*** 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.


Oleander Drive, Eccleston

1 Swift flew low beside eaves as if still attending nest.
Derek Evans

St Helens Canal

3 Mandarin along the canal between the World of Glass and the St Helens Chamber buildings this morning. All superficially in 'female-type' plumage but at least one was a drake in eclipse plumage.
Derek Evans

Sankey Valley

1 Tawny Owl at 0720 in the dark and damp Stanley Bank Wood being mobbed by Jay and Blackbird.
Derek Evans

Virus-free. www.avast.com

Berrington's Lane, Rainford

1 adult Hobby flew through hunting at 0805 heading towards Sandy Lane.
Derek Evans

Virus-free. www.avast.com

Laffak Pond, Chain Lane

17 Tufted Duck comprised 13 adults and a brood of 4 ducklings.
Derek Evans

Virus-free. www.avast.com

Carr Mill Dam

Tuesday 1st August 1 Little Grebe; 2 Common Tern.

Wednesday 2nd August 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 1 Common Tern; 8 Grey Wagtail.

Friday 4th August 30 Great Crested Grebe of which at least 4 were juvenile; 116 Mallard; 96 Canada Goose (70 flying and 26 flightless).

Derek Evans