A start at No.6 tank this morning where Common Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Northern Shoveler were all present alongside many Eurasian Coot, 4 Mute Swan, 4 Little Grebe and c 250 Black-tailed Godwit. A Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reed bed followed by a Common Buzzard and a Kestrel.
Reed and Sedge Warbler were seen and heard throughout my walk as were several Reed Buntings. Onward to the ‘phalarope pool’ and a dozen Black-tailed Godwit fed in the shallow waters alongside a pair of Avocet and a Greenshank. There were two broods of Mallard seen at the edge of the pool.
The Canal Pools were quiet with just 3 broods of Canada Goose and not much else, a pair of Mute Swan on the pool haven’t even attempted to breed this season. A hidden scrape held 16 Avocet, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler and more blackwit.
Walking back along Lordship Lane and a flock of Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gull were following a tractor cutting silage. An Oystercatcher was sitting tight with a few breeding Lapwing near to the lane.
A look over the bank on No.6 tank had a Hobby cruising over the reed bed and a Yellow Wagtail passed overhead and dropped into a field only to fly back moments later joined by another bird.
I then made my way to Ince to check the pools which were also quiet with just 13 Mallard mostly drakes, 6 Eurasian Coot,1 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe and 2 pair of Tufted Duck.
There was plenty of fly-tipping at both entrances to No.6 tank with locks broken in a a fit of pique.
Observer: Paul Ralston (images) with additional sightings by Paul Crawley (images).
Duncan Cowley was stopped in his vehicle by the Port Police – They informed him the roads are restricted byways, so any car on these roads will be seized! I think this is a knee jerk reaction to recent incidents of fly tipping and a bollard being broken. CCTV mounted at entrance points to the marsh which record vehicles registration would deter fly tippers. It appears to me that it’s another way of restricting access to the marsh for the general public.
