Sticky Eyes - 5 January 2013

I had a trip to Woolston Eyes today, keen to see how the restoration work - to reverse the encroachment of the reedbeds - was going.

I was not surprised to see that it was rather quiet out on the water, with the highlight being a couple of Pintail amongst the small numbers of Mallard, Teal, Tufted Ducks and Canada Geese. The two areas around JM Hide feeders were busy as usual, with Greenfinch, Robin, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

As for the  restoration work, I guessed that it was not going totally hitch-free...

Sunken digger on #3 Bed at Woolston Eyes

Update - It disappeared for ever!

Joyful Eyes and Hoverflies - 6 October 2012

Today we took our friends Amy and Chris to Woolston Eyes for an introduction to birding and they were truly hypnotized by this wonderful place. They were keen to see as much as possible and both showed a real interest in the birds and their environment. They saw Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Ducks, Coot and Moorhen (with young). They saw Shoveler and were impressed by the colours on the males, still moulting into their winter plumage. They watched in awe as big flocks of noisy Canada Geese flew in from the south, with wave upon wave landing directly in front of us. I have to admit that their enthusiasm on seeing this spectacle made me realise that maybe I sometimes take scenes like this for granted.

A Little Grebe made an appearance to the expected “Oh it’s gorgeous” - PK and Amy liked it too!

Next up was a surprise. We were watching a young Moorhen when a male Stonechat appeared in the nearby reedbed, where it perched long enough for us all to get a good look at it through the scope. This was a bit of a rarity as only one Stonechat was recorded here in 2011.

Walking the path around the island, we watched a good number of Hoverfly (often referred to as drone fly due to their likeness to the Honey Bee) amongst the remaining Hogweed flowers (Heracleum sphondylium).

As we were leaving the island, I pointed out some good places to spot Kingfisher on the river. “I’ve never seen a Kingfisher.” Said Amy. What happened next was almost surreal, as I spotted the blue flash crossing the river away from us. Yet another Kingfisher tick for me but everyone else missed it. So we hung around for a while and I could not believe my eyes when it showed again. This time they got it and the loud yelp that came from Amy can only be described one way… avian orgasm!

We rounded the day off with a very pleasant walk around Moore, followed by a well-earned pint of the black stuff in the Red Lion.

Brilliant day, brilliant nature, brilliant company.

A Hoverfly on Hogweed at the Eyes

And Amy's interpretation on canvas

Woolston Eyes - 27 June 2012

Another trip to the Eyes today for a wander around #3 Bed.

Plenty of Black-necked Grebe still around and still looking fantastic in summer plumage. Watching these birds is a real pleasure and it's such a privilege to have them here.

Lots of Shoveler on the water today and the few young Black-headed Gulls that had survived the heavy rains were being fed by adults.

The Morgan hide provided good views of a number of of Reed Warblers and a couple of young Whitethroat. Whilst the male Great Spotted Woodpecker seen on the feeders is a pretty common sight here now.

Before leaving, I finally got a reasonable look at one of the - vocal but elusive - Sedge Warblers.

Post breed BNG still looking majestic

One of many Reed Warbler seen today

Three Grebes at the Eyes - 12 June 2012

Arriving at Woolston Eyes today, I was surprised to see only a handful of Black-headed Gull chicks so the recent very-heavy rains have obviously hit them hard. Moorhen seemed to have coped well as there was a number of broods doing really well. A good look at the reedbeds produced two Reed Bunting and quite a few Reed Warblers, the latter busy taking insects back to nests.

But today was all about the Black-necked Grebes for me. The Eyes is home to one the countries biggest breeding populations of this rare UK breeder and numbers appear to be decreasing each year. Today I counted 8 pairs with young but it was difficult to count the chicks as some were tucked away on the backs of adults and difficult to see. My guess would be 11-13 chicks at most for the 8 pairs (based on 1.5 UK average brood). I hope there were others hidden away somewhere because that would mean the numbers are up on the 16 adults recorded last year.

There was also a good number of Great Crested Grebe about, some with broods, and a few Little Grebe completed a wonderful trio.

Star of the Eyes - a Black-necked Grebe carrying a chick

A Great Crested Grebe in colourful summer head plumage

A Little Grebe completes the set

Moss and Eyes - 19 May 2012

An early start on this fine Saturday morning and a walk around Risley Moss. We stopped at a secluded woodland table and with the dew still misting around us, we enjoyed a fine morning chorus. Further on we watched Blue Tits busily moving in and out of nest boxes and Blackbirds scurrying around in the undergrowth.

The feeder station was being topped up by the ranger as we arrived and was soon alive with birds. We stayed a while watching Tits, Robins, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Nuthatch and Bullfinch. A couple of Yellowhammers enjoyed the freebies being spilled to the ground by the raiding grey squirrels. A Jay soon joined the party as we awaited the arrival of a Great Spotted... PK (woodpecker magnet) was not disappointed!

We then made the short 7 mile drive to Woolston Eyes for lunch and a walk around the island. Sightings included a number of Moorhen and Coot with chicks, a Pheasant (cock), Little Grebe, a Pied Wagtail, a few Greylag and a Ruddy Duck.

Breakfast cereal at Risley Moss

A Nuthatch joins the breakfast table

Broom (Cytisus scoparius) a bi-coloured variety @ Woolston Eyes

Woolston Eyes - 12 May 2012

Today we headed off to Woolston Eyes (permit holders only) which is another Cheshire SSSI.

After watching a Whitethroat in the car-park, we crossed to the first hides on #3 bed. These overlook the southern end of the flash where the reedbed formation creates a very picturesque, almost figure 8 shaped pool. Tranquil though, it was not. Black Headed Gulls were everywhere, some building nests, some on nests, but most flying around and making lots of noise in the typical organised chaos of their breeding season. Funny how noise dissipates when you find something else to focus on, and today it was a Little Grebe diving close by, followed by a Kestrel hovering over the reedbed to the west.

On the walk up to the east facing hides we saw a few Peacock butterflies and one Speckled Wood. The hides produced more Black Headed Gulls, 3 Cormorant, a few Greylags, Coot with young (they are aliens), Great Crested Grebes and our first Black Necked Grebes.

We ended the day with a walk between #2 and #3 Beds along the Mersey, and saw Tufted Ducks, Heron and Pochard. We also saw a newly hatched Great Crested Grebe chick leave the nest for a swim but it dived and disappeared. The male adult went off searching and hearing the alarm call, the female followed leaving 2 eggs on the nest. We assumed the chick had been taken by a pike and the remaining eggs were certainly had by a gull. Later that evening when I processed the days photographs, I spotted the small striped head of a new-born tucked away safely on the back of the male adult. PK cheered when I told her the good news but on reflection, I think that chick was probably there all along!

Great day - sad end, but that's nature.

 A magnificent Peacock at the Eyes

Black Headed Gull nesting on #3 Bed

Coot feeding its young alien!

Footnote: This reserve is one in a line of reserves and SSSI's that run north-easterly from Merseyside through Cheshire, starting from the Mersey Estuary and either sandwiched between or adjacent to the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal:-

Frodsham Marshes - Hale - Pickering's Pasture - Wigg Island - Moore - Woolston Eyes - Risley Moss

They are unique and diverse, and all worth a visit.