A hard morning's Himalayan Balsam pulling on No.3 bed, bracketed by a bit of birding. Mainly counting broods, with 5 of Black-necked Grebe, 3 of Pochard, 1 of Tufted Duck and 2 of Great Crested Grebe the highlights.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Brian Martin, Al Warford, Les Jones and Sue Haddock)

Help needed Since we had all the work done on No.3 bed, our problem with Himalayan Balsam, an invasive"alien" plant has increased dramatically (due to the seed stocks uncovered by the contractors). Every Thursday between now and the end of July we'll be holding working parties to hand-pull and clear some areas. Hopefully, in a year or two we can get rid of the lot. So, if anyone can come down and help, you'd be very welcome. We'll be starting at 9.00 am, meeting on the No.3 bed car park. Or if, like me, you want to do a bit of birding first, come down at 7.00 am for brekky in the Morgan Hide. You don't need to be a member or have a key, as we could arrange access and give you a chance to see this great birding site. Let me know if you are coming, if you need access, or just turn up Bring gardening gloves, bins and butties.

Cheers David

Please note No. 3 bed will be closed tomorrow morning, until 12:00 hrs, for management work

-- Edited by David Spencer on Sunday 8th of June 2014 01:51:22 PM

A quick visit to No.3 bed this morning produced a Grashopper Warbler reeling and showing well outside the Morgan Hide, plus a Little Ringed Plover on the scrape, C.40 Swifts overhead and another new brood of 8 Pochard. Off to the Lot Valley in France for ten days from tomorrow

Cheers David (with Dave Steel)

Another superb sunny morning covering No.3 bed and then as far as the fields to the east of Rixton Paddocks. Reached a provisional total of 74 species, with highlights being: 4 Little Ringed Plovers, Hobby, Water Rail, Garden Warbler, loads of Black-necked Grebes, Willow Tit, the year's first brood of Gadwall, both Peregrine and Kestrel at active nest-sites, Yellowhammer, Great Black-backed Gull and Common Gull.
Both dragonflies and butterflies were out in force. Of the former, Black-tailed Skimmer and Banded Demoiselle were good records among the masses of commoner stuff. The butterflies included excellent numbers of Common Blues, Small Skippers, Speckled Woods and Green-veined Whites, with a few Red Admirals, Peacocks, Small Whites and Orange Tips for variety. Among the day-flying moths, Cinnabars were common and Ste found a single Mother Shipton.

Cheers David (along with David Spencer, Al Warford, Brian Baird, Ste Dodd and Helen Allan)

This morning we decided to combine a breeding warbler survey of No.1 bed with an attempt at a "Big Day". The weather was surprisingly good early on. We covered from No.3 bed east to the fields beyond Rixton Paddocks and managed a total of 75 species, the highlights being: 9 species of warbler (including 1 Grasshopper, 1 Garden and1 Lesser Whitethroat), 1 Marsh Harrier, 16 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Willow Tit, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Partridge, 7 Yellowhammers, at least 6 Kingfishers, 1 Peregrine and 1 Great Black-backed Gull. So, nothing out-of-the-ordinary but, interestingly. 61 of the species seen are Woolston breeding bird. We missed out maybe another six possible species, so 80 species should be possible with a bit of luck.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Al Warford and Paul Hazlehurst)

Hobby and Little Ringed Plover on No.3 bed this afternoon, along with 18 Black-necked Grebes, 70 Swifts, 15 House Martins, 12 Sand Martins and 6 Swallows.

Cheers David

Cheers David

a great report Dave, thanks it painted a picture.

One of those lovely, late spring afternoons on No.3 bed, with not much moving through but the first broods of waterbirds showing well and butterflies and dragonflies becoming plentiful. Broods of all three grebes, Coot, Moorhen, Greylag and Canada Goose, as well as 88 occupied Black-headed Gull nests (with 7 chicks) were counted. 16 adult Black-necked Grebes was a minimum count. Overhead, 40 Swifts and a few hirundines of all three species of hirundine fed voraciously. Under the footbridge, scores of Azure and Common Blue Damselflies were ovipositing, while butterflies included: 1 Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Orange Tips, 6 Speckled Woods and 10 Green-veined Whites.

Please note, No.3 bed will be closed on Thursday (22nd) from sunrise to 12:00 (midday) for management work

A really enjoyable morning spent scanning from the John Morgan Hide on No.3 bed, followed by a breeding bird survey of No.2 bed, then back onto No.3 bed. Highlights were a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Garden Warblers singing on No.2 bed, with No.3 bed proving good for raptors with: 2 Hobbies, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 male Peregrine flying over with prey, heading towards the nearby breeding site, along with plenty of Buzzards and the odd Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Four Oystercatchers on the scrape was a good count for the bed. Butterflies included: 7 Common Blues, 1 Small Copper and 1 Speckled Wood.

Cheers David

An excellent morning ringing on No1 bed with visiting ringer Sam Bailey, highlights included 2 Garden Warblers (male and female in breeding condition) and a juvenile Dunnock, sightings included Woolston's third Red-throated Diver flying west, at 07.00, along the line of the MSC before seeming to change direction to SW near the viaduct, 1 Hobby, 1 Raven and 6 Buzzards.

cheers

Dave

A good afternoon's birding on No.3 bed. It started with good numbers of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins being brought down by the torrential showers. A Hobby then made two passes over the bed. Eleven Black-necked Grebes included a pair doing a nest change-over, visible from the Morgan Hide. Best of all, as I was leaving at 5.20 pm, a superb Red Kite, a very scarce bird at Woolston, passed low over my head. Cheers. David

Please note No.3 bed will be closed tomorrow afternoon from 3 pm for management work. Cheers David

A drake Garganey was present on No.3 bed all morning, showing intermittently from the John Morgan Hide. It was still present at 1.00 pm. Other sightings included: a female-type Marsh Harrier, c.70 Swifts, 30 Swallows, 13 Sand Martins, 20 House Martins, the usual numbers of Black-necked Grebes plus recently fledged Pochard and Lapwing young.

Cheers David

One Hobby and 3 Little Ringed Plovers on No.3 bed this afternoon. Other sightings of interest were:18 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Water Rail, 1 Swallow (!), 3 Collared Doves and 1 Stock Dove (the latter two being relatively uncommmon on No.3 bed).

Cheers David

Two immature Little Gulls were present this morning, whilst two Dunlin and two Ringed Plovers put in a brief appearance all in front of the main hide.

14 Black necked Grebe were counted this afternoon from the John Morgan hide - others were seen from the Rotary hide but some of these could have been included in the earlier count.

Also of interest Great crested and Little Grebe were present as well as a pair of Greylag Geese with 2 chicks swimming between the parents - a nice sight.

08.00-10.00

No 3 Bed

20 Black Necked Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Common Whitethroats, 7 Shoveler & 2 Mistle Thrushes.

17 Pochard, 3 Teal, 5 Cormorants (flying over), 4 Lapwings & 4 Shelducks.

6 Mute Swans flew in and toured the bed, staying in single file throughout, the resident cob was not amused.

1 Speckled Wood, plus lots of Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies.

R. Mersey ( No 3 footbridge- Weir Lane, inc weir pool )

10 Pochard, 3 Shelducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe & 34 Tufted Ducks.

With an easterly blowing and the prospect of showers to bring migrants down, I went onto No.3 bed at first light. Soon, 3 Arctic Terns dropped in, followed by two more groups of 3 and 4. None of them stayed for long, all heading off to the north-west. Then a Little Ringed Plover dropped onto the scrape, along with 4 Snipe, while a Redshank flew through. Two Marsh Harriers were constantly active, with the male eventually leaving to the north. Out on the water at least 20 Black-necked Grebes were active, with 38 House Martins, 20 Swallows and 5 Sand Martins overhead, with another Redshank dropping onto the scrape. On the Meadows, a Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Sedge Warblers were in song, with a Garden Warbler singing away from by the No.3 bed car park by mid-afternoon.

Cheers David

Another thoroughly enjoyable spring morning at Woolston, covering from No.3 bed to Bollin Point at the eastern end of the Reserve. Highlights were: a pair of Red-crested Pochard and a Marsh Harrier (both on No.3 bed), 6 Little Ringed Plovers, c.20 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warblers, 10 Whitethroats, 14 Blackcaps, 24 Willow Warblers, 19 Chiffchaffs, 10 House Martins, 12 Swallows, 5 Sand Martins, Lapwing with 4 young and 2 Snipe.

Cheers David (with Dave Steel, David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird and Les Jones)

Today: 13 Black-necked Grebes - Little and Great Crested Grebes.
Lots of warblers, including: Blackcap, Whitethroat, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff.
Buzzards 7 up in view.
Ducks a plenty, Gadwall - Pochard - Teal - Mallard - Tufted

Yesterdays wader passage doesn't appear to have been repeated today but there had been an arrival of warblers overnight. A walk around No. 4 bed produced 3 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge, 2 Reed and 1 Grasshopper Warbler. A Lesser Whitethroat was also singing along the river bank on Paddington Meadows and could be viewed from No. 4 bed sluice.

DavidBowman wrote:

---

One of those days at Woolston....... Over the lagoon, 75 Swallows, 33 Sand Martins and 5 House Martins were feeding actively, along with masses of the commoner stuff.

Cheers David

---

With some other posts about lack of Swallows good to see that you're getting some through Woolston, over several dates too. Must be a Cheshire thing because I am seeing reasonable numbers daily on my Marbury CP/Neumann's Flash patch and also seen them most visits recently to Sandbach Flashes. My first for 2014 was some time ago and numbers are now building to OK levels, even seeing them back on Cheshire farms I pass on the way to work and around home

One of those days at Woolston when birds are constantly moving through and you feel like you need eyes in the back of your head. Early on, David Spencer had a Dunlin, a Reed Warbler and 18 Black-necked Grebes. Later in the morning Dave Steel watched 35 Black-tailed Godwitsand 7 Dunlins think about landing before flying on. After lunch I spent a few hours, initially on No.4 bed, where a Ringed Plover and a Dunlin were with 2 Redshanks. Walking off the bed, both Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler were singing and showing well. Then onto No.3 bed, where another Black-tailed Godwit and a Yellow Wagtail dropped onto the scrape in front of the Morgan Hide. Over the lagoon, 75 Swallows, 33 Sand Martins and 5 House Martins were feeding actively, along with masses of the commoner stuff.

Cheers David

A really good Spring morning, covering Nos.1, 2 and 3 beds. Highlights were a pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls, which dropped into No.3 bed at lunchtime, 2 Little Egrets flying south over the same bed, 2 Grasshopper Warblers reported from No.4 bed, a single White Wagtail on the scrape in front of the Morgan Hide, 10 Black-necked Grebes from the same hide and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. Other good counts included: 175 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 18 Blackcaps, 20 Willow Warblers and 38 Chiffchaffs.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird and Les Jones)

A quick couple of hours on No.3 bed this afternoon - 13 Black-necked Grebes (per Dave Hackett), with 8 showing and displaying in front of the Morgan Hide. One Raven flying east, plus 2 House Martins, 5 Swallows and 20 House Martins feeding over the east bank. Raptors were active, too, with 8 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks soaring.

Cheers David

Got down onto No.3 bed early this morning, at 6.00 am and had the Morgan Hide to myself for the first couple of hours. Breakfast highlights were: 1 Ruff, 2 Redshanks, 8 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Snipe, 8 Little Grebes, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 830 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Willow Tits, 3 Swallows and 4 Sand Martins.

I've put a short video of some of the morning's birds onto Youtube, if anyone's interested!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZEm4evDyEA

Cheers David

-- Edited by DavidBowman on Tuesday 8th of April 2014 03:59:11 PM

A morning ringing on No1 bed, a Red-legged Partridge was on the track near No2, on No1 during the morning was 3 Snipe, 1 skiskin and loads of Chiffchaffs

One Little Egret in the NE corner of No. 3 bed this morning. It was only seen in flight from the hide but it could be viewed poorly from the footpath which runs along the the bank of No. 2 bed. Also a few Swallows, Sand Martins and Blackcaps.

09.30-12.30

R.Mersey (Weir Lane-Below S.Hogg hide)

54 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 2 Great CrestedGrebes & a pair of Mute Swans.

Willow Warbler heard singing briefly in Sallows by Weir Lane footbridge. 4 Chiffchaffs singing along East bank of No 2 bed.

No.3

2 immature Marsh Harriers, 1 Buzzard, 4 G.C Grebes, 10 Little Grebes, 6 Black Necked Grebes, 80+ Shovelers, 8 Lapwings, 3 Grey Herons, 6 Shelduck & 1 Cormorant.

The pair of adult Lesser Black Backed Gulls that upset both humans and nesting birds last spring (If it's the same pair) are back, and the Black Headed Gulls showed their displeasure.

An adult Herring Gull though sat amongst the mass of Black Headed Gulls, and they simply ignored it.

Then the whole colony of gulls erupted, and many of the ducks too, high above them a large raptor spiralled down, then landed amongst the reeds, a young Marsh Harrier.

As I was leaving the harrier and another similar bird were flying low above the reeds, and at one point the two engaged in a short aerial fight.

The large flocks of finches that frequented the feeders over the winter have dispersed, no sign of any Willow Tits either, but a pair of Bullfinches turned up.

There were plenty of Peacock butterflies in the sunny areas, plus 4 Small Tortoiseshells, and on Weir Lane a single Comma.

Sadly, I omitted to count the Tufted Duck, Pochard etc, on No.3, but the sheer number of Shovelers was amazing, and more were flying in as I was leaving.

Shoveler was a species that seemed down in numbers at many wetlands over the winter, but today some of the females were trying to escape the advances of upto 7 males at a time.

It was one of those special Spring mornings on No.3 bed, with warm south-easterlies blowing and the chance of some nice migrants. Straight away a single Jack Snipe and an Oystercatcher were flushed by an incoming Grey Heron. Then a Black-tailed Godwit flew onto the Morgan Hide scrape, while a Willow Warbler started singing and a Marsh Harrier flushed 100+ Shovelers and 130 Teal. Eight Black-necked Grebes were showing well, while a couple of Sand Martins passed through and then the morning's highlight was the arrival of two adult Little Gulls, which fed actively in front of the Morgan Hide for the rest of the morning.

Cheers David

A pleasant morning on Nos.1 and 3 beds produced: 5 Black-necked Grebes (possibly 6), 20 Sand Martins, 1 Peregrine, 1 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 9 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Curlew, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Willow Tits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 17 Chiffchaffs and 7 Meadow Pipits along with many commoner species.

Cheers David (with Dave Steel, David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird and Les Jones)

80,000 Starlings at tonights roost, along with 85 Pied Wagtails, 5 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Redshanks, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Water Rails, 7 Little Grebes, 66 Shoveler and 5 Sparrowhawks.

Cheers David (with Al Warford, Jane Cullen and Helen Lacey)

Strolled onto No.3 bed a bit later than usual. Four Black-necked Grebes, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Snipe, 8 Redwings, 3 Common Gulls, 600 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Goldcrest in song and 50 Shoveler were good sighting on a breezy spring morning.

Cheers David

Productive morning with Curlew passage and early return of the first Black Necked Grebes.

Sightings : Black Necked Grebe 2, Curlew 15, Ruddy Duck 2m, Greenfinch 70, Cormorant 3, Buzzard 6, Great Spotted Woodpecker 3, Chaffinch 10, Bullfinch 3, Shoveler 28, Pochard 22, Little Grebe 2, Tufted Duck 50+, Great Crested Grebe 6, Shelduck 20, Greylag Goose 3, Reed Bunting 3, Lapwing 1, Black Headed Gull 400+, LBB Gull 3, Mute Swan 2, Teal 12+.

Alan Warford...with Dave Spencer, Brian Baird & Paul Hazelhurst.

Two Black-necked Grebes on No.3 Bed this morning - reported by David Spencer

Cheers David

Went onto No.3 bed this afternoon to see if any migrants had arrived. No luck but found a Jack Snipe just a few yards from the Morgan Hide. Eleven Common Snipe, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Water Rail and 640 Black-headed Gulls were also noteworthy.

Cheers David

A cracking morning with an early frost before becoming surprisingly warm. Nice sightings for the day included a Marsh Harrier and 2 Ravens on No.3 bed, a pair of Peregrines at the nest site on No.1 bed, Kingfisher and Goldeneyes at the Weir Pool. Additional sightings from the ringing team included: 1 Siskin, 15 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares and 12 Redpolls.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird, Sue Haddock, Ste Dodd and Les Jones)

No.3 bed Starling roost has more than doubled over-night, with an estimated 140,000 going in tonight - really spectacular!. The Pied Wagtail roost held c.100 birds, the regular Barn Owl was hunting the meadow and a Woodcock flushed close by.

Cheers David (with Al and Simon Warford, Melanie Beckford and Sue Haddock)

Last night's No.3 bed Starling roost was still holding c.60,000 birds, with several Sparrowhawks coming in to hunt. 30 Pied Wagtails also came in to roost.

Cheers David

No.3 bed Starling roost much reduced tonight - down to c.60,000. Other sightings of interest included 4 Water Rails (2 seen and 2 heard), 2 Snipe and 1 Tawny Owl (calling)

Cheers David (with David Spencer and Alan Patterson)

The No.3 bed Starling roost was back up towards an estimated 150,000 tonight (pending some more laborious grid-counting of photographs to confirm numbers) with Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier and a couple of Water rails also present.

Cheers David

The No.3 bed Starling roost is still holding together, with maybe 120,000 present tonight. 150 Redwings and a dozen Pied Wagtails also dropped in.

Cheers David

The No.3 bed Starling roost held an conservatively estimated 150,000 birds tonight. Fantastic

Cheers David

On a warm, Spring-like morning we covered the Reserve, from No.3 bed as far as the lane beyond Rixton Paddocks. Some nice sightings included: 1 Goosander (at Bollin Point), 1 Peregrine, 2 Yellowhammers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Siskins, 3 Redpolls, 7 Wigeon, 80 Fieldfares, 6 Redwings, 5 Song Thrushes, 2 Little Grebes, 35 Pochard, 13 Buzzards, 3 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel and 5 Reed Buntings.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Brian Baird, Les Jones and Ste Dodd)

The No.3 bed roost is currently growing nightly. I reckon a minimum of 40,000 birds were present, with 4 Sparrowhawks and a Barn Owl attending the roost. Two Woodcock were flushed as I was leaving the bed.

Cheers David

A really spectacular pre-dusk visit to No.3 bed with the Starling roost having doubled in size to at least 20,000 birds. Attendant predators put on a great show with a male Peregrine, a Kestrel and 4 Sparrowhawks all repeatedly cutting throught the swirling mass. Later on when the light had nearly gone Barn and Tawny Owls slid in to join the feast. 30 Snipe and 16 Pied Wagtails also came in to roost, just as Jupiter and its moons began to show well .

Wildfowl Count day saw us covering Nos. 1,2 and 3 beds, as well as Bollin Point. Totals of interest included: 2 Bramblings, 15 Pink-footed Geese, 13 Snipe, 12,000 Starlings at the No.3 bed roost, 700 Lapwings, 620 Tufted Ducks, 24 Bullfinches, 1 Willow Tit, 1 Redpoll, 250 Teal, 125 Greenfinches and 70 Chaffinches.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Les Jones, Sue Haddock and Ste Dodd)