Information about the South Cheshire village of Hankelow
Many species of birds can be seen in and around Hankelow:-
If you can
add to the lists or you see
anything unusual, please tell us about it! Email
nature@hankelow.org.uk,
and please attach pictures if you have them.
Herons are often seen in Hankelow, and are a common sight along the side of the canal. They are also to be seen on the side of the village pond from time to time, when thay will take new-born ducklings as well as fish.
You can find out more about Herons on the RSPB website here.
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Kingfishers can be seen by the river Weaver or the Shropshire
Union canal, but they have also been seen on the village pond in
Hankelow.
There were frequent sightings over several days in December 2020
and January 2021. Taking pictures have been difficult as
they move quickly, but here are a few.
Kingfisher
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Barnacle Geese are rare vistors, but they have been seen at Hankelow Hall.
The picture on the left is from February 2022.
You can find more about barnacle geese
here.
Barnacle Goose
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Canada Geese are plentiful, and can frequently be seen on the pond by Woolfall Farm, and on
the fields near Overwater Marina.
They also commonly fly over the area in large, noisy flocks
Canada Goose
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Mallard Ducks are plentiful in Hankelow, and there are resident populations on the village pond and the pond by Woolfall Farm.
Every spring they pair off, among much noisy squabbling, and find
nest sites in the gardens around the village. The pair in the
photo above were behind the Green Farm in 2020. The same pair
(probably) returned in 2021 and 2022.
Click on the images to see an enlarged version with caption
Here are a couple of Nature Camera videos from April 29th, 2021, of a new Mum with her Ducklings, which hatched by Derek and Rose's front door.
Here she is setting out for the pond with
her two newly hatched ducklings - but one is missing!
Better try again!
Ashleigh sent some video clips of ducklings which
hatched behind Ball Farm in May 2021; you can download them
here,
here and
here
.
I can't figure out how to make them play automatically
yet! Ashleigh thinks the family have now moved on the the ponds at Hankelow
Hall.
Also Kim J. has sent the picture on the left, of "Masie" on a
nest in her blueberry bushes in May.
Mallard Duck
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Red Kites can occasionally be seen in Hankelow, probably
just passing through. I saw one in April 2021 and Lesley has
reported a couple of sightings in May 2022.
You can find out more about Red Kites on the RSPB website
here.
Red Kite
Sparrowhawks can sometimes be seen hunting in Hankelow. The one in pictured in the header is a frequent visitor to the garden of Maplewood House in Hall Lane, and is apparently happy to pose for photographs.
You can find out more about sparrowhawks on the RSPB website here.
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Whooper swans are mainly winter visitors; they can be distinguished
from a mute swan by the shape and colour of the bill. They are high
flyers - a flock of whooper swans were seen in 2015 flying at an
altitude of 29,000 ft!
You can find out more about Whooper Swans on the
RSPB website.
Pictures supplied by John Vickers - click on the images to see an enlarged version.
All media are copyright.
Whooper Swan
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Wrens are plentiful in Hankelow, but being very small and fast
moving, they can be difficult to spot. Their song is quite
distinctive, however, and very loud.
The pictures below were taken at the end of February 2021; three
or more wrens were foraging in the same tree over several days.
You can discover more about wrens
here.
Wren
