One adult and one 2nd cal Yellow Legged Gull in the roost this evening, and at least 2 very dark adult argentatus.    One of the strangest things i've ever seen, however, was a huge ("it was this big") what i think was a pike cruising around an area of the mere. All the gulls went up and i assumed it was a Peregrine, however after a few minutes of fruitless scanning i noticed something swimming around - at first i thought it was an Otter, then i realised it was a large fish swimming around and behaving weirdly. The gulls all landed at the other end of the mere. The lack of a dorsal fin, very rounded fins at the rear end, sleek shape and even the underbite of the lower jaw could all be seen as it cruised around right at the surface of the water with a large amount of it out of the water - got the impression that the eyes were above water a lot of the time.  Occasionally it would splash about a bit, or even upend with its back end in the air. I'd love to know what the hell it was doing!?

A Woodcock flew over the cricket pitch at 5.15 pm, coming from the direction of Wood Bongs, it continued on over the house across the drive from The Rowans.

There was a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker today, i'm well chuffed. It was in some tall trees, viewed from the cricket pavilion looking in the direction of the Natural England car park. They're quite obvious as they are full of ivy. It flew in and moved around these trees for a few minutes then flew off in the direction of Wood Bongs.
A pair of Stock  Doves over the churchyard.

Female Hawfinch in tree to the rear of the Cricket Pavilion, observed from the Natural England Car Park

The adult Yellow Legged Gull was again present in the roost, with an argentatus, and the palest adult LBBGull i've ever seen - it was midway in mantle colour between LBBGull & YLGull, but was otherwise spot on for a LBBGull, identical in size, shape, structure to the graellsii it was next to.
4 Goosander also.

Yesterday, the ad YLGull was again present, i arrived a bit late so only checked a small % of the roost, a flock of c. 3000 starlings was flying over the church on my approach. A pair of Tawny Owls roused and started calling in the trees to the left of the churchyard.

A least 2, and probably 3 Hawfinches this afternoon. They were behind the brick wall as you walk along the field edge from the Natural England car park to the Obs. One was disturbed by a Buzzard and flew far east into the distance towards Tatton. Another was seen flying between trees behind the wall, while another bird called nearby. I noticed that slightly further along the route to the Obs is a nice Hornbeam hedge which had many bunches of seeds - a favourite food of Hawfiches.

One Yellow Legged Gull was in the roost, at least 1 intermedius, probable argentatus and a possible hybrid HG x LBBG.  There were big numbers of starling putting on a show, unfortunately mostly obscured by trees as they were in the area of Shaw Green Willows. Views would have been better from the Obs.

About 10 Mandarin, 2 Goosanders and good numbers of Teal. Something kept disturbing the ducks - eventually someone appeared through the gate at the bottom of the field below the church and walked up to the houses on the left - i suspect, not one of the voluntary wardens but a random walker.

At least 3 Tawny Owls were calling as they became active just before dusk, one flying from left to right while i was sitting on the bench viewing from the churchyard.

At 7.25pm, when it was getting quite dark, a Hobby flew from left to right. 5 mins later it came back round, over the churchyard between the church and the trees, straight over the bench low and then low over the trees to the left - i think it was hunting some of the bats that were around - not many hirundines left now.

At ten to 8 i jumped as a Barn Owl flew overhead coming from behind and screeched as it went.

Geoff Walton wrote:

---

Regards Sid, missed you by a few days again

---

Regards to you as well Geoff - maybe we shall bump into each other over there sometime, we often walk around Rostherne (village and surrounds), not just to view the mere from the churchyard and church field but also along the various lanes and public footpaths in the area, very pleasant and usually something to see in the way of bird life.

Green Woodpecker this morning on the dead tree near the gate on the left. Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few Chiffchaff.

Regards Sid, missed you by a few days again

Roger Halsey wrote:

---

Juvenile Purple Heron this morning. Showing intermittently up to 14.20 at least at the far end of the mere from the observatory. I should make it clear that access is by permit only.

---

 As far as I am aware Roger, viewing the mere from the churchyard is not subject to holding a permit - please correct me if I'm wrong.

Juvenile Purple Heron this morning. Showing intermittently up to 14.20 at least at the far end of the mere from the observatory. I should make it clear that access is by permit only.

Roger Halsey wrote:

---

Juvenile Purple Heron this morning. Showing intermittently up to 14.20 at least at the far end of the mere from the observatory.

---

 During one of our regular walks to Rostherne this afternoon we noticed a couple of Herons in the reeds opposite the church yard. Despite my best efforts to make them Purple on close inspection through my scope they were seen to be Greys 

Juvenile Purple Heron this morning. Showing intermittently up to 14.20 at least at the far end of the mere from the observatory.

Was in St Mary's church above the mere this afternoon when two Swallows flew in through the open door.  They seemed disorientated for a time but luckily they found their way out again.

Tue 7.3.17
Mandarin Duck - 9 frisky birds in the area of the sandbar (6m, 3f).
Stock Dove singing and it/another seen in flight.

-- Edited by Mike Duckham on Thursday 9th of March 2017 01:17:05 AM

The leucistic Black Headed Gull has returned to the roost for another winter.

Bumped into a fellow birder who told me that a Barn Owl had been seen from the obs this a.m.

Best bird for this visit was my best-ever view of a presumed heinei Common Gull, in good light, next to a normal canus for a handy comparison (though it's not possible to be 100% certain). I wonder if this recent easterly airflow brought it in.

5 Goosander also present, with the church organ parping out Christingle hymns as an accompaniment.

Wasn't expecting much so a Black Necked Grebe was a nice surprise this afternoon.

One 2nd calendar Mediterranean Gull in the roost from the churchyard yesterday evening (Fri) was an enjoyable and educational find - i don't think i've seen one looking exactly like this before, the primaries were fully regrown but it still had a fantastic black mask behind the eye making it a striking bird with a head pattern resembling a winter Forsters Tern or Grey Phalarope!  There's a very similar bird photographed on Birding Frontiers:  http://birdingfrontiers.com/2012/01/12/interesting-opportunity-to-identify-a-4th-winter-mediterranean-gull-on-plumage/  with a similar head pattern and bill, though that birds' primaries are still growing.

Sightings from the Observatory.

Today 17th July 2016 @10.30am. Hobby catching dragonflies. We saw it catch three in as many minutes as it quartered.

Also on the mere this morning. 150 Mallard, 112 Tufted, 6 Pochard. Gadwall, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Greylag.

Annual permits to use the AW Boyd Memorial Observatory are available from Dave Clarke,1 Hart Avenue, Sale, M33 2JY.

Observatory Annual Permit
£10 single, £15 family, £5 concession (senior citizens / children 11-16 years). Application on the CAWOS Membership Form or to Dave Clarke, at the address above.

Access to the mere or onto the nature reserve is by arrangement with CAWOS/Natural England or tel/text me Phil on 07505 004484

Recent sightings from the Observatory.

Common sandpiper, Tufted duck, Mandarin duck, Kingfisher, Gadwall, Little grebe, Raft of Great crested grebe.

We may not have an Ospreys nest but we do have a Buzzards nest viewable from the observatory. Two young can be seen preening and exercising in the nest.

We also have a feeding station immediately in front of the Observatory and this morning Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and a Goldcrest were attracted offering close-up views.

The observatory is generally open to visitors on Sunday and Wednesday mornings between 10am and noon.

Phil

Recent sightings from the Observatory.

Common scoter, Common tern, Pochard, Tufted duck.

Also reported by local people, Red squirrel seen in the church yard of St Mary's. If you too are lucky enough to see one please submit your record at the AW Boyd Memorial Observatory.

Next WeBS count day is Sunday 24th July when we circumnavigate the mere. If you would like to join the volunteers on their walk round and help with the count please tel/text me on 07505 004484.

Booking essential as numbers do need to be limited to reduce disturbance on the SSSI. Suggested donation to observatory fund £1 per adult.

Phil

Used to go and watch the murmations of starlings at Rostherne Church (at the top of the Mere) about 15 years ago. A peregrine used to harass them. Not been since, so I can only imagine they still go but alas in smaller numbers.

Not really a sighting but didn't know where else to put this as no exisiting topics seemed suitable. However, is anyone aware if there is a starling roost at Rostherne, if so how large? I ask because yesterday morning, in poor light, I saw what I thought could be the best part of a thousand birds over field close to there ( I had turned onto A556 from M56 towards M6). The numbers could be way out as I was driving but did have the effect of 'smoke'. I assume they were starlings as had two smaller parties of about 30 birds soon after.