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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> Cheshire and The Wirral -> Culcheth
Post Info TOPIC: Culcheth
Andy Slee


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RE: Culcheth
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Siberian Chiffchaff showed well this morn - a "morning break" 20 minute twitch no less! With two other Chiffchaff in bushes at west edge of sewage farm just next to the solar farm. Many chaffinch (60+) and 27 Linnet in set-aside.



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John Watson


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Not an expert on this, but to me it really looks like Siberian Chiffchaff: Tristis. Didn't hear it call, but there were several other species also crawling about on the poo - Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush, Redwing, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail - also Dunnock Great Tit, Blue Tit, etc in the scrub. So any call would be problematic to ID anyway

I saw it twice just inches from other Chiffchaffs on the back wall, so direct comparison was easy though very brief. It was easy to pick it out from the other Chiffchaffs

It has uniformly grey head, mantle & tail. Very pale grey belly & vent. All in strong contrast to the adjacent Chiffchaffs. It seemed to be ~10% smaller too, and I don't think that was an effect of the light. There might have been a hint of olive in the secondaries, but very faint if it was there at all. A bit too distant to be sure

Feeding action was quite different from adjacent Chiffchaff too. A little more frantic and pecky rather than careful and systematic: the Sibe was more like the 2 Goldcrests that were also on the waste

I've looked at Colin's pics and online pics of Sibes, and they mostly have more olive on the secondaries - but that could be an effect of various cameras, time-of-year, or even ssp

I was viewing at ~80 yards through bushes from the hump at the NW corner of the works. It was moving around a lot, so good views were tricky despite good light in the occasional decent line of sight. Easily picked out from the ~4 Chiffchaff despite the obstructions



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Doc Brewster


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Mike Mulholland wrote:

Interesting bird, Siberian Chiffchaff? Could Abietinus or an intergrade be ruled out?

I would favour Sibe and even on views I would rule out a 'pure' abietinus, see the following paper for a discussion of both:

https://deanar.org.uk/tristis/tristis.htm



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colin davies


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Probably not on views alone. 



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Mike Mulholland


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Interesting bird, Siberian Chiffchaff? Could Abietinus or an intergrade be ruled out?



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colin davies


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I called in at Glazebury WWTW this morning hoping to catch up with the Siberian chiffchaff that Pete reported yesterday. There were several chiffchaffs on the beds and occasionally flying up into the trees, including the bird in the photo which I'm pretty certain is Siberian chiffchaff. There was definitely a Siberian chiffchaff calling in the area but I just couldn't be sure that it was the bird in the photos. 



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pete berry


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Decided to have another look at the filter beds. There were at least 6 Chiffchaff feeding on the beds,one of which was almost certainly a Siberian Chiffchaff going off its plumage. Unfortunately none of the birds were calling ,so just a probable unfortunately. Also on the beds still a few Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails ,several Pied Wagtails and a Wren. A few Goldcrest in the trees,and on the nearby set aside still a couple hundred finches. Mainly Chaffinch but a few Linnet in with them.

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pete berry


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Popped down to Glazebury Sewage as it tends to attract a few birds during the cold weather.
On the filter beds a good selection of birds...Meadow Pipits,Pied and Grey Wagtails,a few Redwing and at least 3 Chiffchaff feeding on the beds,one of which was a good candidate for a Siberian.
On the nearby sunflower set aside a flock of at least 200 finches feeding. Most of them were Chaffinch, unfortunately just started raining as I was checking through them. Didn't see any Brambling but only had brief views before the rain.
Need to go back and check them out,and spend a bit more time with the Chiffchaff

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Rob Smith


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Pink footed Geese - 170, high east



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pete berry


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Had a wander round Glazebury Sewage Works, very quiet was hoping for a few overwintering Chiffchaff but no joy. However the field between the solar farm and the houses has been planted with sunflowers. Although I only saw a few Chaffinch there it looks like it'll be brilliant for finches as the winter progresses. Well worth checking out regularly.

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Rob Smith


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Pink footed Geese - 250, in 2 same size skeins flew west this morning

Chiffchaff - 1, calling from bottom of garden

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dave broome


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Approx 45 Pink-footed Geese were flying very low over stubble fields between Diggle Green Farm and the East Lancashire Road at approx 17:25 this evening

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John Watson


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Andy, there is a BoP place just S of Culcheth, though I've not visited. Just as likely to be a wild bird though

Birds of Prey | Wild Wings Birds of Prey | Risley



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Andy Slee


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Belated...Sunday just gone (15th) 2pm Juv Peregrine on Telegraph wires on Kenyon Lane. Was driving but couldn't see any jesses - though there is a Bird of Prey place (or was) in that area?



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Rob Smith


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Marsh Harrier-immature male hunting over field, eventually dropping onto flushed grey partridge before heading out south chased by buzzard & crow

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Steve Christmas


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A flock of 10 Greylag Geese flew north-west over Bents Garden Centre this morning in the general direction of Pennington. 



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John Watson


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Pleased they're still there; not seen any this year



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Kevin Cook


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Corn Bunting x2 while riding my bike up Holcroft Lane. Today 12.10. First heard one close to Holcroft Cottage, then saw one on the wires calling on right side of road a few hundred yards further up. It flew towards Holcroft Cottage as soon as I pulled over.

I always listen out while riding this stretch, but not seen/heard  one for ages, so its good to know they are still around.



-- Edited by Kevin Cook on Wednesday 21st of May 2025 02:10:22 PM

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John Watson


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John, absolutely right. There's no public right of way between the upper & lower footpaths, though dogwalkers used to take that shortcut. I think the owner of Ratcliffe House Farm doesn't want people & dogs near the horses that are sometimes in that field. And it's her right of course

I've misunderstood the directions twice now, but now there's a pin, access should be: park on the tarmac part of Bent Lane in Culcheth, walk E, then do a quick right-left before entering Ratcliffe property (poorly marked but squeeze past horizontal bar), then head E again for 700 m

I've noted Quail at Franks Farm many years ago, calling for a month



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JOHN TYMON


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Andy Slee wrote:

Early morn dawn raid around Silver Lane Pools....but did a little detour at the NE corner (path over the wooden bridge, NE towards and under railway, then one field NE on the public footpath and was to the East in the next field, w3w kickbacks.sensible.maybe) over to where a Common Quail had been heard last week and at 7:20 this morn it was still singing away.

Very little else though apart from a couple of Skylarks.

 Just a quick clarification to stop trespass. The Path that goes North from the footbridge towards the quail area is not a public footpath. The only footpath from that bridge turns directly right streight after the bridge and towards Frank's Farm . There is a public footpath that leads past the quail sight area from Culcheth itself . 



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Andy Slee


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Early morn dawn raid around Silver Lane Pools....but did a little detour at the NE corner (path over the wooden bridge, NE towards and under railway, then one field NE on the public footpath and was to the East in the next field, w3w kickbacks.sensible.maybe) over to where a Common Quail had been heard last week and at 7:20 this morn it was still singing away.

Very little else though apart from a couple of Skylarks.



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Rob Smith


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Quail - singing male last night field off Bent lane

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pete berry


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The probable Siberian Chiffchaff seen again quite well along the fence line just north of the western most filter bed. Saw it really well this afternoon and it shows all the plumage attributes of this species,and luckily there was a Colybitis Chiffchaff feeding nearby for comparison. Unfortunately the bird didn't call once,but other than never hearing a call I'm certain as I can be that it's a sibe.
Also several Goldcrest and Robins in song,and a single Reed Bunting and 4 Redwing feeding on the filter beds,and a male Bullfinch perched up nearby.



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pete berry


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A quick look round Glazebury Sewage Works in less than ideal conditions produced a singing Chiffchaff and a Woodcock in the copse just north of the Works.
Also just a few Goldcrest,Long Tailed Tits,And Blue Tits around the perimeter fencing, but no sign of the possible Sibe Chiffchaff today.


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Rob Smith


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Blackcap - 1, male in garden. After having a female here a month ago, so where do they go between visits ??






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pete berry


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Still at least 2 Chiffchaff around Glazebury Sewage Works unfortunately only brief views of both today.
Feeding on the filter beds,Meadow Pipits,Redwings Reed Buntings and Pied Wagtails,and in the trees around the edge of the works several Goldcrest, Blue Tits and a single Great Spotted Woodpecker.

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Rob Smith


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Of interest in the garden today:

Blackcap - female, possibly same one I saw last week on Silver Lane, seems to be moving around with the mixed tit flocks

Reed Bunting - 4

Jay - 5

Coal Tit - 2

Goldfinch - 5, becoming a bit of a rarity in the garden these days!

Bullfinch - pair

Chaffinch - 2



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Rob Smith


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Pink footed Geese - 400+ fields east side of Holcroft Lane

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pete berry


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At least 3 Chiffchaff around the northern perimeter fence of Glazebury S W,one of which had the plumage features of Siberian,but unfortunately none of them were calling in spite of spending 30 mins with them.!!!

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JOHN TYMON


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C1000 Pink Footed Geese circled over Little Wooldon Moss and Irlam Moss then came west and landed west of LWM and slightly east of Holcroft Lane at 12pm 



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Rob Smith


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Still not quite mobile so still recording from the garden

Pink footed Geese -270, flew east at 3.30pm

Reed Bunting - 2, being seriously chased/harassed by a Robin which was ignoring all the other birds around the feeders!

Bullfinch - 2, pair

Greenfinch - 1, smart male & a rarity these days!

Jays - 5, almost daily now

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pete berry


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Glazebury Sewage Works,
The Chiffchaff still present today along the west facing fenceline,still not calling unfortunately,and quite elusive.
Also a few Pied Wagtails on the filter beds,but very little else around the area.

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Rob Smith


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Pink footed Geese - Between 10-11pm last night a considerable - by calls, movement of birds east to NE

Bullfinch - 2 males - today, first time on feeders for awhile

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Rob Smith


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Until my foot surgery mends, its bird watching in the garden for now. The main visitors being

Jays - 9, a record count this morning, smart, clever birds

Coal Tit - 2

Long tailed Tit - 9

Blue & Great tit - 5+ each

Nuthatch - 1

Collared Dove - 4

Starling - 10

Goldfinch - 6, numbers way down on previous years

Chaffinch - 2




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pete berry


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Glazebury Sewage Works was fairly quiet bird wise. However there was an interesting Chiffchaff there which I watched for 30 mins or so. Unfortunately it never called once in that time,so
was unable to id it,but quite a pale bird showing potential for a Sibe.
Other than that just a couple Robins,several Blackbirds and 2 Goldcrest were the only other birds seen.


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Rob Smith


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Mistle Thrush - 4 flew east, bit of a rarity these days

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JOHN TYMON


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10 Greenland White-fronted Geese Briefly on the south side of Holcroft lane at 3pm (see silver lane thread for details )



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Rob Smith


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Pink footed Geese - 650, in 3 skeins [300+, 2300 & 120] flew SW at dusk

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Ian McKerchar


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Ian McKerchar wrote:

White Stork of unknown origin in the freshly cut field alongside the A574 Warrington Road, directly opposite the Raven Inn around midday/early afternoon.

 The bird, now gone, was apparently a Little Egret after all.



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Ian McKerchar


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White Stork of unknown origin in the freshly cut field alongside the A574 Warrington Road, directly opposite the Raven Inn around midday/early afternoon.



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Rob Smith


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Jackdaw - 30, spiralling & interacting high overhead, pre breeding/pairing activity?

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Rob Smith


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Pink footed Geese - 80 low to east this morning

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pete berry


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A check round Glazebury Sewage Works produced at least 1,possibly 2 wintering Chiffchaff in trees adjacent to the filter beds. Also seen Goldcrest,Blue and Great Tit,several male Blackbirds feeding on the filter beds with the usual Pied Wagtails.
A bit quiet really but some cold weather might push a few more birds to feed there,as it's been really mild recently.

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Rob Smith


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This am

Pink footed Geese - 150, in 2 skeins heading NW

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Rob Smith


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Swifts, 30 drifting SW this morning

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Rob Smith


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whoops, I believe the previous record should have gone onto Moss Lane, Astley, Chat, Moss/Little Woolden & associated mosses

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Rob Smith


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A walk down Moss lane at dusk. Quail calling occasionally from field opp bungalow also Grasshopper warbler reeling within UU site & Tawny Owl calling nearby.

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Rob Smith


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Repeat walk of last year from Culcheth - Culcheth Carrs - East Lancs etc. Just a few of the usual farmland birds, its dire how populations have changed!

Linnets - 60+

Yellowhammer - 5

Corn Bunting - 2

Chaffinch - 20, all the above in mixed flock

Mistle Thrush - 4, singing birds on the walk

Song Thrush - 4, singing birds

Fieldfare - 80

Redwing - 15

Jackdaw - 250

Rook - 40

Kestrel - 1 male

Great spotted Woodpecker - 1

Stock Dove - 20


-- Edited by Rob Smith on Thursday 2nd of February 2023 06:21:15 PM

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Rob Smith


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Red kite drifting north over village

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Rob Smith


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A pleasant walk from Culcheth to East Lancs via Withington Avenue, Culcheth Carrs & back.

Mistle Thrush - 4

Fieldfare - 60

Redwing - 22

Linnet - 250 in mixed flock on set aside adjacent to East Lancs. Nice to see such impressive numbers, this day & age!

Brambling - 50+ in same flock

Chaffinch - 20+ in same flock

Lapwing - 60

Woodpigeon - 300+ on same set aside

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