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Kingfishers near Warrington?? (1 Viewer)

David Smith

David Smith

Warrington Lancs
After joining just yesterday I am pleasantly surprised by the very friendly messages. I thought a thread may help me further.
As a new convert to bird watching-can anyone advise best places close to Warrington. Been to Risley Moss-amazing!! Would like to see such things as a Kingfisher-Is there a place where I have a good possibility. I know they are not hanging around waiting for me to arrive but if I can narrow it down it would be helpful.
Thanks in advance
 
Hi David

Welcome to BF

Nearest place to me (and possibly you) is Marbury Country Park near Northwich for kingfishers. However I only see them occasionally at the viewing point overlooking Budworth Mere. Bitterns have also been reported at the same site and the feeders close by are generally very lively.

david
 
Potentially kingfishers can be found anywhere where there is water.

Kingfishers can be seen at Moore NR in Warrington, last year had 2 in hot pursuit of each other.

Also remember to keep constantly looking at branches and reeds overhanging water, when perched they often go unnoticed.
 
David Smith said:
After joining just yesterday I am pleasantly surprised by the very friendly messages. I thought a thread may help me further.
As a new convert to bird watching-can anyone advise best places close to Warrington. Been to Risley Moss-amazing!! Would like to see such things as a Kingfisher-Is there a place where I have a good possibility. I know they are not hanging around waiting for me to arrive but if I can narrow it down it would be helpful.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Surprisingly for such a striking bird, with experience you'll often hear a Kingfisher before you see one. An example of the call is here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/k/kingfisher/gallery.asp As you spend more time birding you'll see more birds of all kinds. You kind of "tune in" and I guarantee you'll see Kingfishers fairly regularly, and they will always thrill.

Kingsfishers have a general tendency to move downriver toward the sea in winter, but even then they can be found on pretty much any pond, canal, stream, river, or estuary. Some reserves and hides are better for getting fairly close views of a perched bird. I don't know anywhere very close to you which is particularly good but I have watched them really well from the Eric Morecambe hides at Leighton Moss, which I believe is a good winter haunt (and a cracking reserve and day out)

Graham
 
Another vote for Moore, or Marbury Country Park can be good - around the boathouse or screen hide areas where you may also see Bittern, Water Rail and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
 
Martin Mere, South Lancashire has Kingfishers. Ron Baker hide.

I have never been to Moore nr Warrington, sounds like I should. Off to Google it now.

Thanks

Austin
 
I'd absolutley agree with the point about learning the kingfishers flight call. I've seen most of my kingfishers because of heard their call first - esecially if you're more of a rover than a sitter.
 
Hi David,
I live in Lymm, the two places I see them nearest to me are:
along the canal adjacent to Spud Wood in winter - though frequented by walkers etc. they will stick around unless disturbance gets too high. Try searching the overhanging trees very close to the water on the south bank carefully - from the north bank.
Slitten Brook which goes north from Lymm to the Manchester Ship Canal is a good stream for them year round.
Halftwo
 
Nice one Halftwo - both sites not far from me and although I've visited Spud Wood in summer for warblers and Hobby I've never been in winter, nor have I ever tried Slitten Brook - new places to visit!
 
I agree with Graham,

The Eric Morcambe hide at Leighton Moss is a good place to watch Kingfisher. I have seen a pair of Kingfishers here close the hide on many occassions day and early evenings flying across the pool and perched on various posts.

Another good place to watch Kingfisher is on Cecilly Brook in Cheadle where I live. There is a nature reserve here and it is one of the most important sites for Water Vole in Staffordshire county.

Dean

Cheadle Birder
 
Last edited:
Rob Smallwood said:
Nice one Halftwo - both sites not far from me and although I've visited Spud Wood in summer for warblers and Hobby I've never been in winter, nor have I ever tried Slitten Brook - new places to visit!
Click to expand...

No problem Rob & if you or David (or anyone) are at Spud Wood again give me a shout - I'm on its doorstep, be glad to go round with you. Hope the Hobbies will be back this year.
H
 
Ive seen em near Ikea when I used to work there.

Park up on Ikea car park. Walk out of Ikea car park and up towards toys r us, but stay on the ikea side of the road. A few yards down will be a public footpath on the left. go down it and it will take you through a small wooded area and eventually to a bridge which goes under the M62. as you go under the bridge you will be walking next to a stream. On the other side of the bridge is an expanse of fields. On this side of the bridge is a place where you can sit looking down at the stream and overlooking the fields. I used to sit there eating my butties on my dinner hour. I used to watch a pair of kingfisher flying up and down the stream. Also good for watching kestrels.
Great place to sit and chill out on a hot summer day (if you can ignore the sound of the motorway), but probably not very nice with the current weather.

Also if your willing to travel a bit. theres a kingfisher on the 3 sisters lake in ashton-in-makerfield by the fenced off part of the lake. (see it most mornings when im jogging)

Also if you sit on the bridge at car mill dam (not the dam itself) near st.helens you will see them flying about across the water.
 
Thanks to all

'Impressed' is not really a good enough word. Being new to bird watching and to this forum I didn't know what to expect. The knowledge and willingness to share this knowledge is much appreciated.
 
David Smith said:
'Impressed' is not really a good enough word. Being new to bird watching and to this forum I didn't know what to expect. The knowledge and willingness to share this knowledge is much appreciated.
Click to expand...

David,
Just got back from Spud Wood / Bridgewater Canal walk.
As predicted : Kingfisher!! Really excellent views of bird perched right out in the open c.8 feet up on a hedge over the canal.
Also excellent views of Great spotted woodpecker, Nuthatches plus Tree sparrows, Buzzard & a few Skylarks amongst flocks of Fieldfares etc.
The Kingfisher was on the Eastern edge of Spud Wood, wouldn't be surprised if its still there.
H
 
Hi David

Pennington Flash is just up the road from Warrington (approx 15 mins) - this is a good place for Kingfisher plus lots more besides. New hide or Teal hide are usually best for Kingfisher plus Water Rail and Willow Tit at the feeding station.

If you want to venture just a little further, Borsdane Wood nr Hindley is also very good - I found the nest site nr the stream there last year and really enjoyed watching them. Also Grey Wagtail and Dipper to be found in this stream.

Good luck
 
I've seen kingfishers when I've been fishing on the Bridgewater on the Moore side of the 'toast rack'
 
a good bet would be to follow my wife when she is out she is a kingfisher magnet ....
sites as all suggested - Moore nr, Marbury cp, Martin Mere(never fails) .... and Etherow cp on the goyt plus bonus dipper

cheers
jason
 
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