18.04.15 Birdlog
Out this morning along the Manchester Ship Canal around No.4 and 6 tanks.
Blackcaps were the most vocal along the canal path with smaller numbers of Chiffchaff heard and seen. 3 Wheatear were sat on driftwood on the waterside while good numbers of Sand Martin hawked overhead.
Out on Frodsham Score salt marsh and 2 Egyptian Geese were sat amongst the Canadian and Greylags and then flew west along the river.
Reed and Sedge Warbler were singing in the reeds at the edge of No.4 and a Fox crossed my path only to disappear over the bank. 2 Avocet were on the mitigation pool as were good numbers of Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall and 2 Shelduck. The Grey Heron sat tight on its nest on No.6 and was joined by its mate as a Cormorant sat close by. A party of 11 Mute Swan were on the water and a Common Sandpiper flew along the bank.
On to Lordship Lane and Common Whitethroat were more vocal of the birds present and 2 male Whinchat were fly-catching from the hawthorn bushes near the model flying field. A pair of Kestrel were copulating close to the owl box near the blue storage tank and Common Buzzard were displaying over head.
Observer and images: Paul Ralston.
20th & 21st
A Cuckoo seen near the secluded pool at the corner of No.6 tank (where the road bends round to the mitigation pools).
Observer: Jean Roberts.
