Ring Ouzel, Moss Lane

A cracking male ring ouzel was found at Moss Lane St Helens on Good Friday, but since we were away for the weekend I thought it would be long gone by the time I got the opportunity to look for it. However, fortunately it did the decent thing and stayed until today, so as soon as I got back I unloaded the car and headed out. I saw it straight away in a field behind the farm. I've tried and failed at several classic sites already this year, from Leasowe to Derbyshire to Great Orme, yet I finally catch up with one on my doorstep in St Helens. That's birding I guess...

Melanistic woodpigeon, Moss Lane

A gorgeous melanistic woodpigeon was at Moss Lane, St Helens today. I love how the colours of it's eyes and beak and especially the white neck patch are enhanced on its unusually dark head. Melanism is a darkening of skin, feathers or fur due to an unusually high amount of dark pigmentation than is normal for the species. Melanism is apparently less common than either albinism or leucism. Certainly I've only ever seen a handful of melanistic birds and I've never seen it in woodpigeons previously. You can see more typical woodpigeons in the bottom right of the photo.

 

The bird is lacking the white wing patches of normal woodpigeons.

Black swan, Carr Mill Dam

There was a black swan on Carr Mill Dam today. Obviously this is a non-native species originally from Australia, where I saw many hundreds of birds during my visits between 2015-2020. The species is recorded regularly in the UK as an escape and there is now an established breeding population in the UK, centred around east Norfolk, though I'm not sure if it's yet considered self-sustaining. I have heard a rumour that there is a possibility that this species could be added to the British list as a feral bird similar to Egyptian goose.

This particular individual was ringed with a mute swan blue darvic ring SZH at Salford Quay's on 29th March 2025. It has also been seen on Heaton Park and the Manchester Ship Canal in Eccles, but it's unclear if it originates from the feral population in Norfolk or if it's just an escape from a local collection.

Grasshopper warbler, Pennington Flash

A grasshopper warbler was reeling near the footbridge north of the canal this morning.

Curlews, Old Coach Road

There's been a flock of up to 47 curlews in a field off the Old Coach Road recently and today I managed to see 34 of them.

Little Owls

I came across this pair of little owls during my travels this week.

At first I could only see one bird, but suddenly it started making a call which I have since discovered is a soliciting call "gwoooook". Then the bird flew to the other side of the building and I could see a second bird close by. 

Grey seal in St Helens

Astonishingly today there was a grey seal in St Helens. A marine species, it must have travelled up the waterways from the Mersey, a journey of  around 14km (8.5 miles). The open sea is a further 42km (26.5 miles). Apparently it's an old adult female about 1.5m (5ft) long and slightly underweight. It seemed to be feeding well, it ate at least two fish while I was watching and others saw it eat at least four fish before I arrived.    

Marine Animal Rescue arrived on site while I was there but their opinion was that it was healthy and didn't need rescuing. However it will be monitored on a daily basis. Trouble is how long it will remain healthy in this area is unknown and it seems to me that it would be better if it left as soon as possible, either under its own steam or with a little help. It's just a sitting duck if it remains here.

The photos of the animal in the water were taken from a bridge over the brook. The seal seemed oblivious to our presence and on several occasions approached very close. The only time it seemed nervous was when it was sleeping on the far bank and Marine Animal Rescue tried to get close to see if it had any injuries. 

Dane Valley osprey

A beautiful day to be out and about in the Peak District today, starting at Wildboarclough and then across the moors to join the Dane Valley Way at Danebower Quarry. Sadly no ring ouzels for me today, but I was more than compensated by a breathtaking osprey heading north up the Dane.

The last of the pink-feet

Pink-footed geese are in the process of disappearing from North West England and heading north to breed in Iceland. Today I came across a flock of 2000+ at Aldcliffe marsh and these will probably be amongst the last that I see for a few months. There's said to be a tundra bean goose with them, but I struggle with them at the best of times and the distance combined with the heat haze today defeated me once again. A spectacular sight nonetheless. 

Spotted redshank, Condor Green

A spotted redshank oblivious as it walks into the jaws of a monster at Condor Green today!

Red-necked grebe, Clowbridge Reservoir

A bad hair day in the wind this morning for the stunning red-necked grebe at Clowbridge reservoir near Burnley. I'm not complaining though, last time I saw it at the beginning of March it was it non-breeding plumage and 400m away in the middle of the reservoir. Today it was probably little more than 30m away and looking good!

Garganey, Pennington Flash

A female garganey was from the viewing screen opposite Tom Edmondson hide this morning. Also today, two adult Mediterranean gulls in full breeding plumage, three black-tailed godwits in Ramsdales, two goosander, a drake and a female, and 100+ sand martins. This afternoon a swallow was over the flash.