June - August

The meadows have not been at their best this year, presumably because of the long period of very dry, hot weather, which we experienced earlier in the year. Nevertheless, we have still been treated to several good displays of flowers. The orchids that were damaged during the construction of the path last year didn't recover, however some new areas have been populated. We didn't find any bee orchids this year but may have missed them. There has been a clump of nettle-leaved bellflower along the back path for several years but a fine new patch was discovered growing at the edge of one of the plantation.

The biggest disappointment, this year, was the cornfield, which was full of thistles and other weeds. There is no way it can recover, making it necessary for the thick vegetation to be cut down and the area sprayed, in early spring, to remove the unwanted perennials. It can be replanted, with a small quantity of wheat mixed with the seeds of poppies, corncockle, corn flower and corn marigold.

The summer meadows are in full flower and although there are a few species missing, others have spread, still creating a wonderful display. There are so many insects nectaring on the flowers and we have seen lots of photographers taking full advantage of it. The tansy has been particularly good for insects, a special favourite of the common blue butterfly. 

The blue and great tits had a good breeding season and many broods of young were seen, wandering about the pastures in June. On the 29th a large party of long-tailed tits were noticed, flying from one wood to another: over twenty seven were counted. Mixed in with them were a few warblers and other tit species. At least two broods of chiffchaffs and at least one brood of blackcaps and whitethroats were reared, in various places around the site. The whitethroat family were often seen in front of the hide: the adult feeding at least two fledged young.  During August, a wandering tit flock was seen along the back path: with them was a treecreeper, an unusual bird on the pasture. Whilst photographing butterflies, in one of the meadows, a female pheasant was seen, with three half grown young, which could already fly.

Towards the end of June, a male sparrowhawk flew into one of the wooded areas, carrying prey. We were hopeful of a breeding attempt. It was over a week later before the male was seen carrying prey into the same wood and the young could be heard calling, as they were fed, confirming breeding. At the end of July, walking back to the car, along the back path, we witnessed a spectacular display of swifts and hirundines, feeding low over the meadows, catching insects. Two newly fledged crows found life in the car-park to their liking: being fed by their parents and picking up titbits from the visitors.

Due to the dry weather, the scrape pool slowly dried up, until only a small channel, that was deepened last year, was left. On the July 15th, after a high tide, with strong westerly winds, the scrape pool filled up with water. Around the same time, the heavy rain helped to maintain the depth. On the marsh, at high tide, 370 lapwing, six oystercatchers, several black-tailed godwits and ten cormorants were counted. The flock of Canada geese built up to over seventeen hundred, some still with quite small young. While counting the flock, a greylag goose and a barnacle goose were also spotted. A large flock of gulls roosting on the marsh, during the tide, were mainly black-headed.  The first kingfisher, of the season, was seen flying along the Mersey, towards the scrape pool, but it didn't stay around

On the 17th July, two common sandpipers were on the scrape pool and at least five pied wagtails were feeding around the edges. Towards the end of the month a greenshank spent several days on the pool, joined, on a couple of occasions, by both green and common sandpipers. Over the high tide period, 13th August, the tide once again flooded onto the scrape pool. The common sandpipers had increased to four and were feeding around the edges of the pool and spent some of their time chasing each other: sometimes over the bank on to the river. Two black-tailed godwits were also seen on the scrape.  Several visitors have seen two little egrets, either on the scrape pool or, more commonly, on the marsh.           

Twice in one week, the Scrape was disturbed by unthinking visitors. On a Sunday a lad encouraged his Staffordshire bull terrier to go swimming in the river although he was warned by passers by that it wasn't safe. Unfortunately the dog got caught up in the tidal ebb and was washed towards Hale. Just as it was on the point of giving up its feet touched the sandbank and it managed to come ashore. The owner walked across the bank of the scrape, flushing the birds, as he went to collect his dog. Later the same week on the high tide an older male decided to walk to Hale across Hale Marsh. He totally ignored the warning signs telling him to go no further. After flushing the birds from the pool and many others from the marsh, he finally found himself getting cut off by the tide and had to walk a longer route back, getting very wet in the process. Fortunately the observers in the hide were on hand if he had inadvertently fallen into one of the deep gutters. It is a dangerous place to be.

The dunlin flock is building up and by the end of July over two hundred were counted on the shore with small numbers of redshanks, black-tailed godwits and curlews. A little egret has been seen on the Mersey feeding in the channels alongside Pickerings Pasture. An adult Mediterranean gull was found on the bank opposite the visitors centre, together with the first common gulls of the Autumn. They were amongst the many black headed gulls on the sandbanks. The lapwing flock continues to increase and has now topped the seven hundred mark. A male peregrine has been seen a couple of times hunting and lounging about. Recently it was seen to land on the sandbanks to devour its prey. It was possibly one of the pair that bred on the bridge this year.

Several of the first brood of common blue butterflies were seen in late May and early June and the first meadow browns of the year were seen in late June, with numbers quickly building up in early July. Up to six small skippers, a painted lady and the first of the second brood of common blues were recorded on the 3rd July. Amongst the day-flying moths were plenty of six spot burnets and two narrow-winged five spot burnets were found as well.  A blackneck moth and a shaded broad-bar were seen, together with several silver Y moths. In the meadows in mid July we counted over a hundred green-veined white butterflies along with about twenty small whites as well as a further two small coppers. One purple hairstreak butterfly was seen on an oak near the bird hide path early in August, and by now plenty of peacocks and commas were nectaring on the thistle flowers in front of the hide. In addition large numbers of gatekeepers and meadow browns were flying over the meadows. Also in early August large numbers of common blue butterflies were recorded with over a hundred and twenty being seen on one occasion, also a few small coppers are being recorded

 Dragonflies have also had a good year. By the bird hide a brown hawker and two southern hawkers were catching insects whilst sheltering from the wind. A pair of brown hawkers was also seen in tandem at a later date. Both species have also been seen around other areas of the Pastures, another good place to see them is around the gap - along the back path. The first migrant hawker of the year was seen on the last day of July.

On the afternoon of the Friends of Pickerings Pasture meeting in August, a male and female brimstone butterfly were flying about the car park and the number of common blue butterflies had now reached a minimum of two hundred on the meadows. We were stopped by many visitors that day asking what they were, remarking that they have never seen so many butterflies previously and some had never encountered blues before.

A lucky visitor told us that she had just seen a family of stoats by the obelisk before the white bridge. A fox has also been seen wandering right out on the sandbanks towards Frodsham, presumably attempting to catch a young Canada goose.

The Friends of Pickering's Pasture had work party in June when all the seats and tables were painted. They looked really good, ready for the summer season. The hide area was also painted and the shrubs cut back: although you wouldn't guess so now... More cutting-back is now required. Our next project date is Mon Sept 20th at 1pm - and will probably concentrate on the hide area, preparing bird-feeders etc. for the winter months. You will be made very welcome. All tools and materials are supplied.

Bombus vestalis ( a cuckoo bee) is an uncommon bee in this area which was found nectaring in the meadows on scabious flowers.

Mediterranean Gull (foreground) and black-headed gull