An after work walk along the River Weaver tonight with a start at Brook Furlong Lane where Blackcap and Chiffchaff were following a troupe of Long-tailed Tit along the hedgerow.
On the river were several Tufted Duck with their broods of tuftlings while good numbers of Common Swift, Swallow and Sand Martin hawking low over the water. A flock of c25 Greylag Goose were amid the many Canada Goose making their way towards the Manchester Ship Canal.
There were only 5 Common Sandpiper seen today with 3 Ringed Plover and 4 Redshank which also fed at the edge of the river.
A dozen Black-tailed Godwit flew out to the Mersey estuary to join c200 others feeding on the exposed mud, a Curlew was heard but not seen.
Two pairs of Avocet were still on gull patrol and chasing any that entered their territory.
Earlier in the day a Peregrine was seen to mob a Common Buzzard over Stanlow making several stoops to which the buzzard rolled over to meet the falcon with its talons.
Observer and images: Paul Ralston.
