A few patchers popped down to the park after lunch yesterday (19th Apr) and all the excitement at Ashton's Flash

Most of the sightings are mine and Pods. A Yellow Wagtail was in the fields near Coward Reedbed as well as a White Wagtail, another White Wagtail was with about 6 Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit in the fields by Fisherman's Path (the latter species not common on patch away from Ashton's Flash area). Reed Warblers were singing in Coward Reedbed. A Raven was over Fisherman's Path. Drake Goosander and female Goldeneye amongst the Tutfed Ducks on Budworth Mere. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker opposite Marbury Nursery & then flew towards Coward Wood. A Garden Warbler sang & showed back in the vegetation behind Garden Warbler Corner, but beware several Blackcaps were singing in this same area!


-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 20th of April 2015 09:53:25 AM

A red letter day on the mere today (just when I was out of county!!). Three summer plumaged Black-necked Grebes along with a drake Goosander and one female Common Scoter. A Yellow Wagtail and a Redshank were on Kid Brook Spit (most info per R.Elsby).

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 18th of April 2015 09:52:25 PM

An Arctic Tern graced the mere this morning, sometimes perched on posts at Kid Brook spit but more often dip-feeding amongst 520 Sand Martins. Just one female Common Scoter present today (there were 2 yesterday). A male Brambling was calling and occasionally showing well in sycamores along the mereside path and a male Wheatear remains by the Sailing Club but no sign of any wagtails there today.

This morning at Marbury CP was pretty productive. I personally saw a cracking male Wheatear, in the first ploughed field by the Fishermans Layby, next to the Marston estate. Next a single White Wagtail was with at least 15 Pied Wagtails in the next ploughed field along towards the park proper. On the far shore of the mere, between the heronry & Kid Brook Spit was a Common Sandpiper and then on Kid Brook Spit itself a Little Ringed Plover hunkered down near the brushwood pile. Unfortunately a fisherman appeared at noon & flushed the LRP and I couldn't see the Common Sand again either. The female Common Scoter was still on the mere too. A huge flock of Sand Martins was feeding over the mere and at one point several Swallows dropped in and brought a couple of House Martins with them. When the Swallows departed however so did the House Martins but lots of Sand Martins continued to feed over the water. Again Willow Warblers and Blackcaps were heard.

In addition to my sightings a Yellow Wagtail was seen on Kid Brook shore (per D.Robinson) but I still have yet to catch up with this species this Spring!

The Brambling was still present late afternoon (per G.Baker) and the Common Scoter was on Budworth Mere (per RBA).

AM

Foggy when I arrived so little to see on the mere.
I spent 2hrs approx looking for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Big Wood, just to the South of the feeding station, but to no avail.
I thought I glimpsed the beast once flying through the canopy, but could'nt be sure. Light drumming heard, but sporadic today, last Sunday it was almost constant.
A Green Woodpecker was "yaffling" loudly close by, but I could'nt find him either.
Lots of garden birds about, especially Blackbirds, which seemed to be everywhere. Nuthatches were highly vocal, and there were 6+ Treecreepers about.

When the mist cleared, I scanned the mere, there was no sign of the Black Necked Grebe or Common Scoter that were there on Sunday.
Apart from the usual fowl, there was a single Little Grebe on the mere.
About 100 Black Headed Gulls were on the mere, many were picking insects, Black Tern style, off the water surface.
I had a good scan through them, but no sign of a Little Gull or Kittiwake.

A Common Scoter reported to me on the mere this morning, plus a couple of Swallows and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling & drumming in between the mere and the woodland feeding station.

Two visits to the park today, despite me being at work! An early morning pre-work visit produced at least 3 singing Chiffchaffs. Also over 40 Sand Martins over the mere near the sailing club. Lots of Great Spotted & Green Woodpecker activity but no Lesser Spotted. So a return after work when Green & Great Spotted were again heard but even better a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was in Big Wood, well past the turn on the right for Hopyards Wood. The two Lessers seen at present are ranging from near the Ice Pond to after this Hopyards Wood turn so worth a walk up and down and listening for calling & drumming as both are being heard.

Along Fisherman's Path in the wet dip in the field at about 11.45am I had a large group of alba wagtails, most of them, about 25, were M.a.yarelli but there were 2 M.a.alba in there too, my first two White Wagtails on the 'patch' this year. The group was very mobile and after a short while all took flight and moved down the field and over the ridge but are probably still in the area. White Wagtails should be evident on passage most days in the next few days now that it has started. This coincides with the first reports earlier this morning of White Wagtails on The Wirral. Nothing else major to note, but a Green Woodpecker calling by Big Wood was nice. No Sand Martins for me either!

Kittiwake at Ashtons flash Sunday 15 Feb 2015


Following on from the last post re bittern at Marbury, I can only add how fortunate you were to be there one hour later/ the day after I was or indeed any time or date following my visits! How lucky can some people be! Am envious as hell! Some small consolation for me in spotting a kittiwake on one of the fence posts which sit half submerged in Ashton's flash on Sunday a.m. Weather was clear and brilliantly sunny. Adrian [son] and I spent some time vetting this bird and came to the almost unanimous view that, yes it was a kittiwake. I logged it and reported this scarce visitor with description and would be interested to know if anyone else had seen it?
Briefly, it was similar in size to Black-headed Gull, a yellowish bill similar in length to BHGs and Common Gulls but more slender, possible dark spot near tip, black or at very least dark blue-grey legs, grey mantle as dark as Common Gull, white head, breast and under parts, a suggestion of smudginess at back of head or nape of neck; low, crouching stance i.e. not upright like BHG.

John Irons

I have seen Willow Tit in some different locales, and I don't now what this adds to the debate if anything ;) - not entirely surprising, but to me, yes. E.G Rixton Clay Pits, Astley Moss and the latest being on Chat Moss.... I praise the efforts of the surveyors and the concerned birders alike - they are great birds whose call gives me joy!

Docs right about the Marsh/Willow tit, the largely mature oak woodland should be prime Marsh Tit country, but they have not been seen for years.
These woods, especially the arboretum area with it's numerous conifers, are teeming with Coal Tits, although obviously they're less numerous than Blues.
Had the bird in question not clearly showed it's lack of a nape patch, I would just of regarded it as another Coal Tit.
I am a little surprised, and concerned, that Willow Tits do not turn up on the mereside feeders, as the Alder carr and birch woods in that area look
to be suitable habitat.
I was chatting to a chap by the Haydn Pool recently who was doing a survey on Willow Tits for the BTO, and who stated that there are real concerns
about the little birds future. They appear to be everyday visitors to the feeders at Pennington and Woolston, although I'm not sure if they are less
common at these sites than they once were. I logged a pair of Willow Tits recently moving around the birch woodland at Wigan Flashes, with a large flock
of mixed Long Tailed and Blue Tits, which is their prime habitat, and especially now that I'm aware of the concern for them I'll log every one.
The Marsh Tit situation is fascinating, I've reported them from the feeding station at Moore as the birds seen match the text book description
perfectly, and they posed on the bird table for quite a while, so I got a decent view. However, it has been pointed out to me that the only real way to tell
the difference between Marsh/Willow tits is by their song, and I'm inclined to agree. I could go on about the different visual characteristics of these birds,
but I won't elaborate here.
One enigmatic point here though is, if Willow Tits readily join roaming bands of mainly Long Tailed Tits in winter, why don't Marsh Tits do so too, and
thus spread out more. Marsh Tits are regularly reported from Stanney Woods near Ellesmere Port, which is a small wood surrounded by houses,
where it's virtually impossible to look at a bird in a tree without also looking through someone's bedroom window. I often wonder if birds from this
population, and the nearby Chester zoo hotspot too, venture further afield in winter with flocks of Long Tails, especially along the Mersey and Weaver
valleys. Ringers perhaps can elaborate more on that.
Meanwhile, it's worth giving every "Pied" tit a second look.

Hi geoff I'm afraid it wasn't me who pointed out the bittern to you someone else must take the credit for that. As for willow tits walking up the canal going from the salt barge pub towards marbury a couple of winters back when in the bankside scrub I saw the only willow tit I have ever seen. As for a marsh tit I don't think I'd be able to tell the two apart but I assumed that the habitat would point towards a willow tit.

John Williams wrote:

---

Now for some intrigue, whilst visiting the "woodland" feeding area, which only produced Blue/Great tits, squirrels etc, a Blue Tit sized bird
landed on top of a nearby tree. I only viewed the bird for a couple of seconds, a clean/bright "Pied" head meant the bird was either a Coal,
Willow or Marsh tit. The bird did tilt it's head and there was no sign of a nape patch, ruling out Coal Tit, several of which were later seen around the arboretum.
Unfortunately, it only perched for a few seconds before flying off. I'm not claiming this as a Marsh Tit, but I certainly suspect it may have been.
So if you see a Blue Tit sized bird around the canopy of Big Wood, I'd advise checking it out. On occasions mist netting/ringing takes place here,
and I'd love to know if they've caught either a Marsh or Willow tit here recently.

---

Knowing you personally John I know that you are not one to make rash claims so I am taking this report seriously. I think Marsh Tit can be ruled out as they haven't been seen on patch for about 7 years. Not impossible I know, but most unlikely. Willow Tits are seen annually on patch but not usually in this area which is not typical Willow Tit habitat. My info from a FOAM Member that I texted tonight is that numerous Coal Tits have been ringed at Woodland Hide area but not a Willow Tit. I am posting as you wanted this info, but as always with birds you cannot rule out anything!! Definitely worth keeping an eye, and an ear, out. I was watching Willow Tits elsewhere today and they were extremely vocal, warming up for breeding season

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 7th of February 2015 12:28:39 PM

Well persistence pays off. I saw the bittern today at the umpteeth time of asking at about 1330 hrs. My wife spotted it and handed me the binos and there it was between two small trees/bushes on the opposite side from the hide, about 10 yards back from the waters edge well disguised in the reeds. Also saw a reed bunting, a kingfisher and a mistle thrush bashing a snail to pieces on a stone amongst the highlights of the walk.

We arrived back from an organised bird walk about 4.30 John, and nobody had seen the Bittern. Then within minutes up it came and sat right out on top of the reeds! Just a matter of luck! On the way home came across an injured Tawny Owl in the road but that's another thing to sort out!

Hi Rhys. Think I was sat next to you before you got up and moved to the side of the screen.
Nice to meet you and see the Bittern

Saturday 17th January 11.45am

A brief visit, and an even briefer appearance from the Bittern. It showed to the left of the viewing hide in the reed bed just before 12pm. It soon hunkered down out of sight again.
Plenty of activity around the feeders and a few Goldcrests on my way to the car.

Hi Mark

We have a problem with Mink at the park, so maybe that was the culprit rather than a dog, just a thought.

The Bittern was showing exceptionally well in Coward Reedbed from Bittern Screen mid afternoon, staying out on view for a long period of time allowing allcomers excellent views. A second bird was seen by another observer just before we arrived. A Kingfisher showed several times too, whizzing up & down Budworth Mere.

Lunchtime

The Bittern did'nt show whilst I was there, whilst numerous Moorhens held territorial squabbles on the flattened area of reeds and showed no sign of
reacting to the presence of any other animal, apart from staying clear of the single Grey Heron resting there.

On the mere were: 8 drake Pochards, 9 Shoveler, 10 Wigeon, 15 Great Crested Grebes and 20 Cormorants.

Whilst on the large mereside Alders were 1 Treecreeper, 2 Goldcrests and a charm of 16 Goldfinches.

12.12.2014

13.00-14.30

I watched the Coward reedbed for about 45 mins but there was no sign of the Bittern.

At the Western end of the mere were 9 Great Crested Grebes,3 drake Pochards and 36 Cormorants.

Also there was an adult Great Black Gull that tried several times to intimidate the grebes into giving up their catch, 4 of them bunched together and

kept diving to avoid the brute. The gull also tried to bully a group of 4 Cormorants, but 2 of them lunged at their attacker and it backed off.

On the North bank around Kid Brook were 500+ Lapwings and 5 Curlews. Amongst the garden birds at the feeders were 2 Bullfinches.

walk from nuemanns produced...

again plenty of tit flocks around inc goldcrest, during the whole day I probably had at least 14 goldcrest.
lots of chaffinch around with greenfinch & linnet.
1 treecreeper
7 nuthatch
2 great spotted woodpecker
4 jay
plus all the usuals around.

on the mere..

1 bittern, showing very well when it decided to walk across the flattened reeds opposite the hide just before 2pm
1 kingfisher
27 tufted duck
3 wigeon
5 shelduck
several siskin with goldfinch flock near the hide
water rail heard only.

A good find early am was a drake Mandarin at the W.end of Budworth Mere. This then was lost but relocated on Neumann's Flash (per G.Baker).