09.08.15. Birdlog
An 
early evening walk from Ince Berth up to No.6 tank.
A juvenile Peregrine made a half-hearted attempt at taking out a passing pigeon above the berth and a Little Egret flew west along the Manchester Ship Canal.
Walking along and there were four Green Sandpiper on the nearest dry pool along the canal path. A flock of Starling numbered c500 strong which were feeding in a field by the Canal Pools but were ignored by a Sparrowhawk as it flew by.
A family of Whitethroat were feeding up and storing up fat reserves before the long journey south and a Reed Warbler was sounding off its alarm calls as I walked along the track alongside the track. On six there was Dunlin, Ruff, Redshank, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit and a small number of Curlew were close to the bank by the viewing spaces.
Also noted were 2 Little Grebe were amongst the Common Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Common Shelduck were out on the water.
As I was walking back along the track edging No.4 tank there was a Wheatear which sat in a dead bush. A few Swallows were skimming over the reed bed . An adult Peregrine sat on its tower in the Growhow works overlooking Ince Marsh and the development of the wind farm a short distance away.
Observer and images: Paul Ralston
