It’s a long time since we’ve been to Carr Mill Dam, March 2019 in fact, before the pandemic. Over time the bus and train routes become unsuitable, but we have now found a new way to get there. It was bright and sunny, but the first chilly day this autumn. There had been very heavy rain yesterday as we were brushed by Storm Claudia, and we feared that the paths would be deeply muddy, but they were OK, just a bit soft in a few places. At the southern end, near the Waterside Toby restaurant, was the largest bird gathering – Canada Geese, Coots and Moorhens, Mallards and a few Black-headed Gulls.
We went around the lake anti-clockwise for a change, and on the path near the old railway we spotted a Grey Wagtail, a Blue Tit and a Siskin feeding high up in the Alder trees on the embankment.
Yesterday’s rain had almost filled the Goyt valley.
Near the bridge we found some shyer water birds. There were two Mute Swans (both female?) and the one-and-only Great Crested Grebe of the day, still in its winter plumage.
There appeared to be more little birds about in the woodland near the bridge, I think someone puts out food. By the side of the path were a Blackbird and a Dunnock and in the trees at the eastern end of the bridge we saw Coal Tits, a Robin and several Nuthatches, perhaps a family of four. Sorry about this picture, which is terribly out-of-focus, but it shows how near the Nuthatches were.
We scanned the bay on the far side of the bridge, but there were no more Grebes and no Kingfisher, a bird we sometimes see in this sheltered place. Instead we made our way to the fishing lake near Otterswift farm, where a single Heron brooded at the far end.
The winter berries seem to be all eaten already, and the only flowers we saw were Gorse, and this Dandelion on the verge of Carr Mill Road.
Near our bus stop a flock of Jackdaws were foraging in an uncut meadow.
Public transport details: Train from Lime Street at 10.12 (the Glasgow train!), to its first stop at St Helens Central at 10.30. Then a 10 minute walk to the new bus station at Chalon Way West, then bus 17 at 10.54, arriving Woodlands Road / Derwent Road at 11.01. Returned from Martindale Road / Broad Lane on bus 352 at 2.06 (really 2.15) arriving bus station at 2.28, then bus 10A to Liverpool at 2.40, arriving 3.57.
Next week we plan to go to Leasowe. Meet at Central Station at 10am (prompt).