Haydock Park

91 Golden Plover, 85 Lapwing and 2 Pink-Footed Geese today

Regards
D Broome

Sent from my iPhone

This Snowy Owl ,which flew in on last night's blizzard, looked a bit angry this morning! Probably because all the snow had thawed!

Carr Mill Dam

On Friday 23rd December: 220 Pink-footed Goose fed north end fields; 5 Rook fed north end stubble with Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 40 Feral Pigeon and 50 Starling; flock 50 Goldfinch fed in alders around Dig Pits.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

2 Peregrine squabbled noisily this morning; also 250 Linnet.

Derek Evans

Feeding station

Last week,I set up my feeding station on Havannah flash for the third year running,birds present so far on and around.
Blue tit.
Great tit.
Robin.
Blackbird.
Chaffinch.
Nuthatch 2.
Carrion crow and Magpie seen around on the ground.
SteB.

Fieldfares'

Andrew, no chance of getting near to the Fieldfares, did see some on the 2nd Nov, in the same place, around 10.

SteB.

Cooper lane.

Cooper lane Haydock, was full of Redwings,Fieldfares at 8-30am this morning, Chat Chat Chat as they made their way from tree to tree.
SteB.

Carr Milll Dam

52 Great Crested Grebe (a high count); 1 Little Grebe; 1 drake Shoveler viewed from Nineteen Arches at 1015.

Derek Evans

Houghton's Lane

A tawny owl was seen perched halfway up a telegraph pole on Houghton's Lane at 9.45pm this evening.

Damian P

Burgy Banks North

1 Woodcock flushed at 0820; 1 Willow Tit.

Derek Evans

Havannah flash

Two Mute Swans on the flash this morning, 8-30am.
SteB.

Carr Mill Dam and Sankey Valley

At Carr Mill Dam: 1 Little Grebe, 8 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 female Goldeneye.

1 Dipper 0825-0830 at Sankey Valley site (as Tuesday 8th November); 1 juvenile Peregrine over Stanley Bank.

Derek Evans

Havannah flash

8-30am, Water rail spotted this morning on one of the new established ponds on H/flash, first one seen for a long time.
SteB.

Sankey Valley

1 Dipper along the brook between the East Lancs Road bridge and the green foot bridge - seen twice between 0745 and 0755.

Derek Evans

Stanley Bank, Sankey Valley

1 drake Gadwall on pond beside Visitor Centre; 3 Teal on brook nearby.

Derek Evans

Taylor Park

Birds on the lake today included 5 Wigeon and 10 Tufted Duck

Moss Lane, Windle

1 juvenile Peregrine on Woodpigeon kill; 1 Snipe; 21 Skylark; 100 Linnet.

Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

130 Canada Goose; 1 drake Mandarin circled twice and flew south at 0720; 32 Moorhen; 82 Fieldfare and 30 Redwing flew south.

Derek Evans

Cooper lane

Spotted around ten Fieldfares on the tops of the hawthorn trees in Cooper lane Haydock  this morning, chatting as they made their way from tree to tree.
SteB.

Barn owl

1-45am, this morning (29/10/16) a Barn owl was seen flying very low over my garden in Clipsley lane Haydock, heading south.
Fantastic.
SteB.

Carr Mill Dam

1 Little Grebe; 1 Water Rail - both at the Goyt inlet.

Derek Evans

Starlings

Large amount of Starlings on the rooftops and gutters along the row of terraced houses in Clipsley lane Haydock 9-30am, nice to see these large flocks of Starlings .
SteB.

Carr Mill Dam

1 Teal; 1 Water Rail; 11 Siskin - all at the Goyt inlet.

Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

5 Wigeon (one male, 4 female) on the water; 57 Skylark flew east; 1 Siskin.

Derek Evans

Cooper lane

Around 30 Redwings' seen feeding on the Hawthorn trees along Cooper lane Haydock.
SteB.

St Helens Cemetery

34 Redwing flew east; 80 Fieldfare flew south.

Derek Evans

Billinge Hill

Couple of hundred Pink footed geese feeding in stubble at the bottom of the hill near crank rd opposite the  humped back bridge.

Laffak Pond, Chain Lane

3 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Snipe, 5 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare.

Derek Evans

Woodpigeon

1 squab near flightless/not fully fledged on cycle track along East Lancs Road at Moss Bank - a late date.

Derek Evans

Reed's Lane, Rainford

2,350 Pink-footed Goose in the area of which approx 700 feeding in stubble to west of Lane.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

1,040 Pink-footed Goose in flight in the area of Reed's Moss.

Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

4 Tufted Duck; 10 Skylark and 5 Redwing flew south/south east; 2 Willow Tit.

Derek Evans

Windle Brook / East Lancs Road

13th October 2016 1530hrs Between Windle Brook and East Lancs Rd there is a small circular pond lined with phragmites. In full view and easily identifiable with eye and then Swaroski"s a bittern rose from the reeds and circled before departing to the east towards Rainford by pass.

Stephen Murphy

Merton Bank Open Space

3 Fieldfare flew east at 0755.

Derek Evans

Sandy Lane and Berrington's Lane

At Sandy Lane 520 Pink-footed Goose (distantly in flight), 2 Teal, 3 Rook.
At Berrington's Lane 1 Chiffchaff.

Derek Evans

Buzzards

Four Buzzards spotted circling low over Station rd, Haydock 12pm.
SteB.

Stanley Bank

3 Teal on pool in woodland.

Derek Evans

Geese

Once again around 200 Pinks seen flying over Haydock at 8am, heading E.
SteB.

Geese

Around 100 Pinks over Haydock 8am, Heading East.
SteB.

Taylor Park Lake

1 female Wigeon; 4 Tufted Duck; 68 Coot.

Derek Evans

Geese

7-45am this morning, 100 -150 Geese,( possible Pinks), seen flying over Haydock, heading SE.
SteB.

Laffak Pond, Chain Lane

16 Pink-footed Goose flew south at 0820; 1 Snipe flew east at 0830; 39 Redwing flew south between 0750-0900; 3 Siskin around.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

1 Hobby flew through at 0910 - this is a late date for Merseyside; 60 Pied Wagtail fed in ploughed field.

Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

2 Snipe in flooded field; 9 Meadow Pipit; 2 Swallow flew east.

Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

1 Green Sandpiper (as on Monday) also fed in flooded field north of Dig Pits at 0805-0830; 1 Peregrine on Feral Pigeon kill in stubble near Otter's Swift at 0840.

Derek Evans

Hedgehog video, my garden

I set up a wildlife camera in my garden to try and catch the hedgehog that has been visiting the garden recently. I've got an upturned plastic storage box with a cd sized hole cut in the side of it to prevent cats getting at the food. I tried cat food for the first few night, but there was no interest in that so I switched to sunflower hearts and immediately got a result on the very first night...

Hopefully this one will be fat enough to get through the winter!

Damian P

Carr Milll Dam

1 Green Sandpiper watched feeding on mud at Nineteen Arches from 0755-0825 before it was flushed by dog walkers and flew high to the south.

Derek Evans

Wheatear near Billinge hill (sunday 18th sept)

Hedgehog in our garden

Hedgehog eating a pear in our garden. Considerably more healthy than the ones ive seen run over in Crank Rd these last couple of weeks!

Havannah flash

Three Buzzards and twenty Swallows seen at 7-30am,farmers fields around Havannah flash.
SteB.

St Helens town centre

This morning at 0845 a Peregrine perched atop brick industrial chimney south of World of Glass (and viewed from there). This is the same location as on 6th May.

Derek Evans

Burgy Banks South

1 Willow Tit. I've never seen this species here before.

Derek Evans

Berrington's Lane, Rainford

3 Little Grebe; 1 Willow Tit.

Derek Evans

Lapwings

4 pm Thursday Sept. 8th.

65 lapwings on recently ploughed land alongside Penny Lane, Collins Green near Burtonwood. Haven't seen a flock of lapwings on this field (only isolated individuals) or in the immediate neighbourhood for many years.

Graham Mercer 

Laffak Pond, Chain Lane

4 Teal; 6 Tufted Duck; 1 Kingfisher; 2 Willow Warbler.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

270 Canada Goose; 1 Yellow Wagtail; 1 Whinchat.

Derek Evans

Swallows

Six swallows' spotted tonight flying South over Haydock 19-45.
SteB.

Moss Lane, Windle

2 Yellow Wagtail; 1 Whinchat.

Derek Evans

Rainford area

Mossborough Circle/Roundabout: 150 Lapwing on plough; Dairy Farm Road: 4 Snipe in flight; Moss Nook Lane: 2 Wheatear.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat.

Derek Evans.

Moss Lane, Windle

118 Barnacle Goose, 30 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat, 1 Rook.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane Windle

Tuesday 23rd August 124 Barnacle Goose best viewed from the East Lancs Road as they feed in stubble south of the rugby club and south of the East Lancs Road. Along Moss Lane itself 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Meadow Pipit.
3 Swift moving west over cornfileds at Moss Bank.

Derk Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

Thursday 18th August 0610-0810:  2 Yellow Wagtail; 2 Wheatear; 1 Whinchat; 1 Stonechat.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

Tuesday 16th August 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Derek Evans

Eccleston Mere key

I don't suppose anyone has a spare key for Eccleston Mere? I have tried to get one for years but always just hit a brick wall. I know it's a long shot but I'd be happy to pay someone for one.
Many thanks Damian

Moss Lane, Windle

Monday 15th August 4 Yellow Wagtail; 1 Whinchat.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

Saturday 13th August 110 Canada Goose fed in stubble; covey of 4 Grey Partridge; flock of 50 Goldfinch.

Derek Evans

Basin

Kingfisher spotted at the Basin , Blackbrook canal late last night 12/8/16.
SteB.

Carr Mill Dam area

Wednesday 10th August At Carr Mill Dam 10 Common Tern and 2 Common Sandpiper. Along Arch Lane between the Dam and Garswood: 2 Raven over at 0715; loafing gulls comprised 1 Herring, 80 Lesser Black-backed, 61 Black-headed and 6 Common; flock 60 House Sparrow; 12 Tree Sparrow.

Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

Monday 8th August 40 Great Crested Grebe comprised 21 adult and 19 juvenile (in approximately 6 broods).

Derek Evans

Mink

Spotted three Mink at the Basin on Blackbrook canal this Morning, one adult,two young.
SteB.

Moss Lane, Windle

Saturday 6th August 1 Whinchat still present at 0650.

Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Windle

Friday 5th August 1 Whinchat (the same bird as on 2nd) at 0700.

Derek Evans

Fungi

Found growing at the bottom of mature Beech trees, anyone got ideas to what it is ?
SteB.

Moss Lane, Windle

Tuesday 2nd August: 1 juvenile Whinchat at 0735. Also 30 Canada Goose, 44 Jackdaw, 150 Starling, 1 Linnet, 1 Meadow Pipit and 2 Stoat.

Derek Evans

Tufted duck

Tufted duck with young near Blackbrook, as always nice to see, three Mallard also in photo.
Two Mute swans and one Cygnet also on Canal.
SteB.

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Red Admiral

Nice to see a few butterflies out and about on Havannah flash.
This one was seen this morning while out walking.
SteB.

Moss Lane

Monday 25th July My first Common Gull (first summer plumage?) of the autumn.

Derek Evans.

Moss Lane

Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd July

Over two morning visits: 2 Buzzard, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, 100+ Woodpigeon on stubble, 40 Swallow, 22 Pied Wagtail in the sheep field, 100 Starling, 20 Tree Sparrow.

Derek Evans

Little grebe

Regarding the little grebe on Lyme and wood country park, Paul, this is the first time that I have seen them,also five young in total with the mother. Interesting to know if anyone else has seen little grebes in this area as the ponds are still a little bare of vegetation etc.
SteB.

Lyme and wood country park

Think this is a little Grebe,look very closely and you may be able to spot the young one on her back.
SteB.

Four spotted chaser

Spotted on Havannah flash.
SteB.

Dragonfly

Picture of Larval skin,cast skin of a Dragonfly. (old skin after moulting).

Carr Mill Dam

Thursday 14th July 1 Sedge Warbler in bulrushes at the Goyt inlet at 0635.

Derek Evans

This week

Monday 4th July  At Moss Lane: 3 Oystercatcher; 2 Lapwing chicks with 5 adults.

Tuesday 5th July  At Carr Mill Dam: 2 eclipse drake Tufted Duck plus a female with one tiny duckling; 1 Common Sandpiper.

Wednesday 6th July  At Hard Lane playing fields: my first juvenile Black-headed Gull of the autumn. At St Helens Crematorium: confirmed breeding of Coal Tit with at least one recently fledged juvenile in a flock of 5.

Derek Evans

Today

Buzzard 2, Mucky mountains N L Willows.
Kingfisher 1,  Havannah flash.
Swifts 20,  plus Havannah flash.
Rabbit 7, near common road.
Grey heron 2,  near common road.
Brown hawker 1.
SteB.

Old Coach Road

I did a lap of the Old Coach Road this afternoon with a detour to Moss Farm...

8 Curlew (these flew up from a field near to Moss Farm)
6+ Oystercatcher
Yellowhammer 2
Tree Sparrow 1
Chiffchaff 3
Blackcap 4 (3m, 1f)
Whitethroat 2
Linnet 1
Kestrel 3
Buzzard 1
Stock Dove 2
Skylark 5
Hundreds of swift

I've not seen any yellow wagtail there yet this year, the first year in the past five that I've not seen them there easily.

Also, two buzzard and two raven flew over my house this afternoon in Eccleston.

Damian P

This week

Tuesday 28th June 1 Redpoll songflight display north end of Carr Mill Dam.

Wednesday 29th June At Merton Bank Open Space confirmed breeding Reed Warbler (adult carrying food for young) - perhaps 2 pairs; also 1 pair Sedge Warbler.

Saturday 2nd July At Carr Mill Dam pair Stock Dove and post-breeding flock 10 Mistle Thrush.

Derek Evans

Green Arches at Light , Haydock

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

Carr Mill Dam

Monday 27th June: 8 young Great Crested Grebe in two broods of 4; 3 Cormorant; 67 Mallard; 1 female Tufted Duck; 5 Common Tern; 4 Oystercatcher chasing and calling high overhead; 1 Kingfisher; 2 Nuthatch.

Derek Evans

Reed's Farm/Mossborough Roundabout

Tuesday 21st June; 80 Lapwing (failed &/or non-breeders?); pair Oystercatcher; one Red-legged Partridge; 2 singing Corn Bunting.

Derek Evans

Lapwings

Counted 34 Lapwings in the fields opposite Havannah flash this morning, 6-8 is the norm for this area.
SteB.

Moss Lane

All the usual cast along Moss Lane this afternoon, the only unusual sighting were the three painted lady butterflies...

Corn bunting 4+ heard
Yellowhammer 8+
Tree sparrow 12+
Skylark 3
Oystercatcher 3
Lapwing 5
Buzzard 2
Kestrel 1

Painted Lady 3
Small white 1

Damian P

One of three Painted Lady butterflies

Moth

Caught this lovely looking Elephant Hawkmoth in my garden last night, after a poor start, things look like they are picking up.
SteB.

Bats

Pipistrelle bats were detected at the following locations last night, around Haydock. 10pm.
Clipsley lane .
Cooper lane footpath .
Woods behind Station road .
No other species of Bat was detected.
SteB.

Pond dipping

Spent an hour pond dipping with the Grandchildren this afternoon, the pond behind Chain lane estate.
Smooth newt.
Water stick insect .
Tadpoles.
Stickle back.
A good afternoon to get the kids interested in nature
SteB.

Tawny Owl

Thursday 2nd June: 1 Tawny Owl adult with 1 young in woodland east of Barrow's Farm, Chadwick Green, Billinge at 0800.

Derek Evans

Near/north-east of Carr Mill Dam

Saturday 28th May: 1 Oystercatcher near Hollin Hey; 4 Tree Sparrow along Arch Lane; Redpoll in song flight near Charity Farm along Arch Lane.
Monday 30th May: 12 Greylag Goose in flight over fields east of Carr Mill Dam; confirmed breeding of Lapwing with 3 chicks in fields east of Chadwick Green; confirmed breeding of Grey Wagtail at Deer House Farm along Garswood Old Road with adult male carrying food; 2 Tree Sparrow along Arch Lane.

A Fox caught, killed and carried away a Hare at 0645 near Carter's Fold Farm along Garswood Old Road.

Derek Evans

Banded demoiselle

Several Banded demoiselle seen on Havannah flash this morning,the first ones for me this year.

Birds present.
Cormorant 1.
Buzzard 1.
Kestrel 1.
Reed warbler several.
Mute swans 2 over Tesco early morning.
Ste.

Today

Wednesday 25th May 1 Tawny Owl mobbed by Blackbird at 0640 along Garswood Old Road near Carr Mill Dam.

Derek Evans

Havannah flash

Mink spotted crossing the path into reed beds on Havannah flash 11 30am.
Buzzard was also seen being mobbed by three crows.
SteB.

Arches Pool/Dig Pit at Carr Mill Dam

Tuesday 24th May No sign of Night Heron 0600-0900. Confirmed breeding of Grey Wagtail (3 juveniles) and of Goldcrest (adult feeding 2 young). Also 1 Willow Tit present.

Derek Evans

Sighting

Spotted around 11.30 a.m. Sunday 22nd May at The Arches, Carr Mill Dam, St.Helens. Pretty sure its a Night Heron.

Des

Today

Monday 16th May
1 Hobby flew east over Merton Bank Open Space, Sankey Valley at 0630.

Derek Evans

My Elephant Hawk Moth has hatched.....sort of

I found this Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar in the summer whilst strimming my mother in law's garden. I decided to keep it as we'd destroyed it's habitat and to hopefully show the kids a beautiful moth.

I found some info on a few blogs and kept it in some dried willow-herb until it pupated a few days later.

I've been keeping it in my garage in a biscuit tin, and transferred the chrysalis to a butterfly house a few weeks ago, and have been checking it every day since.

This evening, I've just been in to check and found this....

Amblyjoppa Proteus

Not quite what I was hoping for but pretty interesting all the same. It's huge - 23mm not including the antennae.

It's obviously a parasitic wasp of some type, I'm assuming the caterpillar must have already been infected when I found it. The closest ID I've found so far is amblyjoppa proteus as this seems to be the only Ichneumoninae wasp that parsitises elephant hawk moth. I'll try and find an appropriate forum to post photos on to find out what it is for sure. I'm still trying to decide what or if to tell the kids!

Damian P

Today

Friday 13th May

At Merton Bank Open Space, Sankey Valley: 1 Sedge Warbler and 3 Reed Warbler.

At Double Locks, Ravenhead Greenway: another pair of Grey Wagtail.

Derek Evans

Havannah flash

Sightings from around Havannah flash this morning.
Common tern 2.
Kingfisher 1.
Buzzard 6 in total.
Reed warbler 3.

Orange tip.
Speckled wood
Small tortoiseshell
Tadpoles.
SteB

Bluetit hatching

I've found the moment a chick hatches.  Watch the egg on the left just before the 2nd adult comes in...




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwplXJdMW4Y&t=287m15s

Bluetit camera

The bluetit chicks are doing well, both adults are feeding them regularly. There were 9 eggs, and we've seen up to 8 chicks at any one time although they're very hard to count, may well be 9. I'll be leaving the camera on as much as possible until they fledge.

Damian P

Today

Monday 9th May
6 goslings with adult pair of Canada Geese at St Helens Canal near Technical College towards town centre.
1 Common Tern over Burgy Banks South.

Confirmed breeding of Grey Wagtail - pair of which female collected food for young at St Helens Canal near Chamber of Commerce towards town centre.

Derek Evans

*Whinchat* Dairy Farm Road - Old Coach Road Lap

I did a lap of the Rainford Mosslands this afternoon hoping to see the recent whimbrel. There was a bird in the last sheep field on the right but I'm not sure if it's a whimbrel or a curlew. The bill shape looks good for whimbrel on some photos but I'd expect the medial crown stripe to be visible on some of them and it isn't...

Bill shape looks ok to me for whimbrel on some of the photos...

But - no medial crown stripe...

And on this one, the bill looks distinctly curlewy..

I'm thinking this is a curlew but would be delighted if anyone says differently! Maybe it was too distant to see the crown stripe clearly?

Also today was this whinchat which was on the ploughed field on the left of the public footpath which runs from Inglenook Farm to Dairy Farm Road. It had me really confused because it was behaving a bit like a wheatear at first and was also quite distant and into the light. It was only when I got home that I worked out (via stonechat!) what it was...

Whinchat 1

Curlew? 1

Shelduck 2

Oysercatcher 3

Wheatear 2 (1m,1f)

Stock Dove 3

Whitethroat 5+ heard along the way

Blackcap 1 heard

Willow Warbler 2 heard

Chiffchaff 1 heard

Skylark 15+

Lapwing 25+

Damian P

My garden, Eccleston

Male siskin again on the sunflower heart feeder today - I thought they'd all gone by now.

Goldcrest heard singing this morning too.

Damian P

Sankey valley

Birds present this afternoon.
Buzzard 3. Near common road, Newton le willows.
Sparrowhawk 1 Havannah flash.
Common tern 3.Havannah flash.
House martin.
Swallow.
Swift.
Butterflies.
Peacock.
Orange tip.
(Stoat).
Rabbit.
SteB.

Today

Friday 6th May
1 Peregrine atop brick chimney in St Helens Town Centre.

2 Reed Warber and 1 Sedge Warbler at Merton Bank Open Space, Sankey Valley.

Bluetit nest - Birdcam

We have 3 chicks which hatched early this morning! Click on the tab in the top right to have a look. I'll try and leave the stream running as much as possible now that they have hatched.

http://sthelensbirds.blogspot.co.uk/p/bluetit-camera.html

Damian P

Eccleston Mere

I had another quick look after work, it was a gorgeous evening, I wish I'd have had more time to look around. I've only ever heard grasshopper warbler once before in exactly the same area about two or three years ago. My hearing is crap but even I could clearly hear this one.

Grasshopper Warbler 1 heard reeling near SW corner

Sedge Warbler 1 singing away near to the water outlet on the west side

Whitethroat 3+

Blackcap 2

Chiffchaff and Willow warbler 2-3 of each

Reed Bunting 4

Also, out of interest myself and Paul saw a Canada Goose on Monday at the Mere which had been ringed. I submitted the details and got this reply today...

Ringing Scheme: London Ring Number: 5272867 Species of bird: Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

This bird was ringed by RSPCA as age at least 1 year, sex male on 28-Jun-2014 15:45:00 at Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, UK

OS Map reference SD4097 accuracy 0, co-ordinates 54deg 22min N 2deg 55min W accuracy 0.

Colour Marks left below knee RW(BASC)

It was found on 02-May-2016 time unknown at Eccleston Mere, St Helens, Merseyside, UK

OS Map reference SJ4894 accuracy 0, co-ordinates 53deg 26min N 2deg 47min W accuracy 0.

Finding condition: Sight record by non-ringer

Finding circumstances: Field Record

Extra Information: -

It was found 674 days after it was ringed, 105 km from the ringing site, direction S.

I noticed this evening that another one has a ring on, but it was with young so I didn't like to get too close to get the numbers.

Damian P

Haydock

Six Swifts spotted flying over my garden this afternoon, the first of the year for me.
SteB.

Carr Mill Dam

Wednesday 4th May: 5 Swift at 0830. Derek Evans

Havannah flash

7am.birds present.
Blackcap 3.
Cormorant 2.
Reed bunting 1.
Buzzard 1.
Sedge warbler 1.
Swallow 1.
Grey heron 1.
Tufted duck 2.
SteB.

Eccleston Mere

A fairly brief walk this evening with Paul B...

Sedge warbler 1
Redpoll 1
Whitethroat 1
Willow warbler 2
Blackcap 5
Chiffchaff 2
Treecreeper 1
Mandarin Duck 1
Swift 4
Lots of swallows, house martin,  and sand martin around

Damian P

Carr Mill Dam

Monday 2nd May: 10 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, 100 Sand Martin. Derek Evans

My garden Eccleston

Male siskin still visiting the sunflower heart feeder daily.

Damian P

Eccleston Mere

Lots of migrants around this morning, including:

 

Swift (one)

Swallow

Sand Martin

House Martin

Whitethroat

Willow Warbler

Blackcap

Sedge Warbler

Chiffchaff

Common Sandpiper

Chris McEntee

Pied Flycatcher, Taylor Park

 

Chris McEntee

Cuckoo

This morning on Havannah flash I was rewarded by hearing the sound of a Cuckoo, I was really delighted with this as the last time I heard a Cuckoo on the flash was in 2002.
Other birds.
Common tern 2
Oystercatcher 1 over.
SteB.

Eccleston Mere

Another quick look on my way home...

Common sandpiper 1 on East Bank again opposite the timing hut
Mandarin duck 1m
Goldeneye 1f near the island
Sandmartin 15+
Swallow 30+
Housemartin 5+
Grey wagtail 1

Damian P

Today

Tuesday 26th April: 8 Common Tern and 1 Common Sandpiper at Carr Mill Dam; 1 Whitethroat at Stanley Bank; 1 Sedge Warbler at Sankey Valley next to the Visitor Centre.

Derek Evans

My garden Eccleston

A pair of siskin on my feeders again this morning, they've been pretty much every day for the past few weeks.

Damian P

Havannah flash

7am. Short walk with the dogs, birds present this morning.
Buzzard 3.
Blackcap 1.
Tree creeper 1.
Lapwing 6.
Canada goose 2 over.
Reed bunting 3.
Swallow 1 over.
SteB.

Old Coach Road

On a bike ride with the kids....
Shelduck 2 - I think these are following me around!
Blackcap 1 singing
Willow warbler 2 singing

and 1 baby lapwing!

Damian P

Eccleston mere

Another quick look after work...

Mandarin duck 1f
House Martin 1
Swallow 20+
Blackcap 1 singing
Mute swan 12

Damian P

Today

Thursday 21st April at Sandy Lane Rainford: pair Grey Partridge; pair Oystercatcher; one Raven; one Whitethroat seen and in song.
At Berrington's Lane, Rainford: one Fieldfare.
Derek Evans.

Havannah flash

Tufted duck 2 /1 male / 1 female.
Grey Heron 1.
Reed bunting.
Buzzard 2
Lapwing.
Jay.

Orange tip 1
Small tortoiseshell 3
SteB.

Eccleston mere

A quick look on my way home...

Common sandpiper 1
Swallow 1
Reed bunting 2 male
Song thrush 1
Mute swan 7
Tufted duck 9+

Damian P

Carr Mill Dam

Tuesday 19th April: 2 Greylag Goose, pair Tufted Duck, 2 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper.

Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

Monday 18th April: Pair Teal (main Dam at 0850), 3 Common Tern, 100+ Sand Martin and 1 Tree Sparrow. Derek Evans

Wildlife, the Law & Respect

Hi all,

Its at this time of the year when we suddenly need to think a little more carefully about posting sightings and photos of breeding birds.

By all means feel free to share information privately (especially with me!) but always be wary of putting the info out for all and sundry to see ..... there are still some unscrupulous people out there who trawl the internet for breeding bird info, only last week some peregrine eggs were stolen from a nest in the north west.

In regards to photography please respect the wildlife and remember that patience, understanding and good field craft will always trump unrestrained encroaching on a subject.  Wildlife is sensitive and disturbing nesting birds is an offence.

Cheers

Paul B

This week

Monday 11th April: Burgy Banks North - 1 Blackcap in song.

Tuesday 12th April: Laffak Pond (Chain Lane) - 1 drake Pochard; 6 Sand Martin.

Friday 15th April: Grasmere Avenue - 1 Raven was first site record. Berrington's Lane - pair Oystercatcher; 1 Red-legged Partridge; 2 Siskin; 4 Redpoll. Sandy Lane - 20 Fieldfare.  

Green Woodpecker

Having been for a short walk this afternoon in Billinge Plants and watching a Nuthatch at its nesthole but frustratingly not being able to get in position for a photograph, I went back this evening (7.40pm) to see if there was any more activity, but this time without my camera. After being there for a couple of minutes and deciding it was too late in the day, a larger bird flew in and landed on the same tree trunk just yards above my head. Because it was starting to get dusk it was slightly silhouetted . I thought it was a woodpecker but it didn't look like a great-spotted. And it couldn't be a green woodpecker because ive never seen one .. and what are the odds of seeing one just yards above my head? Then it started yaffling! It stayed for about 30 seconds flew to another tree about 20 yards away , yaffled some more.... and then flew directly in the direction of the border between Abbots farm- Bispham wood. After tapping on the tree trunk with a stone for a further 30 seconds the Nuthatch didn't show itself so I went home!

Bits and pieces at Eccleston Mere

Fairly quiet round the mere this afternoon, with the most notable birds being 2 males and 1 female Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler all being the first I've seen in St Helens this year, also m&f Pochard, 6+ Tufted Duck and 4+ Great-creasted Grebes

Ray Banks

Sent from my iPad

Havannah flash

Sightings from Havannah flash this afternoon.
Brimstone 1
Orange tip 1
Swallow 1
Buzzard 2
Reed bunting 1

SteB.

Moss Lane

Shelduck 2 (1m,1f)
Oystercatcher 4
Corn bunting 1
Stock dove 4
Grey Partridge 2
Yellowhammer 2
Lesser black backed gull 20+
Grey Heron 2
Lapwing 10+
Buzzard 1

Brown Hare 2

Damian P

Burgy Banks North

Saturday 9th April: 4 male Blackcap chasing of which one in song at Burgy Banks North (above Hinckley Road) at 0845.

Derek Evans

Carr Mill area

Thursday 7th April: 4 Wheatear (3 male, one female) at 1145 on ploughed land near Otter's Swift Farm. 

Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

Wed 6th April: 90 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow and one House Martin at 0900.

Derek Evans

Bats

First Bats of the year spotted tonight  flying around my back garden,8-20pm. Pipistrelle.
SteB.

Towards the town centre

Monday 4th April: female Mallard with 7 ducklings on St Helens Canal near New Double Locks; one Willow Warbler in song near Lower Hall Street at 0830.

Derek Evans

Havannah flash

Birds this morning.

Buzzard 2

Kingfisher 2

Lapwings 4

SteB.

 

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Bird box camera

I've streamed my bird box camera to YouTube and will try to keep the stream live a much as possible. We've got bluetits which are just starting to nest. They're normally most active in the mornings and then one bird roosts from about 7.30 onwards. I've added a new tab above that links straight to the feed. It's not working from my phone though for some reason, will try and get that sorted next.

Damian P

Sankey Valley and Carr Mill Dam

Thurs 31st March: 2 (pair) Teal near Visitor Centre.

Fri 1st April: 2 Fieldfare near Stanley Bank; 20 Sand Martin and 3 Swallow at Carr Mill Dam.

Derek Evans

Wheatear

Spotted two male Wheatears in the farmers fields  along Cooper lane footpath at 7am this morning, along with one Buzzard.

Heard my first Chiffchaff of the year this morning walking the dog.  Just hadn't expected to hear it in Rainhill village.  Sounded like it was in the clump of trees, by the railway line, in the far corner of the playing field of the old Youth Club on Old Lane/Warrington Road junction.  I heard one round there last year for few days.

Carr Mill Dam

11.45 Today at Dam

5 Sand Martin

1 Swallow

1 House Martin

 

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Havannah flash

Plenty of frogspawn in the newly established ponds on the flash this morning (job well done).
Buzzard 4
Lapwings 7
SteB.

7 Singing Chiffchaffs

A count of 7 singing Chiffchaffs from Sankey Valley Visitors Centre along canal to Vulcan Village.

 

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Havannah flash

Birds present this morning.
Tufted duck 2, 1 m/1 f.
Teal 15
Nuthatch 1
Cormorant 3 over.
Reed bunting 1
Buzzard 1
Lapwing.
SteB.

Sankey Valley: Carr Mill Dam to Visitor Centre at Blackbrook

Tues 22nd March: pair of Teal; 3 Mandarin (2 drakes chasing a duck); 2 Chiffchaff.

Derek Evans

Newton Lake

2 Green Sandpipers feeding at the far end of the lake at 4pm today.

 

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Moss Lane

I've not been out for ages due to one thing or another, so it was nice to get out in the sunshine this afternoon. I met another birder who had just seen a merlin down there, but I didn't see it. There wasn't much around at first but the later I stayed out, the more things started to appear. I've never seen so many hare at once before, they were just chilling out in the evening sun.

Redwing 40+
Fieldfare 8+
Corn bunting 2 (kindly pointed out by another birder)
Meadow pipit 3
Goldcrest 1
Skylark 5+
Lapwing 15+
Starling 40+
Buzzard 1
Yellowhammer 10+

Two of the many hare around, the others were more distant.

Corn bunting

Fieldfare flock + lapwing.

A single redwing in the trees which I embarrassingly thought was a corn bunting on the back of the camera! 

This was as close as the flock of redwing got.


Brown Hare 10+

Damian P