Waterbird numbers were low today, as Les Jones and I covered Nos. 1, 2 and 3 beds, as well as Bollin Point. One Water Rail, 30 Teal, 22 Moorhens, 10 Shovelers, 1 Greylag Goose, 4 Little Grebes, 38 Gadwall, and 40 Mallard were among the counts made. Finches and warblers, though, were present in good numbers. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were everywhere, with odd Reed Warblers still present around the water margins. Nearly 200 Goldfinches and 100 each of Greenfinch and Chaffinch were good totals across the three beds. Mike Miles reported a Hobby among c. 500 House Martins on Friday, though only small numbers of these and Swallows passed through today. Raptors included 1 Peregrine, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks and 7 Buzzards.

It was a good day for late butterflies and dragonflies, with the following counts made: 12 Small Tortoiseshells, 7 Speckled Woods, 3 Red Admirals, 2 Commas, 3 Meadow Browns, 1 Common Blue, 1 Green-veined White, 60 Common Darters, 1 Southern Hawker and 3 Brown Hawkers.

Cheers David

On a pleasant morning Dave Steel, Les Jones and I met at 6.30 am for a spell of visible migration watching on Butchersfield Tip (at the eastern end of the Reserve). Swallows were trickling through all morning, while House Martins tended to feed up over the mosses to the north, en masse, before moving south. A Grey Wagtail, followed by two Yellow Wagtails were decent birds for Woolston but the highlight came just after 10.00 am when two Hawfinches flew in from the east, passed a few feet over our heads and landed in some nearby trees. Some of the totals for the morning were: 2 Hawfinches, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Siskins, 102 Swallows, 494 House Martins, 165 Goldfinches, 171 Lapwings, 80 Stock Doves, 21 Common Buzzards, 4 Kestrels and 5 Sparrowhawks.

Reports from No.3 bed, from Kieran Foster, MIke Miles and Jason Atkinson included a Hobby at the Swallow roost on Friday night and 52 Blackcaps ringed on Saturday morning.

Cheers David

Ringing session on No1 bed this morning, including 4 Tree Pipits and 1 Siskin, a further 10 Siskins overflying along with 4 Lesser Redpolls.

cheers


Dave

Another lovely, sunny morning on No.3 bed, with plenty of birds (59 species), butterflies (8 species) and dragonflies (3 species) to keep us (Brian Baird, Douglas Buchanan and I)occupied. Highlights were: 3 Black-tailed Godwits, which stopped briefly before continuing west, 6 Pintail which came in and stayed, a Hobby, 3 Kingfishers, 1 Snipe, 3 Willow Tits, 2 juvenile Water Rails, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats feeding by the Morgan Hide and 2 juvenile Black-necked Grebes which came out of cover as the morning wore on. 2 Commas and 2 Broad-bodied Chasers seen along with many of our commoner butterflies and dragonflies.

Other counts included: 8 House Sparrows (on the Canal track), 1 Common Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 18 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Moorhens, 8 Little Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 8 Carrion Crows, 9 Jays, 5 Pochard, 45 Greenfinches, 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Teal, 20 Chiffchaffs, 25 Blue Tits, 16 Great Tits, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Magpies, 3 Pheasants, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap, 5 Bullfinches, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers, 130 Gadwall,76 Coot, 23 Mallard, 6 Cormorants, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 5 Shoveler, 2 Swifts, 6 Swallows, 8 House Martins, 10 Chaffinches, 5 Reed Buntings, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove, 40 Wood Pigeons, 14 Lapwing, 3 Song Thrushes,4 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 3 Mute Swans and 21 Feral Pigeons.

Cheers David

Two Green Sandpipers, one Hobby and three Black-necked Grebes (an adult and two young) were this morning's highlights. Despite the weather forecast, it was warm and sunny, with plenty of birds moving. Les Jones and I joined up with Kieran Foster on No.3 Bed and other good sightings included: 1 Water Rail,1 Common Snipe, 23 Mistle Thrushes flying east, 45 House Martins, 64 Swifts, 2 Swallows, 2 Willow Tits, 7 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel, 1 Shelduck, 140 Gadwall, 82 Coot, 28 Lapwing, 4 Song Thrushes, 8 Shoveler and 6 Teal.

Cheers David

15.00-16.45

Weir Lane/Weir Pool

1 Kingfisher, pair of Mute Swans with 3 cygnets, 11 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard.

Old River

1 juv Great Crested Grebe.

No 3 Bed

2 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 adult + 2 juv. Black Necked Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2 adult Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Grebes.

2 Reed Buntings ( m+f) feeding on the mud in front of the J. Thorley hide, wader style.

1 Comma, 2 Red Admirals, 3 S.Tortoiseshell and 10 Gatekeeper butterflies.

15.00-17.00

No3

2ad. 7juv. B.N Grebes, 3 G.C Grebes one with a single youngster.

3ad. 1juv. G.S Woodpeckers, 5 Cormorant, 1m 3f/juv Blackcaps in family

group, a family group of 4 Whitethroats and a single juv Reed Bunting

being fed by adult male. 1m + 1f Kestrel, 1 LBB Gull and 1 Heron.

Lots of young Moorhen and Coot about.

Old River

1 pr G.C Grebes with 2 half grown young.

Weir Pool

11 Tufted Duck & 2 Pochard.

Came back from a week's birding in Iceland, with Dave Steel and six friends, (Gyr Falcons on the nest, Harlequin Ducks, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Brunnich's Guillemots, Orcas, Artcic Fox etc!) to see how the Reserve was doing. Dave and I spent the early part of the morning on No.3 bed, where the ringing team (Kieran Foster, Jason Atkinson et al) had caught Grasshopper Warbler and Garden Warbler. Both adult and juvenile Black-necked Grebes were still showing well (three of each, without much searching), despite the dispersal of 10 to Houghton Green Flash.

Main point of interest was the number of species still in song, desperately trying to complete a breeding attempt - double figures of Reed Warblers and a few Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Reed Buntings Wrens, Greenfinches etc. At Woolston Weir 2 Grey Wagtails were present.

On No.1 bed, the same situation, with Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and Linnets all singing away. Lets hope for a change in the weather to give them a fighting chance of getting some young off!

Cheers David

18.00-20-15

No 3

1 Water Rail in front F. Linley hide, 8 adult +10 juv B.N Grebes, 7 G.C

Grebes and 2 L.Grebes.

1 G.C Grebe had at least 2 young on it's back, also 2 adults were seen

flying onto the bed carrying small fish from the river and MSC. 1 Buzzard

and 1 Kestrel over the meadow. 1 adult L.B.B Gull patrolled the bed for

over 15 minutes clearly intent on grabbing a little downy supper, the B.H

Gulls are barely bothering to mob now though, their young are full grown.

There were 3 broods of small Tufted ducklings on the water though, every

time the LBB passed over they dived for their lives. Thankfully, the smaller

of the grebe chicks stayed on their parents backs. 1 Black Tailed Godwit

in front of J.Morgan hide.

John

Hopefully good news. Both juveniles Great Crested Grebes and both adults were on the basin this morning around the nest site. The juveniles are getting quite mobile now. I have seen them upstream of the weir guard. Lets hope nothing happened between our visits. Shame the second clutch was lost during the recent bad weather.

David

On a pleasant morning Les Jones and I watched 9 Black-necked Grebe chicks busily feeding, along with 6 adults. Other sightings included: One Grasshopper Warbler, 121 Gadwall, 43 Coot, 3 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 15 Pochard, 3 Moorhens, 31 Canada Geese, 2 Lapwings, 4 Little Grebes, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Mallard, c.300 Black-headed Gulls, 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Song Thrushes, 3 Collared Doves, 4 Bullfinches, 2 Kestrels, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Treecreeper (caught by the ringers), 80 Swifts, 7 Swallows, 1 House Martin, plus plenty of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats.

Cheers David

A really nice morning,covering all beds, with the rain keeping off and plenty of bird activity. Despite the poor weather to date some key species have bred successfully - probably ten pairs of Black-necked Grebes have raised young, while Peregrine Falcon, Little Ringed Plover, Kingfisher and Kestrel were all showing with young this morning. Total list as follows:

Mute Swan 2
Greylag Goose 2
Canada Goose 40 + 5 young
Mallard 23
Gadwall 72
Shoveler 8
Teal 2
Pochard 4 + 6 young
Tufted Duck 25 + 8 young
Pheasant 5
Black-necked Grebe - loads, maybe as many as 17 young!
Little Grebe 4
Great Crested Grebe 6 inc. 2 sitting birds
Cormorant 20
Grey Heron 1
Common Buzzard 10
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 6 + 2 young
Peregrine Falcon 2 + at least 1 young
Water Rail 1 + 2 young
Moorhen 2
Coot 14 + several broods
Lapwing 2
Little Ringed Plover 2 + 2 young
Black-headed Gull at least 15 large young
Herring Gull 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 8
Feral Pigeon 30
Stock Dove 4
Wood Pigeon many
Collared Dove 2
Swift 120
Kingfisher 3 adults + at least 2 young
Green Woodpecker 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 juveniles
Sand Martin 8
Swallow 3
House Martin 15
Pied Wagtail 2
Dunnock 7
Robin 8
Song Thrush 6
Blackbird 12
Garden Warbler 2
Blackcap 11
Whitethroat 10
Sedge Warbler 3
Reed Warbler 10
Willow Warbler 3
Chiffchaff 9
Wren 20
Great Tit a few
Blue Tit a few
Willow Tit 3
Long-tailed Tit 2
Magpie 14
Jay 6
Jackdaw 10
Rook 6
Carrion Crow 8
Starling 5
Chaffinch 18
Linnet 6
Goldfinch 2
Greenfinch 30
Bullfinch 5
Reed Bunting 6

Cheers David



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 16th of June 2012 03:04:15 PM

Two Yellow Wagtails in front of the Morgan Hide at 7.00pm today were a surprise as they are very scarce at Woolston, despite breeding not too far away. 16 Black-necked Grebes were feeding 12 young at various stages of development, making for excellent views. Several Pochard broods were evident, along with broods of Water Rail, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Coot, Canada Goose and Moorhen. A dozen or so large Black-headed Gull chicks were survivors of the few nests which weren't washed out during the rainy spell but plenty of adults have relaid and are now sitting. 90 Starlings dropped in at 8.00 pm, presumably the start of a summer roost.

Cheers David

A Little Egret was feeding on the new pool on No.1 bed at 0900 today.

Cheers David

Highlight of today was a Hobby which twice passed through a flock of c.600 Swifts on No.3 bed. Otherwise, plenty of Black-necked Grebes, hirundines.

Cheers David

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 19th of May 2012 07:27:18 PM

A really nice morning, with Les Jones and Brian Martin, covering mainly No.3 bed and the eastern end of the Reserve. A Cuckoo was calling from near the Morgan Hide at 8.00 am and three Grasshopper Warblers were singing around the centre of the bed. Whitethroats and Reed Warblers were much more in evidence, today, along with the odd Sedge Warbler. The eastern end of the Reserve held its treats, too, with three Little Ringed Plovers, another Grasshopper Warbler, four pairs of Lapwing and both Peregrine and Kestrel brooding small young under Thelwall Viaduct.

(A nice end to the morning was a quick dash to Great Sankey to see the female Ring Ouzel, showing well alongside male Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear).

Cheers David

Hi Alan.I managed to get some footage of it perched but from a fair distance.did try to get it in the air but failed miserably!it was feeding normally just dropping down to the surface and picking off the top of the water for roughly an hour then for a five minute spell it changed tack and started plunging.Brian martin managed to catch up with it too but he had well gone by the time it was plunging/perching.he said you always manage to find something good there!
Cheers Chris.

Hi Chris, Glad some one else managed to got to see the Black Tern . The bird was only dipping on the water while I was there, I have never seen one plunge dive before. Did you get any photos of the bird by any chance?

I was surprised not to see any Hirundines or Swift, though I managed to see 17 Black Necked Grebes at least 6 Great Crested and 3 little Grebes on No 3 bed.

1 Black Tern all morning and still present when I left at 3.15pm. Best viewed from the John Morgan hide. Plenty of Grebes again showing well from the Morgan Hide.

A female Marsh Harrier plus 5 Swifts and 1 Sedge Warbler on No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

No 3 Bed 09:00-11.00

1 Common Sandpiper feeding on a raft opposite the rotary hide. 1 Water

Rail showing below tower hide. 16 B.N Grebes, 3 Little Grebes including a

pair having a nasty fight.

Resident pair of LBB Gulls taking some real grief from Black Heads. 1 Buzzard

and just 1 male Shoveler now showing. No hirundines, or as yet any

Whitethroats. No sign of Sedge or Reed Warblers either.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 24th of April 2012 09:15:03 PM

I was thinking about you, Martyn, when I saw all that rain coming down - definitely a day for sitting in a hide and letting the birds come to you

Cheers David

A great little trip with Leigh Ornithological Society. Highlights were the Black-necked Grebes (loads of them and I didn't count) and a Little Gull in summer plumage. Lots of other more usual birds seen and heard.

Very nice to meet lots of new birders too, both from LOS and in the hides. I'm just about dry now!

Nice shots, Jason. Good for the next Annual Report.

Cheers David