Flixton

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