*** Posting to this blog - Please read ***

*** Posting to this blog – Please read ***

Welcome to the St Helens Birds and Wildlife blog. We welcome your reports from across the borough regarding all forms of wildlife. Please click on the "Report a sighting" tab if you would like to contribute to this blog.

We ask that you refrain from posting exact breeding locations of any species which may be considered scarce or vulnerable, and in particular schedule 1 species. In the context of St Helens, schedule 1 species usually means kingfisher and little ringed plover. Little ringed plover should not be reported at all on this blog between 1st May and 1st August.

Scarce or vulnerable species include but are not restricted to any species of wader, ducks other than mallard, all owls, any birds of prey, grey or yellow wagtails, grey heron, all grebes, Cetti’s warbler, water rail, willow tit, corn bunting etc. If in doubt, please ask.

We reserve the right to edit or delete posts which contravene this rule.


25th December Eccleston Mere

Another quiet afternoon at the Mere although a few different species of birds were around.

2 Grey Heron
3 Goldeneye (2 Drakes and 1 Female)
1 Little Grebe
6 Tufted Duck
4 Jays
25+ Flock of Goldfinches
The normal collections of Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Geese and Great Crested Grebes.
1 Nuthatch in wet woodland
2 Buzzard
Mistle Thrush
Small group of Goldcrests in the Wet Wood.
Large numbers of Magpies and Jackdaws coming into roost.

Also called in later at Valencia Farm and managed to get close views of a Red Fox and a single large Brown Hare which had been flushed by the Fox. Not as good as last Saturday evening at the Farm as a Red Fox, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and a Barn Owl where all seen within twenty minutes in the same field and all within 200 metres of viewing spot. Great views of the Buzzard, Fox and Barn Owl in particular. Sadly no sign of a Barn Owl this evening.

2 comments :

  1. What time did you see the barn owl Simon? Happy Christmas btw

    ReplyDelete
  2. It was at 4.30pm. It often doesn't show until well after dusk.

    ReplyDelete