Little Egret, Houghton Green Flash
Little Ringed Plover, Rixton
Little Owl, Croft
Juvenile Linnet, Seaforth
Juvenile Common Sandpipers, Seaforth
Dunlin, Seaforth. Somewhat spoiled bythe glare from the sun.xxxxx
Last Friday morning, still suffering from the effects of a virus that struck in mid week, I took Bill for the usual wander to HGF. Three Little Grebes were present and a Grey Partridge flew off the north bank, however everything else was pretty much as was. I also managed a quick trip into Seaforth today. Two adult Meds were present on the spit – one with a peppered head which looked familiar from recent visits and another which appeared to have already moulted most of its head except for the mask. Four Common Sandpipers and the usual array of waders were present – unfortunately no interesting terns. At one point everything lifted and I stuck my head out of the hide to see a Peregrine fly over. I did, however miss one as another birder saw to birds fly over.
Xxxxx
Late evening I walked Bill around Newton Lake. One Green Sandpiper briefly stalked out of the undergrowth and showed for around a minute before disappearing back from whence it came. Of interest were two juvenile Lapwings which were present on the mud with their parents – also two Little Grebes at the back of the pool and a Teal which was asleep.
Xxxxx
Early Saturday we had a quick mooch around Moat Lane pools in Rixton. The Redshank was as usual on pool two with both juveniles present and flying! Two Little Ringed Plovers were also present with three small balls of fluff. Six Herons were on pool one – otherwise it was quiet. The garden this morning seemed to be teeming with juvenile tits and finches – the male Bullfinch was also feeding.
Xxxx
Mid afternoon and another walk with Bill – this time to Risley Moss. The usual guys were already present – as was the first summer Hobby which was perched in its usual dead tree. The Hobby repeatedly took to the air hunting insects and good is distant views were had for around an hour. A couple of Yellowhammers and a Buzzard were the best of the supporting cast and HGF began tugging at me so I headed off there. What a cracking decision that was!
Xxxxx
As soon as I arrived at the south bank I could see a large white blob on the far side of the pool and I knew immediately what it was. I quickly set the scope up and was soon gazing at a juvenile Little Egret. If I had seen this bird at Parkgate or Burton Marsh I wouldn’t have given it a second glance – however this was HGF and only the second Little Egret I have seen here. I quietly walked around the pool to get better views and having digiscoped it, I left the bird feeding. Shortly after the first of the dog walkers arrived – a guy who stood on the south bank and sent his dog to walk around the pool on its own. It was clearly an old dog and approx half way between a terrier and a spaniel in size. It approached the egret but showed no particular interest in the bird, however the egret was having none of it. The bird flew straight up and back down, landing directly in front of the dog. It then spread its wings and lunged with its bill at the dog before backing off. Following this confrontation the dog continued its way around the pool and the egret resumed feeding. Amazing!
Xxxxx
I resumed scanning the pool and was pleased to see two Black-necked Grebes on the water – an adult and a juvenile. It was also pleasing to see 18 House Martins feeding over the south field – by far the largest count of this species here this year. Nearly forgot – I drove past Lady Lane this morning and two owls were in the tree – an adult and a juvenile. Late evening I nipped over to Newton Lake where three Green Sandpipers were showing well (in between the showers) – a Common Gull was also present with the Black-heads.
Xxxxx
Sunday morning I drifted round Waterworks Lane on my way to HGF. I was somewhat surprised to see around 40 House Sparrows in the hedge by the feeding station. Obviously they were helping themselves to barley – it was very heartening to see such a large flock (by Winwick’s recent standards) in the village. Quite a few Swallows feeding over this field too. At HGF there was no sign of the egret or the two Black-necked Grebes from yesterday although a different, somewhat drabber, adult bird was now present.
Xxxxx
Early afternoon I wandered over to Rixton via a few pit stops. Six Corn Buntings were seen outside Holcroft Hall Farm on the way – I then diverted around to Cadishead Moss. A female Tufted Duck and a single duckling were floating down the River Glaze. Around the pig pens were around 150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls – I then drove to the end and found a large flock at rest in the turf field beyond Woolden View Farm (field 53 on the chat moss map). I estimated around 1040+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present in total at both sites. I scanned the birds for something interesting or a ringed bird, however nothing doing.
Xxxxx
After I while I headed off down Dam Head Lane in Glazebrook. I saw a Sparrowhawk flash past over the fields and one field to the west of the lane had at least 140 Swallows feeding over it. I finally parked the car at the side of the lane opposite the midden pile and just a bit further down and just sat and watched. Shortly a male Yellow Wagtail appeared and I could hear another calling nearby but couldn’t see it. I then began to see Yellow Wags flitting over – I eventually saw four birds, 2 adults and 2 juveniles drop into a particular spot in the field. I thought there might have been a third juvenile but I couldn’t seem to pin them down.
Xxxxx
It was peaceful and relaxing just sitting there and watching the antics of the wags. I was somewhat startled when a Quail began singing quite close to the car. I haven’t heard one here before and I had drawn a blank after several attempts on the bird heard at Rixton Mosses. I quickly phoned Jonathan to let him know and to ask him if he had picked up this Quail (no). The bird sang a couple of times afterwards and then went quiet. At Moat Lane pools the LRP’s and their three balls of fluff were still present plus the Redshanks. A new Mute Swan was on pool 2 with the Dunham Massey bird still on pool 1. On the mosses the usual suspects were in evidence and on the far side of the field at the bottom of Holly Bush Lane I could see four distant Yellow Wagtails flying around together in a group. A Sparrowhawk (male) flew over the mosses and headed towards Risley Moss.
Xxxxx
Late evening I walked Bill around Newton Lake. One Green Sandpiper briefly stalked out of the undergrowth and showed for around a minute before disappearing back from whence it came. Of interest were two juvenile Lapwings which were present on the mud with their parents – also two Little Grebes at the back of the pool and a Teal which was asleep.
Xxxxx
Early Saturday we had a quick mooch around Moat Lane pools in Rixton. The Redshank was as usual on pool two with both juveniles present and flying! Two Little Ringed Plovers were also present with three small balls of fluff. Six Herons were on pool one – otherwise it was quiet. The garden this morning seemed to be teeming with juvenile tits and finches – the male Bullfinch was also feeding.
Xxxx
Mid afternoon and another walk with Bill – this time to Risley Moss. The usual guys were already present – as was the first summer Hobby which was perched in its usual dead tree. The Hobby repeatedly took to the air hunting insects and good is distant views were had for around an hour. A couple of Yellowhammers and a Buzzard were the best of the supporting cast and HGF began tugging at me so I headed off there. What a cracking decision that was!
Xxxxx
As soon as I arrived at the south bank I could see a large white blob on the far side of the pool and I knew immediately what it was. I quickly set the scope up and was soon gazing at a juvenile Little Egret. If I had seen this bird at Parkgate or Burton Marsh I wouldn’t have given it a second glance – however this was HGF and only the second Little Egret I have seen here. I quietly walked around the pool to get better views and having digiscoped it, I left the bird feeding. Shortly after the first of the dog walkers arrived – a guy who stood on the south bank and sent his dog to walk around the pool on its own. It was clearly an old dog and approx half way between a terrier and a spaniel in size. It approached the egret but showed no particular interest in the bird, however the egret was having none of it. The bird flew straight up and back down, landing directly in front of the dog. It then spread its wings and lunged with its bill at the dog before backing off. Following this confrontation the dog continued its way around the pool and the egret resumed feeding. Amazing!
Xxxxx
I resumed scanning the pool and was pleased to see two Black-necked Grebes on the water – an adult and a juvenile. It was also pleasing to see 18 House Martins feeding over the south field – by far the largest count of this species here this year. Nearly forgot – I drove past Lady Lane this morning and two owls were in the tree – an adult and a juvenile. Late evening I nipped over to Newton Lake where three Green Sandpipers were showing well (in between the showers) – a Common Gull was also present with the Black-heads.
Xxxxx
Sunday morning I drifted round Waterworks Lane on my way to HGF. I was somewhat surprised to see around 40 House Sparrows in the hedge by the feeding station. Obviously they were helping themselves to barley – it was very heartening to see such a large flock (by Winwick’s recent standards) in the village. Quite a few Swallows feeding over this field too. At HGF there was no sign of the egret or the two Black-necked Grebes from yesterday although a different, somewhat drabber, adult bird was now present.
Xxxxx
Early afternoon I wandered over to Rixton via a few pit stops. Six Corn Buntings were seen outside Holcroft Hall Farm on the way – I then diverted around to Cadishead Moss. A female Tufted Duck and a single duckling were floating down the River Glaze. Around the pig pens were around 150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls – I then drove to the end and found a large flock at rest in the turf field beyond Woolden View Farm (field 53 on the chat moss map). I estimated around 1040+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present in total at both sites. I scanned the birds for something interesting or a ringed bird, however nothing doing.
Xxxxx
After I while I headed off down Dam Head Lane in Glazebrook. I saw a Sparrowhawk flash past over the fields and one field to the west of the lane had at least 140 Swallows feeding over it. I finally parked the car at the side of the lane opposite the midden pile and just a bit further down and just sat and watched. Shortly a male Yellow Wagtail appeared and I could hear another calling nearby but couldn’t see it. I then began to see Yellow Wags flitting over – I eventually saw four birds, 2 adults and 2 juveniles drop into a particular spot in the field. I thought there might have been a third juvenile but I couldn’t seem to pin them down.
Xxxxx
It was peaceful and relaxing just sitting there and watching the antics of the wags. I was somewhat startled when a Quail began singing quite close to the car. I haven’t heard one here before and I had drawn a blank after several attempts on the bird heard at Rixton Mosses. I quickly phoned Jonathan to let him know and to ask him if he had picked up this Quail (no). The bird sang a couple of times afterwards and then went quiet. At Moat Lane pools the LRP’s and their three balls of fluff were still present plus the Redshanks. A new Mute Swan was on pool 2 with the Dunham Massey bird still on pool 1. On the mosses the usual suspects were in evidence and on the far side of the field at the bottom of Holly Bush Lane I could see four distant Yellow Wagtails flying around together in a group. A Sparrowhawk (male) flew over the mosses and headed towards Risley Moss.
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