*** 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.


Redwings

Observed this morning around Havannah flash area.
Redwing 50.
Grey partridge 10.
Pinks 100 over.
Mute Swan 2 over,( large cygnets ).
Pete Kemp.

Havannah flash

Observed the following this morning as I walked through the Flash.
Canada geese 40 over.
Pheasant 6.
Mute Swan 1,( large cygnet ).
Stoat or a Weasel 1, not sure which? briefly seen.
Pete Kemp.

Bats

Large amount of Pipistrelle bats observed as I walked along Cooper lane footpath tonight at dusk .
Pete Kemp.

Havannah flash

Birds observed on the flash this morning.
Grey heron 2.
Buzzard 1.
Teal 10. Sankey brook.
Mallard .
Moorhen .
Grey wagtail 1.
Plus the large amount of Carrion crows/ Jackdaws at first light coming from the South, heading North.
SteB.



Pink-footed Geese


October 1st - 4th

Smallish flocks (or more probably a flock) of wild geese flying low over Penny Lane (Collins Green, Burtonwood) after sunset and before sunrise every morning this week. Around 40 - 50 of them. They usually fly from the Haydock/Carr Mill direction each morning and in the opposite direction each evening but this morning (Thursday October 4th) they were heading towards, rather than from, Haydock/Carr Mill.

Pretty sure they are Pink-footed but have only seen them very briefly each time, and without binoculars. Would love to know where they are feeding if anyone knows. 

Graham Mercer

Pinks

Around 50 Pink footed geese over Haydock this morning,
Also Sparrowhawk spotted near Havannah flash.
SteB.

Geese

Heard Geese in the distance as I walked through Havannah flash at first light this morning, possible Pinks?
Pete Kemp.

Swallows

Still a few Swallows about with four spotted over Haydock 9am this morning,
Sparrowhawk also seen flying through my garden late lastnight.
SteB.

Large flocks of Carrion crows and Jackdaws overhead at first light this morning as I walked through Havannah flash,

Coming from the South, heading North.

Pete Kemp.

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

Carrion crows

Large flocks of Carrion crows and Jackdaws flying overhead at first light this morning as I walked through Havannah flash,
Coming from the South heading North.
Pete Kemp.

Havannah flash

7-30am
Observed the following as I walked through the flash this morning.
Buzzard 3.
Sparrowhawk 1.
Cormorant 1.
Mute Swan, 7. (2 adults plus 5 juvenile.)
Cormorant 1.
Pete Kemp.

Haydock

11-30am.
Three Swallows spotted over Cooper lane footpath, also one Buzzard sat in the hedgerow near Flash.
Pete Kemp.

Haydock

Still a few House Martin's around, two spotted over Haydock this morning, along with two juvenile Mute swans over Haydock high school.
SteB.

Havannah flash

7-30am.
Buzzard 3.
Cormorant 1.
Mallard 30+.
Large amount of Wood pigeons.
SteB.

Havannah flash

Three Buzzards spotted over the flash this morning, 8am.
SteB.
Ste

Havannah flash

Buzzard 5.
Swallow 2.
Jay 2.
Large amount of wood pigeons in fields.
SteB

Geese

Ten Canada geese spotted over Haydock 7-45am this morning.
Pete Kemp

Buzzard

Spotted three Buzzards this morning soaring overhead, behind Station road Haydock
Pete Kemp

Carr Mill Dam

1 Lesser Whitethroat at 0720 in brambles along the south side of the Goyt inlet; called twice and well seen but elusive.
Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

Confirmed breeding of Little Grebe: adult and 2 juveniles viewed from the Arches.
Derek Evans

Moss Lane, Rainford

1 Red-legged Partridge; 13 Lapwing; pair Stock Dove; 160+ Starling; 25+ Tree Sparrow.
Derek Evans

Laffak Pond, Chain Lane

Confirmed breeding this morning of Great Crested Grebe (one adult with one juvenile) and Little Grebe (2 adults and 2 juveniles). Also 6 Tufted Duck - but best were 2 Shoveler in female-type plumage.
Derek Evans

Today

Merton Bank Open Space: 2 Reed Warbler; 1 Sedge Warbler.
St Helens Canal beside St Helens Chamber: 4 Mandarin in female-type plumage.
Derek Evans

Carr Mill Dam

1 Common Sandpiper feeding below the Weir this morning.
Derek Evans