Autumn is here! Wigeon are back on Lapwing Lane Pool (2m,1f). During a couple hours wander skeins of 5, 21, 43 Pink-footed Geese flew over, all coming from East Warrington direction heading off NW over Fiddlers Ferry.

At the ploughed field on the way into the reserve 17 Pied Wagtails, mostly juv, no Wheatear today though.

43 Coot, two Moorhen, seven Gadwall, two Little Grebe and nine Cormorant in the roost at Lapwing Lane Pool.

Very quiet round to Norton Marsh apart from Corvids and Woodpigeons.

Norton Marsh seemed dead and the river devoid of birds until after a few minutes three Snipe flew over, a Raven mobbed by other Corvids drifted from Fiddlers Ferry, 31 Goldfinch flew off the Marsh, 2+1 Skylarks were starting to fly and call, 11 Meadow Pipits S, Little Egret flew along the river and  Buzzard flew over.

1 Great Crersted Grebe on the Ship Canal but little else.

Staying out the rain today was a trip round the pools, woods and remaining covered hides.

Lapwing Lane Pool - Treecreeper, Water Rail, 37 Coot, 14 Mallard, two Moorhen, 12 Gadwall, 1 Cormorant. Chaffinch, Wren, Great Tit and Robin next to Hide.

Nothing at the Feeders. Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits on the path from Feeders to Birchwood Pool plus Buzzard over Capped Tip.

464 Canada Geese on Birchwood Pool - I think that is my highest total for anywhere on the patch. Four House Martins, 11 Swallow over as the rain cleared, plus an interesting "dark rump patch" hirundine but that got away, never got diagnostic views. Four little Grebe and one Great Crested Grebe chick, being given agro by one of the LGs. Two Great Crested Grebe adults nearby. Eight Tufted Duck, and three Gadwall, one male Pochard. One Black-headed Gull. Lots of Jays (9+) in the woods.

Pumphouse Pool held two Grey Herons, one Little Egret, 42 Teal, 16 Gadwall, two Little Grebe and a further 11 House Martins over.

Six more House Martins over (or perhaps some of the earlier birds) as I returned past the Dog Field at the Crossroads.

Quiet today down the East End (from the Eastern Reedbed up to the crossroads with the pools and tip in between). Quite a few Chiffchaff still moving through though, at least six seen.

Strangest sighting was an Embden Goose gander on Birchwood Pool (my Grandfather used to keep these). How the heck that got there with the 67-72 Canada Geese I saw I'll never know. Distinctive red eye ring, crown progression straight to bill angle correct for species, bill colour and being 30% bigger than the Canada Geese on the Island with a distinct upright stance it didn't leave many other options as far as I can remember of domestic geese.

One Common Gull on Birchwood Pool.

Saw, driving to Moore near Hatton (via Appleton Resvr back road) an Animal Control Zone sign with details; seems the Pheasant Farms to the NE Hatton have had to had their stock put down from weblinks (DEFRA ref AIV2023/49).

Shame they couldn't have put down all those headless chickens at Creamfields a few weeks ago (joke) that caused us three sleepless nights...........but I was young once so my grumpiness is replaced by being gruntled that young 'uns still have fun as I did.

Anyway, later walked from home to Moore, whilst short in length (basically a lunchbreak) left me very gruntled staying dry between the weather fronts though much disgruntled by Cleg bites in the 30 mins I was around Lapwing Lane and Hide. Clegs seems to go for elbows, neck and knees this year. (Cases of Ticks reported from Runcorn dog walkers in areas of high ferns so be careful of rashes that last a couple of weeks).

Lapwing Lane Pool - flyovers Great Spotted Woodpecker, one Cormorant (+one in roost), seven Swallow South. 41 Coot (+ more would be in bays not visible), 21 Gadwall, one Canada Goose, five Great Tit, six Little Grebe (3 ad, 3 juv), five Tufted Duck (3m, 2f) plus one Mallard and six Moorhen and by the Borehole on Lapwing Lane a Spotted Flycatcher. There was one in June (edit: strike that it was May, was guessing when writing) 30 yards South towards the Ship Canal seen over 4-5 days. Did this individual stay or is it a different bird on return passage?

Buzzard over a few times, Green Woodpecker on the Dog field scrub, Long-Tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinches calling, one Chiffchaff, various Gulls mooching in the sky (BH, HG, LBBG).

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Tuesday 12th of September 2023 10:55:22 PM

Lapwing Lane Pool Coot (44) and Gadwall (47) building up. Very showy Reed Warbler still present in front of hide.

Birchwood Pool Little Grebe with noisy 2 day juv, 1st Common Gull of the autumn, one Pochard was the only interesting duck.

Grey Wagtail on Port Warrington roof.

Pumphouse Pool had two Green Sandpiper (difficult view from West hide, required standing on bench to view over bracken obscuring view in front of hide) plus a Tufted Diuck, Gadwall (16) and two Teal with a Grey Heron landing as I left.

Woods absolutely dead of any birds, song or visible..........

After narry a couple weeks not being able to get far and being stuck on the roads and lanes around the patch I managed to get down to Halfway House and through Owens Wood and Norton Marsh today early am. Glad I did. Not quite all ones Birthdays come at once but very close..........

On the river between Round Cherval and Halfway House 42 Canada Geese, 23 Curlew, one Grey Heron, seven Little Egret, one Moorhen, three Coot (CO), six Gadwall, one Kingfisher, two Little Grebe flew by, one Mute Swan, six Cormorant (three juv), six Great Crested Grebe, 102 Lapwing, 340+ Black-headed Gulls, one Great Black-backed Gull, 40+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three Herring Gulls, four Mallard and two Teal.

Juv Kestrel spent an hour watching me from the pylon as I watched the river.

Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were seen on the walk in with a pair of Bullfinch. Goldfinch were in a number of charms and there were three Cetti's Warblers starting to sing again in that "ooops I've forgotten my distinctive call but I'll have a go"  late summer song they have.

Highlight though was whilst whiling away the dawn watching the river a Tree Pipit overflew with its distinct beeez                      beeez         beeez vocally trill. Patch tick #149 since 1999 (only serious patching since 2019 apart from a brief winter attempt in 2009). And with a few other birds picked up elsewhere I'm on #299 for my BOU life list............what is to say #150 for Moore could be #300 for my life list, how symbolically symmetric would that be!.

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Sunday 20th of August 2023 10:01:03 PM

Two Yellow Wagtail with one juv and 11 Pied Wagtails in the horse paddocks by Moss Lane. Swallows, Linnet, Goldfinch, Magpie and House Sparrow also present.

Andy Slee wrote:

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If you follow the Ship Canal west from the yellow gate off Lapwing Lane, after ~2/3 a mile you go past the Ethylene pumping station on your right then 1/3 a mile later the wood on your right (Owens Wood) drops to track level and you can cut through onto the edge of the saltmarsh (Halfway House is 300 yrds further west).

Shown here on Google Maps. RC=Round Cherval, HWH - Halfway House, YG = Yellow Gate.

 

 

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 Thanks Andy , Ill have a walk down that way this weekend 

Andy Slee wrote:

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A great visit to Round Cherval and Halfway House on the falling tide (nearly at ebb). Birds everywhere!

On the way in two Gadwall and 28 Ad + three juv Great crested Grebe on the Ship Canal plus around 40 Black-headed Gulls and three Grey Heron.

Penketh Bar and Bank held 13 Cormorant, one Yellow-legged Gull, five Grey Heron, 65 Curlew (a steady stream coming from Fiddlers Ferry Lagoon area as Penkth Bar exposed - another habitat to be lost in 2024-5 as it get turned into house / light industry / nature parks), two Black-tailed Godwit, one Whimbrel, two Redshank, one Snipe, two Little Egret and four Lapwing. 

Loafing on the river were 142 Canada Geese, nine adult Great Black-backed Gulls, 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull (ad) and 33 immature, 3 Herring Gulls, 1 Mediterranean Gull and 326 Black-headed Gull.

And on the walk in/out to Halfway House, three more patch "second solstice period" ticks were attained of Bullfinch, Water Rail and Treecreeper with the best being saved until last as I was about to drive off from Lapwing Lane when a male Yellowhammer popped up from the corn field and loafed on the branch in front of my windscreen where I'd parked.

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 Wheres round cherval please 

Eastern Reedbed - one Cormorant, two Gadwall, one Reed Warbler, Kingfisher flew in to N corner.

Millbrook Pool (East, West appears dried / overgrown by reed / birch) - one Grey Heron, one Green Sandpiper took off towards Pumphouse Pool.

Pumphouse Pool - 12 Gadwall, four Teal, two ad Mute Swan, one Pied Wagtail, Stock Dove, Magpie, Jay.

Black-fields Pool(s) currently high and joined as one pool. 102 Lapwing, plus suspect more as only 70% islands in the pool were visible due to high vegetation. Seven Pochard, four Tufted duck, one Ad Mute Swan, Little and Great crested Grebes, Coot, Moorhen, swift and Swallow over, steady flights of Black-headed Gulls west, two Oystercatcher went over east but didn't stop.

Rook in the horse fields (first for second half of the year). Linnet flock still about but on the brow of the hill so difficult to count. Hundreds of Wood Pigeon, Corvids, couple Stock Dove and Feral pigeon in the mown corn fields around Lapwing Lane. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk both over Lapwing Lane fields. Last of the summer visitors it felt with a couple Willow Warblers (1 juv) and a single Chiffy still about. Tawny Owl roosting in the new location in Big Wood.

Lapwing Lane Lake - 52 Gadwall, two Little Grebe, eight Mallard, four Canada Goose, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Reed Warbler.

 

Very little in the woods early am and quite a few branches down or loose so stuck the the main tracks around the quarry and Moss Lane.

22 Linnet in the horse paddocks with 23 Goldfinch in the same field. 47 Swallow lined up on the fence (11 juv) in the mizzle. Seven Pied Wagtails.

Four more Pied Wagtails (2 juv) were at Big Horse Ranch with a single Lapwing and over behind Anglers Quarry a flock of 375-400 Woodpigeon was disturbed.

A pleasant if slightly damp mooch around the east end as weather fronts came through.

Black-fields Pools had seven Lapwing, one Greenshank, 17 Canada Geese, two Little Grebe, 5 Grey Heron, one Little Egret, two Pochard, Tufted Duck, Morehen and Coot, with 10s of House Martins passing South with three Sand Martins amongst them.

Oystercatcher, another Greenshank (seen continuously by another birder from the time I'd watched the bird on BFPs), one Lapwing, one Black-headed Gull and six Gadwall, one Pied Wagtail on Pumphouse Pool.

More House and Sand Martins over Birchwood Pool with seven Pochard.

Little Egret on Lapwing Lane Pool, Reed Warbler juv showing well in front of hide and Reed Buntings calling.

Nuthatch the best of the woodland birds.

First returning Curlew (10) on Penketh Bar today. 42 Lapwing, 87 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls loafing about also. Looking towards Widness Warth from Halfway House another 98 Lawping were visible and more coming from Wigg Island direction as the tide rose to be displaced off over Fiddlers Ferry direction.

Buzzard, Raven, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk all seen over Upper Moss Side on the walk in.

5 Little Egret around the Mersey between Owens Wood / HWH and seven Grey Heron on the Ship Canal, with Coot, Moorhen, Great crested Grebe and Mallard, plus 34 Canada Geese at Moore Swing Bridge.

One Shelduck up by Norton Marsh with a Peregrine (m) swooping over the river for a while before returning to Fiddlers Ferry turbine building.

Coal Tit and Great Black-backed Gull added to the patch tick list for the second Solstice period of the year (69 species seen second Solstice period, 127 seen Winter Solstice 2022 - Summer Solstice 2023).

 

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Tuesday 11th of July 2023 09:00:44 PM

Ended up with 127 patch species from the Winter Solstice 2022 - Summer Solstice 2023 (banned from doing a patch list 2023 by her indoors so decided to find a technical way around it). Hrs on patch this year to date less than half that last year and very few mornings due to shift patterns.

Only 2 visits since the Summer solstice but already 55 species for the second half the year. Best of the visits was watching the tide rise up the Mersey on Sunday (02/07) and watching Lapwings flushed from further down the Mersey to group on Penketh Bank. Approx 940 at highest count before heading high north as the Bank was covered by the afternoon tide. Two Oystercatchers, usual Gulls and seven Little Egret and three Grey Heron (1 imm) made up the supporting cast.

More hide vandalism on site unfortunately as well.

After been away with work last week a couple of brief trips in lunches (too hot) this week produced the usuals, but the unusual was a Red Kite over as I walked to Halfway House after tea tonight, heading towards Fiddlers Ferry. I thought I'd had a Red Kite many years ago, but looking through my notes gone by (my MS Access database of years 2008-2013 is corrupt..woe) this is both a life patch and Cheshire year tick for me.

Most pools looked very low, even Lapwing Lane and Birchwood Pool are over two - three feet lower than usual. Few Moorhen, Little Grebe, Coot and Canada Goose Broods scattered about.

Black-fields Pools however has rising water (strange as that is supposed to be concreted over for light industrial use in 2025/6) and East and West Pools are so high they are now one pool. Two or three Pochard broods are on there and a Green Woodpecker flew over.

A Raven was sat motionless on Lapwing Lane to the point I could almost touch it; [didn't] I didn't think a young bird as it was mostly black with a bit of brownish on the secondaries, beak was massive and fully black......would it be succumbing to Bird flu or knackered by heat?

Still...the Red Kite puts the patch list this year at 123 since winter solstice.

 

Took a good wait this morning but Spotted Flycatcher eventually showed in the Oaks by the old railway bridge just North the swing bridge into the reserve where it had been seen a few days ago. 

A later afternoon visit got Hobby over the Eastern Reedbed and a Peregrine passing  over with a vole / mole in its claws. Wonder if there is a displaced pair from Fiddlers / Unilever Soap works moved into the reserve?

Plenty of young about now, tits, Canadas (five Goslings with adults wandered over the swing bridge as I was waiting for the Spotcatcher), juv Reed Buntings on the stubble near lapwing Lane an Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe chicks on all main pools. 

Pumphouse Pool appears in its last few days of existence. A mere drying up mud scrape, with a last couple Teal, Gadwall and couple of waders scuttling around the edge

A recuperative lunchtime walk west today down the Canal to Round Cherval and Wigg Island, back via Upper Moss Side and Lapwing Lane. Plenty of Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, two Garden Warbler, Whitethroats everywhere (no Lesser today), Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch all the common Tits including fledgling Blue and Long-tails.

The banks of the Mersey were exposed at low tide and between Penketh Bar, Penketh Bank and visible on Astmoor Marsh from Halfway House were 78 Shelduck, 87 Lapwing, 49 Canada Goose, three Gadwall, seven Mallard and two Grey Heron. Reed and Sedge warblers were present audibly both over at Oxmoor to the South of the Ship Canal, between Round Cherval and Halfway House and over on Cuerdly Marsh to the North the Mersey.

Emerging from the dark dingy nettle fest Fanghorn like Owens Wood to the gravelled esplanade of the Ethylene Station a Common Tern (year patch tick) shrieked down at me as it flew overhead from the Ship Canal towards Penketh Bar (later seen from the ex-Norton hide location as being on Pentketh Bar). A nice year tick and nice for once to actually call a Comic Tern as a Common one, usually views are to brief and distant.

Little Owl sunning at Moss Farm and five Swallows showing nest building signs.

Lapwing Lane Pool held a pair of Great crested Grebe with four young and a pair of Little Grebe with three young, the youngsters trying to chase themselves around the lake and running out of puff after about 10 yards. No Reed or Sedge Warblers on Lapwing Lane Pool this year in quite a few visits. No Swifts over the site yet either this year, now 9 days later than average return date .

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Tuesday 23rd of May 2023 07:43:04 PM

Rufous Cuckoo calling and showing well in the field by Millbrook Pool West this afternoon (Woodpecker fields). One also calling from over the top side of the Capped Tip in the Richmond Bank direction so 2/3 on patch this year (other one being west of the Capped Tip but didn't go there today).

Pumphouse Pool held 16 Gadwall, two Great Crested Grebe and a Magpie and a Rook.

Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Common Whitethroat abounded the path along the North of the Eastern Reedbed and four Cetti's Warblers were heard in a loop of the Reedbed.

 

And Stringy  patch "heard-only" tick should I need it for the year list  a Peacock calling, presumably from Walton Gardens.

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Tuesday 16th of May 2023 08:23:22 PM

Absolute utter hooleys of showers and downpours today I fear leading to a Binocular repair potentially (did drop them a few weeks ago so perhaps lost the inert gas...Doc B I'll be down your way if they don't clear in the Aga low temp oven overnight!).

Millbrook Pool West now all but empty and forlorn. Single green Sandpiper Millbrook East. Reed Warbler x3 around Eastern Reedbed.

Pumphouse Pool a real disappointment this year, water level very low and getting lower even in wet spells. Almost no waders when this time previous years Dunlin and Greenshank has passed through. Cuckoo on Capped Tip though and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull and two Gadwall made up the avifauna. Overall appears very much in decline as a managed wetland. As Shakespere never said in Sonnet 30

"When to birding muse of sweet silent thought,

I summon up remembrance of birds past'd,

I 'egret the lack of many a twitch I sought,

And with old woes, no Water Rail seen, my dear time's a wasted:

Pumphouse Pool, I can't even drown up to my eye, Pool now unus'd to flow".

Cheered up by Tawny Owl near the Crossroads towards Lapwing Lane feeders, Grasshopper Warbler reeling between showers along the Birchwood Pool - Feeders path and a fine view of a pair of Ravens, not "Gronking" but "Bonking" in the old quarry.

 

 

Went down the estuary for waders this avo (had Whimbrel the last couple years at this time of passage date adjusted) at low tide but there were none. OK there were two Oystercathers and two more Oycs flew through but thought the weather fronts might have dropped something 'moore' interesting in, but that is patching!

However there were a pair of Ruddy Shelduck (stringly year tick with the scope, feet being on patch) far west of Fiddlers on the North sands at 15:27 by my watch. Could these be the same birds at 15:40ish on Birdguides reported off Wigg Island.

Greenfinch seem to be doing really well this year. This morning I had two pairs at Eastford Road at the East End and again a flock of 6 around the Ethylene Station on the Ship Canal this afternoon (2nd visit). 2020 - 2022 only saw individuals even when the feeders were still stocked.

Dead Canada Goose and Black-headed Gull on Norton Marsh though....bird flu creeping in....?

Warblers 5 Grasshoppers on Norton Marsh - Upper Moss Side route including two in Balloon Hut field. Lesser Whitethroat on path from Tree Sparrow Feeders to ex Norton Marsh hide. Six Garden Warbler on route from Yellow Gate to Owens Wood and the back through old Canal and Quarry. Sedge and Reed seem in lower numbers than previous years.

17 miles walked today, amazing how zig-zagging back and forth (mainly for the Mersey tide) adds up the miles.

Possible Woodcock over Capped Tip.

Early morning visit from carpark to Wigg Island to Pumphouse Pool and back.

Grasshopper Warblers (year tick) now present on the Upper Moss Side path at the Tree Sparrow feeding station and on Norton Marsh about 20yrds from the old hide location.

Garden Warbler (year tick) by yellow gate. Reed Warblers by Halfway House. Cettis Warblers everywhere almost rivalling Chiffchaff on todays route.

18 Shelduck on the mudflats at low tide at 6:30am. Waders at HWH included one Common Sandpiper, two Oystercatcher, one Redshank, three Lapwing. 39 Lesser Black-backed Gulls including 7 immature and two pairs in display. Couple hundred Black-headed Gulls washing in the low tide but constant movement made it hard to count. One Cormorant was present in the midst looking a bit confused. North of Astmoor Marsh there looked to be 000s of mostly big Black/Grey/Silver Gulls on the low tide mudbanks (2,700 - 3,200) but the light was bad and heat haze/scope CA at that distance was stopping me getting a good count.

Possible Sedge Warbler on Norton Marsh means (tbc year tick when I go back and find it for sure in the next couple of days) it could be easily the earliest I've ever completed the migrant "9 warbler finish" at Moore.

Got bitten by a Cleg on Norton Marsh; first bite of the year (year tick in the literal sense of the word).

Plenty of Whitethroat on Upper Moss Side and in the Snipe fields a Lesser Whitethroat was also present (year tick).

Pumphouse Pool provided the last "new arrivals" in the form of two dinner plate size Painted Turtles sunning themselves. Solitary Green and Common Sandpipers ran about the waters edge, two Pied Wagtails were in display and a single Little Ringed Plover scoured the north bank, doing a quick reverse ferret upon approaching the turtles. 13 Teal, Coot with three chicks.

And oft forgot in these parts the finches. A really good day for Greenfinch - eight along MSC esp around Ethylene Station. At least three pairs Bullfinch, two Linnet at Lapwing Lane and seven Chaffinch dotted about. Single Reed Bunting on Norton Marsh and male Yellowhammer Upper Moss Side.

 

What did I say 26th April last year?????

 

Andy Slee wrote:

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First clegs of the year came out in the afternoon sun and started biting down the Norton Marsh end! First tim I've had clegs bite me before seeing a swallow!

Quick morning around the East End. Constant background of a Cuckoo (first of year for me) calling on the East side of the Capped Tip. A Green Woodpecker was also heard in the same area.

Pairs of Pochard on each of Eastern Reedbed, Black-fields Pools and Pumphouse Pool (what is left, shallower than even the depths of last summer). Singles of Little Ringed Plover and Lapwing on Pumphouse with 13 Teal and two Canada Goose, three Pied Wagtails passed through. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls in mating display on Pumphouse also.

Three differentReed Warblers were singing away along the path by the Eastern Reedbed.

Walked from Lapwing Lane car park to Halfway House and back.

Outward via the path along the ship canal and returned via Moss Side.

09.00-13.00

Ship Canal: 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Tufted Ducks, 10 Gadwall and 5 Cormorants.

On the South bank a Song Thrush was on the heath by the Stobart warehouse, whilst 2 Linnets were on the nearby fence.

Halfway House: Probably the same highly vocal Cettis Warbler that remained hidden on my 7th April visit,

sang for longer and louder today, and this time he had the decency to pose briefly from an elder bush.

Newton Marsh (R.Mersey); 14 Shelducks and 5 Gadwall, whilst a Kestrel and a Buzzard soared over the North Bank.

No waders at all were seen on the mudflats/sandbanks despite it being close to low tide.

Wooded areas: At least 5 Blackcaps were in song along the canal between Lapwing Lane and Halfway House.

Chiffchaffs still seemed numerous throughout, but only a few Willow Warblers were found.

A couple of male Bullfinches were seen and heard, both appeared to be announcing their territory.

Reed Warbler 1st of the year between Round Cherval and Halfway House. Fire Cetti's Warblers along the MSC from Ethelene Station to Halfway House, plus one over in Oxmoor NR audible from Moore. 

Two Oystercatcher and one Redshank on the river, two Reed Bunting and two Snipe on Norton Marsh. 147 Black-headed Gulls present and 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and four Great Black-backed Gulls.

Blackcaps now arrived whilst I was away so two nice patch ticks from todays outing.