02/05/2021 Viridor Wood, Abram, Wigan

Common Whitethroat: Around the corner from where I live is a community woodland, with large open spaces, great views called Viridor Wood. And it's a lovely place to spend a few hours walking with the baby and Dawn. 

Viridor Woods connects to the Three Sisters Country Park and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal so you can explore further afield from here.

I had my fisrt swift of the year, some nice reeling grasshopper warblers and a fly over calling yellow wagtail. 
 

26/04/2017 Hale Lighthouse & Carr Lane Pools

Whitethroat: Hoping to see one of the Channel Wagtails that have been reglarly seen at Carr Lane Pools Gary and I decided to spend the afternoon at this sunny part of Cheshire.

Wheatear: We could only manage to pick up a couple of the standard Yellow Wags but we enjoyed watching them along with Blacktailed Godwits and Dunlin dropping in from Town Lane.

Once we were satisfied that we had searched Carr Lane Pools adequately we moved on down to the Lighthouse, starting from Within Way.

It was here we heard a Lesser Whitethroat calling on Within Way but only managed to see another Common Whitethroat. There were also Yellow Wags flittering around the crops in the surrounding fields.

Towards the shore line we picked up large flocks of Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and some nice Wheatear.

Hale Lighthouse and Carr Lane Pools is a smashing place, particularly when the sun is out.

Common Swift: Before setting off back home I thought we would chance it again and give Carr Lane another go for Channel Wags, but again was only rewareded with the standard variety.

We were however treated to some low flybys from some Swift and bumped in to Dot, who as ever, is always a pleasure to chat with.

25/06/2013 Frodsham Marsh

Whitethroat: After my brilliant trip to Raby Mere I decided to shoot down the motorway to Frodsham Marsh.

The highlights incuded a male Marsh Harrier over the Weaver Bend and about 50 Black-tailed Godwit   a few Redshank and one Dunlin on the small pool tank no.6, oh and this Whitethroat.

08/06/2013 Frodsham Marsh

Spindle Ermine Moth: These prolific caterpillars or McDonald's for birds have once again taken over the bushes of tank no.5  

The bushes are infested with thousands of caterpillars stripping them of all their leaves and only leaving behind a white silk sheet which covers the twigs the fences and drips down on to the pathway, AWESOME.







Whitethroat: I decided to pay  a visit straight from work but I didn't see all that much although I didn't spend much time there.

I did spot a family of Whitethroat flying around tank no.5 which was delightful, I often find Whitethroat very wary birds but these juvenile birds seemed a little bit more approachable.

30/04/2013 Marbury Country Park

Whitethroat: A very rare trip to Marbury in search of the drake Garganey threw up a day full of warblers and no Garganey!

The woods were teaming with Blackcap, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats, I got a few Sedge and Reed Warblers near Neumann's Flash.

26/04/2013 Frodsham Marsh

Whitethroat: (female) I LOVE Frodsham Marsh but or me Froddie can be very hit or miss, but today was definitely a hit!









Tank no.3 was full of Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and the odd Reed Warbler singing from the reeds and at the far end of no.6 there were both female and male Marsh Harriers showing really well. They flushed a dozen Black Tailed Godwit and Redshank.

Yellow Wagtail: I walked all the way around tank no.6 past Lordship Marsh were I spotted two Yellow Wags in the recently ploughed field.

This was one of my two target birds for the day and I was thrilled to see it close up, the last time I saw a Yellow Wag was right here in the same field a few years back, but at some distance.

Winchat: The second of my two target birds was spotted almost straight after getting my first, I spotted two Winchat in the same ploughed field along with a few Reed Bunting and one female Wheatear and I saw my first two Swift of the year.





OK today was no Rock Thrush, Hoopoe or Rich Pip at Spurn (I turned down a lift) but getting both birds I wanted to see made my day that little more bearable.

09/05/2012 Martin Mere WWT

Reed Warbler: An early morning at Martin Mere before the rains came relieved two new spring arrivals. Starting from the Reed Bed Walk, with the sun on my back I had to take my coat off, uplifting and enjoyable.

Whitethroat: Further along the walk near the kissing gates next to the United Utilities building I found myself surrounded by Whitethroat and it was here I caught a sighting of my first 2012 Swift flying high over towards the farm.

I was not only surrounded by Whitethroat, I was also surrounded by swarms of flies, no wonder it was a hot spot for theses very active warblers.

I then headed back to Martin Mere where I was treated to more Sedge Warbler, Balckcap and the regular gang of garden birds.

02/05/2012 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB

Whitethroat: Has the weather finally changed? The sun was shining and the temperature was up, blue skies and migrants galore! Fantastic.

At Inner Marsh Farm there was dozens of Whitethroats, the best views where down from the walkway near the bridge looking towards Burton Wetlands Centre. Here I was also treated to excellent views of singing Blackcaps, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Chiffchaff: A small flock of Linnet flew in to the farm fields and there were reports of Wheatear on the stone walls, although I didn’t see them.

Paul from the RSPB pointed out Lesser Whitethroat which was great and was singing and showing well.




Stonechat:  Down at Burton Marshes I was hoping for Whinchat but didn’t have long until the bus came some only got some snaps of the female Stonechat the male was around briefly and there was at least two reeling Grasshopper Warblers a first for the year.





Robin: So I started pretty late about 11ish and straight away got a Temminck's Stint outside the reception hide, the place was as usual chocca birders from wall to wall, I spent some time at the feeders hoping I would be lucky enough for a Red Poll fly by, but no luck.




Nuthatch: Nuthatch where everywhere along with Greater Spotted Woodpecker, one even gave me some great views at the feeders.

I also spotted a female and male Blackcap at the far end of the ponds.