The Mersey Dippers

 

Dipper on the River Mersey downstream from Cheadle Bridge, Manchester As recently as 30 years ago the Mersey was considered to be the most polluted river in Europe. In 1983 the then Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine stated  “…the river is an affront to the standards a civilised society should demand of its environment. Untreated sewage, pollutants, noxious discharges all contribute to water conditions and environmental standards that are perhaps the single most deplorable feature of this critical part of England.” The efforts that have been made to clean the river up have been remarkable (more info). The Spring 2011 return of Dippers for the first time since the Industrial Revolution is a clear sign of the improving water quality. Sadly although there’s been a huge biological improvement in the water quality there’s still far too many people dumping rubbish along the river bank only for it be carried away and washed up further downstream.

Good to see how adaptable nature can be. Makes a change from balancing on the edge of a rock surrounded by a babbling brook.

One for the traditionalist (even though its been copied and recreated by many aspiring photographers Ben Hall’s photo is still superb)

Warts and All

 

Common Toads – Chorlton Water Park So far it appears to have been a very good  mating season for the thousands of Toads that live around Chorlton Water Park and the adjacent Mersey valley. The sheer spectacle of so many toads is one of the best wildlife experiences to be seen within the area and yet remarkably few people are even aware of it.

Male toads on the lookout for a mate
The larger female carrying around the smaller male	Remarkably the toads can stay in this embrace for several days

When attacked (on this occasion by a camera), the common toad adopts a characteristic stance with its hindquarters raised and its head lowered. As a defence against predators, the paratoid glands and the warts secrete a toxic, foul tasting substance, a bufotoxin called called bufagin.

Toads can live for up to 40 years and despite rumours you can’t catch warts off them.

Likewise the myth they possess magic powers such as the ability to change its shape is untrue.

Adults use the same pond year after year. The males arrive first and remain in the location for several weeks while the females only stay long enough to mate and spawn. The males mount on the females' backs, grasping them with their fore limbs in a grip that is known as amplexus. The males are very enthusiastic and will often mount on the backs of other males. Sometimes several toads form a heap, each male trying to grasp the female at the base. A successful male stays in amplexus for several days and, as the female lays a long, double string of small black eggs, he fertilises them with his sperm. As the pair wander piggyback around the shallow edges of the pond, the gelatinous egg strings, which may be 3 to 4.5 metres in length, get tangled in plant stalks. They absorb water and swell in size, and small tadpoles hatch out of the eggs after a fortnight to three weeks

Awakening

I was fortunate to get out for a couple of hours on Sunday. After the long cold, dark days of winter the local wildlife is quickly responding to the arrival of Spring. First stop an early morning visit to the Heronry at Chorlton Ees followed by a walk through Kenworthy Woods and finally an evening  stroll around Chorlton Water Park.

Grey Heron Chorlton Ees On the lookout awaiting the arrival of her mate.

Touching up the nest.

A few repairs required from last year

Branching Oyster – Kenworthy Woods

Branching Oyster

Common Toad - Chorlton Water Park

Another male Toad on the search for a mate. Hopefully he’ll be lucky later on this week - the females aren’t too keen on cold, frosty evenings.

Sawbills and Butterbur

 

Courtship begins. A pair of Goosanders on the River Mersey opposite Chorlton Water Park. Until 4 years ago Goosanders were winter visitors departing north in late February/early March. More recently they’ve started to breed further upstream and can now be seen all year round. A definite sign of improving water quality.

Note the female’s backcombed hair. Good to see her fitting in with the locals.

Meanwhile the drake has gone for a smart black and white number with a deep glossy green head that appears to be almost black

The first flowers of the Lesser Celandine on the banks of the Mersey.

The first rose narrowly beaten into flower this year by the Butterbur

Nothing delicate about this one. If any plant is as tough as old boots surely the Butterbur is the one. Reputed to be named after the large Rhubarb like leaves that historically were used to wrap butter. Also responsible for the clouds of Butterbur moths that erupt in late summer along the banks of the Mersey (much appreciated by the young Swallows, Pipistrelles and Noctules). Medicinally Butterbur has been used as an anti-histamine however whilst effective unfortunately it’s also carcinogenic. Not one to try at home.

Snow Geese

 

In this country the Snow Goose is a rare vagrant arriving in the Autumn with Pink Footed and Barnacle Geese. However to further complicate things in addition to the arrivals from the Canadian Tundra there’s also a small feral population normally living in Scotland. Originally 4 Snow Geese turned up close to Leighton Moss in October 2010. In March they disappeared. In October 2011 3 of them returned. The fact that they’re following a migratory pattern and lack any rings suggests they are wild birds however nobody seems to know for sure.

Whatever their origin they’re certainly attractive birds and as of mid February 2012 they were still at Leighton Moss.

Safety in numbers. Snowgeese with the resident Greylags at Leighton Moss February 2012.

1st day of Spring

Whilst officially Spring doesn’t begin until mid March over the past couple of weeks its finally started to slowly arrive. In fact after spending a day walking around in the sunshine close to Morecambe Bay we’ve decided that this year Spring arrived on the 19th February. With the temperature forecast to reach the dizzying heights of 15C later on this week it might even be overtaken by summer.

Snowdrops at Gait Barrow NNR

Pollen bearing Hazel catkins at Kenworthy Wood

The far smaller and almost insignificant female flower of the Hazel again at Kenworthy Wood Scarlet Elfcup at Leighton Moss found between the causeway and lower hide on rotting Elder. There’s also a similar Green Elfcup fungi that can be found in the limestone woodlands around the Silverdale area. Historically due to the green colouration it gave to timber it was highly prized by cabinet makers and other craftsmen. Fortunately the insensitively named Jews ear fungi has been rechristened as Jelly Ear in the more recently published reference books.

Scarlet Elfcups at Leighton Moss.

Jews ear fungi on Elder at Leighton Moss

Rose-ringed and Amazons

Ring-necked Parakeet at Fog Lane Park, Didsbury. Currently there’s thought to be up to 20 of these Parakeets around the south Manchester area with Fog Lane Park, Alexandra Park and Southern Cemetery being amongst the more regular haunts. In contrast to the situation in London the number of birds up here have been fairly steady over the past 10 years. Even when it dropped to –15C last winter they didn’t seem to be affected. Originally within this country they were referred to as Rose-ringed Parakeets however the RSPB and BTO seemed to have adopted the less exotic name of Ring-necked Parakeet.

Home is where the hole is

Unmistakeable and normally heard before they’re seen.

The Orange winged Amazon.

Orange-winged Amazon at Fog Lane Park, Didsbury This particular bird has been roosting with the parakeets for the past couple of years. Again primarily a tropical species originating from South America and the Caribbean it appears to have adapted to life within south Manchester’s suburbs. Unfortunately the related Crimson Rosella another member of the south Manchester flock of parrots didn’t make it through last winter.

A Winter’s Day

 

Again took the opportunity of another break in the weather and headed up to WWT Martin Mere. I’d almost forgotten how busy it gets on a Sunday afternoon. Although its encouraging to see the sheer number of people with an interest in the environment trying to get a good, close up view of anything is far from easy.

Undoubtedly the highlights were a Willow Tit from the Janet Kear hide and approximately 8  Tundra Bean Geese from the Ron Barker hide.  Unfortunately the geese were too far out to photograph.

Willow Tit

Willow Tit

Tree Sparrow (one of the Mere’s specialities)

Ruff

Whooper Swan

A smart looking Drake Pintail. On the way back we made a quick detour off the M6 to Lowton, parked up in the Traveller’s Rest and walked down to Highfield Moss. Plenty of Golden Plover, a few Lapwings and Fieldfare in the fields. On the moss itself at least 7 Snipe at dusk followed shortly by a great display from 2 Short eared Owls.

Highfield Moss at dusk

A distant Short eared Owl

Quartering the moss in near darkness

Wood Mice

Finally after weeks of rain it stopped for a whole day and I was able to get out once again with the camera and binoculars. Although they’re far from rare it’s always good to come across a communal nest of Wood Mice. There was around 10 individuals in this particular nest unfortunately they’re far too fast for a precise count.

Wood Mouse near Chorlton Water Park, Manchester

Fairly typical food remains found close to the nest. It’s always seemed a little strange that they tend to leave the flesh of the various fruits and berries preferring to eat just the seeds. Over the past couple of months the local Kestrel has been out most days with the occasional siting of the Foxes and Weasels. It’ll be interesting to see how many wood mice make it through to Spring.