(September- November).

The large flock of goldfinches, which were present in August feeding on the weeds, finally dwindled down to about twenty in mid September. There are still small parties around the Pasture. A small number of grey wagtails, meadow pipits, swallows and skylarks were recorded passing over the Pastures on migration. 

After a single report of a kingfisher by the white bridge in early September, one finally turned up on the scrape pool on the 24^th and was present on most days during the next month. With its extended stay, visitors were able to get good views of it catching very small shrimps. One has turned up infrequently in recent weeks. A Little egret was spotted on the scrape pool on several occasions in late September.

On the 2^nd September a female peregrine was roosting on the marsh. Eleven golden plover seen on the sandbanks on 6^th September increased to over 200 by the 24^th, together with 600 lapwings. Canada geese numbers increased to 1,100. A closer inspection from the bird hide revealed a greylag goose with them.

 On the 3rd Sept a weasel was seen by the United Utilities path. Later in the month a stoat was also seen in a wooded area of the Pasture. 

Stoat     CAC

During September and October work was taking place on the construction of the new tarmac pathway, causing some disturbance to the pool by the bird hide. A few teal, redshank and curlew put up with the noise of the machinery. 

Red admirals were still being recorded in early October together with a few green-veined and large white butterflies. Several migrant hawker dragonflies were still flying, especially in the sheltered areas by the bird hide. They were seen egg-laying in the scrape pool too: which is surprising as it is brackish or even salty after the high tides.

Migrant hawker   CAC 

High tides in early October brought good numbers of waders to roost on the marsh by the bird hide. They included up to 800 lapwings and 300 redshanks. The roosting cormorants reached 11 birds on one occasion, all viewable from the bird hide. When fishing, the cormorants were seen to catch several large flat fish and an eel. Later in the month a male ruff and a juvenile curlew sandpiper were seen on the marsh, associating with the redshank flock. Joining the large lapwing flock were another large flock of 650 golden plovers, which roosted on the sandbanks during the latter part of October. By month's end this flock had increased to over 1000 birds. A female peregrine was seen on several occasions chasing the waders.

Curlew sandpiper with lapwing & golden plover     CAC

Over a hundred pink-footed geese were circling the marsh on the 28^th but did not land, instead going down in the fields by the Hale Lighthouse. On the 29^th October, 600 Canada geese were on the marsh, a female peregrine, a buzzard and a raven were all seen there, on the same day.  Up to three buzzards have been noted hunting the marsh this autumn. The ranger, Rob Smith, saw a female merlin perched on the fence line by the bird hide and it has been witnessed hunting for prey several times since.  A record number of Canada geese (over 1,600) were noted on 3^rd November

By mid October the first redwings and a few fieldfares were recorded passing over the Pastures but only a few were landing and feeding on the hawthorn berries. Several goldcrests moved through the vicinity, mainly along the back wooded area. They were spotted with a flock of about eleven long-tailed tits.

We did not start the bird feeding station this year until mid October but very quickly it was being visited by the usual tit species and greenfinch and chaffinch numbers were building up. Small parties of long tailed tits were seen using the bird-feeders and the fat smeared on the trees. At the feeding station by the ranger's cabin similar species were recorded and two great spotted woodpeckers have been seen.  

Long-tailed tit   CAC

The grey squirrels are again causing a nuisance by damaging the feeders.

On 3^rd November six of The Friends of Pickerings Pasture repainted the bird hide and the seating area and made three new feeders which were erected on trees by the bird hide. While we were working the kingfisher was back, feeding on the scrape pool, with seven teals flighting to and from the river bank.

A shelduck has started to flight onto the scrape pool to feed with the teal and mallard. Up to forty teal and a few mallard have been gathering to feed in the Ditton Brook by the white bridge.

By the end of the first week in November there was a massive increase in the numbers of gulls gathering on the sandbanks off Pickerings. They arrive there a couple of hours before dusk, prior to flying further down the Mersey to roost. Although mainly black-headed gulls, over 250 lesser black-backed have been seen with them. Greater black-backs, herring and common gulls may also be seen. An adult Mediterranean gull has already been sighted amongst the flock, so it is worth keeping a look-out for them and other unusual gull species.