Arpley Landfill Site - Cheshire

[DPR]

Hello,

Does anyone know where the best place is to view Arpley Landfill Site in Cheshire?

Thanks,
Dave

[DPR]

It looks like a fantastic place to watch Gulls, with Glaucous, Iceland, Caspian and YLG all been reported this year. With Kumlien's also turning up from time to time. It could produce a lot more potentially too but there is No Public Access....there must be somewhere to view from though?

[PhilW]

Dave
Arpely is a private site owned by Waste Recycling Group. Up to 20,000 gulls congregate there. There is no public access although a lucky few(!) work on the site and can get muchcloser to the tip face. Gulls tend to congregate at low tide on Richmond Bank which can be viewed from the opposite side of the Mersey (near Fiddlers Ferry power station) or on one of the pools at Moore nature reserve. This is managed by WRG and they employ a full time warden. As the tip is capped trees are planted and the whole area is being turned into a nature reserve. A lot of the gulls congregate on the Birchwood Pool - a 1st winter Glaucous Gull has been shwoing particularly well in recent days.

Moore is also good for Willow Tit - at least two individuals are visiting the feeding station - and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

In 2005 the tip attracted Cheshires 1st Black Kite ( Jane correct me if I'm wrong!) and the very next day a Golden Oriole was discovered at Moore NR.

Although people have trespassed on the tip its not to be recommended.

[paulwfromtheden]

Although people have trespassed on the tip its not to be recommended.

Sound advice. I went for a wander over my local landfill and was horrified at the number of syringes sticking needle-first out of the ground.
The Caspian Gull that I was stalking seemed to loose it's appeal after that....

[PhilW]

Tips are not nice places and extremely dangerous. I'm one of the few that get to work on Arpely as we treat the leachate on this and a number of other sites. I remember spending hours on local tips whilst at University helping cannon net gulls as part of my freinds PhD studies. Not good after a Friday night drinking Hydes Anvil Ales.........

[Rob Smallwood]

Having been brought up on Hydes I can confirm that very little is good after a Friday night drink...... :)

Thoroughly recommend Moore though - always something going on.

[cheshirebirder]

Was at Birchfield pool on Moore NR yesterday and had good views of 2 glaucous gulls.Also missed Iceland and YL gull. Seems to be a good spot for viewing a selection of Arpley's gulls from the comfort of a hide. There are many many more gulls on the tip itself ( can be seen distantly from the hide ) and birds are moving pretty constantly between the tip and the pool.

[Rob Smallwood]

Also f Ring-necked Duck present on Pumphouse Pool (Does that make it a toilet duck?)

[DPR]

Thanks for the information guys. Sounds like a good spot to try out. What is access like to Moore NR?

[PhilW]

Google Moore nature reserve and you'll find site with map and all access details.

The R N Duck seems to be the subject of much rumour and mystery. No one actually knows anyone who's seen it and y'days sighting was passed on through word of mouth - I know cos I went looking for it along with about 6 other keen Cheshire birders.

Did catch up with one of the Mealy Redpolls seen at the weekend though with a mixed Lesser Redpoll & Siskin flock feeding in Alders between Pumphouse Pool and back entrance on to Arpely tip.

As an added bonus the 3rd winter Iceland flew in to bathe at Birchwood pool before returning to the frenzy on the tip.

[Rob Smallwood]

Ring-necked down the pan then?

[PhilW]

Hiya Rob - good to catch up with the Timperly posse Saturday. I believe duck been seen and identified as some kind of Pochard hybrid. Definitely one for the pan!

At least two Glaucs and 3 different Iceland Gulls and several Y L Gulls seen over the weekend.

[PhilW]

Loads of birders from both sides of the Mersey viewing Arpely at the weekend with the result that two Caspian Gulls (sub adult & 1st winter), two Iceland Gulls and two Glaucs spotted. Good numbers of argentatus Herring Gull - about 1:20 of this race.