Marbury Country Park

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

RE: Marbury Country Park

steven burke · Status: Offline

yesterday afternoon just before the rain started & then in the rain.

lots of sand martins were whizzing around budworth mere, a couple of hundred at least & at least 5 swallow.
2 shelduck
2 oystercatcher
2 buzzard
tufted duck, pochard, goldeneye & great crested grebe.
plenty of activity at the feeder in front of the screen, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, coal tit, reed bunting, chaffinch & siskin.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

7.30 - 9.15am Highlights

Big wood
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Male bird watched for 20 minutes Feeding, Drumming and occasionally calling, No sign of a female bird
Great Spotted Woodpecker 4
Nuthatch many
Siskin 4

Budworth Mere
Swallow 10+
Sand Martin 5

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Brief visit to reed bed screen late afternoon. Around 20 Sand Martin flying over and around Budworth Mere and a Kingfisher was seen near Kid Brook Spit.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

News texted to me:

Little Ringed Plover Kid Brook shore and Sand Martin over Budworth Mere, mid afternoon (per D.Hughston).

John Williams · Status: Offline

Big Wood area

Searched for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the area just south of the woodland hide, from paths on both sides of the wood, checking every dead tree, but no sightings.

The birds could be heard, but so too could there bigger cousins. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was tidying up a nest hole on a dead tree stump, whilst her mate chased another

male through the canopy. I'm sure I seen a Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting a hole in this same stump last spring. 3 noisy Nuthatches were in the same area,whilst a Goldcrest flitted

through the brambles. Several Jays, a pair of Stock Doves and a Mistle Thrush were also in the area.

A pair of Great Crested Grebes displayed on the mere, whilst another pair chased of an interloper, I counted 10 grebes in total.

Also on the mere were 3 Shovelers, 3 Pochard, 2 Shelducks and 40+ Tufted Ducks. Kid Brook was dominated by an adult Great Black Backed Gull that was seen chasing Cormorants and

forcing them to give up their catch, a couple of Common Gulls joined in the fun too. 25 Common Gulls were on the mere amongst the mass of Black Headed, but no sign of anything rarer.

At the Coward reedbed end a Kingfisher was giving great views below the screen, whilst a resplendent male Siskin visited the bird table.

A pair of Buzzards patrolled Hopyards Wood and a Goldcrest did "flycatcher" like aerial gnat catching sorties from a bush by the canal bridge.

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming this morning at 7.15am. As I inched forward towards the spot, fifty metres south of the wooden bridge near the woodland hide, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in to investigate and that was that. Neither sight nor sound of its little cousin thereafter. After a 6.15 start, I continued circuiting the general area in Big Wood until 9.15 but, as stated, nothing else.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Just before 7am this morning the female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was calling and showing well by the path that runs alongside Big Wood about 100m south of the slipway at Budworth Mere. The male was heard drumming nearby but not seen. Also a Chiffchaff this morning fly-catching from a hedgerow along the Fisherman's Path on the east side of the mere.

John Wright · Status: Offline

Hi - there were 3 adult summer plumages Mediterranean gulls amongst the black headed flock on Pickmere sat morning 8.00am. Delay in posting as only just signed on for first time.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 14th of March 2016 06:37:02 PM

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

Spent the morning at Marbury - great to meet Doc, Mark and Malc.

Sightings very similar to Doc's post but did pick up the Bittern showing well at around mid-day in the reed bed (not showing earlier), and a female sparrowhawk over the Big Wood. Mediterranean Gulls were great to see and seemed to be sticking together within the group of black headed gulls - thanks to Mark for pointing them out.

Chris

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Down to Marbury CP early doors today, started at 7.15am on a crisp sunny morning, later to become quite warm, layers were shed!!

Good to bump into Chris Sutton and put a face to a name as well as 'old' pals Malc Curtin & Mark Jarrett. Despite lots & lots of searching we drew a blank on the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Plenty of Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, calling and displaying though. Also seen were lots of Nuthatches, a Treecreeper, two Goldcrests, two Siskins, a Redwing and Stock Doves in display flight too.

On Budworth Mere the highlight was two adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gulls on the water out from Kid Brook Spit. Off Fishermans path earlier I had 2 female Goldeneye and a flock of 8 Teal which lifted from the field pools.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 11th of March 2016 05:32:17 PM

Mike Crawley · Status: Offline

Great views of the Bittern at about midday today, in the reeds to the left of the screen/hide.

No sign of the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers though, despite hearing calling and drumming in "Big Wood" listening from the area near Haydn's Pool.
Guess I'll have to go again......

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers today, I had it reported to me that they were near the slipway at 7.46am and that there were 2 Mediterranean Gulls on Budworth Mere (per Twitter).

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

8th March.

Good views of a Bittern at 10.45 hrs for about 45 mins until it hunkered down ... in the reed-bed to the left of the screen.

Roger.

Nev Wright · Status: Offline

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker crossed Marbury Lane, just as walking up towards the park from Haydn's Pool, about 11.25 smile

Dipped on Bittern cry

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Had an email that the Bittern showed well again late afternoon in Coward Reedbed, two Kingfishers were pretty showy too smile

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

I missed the Bittern by 5 minutes having been distracted by some Redpolls

At least 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers

Nuthatch, Treecreepers, and Siskins but no Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers :(

A few Redwing still hanging about, but Oystercatcher and Curlew prove that Spring is on its way.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Bittern showing this morning in Coward reedbed
Flew 50m from the left hand side into the reedbed at the back then took up a classic upright you can't see me stance for a minute or so then hunkers down out of view, well worth the 1.5 hr wait.
Also of note
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Siskin 5
Nuthatch 3
Treecreeper

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

The Bittern was showing well again in the Coward Reedbed at Budworth Mere all morning and early afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull appeared amongst a mass of Black-headed Gulls which arrived onto the mere. Also 3 Oystercatchers and c50 Curlew today. No sign however of the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers seen in Big Wood yesterday.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

The Bittern was showing well in the reedbed this evening before being bombarded by a roost of around 200,000 Starlings . The murmuration built up from around 5.15pm and was as usual a spectacular sight. Once the main flock had flown into the reedbed birds were still pouring in from the west for at least another 15 minutes. By the time they had all roosted, the entire reedbed was black, covered by what looked like an oil slick. There were so many that they were even covering the bushes in front of the hide. I've never seen so many roosting at the mere before.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

At Budworth Mere the Bittern was showing well this morning in Coward Reedbed from the screen. The first Dunlin of the year was feeding on the shoreline near Kid Brook along with 2 Oystercatchers, and 5 Wigeon. The Pink-footed Goose is still with the Canadas and a female Goldeneye was off the sailing club (all per Greg Baker).

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Bittern showed well, albeit for only five minutes or so, at 12.55 today, over to left of Coward Reedbed. Was visible with naked eye before bunkering down and then proving to be elusive thereafter.

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Doc Brewster wrote:

On the way to town shopping, with a slight diversion, spent the morning at Marbury CP. Had the company of lots of great folk, including Forum regular Mark Jarrett, good to meet at last mate
Arriving at 9am it took a good two hours plus, standing in the cold with my toes getting more & more numb before the Bittern put in an appearance. As it just clambered up into view I called out to all assembled & great views were had by all. All that is except Mark, who sadly left the site only 10 minutes earlier with those immortal words - "now I'm leaving, the bird will show". This must be the first time ever for me that this has come true, but it did, luckily Mark was one of the initial finders of the bird on the day it arrived before New Year, but it was still a real shame he missed it. Also present were a good count of 25 Pochard (20 drakes), 1-2 Ravens overhead and a Kingfisher.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 19th of February 2016 02:13:54 PM

As they used to say on the Fast Show...."bugger!"

Nice to meet you at long last, Doc!

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

On the way to town shopping, with a slight diversion, spent the morning at Marbury CP. Had the company of lots of great folk, including Forum regular Mark Jarrett, good to meet at last mate smile

Arriving at 9am it took a good two hours plus, standing in the cold with my toes getting more & more numb before the Bittern put in an appearance. As it just clambered up into view I called out to all assembled & great views were had by all. All that is except Mark, who sadly left the site only 10 minutes earlier with those immortal words - "now I'm leaving, the bird will show". This must be the first time ever for me that this has come true, but it did, luckily Mark was one of the initial finders of the bird on the day it arrived before New Year, but it was still a real shame he missed it. Also present were a good count of 25 Pochard (20 drakes), 1-2 Ravens overhead and a Kingfisher.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 19th of February 2016 02:13:54 PM

Northwich Birder · Status: Offline

Doc Brewster wrote:
Northwich Birder wrote:
There were two drake Goldeneye on Pickmere last Sunday about 1400 showing very well just by the Boardwalk on the Southern side of the mere. The one you spotted at Budworth could have been one of these.
Wasn't me, was Greg Baker, I acknowledged him in the post, just don't wanna take credit!!

Apologies Doc (and Greg!). I'm fairly new to the forum and hadn't followed the trail of posts.

Best view of Goldeneye we've had without a scope. They were so close in.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Had a text to say that the Bittern was showing in Coward Reedbed at Marbury CP this afternoon (per R.Richards)

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Northwich Birder wrote:
There were two drake Goldeneye on Pickmere last Sunday about 1400 showing very well just by the Boardwalk on the Southern side of the mere. The one you spotted at Budworth could have been one of these.

Wasn't me, was Greg Baker, I acknowledged him in the post, just don't wanna take credit!! wink

Northwich Birder · Status: Offline

There were two drake Goldeneye on Pickmere last Sunday about 1400 showing very well just by the Boardwalk on the Southern side of the mere. The one you spotted at Budworth could have been one of these.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The Bittern was seen in the Coward Reedbed from the reedbed screen this morning early on (per Dave Hughston)

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Hope Greg won't mind me relaying a noteworthy sighting from yesterday smile

A drake Goldeneye was on Budworth Mere, once common in the past this is now an uncommon sight here of recent times (per Greg Baker).

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

After a couple of days of not being seen or reported the drake Green-winged Teal has been showing all day today on Neumann's Flash again smile

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

News this morning of a female Mandarin at Marbury CP on Budworth Mere near the boathouse and a Black-tailed Godwit in with the Curlews on the fields on the far side of the mere near Kid Brook (all per Greg Baker).

John Williams · Status: Offline

1.30-2.30pm

Spent an hour at the screen to see if the Bittern emerged, but not a glimpse.

From the screen 12 Great Crested Grebes were visible and a single Kingfisher flew across the mere.

steven burke · Status: Offline

was here yesterday 5th dec 2-4.10pm...

no sign of the bittern even when the many of thousands of starlings came down into the reeds, a rough estimate of at least 8000+ however 2 sparrowhawks paid a lot of interest in the starlings with one of them catching one & landing on the path about 40 yds from the screen.
1 raven, over
1 jay
1 kingfisher
27 tufted duck
1 pochard
14 gadwall
8 great crested grebe
2 nuthatch
1 treecreeper
1 siskin
4 lapwing
40+ curlew
water rail heard

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Diverting from a frozen Neumann's Flash to Marbury CP paid dividends as the first wintering Bittern put in an appearance in Coward reedbed. The Bittern flew in at 11.50 and after being out of view for ten or fifteen minutes, then showed briefly before disappearing again. Overall, quite a productive morning with plenty of species seen and much activity. Amongst others :-

Bittern (1)
Little Grebe (1)
Great crested Grebe
Cormorant
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan (3)
Wigeon
Gadwall (4)
Teal
Shoveler (3)
Pochard (1)
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye (2)
Buzzard (1)
Kingfisher (2)
Green Woodpecker (1)
Great spotted Woodpecker (2)
Grey Wagtail (1)
Redwing (c.50)
Nuthatch
Treecreeper (1)
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Good rest

No sign of the Whooper Swan that has recently been frequenting both Neumann's and Budworth Mere.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Report from Marbury CP this morning:

4 Ruff were feeding on the shoreline by Kid Brook spit at the mere this morning along with 63 Curlew (per Greg Baker).

Lawrence Hindley · Status: Offline

Large flock of 20+ Goldcrests moving through woods next to the mere this morning at 8.30am
1 Treecreeper
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker

John Williams · Status: Offline

12.00-14.30

Small flocks of Redwings were resting in highest treetops along Marbury Lane.

Budworth Mere

9 adult + 1 juv Great Crested Grebes, 18 Tufted Ducks, 5 Wigeon and 1f Goldeneye.

With the exception of the mass of Canada Geese on the meadows opposite, I was surprised at the low numbers of waterfowl.

Large numbers of gulls gathered around Kid Brook though, mainly Black Headed, but with a few Common and Lesser Black Backs too.

I counted 18 Siskins feeding in one of the big mereside Alders, but when they flushed many more small finches erupted from adjoining trees too.

2 Mistle Thrushes were on the cattle pasture nearest the canal, I rarely fail to find this species here.

-- Edited by John Williams on Wednesday 4th of November 2015 11:11:09 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

09.00-10.20

A large aerial gathering of Swallows and House Martins were over the Western end of the Budworth Mere, they slowly moved off, heading SW.

11 Great Crested Grebes were on the mere, whilst around Kid Brook were 80 Greylag Geese, with 1000+ Canada Geese spread along the North bank.

8 Mistle Thrushes feasted on Rowan berries, and chased off a Woodpigeon that tried to join them. 1 Song Thrush feeding lower down the same tree though was tolerated.

1 highly vocal Buzzard was flying just above the trees, and chasing off a small flock of Jackdaws.

As at Neumanns, the only butterflies were Speckled Woods, which were plentiful around the brambles.

Graham Smith · Status: Offline

4 Artic tern
plenty of Great crested grebe young

steven burke · Status: Offline

post for yesterday 7th june, highlights...

1 garden warbler, 2 more heard
4 treecreeper
7 nuthatch
3 great spotted woodpecker
2 goldcrest
2 shelduck
2 stock dove
blackcap, whitethroat, chiffchaff, willow warbler
buzzard, grey heron, tufted duck, great crested grebe
swift, swallow, house martin.
plus all the usuals around.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Late morning

Budworth Mere

Large numbers of mixed hirundines & swifts over the mere. 8 Great Crested Grebes.

Entertainment was provided by a highly territorial Mute Swan trying to chase away 60+ Canada & Greylag Geese near Kid Brook.

The geese looked flustered but certainly were'nt being moved on by a single swan, eventually the swan gave up and moved away, but still looking in a ferocious mood.

There were 8 Tufted Duck resting on the meadow on the North bank, quite away from the water, had the swan harassed them too?.

2 Mistle Thrushes were on the cattle pasture, and I witnessed an irate Song Thrush chase away a Grey Squirrel in big wood.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The drake Garganey was gain on the mere today smile

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

The drake Garganey seen recently at Haydn's Pool was this morning feeding off Kid Brook spit on Budworth Mere. Also a Hobby over the mere, no doubt attracted by the hordes of hirundines. In Big Wood the first Spotted Flycatcher here this year was showing well above the main footpath just before the T-junction with the sign to Hopyard's Wood.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

A Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper on Kid Brook spit this morning. Hundreds of hirundines over the mere with the majority today being Swallows, but interestingly no Swifts. A Grey Wagtail was briefly at the slipway along the mereside path whilst the developing scrub area behind here continues to be a good area to hear and watch Blackcaps and Garden Warblers with at least 4 of the latter on territory.

Yesterday the first Cuckoo of the Spring was heard along Marbury Lane and from behind the ranger's cabins early morning but it seems to have moved on.

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-12.00

I located the singing Garden Warblers by the "triangle", what I sure were two separate birds showed briefly in the clearing on the mere side of the path.
One was still singing whilst he perched on a dead willowherb stem, but the real virtuoso performance was being given from the big nearby oak.
Even though this tree was just coming into leaf, finding the warbler amongst the foliage was near impossible.
Elsewhere in the park, the wind and odd heavy shower kept bird sightings to a minimum.
A huge flock of mixed hirudines fed low over the mere though, they were mainly House Martins, with lesser numbers of Swallows and only a few Sand Martins.

Except for a couple of Canada Geese, Kid Brook appeared birdless, I dog walker was nearby and I'm sure he'd cleared the birds.

There was just 1 Cormorant, 4 Great Crested Grebes plus a few Tufted Duck and Gadwall on the mere.

There were no Mistle Thrushes on the pasture either, although 2 Buzzards were circling above it.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

This morning, a Cuckoo calling on Marbury Lane, near the park entrance (per V.Lundy, M.Curtin).

Yesterday there were up to 4 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin and a Whimbrel on the mereside shore. There was a Lesser Whitethroat and 4 White Wagtails by the sailing club. 31 Swifts were over the mere mid morning (all per G.Baker).

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 5th of May 2015 11:16:20 AM

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Sightings this morning from the FoAM bird walk included:

1 Arctic Tern flyng slowly east over the mere at 10.15 but then it or another briefly seen again at 10.25
3 Whimbrel
2 Oystercatchers
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Tawny Owl
6 Swift
c150 House Martins - easily outnumbering Sand Martins by midday
4 Garden Warblers
9 Blackcap
4 Whitethroat
1 Sedge Warbler
8 Reed Warbler
1 Raven

-- Edited by Greg Baker on Saturday 2nd of May 2015 01:55:07 PM

-- Edited by Greg Baker on Saturday 2nd of May 2015 01:56:00 PM

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

A striking male Whinchat was in fields by the sailing club at Budworth Mere early afternoon. Also at least 1 Swift over the mere and 4 Garden Warblers in the scrub by the mere at the country park.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

The female Common Scoter was still on Budworth Mere this morning. Also a Little Grebe and Common Sandpiper near Kid Brook spit and around 500 Sand Martins feeding low over the water, with just single Swallow and House Martin with them. A Garden Warbler was showing well by the slipway with another singing from the scrubby area behind the main mere path.

-- Edited by Greg Baker on Thursday 30th of April 2015 02:54:07 PM