Latest News from Pickerings Pasture Local Nature Reserve 2020
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If you have a short, newsy tale to tell about Pickerings Pasture LNR please send to pickerings123@gmail.com with date and photographs if possible. Remember: Click on pictures to enlarge.
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2019 is now archived
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24th Feb '20
We took a walk along to the white bridge today, which is rare as we prefer to sit in the hide for an hour or so. The sun was shining and for a change it was warm. The primroses were out in force: some in small patches others in profusion along the path. No obvious insects but I'm sure they will have been discovered in the past day or so. Primroses store their nectar deep down and it is only available to long-tongued insects, which rules out most of the early bees unfortunately. However, just a bit further on we came across some celendines - just individual blooms at present but with plenty of foliage around. The spring snowflake (Leucojum sp) were also coming into flower: there will be a grand display shortly...
We took a walk along to the white bridge today, which is rare as we prefer to sit in the hide for an hour or so. The sun was shining and for a change it was warm. The primroses were out in force: some in small patches others in profusion along the path. No obvious insects but I'm sure they will have been discovered in the past day or so. Primroses store their nectar deep down and it is only available to long-tongued insects, which rules out most of the early bees unfortunately. However, just a bit further on we came across some celendines - just individual blooms at present but with plenty of foliage around. The spring snowflake (Leucojum sp) were also coming into flower: there will be a grand display shortly...
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The trees that were planted last year are difficult to find now the undergrowth has grown but the new ones planted this year were easier to detect by their supporting sticks! Only the hollies were identifiable at this stage, with a few beech. Sadly the rabbits have been busy and quite a few have already been eaten. Its a difficult decision: tree guards are plastic and sometimes cause more problems than they solve.
At the end, by the white bridge, the huge, old buddleia looks really sad: cut right back to the ground. Already strong, new shoots have appeared and although it will take some time to be restored to its former glory, there should be a good offering for the butterflies later in the summer. How the rarer, white mullein will fare I can't say as the vehicles used that area as a turning point. However there should be some latent seeds waiting to develop in future years.
Looking up Ditton Brook there were the usual teals and mallards and a couple of redshanks showed themselves occasionally. The bushes were full of bird song, long-tailed tits, dunnock, chaffinch and robin making themselves heard. Suddenly the wild call of the curlew was heard and two birds lifted across the river and off north to their breeding grounds. Magical. Back towards the Visitors Centre along the flowering blackthorn we found nine bullfinches; the males stunning in their breeding plumage.
At the end, by the white bridge, the huge, old buddleia looks really sad: cut right back to the ground. Already strong, new shoots have appeared and although it will take some time to be restored to its former glory, there should be a good offering for the butterflies later in the summer. How the rarer, white mullein will fare I can't say as the vehicles used that area as a turning point. However there should be some latent seeds waiting to develop in future years.
Looking up Ditton Brook there were the usual teals and mallards and a couple of redshanks showed themselves occasionally. The bushes were full of bird song, long-tailed tits, dunnock, chaffinch and robin making themselves heard. Suddenly the wild call of the curlew was heard and two birds lifted across the river and off north to their breeding grounds. Magical. Back towards the Visitors Centre along the flowering blackthorn we found nine bullfinches; the males stunning in their breeding plumage.
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Meanwhile, Rob Orme had gone up the other way towards the hide to fill up the bird-feeders. He was staggered by the amount of flooding he saw. He sent these pictures.
ps. Jen had a goldcrest in the trees behind the hide this morning. Keep a look out for this lovely little bird. |
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6th Feb '20
A lovely morning for a walk; cold, crisp and sunny with not too much wind. Chatting with a regular Pickering's dog walker we were delighted to hear that a rabbit had been seen near the hide. It's a long time since anyone has reported a rabbit so finger's crossed they're making a come-back. However whilst we were talking we noticed the buzzard in the tree, feasting on a largish bone which was probably rabbit or grey squirrel! Another buzzard flew into the back of the same tree and exchanged a few calls but made no attempt to take the food, making us speculate that they may be pairing up.
The snowdrops by the picnic bench are almost in full flower now and it's well worth a trip to see them: they really lift the spirits. While the good weather continues it would be worth taking your picnic down there: the gales at the weekend could well spoil them.
There was more good news when we reached the hide; another regular walker had seen a rabbit in the car park last Saturday. Hope it hasn't become buzzard-food!! The reed buntings are still visiting the hide regularly but don't hang around as some of the other regulars do. We were well entertained by at least four field voles scampering over the vegetation, peering through holes in the fallen branches, climbing up the brambles for a late blackberry feast and finally one visiting the pond for a drink. Meanwhile the long-tails and other tits performed on the feeders, particularly favouring the fat balls in this cold weather. The Canada geese for once were favouring our side of the marsh giving us better than usual views of them and the shelducks.
On the way home we stopped briefly for a view over Hale Marsh and scanning left found a merlin on one of the distant posts.
A lovely morning for a walk; cold, crisp and sunny with not too much wind. Chatting with a regular Pickering's dog walker we were delighted to hear that a rabbit had been seen near the hide. It's a long time since anyone has reported a rabbit so finger's crossed they're making a come-back. However whilst we were talking we noticed the buzzard in the tree, feasting on a largish bone which was probably rabbit or grey squirrel! Another buzzard flew into the back of the same tree and exchanged a few calls but made no attempt to take the food, making us speculate that they may be pairing up.
The snowdrops by the picnic bench are almost in full flower now and it's well worth a trip to see them: they really lift the spirits. While the good weather continues it would be worth taking your picnic down there: the gales at the weekend could well spoil them.
There was more good news when we reached the hide; another regular walker had seen a rabbit in the car park last Saturday. Hope it hasn't become buzzard-food!! The reed buntings are still visiting the hide regularly but don't hang around as some of the other regulars do. We were well entertained by at least four field voles scampering over the vegetation, peering through holes in the fallen branches, climbing up the brambles for a late blackberry feast and finally one visiting the pond for a drink. Meanwhile the long-tails and other tits performed on the feeders, particularly favouring the fat balls in this cold weather. The Canada geese for once were favouring our side of the marsh giving us better than usual views of them and the shelducks.
On the way home we stopped briefly for a view over Hale Marsh and scanning left found a merlin on one of the distant posts.
Buzzard feeding.
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Snowdrops.
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Field vole.
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Vole in the bramble.
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Reed bunting.
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Merlin - Hale Marsh.
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27th Jan '20
There was a RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch over the weekend: an annual event mainly to monitor the birds visiting your garden. However, it does give you the opportunity to do a count at places like Pickerings Pasture LNR. We managed two counts this year: on Saturday we did a general count around the meadows and feeders and on Monday we just counted the birds at the feeding station by the hide. Both counts were fun to do: taking an hour each. The first count around the meadow area was brilliant: the tide was coming in and the waders were swirling onto the marsh as the mud was covered. It's why bird-watchers sometimes flock to Pickerings Pasture too! sadly no kingfisher today.. Buzzard - 1, Mistle thrush - 3, Song thrush - 5, Blackbird - 14, Redwing - 30, Magpie - 1, Carrion crow - 2, Jay -1, Raven - 1, Wood pigeon - 20, Great tit - 7, Blue tit - 4, Coal tit - 1, Long tailed tit - 2, Wren - 1, Dunnock - 2, Robin - 6 Bullfinch - 1, Chaffinch - 2, Goldfinch - 4, House sparrow - 12. An official count of 21 species around the meadows. Collared dove - 4, Grey wagtail - 1, Reed bunting - 2. Plus 3 seen at the hide. Cormorant - 22, Grey heron - 15, Canada goose - 3, Shelduck - 30, Teal - 1, Black headed gull - 15, Lesser black-backed gull - 1, Curlew - 3, Redshank - 35, Little stint - 1, Dunlin - 15, Meadow pipit - 8, Rock pipit - 2, Pied wagtail - 15, Starling - 10, And 15 species were seen from the hide on Hale Marsh or the river, bringing the total to 39 species |
Coal tit at a feeder.
Grey squirrel causing mayhem, as usual.
Dunnock from the hide.
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The second count gave us 12 species. Again no kingfisher but luckily the little vole was there to entertain us too. On our return we were amazed by the fantastic display of snowdrops around the picnic table. There was even a robin waiting for your scraps.
Collared dove - 3, Blackbird - 3, Robin - 2, Dunnock - 2, Wren - 1, Great tit - 5, Blue tit - 3, Coal tit - 1, Long-tailed tit - 4,
Chaffinch - 3, Greenfinch - 3, Reed bunting - 2. Carol & Rob
Collared dove - 3, Blackbird - 3, Robin - 2, Dunnock - 2, Wren - 1, Great tit - 5, Blue tit - 3, Coal tit - 1, Long-tailed tit - 4,
Chaffinch - 3, Greenfinch - 3, Reed bunting - 2. Carol & Rob
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 New bird table
15th Jan '20
You may have noticed some damage and a lot of wear and tare to one of the bird tables in the car park. Today Gary has replaced it with a smart new table. |
The Friends of Pickerings Pasture spend some of the money you put into the Donation Post on bird food. We always buy good quality food, which is wheat-free. Small birds cannot cope with wheat and it either goes to waste and has to be scraped off the tables or it falls on the floor, encouraging rats.
Please only put grain on the open tables (were the pigeons will eat it) or put it with bread scraps on the field in front of the car park, where gulls can eat it. The buzzard continues to help us with the rat problem but we do not want to encourage them. Thank you. |
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13th Jan '20 As you go round the corner onto United Utilities path there is a flooded area on your right. There have been several redwings drinking there recently. They can also be seen on the Summer Meadow although they are easily flushed by dogs and people when they fly into the nearby trees. Occasionally they have been seen on the farmland adjacent to the meadows.
The loud bird heard singing in the area is a mistle thrush. |
A redwing.
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The birds are flighty and not easy to approach.
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Ricky Wallace has sent in his poem about Pickerings Pasture Local Nature Reserve.
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PICKERING PASTURE
In the borough of Halton, By the banks of the Mersey River, Is Pickering Pasture Where the wind makes you quiver. Alone with the birds, And occassional dog. By the Runcorn Bridge, And the chemical fog. |
If you look past
the fumes from the industrial plants. There are wonderful views and birds full of romance. A perfect location, with a natural design. When the sand is present by the rotating turbine. |
When the tide is in,
the magic appears. The ripples in the Mersey where ships travelled for years. Sometimes you stop, and look at the sky. Thanking God for the Mersey being so close by. © R Wallace |
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2nd Jan '20 A New Year's trip down to Pickerings Pasture was a good way to start the year: lots of birds on the feeders, on the scrape and on the meadows. Our friendly buzzard was outside the reserve today in the next door garden. However the first thing of note was the snowdrops in bloom under the trees in the carpark. These snowdrops are always so much earlier than many: a promise of good things to come...
The small coconut feeders were in good use as the volunteer feeder was slightly ahead of us. The meadows had a good number of blackbirds feeding but the redwings and fieldfares were in the nearby stubble field: occasionally making a sortie into the trees. As we approached the United Utilities path the missile thrush was singing stridently from the trees. A robin was subtly singing its winter song in contrast.
The tide was out but there were plenty of birds spread out over the mudflats, feeding: mainly curlews and redshanks, an odd oystercatcher and the common sandpiper. A couple of greater black-backed gulls stood out on the muddy edge near a small party of cormorants.
Down at the hide the feeders were busy with over eight long-tailed tits, plenty of blue and great tits, the robin and finches. The reed bunting was in the bushes but didn't come down to the feeders. We had just missed the kingfisher unfortunately. Under the bird table two field voles were busily feeding. (last week we had five together but the light was too poor for photography.)
The small coconut feeders were in good use as the volunteer feeder was slightly ahead of us. The meadows had a good number of blackbirds feeding but the redwings and fieldfares were in the nearby stubble field: occasionally making a sortie into the trees. As we approached the United Utilities path the missile thrush was singing stridently from the trees. A robin was subtly singing its winter song in contrast.
The tide was out but there were plenty of birds spread out over the mudflats, feeding: mainly curlews and redshanks, an odd oystercatcher and the common sandpiper. A couple of greater black-backed gulls stood out on the muddy edge near a small party of cormorants.
Down at the hide the feeders were busy with over eight long-tailed tits, plenty of blue and great tits, the robin and finches. The reed bunting was in the bushes but didn't come down to the feeders. We had just missed the kingfisher unfortunately. Under the bird table two field voles were busily feeding. (last week we had five together but the light was too poor for photography.)
Field vole
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The field voles were too far apart to photo together.
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Snowdrops by the carpark. R Orme
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