Marbury Country Park

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

RE: Marbury Country Park

John Williams · Status: Offline

Probably correct there Tanmay, it was just the way she drummed that made me think it was territorial rather than a means of finding food.
She'd really hammer the branch, then pause for a look round, before moving across to another tree.
Perhaps she was announcing her presence and seeing if she could find a tasty grub too.

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Big Wood. (I thought only the males drummed?.)

I think that both drum to excavate grubs from wood, which may be what was happening...feeding rather than courtship etc.

Happy to be told I'm wrong but I think that's right! smile

John Williams · Status: Offline

17.30-18.30

40+ Redwings, plus Blackbirds and Chaffinches on the cut grass area near the childrens playground.

5 pairs of Great Crested Grebes, one pair doing a full display.

4 Pied Wagtails on the spit on the North bank, possibly a small wader here too but it kept hiding behind a stone.

A very pale, almost albino Canada Goose with the local flock, 10 Greylags too.

As the sun went down a Buzzard was very active hunting over the cattle pasture, and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Big Wood. (I thought only the males drummed?.)

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Whatever the pipit is - Water or Scandinavian Rock it will be a patch lifer for most of us who watch the 'Witton Lime Beds' area. A cracking White Wagtail was also present yesterday evening, again on Kid Brook Spit. The pipit was present today, early am at least, and hopefully since I got some pretty close pics yesterday its ID will be finalised whaen we examine them!!

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Pipit spp still on Kid Brook Spit briefly early am and the Dunlin *+& Little Ringed Plover were there too. 22 Whooper Swans flew over north this am.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A call late afternoon alerted me to the presence of a Little Ringed Plover on the Kid Brook Spit by Budworth Mere, maybe the one present since March 11th or maybe another, think we had the first in the Cheshire by our reckoning!! It was on the spit with a Dunlin and a pipit species which required closer investigation. Three patch watchers managed to get closer views and the jury is now out for the bird either being a littoralis (Scandinavian) Rock Pipit or a Water Pipit. I arrived with another patcher just 10mins too late as the bird had flown off, presumably to roost. It will be looked for tomorrow & maybe then its true ID will be determined.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 24th of March 2013 09:34:35 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Sand Martin over the mere again yesterday and a definite White Wagtail on Kid Brook spit as well as a Dunlin & 10 Pied Wagtails. 2 Kingfishers seen from the mereside path

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The Little Ringed Plover was still present this morning picking away along Kid Brook Spit, viewed from the mereside path. No sign of any Sand Martins but a freshly in Chiffchaff was singing on Marbury Lane.

John Barber · Status: Offline

Orinoco Duck at Budworth Mere

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

RE: Marbury Country Park

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

John Barber wrote:

cheshirebirder reports on Birdforum that, and I quote: " There were a pair of Orinoco geese around the back of Sandbach Flashes last year. They'd jumped the fence from that menagerie next door "

Cheers Tanmay & John

News today - late afternoon - of an exceptionally early, for patch, Little Ringed Plover. Seen on the Kid Brook Spit shoreline viewed from the mereside path at Marbury CP. Fits nicely with the first Spring sightings of this species in the UK being 1 on 7th-8th March in Sussex, then birds in London & Surrey on 9th March and Powys, London, Surrey & Notts yesterday

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 11th of March 2013 09:28:46 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Any news on rings on the BMW bird, Tanmay? This one has a yellow plastic ring, would assume it is the same bird, but the ring would be extra evidence

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

There has recently been an orinoco goose around Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB feeding with the Canadas. Perhaps the same bird...? It was there in December and I think some of January. I saw it briefly, a very odd looking bird!

Add to that the Cape shelduck and ringed teal, and my plastic list at BMW isn't too bad.

and also an escapee white-fronted goose last summer which flew through!

-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Monday 11th of March 2013 12:00:25 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

John Barber wrote:

Doc Brewster wrote:

It's an Orinoco Goose and has a yellow plastic ring, initially reported in by a non-patcher as an Egyptian Goose on the info systems. Shame as that would have been a patch mega for all! The same bird was first picked up by Greg Baker on Thursday & IDed as Orinoco Goose after a bit of detective work by Pete Antrobus today

No wonder I couldn't find it in my Collins !

I know, John, I've never seen one before but when I googled it it does look like a hybrid, like some kid has stuck cut outs of different waterfowl together!! We have been told they're q.rare in captivity too, so wonder which collection it came from. One of the best escape ticks we've ever had on patch lol

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 11th of March 2013 09:12:49 AM

John Barber · Status: Offline

Doc Brewster wrote:

It's an Orinoco Goose and has a yellow plastic ring, initially reported in by a non-patcher as an Egyptian Goose on the info systems. Shame as that would have been a patch mega for all! The same bird was first picked up by Greg Baker on Thursday & IDed as Orinoco Goose after a bit of detective work by Pete Antrobus today

No wonder I couldn't find it in my Collins !

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

It's an Orinoco Goose and has a yellow plastic ring, initially reported in by a non-patcher as an Egyptian Goose on the info systems. Shame as that would have been a patch mega for all! The same bird was first picked up by Greg Baker on Thursday & IDed as Orinoco Goose after a bit of detective work by Pete Antrobus today

Martyn Jones · Status: Offline

Doc Brewster wrote:

Sand Martin seen over Budworth Mere this morning

Yep, got it.

John Barber · Status: Offline

Some kind of hybrid Egyptian Goose at Budworth Mere this morning. It has a ring on it's leg and has been there for a few days apparently.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Sand Martin seen over Budworth Mere this morning

John Williams · Status: Offline

12.00-13.30

Budworth Mere

12 Great Crested Grebes, 46 Wigeon, 1 Great Black Backed Gull plus lots of Coot, Canada Geese etc.

3 Oystercatchers were on the North Bank.

A huge raft of Black Headed Gulls with lesser numbers of Common stretched across the mere, but no sign of Meds.

3 Coal Tits were squabbling near the old ice pit, whilst the only unusual sighting at the feeding station was a rabbit chewing bramble leaves.

Just 1 Grey Heron showing in the heronry, although 6 others were dotted around nearby.

-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 1st of March 2013 04:09:50 PM

Jason Dulhanty · Status: Offline

Budworth mere 11.30-1.00
No Bittern
Grey heronx2
Cormorantx10
Great crested grebex16
Usual Coots and Moorhens
Mallardsxloads
Usual Tits
Dunnocks
Nuthatch
Robins
Great spotted woodpecker
Mute swanx2
Wren
Chaffinchxloads
No Raptors
Cheers Jay
Don't twitch and drive.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has been seen and heard occasionally along Marbury Lane over the past week or so (including a brief view this morning). Currently this seems a better bet than last year's favoured trees along the mere path.

John Williams · Status: Offline

09.30-13.30

Concentrated on trying to get a glimpse of the Bittern hiding away in the Coward reedbed, alas it did'nt show, except for the brief time I'd nipped over to the woodland hide.

There's a limit on the amount of time that you can stare into a reedbed, it's easier looking for Lord Lucan.

A Kingfisher was showing well just below the screen, whilst upto 12 Long Tailed Tits were on the feeders at one point and a Bank Vole nervously fed beneath them.

On the mere were 2 female Goldeneye, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Pochard, 1 Little Grebe plus the usual Tufted Ducks etc.

The meadow on the North bank held 19 Curlew, 20 Wigeon, 25 Lapwings plus a huge mixed group of Canada and Greylag Geese.

In the mereside alders were 16 Siskins and a Treecreeper. 2 Buzzards flew low across the mere and a flock of 5 Bullfinches were near the garden centre.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Collette Collier wrote:

Hi doc

Thanks for your reply, I'm not sure actually I just follow the sat nav code from the website but this takes you to what I assume is a main car park which is a pay and display that takes you to an information point and toilets this leads down to a path and the water is directly in front of you then as you take the path is To the left. Yes if you don't mind sending me any info in a pm id Be very grateful as I'm trying to expand my knowledge and sightings.

Thank you :0)

Will do Collette, what you tell me is great, pins down the area you use for me. I will PM you right away :)

Collette Collier · Status: Offline

Hi doc

Thanks for your reply, I'm not sure actually I just follow the sat nav code from the website but this takes you to what I assume is a main car park which is a pay and display that takes you to an information point and toilets this leads down to a path and the water is directly in front of you then as you take the path is To the left. Yes if you don't mind sending me any info in a pm id Be very grateful as I'm trying to expand my knowledge and sightings.

Thank you :0)

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Where do you park, Collette? From the last bit of your descrition it sounds like you go over Upland Woodlands Meadows from Marbury Lane over to the Anderton side. I helped write the section on Marbury, Neumann's & Ashton's Flashes in the new Helm Where to Watch Guide, including providing the maps, so if you let me know what you would like to see then I can send you PMs on here to help

Collette Collier · Status: Offline

Hi guys,

I've been here several times walking my dogs and tend to stick to the path where the expanse of water is to the left this path is pretty short but I'm unsure of where the best way to go is or worried about getting lost..I've found the hide to the right of the path and ive carried on to the end of the path ending up at the canal where the boat lift is if you carry on to the right.

Can any of you guide me to a better spot as the path gets pretty busy with dog walkers so haven't seen many different species other than the usual tits finches wrens robins etc

Thanks in advance

CC

John Williams · Status: Offline

09.30-11.00

Sat for about an hour waiting for the Bittern to show at the Coward Memorial reedbed without success, it was seen yesterday, but when I left none of the regular birders had caught a glimpse today.

Four Grey Herons were chasing each other around the reedbed and at times things got quite aggressive, but even that did'nt rouse the Bittern.

On the mere were 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe and 5 Pochard, 12 Lapwings were on the meadow (North side).

A flock of 78 Wigeon on the North bank, with more hidden amongst Canada Geese and Mallards on the meadow.

9 Robins at the woodland feeding station seem to be tolerating each other, but things looked tense. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker hammering away on a mereside tree.

1 Buzzard swooping low across the meadow near the garden centre, not a good place to be rabbit.

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Budworth Mere
1 Pink-footed Goose
2 Shelduck
1 Goosander
7 Goldeneye
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 hybrid goose, perhaps White-fronted or Lesser White-fronted x Canada

Pick Mere
4 Goldeneye
1 Black Swan

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Several folk out and so had lots of calls today, all saying the same thing - no sign of the Great Northern Diver. It was seen yesterday flying over the A559 by the mere so Pickmere may be worth a check, but also it could have left the area totally. A Little Egret was seen just off patch flying towards Marbury CP but again no sign of that all day. A female Goosander was on the mere though.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The Great Northern Diver still there today, good news for prospective weekend visitors - just a day more for it to hang on. Two Bitterns seen yesterday at dusk too

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The Great Northern Diver was still present & showing very closely at times to 12.30pm at least. The Green Sandpiper that was reported to me at dusk yesterday evening was still present on the far shore to the left of Kid Brook Spit all morning as well as the very long staying Dunlin. The Kingfishers are starting to show much more frequently too with 2+birds involved.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Great Northern Diver (juv) still present this morning - first seen at 07.50 in the gloom

.

Watched for a while but didn't see it catch any fish but had really good views at the western end of the mere near the reed bed and in front of the small boathouse landing stage.

Nice to see Mr Baker again after a long time; hope you had a productive visit to Richmond bank Greg

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Cheers Pete, the Bittern went missing when the reedbed froze, we suspected a move to flowing water areas with reed such as the stream between Budworth Mere & Pick Mere (where the Great White Egret was several years ago). But now the reedbeds have thawed out it's nice to hear of one being back

p.s. like the video

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

1 Bittern showed from 10.40 for c15-20 minutes
1 Great Northern Diver (for a video see the signature below)

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Showing down to 5m at times to a large crowd & taking huge fish, some almost too big for it to swallow. It did manage to swallow them though - after a long struggle!! Ranging over the whole mere so it could be distant at times but with patience views were exceptional. Still present as light was fading at 4.15pm.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Juv Great Northern Diver still present on mere this morning.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Below some video of the diver taken this afternoon.

http://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/great-northern-diver-gavia-immer/juvenile-swimming-diving

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The diver was showing well this evening from the mereside path looking across to Kidbrook Spit. There are numbers of Water Rails on patch, John, but are more often heard than seen these days. Banside vegetation cutting near the Coward Reedbed Screen caused a sudden dip in sightings along the waters edge there, which was always a reliable palce to actually see rather than just hear them.

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Hi Greg, managed to access the Bittern footage today - excellent, I thought, though I missed Barbara's drumming in the background!

Cheers David

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

Juv / 1st winter Great Northern Diver on Budworth Mere from mid afternoon. Still present at dusk. Also 5 Waxwing over.

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

DavidBowman wrote:

Hi Greg, I couldn't get your Bittern link to work but would like to see the clip.

Cheers David

Have you tried highlighting the link wording, right-clicking and then clicking on "go to address"? That works for me. Otherwise I'll look at another way of setting the link.

John Williams · Status: Offline

09.30-12.00

Budworth Mere

I waited 30 minutes or so for the Bittern to emerge from the reedbed, alas it did'nt, the only sign of life here was a small flock of Blue Tits flitting around the Phragmites heads.

There was masses of activity at the feeding station though, and lots of Chaffinches amonst the usual garden birds, but no sign of Bramblings.

Lots of Moorhens below the feeders and on the edge of the mere, but no sign Water Rail, in icy conditions one used to be regular here, but that was many moons ago

.

6 Great Crested Grebes on the mere. 14 Cormorants, 124 Lapwing, 2 Great Black Gulls, 11 Common Gulls and 3 Wigeon around the spit on the North bank.

A large number of Redwings flushed from the woodland floor near the old ice pit, leaving a few Blackbirds to continue rooting through the leaf litter.

6 Robins seemed to be tolerating each other at the woodland feeding station, but after a while war broke out. 4 male Blackbirds decided on aggro too, Springs not far away.

1 Goldcrest near the garden centre. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming.

Hazel Rothwell · Status: Offline

Hello folks, I'm a newbie here and just wanted to say hello

. This is my first posting;
I visited Marbury last week (Wednesday, 16th Jan) and managed to see the Bittern albeit, a fair distance away and there was a Black Swan on the mere too so here are a couple of links to my Flickr. pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoot2thrillpolicy/sets/72157632537066487/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoot2thrillpolicy/sets/72157632289119520/

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Hi Greg, I couldn't get your Bittern link to work but would like to see the clip.

Cheers David

Greg Baker · Status: Offline

One of the Bitterns and Kingfisher showing well in the reedbed this morning. See link below for Bittern video.

http://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/eurasian-bittern-botaurus-stellaris/individual-preening-wing-stretching-reed-bed

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The Starling roost has become very unreliable, Pete. Several evenings recently have seen very little action by dusk. Local observers have seen roosts in other sites nearby so maybe the Starlings pick & choose which roost site is used on a nightly basis. There has been a recent reliable report of three Bitterns seen in the Cowrad Reedbed.

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

1 Bittern showing at dusk, light terrible 16.20-16.35. No Starling roost by then.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

On a late afternoon family walk to the park today had terrific views of one of the Bitterns on the flattened Budworth Mere reed bed. Despite many previous visits this was the first time that I have seen a Bittern on the Mere

The late afternoon light would have been ideal for picture taking as well.

Surprisingly, given earlier reports there was no Starling roost, with only a handful of them going around before dusk. Guess they had good views of the Bittern as well