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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.


Carr Mill Dam

1 Common Sandpiper, my first juvenile Black-headed Gull of the summer and a Willow Tit.
Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

50 Swift over east side woodland and cornfields this morning.
Derek Evans

Havannah flash

The following Dragonflies were seen on Havanna this morning.
Four spotted chaser.
Common darter.
Broad bodied chaser.
Emperor dragonfly.

Banded demoiselle.
Azure damselfly.
SteB.

Merton Bank Open Space

1 Sedge Warbler seen in song; 5 Reed Warbler seen: 3 in song, one carrying food for young and one bearing metal ring on right leg (as last year).
Derek Evans

Virus-free. www.avast.com

Berrington's Lane, Rainford

2 pairs Little Grebe each with 2 juveniles; pair Oystercatcher; one singing (and seen) Reed Warbler.
Derek Evans

Virus-free. www.avast.com

Beetle ID

Can anyone please help with this beetle identification. It was seen around ponds and waterways on Sankey valley this afternoon.

Rainford Bypass Barn Owl

I had an amazing view of a barn owl in full light last night (8.00 pm) whilst driving towards Eccleston on the Rainford Bypass. I saw it from a distance in a field on the left and then I as I got nearer, it flew right in front of the car holding a mouse/vole in its talons! I'll not forget that in a while!

Damian P

Linkway Pools, Town Centre

1 drake Mandarin; confirmed breeding of Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen.
Derek Evans