1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Reed Warblers and 3 Sedge Warblers at lunchtime today, along with loads of other stuff!

Cheers David

Hi Alan.I managed to get some footage of it perched but from a fair distance.did try to get it in the air but failed miserably!it was feeding normally just dropping down to the surface and picking off the top of the water for roughly an hour then for a five minute spell it changed tack and started plunging.Brian martin managed to catch up with it too but he had well gone by the time it was plunging/perching.he said you always manage to find something good there!
Cheers Chris.

alan patterson wrote:

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1 Black Tern all morning and still present when I left at 3.15pm. Best viewed from the John Morgan hide. Plenty of Grebes again showing well from the Morgan Hide.

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This bird was found yesterday morning by a permit holder and we have been told he took some very good photos of the bird. We think he was from the Appleton area and possibly called Sam. As he did not report the bird in the log book we have no way to contact him. WECG are keen to contact him or anyone else who might have a decent shot of the Tern. My humble effort with my bridge camera is no more than a poor record shot!

The Tern has not been seen today, a visiting group failed to locate it!

Cheers Alan ( Warden WECG )

-- Edited by alan patterson on Tuesday 1st of May 2012 03:20:09 PM

Hi Chris, Glad some one else managed to got to see the Black Tern . The bird was only dipping on the water while I was there, I have never seen one plunge dive before. Did you get any photos of the bird by any chance?

I was surprised not to see any Hirundines or Swift, though I managed to see 17 Black Necked Grebes at least 6 Great Crested and 3 little Grebes on No 3 bed.

Black tern still present from 7-8.40 and observed plunge diving several times from 10 feet down to 1 foot.when plunging from just above the water looked like it had had one too many and was falling rather than plunging!bird still there when I left still feeding as it had done for 99% of the time.
Also present were 10+ black necked grebe 50+ sand martins 20+ swallows 5 swifts and the odd house martin.
Thanks to Alan Patterson for his original post as I was just about to go to rixton moss!

1 Black Tern all morning and still present when I left at 3.15pm. Best viewed from the John Morgan hide. Plenty of Grebes again showing well from the Morgan Hide.

On No.3 bed this morning:

16 Black-necked Grebes
2 Grasshopper Warblers
3 Whitethroats
1 Sedge Warbler
9 Swifts

Plus loads of other stuff!

Cheers David

A female Marsh Harrier plus 5 Swifts and 1 Sedge Warbler on No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

Johnny W wrote:

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No 3 Bed 09:00-11.00

1 Common Sandpiper feeding on a raft opposite the rotary hide. 1 Water

Rail showing below tower hide. 16 B.N Grebes, 3 Little Grebes including a

pair having a nasty fight.

Resident pair of LBB Gulls taking some real grief from Black Heads. 1 Buzzard

and just 1 male Shoveler now showing. No hirundines, or as yet any

Whitethroats. No sign of Sedge or Reed Warblers either.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 24th of April 2012 09:15:03 PM

---

Hi Johnny W. I was there on Sunday, we heard Sedge Warbler, and saw several Swallows and House Martins.

No 3 Bed 09:00-11.00

1 Common Sandpiper feeding on a raft opposite the rotary hide. 1 Water

Rail showing below tower hide. 16 B.N Grebes, 3 Little Grebes including a

pair having a nasty fight.

Resident pair of LBB Gulls taking some real grief from Black Heads. 1 Buzzard

and just 1 male Shoveler now showing. No hirundines, or as yet any

Whitethroats. No sign of Sedge or Reed Warblers either.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 24th of April 2012 09:15:03 PM

Nice moring visit. 6 shelducks 2 on mersey and 4 on reserve. Many thanks to the birder who pointed out the little gull from the rotary hide, what a spectacular bird and showed very well. Saw about 6 black necked grebes hard to count as they were well spread out. But the highlight was the weed dance by two grest crested grebes right in front of John Morgan hide.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 24th of April 2012 02:32:01 PM

I was thinking about you, Martyn, when I saw all that rain coming down - definitely a day for sitting in a hide and letting the birds come to you

Cheers David

Cheers, Jason. Much appreciated - and good to see that team of yours giving United a run for their money!

David

A great little trip with Leigh Ornithological Society. Highlights were the Black-necked Grebes (loads of them and I didn't count) and a Little Gull in summer plumage. Lots of other more usual birds seen and heard.

Very nice to meet lots of new birders too, both from LOS and in the hides. I'm just about dry now!

Now I know you want photos I will get you some more shots

Cheers
Jason

Nice shots, Jason. Good for the next Annual Report.

Cheers David

Photos of one of the Little Gulls on my blog also an account of the early morning frustration?

Cheers
Jason

-- Edited by JasonAtkinson on Sunday 22nd of April 2012 12:51:05 PM

Have a good one, Martyn!

Cheers David

One of those wonderful April mornings on Woolston's No.3 bed, with a mix of sunshine and the odd shower and migrants battling through against the wind. Highlights included: a Cuckoo calling from the west bank, 2 Sedge Warblers in song, 2 adult Little Gulls, 24 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Kingfishers, 3 Snipe, 2 Water Rails and all three hirundines. In addition, Kieran Foster, Jason Atkinson et al, ringed the first Grasshopper Warbler and Reed Warbler of the year. Complete moring's list:

Black-necked Grebe 24
Little Gull 2
Cuckoo 1
Sedge Warbler 2
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 1
Kingfisher 2
Water Rail 2
Black-headed Gull 900
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
Common Gull 1
Ruddy Duck 3
Swallow 45
Sand Martin 2
House Martin 9
Greenfinch 30
Tufted Duck 63
Pochard 19
Shoveler 16
Shelduck 3
Greylag Goose 5
Canada Goose 8
Blackcap 8
Chiffchaff 12
Willow Warbler 4
Common Snipe 3
Wren 8
Coot 18
Moorhen 6
Gadwall 16
Reed Bunting 8
Great Tit 6
Robin 4
Blue Tit 5
Willow Tit 2
Mute Swan 3
Teal 13
Little Grebe 8
Pheasant 6
Carrion Crow 7
Great Crested Grebe 12
Chaffinch 30
Woodpigeon 20
Stock Dove 2
Magpie 7
Dunnock 5
Feral Pigeon 56
Song Thrush 3
Blackbird 16
Lapwing 1
Cormorant 18
Mistle Thrush 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Grey Heron 1
Sparrowhawk 2
Long-tailed Tit 3
Common Buzzard 5
Kestrel 2
Jay 3
Bullfinch 3

Cheers David

WOW, what a list! I'm going tomorrow with Leigh Orni Society, so I'm quite looking forward to seeing the 24 Black-necked Grebes in particular.

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Saturday 21st of April 2012 06:19:07 PM

2 adult Little Gulls full summer plumage showing v well from Warrington Rotary Hide. Flying around and landed on water.

At least 12 Black Necked Grebes.

Still a minimum of 22 Black-necked Grebes present, possibly 24, this morning. Other than that, just the usual stuff, the odd Snipe, 40+ Swallows and a couple of Sand Martins.

Cheers David

Great late record from Saturday - one of our permit holders was privileged to get views of two Common Cranes flying over later in the day. They were apparently also reported from Risley Moss and later from a site further south. Only the second Woolston record

Cheers David

Nice one, David - I tried hard to find one the other day, without any luck

Cheers David

1st summer Mediterranean Gull from the tower hide early afternoon at least

Went onto No.3 bed for a couple of hours this afternoon. Usual stuff around and managed to count 19 Black-necked Grebes. About 4.00 pm the Marsh Harrier got up and flew round for a couple of minutes before dropping back into the north-west corner. Then hirundines started struggling in against the wind - 17 House Martins, 11 Sand Martins and 4 Swallows in total. Seven Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Blackcaps were other sightings.

Cheers David

Two Little Gulls on No.3 bed, reported by Kieran Foster (Tuesday)

Cheers David

Cheers Jason, I won't mention the football

David

Sound recording and sonogram of the Siberian Chiffchaff now on my blog.

cheers
jason

Well, compared with Kieran and Jason's Siberian Chiffchaff on No.3 bed, Dave Steel, Les Jones and I couldn't compete!

We still had a cracking morning though, surveying the breeding birds on Nos.1 and 2 beds plus the area as far east as Bollin Point.

Highlights included: confirming breeding for our regular pair of Peregrines, for two pairs of Kestrels and a pair of Common Buzzards (a pair of each copulating and a pair of Kestrels flying in and out of a nest site).

Additionally, 4 Curlew flew north-east, a pair of Kingfishers were at Bollin Point, and Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch were calling actively. A few Willow Warblers and Blackcaps were in song along with many Chiffchaffs (95 Chiffchaffs were counted on the Reserve in the week) and a multitude of common residents were in song. With the sun shining, it made for a really special Woolston morning

Cheers David

Good news - Siberian Chiffchaff trapped and ringed. 4th for Cheshire.
Bad news - adult Little Gull found dead and now in freezer.
Pics on blog.

Cheers
Jason

An increase to 19 Black-necked Grebes today, with a Willow Warbler singing despite the chilly wind.

Cheers David

Little Gull from the Rotary Hide this evening, earlier it had been seen from the centre hide. Also female Marsh Harrier, several Sand Martins and at least one Swallow. 12 Black-necked Grebes although mobile and difficult to count accurately.

-- Edited by David Spencer on Monday 2nd of April 2012 10:18:58 PM

Thanks Brian, yes, we had a nice morning didn't we! Thanks for the Swan information, which will come in handy for next year's report.

Cheers David

David
Nice to have met up with you and Les yesterday.
I have had feedback from David Cookson, Cheshire Swan Study Group regarding the Mute Swan with the Darvic ring seen yesterday at The Eyes :-
" Darvic CCB3 BTO W32582 Male of unknown age
Ringed at Spike Island Widnes 09/12/11
No recorded sightings "
Seemingly it hasn't travelled far.
I had a male Kestrel hunting over the Wildflower Meadows as I was leaving, plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker, six Linnets and a Buzzard circling over.

Regards
Brian

-- Edited by Brian Baird on Sunday 1st of April 2012 05:58:16 PM

With a coolish northerly wind it was a bit less spring-like this morning. Les Jones and I spent the morning in No.3 bed, for once missing our co-conspiritor Dave Steel. We bumped into Brian Baird, along with a few other Woolston regulars and worked hard at counting the Black-necked Grebes, finally catching up with a minimum of 12. We had no luck with the two Marsh Harriers which have been present but may now have moved on?. By mid-morning it had warmed slightly and a single Swallow and 3 Sand Martins dropped in to feed. First year I can remember when I've seen Swallow before Sand Martin.

We later flushed 3 Common Snipe and caught up with 2 singing Blackcaps. Other good counts included:

Chiffchaff 14
Great Crested Grebe 15
Little Grebe 12
Water Rail 1
Lapwing 11
Ruddy Duck 2
Song Thrush 4
Cormorant 21
Shelduck 8
Shoveler 30
Teal 40
Greylag Goose 5
Black-headed Gull 700

Cheers David

Hi Jason, we usually get our highest counts in late March and April - when they've all arrived and are still pairing/displaying. I think we once had 23 and have certainly had regular counts of 20 or so.

Might catch up with you Saturday if you're down.

Cheers David

What is the peak date for the grebes David? And what is the highest count? Brian and I had some fun counting them on Saturday morning.

Cheers
Jason

Up-date on the Black-necked Grebes: 12 present by late morning today.

Cheers David

Went onto No.3 bed early this morning. It was quite a spectacle, with the sun burning the mist off the water, hundreds of Black-headed Gulls milling around mobbing a Marsh Harrier, and 8 Black-necked Grebes in front of the main hide. A single Blackcap was in song, along with 9 Chiffchaffs, while a couple of Redwing were still present. Other sightings included: 4 Bullfinches, 19 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 4 Lapwing, 3 Ruddy Duck, 4 Snipe, 10 Gadwall and 18 Shoveler.

Other permit-holder records from March, all from No.3 bed (for Dave Steel's summary in Birdwatching magazine)

6th 2 Bramblings, 1 male Goldeneye
16th 1 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher
18th 1 female Marsh Harrier
19th 2 Marsh Harriers
20th 1 Marsh Harrier
21st 4 Black-necked Grebes
22nd 8 Black-necked Grebes, 1 female Marsh Harrier
23rd 1 female Marsh Harrier
24th 8/9 Black-necked Grebes
25th 5 Black-tailed Godwits
26th 2 House Martins

Cheers David

Not strictly 'the eyes' but a walk along the River Mersey this morning bordering no. 1 bed yielded 2 Nuthatches and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Swithen Hill Wood and a Raven circling over Brookside Fm. Lots of Chiffchaff plus a Willow Tit calling from no. 1 bed.

-- Edited by David Spencer on Sunday 25th of March 2012 05:08:46 PM

No3 bed. 8 possibly 9 Black necked Grebes from the Morgan hide.
Ringing wise: 3 Chiffchaff and a female Blackcap.

Cheers
Jason

I was down on No 3 bed this morning and met one of the founding memebrs coming off the bed and he had failed to locate any Black Necked Grebes However he did say that he'd had some great views of the female Marsh Harrier.

I managed to locate a single Black necked Grebe which was a first for the friend I was showing around the reserve

We had managed to pick up the Female Harrier straight away from the elevated platfom on the south bank, it was being mobbed by gulls. It even dropped into the reeds about 100yards in front of us. My friend and I saw it about 5 more times in the 1 and a half we were on the bed and at one point a second Harrier flew up to join it.

A pleasant couple of hours at Woolston this afternoon - quite busy; as well as Mr Barber and myself there were 3 other birders in the new tower hide

Of interest we had singing Chiffchaff, one of the two reported Black-necked Grebe as well as Little and Great Crested Grebe, Common Snipe, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, 100's of Black-headed Gulls and a stunning female Marsh Harrier - at one stage having a bit of a set-to with a common Buzzard.

One of those gorgeous Spring mornings down at Woolston, with the rain clearing early on and the light becoming really brilliant. Spent most of the time on No.3 bed but also did a common bird count on No.2 bed, with Les Jones and Brian Ankers.

Highlights were the two Black-necked Grebes, feeding actively among the c.830 Black-headed Gulls which were swirling round, courting and generally making a racket . With two Common Sandpipers dropping in to the back of the bed and several Chiiffchaffs singing away, it felt like Spring had really arrived.

Sightings included:

Black-necked Grebe 2
Common Sandpiper 2
Chiffchaff 8
Wigeon 3
Little Grebe 11
Pochard 28
Greylag Goose 2
Littlle Grebe 11
Grey Heron 2
Cormorant 8
Moorhen 2
Shoveler 16
Black-headed Gull 830
Lesser Black-backed Gull 8
Teal 24
Lapwing 13
Willow Tit 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 4
Reed Bunting 10
Great Crested Grebe 11
Common Snipe 2
Kingfisher 2
Dunnock 13
Robin 12
Great Tit 14
Wren 7
Chaffinch 40
Blue Tit 13
Blackbird 8
Woodpigeon 20
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 6
Goldfinch 5
Song Thrush 3
Greenfinch 9
Gadwall 4
Stock Dove 7
Jay 2

Cheers David

Forgot to post a late record, of a Bittern, on No.3 bed on 26th February, seen by a permit holder on his first visit to the Reserve. Certain wardens have been trying for decades to get this on their lists

Spent Saturday with Dave Steel and Sue Haddock wandering round Nos.2 and 4 beds. Highlights were: One Oystercatcher, 1 Peregrine, 3 Fieldfare, a flock of 25 Redpolls, 27 Shoveler, 33 Pochard, 119 Tufted Duck, 110 Teal, 4 Shelduck and 7 Song Thrushes.

Cheers David

Relax guys it was the partridge. I have a sparrowhawk photo on our feeders though

Brian

Only a few minutes. I remember the photos being published, sure it was in a magazine. Pretty spectacular sighting, almost as good as a common crane eating seed from a bird table? Now there's a story.

Cheers
Jason

JasonAtkinson wrote:

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JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

Brian Burnett wrote:

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I wonder if it was the same bird as the one on our nearby patio at dusk (one heck of a garden tick)

Brian and Helen

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I would have thought it was more likely a sparrowhawk on the patio than a goshawk,I daupt one has ever been seen on a patio anywhere.I may be wrong though,but would have thought a sparrowhawk would be the most likely in the garden.

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Fill your boots.
Goshawk in UK garden photos

Cheers
Jason

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bet that took thi all neet

Yes, I thought it was the Red-legged Partridge in the garden Or was it the partridge which attracted the Goshawk That'd make a good photo, Jason

Cheers David