Quick visit this morning on my way to work

34 Curlew Sandpipers
38+ Yellow Wagtails
101 Black-tailed Godwits

All feeding away happily until a juvenile Peregrine appeared and shifted them all. The falcon did target one Curlew Sand which had become separated from the rest of the flock and gave it a good chase - the wader escaped

Much too gory for me Nick - especially as the Curlew Sandpiper appeared to be alive for much of the time it was being eaten ! But still, as you said, a cracking couple of hours birding.

A cracking couple of hours here this morning with John Barber for company. Lots of waders to see and also a few raptors about too.

28 Curlew Sandpiper
c10 Dunlin
1 Knot
c40 Black tailed Godwit
1 Bar tailed Godwit
1 Black Tern - juv
2 Peregrine
2 Pintail
1 Sparrowhawk - female
1 Shelduck
1 Swift - passing through
1 Buzzard
Loads of Teal, Gadwall, Shoveller, etc.

Most of the above birds were present when we arrived but after about 45 minutes the two Peregrines came through and scattered everything. All but three of the Curlew Sandpipers disappeared and the rest of the remaining birds packed in quite tightly.

One of the Peregrines (a juvenile by the looks of it) returned after a while and after several dummy runs it managed to single out one of the three Curlew Sandpiper. The bird, which was in the water at the time must have become disorientated and began to flap around in the water as it had become a little waterlogged. The Peregrine then made several swoops at it before finally picking it from the water. It wasn't the high speed pursuit type of kill that you nornmally associate with Peregrines but still very interesting to watch, especially as it happened only 100 yards or so in front of us.

The bird was then devoured on the mud in full view for all to see. John said he couldn't watch it but I found it very interesting. It is nature after all!!

Managed to snatch a quick hour or so here this afternoon. No. 6 tank was alive with birds.

c30 Curlew Sandpiper
4 Ruff
1 Black tern - juv
c60 Black tailed Godwit
1 Dunlin
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Curlew
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Little Egret
2 Buzzard

Also huge numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall, etc.

Dropped in at no6 tank first light this morning on my way to Moore. Counted at least 50 Curlew sandpipers. could have been more but some were too far away for my scope. could have been knot. but if not.! then there could be 100 plus curlew sandpipers.! 1 group of 20 came within 100 yds of me giving me first view of these beauties. Gunfire sent them to the middle again.! Also ringed plovers near them and swallows+sandmartins overhead.

My mate John Barber was there this morning and had an incredible 42 Curlew Sandpiper. Its great that there are so many of them around this year.

Twenty eight curlew sandpipers, 8-10 sanderling, three little stints, four greenshank, two avocets and a common sandpiper (on the far bank) were amongst the usual dunlin, ringed plover and black-tailed godwits on No. 6 at high tide this afternoon.

Turned up mid afternoon to be greeted by rain! Shortly after the rain stopped most of the waders did one! Still saw:

5 Curlew Sandpipers
80+ Ringed Plovers
1 Golden Plover
2 Avocets (adult plus juvenile)
85 Black-tailed Godwits
1 Pintail (drake)
1 Yellow Wagtail
3 Ruff
30+ Dunlin
Buzzard
Kestrel
10+ Swifts

A probable Osprey was seen over the fields just before Frodsham from the motorway this evening, being mobbed by a crow.

Dawn on No6 tank this morning:
5 Green sandpiper on small pool then moved onto main lake.
1 Common sandpiper in nearest corner
Curlews
Ringed plovers
Grasshopper warbler next to horse field.
Sedge warbler
Willow warbler
Reed warbler
Reed bunting
Meadow pipit
Whitethroat
Sand martin
Swift
Swallow
Buzzard
2 Kestrels

First light this morning.
Male marsh harrier over no5 tank.
No6tank:
200 Dunlin
150 B.t.godwits.
Avocet
Tufted duck with v.cute chicks.
Cormorants waking up.
Mute swan.
Pochard
Shelduck.
Along path:
Grasshopper warbler
sedge warbler
reed warbler
willow warbler
young blackcaps+whitethroat
Plenty goldfinch
Reed bunting
meadow pipit
swift,swallow+sand martins over.
Also met Paul(didnt get your last name) who saw common sandpiper and a Hobby on the way along path.

Quick 30 minute trip around Number 6.

>30 Shellduck, 7 Avocet, 30 Black tailed Godwit, 5 Dunlin, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and 6 or so Mute Swans

Usual Ringed Plovers, Redshank, Mipits, Linnets, Kestrel and Warblers.

SS

RN Phalarope showing well last evening. As previously stated, it appears to be favouring the side of tank 6 near where they fly the model planes and so will appear distant from the usual viewing spot on the opposite side of the tank. Closer views can be obtained by going round the other side of the tank to the junction with the other tracks; jumping across the culvert, where the grass is already flattened and then climbing up the bank. Having never seen one before, I was surprised to see it actually swimming rather than 'wading'. It appeared to be quite dull, in terms of the 'redness' around the neck and so some people were suggesting it was a male. Can anyone confirm ? Many thanks to the two local gents who gave me a lift both to and from the motorway bridge, thus allowing me to avoid a potential sump-cracking scenario in my A5 (not built for off roading!) And, a warning to those who haven't been down these tracks before. It will feel like you are driving across the surface of the moon, and, if the potholes are full of water, like they were last night, you could get a nasty (and expensive) surprise, if you aren't careful!

Cheers

Pat

Just been to see the Red Neck Phalarope on Frodsham No 6 bed. The bird was quite distant as it was in the corner near where they fly the model planes. It did move in to the middle of the bed to give me better views.

First light over no.6 tank.:
6 adult Avocets + 3 juveniles
1 Cuckoo giving decent view
Lots of swifts feeding on insects with the odd swallow
Reed + sedge warblers
numerous whitethroats
20 Ringed plovers
1 Little egret
plus usuals

Two rewarding hours at the back of tank 6 tonight (18:00-20:00).

30+ species without moving an inch.

Highlights were a Peregrine wreaking havoc amongst the waders - seen off by the Lapwings. Spotted later on the ground, in the middle of the tank, with a kill.

A Cuckoo, mobbed by Pipits.

An Avocet fly-over.


SS

Late report from yesterday.

Spent two and a half hours here attempting to see the Buff Breasted Sandpiper but unfortunately it didn't show. The company was good though with up to 10 other local birders present.

We had some other good birds to pass the time though while we waited for the star attraction. Two male Cuckoo gave good views for most of the time we were there with one on the fence right in front of the car as I drove off (damn camera was in the boot though).

Also, I picked up a Hobby going through with a food item (probably a small bird but too distant to tell) and also 7 Little Stint put in an appearance on the mud but departed just before I arrived.

Nice to meet David Wilson on my way in.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Friday 20th of May 2011 07:33:03 PM

Glorious day on the marsh today. dont think the buff breasted sandpiper turned up for the twitchers.
2 Cuckoos showing well + very vocal.
2 Avocets
numerous sedge warbler + whitethroat.
6 Buzzard 1 Kestrel.
2 Reed warbler nr bird log.
Pair wheatear nr marsh farm.
meadow pipit,linnet,goldfinch,swallows,sand martins + swifts in same area.
nice to meet Nick Isherwood + vivien finn.( again.)

Late post for Tues 17th 12:00 to 14:00 on a showery afternoon.

No sign of Buff-breasted Sandpiper but did manage 2 firsts for the year with:-
Avocet and Dunlin.

Also:-
Marsh Harrier
Buzzard
Sedge Warblers
Ringed Plovers
Whitethroats
1 Whimbrel
1 Reed Warbler (near site of old bird log)

Nice to have met with Sid Ashton

Rick.

9PM MON 16TH MAY:

The buff breasted sandpiper was still showing on and off in the mud&pool corner of No.6 area. It was moving between the "greenery" and mud area, when disturbed by territorial lapwings. A fox wandered into the area about 9pm scattering all near it. A cuckoo was heard too as well as the odd grasshopper warbler.

(Thanks if you read this, to the two birdwatchers who kindly showed me the bird when I couldnt locate it on my arrival).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper present at western end of number 6 tank at 1pm, seen around the pool with the island.

Still present 18:00 to 18:30 to start off it was about 70m from the road and 40m from the edge of the water at the west end and then at 18:30 it flew into the more vegetated section of the tank. Nice friendly bunch there this evening and a very educational bird, the colouration was really obvious and the surprise was the size when compared to the Ringed Plover nearby - it was almost the same.

Thank you very much Nick . Much appreciated .

Brian Routledge wrote:

---

Having never been to Frodsham Marsh before , could someone please give me the best directions on wehere this bird is currently being seen.It would be much appreciated . Thanks brian

---

Brian,

Frodsham marsh can be accessed from a few places (I think) but I get to it by going down Marsh Lane which is off the High street in Frodsham. After you've crossed over the motorway you'll reach a fork in the road. Go left here and it'll take you towards No.6 tank where the bird has been seen today.

If you go tomorrow I'm sure there'll be plenty of other birders there so you should easily find the right spot.

Having never been to Frodsham Marsh before , could someone please give me the best directions on wehere this bird is currently being seen.It would be much appreciated . Thanks brian

Mike Chorley wrote:

---

Still present when we left at 4.15 p.m., having moved to the small pool further west.

Also seen

1 Whimbrel (fly thought)
1 Rob Adderley
1 Mike Baron (nice to meet you, Mike)

---

Nice to meet you too Mike

Good bird and nice way to spend an afternoon in the rain!

Also:

7 Dunlin
3 Little Ringed Plovers
1 Avocet
6 Ringed Plovers
1 Cuckoo
70+ Swifts

Still present when we left at 4.15 p.m., having moved to the small pool further west.

Also seen

1 Whimbrel (fly thought)
1 Rob Adderley
1 Mike Baron (nice to meet you, Mike)

Buff-breasted Sandpiper : Phil the bird came a bit closer after you left giving good views, particularly when it stopped doing what Frodsham Marsh does best....rain Also nice to see other forum members.

Good but distant views of the Buff-Breasted Sandpiper on Tank 6 at 12.30pm with Jason Atkinson.

The bird was still present when we left, feeding on the mud in the company of Ringed Plovers and Dunlin.

Nice to see one or two faces off the Forum again.

Nice (if slightly damp) morning in frodsham. Generally, highlight for me were the many swifts back in full force over the weaver, no. 6 tank and frodsham in general. Other birds of note were:

No. 6 Tank:
2 Avocet
2 Little Ringed Plover
c.4 Lapwing
1 Winchat
1 Greenland Wheatear
c.4 Linnets
c.7 Dunlin
1 Blackcap
c.6 Whitethroat
c.20 Sedge Warbler
c.2 Reed Warbler
1 Reed Bunting

Weaver Bend:
c.10 Sand Martins
2 Swallow
1 Black Necked Grebe

Called in at Frodsham on the way back from Leasowe - found some nice birds including a female Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 12 colourful Linnets and a close up male Marsh Harrier near the farm. On the scrapes at the northern end of number 6 tank: 2 Avocet, 4 Ringed Plover and 1 Redshank and towards the end of No.6 in what appeared to be a big rainwater puddle a Wood Sandpiper.

Dawn to 8.30am.
No 6 tank:

Fabulous close views of juvenile Marsh harrier hunting over reeds
Whinchat pair
1 Avocet
3 Grasshopper warblers ( 1 giving good views reeling)
Sedge warblers
Reed warblers
Whitethroat
Shelducks
Tufted ducks
Oystercatcher pair
Lapwings

Around Marsh Farm:

Yellow wagtail
50 Linnets and Goldfinch flock
Wheatear pair
Whinchat pair
Meadow pipit
Skylarks
6 Swifts
5 Curlew
Swallows
Juvenile Marsh Harrier caught up with me again heading up the mersey.

---

To confirm what I saw, Birdguides now reports a Sacred Ibis at Delamere!

---

Better still, there are now two!

Matt Potter wrote:

---

Whilst sat in traffic on the M56 this morning due to an over turned lorry, I am pretty certain I saw a Sacred Ibis flying over the River Weaver bewtween the motorway bridge and the railway bridge.

I presume its the one from Carsington via Woodford. And I assume an escape, or possibly from the French ferel population? Who knows!

---

To confirm what I saw, Birdguides now reports a Sacred Ibis at Delamere!

Whilst sat in traffic on the M56 this morning due to an over turned lorry, I am pretty certain I saw a Sacred Ibis flying over the River Weaver bewtween the motorway bridge and the railway bridge.

I presume its the one from Carsington via Woodford. And I assume an escape, or possibly from the French ferel population? Who knows!

Two visits today, morning and evening. Drake garganey on the east scrape on No. 6 tank. Spoke to two guys from Middlewich later who'd had a garganey on the Weaver about the same time I was watching mine, and another later on the pool by Marsh Farm, so possibly three different garganey? Little stint on the west scrape, two yellow wags around cattle by Marsh Farm, several grasshopper warblers, etc.

In the evening there was a male whinchat by the cattle grid at Marsh Farm, a black-necked grebe on No. 6 tank and a male marsh harrier by the Weaver, which later flew across No. 6 tank. Lots of other stuff too - snipe, avocets, ringed and little-ringed plover, wheatear, golden plover, etc.

Went to look for the Wood Sand late am but no sign. Got a bonus of a Little Stint, along with 2 Avocets, LRP, Ringed Plover, Snipe & Redshank.

Cheers
Paul

Wood sandpiper back on scrape on No. 6 tank 7.00am.

There was a pair of black-necked grebes on the Weaver late afternoon. One of Sid's short-eared owls was hunting the sheep pasture to the north of No. 6 tank. Usual warblers, including four grasshopper warbs, an overflying whimbrel and seven beautiful, summered-up golden plover on the sheep pasture.

So how different are the tanks now, compared to 30 years ago.? i know they dont flood as much ,apart from no.6. is that the only reason why not as many rarities turn up.? or has climate change affected birds migration habits. maybe some rarities are missed because not as many birders visit the marsh.? just a thought.

David Wilson wrote:

---

Afternoon stroll round no.6 tank.:
i love the place. it must have been mega 10 years ago.!

---

Hi David, When I first went to Frodsham about 10 years ago I was told then it was realy good in the past!

Yesterday I was at Leasowe with a friend where we got Black Redstart and Whinchat and we bumped in to another birder who had just come from Frodsham where he had seen a Wood sandpiper. So My friend and I headed off to Frodsham to look for it. When we arrived about 4pm we met one of the regulars who said the bird was mobile and had flown and not been relocated. I was surprised how much No 6 bed had changed and there were hardly any Duck there and the only waders I could see where a few Lapwing. There was a lot more reed and the sandy area of the bed had a lot more vegetation on it. I did however manage to pick up the Wood Sandpiper in the small newly formed scrape.

David Wilson wrote:

---

i love the place. it must have been mega 10 years ago.!

---

In the 80s/early 90s Frodsham was indeed "mega" with rarities turning up regularly, one of the best birds I remember seeing there was Stilt Sandpiper and one winter high numbers of Little Stints overwintered. I remember turning up one morning when a Broad Billed Sandpiper had been found and another time when a Lesser Yellowlegs had just been found. Not to mention fantastic migration when Wood Sand, Garganey in numbers, and all sorts of other stuff could be found usually in good numbers. Oh yes great days indeed! It was always heaving with birders too.

Afternoon stroll round no.6 tank.:
Male marsh harrier hunting over reedbeds.
Reed, sedge + single grasshopper warbler.
Chiffchaff
willow warbler
whitethroat
male blackcap
6 yellowhammers
ringed plovers
pair of redshank
b.t.godwit 5
buzzards + kestrel
shovelers teal + tuftys
people ive met round the marshes say it isnt what it used to be. In 12 months managed to see barn owl, marsh harrier, cuckoo, little ringed plover, avocet, yellow wagtail amongst others. i love the place. it must have been mega 10 years ago.!

We didn't see the short eared owls but a marsh harrier was reported by some people who had been watching since 8.00 am. In addition to Sid's sighting we saw several sedge warblers and heard reed warblers. There was a huge number of small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies, mostly a bit ragged after the winter, and orange tips. Was surprised by the small number of hirundines - 2 swallows!

At various locations around the marsh this afternoon, of note - 5 Wheatear (all females), 6 Swallows, 3 Ringed Plover, a single Snipe, loads of Mipits, 2 singing Whitethroat, a female Marsh Harrier being mobbed by Crows on occasions and 3 Short-earred Owls two of which gave stunningly close views. Couldn't make out much on No.6 tank because of the position of the sun and the limited viewing points.

If anyone is going over to the marshes be aware that Lordship Lane has more potholes than usual and the tracks generally are in a very poor state of repair.

5 buzzards 2 mating. Pair of ravens. moorhen. Male pheasant on hard shoulder.! all along M56. birding at 60 mph is not advisable.!

Couple of hours this afteroon.:

Highlights:
GOLDCRESTS(nice views of feeding on insects)
between birdlog and reedbed
FIELDFARES( same area)
PEREGRINE on pylon with fresh kill
CURLEWS 25
LINNETS
GOLDFINCH AND CHAFFINCH flock of approx 60
PAIR OF RAVENS
No6 tank just starting to thaw:
GREAT BLACK BACK GULL
BH GULL
TEAL
REDSHANK
LAPWING
OYSTERCATCHERS
REED BUNTING
COLLARED DOVE
KESTREL 3
BUZZARDS 6

30 SPECIES


-- Edited by David Wilson on Thursday 30th of December 2010 08:43:51 PM

Wednesday, 15th September.

1 Wheatear.
A few Swallows.
Female Sparrowhawk seen just after killing a Blackbird.
1 male Kestrel.
Shelducks.
Tufteds.
Mute Swans.
Cormorants.
BH/LBB Gulls.
100+ Goldfinches.

Dawn on the marsh.
No sign of shrike first thing this morn.
Excellent views of Barn owl around reedbed.

No 1 tank:+No 2
3 Buzzards
2 kestrels
6 snipe
Curlews
2 Ravens
Little egret
Swallows
Lane along No 5:
Willow warbler
Chiffchaff
Wrens