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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> Cheshire and The Wirral -> Silver Lane Pools, Risley
Post Info TOPIC: Silver Lane Pools, Risley
JOHN TYMON


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Today deja vu as yesterday apart from 4 Stonechat which were in one area today , The whole site seems so quiet at the moment , mainly due to disturbance I think  from packs of dogs and grass cutting teams . 



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JOHN TYMON


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Today of note 

Stock Dove -120+ on eastern arable 

4 Pochard - 4

6 Skiens of Pink footed Geese mainly going NW (not countted)

Linnet-30

Lapwing -70

Meadow Pipit - 80



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JOHN TYMON


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This Morning of note 

Swallow - 1 > S (possibly last of year for me ?)

Lapwing - 70

Linnet- 24

Meadow Pipit/ Skylark  - c100 mixed flock

Pochard-2

Chiffchaff -2 

Blackcap -1 Male 

Long Tailed Tit - 30 

Nuthatch-1

Little Grebe -14 

Kestrel-2 

Buzzard -4 

Snipe -5



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 7th of October 2025 09:48:51 PM

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JOHN TYMON


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Today up to 12 in Rain- viewing difficult - Farmer shooting over set asside,  ironic as im sure he gets a grant to attract and feed the birds onto it in winter .

Swallow - 2 > S

Green Sandpiper - 1 flew across west pool 

Pochard -2 

Teal - 2

Stonechat -4

Kestrel -3

Goldfinch - 200+

Little Grebe -15

Cormorant -2 



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Rob Smith


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Mixed weather conditions and maintenance activity on site this week makes for some challenging wildlife watching!
From yesterday:

Mute Swan - 2, the usual ringed pair

Cormorant - 2

Grey Heron - 2

Little Grebe - 10+, had a good breeding season

Kestrel - 2

Willow Warbler - 1, a very smart immature with tit flock

Chiffchaff - 5, around site

Meadow Pipit - 30+, most passing through some dropping in

Redwing - 5, flying high SW before dropping steeply into trees on south side

Goldfinch - 150, single flock

Siskin - 5+ among them



Earlier in the week (1/10/25):

Grey Partridge - 3

Stock Dove - 70

Lapwing - 150

Mistle Thrush - 1

Black headed Gulls - 60

Coal Tit -2

Willow Tit - 1







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JOHN TYMON


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Last Few Days 

 

Today was pretty Quiet with just 4 Stonchat of note , 45 Siskin over North and 80 Meadow Pipit initially down , but most flew of SE

 

Yesterday 

8 Crossbill over South 

19 Wigeon originally down on the west pool but headed off South about 10am 

Pochard -4

Buzzard - 12 up at once

Swallow - 8 > s

 

 

29.09.2025 of note 

4 Wheatear ( Greenland type ) no sign later

Stonechat -8

Swallow -20 

Nuthatch -2

 



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JOHN TYMON


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A Stonechat, 1 Swallow, 12 Little Grebe , 1 sparrowhawk, 12 chiffchaff , and a massive flock of Goldfinch 250+ of note today .

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JOHN TYMON


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Pools were Quiet today only things of note 

4 Mute Swan 

1 Raven

5 Chiffchaff

100 Goldfinch 

40 Lapwing

12 Little Grebe 

Cormorant - 3 . 1 the returning red ringed bird from last winter ring number 271  ringed Hale  Decoy in nest on 24th June 2023 pic attached 

Meadow Pipit 40 

Kestrel 3 

Buzzard -4

 

Last week Hobby Wed/Thurs , 4 Whinchat- Wed  and 6 Stonechat  Wed/ Thursday /  were seen  None of those present to



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 23rd of September 2025 07:52:49 PM

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Rob Smith


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7.30 - 10am, Cold, frosty & atmospheric start, of interest

Pink footed Geese - 180, in 2 skeins (30 & 150) flew east & seemed to join others distantly that way. You know, autumn is truly here when they start to appear!

Grey Partridge - 5

Jackdaw - 50+ flew south

Skylark - c100/hour heading SW

Meadow Pipit - 50/hour south with some dropping onto summit

Swallow - 30 south

Willow Warbler - 1, mixed flock

Chiffchaff - 9, mixed flock

Blackcap - 1

Common Whitethroat - 2

Chaffinch - 15+ south

Goldfinch - 100+ single flock

Reed Bunting - 5

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Rob Smith


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a pleasant walk round this morning, highlights were:

Mute Swan - 2, they drift in & out

Mallard - 120, impressive numbers for here

Teal - 14

Pochard - 2

Grey Partridge - 3

Little Grebe - 7

Great crested Grebe - 1, juvenile still around

Willow Warbler - 3, showing well with mixed tit flock

Chiffchaff - 10+ in mixed flock

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JOHN TYMON


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Same as yesterday apart from 8 pochard now present and 15 Greylag came off the west pool.early on .

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JOHN TYMON


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Deja vu every day on sl at the mo Of note this morning Nuthatch -1 Willow Tit - 3 Teal - 5 Sparrowhawk-1 Kestrel-3 Sand Martin, Swallow and House Martin all drifting south in good number Buzzard - 7 Pochard-1 Tufted Duck -10 Great Crested Grebe-1 Mixed flick of Herring Gull and Lesser Bla k backed Gull on west pool - 85 Still a Whitethroat, And a few chiffchaffs including a singer

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Rob Smith


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Of interest this morning

Common Sandpiper - 1, on pools muddy edges. Last time I recorded this species here was in 2016

Common Snipe - 1, also on edge of pool

Gadwall- 5

Pochard - 1

Blackcap -2

Whitethroat - 3

Swallows - 10, casual flight south

Tree Pipit - 1, over south


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Rob Smith


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From yesterday

Hobby - adult male, low & fast to the south

Common Buzzard - 5

Kestrel - 2

Mallard - 90+, a lot arriving from the east & dropping on to mid & west pool

Gadwall - 3

Teal - 7

Tufted Duck - 18

Grey Partridge - 2

Great crested Grebe - juvenile

Common Snipe - 1, on mud edge

Black headed Gull - 22

Swallow - 30+ drifting south along east side

Willow Warbler - 2

Chiffchaff - 9, some singing

Tree Pipit - 1, over south



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JOHN TYMON


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Tues 3rd .4-7 pm Siskin - 40 > sw Swallow- 8 >s House Martin- 4 > s Great Crested Grebe- 1 Juv Gadwall - 4 Still a few Chiffchaff and willow warbler about but overall very quiet.

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Rob Smith


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6.30 - 9am, cool, bright & breezy, todays highlights included

Mallard - 70+

Moorhen - 5

Coot - 22

Little Grebe - 12, includes 5 young in 2 broods. They have done well this year.

Great crested Grebe - juvenile has been around for several days now

Common Buzzard - 7, around the area

Kestrel - 2

Long tailed Tit - c25 in 4 separate flocks, all part of mixed flock of 45+ birds moving through trees

Willow Warbler - 2, among flock

Chiffchaff - 15+ some in mixed flock, others around area

Blackcap - 2, in mixed flock

Whitethroat - 5, around area

Treecreeper - 2, in mixed flock

Robin - 19, around area

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JOHN TYMON


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4-7 pm of note Swift- 20 South Little Grebe- One pair hatched thier 4th successful brood on one of the pools of this year, never heard of a pair laying 4 times in a year before. Plenty Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and a few whitethroat still Plus the usuals .

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Rob Smith


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From this morning with 36 species recorded which included:

Mallard - 102, highest count for several years here. Included 5 white duck & 2 hybrids

Tufted Duck - 19

Canada Geese - 52

Gadwall - 3

Coot - 17

Grey Heron - 2

Sparrowhawk - 1, male

Common Buzzard - 5, drifting south on migration

Kestrel - 2

Chiffchaff - 9, including singing bird

Goldcrest - 3

Goldfinch - 50+, single flock



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Rob Smith


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Early afternoon wander and of interest

Willow Tit - 2, among a small mixed flock of warblers & tits

Willow Warbler - 3

Chiffchaff - 8

Common Redstart - 1, juvenile feeding with several warblers in different area to the above

Greenfinch - 3

Curlew - heard but not seen

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JOHN TYMON


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A heavily Moulting Female Mash Harrier through SE was the best of note this morning, along with a group of 40 Swift heading south high . Also 2 Pochard , 5 Teal , 5 Gadwall showing the season is on the change a bit . Still a lot of Warblers with the Tit Flocks , a few Kestrel and Buzzard and good numbers of Swallow still over the Eastern Arable , and mixed in a few House Martin. 



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JOHN TYMON


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Of note this morning Restart- 1 juv briefly feeding on elder berries Tree Pipit- 2 over south Teal -5 Plenty Willow Warbler Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap. 1 Yellowhammer

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Rob Smith


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Of interest from yesterday afternoon.

Peregrine Falcon - large female circling whilst being casually harassed by Hobby, the size difference was impressive!

Hobby - 1

Kestrel -2

Sparrowhawk - male

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Rob Smith


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Cool & misty start to the day

Grasshopper Warbler - briefly reeling several times around 6.30am

Grey Wagtail - 1, male

Little Grebe - 9, inc adult & 2 young [c5 days old]

Mallard - 50+, inc 3 white duck

Teal - 2

Stock Dove - 6

Lesser Black back Gull - 30, mix of adults & juveniles

Herring Gull - 6

Chiffchaff - 12

Earlier in the week on 13th

Green Sandpiper - 2, on muddy margins



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JOHN TYMON


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Redstart briefly on the path near junction 11 Friday 15th Aug

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Rob Smith


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Its been a while but from 17th July, of note

Mallard - 74, flock included 6 white farm ducks + 1 white hybrid + 2 pintail head & neck lookalike hybrids!

Gadwall - 6, 5 young

Common Gull - 5, smart looking juveniles on west pool

Little Egret - 1, has been around for a week, unusual for here. Has green & white leg rings, details were submitted to BTO, it was rung in Hale

Peregrine Flacon - juvenile female flew east





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Rob Smith


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A pleasant stroll this morning taking note of:

Mute Swan - 2

Great crested Grebe - 2

Little Grebe - 6

Cormorant - 2

Heron - 1

Mallard - 26, inc 6 new young

Tufted Duck - 12, -inc 7 young

Pheasant - 4, inc 3 young

Swift - 10+ over pool

Great spotted Woodpecker - 1

Willow Tit - 1

House Martin - 6+ over pool & cornfield

Reed Warbler - 5

Grasshopper Warbler - 2, reeling still

Goldcrest - 5, around site



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Rob Smith


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An early cool start before the rain set in, generally quiet.

Mute Swan - 2

Great crested Grebe -2

Cormorant - 3

Shoveler - male in eclipse

Mallard - 3 broods totalling 12 young

Gadwall - 4

Great spotted Woodpecker - 2

Grasshopper Warbler - 1

Yellow Wagtail - 1



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JOHN TYMON


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Only thing of note 1 lesser whitethroat. A few swift, apart from the breeding warblers which seem to be having a good year.

Its amazing how 2 mile x 2 mile of perfect habitat can seem almost birdless these days .It's amazingly different after covid as the pro dogwalkers found the place and apart from disturbance by the mss which seems to gave halted again for a short while it's the constant dog disturbance that seems to have altered the dynamics of the place. 



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Rob Smith


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From yesterday's chilly morning

Common Redstart - male

Willow Warbler - 20, maintaining numbers

Sedge Warbler - 4

Reed Warbler - 2

Grasshopper Warbler - 2

Whitethroat - 9

Greenfinch - 1

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JOHN TYMON


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Only thing of note really last few visits was a pair of Marsh Tit  this morning  in whats potentially a breeding habitat but we will see had odd ones before but first time male was in good song and chasing the female round . Rest as was for the last week .



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Rob Smith


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Of interest this morning

Lesser Whitethroat - 1, near west pool

Grasshopper Warbler - 4,

Sedge Warbler - 4

Reed Warbler - 4

Whitethroat - 6

Blackcap - 5

Shelduck - 2, annual short stayers around this time

Mistle Thrush - 2

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JOHN TYMON


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2 Common Tern and 1 White Wagtail, plus a pair of Shelduck and Pair of Oystercatcher about the best today   everything else been similar as last week . 



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JOHN TYMON


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Back to winter today with little or no passage,  only things of note a pair of Shelduck, pair shoveler and a snipe rest as yesterday without the big flocks of Hurrundines . 



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JOHN TYMON


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Of note for me Thurs 

 Sedge warbler -2.

Whitethroat- 5

Reed warbler -1,

sand martin- 500+ through

House Martin- 50+

Swallow - 50+

Linnet 6,

Plenty Willow warbler and Chiffchaff

Blackcap- 3

rest pretty much as normal



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Rob Smith


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A good walk out this morning & productive. Of note:

Hobby - 1, c10-10.30, came in from south with a group of hirundine which it took lazy dives at whilst circling & climbing higher before eventually heading out north.

House Martin - 70+, through NNW in c20' with a few drifting through later on

Swallows - 40+, as above

Buzzard - 9, around area

Willow Warbler - 30, singing males, a new peak count

Chiffchaff - 17,

Blackcap - 3

Grasshopper Warbler - 1

Common Whitethroat - 2

Reed Warbler - 1

Linnet - 20+ flitting around

Greenfinch - 2, male singing, a rarity!

Reed Bunting - 8




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Rob Smith


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a short pm walkabout with migrants in mind.

Wheatear - 1, on a newly cleared scrape, c50m from working machinery!

Sedge Warbler - 3, around the summit

Common Whitethroat - 1

Grasshopper Warbler - 1

Reed Warbler - 1

Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler - around but not counted

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Rob Smith


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Of note this morning

Common Whitethroat - 1, first of year and in the same scrub patch as per previous years

Swallows - 6, hawking low & heading south!

Linnet - 10+, mostly absent during the winter

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JOHN TYMON


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Yellow Wagtail over landfill heading NE yesterday towards LWM . 



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Rob Smith


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Of interest this morning

Reed Warbler - 1, first of year

Common Snipe - 2

Shoveler - 2, pair

Gadwall - 6, 4m/2f

otherwise

Tufted Duck - 12

Sparrowhawk - female circling overhead

Kestrel - male

Lesser black back Gull - 7

Cormorant - 4

Bullfinch - 4

Linnet - 4



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Rob Smith


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Migrants of note:

Grasshopper Warbler - 2, singing males in close proximity to each other

Willow Warbler - 28, amazing numbers and my highest ever count over the past 20 years.
Chiffchaff - 20

Blackcap - 6

Plus many of the regular species



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JOHN TYMON


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Quick mooch after work Monday  of note 

Swallow - 2 over landfill

Short Eared Owl - 1 came from West headed high over landfill and off ne over Little Wooldon Moss,  seemed to continue on east. 



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Rob Smith


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Glorious day to be out and about. Of note

Green Sandpiper - 1, on east field flooded pool

Willow Warbler - 13, singing birds, following an overnight influx

Chiffchaff - 20, singing, impressive numbers and the highest early spring total for the reserve

And an abundance of regular species noted on the walk




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Rob Smith


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Of note today

White wagtail - 1, on east field pool

Oystercatcher - 2, same

Chiffchaff - 17, doing well so far this year

Willow Warbler - 1

Blackcap - 1

Re the cutting down of large swathes of meadow/scrub in the recognised bird breeding season - March to August, is a disgrace. A complaint has been lodged with Biffa for what good it will do now that the deed is done! It has resulted in the loss of Skylark (8 territories), Meadow Pipit (5), Reed Bunting (5) and possibly Grey Partridge not to mention transient species using the cover for food & shelter throughout the year.

Its ironic, Warrington BC & Cheshire are seeking comments on a Local Nature Reserve strategy, whilst allowin this Local Wildlife Site/Site of Biological Interest to be built on because they couldn't be bothered to oppose any of it. You couldn't make it up!

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JOHN TYMON


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Only birds of real note other than the regulars 1 Willow Warbler,  2 Linnet. 

Further to yesterday's showing of the motorway service station area being dug , this morning found that 50% of the  landfill has been cut yesterday in preparation for the solar panel farm.This area held a dozen + Skylark pairs and meadow pipit , Skylark being red list birds, which seems to mean nothing .The solar panel farm was passed with no objections allowed by Warrington Council . The site is basically being ruined in large chunks, these are not small areas, they are half a mile square tracks of habitat gone in a few days. , my 5th local.patch ruined by progress? I'll try the only patch protected for now Woolston eyes, as I've no protests left in me. Pics below of cut site and mss area .If you have a perfect patch enjoy it now, has one day it will be changed or taken away as sure as the world is round. 









-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 4th of April 2025 07:10:12 AM

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JOHN TYMON


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1 Swallow only thing of note this morning but too much disturbance due to work non the mss area and for some reason cutting 20 feet swathes of grass with tractor on landfill. Picture of the arable and that's being ruined bybthe Motorway Service Station .



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 1st of April 2025 01:29:23 PM

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JOHN TYMON


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50+ Sand Martin > North this afternoon high over landfill



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Rob Smith


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From this morning

Black headed Gulls - 280, on pool but drawn into the area by farmer ploughing adjacent field

Lesser black back Gull - 22, as above

Herring Gull - 4

Mute Swan - 2

Great crested Grebe - 2

Sparrowhawk - male

Common Buzzard - 8, on thermals over area

Kestrel - 2

Chiffchaff - 15

Blackcap - 2

Lapwing - 21

Oystercatcher - 1

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JOHN TYMON


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2 Redshank of note this morning,  rest as yesterday 



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40th visit to the patch this year and pretty quiet for the time of year, distinct lack of wheatear,  but the habitat has changed so much that it's not quite as good for them now.

of note

Goosander- 1st summer male

Grey heron- 3

Chiffchaff - too many to count 

Lots of Skylark and meadow pipitnon territory 

Mute Swan - pair that's been with us all winter still hanging about 

Great Crested Grebe -'1 Pair

Lapwing - 40 

I have still to hear Blackcap this year, not even a sand martin in perfect weather . 

 

Plus the usuals 



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 24th of March 2025 07:17:31 PM

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Rob Smith


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Of note this morning

Chiffchaff - 18, new influx compared with previous counts

Blackcap - 3

Willow Warbler - 1, west side

Cormorant - 9

Mute Swan - 4, 2 pairs

Great crested Grebe - 2

Pochard - 9

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