Neumann's Flash

steven burke · Status: Offline

RE: Neumann's Flash

Mark Rigby · Status: Offline

Stilt Sandpiper still present at 1730hrs. A nice tick for 'Little Riggers' smile

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

Top bird! v distant this am. Showed diagnostic features which was nice, hope it stays for others to see! Didn't have the time to take a full tour of the flashes...maybe next time!

2 snipe flew over as I left

-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Monday 2nd of September 2013 09:37:22 AM

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

Stilt Sandpiper showing well close in at north shore 8.10am

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Great to meet so many GM birders over the border: Pete Hines, Sid Ashton, John Tymon, Phil Rhodes, Andy Makin (seriously off territory!), James Walsh (ditto) and Tony Disley. Cracking bird and another lifer as I was working when that one turned up at Conwy

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Stilt Sandpiper showing well at north shore of flash @ 7:45pm, also 1st calendar year Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 25 Curlew, 20 Snipe, c200 Lapwing

Also, other birders reporting 6 Ruff & 4 Green Sandpipers on Haydyns Pool

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Had clear views of the Stilt Sandpiper from the hide* on the path between Neumann's and Ashton's flashes up to 4.30 this afternoon. Having the sun to the rear of the hide was a big advantage in picking out its distinguishing features biggrin

Well done to the local guys for identifying this morning.

PS - * the Bund Hide

-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 31st of August 2013 09:46:09 PM

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Reported this morning via bird information services:

Adult Stilt Sandpiper at the north end of Neumann's Flash at 12:05, showing well on the wader scrape. Park in the layby on Old Warrington Road at CW9 6DA.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Stilt Sandpiper still showing well at 4pm but distant and obscured by the weeds at the front of the furthest hide but moving about quite a bit, so everyone got some sort of view.
also Ruff and Green Sandpiper present
:)

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 31st of August 2013 05:11:35 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

17.30-19.00

Ashtons Flash

78 Curlew

Neumanns Flash

2 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Gulls amongst the mass of Black Headed Gulls and Lapwings.

Plus a Little Grebe that really irritated the Mallard by persistently biting at their legs.

Haydn Pool

8 Ruff, 10 Snipe and 2 Green Sandpipers.

Nev Wright · Status: Offline

Actually Haydn's Pool

6 Ruff and a Greenshank this morning smile

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Folk may have seen pager reports of a Turtle Dove at Neumann's Flash yesterday. Patchers, including myself, were down at the flash within 15mins of the report but no birders were present and despite searching by various patchers throughout the day there was no sign of the reported Turtle Dove. Birding being birding it's not impossible that this was genuine but we have tried to ascertain the origin of the report without success. All signs point to it originating on Twitter & then being picked up by the info services. The tweet was such that it could have been seen from a car passing along New Warrington Road.

Just wanted to pass on the background of the sighting if anyone was wondering smile

Hazel Rothwell · Status: Offline

2nd August: 2 Green Sandpipers at Haydn's Pool, Wren by the South Hide, flock of Lapwings on Neumanns flash, plenty of Canada geese. 2 Linnet perched on wire cables backing onto New Warrington Rd area, Song thrush, pleny of Goldfinch youngsters and House Sparrows (adult female feeding two youngsters) and 2 young Common Whitethroats by the view area between Neumann's and Ashtons flashes, close to entrance by layby. Towards Dairy House Meadows a flock of Greenfinch with young. Common Whitethroats seen at Ashtons flash area and family of Goldfinch, young Chaffinch.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Thanks for the responses guys.

Re the vegetation John, it is a problem but given many birds are still nesting we wouldn't want to encourage any major cutting back until well into August. The FOAM team are volunteers of course and do an excellent job as do the rangers on an ever decreasing budget. May I suggest you voice you concerns to Cheshire West & Chester Council - they make plenty of money from the Marbury CP car park which it would be nice to see ploughed back into a bit of habitat management.

John Irons · Status: Offline

]

Read your post with interest as one of the two birders you mentioned! Our "ruff" was called because we failed to spot the rufous colouring at all to start with, so perhaps we can be forgiven that howler! My 'junior' partner [son, actually!] fortunately took some snaps, not perfect at that distance but good enough to make some observations.

Quite agree that the classic diagnosis of wingbars or not was not possible but cannot agree that the bird showed 'a superb brick red colour not only on its breast feathers but across its whole belly too, showing no white on its lower body at all.' All four out of Adrian's images show no red at all below the breast, on the belly or the under-tail coverts. There is strong vertical barring visible on the lower flanks, as one would expect with blackwits.

The upper wings were indeed mottled as was the mantel but I am not sure how conclusive your observation about the knees joint is. Some illustrators show the barwit as the more elegant ie long-legged bird. Can't comment about the bill because it wass tucked very deeply into its back. Size-wise it certainly was very little bigger than the surrounding lapwings.

My conclusion is that we were looking at a Blackwit

Changing the topic, may I voice again my concern at the invasive brambles, willows and even birches along the margins of both Neumann's and Haydn's flashes? I take nothing away from my admiration of the work of FOAM but unless clearance work is undertaken even of some of the rapidly spreading reeds, there will be less and less open water. Viewing from some hides is already severely curtailed.

-- Edited by kernewek on Tuesday 16th of July 2013 12:04:42 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

As sure as I could be Greg, a couple of birders pointed the bird out to me, which they said was a Ruff.

My first thought was a Black Tailed Godwit, as they are relatively common wader inland, especially at Burton and Frodsham, and they can vary quite a bit in size.

The classic diagnosis regarding the wingbars, or lack of them could not be made as the bird did not fly, and spent most of the time asleep.

However, the bird showed a superb brick red colour not only on its breast feathers, but across it's whole belly too, showing no white on it's lower body at all.

The upper wings were clearly mottled, which may have led to the other guys to label it as a Ruff, until the bird showed it's beak that is.

The knee joint appeared to be only an inch or so from its thighs, making the bird look less elegant than a Black Tailed.

Only briefly did the bird lift its head up to look around, then it showed a dark thin slightly upturned beak.

In size the was'nt much bigger than the Lapwings, which were all around it.

Only perhaps at Hale would I expect to find Bar Tails locally, but this bird fits the description of an early returning adult male Bar Tail.

It will be interesting to see if other local wader sites produce any similar birds as return passage gets under way?.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Hi John - did you really mean Bar-tailed rather than Black-tailed Godwit? Would be a good bird for here - Barwits are very few and far between for the local patchers ...

A second summer Med Gull was showing well on Neumann's main spit this morning and 3 Green Sands over on Haydn's / No1.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Neumanns Flash

1 summer plumage Bar Tailed Godwit on the spit, and later seen by the small island with a large group of Lapwings. 1 Curlew.

2 near full grown Great Crested Grebes with their parents, one youngster was bold enough to chase an adult Coot away.

09.30-12.00

3 Oystercatchers, 1 Buzzard and 1 Linnet (scrub area on Wincham side).

I could'nt find the female Tufted Duck with the 16 tiny ducklings in tow that I found on July 8th, instead there were 3 adult females with young, one with a brood of eight.

Either Tufted Ducks form creches, or eight little youngsters have been predated. Apart from the corvids and the odd big gull, there were 8 Grey Herons around the mere on my last visit.

At one point today a female Tufted with her brood sat by the waters edge, in a tree behind them 3 Carrion Crows seemed intent on grabbing a tiny duckling.

Then all 3 crows dropped down right besides the ducklings and fed on something on the ground, the Tufted and her brood did'nt flinch and carried on preening regardless.

Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies in abundance in the scrub areas.

Haydn Pool

2 Green Sandpipers (viewable from the Tata hide only), 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Buzzards.

2 family groups of Common Whitethroats along the Southern side of Dairyhouse Meadows.

-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 13th of July 2013 05:08:31 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Summary for today - an eclipse drake Wigeon on the flash and a Kingfisher. Yesterday a Greenshank on Haydn Pool and today two Green Sandpipers on there :)

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 12th of July 2013 09:48:08 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

18.30-20.30

Neumans Flash

130 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatchers and a pair of Great Crested Grebes that may well have had young resting on their backs.

One female Tufted Duck swam with 16 tiny ducklings, surely they can't all be hers?.

Also a family of 4 Linnets, a pair Bullfinches (the male had a beak full of down) and 4 Chiiffchaffs (1 singing), all in scrub/hawthornes along the Eastern side of the mere.

Just as I was leaving a Buzzard arrived and began quartering the South-West corner.

Haydn Pool

2 Green Sandpipers

2 juvenile Whitethroats with 2 adults on Dairyhouse Meadow

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Up to 8 Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper on the flash this morning plus 5 Wigeon passing through early morning. A couple of juvenile Redshank on the north island proved that the pair of adults that have been around for the spring and summer have succeeded in their nesting attempt after all. The two Great Crested Grebe chicks have now been split between the two adults and the brood of Tufted Ducks continues to do well. A Peregrine made a couple of passes over the flash this morning, initially stooping at a Coot and then a male Tufted Duck, both of which dived to avoid becoming breakfast. A Common Tern is nesting on the north island but is now invisible amongst the encroaching vegetation. Another pair are much easier to see on Marston Flash just to the north-east over the canal bridge. Still plenty of Whitethroats and Blackcaps around and the Garden Warbler showing well on the mound.

Over on Haydn's Pool there are now 4 Green Sandpipers present along with the pair of Oystercatchers with their single youngster, a new brood of 3 Lapwings, 2 broods of Gadwall, a few summering Teal and plenty of juv Black-headed Gulls from the small but expanding colony. The Sand Martins are doing well at the man-made bank and Reed Warblers have been showing very well in front of the hide.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A couple of quick nips down am & pm today prodeced a single Whimbrel on Neumann's Flash pm, single Little Ringed Plovers on each of Ashton's & Neumann's Flashes am and a Redshank on Neumann's pm. Nice to see so many pollinators around with hundreds of Red-tailed Bumblebees & a few Buff-tailed Bumblebees, lets hiope this bodes well. Possibly the first Common Darter in Cheshire this year too smile

John Williams · Status: Offline

18:00-20.00

Neumanns Flash

82 Lapwings, 3juv+3 adult Oystercatchers, 7 moulting drake Shovelers, 1 Common Tern, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 1 Ringed Plover, 11 Grey Herons and 2 Kestrels.

Reed Warblers and Buntings showing well from the reed tops, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats and a Chiiffchaff singing round the perimeter.

Haydn Pool

1 Snipe,10 Black Headed Gull chicks, 13 Sand Martins, a Kestrel and 1 adult+ 1 juv Oystercatcher.

John Irons · Status: Offline

Adrian and I are fairly regular birders on the Neumann's, Ashton's, Hadyn's and Marbury Mere patch so it was without any great expectation we decided on a safari on Saturday afternnon, 4th May. The weather was pleasant, bright with sunny periods and a fresh breeze. We were pleasantly surprised to bag forty species in a little over two hours. It was particularly pleasing to see and hear the many summer migrants now streaming into our area. Not being very good on song-recognition I am sure we 'missed' up to five more species!
The drake Black Swan is still about, commuting with a Mute Swan among the various pools and the Dairy House Meadow ponds. Biggest surprise of all was a male Red-throated Diver at the northern end of Neumann's, in full summer plumage. Visibility was very good. The bird was displaying 'exactly what it says on the tin' or in this case illustrated bird guides. The red upper throat patch, white lower throat and breast, fine, broken stripes on the back of the neck, the dark back and the slightly upward tilt of the head were all very visible. It made my day!
Kernewek

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Hobby early evening perched in a tree between Neumann's Flash & Dairyhouse Meadow smile

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The Garden Warbler still showing well & singing its head off all day on the Neumann's Flash viewing mound. Now easier to catch up with here than Garden Warbler Corner at Marbury CP!! The long-staying summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit (suspected to be injured) sticking out like a sore thumb on Ashton's Flash, if it is injured then I fear for this individual, it can't exactly hide itself being that colour! Little Ringed Plover still on the spit on Neumann's Flash too. Large brood of Mallrd ducklings on Ashton's too.

John Williams · Status: Offline

07.30-10.30

Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Reed Buntings, Bullfinches and Song Thrushes singing around the flash.

Reed Buntings and Bullfinches seemingly abundant. Singles of Chiffchaff and Linnet on the Marston side.

A pair of Great Crested Grebes on the flash, together with 6 Gadwall, 5 Lapwing , 1 Oystercatcher, 8 Shelduck.

A single Cuckoo flying North above Witton Brook

1 Orange Tip and 2 Small White butterflies and a few St. Marks Flies too.

Haydn Pool

No sign of Garganey. 5 Gadwall, 1 Black Swan, 1 Shoveler, 1 Buzzard, 12+ Sand Martins, 5 Blackcaps (3m/2f) and 4 Stock Doves.

2 Sparrowhawks in an aerial fight high above the pool.

3 Chiffchaffs singing in the wooded area and mature copse north of Haydns, with a few Willow Warblers singing in the Sallows.

Dairyhouse Meadows

2 Buzzards soaring high,plus a pair of Long Tailed Tits putting the finishing touches to a nest in a bush right by the side of a well used track and looks far too exposed to succeed.

-- Edited by John Williams on Wednesday 1st of May 2013 12:58:18 PM

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Drake Garganey (& 1 Black Swan) Haydn's Pool

Lawrence Hindley · Status: Offline

The Garganey was on Haydn's Pool at 16.40 this afternoon showing well from the hide.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Back on patch this morning, at the Neumann's Flash end this time & joined up with Greg Baker for a very pleasant morning despite the rain coming on towards lunchtime. We had a Whimbrel on the spit, 9 Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover and freshly in 12 Dunlin with 2 Ringed Plovers. Really pleased to have picked up the Ringed Plover in flight to add a new bird to the patch yearlist total for 2013 smile

The Dunlin & Ringed Plovers flew off north at 11.10am so I put the news out on the patch email feed. A real wader-fest with (if you count the scattered Lapwings) at least 35 individuals of 7 wader species present.

Sedge Warblers were still calling in front of Ashton's Flash viewing mound, lots of Reed Warblers, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats were around too and two Swifts flew over the flash.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Drake Garganey still on Neumann's Flash today. Also a reeling Grasshopper Warbler nearby and recently 3 Sedge Warblers on Ashton's Flash.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 24th of April 2013 09:47:51 PM

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

The drake Garganey was seen on Haydns Pool at around 16:30

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The male Redstart was seen again this morning from the 'mound at Ashton's Flash on the silver birches on the flash bed itself. It then flew over to Carey Park & was not relocated. 3 Sedge Warblers were on Ashton's as well as 3 Whimbrel and a Wheatear. The drake Garganey is still on Ne4umann's Flash. Lots of singing Whiethroats, Willow Warblers, Reed Warblers, Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs, and with the first Lesser Whitethroat yesterday there's plenty to look out for smile

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Late afternoon rain downed a male Redstart between Ashtons Flash & Witton Mill car park, but it was only seen by its finder, Phil Oddy. Later whilst searching for the Redstart Malc Curtin found the first patch Lesser Whitethroat of the year in the same area.

Dave Riley · Status: Offline

Hello, young Greg, tried to get my visa stamped but you weren't about, catch up with you sometime.

Dave

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Dave Riley wrote:

First summer Little Gull seen from the hide on the east side of the flash at about 15.00.

Oi Riley - what are you doing finding stuff on my patch while I'm on hols!

Good to see your out and about away from the Eyes for a change. smile

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

Little Gull still present at 18:00 plus a Common Sandpiper. Several Chiffchaff and Blackcap along paths. Another Common Sandpiper at Haydns Pool

steven burke · Status: Offline

19th April

Little gull showing well early morning & late afternoon.
Drake Garganey on small island in the morning, late afternoon on haydyns pool.
2-3 whitethroats
Few reed warblers around
Never got to hear the grasshopper warbler.
1 oystercatcher
3 common sandpipers
10 curlews flew onto ashtons around 5pm but flew off after 15 mins
Water rail heard
Peregrine falcon over
1 sparrowhawk
Several buzzards overhead
Lots of chiffchaffs & willow warblers
Several blackcaps
Black swan on haydyns pool, also 2 redshank
And 1 dodgy looking blackbird with a white patch on the right side of its neck

-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 20th of April 2013 01:29:05 AM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Garganey on scrapyard end island this morning + Little Gull still. Common Whitethroat on Dairyhouse Meadows. Grasshopper Warbler reeling near scrapyard hide, presume same hide that you posted about, Chris.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 19th of April 2013 10:54:46 AM

chrisdorney · Status: Offline

Little gull still present at dusk.also reed warbler and grasshopper warbler singing near the hide and 6 common sandpiper showing signs of pairing.one male tried to mate but the female was having none of it!

Dave Riley · Status: Offline

First summer Little Gull seen from the hide on the east side of the flash at about 15.00.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A customer in the shop today informed me that there was a Yellow Wagtail on the island at Neumann's Flash along with a Little Ringed Plover & a Common Sandpiper. She also saw the first Brimstone butterfly that I have heard about on patch this year smile

Dave Gallimore · Status: Offline

thanks!

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Dave Gallimore wrote:

Where is Neumann's Flash ?
Thanks

Dave - Neumans is on the B5075 out of Northwich, check out the following web site:-

http://www.northwichwoodlands.org.uk/visitus/explorermainmap.pdf

Dave Gallimore · Status: Offline

Where is Neumann's Flash ?
Thanks

-- Edited by DJG on Tuesday 16th of April 2013 01:25:17 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

An afternoon walk on Neumann's Flash rewarded me with finding a Common Sandpiper on the scrap yard end island. A single Willow Warbler sang by Dairyhouse Meadows and numerous Sand Martins were investigating the artificial Sand Martin bank on Haydns Pool. Other than that the usual suspects which now includes myriads of singing Chiffchaffs!! Moved 2 pairs of toads that were in amplexus and in danger of getting trodden on in the middle of paths too smile

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 14th of April 2013 04:48:25 PM

James Walsh · Status: Offline

2 Avocets on Neumanns Flash at 6:30pm, also c10 Sand Martins & 2 Greylag Geese

10 Shoveler & 2 Greylag Geese on Ashtons

4 Swallows on Marston Flashes

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Then moved to Haydn Pool where they were inspecting the gravel island smile

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The two Avocets were still present this morning if anyone wants to tick them on their Marbury Patch List wink

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Interesting day on patch today with 2 Avocets dropping into Neumann's Flash this afternoon. The birds were pretty mobile & fed in water right up to their bellies as there is little useable shoreline available at the moment. Then a little later a Little Egret was discovered on Ashton's Flash. A Sand Martin was also over Neumann's and the first patch Swallow was seen nearbu at Anderton Nature Park. This follows on from the first House Martin yesterday.