02.12.18. Birdlog.

Paul Ralston made a determined effort to secure the Cattle Egret that was found in distant fields of Lordship Marsh yesterday.

The herd of Whooper Swan were still present in the fields so, a nice tidy clean up if you was in the area today.

Observer: Paul Ralston (image 1-2).

Much later in the morning we took a hike along Lordship Lane and managed to see the Cattle Egret but on this occasion it was feeding with cows instead of its surrogate host the swans from yesterday.

A pair of Peregrine were sat on top of the very tall blue topped chimney towering over the Mersey estuary at Weston Point.

There were plenty of ducks on No.6 tank where c450 Common Teal, 43 Shoveler and 12 Mallard were bathing in the evening light. A single Redshank and a few scattered Common Snipe were hiding in clumps of grass were the sum total of waders.

Observers: Sparky & WSM (images 4 – 6 and video).

Image 3 by David Bedford.

01.12.18. Birdlog.

There was a shooting party taking place along Brook Furlong Lane, I gave that area a miss and made my way to No.6 where Common Teal, Mallard and Shoveler were in decent numbers along with 8 drake Pintail and a hybrid Mallard with a white bib amongst the flock.

The ‘Splashing Pool’ held a few more Shoveler and Common Teal with a Common Buzzard perched up watching over them all.

On to the Manchester Ship Canal path and a look over Frodsham Score where there were c400 Pink-footed Goose out by the river’s edge. A mass flock of Lapwing and Golden Plover took to the air as a Marsh Harrier flew over and spooked them all. It later drifted over to the Ince Marsh fields alongside the Holpool Gutter and then presided to spook the rest of the plover flock, which then joined up with the salt marsh birds. There was a good size herd of 23 Mute Swan, 7 Greylag Goose and 4 Pink-footed Goose which were grazing alongside the gutter with c 40 Curlew.

I stopped off at Plover Lane in Helsby on my way home and could see some of the Whooper’s in the distance hidden behind the hedgerows.

Observer: Paul Ralston (images 2-3).

Full up with man flu (you know what I mean lads) I wandered along the track on No.5 tank that stands above No.6 tank on its south side, where the ducks Paul had earlier seen were still present with the exception of 17 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Common Snipe and a couple of Marsh Harrier over the reed beds.

I didn’t want to linger too long in the cold wind so, I walked out to the south-east corner of No.4 tank where it was possible to get a clearer view of the 22 Whooper Swan herd that Paul also had partially seen earlier in the day. After a few minutes a Cattle Egret flew into the field within the herd of swans and commenced to feed, weaving its way through the grazing swans. A bizarre sight of a couple of species either side of a geographical zone. The last Cattle Egret I found in Cheshire was on 05.01.09 at Linmere Farm, Delamere Forest and was presumably the same bird that turned up along the River Weaver the following Spring. This sighting is nearly 10 years apart but all the more sweet because this one is the third record for these marshes.

The ‘Splashing Pool’ continued to hold the ducks but a male Sparrowhawk took a link off the charm that was a Goldfinch flock and took its trinket to a dead elder tree to finish off the snack.

There was a lot of movement of Pink-footed Goose from Frodsham Score to No.3 tank and the big numbers of last weekend were halved, probably due to disturbance in the week? Out on the distant salt marsh was a Common Buzzard sharing a lookout with a female Merlin and a couple of Marsh Harrier (probably the earlier birds from No.6 tank) were disturbing birds further out. The egret trio was completed when 4 Great White and 12 Little Egret popped up from the tidal gutters. A lot closer were the usual post Saturday afternoon closure of the Gowy tip where gulls roost on the salt marsh with Herring, Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls could be found.

A roost of 3,000 Lapwing and c1000 Golden Plover were taking in the relatively safe haven of Frodsham Score after the earlier harrier capers.

Other birds of note during my time here included: Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Water Rail (2), a flock of 300 Goldfinch, 150 Linnet and a singing Cetti’s Warbler.

Observer: WSM (images 1 & 4-8).

26.11.18. Birdlog.

We took a long walk out to Frodsham Score salt marsh via Moorditch Lane, No. 5 & 6, 3& 2 tanks before walking around No.4 to reach the Manchester Ship Canal.

A few Jackdaw were out and about in the fields and several Fieldfare were chacking away from the berry-bearing Hawthorn hedgerows.

Stonechats are a regular wintering bird on #FrodshamMarsh in autumn/winter/spring, this is one of four residing by the ramp track to No.5 tank. pic.twitter.com/72wnpcTz7L

— Frodsham Birder (@FrodshamBirder) November 26, 2018

A pair of Stonechat were lingering by the ramp track to No.5 tank where a usually marked Common Buzzard stood out like a sore thumb with a white nape and two-toned black and brown patterned plumage, unless…

No.6 tank had a couple of Pintail, 12 Shoveler and much reduced numbers of Common Teal. Several hundred Lapwing masked out a few of the much missed Black-tailed Godwit in their throng. A small group of Common Snipe attempted to conceal themselves close by the vegetated margins of the shallow pool. A female and 1 cy Marsh Harrier were harrying Meadow Pipits from the tall lank grass on the tank.

In excess of 800 Pink-footed Geese present on No.2 & 3 tanks, #FrodshamMarsh today. pic.twitter.com/0qcBCAlIrJ

— Frodsham Birder (@FrodshamBirder) November 26, 2018

A short walk away and the yelping of Pink-footed Goose soon revealed a huge numbers in excess of 800 birds (possibly 1,000?) across both No.2 & No.3 tanks.

We were slightly late for the start of the incoming tide but a mega ‘Mersey Snake’ flock of c20,000 Dunlin twisted and stretched out across the sky above the Mersey marshes. When we eventually arrived they had found their roosting sites and it wasn’t until the tide began to ebb did they perform again. It was immediately evident that there was food to be had with a gathering of c20 Grey Heron in the rough grass has the tide filled in the tidal gutters and forced their quarry to emerged from the murky depths.

There were c12 Little Egret and one of three Great White Egret was in a violent struggle with a heron and stole its prey of a very large fish.

c20 Grey Heron, c12 Little Egret and 3 Great Egrets (one polishing off a large fish after a scrap with one of the Grey's) all enjoying the fringe benefits of a rising tide on Frodsham Score salt marsh, #FrodshamMarsh today. pic.twitter.com/q6MoAsz8Hq

— Frodsham Birder (@FrodshamBirder) November 26, 2018

There were several hundred Wigeon and a similar amount of Common Shelduck but generally the variety of shorebirds were in limited supply (apart from Dunlin). A small skein of Pink-footed Goose flew over.

The fields alongside the Holpool Gutter had c500 Golden Plover but apart from a few Mute’s the Whooper’s must have relocated back by the M56 fields?

Observers: Sparky & WSM (images and twitter videos).

24.11.18. Birdlog.

I started my morning walk along the Weaver with a fine sunrise glowing over the river where 4 Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Common Teal, Mallard, Common Shelduck, Goldeneye , 2 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Little Grebe were all present on the water. Another Mute Swan was dead on the bank possibly the result of a predator (Fox)?

The Lapwing flock were in good numbers with several Redshank and 8 Black-tailed Godwit at the edge of the river. The first of 10 Stonechat seen during this mornings walk and were in the reeds alongside the river. A Kestrel hunted the bank and 2 Common Buzzard flew across the river.

A peep over the Frodsham Score salt marsh from the junction of the Weaver Sluice Gates and Manchester Ship Canal produced more Lapwing, Curlew and Redshank feeding on the close by exposed mudflat.

Walking along to No.6 tank and a large flock of Chaffinch were mobile along Moorditch Lane with many Goldfinch and Linnet in the area.  A Marsh Harrier drifted over the fields towards the motorway then made its way back over No.6 putting the Lapwing flocks up in to the air. No.6 tank held more Common Teal which were joined by Shoveler, Mallard, Common Shelduck and a single Pintail.

A couple of Whooper Swan dropped in but only settled for a few minutes before leaving and heading to the Weaver estuary. A skein of c80 Pink-footed Goose were high up in the sky and were heading north.

Onwards to the Manchester Ship Canal path and a look over Frodsham Score where 4 Great White and several Little Egret were feeding in the tidal channels as the tide came in. A large flock of Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gull were resting on the salt marsh and the Raven hoard were on scavenger patrol with several feasting on recently dead mutton.

The fields alongside the Holpool Gutter had c2000 Lapwing, c500 Golden Plover, 15 Whooper Swan, 20 Mute Swan and a mixed flock of Greylag and 25 Pink-footed Goose.  The Whooper’s are the same birds that have spent the last few weeks by the M56.

Walking back along Lordship Lane and Curlew were again feeding in the fields adjacent Rake Lane.

There was still some Yarrow flowering on the wayside ditch and brightening up a dull morning along Lordship Lane. Both Redwing and Fieldfare were numerous the way back to my car.

Observer and images: Paul Ralston.

23.11.18. Birdlog & NN #61

Earlier in the day (and after the discovery of an invasive Chinese Mitten Crab to the River Mersey yesterday)…

…I was back along the Sankey Canal at Widnes Warth Marsh and during the course of that period I came across an Elver in a water culvert. It’s not that often I come across these young Eels so to find one in the muddy culvert below the broken bridge on the Trans Pennine Trail was a bonus. Soon after a young Common Toadlet appeared from the same culvert and performed well for the camera. What was probably the last male Common Hawker Dragonfly of the year whizzed past. A singing Cetti’s Warbler, fly by Little Egret and Kingfisher and a pale morph Common Buzzard all added to a decent time. I initiated the rescue of an injured Mute Swan that had a fishing hook stuck in its webbed foot and I felt a proper guardian of the countryside.

After work I made a visit in the gloom for a brief walk along the track by No.6 tank. A roost gathering of c500 Lapwing in the shallow waters of the sludge tank. The whole flocks were jittery and rose into the air leaving  c120 Black-tailed Godwit and 14 startled Ruff.

A bird perched up on one of the fence posts soon revealed itself to be the first Short-eared Owl of the late autumn early winter period on No.5 tank. The yelping of 10 Pink-footed Goose overhead were drawn down by c400 others of their kind grazing on No.3 tank.

Again not a bad little tally of birds in such a short period of time.

An invasive Mitten Crab makes land fall on the banks of the #RiverMersey at Widnes Warth Marsh today with thanks to @stevemcbill for its id. pic.twitter.com/pwR9MEDskp

— Frodsham Birder (@FrodshamBirder) November 22, 2018

Observers: Sparky, WSM (Illustration, images and videos).

18.11.18. Birdlog.

I spent the last hour of daylight around No.6 tank this evening. The usual Common Teal, Shoveler and Mallard were on the water with c20 Common Snipe and 6 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Kestrel were hunting the reed bed and a mixed flock of finches were made up of Linnet, Goldfinch and Chaffinch were foraging on the bank.

No.3 tank had c50 Pink-footed Goose grazing with the Canada Goose herd and several Curlew passed overhead.

The Whooper Swan herd could be seen in the distant fields alongside the M56.

Observer and images: Paul Ralston.

17.11.18. Birdlog.

Out this morning with a walk around No.4 and No.6 tanks. A large flock of skittish Lapwing spent more time in the air than on the ground with 4 tailing Black-tailed Godwit and c50 Common Snipe amongst them.

Over on No.3 tank was c250 Pink-footed Goose grazing on the fields they took to the air but settled soon after and landed closer to Marsh Farm. On the Canal Pools were 5 Mute Swan, 3 Little Grebe and many Canada Goose resting on the water with c 2000 more on the Frodsham Score salt marsh.  A distant group of swans close to the Ince Berth were possibly the Whooper Swan herd from the marsh interior but were to far away to ID.

The fields alongside the Holpool Gutter held c2500 Lapwing, c 500 Golden Plover, 8 Mute Swan, 6 Greylag, 2 Pink-footed Goose, several Curlew and c100 Curlew in the field adjacent Rake Lane.

Walking along Lordship Lane a large flock of Linnet with Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit were feeding in the fields and hedgerows. a mixed flock of Redwing, Fieldfares Blackbird and Song Thrush were stripping berries off the hawthorn hedgerow near the blue slurry tank and the whooper group could be seen grazing in the distance.

More winter thrushes were on the bank of No.6 where a late Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly was enjoying the sunshine. It all ended with 3 Stonechat were also noted along Lordship Lane.

Observer: Paul Ralston (images 1-4 & 6).

Mid morning and I took the opportunity to check the fields from the foot bridge that crosses the M56 at the bottom of Smithy Lane in Helsby. The Whooper herd were not to be seen bit it was good to check this area out for a further expedition.

A look over No.6 tank revealed a solitary drake Pintail, 24 Shoveler, c300 Common Teal and several Gadwall. A ‘bib’ flock of 250 Common Snipe flew over and settled down on the sludge tank, I can only presume these are birds dislodged from the shooters’ fields to the east of No.5 tank because there was a lot of blasting with guns coming from that direction.

No.3 tank tank had several Wigeon and a few Pink-footed Goose with the ubiquitous Canada Goose.

Walking along the Manchester Ship Canal and a Green Sandpiper was dozing asleep on the far bank while out on Frodsham Score the flocks of plovers PR had earlier were still present. A couple of Great White Egret were gutter dancing while out on the tidal channels on the Mersey estuary were a couple more joining several Grey Heron fishing the incoming tide. A few Little Egret were about but generally their numbers were low. The huge Canada Goose herds had a couple of feral Barnacle Goose hiding in their midst. A female Marsh Harrier drifted in from the east and quartered the salt marshes and the same bird was seen to go to roost at dusk on No.6 tank.

A couple of Cetti’s Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were all on No.4 tank.

Observer: WSM (images 5 & 7-13).