A House Martin, 2 Swallows and around 200 Sand Martins over the mere this morning. Also present 2 Shelduck, 47 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Grey Wagtail and an overhead Raven.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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......
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).
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
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.
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.
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).
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.
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
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
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.
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!!
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.
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).
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
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 :-
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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