Despite yesterdays foggy start, a few interesting records as the fog lifted
Shoveler - 10
Greenshank - 1, flew SW along with
Redshank - 2
Common Snipe, 1 dropping onto summit
Swallows - 14 south
Chiffchaff - 8, 2 actually singing
Common Whitethroat - 1,
Blackbird & Song Thrush - overnight influx of 20+ each around the area
Skylark & Meadow Pipit - light southerly movement under the fog
Gulls - mixed flock of 90+, on local fields & pools. Mostly Lesser black back adults & juveniles but several Herring Gulls &
Common Gull - 3, among them
Having monitored and submitted records of Silver Lanes wildlife for over 20+ years, it will be a sad day when these projects impact on the general ethos and wildlife of the area. Over that period I have liaised with Biffa to finance the rafts on the west pool, bird boxes and on occasions management of the landfill. In 2011, after several years of monitoring I submitted data and a report to Cheshire Wildlife Trust recommending it be recognised as a site of wildlife interest, in response they designated it as a Local Wildlife Site which was a start and which I had hoped they would build on that designation in the future to give the site some sort of protection, sadly that has not happened and we are now where we are!
For me the real problem over time, yes productive and important habitats will be lost in the shortish term, but the installation of steps leading up to the summit from the MSA area will undoubtedly encourage increased access to and across the area generally & all the problems that folk bring with them! I've enjoyed how the area has matured over the years, the wildlife it attracts, so it will be a sad time as that begins to changes because of the pressures from the MSA & the solar farm and who knows what else!
A significant area of the patch of Greenbelt and peat moss land on the eastern side of the patch will disappear very soon under the new Motorway Service Station taking up all of the south end of the easter arable land that has been a wintering site for Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer plus many more and one of the best wild flower meadows I've ever seen this summer . This area will be completely obliterated, an established stream redirected, all the hedgerows removed in fact the area I saw the Wryneck last week will be totally gone.It looks like the building part starts in October. The parking area at junc 11 also disappears so nowhere to park at that end,to even get on the patch. and then more work will start also by Biffa , putting a massive solar panel farm on top of the landfill removing the area 12 pairs of Skylark normally nest , and the stonechats winter. The Whole area will totally change leaving just the pools of interest in the main . Apparently the area bult on with a hotel and service station will have a 19% net gain of biodiversity according to the ecology reports, not sure how that works when the whole area will be under concrete . Its tragic that we keep losing these significant wildlife sites. We did our best to fight it and initially it was rejected but after they appealed and the council withdrew their objection the plan went through about 3 years ago.
This is the end of the planning. Work actually started on the site 2 years ago doing the peat and water surveys etc
If you wish to see the full plans and maps they are here https://online.warrington.gov.uk/planning/
planning application number - 2024/00963/REMM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 14th of September 2024 08:09:26 AM
Potentially even worse is the double-whammy of the Service Station opening up access to J11 from the North side and the fact that HS2 isn't going to go through the Linear Park at Culcheth; the 1960s plans for the A580 Leigh - M62 Culcheth / Glazebury bypass (S/ SE side of Culcheth, then NW of Glazebury to join the A580 2 miles west of Bents) are ressurected - a friend has been working on the pre-planning study for a few months. One hopes Warrington BC being skint means that this wouldn't go ahead (nor the Western Bypass which would cut through Moore NR Eastern Reedbeds and Black-fields Pools). The funding sounds though for the capital of the build like it has been kicked to the Road Improvements Scheme Tranche 4 (2030-2035).
-- Edited by Andy Slee on Monday 16th of September 2024 09:35:14 PM
Whinchat - 4 (12th) 2 (13th) always illusive and hard to find
Stonechat-3
Hobby - 1 > ne (13th)
Marsh Harrier - 1 imm Male > S (12th)
Plenty Swallows both days 100+ South Same with House Martin
decent Movement South of Skylark and Meadow Pipit both days
Kingfisher-2
Shoveler - 7
Pink Footed Geese - several flocks between 30 and 70 west both days
plus the usuals
A significant area of the patch of Greenbelt and peat moss land on the eastern side of the patch will disappear very soon under the new Motorway Service Station taking up all of the south end of the easter arable land that has been a wintering site for Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer plus many more and one of the best wild flower meadows I've ever seen this summer . This area will be completely obliterated, an established stream redirected, all the hedgerows removed in fact the area I saw the Wryneck last week will be totally gone.It looks like the building part starts in October. The parking area at junc 11 also disappears so nowhere to park at that end,to even get on the patch. and then more work will start also by Biffa , putting a massive solar panel farm on top of the landfill removing the area 12 pairs of Skylark normally nest , and the stonechats winter. The Whole area will totally change leaving just the pools of interest in the main . Apparently the area bult on with a hotel and service station will have a 19% net gain of biodiversity according to the ecology reports, not sure how that works when the whole area will be under concrete . Its tragic that we keep losing these significant wildlife sites. We did our best to fight it and initially it was rejected but after they appealed and the council withdrew their objection the plan went through about 3 years ago.
This is the end of the planning. Work actually started on the site 2 years ago doing the peat and water surveys etc
If you wish to see the full plans and maps they are here https://online.warrington.gov.uk/planning/
planning application number - 2024/00963/REMM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 14th of September 2024 08:09:26 AM
Wryneck at Silver Lane Pools very briefly 9.30 but flew off over the eastern arable and no further sign. Saw it at 3 feet . Great bird first for sight .
No further sign up to 1pm , but wasn't really expecting to see it again as it flew off originally SE .
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 6th of September 2024 01:11:17 PM
The early promise with a fall of about 30 Willow Warbler/ Chiffchaff lead to a rather dismal morning with the 1mile by 1 mile landfill a completely bird free zone apart from 3 Kestrels hunting .
Pools were as normal with 500+ Canada Geese roosting on West pool .
The place seemed like grandparents had been let out of jail after a summer holiday indoors looking after grandkids , as most youngsters don't do outdoors unfortunately these days. There were more dogs than birds today on the landfill.
Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin still present in small numbers.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 5th of September 2024 09:12:56 AM
Further information on the Great White Egret . It Seems like it was a this year's young one ringed 16th April 2024 Avalon marshes ..just had the email back from the rspb
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 17th of August 2024 10:55:51 AM
Imm Great white egret on sl pools this morning adult with red ring on its left leg first one down on a pool here for me although I've had flyovers. See post above for details
Also of note today A Kingfisher family flying round , not sure we're from, Newly fledged Buzzards being chased by parents, plus the usual
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 16th of August 2024 09:04:00 PM
Same as previous week at Silver Lane if anything even quieter
Seems the same everywhere to me apart from the honey pot reserves these days.
Of note on the way back while searching for Grasshoppers, I flushed a Quail from under my boots on the MSS land which looks superb if they don't start building on it Unfortunately the Quail took off across the M62 South low and fast .
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 12th of August 2024 06:42:41 PM
Last 2 visits almost bird less onsite apart from the main pool
today
Great Crested Grebe - Still have 4 surviving young but adults were attacking the smallest young one every time, it begged for food so likely that they are thinking 3 survivors is better than none .
Great Crested Grebe - Pair still actually have 4 young so lost none only noticed from picture as very distant ,hopefully they will be ok and be the first to survive on the pools see attached shots
Tufted Duck - 3 new broods of young with females today - 12 young in total
Marsh Harrier - 2 over east an hour apart A first Summer Male in heavy moult and a very dark Juvenile both headed towards Little Wooldon Moss
Hobby - 1 large Female heading east towards little Wooldon Moss
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 27th of July 2024 08:02:54 AM
Great crested Grebe - 2 adults feeding 2 young, nice to see after previous several years of failures
Mallard - 19,
Tufted Duck - 16,
Pochard - 1
Cormorant - 3
Lesser black backed Gull - 7, adult & 6 immatures
Coot - 20,
Peregrine Falcon - female immature flew low to east
Grasshopper Warbler - 1, reeling on north slope
Reed Warbler - 2, singing males, must be on 2nd or even 3rd brood?
Three separate mixed flocks noted moving/feeding as they flitted along hedgerow with some chasing & competition between species, do they choose which flocks to join or is it a random act?? Flock 1 had - Blackcap x8 - Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff 15+ - Blue & Great tits 5+. Flock 2 - Long tailed tit 15+ - WW/CC 10+ - Bullfinch - Blue & Great Tit 10+. Flock 3 - Reed Bunting 10+ - Linnet 5+ - WW/CC 10+
Great Crested Grebe - Pair finally have one egg , how they managed to keep the nest above water I'm not sure ,and it's about thier 8th attempt in 5 years and they have never fledged young .Fingers crossed this year.
Gadwall - 5
Mute Swan - 1 pair
Swift - 40 +
Plus the usuals
-
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 25th of May 2024 08:19:04 PM
Common Tern pair seem to be Summering on the raft on the west pool , no signs of any breeding ,just seem to be chilling this summer, nice to see after lean years .
Great Crested Grebe the same they seem to stay every summer for the last umpteen years without ever getting young off , both showing no signs of breeding.
Plenty of regular summer visitors and residents to see this morning, looks to be a decent season so far without anything spectacular.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 17th of May 2024 08:22:04 AM
Common Tern - Pair hawking round then off NW at 11am no feeding or display today, they obviously know they have no chance with Heron on one side and 2 Cormorant sat on the other side. No further sign up to me moving.
As predicted the other day the farmer was Ploughing the flood field as I left hopefully the Lapwing young moved off to another area
of note 9-1
Common Tern - A pair have taken up residency on the raft on the west pool displaying and chasing other birds off ,which is an unusual sight in the last few years but unlikely to breed as its mainly a hollow raft.I normally see a few through at this time of year but not passing fish , which the male seemed to travel across to partridge lakes to collect , it was coming back with decent size Rudd. we can only hope and see if they hang about. pic below
Mute Swan - 1 Pair on West pool (see pic below) The Female Common Tern has a ring
Cuckoo one that sounded like it had a sore throat on the Northern edge railway line
Coot - First brood of 7 hatched on the entrance pool , always nice to see
plus all the usual stuff
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 7th of May 2024 06:53:07 AM
Last 2 days nothing of great note apart from 7 singing Sedge Warbler ,pools almost birdless apart from 2 Great Crested Grebe ,a few Tufted Duck Little Grebe. Floods in fields rapidly drying up ,so expect the farmer to plough them soon ,as he was spraying the fields today so forget any insect life on those from now on . Pretty dour really for the time of year .
A bit of of wader fest in silver Lane terms as normally waders are few and far between, the motorway service
Station build not started fully yet, but imminent, means a decent area ,Is at the moment fallow, and disturbance low ,apart from pro dog walkers straying on there.
Also flooded field is preventing the other farmer from ploughing the Eastern Arable at the moment.
Previous days Cuckoo seems to have moved on , no sign today
Whimbrel- 3 flying NE at 12.00
Ringed Plover - 1 pair(pic of one below, rare on site)
Oystercatcher- 1 Pair
Redshank - 1
Lapwing - 2 pairs with young, and 2 pairs on eggs.
Yellow Wagtail - 1 disturbed by entrance pool flew south
Yellowhammer- 12 feeding on mss area
Corn Bunting - 2
Skylark - at least 6 pairs feeding young , more nesting but on the site again that will soon be lost to a Solar Panel farm :(
Sedge Warbler - 3 singing
Marsh Harrier - 1 female through NE
Wary note for anyone on west side of summit ,There is a Tree pipit lookalike with short hind Claws that's a meadow pipit.
Plus the usuals
:)
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 27th of April 2024 07:31:12 AM