings as many were hidden

amongst the hawthorn thickets, there appeared to be in excess of 300 Fieldfares though.

The only raptor seen throughout was a single Buzzard, a flock of 18 Linnets was noted, but no sign of the Yellowhammers which can usually

be found around here. A finch flock in hedges near Causey Bridge held 6 Lesser Redpolls in addition to Chaffinches and Greenfinches, but mainly

consisted of Goldfinches, which unusually were seen eating Ash seeds after breaking off the sail part of the fruit.

Elsewhere, a Kingfisher was seen by the Sankey Valley Trail at Newton Brook.

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John Williams
John Williams


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11.00-14.00

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook

1 Green Sandpiper on the flooded horse paddock alongside the railway. Also 3 Grey Wagtails and a charm of 60 Goldfinches.

A male Kestrel flew across a field containing 14 Pied Wagtails, and not one of them flushed, fortunately for them he did'nt seem the

slightest bit interested in them either.

Farmland West of Alder Lane

A flock of 250 Lapwings amongst Black Headed Gulls and Starlings. 50 Fieldfares, 40 Linnets and 6 Redwings moved around together.

Many more Redwings were amongst the hawthorn thickets, but due to their shyness were impossible to count.

5 Buzzards, including 1 that was really harassed by 5 crows and fled to the safety of a large oak. Another male Kestrel, a noticeably larger

individual than the one seen earlier, in silhouette it looked like a female. A single flock of 16 Long Tailed Tits. Also seen were 5 Yellowhammers.

A pair of Mute Swans plus 3 full grown cygnets were on the flooded horse opposite the former Fiddle i'th Bag pub.

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Dave Riley


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Had a quick look over the flooded horse pasture opposite the Fiddle i' the Bag this morning, it's beginning to look a bit like it's old self, with 21 Black-headed Gulls, Grey Heron, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Shoveler and a Wigeon on it

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John Williams


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14.30-17.30

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook.

Then along paths from Alder Lane to Dial Post Farm and return via Causeway Bridge Farm and alongside Sankey Brook.

Sankey Valley Trail :- 8 Swallows over the flooded paddock by the railway, and 1f Kestrel resting on overhead wires.

Farmland West of Alder Lane :- Single flock of 18 Tree Sparrows. 3 Buzzards displaying together and indulging in a spectacular

aerial scuffle, 2 briefly flew upside down trying to grasp one of the others from below.

Also there, 2 Kestrels, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Yellowhammer, a charm of 100+ Goldfinches, 1 Meadow Pipit and 4 Collared Doves.


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John Williams
John Williams


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11.30-14.30

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Newton Brook.

Then along paths from Alder Lane to Dial Post Farm and return via Causeway Bridge Farm and alongside Sankey Brook.

Highlights :- 4 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 2 Yellowhammers, 27 Linnets, 60 Rooks (On newly ploughed fields with Black headed Gulls),

1m Blackcap, 1 Cormorant and 10 Swallows.


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John Williams


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15.30-18.00

Sankey Valley Trail Causey Bridge to Hollins Lane.

Then along paths from Alder Lane to Dial Post Farm and return via Causeway Bridge Farm and alongside Sankey Brook.

An afternoon walk that did not disappoint, especially for raptors :

2 Hobby (Pair seen high above field adjoining Tanhouse Lane), 2 Sparrowhawks (1 carrying prey), 4 Buzzards (1 being mobbed by a pair of Kestrels).

Also 2 Tree Sparrows, 1 pair of Oystercatchers, 4 Yellow Wagtails (Including 2 juveniles), 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Stock Doves, 1 Grey Heron,

8 Yellowhammers (1m in full song), 6 Linnets, 8 Skylarks, 4 Reed Buntings and 3 Common Whitethroats.



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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk along Sankey Valley Trail from Causey Bridge to Newton Brook (County Border).

Then returned to Causey Bridge via the farmland paths by Phipps Brook. (09.00-12.00).

8 House Martins collecting mud from a horse paddock alongside the railway, where 2 Grey Herons were busy feeding

on any remaining Sticklebacks or tadpoles in the rapidly diminishing pool.

Also on the trail were 2m+1f Yellowhammers, 1 Mistle Thrush and 1 Buzzard, whilst 3 Cormorants soared above Sankey Brook.

The flooded horse paddock opposite the former Fiddle i'th Bag pub now consists of just 2 small pools. Here with their parents were

2 tiny Lapwing chicks and 3 almost full grown youngsters. 7 adult Tree Sparrows were around the horse paddocks plus 1 newly fledged

youngster that was being fed by an adult.

10 Yellowhammers, 9 Linnets, 4 Skylarks, 4 male Reed Buntings, 6 Buzzards, 2 more Tree Sparrows and a pair of Yellow Wagtails were

seen in the fields around Phipps Brook.




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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk around farmland paths North of the M62 and bordered by Sankey Brook and Tanhouse Lane. From 07.30.

A single Grey Wagtail was alongside Sankey Brook close to the M62.

The pool on the paddock opposite the former "Fiddle" pub has shrunk to have the size it was just a couple of weeks ago.

Only 2 species of wader were seen today, a single Redshank and the usual Lapwings.

9 dove sized Lapwing youngsters were around the pool, but the pair Oystercatchers that had been there for weeks have now gone.

3 male Yellow Wagtails were in the vicinity, whilst the neighbouring farmland and hedgerows held 1 Buzzard, 10m Yellowhammers,

7 Linnets, 12 Skylarks, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Tree Sparrow and numerous Common Whitethroats.

A Lesser Whitethroat was still singing in the same hawthorn that one posed briefly for me from on my last visit, but todays bird was shy.

There was noticeable constant procession of Starlings, flying in small groups from somewhere in the direction of Burtonwood services to

fields alongside Tanhouse Lane. The birds then flew back towards the M62 with their beaks full of what looked like grubs, Leatherjackets perhaps?.

I suspect the Starlings may be breeding around the new huge warehouses alongside the M62.

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John Williams
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Morning walk around farmland paths North of the M62 and bordered by Sankey Brook and Tanhouse Lane.

Best sighting was a Lesser Whitethroat that posed for a while on the side of a hawthorn, before disappearing inside

the bush and starting to call.

Also seen around the fields and hedgerows were 4 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 7m+1f Yellowhammers, 7 Linnets, 2m Reed Buntings,

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and several Skylarks. One field contained 8 Lapwings which were being really upset by passing crows.

I also checked on the flooded paddock opposite the Fiddle pub again, there were no less than 10 infant Lapwings on view,

with 5 more youngsters with their parents in an adjoining field.

1 Dunlin, 2 Greylag Geese and a creche of 16 Mallard ducklings were also around the now dwindling pool.

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John Williams
John Williams


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Short cycle ride this morning to check out the flooded horse paddock opposite the former Fiddle pub.

There were 4 Lapwing chicks on view, 1 really tiny and the other 3 dove sized.

Also seen were 1 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher (I suspect it's mate is either brooding or has been predated) and at

least 2 broods of Mallards.



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John Williams


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Morning walk around farmland paths North of the M62 and bordered by Sankey Brook and Tanhouse Lane.

A Tree Pipit singing from the top of a large ash was a nice find, the bird did a couple of display flights and then moved

to a nearby sycamore. It would be nice to think this bird would settle in the vicinity, but I suspect it is only passing through,

although there is some nice partially wooded heathland nearby.

Also seen in the vicinity were 2 singing Common Whitethroats, 2 Kestrels, 2 Buzzards, 6 Linnets, 6 Tree Sparrows (Including a

pair still hanging around the same dead tree they have shown an affinity with for over a week now), 2 Yellow Wagtails (One

perched amongst a field of oil seed Rape), 7m+1f Yellowhammers, 10 Skylarks and a couple of Grey Herons.

12+ Lapwings appear to have settled down on the newly sown fields and were busy trying to chase the crows away.



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John Williams


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Having cycled across to Barrow Lane Winwick this morning, I returned home via Alder Lane in Burtonwood, mainly to check

on the flooded paddock opposite the former Fiddle pub.

Around the paddock were 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers and 6 Lapwings, whilst 3 Tree Sparrows explored the

vegetation at the waters edge. In addition a group of 8 House Martins and 3 Sand Martins skimmed the surface of the flood.

A single Grey Heron flew down on to Phipps Brook, whilst a singing male Reed Bunting really stood out as he perched and above a

field of oil seed Rape.



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Curt Whitby


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I love yellowhammers a beautiful bird. Much missed in my general area of Davenham and surrounds. They have vastly declined especially in the last decade or so.

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John Williams


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Morning walk starting 08.15am, from Callands/Gemini to explore the farmland paths North of the M62 and just West of Sankey Brook.

This is still the land of Linnets, Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows thankfully.

20+ Linnets, 6m Yellowhammers and 6 Tree Sparrows. Regarding the latter, 2 appear to have made a home in a cavity in a dead tree,

I also noticed 1 other pair showing a keen interest in the roof of a hut on a horse paddock along Alder Lane.

Also seen in the area were 4 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron and 8 Skylarks (4 in display/song flight and 2 having a nasty territorial fight).

A pair of Grey Wagtails were seen along Sankey Brook. 12 Lapwings were noted on territory in the recently sown fields.

A single White Wagtail was with a pair of Pied around the flooded paddock opposite the closed Fiddle pub, where a brood of Mallard ducklings

have dropped from 12 in number on the 9th to a total of 8 today.

A pair of Swallows were following the Sankey Valley Trail northwards, and a pair of Pied Wagtails seemed to have a keen interest in the roof of

the former Fiddle i'th Bag pub.


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John Williams
John Williams


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Morning walk from my home in Callands along the Sankey Valley Park/Trail to Newton Brook, returned via

Alder Lane, Causeway Bridges Farm and path to Gemini. From 10.00am.

Sankey Valley Trail (Callands to Newton Brook) : 8 singing Chiffchaffs, 2 singing Blackcaps and a pair of displaying Buzzards.

Oddly no Willow Warblers yet, and the only Yellowhammer was a singing male near Causey Bridge.

Horse Paddocks (Partly Flooded) opposite the former Fiddle i'th Bag pub : 1 male Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Ringed Plover,

1 pair of Oystercatchers and a brood of 12 tiny Mallard ducklings with their mother.

Farmland West of Alder Lane and North of the M62 : A flock of 9 Linnets on overhead wires, a pair of Skylarks, a pair of Stock Doves,

1 Buzzard and 18 Lapwings (Most on territory). A pair of Gadwall were on Sankey Brook.

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John Williams


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Morning walk from my home in Callands along the Sankey Valley Park/Trail to Newton Brook, returned via

Alder Lane, Causeway Bridges Farm and path to Gemini. (From 08.30am).

Sankey Valley Trail (A574 to Newton Brook) : 1 singing Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaffs (7 in song), 1 Linnet,

2m+1f Yellowhammers, 1 Fieldfare and 2m Reed Buntings.

Pool/Horse Paddocks opposite the former Fiddle' ith bag pub : 6 Tree Sparrows (1 in song), 1m Shoveler,

3prs of Gadwall, 1pr of Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank and 12 Lapwings (Most on terrritory).

Along the track from Alder Lane towards Farmers Lane, footpath by Causeway Bridges Farm and path back to Gemini.:

3m Yellowhammers (2 in full song), 1 Meadow Pipit (In display flight) and 2 Grey Herons.

It appeared very odd and worrying that no Buzzards (6 were recorded around here 10 days ago) or Kestrels were seen throughout

my walk today.

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John Williams


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Morning Walk from my home in Callands along the Sankey Valley Park/Trail to Newton Brook, returned via

Alder Lane, Causeway Bridges Farm and path to Gemini.

Sankey Valley Trail (A574 to Newton Brook)

3 Yellowhammers (1 male singing at Causey Bridge), 5 singing Chiffchaffs, 4 Jays, a pair of displaying Buzzards

and a group of 3 Linnets.

Pool opposite the former Fiddle' ith bag pub

6 Shovelers, 4 Gadwall and a pair of Oystercatchers. A flock of 30 Meadow Pipits were around a pool in a neighbouring

horse paddock whilst nearby 4 Tree Sparrows and a couple of Reed Buntings were seen.

Along the track from Alder Lane towards Farmers Lane, footpath by Causeway Bridges Farm and path back to Gemini.

Highlight was a female Ring Ouzel amongst a flock of 10 Fieldfares, 5 Yellowhammers including another singing male, 4 Buzzards, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Kestrel.

-- Edited by John Williams on Wednesday 25th of March 2020 04:58:32 PM

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John Williams


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09.00-11.00

Sankey Valley Trail (Causey Bridge-Newton Brook)

1 male Yellowhammer, 1 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare (Oddly on it's own and on alders by Sankey Brook),

2 Buzzards (Displaying), 1 Kestrel, 2 male Reed Buntings, 2 Song Thrushes and 3 Cormorants.

Pool opposite the former Fiddle' ith bag pub.

9 Shovelers and 9 Gadwall

Along the track from Alder Lane to Farmers Lane

23 Lapwings (Mostly paired), 3 male Yellowhammers, 3 Buzzards and a pair of Pied Wagtails that were prospecting

a cavity in a shed roof.

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John Williams
John Williams


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10.15-12.30

Sankey Valley Trail (Causey Bridge-Newton Brook)

2m Stonechats, 4 Tree Sparrows, 2 Kestrels, 1m+1f Goosanders (Appeared to have flown off Sankey Brook), 3 Cormorants (On pylons),

2 Pied Wagtails, 1m Bullfinch and 50 Redwings.

Along the track from Alder Lane to Farmers Lane

1m Shoveler (On pool opposite the Fiddle i'th Bag pub), 1 Common Gull (With 36 Black Headed Gulls), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel

and a charm of 34 Goldfinches.

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John Williams
John Williams


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14.30-16.00

Sankey Valley Trail (Causey Bridge-Newton Brook)

1m Bullfinch, 10 Meadow Pipits (With a few 4 Pied Wagtails in the horse paddocks),

a pair of Wrens having a territorial dispute and a singing Great Tit.

Along the track from Alder Lane to Farmers Lane

3 Wigeon on the pool opposite the closed Fiddle pub, 3 Buzzards hunting worms in the

middle of a partially flooded field, 1 Kestrel, 3 Reed Buntings and a group of 10 Collared Doves.

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