A very mangy dog fox has been hanging around for several days, however mink sightings here have been more common and this remains a possibility. Mute and Black Swans, Redshank and Lapwing young have all been predated recently. Breeding success generally appears to be poor this year.

With regard to the Black Swan - someone apparently saw the male BS shaking a Mute cygnet, hence there is a revenge attack theory. Not sure I buy this - I personally think either the Mink or the Fox is responsible for the cygnets disappearing.

Very sad end to the Stilt chick.

Having watched the birds since they arrived on 25th April sad to report that one of the local birders, who I have become friendly with, reports that the Stilts are no longer present on Neumans They believe that the young one has been taken by a fox that somehow evaded the electric fence and that the adults have flown off.

P.S.
The Black Swan chicks have also apparently been finished off by the male Mute Swan.

-- Edited by sid ashton at 21:20, 2008-06-22

Just had a very pleasant afternoon watching the Stilts. The little one is doing well and looks to be getting very brave scurrying around without mum or dad.

The Black Swans and Signets are doing well over on Haydn's Pool.

Also on view:

Little Greeb and Chicks
Reed Warblers & Reed Buntings collecting food for the young.

All in all a very good way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

AG

Been over to Neumans twice today - the chick seems very perky and growing apace - parents are around most of the time but the little bloke/ bloke-ess looks vulnerable. Lets hope he/she gets through "childhood"

Had a good time. Saw it from Hide 2,, on Neumann's Flash, and then walked round to the path opposite where the RSPB had a stall with scopes set up,along with other birders. We saw both adults, and the one young. The adults flew around, so that was great.

We called at Haydns Pool on the way in, and saw Ruddy Duck ,Oyster Catcher,Lapwing and the other stuff.

Also saw quite a number of Reed Warblers on the reeds by the path in.

Buzzards, and House Martins also around.

A GS Woodpecker obliged by perching on the fench.

Geoff

-- Edited by Geoff Walton at 15:47, 2008-06-05

"We three" are off to have a look tomorrow(Fri), so hope to report back.

Geoff

Just come back from an extremely wet visit to see The Black-winged Stilt,with my Birding Class headed by Peter Baron and it was well worth getting drenched for.
The male proved himself to be a great dad by chasing off any Coots that came nearby the nest,he spent his time feeding and preening,then he took off and flew around for a few minutes that gave us all fabulous views of his long legs(l'm quite envious even though they are red,compared to the ones l've got!!).The female was up and around,no sign of their chick but sure it's still there as once the rain began to fall quite heavily she returned to her nest and stayed there.
What a beautiful,elegant bird......love it

Visited this morning, excellent views of both adults and, worryingly, only one chick.
Cheers Ian

news out today that the b w stilts eggs have hatched with up to 3 young in the nest

paid a visit today and got
cracking views of one of the stilts from the path going down to
the hide
at hadyns pool
we had cuckoo, 2 bl swans still with 2 cyg plus all the usual
been to marberry before but never to neumans cracking place to visit

If you do go to haydns, see if you can spot the ravens' nest from the hide on the distant ici building. You can easily make a day of it by following the road west to the marbury park car park, then go on to the hide overlooking the mere, before heading back through big wood and over the canal, through dairy house meadows and round the other side of the flashes. Plenty to see, and other rarities do turn up!

Should mention that if anyone is going to see the BWSs it's worth going over to Haydns pool to see the Black Swan chicks - sadly only two appear to be left, also Greenshank and Little Ringed plover. The latter two also present on Ashtons and Neumans with the BWSs

There is little threat from humans nearing the nest since the area is surounded by deep ooze and anyone attempting the crossing would be exremely foolish.

The birds are still brilliant - I was there at 0600 today (3rd visit) and watched a nest change over.

All has been revealed on BBC News North West just now.

14/05/08 2 Stilts and a Little Stint

also pair of Garganey on Hadyn Pool

I am going to volunteer Warfy Junior.

The way he fearlessly fought off the local youth's and dog walkers while I finished shopping with Mrs Riggers and made the quick trip to Elton to twitch the Knot was above and beyond the call of duty-well done that man!

Egg thiefs beware he will be on your case

Widely discussed on the Focalpoint forum for weeks now .

Also it's a bit difficult to ask for volunteers for guard duty if you don't disclose what you are guarding !

No we did not know but every EGG COLLECTOR in the North west knows now!!!!!

lets make life more difficult for anyone trying to keep them safe?

As we all know, the stilts are nesting. The RSPB have already installed electric fox fencing, and are starting a volunteer watch shortly.

Anyone who can spare any time at all, please contact Amy Crowther of the RSPB 01484 868431 or Amy.Crowther@rspb.org.uk

Still there today - getting jiggy as they say.
Discussed endlessly on another forum so I'm not divulging anything new.

No great surprises that the RSPB are lining up an electric fence, volunteers etc.

Also 3 Black Swan cygnets,
Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler etc.

2 BW Stilt commuting between Ashtons and Neumans flash. Present on Neumans at 1400 on the smaller of the two islands.

also whimbrel and LRP

stilts still there 6.30pm lifer for me also had 12 wimbrel at 3.30pm ish.
nuemans flash had 1 dunlin,1 little ringed plover ,5 shellducks, 4 redshank,1 buzzard ,4 lapwings.
great place to visit just missed a garden warbler and a lesser whitethroat but who cares with bwstilts about.

Still there this afternoon, on the adjoining flash; Ashton's Flash. They were mainly at the SW corner. Also a larger/brighter female Wheatear; Greenland I presume. 1 Swift, 9 Whimbrels over and also a Peregrine flying west.
Went on to Sandbach and saw 21 Blk T Godwit, 1 Common Sand, 2 LRP, a few Wigeon, a male Shoveler, Oystercatchers, Lapwings etc. Also, Tree Sparrows from the viewing/feeding area.

Phil Greenwood.

they were said to be mating yesterday and were definately sticking together this morning. also of note in the area- loads of singing blackcaps, whitethroats, chiffchaffs and willow warblers, 2 lesser whitethroats, nest building linnets and mippits, greylags on eggs, lrps, redshanks, sedge warblers, green and great spotted woodpeckers, calling cuckoo and water rail, displaying sparrow hawk and buzzards galore. marbury park had drumming great spots, loads of singing goldcrests and whitethroats, common sandpiper, sand martins and swallows, mute swan nest, a pair of stock doves checking the tree-holes, plenty of action around the heronry and well-worn badger paths through the bluebells. hadyns pool had an incubating oystercatcher, sedge and reed warbs, ***** ducks, dabchicks and distant views of the nesting ravens on the ici building. the pair of nesting black swans here now have 5 (wild) cygnets. strongly recomend a visit if you havent already been here. its a beautiful place with so many different habitats and species

You too Sid,

I got out of my car and thought I would ask this guy with a scope about the Black Winged Stilts and it happened to be the one and only Sid Ashton!!

Nice to meet you and hope to see you around again soon!!.

Cheers

Phil

Two Black winged Stilts present 15.30 - according to several birders present they are a pair - not sure how they knew but we shall see!! Also 2 Sandwich Tern, LRP and single Dunlin. No Swifts present during time at flash.
Nice to meet Phil Owen out of town!!!

-- Edited by sid ashton at 03:42, 2008-04-27

Still there at 11:45 Saturday.

Also LRP, Swifts and someone reported a Lesser Whitethroat so it looks like the migrants are flooding in.

I couldn't net one, but I did try some whispering "venture north, venture north" - to no avail - settled down and trying to breed there from what I could see!

I believe Mr and Mrs Adderley left the county today to see these little beasties, lets hope Rob used his net and brought one back
keep birding

2 or 3 at Neumann's Flash, Northwich