MB

 

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Silver Lane Pools, Risley


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:
RE: Silver Lane Pools, Risley


Of note this morning 

Pochard - 1 Male

Fieldfare - 1700+ and still piling through at 12pm

Redwing - 300+

Shoveler -4

Chiffchaff- 2 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Great Patch day - There are more than ever great reasons for patch birding , as these days anything can turn up anywhere highlights today

Fieldfare - Massive movement 3000+ heading SW in the main ,some large groups dropping in to feed( see pic below)

Redwing - 2000+ SE 

Linnet- 26 > South

Wigeon- 1 Male 

Gadwall - 2 Male

Shoveler - 4 

Meadow Pipit - 25

Hawfinch - 2 briefly landed then carried on South

Hen Harrier - 1st Winter Male > flew over high north

Then on hearing the 10 Greenland White-Fronted Geese had been disturbed from the field north of little Wooldon moss and had headed west I fired back to the patch , headed to the highest point and managed to pick them out near to franks farm on the south side of Holcroft lane , they got disturbed almost immediately by a Helicopter and tractor and flew off to the SE towards Irlam . a picture can be seen of them flying back into Manchester space via my photo site link below as it was too big a file to post here. Altogether a Beltin' day . Its one of those dilemma's can a bird seen from a patch that's not on a patch be counted for the patch , bit like garden lists do you only include birds in your garden or birds that flyover the garden . In this instance the geese were slightly north of the silver lane patch but seen from the centre of the patch . They were really at Holcroft Lane / Holcroft moss . From the spot they flew through Cheshire and Greater Manchester Airspace.

Last shot below ignore the exif time as my camera clock cannot be adjusted due to a fault it was 15.01 




-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 4th of November 2024 09:05:53 PM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Late record from yesterday 1.11.24

Hen Harrier  - a juvenile likely Male was seen briefly early pm ,last seen flying off SW being chased by the Male Marsh Harrier. Initially I decided not to report it , due to the birds welfare. It was struggling to find food and looked very light and emaciated to me , but not seen by me after 1.15 pm when the fly through marsh Harrier chased it off SW. Record shot below. 



Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

This morning of note 

Pink footed Geese - a few hundred around the surrounding area

Siskin - 30 

Goldfinch - 80

Mute Swan - 1 Pair

Lapwing -200 

Marsh Harrier - imm Male flew over SW towards woolston

Stonechat -1 Male 

Cormorant (sinensis race ) ringed 271 present again. Ringed in the nest 24th June 2023 Hale . Pic below 






-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 2nd of November 2024 06:57:09 AM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

9.15-11.00 of note in the drizzle: Brambling 3 flew north - Goldfinchx35 with 7 Siskin among them - Bullfinch 2 pairs - Goldcrest x 3 - Mute Swan down to one now that the other flew off east two days ago - Shoveler 2 - Fieldfare 29 flew SW - Kingfisher 1 - Nuthatch 1, the latter two species being recorded far more often this year than in previous years.

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

10.00 - 1300 Very quiet in the Drizzle this morning only things of real note were 30 siskin , and a pair of shoveler , the masses of fieldfare yesterday  seemingly moved on to pastures new.






-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 1st of November 2024 09:24:59 AM

__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note this morning and early afternoon - The Fieldfare's have finally arrived in number 

Fieldfare - 1350 > SW some flocks 250+ strong also 250 on site at times seen to strip all the berries off one tree in a matter of mins (pic of some flying sw below)

Redwing -60

Pink footed Geese -770 around the area seen flying in all directions (pic of one group below )

Shoveler -2

Siskin- 60+ 

Redpoll - 25+

Goldfinch - 75+

Stonechat - 1 Pair

Water Rail - 1 

Lapwing - 200+

Pied Wagtail -10 

Skylark - one singing others present

Goldcrest -6 

plus the usuals 



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 30th of October 2024 07:11:59 PM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

12.00 - 14.30 Mostly from yesterday on the patch and of interest

Firecrest - 1, (on 27th) moving south along east side in mixed flock, calling & briefly seen

Goldcrest - 2,

Pied Wagtail - 27, on field E2 with

Sparrowhawk - immature dropping in among the PWs, & sat there for a time while the PWs flitted around it

Pink footed Geese - 133, actually over the reserve in 3 skeins 38, 35 & 60

Raven - 2, have been around the area for several days now

Stonechat - 2

Chiffchaff - 1

Fieldfare - 15, flew SW



__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note this morning 

Siskin - c60

Redpoll - c 60 

Lapwing - c450

Shoveler- 2

Mute Swan-2

Redwing - 35

Chiffchaff-1 

Pink Footed Geese - 1000+ milling around the eastern side and distant mosslands



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 29th of October 2024 04:38:24 PM

__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note this morning and early afternoon

Stonechat -1 Pair

Kingfisher -3

Mute swan -2

Pink Footed Geese - 2500 in massive flocks heading towards Manchester over the mosslands , they seemed to not want to go into the mist and fog that way and most turned SW and headed over me towards the Mersey.

Kestrel -2 

Marsh Harrier -  a crackin'2nd winter Male came across the area searching for birds by the look of it record shot below , it headed off towards woolston Eyes 



Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note morning and early afternoon 

Peregrine - 3 Different birds up at one time over the eastern Arable at one point causing mayhem with the local lapwings 

Pink Footed Geese- 1700+ in 10 groups mainly flying NW, but some just milling about over the mosslands

Merlin - 1 Male flew SE over eastern arable 

Redpoll - 20

Siskin -10

Goldfinch -50

Bullfinch -7

Stonechat - 1 Pair

Buzzard-7

Kestrel - 3

Shoveler-3

Gadwall -1 Male

Cormorant-8

Grey Heron - 1

Little Grebe-10

Mute Swan - 1 Pair

Goldcrest -4

plus the usuals 

 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note this morning 

Stonechat - 1 Pair

Kestrel - 3

Shoveler - 3

Meadow Pipit- 25

Fieldfare - 12+ > S

Redwing - 100+ > S

Pink Footed Geese - 48 > W 

Chiffchaff - 2



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note this Morning

Peregrine - 1 Adult on the floor feeding on the eastern arable

Lapwing - c 200 around the area

Chiffchaff-  9 ( a lot for the time of year)

Redpoll - c20 (pic below)

Siskin- c15 (pic below)

Redwing - 5 (fly through pic below )

Long Tailed Tit - c30

Stonechat - 1 Male 

Kestrel- 3

Shoveler-4

Yellowhammer - 2

Song Thrush -8

Mute Swan -2

Goldcrest -4



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 21st of October 2024 08:56:22 PM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

7.45 - 11.30, Of note this morning during & post migration watch.

Whooper Swan - 3, flew SE

Redwing - 426, [80 largest flock]

Fieldfare - 3,

Woodpigeon - 582, [largest flock of 113]

Jackdaw - 29

Skylark - 46

Meadow Pipit - 20

Greenfinch - 10

Chaffinch - 2

Brambling - 2


Local sightings included

Pink footed Geese - 60 flew SW

Greylag Goose - 2, north

Ruff - 1, immature. My first record here in 20+ years of monitoring!

Common Snipe - 1, flying around

Jack Snipe - 1, up from under my foot!

Lapwing - 30

Great spotted Woodpecker - 1

Tufted Duck - 31, 9 on pools, remainder flying around & then out west

Chiffchaff - 2,

Goldcrest - 2

Goldfinch - 23















__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

This Morning of Note 

Ruff - 1 x 1st Winter Male ( 2nd ive seen on site , first with a decent view ) distant shot attached was there first thing but not present on way back at 1pm

Redwing - c100 sw

Stonechat - 1 Pair 

Cormorant - Sinensis race ringed bird seen again today ring 271 , Ringed in the nest 24th June 2023 Hale. In Fact all 8 birds present today were sinensis race

obviously from the Colony at Hale Duck Decoy. 

Buzzard-7

Marsh Harrier - 1 East

Pink Footed Geese - c60 > se

 



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 19th of October 2024 07:38:52 AM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Info on the pair of Mute Swans that appeared a few weeks ago - Info from Steve Christmas 

4FIV cygnet (brood of 8) Polly's Pond, Abram 18/11/2022. It was at Pennington from April 2023 until Jan 2024

4FAL cygnet (brood of 5) Vulcan Village, Newton-le-Willows 7/8/22. This one has travelled around a bit more, to Sale WP, Moses Gate, Leigh and most recently Pennington in August 2024. 



Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note this morning 

Redwing - 35 > sw

Lapwing - 140

Marsh Harrier - 1 Fem > NE 

Mute Swan- 1 Pair

Chiffchaff - 3

Goldcrest -4

Kingfisher-1

Grey Partridge -5

Stonechat - 1 Pair

Kestrel-3

Wigeon - 1 Pair

Shoveler-5

Pochard - 2 Male 

Bullfinch -4

 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

Redwing - 200+ south in 10

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

This morning highlights quick whizz round 9.30-11.15

Wigeon - 1 Pair (pic below) first of winter for me 

Goldcrest - 9 

Mute Swan - 1 Pair

Jack Snipe - 1 

Teal -4

Lapwing - 150

Willow Tit -1

Coal Tit -2

Chiffchaff-1

Grey Partridge -9

Stonechat - 1 first winter bird (Pic below )

Cormorant-8

Shoveler - 5 

Pochard -2 Male

Redwing -10

Meadow Pipit -12

Sparrowhawk -2 



Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

9.15 - 11.30, 14/10/24 - Highlights of the day Hawfinch 1, flew south at 11.50 this morning - Pink footed Geese 70, - Lapwing 200 - Grey Partridge 5 - Saturday 12th October Great white Egret 1, on east field - Yellow browed Warbler 1, among long tailed tit flock

-- Edited by Rob Smith on Monday 14th of October 2024 07:38:16 PM

-- Edited by Rob Smith on Monday 14th of October 2024 07:39:59 PM

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

of note 10-2pm today

Great White Egret - 1

Pochard -2

Swallow -2 > S

Grey Partridge -10

Meadow Pipit -60

Stonechat -2

Cetti's Warbler-1 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Great Day on the patch - 10.00am - 3pm

Yellow Browed Warbler - 3 ( amazing fall of these across the area ) 1st with tit flock, 2nd on its own , 3rd with chiffchaff flock .

Great White Egret -1 (pic below) 

Stonechat - 3 . 1 Male,1 Female and a Juvenile (pic below)

Chiffchaff - 17 (fall of these , one flock contained 11 and a YBW) 

Meadow Pipit - 76 (on summit) 24 > s

Skylark - 22

Cormorant-12

Grey Heron -3

Kingfisher-1

Kestrel-3

Lapwing-150

Little Grebe - 11

Teal -6

Shoveler - 5

Great Crested Grebe -1 Juvenile 

Stock Dove - 31 came out of one tree on the eastern arable 

 

 



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 10th of October 2024 08:50:06 PM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

8.30 - 11.30 and of interest this morning

Great White Egret - 3, a site rarity and only 2nd site record being a surprise start to the day.

Grey Heron - 3

Pink footed Geese - 80, flew high to the east

Mute Swan - 2,

Great crested Grebe - 1, immature being last of the family group

Cormorant - 8

Yellow browed Warbler - 1,

Chiffchaff - 2

Nuthatch - 1

-- Edited by Rob Smith on Thursday 10th of October 2024 07:15:13 PM

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

This Morning of note

Stonechat-4

Redwing c100 > sw , 30 dropped in  by east pool 

Meadow Pipit - 60> sw

Skylark - 23> se

Great Crested Grebe - 1 Juv 

Long Tailed Tit - 35 

Lapwing -150+

plus usuals 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note this morning / early afternoon 

Jackdaw - 150 on eastern arable

Lapwing - 250+ flying round over the arable , slitting into groups

Stonechat - 2

Marsh Harrier- 1 > south

Swallow- 1 > s

Nuthatch-2

Tufted Duck -  17

Mute Swan - 1 pair

Teal -7

Shoveler- 5

Buzzard - 4 

Long Tailed Tit - 35

Goldcrest - 2 

Chiffchaff -3 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of Note this morning 9-1 

Whooper Swan - 1 still present just south of Holcroft Lane in field . looks ok but strange to be stood near to the farm buildings this morning 

Redwing 20> SE

Buzzard -6

Kestrel -4

Stonechat -2 

Long Tailed Tit - 1 flock held 43 birds 

Great Crested Grebe - only 1 Juvenile left on the west pool 

Yellowhammer- 2

Skylark - 20 (one in full song)

Lapwing - 120

Cormorant - 12 including one colour ringed sinensis 2nd winter bird details to follow . In fact strangely or not these days at least half of the cormorants were of the sinensis race , 30 years ago 1 a year would have been the norm, like all these continental birds they have become normal now and also theres a lot of hybridisation with the Carbo race that its much harder to tell race of Cormorants and be totally sure. picture below

The ringed cormorant has the following details

t was ringed in the nest at Hale Duck Decoy on 24th June 2023. It has only been seen once since it was ringed, Pennington Flash on 8th April 2024. The BTO metal ring is 5176378.

Chiffchaff -3 

Reed Bunting -4





-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 6th of October 2024 08:35:03 AM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Whooper Swan Still Present at 1.30 pm in field off Holcroft Lane (rob Found this morning- pic below ), 4 stonechat , Yellow Browed Warbler was calling when I arrived at 10 am but was not heard on my way back at 1pm seen briefly. Buzzard- 8, Swallow 2 > S, Lapwing 30, Shoveler -10, Chiffchaff - 6 , Snipe-1 , Kestrel -3, Cormorant - 13 (10 on raft) pic attached, Kingfisher -1 Redwing - 30+ west, House Martin -1 >s

 

Also picture below a final shot  This will be the Motorway Service station very soon , more Green belt gone and excellent Habitat everything in this picture will soon be gone under concrete .












-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 4th of October 2024 06:53:48 PM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

8.00 - 11.30am, cool start, warm finish Whooper Swan 1, in field off Holcroft lane - Golden Plover 30, among lapwing east field - Lapwing 240 - Redwing 4, east side - Kingfisher 1 - Yellow browed Warbler, briefly calling nr J11 - Chiffchaff 3, one singing - Stonechat 2 - Swallow 3 - Grey Wagtail 1, male - Mute Swan 2 - Cormorant 13, peak count this year so far - Shoveler 9 - Teal 10 - Mallard 33 - Grey Partridge 4 - Sparrowhawk 1, male - Common Buzzard 3 - A few Skylark & Meadow Pipit south

-- Edited by Rob Smith on Friday 4th of October 2024 01:38:07 PM

-- Edited by Rob Smith on Friday 4th of October 2024 01:42:49 PM

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Am of note

Marsh Harrier - A Female and Imm male 2 hours apart  heading in transit from Little Wooldon Moss to Woolston Via Silver Lane , strangely or not they seem to follow the m62 then south along the m6 then off west about Thelwall Viaduct onto woolston. pic of the imm male below (record shot)

Lapwing -30

Great Crested Grebe - 5 (1 of the Juveniles seems to have taken a leap of faith and left the main pool for a new life elsewhere )

Pochard-5

Kingfisher -1

Cormorant -7

Meadow Pipit - 175 > South

Skylark - 40+ South

Swallow -3 > S

House Martin - 1> S

Jay - 7

Little Grebe - 9

Blackcap - 1 Male

Chiffchaff -3 

Buzzard-6

Stonechat - 1 Pair 

 



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 25th of September 2024 03:37:52 PM

Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

Pleasant walk round between 12.00 - 14.30, of note

Swallow - 100+ hawking over field E2 along with House Martin 3+ & Sand Martin 1

Hobby - flew through scattered flock of swallows, no real challenges but took a dive at Merlin before carrying on south

Merlin - 1,

Mute Swan - 2, back on middle pool

Cormorant - 5, on raft

Canada Geese - 200+, flying around NW fields & then out west

Lapwing - 40, on ploughed fields

Nuthatch - 1, down east side. Have had more Nuthatch records in past month than in previous 5 years!

Chiffchaff - 3



__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

This morning on the patch of note 

Swallow- 35 > south 

House Martin - 10 > South

Merlin - Juvenile hunting the eastern arable

Great Crested Grebe- still feeding young that are bigger

Than the parents lol Teenagers sponging off thier parents

Thus it's always been lol see picture

Grey Partridge- 8

Chiffchaff - 4

Buzzard -8 

Woodpigeon - c1000

Lapwing - 120 

 



Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:


In between surveys elsewhere, Silver lane highlights over past week included:

Grey Partridge - 14, all immatures

Jack Snipe - 1

Rook - 25, lots of tumbling & chasing activity within the flock, fun to watch even when they broke off briefly to lazily chase a close passing

Sparrowhawk - male,

Teal - 10

Nuthatch - 1





__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Flyover South low Grey plover and a few

Swallow South this morning . 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 458
Date:

Thought I'd go here before work at Grisley Risley today. A lot more birdlife than there seems to be at Moore these days so quite a treat to hear all the morning birdsong including a three Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler. four Redwing over the tip, Skylarks in sub-song, small passage of Meadow Pipits and a Peregrine over S were nice highlights.



__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

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!


__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 458
Date:

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

The Last few days Thurs and Friday 12th/13th

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

__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note this morning 

Teal - 7

Great Crested Grebe- 6 (2 Ad with 4 Juvs)

Swallow - 10

House Martin - 5

Tree Pipit -1

Lapwing - 60

Tufted Duck - 17 

Pochard - 4 

Willow Warbler-1 

Chiffchaff- 5

Cormorant- 2 

Little Grebe - 8

Grey Partridge - 4

Kestrel - 4



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Only things of note this morning 

10 Swallow

25 House Martin 

6 Buzzard 

1 Imm Male Marsh Harrier (record shot below) heading towards LWM.



Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

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

__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Two visits today 10am-1pm then 5.30-8pm with my mate Karl Bishop

first visit of note 

Swallow - 200+ south 

House Martin - 200+ South some lingering

Sand Martin - 10 > S 

Reed Warbler - 1 (Different bird to Robs this time in the entrance pool reed bed)

Willow Warbler -5

Chiffchaff - 10+ 

Blackcap -3

Kingfisher -1

Buzzard -6

Kestrel - 4

Tree Pipit - 3 > South 

Late Visit of Note 

Stonechat - 1 when nearly dark on east slope 

Ruff - 1 - Strange one and new bird for me at site , flew NE slow, low heading towards LWM, could possibly have landed on edge of middle pool .

Kestrel 4 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

7.30 - 10.00 cool start, definite nip in the air very little vismig happening

Reed Warbler - 1, adult & a bit of a surprise & the latest recorded here

Blackcap - 3, among two mixed flocks

Chiffchaff - 9

Long tailed Tit - 30+, 2 separate flocks (20 & 10)

Goldcrest - 2

Swallow - 10/hr

Meadow Pipit - 10/hr

Teal - 8

Gadwall - 8

Mallard - 33

Tufted Duck - 21

Canada Geese - 250, but small parties in/out

Raven - 2, over north

Common Buzzard - 5

Kestrel - 3

Great spotted Woodpecker - 2




__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

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

__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:


7.30 - 11.00 An interesting morning stroll.

Whinchat - immature female, my first of the year locally!

Tree Pipit - 1, over south

Common Whitethroat - 1

Blackcap - 1

Chiffchaff - 8

Nuthatch - 1, uncommon here

Kingfisher - 1

Canada Geese - 380,

Great crested Grebe - 6, juveniles growing quickly

Pochard - 4

Tufted Duck - 14

Kestrel - 2

Sparrowhawk - 1, male

House Martin - 6






__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:


of note

Hobby - 1, with juvenile House Martin in its claws being closely shadowed by Kestrel

Kestrel - 2

Common Buzzard - 6

Swallow - 15 over west pool

House Martin - 10

Large mixed flock of small birds flitting through trees & in/out of broad bean crop included:

Common Whitethroat x3 - Blackcap (f) x2 - Willow Warbler x4 - Chiffchaff x10+ - Long tailed Tit x15+ - Goldcrest x3 - Reed Bunting x3 - Blue & Great Tits


__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note today

Swift - 7 over West pool

Swallow- c70 > S

House Martin c 40 > S

Sand Martin - 2

Kestrel -4 

Buzzard - 4

Great Crested Grebe - Still 6 .young are becoming

Independent, catching fish for themselves today

Canada Geese flock contained 1 Greylag and an hybrid

Sedge Warbler -1 

Blackcap- 3

Willow Warbler- 2

Chiffchaff- 4

Grey Heron - 3 > W



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

7.00 - 9.30am

Marsh Harrier - female drifting south

Buzzard - 3, around area

Kestrel - 2

Kingfisher - 1

Canada Geese - 160

Great crested Grebe - family of 6 still

Little Grebe - 6

Cormorant - 2

House Martin - 80/hour south

Swallow - 20/hour

Nuthatch - 1, rare here

Chiffchaff (2 singing!)

Blackcap - 2

Common Whitethroat - 1

Willow Warbler - 2

Coal Tit -2



__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

Of note am 

Redstart - 2 (juv male and adult Male seen briefly)

Swallow -  uncountable 1000+ south

Hobby - 1 Chasing Swallow flocks (pic belo)

Great Crested Grebe - 1 Pair with 4 young still

Teal -4 

Pochard - 12

Willow Warbler - 6

Buzzard -4 



Attachments
__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 419
Date:

Northern pools only this pm

Mallard - 88, new maxim

Tufted Duck - 22

Pochard - 14

Gadwall - 7

Canada Geese - 61

Cormorant - 3

Great crested Grebe - 6, adults & immatures

House Martin - 15+/10' = c50-100/hour, feeding high as they drift south

Sand Martin - 1


__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3571
Date:

This morning pretty average of note

Gadwall - 7

Pochard - 13 

Grey Heron - 2

Buzzard - 6

Kestrel - 2

Great Crested Grebe- pair still with 4 large young in tow 

Little Grebe - 8

House Martin - 15

Swallow - 10 

Sand Martin -1

Swift - 1

Willow Warbler - 2 

Raven - 1 over West 



__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/

Page 1  >   Last »  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

RODIS

 

This forum is dedicated to the memory of Eva Janice McKerchar.