09.30-12.00

Neumanns

240 Lapwings, 2 juv+1 adult Great Crested Grebes, 1 Linnet, 1 Buzzard, 3 Grey Herons and surprisingly just 2 Mute Swans (Often 20+ on here).

2 families of Moorhens were on the mud, one with 3 "half grown" young, the other with 2.

As previously there were large numbers of Black Headed Gulls on the flash, many of them juveniles, and most them still pestering the adults for food.

Ashton Flash has completely dried out and appeared largely devoid of birds.

Haydn Pool

1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 2 Lapwings and 3 Little Grebes. 4 Sand Martins were over the pool, but none seemed to visit the artificial nest bank.

14.30-17.00

Neumanns Flash

210 Lapwing, 12 Mute Swans and 2 full grown juvenile Great Crested Grebes, although I only found 1 adult.

Large numbers of Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed Gulls, but nothing rarer amongst them.

Haydn Pool

2 highly vocal Ravens and 12+ House Martins, but no sign of any Sand Martins. No waders either, although much of the muddy edge is now covered with Purple Loosestrife.

No birds of note on either Dairyhouse Meadows or Ashtons Flash.

Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown butterflies widespread throughout, plus 2 Red Admirals and 2 Commas.

3 Avocet
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
1 Peregrine
1 Shoveler
16 Curlew
50 Lapwing

1 Green Sandpiper at Haydn pool yesterday at 12.30
Many Reed Warbler around main flash
2 Reed Bunting
60+ Lapwing
5 Whitethroat
Raven through

11.00-13.00

Neumanns Flash

160 Lapwings. A single male Linnet was on wires on the Marsden side, where a family of Whitethroats were also seen.

1 female Ruddy Darter dragonfly.

The shallow pool on the NE side of Ashtons Flash as dried up and looked lifeless.

The Haydn Pool just held a few Black Headed Gulls and Mallards.

Dairyhouse Meadows

1 Kestrel, 1 Raven (Highly Vocal), 1 singing Sedge Warbler and another family of Whitethroats.

Butterflies were abundant in the sunshine, amongst them 1 Comma, 4 Gatekeepers and 2 Meadow Browns.

09.30-12.00

Neumanns Flash

2 Lapwings, 2prs of Great Crested Grebes (1pr have 2 small young), 5 Oystercatchers, 1m+1f Bullfinch, 2 Cormorants and 1 Buzzard.

A large mixed flock of passerines were in the birches alongside the hide on the South bank.

They were mainly young Blue Tits, plus numerous Long Tailed Tits and Chiffchaffs, with 2 Whitethroats, a single Willow Warbler and juvenile Robin.

They hung around for quite a while, so close I could almost touch them, and were frequently joined by Reed Warblers from the adjoining reedbed.

Ashtons Flash

1 Mistle Thrush

Haydn Pool

2 Common Terns, also 2 newly fledged Black Headed Gulls. The water level appears to be too high for waders.

A single Sedge Warbler was singing on Dairyhouse Meadow. The only butterflies seen were singles of Small White and Speckled Wood.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 28th of June 2015 02:56:20 PM

post for yesterday 7th june. a visit here, ashtons & hadyns with 66 species seen all around, total inc marbury c.p highlights being...

1 ruddy shelduck
2 dunlin
1 green woodpecker
2 garden warbler
2 oystercatcher
1 redshank
1 teal
1 little grebe
2 shelduck
1 kestrel
1 raven
tufted duck, gadwall, grey heron, great crested grebe, lapwing
reed & sedge warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, whitethroat
reed bunting, bullfinch, buzzard,
swift, swallow, sand martin, house martin.
plus all the usuals around.

09.00-12.00

The most notable feature was the large numbers of House Martins and Swifts, with just a few Swallows over the mere. Many of these maybe local birds, but I certainly got
the impression that Swifts, and a few House Martins were still passing through.

40 Mute Swans and 10 Shelduck were on the mere, with 5 Lapwings on the scrape, otherwise the birdlife was quiet.

The area adjacent to Neumanns, which is planted especially for winter finches, appears to have been cleared and tilled since my last visit, surely clearing scrub at this
time of year is likely to destroy the nests of Wrens, warblers and whitethroats?.

Haydn Pool

There were lots of hirundines here too, mostly House Martins, but unlike on Neumanns there were Sand Martins amongst this lot, although I did'nt see any visit the
artificial sandbank.

1 Buzzard flew over. Young birds were around, with a juvenile Reed Bunting on Neumanns, which really struggled to grip the reed stems.

A newly fledged Nuthatch was on an oak by the Haydn Pool, a real character, it looked very scruffy, even oiled, but it moved around the tree with the agility of an acrobat.

A Garden Warbler was singing non-stop near the bund on the right as you enter from the gate near the layby on New Warrington Road. Yesterday I had 2+Dingy Skippers in the cleared areas by the bund path between Neuman's & Ashton's (and Green Tiger Beetles). Both days produced sightings of Swifts & Swallows.

A Hobby present am over the layby by Ashton's Flash on New Warrington Road.

Unfortunately no sign of yesterday's Garganey this morning. Generally pretty quiet, although 3 Garden Warblers new in at Neumann's between the viewing mound and the Scrapyard Hide on the east side.

A drake Garganey showing well this afternoon on Haydn's Pool / Marbury No 1

A Ringed Plover on Stilt Island at Neumann's early this morning and later a Peregrines arrived overhead before continuing on to the north-west.

Over at Haydn's Pool a Hobby showed very well over the hide just before 07.50 before departing to the south west.

Yesterday 08.45-09.30 & again around noon.

The wind & heavy showers kept bird activity to a minimum.

Initially, the only birds of note were 6 immature Herring Gulls and a pair of Oystercatchers on Neumanns.

At noon, during a brief sunny spell 3 Common Whitethroats were singing on territory along the Eastern bank of Neumanns.

6 House Sparrows were around the mound, a single Peacock butterfly appeared, and a single Buzzard hovered over Ashtons.

Some good birds on the flashes this morning but as is often the case here they didn't linger. They included a male Whinchat on Ashton's, a Hobby over the old paddocks at the north-west corner of Neumann's, 6 Black-tailed Godwits briefly on Haydn's Pool and Neumann's, a pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls on Haydn's Pool (probably the pair seen recently at Woolston), and a Lesser Whitethroat on Dairy House Meadows.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 4th of May 2015 12:00:49 PM

Whilst watching the Red-throated Pipit in Derbyshire & Greater Manchester ( ) had a text from Malc Curtin to say that there was a summer Plumaged Black Tern on the fishing flash by the road heading away from the flashes layby towrads the A559 junction. On the way back from the pipit I dropped in and sure enough it was there hawking over the flash showing superbly well, as it is only a tiny body of water. Funnily enough the news of the pipit had come through just as I had arrived at Neumann's Flash this morning in order to search for Black Terns, but that was abandoned in favour of the mega!!

A Whimbrel was on Ashton's Flash for most of the morning and 2 Little Ringed Plovers ranged between here and Neumann's.

Green Sandpiper on smaller island Neumann's Flash early am (per D.Hughston).

AM

Ashtons Flash

4 Lapwings + the usual Black Headed Gulls.

Neumanns Flash

1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Gadwall, 2 Lapwings and 2 Shelducks.

There may well have been a fall of leaf warblers overnight, as both Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were in profusion around the mound.

Plenty of Blackcaps around too, and I'm sure I heard a Garden Warbler singing in the SW corner.

Haydn Pool

A pair of Sand Martins appear to have moved into the artificial banking. Just 1 Oystercatcher around after their failed breeding attempt.

1 Buzzard in its usual spot. 1 Cormorant perched on top of the former ICI tower.

Reed Warblers vocal in the reedbeds on Neumanns and Haydn, but not showing themselves.

Dairyhouse Meadow

1 Whitethroat.

Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Orange Tip butterflies in good numbers.

A Whimbrel was on Ashton's Flash early morning today and at least two Sedge Warblers were heard by the viewing mound opposite Witton Mill car park there (per Twitter).

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 20th of April 2015 11:49:45 AM

09.00-11.00

I returned from Marbury at 1.30pm and was told I'd missed the Stilts.

Ashtons Flash (9.30am)

Just 8 Lapwings and a few Black Headed Gulls, I noted a couple of Starlings carrying nesting material though.

Neumanns

1 Sparrowhawk, 1pr of Gadwall, 6 Mute Swans, 4 Teal and an immature Great Black Gull that really upset the resident Oystercatchers.

I also only found 1 Great Crested Grebe. 1 Alder Leaf Beetle.

Haydn Pool

A pair of Shoveler, 2 Buzzards plus the gathering Black Headed Gulls.

Apparently the Oystercatcher pair has had their nest predated by a terrestrial predator.

A fabulous late morning visit to patch after a text from Malc regarding a Grasshopper Warbler. Having damaged hearing (from meningitis) I find hearing Grasshopper Warblers difficult so a showy one found by Dave Bedford sounded perfect. I dropped everything at home (in middle of baking!) and got down to Neumann's Flash pretty swiftly. I was soon watching the Grasshopper Warbler atop a hawthorn reeling its head off, in the company of Dave Hughston. Fantastic bird, but better was to come!

We were joined by Malc & Rose who had seen the 'Gropper' & Pod who hadn't (yet!) but within a few minutes I had randomly glanced at my pager to suprisedly see the latest, 30 second old, message saying 2 Black-winged Stilts at Ashtons Flash!! We all yomped down the path and were soon watching the two at the back of the flood on Ashton's but as we all rang & texted the news out the birds disappeared. We searched a while longer and then the birds flew back in. They indulged in a bit of courtship, bringing back memories of the breeding attempt a few years ago! But then a flock of Corvids took a dislike to them and dive-bombed & mobbed so furiously that the stilts took off and were chased high into the sky and they departed off into the distance in an easterly direction. They had stayed around only about half an hour so a few late-comers would be disappointed, the only consolation being it wasn't a Patch Lifer for most of them.

What an unexpected bonus for us lucky few, these were probably the two birds I saw yesterday in Staffs, I wonder where they will turn up next, and this time I probably won't be there........... but who knows

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 19th of April 2015 03:27:59 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 19th of April 2015 06:34:06 PM

The first report of a Common Whitethroat yesterday, with on singing and showing in brambles across from the mound at Neumann's Flash. A Reed Warbler was showing from the main screen at Haydn Pool (both per G.Baker).

Yesterday a Ruff and a Redshank were on Ashton's Flash in the morning (per G.Baker).

The first Willow Warbler on patch was at the 'mound' by Neumann's Flash late afternoon (per G.Baker).

Late Am/Early PM.

Beautiful day and butterflies were out in profusion, mainly Peacock and Small Tortoishell, but there were also 8 Brimstones in the area.

The waterfowl on Neumanns was pretty much the same as on last Sunday's report, but the single Wigeon has gone.

A single Goldcrest around the edge of Neumanns, and numerous Chiffchaffs singing, but no Willow Warblers yet.

6 Buzzards were floating on the thermals.

Just 4 Lapwings on Ashton's, and the snipe have gone.

The Black Headed Gulls are back in force on the Haydn Pool, a pair of Buzzards were also there.

AM

1 Sand Martin on wires by the fishing pools on Ollershaw Lane, and just over the canal by the old salt works, 1 Swallow was the wires too..

By the mound on Neumanns were 2f+1m Bullfinches, a Goldfinch was on territory here also.

At least 4 Chiffchaffs singing along the South & West of Neumanns, but no Willow Warblers yet. 2m Reed Buntings were singing.

On the mere the resident Great Crested Grebes were displaying, also here 2 Mute Swans, 6 Shoveler, 1m Wigeon, 16 Teal and 1 Snipe.

Ashtons Flash

6 Snipe, 6 Lapwings and a pair of Lesser Black Backed Gulls.

Haydn Pool

2m Shovelers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Buzzards, 4 Lapwings, 6 Teal and lots of noisy Black Headed Gulls. 1 Stock Dove sat on a nest box.

Also seen throughout, 1 Brimstone, 4 Peacock and 4 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.

Female Common Scoter on Neumann's Flash early this morning (info per Greg Baker).

Early PM

Ashtons Flash

74 Lapwings and a male Kestrel. Curlew heard but not seen.

Neumanns Flash

The pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying, also there 12 Teal and a pair Gadwall.

Haydn Pool

12 Shovelers, 10 Teal and 1 Buzzard. The pair of Oystercatchers appear to have moved on.

Neumanns Flash

2 Shovelers, 6 Teal and a pair of displaying Great Crested Grebes.

As at Marbury there were lots of gulls, but again nothing unusual amongst them.

5 Bullfinches in the birches, and 2 Buzzards soaring above.

Ashtons Flash

50+ Lapwings

Haydn Pool

11 Shovelers, 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatchers, 6 Teal and lots of Black Headed Gulls.

4 bumblebees heralded spring.

That's what I call dedicated birding John, hard work for small rewards. Then again it only takes that one day when a rarity pops up and it would be the dedicated folk that find it, keep it up

Early PM

Neumanns Flash was frozen over, with a dozen Black Headed and a single Common Gull sat on the ice.

Ashton Flash was again frozen, but some small pools were thawing out and 8 Snipe were feeding around them.

The Haydn Pool appeared lifeless apart from a single Stock Dove and a couple of soaring Buzzards.

A single Goldcrest was flitting through the ivy in the nearby copse.

Dairyhouse Meadows was quiet except for 2 low flying Buzzards and a heron.

The big mixed finch flock that was around the specially seeded area is now long gone.

The large fishing pool on the North side of Ollershaw Lane caught my eye.

300+ Lapwings rested on the ice, as did 24 Shovelers, whilst a small unfrozen patch held a single Great Crested Grebe plus Coots etc.

Ashtons Flash

760 Lapwings

Neumanns Flash

The water level was high, and the flash contained few birds, apart from the usual gulls and Coots etc, there were just 21 Teal, 5 Wigeon plus 4 Gadwall.
Also the hawthorne thickets now seem devoid of berries so there were just a few thrushes about.
An large female Sparrowhawk flew low across the horse paddock.

Haydn Pool

An impressive 28 Shovelers plus a couple of Teal.

A pair of Peregrines were on the former ICI tower.

Visited Neumann's and Ashton's Flash on New Years day. After going to Marbury in the morning by the time we made it to the flashes it was raining and the wind had caught up considerably so there was not much about. On the water there were several tufted duck, teal, mallard and 3 shovelers (1 male). Several flocks of Lapwing were flying over, Herring and Black-Headed Gulls plus Starlings were beginning to gather, flying towards Marbury Park but we didn't manage to track down the main murmuration, by that time the weather and visibility were not good however.

Neumanns Flash

The flash was still largely frozen over at 10.00am but by 1.00pm most of the ice had gone.

On the ice were 350+ Lapwing plus lots of Black Headed and Common Gulls, as well as a few Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gulls too,

amongst them 2 "Argentatus" Herring Gulls.

When the ice cleared, 96 Teal flew in and settled. 1 Kestrel.

Haydn Pool

Mainly frozen over and looking lifeless.

Dairyhouse Meadow

2 Buzzards.

Hopefully, it will settle on Ashtons Flash for a while Steve, Neumanns with it's extensive reedbeds does'nt seem suitable.
Very much worth scanning Ashtons around dusk.

Nice one John! Hope it stays around! Not heard about many Short-eared Owls around.
cheers
Steve

11.00-16.00 (See Marbury thread)

Neumanns Flash

Just as I was leaving around 4pm, a Short Eared Owl flew in from Wincham, over the mound then along the South bank of Neumanns.

Also on the flash were 140+ Teal, 15 Shovelers, 4 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 10 Gadwall and in the copse were 2 Treecreepers.

The only Lapwing were a flock of 31 that flew over heading South,

Apart from a highly vocal Raven there was only the usual Black Headed and Common Gulls on Ashtons.

Haydn Pool

4 Teal, 10 Snipe, 2 Buzzards, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrests and 2 Bullfinches.

A male Blackbird was going berserk about something hidden in a small ivy covered bush, but I could'nt see what the threat was.

Dairy House Meadow

3 Lesser Redpolls and a male Bullfinch together feeding on birch seeds. 1 Kestrel.

12.12.14
11.00-15.30

Ashtons Flash

30 Lapwings

Neumanns Flash

19 Lapwings, 2 Shelducks, 2 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 1 Buzzard, 7 Bullfinches and 4 Common Gulls.

The sheer numbers of Teal on the flash was amazing, I tried a count but they were tucked into every nook and cranny, nervous and often mobile.

Lapwing numbers were low, but then the water level was very high.

Although as I was leaving a large flock of Lapwing was just flying in to roost, as were large numbers of Mallard.

Haydn Pool

6 Shoveler.

Dairyhouse Meadows

Large numbers of Chaffinches and Greenfinches, with them were lesser numbers of Reed Buntings plus 2 Linnets, all attracted to the specially seeded area.

9-10.30am & back again at dusk after marbury c.p.

like john there was a large number of lapwings, rough estimate easily 800+ , 49 golden plover, all moving between neumanns & ashtons.
7 snipe on nuenmanns, 5 snipe on ashtons.
4 gadwall
1 shelduck
15+ wigeon
several teal
148+ curlew in roost on ashtons at dusk
1 buzzard
several tit flocks held blue, great, long tailed & coal tits + goldcrests
plenty of bullfinch & reed bunting around as were redwing & fieldfare.
plus usuals.

10.00-13.00

Large numbers of Lapwings were on Ashtons Flash

When they flushed, and were joined by many more that had flushed off Neumanns, I managed a count of 600+, but then several more
groups flew in from the North, making a count impossible. They rarely settled. but I just could'nt see what troubled them.

The waterlevel on Neumanns seems high after recent rain, the main scrape being flooded, although there was still plenty of Lapwings gathered
along the shore below the mound.

The only other waders on Neumanns were 5 Snipe, although duck numbers were impressive.
Apart from large numbers of Mallard and Teal, there were 19 Wigeon and 22 Shovelers.

Lots of Redwings were around the mound, with an equal number of Blackbirds plus a single Song Thrush.

Impressive numbers of Mallard were also on the Haydn Pool, where 14 males tried to woo a single female. She looked really stressed, then
a second female joined the group, but the boys ignored her and she swam off looking perplexed. Soap opera duck style!!.
Lots of Teal on Haydn too.

A mixed tit flock in the big oaks along Marbury Lane held 2 Coal Tits, 3 Nuthatches and 2 Goldcrests.
Also here was a highly vocal Green Woodpecker.

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

Drake Green-winged Teal reported late morning on Neumann's Flash (no further info & observer unknown).

---

Never seen again so will only end up as 'reported'

Drake Green-winged Teal reported late morning on Neumann's Flash (no further info & observer unknown).

Later this morning 6 Whooper Swans flew in & landed on Neumann's Flash, a busy day indeed (per D.Robinson)

Last night a first winter Little Stint was found on Neumann's Flash North Island and it is still present this morning. There is also a single Ruff on the Flash (per G.Baker & P.Antrobus).

Two Goosanders flew over Neumann's Flash this morning but didn't land, there are now 30 Golden Plovers in with the Lapwings on the flash (per P.Antrobus).

News this morning of a drake Mandarin that has relocated to Neumann's Flash from Budworth Mere where it was found early am (per G.Baker).

A.M

Neumanns Flash

1 Ruff, 2 Snipe, 25 Golden Plover, 450+Lapwings, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Shelduck, 5 Wigeon, 2 Kestrels & 1 Sparrowhawk.

2 flocks of Redwings !0+11 flying over. 1 Red Admiral butterfly & 1 Migrant Hawker dragonfly.

2 Stoats crossed the path leading to Marbury Lane, as they disappeared into a bramble patch, out popped several Great + Blue Tits, a Dunnock & a Wren,

all looking really anxious.

Haydn Pool

2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Lapwings, 3 Buzzards & a Pied wagtail.

On Ivy flowers close by were 5 Red Admiral butterflies.

10.00-12.30

Neumanns Flash

3 Ruff, 9 Snipe, 27 Golden Plover, 950+ Lapwings, 1 Shelduck, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Herons,22 Greylag Geese and 1 Kestrel.

Lots of Mallard and Teal, with lesser numbers of Shoveler and Tuted Duck, but no Wigeon.

Overflying the bed at low level, and heading SE, were a flock of 10 Black Tailed Godwits, plus 2 groups of Snipe 10+11.

Haydn Pool

1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Lapwings, 1 Buzzard and 4 Pied Wagtails.

Sorry must be the auto correct on my phone!!!

Buzzard

Nice to meet you yesterday Rob