Nipped into Greenacres this morning
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| Emma woods Burial grounds |
What a lovely serene place this is, and being enhanced all the time; today the grounds staff were busy planting out an orchard – to the left of the
main drive in front of Emma’s Cottage, good news for the local wildlife. I’m also told they have 2 new owl boxes to
put out, pending RSPB advice and assistance on best places to situate.
On arrival I stocked up their bird table and went for a stroll. The
first thing you notice as you head out is not necessarily what you see but what
you hear, Grace wood was alive with the calls of long tailed tits,
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| Long tailed tit in spring - Laura |
intermingled were
also the voices of nuthatch, robin and blue tit. On closer inspection you could
see these pretty lollipops flitting around the trees and hedges.
No sign of the squabbling kestrels I’d seen in September,
http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/giving-nature-home-at-greenacres.html in fact no
raptors in the hour I was there, just plenty of jackdaws, crows and wood
pigeons flying over. Never mind at treat was in store, ‘Redwings’, I must have
seen well over 100 fly over Grace to Emma woods in several flocks, some stopped
to feast on the shrub laden berries on the woodland boundary, before moving on
across the fields towards the East Lancs Rd. What Splendid birds these
Scandinavian thrushes are, with their distinctive rusty red markings under
their wings - often heard before seen, especially of an evening during
migration.
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| Redwing in winter - Laura |
In the grounds of Emma woods, there was plenty of other bird activity,
blackbirds and robins, coal, long tailed, blue, great
and coal tits flitting through the trees & hedgerows. Nuthatches were in good voice and
clearly visible wandering up the tree trunks. A wren was searching through a log
pile close by. The best was to come though a call alerted me to a gt spotted
woodpecker hopping around the branches above, then a familiar waggy flight drew
my attention to the small pond in this area of the wood, here a grey wagtail
was skimming over the surface, great birds to watch a while.
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| Tree sparrow Andy Hay -RSPB |
Leaving the woods and heading down the path towards Emma’s cottage, the
well established mixed hawthorn, elder hedge was attracting more
blackbirds, robins, tits, redwing and I’m glad to report - the tree sparrows.
Additionally
Chaffinch, pied wagtail and collared dove around the cottage grounds.
Back to the office to pick up some info on the forthcoming Christmas
craft fair, a pleasant little excursion to a special place.
Come along and support the local Willowbrook hospice, pick up a
chrissie pressie! all whilst doing a spot of secret bird watching!
Willowbrook Craft Fair Sunday 02/11/14
Greenacres
Blindfoot
Road, Rainford, St Helens
Merseyside
WA11 7HX
Merseyside
WA11 7HX
Doors open 10:00am –
2:30pm
Lots of stalls:
Anime, Hand made jewellery.
Dawn Jackson glassware.
Novelty Nicknacks - stocking fillers?
Angel creations, bookmarks and
cards
Vintage & artist creative photography cards
Willowbrook Hospice Merchandise and Tombola (http://www.willowbrook.org.uk/)
Hazles gifts & Non stoppers supporter group (100% profit to Willowbrook)
Andrea brown Crafts
Bab-b bunting and vintage crafts
Sweet treats
Cake delights by Karen – beautifully baked cakes
Bill Chester Wood turning
Namaste healing, incense and candles
Charlwood crafts
Ann’s woolly crafts, knitted goodies
St Helens soroptomist club, knitted poppies
Staff from the Tartan Tea rooms, Rainford will be selling soup, sandwiches
and refreshments throughout the day.
Laura
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