Rainford area

I've been spending a lot of time in the Rainford area this spring since I returned from India, mainly because it's been so good as opposed to Pennington Flash which has been pretty dull. The main places we bird are Dairy Farm Road, just off the Rainford bypass, Old Coach Road and Moss Lane which is near Liverpool St Helens RUFC.

Highlights have been a pair of whinchats along Dairy Farm Road on 2nd May, female marsh harrier (only my second ever in St Helens) on 10th May and red kite over Rainford cricket club the following day. The latter I will discuss in a separate post.

Four ravens chased each other over Moss Lane on 9th May, where there is also a pair of stonechats.

Little owls have put in a good showing this spring, I know of at least two, possibly three sites for them.

Corn buntings just cling on in St Helens. There are at least four pairs, probably more.

It seems to be a good year for yellow wagtails, with several birds taking up residence at Dairy Farm Road, and also a similar number near Haydock. There's been a male Channel wagtail with the birds at Dairy Farm Road, but I haven't managed to see it yet.