Cheshire And Wirral Birding: Hills, Lowland and Coast (1 Viewer)

[halftwo]

Also the Dunham Barnacle Goose has relocated to Rostherne Mere. I see no reason not assume it's the real deal.

?! Why, H? Hardly Barnacle goose habitat and there's been a free flying escape around here for years.

 

[PhilW]

There's been a few dodgy Barnacles knocking around the Cheshire meres for years - including Marbury. Its been with the feral Canada's or Greylags. Some of the dodgy farmyard types seen at Marbury have been seen at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB so they do get around a bit.

 

[John Barber]

No sign of the reported Ring-billed Gull down at junction 14 of the M56 this lunchtime. I'll catch up with it one day !

PS Does anyone know how to get to the Gowy (?) landfill site ? You can see it from the M56 but we couldn't work out how to get there today.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Today - Ring-billed Gull reported at Elton; Waxwings at Hartford (15), Woolston Eyes (18), Macclesfield (18), Widnes (8), Parkgate (2) and Nantwich (5);

CB

 

[tigertom]

No sign of the reported Ring-billed Gull down at junction 14 of the M56 this lunchtime. I'll catch up with it one day !

PS Does anyone know how to get to the Gowy (?) landfill site ? You can see it from the M56 but we couldn't work out how to get there today.

A56 towards chester Entrance is is off the B5132 right turn off A56 about 1/2 mile or so befor A56 crosses river gowy thats how I used get when I worked there hope is of some help to you
MIKE

 

[John Barber]

Thanks for the info Mike.

 

[tigertom]

Thanks for the info Mike.

Just a quick note it was a good few years back when was working there so things may have changed
But the landfill site can be also viewed from the bank of the river gowy by parking at the pub on the right just befor A56 crosses river and walking down along the river toward M56
MIKE

 

[PhilW]

B

No sign of the reported Ring-billed Gull down at junction 14 of the M56 this lunchtime. I'll catch up with it one day !

PS Does anyone know how to get to the Gowy (?) landfill site ? You can see it from the M56 but we couldn't work out how to get there today.

John.
I watch this site regularly in the winter. There is no easy viewing point as the tip is set well back from the road. The gulls can often be seen loafing around in the fields from the M56 but if you walk towards the tip they'll flush.

Try the following view points:

From M53 N take Cheshire Oaks junction and follow A5117. Just after major junction with new lights you'll see turning on left to Stoak. I think its Povey Lane. Go past Bunbury Pub and over canal and keep following road. Tip will be on your right and gulls often in fields between tip and lane. There are a few parking places to view from but having a Landrover definitely helps you look over the hedges. There is a footpath on the right that leads down to Gowy river but you'll still be distant from the birds.

Alternatively if you turn off the M56 at the Stanlow junction and follow A5117west you'll come to set of lights. Turn left here and that is the road the tip is on. Sandfield golf course / driving range is on the left but just before that there is a metal gate on the riight where you can park and view part of the tip from although its still across two fields.

In recent winters I've had Glauc, Iceland & Yellow-legged Gull.:t:

 

[John Barber]

Thanks very much for the info Phil, I'll certainly give it a go.

Am I right in thinking a possible Ring-billed Gull has been reported in this general area ( Elton - Hale ) from time to time this year, or am I imagining it ? It's a bird I would really like to catch up with.

 

[BRYBO]

PS Does anyone know how to get to the Gowy (?) landfill site ? You can see it from the M56 but we couldn't work out how to get there today.[/QUOTE]

Hi JB

Beside the directions from PW-on the A56 there is a small parking area behind the Nags Head pub, Mickle Trafford(or use the pub car park itself out of licensing hours) and walk along the footpath following the Gowy towards the tip. I've also had Iceland Gull there in the past,I also recall seeing somebody shooting Gulls there many years ago-not sure of the legality of that these days?
cheers
BR

 

[John Barber]

Went for a look around the Gowy Landfill site this morning with Northwich birders Dave Hughston and Mark Taylor.

We finally managed to get reasonable views of the site from the directions kindly provided above, but unfortunately the birds proved more elusive. We could see thirty or forty gulls wheeling around in the air at distance over the front of the tip, but none on the ground at the rear, and certainly no sign of the Ring-billed Gull. We had earlier seen a large flock of mainly Black-headed gulls in sheep fields just off the A56 near the bridge over the railway line, together with around 50 Pied Wagtails, thirty Redwing and at least a couple of hundred corvids.

Heading home we dropped into Frodsham Marsh to unexpectedly find a large flock of Fieldfare and Redwing ( mainly Fieldfare ) just over the motorway bridge from Marsh Lane. There were perhaps as many as five hundred birds along the berry laden hedgerows and in the adjoining flooded fields. None of us had seen so many Fieldfare together in along time.

Walking up towards the Weaver bend we also spotted a female Merlin on a fence post near the farm and also caught glimpses of a Marsh Harrier in the same area.

 

[HughPulsford]

02/12/2012 - Tatton Park - 1-4pm with Mike Duckham:

15 Jack Snipes

Can I request that Birders DO NOT walk through the reedbed at Tatton attempting to flush these wintering Jack Snipe. They can be adequately seen with a bit of patience from the hide. In the frozen weather this is some of the only roosting and feeding areas for these birds and repeated flushing will stress the birds significantly, and only results in brief fly away views anyway.
Thanks
Hugh

 

[deeestuary]

Also the Dunham Barnacle Goose has relocated to Rostherne Mere. I see no reason not assume it's the real deal.

Strange thing to say!! I see no reason not to assume it's anything other than a feral bird. It's chance of being a wild bird is remote, to say the least.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Yesterday - Smew at Moore NR; Scaup at Astbury SQ; Marsh Harrier and 10+ Bramblings at Woolston Eyes;

CB

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Today - Great White Egret at Parkgate; Waxwings at Shavington (18) and Chester (100);

CB

 

[bartolli]

This afternoon at BMW, water rail put on a good show, and delighted when a peregrine landed right in front of reception!

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Yesterday - Firecrest at West Kirby;

CB

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Today - 2 Caspian Gulls and 6 Yellow-legged Gulls at Richmond Bank; Great White Egret at Hale; Spoonbill at Burton Marsh; 8 Waxwings at Neston; Little Egret, Marsh Harrier and 31 Ravens at Frodsham;

CB

 

[snowcap]

One of the two 1stw Caspian Gulls at Richmond Bank yesterday. View attachment 418414

 

[John Barber]

Very interesting photo snowcap. I went down to Richmond Bank for a couple of hours this morning but didn't spot anything out of the ordinary - but then again, if I had fallen over that bird I probably wouldn't have recognised it for what it was ! I'll certainly look out for it next time. Did have a nice male Stonechat to keep me company while I watched though.