Sunday 30 November 2014

Rainford Mosslands

Whooper swan 1 adult Dairy Farm Road
Pink-footed goose 5000+ Old Coach Road (to the north of Dairy Farm Road)
Corn bunting 1 Dairy Farm Road
Corn bunting 10 Moss Lane
Raven 2 Moss Lane

Despite the close proximity of Martin Mere, whooper swans are pretty scarce in St Helens.  In January 2006 two adults spent about three weeks in fields alongside Dairy Farm Road. A flock of seven were on Clare's Moss alongside the Old Coach Road on 18th November 2005, and I've had two flyovers at the same location, involving three and two birds in 2004 and 2006. I've seen whoopers three times at Eccleston Mere, all in late November / early December, with the largest flock being nine which landed on the water for 10 minutes on 13th November 2005. The largest flock I know of from St Helens is 33 adults which spent at least seven hours at Prescot reservoirs on 14th March 2002.

Meanwhile, the pink-footed goose flock along the Old Coach Road was a very impressive sight, best viewed from the railway bridge.









Corn bunting Dairy Farm Road

1 comment:

  1. Just for your records I had 2 Whoopers with around 5000 pinkies in the field opposite the railway crossing at sidings lane on 23rd january 2012. Regards Damian Young

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