Lunchtime

The Bittern did'nt show whilst I was there, whilst numerous Moorhens held territorial squabbles on the flattened area of reeds and showed no sign of
reacting to the presence of any other animal, apart from staying clear of the single Grey Heron resting there.

On the mere were: 8 drake Pochards, 9 Shoveler, 10 Wigeon, 15 Great Crested Grebes and 20 Cormorants.

Whilst on the large mereside Alders were 1 Treecreeper, 2 Goldcrests and a charm of 16 Goldfinches.

Early PM

I watched the Coward Reedbed for an hour but no sign of the Bittern, just a solitary heron amongst the flattened reeds.

80+ Mallards on the mere in front of the screen was quite a sight, most of them were drakes squabbling over the few females.

Otherwise, apart from a pair of Great Black Backed Gulls, there was just the usual waterfowl on the mere.

The big lakeside Alders though held a flock of 15 Goldfinches, and with them 9 Siskins.



.

12.12.2014

13.00-14.30

I watched the Coward reedbed for about 45 mins but there was no sign of the Bittern.

At the Western end of the mere were 9 Great Crested Grebes,3 drake Pochards and 36 Cormorants.

Also there was an adult Great Black Gull that tried several times to intimidate the grebes into giving up their catch, 4 of them bunched together and

kept diving to avoid the brute. The gull also tried to bully a group of 4 Cormorants, but 2 of them lunged at their attacker and it backed off.

On the North bank around Kid Brook were 500+ Lapwings and 5 Curlews. Amongst the garden birds at the feeders were 2 Bullfinches.

The Bittern showed for nearly an hour as it stood preening out in the open on the Starling-flattened reeds. At approx 16.10 the Starlings had begun to gather. I always have trouble estimating big numbers but let's say c15,000. As they poured into the reed bed the Bittern had a go at one but I didn't see any caught.

Also: Kingfisher, 2 Sparrowhawks, Buzzard, 2 Shovelers, c10 Great Crested Grebes.

Cheers John

walk from nuemanns produced...

again plenty of tit flocks around inc goldcrest, during the whole day I probably had at least 14 goldcrest.
lots of chaffinch around with greenfinch & linnet.
1 treecreeper
7 nuthatch
2 great spotted woodpecker
4 jay
plus all the usuals around.

on the mere..

1 bittern, showing very well when it decided to walk across the flattened reeds opposite the hide just before 2pm
1 kingfisher
27 tufted duck
3 wigeon
5 shelduck
several siskin with goldfinch flock near the hide
water rail heard only.

Late news for Saturday, 2 Egyptian Geese on Budworth Mere off Kidbrook Spit at 11.30am.

A good find early am was a drake Mandarin at the W.end of Budworth Mere. This then was lost but relocated on Neumann's Flash (per G.Baker).

Splendid views of the adult and juvenile Black Terns over Budworth Mere at around 12:30 today. Also along the mere path, a family of Nuthatch - 1 adult and two juvenile

a walk here from nuemanns...

1 green woodpecker, whilst watching the woodpecker in big wood a spotted flycatcher came into view
1 garden warbler again showing very well
3 buzzards
1 swallow over budworth mere & that was it
plenty of blackcaps, chiffchaffs, willow warblers & whitethroats, 2 reed warblers on the banks of the mere.
treecreepers, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers plus all the usuals around.

Pair of Spotted Flycatcher near the pond in Big Wood. Also, Treecreeper and Nuthatch

I was down at 5.30am & left at 7.30am with no definite sighting of the drake Ring-necked Duck, I say definite because as we scope down the flash in the early morning mist one drake Aythya at the far end seemed to have a glowing white band on its beak, clearly visible through the mist & different to the other Aythyas present. Having walked down the far end we couldn't find this bird and watched three pairs of Tufted Ducks. Soon after from a different vantage point seven (!) ducks got up & flew off the flash, presumably the six we had been watching PLUS one!! Can't count it as can't say it was the Ring-necked Duck for certain. Luckily I saw the last one on Budworth Mere when Marbury CP was closed due to Foot & Mouth. But a piccy of this one would have been nice!

Just two Common Terns on the Scrapyard Island to report otherwise.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 16th of May 2014 10:03:51 AM

Drake Ring-necked Duck found on Neumann's Flash this evening by Pete Antrobus. Too late for those of us having had a few drinks this evening and not wanting to drive with any amount of alcohol in the system! Hopefully it will linger overnight. I will try to check it out before work tomorrow & post an update on here

Went yesterday in hope of seeing Spotted Flycatcher. Didn't see one, but, did see a gorgeous Grey Wagtail, hopping around one of the small pools off the main wood path just beyond the feeding station. Also my first Swifts of the year over the mere in great numbers.

This morning in the park a Spotted Flycatcher back in Big Wood (per Greg Baker).

Later no sign of any scoter on Budworth Mere but a Yellow Wagtail and a female Wheatear in the area around Kid Brook Spit (per Greg Baker). Swifts are in every evening now & I even had 3 over nearby Northwich Station this evening.

Report on RBA pager of 3 Common Scoters on Budworth Mere, comprising 1 drake & 2 females, at 10.30am. The validity of the report is unknown so it has not been sent on the email feed, just for info to all those on here on that feed.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 8th of May 2014 04:57:00 PM

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

No sign of yesterdays Long-tailed Duck today, didn't seem bothered at all by the boats, I photographed it at the Yacht Club end of Budworth Mere even when boating was taking place. It was dabbling q.a bit in relatively shallow water & several of us observing it over the length of it's stay never ever saw it dive, unusual for a Long-tailed Duck! A nice record, found initially by patcher Dave Hughston, well done Dave, lots of Patch Lists now have this species on

---

The Long tailed Duck at penny the other week didn't dive either in the 4 hours I was watching it anyway
:)

---

There was a question on Facebook asking whether the Marbury bird may have been the Penny bird relocating, thanks for the info, John, from that at least behaviourally it acted the same. I too have watched the Marshside bird on a couple of occasions & it never stopped diving then, the same as 3 birds I watched on Pugneys CP lake last year.

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

No sign of yesterdays Long-tailed Duck today, didn't seem bothered at all by the boats, I photographed it at the Yacht Club end of Budworth Mere even when boating was taking place. It was dabbling q.a bit in relatively shallow water & several of us observing it over the length of it's stay never ever saw it dive, unusual for a Long-tailed Duck! A nice record, found initially by patcher Dave Hughston, well done Dave, lots of Patch Lists now have this species on

---

The Long tailed Duck at penny the other week didn't dive either in the 4 hours I was watching it anyway
:)

---

The bird at Marshside seems to spend most of it's time underwater

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

No sign of yesterdays Long-tailed Duck today, didn't seem bothered at all by the boats, I photographed it at the Yacht Club end of Budworth Mere even when boating was taking place. It was dabbling q.a bit in relatively shallow water & several of us observing it over the length of it's stay never ever saw it dive, unusual for a Long-tailed Duck! A nice record, found initially by patcher Dave Hughston, well done Dave, lots of Patch Lists now have this species on

---

The Long tailed Duck at penny the other week didn't dive either in the 4 hours I was watching it anyway
:)

No sign of yesterdays Long-tailed Duck today, didn't seem bothered at all by the boats, I photographed it at the Yacht Club end of Budworth Mere even when boating was taking place. It was dabbling q.a bit in relatively shallow water & several of us observing it over the length of it's stay never ever saw it dive, unusual for a Long-tailed Duck! A nice record, found initially by patcher Dave Hughston, well done Dave, lots of Patch Lists now have this species on

On Budworth Mere this morning - a Long-tailed Duck, a species not seen on patch since 1981 if my records are correct, initially favouring the area in front of the heronry. Later on it flew a short distance & reloacted to the Coward Reedbed side of Kid Brook Spit, caused by the yacht club motor launch coming out and then several yachts too. With q.a lot of boating expected today I expect if it sticks the Long-tailed Duck will favour the Coward Reedbed end as this is a no-boating zone

(AM)

10 Great Crested Grebes (with 1 pair in full display), 1 Pink Footed Goose with the Greylags by Kid Brook.

A flock of 10 Oystercatchers was a surprise find here too.

Below the mereside bird table, a nervous Wood Mouse kept appearing.

Masses of hirundines over the mere, about 25% of them House Martins, the others mainly Swallows, with just a few Sand Martins.

Just 3 nests seem to be occupied in the heronry, although another 5 herons were resting on the North bank.

10 Cormorants.

Down on patch again today, two Yellow Wagtails in the crop field by fisherman's path, Marbury CP, first reported around 3pm and I saw them at 5pm-ish. Also at 3pm a Whimbrel flying over Budworth Mere (per Greg Baker). Kingfisher sightings are frequent, fantastic seeing them flash past in the sunshine. Plenty of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs singing in the fisherman's path area too.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 18th of April 2014 11:14:54 PM

Belatedly catching up on reading the MBF reports, it's great to read the summer migrants are now coming in or over-flying our patch. Son Adrian and I regularly [well, not quite regularly] monitor Ashton's, Neumann's, Haydn's Pool and the Mere. April 13 brought us willow warbler and chiffchaff and I suspect other warblers we missed due to the explosion of foliage and our very inadequate bird song recognition. Plenty of winter hangers-on including lesser black-backed gulls, redshank and gadwall. Highlight of the morning was disturbing an Osprey from its perch on the bund between Ashton's and Neumann's flashes. It flew off towards Budworth Mere, loudly and shrilly protesting as it went.

Green Woodpeckers again vocal in big wood as were also the Nuthatches..
Not too clever on my Warblers, but think I was onto a Reed Warbler just as before our Joshua nearly git wiped out by a mountaineer biker.....

Cheers.

Down on patch again this morning and just a couple of new sightings to report other than the 'usuals'. A Little Ringed Plover was on Kid Brook Spit and a Common Sandpiper along the shore to the far left of the spit. This area is best viewed with a scope looking across Budworth Mere from the mereside path. Green Woodpeckers were really vocal in Big Wood too, a false alarm of me thinking that I'd lost my wallet cut my morning short before I had a chance to go look for them!!

Late report from Monday /Tuesday
on Monday there where 100s of Sand Martins over the water non on Tuesday
plenty of Chiffchaff,Blackcap,Reed Bunting,Shelduck ,Lapwing
10 Buzzard
and when sat outside pub in Budworth, Swallows

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 16th of April 2014 03:17:02 PM

First Reed Warbler of the year in the Coward Reedbed today and two Yellow Wagtails on Kid Brook spit viewed across the mere (all info from Greg Baker ).

Osprey over Marbury CP early this morning then headed towards Neumann's Flash, info thanks to Dave Hughston

11.00-12.30

Budworth Mere

12 Great Crested Grebes (2 displaying), 20 Tufted Ducks, 11 Cormorants, 6 Grey Herons (only 1 in the heronry), 2 Great Black Backed Gulls & a pair of Oystercatchers.

A large flock of Sand Martins were swooping over the mere, and above them 4 Buzzards.

A male Blackcap was singing near the car park, as were a couple of Song Thrushes in Big Wood.

An amazing 31 Great Crested Grebes in front of the screen PM after my visit to Focal Point with 2 doing the weed dance. Also c.80 Sand Martin and Kingfisher across the mere

Walked with Em from Marbury Country Park, around Neumann's to the Boat Lift and back round to the park. Warm and sunny with lots of birds in song. Highlights were 19 Chiffchaffs, 2 Stock Doves and 5 Nuthatches all in song and 3 yaffling Green Woodpeckers. In addition, 3 Sand Martins were hawking over the Flash.

Cheers David

Midday

Budworth Mere

40 Shoveler in a single group. (There were none on Neumanns), 16 Great Crested Grebes (2 pairs displaying), 18 Pochard, 22 Cormorants, 1m+1f Goldeneyes and just 12 Tufted Duck.

Kid Brook area

1 Little Egret, 2 Curlew plus the usual Canada/Greylag Geese, Coot etc.

No sign of Bittern in the Coward Reedbed, but a Kingfisher was reported just below the screen just before I arrived.

A flock of 26 Mistle Thrushes were foraging on the pasture at the Southern end of the park, and a few Redwings flew in to join them.

There is a large patch of dead vegetation, mainly sorrel and knapweed, that was attracting lots of Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Great Tits.

-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 13th of December 2013 11:24:24 PM

-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 13th of December 2013 11:31:38 PM

Early P.M.

5 Mistle Thrushes on the pasture.

Budworth Mere

8 Pink Footed Geese with Canada and Greylags by Kid Brook.

22 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Pochard, 9 Cormorants, 4 Grey Herons (already perched in the heronry), 26 Curlew on the pasture by Kid Brook plus Tufted Duck, Mallard etc.

2 Sparrowhawks, including a juvenile that almost caught a Blue Tit by the mereside bird table. The hawk then sat on the bird table roof for a while.

Amongst the masses of Black Headed Gulls, one bird was already back in full breeding plumage.

after seeing the sandpiper a mooch around here produced...

1 adult, 1 juvenile common tern on budworth mere
27 curlews in field
plenty of great crested grebes & few tufted ducks on the mere
mostly swallows, several sand martins over the mere.
2 jays
6 nuthatches
3 treecreepers
2 goldcrests
2 blackcaps
several chiffchaffs around, 1 singing
plus usuals around

A Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper on Kid Brook Spit across Budworth Mere this morning at least. On Tuesday customers at Focalpoint told me of a mixed feeding flock by the Mereside Path which held adult and juv Spotted Flycatchers - at least 4 individuals of this species being noted. The same observers had 3 Kingfishers showing at the Bittern Screen.

There's been a summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe all day on Budworth Mere, Marbury CP. It has mainly favoured the west end of the mere viewed from the Bittern Screen and has been pretty close to the shore at times if folk want photographs & assuming it sticks around overnight!

Spotted two Spotted Flycatcher in Big Wood today, stunning little birds and got a snap of the female on her nest (not a shed 1 bird) and in a place not easily visible, check out my blog guys

Cheers

http://austinmorley.blogspot.co.uk/

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

I sent the Arctic Tern news out as an email alert, Patrick, did you not get it? I need to re-check your email address is correct if you didn't? Spotted Flycatchers are back in Big Wood at the site they were seen at last year, complicated directions but anyone who needs them PM me & I will send the directions to you

---

Hi Paul,

I've PMed you.

Thanks

Patrick

I sent the Arctic Tern news out as an email alert, Patrick, did you not get it? I need to re-check your email address is correct if you didn't? Spotted Flycatchers are back in Big Wood at the site they were seen at last year, complicated directions but anyone who needs them PM me & I will send the directions to you

At around 18:00, heard, but didn't see, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming on one of the trees behind the hide that has the feeding station. Apparently, he's been doing this for the past few days according to local birder, Malcolm Curtin (sp?). Nice to meet you Malcolm. He also told me that an Arctic Tern had been reported earlier, though, no sign when I looked.

Walking back to the car near Neumanns Flash, we saw a Hobby that appeared to be carrying prey. Probably a Swift or hirundine given the numbers around. Whitethroat seemingly everywhere, but, not much else of note.

During a family walk around the park this busy bank holiday afternoon called by Haydn's Pool where it was nice to see that the Sand Martins are occupying the man-made bank again.

Lesser Whitethroat on Dairy House Meadows this morning. The field along Fisherman's Path beside the mere is being ploughed so subsequently fewer wagtails present but still at least 3 Yellows and 10 White plus 3 Wheatears.

No sign of the Garganey on Haydn's Pool early am.

1 Ringed Plover + 4 Dunlin on Kid Brook Spit this morning, viewed from the Mereside path in Marbury CP.

c15 Yellow Wagtails Budworth Mere along the fishermans path, also 8 Wheatear, but no sign of Blue-headed Wagtail (4pm-6pm)

1 Dunlin, c30 Swift & 500+ hirundines on Budworth Mere

Blue-headed Wagtail reported again at 3:30pm (birdguides)

Female Common Scoter, Budworth Mere, near the sailing club viewable from the fishermans path, also 7 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Wheatears & c50 White Wagtails on the big ploughed field, no sign of Blue-headed Wagtail but wagtails commuting to at least 2 other sites so could still be about

Yesterday 2 wagtails were seen in the field by Fishermans Path by Budworth Mere that showed features of Blue-headed Wagtails, but many observers were unhappy with some features that led them to suspect 'Channel Wagtail' as the ID (see Ian McKerchars excellent paper on this on these forums, plug over ). I had been away but managed to see one of the birds distantly in poor light this evening and saw a bird that looked like many of the past Blue-headed Wagtails that have been claimed & photos posted on the web, even on the Seaforth site, but I would like better views before putting my money on Blue-headed rather than Channel Wagtail and photos, albeit lightened up considerably due to the gloom, do look very pro-Channel Wagtail. The same field held over 6 Yellow Wagtails, 20+White Wagtails, 10+Pied Wagtails and 2 male Wheatears. Today there was also a Common Tern over Budworth Mere and again late evening 2 Swifts, the first of the year


-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 25th of April 2013 09:38:11 AM

In case anyone was thinking of visiting tomorrow, news that the Wood Warbler was still present in the same area today, showing well at times & singing. Another Arctic Tern was on the mere today too.

19th april
Wood warbler showing well early afternoon in same area
Arctic tern also showing well
5 common sandpipers
1 little ringed plover
1 kingfisher
2 ravens
No signs of any yellow wagtails
Good numbers of mostly sand martins, swallows & few house martins.
Plenty of chiffchaffs, willow warblers & blackcaps.
Several buzzards soaring overhead.

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 20th of April 2013 01:04:49 AM