Latest News from Pickerings Pasture Local Nature Reserve 2020
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.
Remember: Click on pictures to enlarge.
17th May 2020 Anthony Spicer sent us some photographs taken on Hale Shore, where he saw a good flock of dunlins and ringed plovers. There have been over 5,000 dunlins in this flock accompanied, by lots of ringed plovers and a single curlew sandpiper, little stint, over 6 sanderlings and 6 whimbrels. There are probably more but going through 5.000 waders is hard work, especially as the high tides are at dusk at the moment!
These birds are all migrating North to Scotland, the Hebrides, Shetland and beyond to their Arctic breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland. It is just one of the reasons that the River Mersey is so important for birds. Our mud is full of nutrious morsels that will fuel their onward journeys. This area, from the Bridge down to Garston, is of significant and International importance. This wader migration will last at least until the end of the month.
These birds are all migrating North to Scotland, the Hebrides, Shetland and beyond to their Arctic breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland. It is just one of the reasons that the River Mersey is so important for birds. Our mud is full of nutrious morsels that will fuel their onward journeys. This area, from the Bridge down to Garston, is of significant and International importance. This wader migration will last at least until the end of the month.
Mixed waders.. © R Cockbain
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2 ringed plovers and a dunlin. © A Spicer.
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Curlew sandpiper in a mixed flock.. © D Craven
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Two sanderlings. © D. Craven
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Sanderling. © R Cockbain
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13th May 2020
A friend went down to Pickerings Pasture this morning for her daily exercise. She sent some lovely pictures of her trip, which I thought I'd share with you. |
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9th May 2020
Some eider ducks drifted past Hale Lighthouse on the high tide on Saturday and on towards Pickerings Pasture. The flock of thirty, 18 of them drakes, were first spotted down at Otterspool Prom in the morning. They drifted back down towards Oglet and Speke as the tide receded. These sea-going duck are seldom seen so far up the river but they are a stunning sight: the drakes displaying their black and white plumage are unmistakeable. Like many of our ducks the females are mottled brown. |
The flock from the lighthouse.
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These eiders were photographed in Scotland
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7th May 2020 We had a quick visit down to Pickerings Pasture and a walk around the Control Meadow, hoping to see a lesser whitethroat that had been seen down there. The hawthorns were absolutely beautiful in full flower; the perfume was almost overwhelming in places. We paid a brief visit to the hide to check on the breeding Canada geese before returning via the United Utilities pathway. There were more hawthorns there but the most noticable flowers here were the buttercups.
By the hide.
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Along United Utilities path.
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Control meadow.
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Control meadow.
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Canada goose.
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Buttercup meadow.
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Meadow buttercups.
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Speckled wood.
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Thurs 30th April We haven't been getting down to Pickerings Pasture much during the lockdown but Rob Orme has sent some lovely photos taken on his cycle ride a few days ago. If you have anything to add we would be delighted to have something to put on.
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The wildlife garden.
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The wildlife garden.
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From the riverside path.
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Sun 29th March '20
I hope you are all keeping well and that some of you are still able to enjoy Pickerings Pasture. We have heard over the weekend that Halton Borough Council have had to close the car park, on the advice of the police. We understand that people were not always observing the two metre rule when entering and leaving their cars, although most were keeping to this advice on the walk.
Please walk to and from Pickerings Pasture whenever possible: make it part of your exercise. If you have any spare bird food, please do bring it with you. Many of our volunteers either live too far away or are observing a stay-at-home policy. If you do see anything interesting do let us know, using the Comments page or with photos by email to pickerings123@gmail.com If you have any ideas for the website do get in touch and I'll do my best to research it. Also if you do encounter anything worrying, please notify the Council or the local Police. The Friend's Group are not always in a position to respond at the moment.
Do Take Care.
Observe the two metre rule.
Wash your hands regularly.
And exercise daily in some form or another.
I hope you are all keeping well and that some of you are still able to enjoy Pickerings Pasture. We have heard over the weekend that Halton Borough Council have had to close the car park, on the advice of the police. We understand that people were not always observing the two metre rule when entering and leaving their cars, although most were keeping to this advice on the walk.
Please walk to and from Pickerings Pasture whenever possible: make it part of your exercise. If you have any spare bird food, please do bring it with you. Many of our volunteers either live too far away or are observing a stay-at-home policy. If you do see anything interesting do let us know, using the Comments page or with photos by email to pickerings123@gmail.com If you have any ideas for the website do get in touch and I'll do my best to research it. Also if you do encounter anything worrying, please notify the Council or the local Police. The Friend's Group are not always in a position to respond at the moment.
Do Take Care.
Observe the two metre rule.
Wash your hands regularly.
And exercise daily in some form or another.
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Sat 21st March '20
What a change in the blackthorn in three days! From hardly discernible buds to full flower - the sun has really made a difference, even a few cowslips are in flower... The wind has dried up the mud along the back path, but sadly a party on the first meadow has left a lot of empty bottles lying around, including some broken glass. If only they would take their rubbish away, no one would mind. |
Blackthorn
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Male reed bunting
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Primroses.
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18th March 2020 Although there were lots of cars in the carpark fortunately the footpaths were very quiet, as we are trying to isolate as much as possible, but get out while we can. The Pastures are quite yellow at the moment: daffodils, primroses, celandines and gorse, really cheering us all up (and don't we need it?)
A mix of seasons was encountered at the control meadow - while looking for the Spring migrant chiffchaff, heard calling, we saw several winter redwings which will soon be off northeast to their breeding grounds. |
Daffodils
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Down at the hide the usual small birds were visiting the feeders, including a male reed bunting that is almost in full summer plumage and already looking magnificent. The bird table base is badly damaged where a squirrel has eaten away the sides to get at the seeds. A young rabbit was also scuttering about in and out of the fenced area. A dunnock was singing quietly from the fence top when a group of five shelduck swooped in onto the pond. The peace was shattered as two males fought over one of the females, the others looking on like schoolboys at a playground melee aaching and aahing loudly. The winner finally got to mate with his prize.
I can't resist looking for the voles: there were two active today, one on each side of the hide. They are always so busy and are especially interesting as they manoever their way through the log piles.
I can't resist looking for the voles: there were two active today, one on each side of the hide. They are always so busy and are especially interesting as they manoever their way through the log piles.
Squirrel damage.
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Rabbit
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Shelducks fighting.
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Dunnock
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Cuteness!
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10th Mar '20 Although still quite muddy the pathways are a lot drier than last week- wellies still recommended though. Down at the hide the tide was running and the water was lapping the edges of the marsh. Redshanks were along the marsh edge, with a dunlin and a little stint hiding amongst them. A flock of dunlins flew up and down the Ramsbrook from time to time and as the tide came over the marsh, washing over where the redshanks were roosting, they flew over there too. Dotted around the marsh were shelducks and Canada geese but through the telescope we managed to pick out a solitary curlew, two pairs of teals and some wigeon. A male merlin flew up the marsh and shortly after the flock of meadow pipits and pied wagtails arrived just over the fence feeding on the tidal debris. In amongst them were three Scandinavian rock pipits: one of them sporting a yellow colour-ring. However it was too far away to get the full details.
To the right of the hide several birds; blackbirds, great tits and a dunnock, came into bathe at the little pool. Shortly after, a field vole popped out of a log and enjoyed a long nibble on a lichen-covered twig, amongst other goodies. In front of a hide a baby rabbit appeared several times before plucking up the courage to wander around eating the grass. The area in front of the hide is fairly open at the moment and if it carries on like this its days will be numbered! Eventually the tide spilled over into the pool and the pair of mallards, that had been asleep on one of the islands, were forced to start swimming. A buzzard and grey heron arrived looking for mice and voles caught out by the tide but both gave up quite quickly today.
To the right of the hide several birds; blackbirds, great tits and a dunnock, came into bathe at the little pool. Shortly after, a field vole popped out of a log and enjoyed a long nibble on a lichen-covered twig, amongst other goodies. In front of a hide a baby rabbit appeared several times before plucking up the courage to wander around eating the grass. The area in front of the hide is fairly open at the moment and if it carries on like this its days will be numbered! Eventually the tide spilled over into the pool and the pair of mallards, that had been asleep on one of the islands, were forced to start swimming. A buzzard and grey heron arrived looking for mice and voles caught out by the tide but both gave up quite quickly today.
Great tit
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Field vole nibbling its twig.
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Baby rabbit
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The mallards were forced to swim!
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As high tide approached we wandered back along the main pathway hoping to see a seal but no luck today. However we were compensated by the flowering gorse brightening the corner at the end of the path. Its yellow flowers have a distinctive scent of almonds. An old English saying is that when the gorse is in flower "the boys may kiss the girls". This is because, although the broom has its peak flowering period in early spring, it actually flowers for most of the year! Further along the dainty pink blossom of a cherry was a complete contrast to the gaudy, yellow of the gorse bush.
The scrape pool was flooded up to the fence.
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It covered Hale Marsh.
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The gorse is in flower.
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The blossom was really pretty.
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Hale Marsh for Town Lane bridge.
The following day the road was closed due to the tide.
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On our way home we stopped at Hale Marsh bridge as the tide turned. Unexpectedly we found a pair of mute swans and the four little egrets, that Jen had mentioned, over by the reed bed. The ducks and geese were calmly sailing out the tide but the waders, mainly redshanks, were constantly on the move. At least three skylarks were present, singing loudly and two male reed buntings had a territorial dispute in the reeds. C.C.
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9th Mar '20 I popped down to Pickerings Pasture this morning to check over the garden, feeders and plant a few bits before the rain came in...again...
If you thought 'fighting cocks' was just about roosters you'd be mistaken, two robins were going at it, hammer and tongs, fighting over the territory around the nature garden, pretty brutal. Hopefully not to the death. Laura |
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29th Feb '20 In spite of the heavy rain overnight it was a lovely morning for a walk down to the hide. The sun was shining and although the wind was chilly, the gusts were few and far between. Despite much improvement in the amount of flooding in some areas, in others it seemed to be worse and I'd forgotten Jen's advice to wear wellies!
The buzzard suddenly swooped down into a hollow but swerved back up into the trees when it saw us. It must be finding plenty of food as we seldom fail to see it. |
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By the Control Meadow a song thrush was singing with gusto and the number of robins we encountered was extraordinary. As usual the tits and robins were lying in wait by their feeders with some birds coming down before we'd moved on.
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There has been a fair amount of damage done by the wind and tides over the last few weeks. The perimeter fence has blown over in two places and the tide has dumped a load of debris on top of the broken fence.
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Hale Marsh was quiet today: there was no tide and the geese were much further up the towards the Decoy. However there were 170 shelducks: not quite a record for this time of year but nearly! The pied wagtail and pipit flock were actually on the scrape today and there were at least two rock pipits amongst them. A large, mixed flock of redwings, fieldfares and finches flew across the marsh and off over the top of the trees at United Utilities. A jay briefly joined the more common birds near the feeders and at least one female reed bunting is still visiting the feeders regularly. Nine long-tailed tits on a feeder was a bit of a squash but it didn't seem to bother them. A raven was prawking up towards the car park.
There were at least two squirrels at the hide today: one was particularly daring and glared at me threateningly when I approached it to within arms-length - cheeky thing! I was more entertained by the field vole however, although for a short time both mammals were out feeding together. Eventually the squirrel jumped on to the vole (not intentionally, I don't think!) and off it scurried.
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Can you find the field vole?
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Female reed bunting.
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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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