Saturday, 8 September 2012

Wigg Island - 30 April 2012

We travel far and wide to see some remarkable nature but often neglect what is on our doorsteps, or at least a stone-throw away! So on this very pleasant spring morning, I hopped across the Mersey to Wigg Island (note - hopping can be quicker than Runcorn Bridge!).

The sandbanks out on the Mersey can be viewed from a couple of look-out screens but there was little out there apart from a couple of Oystercatchers and a few Herring Gulls. Walk further on and you reach a path that takes you between the salt-marsh on your left and the old canal to your right. Here, things livened up a little, first with a Kestrel hunting over the marsh, then a buzzard lifted off from way out and flew directly towards and over me at a very low height.

The small canal held Moorhen, Coot, Mallards and a pair of Mute Swan were nest building on the far bank at the top end.

Returning via the wooded area, I saw Dunnock, Chiffchaff and Chaffinch. But the highlight was a recently fledged Mistle Thrush which I watched being fed the occasional worm from the adult female.

 A young Mistle Thrush awaits it's next feed...

...and mum soon turned up with a substantial meal.

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