An after work walk along the River Weaver this afternoon where c300 cCanada Goose were grazing on the cut grass on No.1 tank and more were on the river.
A pair of Great Crested Grebe were fishing including a single juvenile with them and 3 more adults nearby. Waders were scarce with just a handful of Black-tailed Godwits, a single Common Sandpiper and several Northern Lapwing at the rivers edge.
Wildfowl were also scarce with just a few Mallard and Tufted Duck present. The Mersey Estaury wasn’t much better with just Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew and Great Cormorant feeding at the edge of the tidal channel. Common Shelduck were in good numbers on the mudflats alongside more Canada Goose and several Greylag.
There were 3 juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail were on the MAnchester Ship Canal path and were being chased away by a group of young Barn Swallow.
A large flock of mostly juvenile Common Starling were feeding around Marsh Farm a pair of European Stonechat were on the fence along Alder Lane.
Observer: Paul Ralston (images).
Emerging ants video by WSM.
