2 Swallows over Penketh Old Hall stables this evening. First of year for me.
Willow Warblers and Chiff Chaffs numerous at Gatewarth. At least 10 Blackcaps singing just along the Sankey Cut from Gatewarth at Sankey Valley Park, none heard at G/warth though.
Very gingery Fox on far side of River.
Butterflies today at SVP and G/warth : Orange Tips, Commas, Small Tort, Peacock,Brimstone.
At least 7 Chiff Chaff on site at Gatewarth today.
2 Curlew in with the Gull flock before the flock was disturbed by a hunting Buzzard. The Gulls soon settled back on the bank, the Curlews flew off high.
When referring to "Gatewarth", I mean the old tip right on the banks of the Mersey that basically overlooks the Richmond Bank. It is just along the canal from The Ferry pub in Penketh. It's possible to park at/near the Ferry car park and walk up to Gatewarth.
Both Richmond Bank and Gatewarth are shown on at least some OS maps of the area.
To make matters slightly less clear, some of the signs on site call it "Gateworth".
"Gatewarth Tip" is a working household waste site further up the river towards Warrington, at Sankey Bridges, I think.
Gatewarth is hardly the most picturesque reserve in the country, particularly at the moment as lots of sewarge work and bore hole drilling/testing is going on in the area. But as well as the gulls at Richmond Bank it does have interesting birds. Best site locally for Grasshopper Warbler, e.g., I think. There are notices up on site at the moment asking for feedback re poss development....if anyone's interested, a few responses encouraging conservation might not be a bad idea ??
I actually work at the Waste water treatment works which is on Gatewarth Industrial Estate off Barnard Street. Just on the approach to the works are two entrances into Mersey Way memorial forest which leads all the way down to the bank of the Mersey near the back of the Landfill site.
I always thought that John O'Neills posts related to this area.
There's little doubt the area you mention is an old tip of some form Mike, Pete and I have discussed it before and the usual capping material can be easily seen at various points.
This area's name as Gatewarth merely puts some pieces in the jigsaw for me regarding gull sightings on this thread, thats all, Call it what you will of course, you say potatoe...
Not really John, though I know where you're coming from. In gull watching terms (which is why I go there) it's always been refereed to as Richmond Bank, so for me I use the term that has always (for as long as I can remember) been utilised officially, including in a county recording capacity. I didn't know of Gatewarth (it's not recorded on any maps as such but then again neither is Richmond Bank!) until I saw this thread and the little sign there last week (which doesn't indicate an area etc?).
I do remember the 1996 Lesser Yellowlegs there being at 'Gatewarth' though but I don't recall it actually being on the bank but rather on some small pools further along by the sewage plant which are now overgrown. I also remember it was a pig to see too
I'm certainly not saying anyones wrong or that any one name should/should not be used. I just wondered if the two sites were one and the same
I remember having a recent chat with Pete Berry about the large mound and overgrown area to the left of the path when walking up towards the river - we were musing on what this was. I wonder if this is the old ladnfill site? We did see Env Agency staff sampling the water here at the time.
Gatewarth as an area I suspect runs from Richmond Bank around to the bridge I mentioned so a bigger area than Richmond Bank.
Not really John, though I know where you're coming from. In gull watching terms (which is why I go there) it's always been refereed to as Richmond Bank, so for me I use the term that has always (for as long as I can remember) been utilised officially, including in a county recording capacity. I didn't know of Gatewarth (it's not recorded on any maps as such but then again neither is Richmond Bank!) until I saw this thread and the little sign there last week (which doesn't indicate an area etc?).
I do remember the 1996 Lesser Yellowlegs there being at 'Gatewarth' though but I don't recall it actually being on the bank but rather on some small pools further along by the sewage plant which are now overgrown. I also remember it was a pig to see too
I'm certainly not saying anyones wrong or that any one name should/should not be used. I just wondered if the two sites were one and the same
richmond bank is on the 1-50000 ordnance survey map as the sandbank in the middle of the river,and im sure on the old 1-25000 maps gateworth was shown,but I haven't got the map now
Not really John, though I know where you're coming from. In gull watching terms (which is why I go there) it's always been refereed to as Richmond Bank, so for me I use the term that has always (for as long as I can remember) been utilised officially, including in a county recording capacity. I didn't know of Gatewarth (it's not recorded on any maps as such but then again neither is Richmond Bank!) until I saw this thread and the little sign there last week (which doesn't indicate an area etc?).
I do remember the 1996 Lesser Yellowlegs there being at 'Gatewarth' though but I don't recall it actually being on the bank but rather on some small pools further along by the sewage plant which are now overgrown. I also remember it was a pig to see too
I'm certainly not saying anyones wrong or that any one name should/should not be used. I just wondered if the two sites were one and the same
Cheers John, if this is true though and in a gulling capacity at the very least, this area as always been known as Richmond Bank (due to the bank they loaf on) and birds seen here are recorded officially as such.
Think it depends how you look at it,the sandbank in the river is richmond bank,The area you are standing on probably Gateworth. A bit like being at penny and having a separate thread for the shingle spit.Its interesting really when birding, is it the area you are watching from or the area you are looking at-most likely in the richmond bank one as that is the focus for everyone watching its richmond bank.But if you see a flock of linnets as you walk to the lookout point it would be gateworth.
Cheers John, if this is true though and in a gulling capacity at the very least, this area as always been known as Richmond Bank (due to the bank they loaf on) and birds seen here are recorded officially as such.
Still intruiged Mike. Is this on the bank on the Mersey? Is it near the bridge the tip trucks use? Is it accessible (John seems to do so) and worth a look? Lots of gulls regularly use an area just a little further up stream from Richmond Bank at low tide. The area is practically besides the largest new cell on Arpley Tip and so is an obvious choice for gulls to bathe and drink. They mainly then move round to Richmond Bank anyway and it seems the area is quickly covered by the incoming tide. Is this Gatewarth? Just wondered what viewing was like if so
I think that knowing the area from fishing the canal many years ago,and birding the area a bit at that time,I would call the area you all stand on to look at the gulls at Richmond Bank as Gateworth.Thats why I kept asking everyone where do they mean by richmond bank,always thinking you were looking from the Moore side. All the locals used to call that area south of the canal from the small canal bridge you turn right at to get to richmond bank-ip to old Liverpool road half a mile east along the canal as Gateworth,and originally didn't have access and was fenced off if I can recall and was part of the original landfill ,before it was covered and planted on about 20 years ago.Not 100% sure ,but pretty sure there is no real access south of the area you lot use for richmond bank on the north side of the river until you pass warrington,as I have cycled the area many times,and apart from the bridge over which mike mentioned,which is off old liverpool road ,which there is generally not much to see there is nowhere else. I would say Gateworth is the area you all stand on to watch Richmond Bank.
Still intruiged Mike. Is this on the bank on the Mersey? Is it near the bridge the tip trucks use? Is it accessible (John seems to do so) and worth a look? Lots of gulls regularly use an area just a little further up stream from Richmond Bank at low tide. The area is practically besides the largest new cell on Arpley Tip and so is an obvious choice for gulls to bathe and drink. They mainly then move round to Richmond Bank anyway and it seems the area is quickly covered by the incoming tide. Is this Gatewarth? Just wondered what viewing was like if so
John, I'm intrigued as to where Gatewarth actually is as I have the feeling the area you refer to with all the gulls is actually Richmond Bank, as we know it? I saw a little sign for Gatewarth there the other week but no direction or any other details.
Ian
Gatewarth is the site of an old landfill site north of the river and I think just a bit upriver from Richmond Bank.
There is also a waste collection point at Gatewarth and a bridge over the river here - the bridge is perhaps a quarter of a mile upriver from RB.
The old landfill site is currently being monitored by the Environment Agency - apparently claims of radioactive materials dumped there. In reality a lot of these old landfill sites were stuffed with all sorts of waste back then. Might explain some of the odd gulls though, especially that two-headed Herring Gull
John, I'm intrigued as to where Gatewarth actually is as I have the feeling the area you refer to with all the gulls is actually Richmond Bank, as we know it? I saw a little sign for Gatewarth there the other week but no direction or any other details.
Incredibly huge numbers of gulls on the River this afternoon. Very restless, poss upset by a buzzard perched up on the bank. Brief view of an Iceland Gull in the crowd.
-- Edited by John O'Neill on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 08:02:00 PM
An hour at Hale shore this morning - lots of shooting and dog walkers [most dogs under control which was good to see]. Avian highlights:
Flock of 40+ curlew on the winter wheat fields 26 Linnet flying around and occasionally perching up near the lighthouse 6 Lark - presumed skylark - contact song had some elements of full skylark song - but very flighty and landed in the furrows every time! 2 Dunlin 20+ Redshank Hundreds of Teal and Shelduck on the river
Fantastic Starling roost on the Runcorn Bridge tonight - we were driving over as the flock wheeled and split; so a quick dart down to the roads to the north of the bridge gave superb views - the kids were amazed at the noise!
Pickerings Pasture today [for sledging really ] but pleased to see small mixed flocks of Goldfinch and Greenfinch with up to seven Bramblings in amongst them. First time I've seen Brambling in this area.
The big hedge along the bank from Pickerings to the White Bridge was full of thrushes and blackbirds plus the mixed finch flock - so much feeding was going on that I heeded the advice on here and turned back so as not to disturb them.
Pickerings Pasture this morning - took a couple of pounds of bird seed but the feeders were still quite well stocked. Saw my first GSW for the site along with a lone Redshank, plenty of chaffinches, grey wagtail, pied wagtail and what I'm going to say was a well marked juvenile sparrowhawk but the fleeting view I got wasn't enough to completely rule out Merlin - as it chased a Goldfinch down the shore!
Must be the best place for miles for Greenfinch up to 12 at a time at the feeders near the hide. One bit of behaviour which was new to me, were a number of Chaffinch flying up to a vertical section of tree trunk, hovering and picking something from the bark - it was mainly where frost was in sunlight so I wondered whether they were actually drinking melt water in the bark? Also thousand of gulls on the far sandbank as the tide turned - mainly BHG and too far away for anything else to be checked for :)
And 2+ Bullfinches, 1 Goldcrest and about 15 Linnets
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Cheers (I couldn't work out where the river you mention was at Moore?). There is a well established thread just for Moore sighting though (and a separate one for Richmond Bank too).
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 14th of November 2010 07:37:00 AM
Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Several hours gulling today produced: Ad Caspian Gull. Initially on the deck at fairly close range, this bird had a v v dark eye. What was really exciting for me was seeing the striking primary pattern as the bird flew away; something i've never seen before. Also present 2 ad & a 1st winter YLG and an ad Med. Also a calling Rock or Water Pipit around some pools which i couldn't pin down; a Raven and Buzzard, and i thought i heard a Common Sand call once on the river. Cheers.
Mike, you don't give a location for these sightings?
Several hours gulling today produced: Ad Caspian Gull. Initially on the deck at fairly close range, this bird had a v v dark eye. What was really exciting for me was seeing the striking primary pattern as the bird flew away; something i've never seen before. Also present 2 ad & a 1st winter YLG and an ad Med. Also a calling Rock or Water Pipit around some pools which i couldn't pin down; a Raven and Buzzard, and i thought i heard a Common Sand call once on the river. Cheers.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Just had a pleasant walk by the river at Hale. The highlights being:
- Superb views of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard & Peregrine. - Large numbers of Curlew (group of 91 feeding on one field, lots on river mud). - 30+ Corn Bunting in stubble field to East of Lighthouse. - Dunlin, Lapwings, Redshank showing well beside river.
Common Sandpiper was been mercilessly harried by a very aggressive m. Kingfisher, not a bird you think of as being a bully but the sandpiper was chased all over the scrape by the smaller bird; At one point the Kingfisher also put up an adjacent Redhank.
Pickerings pasture this afternoon had a roost of over 150 Golden Plover, with:
20 Redshank 1 Greenshank 2 Shelduck several hundred Canada Geese a variety of gulls 4 Redwings over 2 Buzzards A duck in silhouette that had me thinking Garganey but was almost certainly a Teal
and a very showy kingfisher from the screen hide overlooking the decoy marsh
Popped down to Wigg Island and Pickerings Pasture this evening and despite not seeing the Bonxie that had been seen earlier I did pick out a Peregrine sitting on a shopping trolley half submerged in the mud [a bit strange but I guess any elevation on a sand bank is good for a Peregrine]. Also a Buzzard right out in the middle feeding on a fresh looking feathered kill [too far for bins to identify the prey] and I did wonder whether the Buzzard had taken advantage of a Peregrine or Bonxie kill? Also many tens of Curlew, Redshank, the normal gull roost, some distant geese on the mudbanks and at least 12 Cormorants in the mile of the Mersey visible between the two locations.