A dozen birdwatchers met up in Sandbach on a warm, windy morning to find that the key to open the treasures of Woolston had been mislaid. An alternate destination was sought and nearby Risley Moss came to mind. And we were quickly up the 20 miles of motorway to the M62, and parking up at Warrington’s Risley Moss LNR. Not renowned as a bird-rich environment, that and the emergent leaves on the trees ensured that it was difficult to see birds, and that hearing them was to be at least as important. And so we set to work with a will.
The car park had its resident guardian Robin, and a Chiffchaff’s song was heard. And as we moved off, a Garden Warbler serenaded us from the picnic ground. We walked through woodland to the Mossland Hide to find a Canada on a nest and a pair of Tufted Ducks. A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over, and just outside the hide a Willow Warbler’s descending, wandering trill assured us that summer(!) would be here soon.
We walked back to the Woodland Hide, and watched a Great Spotted Woodpecker with its beak buried in a feeder. The usual suspect Tits were making good use of the feeders, with the occasional Coal Tit joining them. A Chaffinch hoovered up the spillage and a Jay zoomed around the background.
We moved on to Risley’s main draw, the Tower Hide, overlooking a wide mossland view until the eyes are drawn to the Tip in the middle distance. In front of the viewing area stood a solitary silver birch, and from its branches several birds sang. The first was Yellowhammer bemoaning the loss of its cheese, then the Whitethroat’s scratchy song played out and finally a Willow Warbler joined in. A couple of Linnets bounced around the foreground, and a couple of Redshanks paddled in a shallow pool. Overhead a Sparrowhawk glided into view from the wood behind us, and Snipe fled away over the Moss. A Buzzard and a Swift were picked out over the tip.
A mobile phone message informed us of the availability of a spare key to Woolston, so lunch at the Tower Hide’s picnic tables was rapidly consumed, and a Blackcap was both seen and heard on the walk back to the car park. And we were soon walking across the suspension bridge into Woolston Eyes No 3 bed. The first blind and the Sybil Hogg hide proved fruitful with Tufted, Canada, Shoveler and Pochard all present in small numbers, and a Whitethroat sang from reedtops in front of the hide. Attention was then focussed on a pair of smallish birds diving to feed. The dark heads and yellow-bronze eyefans quickly identified them as Black-necked Grebes, the species for which Woolston is famous. Gadwall drifted out from behind the reeds, while Reed Buntings crash-landed into the top of them.
We walked on to the massive John Morgan hide, where the star attraction’s label went to the Swift, as a flock of 30 or more hawked insects under lowering skies – another species whose appearance is associated with summer’s coming. A couple of Great Crested Grebes pointed at each other and a single Greylag swam across the lagoon, while we picked out House Martin from the crowd of Swallows.
And suddenly it was over, rush hour approached and we made our way home on the back roads, reflecting on the 51 species seen, 35 at Risley and 31 at Woolston.
Bird List – Woolston Eyes – Sandbach U3A Trip – 8 May 2013
|
Species |
Risley Moss | Woolston Eyes |
| Mute Swan | Entrance lagoon | |
| Greylag Goose | John Morgan hide | |
| Greater Canada Goose | On nest, Mossland Hide | Seen from blind. |
| Shelduck | Seen from Sybil Hogg Hide | |
| Gadwall | Seen from Sybil Hogg Hide | |
| Mallard | Common | Common |
| Shoveler | Seen from Sybil Hogg Hide | |
| Pochard | Seen from Sybil Hogg Hide | |
| Tufted Duck | Seen from Mossland Hide | Seen from Sybil Hogg Hide |
| Pheasant | Heard from Mossland Hide | Seen near Tower Hide |
| Great Crested Grebe | Sybil Hogg & John Morgan hides | |
| Black-necked Grebe | 3 seen from blind & Sybil Hogg hide | |
| Cormorant | Seen flying down ship canal | |
| Grey Heron | Seen from Tower Hide | |
| Sparrowhawk | Seen from Tower Hide | |
| Buzzard | Seen from Tower Hide, over tip | Seen over north side of reserve |
| Moorhen | Seen from Mossland Hide | Seen from Sybil Hogg hide |
| Common Coot | Seen from John Morgan hide | |
| Lapwing | Seen from Mossland Hide | |
| Common Snipe | Seen from Tower Hide in flight | |
| Redshank | 2 from Tower Hide | 2 from Sybil Hogg & 2, John Morgan |
| Black-headed Gull | Seen from Tower Hide | Breeding on small islands throughout |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | Seen from Mossland Hide | |
| Stock Dove | Seen from Mossland Hide | |
| Wood-Pigeon | Seen from car park | |
| Swift | Seen from Tower Hide, over tip | 30 hawking seen from John Morgan |
| Swallow | Several over Main Lagoon | |
| House Martin | 2 over Main Lagoon | |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Seen from Woodland Hide | |
| Wren | Seen & heard several times | Central area |
| Dunnock | Seen from Woodland Hide | |
| Robin | Seen from car park | Seen from John Morgan hide |
| Blackbird | Seen on woodland walk | Central area |
| Sedge Warbler | 1 near blind, 1 from John Morgan | |
| Blackcap | Seen & heard near Visitor Centre | |
| Garden Warbler | One singing in Picnic Area | One heard |
| Whitethroat | Seen from Tower Hide | One in front of blind |
| Chiffchaff | Seen & heard from car park | |
| Willow Warbler | Seen & heard from Mossland Hide | |
| Blue Tit | Seen from Woodland Hide | |
| Great Tit | Seen from Woodland Hide | Seen from Tower Hide |
| Coal Tit | Seen from Woodland Hide | |
| Jay | Seen from Woodland Hide | |
| Magpie | Seen from Mossland Hide | Seen from John Morgan hide |
| Carrion Crow | Seen from Mossland Hide | |
| Jackdaw | Seen from Mossland Hide | |
| Chaffinch | Seen from Woodland Hide | |
| Greenfinch | Seen on feeders John Morgan hide | |
| Linnet | Seen from Tower Hide | |
| Yellowhammer | Singing in front of Tower Hide | |
| Reed Bunting | Sybil Hogg & John Morgan hides |