Date

23rd October 2017 0800 hrs to 1110 hrs by Geoff, Steve, Alison, Amanda, Dave M and Terry

Weather

Cool, cloudy, slight wind with a short heavy shower.

Temperature 10C to 13C

Birds

Blackbird 69 Black-headed Gull 30 Blue Tit 13 Bullfinch 17 Buzzard 1 Carrion Crow 8 Chaffinch 4 Collared Dove 1 Coot 1 Cormorant 2 Dunnock 8 Goldcrest 7 Goldfinch 19 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Great Tit 13 Greenfinch 3

32 Species

Grey Heron 2

House Sparrow 14

Kestrel 1

Kingfisher 1

Long-tailed Tit 5

Magpie 23

Mallard 10

Moorhen 4

Redwing 81

Reed Bunting 6

Robin 26

Song Thrush 8

Sparrowhawk 2

Willow Tit 1

Woodpigeon 17

Wren 5

A cool morning with a forecast of rain which only materialised for one short downpour at 10.00am. All in all an exceptional mornings birding with 11 more species than the equivalent survey last year. There were no warblers encountered on the survey.

The 12 transects of the survey route are shown here

October’s Highlights –

1 Willow Tit showing well at the end of the boardwalk nearest to Larkfield Avenue. Nice to see this threatened bird making an appearance on a survey morning especially for those members of the group who hadn’t seen one before. 81 Redwing were noted throughout the survey area; a welcome return to these winter visitors from Northern Europe enjoying berries on the hawthorn hedges on the Meadows. 7 Goldcrest seen in various locations along the New Cut and around the Meadows a record for a single day as its normal to see only one or two of this species. The Mute Swans in transect 1 have moved from the Cut onto the River Mersey and were not seen during the survey. All three regular raptor species; Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were all seen during this months survey. A Kingfisher was seen flying along Spittal Brook in transect 12. Outside of the survey date a Stonechat was photographed by Philip Lewis on the 8th October in transect 4 a rare visitor to the Meadows. Well done Philip! Kingfisher have been seen regularly along the river bank in transect 12 and Common Snipe were seen for the first time this Autumn in transect 7. The Cetti’s Warbler has been heard again on occasion during the early part of the month though not recently; last heard on the 7th October in transect 11. A solitary Swallow was feeding over transect 8 on the 2nd October; this is last sighting of this year, so I was wrong in my prediction last month. The first Redwing were seen on the 17th of the month, if anyone saw them any earlier on the Meadows please let me know.

Mammals

9 Grey Squirrels were logged during this month’s survey, plus one Common Shrew darted across the footpath in transect 8.

Butterflies

No butterflies save one Red Admiral were seen during the survey in transect 12.

Stonechat in Transect 4 courtesy of Philip Lewis

Kingfisher on river bank in transect 12

Mute Swan in “full sail” in transect 12

Juvenile Cormorant drying wings on river bank in transect 12

Redwing amongst the Haw berries in transect 4

Date

10th September 2017,   0700 hrs to 1055 hrs

by Geoff, Steve, Liz and Terry

 

Weather

Cool and cloudy, little wind. Temperature 11C to 14C

Birds

Blackbird 12

Blackcap 2

Black-headed Gull 4

Blue Tit 6

Bullfinch 2

Carrion Crow 4

Chiffchaff 2

Collared Dove 10

Cormorant 1

Dunnock 2

Goldfinch 84

Great Tit 2

Greenfinch 1

Grey Heron 2

28 Species in all

House Sparrow 8

Jay 2

Linnet 2

Magpie 18

Mallard 18

Mistle Thrush 11

Mute Swan 2 (1 pair with 2 cygnets)

Reed Bunting 7

Robin 19

Song Thrush 1

Starling 2

Swallow 7

Woodpigeon 41

Wren 13

 

 

A cool morning with a constant threat of rain which thankfully didn’t materialise.

Several less species than in August with few warblers remaining; Blackcap and Chiffchaff being the only long-stayers. Robins and Wrens are now conspicuous in nearly every transect.

September’s Highlights – 11 Mistle Thrush seen in the hedgerow and on the nearby pylon in transect 6. These thrushes although not rare are both a first recorded sighting for the Meadows since surveys were started and a red list species because of their declining population.

The charm of Goldfinch, which fluctuates between 40 to 150 strong, is still resident within transect 7.

The Mute Swans in transect 1 still have two cygnets on the New Cut and these are almost fully grown.

No raptor species were seen during this months survey, though Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard have been seen on several dates during other dates during the month.

Outside of the survey date  Willow Tit (5th September) was seen and heard in transect 2 along the boardwalk. A Kingfisher was seen on the 1st and 21st in transects 12 and 7 near the missing kissing gate. Goldcrest were seen along the board walk on the 9th September and Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Willow Tit have been visiting birdfeeders on Larkfield Avenue.

100 + House Martin were feeding over transects 5 and 6 on the 11th September on passage south.

A welcome return during the month for the Cetti’s Warbler which has been heard on several occasions during the month, the most recent being the 29th at its normal haunt  in transect 12.

A bank of 9 Mute Swans was on the Mersey in transect 11 on the 28th and on the same day 3 Swallows were feeding over transect 8; possibly the last sightings of this year.

Mammals

Only 4 Grey Squirrels were logged during this month’s survey.

 

Butterflies

No butterflies save one Speckled Wood were seen during the survey. On more pleasant days this month, however, and there have been are plenty of Red Admirals currently passing through the Meadows.

Trees, Wildflowers and Fungi

Most wildflowers are on the wane now with the exception of the ubiquitous Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). Lets hope the recent “rust” released by the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences has the desired affect and biologically controls this rampant invasive species.

 

Fine examples of Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus) have been fruiting in transect 11 by the canal. The popcorn like fruits of the Spindle trees are also fruiting in transect 7. Warning these are toxic to humans – the berries have a laxative effect and were once used when baked and powdered to treat head lice!

 

One of the ancient Hawthorn trees for which Paddington Meadows is famous, has succumbed to the ravages of time and the recent high winds and lies prostrate on the perimeter footpath in transect 6.

 

Nuthatch on bird feeders transect 2 – Larkfield Avenue

Fallen ancient Hawthorn in transect 6

Shaggy Inkcaps – transect 11

 

Spindle tree in fruit – transect 7

Date

13th August 2017 by Amanda, Geoff, Dave M, Steve, Terry 0700 hrs to 1055 hrs

Weather

A cool, calm and sunny morning
Temperature 10 C to 17 C

Bird Count

Blackbird 23 Blackcap 5 Blue Tit 14 Bullfinch 7 Buzzard (Common) 2 Carrion Crow 9 Chaffinch 3 Chiffchaff 6 Collared Dove 1 Coot 2 Dunnock 3 Goldfinch 138 Great Tit 5 Greenfinch 3 Grey Heron 1 House Martin 4 House Sparrow 21

34 Species in all

Lesser Black-backed Gull 1

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Linnet 5

Long-tailed Tit 7

Magpie 24

Mallard 14

Meadow Pipit 3

Moorhen 2

Mute Swan 4 (2 pair; 1 pair with 2 cygnets)

Reed Bunting 11

Robin 15

Song Thrush 2

Sparrowhawk 1

Swallow 2

Whitethroat 6

Woodpigeon 30

Wren 8

 

 

August’s Highlights

3 Meadow Pipits in transect 8, which although not rare are an infrequent visitor to the Meadows. A cool summers morning which had you wandering how many layers to wear. Too many by the end of the survey! August begins the changing of the guard as summer migrants begin to leave for warmer climes or start putting on bulk by gorging on the summer fruits. Hence the hedgerows in transects 3 and 8, heavy with black and elder berries, were the most prolific areas, busy with Blackbirds, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Not to be out done, a massive charm (approx 125) of Goldfinch were harvesting the plentiful seed heads of the wildflower meadow (transect 7). Still no Cetti’s Warbler or Willow Warbler this month, but nice that a Lesser Whitethroat and a family of Long-tailed Tits showed this month. Two raptor species were seen during this months survey with 2 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk making the most of the thermals in the late morning as the air temperatures rose over transect 11. The Mute Swans in transect 1 still have two cygnets which are now two thirds grown. Outside of the survey date a Willow Tit (2nd August) and Treecreeper (7th August) were seen in transect 12 in the large willows at the confluence of the Spittal Brook and The River Mersey and a Kingfisher was seen slightly further down river having a spot of late evening fishing (2nd August). A young Little Grebe was noted on the river from the promintary of the river bank in transect 11 (7th August). Two Nuthatch has been regularly visiting bird feeders on Larkfield Avenue and one was heard on the boardwalk in transect 2 (21st August); a first for the survey area. A further Willow Tit was seen and heard in the corner of transect 7 (the wild flower meadow) in the trees on on the banks of the river near the missing kissing gate on the 30th August.

Mammals and Meteors

10 Grey Squirrels were logged during this month’s survey. On the previous evening to the bird survey, 48 intrepid souls braved the annual bat walk round the New Cut Canal and Paddington meadows. Numerous bats were seen at dusk or located on the bat detectors as the light faded, with a total of three different bat species being identified namely Common Pipistrelle Bat; Soprano Pipistrelle Bat; and Noctule Bat. A big thanks again to Harold “Batman” Green and his colleague plus Tony Da Silva and Michael of Lancashire Wildlife Trust for again organising an enjoyable and informative insight into the fascinating world of bats and for the loan of their bat detectors. Several meteors were seen streaking across the clear night sky during the walk, as it was the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower.

Butterflies, Moths and Flies

The amount of butterflies remains at its peak.

The Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns have finally been joined by Peacocks and Painted Ladies.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers abound this month especially along the New Cut canal bank with Purple-loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) amongst the many wildflowers currently in evidence.

Harold “Batman” Green in full flow prior to the bat walk

Common Pipistrelle Bat

Noctule Bat

Painted Lady Butterfly

Pair of Mute Swans with their Cygnets

 

Date: 10th July 2017
by Amanda, Geoff, Kevin, Mike, Claire, Dave M, Alison, Steve, Terry
0700 hrs to 1030 hrs

Weather : A very warm, calm and sunny morning
Temperature 18C to 22C

Birds

Blackbird 27
Blackcap 4
Blue Tit 8
Bullfinch 7
Buzzard 2
Carrion Crow 4
Chaffinch 2
Chiffchaff 10
Collared Dove 3
Cormorant 1
Dunnock 4
Goldfinch 47
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Great Tit 10
Greenfinch 18

30 species in all

Grey Heron 2

House Sparrow 26

Linnet 4

Magpie 16

Mallard 7

Moorhen 4

Mute Swan 2 (1 pair with 2 cygnets)

Reed Bunting 14

Reed Warbler 1

Robin 7

Song Thrush 8

Swift 19

Whitethroat 12

Woodpigeon 22

Wren 7

July’s Highlights

Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers in transect and a family of Linnet in transect 7.

A gloriously warm summers morning on the Meadows with an excellent turn out.

July is traditionally a quite month for birds; it marks the start of the summer doldrums when adult birds rest up after their nesting activities and moult, recouping their energies for winter or migration if they are summer visitors.

Several of our rarer species have left us or are in hiding; so no Cetti’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat or Willow Warbler this month and strangely enough there were no Long-tailed tits seen or heard.

There was only one raptor seen during this months survey with a Buzzard again circling over transect 11 and one over transect 4.

Transects 2 and 7 proved the most rewarding this month with new families of Goldfinch and Whitethroat in evidence.

The Mute Swans in transect 1 still have two cygnets which are now half grown.

Mammals

6 Grey Squirrels seen during this month’s survey.
Butterflies, Moths and Flies
If it has been a quite month for birds then the amount of butterflies is at its peak.
The Meadows are alive with Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and Small Skippers. The occasional Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and a solitary Painted Lady was seen.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers abound this month on the Meadows and along the New Cut canal bank, with Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Musk-mallow (Malva moschata ), Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Purple-loosestrife
(Lythrum salicaria) and Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) amongst the many wildflowers currently in evidence, especially transects 1 and 7.
The wildflower meadow transect 7 which started the month as a sea of feathery white Meadowsweet has turned to purple as the Common Knapweed (Centarea nigra) holds sway.
Photos 1, 3 & 4 below courtesy of Mike Kenwright.

Photos 1 Meadow Brown

Photo 2 Common Knapweed

Photo 3 Common Chicory and (Honey Bee?)

Photo 4 Gatekeeper

Date:  14th May 2017 7:00

by Amanda, Geoff, Dave M and Terry

Weather

A warm sunny but cloudy morning Temperature 9c to 13c

Bird Count

Blackbird 36

Blackcap 5

Blue Tit 6

Bullfinch 5

Buzzard 1

Carrion Crow 2

Cetti’s Warbler 1

Chaffinch 10

Chiffchaff 11

Collared Dove 1

Dunnock 16

Goldfinch 20

Grasshopper Warbler 1

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (first sighting of year)

Great Tit 8

Greenfinch 15

Grey Heron 1

Grey Partridge 2

 

38 species in total

Grey Wagtail 1 House Sparrow 22 Linnet 2 Long-tailed Tit 23 Magpie 15 Mallard 4 Moorhen 3 Mute Swan 3 (1 nesting pair with 3 cygnets) Reed Bunting 11 Reed Warbler 2 Robin 15 Sedge Warbler 1 Song Thrush 12 Spotted Flycatcher 1 (first sighting) Swallow 2 Swift 15 Whitethroat 14 Willow Warbler 2 Woodpigeon 27 Wren 14

May’s Highlights – 8 Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher

A pleasant enough spring morning on the Meadows, cloudy with a threat of rain which never materialised. One new sighting for this year and one totally new species seen during the survey. New summer arrivals seen during the survey were Common Whitethroat plus a patch first sighting of a Spotted Flycatcher. This red list summer visitor was seen in transect 4 in the corner of the Meadow nearest to Paddington Bank and gave excellent views for several minutes. The Grasshopper Warbler was heard briefly in transect 4, but not seen; it is likely that currently we have at least 3 Grasshopper Warblers territories on the Meadows. Welcome returnees were a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the resident pair of Grey Partridge. The Cetti’s Warbler was seen and heard again and is still in situ in transect 12. Furthermore, a Cetti’s Warbler has also been heard in transect 11, so there is a possibility that we have a second bird or our resident bird is starting to wander. There was only one raptor evident on this morning’s survey with a Buzzard circling over transect 11. Birds were found consistently around most of the survey area this month. A special mention of our Blackbird population with at least one Blackbird logged in every transect. On the 31st May a Lesser Whitethroat was heard and seen in the hedgerow between transects 8 and 10 after a months absence and has been heard there every day since. Good news! The Mute Swans in transect 1 have 3 newly hatched cygnets.

Mammals

10 Grey Squirrels seen during this month’s survey plus a report of a stoat on the path between transects 8 and 10.

Butterflies

1 Red Admiral was seen in transect 5 on the morning of the bird survey as the day warmed up.

Wildflowers

The area adjacent to the New Cut near to the picnic benches (transect 1) is currently a mass of wildflowers with Yellow Rattle (rhinanthus minor), Bladder Campion (silene vulgaris), Field Poppy (papaver rhoeas), Meadow Crane’s-bill (geranium pratense) and Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) amongst the grasses and plantains. The fragrance of the Hedgerow Rose (rosa multiflora) can be appreciated at its heady best at present especially in transect 10.

Meadow Crane’s-bill Geranium pratense

Red Admiral

Whitethroat

Swans & Cygnets

Date:  8th April 2017 ,0800 hrs to 1110 hrs

by Amanda, Geoff, Dave, Kevin, Mike and Terry

 Weather : A warm sunny and calm morning but with a cool start

Temperature 4°C to 14°C

 Blackbird 22

Blackcap 12

Blue Tit 15

Bullfinch 4

Buzzard 1

Carrion Crow 6

Cetti’s Warbler 1

Chaffinch 7

Chiffchaff 14

Collared Dove 2

Cormorant 1

Dunnock 8

Gadwall 3

Goldfinch 5

Great Tit 9

Greenfinch 18

Grey Heron 1

House Sparrow 6

Jay 1

Kestrel 2

Lesser Black-backed Gull 3

Long-tailed Tit 10

Magpie 33

Mallard 8

Moorhen 2

Mute Swan 2 (nesting pair)

Reed Bunting 11

Robin 14

Sand Martin 1 (first of year)

Song Thrush 5

Sparrowhawk 1

Swallow 1 (first of year)

Teal 2

Willow Tit 1

Woodpigeon 31

Wren 17

36 Species in all

 April’s Highlights – a Redstart and a Grey Seal

 A lovely spring morning on the Meadows and an excellent turnout.

 Several firsts for the year but no new species seen during the survey.

 New summer arrivals seen during the survey were Sand Martin, Swallow, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

 Furthermore the Cetti’s Warbler was seen and heard again and is still in situ in transect 12. It can be heard (and seen if you’re lucky) belting out its stentorian song most times of the day near to the outfall of Spittal Brook. 

A first survey sighting for the year and for only the second time on a survey date was a Willow Tit in transect 2 adjacent to the boardwalk. Hopefully this may be a new territory on the patch for our resident star bird.

This was again a three raptor morning with Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk all in evidence.

The most successful areas of the survey this month were transects  2 & 4.

 It’s been a very interesting month for wildlife outside of the survey date; the first Willow Warblers were seen and heard on the 10th April, whilst Linnet and Common Redpoll (we mustn’t call them Lesser Redpoll any longer) were seen on the 17th April in transects 8 and 6 respectively.

Two Reed Warblers and one Grasshopper Warbler were heard and seen on the Meadows on the 21st April in transects 12, 2 and 10 respectively and two further Grasshopper Warblers have been heard since reeling in transects 4 and 11. In comparison to last year this has already been a successful year for Grasshopper Warblers, which were heard only twice last spring.

Two Sedge Warblers were also seen in transects 7 and 11 on the 21st April along with the first Whitethroat of the year in transect 11.

To rap up what was a good day’s “mooch” on the 21st a Grey Wagtail was seen on the iron girders over the Spittal Brook between transects 1 and 12 and a Kingfisher flew over transect 1.

On the 29th April Lesser Whitethroat’s were heard in transects 5 and 7.

 The highlight of the month on the birding front however occurred on the 26th April, when I watched a male Redstart for several minutes feeding along the hedgerows in transect 7.

This handsome summer visitor, now on the Amber list because of conservation concern within Europe, is a new species for our Meadows list and came as a very present surprise.                                             

Mammals

8 Grey Squirrels seen during this month’s survey.

A Grey Seal was seen in the River Mersey from Paddington Bank on the 9th April and from transect 12 on the 10th April. These events seems to be getting more common as the last Grey Seals seen in the river between Kingsway Bridge and Woolston Weir were in both January and July 2016.

Butterflies

1 Comma and 1 Orange Tip Butterfly were seen in transect 8 on the morning of the bird survey as the day warmed up.

Wildflowers

Transect 7 has been full of  Cowslip this month and Cuckooflower abounds in the damper areas of the Meadows especially in transects 7, 8 and 10.

 

 Grey Seal from transect 12

 

Greenfinch in transects 9 and 10

 

 

 

 

Goldfinch in transect 5

 

 

Grasshopper Warbler reeling in transect 10

Date:  11th March 2017  0800 hrs to 1100 hrs

by Amanda, Geoff and Terry

Weather : A mild cloudy calm morning Temperature 9°C to 11°C

 

Black-headed Gull 22

Blackbird 26

Blue Tit 8

Bullfinch 7

Buzzard 2

Canada Goose 2

Carrion Crow 3

Cetti’s Warbler 1

Chaffinch 6

Collared Dove 2

Coot 1

Cormorant 1

Dunnock 9

Gadwall 2

Goldfinch 16

Great Tit 10

Greenfinch 24

Grey Heron 1

House Sparrow 12

Jay 1

Kestrel 1

Kingfisher 1

Long-tailed Tit 17

Magpie 34

Mallard 4

Moorhen 5

Reed Bunting 28

Robin 18

Song Thrush 8

Sparrowhawk 1

Woodpigeon 24

Wren 8

 32 Species in all

 A warm and still morning on the Meadows;  muddy underfoot but not as bad as it had been in the week earlier.

Only one first timer this month, but something of a surprise. The unmistakable song of a Cetti’s Warbler exploded out of the riverside undergrowth close to Spittal Brook bridge. As the last recorded bird on the survey, this sent everyone home with a smile on their faces.

The bird has been heard several times since and is still likely to be in the same area.

New sightings for the year and for only the second time on a survey date was the welcome return of a Kingfisher in transect 1, as before, and a pair of Gadwall were on the river close to the outfall of Spittal Brook.

This was a three raptor morning with Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk all in evidence.

The most successful areas of the survey this month were transects  2 & 12.

Outside of the survey date the first Chiffchaff was heard and seen on the Meadows on the 15th March and the first Willow Tit and Blackcap were heard and seen on the 31st.

There has been a report of a Barn Owl seen hunting over the Meadows at night; please let me know if you see it.

Mammals

5 Grey Squirrels seen during this month’s survey.

Butterflies

3 Comma and Two Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies were seen on a warm and sunny 15th March.

 

 Cormorant                                                                                                                                                                       Chiffchaff

Date:  11th February 2017, 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs

by Amanda, Trish and Terry

 Weather : Dank, Drizzly, Cold but calm morning, Temperature 4°C to 5°C

Blackbird 16

Blackheaded Gull 4

Blue Tit 22

Bullfinch 6

Chaffinch 4

Carrion Crow 8

Coal Tit 1

Collared Dove 3

Coot 1

Cormorant 4

Dunnock 3

Goldfinch 22

Great Tit 19

Greenfinch 10

House Sparrow 8

Jay 1

Kestrel 1

Long-tailed Tit 13

Magpie 37

Mallard 10

Meadow Pipit 3

Moorhen 5

Reed Bunting 9

Robin 9

Song Thrush 4

Teal 2

Tufted Duck 2

Woodpigeon 25

Wren 5

 29 Species in all

A cold and damp morning on the Meadows;  dry underfoot despite the unexpected drizzle. Despite the weather several Song Thrush, Chaffinch and Robin were in song to proclaiming their new territories.

A couple of first timers this month for a survey date but both had a bit of inevitability about them. Firstly, a “gulp” of 4 Cormorant seen on the Mersey adjacent to Woolston Tip; feeding avidly before the rowers ventured up river.

Cormorant can be seen virtually every day tantalisingly close on the pylons of Number 4 bed, but rarely do they venture into our “patch”.

Secondly, a solitary Coal Tit amongst the other Tits at the entrance to the Meadows at Larkfield Avenue. Seen and heard before but never on a survey day.

 As was the case in January, there were some welcome returnees. A pair of Tufted Duck on the river amongst the Cormorants and 3 Meadow Pipits in the hedgerow between transects 5 & 8.

Only one raptor seen during this months survey a Male Kestrel.

The most successful areas of the survey this month were transects  2 & 3.

 Outside of the survey date, on the 18th and 26th a Little Grebe was spotted in the river at the corner of transect 7 adjacent to the missing kissing gate and on the 18th a Goldcrest was flitting along the riverside hedgerow of transect 4.

After an absence of five weeks or so the Buzzards are back; at least two seen displaying and mewing over the Meadows.                                           

                                                 

Mammals –  7 Grey Squirrels seen during this month’s survey.

 

 Little Grebe near kissing Gate transect 7

 

           Blue Tit amongst the Catkins transect 10

                        Bullfinch on transect 8

 

Collared Dove near entrance to Paddington Meadows at Larkfield Avenue

House Sparrow hedgerow between transects 3 and

Date:  7th January 2017, 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs

by Amanda and Terry

Weather : Dull, Mild, calm and drizzly morning, Temperature 7°C to 9°C 

Blackbird 26

Blackheaded Gull 1,

Blue Tit 20,

Bullfinch 18,

Chaffinch 8,

Carrion Crow 8,

Collared Dove 1,

Coot 1,

Dunnock 12,

Goldfinch 41,

Great Spotted Woodpecker 2,

Great Tit 23,

Greenfinch 13,

Grey Heron 1,

Linnet 4,

Long-tailed Tit 13,

Magpie 26,

Mallard 15,

Moorhen 6,

Mute Swan 2,

Reed Bunting 27,

Robin 15,

Song Thrush 3,

Treecreeper 1,

Woodpigeon 24,

Wren 7,

 26 Species in all

 A mild but dull morning on the Meadows;  still soggy underfoot following recent rain, but not flooded like the same time last year.

 

As was the case in December, there was a welcome returnee. A Treecreeper was observed on the trunk of the hawthorn between transects 5 & 6. Coincidentally, the last Treecreeper to be recorded was in January last year.

 

The highlights of the day were the Treecreeper and the Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

 

The most successful areas of the survey this month were transects

1, 2 & 7.

 

Song Thrush courtesy of David Mercer from last summer on Paddington Meadows

 

 Drake Mallard on the Mersey

 

Male Reed Bunting

 

No raptors seen during this months survey.

A Willow Tit was heard and then seen along side the New Cut Canal in transect 10 about a 100 metres from the gate entrance, on the morning of Saturday 21st.

A solitary Snipe was flushed from the centre of the wild flower meadow (transect 7) on Sunday 29th.

Mammals

10 Grey Squirrels seen during this month’s survey.

 

 

Date:  10th December 2016, 0900 hrs to 1220 hrs, by Amanda and Terry

Weather : Mild, calm and sunny morning Temperature 10°C to 12°C

 Blue Tit 17

Dunnock 2

Wood Pigeon 24

Wren 9

Blackbird 24

Magpie 40

Greenfinch 8

Reed Bunting 7

Chaffinch 2

House Sparrow 24

Carrion Crow 11

Mallard 19

Bullfinch 9

Great Tit 6

Robin 15

Goldfinch 15

Black-headed Gull 35

Grey Heron 1

Kestrel 1

Snipe 1

Meadow Pipit 5

Goldcrest 1

Pied Wagtail 1

Grey Wagtail 1

Moorhen 10

25 species in all

A mild and pleasant morning on the Meadows;  still soggy underfoot following recent rain.

The wet conditions resulted in two wagtail species being seen this month one of which, the Grey Wagtail, being on the red list. There were also two welcome returnees (the Meadow Pipit and the Goldcrest ) which have been recorded only once before this year.

This brings the total number species on the current red list of birds of  conservation concern recorded so far in this calendar year to 12.  

A single Snipe was flushed from transect 10 and made a curved flight towards the Mersey and then Number 4 bed of the Eyes.

Last months massive influx of continental birds has laid bare the hedgerows of berries and no Redwing, Fieldfare or Song Thrush were found feeding on the Meadows. A flock of 32 Redwings flew overhead in transect 10 and did a quick about turn, thought about landing, but spying the lack of provender continued on their way south.

The highlights of the day were the Wagtails, the Goldcrest and especially the Meadow Pipits which gave excellent views for several minutes, perched high in  the hedgerow between transect 9 and 10.

The most successful areas of the survey this month was transect 2                                                        Great Tit

                                                    Grey Heron

 

                                           Robin (Well it is Christmas)

There has been another report of a Woodcock this time seen flying over Larkfield Avenue at dusk.

Mammals

 6 Grey Squirrels seen during this month’s survey.

 A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers and Happy Birding!!