An evening walk alongside the River Weaver where I countered 52 Eurasian Coot on the water. A flock of c200 Black-tailed Godwit were busy feeding on the banks.
The freshly out of the nest juvenile warblers joined the young bunting and European Stonechat on the banks where the path held various butterfly and dragonfly species, including Ringlet. Eurasian Jay are moving about and one flew over the river from I.C.I tank.
Observer and images: Paul Ralston.
The Western Osprey was alledgdly seen this morning, but without a source it’s difficult to make a judgement on its whereabouts – eds.
I made a dawn raid to the marsh this morning, but the lingering misty vale hung around for a couple of hours, so after drying off from the dripping reed frones I listened out to the tunes from beyond the fog.
A couple of Grasshopper Warbler were busy singing from the depths while one of the mixed singing Willow Warbler (Chillow) was giving out brief snatches of the ‘mix’. A couple of Common Sandpiper were calling from the bank nearby and a dueting pair of Eurasian Bullfinch added to the variety. After the mist eventually lifted it didn’t take long for the hot morning sun to evaporate both the fog and the heavy morning dew.
Redwall reed bed was alive with small groups of juvenile Western Reed and Sedge Warbler chasing each other through the scrub and bushes, with young Common Reed Bunting taking up their chase.
The highlight was a Whinchat on the fence line that surrounds the reed bed and further out into the field was a fine male European Stonechat.
A Common Kingfisher flashed by and after doing a curcuit of the river bank it landed on a post to preen. The Weaver Estuary had presumably the same two Common Sandpiper, a flock of 34 Black-tailed Godwit and several Eurasian Oystercatcher were present.
Walking back and a released Grey Partridge hunkered down when a Common Buzzard flew overhead on No.1 tank. In the distance the rising tide sent up a Little Egret over Marsh Farm.
Observer: WSM (images).
The Western Osprey reappeared over the Weaver Bend at midday for its third day – per Will Sixsmith.
An after work visit to the River Weaver to catch up on the 1st summer drake Common Scoter which was still insitu opposite Redwall reed bed. It spent most of its time preening and was even curious enough to drift close to my position on the bank alongside the Redwall reed bed.
A couple of Common Tern were being harassed by a juvenile Black-headed Gull (of which there were many) from their perch on a sunken tree.
A flock of 400 Black-tailed Godwit were soon joined by 200 more birds and they fed on the centre of the Weaver Bend. A couple of Common Sandpiper were busy feeding along the margins of the river.
The commoner summer butterflies were plentiful with the addition of several county scarse Ringlet busy chasing each other through the tall grass on the banks.
Paul Ralston (images 1 & 6-7) had a similar idea and saw a set of similar birds on his walk to the river after work with the exception of 2 Little Egret on the ‘bend’..
The female Whooper Swan was again on the Sankey Canal at Spike Island, Westbank, Widnes – per WSM.
20.07.21. Birdlog.
8:00 a.m. at Weaver Bend: Western Osprey flew over high downriver, no sign of the Common Scoter but six warbler species heard singing/reeling: Common Grasshopper (2), Western Reed, Sedge, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, 1 Green Sandpiper flew up from ‘The Lum’.
A walk down to the River Weaver on Frodsham Marsh for Philip McNally and his lads was a positive decision with an Western Osprey taking a large Brem from the waters there. Also the smart drake Common Scoter was still present.
An evening walk along Brook Furlong Lane and along the River Weaver. A few warblers Still in song and family groups of Sedge and Western Reed being seen along the river path.
The drake Common Scoter from last week was showing well on water. Also noted was a Brown Hare.
Levert
Observer and images: Paul Ralston.
The Whooper Swan is being more assertive with its summer camp chums at Spike Island, Widnes. Also an ad Med Gull flew over the road to Carr Lane pools, Halebank as I was passing by. #drivebybirdingpic.twitter.com/pEVDkOH8Az
Across the River Mersey at Spike Island was the summering/released female Whooper Swan at Spike Island and c13 Little Egret west of the old Runcorn Bridge – per WSM.
A walk down to the River Weaver produced c8 Great Crested Grebe and the first juvenile European Stonechat.
Observer: David Eisner (image 2).
An early evening walk along the River Weaver where 5 Common Sandpiper, 6 Common Ringed Plover, several Common Redshank and EUrasian Oystercatcher.
Also c400 Black-tailed Godwit, c60 Pied Avocet, c20 Eurasian Curlew, hundreds of Canada Goose and good numbers of Common Shelduck and Great Cormorant on the estuary.
Today’s visit involved several hours of beautiful summertime.
Noticeable was the lack of any sightings or sounds of both Cetti’s and Willow Warbler. Also missing were the Pied Avocet, no sightings even from Marsh Farm overlooking the estuary. They were probably feeding further down the Mersey.
The Weaver Bend is worth keeping an eye on as both Black-tailed Godwit and Common Redshank were wading in the near shore. 448 Blackwit and 20 Redshank alongside 86 recently fledged squawking Black-headed Gull with their parents in close proximity. Along the River Weaver waders included 5 ad Common Ringed Plover, 6 Common Sandpiper, 4 Eurasian Oystercatcher and 5 Northern Lapwing. 6 Great Cormorant including a juvenile bird.
A Buzzard managed to snatch something from the grazed shore area, and was quickly pursued by 2 Great Black-backed Gull and 3 Pied Shelduck. A Grey Wagtail was the only oddity today.
On No.6 tank there were a couple of hundred Blackwit, 50 + Redshank and a dozen smaller waders.
We had a sunny walk along Lordship Lane from the model flying field to the fertiliser plant and back. Although we heard lots of birds, we saw very few. A Common Kestrel was on the mound near the nest box on the pole. A Common Chiffchaff was vocal from the scrub.
A damp walk around No.6 tank this morning. There were small numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank and Dunlin present on the tank. A couple of Western Marsh Harrier were noted, and some Western Reed and Sedge Warbler being vocal. A juvenile Common Kestrel near its nest site.
An early start at Ince this morning where there were plenty of Mallard broods noted along the ditch and gutter. A Water Vole was seen in a usual area along the track,but difficult to see what’s on the ponds due to the height of the vegetation there. A small flock of Chaffinch were making their way along the hedgerow and a couple of Eurasian Greenfinch was amongst them.
Looking over Frodsham Score and a few thousand Canada Goose were out by the river, and a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull was acting like the ‘king of the carcase’, keeping the Common Raven gang at bay while it feasted its fill of mutton.
A male Western Marsh Harrier drifted over from the score marsh flushing several Eurasian Curlew as it went by.
On the canal pools were Great and Little Grebe present alongside a handful of Tufted Duck. There were numerous Sand Martin were hawking over the pools and 2 Western Yellow Wagtail were at the edge of one pool.
A flock of c200 Northern Lapwing and 2 Black-tailed Gdwit were at the ‘phalarope pool’ with several Northern Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Eurasian Teal. Several warblers were still in song with Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Cetti’s, Western Reed and Sedge all seen. One Sedge was wearing a metal ring.
Walking past the fertiliser plant and a Peregrine sat on its tower watching over the marsh, while a couple of Brown Hare were noted during my walk.
