Post-patch I bobbed down to Marbury CP where on Budworth Mere were 2 summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebes. A great find by Dave Bedford they showed well but ranged over quite a large area at the Boatclub end of the mere. Also at this end were 3 adult winter Little Gulls and 2 Sand Martins. An excellent haul of species for a flying visit.
Three hours this morning from 9.20, weather fine with sunny spells and light winds, 4-6*c. Usual walk from the Bittern Hide, along the Mereside Path, into Big Wood before returning to the Bittern Hide. Of note :-
Canada Goose (175) Shelduck (7) Teal (2) Tufted Duck (20) Goldeneye (2) Goosander (11) Little Grebe (1) Great Crested Grebe (28) Stock Dove (1) Water Rail (1) Oystercatcher (1) Lapwing (95) Curlew (16) Kingfisher (2) Great Spotted Woodpecker (1) Redwing (50)
Bittern was seen later in the day, usual spot in Coward Reedbed. The 1w male Scaup wasnt seen. Two Waxwing were noted, early afternoon, over on the bund between Neumanns and Ashtons Flashes.
Three and a half hours this morning in sunny and crisp weather, light winds, -3 to 1*c. Bittern Hide, along the Mereside Path, along Forge Brook and up into Big Wood before working my way back to the Bittern Hide. Of note :-
The Bittern was in view for extended periods, sometimes stretching and wing flapping in the sunshine. The female Scaup was associating with the Tufted Duck and also showed well. Approximately 90% of the mere was frozen over and the increase in some waterfowl numbers would have been due to the nearby flashes also being frozen.
Bittern showed well, eventually in the coward Reedbed, also a little flight from it. Just the one seen, two were reported yesterday. 1 great white egret, came to roost further along from the coward Reedbed. 1 little egret 2 kingfishers 5 goosander No sign of the scaup amongst the tufted ducks. 1 little grebe 1 siskin came down to the feeding table 60 + curlews 300+ lapwings 1 great spotted woodpecker 3 nuthatch 1 treecreeper 2 goldcrest Water rail & cettis warbler heard only Plus all usual stuff around Very small murmaration of starlings flew around & landed in the Reedbed, around upto 400, the bittern didn't go near them.
Three and a half hours this morning from 8.55 in sunny and clear weather, minimal winds, 0-3*c. Usual walk from the Bittern Hide, along the Mereside Path, in to Big Wood, around the Open Fields and then back by the same route. Of note :-
Greylag Goose (65) Canada Goose (350) Wigeon (1) Tufted Duck (13) Goldeneye (6) Goosander (16) Little Grebe (3) Great Crested Grebe (28) Water Rail (1) Curlew (49) Great Egret (1) Grey Heron (17) Buzzard (1) Kingfisher (2) Great Spotted Woodpecker (2) Raven (1) Cettis Warbler (1) Nuthatch (8) Redwing (6)
Sandwich Tern at Budworth Mere this morning found by GB. The bird wasnt present late afternoon when I visited although a single Common Tern was both flying around and resting on the Kid Brook Spit fence line.
We finally have Little Gulls at Budworth Mere with 15 dropping in mid morning and noting comments on our WhatsApp Group, numbers increased later on to 32.
Three and a quarter hours from 9am, in sunny and fine weather, light winds, 7*c but feeling colder. Usual walk up into Big Wood and around the open fields, before returning to the Bittern Hide. Fifty species seen, of note :-
Thanks John. 10 have been present recently and 15 would be exceptional but as you say no way of telling definitively whether they were same flocks. Cheers
An initial three and a half hours from 8.05 in sunny and clear weather, 3-6*c before returning later after a walk to the Flashes. Species seen 48, highlights :-
Pink-footed Gose (35 over heading north west) Mute Swan (14 Teal (1) Tufted Duck (23) Goldeneye (1) Goosander (13) Great Crested Grebe (26) Stock Dove (8) Water Rail (2) Lapwing (59) Curlew (4) Woodcock (1) Sparrowhawk (1) Kingfisher (2) Great Spotted Woodpecker (2) Long-tailed Tit (8) Nuthatch (6) Redwing (46) Bullfinch (2)
Three and a half hours from 1pm today in cool weather, although fine and sunny. Bittern Hide - Mereside Path - Woodland Hide - Return to Bittern Hide, where the bulk of my time was spent. The Bittern, seen yesterday, didnt show, although around 5k Starling dropped into Coward Reedbed to roost. Species seen 39, highlights being :-
Three and a half hours from 8.45am in milder weather, light winds, sunny spells and 5-7*c. Mereside Path - Slipway - Big Wood - Open Fields - Mereside Path - Bittern Hide. Species seen 46, of note :-
The Bittern, back for a couple of weeks now, put in a couple of flight views within Coward Reedbed, around midday. I note from BirdGuides that a further sighting was reported early afternoon.
Reported on Twitter, that a birder had 2 Hawfinch yesterday, in the trees surrounding the open area.
Well keep an eye open for the Bittern, Lez, as your possible sighting will be the first of the autumn/winter period.
Hi Mark, it was a very nice local lady from the 'Friends of Marbury Park Group' that pointed out the possible Bittern sighting & myself plus the other Cheshire birder spent a good half hour scanning from different angles the area in question without being totally convinced. A lot of reed movements were observed but could have been from the many roosting starlings.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Saturday 3rd of December 2022 01:19:10 AM
Dipped on the Hawfinch which was briefly seen around 3pm by a Cheshire birder after we decided to go different directions to broaden the search & was unable to re-locate together later.
We did however experience an amazing sight of over 2,000 Starling coming in to roost in Coward Reed bed, where we thought we caught a brief glimpse of a Bittern moving its neck slowly in the reeds but the failing light, distance & camouflage meant we couldn't be certain.
Also seen :- Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Chaffinch; Siskin; Coal Tit; Nuthatch; Treecreeper; Mistle Thrush and plenty Redwing in the treetops.
On Budworth Mere :- Little Egret; Grey Heron skulking around Coward Reed bed; Kingfisher; Buzzard (heard only); & around 100 Greylag Geese with at least 1 Egyptian Goose in tow coming in to roost.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Wednesday 30th of November 2022 09:30:02 PM
The single Hawfinch, found by Kev Bruen on Sunday, is still around today. Very elusive but generally frequenting the tall trees surrounding the open area, above the steps which lead up from the Bittern Hide. Same area as the twenty odd birds frequented five years ago.
A walk along the Fishermans Path, late morning, yielded a pair of Mandarin in the middle field with both Whitethroat and Yellowhammer in the general area of the Magic Hedge.
Two Mediterranean Gull in the ploughed field yesterday morning, a Little Ringed Plover by one of the pools in the next field and a pair of Mandarin in the final field. Two Little Ringed Plover also around Kid Brook Spit. A male Sparrowhawk had earlier flown low over the ploughed field with a squealing House Sparrow in its talons.
The ploughed field by the Fishermans Path has finally seen some wagtail action with both a male and female Yellow Wagtail today at different times. Also a minimum of five Whites over the last couple of days.
Quick visit this afternoon after the rain. Mereside Path to the Woodland Hide, then back the same way. Forty seven species seen, highlights being :-
- Shelduck (2) - Shoveler (1) - Gadwall (3) - Tufted Duck (22) - Great Crested Grebe (10) - Stock Dove (2) - Oystercatcher (2) - Common Sandpiper (1) - Green Sandpiper (1) - Sand Martin (c.20) - House Martin (1) - Willow Warbler (2) - Chiffchaff (15) - Blackcap (2) - Brambling (min 2)
Great to see the Brambling on the Mereside Path. A very scarce Winter visitor on patch here, usually only seen in singles or ones and twos. A female and a handsome male in breeding plumage. Flitting quickly and very high up, I have a feeling there could have been four birds.
Just been talking to a birding friend who tells me he watched an Osprey over Neumann's Flash last Thursday (Mar 31st). I've asked him to let Greg Baker know for the Marbury annual report.