Report by Peter Hatfield, photos by Graham Cawdell.
Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, our May visit this year, never disappoints. Positioned between the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey it provides secluded and naturalised habitat for a good range of unusual species which we viewed from 6 hides all overlooking the lagoon.
The surprise visitor was a solitary Turnstone (my first) it resembles a ringed plover with chestnut feathers to back and wings, and was seen very close to the hide.
There were large numbers of breeding Pochard, a migrant duck whose numbers are decreasing in the UK, also large numbers of breeding Gadwall.
The rare Black Necked Grebe was the main attraction, we saw 7 or 8 including one on a nest. Woolston Eyes has 25% of the UK breeding population. They return to northern Russia after breeding.
A flock of Swifts overhead gave a splendid aerobatic display. We also saw and heard 5 species of warbler (Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat) assisted by Douglas who guided us throughout the visit and had an excellent ear for birdsong identification.
In total, 33 species were seen:
Species | Number Seen | Breeding |
---|---|---|
Blackcap | Two | |
Black-headed Gull | Many | |
Black-necked Grebe | A few | |
Bullfinch | One | |
Canada Goose | A few | With Young |
Carrion Crow | A few | |
Chiffchaff | Two | |
Coot | A few | |
Cormorant | A few | |
Gadwall | Several | |
Garden Warbler | Heard only | |
Great Crested Grebe | A few | |
Greenfinch | Three | |
Grey Heron | One | |
Greylag Goose | A few | With Young |
Lapwing | Two | |
Lesser Black-backed Gull | A few | |
Magpie | One | |
Mallard | Several | |
Moorhen | A few | With Young |
Mute Swan | One | |
Pheasant | Heard only | |
Pochard | Several | |
Reed Warbler | One | |
Shelduck | A few | |
Song Thrush | One | |
Swift | Several | |
Teal | One | |
Tufted Duck | Several | |
Turnstone | One | |
Whitethroat | Three | |
Woodpigeon | Two | |
Wren | Two |
Last Updated on May 19, 2016