Good selection of Birds seen from the garden today at various points in time -central Warrington

Fieldfare-2

Mistle thrush-1

Great spotted Woodpecker- 1m

Chaffinch-4

Coal Tit-2

Great Tit -2

Blue Tit-6

Collared Dove-7

Magpie-3

Sparrowhawk-1

Wren -1

Dunnock-2

Blackbird-2

Robin-1

:)

not got a clue why im double spaced

 

Great garden bird last night - a male tawny owl could be heard hooting at around 22:05 in padgate

Raven this afternoon over the Sankey Bridges area flying towards Arpley Tip

5pm

A single flock of 28 Cormorants flying West over Bridge Foot.

Peregrine just gone over our garden in the centre of warrington being harrased by a lesser black backed gull headed towards the halliwell jones stadium.
:)

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 5th of April 2015 04:30:49 PM

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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The area were the twite are reported was a local patch of mine for almost 10 years, its very doubtful that there would be twite flocks there. The linnet flocks were always there in winter and sometimes the 1st winter birds can be mistaken for twite. I never saw twite there in the 10 years I covered the area . It was a good area in summer for Ringed plover as well as a few other waders. Also green sandpiper and good numbers of little grebes on the Brook and I had a few Pied Flycatchers and a Hen Harrier once in the valley there :)

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I think you are right John. The occasional Little Grebe is still seen on the brook, but the other species seem long gone unfortunately

Sankey Valley Park, area north of new water treatment works: This morning at first light, there were 70+ Magpies in a noisy communal roost. The birds dispersed in small groups in all directions. The numbers of this species has been steadily growing recently in this area. Quite an impressive sight, but at what cost to small breeding birds this spring?

Also, apparently there have been reports (from a reliable source) of a flock of Twite on the open ground north of the treatment plant, that was until recently fenced off. I have not personally seen the Twite, but there is usually a mixed flock of Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Grey & Pied Wagtails there as well as Stock Doves. Whilst there is constant disturbance from dog walkers, this area is hardly watched, so this could potentially be a rich location for seeing interesting birds!

Raven-2.45 pm over our House very low, being chased by carrion crows almost landed in the garden at our house in central warrington-good garden tick if I did those sort of things,which I don't . I remember the days when you would have to go to Central Wales or the Lakes to see a Raven crackin' bird

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 11th of January 2015 05:04:06 PM

1 Hawfinch flew over garden (padgate) around 10:10

Good visible migration over my garden (padgate) , weekend counts:

54 woodpigeon, 1 linnet, 11 magpie, 3 robin, 3 blue tit, 7 blackbird, 6 carrion crow, 29 pied wagtail, 34 meadow pipit, 296 lesser black-backed gull, 2 buzzard, 28 feral pigeon,
1 mistle thrush, 1 wren, 15 greenfinch, 13 house sparrow, 38 starling, 9 collared dove, 2 jay, 1 great-spotted woodpecker, 96 black-headed gull, 17 goldfinch, 2 whooper swan ,
2 oystercatcher, 1 sparrowhawk, 3 goldcrest, 3 great tit, 7 chaffinch, 191 herring gull, 10 jackdaw, 1 mediterranean gull, 5 redwing, 4 fieldfare, 5 siskin,
30 pink-footed goose, 1 common gull, 2 long-tailed tit, 1 dunnock, 1 grey heron.

(Bold means unusual for the garden)

1 Swallow & 2 Grey Wagtails in Sankey Valley Park this morning

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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I will now be known forever as the birdman of Alkatraz as that what we call our factory as its like a prison :)

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I hope your boss(the warden)is not reading this.
Cheers Ian

Nick Isherwood wrote:

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Whereabouts is Puddington Meadows please?

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Nick I have asked David the same question although I suspect he means Paddington Meadows at WA1 3LU.

1.30-3.30pm Sun 31.8.14

No less than 3 spotted flycatchers on full and easy view for my camera this afternoon at Puddington meadow west. They made sallies for insects between the most westerly pylons (one pylon had a peregrine with its victim briefly perched on top), and the riverside footpath. They sat high in the bushes (at the edges) making regular sallies.

Other birds of note where a female blackcap and 2 noisy but beautiful jays, whilst a kingfisher was heard flying along the river.

Hobby south over our garden in central warrington at 8pm last night headed over bank park and away towards crossfields.
:)

Chiffchaff and willow warbler heard from garden today and the sparrowhawk has passed over and circled twice now.


-- Edited by Daniel Owen on Monday 7th of April 2014 08:33:44 PM

Late post for yesterday 15.02.14 16.30

Callands

2 Collared Doves were lazily strolling around in the middle of the road, I had to almost stop to avoid running over them, then a third bird seemed to join them.

Immediately the two doves flew off to the left, the third bird swung around to the right, it was a large Sparrowhawk, probably female.

2 more doves appeared from behind, the hawk turned 180 degrees and pursued these doves, which plunged into the safety of a nearby bush.

The Sparrowhawk then broke off the attack and disappeared over the rooftops.

It was all over in a few seconds, the hawks speed was breathtaking, the doves were lucky, the presence of my probably saved the doves on the road.

You don't need to be on a reserve to enjoy wildlife drama, it's all around.

Collared Doves do seem a bit dozy, especially during courtship, little wonder they are a top prey species for Sparrowhawks.

Second winter Iceland Gull on Dallam Playing Fields from 11.05-11.20 at least, still there when I left

cheers

Dave

c50 Redwings
Mistle Thrush
Grey Wagtail

Seen at 09:00hrs this morning around the Irish Club car park area off Orford Lane

Nick, the best time seems to be just after dawn, I think the reason there were so many gulls this afternoon is that football matches etc, had been played there this morning.

Nick Isherwood wrote:

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Dave, what road are these fields on? I might check this out this week.

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Longshaw street - heading south towards Warrington on the A49 turn right at the PC World roundabout go under bridge, first left playing fields are 100 yards on the left- nowt there when I passed later this afternoon.It is a good playing field for gulls though. :)

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 15th of December 2013 06:46:43 PM

Dallam Playing Fields held many gulls this (early) afternoon, mainly Black Headed but with good numbers of Common and smaller numbers of Herring and Lesser Black-backed (including one that looked like a 'fuscus'), there was also a third winter Iceland Gull showing very well, this was my third there in less than two years!

cheers

Dave

-- Edited by Dave Riley on Sunday 15th of December 2013 03:47:58 PM

Orford Lane, 08:20hrs:

Peregrine Falcon flying west

On the A57 roundabout, near the former Bowling Green pub, this morning around 11.00 were a few Black Headed Gulls, patting the grass with their feet to tempt worms to surface.
I've seen upto 30 birds on this traffic island at times, quite often they're joined by a couple of Common Gulls, and even the odd Herring Gull.
The large central verge of the A57 heading towards the Peace Centre also attracts Black Headed Gulls, and an adult Herring Gull became a regular feature here about a year ago.
If you get caught by a red light whilst driving around the roundabout you've got a few seconds to have a glance at the gulls as they're only a few feet away.
Today though patting the grass with a vigour that would put a professional tap dancer to shame was a large Herring Gull, with a slate coloured saddle, and bright lemon feet.
An adult Yellow Legged Herring Gull had joined the Black Heads that were teasing worms to surface. Then the lights changed and viewing was over.
This traffic island is always worth a glance, especially if you're a passenger and not a driver, as I don't want my remarks mentioned in RTA reports.
The gulls are a daily feature, and hopefully I'll spot a Med Gull dancing here one day.
This same roundabout was a magnet for swallows and martins back in September.