-2 Mediterranean Gulls over -Pair Tufted Duck on bottom pool -c10 Lapwing, inc. pair mating and several displaying -2 Linnet -1 Kestrel -2+ Singing Skylark -1 Male Pheasant -1 Green Sandpiper on bottom pool
2nd winter Iceland Gull 2 Curlew over 2 Ringed Plover over 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Shelduck 3 Teal 3 singing Chiffchaff 8 Buzzard over 100+ Meadow Pipits over north
Not to be defeated I ventured out a second time for the Iceland Gull. I toured the pools again with no luck. In the far distance I could see a decent number of gulls on the ground, close to where bulldozers were working. A recently made track took me fairly close to them and sure enough the Iceland Gull was there. Roughly 11.00am when they all took off. c25 Linnets were nice to see on the way back to the car park. At least 2 Little Grebes were calling from the long, thin reedy pool, but they remained well-hidden.
Thought I'd visit Cutacre to have a try for the Iceland Gull after doing a tip-run. First time here so just wandered about the tracks. No idea whether any of the pools I passed were the infamous Top & Bottom pools. No sign of the Iceland Gull for me. Birds of note were Peregrine (putting up all the gulls at the railway flood). Chiffchaff (in big double hedge near the railway bridge). Wheatear (male). Gadwall (2 on one pool, 3 on a pool with an island in the middle near railway).
-- Edited by ed gradwell on Wednesday 21st of March 2018 04:15:54 PM
Haven't visited this area since the Shorelark a few years ago and it seems that there's been lots of development taken place since then. What's the best access point now?
I think the bottom pool is the larger one with a large island in the middle of it, adjacent to Engine Lane, as for the top one, I'm not too sure either!
First visit this morning and had trouble finding places mentioned in earlier posts so some help please.
We parked at car park and walked down as far as Engine lane near the railway bridge. We only had access to one body of water near the warehouse. Site further east was cordoned off by police (see news item about body found).
Where do you mean by top pool and bottom pool?
Thanks.
Birds seen this morning
Kestrel - 2 pairs
flock of Reed Bunting in hedgerows near Engine Lane end
PLEASE NOTE: visitors to this site should keep to designated paths at all times as very soft ground around the area away from the paths can pose a very serious hazard.
2nd winter Caspian Gull, 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull and second winter Iceland Gull present on pools and all the same individuals as seen at Pennington Flash of late.
plus 1 Little Egret - I saw this bird on a fenced off pool, before it flew off in the direction of my house (Atherton). When arriving home I was amazed to see it feeding in the field 20 feet from my door! Almost certainly the same bird.