PM
Very little of note apart from
Linnet-25
Lapwing - 1 pair with 3 young
Shelduck-1 Female
Common Sandpiper-1
Swallow-1
:)

Early am highlights Black necked Grebe 2 Redshank 2 Grey Partridge 2

PM
Little Ringed Plover - 4
Oystercatcher-2

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

I never thought that would happen in this day and age ,its a warning to everyone ,enjoy what you have as you never know whats going to happen. Formerly my local patch when only me knew how good it was really and one of the best sites in the area,200+ wigeon all winter ,Black necked grebes were so common in spring and summer ,I hardly took much notice on most visits, Black Terns waders in abundance in spring, and the water board was given permission to extract water to send to st Helens and look whats happened. I f the pool had been owned by the public or Warrington council ,it would never have happened, but because it was privately owned ,there was nothing that could have been done, as the owner allowed the extraction.
I cannot visit any more ,it annoys and upsets me as much at the same time.
Its tragic what can happen to a great wildlife site if not protected in any way.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 5th of March 2015 06:38:39 AM

---

In total agreement John, this is such a shame for a fantastic site, as you say a warning to us all to appreciate the locations we cover now. Fond memories of my first ever Lesser Yellowlegs here in the 1990's.


-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 5th of March 2015 09:21:25 AM

Holy moly !!!!!!!

Drove past today on way back from the eyes almost ALL the water has gone

Pretty much the finish of this place by the looks why is it being drained ?

Had a wander round Winwick this morning, starting with 9 Tree Sparrows among the House Sparrows in the garden, plus 2 Common Gulls among the score of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the field behind the house. A Sparrowhawk then came into the garden, spooking everything, So I set off for Houghton Green Pool, where the much reduced water levels meant that just 1 Redshank, 44 Mallards and 1 Coot were the on the water. Around the margins, however, masses of seed-bearing plants were attracting lots of passerines, with 115 Linnets, 42 Meadow Pipits and 11 Reed Buntings counted. Then, walking up Highfield Lane, 3 Yellowhammers, 135 Starlings, 5 Skylarks, 10 Linnets and 4 Swallows (still around the farm) were noted. Checking out a boggy copse, looking for Teal, instead produced an early Woodcock. Then homewards along Waterworks Lane to finish with 35 Skylarks, 2 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Redpolls. Then a nice cup of tea!

Cheers David

Quick pop in this aft
Ruff- 1 Juvenile
Little Grebe-2
Little ringed plover-1
Common Sandpiper-1

I called in this evening to find the ruff still present, also common sandpiper 2, yellow wagtail 1, little grebe 2 (ad & juv.), Canada goose 31

Not a bad 45 minutes at the flash this evening, Ruff 1 (photo on blog), Mediterranean gull 1 juvenile, Tree Pipit 1 over calling, Yellow wagtail 1, Common sandpiper 1, white wagtail 1

This afternoon:

4 common sandpiper
1 black necked grebe (moulting adult)
2 buzzard
2 kestrel
3 little grebe

Also a strange wader standing amongst the black headed gulls. after about 15 minutes of trying to find it's id, the best we could come up with was a moulting juvenile ruff, but I'm not 100 percent sure.
Still, a very good first visit to this site

Black-necked grebe still present this morning, also 3 common sandpipers.

Where about is houghton green flash, and where should I park for it? Thanks.

A really rewarding morning doing the monthly Peel Hall Bird Survey. As usual, the area covered included Houghton Green Pool. Highlights were all from the Pool, with 1 summer plumage Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 220 Goldfinches and masses of hirundines and Swifts feeding low over the water. Totals, then, were: Dunlin 1, Common Sandpiper 3, Little Ringed Plover 1, Lapwing 23, Coot 7, Great Crested Grebe 1, Goldfinch 244, Swift 32, Swallow 135, House Martin 26, Sand Martin 10, Pied Wagtail 7, Common Gull 3, Linnet 14, Song Thrush 2, Chiffchaff 1, Whitethroat 1, Reed Bunting 1, Cormorant 1, Kestrel 5, Buzzard 3, Greenfinch 8, Mallard 56, Tufted Duck 9, Lesser Black-backed Gull 8, Black-headed Gull 11, Carrion Crow 28, Collared Dove 24, Wood Pigeon 110, Magpie 25, Robin 6, Blackbird 16, Wren 5, House Sparrow 50, Starling 41, Great Tit 12, Blue Tit 10, Bullfinch 2, Meadow Pipit 9, Rook 50, Jackdaw 11, Feral Pigeon 20, Dunnock 3.

Cheers David (with Ste Dodd and George Dunbar)

On Whats left of the pool, which was once in the top 10 inland sites in the county, and now has been emptied almost by the water authorities extracting water from it.

Anyway pm
Black Necked Grebe-1 Moulting adult
Little Grebe-1
Great crested Grebe-1 Juv
Mallard-40
Tufted Duck-2
Linnet-20
Sand Martin-20

Anyone passing its worth a quick look as those massive muddy edges could easily hold some waders on passage. and you never know it wasn't that long ago the pool had a lesser yellowlegs.

Nick Isherwood wrote:

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Drove past here at lunchtime and couldn't believe how low the water level is now. Looks more like a big puddle.

---

Yep a wonderful wildlife site totally ruined by water extraction, I cannot go myself any more ,it saddens me so much at what once was a site that would hold a dozen black necked grebes at this time of year, and was my local patch for almost a decade. you wouldn't think in the modern supposedly enlightened age what has happened to the pool would be allowed to happen. :(

Afternoon trip here with my daughter and we were greeted by two Common Tern circling over the pool on arrival. First for me at this site!

Cheers Matt

Early morning circuit around the flash. Seemed a little quiet on arrival though there was a single Ringed Plover amongst the Lapwing and mixed Corvids on the ploughed field leading up to the flash. I had a wander around the margins which produced amongst the usuals

2 Jays,
1 Blackcap (M),
1 Chiffchaff,
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,

Back on the flash its self a pair of Greylag geese had arrived which was something different then later a trio of Shelduck came in looking very handsome in early morning sunshine. Very nice surprise for me here!

Cheers Matt

The highlights from this mornings visit 1 yellow wagtail and 2 common sandpipers

I was working in Manchester today and had my first look around Houghton's Green Flash on the way home...

Little Ringed Plover 4-6
Common Sandpiper 2
Dunlin 2
Yellow wagtail 1
White Wagtail 1
Swallows and sandmartins about 15 of each
Widgeon 1
Tufted Ducks 5
Lots of linnets and and few meadow pipits

The Little Ringed Plovers were hard to count as there were a few kids walking around in front of me flushing them off, there were definitely 4 but probably 6. I'll post some photos on the St Helens Bird Blog (Out of Area tab) later.

I'll be back again now I know where to park!



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 13th of April 2014 09:07:49 PM

-- Edited by Damian Pendlebury on Sunday 13th of April 2014 10:51:42 PM

Did an early morning Common Bird Survey at Peel Hall, near Winwick, on behalf of the Peel Hall Conservation Group (PHCG) which Ste Dodd and I have been involved in setting up. Also included Houghton Green Pool in the survey. Full results will be on the PCHG Facebook site but highlights were: 1 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshanks, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 White Wagtails, 1 Wheatear (at Houghton Green), 3 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Grey Partridges and 2 Willow Tits (at Peel Hall)

Cheers David

A quick stop on my way back from Woolston: 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshanks, 6 Sand Martins and 15 Wigeon.

Cheers

David

2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank and 3 Oystercatchers this afternoon.

Cheers David

Little Ringed Plover today plus White Wagtail and four Redshanks

15.30
WIGEON -41
GOLDENEYE-1 MALE
REDSHANK-2
OYSTERCATCHER-2
POCHARD-4
TUFTED DUCK-10