Winwick

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

RE: Winwick

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

Put a couple of pounds of seed down today to help out - delightful to see such a large flock of tree sparrows in a rare sunny spell - wonder why they've closed the layby though?

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Still 2 Bramblings with the Chaffinch flock in the graden and over the fence, towards Waterworks Lane, the Tree Sparrow flock is still around the 60 mark, with 28 Linnets also bouncing around.

Cheers David

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Another interesting morning. Got up intending to cover my two tetrads for the BTO Thrush Survey but it was too foggy to be worthwhile, so spent an hour or so garden watching. Along with c.70 Chaffinches and 30 Greenfinches feeding actively were two Bramblings on the lawn. The only other record I've had in the garden was of an over-flying bird a couple of weeks ago. These could be the ones Mike picked up in Waterworks Lane a few days ago?

Cheers David

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

A crisp, clear morning so walked out of my garden and round the fields either side of Waterworks Lane. Was chuffed to get a "garden tick" straight away, when a Snipe flushed from by my bottom hedge and flew over the house

That brings my garden list, since I moved in in February 2011, to 73 species, including (either seen in or from the garden!) Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine, Barn Owl, Golden Plover, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Curlew, Wheatear, Stock Dove, Sand Martin and Raven.

Anyway, todays counts included:

Snipe 1
Grey Partridge 3
Yellowhammer 6
Tree Sparrow 65
Meadow Pipit 3
Reed Bunting 2
Song Thrush 3
Redwing 14
Fieldfare 3
Blackbird 25
Buzzard 3
Dunnock 4
Jay 1
Pheasant 4
Chaffinch 33
Greenfinch 20
Goldfinch 5
Coal Tit 1
Starling 155
Collared Dove 12
Herring Gull 7
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3
Jackdaw 33
House Sparrow 24
Wren 3
Feral Pigeon 70

Cheers David

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

Second hand story.......

So make of it what you will....

My sister went to B&Q winwick today and twitchers (as she put it) were in the car park looking at waxys

I cannot confirm but theres a snippet of info for you

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Brambling with Chaffinches at Waterworks Lane feeding station this morning. Also 65+ Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammer.

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Walked from home late this afternoon, down Waterworks Lane and on to Highfield Moss and back. In Highfield Lane 45 Tree Sparrows, 3 Grey Partridges and 60 Starlings were the main sightings. On the Moss, which was fairly quiet, 5 Common Snipe were flushed. Interestingly, given the plans under the Greater Manchester NIA bid to improve the state of the moss, a guy was busy at work clearing out the drainage ditch on the east side. He said he was employed by the local farmer to "get the water levels down" in case the adjacent grass airstrip flooded

Anyway, on the adjacent fields were: 60 Linnets, 4 Grey Partridges, 6 Pied Wagtails, 120 Starlings, 80 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Meadow Pipits, 1 Mistle Thrush, 5 Fieldfares and 3 Redwings.

Cheers David

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

120+ Pink-footed Geese flew over Waterworks Lane at 15:35 heading SW. Also here were 34 Tree Sparrows, 3 Yellowhammers, 8 Skylarks, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. 55+ Fieldfares flew over Myddleton Lane.

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Started BTO Winter Thrush Survey today, covering the fields at Arbury plus the area around Peel Hall and the Radley Plantation. Quietish but the following were notable: 4 Grey Partridges, 135 Lapwings, 8 Common Gulls, 11 Meadow Pipits (all on the fields at Arbury) plus 4 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, 10 Collared Doves and four Grey Herons - oh, and not forgetting 16 Blackbirds and 1 Mistle Thrush

Cheers David

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Quick lunchtime walk from home, down Waterworks Lane, across the fields to Hermitage Green Lane and back. 45 Goldfinches and 10 Linnets were disturbed by a Sparrowhawk in the latter, while c.200 Starlings, 150 Black-headed Gulls and 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls fed on the adjacent fields. Waterworks Lane held 5 Yellowhammers, 3 Grey Partridges, 40 Meadow Pipits, 10 Skylarks, 5 Buzzards and 2 Coal Tits.

Cheers David

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Gardening today, so kept an eye on the field behind the house (the Oilseed Rape stubble field to the east of Waterworks Lane). Pleasant warm sunshine, for once and plenty of birds dropping in to feed. Three Grey Partridges, 2 Yellowhammers, 7 Skylarks and 40 Meadow Pipits were in the stubble, with 7 Buzzards and one each of Kestrel and Sparrowhawk and c.200 Black-headed Gulls overhead.

Cheers David

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Barrow lane -pm sat
Linnet-25
common Buzzard-3
not a lot else

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

Hobby this aft on the fields behind waterworks lane great views of it being mobbed by swallows.

It then headed towards houghton green flash

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

A leisurely walk down Waterworks Lane produced a nice flock of Swallows, held up by the weather and feeding low over the fields, with about 130 present, along with 25 House Martins. c. 150 Starlings were on the power lines and the hedgerows produced 15 Goldfinches, 11 Linnets and 25 House Sparrows. Two Kestrels and two Buzzards were hunting the fields.

Crossing the fields to Hermitage Green Lane a Peregrine came rattling through, flushing a few score of Wood Pigeons. Later it was heavily mobbed by two Kestrels and 30 Swallows, before drifting further west. 475 Starlings were on the pylons here before being flushed by two marauding Sparrowhawks. I had a wander through the boggy woodland along the Lane, coming across Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreeper, along with several Chiffchaffs.

Cheers David

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

A Barn Owl flew over Highfield Lane last night at 9.30 pm and a Raven flew west over my garden at 12.00 pm today.

Cheers David

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Two Jays oined the life out of a juvenile Cuckoo this morning at Barrow Lane - presumably mistaking it for a raptor which it did indeed resemble at distance. A few sparrows in the oats, 2 Buzzards and a single calling Yellow Wagtail was also seen - otherwise quiet.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Wheatear in Barrow Lane this evening

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane this evening

One of the barley fields has been dropped but little about - a few Tree Sparrows, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Corn Bunting. A Peregrine (prob juvenile) appeared and flushed a flock of Lapwings (120+) which were in a field to the NE and then made repeated passes at the flock without success. The Peregrine then headed off over Highfield Moss

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

10+ Yellow Wagtails in the in the NW corner of the oat field by the bollards this morning, mostly juveniles. Four or five more on the muck heap. Three Sand Martins flew overhead as I walked back to my car.

This evening there were nine juv. Yellow Wagtails on the lane on a brief visit.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

400+ Swifts feeding over Barrow Lane this afternoon and gradually drifting south

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

At least ten Yellow Wagtails on the muck heaps this morning - with other birds in the crops and overflying I probably saw 17-20 birds altogether.

Had distant views of a falcon. I picked it up as it headed towards Highfield Moss and had a momentary view of it against the crops before it rose into the sky, it looked rufous in colour in strong morning sunlight (the bird definately wasn't a Kestrel). Over the moss it turned and headed west, putting in a fast, shallow stoop at something before disappearing behind trees at the back of Morris's Farm. Looked too bulky and wide-winged for a Hobby, maybe a female Merlin/juv male Peregrine?

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

Good to see Mike this morning as I was leaving after just over two hours watching the waste heaps - most birds favoring the sewage farm material rather than the farmyard manure! Yellow Wagtail - I managed 5 definite juveniles and 4 adults but I didn't venture past the bollards. Also 3 Corn Bunting - including one singing from the hedge near the bollards and one briefly on the muck heap, Grey Partridge, Yellow Hammers, Linnet, a flock of around 15 Tree Sparrows and plenty of juv Starlings.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Cuckoo flying round Parkside Farm this morning. 14+ Yellow Wagtails with 4 males, 2 females and 6 juveniles confirmed. Tree Sparrows mostly in oat fields opposite Parkside Farm

Pete Welch · Status: Offline

Still plenty of Yellow Wagtails [possibly four adults and four+ juv] this morning plus at least two Corn Buntings, Linnet, Tree and House Sparrows and Pied Wagtails.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Decent numbers of Yellow Wagtails on the lane this morning - two adults carrying food from the north end of the muck heap, at least six near the bollards (4 juvs, 2 adults), two adults with a rain-soaked juv in the oat field and a male on the other side of the lane in the wheat. I did see others but thought they might be repeats of birds seen earlier.

The Corn Buntings seem to be concentrated on the oat field (SE field alongside the lane), it's a thinner crop than either wheat or barley and is full of weeds - perhaps that's why they seem to prefer it? Apparently 'barley has been shown to be the most favoured habitat of Corn Buntings in mixed arable farmland in north western England (Thompson & Gribbin, 1986)'.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Two juvenile Yellow Wagtails on the lane this morning, probably the same two that were there last night. Five Curlew flew south last night too, though they were closer to Highfield Moss than the lane.

The manure has been there for several weeks, it looked amazing a few weeks ago as it was covered in thousands of small toadstools!

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

Was on Barrow Lane this morning the farmer has put a lot of manure on the road. Its wagtail city at the moment and saw a quite a few yellows and lots of pieds.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane mid afternoon
1 male yellow wagtail
1 corn bunting
and a couple of families of tree sparrows
1 grey partridge.

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

that is a strange call, never heard that before Jonathon, not something i would of thought of corn bunting making, i suppose i and possibly some others of us just try to learn first the birds song and not other calls, i also last year got threw by a curlew calling from its territory which this call does sound very similar to the whimbrels call, lots to learn, cheers Den

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Jonathan Platt wrote:

Barrow Lane

Several Corn Buntings included one individual that appeared to be making a low, rasping type call I've never heard before, indeed I'm not 100% sure it actually was the bunting!

To answer my own question, it's an alarm call. I went back on Thursday evening and again this morning, the bird was in the same area. Found this on Xeno-Canto:

http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/PNYKOPBQBQ/MICAL170509.mp3

I hear the short call in this clip every time I walk down Barrow Lane, but the bird in question was only doing the longer, rasping call. Can't recall hearing it before.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Phil Woollen wrote:

Jonathon / Mike. In your opinions how are Corn Bunting numbers comparing to previous years?

I get the impression there seem to be a few more about although I've not heard any reports from Hale this year.

-- Edited by Phil Woollen on Thursday 5th of July 2012 01:34:02 PM

Hi Phil,

As Mike suggests, Corn Buntings seem to be doing okay at Barrow Lane and Rixton but in other areas numbers are still falling. The number of males singing from the telegraph wires along Holcroft Lane seem to dwindle each year, and it's rare for me to hear or see them in the immediate area of Silver Lane Pools these days, though they are more numerous on the arable to the east.

Although numbers of Corn Buntings have plummeted since I was a child I still find it somewhat surprising that this relatively small area of North Cheshire should still support a reasonable population when other similar areas are devoid of them. I pass through many parts of Cheshire and the Wirral that look ideal for Corn Buntings, yet there aren't any. If I look at Barrow Lane I can't really see what's so different from many other arable areas of Cheshire - big, featureless fields with a few low, sparse hedgerows. There is a decent variety of arable crops there however - wheat, barley, oats, potatoes and - a few fields away - the soft fruit fields of Kenyon Hall Farm. Other parts of Cheshire have a vast monoculture of either rape, wheat or barley. There is no traffic along the lane and the verges seem to provide plenty of food for Corn Bunts, I regularly see them foraging there. How much better would it be if all the fields in the area had ten yard headlands, full of weeds and insects, all the way around them?

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Mike Baron wrote:

Phil Woollen wrote:

Jonathon / Mike. In your opinions how are Corn Bunting numbers comparing to previous years?

I get the impression there seem to be a few more about although I've not heard any reports from Hale this year.

-- Edited by Phil Woollen on Thursday 5th of July 2012 01:34:02 PM

Hi Phil

I get the impression that they are a bit up and down. I had 10 birds at Barrow Lane several days ago which included one family group, however that is the only evidence of breeding here. This is a good spot for them, however elsewhere they seem to be in lower numbers.

In Culcheth which is really the local stronghold, numbers seem well down and they seem to have disappeared from Winwick proper aside from the odd bird (Barrow Lane is actually in Newton-Le-Willows, Lancs)!

At HGF there were two pairs present, however I have not seen any of them for a couple of weeks. There are still a few in Rixton.

Much of the old set aside we used to have local is now planted with cereal crops. In odd areas like Barrow Lane the farmers don't seem to spray too much, however there are plenty of local fields which are sprayed to death and are just green deserts, devoid of life.

Overall I don't think this will be one of the best breeding seasons. I do think there are more people reporting sightings though which may give the opposite impression.

Mike

I had four on Highfield moss (virtually bordering Barrow Lane but in GM) a few days ago. Two males singing by Highfield Farm and another two singing just SE of the moss (probably Barrow Lane birds).

I also had a pair going through some sort of mating ritual too near Highfield farm a few weeks ago too.

Just speaking for Highfield Moss though the numbers are up from last year.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

Phil Woollen wrote:

Jonathon / Mike. In your opinions how are Corn Bunting numbers comparing to previous years?

I get the impression there seem to be a few more about although I've not heard any reports from Hale this year.

-- Edited by Phil Woollen on Thursday 5th of July 2012 01:34:02 PM

Hi Phil

I get the impression that they are a bit up and down. I had 10 birds at Barrow Lane several days ago which included one family group, however that is the only evidence of breeding here. This is a good spot for them, however elsewhere they seem to be in lower numbers.

In Culcheth which is really the local stronghold, numbers seem well down and they seem to have disappeared from Winwick proper aside from the odd bird (Barrow Lane is actually in Newton-Le-Willows, Lancs)!

At HGF there were two pairs present, however I have not seen any of them for a couple of weeks. There are still a few in Rixton.

Much of the old set aside we used to have local is now planted with cereal crops. In odd areas like Barrow Lane the farmers don't seem to spray too much, however there are plenty of local fields which are sprayed to death and are just green deserts, devoid of life.

Overall I don't think this will be one of the best breeding seasons. I do think there are more people reporting sightings though which may give the opposite impression.

Mike

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Hobby flying SW over Oven Back Farm this morning. At least three Yellow Wagtails, two alarm calling in different spots in the arable, so presumably on territory. Several Corn Buntings included one individual that appeared to be making a low, rasping type call I've never heard before, indeed I'm not 100% sure it actually was the bunting!

Phil Woollen · Status: Offline

Jonathon / Mike. In your opinions how are Corn Bunting numbers comparing to previous years?

I get the impression there seem to be a few more about although I've not heard any reports from Hale this year.

-- Edited by Phil Woollen on Thursday 5th of July 2012 01:34:02 PM

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

A Hobby was flying over the oat fields opposite the junction of Parkside and Barrow Lanes this evening - it headed off in the general direction of Hermitage Green Lane. There appears to be a large square of set aside in the middle of one of the oat fields - might be interesting later in the year. A walk down Barrow Lane produced:

22+ Tree Sparrows
15 Skylarks
5 Corn Buntings
2 Yellow Wagtails
1 Yellowhammer

John Williams · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

09.30-10.30

After a previous failed attempt I decided to have another look for

Yellow Wagtail here, and a resplendent male showed on the compost

heap for a while. Thanks to Jonathan and Mike for their advice on this.

Also 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer (m) singing, 1 Kestrel, 2 Lapwing

6 Reed Bunting (2m fighting) and lots of Skylarks. Plenty of Swifts and

Swallows flying low.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

A female Yellowhammer was collecting food from the muck heap this morning. A male has been present for a few months but it's the first time I've seen the female, hopefully they're both now feeding a brood. Tree sparrows are starting to feed in the arable crops (presumably looking for insects to feed broods), several flew overhead this morning.

Earlier at Dolly's Bridge a female Yellow Wagtail was feeding a single juvenile on a recently-cut hay field, a dozen or so Pied Wagtails were also present. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the hedge at the south end of the recently sown field.

Mike Baron · Status: Offline

There are three pairs of Yellow Wags there John. They do seem to have gone quiet at the moment (as have a lot of birds) and they also seem to be avoiding the road area - they can be often seen flying distantly over the fields. Hopefully a bit of sun and they will be out again.

Rgds

Mike

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

There's at least one pair of Yellow Wagtails there John. A male carrying food was perched on the barrier at the Oven Back Farm end of the lane on Wednesday, and a pair were on the lane 50yds past the barrier yesterday morning. They often nest in cereals for the first brood then turn to potatoes for their second brood when cereals get too thick and potatoes have gained some foliage. So far I've seen no juveniles however. The manure was only dumped there last week, hopefully it should provide a bit of insect food for the wags!

John Williams · Status: Offline

09.15-10.15

Walked along Barrow lane.

3 Corn Buntings showing really well. 8 Skylarks including one singing

from the top of rotting manure heap. 3 Starlings, 1 Yellowhammer (male),

plus 2 Buzzards (adult & juvenile). Lots of Swifts and Swallows over.

No sign of Yellow Wagtails, I found them in the potato field last year

but this year it's wall to wall cereal.

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Walked down Barrow Lane and then round Highfield Moss and back. Two Yellow Wagtails, near the bollards on Barrow Lane plus four Corn Buntings. Totals of 8 singing Skylarks, 4 singing Reed Buntings, 11 Yellowhammers, 7 Grey Partridges, 5 Willow Warblers, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrushes andc.40 Swifts.

Cheers David

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

From Barrow Lane, Tuesday:

Corn Bunting x 1
Skylarks x 8
Stock Dove x 2
Lapwing x 2
Swift x lots
Swallows x lots

But Quail neither seen nor heard

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted by Eddie King

Red Kite over Winwick Lane near barrow Lane on Saturday 26th, travelling east.

chrisdorney · Status: Offline

Thanks for that Jonathon and for the original post.it was so close I think I could have leapt on it and wrestled it Steve Irwin style but look what happened to him...
Thanks also to my good lady wife who was texting furiously from the car telling me to hurry up.when I stopped to text back it started singing right next to me.genius.
Cheers Chris.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Hi Chris,

Yes it was my van. Dolly's Bridge is the railway bridge you drive over heading back towards Lowton on Winwick Lane. Park carefully in the gateway on the right-hand side of the road (if you're coming from Winwick) just before the bridge, a footpath goes across the fields but I usually just have a look on the first fields. Two wheatear still there this morning.

chrisdorney · Status: Offline

Quail still singing at 9.45 just feet away from the path.corn bunting and grey partridge also heard and a bold skylark seen on the path 20 feet away unfazed.was that your red van Jonathon?just out of interest whereabouts is dolly's bridge?

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Barrow Lane

Quail singing from field in front of Oven Back Farm, 100yds from Winwick Lane at 9.20pm. No sign of it this morning. Several yellow wagtails and corn buntings there too. Two wheatear, yellowhammers, tree sparrows, a corn bunting, stock doves and grey partridge on recently-sown field south of Dolly's Bridge, Winwick Lane tonight too.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Left too early.....typical!!