Silver Lane Pools, Risley

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

RE: Silver Lane Pools, Risley

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

JOHN TYMON wrote:
GREAT NEWS
where is the safest place to park there?as there always seems to be gypsy caravans? along the slip road.
cheers john

Don't worry too much about the travellers John, they only turn up a couple of times a year and - apart from leaving their rubbish strewn around everywhere - don't seem to cause much trouble. Safest place to park is probably on the Birchwood Roundabout (J11) off the M62, or at the top of Silver Lane where it joins Warrington Road (A574) - it's not bad birding walking down the lane. In the morning I usually drive down Silver Lane until you reach a gate, then park up under a big oak tree. I've never had any trouble, it's not the safest of places but is probably okay before the scrotes are up! One thing, if you ever visit early morning, make sure you walk round the pools in an anti-clockwise direction, otherwise the sun in your eyes can be a pain. Have a look at the map in the link below, it gives an aerial view of the pools with the path marked on it (click on the map to enlarge):

https://s707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/jonathan_platt/?action=view&current=silver-lane-1.jpg&newest=1

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Jonathan Platt wrote:

JOHN TYMON wrote:
Thats a goodly number of little grebes,this seems about the number i used to get at houghton green at this time of year,must be a lot quieter for them now at silver lane.Nice to hear they are still around in numbers ,has they have been in single figures all year at penny

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 2nd of August 2010 01:02:23 PM

It is a lot quieter than HGF John, I rarely see anyone around the pools. In fact, in several years of mouching around early mornings I can only recall bumping into three people - and two of those were on the same day! One or two dog-walkers have a wander over occasionally, but I still don't usually see anyone on the rare occasions I venture over there after 9.00am.

This morning there were 20 little grebes on 1st Pool. Then, after I'd been standing there for ten minutes, I noticed a movement in the far corner of the pool. It was another little grebe, then another, and with them were three tiny chicks! Surely a second, or even third brood? There's also a brood of three well-grown juvs on a small pond by the entrance road to the tip.

GREAT NEWS

where is the safest place to park there?as there always seems to be gypsy caravans? along the slip road.
cheers john

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

JOHN TYMON wrote:
Thats a goodly number of little grebes,this seems about the number i used to get at houghton green at this time of year,must be a lot quieter for them now at silver lane.Nice to hear they are still around in numbers ,has they have been in single figures all year at penny

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 2nd of August 2010 01:02:23 PM

It is a lot quieter than HGF John, I rarely see anyone around the pools. In fact, in several years of mouching around early mornings I can only recall bumping into three people - and two of those were on the same day! One or two dog-walkers have a wander over occasionally, but I still don't usually see anyone on the rare occasions I venture over there after 9.00am.

This morning there were 20 little grebes on 1st Pool. Then, after I'd been standing there for ten minutes, I noticed a movement in the far corner of the pool. It was another little grebe, then another, and with them were three tiny chicks! Surely a second, or even third brood? There's also a brood of three well-grown juvs on a small pond by the entrance road to the tip.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Jonathan Platt wrote:

Of note this morning were 18 little grebes on 1st Pool. Two juv. lr plover and two juv yellow wags on 3rd Pool. Two yellowhammers singing in the big hedge north of the pools.

Thats a goodly number of little grebes,this seems about the number i used to get at houghton green at this time of year,must be a lot quieter for them now at silver lane.Nice to hear they are still around in numbers ,has they have been in single figures all year at penny

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 2nd of August 2010 01:02:23 PM

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Of note this morning were 18 little grebes on 1st Pool. Two juv. lr plover and two juv yellow wags on 3rd Pool. Two yellowhammers singing in the big hedge north of the pools.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Jonathan Platt wrote:

First trip around the pools for a couple of months for one reason or another. Very quiet until I reached 1st Pool when a hobby appeared low over the water, making a couple of passes before zooming off towards Risley HMP. A minute later I was watching a pair of little grebes when I noticed they had their heads up and were staring at something, also the coots had started to make a great deal of noise. Scanning the water I spotted something 'rowing' across the surface - a swift! The hobby must have either knocked it down or it hit the water whilst trying to take evasive action.

To cut a long story short (a lbb gull almost nailed it before I could get around the pool!) I eventually managed to drag the half-dead bird out of the water with a long branch. I've dried it off as best I could and it's now residing in a box in the boot of my car (don't worry, I'll move it if it starts to get hot). To be honest I thought it would die as it appeared to be, quite literally, taking it's last gasps when I originally fished it out, but it appears to have perked up somewhat in the last hour or so. It doesn't appear to be injured, if it recovers sufficiently I'll try and release it later today.

The swift was successfully released this afternoon. I threw it from the Tower Hide at Risley Moss, it flew off strongly towards Rixton tip. I doubt the hobby had touched it, I think it had simply crashed into the water trying to avoid the falcon.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

First trip around the pools for a couple of months for one reason or another. Very quiet until I reached 1st Pool when a hobby appeared low over the water, making a couple of passes before zooming off towards Risley HMP. A minute later I was watching a pair of little grebes when I noticed they had their heads up and were staring at something, also the coots had started to make a great deal of noise. Scanning the water I spotted something 'rowing' across the surface - a swift! The hobby must have either knocked it down or it hit the water whilst trying to take evasive action.

To cut a long story short (a lbb gull almost nailed it before I could get around the pool!) I eventually managed to drag the half-dead bird out of the water with a long branch. I've dried it off as best I could and it's now residing in a box in the boot of my car (don't worry, I'll move it if it starts to get hot). To be honest I thought it would die as it appeared to be, quite literally, taking it's last gasps when I originally fished it out, but it appears to have perked up somewhat in the last hour or so. It doesn't appear to be injured, if it recovers sufficiently I'll try and release it later today.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Common whitethroat singing from the bank of the entrance road to the landfill this morning, two redwing in the large willow by the sheds, fieldfare calling from the hedge east of 3rd Pool, three wheatear along footpath above 2nd Pool and a cuckoo perched on a metal gate by 1st Pool.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Three fieldfare at the pools this morning - two flew from the hedge east of 3rd Pool, then a single calling bird flew high over 1st Pool heading east. Quiet otherwise, a corn bunting singing from the footpath fence above 2nd Pool; several yellowhammers singing mainly around the east end of the pools; willow warbs, chiffchaffs and my first singing blackcap at Silver Lane this year - though I did see a female last week.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Male wheatear perched on a post above 2nd Pool at 6.45am.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

6.45-7.45am

Two jack snipe by the path above 2nd Pool this morning, along with five common snipe (there were nine there yesterday). Water running off the landfill has turned the path and adjoining small area of rough grass into a quagmire. Yesterday an unseen green woodpecker was calling by the west footpath and I flushed a pair of grey partridge from the same area. Two oystercatchers on 1st Pool were the first I've seen there this year.

Wildfowl counts were: 1st Pool - 12 coot, 6 mallard, 30 tufted duck and a single drake pochard. 2nd Pool: 4 coot, 12 Canada geese. 3rd Pool: 2 coot, 2 tufted duck.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

7.30-8.15am

Only had time to do first two pools. Two great-crested grebes on 1st Pool - one in mostly winter, one in mostly summer plumage - were new birds for this year. Otherwise on 1st Pool, 34 tufted duck, 33 coot (plus 1 on 2nd Pool), 3 pochard, a score of mallard and half a dozen Canada geese. Pool mostly frozen, just a narrow band open along eastern edge.

At least one grey partridge was calling from the western end of the tip, where a pair of bullfinches were flitting through the birches.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

7.30-8.45pm

First pre-work amble around the pools of 2010. I'd only walked a couple of hundred yards down the west footpath when I stopped to look at what turned out to be a blue tit. As I watched, a large bird launched itself out of the hedgerow in front of me. Fortunately, it only flew ten yards before landing in the top of a scrub willow - a long-eared owl. It flew again after ten seconds or so, making it's way deeper into the woodland on the west side of the landfill, accompanied by an alarm-calling bullfinch and a scolding jay.

1st Pool held 35 coot, 21 tuffted duck, 12 pochard, 11 mallard and 22 Canada geese.

2nd Pool held 15 coot and 10 mallard.

3rd Pool was devoid of life! All pools partially frozen, 3rd pool more so.

Otherwise, it was fairly quiet - a pair of grey partridge on the N. bank of the landfill, 20+ redwing along the east footpath and a couple of buzzards.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

A quick dash down to the pools (I can't resist a frosty morning!) before work was rewarded with four woodcock flushed from the tiny triangular wood above 1st Pool - presumably new arrivals under last night's full-ish moon?

Otherwise, 30+ fieldfare along the west footpath hedgerow, and 28 coot, 6 gadwall, 25 tufted, 1 pochard, 1 teal and 4 little grebes on 1st Pool - didn't have time to do the other pools.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

29 November 2009 - 8.00-9.15am

1st Pool: 28 mallard, 6 wigeon, 6 gadwall, 19 tufted, 21 coots, 2 little grebe
2nd Pool: 5 coot, 8 pochard, 2 mute swans
3rd Pool: 7 mute swans, 2 mallard

A kestrel and a buzzard were hunting around 1st/2nd pool; a flock of 40+ stock doves on stubble to north along with woodies, jackdaws, rooks, etc. and c100 fieldfare; several small flocks of goldfinches feeding on alder and birch - no redpolls as yet.

Odd thing has happened to the coot at the pools this month. On 30th October I wandered round the pools late afternoon, I didn't count the wildfowl but numbers were obviously similar to previous count a few days before (ie. 55 coot). On my next visit (4th November) I got a bit of a shock - numbers had plummeted to just 8 coot! Other wildfowl numbers appeared normal. Coot numbers are normally pretty stable (between 45-55 most of the autumn), generally only cold weather causes severe change - initially numbers increase but then plummet if the pools become frozen.

I can only assume the drop in numbers is due to severe disturbance. Shooting? Model boats? I really don't have a clue. It's taken a month for numbers to build back up, but even now they're only half what they were in October.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

An unseen calling green sandpiper flew over the east side of the landfill in the half-light this morning and a record-breaking nine gadwall were on 3rd Pool! 40+ redwing and 2 fieldfare left the hedgerows along the footpath at the west end of the landfill. Yesterday a kingfisher was on 3rd Pool and a female stonechat in the fenced-off scrub between the path and landfill fence. A chiffchaff was accompanying a flock of tits along the landscaped south side of the landfill.

Jonathan · Status: Offline

A brilliant few minutes at Silver Lane at dinner time.

I'd walked down the footpath at the east end of the landfill and was scanning the sky for raptors - the arable fields to the east are usually excellent for thermalling buzzards, etc. I spotted two kestrels circling up over the old railway lines to the north, these were then joined by a female sparrowhawk who rapidly gained height above them. Suddenly another raptor appeared and mobbed the spar - a tiny male merlin! They disappeared at this point behind a tree, when I next picked them up they were far higher and had drifted towards me. It's not often I see merlins thermalling, every so often it would turn over and half-heartedly stoop at the spar. After a minute or so it started to drift back north, then I realised it was slowly gaining speed and the drift was turning into a stoop. Dropping almost vertically now, I expected it to smash into a lark or pipit, but suddenly a large raptor appeared and the merlin sheared past it, narrowly missing what I now realised was a peregrine. The peregrine too was now beginning to stoop, one of those long, shallow stoops that I see far more often locally than the 'classic' vertical job. It headed at speed across the landfill before disappearing behind mounds of earth, tipper trucks and bulldozers. Looking back to the merlin, that too followed the peregrine in a shallow stoop over the landfill. Whether it was chasing the peregrine, or prey put up as birds scattered in panic, I don't know, as it too disappeared. Fantastic!

Also in the sky were ten buzzards (with another sitting in a tree) and another sparrowhawk. A very high skein of c100 pinkfeet heading west flew over as I left. First stonechat of the autumn was above 3rd pool this morning.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

After several weeks of summer doldrums the place has livened up a little in the last week. Tipping seems to have ceased on the landfill and BIFFA are busy landscaping the area, consequently there are large areas of bare soil which are attracting many meadow pipits and pied wags each morning. Last Friday there was a wheatear and two grey wags with them.

On Monday a greenshank flew in to 2nd Pool. This morning I flushed another wheatear from the path above 1st Pool. To my surprise three common terns were sitting on a half sunken pipe in 2nd Pool, first ones I've seen at Silver Lane. As I was scanning the bare soil of the north bank of the landfill a calling yellow wag flew in and landed with the usual pipits and pieds.

Wildfowl counts on 1st Pool are riveting - tufted duck are up from four last week to five this week! Coot numbers hover around the thirty+ mark, and little grebe remain at five. Pointless counting the mallard as they use the pools for a wash-and-brush-up after a night's feeding on stubble, so numbers vary greatly from one day to the next, depending on how early I get there!

A cormorant has started visiting the pools and I saw a kingfisher there a couple of weeks ago, haven't seen either species at the pools for several months.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

6.00-7.30am

3rd Pool:
2 little grebe
2 waterhens

2nd Pool:
3 coot
2 mallard
1 green sandpiper

1st Pool:
30 coot
6 little grebes
14 mallard
8 tufted duck
1 ruddy duck

A green woodpecker was in the oak hedge around 1st Pool then, later, in Motorway Wood.

Other birds included a gs woodpecker, two buzzards, two kestrels and a huge flock of mixed tits containing at least one juv. willow tit, goldcrest and several chiffchaffs.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

A mundane treck around the pools was enlivened by a long-eared owl along the footpath east of the landfill this morning. It flew out of a tree just past 3rd Pool before landing again for a few seconds 20yds further on. It then flew off towards the landfill, though my view was blocked by trees. Presumably this was a dispersing juv. from a local nest?

Otherwise:
1st Pool
4 little grebes
3 mallard
1 tufted duck
39 coot (inc. 9 juvs)

2nd Pool
1 coot

3rd Pool
1 tufted duck
1 little grebe
2 waterhen
1 grey heron

Brood of swallows on landfill fence; a dozen meadow pipits; 2 corn bunts east of landfill; at least 1 juv. willow tit with a large group of mixed tits in the motorway wood.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Silver Lane Pools - 6.20-7.30am

Whinchat - 1 male in saplings above 2nd Pool
Wheatear - 2 females on n. side of landfill
Common Sandpiper - 1 1st Pool, 2 2nd pool

Plus usual stuff - beautiful dawn chorus of corn bunts, reed bunts, linnets, skylarks and yellowhammer from arable east of landfill.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Silver Lane Pools - 6.20-7.30am

Arable east of landfill:
Corn buntings, reed buntings, yellowhammer and skylarks singing.
Pair grey partridge.
3, then later 20 fieldfare flushed from hedgerow.
2 jays, 1 willow warbler also in hedgerow.

3rd Pool:
6 tufted duck, three coot, corn bunts singing from landfill perimeter and lower hedge.

2nd Pool:
Snipe flushed from path, 6 mallard, pair reed bunts, 3 meadow pipits.

1st Pool:
13 tufted duck, 11 coot, 3 teal, 4 mallard, 3 little grebe.

Also 7+ willow warblers back of Risley HMP, 4 bullfinches, siskins (unseen) over.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

A raven flew east, parallel with the M62, at J11 (Birchwood roundabout) this morning around 7.30am. That's the second one I've seen at Silver Lane in less than a week, though the last ones I saw there were on 2nd September last year.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

A hooded crow came off the Silver Lane landfill around 1.00pm today and flew east onto the mossland with a group of carrion crows. Found it whilst looking for displaying buzzards and initially thought the grey mantle was a trick of the light due to the bright sunshine! Presumably this is the same bird that was seen by the Risley Moss birders in December?

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Hi David,

That's great news - glad someone else has seen it! Apart from calling briefly to feed I've not been able to visit over the weekend, I'll try and get down there later today.

Cheers
Jonathan

David Spencer · Status: Offline

Jonathan

I have been a lurker on this site for a while and based on your earlier posts on Silver Lane, thought I must pay it a visit. Your last post on the Twite finally got me into action. Congrats on a good find.

I saw the Twite, Saturday morning at circa 10:30 singing in bushes on the Tip bank, approx 50 yds along from where you feed. The Linnet flock was very mobile but the Twite was more settled.

David

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

There was a male twite with the 30+ linnet flock that's been hanging around the stubble field east of the landfill (off Birchwood roundabout) at 12.40pm today, probably there since Wednesday at least (thought I heard flight call but dismissed it!). Today it was perched on the fence by the 2nd metal gate, not far from the old sheds. It was singing, which first attracted my attention. Pink rump was visible as it had it's back to me, then the unstreaked throat became visible when the bird turned.

I've been feeding the edge of the stubble field at the bottom of the steps off the Birchwood roundabout for a couple of months. As the linnets are usually there first thing in the morning when I feed, I presume the twite is coming in with them?

Also in the area were a dozen or so yellowhammers. A green woodpecker was at the west end of the landfill on Wed. and Thurs.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Silver Lane Pools

16th Feb. 2009 12.00-1.15pm

6 redwing
8-10 lt tits
3 goldcrests
40+chaffinches
10+ linnets
several goldfinches

Old sheds:
Pair stonechats

3rd Pool:
3 mallard
2 coot

2nd Pool:
11 Canada geese
8 mallard
4 tufted duck
24 coot
9 lapwing (over)
1 buzzard (over)
Pair grey partridge, 2 meadow pipits (in rough grass above pool)

1st Pool:
1 oystercatcher (spring is sprung!)
15 mallard
18 tufted duck
10 pochard
50+ gulls (1 common, 1 lbb, rest bh)

4 herons (pit behind prison)
1 snipe (flushed by footpath)
1 sparrowhawk

1st footpath:
flock of 30+ finches feeding on alder seeds, mainly lesser redpoll, but several goldfinch and siskin
1 female bullfinch

29 linnets in tree above feeding site when I returned to my car.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Silver Lane Pools - 26th Jan, 12.45-2.00pm

25 tufted duck (21-1st pool, 4-2nd)
7 pochard (1st)
2 mallard (1st)
57 coot (24-1st, 33-2nd)
10 canada geese (2nd)

Also of interest were 5 jays, 2 meadow pipits, 1 heron (3rd pool), 3 stonechat (1 male by 3rd pool, a pair by old sheds), 2 goldcrest with a small flock of lt tits.

I've been feeding the corner of a field for a couple of weeks - the stubble field to the left of the eastbound sliproad off the Birchwood roundabout (J11 on the M62). Yesterday there were 60+ chaffinches and 15+ linnets feeding there.

Geoff Walton · Status: Offline

Thanks a lot Jonathan, I have sent you a PM.

Cheers.

Geoff

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Hi Geoff,

Silver Lane Pools are on the other side of the M62 from Risley Moss NR, essentially, behind Risley HMP. If this link works you should be able to see the three pools at the top of the map:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=53.438761,-2.511792&spn=0.013012,0.038624&t=h&z=15

If you're coming along the M62 come off at J11 (Birchwood Roundabout) and park at the entrance to the landfill (I usually park on the island between the 'in' and 'out' road). Walk down to the field to your right, the footpath follows the edge of the landfill.

If you're coming up the East Lancs, come off at the Greyhound island and head up the A574 (Warrington Road), through Culcheth, past Risley HMP take the first on the left (just before the motorway bridge) - this is Silver Lane. Park anywhere along here and walk (or drive) down the lane until you reach a gate (it may be open during the week). There's another gate and a style to your left, follow this and it will take you round the landfill.

If you want to PM me with an email address I'll send you a map of the footpath and where to park. Oh, and wear wellies!

Cheers
Jonathan

Geoff Walton · Status: Offline

Hi Chaps,
Is Silver lane Pools the same as Risley Moss NR, and if not where is it please, as we were thinking of trying that area, but would have to alter our day as RMNR is shut on a Friday.

Thanks

Geoff

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

13 January 12.00-1.00pm

41 tufted duck (38-1st pool, 3-2nd pool)
2 wigeon (1st)
8 pochard (7-1st, 1-2nd)
25 mallard (1st)
97 coot (1st)
2 canada geese (2nd)

Three buzzards, one sparrowhawk, three skylarks, 5 meadow pipits, a dozen redwing, flock of 50+ finches (chaff., gold. & linnet) on stubble to east of landfill and a single corn bunting perched on a distant birch.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

This afternoon - 14:45 to 16:00
Approach path:

1 Green Woodpecker (still there showing nicely on way back)
2 Blackbirds
2 Magpies
2 Wrens
1 Robin
plus flying over in general direction of the Mersey:

300+ Herrring Gull
10 GBBG
4 LBBG

On to the first pool which was two thirds frozen:

340+ Herring Gull
42 GBBG
55+ BHG
1 LBBG
1 Common Gull
102 Coot
8 Tufty
1 Pochard (female)
25 Canada Geese
8 Mute Swan
25+ Mallard
1 Snipe

The gulls all flew off in general direction of the Mersey at around 15:20

Rest of pools were frozen. Seen around here were:

1 Mipit
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Grey Heron
3 Fieldfare
1 Kestrel

On way back 500+ Starlings flew over heading west

-- Edited by Mike Baron at 16:38, 2009-01-01

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

18 December 2008 - 12.00-1.00pm

Teal - 4 (1st pool)
Mallard - 26 (24 - 1st pool; 2 - 2nd)
Gadwall - 2 (1st)
Wigeon - 1 (1st)
Tufted - 27 (1st)
Pochard - 3 (1st)
Canada goose - 50 (1st)
Brent goose (pb) - 1 (1st pool - presumably same bird that was at Penny Flash on Wednesday, moving around with Canadas?)
Mute swan - 6 (2nd)

Otherwise, 4 herons, 3 buzzards, 3 corn buntings (flew over calling, 1st here this winter), 1 grey wag.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

11 December 2008 - 12.45-2.00pm

Mallard - 43 (11- 1st pool, 32 - 3rd)
Teal - 12 (3rd)
Gadwall - 6 (1st)
Wigeon - 1 (3rd)
Tufted - 3 (1st)
Coot - 90 (1st)
Canada geese - 5 (1st)
Redshank (flushed from 1st I think - heard only)
Grey herons (3 1st, 2 3rd)

Gulls included g & lbb, herring and bh. Many gulls flying between landfill and 1st pool. First day this winter 1st pool looked worthwhile gull watching.

Bullfinch - 3
Redwing - 15+
Reed bunting - 2
Meadow pipit - 2
GS Woodpecker - 1
Willow tit - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 1
Buzzard - 3

-- Edited by Jonathan Platt at 18:54, 2008-12-11

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

7.45-8.30am

Only had time to do 1st pool:

Tufted duck - 25
Pochard - 13
Coot - 84
Mallard - 19
Mute swan - 1

Otherwise 2 buzzards, 1 f. sparrowhawk, a few tits, 2 bullfinch and several redwing - very quiet!

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

19.11.08 - 7.15-8.15am (1st & 2nd pools only)

A woodcock flew over the road and landed in a large garden in Croft as I drove to the pools this morning!

c80 pinkfeet heading SE
green sandpiper flew over, calling twice, before I reached 1st Pool (couldn't subsequently find it on pools)
6 siskin
14 goldfinches
20 tuffted duck (1st pool)
3 pochard
pair gadwall
72 coot
1 dabchick
plus canada geese & mallard

Other recent 'highlights':

Friday 7th November - 2.30pm-ish:
2 pinkfeet planed down towards 1st pool - presumably they landed, though I couldn't confirm this from where I stood (3rd pool).

Monday 10th November:
Early a.m. down 1st footpath - willow tit with flock of mixed tits, 30 redwing, 33 blackbirds.
1st pool - small influx of wildfowl:
3 shovellors
7 teal
9 pochard
25 tuffties
plus 2 lbb, 3 gbb, 3 common, 40+ bh gulls

Tuesday 11th Nov:
Pair of gadwall and a greylag goose.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Silver Lane Pools - 11.45am-1.15pm

Siskin - 1
Blackbirds - 27+
Bullfinch - 5 (3 + 2)
Redwing - 30+
Goldcrest - 7+
Jay - 2
Buzzard - 4
Goldfinch - 17 (1 + 9 + 7)
Song thrush - 8
Tufted duck - 17 (1st pool)
Pochard - 4 (1st pool)
Little grebe - 1 (1st pool)
Mute swan - 7(4 1st pool, 3 2nd pool)
Meadow pipit - 11
Grey partridge - 11
Mistle thrush - 4
Common snipe - 1
Fieldfare - 4
Stonechat - 2

Many gulls coming and going at 1st pool, quick count gave:
Black-headed - 120+
Common - 2
Lesser black-back - 14
Great black-back - 3
Herring - 9

Large tit flock in the motorway wood meant I was late for work again. Worth it though - mainly long-tailed tits, but smaller no's of blue, coal and great and at least one willow tit - first one I've seen here since spring. At least 4 goldcrests tagging along too.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Silver Lane Pools - 6.45-8.15am

Bullfinch - 4
Siskin - 4 (dropped into alders, first I've seen here this winter)
Fieldfare - 40+ on passage, plus 8 dropped into hedge
Redwing - 10+ (at least 10 from hedgerows, several birds on passage)
Tufted duck - 16 (1st pool)
Pochard - 4 (1st pool)
Shovellor - 3 (1st pool)
Coot - 72 (1st pool)
Mallard - 18 (10 1st pool, 8 3rd pool)
Kingfisher - 1 (2nd pool)
Buzzard - 2
Stonechat - 1 (above 2nd pool)
Meadow pipit - 7 (6 above 2nd pool, 1 on passage)
Mute swan - 7 (3rd pool)
Canada goose - 42 (3rd pool)
Jay - 2

Quick visit yesterday to 1st pool, highlight of which was 3 wigeon anongst usual stuff.
Large tit flock on Silver Lane held mainly lt, but varying no's of blue, great and coal, and several goldcrests (2 seen, more heard).

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Green Sandpiper present this evening.

Info thanks to Steve Christmas.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

This morning - 10:30 to 12:30

1st pool -

2 Little Grebe
26 Mallard
62 Coot
18 Tufted Duck
59 Canada Goose
143 Black-headed gulls
3 Moorhen

3rd pool

4 Mute Swan (2 juvs)

Elsewhere:

109 Redwing - 41 south at 11:05, 10 feeding on berries by path and showing well with rest heading nw in dribs and drabs
10 Jays
2 Stonechats
3 Goldcrest
2 Coal Tit
40+ Long-tailed Tit
2 Buzzard
11 Skylark
10 Mipit
1 Grey Wagtail
15+ Siskin
14 Goldfinch
1 Snipe

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

15 October - 1.30-3.00pm

1st Pool
Pair ruddy shelduck
16 tufted duck
65 coot
25+ mallard
2 little grebe

Other pools empty apart from 3 mute swans on 3rd pool.

Other birds included 1 buzzard, 30+ linnet flock on landfill, at least 6 redwing (flew out of hedge on far side), more jays than usual (prob. 10-12), 4 stonechats (3 above 2nd pool, 1 f. again east end of landfill).

Weird thing happened: Around 2.00pm all the duck on 1st pool flushed (inc. r. shelduck, which flew north). Suspected a buzzard, but none in sight. On the far side of the pool I spotted what I thought was a coot thrashing around in the water, then realised it was a carrion crow! It was around five yards from the bank and managed to flap its way ashore. I'm sure this is what flushed the duck, but no idea how it ended up in the water (did consider a peregrine had knocked it down, but duck generally don't like moving from water when a large falcon is above them, and no reaction from vast local woodpigeon population)?

Jonathan

Jonathan · Status: Offline

Today - 1.00-2.00pm

58 coot
23 tuffted duck
4 little grebe
19 mallard
2 herons
2 mute swans

all on pool 1 except for mute swans, which were on pool 3.

A flock of canada geese on pool 1 held an emperor goose hybrid.

Lack of birds on the two most remote pools makes me suspicious someone may be shooting around them - even the mute swans swam off when they saw me!

Other birds included 3 kestrels, at least 5 buzzards, and a female stonechat at the east end of the landfill (up to four stonechats have wintered around here in previous years).

Last month was quiet, though I only managed 8 visits. Pochard (up to seven) were present most visits, and a kingfisher on 4th was a first for me at this site.

Jonathan

Jonathan · Status: Offline

Yesterday, 4.30-6.00pm

10 tufted duck (7-1st pool, 3-2nd)
41 coot (39-1st, 2-2nd)
6 little grebe (1st pool)
5 mallard (3rd pool)
4 teal (3rd pool)

2 herons (1st & 4th pools)
1 buzzard
2 ravens

I see ravens very occasionally during winter flighting from the landfill, but I haven't seen any at such an early date before, nor have I seen them foraging away from the landfill itself. Initially, I saw a single bird circling over the disused railway lines, towards Holcroft Lane. Eventually it disappeared behind the lines, a few minutes later it reappeared and flew towards Risley HMP, calling occasionally, before circling back. Another raven then rose from behind the lines and joined it, they then flew to the landfill.

I walked right round the landfill today, the flooding at the east end has subsided a great deal (despite heavy rain today) and is just about passable without the need for wellies!

Jonathan

Jonathan · Status: Offline

Hi Mike,

I walked all the way round the landfill a couple of weeks ago, the east end was flooded as usual - spent the rest of the evening walking about with boots full of 'tip juice'! Last two occasions I've walked from Silver Lane end, then turned back at the last pool and re-traced my steps. If you want to walk right round, I'd wear wellies.

Cheers
Jonathan

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Hi Jonathan

Long time no see - will I still need bog snorkling gear for the path around the pools?

Mike

Jonathan · Status: Offline

6.30am - 8.00am

6 little grebe (4 - 1st pool, 1 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd)
8 tufted duck (1st pool)
2 gadwall (1st pool)
33 coot (including one still nesting)
19 mallard (5 - 1st pool, 14 - 3rd pool)
3 grey herons (1 - 1st pool, 2 - 4th pool)
7 mute swans (6 - 1st pool, 1 - 2nd)
1 dunlin (2nd pool)
1 ringed plover (flew over calling)

+ 1 skylark, 3 mipits, 1 kestrel, 1 male sparrowhawk, 1 buzzard, large band of lt tits, goldfinches, linnets, bullfinch, jays, etc.

Jonathan

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

12.45 - 1.30

6 little grebe
7 tuffted duck
38 coot (+2 on 2nd pool)
4 mallard
1 curlew (fly-by)
1 cormorant
1 grey heron
1 mute swan (3rd pool)
green sandpiper (heard only, on 2nd pool)

+ buzzard, kestrel, 3 goldfinch, 21 (2, 5 & 14) linnet, 5 bullfinch, 3 jays, 5 stock doves, etc.

Small passage of sand martins, 15-20 birds.

Jonathan