Altrincham and District Natural History Society: March 2016

Thursday 31st March 2016 - Firswood (Slime Flux)

En route to Firswood Metrolink station, we found a roadside Sycamore that had been cut down, probably because of vehicle damage, leaving a stump about 5 feet high. The fungal/slime growths were quite impressive. Thanks to John Taylor of the North West Fungus Group for identifying as Slime Flux - 'sap that is hosting an array of bacteria and fungi but not caused by any species in particular'.

Slime Flux


Slime Flux

Cathy and Mike Pettipher

Late March 2016 - Mersey Valley (Ring-necked Parakeet)

Ring-necked Parakeet nesting in a garden near Fletcher Moss. Frequently seen at Chorlton Water Park.

via Claire Joures

Late March 2016 - Timperley

Great-spotted Woodpeckers pecking on paved path outside nearby house.

Claire Joures

Wednesday 30th March 2016 - Pennington Flash (Swallows, House Martins)

Swallows and House Martins seen at Pennington Flash.

Claire Joures

Sunday 27th March 2016 - The Wirral

Chiff-chaff, Wheatear and Ring Ouzel seen on the Wirral, and Daffodils were displaying very well. At Burton Mere, there were lots of Avocets and the Little Owl is back. There were a large number of Little Egrets, and the path leading to Inner Marsh has been closed in the hope that some may breed. A pair of Little-ringed Plovers arrived - the first this year at Burton Mere.

Claire Joures

Saturday 26th March 2016 - Pennington Flash

After a very summery Good Friday, Easter Saturday brought more blustery and occasionally wet conditions. The hides provided good cover from the wildlife as well as the weather.

The Horrocks and Edmondson hides gave us the usual birds: Mallard, Teal, Heron, Tufted Duck, Shoveller, Cormorant, Wood Pigeon, Gadwall, Canada Goose and Swans.

Ramsdale hide showed also 2 Shelduck, 3 Redshanks, and (probably) a Black-tailed Godwit.

Teal hide had Goosander, Great-crested and Little Grebe.

At Bunting hide, there was initially no activity, except for a few Magpies collected on a distant tree, despite large quantities of seeds and nuts in the feeding area. Subsequently learnt that a Sparrowhawk had just visited and dined there which seemed to explain the ghostly silence. 15 minutes later the event and 'lost friend' seemed to have been forgotten as vast numbers returned, just before a heavy downpour. Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Robin, Blue and Great Tits, Magpie, Moorhen, Mallard, Wood Pigeon, Rock Dove were all active as well as a brief visit from a Willow Tit.

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniculus)

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

Flora seen included Lesser Celandine, Coltsfoot and Dandelion. All usually yellow, but one, unopened dandelion appeared to be white or at least very pale. Couldn't quite decide what we were looking at - should really return in a few days to see what happens:

White? Dandelion (Taraxacum sp)

Cathy and Mike Pettipher

Friday 25th March 2016 - Chorlton Ees

Perhaps we haven't wandered around Chorlton Ees at this time of year for some time, but we were surprised at the quantity of Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum), and Golden Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium):