or you could try: http://frodshammarshbirdblog.wordpress.com/

what's a bolg, Ian

Steve

For further details on what's about at Frodsham Marsh check out Bill Morton's blog at http://www.frodshammarshbirdblog.wordpress.com/

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 3rd of July 2012 07:48:19 PM

A few hours after work yesterday in wet and windy conditions.birds present included
10 Pochard 20 tufted duck 50 swift c100 shelduck heron 20 gadwall 18 mute swan black tailed godwit 2 avocet 3 ringed plover redshank meadow pipit skylark sedge warbler reed bunting reed warbler whitethroat blackcap chiffchaff yellow wagtail grasshopper warbler linnet and oystercatcher.a few juv. birds about inc. Whitethroat reed warbler and buzzard.highlight was watching a hobby missing a swallow by a whisker.shame about the weather...

13.30-15.00

Drake Ring-necked Duck still on No6 Tank, although asleep most of time.

2 Avocets, 1 Black Tailed Godwit resplendent in summer plumage but

skulking amongst the sedge. 2 Cuckoos

1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Redshank, 2 Little Grebes plus the usual.

A pair of Great Tits were seen feasting on the Ermine Moth caterpillars that

infest the bushes along the North side of No6 Tank.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 10th of June 2012 05:32:39 PM

Going a little off topic, but my dad was out near Jodrell Bank today, had a bird bedraggled, wet and on the floor; 'bit like a kestrel or merlin, but not one', same sort of behaviour

Nick Isherwood wrote:

---

Just out of interest. Frank didn't say whether he was in his car or not when he got within 5 feet. The birds would maybe much more tolerant of the cars proximity than an actual human being that close.

Just a thought really. You can't tell from his photos if they've been shot through glass or not.

---

We were in the car at first but i got out of the car to take a few shots without the window interference , and eventually i had to walk past the bird on the road and it was still there when i got back in the car to leave

Frank

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/

Ring necked duck still with the tufted ducks at 7pm tonight on tank number 6 in the driving rain! Not good for optics but ok for diving ducks!

Just out of interest. Frank didn't say whether he was in his car or not when he got within 5 feet. The birds would maybe much more tolerant of the cars proximity than an actual human being that close.

Just a thought really. You can't tell from his photos if they've been shot through glass or not.

Had a look for the RB Duck in shocking weather on thursday evening with no luck , plenty of Hirundine activity Cuckoo flew across road by No 6 Tank , couple up to hi jinks in a white vann but star of the night a Pair of Hobbys fighting over a Swift on the road in front of me , down to 5 feet and just stared at me , got some pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/

Ring-necked Duck with a group of Tufted Ducks on number 6 tank this morning. The bill pattern wasn't outstanding and although faint was present.

Had nice views of a Cuckoo flying over the reeds.

I'm not so sure John in this instance. One of the birds has clearly caught a small prey item (Swift as Frank has commented) and the other is attempting to join in the feast. They certainly look very wet though!

Hobbys on the ground are far from unusual and I see it regularly at a site in Greater Manchester as they wait on the ground for hirundines to pass over and also walk and hop along the ground for quite some distances to get to the edge of water bodies to drink.

Both these Hobbys are second calendar year birds too so their plumage is already disheveled and very worn (without wet feathers making it look even worse) but fair play, they are brilliant photos

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 8th of June 2012 08:50:42 PM

Frank Whitney wrote:

---

Had a look for the RB Duck in shocking weather on thursday evening with no luck , plenty of Hirundine activity Cuckoo flew across road by No 6 Tank , couple up to hi jinks in a white vann but star of the night a Pair of Hobbys fighting over a Swift on the road in front of me , down to 5 feet and just stared at me , got some pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/

---

I think those Hobby Pics just show how hard it is at the moment to find food for hobbys and most other birds as well,they both look starved to me and to sit on the ground like that must be almost unknown,you wouldn't get near them normally,great pics that to me just show what sort of crisis we are going through at the moment,most small birds are struggling as well as there are so few moths,so that leads to so few caterpillars,and dragonflies do not live through this sort of weather,so the hobbys suffer,its much harder for them to chase swifts,than Dragonflies.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 8th of June 2012 07:29:22 PM

Frank Whitney wrote:

---

Had a look for the RB Duck in shocking weather on thursday evening with no luck , plenty of Hirundine activity Cuckoo flew across road by No 6 Tank , couple up to hi jinks in a white vann but star of the night a Pair of Hobbys fighting over a Swift on the road in front of me , down to 5 feet and just stared at me , got some pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleipnerofasgard/

---

Guess I was fortunate today then Frank although it wasn't raining too badly the Ring-necked Duck still took some picking out.

The other thing that I should have mentioned was that the turning point at the bottom of the squiggle in the road along side number 6 has been filled with some kind person's garden rubbish making turning around tricky - just about managed it but would have been better turning at the top of that small incline where there are a few parking places.



-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 9th of June 2012 06:28:41 AM

2nd June No 6 and environs
2 Avocets - mating
1 Hobby
1 Cuckoo
3 Black Tailed Godwits
c 25 Dunlin
7 Ringed Plover
100's of swifts



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of June 2012 08:18:26 PM

A tour round No.6 tank and walk along length of Lordship Lane.:

2 Avocet
1 Cuckoo very vocal in tall birch trees
3 Grasshopper warbler 1 giving great views and reeling.
3 Yellow wagtail 2 male 1 female.
4 Buzzard
Numerous Sedge warbler, Reed warbler and Whitethroat with the odd Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Ringed plover.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of June 2012 08:18:51 PM

Quick look at No.6 tank at first light this morning.: 5 Avocet. 1 Yellow wagtail. 3 Black tailed godwit. 2 Redshank . few Ringed plover. plenty Sedge warbler + Reed Warbler. the odd Whitethroat , Blackcap + Chiffchaff. 1 Black swan amongst the Mute swans.

Tour around no.6 bed and along Lordship lane. : 2 Yellow wagtail. 1 Cuckoo. 1 Grasshopper warbler. 3 Avocet. 1 Sparrowhawk. 2 Black tailed godwit. plus plenty sedge warbler,the odd reed warbler. whitethroat. chiffchaff. blackcap. ringed plover. skylark. meadow pipit. oystercatcher.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of June 2012 08:17:58 PM

No 6 Bed
3 Cuckoos present this morning (10.00am-ish) 2 seen flying together, over reedbeds and hawthorn bushes. One bird noticeably darker,presumably m and f birds. A third cuckoo was calling close by. Great close views. Eventually a Magpie started mobbing them and they moved off.

Single Avocet.

Pair Bullfinch.Numerous Whitethroat/Sedge/Reed Warblers

Loads of Wheatear, all over...at least 20 birds seen.

-- Edited by John O'Neill on Wednesday 16th of May 2012 07:37:39 PM

Had a casual wander up the path between No 6 and No 5 tanks this morning:

3 Buzzards
2 Sparrowhawks (one of which shared a thermal with a Kestrel - soaring with wing tips seeming to almost touch)
Kestrel
50 Whimbrel
30 Black-tailed Godwits
10 Avocets
23 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
Redshank
3 Whinchats
6 Wheatears
2 Ravens
15 Whitethroats
11 Sedge Warblers
6 Reed Warblers
6 Blackcaps
Chiffchaff
Garden Warbler
Yellow Wagtail

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of June 2012 08:19:33 PM

06.00 - 11.15, a tour of most of the area in pleasant sunshine.

Of interest:-

Marsh Farm and pond: Around the pond, Meadow Pipits, Wheatears, Swallows and Linnets and the one I went for, a cracking male Whinchat.

Down on the river there were 10's of Swifts feasting on the swarms of St Mark's flys. A second male Whinchat was fly-catching from the top of a Hawthorn bush. In the reeds Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler (two firsts for the year for me) as well as several Reed Buntings.

At the log book area there were at least two reeling Grasshopper Warblers.

On number 6 tank, a minimum of 12 Avocets, plus 6 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover and a good group of Black-tailed Godwits. There were also singles of Redshank and Raven. Apart from 6 or so each of Shelduck and Tufted Duck there didn't appear to be much else on the tank.

On Lordship Lane, a further reeling Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Reed Warblers near the model plane flying area.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 3rd of May 2012 08:46:08 AM

Full tour of the tanks today:
Marsh harrier ( female )
11 Avocet
200 Golden Plover
Great black backed gull
Wheatear ( male, on model aircraft field)
Skylark
Buzzard
Curlew
Redshank
1 Blackcap
1 Little egret
Ringed plover
Black tailed godwit
Dunlin
2 Swallow

48 species

Just got info from a mate that there were plenty of Wheatears in a ploughed field near Marsh Farm today. May check out the area tomorrow

26.3.12 Just after sunset. On number 6 tank: 13 avocets, a golden plover flock, and a short eared owl hunting.

The sight of Venus, Jupiter and the moon hanging close together in a clear sunset sky made a spectacular sight.

Good sized flock of Golden Plover [40+] on main tank, Short Eared Owl, 8 Avocet and a possible Little Ringed Plover this afternoon - just too distant to be sure with bins.

Short-eared Owl hunting during a brief visit this evening on the way home from Wales with Jason Atkinson.

Had a walk round No6 tank today 11am 2pm sightings of note great views of short-eared owl perched in small tree along track at side of no6 tank, on tank its self, 11 Avocet , 3o+Tufted Ducks, five Shell Ducks and 50+ Golden Plover, 20+ Lapwing and small flock Sand Martins flying over, could not pick out any other waders looking towards hazy sun light but did see Female Marsh Harrier and Female Hen Harrier both hunting over reed beds on no6 tank, loads of Reed Bunting, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on and around no6, and last but not least 2 pairs and loan male stonechat along lordship lane
MIKE

so that would actually be....'a couple of feet'.
Bet you are well pleased to get such great views - nice one, might try my luck

Nick Isherwood wrote:

---

Patrick Earith wrote:

---

Drake Red Crested Pochard still present on no.6 tank in amongst the Wigeon and usual fair. Also present large flock of Golden Plover, 4 Dunlin, Shelduck, Shoveler. No sign of Avocet.

But, the highlight was the hunting Short-eared Owl which gave fantastic views down to a couple of feet. I guess the guy with the very big lens got some cracking photos in the afternoon sun

---

A couple of feet?

It wasn't perched on your shoulder was it?

---

No exaggeration (although, I guess I should have said "at one point..."). It flew across the track at head height over my shoulder. Obviously, it spent most of the time quartering the usual field, but, came very close on several occasions. Clearly unfazed by us.

-- Edited by Patrick Earith on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 07:57:31 AM

-- Edited by Patrick Earith on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 07:51:19 PM

Patrick Earith wrote:

---

Drake Red Crested Pochard still present on no.6 tank in amongst the Wigeon and usual fair. Also present large flock of Golden Plover, 4 Dunlin, Shelduck, Shoveler. No sign of Avocet.

But, the highlight was the hunting Short-eared Owl which gave fantastic views down to a couple of feet. I guess the guy with the very big lens got some cracking photos in the afternoon sun

---

A couple of feet?

It wasn't perched on your shoulder was it?

Drake Red Crested Pochard still present on no.6 tank in amongst the Wigeon and usual fair. Also present large flock of Golden Plover, 4 Dunlin, Shelduck, Shoveler. No sign of Avocet.

But, the highlight was the hunting Short-eared Owl which gave fantastic views down to a couple of feet. I guess the guy with the very big lens got some cracking photos in the afternoon sun

Called at the marsh on the way home from Wales and found:- the Red-crested Pochard, 2 Avocets and in the big flock of waders, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Also watched a Buzzard guarding prey from two marauding Crows.

Hi, at the start of winter I said i'd get short eared owl. For whatever reason (christmas, exam revision, bla bla bla) I haven't been to get them and so am trying a last ditch effort for them at frodsham. Could anyone PM me which tank's best for viewing?

Many thanks,

A very desperate Joe

Only one S.E.Owl showing this pm,due no doubt to a large shooting party in the area.
On no.6 tank
Ringtail Hen Harrier and Merlin following it around,waiting for it to flush small birds.

great views of 4 shorties last weekend here.
Close up views. Plenty out on no. 6 tank as well.
Rob

Superb views of at least 4 SEO's in the gloom of the late afternoon yesterday......unfortunately 1 "birder"?? decided to trespass across the area in search of a photograph which forced the Owls to keep their distance from the rest of us!

Stuart, if you look further down the thread you'll find directions to the site from Frodsham town centre.

hi guys have you got a location or a postcode i would like to see the shorties but i dont know the area pm me if poss thanks

Patrick Earith wrote:

---

Incredible views of 4 Short eared Owls again here in the lovely late afternoon sunshine. Coming in as close as 10 feet from me and calling to each other too. Owl on owl, owl on crow and owl on buzzard action observed!

Feel very privileged to have witnessed this spectacle. Just wish I'd got some better pictures

---

Hi Patrick
"The Short Eared Owl show" at Frodsham at the moment,is quite simply the best Birding that I've ever done in a lifetime.
I'm delighted that you enjoyed the same standard of entertainment from the owls that we have had there also,and I bet that you'll be back for more,because I certainly will be myself.

Cheers Denzil

Incredible views of 4 Short eared Owls again here in the lovely late afternoon sunshine. Coming in as close as 10 feet from me and calling to each other too. Owl on owl, owl on crow and owl on buzzard action observed!

Feel very privileged to have witnessed this spectacle. Just wish I'd got some better pictures

No sign of the possible Lesser Scaup this morning after lengthy search. Even though there appeared to be a similar number of Tufted ducks on the water as there were yesterday, our candidate appeared to have vanished. A further search later in the day by Mark Taylor and David Hughston also proved fruitless, but they did have the consolation of four short-eared owls and an Avocet.

Hi Tim
Simply the best!!!
If there had been 10 UK 'Firsts' flitting around the place,I would have turned my back on them for the spectacle that the Shorties were treating us to.

Cheers Denzil

Large numbers of birds on the number six tank today around lunchtime at Frodsham Marshes.

Probably in excess of 2,000 dunlin ( the largest number I've seen on there this year ) and a similar number of Teal.

Also amongst the many Lapwing, Widgeon and Shelduck were several Golden Plover and a few Redshank.

Best sighting of the day came from two Northwich birders, Mark Taylor and his friend Dave of a possible Lesser Scaup. We shall be returning tomorrow to try and confirm the birds identity.

A totally awesome end to an excellent days birding on the Wirral with Tony Darby from 3.00 - 4.30pm in the friendly company of Frodsham birders, Denzil and Paul (very local indeed!) and Great Orme birder Neil. We were treated to:

Short-Eared Owl 7

Superb close up views with 6 in the air in different directions at the same time giving views down to 30 yards. We heard and saw them calling to each other; witnessed an Owl on Owl aerial dispute between a greyer bird and a more cream coloured bird and saw two catches of voles - one consumed within 30 seconds before it took off again

Sometimes birding doesn't get much better than this!

Managed a quick hour on No.6 tank this morning from 8.30 to 9.30 with John Barber and Richard Hargreaves.

Hundreds of Teal present along with a good supporting cast of Pintail, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pochard and Tufted. The highlight duck though was a female Red Crested Pochard which tucked itself into the the big flocks of duck which were harrassed a few times by passing Peregrines.

Besides the Peregrines the only other raptor to show itself was a female/juvenile Marsh Harrier which gave excellent views as it glided low over the tank. The best moment though was when it perched up on a log for a few minutes in full view. A truly stunning bird!!

Waders were a little thin on the ground though with 7 Golden Plover mixed in with around a hundred Lapwing. There was also one Little Stint hanging around with 7 Dunlin and also a couple of Redshank.

A good hours worth of birding!!

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Monday 10th of October 2011 08:15:13 PM

A blustery couple of hours here over lunchtime produced the following on tank no.6.

55 Black tailed Godwit
6 Curlew Sandpiper
5 Ruff
4 Little Stint
c40 Dunlin
c100 Lapwing
c100 Black Headed Gull
c150 Teal
c12 Shelduck
1 Kestrel
2 Buzzard
1 Swift - with other hirundines.

Weaver Bend:

2 Redshank
9 Little Grebe

Also, nice to meet fellow Manc birder Rob Bell on the hunt for yesterdays elusive Great White Egret.

A quick hour this afternoon produced the following:

c100 Dunlin
11 Curlew Sandpiper
3 Ruff
2 Little Stint
3 Ringed Plover
1 Snipe
1 Black tailed Godwit
1 Redshank

Plus all the usuals.

Another morning watch on No.6 tank with John Barber. Most of the waders over the other side of the tank unfortunately.

c70 Black Tailed Godwit
c30 Curlew Sandpiper
7 Golden Plover
5 Ruff
c10 Dunlin
c20 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Wheatear
1 Chiffchaff
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
6 Curlew
c150 Meadow Pipit - on migration
c200 Mixed hirundine (Sand and House Martins mostly) on migration.

Plus all the other usual birds.

A couple of hours here on tank No. 6 this morning produced the following:

64 Black tailed Godwit
4 Curlew Sandpiper
1 Ruff (f)
1 Marsh Harrier - great views as it hunted over tank 6
3 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
c20 Pied Wagtail
c100 Teal
c250 mixed hirundines - mainly House Martins and Sand Martins
3 Swift - passing through
c100 Black Headed Gull
c100 Canada Geese

No 6 tank this morning at high tide: 13 Curlew sandpiper 200 Black tailed godwit Ringed plovers Dunlin Cracking view of yellow wagtail amongst pied. When it was at its busiest a hobby snook through the flocks and just failed in catching mipit not far from me. Then a peregrine sent them all in the air but no success. 4 Buzzards 2 Juveniles. behind no 5 tank on track to farm saw kestrel and sparrowhawk.

I must have arrived shortly after Mike as the juvenile Peregrine was busy chasing and harrassing the waders as I got there. Consequently, all the birds then rested up right at the very edges of the tank - mostly on the opposite side so scope views were very distant. Similar birds to Mike but only around 15 Curlew Sandpiper on view.

Other birds of note were:

2 Pintail
2 Buzzard
1 Juv Chiffchaff
c40 Dunlin
1 Greylag

After here we decided to have a little look at the Weaver Bend. Quite a few of the usual ducks around but other birds of note were:

2 Common Sandpiper
1 Turnstone
6 Little Grebe
1 Wheatear - on the road out.