Hi John, HWH is the abbreviation for Halfway House which was the name given to the derelict bungalow on the track between the Mersey and the ship canal about 30 metres east of Wigg Island. When we refer to HWH now we mean the general area east of the bungalow but in particular Owens Wood where for some years myself and other patchers have regularly watched the river, fiddlers and Norton Marsh. Over the years we have had some good stuff there, it was a bit quiet this morning, I would normally expect to get a few waders on the mudflats but there were several Wheatears in the area and a male Whinchat.

Lesser Whitethroat singing and showing quite well in Hawthorns on the track leading to HWH today also 2 male and 1 female Wheatear on the opposite bank of the ship canal. 1 male wheatear on Norton Marsh showing characteristics of the Greenland race.
Male Whinchat in the eastern section of Upper Moss-side on the 3rd

Gatewarth

8.00/9.00pm "Wall of sound" produced by four (poss five) Grasshopper Warblers reeling incessently from reedbeds and bramble bushes in field sloping down to Ferry Pub. One showing relatively well in reeds.
3 Whitethroats seen.
Sedge Warblers singing.
Willow Warblers noticeably numerous.

Gatewarth
8.30 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling tonight.

At least one Whitethroat singing.

Gatewarth

The highlight this afternoon was a Ringed Plover on Richmond Bank.

Otherwise fairly quiet with Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Skylark, Dunnock all singing plus Linnet and Greenfinch over. A male Kestrel was seen chasing another over the river and a Buzzard hunted across the area.
Pairs of Shelduck, Gadwall, Canada Goose and Mallard with two Cormorants also on the river.
Less than 100 Gulls present, mostly Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed on Richmond Bank.

Gatewarth

At least 4 Willow Warbler plus 3 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap singing this afternoon.
Skylark, Linnet, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blackbird and Robin all in good voice too.
The resident Kestrel was hunting over the area and a Common Buzzard circled over the east side pools.
A pair of Coot with 4 tiny young was observed in the canal as I was leaving.

2 Ruddy shelduck on pools in fields opposite hale marsh. 1 was dark necked and dark headed so a hybrid of some sort the other 1 looked fine for a ruddy but in all likelihood both escapes , also a pair of Gadwall with many teal.

Gatewarth :
Cold and damp today, feeling very Wintery.

Gull numbers up on the River,1000 s present in flighty flocks. One Iceland Gull in the crowd, seen well, close in, just before Richmond Bank.

18 Linnets in trees by railway line was biggest flock I've seen here for months.

Gatewarth

2 Chiffchaff singing today, with Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Reed Bunting and Linnets also in song, but only a single Skylark heard.
The pair of Oystercatchers were still on the south side river mud and a pair of Grey Partridge were flew over the path in front of me.

Fiddler's Ferry - Gatewarth

5.00-5.45 pm Great views of 3 Short Eared Owls hunting on both sides of the River. Ranged quite widely, including drifting high-ish over farm fields towards Moore, but mostly concentrated on reedbeds and ditches opposite the steep track up to Gatewarth. Perching up on fences, posts and dead tree over water. Often v close.

Kestrel and Buzzard here too.

2 Stock Doves over. Skylark and several Reed Bunting singing.

Gatewarth

Great Created Grebe flying upriver. At least one Curlew on Richmond Bank, several others over. Meadow Pipits. Redwings in ones and twos in hedges/bushes.

At least one Iceland Gull on Rich Bank. Thanks to the kindly soul who pointed out a Full Summer Med Gull close in, opposite steep slope past United Utilities Building.


-- Edited by John O'Neill on Sunday 26th of February 2012 09:20:24 PM

Gatewarth

pair of Bullfinch in bushes on top of River bank.

1000s of gulls on River

Gatewarth

3 Dunlin feeding on the mud before high tide today.

Opposite Fiddler's Ferry
In the gloomy wet drizzle this morning from my watchpoint west of Norton Marsh I estimated 400+Lapwing with around 150 Golden Plover, 4 Redshank, 34 Canada Goose, 2 Buzzards plus 100+Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed etc.Gulls.

Gatewarth
Short Eared Owl hunting far side of River, adjacent to Richmond Bank, diving into the high rough grass and occassionally perching on posts. 2.45pm

Kestrels also hunting.

Pair of Stock Doves.

Gatewarth

Very wet this morning. Single Kestrel and Buzzard both present, looking rather wretched perched up on small trees. Blackbird flocks in hedges mixed with Reed Buntings Wrens and Tits.

Ferry

Jay. Two Kestrels hunting along canal.

Widnes Warth NR: Male Hen Harrier being mobbed by a Magpie (12:00hrs)

Gatewarth
8.00AM
Muddy and wet. One puddle in middle of path attractive to wide variety of birds (not sure why, plenty of others to choose from) and Dunnock, Wren, Chaffinch, Linnet,Reed Bunting,Greenfinch and (4) Meadow Pipit all bathing there.

Redwings feeding on many of the bushes and hedges, outnumbered by both Blackbirds and Song Thrush.

7 Mute Swans on canal inc 4 juvs.

Gatewarth

2 Gt. Spotted Woodpeckers were seen briefly on a fence post this afternoon whilst a Redwing with several Blackbirds fed on the hawthorn berries. A Common Buzzard perched on a small tree nearby overlooking the river.

On the mud west of Norton Marsh this morning
250 Golden plover
200 Lapwing
4 Grey Heron
4 Cormorant
1 Little Egret flew past heading down river

Gatewarth
Birds seen today in the bright sunshine included :
2 Kestrel
2 Chiffchaff
Wren
Jay
2 Grey Heron and
150+ Lapwing on the river mud

Gatewarth
A Little Egret dropped in to feed in the river for few minutes this afternoon on south side of Richmond Bank before flying off west. Almost lost to view at times behind the mixed hordes of gulls.
A Kestrel was seen twice and a Sparrowhawk flew from the trees along the St. Helens Canal path towards Sankey Bridges.

55 Golden Plover with 500+ Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 5 Shelduck, 5 Cormorant and a Great Black-backed Gull on the mudflats west of Norton Marsh this morning.
Also noted were Mistle Thrushes, Jays and Chiffchaffs busily feeding in the bushes along the Manchester Ship Canal track en route to my watchpoint.

Gatewarth 8.30AM

2 Sparrowhawks engaging in an aerial jousting match with a Kestrel . One of the hawks spotted hunting low over river bank a bit later, virtually stationary, trying to fly into strong wind.