A check the next morning didn't come up with any Avocets but a lone Little Egret was on the main spit viewable from just about anywhere around the flash. Little Egret used to be a rarity on the patch but has become pretty frequent now as expected with it's increased population in the UK as a whole and specifically in the North West
Doc Brewster said
Tue Feb 25 9:00 PM, 2014
Two Avocets seen on Neumann's this evening by Patcher Pete Antrobus. Sent out on the Patch Grapevine system as mentioned recently, so all those signed up to it will have received emails reproting this sighting, with probably just enough time for Cheshire & South Manchester birders to get there in time to see them. Worth a look tomorrow too
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Feb 17 9:25 AM, 2014
Estimated (not by me) 200,000 starlings roosting at Marbury CP/Flashes on Saturday Evening - absolutely amazing, began at 17.00. Sparrowhawk and Peregrine in attendance.
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Monday 17th of February 2014 09:27:15 AM
Doc Brewster said
Sat Jan 11 9:58 AM, 2014
Drake Green-winged Teal reported in to me by 3 separate observers this morning, favouring the N.end of Neumann's Flash. That's the opposite end from Ashton's Flash for those without a compass or map
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jan 9 11:46 AM, 2014
Green-winged Teal still present this morning
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of January 2014 11:54:00 AM
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jan 8 11:06 PM, 2014
A Patch first found today by local patcher Dave Hughston in the shape of a drake Green-winged Teal. This long awaited species on patch was found amongst Teal at the north end of the flash, viewed from Bund Hide around 9am. It was pretty mobile, flying at times & ranging from the spit to the north end, spending some time hidden in reeds. We watched it continuously up to midday and I even got some record digiscoped shots to accompany the rarity submission, I did receive communications from two observers in the afternoon who didn't see it though. The Teal flocks are mobile across the whole area visiting Haydn Pool, Budworth Mere and even Pickmere as well as heading off further afield so it's 50/50 as to whether it will be on Neumann's Flash tomorrow. If I get news I will try to post on here asap so that anyone who wants can give it a go
A single Golden Plover flew over calling, and they have been thin on the ground (and in the air!!) in 2014 so far.
John Williams said
Fri Dec 13 11:15 PM, 2013
10.00-14.00 ( See Marbury CP thread too)
300+ Lapwings in 3 seperate flocks, in flight above the flash, they seemed perplexed that the high water level offered them no landing places.
I'm pretty sure there was a single Ruff mixed in with Lapwings too.
334 Teal, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Buzzard and 4 Shelducks. 48 Greylag Geese in 2 skeins flew low over the flash heading North.
Masses of Redwings, with lesser numbers of Fieldfares feasting on the surrounding haws. A single birch tree had 24 Fieldfares resting in it.
John Williams said
Sat Nov 30 6:25 PM, 2013
11-00-15.00 (See Marbury C.P thread too)
** On the walk back to my car along the Eastern side of Neumanns I scanned the 3 big mature trees (Poplars I think they are?) as they too contained Redwings and the odd Fieldfare.
Part way up one was a Blackbird, there were a few mixed in the Redwing flocks here and there, a few Song Thrushes too. This Blackbird though seemed to have a faded white crescent on its
breast, consistant with that on a Ring Ouzel. I watched the bird for a minute or so, but then had to return home. I'm not claiming a positive sighting of a Ring Ouzel as I could'nt be 100% sure.
However, if any birders are in the area over the next few days it's probably worth scanning the thrush flocks.
Ashtons/Neumanns Flashes
Masses of Redwings, with lesser numbers of Fieldfares around both flashes feeding on haws and roosting in birches.
I can't recall seeing so many Redwings gathered around the flashes before. Dog walkers stopped me to enquire what kind of birds were massing in the bushes.
Neumanns Flash
4 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 2 Mute Swans plus the usual Coot and gulls.
Masses of Teal, but not a single Lapwing or other wader as the water level was high with no bare margins exposed.
4 Bullfinches were on the mound, and a couple of Goldcrests were with a flock of Blue+Great Tits.
Haydn Pool
Devoid of birdlife, although there is plenty water in the pool again, it almost dried out completely during the summer.
Dairyhouse Meadows
1 Buzzard, a single flock of 40+ Greenfinches, and as on Neumanns, lots of Redwings.
-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 30th of November 2013 11:00:30 PM
John Williams said
Sun Oct 20 11:22 PM, 2013
10.00-13.00
Neumanns Flash , 900+ Lapwings, 25 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew, 1 Kestrel plus the usual gulls and waterfowl.
Haydn Pool
30+ Black Headed Gulls, a gang of 3 Carrion Crows, 2 Snipe, 1 Pied Wagtail plus a pair of overflying Ravens.
After the recent heavy rain this pool looks like it might attract the ducks and waders back, its worth keeping an eye on again.
Budworth Mere
3 Curlew on pasture by Kid Brook, with masses of Canada Geese, 7 Greylags and 4 Herons.
28 adult Great Crested Grebes + 1 striped youngster that is still following it's parents on the mere.
Dairyhouse Meadow/Forge Bed
1 Buzzard and a pair of Kestrels.
John Williams said
Wed Oct 9 11:26 PM, 2013
10.30-15.00
Neumanns Flash
20 Golden Plover mixed in with 1000+ Lapwings, 5 Snipe, 16 Wigeon, 2 Buzzards and a flock of 5 Bullfinches.
Haydn Pool
1 Kestrel
Budworth Mere/Marbury CP
8 adult Great Crested Grebes + 1 youngster still with its parents.
No birds at all visiting the feeders at the reedbed screen, and no Wigeon around the mere either.
Dairyhouse Meadow
3 Wigeon on a small pool, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Buzzard that flushed a flock of 17 Greenfinches from a hawthorne hedge.
During a brief sunny interval from the showers, 3 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Comma butterfly appeared, plus a single Common Darter dragonfly.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Sep 22 5:53 PM, 2013
Juvenile Garganey on the flash early morning, then flew towards Witton Brook with Mallards (per Greg Baker).
John Williams said
Sun Sep 22 6:35 AM, 2013
16.00-18.00
Neumanns Flash
As on my last post around 700 Lapwings present, together with 108 Curlew, which appeared in a single linear flock flying from the Marbury direction.
Just as the Curlew arrived the Lapwing took to the air too, as 3 Buzzards appeared over the flash, a huge one, presumably a female flying quite low, and two smaller birds flying above her.
All the Curlew settled on the Marsden side shoreline as the Buzzards moved on.
A male Kestrel was showing well above the mound, and was mobbed by around 6 Swallows.
There was a steady southerly movement of Swallows and House Martins high above the flash, huge numbers must be moving through.
Just 2 Common Gulls amongst the mass of Black Headed, and about a dozen Lesser Black Backs, a few of which soared up to mob the Buzzards.
A few Speckled Wood butterflies are still fluttering around the shady areas, also 1 Brimstone and a single Small White.
Lots of dragonflies around, which I did'nt ID, but a few seem to be Southern Hawkers.
Haydn Pool
There's still a couple of small pools remaining, but there was'nt a single bird on them.
There were 2 female Tufted Ducks on the flash, both showing a prominent white base to their beak, one with a male in tow, the other on her own.
I just could'nt make my mind up regarding this solo duck, she was noticeably larger than the chaperoned bird, her head was clearly rounded, and I could see no sign of a tuft, even a tiny one.
She may well be a female Scaup, or hybrid, the irritating thing is she barely stays on the surface for more than a second or two before diving again.
If any birders visit this site over the next few days and get a good view of her, I'd love to know their diagnosis?.
The two young Great Crested Grebes seem to be doing well, I'm amazed that they have been raised on a flash as saline and shallow as Neumanns, surely the only fish in here are Sticklebacks
and the odd Eel ?.
The Haydn Pool as apparently dried up completely, and now only contains a herd of cattle.
DavidBowman said
Sat Sep 14 8:38 PM, 2013
Nice Greg, a really good bird. On the off-chance you're free, a few of us are going to Hibre over the tide on Thursday if you're interested in a jaunt. Perhaps not ideal in terms of the timing of the weather but you never know.
Cheers David
Greg Baker said
Fri Sep 13 9:44 PM, 2013
Some video of the recent Stilt Sand on following link:
http://vimeo.com/74450540
Greg
steven burke said
Mon Sep 2 5:08 AM, 2013
good views of the stilt sandpiper around 1pm from the bund hide, even better view from the no 1 hide after a good mooch around at 7pm
other birds around...
4 ruff 2 curlew sandpipers 3 black tailed godwits plenty of lapwings & good numbers of gulls at 7pm but could not stay long enough to look through them, I had a train to catch. had a good tit flock to the north of the flash on my way to marbury c p consisting off... long tailed/ great / blue & coal tits plus..1 spotted flycatcher, at least 4 blackcaps, 2 willow warblers, 3 chiffchaffs, 1 reed bunting, 3 chaffinches, 1 of them chasing the spotted flycatcher around. 1 nuthatch 3 bullfinches 2 jays 1 great spotted woodpecker 1 buzzard 1 sparrowhawk few swallows over.
Mark Rigby said
Mon Sep 2 2:16 AM, 2013
Stilt Sandpiper still present at 1730hrs. A nice tick for 'Little Riggers'
Tanmay Dixit said
Sun Sep 1 9:54 PM, 2013
Top bird! v distant this am. Showed diagnostic features which was nice, hope it stays for others to see! Didn't have the time to take a full tour of the flashes...maybe next time!
2 snipe flew over as I left
-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Monday 2nd of September 2013 09:37:22 AM
Mark Burgess said
Sun Sep 1 3:18 PM, 2013
Stilt Sandpiper showing well close in at north shore 8.10am
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Sep 1 4:03 AM, 2013
Great to meet so many GM birders over the border: Pete Hines, Sid Ashton, John Tymon, Phil Rhodes, Andy Makin (seriously off territory!), James Walsh (ditto) and Tony Disley. Cracking bird and another lifer as I was working when that one turned up at Conwy
James Walsh said
Sun Sep 1 3:38 AM, 2013
Stilt Sandpiper showing well at north shore of flash @ 7:45pm, also 1st calendar year Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 25 Curlew, 20 Snipe, c200 Lapwing
Also, other birders reporting 6 Ruff & 4 Green Sandpipers on Haydyns Pool
sid ashton said
Sat Aug 31 7:59 PM, 2013
Had clear views of the Stilt Sandpiper from the hide* on the path between Neumann's and Ashton's flashes up to 4.30 this afternoon. Having the sun to the rear of the hide was a big advantage in picking out its distinguishing features Well done to the local guys for identifying this morning.
PS - * the Bund Hide
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 31st of August 2013 09:46:09 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Aug 31 7:33 PM, 2013
Reported this morning via bird information services:
Adult Stilt Sandpiper at the north end of Neumann's Flash at 12:05, showing well on the wader scrape. Park in the layby on Old Warrington Road at CW9 6DA.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Aug 31 5:10 PM, 2013
Stilt Sandpiper still showing well at 4pm but distant and obscured by the weeds at the front of the furthest hide but moving about quite a bit, so everyone got some sort of view. also Ruff and Green Sandpiper present :)
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 31st of August 2013 05:11:35 PM
John Williams said
Sat Aug 31 4:10 AM, 2013
17.30-19.00
Ashtons Flash
78 Curlew
Neumanns Flash
2 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Gulls amongst the mass of Black Headed Gulls and Lapwings.
Plus a Little Grebe that really irritated the Mallard by persistently biting at their legs.
Haydn Pool
8 Ruff, 10 Snipe and 2 Green Sandpipers.
Nev Wright said
Tue Aug 27 3:57 AM, 2013
Actually Haydn's Pool
6 Ruff and a Greenshank this morning
Doc Brewster said
Fri Aug 9 3:25 AM, 2013
Folk may have seen pager reports of a Turtle Dove at Neumann's Flash yesterday. Patchers, including myself, were down at the flash within 15mins of the report but no birders were present and despite searching by various patchers throughout the day there was no sign of the reported Turtle Dove. Birding being birding it's not impossible that this was genuine but we have tried to ascertain the origin of the report without success. All signs point to it originating on Twitter & then being picked up by the info services. The tweet was such that it could have been seen from a car passing along New Warrington Road.
Just wanted to pass on the background of the sighting if anyone was wondering
Hazel Rothwell said
Sun Aug 4 10:30 PM, 2013
2nd August: 2 Green Sandpipers at Haydn's Pool, Wren by the South Hide, flock of Lapwings on Neumanns flash, plenty of Canada geese. 2 Linnet perched on wire cables backing onto New Warrington Rd area, Song thrush, pleny of Goldfinch youngsters and House Sparrows (adult female feeding two youngsters) and 2 young Common Whitethroats by the view area between Neumann's and Ashtons flashes, close to entrance by layby. Towards Dairy House Meadows a flock of Greenfinch with young. Common Whitethroats seen at Ashtons flash area and family of Goldfinch, young Chaffinch.
Greg Baker said
Tue Jul 16 10:32 PM, 2013
Thanks for the responses guys.
Re the vegetation John, it is a problem but given many birds are still nesting we wouldn't want to encourage any major cutting back until well into August. The FOAM team are volunteers of course and do an excellent job as do the rangers on an ever decreasing budget. May I suggest you voice you concerns to Cheshire West & Chester Council - they make plenty of money from the Marbury CP car park which it would be nice to see ploughed back into a bit of habitat management.
John Irons said
Tue Jul 16 12:03 PM, 2013
]
Read your post with interest as one of the two birders you mentioned! Our "ruff" was called because we failed to spot the rufous colouring at all to start with, so perhaps we can be forgiven that howler! My 'junior' partner [son, actually!] fortunately took some snaps, not perfect at that distance but good enough to make some observations.
Quite agree that the classic diagnosis of wingbars or not was not possible but cannot agree that the bird showed 'a superb brick red colour not only on its breast feathers but across its whole belly too, showing no white on its lower body at all.' All four out of Adrian's images show no red at all below the breast, on the belly or the under-tail coverts. There is strong vertical barring visible on the lower flanks, as one would expect with blackwits.
The upper wings were indeed mottled as was the mantel but I am not sure how conclusive your observation about the knees joint is. Some illustrators show the barwit as the more elegant ie long-legged bird. Can't comment about the bill because it wass tucked very deeply into its back. Size-wise it certainly was very little bigger than the surrounding lapwings.
My conclusion is that we were looking at a Blackwit
Changing the topic, may I voice again my concern at the invasive brambles, willows and even birches along the margins of both Neumann's and Haydn's flashes? I take nothing away from my admiration of the work of FOAM but unless clearance work is undertaken even of some of the rapidly spreading reeds, there will be less and less open water. Viewing from some hides is already severely curtailed.
-- Edited by kernewek on Tuesday 16th of July 2013 12:04:42 PM
John Williams said
Tue Jul 16 3:06 AM, 2013
As sure as I could be Greg, a couple of birders pointed the bird out to me, which they said was a Ruff.
My first thought was a Black Tailed Godwit, as they are relatively common wader inland, especially at Burton and Frodsham, and they can vary quite a bit in size.
The classic diagnosis regarding the wingbars, or lack of them could not be made as the bird did not fly, and spent most of the time asleep.
However, the bird showed a superb brick red colour not only on its breast feathers, but across it's whole belly too, showing no white on it's lower body at all.
The upper wings were clearly mottled, which may have led to the other guys to label it as a Ruff, until the bird showed it's beak that is.
The knee joint appeared to be only an inch or so from its thighs, making the bird look less elegant than a Black Tailed.
Only briefly did the bird lift its head up to look around, then it showed a dark thin slightly upturned beak.
In size the was'nt much bigger than the Lapwings, which were all around it.
Only perhaps at Hale would I expect to find Bar Tails locally, but this bird fits the description of an early returning adult male Bar Tail.
It will be interesting to see if other local wader sites produce any similar birds as return passage gets under way?.
Greg Baker said
Sun Jul 14 4:06 PM, 2013
Hi John - did you really mean Bar-tailed rather than Black-tailed Godwit? Would be a good bird for here - Barwits are very few and far between for the local patchers ...
A second summer Med Gull was showing well on Neumann's main spit this morning and 3 Green Sands over on Haydn's / No1.
John Williams said
Sat Jul 13 5:07 PM, 2013
Neumanns Flash
1 summer plumage Bar Tailed Godwit on the spit, and later seen by the small island with a large group of Lapwings. 1 Curlew.
2 near full grown Great Crested Grebes with their parents, one youngster was bold enough to chase an adult Coot away.
09.30-12.00
3 Oystercatchers, 1 Buzzard and 1 Linnet (scrub area on Wincham side).
I could'nt find the female Tufted Duck with the 16 tiny ducklings in tow that I found on July 8th, instead there were 3 adult females with young, one with a brood of eight.
Either Tufted Ducks form creches, or eight little youngsters have been predated. Apart from the corvids and the odd big gull, there were 8 Grey Herons around the mere on my last visit.
At one point today a female Tufted with her brood sat by the waters edge, in a tree behind them 3 Carrion Crows seemed intent on grabbing a tiny duckling.
Then all 3 crows dropped down right besides the ducklings and fed on something on the ground, the Tufted and her brood did'nt flinch and carried on preening regardless.
Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies in abundance in the scrub areas.
Haydn Pool
2 Green Sandpipers (viewable from the Tata hide only), 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Buzzards.
2 family groups of Common Whitethroats along the Southern side of Dairyhouse Meadows.
-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 13th of July 2013 05:08:31 PM
Doc Brewster said
Fri Jul 12 9:47 PM, 2013
Summary for today - an eclipse drake Wigeon on the flash and a Kingfisher. Yesterday a Greenshank on Haydn Pool and today two Green Sandpipers on there :)
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 12th of July 2013 09:48:08 PM
John Williams said
Tue Jul 9 6:23 AM, 2013
18.30-20.30
Neumans Flash
130 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatchers and a pair of Great Crested Grebes that may well have had young resting on their backs.
One female Tufted Duck swam with 16 tiny ducklings, surely they can't all be hers?.
Also a family of 4 Linnets, a pair Bullfinches (the male had a beak full of down) and 4 Chiiffchaffs (1 singing), all in scrub/hawthornes along the Eastern side of the mere.
Just as I was leaving a Buzzard arrived and began quartering the South-West corner.
Haydn Pool
2 Green Sandpipers
2 juvenile Whitethroats with 2 adults on Dairyhouse Meadow
Greg Baker said
Sun Jul 7 7:28 PM, 2013
Up to 8 Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper on the flash this morning plus 5 Wigeon passing through early morning. A couple of juvenile Redshank on the north island proved that the pair of adults that have been around for the spring and summer have succeeded in their nesting attempt after all. The two Great Crested Grebe chicks have now been split between the two adults and the brood of Tufted Ducks continues to do well. A Peregrine made a couple of passes over the flash this morning, initially stooping at a Coot and then a male Tufted Duck, both of which dived to avoid becoming breakfast. A Common Tern is nesting on the north island but is now invisible amongst the encroaching vegetation. Another pair are much easier to see on Marston Flash just to the north-east over the canal bridge. Still plenty of Whitethroats and Blackcaps around and the Garden Warbler showing well on the mound.
Over on Haydn's Pool there are now 4 Green Sandpipers present along with the pair of Oystercatchers with their single youngster, a new brood of 3 Lapwings, 2 broods of Gadwall, a few summering Teal and plenty of juv Black-headed Gulls from the small but expanding colony. The Sand Martins are doing well at the man-made bank and Reed Warblers have been showing very well in front of the hide.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jun 26 5:24 AM, 2013
A couple of quick nips down am & pm today prodeced a single Whimbrel on Neumann's Flash pm, single Little Ringed Plovers on each of Ashton's & Neumann's Flashes am and a Redshank on Neumann's pm. Nice to see so many pollinators around with hundreds of Red-tailed Bumblebees & a few Buff-tailed Bumblebees, lets hiope this bodes well. Possibly the first Common Darter in Cheshire this year too
John Williams said
Sat Jun 22 6:47 AM, 2013
18:00-20.00
Neumanns Flash
82 Lapwings, 3juv+3 adult Oystercatchers, 7 moulting drake Shovelers, 1 Common Tern, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 1 Ringed Plover, 11 Grey Herons and 2 Kestrels.
Reed Warblers and Buntings showing well from the reed tops, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats and a Chiiffchaff singing round the perimeter.
Haydn Pool
1 Snipe,10 Black Headed Gull chicks, 13 Sand Martins, a Kestrel and 1 adult+ 1 juv Oystercatcher.
John Irons said
Wed May 8 7:01 PM, 2013
Adrian and I are fairly regular birders on the Neumann's, Ashton's, Hadyn's and Marbury Mere patch so it was without any great expectation we decided on a safari on Saturday afternnon, 4th May. The weather was pleasant, bright with sunny periods and a fresh breeze. We were pleasantly surprised to bag forty species in a little over two hours. It was particularly pleasing to see and hear the many summer migrants now streaming into our area. Not being very good on song-recognition I am sure we 'missed' up to five more species! The drake Black Swan is still about, commuting with a Mute Swan among the various pools and the Dairy House Meadow ponds. Biggest surprise of all was a male Red-throated Diver at the northern end of Neumann's, in full summer plumage. Visibility was very good. The bird was displaying 'exactly what it says on the tin' or in this case illustrated bird guides. The red upper throat patch, white lower throat and breast, fine, broken stripes on the back of the neck, the dark back and the slightly upward tilt of the head were all very visible. It made my day! Kernewek
Doc Brewster said
Thu May 2 4:32 AM, 2013
Hobby early evening perched in a tree between Neumann's Flash & Dairyhouse Meadow
Doc Brewster said
Thu May 2 12:21 AM, 2013
The Garden Warbler still showing well & singing its head off all day on the Neumann's Flash viewing mound. Now easier to catch up with here than Garden Warbler Corner at Marbury CP!! The long-staying summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit (suspected to be injured) sticking out like a sore thumb on Ashton's Flash, if it is injured then I fear for this individual, it can't exactly hide itself being that colour! Little Ringed Plover still on the spit on Neumann's Flash too. Large brood of Mallrd ducklings on Ashton's too.
John Williams said
Wed May 1 12:39 PM, 2013
07.30-10.30
Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Reed Buntings, Bullfinches and Song Thrushes singing around the flash.
Reed Buntings and Bullfinches seemingly abundant. Singles of Chiffchaff and Linnet on the Marston side.
A pair of Great Crested Grebes on the flash, together with 6 Gadwall, 5 Lapwing , 1 Oystercatcher, 8 Shelduck.
A single Cuckoo flying North above Witton Brook
1 Orange Tip and 2 Small White butterflies and a few St. Marks Flies too.
Haydn Pool
No sign of Garganey. 5 Gadwall, 1 Black Swan, 1 Shoveler, 1 Buzzard, 12+ Sand Martins, 5 Blackcaps (3m/2f) and 4 Stock Doves.
2 Sparrowhawks in an aerial fight high above the pool.
3 Chiffchaffs singing in the wooded area and mature copse north of Haydns, with a few Willow Warblers singing in the Sallows.
Dairyhouse Meadows
2 Buzzards soaring high,plus a pair of Long Tailed Tits putting the finishing touches to a nest in a bush right by the side of a well used track and looks far too exposed to succeed.
-- Edited by John Williams on Wednesday 1st of May 2013 12:58:18 PM
James Walsh said
Tue Apr 30 2:18 AM, 2013
Drake Garganey (& 1 Black Swan) Haydn's Pool
Lawrence Hindley said
Sat Apr 27 4:35 AM, 2013
The Garganey was on Haydn's Pool at 16.40 this afternoon showing well from the hide.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Apr 26 5:29 AM, 2013
Back on patch this morning, at the Neumann's Flash end this time & joined up with Greg Baker for a very pleasant morning despite the rain coming on towards lunchtime. We had a Whimbrel on the spit, 9 Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover and freshly in 12 Dunlin with 2 Ringed Plovers. Really pleased to have picked up the Ringed Plover in flight to add a new bird to the patch yearlist total for 2013 The Dunlin & Ringed Plovers flew off north at 11.10am so I put the news out on the patch email feed. A real wader-fest with (if you count the scattered Lapwings) at least 35 individuals of 7 wader species present.
Sedge Warblers were still calling in front of Ashton's Flash viewing mound, lots of Reed Warblers, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats were around too and two Swifts flew over the flash.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Apr 24 9:47 PM, 2013
Drake Garganey still on Neumann's Flash today. Also a reeling Grasshopper Warbler nearby and recently 3 Sedge Warblers on Ashton's Flash.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 24th of April 2013 09:47:51 PM
Patrick Earith said
Tue Apr 23 1:29 AM, 2013
The drake Garganey was seen on Haydns Pool at around 16:30
Doc Brewster said
Mon Apr 22 4:53 PM, 2013
The male Redstart was seen again this morning from the 'mound at Ashton's Flash on the silver birches on the flash bed itself. It then flew over to Carey Park & was not relocated. 3 Sedge Warblers were on Ashton's as well as 3 Whimbrel and a Wheatear. The drake Garganey is still on Ne4umann's Flash. Lots of singing Whiethroats, Willow Warblers, Reed Warblers, Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs, and with the first Lesser Whitethroat yesterday there's plenty to look out for
Doc Brewster said
Mon Apr 22 4:58 AM, 2013
Late afternoon rain downed a male Redstart between Ashtons Flash & Witton Mill car park, but it was only seen by its finder, Phil Oddy. Later whilst searching for the Redstart Malc Curtin found the first patch Lesser Whitethroat of the year in the same area.
Dave Riley said
Mon Apr 22 3:41 AM, 2013
Hello, young Greg, tried to get my visa stamped but you weren't about, catch up with you sometime.
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Monday 17th of February 2014 09:27:15 AM
Drake Green-winged Teal reported in to me by 3 separate observers this morning, favouring the N.end of Neumann's Flash. That's the opposite end from Ashton's Flash for those without a compass or map
Green-winged Teal still present this morning
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of January 2014 11:54:00 AM
A Patch first found today by local patcher Dave Hughston in the shape of a drake Green-winged Teal. This long awaited species on patch was found amongst Teal at the north end of the flash, viewed from Bund Hide around 9am. It was pretty mobile, flying at times & ranging from the spit to the north end, spending some time hidden in reeds. We watched it continuously up to midday and I even got some record digiscoped shots to accompany the rarity submission, I did receive communications from two observers in the afternoon who didn't see it though. The Teal flocks are mobile across the whole area visiting Haydn Pool, Budworth Mere and even Pickmere as well as heading off further afield so it's 50/50 as to whether it will be on Neumann's Flash tomorrow. If I get news I will try to post on here asap so that anyone who wants can give it a go
A single Golden Plover flew over calling, and they have been thin on the ground (and in the air!!) in 2014 so far.
300+ Lapwings in 3 seperate flocks, in flight above the flash, they seemed perplexed that the high water level offered them no landing places.
I'm pretty sure there was a single Ruff mixed in with Lapwings too.
334 Teal, 6 Mute Swans, 1 Buzzard and 4 Shelducks. 48 Greylag Geese in 2 skeins flew low over the flash heading North.
Masses of Redwings, with lesser numbers of Fieldfares feasting on the surrounding haws. A single birch tree had 24 Fieldfares resting in it.
** On the walk back to my car along the Eastern side of Neumanns I scanned the 3 big mature trees (Poplars I think they are?) as they too contained Redwings and the odd Fieldfare.
Part way up one was a Blackbird, there were a few mixed in the Redwing flocks here and there, a few Song Thrushes too. This Blackbird though seemed to have a faded white crescent on its
breast, consistant with that on a Ring Ouzel. I watched the bird for a minute or so, but then had to return home. I'm not claiming a positive sighting of a Ring Ouzel as I could'nt be 100% sure.
However, if any birders are in the area over the next few days it's probably worth scanning the thrush flocks.
Ashtons/Neumanns Flashes
Masses of Redwings, with lesser numbers of Fieldfares around both flashes feeding on haws and roosting in birches.
I can't recall seeing so many Redwings gathered around the flashes before. Dog walkers stopped me to enquire what kind of birds were massing in the bushes.
Neumanns Flash
4 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 2 Mute Swans plus the usual Coot and gulls.
Masses of Teal, but not a single Lapwing or other wader as the water level was high with no bare margins exposed.
4 Bullfinches were on the mound, and a couple of Goldcrests were with a flock of Blue+Great Tits.
Haydn Pool
Devoid of birdlife, although there is plenty water in the pool again, it almost dried out completely during the summer.
Dairyhouse Meadows
1 Buzzard, a single flock of 40+ Greenfinches, and as on Neumanns, lots of Redwings.
-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 30th of November 2013 11:00:30 PM
Neumanns Flash
,
900+ Lapwings, 25 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew, 1 Kestrel plus the usual gulls and waterfowl.
Haydn Pool
30+ Black Headed Gulls, a gang of 3 Carrion Crows, 2 Snipe, 1 Pied Wagtail plus a pair of overflying Ravens.
After the recent heavy rain this pool looks like it might attract the ducks and waders back, its worth keeping an eye on again.
Budworth Mere
3 Curlew on pasture by Kid Brook, with masses of Canada Geese, 7 Greylags and 4 Herons.
28 adult Great Crested Grebes + 1 striped youngster that is still following it's parents on the mere.
Dairyhouse Meadow/Forge Bed
1 Buzzard and a pair of Kestrels.
Neumanns Flash
20 Golden Plover mixed in with 1000+ Lapwings, 5 Snipe, 16 Wigeon, 2 Buzzards and a flock of 5 Bullfinches.
Haydn Pool
1 Kestrel
Budworth Mere/Marbury CP
8 adult Great Crested Grebes + 1 youngster still with its parents.
No birds at all visiting the feeders at the reedbed screen, and no Wigeon around the mere either.
Dairyhouse Meadow
3 Wigeon on a small pool, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Buzzard that flushed a flock of 17 Greenfinches from a hawthorne hedge.
During a brief sunny interval from the showers, 3 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Comma butterfly appeared, plus a single Common Darter dragonfly.
Neumanns Flash
As on my last post around 700 Lapwings present, together with 108 Curlew, which appeared in a single linear flock flying from the Marbury direction.
Just as the Curlew arrived the Lapwing took to the air too, as 3 Buzzards appeared over the flash, a huge one, presumably a female flying quite low, and two smaller birds flying above her.
All the Curlew settled on the Marsden side shoreline as the Buzzards moved on.
A male Kestrel was showing well above the mound, and was mobbed by around 6 Swallows.
There was a steady southerly movement of Swallows and House Martins high above the flash, huge numbers must be moving through.
Just 2 Common Gulls amongst the mass of Black Headed, and about a dozen Lesser Black Backs, a few of which soared up to mob the Buzzards.
A few Speckled Wood butterflies are still fluttering around the shady areas, also 1 Brimstone and a single Small White.
Lots of dragonflies around, which I did'nt ID, but a few seem to be Southern Hawkers.
Haydn Pool
There's still a couple of small pools remaining, but there was'nt a single bird on them.
A single Green Woodpecker was near the Tata hide.
700+ Lapwing, 122 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Buzzards (Family Group).
There were 2 female Tufted Ducks on the flash, both showing a prominent white base to their beak, one with a male in tow, the other on her own.
I just could'nt make my mind up regarding this solo duck, she was noticeably larger than the chaperoned bird, her head was clearly rounded, and I could see no sign of a tuft, even a tiny one.
She may well be a female Scaup, or hybrid, the irritating thing is she barely stays on the surface for more than a second or two before diving again.
If any birders visit this site over the next few days and get a good view of her, I'd love to know their diagnosis?.
The two young Great Crested Grebes seem to be doing well, I'm amazed that they have been raised on a flash as saline and shallow as Neumanns, surely the only fish in here are Sticklebacks
and the odd Eel ?.
The Haydn Pool as apparently dried up completely, and now only contains a herd of cattle.
Cheers David
http://vimeo.com/74450540
Greg
other birds around...
4 ruff
2 curlew sandpipers
3 black tailed godwits
plenty of lapwings & good numbers of gulls at 7pm but could not stay long enough to look through them, I had a train to catch.
had a good tit flock to the north of the flash on my way to marbury c p consisting off...
long tailed/ great / blue & coal tits plus..1 spotted flycatcher, at least 4 blackcaps, 2 willow warblers, 3 chiffchaffs, 1 reed bunting, 3 chaffinches, 1 of them chasing the spotted flycatcher around.
1 nuthatch
3 bullfinches
2 jays
1 great spotted woodpecker
1 buzzard
1 sparrowhawk
few swallows over.
2 snipe flew over as I left
-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Monday 2nd of September 2013 09:37:22 AM
Also, other birders reporting 6 Ruff & 4 Green Sandpipers on Haydyns Pool
PS - * the Bund Hide
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 31st of August 2013 09:46:09 PM
Adult Stilt Sandpiper at the north end of Neumann's Flash at 12:05, showing well on the wader scrape. Park in the layby on Old Warrington Road at CW9 6DA.
also Ruff and Green Sandpiper present
:)
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 31st of August 2013 05:11:35 PM
Ashtons Flash
78 Curlew
Neumanns Flash
2 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Gulls amongst the mass of Black Headed Gulls and Lapwings.
Plus a Little Grebe that really irritated the Mallard by persistently biting at their legs.
Haydn Pool
8 Ruff, 10 Snipe and 2 Green Sandpipers.
6 Ruff and a Greenshank this morning
Just wanted to pass on the background of the sighting if anyone was wondering
Re the vegetation John, it is a problem but given many birds are still nesting we wouldn't want to encourage any major cutting back until well into August. The FOAM team are volunteers of course and do an excellent job as do the rangers on an ever decreasing budget. May I suggest you voice you concerns to Cheshire West & Chester Council - they make plenty of money from the Marbury CP car park which it would be nice to see ploughed back into a bit of habitat management.
Read your post with interest as one of the two birders you mentioned! Our "ruff" was called because we failed to spot the rufous colouring at all to start with, so perhaps we can be forgiven that howler! My 'junior' partner [son, actually!] fortunately took some snaps, not perfect at that distance but good enough to make some observations.
Quite agree that the classic diagnosis of wingbars or not was not possible but cannot agree that the bird showed 'a superb brick red colour not only on its breast feathers but across its whole belly too, showing no white on its lower body at all.' All four out of Adrian's images show no red at all below the breast, on the belly or the under-tail coverts. There is strong vertical barring visible on the lower flanks, as one would expect with blackwits.
The upper wings were indeed mottled as was the mantel but I am not sure how conclusive your observation about the knees joint is. Some illustrators show the barwit as the more elegant ie long-legged bird. Can't comment about the bill because it wass tucked very deeply into its back. Size-wise it certainly was very little bigger than the surrounding lapwings.
My conclusion is that we were looking at a Blackwit
Changing the topic, may I voice again my concern at the invasive brambles, willows and even birches along the margins of both Neumann's and Haydn's flashes? I take nothing away from my admiration of the work of FOAM but unless clearance work is undertaken even of some of the rapidly spreading reeds, there will be less and less open water. Viewing from some hides is already severely curtailed.
-- Edited by kernewek on Tuesday 16th of July 2013 12:04:42 PM
My first thought was a Black Tailed Godwit, as they are relatively common wader inland, especially at Burton and Frodsham, and they can vary quite a bit in size.
The classic diagnosis regarding the wingbars, or lack of them could not be made as the bird did not fly, and spent most of the time asleep.
However, the bird showed a superb brick red colour not only on its breast feathers, but across it's whole belly too, showing no white on it's lower body at all.
The upper wings were clearly mottled, which may have led to the other guys to label it as a Ruff, until the bird showed it's beak that is.
The knee joint appeared to be only an inch or so from its thighs, making the bird look less elegant than a Black Tailed.
Only briefly did the bird lift its head up to look around, then it showed a dark thin slightly upturned beak.
In size the was'nt much bigger than the Lapwings, which were all around it.
Only perhaps at Hale would I expect to find Bar Tails locally, but this bird fits the description of an early returning adult male Bar Tail.
It will be interesting to see if other local wader sites produce any similar birds as return passage gets under way?.
A second summer Med Gull was showing well on Neumann's main spit this morning and 3 Green Sands over on Haydn's / No1.
1 summer plumage Bar Tailed Godwit on the spit, and later seen by the small island with a large group of Lapwings. 1 Curlew.
2 near full grown Great Crested Grebes with their parents, one youngster was bold enough to chase an adult Coot away.
09.30-12.00
3 Oystercatchers, 1 Buzzard and 1 Linnet (scrub area on Wincham side).
I could'nt find the female Tufted Duck with the 16 tiny ducklings in tow that I found on July 8th, instead there were 3 adult females with young, one with a brood of eight.
Either Tufted Ducks form creches, or eight little youngsters have been predated. Apart from the corvids and the odd big gull, there were 8 Grey Herons around the mere on my last visit.
At one point today a female Tufted with her brood sat by the waters edge, in a tree behind them 3 Carrion Crows seemed intent on grabbing a tiny duckling.
Then all 3 crows dropped down right besides the ducklings and fed on something on the ground, the Tufted and her brood did'nt flinch and carried on preening regardless.
Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies in abundance in the scrub areas.
Haydn Pool
2 Green Sandpipers (viewable from the Tata hide only), 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Buzzards.
2 family groups of Common Whitethroats along the Southern side of Dairyhouse Meadows.
-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 13th of July 2013 05:08:31 PM
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 12th of July 2013 09:48:08 PM
Neumans Flash
130 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatchers and a pair of Great Crested Grebes that may well have had young resting on their backs.
One female Tufted Duck swam with 16 tiny ducklings, surely they can't all be hers?.
Also a family of 4 Linnets, a pair Bullfinches (the male had a beak full of down) and 4 Chiiffchaffs (1 singing), all in scrub/hawthornes along the Eastern side of the mere.
Just as I was leaving a Buzzard arrived and began quartering the South-West corner.
Haydn Pool
2 Green Sandpipers
2 juvenile Whitethroats with 2 adults on Dairyhouse Meadow
Over on Haydn's Pool there are now 4 Green Sandpipers present along with the pair of Oystercatchers with their single youngster, a new brood of 3 Lapwings, 2 broods of Gadwall, a few summering Teal and plenty of juv Black-headed Gulls from the small but expanding colony. The Sand Martins are doing well at the man-made bank and Reed Warblers have been showing very well in front of the hide.
Neumanns Flash
82 Lapwings, 3juv+3 adult Oystercatchers, 7 moulting drake Shovelers, 1 Common Tern, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 1 Ringed Plover, 11 Grey Herons and 2 Kestrels.
Reed Warblers and Buntings showing well from the reed tops, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats and a Chiiffchaff singing round the perimeter.
Haydn Pool
1 Snipe,10 Black Headed Gull chicks, 13 Sand Martins, a Kestrel and 1 adult+ 1 juv Oystercatcher.
The drake Black Swan is still about, commuting with a Mute Swan among the various pools and the Dairy House Meadow ponds. Biggest surprise of all was a male Red-throated Diver at the northern end of Neumann's, in full summer plumage. Visibility was very good. The bird was displaying 'exactly what it says on the tin' or in this case illustrated bird guides. The red upper throat patch, white lower throat and breast, fine, broken stripes on the back of the neck, the dark back and the slightly upward tilt of the head were all very visible. It made my day!
Kernewek
Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Reed Buntings, Bullfinches and Song Thrushes singing around the flash.
Reed Buntings and Bullfinches seemingly abundant. Singles of Chiffchaff and Linnet on the Marston side.
A pair of Great Crested Grebes on the flash, together with 6 Gadwall, 5 Lapwing , 1 Oystercatcher, 8 Shelduck.
A single Cuckoo flying North above Witton Brook
1 Orange Tip and 2 Small White butterflies and a few St. Marks Flies too.
Haydn Pool
No sign of Garganey. 5 Gadwall, 1 Black Swan, 1 Shoveler, 1 Buzzard, 12+ Sand Martins, 5 Blackcaps (3m/2f) and 4 Stock Doves.
2 Sparrowhawks in an aerial fight high above the pool.
3 Chiffchaffs singing in the wooded area and mature copse north of Haydns, with a few Willow Warblers singing in the Sallows.
Dairyhouse Meadows
2 Buzzards soaring high,plus a pair of Long Tailed Tits putting the finishing touches to a nest in a bush right by the side of a well used track and looks far too exposed to succeed.
-- Edited by John Williams on Wednesday 1st of May 2013 12:58:18 PM
Sedge Warblers were still calling in front of Ashton's Flash viewing mound, lots of Reed Warblers, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats were around too and two Swifts flew over the flash.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 24th of April 2013 09:47:51 PM
Dave