Winwick

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

RE: Winwick

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

My first walk down Barrow Lane this morning - very productive,too! Did a circular walk to Highfield Moss and back (which looks good for Snipe and Jack Snipe in winter?). Had an excellent total of c.650 Linnets - c.250 in Barrow Lane, c.400 on stubble behind Parkside Farm - with Merlin and Sparrowhawk hunting the latter flock. In addition, c.275 Lesser B-backed Gulls, c.180 Starlings, 31 Grey Partridge (12,9,10), c.75 Skylarks, c.50 Meadow Pipits and 4 Kestrels.

Cheers
David

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane 4.00pm-ish

A wheatear on the road near the layby, six golden plover on the newly-seeded field at the back of Parkside Farm and a male merlin sitting out in the adjacent field. Plenty of merlin fodder around too, in the shape of two large (150+) flocks of linnets and a dozen or so skylarks.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Late Swallow over Myddleton Lane this morning

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Mike Baron wrote:

Interesting Buzzard present this morning at Barrow Lane. Bird had totally white underparts with no markings at all. Upperparts pale greyish with several irregular white patches on the wings. Head and neck streaked grey and white. I suspect a leucistic Common Buzzard.

Skylarks had gone by the time I arrived.

Same buzzard was distant in the fields by the farm shop at houghton green yesterday,it does look rather strange,also had it in flight about 2 weeks ago over houghton green,hope to get a decent pic of it at some point

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Interesting Buzzard present this morning at Barrow Lane. Bird had totally white underparts with no markings at all. Upperparts pale greyish with several irregular white patches on the wings. Head and neck streaked grey and white. I suspect a leucistic Common Buzzard.

Skylarks had gone by the time I arrived.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane this evening - 164 Skylarks grounded by the rain in the field by the concrete bollards

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Female / juvenile Merlin engaged in spectacular chase with Skylark at Barrow Lane late evening. The lark eventually escaped by dropping into the conifer plot.

Kestrel and 2 Buzzards also present plus a few coveys of Grey Partridges (totalling 50), most distant and widely scattered - 15,9,8,6,3,3,2,2,2

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

barrow lane an hor mid afternoon
linnet-300

can't remember a flock like this for quite a while
sparrowhawk-1(hunting the linnets)
Merlin-1f(seemed to be following the sparrowhawk as the linnet were at the most vulnerable it fired in caught one and flew off NW.)
Common Buzzard-At least 10 up at once,possibly 14
swallow-Constant movement SE -over 500 at least
skylark-movement south-100+
Kestrel-2

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Male Merlin perched up in field off Barrow Lane this evening (one with lime mound)
2 Buzzards - one dark bird perched on the lime mound and was repeatedly swooped on by a Kestrel
11 Skylarks, 5 Grey Partridges & 6 Brown Hares also there

Waterworks Lane

Buzzard
2 Kestrels one of which was perched on round straw bale eating something
2 Wheatears, one of which was also perched on a straw bale
2 Grey Partridges

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Merlin (either a female or juv) sat way out on the plough behind Parkside Farm around 7.10am this morning.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

A juvenile sparrowhawk was hunting a flock of +50 linnets, who were busy feeding on the plough to the north of the lane this afternoon, when I called in on my way home from work. Later, as I walked up the lane, I spotted it flying low over the plough. Suddenly another bird jumped up in front of it - a female merlin! The spar gave chase for a few yards then gave up, the merlin headed off over the M6 towards HG Flash. The sparrowhawk (a male) then landed in the hedge that dissects the lane and was immediately mobbed by a kestrel. The low hedge to the north of the lane held a buzzard, a second kestrel and another sparrowhawk, an adult female this time. Fifteen minutes later I spotted a small falcon heading towards the M6 again and immediately presumed it was the female merlin. I watched it for a minute or so through scope and binocs, it was definitely a merlin, but it looked like a male to me - I couldn't see any detail, just seemed very small, and to have the faster, more feathery flight of a male. It was a long way off, so maybe I'm wrong in my assumption.

Last Tuesday afternoon, walking down the lane, I heard skylarks calling. Glacing up, I noticed six of them flying overhead and, some way above them, a hobby. It flew right over my head as I stood on the lane, gawping at it, then continued on south across the M6. Two wheatear were on the plough to the north of the lane.

-- Edited by Jonathan Platt on Friday 23rd of September 2011 08:03:08 AM

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

70 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 6 Common Gulls on the field below Highfields Farm, c.100 Swallows heading south and 2 Sparrowhawks, tow Kestrels and 6 Buzzards overhead at the same time.

Cheers

David

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Stopped at Hermitage Green Lane, in passing. A covey of 16 Grey Partridges and a nice mixed finch flock - c.40 Linnets and c.50 Goldfinch - were decent sightings.

Cheers

David Bowman

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Brief visit this morning on my way to the Wirrel. Whinchat in the hedgerow to the north, by the green container and Portaloo (?). Wheatear on the lane, and an overflying tree pipit by Oven Back Farm (third one I've heard from the lane in the last few weeks). Still a few yellow wagtails around too.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Late evening stroll in the rain down Barrow Lane in Winwick-Le-Willows!

68 Grey Partridges (coveys of 10, 9, 7, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2) - all in the fields north of the lane

2 Kestrels - one of which was attacked by a Buzzard and very nearly caught - it looked dozy - maybe ill or injured?

Also Meadow Pipit and Brown Hare

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Yellow wagtail numbers are dropping now, Mike Baron and I watched just twelve leave the roost this morning (though there were four more in an adjacent field which may have been different birds), compared to 35 on Thursday, 30 on Friday and 22 on Saturday. A calling tree pipit flew over yesterday morning, and a hobby crossed Winwick Lane just south of Sandy Brow Lane yesterday too. Mike found three wheatear on the lane yesterday afternoon (they were still there when I visited around 7.00pm), though only one remaind this morning.

Grey partridge seem to have had a good breeding season in the area this year, Mike and I watched a covey of ten (5 juvs) on a field adjacent to the lane this morning. I regularly see another covey of 13 and several smaller coveys from the lane. Down nearby Main Lane, I saw too broods of three-quarter grown poults with their parents yesterday, one contained ten juvs, the other a staggering eighteen! A mile away in Croft, on my way to work, I regularly see another covey of twenty-two birds, mostly juveniles.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

I counted thirty-five yellow wagtails leaving their roost in the potatoes/oats around 6.00am this morning, they flew north-east towards Kenyon Hall Farm. There were undoubtably still some birds left in the roost as I left as I could hear the odd call. It's difficult to know whether the birds are roosting in the potatoes or the adjacent oat field, as the boundary of the two fields is in a shallow valley that can't be viewed from the lane, and this is where the birds are roosting.

John O'Neill · Status: Offline

Waterworks Lane :
2 Adults and 1 half grown Juv Grey Partridge

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane - 6.45-7.15

Fifteen corn buntings (including juvs) perched up on the potato tops this morning, plus another two in the oat field. Two of the males were still singing. Few yellow wags around though - heard calls four times and saw a single bird fly over. Flock of fifty tree sparrows in the hedge and around the bollards, a dozen skylarks (saw very few last week) and nine grey partridge in the same area. A buzzard was perched on the lime mound.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane last night: 8.30-9.30pm

20+ yellow wags came into roost either at the back of the spud patch or in the barley field beyond last night. Corn and reed buntings were roosting in the oat field, difficult to assess numbers as they continually flitted around. Quail also singing from oats.

I've seen few adult yellow wags carrying food since last week, breeding season appears to be over? Most of the once-numerous skylarks have disappeared too. A covey of thirteen grey partridge (4 adults, 9 juvs) was nice to see last Thursday morning.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

This evening the Quail was singing merrily away in the oat field opposite the mound. When I walked back towards Parkgate Rd the Quail seemed to shadow me, taking a parallel course for nearly 250 yds, singing all the time. I even got a couple of glimpses when I nipped ahead and waited by tracks created by tractor tyres and watched it dash across!

At least 7 Yellow Wags - 6 of them flew from fields east of Oven Back Farm and landed in the back edge of the spud plot.

At least 31 Tree Sparrows and 11 Corn Buntings plus Sedge Warbler in the north running hedge and 14 Linnets. Pair of Yellowhammers nr Parkside Farm. A Kestrel was hunting nearby.

Ian Coote · Status: Offline

There were 2 or 3 Yellow Wagtails flying in and out of the potatoes on Sunday afternoon

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Very little along barrow lane Sat 23rd pm-Just 1 juv Yellow wagtail,a couple of linnets,and a few skylarks,so it is possible that either the yellow wagtails are migrants,or they are weather related,braught down in the evening and still present the following morning,as there seems to be a lot less down the lane in the afternoon.

then again they could have been hiding in the potatoe rows ,which would be ideal feeding for the wagtails in hot dry weather,like saturday.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

A walk along Barrow Lane this evening with John Barber produced good numbers of birds moving around.

Upto a dozen Yellow wagtail with many carrying food in and around the potato field. Only one juvenile seen on the road though. Also, at least 6 Skylark seen in the vicinity along with around 6 Corn Bunting. Plenty of Linnets too.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

An amazing 20-25 yellow wagtails on the lane this morning (5.45am), all the ones I looked at through binocs were juveniles, though I did see a female carrying food later - only there for fifteen minutes.

Mark Evans · Status: Offline

Blue-headed Wagtail seen along Barrow Lane again this morning

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Quail is now back in the oat field in front of Oven Back Farm. At least four yellow wagtails in the potato patch this morning. Many birds around the lime heap to the north, seven of which were wagtails. Difficult to ID at that distance but most - if not all - looked like juvenile yellow wags. Also many linnets and a few reed buntings flitting around the oil seed rape over there. Six corn buntings included three singing males. A lone meadow pipit was on the lane.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

RE: Winwick

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

The quail was calling was calling from the wheat field at the back of Parkside Farm this morning around 5.45am, and a singing yellowhammer was perched on the telegraph wires beside Parkside Road. The sedge warbler in the hedgerow seems to have a mate, or perhaps it was a juvenile, as another sedgy flew from the weeds at the edge of the lane as I was listening to the original bird singing - it stopped in the hedgrow just long enough for me to ID it before disappearing. A juvenile yellow wagtail was on the lane NW of the bollards, when it flew five more joined it out of the potatoes. These birds flew strongly south until I lost them over the quarry at the back of Oven Back Farm - presumably not local birds? The next bird was definitely on migration - a juvenile wheatear on the edge of the lane. Other than that, the usual corn buntings, stock doves, etc.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Juv yellow wagtail on the telephone wires along highfield Lane on sunday 03/07/11 a bit late but at least it shows sucsessfull breeding somewere locally.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 6th of July 2011 01:12:40 PM

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Jonathan Platt wrote:

Mike Baron wrote:

PS

Barrow Lane at both ends and the fields either side are in Newton-Le-Willows - I think these posts should probably be moved to there!

Yes, you're probably right Mike - or should it have a thread of it's own? I was unsure as to where to put my first post on Barrow Lane to be honest, I've always associated the area with Winwick rather than Newton-le-Willows in my own - admittedly, rather unsophisticated - mind!

Anyway, I was there this morning between 6.00 and 7.00am. I was idly leaning against a farm trailer watching a skylark on the lane, when another flew in from behind. The original bird joined it and they both flew leisurely across the front of me, no more than thirty yards away. Suddenly they dropped out of the sky into the green mass of potato leaves below, and a hobby appeared in the airspace they'd vacated just a fraction of a second before. Having missed it's quarry it turned and sped off towards Warrington.

The quail was calling distantly from the wheat field behind Parkside Farm, where a kestrel was hunting. A single grey partridge was on the lane and c20 tree sparrows were raiding the wheat and oats from the shelter of the hedgerow (there is only one hedgerow which cuts across the lane from NE to SW). Usual corn buntings and yellow wagtails - I'm still unsure as to how many of each there are? Three corn bunts were mooching about behind Parkside Farm this morning, a place I've not seen them before.

The sedge warbler is still singing gallantly from the same spot!

Hi Jonathan

Greetings from a birder in exile in Birmingham!

This place is certainly producing the goods in birding terms. I used to come here in winter occasionally to walk Bill - never saw much. For several years I did track two pairs of Corn Buntings, one either side of Parkside Farm but when they disappeared last year I never thought to look further over for them.

I have recorded 3 Yellow Wags on 2 visits. On the first I saw an adult dropping into the potato patch and an adult pair flying distantly over a field to the north - just beyond the oat field. Last time there was a pair at the potatoe patch and at least one juvenile.

Corn Buntings - I have heard three singing males but also seen at least three birds perched together at the far end of the hedge north of the bollards.

The Tree Sparrows are generally around Park Side Farm but I have observed a couple ranging over to Winwick Lane and there is a colony at Kenyon Farm.

I didn't know about the border until I checked after noticing the Welcome To Warrington sign. Boundaries here:

http://mapit.mysociety.org/area/11499.html

http://mapit.mysociety.org/area/9386.html

Cheers

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Mike Baron wrote:

PS

Barrow Lane at both ends and the fields either side are in Newton-Le-Willows - I think these posts should probably be moved to there!

Yes, you're probably right Mike - or should it have a thread of it's own? I was unsure as to where to put my first post on Barrow Lane to be honest, I've always associated the area with Winwick rather than Newton-le-Willows in my own - admittedly, rather unsophisticated - mind!

Anyway, I was there this morning between 6.00 and 7.00am. I was idly leaning against a farm trailer watching a skylark on the lane, when another flew in from behind. The original bird joined it and they both flew leisurely across the front of me, no more than thirty yards away. Suddenly they dropped out of the sky into the green mass of potato leaves below, and a hobby appeared in the airspace they'd vacated just a fraction of a second before. Having missed it's quarry it turned and sped off towards Warrington.

The quail was calling distantly from the wheat field behind Parkside Farm, where a kestrel was hunting. A single grey partridge was on the lane and c20 tree sparrows were raiding the wheat and oats from the shelter of the hedgerow (there is only one hedgerow which cuts across the lane from NE to SW). Usual corn buntings and yellow wagtails - I'm still unsure as to how many of each there are? Three corn bunts were mooching about behind Parkside Farm this morning, a place I've not seen them before.

The sedge warbler is still singing gallantly from the same spot!

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

PS

Barrow Lane at both ends and the fields either side are in Newton-Le-Willows - I think these posts should probably be moved to there!

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Quail sang briefly in wheat field approx 50 yds west of concrete bollard this evening. One chap decided the best way to exercise his dog was to throw balls into the middle of the crop fields and then watch as it crashed through the wheat & oats. Curiously the only time the Quail called was just after the dog went through its patch! Also:

3 Yellow Wagtails
6 Corn Buntings
9 Skylarks
3 Tree Sparrows
270+ Swifts
Buzzard
Stock Dove
Yellowhammer

No sign of the Sedge Warbler

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

I called in on my way to The Wirral this morning around 6.00am. The quail was singing in the wheat field just north of the hedgerow, not far from the concrete bollards. I heard the sedge warbler too, singing from the hedgerow south of the bollards - seemed an odd place for a sedgy? A corn bunting was singing from a tree by Oven Back Farm and several tree sparrows flew down from the same place to feed amongst the potatoes, presumably looking for insects. Several more corn bunts (at least three singing males) seen along the lane, plus three yellow wags.

It's certainly a good place for skylarks, the sky was full of their song this morning!

I seem to pick up at least one Sedge Warbler each year in some odd place - certainly didn't expect it though.

Can't think of anywhere I have seen recently with a greater density of Skylarks - everywhere you look there are birds flitting around!

Will have another look for the Quail

Cheers

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Mike Baron wrote:

Had a wander down Barrow Lane this evening. No sign of the Quail but plenty of other birds:

20+ Skylark
7 Linnets
5 Corn Buntings
Sedge Warbler (singing by the concrete bollards)
Yellow Wagtail
9+ Tree Sparrows
15 Grey Partridges (covey of 13)
60+ Swifts
Mistle Thrush
Buzzard
Kestrel
Yellowhammer

I called in on my way to The Wirral this morning around 6.00am. The quail was singing in the wheat field just north of the hedgerow, not far from the concrete bollards. I heard the sedge warbler too, singing from the hedgerow south of the bollards - seemed an odd place for a sedgy? A corn bunting was singing from a tree by Oven Back Farm and several tree sparrows flew down from the same place to feed amongst the potatoes, presumably looking for insects. Several more corn bunts (at least three singing males) seen along the lane, plus three yellow wags.

It's certainly a good place for skylarks, the sky was full of their song this morning!

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Had a wander down Barrow Lane this evening. No sign of the Quail but plenty of other birds:

20+ Skylark
7 Linnets
5 Corn Buntings
Sedge Warbler (singing by the concrete bollards)
Yellow Wagtail
9+ Tree Sparrows
15 Grey Partridges (covey of 13)
60+ Swifts
Mistle Thrush
Buzzard
Kestrel
Yellowhammer

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

A stroll down Barrow Lane, the 'Concrete Road' between Parkside Road and Winwick Lane, yesterday evening revealed a singing quail in the north-west corner of the oat field by Winwick Lane. Several corn buntings around and at least one pair of yellow wagtails, along with plenty of skylarks and a few linnets. As we walked back to the car a raven flew over heading south west.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Waterworks Lane yesterday evening - ploughed field next to the water treatment works

19+ Yellowhammers
20 Tree Sparrows
1 Corn Bunting

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Waterworks Lane this afternoon - ploughed field next to the water treatment works

42+ Yellowhammers
20 Tree Sparrows
2 Reed Buntings
2 Grey Partridges
2 Stock Doves
1 Buzzard

-- Edited by Mike Baron on Sunday 20th of March 2011 05:16:39 PM

John O'Neill · Status: Offline

2 pairs of Grey Partridge in fields at Waterworks Lane.

Alos a nice Brown Hare here.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Female Merlin chasing a flock of 90+ Linnets in Waterworks Lane this morning

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

Pete Welch wrote:

Just west of Winwick was very surprised to see a Barn Owl cross the M62 at 7.40pm tonight. I was very worried as a lorry approached but the owl just made it across to the rough ground to the south. First I've seen within miles of here :)

Pete they are not uncommon in that area. Its just a question how many survived the cold spell in Dec.

Brian Harding · Status: Offline

waxwings returned briefly again today, so they are still in the area.

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

Just west of Winwick was very surprised to see a Barn Owl cross the M62 at 7.40pm tonight. I was very worried as a lorry approached but the owl just made it across to the rough ground to the south. First I've seen within miles of here :)

Brian Harding · Status: Offline

approx 20 waxwings on footpath between langland close and saundersfoot close, callands estate.

only stayed for about 30 mins but this footpath leads onto the canal path area where there are many berry trees...

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Yesterday late morning a Jackdaw showing characteristics of Nordic Jackdaw was observed at Waterworks Lane feeding station. The half collar was obvious and seemed to whiten and broaden above the shoulder. The bird was alone - unusually no other Rooks or Jackdaws were in the adjacent fields and this bird was moved on by the resident Crow family.

80+ Tree Sparrows this morning - they all later relocated to my garden. Just 1 male Yellowhammer and 9 Grey Partridges with usual Buzzard hanging around.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

3 waxwings on Sandy Brow Lane, Winwick, 150 yds from junction with Winwick Lane. Feeding on berries.