Hide & Seek at Risley Moss - 9 April 13

We had some brilliant entertainment this morning at Risley Moss in Cheshire. Having started at the look-out tower for a bit of a raptor watch, the cold, miserable weather soon had us heading for the sanctuary of the woodland hide.

First of note were a couple of Yellowhammer. I had forgotten what a good spot this was for this fairly shy bunting and you can get a really good look at them here. Watching them ground-feeding alongside a few Reed Bunting, Chaffinch and Dunnock, it was noticeable how the two Yellowhammer clearly preferred their own space and they were always the first to flush.

Before long, PK's Great Spotted Woodpecker radar went into overdrive as she clocked a pair of them darting about in the wood, the female being chased by the male.

A short time later, the male appeared at the feeder station and the female soon followed. We watched the pair feed separately on the suet filled holes, as we have done here many times before. But we noticed how they constantly kept an eye on each other!

It was a surprise to see the male fly off first and the female then chase after him. But normality was restored when the female sped through with the male in hot

pursuit. They disappeared for a while but when they returned, the courtship display that we witnessed was fantastic.

We first saw the female as she settled mid-way up a nearby tree and her constant glances upwards led us to the male. Perched higher on the adjacent tree, he was rather fidgety and side-stepped up and down the branch whilst always looking down at the female.

It was the female that provided most of the

entertainment, as she went through a 'playing hard to get' routine.  She would first look up at the male, no doubt making sure that he was watching, then would manoeuvre herself into a hiding position, before showing herself and then hiding again!

Occasionally, the male would fly off, circle the female and then return to a different perch. Whereby, the female would simply reposition herself and reconvene her performance.

We enjoyed this spectacle for 20 minutes or more before the woodpeckers moved on. What a privilege it was to witness a very amusing display.

Back to the feeding birds and we added Blue, Coal, Long-tailed and Great Tits. Plus Nuthatch, Blackbird, Jay, Woodpigeon and a passing Raven.

Male Yellowhammer feeding in front of woodland hide

Male Bullfinch - I think he knows he's a looker!

Pennington Flash - 10 April 2012

A second visit to Pennington Flash for a proper look and a circuit of the smaller ponds in the north-east corner. To be honest it was fairly quiet with only a pair of Gadwall, a few Lapwing and of course a number of Canada Geese. Penghy's Pond was a bit livelier with a good number of Tufted Duck.

Inevitably, we were drawn to the feeder station at the Bunting Hide where a Great Spotted Woodpecker soon made an appearance and hung around for some time.

Again there were lots of male and female Bullfinch, a similar number of Chaffinch, a Robin or two and a few Great Tits. Lots of Magpies were scattered about as usual and a Hen Pheasant had appeared from somewhere.

I don't like taking feeder photos but will make an exception for a Great Spotted

One of many Bullfinch at the feeder station

Breaking and entering skills are not required for Pennington's squirrels

Pennington Flash - 6 April 2012

Good Friday and a first visit to Pennington Flash Country Park for me and PK. We parked in the wrong place, got lost, but eventually found our way to the flash and began a clockwise circuit of the mile long lake. The history of the flash is interesting and well worth a read (google it) but in short, it was created in the early 1900's following subsidence created by the local collieries.

The walk was somewhat lacking in wildlife to be honest, until we reached the north-east corner and the area know as Ramsdale's Flash (a very good map was acquired later from the visitor centre). We first saw a number of Mute Swans followed by a group of Cormorants and a few Tufted Duck.

We were surprised to find a hide (not aware that there are eight of them here) and from this we saw Black-tailed Godwit (almost in full colour), Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and two Redshank.

Now armed with the map, we found a remarkable feeder hide. It was alive with an eclectic mix including Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed bunting, Woodpigeon, a rather large congregation of Magpies and more Bullfinch than you would believe possible in one place! Not to mention a number of grey squirrels, which PK found as entertaining as ever.

We'll be back!

Male Bullfinch at the extraordinary feeder station