Visit to Sale Water Park 20th April 2013

Visit to Sale Water Park 20th April 2013

We at last got a nice sunny day and despite it being a Saturday we had a fancy to take a walk over to Sale Water Park. We crossed Brook Burn and walked past the Heronry where we could see three or four bids on the nest – less than usual but perhaps we are a little late in the year for them. In any case there wasn’t the usual clacking of young birds. As we walked along this path we stopped to look at some flitting in the bushes and we could make out a Blackcap – our first “spring” Blackcap of the year.

We walked back up the Mersey in the opposite direction to Jackson’s boat in order to have a look at the little pond that is on the right side of the river. On the meadow there were lots of Magpies and Canada Geese and at the waters edge a pair of Mallards were on a nest. A pair of Tufted Ducks were on the water and the small seasonal puddle that appears on the water meadow now seems to have become something of a temperament feature and on this were a couple of Coot and a single Teal.

We dropped down to the lake at the water park where there were the usual Mute Swans and Canada Geese. We stopped of at the concrete bunker that passes as a hide at Broad Ees Dole and there were several Grey Herons there, half a dozen Gadwall, some Teal and Gulls. Also, bobbing around, was our first Common Sandpiper of the year. As we sat there a Buzzard flew lazily over the site.

We continued on through the woods where the Goldfinches all appeared to be nest making. We crossed over at Jackson’s Boat bridge and as we walked back down the path we could hear more Chiffchaffs and a Song Thrush and then got a good look at a disappointingly silent Willow Warbler – another first for the year !

Bird Sightings : Sale Water Park / Jackson’s Boat