Spot Wildlife at the Carr Mill Dam and the Sankey Valley Country Park, A Local Birdwatching Site in Merseyside Area

Local Sites

Sankey Valley & Carr Mill Dam Area

Site Information The Sankey Valley Country park is 3 km north east of St. Helens town centre which has regular bus and train links with Liverpool and is in the Merseytravel area. Buses from the bus station regularly pass the visitor centre at Black Brook and also Carr Mill Dam. Car parking is available at the visitor centre ( not always open ) and at Carr Mill Dam. There are footpaths around and from Carr Mill Dam and all through the park and continuing alongside the canal/Sankey Brook through to Warrington. *Carr Mill Dam* Good numbers of great crested grebe with little grebes and small numbers of other ducks are seen all year round , occasionally a large gull roost occurs there, common tern is regular and kingfishers are now regular sightings, the surrounding fields hold many farmland birds. Passage migrants are often to be found around the banks and ospreys pass through the area on migration. The footpath around the dam has been re-laid and now provides a good walking surface Power Boat racing and Water skiers are allowed on the Dam, some would say to the detriment/disturbance to the wildlife, particularly the loss of visiting swans. *Laffak Pond* For dragonfly enthusiasts15 species of dragonflies and damselflies have been recorded on the Sankey Valley Country Park. Laffak Pond holds 12+ species of dragon/damselfly form June to September. i.e. Azure Damselfly, Black Darter, Southern Darter, Ruddy Darter, Four-spotted Chaser, Emerald Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle. Laffak pond is also home to the Great Diving Beetle which grows up to 35mm, and the aptly named Backswimmer known to give a painful bite to the unwary. * At the point of writing this I feel I must mention that on a recent visit to the Laffak pond in April 2007, the pond and area around was in a sorry state, local youths had obviously had some sort of outdoor evening party and left their detritus cans and other rubbish behind in and around the pond, they had also lit camp fires around the pond area. It is hoped the wardens at the Blackbrook visitor centre will be able to restore the area so it remains a haven for it's wildlife. *Stanley Bank Meadow L.N.R. & Woods* Stanley Bank is a herb rich unimproved neutral meadow which has been undisturbed since the 1940's and was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1968 in recognition of its particular wildlife value. Comprised of two areas of Ancient Semi-natural Woodland and an area of damp neutral grassland. During June and July orchids colour the grassland and the scarce adders tongue fern is seen in May. Home to the rare Purple Hairstreak Butterfly. Other scarce species recorded in the area include great northern diver, slavonian grebe, Willow tit, black tern and firecrest. *Sankey Canal* Sedge and reed warblers with an occasional water rail, with birds of hedgerow and farmland.
St Helens MOB'S Sankey Valley Website Sankey Valley Country Park Visitor Centre is situated off Blackbrook Road (A58), Blackbrook, St.Helens, at the side of the Ship Inn public house.
*Carr Mill Dam Circular Walk*
*Sankey "Sacred" Valley Walk*

Bird list for recent field trip 10 Feb 07 - Carr Mill Circular.

Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Redwing, Robin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Tree Sparrow, Wren.

RSPB Regd charity no 207076