I was down at 5.30am & left at 7.30am with no definite sighting of the drake Ring-necked Duck, I say definite because as we scope down the flash in the early morning mist one drake Aythya at the far end seemed to have a glowing white band on its beak, clearly visible through the mist & different to the other Aythyas present. Having walked down the far end we couldn't find this bird and watched three pairs of Tufted Ducks. Soon after from a different vantage point seven (!) ducks got up & flew off the flash, presumably the six we had been watching PLUS one!! Can't count it as can't say it was the Ring-necked Duck for certain. Luckily I saw the last one on Budworth Mere when Marbury CP was closed due to Foot & Mouth. But a piccy of this one would have been nice!

Just two Common Terns on the Scrapyard Island to report otherwise.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 16th of May 2014 10:03:51 AM

Went yesterday in hope of seeing Spotted Flycatcher. Didn't see one, but, did see a gorgeous Grey Wagtail, hopping around one of the small pools off the main wood path just beyond the feeding station. Also my first Swifts of the year over the mere in great numbers.

Later no sign of any scoter on Budworth Mere but a Yellow Wagtail and a female Wheatear in the area around Kid Brook Spit (per Greg Baker). Swifts are in every evening now & I even had 3 over nearby Northwich Station this evening.

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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Doc Brewster wrote:

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No sign of yesterdays Long-tailed Duck today, didn't seem bothered at all by the boats, I photographed it at the Yacht Club end of Budworth Mere even when boating was taking place. It was dabbling q.a bit in relatively shallow water & several of us observing it over the length of it's stay never ever saw it dive, unusual for a Long-tailed Duck! A nice record, found initially by patcher Dave Hughston, well done Dave, lots of Patch Lists now have this species on

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The Long tailed Duck at penny the other week didn't dive either in the 4 hours I was watching it anyway
:)

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There was a question on Facebook asking whether the Marbury bird may have been the Penny bird relocating, thanks for the info, John, from that at least behaviourally it acted the same. I too have watched the Marshside bird on a couple of occasions & it never stopped diving then, the same as 3 birds I watched on Pugneys CP lake last year.

Doc Brewster wrote:

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No sign of yesterdays Long-tailed Duck today, didn't seem bothered at all by the boats, I photographed it at the Yacht Club end of Budworth Mere even when boating was taking place. It was dabbling q.a bit in relatively shallow water & several of us observing it over the length of it's stay never ever saw it dive, unusual for a Long-tailed Duck! A nice record, found initially by patcher Dave Hughston, well done Dave, lots of Patch Lists now have this species on

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The Long tailed Duck at penny the other week didn't dive either in the 4 hours I was watching it anyway
:)

On Budworth Mere this morning - a Long-tailed Duck, a species not seen on patch since 1981 if my records are correct, initially favouring the area in front of the heronry. Later on it flew a short distance & reloacted to the Coward Reedbed side of Kid Brook Spit, caused by the yacht club motor launch coming out and then several yachts too. With q.a lot of boating expected today I expect if it sticks the Long-tailed Duck will favour the Coward Reedbed end as this is a no-boating zone

Down on patch again today, two Yellow Wagtails in the crop field by fisherman's path, Marbury CP, first reported around 3pm and I saw them at 5pm-ish. Also at 3pm a Whimbrel flying over Budworth Mere (per Greg Baker). Kingfisher sightings are frequent, fantastic seeing them flash past in the sunshine. Plenty of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs singing in the fisherman's path area too.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 18th of April 2014 11:14:54 PM

Green Woodpeckers again vocal in big wood as were also the Nuthatches..
Not too clever on my Warblers, but think I was onto a Reed Warbler just as before our Joshua nearly git wiped out by a mountaineer biker.....

Cheers.

Late report from Monday /Tuesday
on Monday there where 100s of Sand Martins over the water non on Tuesday
plenty of Chiffchaff,Blackcap,Reed Bunting,Shelduck ,Lapwing
10 Buzzard
and when sat outside pub in Budworth, Swallows

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 16th of April 2014 03:17:02 PM

Osprey over Marbury CP early this morning then headed towards Neumann's Flash, info thanks to Dave Hughston

An amazing 31 Great Crested Grebes in front of the screen PM after my visit to Focal Point with 2 doing the weed dance. Also c.80 Sand Martin and Kingfisher across the mere

Midday

Budworth Mere

40 Shoveler in a single group. (There were none on Neumanns), 16 Great Crested Grebes (2 pairs displaying), 18 Pochard, 22 Cormorants, 1m+1f Goldeneyes and just 12 Tufted Duck.

Kid Brook area

1 Little Egret, 2 Curlew plus the usual Canada/Greylag Geese, Coot etc.

No sign of Bittern in the Coward Reedbed, but a Kingfisher was reported just below the screen just before I arrived.

A flock of 26 Mistle Thrushes were foraging on the pasture at the Southern end of the park, and a few Redwings flew in to join them.

There is a large patch of dead vegetation, mainly sorrel and knapweed, that was attracting lots of Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Great Tits.

-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 13th of December 2013 11:24:24 PM

-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 13th of December 2013 11:31:38 PM

after seeing the sandpiper a mooch around here produced...

1 adult, 1 juvenile common tern on budworth mere
27 curlews in field
plenty of great crested grebes & few tufted ducks on the mere
mostly swallows, several sand martins over the mere.
2 jays
6 nuthatches
3 treecreepers
2 goldcrests
2 blackcaps
several chiffchaffs around, 1 singing
plus usuals around

There's been a summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe all day on Budworth Mere, Marbury CP. It has mainly favoured the west end of the mere viewed from the Bittern Screen and has been pretty close to the shore at times if folk want photographs & assuming it sticks around overnight!

Doc Brewster wrote:

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I sent the Arctic Tern news out as an email alert, Patrick, did you not get it? I need to re-check your email address is correct if you didn't? Spotted Flycatchers are back in Big Wood at the site they were seen at last year, complicated directions but anyone who needs them PM me & I will send the directions to you

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Hi Paul,

I've PMed you.

Thanks

Patrick

At around 18:00, heard, but didn't see, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming on one of the trees behind the hide that has the feeding station. Apparently, he's been doing this for the past few days according to local birder, Malcolm Curtin (sp?). Nice to meet you Malcolm. He also told me that an Arctic Tern had been reported earlier, though, no sign when I looked.

Walking back to the car near Neumanns Flash, we saw a Hobby that appeared to be carrying prey. Probably a Swift or hirundine given the numbers around. Whitethroat seemingly everywhere, but, not much else of note.

Lesser Whitethroat on Dairy House Meadows this morning. The field along Fisherman's Path beside the mere is being ploughed so subsequently fewer wagtails present but still at least 3 Yellows and 10 White plus 3 Wheatears.

No sign of the Garganey on Haydn's Pool early am.

c15 Yellow Wagtails Budworth Mere along the fishermans path, also 8 Wheatear, but no sign of Blue-headed Wagtail (4pm-6pm)

1 Dunlin, c30 Swift & 500+ hirundines on Budworth Mere

Female Common Scoter, Budworth Mere, near the sailing club viewable from the fishermans path, also 7 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Wheatears & c50 White Wagtails on the big ploughed field, no sign of Blue-headed Wagtail but wagtails commuting to at least 2 other sites so could still be about

In case anyone was thinking of visiting tomorrow, news that the Wood Warbler was still present in the same area today, showing well at times & singing. Another Arctic Tern was on the mere today too.

Sorry for the late news, yesterday late afternoon patcher Pod found a Wood Warbler in the yew trees just up the steps from the boathouse towards the Bittern Screen, the old Tawny roost trees if folk knew them It showed fleetingly in the yews along with at least 1 of Chiffchaff & Blackcap, so just seeing any warbler flitting about wasn't enough!! Around 6.30pm it flew off with the Chiffchaff alongside the mere to the trees past the Bittern Screen. A single Arctic Tern was also still present over the mere.

Folk were on patch all morning but no sign but a report which the core patchers knew nothing about on the pagers have it as 'singing in pines' had a renewed search start pm & I have just had news that it is still in the yews & birches singing at 5.15pm. The bird was not singing yesterday apart from two phrases of partial song that allowed Pod to first pick it up, not a murmur after that. A Wheatear was at Kid Brook Spit at 10am. Also present today at least 5 Yellow Wagtails on the fields by Kid Brook this aftrenoon and another in the fields by Fishermans Path where there was also a Little Ringed Plover on the marshy valley area. Five Common Sandpipers were around the mere m,argins early morning. Large numbers of Meadow Pipits were also noted. No sign of any terns am or pm today.


-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 18th of April 2013 05:30:03 PM

Doc Brewster wrote:

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A real patch Mega there, Sid, well done indeed .....................................................

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Thanks Paul, but to be fair I didn't do anything, just stood still and the bird found me

A real patch Mega there, Sid, well done indeed & thanks for the PM. Most patchers have caught up with one in the past but another would be very welcome. Hope this one sticks, definitely worth a good search of the patch tomorrow. I popped down in a window of opportunity at 5.40pm & got 2 Yellow Wagtails & a White Wagtail on Kid Brook Spit, but had to leave immediately. Same tomorrow as working all day, any news of the Ring Ouzel would be much appreciated as I run the email distribution list for the patch (anyone with push email to their phone, or who just wants email updates about the Witton Limebeds Patch, just send me a PM on these forums & I will add you to the list ).

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 15th of April 2013 10:21:04 PM

Brief afternoon on patch today brought a few notable sightings. I picked up the first (reported) Blackcap in the shape of a male near the Bittern Screen, relocated later when I popped back with another birder. A Grey Wagtail was nearby by the boathouse. Over the mere a large hirundine flock contained lots & lots of Sand Martins, double figures of Swallows and a couple of House Martins.

Third party sightings that I got 2nd/3rd hand included a Common Sandpiper & a Willow Warbler but I can't really comment personally on those.