

I was out from late afternoon around the River Weaver and No.6 tank.

Brook Furlong Lane was quiet apart from the odd Chiffchaff and Sedge Warbler singing. A Brown Hare was seen sneaking in to one of the ditches as I walked up the lane.

On to the river and Tufted Duck, Common Shelduck, Mallard and Gadwall were all noted with a single Great Crested Grebe close in to the bank.

An Avocet fed at the rivers edge and 3 more made their way down river. 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Little Ringed Plover were noted. Two additional Great Crested Grebe were on the Manchester Ship Canal as were several broods of Canada Goose.

A couple of hundred Black-tailed Godwit were spread out over No.3 tank and were moving off in small groups to the Mersey estuary leaving several Avocet behind.

Onto No.6 tank and c30 Dunlin fed in the shallows and a Whimbrel flew over calling, while a Marsh Harrier sat in the sunshine while and a Cuckoo was calling in the distance.
Observer: Paul Ralston (images 3-7).
An early dart from work and we both set out along Moorditch Lane were the thick scrubs and tree cover hid the many sing Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat.


Several out competing Reed and Sedge Warbler were bold enough to ride up the reed stems to project their tunes to each other. A Yellow Wagtail rasped from a nearby field.


The Spindle bushes had an infestation of the fine Spindle Ermine moth caterpillers.
The female Marsh Harrier was quartering above the reed beds while Common Buzzard and Kestrel were very busy seeking out food for their respective young.

The ‘phalarope pool’ again had a few Black-tailed Godwit with more dropping in during the course of our observation. Many birds were calling out to interlopers coming into feed. A lot of testosterone coursing through those pumped up bodies. A Little Ringed Plover was having a siesta while an Avocet sat nearby.


Apart from a few waders present on the mitigation area on No.3 tank it should be stated that this project to provide a breeding ground for Lapwing and a high tide secure feeding and roosting area is 90% nettle beds, so well done to all those involved with not creating an area for the purpose it was set aside for.

No.6 tank is always worth a punt and 43 summer Dunlin, another Little Ringed Plover and several Black-tailed Godwit. Several ducks were present with a drake Common Pochard being the standout species.


Common Swift were flying low over the banks of the sludge tank.
Observers: JS & WSM (images 1-2 & 8-17).
Like this:
Like Loading...