New in this morning were 4 Goldeneye, 2 males and 2 females. The females were right up against the north bank, east of the bay to the east of Kid Brook Spit. I didnt notice the males until later as they were at the far east end of the Mere, in front of the sailing club. Other than that, pretty much as it has been over the last couple of weeks although 25 Cormorant were noteworthy.
Plus Mallard, Coot, Grey Heron, Cormorant etc and other usuals. Small flock of Long tailed Tit with a separate Tit flock in Coward reed bed where Water Rail was heard. I have looked, several times, for the Bittern that was seen on 11 October, without luck. Presume it has moved on and was just prospecting for a suitable over wintering spot.
An hour and a half this morning from the slipway, then the screen hide, amongst others :-
Goosander (5) Tufted Duck (c.20) Great Crested Grebe (c.70) Water Rail (1) Lapwing (c.20) Curlew (c.30) Kingfisher (1)
Four of the Goosander were fresh in and appeared to be 3 adult females and a 2CY male. The other Goosander that has been around since 21 October was again present but stayed away from the others. Having read up on the ageing, sexual maturity and moult timings of this species, I feel that the lone bird may well also be a 2CY male. Thought originally to perhaps be simply an adult male in eclipse. Interesting stuff and not at all easy to get to grips with.
One and a half hours this morning from 9.45 in fine but dull weather.
Not too much happening. Of note, a Little Egret back to the Kid Brook Spit area, two Little Grebe close in to the north east shoreline and a Cettis Warbler calling from Coward Reed Bed. Some of the Tufted Duck appear to have dispersed but Great Crested Grebe numbers remain high at around the seventy mark. Very pleasing is the number of Cettis Warbler now on the full Marbury Patch, which encompasses Anderton Nature Park, Marbury Country Park plus the Neumanns & Ashtons Flashes. The first Cettis was recorded, I think, in January 2017 and we now reckon there are up to eleven territories. I also know of a further three just off patch.
Two and a half hours this morning from 9am in fine and pleasant weather.
Grey Heron (4) Green Sandpiper (2) Lapwing (c.25) Curlew (120) Tufted Duck (c.50) Great Crested Grebe (min 70) Little Grebe (1) Grey Wagtail (1) Kingfisher (1) Water Rail (1) Cettis Warbler (1)
Plus the Geese and other usuals.
We now have one less Coot on the Mere. A beautifully coloured, large fox appeared behind Kid Brook Spit. It moved amongst the waterfowl on the grassy shoreline before attempting to go for a Greylag Goose which avoided it. It then missed a Coot before turning 180 degrees and homing in on another unfortunate Coot at blistering pace. We can spare one..
Just over two hours this afternoon from 2.30pm. Weather fine and cool after raining all morning.
Pretty much as it has been over the last few days. The Little Egret had returned, feeding in the bay to the west of Kid Brook Spit. Two Little Grebe were seen east of East Bay, Great Crested Grebe numbers still well up and 89 Tufted were noted at the west end of Budworth Mere with the male Pochard still in with them.
Highlight was an early returning Bittern that flew into Coward Reed Bed just before 4pm. Very early, the first Bittern usually returns well into November, so well see if this one stays.
Common Tern present for a quarter of an hour this morning before departing. Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and singles of Shoveler and Little Grebe also around. Otherwise fairly quiet apart from the usuals.
A couple of hours down at Budworth Mere this morning in pleasant weather, firstly viewing from the slipway, then the screen hide.
Three Egyptian Geese feeding on the bank to the right of KBS were a surprise. Nothing else of note on or around the Spit other than four Curlew and a couple of Stock Dove. An eclipse male Mandarin swam towards the west end of the Mere, tagging on to a group of Mallard. Five Little Grebe were present as was the juvenile male Pochard, still in with the Tufted Duck flock.
Juvenile Black Tern found this morning by Greg Baker along with a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull that was associating with a newly in influx of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A Kingfisher flew past the slipway as I was waiting (in vain) for the tern to come a little closer. Heavily cropped photos attached.
In the absence of anything interesting on Kid Brook Spit, decided to do a full count on Budworth Mere, 10.00- 12.00, weather sunnyish and fairly warm :-
Mute Swan (7) Cormorant (2) Grey Heron (3) Coot (287) Moorhen (5) Canada Goose (49) Greylag Goose (2) Common Gull (2) Black-headed Gull (102) Great Crested Grebe (48) Mallard (157) Tufted Duck (45) Pochard (1) Curlew (4) Lapwing (24) Redshank (1) Little Ringed Plover (2) Swallow (35) House Martin (20) Sand Martin (35)
Spent an hour and a half at Budworth Mere this morning in intermittent weather with two deluges. A juvenile Little Egret was present around Kid Brook Spit. Eight Black-tailed Godwit dropped in after the second deluge, feeding on the grass bank amongst the goose flock. There were a minimum of one hundred and fifty hirundines over the Mere, mainly House Martin. Two Little Grebe at the western end of the Mere.
-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Tuesday 13th of August 2019 01:23:23 PM
The juvenile Black-necked Grebe, found by Greg Baker earlier this morning, was still around when I ventured down to Budworth Mere at around 9.30. Common Sandpiper in the bay west of Kid Brook Spit, otherwise quiet. Water levels high after recent rain, with very little mud exposed around the spit and the two bays.
Forty five minutes this morning viewing Kid Brook Spit from the slipway, weather dull with a few spots of rain. Common Sandpiper in the bay to the west of the spit, a minimum of 120 Lapwing on the spit and a minimum of 250 House Martin above Budworth Mere along with other hirundines. A few return passage Little Ringed Plover have passed through over the last ten days or so but none today.
Half an hour mid morning viewing Kid Brook Spit from the slipway in warm and sunny weather. A Common Sandpiper was joined by two Common Tern. A Dunlin was present yesterday morning. Otherwise quiet.
Found a Little Stint on Kid Brook Spit early afternoon. Also, just left of the spit, found what I initially thought was a female Garganey, preening then sleeping. The bird was receiving mixed reviews (Garganey/fem Teal/Hybrid) so GB and I went to the edge of the woodland via the boardwalk for better views. Pretty much sure now that its either an early moulting adult male Garganey or a first summer male Garganey.
Black Tern found this morning on Budworth Mere (GB) along with an Arctic Tern and four Common Tern. As the day progressed, numbers increased and peaked with one Black Tern, a minimum of two Arctic Tern and around twenty Common Tern. By 6.30pm the Black Tern was still present with both Arctic and five Common. A Yellow Wagtail was by the Fishermans Path (MC).
An hour at the slipway, mid afternoon, hoping for Terns but to no avail. Very quiet all round although after initially finding only four Oystercatcher on Kid Brook Spit, I then picked up on two Little Ringed Plover before a Greenshank flew in from the east. It landed east of the Spit and, looking edgy, flew off high to the east. Luckily, it flew back in, calling and settled in its original area and was still there when I left. Garden Warbler singing loudly at Garden Warbler Corner.
The Little Gull finally arrived this afternoon, found by MT, with Budworth Mere having been watched for some considerable time now. Three adults in summer plumage, one 2CY in mainly 1stW plumage and a near adult still showing some 2ndW characteristics. Two Wheatear were showing reasonably well from the Fisherman's Path.
Kid Brook Spit from the slipway. Two hours from 9.30 in sunnyish and cold conditions.
Common Sandpiper (1) Green Sandpiper (2) Little Ringed Plover (3) Oystercatcher (2) Curlew (3) Yellow Wagtail (1) White Wagtail (2) Pied Wagtail (10) Sand Martin (c.500) House Martin (2) Swallow (3)
Several Blackcap on the mereside path along with a couple of Willow Warbler. All the usuals on the Mere, Great-crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Teal, Grey Heron etc. Nice to see the first Yellow Wagtail of the season. Wagtail passage was pretty poor last year so lets hope for an improvement this time around.
Early evening, five Little Ringed Plover on or around Kid Brook Spit, Budworth Mere. One of the patchers (DH) had a Common Sandpiper on the Spit this morning but that would now appear to have moved on. Still no Little Gull or Terns.
Viewing Kid Brook Spit this morning from the slipway produced a male Wheatear on the grass just behind the shoreline together with a Little Ringed Plover and a good candidate for a White Wagtail. Reasonably sure it was but scoping at a distance of a third of a mile is difficult with a bird of that size. All the usuals around including Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker and multiple Blackcap.
A singing male Blackcap by the Bittern Screen had succeeded in attracting a female.
A pair of Goldcrests were seen together in Big Wood, one of them carrying nesting material.
A couple of House Martins flew across Marbury Lane heading West, whilst hundreds of Sand Martins flew low over Budworth Mere.
30 Curlew and a couple of Oystercatchers were on the meadow by Kid Brook.
A couple of Mistle Thrushes were on the cattle pasture, whilst another was seen in Big Wood.
5 Great Crested Grebes were on the mere.
Amongst 30+ Tufted Ducks on the mere was a female with not only a prominent white patch at the base of he bill, but also a perfectly smooth round head,
however her dark saddle was clearly evident too. She was the same size as the others , and also clearly dating a Tufted drake.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 2nd of April 2019 09:22:21 PM
Spent around an hour and a quarter, from 17.45 hrs, on the Fishermans Path. Two Little Ringed Plover over on Kid Brook Spit together with a few Lapwing and a couple of Curlew. A minimum of 150 Sand Martin over Budworth Mere with at least two Swallow. One or two Pied Wagtail on both the Spit and in the fields by the Fishermans Path but unfortunately no White or Yellow. First thing this morning, Greg Baker found two Male Wheatear in the fields south of nearby Marston Hall Farm.
-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Monday 1st of April 2019 07:52:20 PM
Around 70 Sand Martin over Budworth Mere this morning. Also 3 Goosander present on the Mere with 3 Gadwall, several each of Great crested Grebe and Tufted Duck. Approx 75 Curlew in the field behind Kid Brook Spit with a Little Egret on the Spit itself. Good numbers of Chiffchaff singing away, in addition Greg B had a Blackcap. Yesterday, a looped walk around Anderton Nature Park produced 16 Chiffchaff and a Cettis Warbler near Cardens Ferry Bridge.