Occasionally Birding in St Helens

Eccleston Mere

2012-01-28T18:01:00.000Z

Water Rail 1 in SW corner
Siskin 2
Buzzard 2

Rainford mosslands

2012-01-01T14:44:00.004Z

I had a quick bike ride around the mosslands this morning, and as has been the trend recently, saw next to no birds. 300 Pink-feet and 2 Buzzards in Dairy Farm Road the only birds of note. Other than that the highlight was a singing Robin in Berrington's Lane. Oh well, here's hoping for better things in the coming weeks.

Happy New Year everybody!

Pennington Flash

2011-12-26T16:32:00.000Z

Bullfinch 7
Willow Tit 2

Buzzards

2011-12-25T16:29:00.001Z

Lots of Buzzards today, at least 4 along Dairy Farm Road, 2 Old Coach Road, 2 Berrington's Lane and 2 Eccleston Mere. The only Geese were 50 Pink-feet Dairy Farm Road.

Eccleston Mere

2011-12-23T15:39:00.005Z

Siskin 50+ in trees at southern end
Lesser Redpoll 1+
Goldfinch 50+
Pochard 9
Kingfisher 1
Buzzard 1
Great Crested Grebe 10
Tufted Duck 6
Pink-footed Goose 50 (flying in direction of Catchdale Moss)

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, the year has petered out a bit, which is not unusual I suppose, what with dark nights and gloomy days. Hopefully in the New Year things will pick up again. Merry Christmas everybody!!

Eccleston Mere

2011-12-10T17:18:00.001Z

Pochard 9 (7 males, 2 females)
Goldfinch 100
Siskin 1
Lesser Redpoll 1
Buzzard 2
Little Grebe 1

Eccleston Mere

2011-12-03T14:54:00.003Z

Water Rail 1 in ditch in SW corner
Kingfisher 1

...but not much else. Long-tailed Duck on Prescot Reservoirs, strong westerly winds with blustery showers, there must be something on the mere surely? Nope, 2 Tufted Ducks and about 5 Great Crested Grebes the paltry total. I can almost see more birds by looking out of my window.

Hesketh Out Marsh

2011-12-02T21:25:00.000Z

Great White Egret 1

Eccleston Mere

2011-11-19T15:12:00.002Z

Willow Tit 1 in SW corner
Water Rail 1 in SW corner
Goldfinch 100
Siskin 1
Pochard 9

Tatton Park

2011-11-13T18:23:00.005Z

We had a lovely walk through Tatton Park, the trees were full of autumn colour and there were plenty of deer around, including some impressive stags. There seemed to be a mini invasion of Harlequin Ladybirds, with at least five seen at various places around the park, and later we saw one in the nearby village of Rostherne. On the mere there were at least 200 Coot, 20 Shoveler and about 50 Gadwall, amongst other wildlfowl. Perhaps most interestingly, we watched as a Mute Swan adopted its aggressive wings up head down posture and drove away another Swan, virtually the whole length of Tatton Mere.

Eccleston Mere

2011-11-12T16:34:00.004Z

Wigeon 10 (2 males, 8 females)
Pochard 10 (9 males, 1 female)
Tufted Duck 12
Water Rail 1 in ditch in SW corner
Little Grebe 1
Great Crested Grebe 5
Buzzard 1
Siskin 2

Wigeon. This is the biggest flock of Wigeon I have ever seen at Eccleston Mere.

Other species have not fared so well. By recent standards 10 Pochard is not bad, but as recently as 16th November 1997 I recorded 59 Pochard on the mere, and counts of over 30 were regular around that time. This seems to be a long term decline, the Liverpool naturalist Eric Hardy recorded over 200 on the mere in 1941.

Five Great crested Grebes is a dire count. Over wintering numbers have declined dramatically. Up until the end of the 1990s I would have expected at least 20 birds at this time of year, occasionally over 30.

On the otherhand Water Rails are now a regular feature of any birding visit to the mere at this time of year, up to 3 in recent winters, and Willow Tits have made a come back, and would appear to be safe for a few years at least given the accidental creation of some nice wet woodland at the southern end.

Eccleston Mere

2011-11-11T09:29:00.002Z

Water Rail 1 in ditch in SW corner
Kingfisher 3 together near where stream enters the mere.
Pochard 5 (4 males 1 female)
Siskin 2
Goldfinch 50

Eccleston Mere

2011-11-07T15:06:00.001Z

Water Rail 1 in ditch in SW corner
Goldeneye 1 female
Pochard 1 male
Siskin 10

Dairy Farm Road, Rainford

2011-11-07T13:13:00.001Z

Grey Partridge 12

Possible Pallid Harrier Ayrshire

2011-11-03T23:25:00.001Z

On my way back from Largs to Glasgow, I saw from the train an unusual looking ring tailed type harrier quartering the reedbed adjacent to the track. I was delighted with this, and obviously immediately concluded that it was a ring tailed Hen Harrier.
However, unbelieveably, on returning home, I find that there has been a ring tailed Pallid Harrier in the same area. I can picture the bird in my mind now, and could easily conclude that it was the Pallid Harrier, it just didn't look right for Hen Harrier, but I didn't see enough on the bird to tick it as Pallid. Local birders have confirmed that the Pallid Harrier does wander into the area in which I saw the bird, but have also told me that Hen Harriers are present there as well. Very annoying, because I had my bike with me on the train, and could easily have stopped off and gone to look for the bird had I known it was there. Just one of those things I guess.....

Greater Cumbrae, Firth of Clyde

2011-11-03T10:19:00.000Z

Just spent a week at the Marine Biology centre on Great Cumbrae Island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. We saw loads of good stuff, far too much to go through everything, but here is a sample of what was a great week.

Birds seen over the seven days we were on Cumbrae:
Black Guillemot (several)
Great Northern Diver 1
Red-throated Diver 1
Purple Sandpiper 2
Eider 200+
Red-breasted Merganser 40
Rock Pipit 20
Whimbrel 1
Bar-tailed Godwit 40
Shag 100
Hooded Crow 2
Raven 2
Stonechat 1

I watched these mergansers displaying and chasing each other for about 30 minutes, one of the highlights of the week.

Rock Pipit and Caloplaca marina (the lichen!)

I was very surprised to see this Whimbrel with the Curlew flock. It seems really late for Whimbrel, especially this far north.

This huge Great Black Back was eating a Guillemot. Look how it dwarfs the Carrion Crow!

A few scenary shots of Cumbrae

2011-11-03T10:16:00.000Z

Arran dominates the southern and western views from Cumbrae, and also on a clear day you can see Ailsa Craig (not shown here).

Crabs

2011-11-03T10:02:00.000Z

A selection of crabs from Cumbrae

Liocarcinus depurator - Harbour Crab

Necora puber - Velvet Crab

Cancer paguras - Edible Crab

Macropodia deflexa - a Spider crab sp. with a Hermit crab just sneaking into view on the right of the photo!

Starfish

2011-11-03T09:55:00.000Z

A selection of starfish from Cumbrae

Marthasterias glacialis

Porania pulvillus - Red Cushion Star

Crossaster papposus - Common Sun Star

Luidia ciliaris

Asterias rubens - Common Starfish

A few more animals from Cumbrae

2011-11-03T09:00:00.000Z

Munida rugosa - Squat Lobster sp. Being a decapod, this should be with the crabs really.

Grey Seal

Phyllodoce lamelligera - Paddle worm sp. This was nearly 70cm long!

Sea Anenome sp.

Billinge Hill ramblings

2011-10-25T10:47:00.014+01:00

Woodpigeon 1400 over south between 8am and 8:30am.
Pink-footed Goose 5000 including 1000 heading east.
Fieldfare 300 over SW
Redwing 300 over SW
Corn Bunting 4 on wires below beacon.
Chafffinch 50 in hedge near Beacon Farm.
Blackbird 10 in hedge near Beacon Farm.

Pink-footed Geese over St Helens, heading south east.

Woodpigeons passing over beacon.

Plenty of Woodpigeons passing over today, but if you weren't up early you would have missed it, with almost no passage after 8:30am. Also a reasonable passage of thrushes, with the most spectacular sight being a single flock of 150 Fieldfares low over the beacon heading south west. The majority of the thrushes went over between about 8:30 and 9:30. Four Corn Buntings on wires just below the beacon would have been resident birds, perhaps just moved from local farmland.
I can't work out what is happening with the Pink-feet. A large flock of easily 5000 birds went up from the Holiday Moss area of Rainford. Most of them landed in the same area, but at least 1000 headed off south east again, and I watched them until they were dots in the distance over Manchester. I don't know of any Pink-feet feeding areas south east of Billinge Hill, and the logical conclusion is that they are on their way to Norfolk, but I've seen so many head that way in the past few weeks, that you would think that there would be none left here by now, yet there are still at least 6000 birds in the Rainford area, and my guess is nearer to 10,000.
I don't usually see very many flying in the opposite direction, but today there was the odd flock in the distance flying north west, only small groups, but perhaps they don't go to Norfolk to stay, perhaps they just go for a day or two and then come back.
These geese seen from Billinge Hill are an extreme example of a classic recording dilema. Standing next to the beacon, I can see geese flying miles away. I can see right over to Southport and all of the SW Lancs mosses, I can see right down to Liverpool and beyond, to Moel Famau and on a clear day the Great Orme and even Snowdonia. Over to the east I can see the Cheshire plain and the Peak District, including the distinctive shape of Shuttlingsloe where I was on Sunday, and I can see all over Manchester, including Pennington Flash, and north east to Winter Hill. I can even see Blackpool tower and the Ribble estaury, perhaps even Pendle Hill to the north.
Geese are very distinctive and they fly in large flocks, and so are easy to see and easy to identify, because although there may be occasionally other species, the vast majority of the large flocks in the north west are Pink-feet. Therefore, when I say 5000 Pink-feet Billinge Hill, what I really mean is, 5000 Pink-feet from Billinge Hill. It's possible that most of them might be miles away, and might never come near Billinge. Yet my records say 5000 Pink-feet Billinge Hill. What else can I put? If I see a flock flying in the distance, I don't know exactly where it is, it's just a flock in the distance. If I tried to say where each flock was, it would get ridiculous. I'd have to specify about 25 locations, and even then, most of them are flying, so are constantly changing location. The flock which left Holiday Moss and headed south east today I watched for about 10 minutes as it flew over Holiday Moss, Crank, Carr Mill Dam, Haydock Newton-le-Willows, Pennington Flash etc. Do I need to say 1000 Pink-feet at each of those locations? Much simpler to say 5000 Pink-feet from Billinge Hill!

Queens Park

2011-10-24T11:37:00.002+01:00

Redwing 270 over SW
Fieldfare 80 over SW
Kingfisher 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Siskin 2 over SW

Another decent passage of thrushes. There may well have been a lot more, I didn't really have much time to keep checking this morning.

Macclesfield Forest - Shuttlingsloe - Wildboarclough

2011-10-23T19:39:00.003+01:00

Crossbill 1+ heard and then seen in Macclesfield Forest.
Siskin 10 Macclesfield Forest
Lesser Redpoll 5 Macclesfield Forest
Raven 1
Buzzard 2

Shuttlingsloe

Old Coach Road

2011-10-22T16:00:00.004+01:00

Pink-footed Goose 6000

At least 6000 geese on Simonswood moss. The photo below shows just part of the flock.

Queens Park

2011-10-22T15:47:00.005+01:00

This immaculate Comma butterfly was basking in the warm sunshine on my backyard wall this afternoon. There are still a few butterflies to be seen, though most that I have seen have been Red Admirals. This is the latest Comma I have ever seen by three weeks.

Billinge Hill

2011-10-22T11:17:00.005+01:00

Wheatear 1 on midden pile below beacon.
Crossbill 2 over beacon W calling
Pink-footed Goose 1000 flying east
Fieldfare 70 flying SW
Redwing 100 some flying S others just generally in the area.
Lesser Redpoll 3
Yellowhammer 20
Bullfinch 2
Reed Bunting 1

The Wheatear was my latest ever in the North West, by five days. I do have two records from elsewhere in the UK which are later still. On 23/10/1997 I saw one at Machir Bay on the Scottish island of Islay, and on 27/12/2007 I saw one at Cromer Point near Scarborough. This latter bird was associating with a Desert Wheatear, and I don't think that I'm ever likely to see a Wheatear later than that. It was only 5 days away from being my earliest ever!

Billinge Hill

2011-10-21T10:35:00.004+01:00

Pink-footed Goose 6000; 6000 birds in the air together at 8:15am, 2000 broke away from the rest and flew away east, 2000 landed on fields below the hill and 1000 headed west towards the Old Coach Road.

Fieldfare 60
Redwing 20
Skylark 20
Meadow Pipit 20

There was no obvious passage today, most of the above birds appeared just to be moving around the local area.

Hilbre Island

2011-10-17T20:00:00.001+01:00

It was quite an experience walking across the beach in the dark, towards the shadowy silhouette which was Little Eye, and then on to Middle and Hilbre itself. I arrived at Niffy Bay at 7:30am, and it was still pretty dark, yet even so I was convinced that yesterdays Red-flanked Bluetail had gone. The weather felt wrong, the wind had changed, it was cold and it had been clear overnight. Sure enough, the only passerine I could find was a Wheatear, and I then had to content myself with listening to tales about the bluetail from two obs members who joined me on the island a little later in the morning. All very interesting yet depressing stuff. I did however manage to see a Merlin and a Peregrine.

Billinge Hill - Richard's Pipit

2011-10-16T18:57:00.004+01:00

Richard's Pipit 1 flew calling over horse paddocks at 8am. Probable reported again at 11am.
Fieldfare 50
Redwing 50

The day started very dull, misty and drizzley, and there seemed very little bird activity when I arrived at 8am. However, when I reached the horse padddocks, my attention was immediately drawn to a bird flying over with a familiar sounding call, which I couldn't quite place at first. A harsh, House Sparrow like "pshee". Then I saw it, a large looking pipit with a longish tail, and I realised why the call was so familiar. I'd heard it yesterday on Hilbre island, and it belonged to a Richard's Pipit! Unfortunately it disappeared into the mist. However later I received a text from a friend who told me that he had seen and heard what was presumably the same bird flying SW over Brownlow Wood. I should be feeling great about this, but I'm not because I've just been told that they caught a Red-flanked Bluetail on Hilbre today. Why couldn't it have been there yesterday??? Never happy I suppose........

Hilbre Island

2011-10-15T14:18:00.016+01:00

A fantastic visit to Hilbre started well with the news that the Firecrest which had been on the island yesterday was miraculously still present despite the clear skies and full moon overnight. This wonderful little bird seemed determined to show itself and kept popping up all over the island, and eventually caught itself in a heligoland trap. This was the highlight of the day for me, but from a Hilbre point of view the star bird of the day has to be the Richard's Pipit which dropped in at about 9am with a couple of Meadow Pipits. It landed briefly on the south end of the island, before flying off calling in the direction of Red Rocks, where it was later heard but not seen. This is a species which seems to favour the Dee, and amazingly it was my 5th Richard's Pipit on the estuary. Perhaps equally surprising, the Firecrest was my first for the Dee estuary!

Other highlights today included my first Hilbre Shoveler, 80 Linnets, Short-eared Owl over the sea from Middle Eye, Peregrine over the sea from Little Eye, Gannet, 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Red-breasted Merganser, Razorbill, 1 Wheatear, 5 Wigeon,, 2 Goldcrests. Grey Plover and about 3000 Oystercatchers. Interestingly following yesterdays passage over Billinge Hill, not a single Fieldfare and only 5 Redwings.

Firecrest

Hilbre Island from Middle Eye

Pale-bellied Brent Geese

Dairy Farm Road, Rainford

2011-10-15T12:00:00.001+01:00

3000 Pink-footed Geese on fields alongside Dairy Farm Road today. Also at least another 1000, possibly a lot more, on Simonswood Moss from the Old Coach Road.

Billinge Hill - Fieldfares and Redwings flood in

2011-10-14T10:43:00.008+01:00

8:00am - 9:45am

Fieldfare 1200 over S or SW in groups of up to 100.
Redwing 2200 over S or SW in groups of up to 200.
Lesser Redpoll 2 over S.
Skylark 50 over SW.
Meadow Pipit 50 over SW.
Swallow 1 over S.
Pink-footed Goose 80

There was obviously a big movement of Fieldfares and Redwings today. I had seen 3 flocks totalling over 300 birds from the car near Carr Mill, flying from the Billinge direction before I had even arrived at Billinge Hill, and these are not included in the totals above. I couldn't get out of the car quick enough when I arrived, there were so many birds going over.

Wave after wave of birds went over, all flying south or south west, in mostly mixed flocks of between 10 and 200 birds. Counting was quite difficult, the figures given are absolute minimums, I wouldn't be surprised if there were over 3000 Redwings and 2000 Fieldfares. By the end of my visit I could hear their calls overhead, but I was almost ignoring them as I searched for other things. How many I ignored I couldn't say.

The passage seemed to be slowing when I left, but as I sit here typing this blog entry, a flock of 80 Fieldfares have just flown over from the Billinge Hill direction, so perhaps there are more still to come. Tremendous to see visible migration like this in St Helens!

The photos aren't brilliant but it was a dull misty start to the day, and most of the action was early on, when it was very poor light for photography. At least they give an idea of the spectacle.

A mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwings from the beacon.

Redwings (left) and Fieldfare (right) over Billinge Hill.

Penkford, Sankey Valley

2011-10-14T00:01:00.000+01:00

Green Sandpiper 1
Teal 9
Fieldfare 5
Redwing 5

Passage over Queens Park

2011-10-13T16:41:00.001+01:00

It just goes to show that if you keep your eyes open at the right time of year, you don't have to go very far to see some decent birds. In a four hour period this morning, whilst working on my computer and waiting in for a plumber, I recorded 36 species of birds, many of which were passing over and heading south or south west. Some of these species were really only identifiable by call, and others were quite high up and could easily have been missed. Even so, a remarkable total given that I don't have a garden, just a small yard near the town centre. Here are the highlights;

Crossbill 3 over SW at 8:45
Goosander 2 (male and female) over NE at 10:30
Fieldfare 87 over SW in two flocks of 57 and 30 at 10:00
Redwing 2 over SW at 9:45
Buzzard 3 drifted south at 12:15
Swallow 4 over S at 9:00
Skylark 22 over SW in dribs and drabs
Meadow Pipit 25 over SW also in dribs and drabs
Lesser black back Gull 100
Sparrowhawk 2
Grey Wagtail 2
Coal Tit 1

Also: Kingfisher 1 seen on stream which runs into park at 15:15. Species number 37.

Also: 1 Red Admiral Butterfly, 1 Small Tortoiseshell

In the middle of all this activity, I was also receiving texts from a friend on Billinge Hill, who had 14 Crossbills over, 1 Redwing and 19 Fieldfares, all of which were heading in my general direction! A very exciting morning. The Goosander were quite low down and I would guess were flying from Eccleston Mere or Prescot Reservoirs to Carr Mill Dam.

Although the list is impressive, it does make me wonder what I must have missed, given that I wasn't exactly gazing up at the sky all morning.

Eccleston Mere

2011-10-10T13:32:00.001+01:00

Wigeon 6
Raven 2
Siskin 10

It would be interesting to know exactly how many Ravens there are in St Helens. They certainly seem to cover a wide range.

Billinge Hill

2011-10-09T10:57:00.007+01:00

Pink-footed Goose 1000 - 200 over beacon heading SE at 8:30am, 800 distantly over Old Coach Road.
Raven 2 (see photos)
Lesser Redpoll 3 over beacon S
Meadow Pipit 40 mainly over beacon S
Skylark 50 over beacon S, including one flock of 20.
Bullfinch 1
Goldcrest 3
Coal Tit 1
Buzzard 1
Yellowhammer 30

It was a much better start to the day than forecast, quite mild and sunny at times, and even the wind wasn't much more than a stiff breeze. Passage was better than yesterday, but still a bit slow, and there was no sign of any Wheatears today, let alone the hoped for Ring Ouzel or Crossbill. It's always pleasing to see Redpolls passing over though.
At 8:30am I spotted a large flock of geese distantly over the Old Coach Road (about 5 miles away as the goose flies). I watched them for a few minutes, and saw a flock of about 200 break away from the main group and head towards me. Eventually they flew right over the beacon and away south east, eventually crossing over Pennington Flash and then were lost to view. Lancashire Pink-feet are known to commute to Norfolk, and perhaps that's where these were heading, but it seemed a little odd that part of the flock should break away like that. On the walk back to the car, near the horse paddocks, a harsh croaking alerted me to two Ravens.
No sign of Merville du Jour in the trap this morning, just Common Marbled Carpet and Angle Shades. Perhaps tonight.....

Billinge Hill

2011-10-08T10:41:00.005+01:00

Merlin 1 juv. male
Wheatear 2 one on field near beacon, one near horse paddocks (see photo below).
Meadow Pipit 10
Skylark 10
Goldcrest 2
Great spotted Woodpecker 1

It was a grim, dismal morning, and a much quieter day for migration than yesterday, with virtually no pipit or Skylark passage whilst I was at the beacon, though I must admit, I didn't feel inclined to hang around too long in the dank conditions. On the walk up to the beacon a superb Merlin darted across the road and away over the horse paddocks. I identified it as a juvenile male due to its small size, which was about the same as a Mistle Thrush. Merlins are always exciting birds to see. It's also pleasing to still be seeing Wheatears. Todays birds, which were both 1st winter, were the 2nd latest I have ever seen in St Helens, but they still have someway to go to beat the record, which was of a bird I saw in Newton-le-Willows on 17/10/1983.
A warm night is forecast, so I've just put the moth trap out in anticipation of a migrant or perhaps the mythical Merveille du Jour. Looking out of the window now, I think I might consider myself lucky if I have any moths tomorrow morning. Watch this space........

Billinge Hill

2011-10-07T10:32:00.004+01:00

Crossbill 1 south over beacon.
Meadow Pipit 300+ south over beacon in groups of up to 10 in 90 minute period this morning.
Skylark 100+ south over beacon in groups of up to 10 in 90 minute period this morning.
Wheatear 1 in horse paddocks.
Swallow 1 south over beacon.
Siskin 1+ over beacon.
Chaffinch 50 south over beacon.
Lesser Black Back Gull 50 south over beacon.
Buzzard 2
Sparrowhawk 2
Goldcrest 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 flying around beacon.

It was a very impressive morning on Billinge Hill, with huge skies, giant clouds, a stiff breeze and heavy squals. Through it all there was an almost constant stream of Meadow Pipits passing over the beacon in small groups, all heading south. The pipit passage had already started when I arrived, but it took the Skylarks a little longer to get going, but once they did they were nearly as numerous. Plenty of other birds apparently passing over as well, such as Chaffinches, Lesser Black Backs and a single Crossbill.

Eccleston Mere

2011-10-06T17:42:00.000+01:00

Willow Tit 1
Goldcrest 3
Kingfisher 1

Solitary Sandpiper Nateby

2011-10-04T22:28:00.004+01:00

Solitary Sandpiper 1

I'm not sure how many records there have been for Solitary Sandpiper on mainland Britain, but there can't be more than a handful, and probably most of what there have been are from Cornwall. I couldn't resist the opportunity to add this species to my North West list and what a great little bird it was, a bit browner than I had expected, and it was indeed solitary, being the only bird on a flooded field at Nateby near Garstang.

This is the 33rd accepted record of the species in Britain, and most of the others were on islands, especially the Isle of Scilly. Unsurprisingly it is the first in Lancashire.

Billinge Hill

2011-10-02T09:53:00.002+01:00

7:45am - 9:15am

Crossbill 1 over beacon south
Pintail 9 over beacon south west
Siskin 10+ over beacon south west
Meadow Pipit 50+ over beacon south
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 4
Bullfinch 3
Yellowhammmer 30
Skylark 50
Song Thrush 5 over beacon south
Jay 5

Billinge Hill

2011-10-01T16:42:00.004+01:00

Lesser Redpoll 1 over the beacon
Skylark 60 mainly in one flock around the horse paddocks
Meadow Pipit 50 including 30 in a flock near the horse paddocks
Chiffchaff 1
Yellowhammer 40 mainly flying around the beacon
Tree Sparrow 20
Goldcrest 3
Linnet 40
Bullfinch 1
Jay 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 over beacon
Nuthatch 1

Migrant moths

2011-10-01T16:38:00.001+01:00

I had a couple of species of migrant moths last night, Silver Y (2) and this Dark Swordgrass. Hoping for a migrant hawkmoth tonight!

Martin Mere

2011-09-30T16:49:00.004+01:00

Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Red Kite 1
Willow Tit 1
Marsh Harrier 1 female
Tawny Owl 1
Kingfisher 1
Ruff 35
Pink-footed Goose 3500

Another tremendous visit to Martin Mere! I saw the Kite first from the Ron Barker hide, both in flight and later sitting on a fence post. The light was perfect, you could see every detail through the scope, and in the early morning sunlight there was no heat haze. Then about an hour later I saw it again even more spectacularly from the United Utilities hide as it flew across Woodend Marsh. While I was in the UU hide, I managed to pick out a Pectoral Sandpiper on Woodend Marsh, though it was a bit distant.

On my way back to the Ron Barker hide, I called in briefly at the Raines hide, and found the Pec Sand now right in front of the hide with a flock of juvenile Ruff!

Red Kite (left). Not the greatest photo in the World, but I quite like it. I think it shows the size diffrence between the kite and the Carrion Crow which is mobbing it. The photo on the right is of the Pectoral Sandpiper. Again it won't win any prizes, but worth noting the size difference between the Ruffs (left 2 birds), Reeve (2nd right) and Pec Sand (extreme right). It has been hanging around with the Ruffs for a couple of days......

Eccleston Mere

2011-09-29T11:29:00.001+01:00

Siskin 5
Blackcap 1 female
Goldcrest 2
Barnacle Goose 65+ flew over
Kingfisher 1
Lapwing 20 flew over
Skylark 20

Brown Hawker

Red Underwing

2011-09-29T10:00:00.001+01:00

Moth trapping has been ok recently, but perhaps not quite as good as might have been expected given the hot days and warm nights we have had this week. Red Underwings are always exciting moths to catch though, partly because they are large, colourful moths (about 40mm long), but also because everytime you catch one you're hoping that when it flicks it's wings, instead of red you will see violet-blue, which would make it Clifden Nonpareil, one of the most prized migrant species at this time of year.

Billinge Hill

2011-09-28T17:16:00.003+01:00

Wheatear 1 on ploughed field below beacon.
Chiffchaff 1
Skylark 100+
Coal Tit 1

I counted at least 63 Skylarks flying around the horse paddocks and adjacent fields. The rest were flying over the beacon south west.

Carr Mill Dam

2011-09-28T17:15:00.001+01:00

Cackling Goose 1

Billinge Hill

2011-09-27T10:21:00.003+01:00

Lesser Redpoll 1 over beacon (going north!)
Blackcap 1 female in Elder bush near beacon.
Chiffchaff 2 including one still singing.
Swallow 4
Skylark 50+ some going SW, others just hanging around, and 2 singing!
Meadow Pipit 30
Treecreeper 1
Goldcrest 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Mistle Thrush 17
Tree Sparrow 60
Yellowhammer 40
Grey Partridge 6 in ploughed field below beacon.
Grey Wagtail 2

Carr Mill Dam

2011-09-27T10:15:00.000+01:00

Cackling Goose 1
Kingfisher 1

Cackling Goose Carr Mill Dam

2011-09-26T19:25:00.018+01:00

When I heard that a Lesser Canada Goose had been reported from Carr Mill Dam this morning, I was fairly sure that it would be the same Cackling Goose which was seen at Eccleston Mere, Knowsley Park and Prescot Reservoirs in the August, and sure enough it was, with the same dodgy looking wing. However it's now looking even better, with a really nice purply sheen to the breast. It differs from the other Canadas in it's small size (barely bigger than a Mallard), short neck, tiny bill and dark breast. There is a debate on bird forums about this bird, and the majority seem to be of the opinion that the bird is a hybrid, largely because its back is apparently a fraction too grey, and it's bill a fraction too big for pure Cackling Goose, but it's a close call for me. In perfect light at Carr Mill Dam it may look a fraction grey, but with 20,000 Barnacles on Islay on a dull winters day, there wouldn't be many people saying it was a hybrid in my opinion! Interesting bird whatever the reality......

A nice size comparison with Mallard, Canada Goose and Coot (left), and a great view of its shiney purply breast (right).

Billinge Hill

2011-09-26T11:00:00.007+01:00

Raven 2 over the beacon. Probably the St Helens resident birds just moving around.
Wheatear 1 in the horse paddocks.
Chiffchaff 2 in bushes around beacon. One still singing.
Skylark 100 mainly heading south west.
Meadow Pipit 50
Yellowhammer 40
Bullfinch 3

It was a glorious morning on Billinge Hill. Highlight was the Skylark passage, but the Ravens are always pleasing birds to get on a site list!

Burton Mere Wetlands / Inner Marsh Farm

2011-09-25T18:45:00.006+01:00

We called in today at the newly opened RSPB reserve Burton Mere Wetlands on Wirral. It's basically an extension of the old Inner Marsh Farm Reserve, and is very impressive. At the moment you can't walk from the new bit to the original hide, but that is the next stage of the development. Most of the best birds we saw today were from the old hide, where we saw Water Rail and 20 Curlew Sandpipers and there was also a Pectoral Sandpiper which we didn't see.
However there had been reported Honey Buzzard, Bearded Tit and Hobby in the new bit before we arrived, so it's all very promising.

The new buildings at Burton Mere Wetlands.

Migrant Hawker (left) and Water Rail (right).

Barred Sallow, Queens Park

2011-09-25T18:17:00.003+01:00

Last night I caught a Barred Sallow, the second for my yard but only the third for St Helens. My first was in 2002 and at the time was only the third Lancashire record, and the first since 1995!

Billinge Hill

2011-09-24T10:54:00.007+01:00

Willow Tit 1
Wheatear 1
Chiffchaff 1
Yellowhammer 30
Jay 4
Meadow Pipit 10 over beacon
Nuthatch 1
Swallow 3

I was particularly pleased with the Willow Tit. I thought that I had heard one on a couple of occasions recently, so it was nice to confirm it today. Also today, I'm sure that I heard a Redwing go over the beacon, but I've not heard of any others locally, so I'm a bit reluctant to claim it. A very distinct call obviously, but it was high up and the first of the autumn....

Old Coach Road

2011-09-22T11:16:00.001+01:00

Curlew 2

No sign of any geese today.

Billinge Hill

2011-09-22T11:14:00.002+01:00

Wheatear 1 near horse paddocks
Skylark 10 over beacon
Goldfinch 22
Tree Sparrow 15
Yellowhammer 30
House Martin 10 over beacon
Swallow 20 over beacon
Goldcrest 2

Disappointingly quiet this morning.

Eccleston Mere

2011-09-21T17:10:00.003+01:00

A nice flock of 20 Siskin feeding in the hedge along the stream which flows into the mere at its southern end.

Billinge Hill

2011-09-21T11:07:00.002+01:00

Golden Plover 2 flew west over horse paddocks
Wheatear 1 near horse paddocks
Siskin 1 over beacon
Skylark 50 mainly over beacon
Blackcap 2 male and female in bush near beacon
Chiffchaff 4 including 2 males still singing
Goldcrest 2 in bushes near beacon
Bullfinch 1
Treecreeper 1
Great spotted Woodpecker 1 over beacon
Buzzard 2

Martin Mere

2011-09-20T17:56:00.002+01:00

Red Kite 1 juv. still showing very well on and off.
Marsh Harrier 2 females.
Peregrine 1

Billinge Hill

2011-09-19T13:14:00.000+01:00

Wheatear 2 on the stone circle
Treecreeper 2
Meadow Pipit 10
Yellowhammer 30
Tree Sparrow 10

Old Coach Road

2011-09-19T13:13:00.000+01:00

Pink-footed Goose 800

Martin Mere

2011-09-16T17:06:00.002+01:00

Red Kite 1 juv.
Marsh Harrier 3 (2ff, 1 juv m)
Buzzard 5
Peregrine 1
Pink-footed Goose 2000
Little Stint 2
Dunlin 10
Ruff 30
Tawny owl 1

A great day at Martin Mere, the kite is a stunning sight, well worth a look if it sticks around over the weekend.

Eccleston Mere

2011-09-15T17:22:00.001+01:00

Raven 4 circling overhead calling

Billinge Hill

2011-09-15T17:11:00.003+01:00

Spotted Flycatcher 1 on wires just below beacon.
Wheatear 6 (4 on stone circle, 2 near horse paddocks).
Blackcap 5
Whitethroat 2
Chiffchaff 4
Willow Warbler 1
Swallow 100
Meadow Pipit 40
Skylark 20
Tree Sparrow 80
Buzzard 1
Yellowhammer 30
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Butterflies
Painted Lady 1 around the beacon at about 9am

Sometimes it's a bit difficult to say which birds are migrating and which are just local birds moving around. However most of the Meadow Pipits and all of the Skylarks flew over the beacon in a south westerly direction, and they are probably mostly migrants. The Wheatears and Spotted Flycatcher will be migrants, whilst the Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows are not. It's hard to be sure with the swallows and martins, but there has been a build up in numbers over the past few days, and they are probably a mixture of migrants and local birds.

Martin Mere

2011-09-13T20:58:00.000+01:00

Curlew Sandpiper 2
Marsh Harrier 2 f & juv. m
Wheatear 1
Yellow Wagtail 1

Billinge Hill

2011-09-10T11:02:00.007+01:00

Wheatear 6 (4 in the horse paddock area)
Peregrine 1 adult over the beacon
Snipe 1 over the beacon
Grey Wagtail 2
Lesser Black Back Gull 100+ heading south in small groups
House Martin 70+ flying south west in one flock over beacon
Sand Martin 1
Yellowhammer 40
Goldfinch 40
Buzzard 1
Sparrowhawk 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 over beacon

I don't know much about toadstools, but Fly Agaric is one of my favourites.

Eccleston Mere

2011-09-07T16:08:00.003+01:00

Raven 2
Sand Martin 1
House Martin 50
Buzzard 1

Martin Mere

2011-09-06T16:08:00.001+01:00

Marsh Harrier 2 f & juv.m
Peregrine 1

Eccleston Mere

2011-09-05T18:28:00.001+01:00

Sand Martin 2

Billinge Hill

2011-09-05T13:20:00.001+01:00

Wheatear 2
Buzzard 2
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Yellowhammer 10
Linnet 30

Clwydian Range part 2

2011-09-04T19:01:00.011+01:00

Following last weeks wonderful walk over Moel Famau, today we decided to walk in the opposite direction, over Moel Arthur and Pen-y-cloddiau. The weather was better than last week, and the colours even more breathtaking!
Moel Arthur and Pen-y-cloddiau are about 1500ft high, and both have the remains of Iron Age forts on their summits, built over 2500 years ago. The fortifications at Moel Arthur are particularly impressive, especially on the north side, as can be seen on the first two photos below. In the second photo you can clearly see the remains of the fortifications to the left of the summit.

The third and fourth photos are from the summit of Pen-y-cloddiau. This is a much larger fort than Moel Arthur, but is perhaps not quite as impresssive. In the first photo below you can clearly see the earthworks. The last photo is looking back towards Moel Arthur and Moel Famau from Pen-y-cloddiau.

Birds seen today included about 10 Buzzards and 5 Ravens.

Billinge Hill

2011-09-04T18:59:00.002+01:00

Lesser Whitethroat 1
Wheatear 1
Whitethroat 2
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 4
Tree Sparrow 2
Yellowhammer 30
Goldcrest 2

All birds seen in the area around the beacon.

Billinge Hill

2011-08-31T12:57:00.002+01:00

Wheatear 2
Swift 3
Chiffchaff 2
Whitethroat 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Bullfinch 1
Yellowhammer 30

Billinge Hill

2011-08-29T21:54:00.001+01:00

Wheatear 2

Clwydian Range

2011-08-28T15:20:00.003+01:00

I mentioned the other day that autumn is rapidly taking over from spring as my favourite season, and here's another reason why. We walked part of the Clwydian range from Cilcain to Moel Arthur and onto Moel Famau and the hillsides were covered in the purple flowers of heather. A breathtaking sight!

Billinge Hill

2011-08-28T08:56:00.000+01:00

Wheatear 2

Billinge Hill

2011-08-27T10:49:00.009+01:00

Tree Pipit 1 flew over calling
Wheatear 9
Yellowhammer 20
Sparrowhawk 2
Meadow Pipit 20
Willow Warbler 1 singing
Chiffchaff 3 inc. 1 singing
Whitethroat 1
Buzzard 3
Tree Sparrow 10

The were some dramatic skies around Billinge Hill this morning, and lots of heavy rain in the air, though I seemed to avoid it, and the Beacon itself was largely in sunshine. There were more Meadow Pipits around today, though it's difficult to say if they were the result of local movements or genuine migrants.

Martin Mere

2011-08-26T18:04:00.002+01:00

Martin Mere today, one Wood Sandpiper on Sunleys marsh with 29 Ruff and a Greenshank, one Green Sandpiper from the Hale hide, Barn Owl from the Harrier hide and Tawny Owl in the box near the United Utilities hide.

I also found this lovely toad. Presumably it's a Common Toad, but I've never seen one so well marked.

Billinge Hill

2011-08-25T17:44:00.015+01:00

Another great visit to Billinge Hill. I heard one Tree Pipit fly over and later found another perched on a wire, which allowed me to get a few photos. This is one species which seems much easier to identify when it flies over calling, than when it's sitting silently on a wire! There are also a few Meadow Pipits about, but this is a Tree Pipit because the streaking on the flanks is finer than that on the breast, it has largely white underparts, a shortish hind claw and a relatively stubby bill.

Also today, one Wheatear and at least 10 Swifts.

Bold Moss

2011-08-25T17:30:00.000+01:00

Dragonflies seen today: Emperor 1, Common Hawker 3+, Black Darter 2, Emerald Damselflies 20, Southern Hawker 1

Billinge Hill

2011-08-24T12:55:00.004+01:00

Tree Pipit 6 (flew over calling, all heading SW, between 8am and 9am)
Wheatear 1
Whitethroat 1
Blackcap 1 m
Chiffchaff 2
Willow Warbler 2
Swift 1
Buzzard 1
Yellowhammer 5

All these birds were seen around the summit.

Biking around St Helens

2011-08-22T15:40:00.010+01:00

Newton Lake
Kingfisher 1

Eccleston Mere
Little Gull 1 2nd win
Buzzard 1
Kingfisher 1
Cackling Canada Goose (not seen by me, reported by JT at 8:14am)
Gadwalll 1 f

The Little Gull just flew through in a matter of seconds at about 10:15am and headed SW towards Knowsley Safari Park and Prescot Reservoirs, where presumably the same bird had been seen earlier (see Andy's blog)

Carr Mill Road
Burnet-saxifrage a few, nearly over
Wrinkled Snail (Candidula intersecta) a few

Billinge Hill
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Wheatear 4
Blackcaps
Willow Warblers
Chiffchaffs
Whitethroats
Buzzard 1
Yellowhammers

Queens Park, town centre
Raven 1 flew over heading SW

Despite it's name, Burnet-saxifrage is not a saxifrage, but is a member of the Umbellifer (carrot) family. However this small colony is growing out of the side of a wall, and so is behaving in quite a saxifrage like way! This is the only site I know of in St Helens for the species. It's normally a species of calcareous (limestone) grassslands, and the last place I saw it was in Upper Teesdale! I guess that there must be something in the mortar which allows it to grow here.

Wrinkled Snail at the same site as the Burnet-saxifrage. Once again it is the only site I know of in St Helens for the species. Thanks to Chris Felton for bringing this site to my attention.

St Helens from Billinge Hill

Old Coach Road

2011-08-21T11:40:00.002+01:00

Juvenile Cuckoo on fence posts on Clare's Moss, near Mossborough Hall.

Eccleston Mere

2011-08-20T11:11:00.000+01:00

Willow Tit 1
Treecreeper 2
Willow Warbler 1
Buzzard 1
Mute Swan 3 ads

Dairy Farm Road, Rainford

2011-08-20T11:10:00.001+01:00

Whimbrel 1 flew over calling
Goldfinch 50
Linnet 30

Berrington's Lane, Rainford

2011-08-20T11:09:00.002+01:00

Tree Sparrow 100
Yellowhammer 20
Buzzard 3
Goldfinch 50
Willow Warbler 1 singing
Blackcap 1 m
Chiffchafff 1

Green Carpet

2011-08-20T11:07:00.001+01:00

This beautiful moth was a first for me last night and only the 14th for St Helens.

A time of plenty at Eccleston Mere

2011-08-19T18:30:00.000+01:00

Up until quite recently, I used to think that spring was my favourite season, and I still think it takes some beating. However, there is no doubt that autumn is up there, on a par with spring to my mind these days. Yes you could argue that on the calendar at least, there is still a month of summer to go, but in most other respects autumn is here already.

One of the reasons I like spring is because of the flowering of trees and bushes, but right now and for the next couple of months, there is a spectacle of equal magnificence. I heard the other day that English apples are ripening a lot earlier this year, due to the glorious April, and I guess that it must be the same for our wild trees and bushes, because certainly there are a lot of berries about at the moment, and many look ripe already.

There is a lot of bird activity as well. I stood in one small glade at Eccleston Mere for about 20 minutes, with the hazy sun shining through the foliage, and watched a party of tits and warblers foraging for food. Willow Tit (1), Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits, Treecreeper (1), Willow Warblers (in their almost canary yellow plumage), Chiffchaffs (now in sub-song) and Blackcaps. A magical experience.

A Blackthorn bush with sloes (left) and Hawthorne(right).

I'm told that to make the best sloe gin, you need to pick the sloes in October after the first frost of the autumn. However these looked good to me, and I couldn't resist taking a few and trying my luck early. I'll get some more in October (if there are any left!), just for comparison.

Rowan (left) and Honeysuckle (right)

Guelder-rose (left) and Elder (right).

A nearly 4" long Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar (left) and male Common Darter (right).

Feral Goose flock on Catchdale Moss

2011-08-15T20:34:00.003+01:00

The small Canada was on Catchdale Moss this evening, with a huge flock of 503 Canadas, 74 Barnacles, 3 Greylags and 1 Red-breasted Goose.

Cackling Goose Eccleston Mere?

2011-08-13T17:18:00.008+01:00

There was a small race Canada Goose at Eccleston Mere this afternoon, with a flock of about 50 Greater Canadas. It was very small, it didn't look much bigger than a Mallard, and unlike it's larger cousins it had a dark breast.

The extreme small size and purply sheen to the breast seem to indicate that this is a Cackling Goose of the race minima, but if anybody would like to offer an opinion I'd be pleased to hear it. We do get the occasional Canada x Barnacle hybrid, but this seems pure Cackling to me.

It was unringed and could fly, despite the dodgy looking wing. It was slightly more nervous than the other Canada Geese it was with, but is still presumably an escape. Worth making a note of though, because the local Canadas often join up with the wild Pink-feet, and can turn up at various goose localities across North West England. The Red-brested Goose from Knowsley Safari park regularly sets pulses racing at Martin Mere in winter.

Big movement of Swifts

2011-08-13T11:52:00.004+01:00

A morning working at my computer proved productive. At least 200 Swifts passed the window, in groups of 5-10 birds, all heading south west. I've mentioned before about the frequent passage of birds over my house, always in a south west or north east direction, and this is yet more evidence. If you draw a line on an OS map from the centre of Carr Mill Dam to the centre of Prescot Reservoirs, not only does it go right over the centre of Eccleston Mere, it also goes right through my house, and if you extend it past Carr Mill Dam in the other direction, it goes right over Billinge Hill. Fieldfares, Redwings, terns, gulls, waders, Osprey, hirundines and Swifts, it's amzing how many birds seem to follow this line in one direction or the other. Some I suppose are just moving betweeen the dam, the mere and the reservoirs, but others perhaps are using it as a route to the coast.

Martin Mere

2011-08-12T20:03:00.003+01:00

Martin Mere today, a family party of three Peregrines, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Barn Owl and a Tawny Owl sitting in the owl box near the United Utilities hide (below).

Formby

2011-08-07T20:32:00.012+01:00

August is the best time of year for a visit to Formby Point in my opinion. It's still summer and there are some good flowers to see, but there's a distinct hint of autumn in the air, and the wader passage has begun, with many birds still in full summer plumage, and there are plenty of terns and the chance of a passing skua.

The dune slacks hold many great flowers, including Round-leaved Wintergreeen Pyrola rotundifolia (right).

Grass-of-Parnassus Parnassia palustris is locallly abundant and in full flower at this time of year.

Sanderling (left) and Sandwich and Common Terns (right).

Meanwhile on the beach there are large numbers of waders. I didn't have time for accurate counts today, but as a rough guide I estimate 3000 Knot, 2000 Dunlin, 500 Bar-tailed Godwits, 200 Sanderling, 50 Ringed Plover and 50 Grey Plover, many in summer plumage. Also at least 100 each of Sandwich and Common Terns.

Wasdale, Cumbria

2011-08-04T21:47:00.010+01:00

We camped for two nights at Wasdale Head, under the shadows of Great Gable, Pillar and Scafell Pikes, and perhaps more importantly, right next to the Wasdale Head Inn! We had a couple of downpours, but generally the weather was excellent for walking, and thankfully was clear (eventually) on the summit of Great Gable. It was pretty poor for birds to be honest, just the odd Wheatear and Raven, or the occasional unexpected Yellowhammer, but the flowers were quite good. There were scattered patches of Starry Saxifrage and Yellow Mountain Saxifrage, though the latter was almost over for the year, as well as Bog Asphodel, Juniper, Golden Rod, Alpine Ladys Mantle, Eyebright and Wild Thyme.

Bog Asphodel and Starry Saxifrage.

Yellow Mountain Saxifrage

The campsite at Wasdale Head.

Scafell Pikes and Wasdale Head from the summit of Great Gable.

Backyard safari

2011-08-01T20:03:00.004+01:00

The moth trap can attract some interesting creatures, not just moths!

Antler Moth, the 339th species of moth I have recorded in my little backyard. What a beauty!

Woodlouse Spider Dysdera crocata, a fearsome hunter of Woodlice which it catches by out running them, and the dreaded Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis, a highly invasive alien species which is apparently ousting our native ladybirds. The Harlequin has a whole website dedicated to it's rapid spread across the UK. Click here for more details.

Two moths from last night

2011-07-30T15:58:00.003+01:00

Lesser Swallow Prominent (left) and Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (right).

Little Egret and Pec Sand Martin Mere

2011-07-29T18:26:00.004+01:00

I had a cracking day at Martin Mere today. First thing we saw the Pectoral Sandpiper briefly on Vinsons from the Ron Barker hide. Later in the day I found a Little Egret in front of the Harrier hide, which was a first for the reserve for me. Quite a few dragonflies on the wing, despite the mainly overcast conditions, including this golden looking teneral Common Darter.

Little Egret and Common Darter

Lots of nice flowers on show today, including Gypsywort (left) and I coudn't resist this shot of the unrelated Purple and Yellow Loosestrife (right).

Quail Ormskirk

2011-07-28T17:41:00.002+01:00

I had a very productive bike ride home from Edgehill university today. There was a Quail calling in fields between Ormskirk and Bickerstaffe, at the junction of High Lane and Long Lane (SD 429053), as well as singing Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer.

Then I spotted this Hedgehog walking along the verge on the Rainford bypass. It's not often I see Hedgehogs during the day, but this chappy seemed happy enough, and was eating a worm when I photographed him.

Roudsea Woods, South Cumbria

2011-07-27T19:51:00.006+01:00

We spent most of the day at Roudsea Woods looking at Small-leaved Lime trees, and didn't really have time for much else. However we did see a Brimstone butterfly and a Marsh Tit, as well as at least 10 Slow Worms and several Common Lizards.

Slow Worms (left) and Common Lizard (right)

Small-leaved Lime