Lesser Whitethroat singing from a hedge bordering the fields behind Brook Cottage for the past two evenings. Only one Whitethroat territory in the same area (had 3+ last year). The Mandarin Ducks still fly-by occasionally. Male and female Kestrel seen foraging along the fields near Poolfields Woods in the last four days. Numerous Swifts have been seen at various spots along the B5074 from the village to Reaseheath College for the past week.

The pair of Mandarin Ducks are still hanging around Eel Brook/River Weaver around the village. Several sightings/fly-bys at dusk since they were first seen on 9th April. Earlier in April, the pair could be seen at dusk foraging amongst stubble and flooded pools with pairs of Mallard on the field between Brook Cottage and Poolfields Woods. Pair of Tawny Owls also conspicuous around the village on most evenings. Lot of Badger and Fox activity recently

A pair of Mandarin Duck feeding at the bottom of our lawn at Brook Cottage, next to Eel Brook at 6.05pm this afternoon ....unreal! Photographed badly by my wife!
They appear to be roosting somewhere nearby along Eel Brook as we've had a couple of short fly by's this evening

Great views of a pair of Tawny Owls signing on the top of telegraph poles along the road just beyond Brook Cottage at dusk last night

Buzzards vocal all day today around the village and along S/U canal between bridge 13-21
The first Swallows of the year - a pair at Old Hoolgrave Farm and another see along the S/U canal near Winboldslet Grange
Skylarks x2 seen signing from the fields opposite bridge 16 along S/U canal
Lapwings displaying in the fields near bridge 20
Blackcap singing at Brook Cottage this afternoon

Five Golden Plover on the second field behind Village Farm at 1.45pm this afternoon.

Tawny Owls have been vocal around the village all week.

Great views of a Kingfisher on Eel Brook at Brook Cottage this morning. Large flocks of Starlings and Fieldfares sighted from several fields near the village. Last week there was a single Green Sandpiper seen on the flooded stubble fields before Poolfield Woods.

A fairly quiet few weeks. In recent days Sparrowhawk and Buzzard have been seen almost daily (both hunting around the bird feeders!). The odd 'screech' form the Tawny Owls near Brook Cottage just after dusk. Still large numbers of Redwing around. Snipe has been seen and heard flying/calling around dusk over the last 5 days. Bird vocal activity also increasing - Great and Blue Tits, Dunnocks all singing this weekend. No sign of the Tree Sparrows for a few weeks.

There's also a decent sized Pied Wagtail roost on the small traffic island right bang in the middle of High Street road, Nantwich, just outside the B&M Store

-- Edited by Huw Lloyd on Monday 26th of January 2015 12:33:59 PM

Two male Tree Sparrows on the feeders this morning

Flocks of 20-50 Fieldfares seen in the neighbourhood in last 10 days
Redwing flocks seen/heard also around the village
Lot of Tawny Owl and Buzzard activity in last three weeks
Skylarks have been quite conspicuous and vocal in last two weeks

Good raptor weekend

Yesterday a pair of Hobbies flying/hawking high over the village
Also good views of the usual two pairs of Buzzards

Today a female Kestrel along the trial behind Brook Cottage to Poolfield Woods
And the Buzzards again

Tawny Owls have been vocal throughout the week in the first three hours after dusk

Some additional sightings from today

Good views of a Kingfisher at Canal Bridge 12 along the SUCanal, just passed Eardswick Wood
Flock of 200+ Goldfinches in the woodland edge/scrub in the fields immediately south of Eardswick Wood overlooking the Weaver


A note of caution for birders/dog-walkers/hikers in the area - a new electric fence has been erected and is positioned dangerously close to the stile, alongside (bordering) the public footpath as you enter Eardswick Wood from Church Minshull village.

Some recent sightings from last 10 days or so:

Tawny Owls were very vocal last night around 1pm (the usual 3 suspects). Possibly another pair heard last week in the distance somewhere near Old Hoolgrave Farm
Kestrel x1 seen hovering around Brook Cottage last Thursday afternoon
Buzzards x2 pairs several sightings around the village in last two weeks
Grey Heron x1 quite conspicuous along the Weaver and village last week

Last weekend there was a noticeable increase in gull numbers and activity around the United Utilities water plant near Reaseheath College approx. 150 gulls. They would also fly over the village at dusk (Friday-Saturday last weekend) heading north-west

Several fly-overs by Cormorants (between 1-3 individuals) in the last 5 days at different times of the day, all heading south-east over the village

Great views of three Tawny Owls over last two consecutive nights around Brook Cottage - from 21.50pm to 10.30pm

Sparrowhawk soaring over Minshulls, yesterday afternoon at 2.30pm, constantly mobbed by House Martins

Sparrowhawk seen yesterday at Brook Cottage at 16.20pm
Lot of Buzzard activity around the village and neighbouring fields in recent days
Tawny Owls heard calling again around midnight on Thursday 24th

Around village many sightings in recent days of usual common species:

Stock Dove (x2 pairs)
Collard Dove
Wood Pigeon
Swallow
House Martin
Swift (only one or two pairs)
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Great spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch
Blackcap
Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Wren
Robin
Mistle Thrush
Song Thrush
Blackbird
No sightings of Lapwing or Skylark for three weeks
Regular evening 'fly-overs' by Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser BB Gull, Grey Heron, occasional Cormorant, Mallard

Tawny Owls singing around Brook Cottage at 2am this morning
Yesterday several Buzzards (x3 pairs) over the village

Two Tawny Owl's calling around Brook Cottage/Village Farm at 11pm last night.

Several sightings of Buzzards in recent days around the village
Reed Bunting x3 in a small patch of pampas reed growing amongst the hedgerows between Poolfield Woods and Brook Cottage
Three recently fledged Blackbirds seen along public path behind Village Farm yesterday

Single Barn Owl hunting over fields next to Brook Cottage at 21.20pm this evening

One Kingfisher seen along the Shropshire Union Canal near "Bridge 11", just passed the white sign for the Badger Inn (its the bridge along the track between Old Hoolgrave Farm and High Farm)

Buzzards x3 pairs - two of these pairs were calling and displaying
Numerous Whitethroat, Blackcap, House Martin, Swallow and other common garden birds along the route
Red-legged Partridge x1 on the road just passed Wades Green