MB

 

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> Cheshire and The Wirral -> Cheshire River Mersey Sites (north of the river)
Post Info TOPIC: Cheshire River Mersey Sites (north of the river)
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Cheshire River Mersey Sites
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry-Gatewarth
AM
Several flocks of Long Tailed Tits
2 Curlew feeding in farm fields
Fieldfare audible over
1 Cettis Warbler almost singing


__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Single Redwing feeding on berry laden hedges with Blackbirds was first of the season for me.

Tidal Bore (I think) visible in the River at high tide.


__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
AM
1 Cettis Warbler heard singing.
1 f Grey Wagtail.
Tight flock of 12+ Reed Buntings feeding methodically along a long hawthorn hedge like a flock of finches.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
m Stonecchat still present.

12 + Goldfinches also here on teazles

1 F Sparrowhawk hunting v low (inches off ground) along hedge, stopping to perch up on fences.

1 f Grey Wagtail.
1 Buzzard

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM

1 M Stonechat perching up on dead heads of thistles/sedges/grasses just past the water plant building compound. Right up to the River bank. Active.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry
6 30 pm
Reedbed in canal up past Marina was full of roosting Pied Wagtails. Scores of birds and more noisily arriving constantly.
Not surprising that a Juv m Sparrowhawk was attracted, shooting right into reeds, twisting and turning as it pursued the smaller birds.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Swallows constantly over in small numbers including juveniles noisily begging for food and being fed on the wing by the adult birds.

A sheltered hawthorn hedge near the windpump laden with berries was a magnet for passerines, many juveniles : Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits feeding with Greenfinch and Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Willow Warblers and a single Blackcap.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
1 Little Egret feeding on river at low tide.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Large loose flocks of post breeding passerines in hedges and copses. Ash trees opposite Penketh Old Hall Stables especially favoured. Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet. Whitethroat, Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff, Dunnocks.

Single Little Egret low over River. Weird that they are so uncommon here, first I've had here all year.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 30th of July 2018 01:30:50 PM

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Few birds still singing. One Whitethroat and a couple of Reed Warblers gasping out truncated efforts.
A Cetti's Warbler still going full belt though. They seem to be in song all year round.




__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
pm
1 Grasshopper Warbler still reeling. From Old Tip area in full daylight.
3 Cettis Warblers singing

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry
pm
Cycle track out of the Ferry Marina running along railway
Several Reed Warblers singing in canal side reed beds
3 Cettis Warblers singing from overgrown elders.

__________________
Mike Mulholland


Status: Offline
Posts: 123
Date:
Permalink  

Female Marsh Harrier seen from the Norton Marsh hide midday - initially flying low over the southeast corner of the marsh, it flew towards the river and then headed to Upper Moss Side. 



__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry
Pair of Grey Partridge in fields near Old Station House

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
5 - 6 pm
Warblers seen/heard around site in light rain :
1 Cettis Warbler canal side bushes /reeds and into scrub by wooden bridge. Showing quite well
1 Lesser Whitethroat hawthorns and brambles along river bank
3 Blackcap inc a pair together
3 Grasshopper Warblers Old tip area
Numerous Whitethroat , Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Reed Warbler

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
4 - 5 pm
1 Whimbrel showing well and fairly close on River, about level to Wind Pump. Vocal when a hawking Buzzard passed low over.

Warbler species swelled by Whitethroat and Blackcap, several of both species present.
Reed, Willow, Grasshopper, Cettis Warblers and Chiff Chaff also all singing and /or seen.

A seemingly unremarkable bit of path was attractive to a range of birds, Robin, Blackcap, Long Tailed Tit, Linnet, Reed Bunting. I couldn't see anything special but maybe they were after mud for nest building ?

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
8pm
3+ Grasshopper Warblers reeling
2 Cettis Warblers singing
1 Swallow roung Old Hall Stables


__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Warblers seen heard and/or singing round the site 6pm - 7pm
10 + Chiffchaff
10 + Willow Warbler
2 Cettis Warbler

3 Buzzards
1 Kestrel
4 Bullfinch

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
4 Chiffchaff singing
Penketh Old Hall Stables
1 Swallow hawking over fields here was first of year for me.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddler's Ferry
1 Chiffchaff singing from trees round Water Plant building.
Several Skylarks singing in fields
Flooding in the fields attracted Oystercatcher, Curlew, Heron.
Pair of Mute Swans nesting on canal.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 4th of April 2018 07:31:42 AM

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
AM
3 Chiffchaff singing , various parts of site, one seen

2 Cettis Warblers singing 1 in thick scrub on top of the River Bank 1 in reedy canal-side scrub near level crossing

__________________
Mike Mulholland


Status: Offline
Posts: 123
Date:
Permalink  

Really enjoyable couple of hours this morning at the west end of my patch. Highlight - six Whooper Swans on the River Mersey adjacent to Norton Marsh also 2 Green Sandpipers on the marsh together with 7 Redshank, 5 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Shelduck, 23 widgeon and 17 teal.   

Cetti's Warbler heard west of Richmond Bank and one in the Eastern Reedbed at Moore Nature Reserve.

Several Chiffchaff singing in the area and Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell on the wing.    



__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Penketh Old Hall
20 or so Redwing in horse paddocks round riding stables made a nice wintery scene in light swirling snow.
One or two Mistle Thrush with them.


__________________
Dave Riley


Status: Offline
Posts: 73
Date:
Permalink  

A short stroll from home in Great Sankey to Gatewarth then along the Sankey Canal, we heard a Goldcrest singing in the conifers near Penketh Lane Ends (been there for a few days now) and a Cetti's Warbler was singing near where Sankey Brook joins the Mersey

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Single Fieldfare calling repeatedly from trees near level crossing

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
AM
Green Woodpecker round alders at the Water Station building.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
pm
Single Goldcrest flitting in trees near Wind Pump.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
AM
Bright Winter sunshine made even the Dunnocks energetically singing look handsome.
The 3 Bullfinch (2m1f) feeding in alders/birches positively glowed with colour.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
pm
6/7 Bullfinch in hedge
Tight , mobile flock of Redshank 25+ on River
1 Buzzard soaring low over trees despite drizzle.

2 Long Tailed Tits apparently carrying nesting materials into scrub.



-- Edited by John O'Neill on Sunday 4th of February 2018 01:36:03 AM

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

PM
1 f Grey Wagtail on path by wind pump l

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
pm
Localised flooding around the Water Plant fenced area included a frozen sheet of water which had attracted around 10 Pied Wagtails , busy scurrying over the ice.
1 m Stonechat in same area flitting round reeds and bushes.

At least 3 Buzzard present.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth

M Stonechat still present, not putting on so much of a show today, more typical behaviour, flitting round reeds and bushes on the Old Tip. Still close to where seen y/day.



__________________
John Williams


Status: Offline
Posts: 1876
Date:
Permalink  

With the temperature above freezing there are plenty of Winter Gnats around John, and a few Lacewings too.

They're an essential item for Wrens, Goldcrests and Stonechats at this time of year.

__________________
John Williams
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth

AM

1 m Stonechat, presumably same bird I saw last month. On fence posts and in scrub at edge of canal towpath.
Oddly, seemed to be flycatching, though presumably not too many insects on the wing at the moment. Certainly flying up and returning to perch on posts. A Robin further along the fence was behaving in similar way.

Small flock of Linnets. Reed Buntings in hedges all seemed to be paired up rather than in flocks.




__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Small flock of Greylag Geese (6 / 7 birds) flew in and landed in field on far side of River. Away from feral flock of Canadas/Feral White Greylags.

Flocks of Reed Bunting feeding in hedges.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
830 AM
Thrush numbers right down but 5 or 6 Redwing in trees by Penketh Old Manor Stables.

Finch flocks in hedges had Greenfinch Goldfinch Chaffinch mixed with Long Tailed Tits and Reed Bunting.

1 Kestrel mobbed by a crow. I Jay.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry- Gatewarth

100 + Fieldfare feeding in hedges and bushes and perching up on tops of tall trees. 1 Mistle Thrush small nos of Blackbirds and Redwings.

Reed Buntings formed flocks feeding around hedges and rough ground.

1 Bullfinch m.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth

AM

Fields along Station Rd had big flocks of mixed thrushes, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird . Bushes along canal and hedges on site had plenty of thrushes feeding.

Finch / Tit flocks included a pair of Bullfinch

1 Grey Wagtail on River.

Cettis Warbler giving short bursts of song from cover , top of bank.



__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
830AM

1 m Stonechat in reedy scrub on riverside by water plant First I've seen here all year

15 Fieldfare

Skein of 12 Pink Footed Geese low over. Big flock of Canada and Greylag Geese on far side fields, Pink Foot possibly leaving this group.


Finches in bushes had good numbers of Reed Bunting mixed in with them

1 Buzzard



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 12th of November 2017 06:56:14 PM

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Fiddlers Ferry - Gatewarth
Canal side trees and bushes full of fruit. Greenfinch Goldfinch Linnets Long Tailed Tits Blue Tits Blackbird Song Thrush Redwing feeding in the trees.

Continous stream of Sky Lark over, vocal , in ones and twos.

Buzzard on post.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
late pm

Good numbers of Redwings feeding in hedges and bushes all over the site. At least 50 birds, I estimated. Plenty of Blackbirds with them.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth

20+ Fieldfare over

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Cetti's Warbler heard giving brief snatch of song from hedge on top of Riverbank
2 Buzzards hunting together over Old Tip.

Single Great Crested Grebe on river

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
A Jay was making strenuous but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to catch a Red Admiral on the wing.

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Old Hall

Flock of House Sparrows and Goldfinches, mainly juvs, scattered by a f Sparrowhawk which crashed into the hedge the finches had shot into.

Old Tip

Willow Warblers, Greenfinches , Goldfinches feeding in berry laden hedges.



__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
pm
F Kestrel over Old Hall Stables
1 Little Egret flying upriver

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
Canal
PM

Nice sighting of 2 fledged Reed Warblers perched together on a reed close to water being fed by parent bird

__________________
Dave Riley


Status: Offline
Posts: 73
Date:
Permalink  

I had a stroll this morning from Sankey Bridges/Liverpool Road, we found a Cetti's Warbler amongst a small flock of Blackcaps about 600 metres from the old Sankey Bridges railway station, on the way back, while watching a grey Heron fishing near the overflow, we heard and saw what we assumed to be a different Cetti's (about 500m from the earlier sighting)

-- Edited by Dave Riley on Saturday 29th of July 2017 02:37:13 PM

__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
5:00 pm
Single Grasshopper reeling half heartedly
7 fledged Mute Swans with parents on duckweed clogged canal.
10+ Pied Wagtails , adult and young on horse fields by Penketh Old Hall




__________________
John O'Neill


Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Date:
Permalink  

Gatewarth
AM
1 young Bullfinch Old Tip area
Post breeding flock of Linnets





__________________
«First  <  1 … 4 5 6 7 8 … 14  >  Last»  | Page of 14  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> Cheshire and The Wirral -> Cheshire River Mersey Sites (north of the river)

RODIS

 

This forum is dedicated to the memory of Eva Janice McKerchar.