Song thrush, Jack Lane |
Well now… that was a phenomenally quiet wander around Wellacre Country Park even for a July afternoon. It was bright, sunny and a bit breezy and nearly all the birds were absent without leave.
Wellacre Wood |
Had it not been for the woodpigeons, carrion crows and magpies (and a lot of horseflies) in the field by the houses the tally for Wellacre Wood would have been a chiffchaff, two spadgers, a passing greenfinch, two herring gulls high overhead and the flock of pigeons that flew in as I was approaching Jack Lane. Commas and speckled woods fluttered about the trees and red admirals, large whites and a brown hawker explored the rides.
Walking down Jack Lane to the nature reserve |
The expected swarm of hirundines over the water treatment works by Irlam Locks turned out to be a swallow and two swifts.
Song thrush, Jack Lane |
There was little more happening in Jack Lane despite the evidence of another attack of the strimmers. A few blackbirds and a chaffinch rummaged around in the hawthorns by the reed beds. Two reed warblers sang, one either side of the path. I had to wait a while on the path to allow a song thrush to finish eating an unlucky smooth newt. Large whites and peacocks fluttered about the reed margins, dragonflies were notable by their absence. A sparrowhawk soared by high overhead moving over into Urmston and not bothering any of the woodpigeons in the trees by the reedbeds.
Jack Lane |
Walking down the path alongside the railway line a couple of great tits and a chiffchaff lurked in the hawthorns and we're very difficult to see. There were more large whites, speckled woods and red admirals and a very fresh and shiny common blue. The field was empty of horses, birds and butterflies. High overhead lesser black-backs floated past and swifts wheeled and soared.
Approaching Dutton's Pond there were a couple of wrens and chiffchaffs in the trees and gatekeepers and commas fluttered about the paths. I was surprised that I couldn't see any moorhens and only the one mallard on the pond.
Comma, Dutton's Pond |
I was pressed for time so I didn't go for a wander round Green Lane, walking back to Flixton Station for the train home instead. I'd had just over an hour's stroll and not got much out of it besides a bit of exercise and a hand full of insect bites.
Pigeons, Wellacre Country Park |
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