18.01.15. Birdlog

A walk from Holpool Gutter and around No.4 tank this morning. There were good numbers of Common Teal and Moorhen on the ice-free water with 2 Grey Heron and a single Little Egret on the bank . A Green Sandpiper left the gutter then doubled back to land back on the muddy banks. A female Merlin sat on top of the cropped hedge in the adjacent field keeping an eye on the large finch flock also in the field where a party of 15 Mute Swan were gathered.

Along the Manchester Ship Canal path overlooking Frodsham Score a flock of mixed swans mostly made up of Whooper but also some Bewicks and Mute Swans with the attendant Greylag Goose and all were close to the canal bank. On the canal itself a raft of 30 Coot and several Teal were joined by a family group of Mute Swan and 6 Little Grebe.

A flock of 50 plus Stock Dove were feeding on the raised bank of the score as were several Raven and a single Common Buzzard. The ‘Splashing Pool’ held only 4 Coot and a pair of Little Grebe. A Peregrine was seen to chase a wader but was unsuccessful in its attempt to secure a meal.

Observer: Paul Ralston (images 1-2). Image 3 by WSM.

19.01.15. Birdlog

I spent an hour along the Manchester Ship Canal at midday. Wrens seemed to be in every other bush along the tow path. The Mute Swans were again in the field alongside the Holpool Gutter as was a Little Egret . The mixed swan flock was again on Frodsham Score with many hidden by the canal bank.

The female  Merlin was perched in a hawthorn bush which it has taken a liking to, before flying over the canal and settled on a post there. A pair of Great White Egret were feeding alongside each other out on the salt marsh and followed each other about the area.

Observer: Paul Ralston.

This aerial image taken yesterday shows the main spots but includes the mixed winter swan flock on the edge of Frodsham Score. Image by WSM.

23.01.15. Birdlog 

A walk along the Manchester Ship Canal overlooking Frodsham Score at high tide which covered the marsh bringing masses of waders such as Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew and Lapwing in to the air as several raptors took advantage of the situation with Peregrine, Merlin, Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk seen in the area. Hundreds of Canada Geese formed a large raft which held some Pink-footed as well as the mixed swan flock.

A flock of at least 200 Goldfinch fed on the bankside vegetation and many Skylark left the marsh as the water covered the whole area. Back on the approach road to Ince Berth large numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare fed alongside Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit with 2 Little Egret in attendance .

A single Great White Egret was seen out on the score alongside several Little Egret.

Observer and images: Paul Ralston.

24.01.14. Birdlog

Setting the scene on the incoming tide was a pair of Great White Egret tiptoeing their way along the tide line with Little Egret in a supporting role. A female Merlin was again poised and set for the enviable passerine glut.

3000 Golden Plover, 8000 Lapwing, 200 Grey Plover, 100 Knot, 10000 Dunlin, 50 Oystercatcher and typically for this time of year 3 scarce Bar-tailed Godwit for the marsh.

Observer: Frank Duff.

A really refreshing afternoon at the marsh. We parked up at the same time as Frank who was heading off to the score for high tide. No.6 tank stayed surprisingly quiet considering it was a big high tide. Maybe the large amount of shooters were putting the birds off. Anyway, the numbers for the count were: 100 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 300 Grey Plover, 300 Golden Plover, 10 Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 100 Lapwing, 6 Common Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 8 Black-headed Gull, 7 Herring Gull, 7 Shoveler, 3 Cormorant, 3 Tufted Duck, 30 Common Teal, 40 Mallard, 4 Wigeon, 2 Common Shelduck, 3 Grey Heron and a solitary Moorhen .

Other birds spotted throughout the day included a Marsh Harrier hunting for most of the afternoon across the No.6 tank reeds. A very pale phase Common Buzzard spent over an hour sitting in the grass on No.5 tank, a Sparrowhawk did a flyby and a Kestrel was hunting over the new wetland area on No.3 tank. A large flock of Linnet flew by and settled in a tree alongside us for a while. A flock of at least 50 Pied Wagtail were feeding on the mud at the edge of the water on No.6 tank. Redwing and Fieldfare were plentiful and the Starlings were starting to group as were packed up for the day.

A pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were feasting on the sheep carcass along with several Ravens. On the way out we stopped to watch a pair of Stonechat sitting up high in the reeds at the edge of No.5 tank.

Observers: Nigel, Heather (and images), Findlay and Harley Wilde aka the Wilde Bunch.

25.01.15. Birdlog

Marsh Harrier and Merlin were noted by Arthur Harrison today and an excellent Dunlin murmuration video was captured by Shaun Hickey over Mount Manisty during the WeBS count.

26.01.15. Birdlog

At first light a visit to Heath Park lake off Park Road, Runcorn resulted in getting some good views and images of the Eastern (influenced) Jackdaw that has been present since mid December 2014. It is fairly obvious to see the bird as the light breaks (before it flys away when disturbed by dog walkers) feeding with Western Jackdaws by the litter bins at  the parking bay. Although the pictures show well the silvery white neck collar other images highlight the pale hood effect and in reality the collar spurs are more obvious than the pics show.

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Walking along Moorditch Lane we disturbed a Little Egret and a Cormorant from the ditch alongside both of which soon departed to safer fishing spots out on Lordship Marsh and No.6 tank respectively.

The ducks on No.6 tank were fairly low-key but nonetheless featured 12 Shoveler, 67 Common Teal, 17 Mallard, 16 Tufted Duck and 7 Common Shelduck. The Cormorant tree held a sinesiss Cormorant with several white-headed birds.

The blue-topped chimney provided a handy perch for the usual Peregrine and other raptors included a Kestrel and 3 Common Buzzard.

A huge flock of Lapwing rose up from the River Mersey during high tide, numbering in their thousands.

Out on Lordship Marsh a pair of Little Egret were feeding in a ditch by the silage tower.

A flock of Fieldfare were feeding in the fields opposite the horse paddock and 3000 Starling flew through en route to their roost.

Observers: Sparky, WSM (all images).

30.01.15. Birdlog

A walk from Ince Berth and around No.4 tank in between showers this afternoon. Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit were again on the approach road to Ince Berth as were the large flock of Redwing, Fieldfare and Blackbirds. Frodsham Score was quiet with only 2 Little Egret, Common Shelduck, Common Teal, and Mallard to be seen. Two Kestrel were hunting the canal path and a Common Buzzard was hunting ‘kestrel’ style in the strong wind. On to the path between No.4 and 6 a Sparrowhawk shot by on the lookout for a meal and put a mixed flock of finches and tits to rise into the air.

Along Lordship Lane more Curlew and Lapwing were on the stubble fields with 3 Common Snipe while a Little Egret left Holpool Gutter alongside Rake Lane. The fields adjacent to the gutter held a flock of 40 swans: A Bewick’s, 22 Mute and 18 Whooper but no sign of the usual accompanying Greylag Goose which is often with them. A female type Marsh Harrier was hunting the gutter and the banks of No.4 tank and as was another Sparrowhawk.

Observer and images: Paul Ralston.

31.01.15. Birdlog

With a stiff wind all the way from the arctic it was a cold time birding the marsh today and this was probably reflected by a lack of active birdlife.

The duck on No.6 tank were bunched together in the centre of the water with 78 Common Teal, 16 Shoveler, 45 Mallard and a solitary drake Pintail. 30 Redshank were the only waders noted.

The mitigation area of No.3 tank attracted 340 Golden Plover and 470 Lapwing but their high tide roost only lasted as long as the activities of the shooters in the area. The plovers aren’t particularly bothered by the presence of Common Buzzard but an irritated Kestrel was and soon gave the raptor short sharp thrift.

Frodsham Score was a bleak and overly exposed site, a couple of Little Egret and a small bunch of distant Whooper Swan could be forgiven for finding whatever shelter from the wind they could muster. A herd of 1200 Canada Geese were made of sterner stuff with most on the marsh at the edge of the river.

A female Marsh Harrier was hunting the reed beds of No.4 tank and 30 Raven were benefitting from the excess carrion present.

Along Lordship Lane a pair of Stonechat were on the fence wires while a flooded field behind the model aircraft field attracted 47 Redshank, Curlew and loads of Lapwing. Shortly after an adult male Peregrine zipped over the farmland fields before disappearing over Moorditch Lane.

Observer and images: WSM.

01.02.15. Birdlog

Out and about early this morning with my usual walk from Ince Berth to the north end of No.6 tank. There were 2 Little Egret and a single Great White Egret out on Frodsham Score  with hundreds of Canada Geese and 5 Mute Swan with many Common Shelduck also about the salt marsh.

Meanwhile, on the Manchester Ship Canal were 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Common Teal and more surprising a male Goldeneye which kept company with a Great Crested Grebe. Many Raven looked well fed on the fallen livestock lying about the marsh and were putting on an aerial display and even ganging up on a passing Common Buzzard.

Onward to No.6 tank and a further 3 Buzzards and a female Marsh Harrier were drifting over the reed bed there. A female Sparrowhawk shot below my vantage point overlooking the area on six in an attempt to ambush a flock of Redshank and Dunlin sheltering from the strong wind. Back along the Holpool Gutter and a mixed flock of 44 swans included both  Whooper Swan and Mute Swan (Also c30 Black-tailed Godwit along with Curlew in the same field across Holpool Gutter as the swans per Frances Ipson).

Observer: Paul Ralston (images 1 – 3).

At dusk a walk to the corner of No.6 and 3 tank to look over the mitigation area again resulted in an avian void. Perhaps the disturbance over the weekend will settle down during the week to allow the plovers to return and resettle in the area?

Two men were digging on No.5 tank with a terrier and it makes you wonder who gets to police these activities? If anyone out there is interested check this link for future reference: Birders against Wildlife Crime – BAWC Shooting season for Pheasant, Grey and Red-legged Partridges ends tonight. It will be illegal to shoot any of these species until the autumn.

The Peregrine was sat on top of the blue-topped chimney overlooking the Mersey estuary and a bleak forlorn figure it cut being in the most exposed of places.

A concentration of on duck on No.6 tank included a single female Tufted Duck, 213 Common Teal, 12 Shoveler and 112 Mallard. Several Redshank and some Lapwing were beginning to come to roost.

Observers: Sparky (image 6) and WSM (images 4, 5 & 7)

02.02.15. Birdlog

A quick look over No.6 tanks frozen water really determined where we were heading for today and a 7 mile round trip on foot was called for and a trek out to the Holpool Gutter and the views across Frodsham Score.

A large concentration of Lapwing and Golden Plover were facing north into the wind and kept low down while a wheeling flock of Starlings rose and fell like litter in the breeze. There was nothing on the frozen flooded fields of No.3 tank hence the relocation of the plover flock to five.

Eventually we got to our chosen spot overlooking Frodsham Score with a Sun Halo to make a slight distraction from the birding. The most prominent bird of the day was a solitary and very obliging Great White Egret (and not a single Little Egret which was a big surprise to find).

The female Marsh Harrier was sat in the lank marsh grass on the edge of the marsh by the tide line and spent time adjusting her dress.

A large herd of Canada Geese on the edge of the river included an incredible 27 Barnacle Goose (birds en route north?). Nearby, 7 Pink-footed Goose were in and out of a narrow tidal gutter. 10 Mute Swan included 4 Whooper Swan but other than this most other species had vacated with the receding tide.

Along the edge of the Holpool Gutter a charm of 340 Goldfinch leaped about eager to find a new food source and a largest flock of 129 Linnet hung out in the Elder trees on the banks of No.4 tank.

The fields on Ince Marsh again featured the wild swan flock and carried on a tradition from the last two years where birds would settle here after the New Year period. The herd contained 44 birds with 6 juvenile and 21 adult Whooper Swan and 17 Mute Swan including 6 juvenile birds.

Observers: Sparky and WSM (and images).

03.02.15. Birdlog

An hours walk this afternoon along the Manchester Ship Canal and along the Holpool Gutter. The single Great White Egret was out on Ince Marsh and 2 Little Egret with a Grey Heron were in the gutter.

There were  2 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk over No.4 tank with several Common Buzzard in the area. The Whooper and mute swan flock has risen to 67 birds with a Black Swan amongst them! Another five Mute Swan were out on Frodsham Score. A pair of Gadwall on the canal and 2 Common Snipe on the path back to the car and a Grey Wagtail by the Ince berth.

Observer and images: Paul Ralston

05.02.15. Birdlog

A diffirent route today forsaking the highlight of Frodsham Score for the upper reaches of the Weaver estuary and fields beyond.

The horse paddock along Moorditch Lane had a smallish sized flock of winter thrushes feeding on the flooded fields and with the recent dredging of the ditch a sizable flock of Linnet were attracted to its edges.

A walk along Brook Furlong Lane across to Redwall reed bed, the Lum and around the I.C.I tank taking in the Weaver Bend was fairly educational.

Two male and a female Stonechat were flight tagging each other in some kind of prenuptial display in and around the Lum reed bed, and a good distraction from the walk. The Shooters Pools held 20 Meadow Pipit and not a lot of anything else.

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A circumnavigation of the I.C.I tank was informative given that recent work on a couple of additional ‘Shooters’ Scrapes’ were in the field below the eastern banks and another area to watch come the Spring. A Little Egret flew over and would had christened the scrapes had it landed there.

A couple of pairs of Goldeneye and a female Goosander along with 12 Common Teal, 4 Redshank and 4 Common Snipe were all the ‘bend’ had to offer today.

The Weaver estuary always has something to other and today was no exception, 7 Great Crested and 15 Little Grebe, 23 Common Pochard, 87 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 14 Mallard and 22 Goldeneye with ten males performing their nuptials to the attendant females.

The water on No.6 tank was mostly covered in ice but a few Shoveler and Common Teal chose to linger in a small area of open water. A pair of Stonechat along the reedy edges to No.5 tank made the days tally to five birds.

Observers: Sparky, WSM (and images).

A Common Buzzard was perched in a bush with the motorway traffic thundering past. and additionally, a Merlin was along Lordship Lane and the usual Marsh Harrier was over No.6 tank.

Observers: Mr & Mrs Idris Roberts ( I know it’s a formal listing but you both wouldn’t want it any other way).

06.02.15. Birdlog

A walk to the river produced a Common Buzzard, Kestrel and a Merlin. Also present was Little Grebe, Great Created Grebe, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and a Goosander.

Observer: Kevin Price.

Had a wander round earlier and although No.6 tank was a quiet, a small flock of Common Snipe were viewable on the new ground. There were lots of Raven and the Marsh Harrier was a treat as it was hunting over N0.5 then over six. A Little Egret flew as I walked back along ditch to my car along the tank.

Observer: Guy Groves.

A Kingfisher was in the land drain ditch along Moorditch Lane and presumably the same Common Snipe that Guy had seen earlier on the flooded No.3 tank.

Observer: Arthur Harrison.

07,02.15. Birdlog

Out this morning from Ince Berth around No.4 and No.6 tank. Small numbers of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit on the approach road to the berth with 2 Jay in the hedgerow. On the Manchester Ship Canal were Common Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck and 5 Wigeon  joined forces with a raft of c60 Coot and a single Great Crested Grebe.

The fields alongside the Holpool Gutter held the large flock of Mute and Whooper Swan with 2 Greylag Goose and many Curlew and Lapwing mixed in. The path along the canal was teeming with Goldfinch and Linnet flocks with 2 Common Snipe on the bank of No.4 tank.The mitigation pool held a Common Teal, single female Shoveler, 12 Redshank and 1 Ruff with more Linnet and Pied Wagtail on the waters edge

The Raven flock were feeding on another dead sheep on No.5 tank as was two adult Great Black-backed Gull.

On to Lordship Lane the Kingfisher was in the ditch at the junction of Hare Lane and a male Stonechat on the fence by the model flying field, another pair of Stonechat further along the fence. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the stand of trees at the corner of No.4 tank. Back along the canal path 3 Little Egret were out on Frodsham Score.

Observer: Paul Ralston (image 4).

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A watch over No.3 tank was rewarding for the number of Common Snipe present, a total of 26 birds alongside 9 Redshank in territorial disputes. These were over watched by a male Merlin over on No.2 tank but was too distant to cause the waders much distress.

The WeBS count on No.6 tank was again governed by the amount of ice on the open water and with half of it covered, it was no surprise to see a reduction in the overall numbers. Nevertheless, 128 Common Teal, 8 Shoveler, 13 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck and 7 Moorhen were to be expected. A handy sized flock of 123 Redshank held 3 Ruff.

The first lambs of Spring were scattered on No.5 and 2 tanks and a brief snatch of Skylark song lifted the spirits.

A walk along the Weaver Causeway to watch the estuary and bend saw the birds which should have been on No.6 tank relocated here and included: 80 Common Teal, 128 Tufted Duck, 21 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 23 Mallard and 11 Goldeneye. 4 Great Crested and 10 Little Grebe with 44 Coot made up the water bird list.

A flock of 500 Golden Plover with Lapwing on No.2 tank included some birds beginning to show signs of summer with black underparts. A flock of 200 Curlew were on No.1 tank.

Observers: Arthur Harrison (image 3), WSM (images 1-2 & 6-9).

Secret Six

No.6 tank at noon as viewed from the eastern corner.

An area of No.6 tank which perhaps doesn’t get much coverage is the secluded pool that hides behind the bank between six and No.3 tank. The best area to watch is the parking bank at the junction of tanks No.3-5-6.

Birds to be expected are usually the ones you least expect to find on such a small pool and can include:Little Egret,  Avocet, Little Stint, Green, Wood and Curlew Sandpiper, plus shorebirds like this juvenile Knot which are flushed off the river by the big tide. Greenshank are often found hiding in the pools and at times in double figures.

In Spring as good a place to find a Garganey as anywhere else on the marshes. With its isolation it often gets overlooked by birders but with the coming Spring it looks set to attract something a little more entertaining?

The pools often attract the attention of passing raptors and it is not unusual to see the Marsh Harrier quartering the reed beds and in a good owl year, a place for Shorties to hunt the banks at dusk.

The willow trees bordering the reed bed are slowly encroaching this corner of No.6 tank and will eventually take over. The image above shows how habitats at Frodsham Marsh and in particular on the sludge beds are often made unintentionally and go on to attract wildlife.

This pool generally fills with rain water during the winter and slowly evaporates throughout the summer to leave an area suitable for those secretive water birds like the Water Rail. It is also a havern for Reed and Sedge Warblers in the Spring and Autumn and wintering Chiffchaff.

The pools biggest ‘goodie’ (for 24 hours at least and before its true origin was revealed, when it flash a leg to the crowds to reveal a fetching brightly coloured red ring) was a Marbled Duck discovered here in 2013.

Do what the penguin says…No.6 tank is both private and a working site please keep off the banks and don’t flush the birds.

All images by WSM except for # 4 by Stuart Maddocks

10.02.15. Birdlog

A change of tack today and parking up in Lower Rake Lane close to Helsby railway station gave us the opportunity to check out an area that would normally get neglected…the lanes leading onto Helsby Marshes. Spring Farm fields held 100 Fieldfare with House Sparrows being abundant in the area.

Rake Lane was low-key so we continued to the fields west of No.4 tank (Ince  Marsh). A resident wintering swan herd was again viewable from the Holpool Gutter with a total of 45 birds. In the flock were 10 Mute, 26 Whooper (6 juvenile and 20 adults) and 9 Bewick’s Swan (adults).

Walking along the course of the gutter and a Chiffchaff was in the reedy banks. 60 Linnet, 45 Chaffinch and 120 Goldfinch added to the tally.

Frodsham Score was shot over today by the wildfowlers with 6-7 shooters out there. With all this activity most birds were well scattered but despite this there was a huge flock of 600 Golden Plover, 300 Lapwing and smaller flocks of Dunlin.

Upwards of 4 Little Egret were moving about and 2 Great White Egret were distant and well away from the firing of guns.

Walking along the east track of No.4 tank and looking across to the flooded eastern side of six we countered 100 Common Teal, 12 Shoveler, 200 Lapwing, 40 Redshank and 10 Dunlin. A Bullfinch was in the elder trees bordering No.4 tank.

Observers: Sparky and WSM (and images).

11.02.15. Birdlog

Out and about from mid morning starting from Ince Berth and along the Manchester Ship Canal towpath and around No.4 tank.

A fine selection of birds from the Frodsham Marsh Al a Carte featuring a Great White Egret out on Ince salt marsh with 4 little Egret nearby on Frodsham Score. Many newly born lambs about today with birth casualties from still birth kept the Ravens and Great Black-backed Gulls busy.

A Grey Wagtail was on the path by the berth and a male Bullfinch in the hedgerow was notable. The Goldfinch and Linnet flocks were on the alert as a Sparrowhawk was patrolling the area with 2 Kestrel also seen.

There were 4 juvenile Mute Swan on the canal with 2 Great Crested Grebe and the large raft of Coot. On to the Holpool Gutter and a sorry sight of a dead Mute Swan laying in the gutter! A flock of Common Teal left as I walked along.

The female Merlin was sat in its favoured place while a Collared Dove kept watch from a hawthorn bush. On the path between No.4 and 6 a mixed roving tit flock held a small number of Reed Bunting and several Common Buzzard were contact calling over No.4 tank.

Back along the gutter the large swan flock had separated with the flock of Whoopers with at least 3 Bewick’s at one end of the field and the Mute Swan at the other end.

Observer: Paul Ralston (images 1-4).

WSM (image 5)

14.02.14. Birdlog

Song Thrush were in full song and Reed Bunting were claiming territory along the lane. Returning back along to the Holpool Gutter and a Green Sandpiper flew of calling as it went and was seen later by the Canal Pools and then the nearby ship canal. Finally. No.4 tank had a Chiffchaff calling from the reed beds. A male Stonechat was along the fence at Lordship Lane while another was frequenting No.3 tank.

15.02.15. Birdlog

The Woodcock is considered “sport” by shooters but in reality shooters have to stalk them out of hiding or use dogs to flush them from the dense cover they conceal themselves in. Birders don’t have those aids to hand (fortunately), so fieldcraft is needed and a big dollop of luck is really what you require if you want to see one on the marsh. One was seen today at a location that we’ll keep under wraps but it provided a handy year tick for the marshes yearly total.

Present in the same area were 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and presumably prospecting for a nest site. A grey coloured Chiffchaff in the buckthorn bushes below the southern banks of No.6 tank recalled the ‘Eastern’ Chiffchaff present on Runcorn Hill at the end of last year.

The wild swan herd was again on Ince Marshes.

Observer: Frank Duff.

Image of Runcorn Hill ‘Eastern’ Chiffchaff by Andy Humphreys for illustration purposes only and not actual bird.

Industrial Evolution

An isolated stunted Elder tree stands with its shoulder to the prevailing westerly winds on the exposed banks of No.4 tank.

One of the now disused and in disrepair drainage towers is slowly being concealed by the reeds and scrub and in its heyday would have stood tall and helped to reduce the volume of rain water on the active No.4 tank.

The Common Buzzard is one species that have increased dramatically over the last 20 years and is now the commonest bird of prey on the marshes occupying a variety of habitats.

Frodsham Hill, or Overton Hill, as it is sometimes known, rises to 500 feet (152 metres).

The wooded hills of Frodsham and Helsby are clear landmarks on the Cheshire plain forms the northern end of the Mid-Cheshire Ridge, a range of sandstone hills that extends southwards to Delamere Forest and Tarporley.

No.4 tank is never far from industry but at times it has a unique wilderness and is often a place of solitude for the wildlife that inhabit the marsh. The dence phragmites reed beds are some of the largest in Cheshire.

The pot-holed track along the southern border of No.3 tank with the distant works of Ineos Chlor across the River Weaver.

A backdrop of industry with Marsh Farm nestled below and the newly created wetland mitigation of No.3 tank. All the surrounding industry evolved because of the Weaver Valley and its proximity to the River Mersey and the sea beyond. That’s something to bear in mind when the wind turbine developers start work here this year. We’re expecting good things to come out of this site in the coming years.

Another Common Buzzard watches from the old timber left over from the old magazine out on Frodsham Score jetty. A lamb settles in a hollow and the omnipresence Raven scuttles in the distance.

A bleak landscape on the raised banks bordering Frodsham Score and the ghost of the rusty Allan Williams Turret Pillbox sits in defence of Weston Point and Liverpool (well, that’s what it was erected fo)r. See here for additional information. https://frodshammarshbirdblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/life-on-marsh/

Finally, another Common Buzzard to polish off this post sits on an old tree growing out of an old sheep pen on Frodsham Score.

All images: WSM.

16.02.15. Birdlog

An after work visit and a walk around the tracks of No.6 tank. A large gathering of c1000 Lapwing were roosting up on the water margins of the sludge bed with smaller numbers of Golden Plover, 30 Redshank, 100 Common Teal, 12 Shoveler, 24 Common Shelduck, 2 Gadwall and 7 Tufted Duck.

The mitigation area held both Redshank and Common Teal. There were c30 Raven feasting on three dead sheep in the fields. Starlings were gathering in flocks before they streamed out to the east and I guess the large reed beds of Woolston Eyes?

Out over the reed beds of No.4 tank was the female Marsh Harrier presumably settling down for the night.

Along the Lordship Lane were 3 Common Buzzard including a dark morph bird. A Kingfisher was in the broad ditch at the junction of Moorditch and Lordship Lane.

The winter thrush flock continue to feed on the flooded horse paddock field on Moorditch Lane,

Observers: Sparky, WSM (and images).