I was out at first light getting in my daily exercise with a start at Brook Furlong Lane where Common Chiffchaff, Blackcap, the first Willow Warbler of the spring and Cetti’s Warbler were all noted.
A pair of European Stonechat were on the fence along Alder Lane with several Meadow Pipit were foraging in the field and c300 Black-headed Gull and a smaller number of Lesser Black-backed and Common Gull were feeding amongst the sheep on No.1 tank.
Further on and the Manchester Ship Canal with Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose, Eurasian Teal and several Eurasian Coot were joined by a pair of Common Sandpiper.
The River Weaver held much of the same plus c150 Common Shelduck, a drake and 2 female Common Goldeneye, 7 more Common Sandpiper, c20 Black-tailed Godwit and c15 Common Redshank, several Pied Avocet flying out to the estuary and a single Little Ringed Plover.
A Mallard and her brood of 10 ducklings were in the ditch alongside Moorditch Lane and 4 Eurasian Greenfinch were in the trees near to the motorway bridge.
Observer: Paul Ralston (images 1-9).
After I had finisched work like Paul I took the opportunity to walk down to the marsh and with few people about it was made in complete isolation.
I looked over No.6 tank and could see that the female Long-tailed Duck was still present and she wasn’t so energtic than my last visit. c200 Tufted Duck, 123 Northern Shoveler and c100 Eurasian Teal were the main species.
A few Cetti’s Warbler were chattering away from various directions and the first Sedge Warbler of the spring burst into song after its long journey. My time was limited so I made my way home.
During the course of my work involves travelling around the district and it’s not difficult to see or hear birds en route. I spotted a Great Egret from the Mersey Gateway bridge on Widnes Warth Marsh, singing Willow Warbler at two sites in Runcorn and one in Widnes.
Observer: WSM (images 10-17).
