Trip reports

Evening Visit to Woolston Eyes

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

The first evening meeting of the year was to Woolston Eyes Nature reserve near Warrington on the evening of Wednesday May 7th. An early sighting of four, probably Common, Tern flying along the Manchester Ship Canal, was unexpected, whilst a distant Buzzard being mobbed by a Crow was less so.

The group visited several hides overlooking the wetland area of the reserve, the most notable species noted being the Black-necked Grebe, an estimated one third of the British breeding population of this bird nests at the Eyes. A few Great Crested and Little Grebe were also noted along with a variety of wildfowl including Gadwall, Pochard and Ruddy Duck.

May is a good month for summer migrants, a number of which were present around the reserve. Several Reed Warbler sang from the reedbeds whilst Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff sang from patches of scrub and woodland. Elsewhere a small number of Swift and Sand Martin fed over the wetland.

By Tony Parker.