Nice to see Chris Chandler who arrived shortly before I had to go.
Thought Id try my luck with the adult Glaucous Gull thats been visiting WSR Recycling recently but it was a no show, the 3W Kumliens Gull didnt put in an appearance either.
Of note.. - 1w Caspian Gull on sandbanks - adult Yellow-legged Gull at WSR
3w Kumlien's Gull gave an excellent close flypast on sandbanks just west of old bridge also seen today by myself and/or others 3 Caspian Gulls. Thanks to Steve T, Dave & Alex for assistance.
-- Edited by Phil Oddy on Saturday 3rd of February 2024 06:04:04 PM
Sun 28th Jan. With not even the slightest sniff of a rarity at Redgate in the last couple of weeks, I thought Id try my luck in Widnes.
Nice to see Steve T, Ian Igglesden, Colin Davies, Dan Gornall etc
Of note on the sandbanks.. - adult Caspian Gull .. a corker! - poss 2w Caspian Gull (same bird Steve T had yesterday) - poss 2w Yellow-legged Gull
WSR Recycling.. - 1w Caspian Gull .. self found, good looking bird soon obscured - missed the 3w Kumliens Gull by seconds, both roof sides were crammed with Gulls, handful of birders watching both sides, it was picked up and as we walked round it flew off!
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 28th of January 2024 09:29:47 PM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 28th of January 2024 09:32:41 PM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 28th of January 2024 09:33:43 PM
Sunday 20th August. Early morning visit to the sandbanks at Runcorn Bridge.
- Yellow-legged Gulls Minimum of 3 adults, possibly 5 but one was too distant and the other was asleep so not good enough views were had. Sunlight was a factor so some of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls were becoming a bit deceiving.
I thought I had a Caspian Gull but just didnt get the best of views so that one and a few other possibles of something decent I had to let go!
Also.. - 2 Ravens were patrolling the edge of the sandbanks - 2 Common Buzzard
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 27th of August 2023 11:32:03 AM
Just West of Old Runcorn Bridge on the Sandbanks looking from the Widnes side 1 x Caspian Gull - 2nd cy , YLG- 1 Adult , Kumlien's Gull - 2nd W/ 3rd Cy Still present 6.30 pm Friday
Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Grey Wagtail, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Greenfinch and Buzzard highlights seen around The Bongs this afternoon
Sunday 19th June. Morning visit to West Bank sandbanks under the Old Runcorn Bridge. Tried to time it right with the tide for decent viewing.
Of note - 1 1st summer Caspian Gull - 1 adult Yellow-legged - 1 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull - 1 Little Egret - 1 Yellowhammer sat in a bush singing away - 2 Blackcap - 1 Chiffchaff
Images show 1 of the adult Yellow-legged Gull 2 of the 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull 2 of the 1st summer Caspian Gull 1 of the Caspian and 2s YLG together
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 21st of June 2022 01:15:52 AM
I spent an hour on Pex Hill this afternoon in Widnes, into the quarry and above up in the woodland I spotted a Common Buzzard above the quarry on thermals.
The following were seen in and around Pex Hill...
1 Goldcrest (a first for me) 5 Long Tailed Tit 10 Blue Tit 2 Great Tit 3 Goldfinch 5 Magpie 5 Robin 1 Crow 2 Wren 1 Common Buzzard 4 Blackbird
All the usual Common Magpie and Wood Pigeon sightings....
Weather was bright with late afternoon sunshine.......a lovely place Pex Hill is although United utilities are doing some work on a pumping station at the moment so there is limited parking as the car park by the observatory is being used by the engineers.
-- Edited by Gary Smith on Tuesday 5th of March 2019 05:54:12 PM
-- Edited by Gary Smith on Tuesday 5th of March 2019 05:55:53 PM
-- Edited by Gary Smith on Tuesday 5th of March 2019 07:13:51 PM
Hello all, I'm a new member here, I've had a falcon frequently visiting my garden several times over the last four years, I've never had the opportunity to get a picture of it till this week when I was fortunate enough to see it catch a pigeon, not only that but capture it on my phone, I think it's a peregrine but would love somebody with more knowledge to clarify this, I have a video (from my iPhone unfortunately) I really hope someone can help me identify this beautiful bird of prey. I have attached a short edited video clip I shot, many thanks your help would be really appreciate, Ken
Late post for Wednesday forgot about this a Sparrowhawk over our site in Runcorn, Pine Road. Not sure on sex as it was really high on thermals. Also seen a buzzard riding on thermals. Both birds seemingly pretty close together riding thermals.
No idea where to put this sorry Ian if it's wrong. Been working on Pine road in Runcorn and about 7:45 every morning have had a large flock of Jackdaw over probably about 200+ heading North.
Quite surprised to observe a Grey Wagtail around our suburban gardens for the last three weeks - at first I'd only heard it and though I was hearing things but it showed well this weekend. Miles from the nearest substantial water so I'll be interested to see if it overwinters here or moves on.
Many species joining up in bigger flocks observed on my morning walks around Cronton/Pex Hill/Blundells Hill. Highlights so far this week were a mixed finch flock of over 40 birds, a covey of around 18 partridge and this morning a juvenile [dark looking] Peregrine stooping on the Woodpigeon and feral pigeon flocks on all the stubble fields between Pex Hill and the M62. I did wonder if its a bird that's dispersed from Thelwall or somewhere local.
Flock of 64 Fieldfare, with a Mistle Thrush and two Starlings mixed in, were using the tall trees around my suburban garden this morning as a roost in between feeding on some local berries. Guess the poor weather had forced them in.
Went for a wander over the Runcorn Bridge at dusk to see the Starlings up close and saw a Sparrowhawk having a go at the flock - then my sharp eyed daughter spotted that most the the starlings were actually roosting under the road deck of the bridge and not up in the steelwork.
Tricky to view at 70 mph but there have been big mixed flocks in the stubble field just north of the M62 a mile or so east of Junction 7 for the last three weeks or so - definite IDs include Fieldfare, Jackdaw, Crow, Woodpigeon, Starling etc but there was a large finch flock today - just in case anyone's using the footpaths in the area :)
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 3rd of December 2012 09:26:05 PM
Lots of Whitethroat on territory over the past fortnight and Yellow Hammer and Chiffchaff still present but best so far this week was a Buzzard flying over my rather suburban garden! Cheered me up and then I read that article about Buzzard "control" in Scotland...
Over the last week Yellowhammer numbers have dropped back to five or six males on my four mile circuit. Other birds of interest:
Pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers around Pex Hill itself Grey Partridge now well dispersed and paired off Pair of Jays in residence First Chiffchaff of the year at the bottom of Sandy Lane this morning :) Skylarks now singing consistently
Walk round Pex Hill at dawn this morning produced Skylarks singing and it seemed like a Yellowhammer in every bush - males and females. I can't recall seeing many round that walk before so not sure if they're on territory or some are passing through - I'll be out again to see how numbers are tomorrow at the same time!
Good start to 2012 with a Tawny Owl perched on the post and rail fence just off J7 of the M62 at 12:45! Turned round for a second look to make sure all the family saw it... Happy New Year all, Peter
Thanks Ian, can't see a metal ring an the yellow ring is either distorted or just yellow with black stripes - [I'll email you a shot] looks like its got a damaged wing which explains the rather strange location! Peter
For two days now there's been a Barnacle goose in the corner of the winter wheat field at the southern side of the M62 at Junction 7. I guessed it was feral but today saw a yellow plastic leg ring and no sign of a metal one - I'm without scope so will try and get some photos to read the ring/see if its wild...also whilst I was watching it last night flocks of Redwing over and skylark flocks going south
An emergence of flying ants attracted 800+ Starlings to the vicinity of the Widnes Linkway today, many fly-catching, with 200+ Black-Headed Gulls and a large flock crowded on to a small area of the verge, where there was presumably an ant nest
Carr Lane pools at Hale Village, [the Widnes/Speke Hale] last night - three yellow wagtails and finally the white form pied that I'd been searching for, for a month! Also probable common sand but couldn't get a decent view - wing pattern on flight looked right though.
The Peregrines do indeed lie in wait on the Runcorn bridge for the Starlings during the roost in winter time and yes the power station is a good place to see them on the towers. With a decent scope they can easily be seen from Moore reserve.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 18th of April 2009 08:59:24 PM
Peregrine over this time near chemical works NE of Widnes over dual carriageway from Runcorn Bridge to J7 M62 - scared the nearest pigeon who dived for cover and put up the rest that were roosting. I believe they hunt starlings at Runcorn Bridge from time to time but have never seen them there - Fiddlers Ferry must be a possible location?
From the train back to Manchester tonight, 19.15 p.m. Peregrine falcon over suburbs towaeds Fiddlers' Ferry end of the town, heading west as I was heading east
