Flat Lining

After a fairly successful start to the month with a good smattering of migrants, I managed to head out for a quick couple of hours around patch. Despite the weather not being too bad, with plenty of broken cloud and some decent sunshine it still felt relatively cold, and certainly cooler than yesterday.

I started at Burnt Mill Farm again where there were still good numbers of Wheatear, however other than a few Goldfinch and Linnet it was remarkably quiet. A small smattering of Meadow Pipit were moving through with a couple dropping into the paddocks, before moving on quickly. Again there was no sign of the Corn Buntings, and I was starting to get increasingly concerned that they would be lost as a breeding species on patch.

Carr Lane was quieter than yesterday, but small numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap were again singing from the scrubby areas along Ramsbrook. A Water Rail was squealing from the flooded fields along Carr Lane and the reedbed was alive with the sounds of Reed Bunting. Hopefully it won't be long until the first Sedge and Reeds return. Carr Lane Pools were relatively quiet, but there were still reasonable numbers of Eurasian Teal, single Wigeon, whilst Shoveler and Gadwall numbers were starting to build up.

Moving round to the gate on Town Lane there was not much more to be seen, although 2 White Wagtail and a further 3 Wheatear were present. With a real lack of waders present I decided to walk along Town lane to the bridge and was rewarded with a single Water Pipit. However there seemed to be a real dip in the numbers of migrants about. With limited time and very little to keep me out and about (and getting into trouble) I decided to head home.

After a fairly successful start to the month with a good smattering of migrants, I managed to head out for a quick couple of hours around patch. Despite the weather not being too bad, with plenty of broken cloud and some decent sunshine it still felt relatively cold, and certainly cooler than yesterday.

I started at Burnt Mill Farm again where there were still good numbers of Wheatear, however other than a few Goldfinch and Linnet it was remarkably quiet. A small smattering of Meadow Pipit were moving through with a couple dropping into the paddocks, before moving on quickly. Again there was no sign of the Corn Buntings, and I was starting to get increasingly concerned that they would be lost as a breeding species on patch.

Carr Lane was quieter than yesterday, but small numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap were again singing from the scrubby areas along Ramsbrook. A Water Rail was squealing from the flooded fields along Carr Lane and the reedbed was alive with the sounds of Reed Bunting. Hopefully it won't be long until the first Sedge and Reeds return. Carr Lane Pools were relatively quiet, but there were still reasonable numbers of Eurasian Teal, single Wigeon


Fairly dire scoot round patch - plenty of Wheatear, 2 White Wag, single Wapit Town Ln

Foolish Birding

After a fairly murky morning with heavy rain I managed to time my patch birding perfectly, with the clouds breaking revealing some warm Spring sunshine. After a bit of a rush of migrants to the end of March, I was hopeful that the start of April would follow in the same vain.

I started at Burnt Mill Farm where I was delighted to find that the first Wheatears were finally back in. At least 7 Wheatear were bouncing about the paddocks, including some nice confiding birds which allowed some good photo opportunities (....for me!). The paddocks were full of Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Goldfinch, although it was slightly alarming that there was a distinct lack of Corn Bunting again. A Willow Warbler was singing in the garden of Burnt Mill Farm, my first of the Spring and always a joy to hear.

Moving down Carr Lane I stopped at the bridge and found a female Garganey feeding quietly at the back of the flooded field. The fields were alive with Wheatear whilst Great Boar Wood and the scrubby ditch along the back of Ramsbrook were alive with Chiffchaff and Blackcap. The sudden arrival of some sunshine clearly tempted the raptors out with 3 Peregrine, 20+ Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk and 6 Kestrel. Sadly despite what looked like perfect conditions and good numbers elsewhere I failed to find any Osprey.

Carr Lane Pools were remarkably quiet with only a handful of hirundines flying around, so I moved quickly onto the bridge on Town Lane. A Great White Egret was sat out distantly on the Marsh, whilst at least 2 Water Pipit were still present. It will be interesting to see how long they decide to remain.

Heading round to Within Way I caught up with the Little Owl, which was enjoying the afternoon sunshine. 2 Marsh Harrier were soaring on the thermals just east of Runcorn Hill, whilst a female Merlin shot through. Hale Marsh held a Green Sandpiper and the hybrid Shelduck sp.  but the tide failed to push many waders in. With very little else moving, and next to no migrants I decided to head back towards Carr Lane again.

The male Garganey had reappeared on the main pools, whilst a very smart summer plumaged Water Pipit was feeding in the small pool just in front of the gap in the hedge. There were still at least 5 Wheatear bouncing around, and a Whimbrel came flying over from the north and headed towards Hale Marsh. A Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll flew over, just as a reminder that it was still early Spring. With my time running out, I decided to head home.