Just over five hours this morning from 7.10, sunny spells, light winds, 2-13*c. Same route as last time and which has now more or less become the norm. Amongst others :-
Four and a quarter hours this morning from 8.40 in sunny and cold weather, 2-9*c. Mereside Path - Slipway - Forge Brook - Big Wood - Black Wood Open Fields - Slipway - Mereside Path. 51 species, amongst others :-
Three hours this morning from 9am in sunny and cold weather, 4-8*c. Mereside path - slipway - Forge Brook - Big Wood - open fields and return. Amongst others :-
I have been round a couple of times since my last report here but not posted as its been pretty much the same stuff being seen. Expecting the first Sand Martin within the next couple of weeks and the first incoming warblers thereafter. A Firecrest was seen late last week (Schedule 1) but as these have been reported from MCP in winter previously, I am assuming this is ok to broadcast. Subsequent searches have drawn a blank. Recent sightings have also included Mediterranean Gull, female Wood Duck and Bittern, the latter in Coward Reedbed as usual.
First visit here and completed a circular walk in the morning and a shorter walk in the afternoon.
In the morning (11:00 - 12:15) there were
- 8 Goosander (5m,3f) - 20+ Curlew on the spit on the northern side of the Mere - c20 lapwing in the same area - 1 Treecreeper near the carpark - Mistle Thrush heard - 1 Kingfisher seen by my sister - Flock of c12 Redwing - Several singing Goldcrest
In the afternoon - Several noisy Jays - Female Reed Bunting near feeding station - no sign of the Goosanders that were present in the morning - no sign of the Bittern
Three and a quarter hours this morning from 8.40, usual walk, mereside path, Forge Brook, Big Wood and the open fields. Weather sunny and clear, minimal winds, 4-7*c. Fifty two species, amongst others :-
Greylag Goose (c.25) Canada Goose (c.50) Mute Swan (2) Shelduck (1) Wigeon (4) Teal (6) Tufted Duck (17) Goldeneye (3) Goosander (12) Little Grebe (1) Great Crested Grebe (23) Stock Dove (7) Water Rail (1) Oystercatcher (1) Lapwing (18) Curlew (31) Grey Heron (14) Little Egret (1) Great Spotted Woodpecker (1) Nuthatch (9) Redwing (38) Siskin (c.20)
Three and a half hours this morning from 8.55 in sunny and clear weather, minimal winds, -2 to 2*c. Mereside path - Slipway - Big Wood - open fields & return via same route. Budworth Mere 90% frozen. 53 Species seen, amongst others :-
While waiting for the Bittern, which showed on cue at 16:35, scanned around and found a small grebe that could only be Black-Necked Grebe by Kid Brook (neck much too long for Little Grebe, which was also present). Unfortunately, only 1 other birder got onto it before some non-birder walked out onto the spit and the grebe disappeared into the reeds for the night
This coincides with the disappearance of the Black-Necked Grebe at Acre Nook
Just over two and a half hours, this morning, from 7.50am, dull but fine. Mainly to view the Starlings leaving Coward Reedbed. The roost has steadily built up over the Autumn/Winter period and a count last night estimated 120k. It was a superb sight (and noise) when they left around 8am. A bit of a quiet feel on the mere and in the woodland. Amongst others :-
Good numbers of Rook today, this is the only reliable spot to see them on patch. The mixed finch flock on the farmland near Marston Hall Farm didnt hold any Brambling, unfortunately. The two Teal were on the floods/pool near the main road, otherwise the wildfowl were down on Marston Pools.
Without having the Bittern Hide, lost earlier this year due to vandalism, it has been harder to witness the Starling roost and possible Bittern activity in Coward Reedbed. There have been no reports of Bittern this back end so, this afternoon, I decided to take one of those fold up £5 green chairs and just sit and wait.
After I had been there for an hour and three quarters, the first Starling started to drop in at around 15.45 hrs. Several groups had circled around and moved on before a flock of around 2k dropped in at 16.00 hrs. Thereafter, many other groups decided to join the party and when I left at 16.30 hrs (still a fair bit of daylight left) I reckon a good 7.5k had roosted and others were still arriving.
The highlight of the afternoon was a Bittern in brief flight at around 16.15 hrs at the left hand corner of the reedbed, just a few yards but great to see. Earlier, a 1w Sparrowhawk had been present, waiting for the Starling to arrive. Three Water Rail were heard, squealing away, from within the reedbed.
For information purposes, funding is now in place for a replacement hide, which will be situated more or less where it was, but just a few yards to the left. Should be in situ by April but no doubt consideration will have to be given to not disturbing the Bittern(s) now that one has arrived. Last Winter, there was generally one bird present but sometimes two. Until then, it will be a case of viewing whilst stood up at, or near, the viewing area.
Three and a quarter hours this morning from 6.50am. Walked the mereside path, into Big Wood and along Forge Brook, around the open fields then into Hopyards Wood. Weather clear and fine, light winds, 6-9*c. Waited for 20 mins at Coward Reedbed. Could hear the Starlings in the reeds and they finally departed, en masse, at 7.18am. A total of 53 species seen, amongst others :-
There have been two single sightings of Brambling over the last couple of days. An extremely scarce visitor to patch but no luck for me this morning despite a bit of a search.
Two hours yesterday morning from 8.50, down the mereside path to the slipway, then on through Big Wood and back to the car park via the open fields. Weather sunny, cold and clear, 4-6*c, light winds. Amongst others :-
Greylag Goose (49) Canada Goose (133) Mute Swan (2) Shelduck (1) Gadwall (2) Mallard (c.150) Tufted Duck (53) Little Grebe (1) Great Crested Grebe (62) Northern Lapwing (18) Eurasian Curlew (41) Great Cormorant (10) Grey Heron (1) Little Egret (1) Common Raven (2) Eurasian Skylark (1) Long-tailed Tit (6) Goldcrest (2) Nuthatch (4) European Starling (35) Redwing (50+)
Highlights of over two and a half hours around the park this morning were a juvenile Hobby over Kid Brook Marsh and two Egyptian Geese in with the goose flock. Otherwise, standard fayre.
A similar walk on Thursday, taking in the mereside path and Big Wood yielded 47 species including Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow and House Martin.
This is awful news. These morons are intent on destruction in the Northwich Woodlands complex. It's only 5/6 weeks since the large storage barn at Carey Park was burnt down. I fear for the other hides, sheds, cabins, etc. Wanton vandalism is always depressing. The fact that it's in such a well-loved and diverse area only increases the anger and frustration.
A movement of Common Scoter overnight with good numbers appearing on local reservoirs and lakes. Sixteen on Budworth Mere, found by Greg Baker, early doors. I went down at around 12.30 and despite twice flying off, they circled round a few times and settled again on the water.
Spotted Flycatcher showing well, late afternoon, by the Bittern Hide. Been present here since Thursday.
Lesser Whitethroat singing from long hedge, west of the main footpath through the adjacent Dairy House Meadows. The meadows are sandwiched between Marbury Country Park and Neumanns Flash.
An hour or so on the Fishermans Path this morning produced a single female Wheatear, a minimum of two White Wagtail, over one hundred House Martin (including the mere), thirty to fifty Swallow, a minimum of thirty Sand Martin and around twenty Swift. Three Whimbrel did a circuit over the path before departing and, half an hour later, a further Whimbrel was heard over the mere.
Decided to try my luck on the Fishermans Path by Budworth Mere, late afternoon, the showery weather always decent at dropping stuff in. We have only had singles of Yellow Wagtail on passage, so it was nice to find four in the middle field along with two Wheatear. This field has been given the muck spreading treatment a couple of weeks ago and the next field has recently been ploughed, making the general area attractive for migrants feeding. The second hedge along is a thick, mature one and feeders have recently been added which have attracted Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer, patch rarities. As I was scanning through feeding Reed Buntings by the hedge, hoping for a Yellowhammer, I found a female Redstart, again only a passage migrant on patch, some years we only get one, some none at all. A productive hour or so. GB had, this morning, found a Lesser Whitethroat in the first hedge by the Fishermans Path.
Just over three hours from 8.20 this morning in sunny and fine weather, albeit cool to start with. Mereside path, Big Wood to Haydns Pool and return by same route. As I was three quarters way to Haydns, news came in of a Little Gull that had dropped in at the mere, found by GB, so I cut short my time at Haydns and returned to the mere. Luckily it was still around. Fifty two species here and sixty six on our overall patch, highlights :-
Little Gull (1) Great Crested Grebe (9) Gadwall (4) Common Sandpiper (2) House Martin (1) Swift (4) Reed Warbler (2) Willow Warbler (3) Chiffchaff (11) Blackcap (5) Raven (1)
Spent an hour at the slipway from 7.30 am viewing Kid Brook Spit. Two Common Sandpiper, two Green Sandpiper and a White Wagtail. I had had a White Wagtail, late afternoon yesterday, in the ploughed field by the Fishermans Path but nothing today. There were, however, a dozen or so Fieldfare that have been present for a few days.
Quick visit to the mere, mid afternoon. Little Ringed Plover and four Oystercatcher on Kid Brook Spit. Around one thousand Sand Martin over the mere. White Wagtail in the freshly ploughed field by the Fishermans Path, along with fifteen or so Pieds. A Wheatear had been seen in the field this morning.
Around 1000 Sand Martin at Budworth Mere, 7.30am today with half a dozen Swallow in the mix. Nothing on Kid Brook Spit other than a pair of Oystercatcher. Two Blackcap by the mereside path.
Another Osprey was reported on BirdGuides as passing over nearby Cuddington, heading north east, early evening. This would have taken it close to Budworth Mere but, with no further reports, it may well have veered off northwards.
On RBA the Cuddington Osprey is reported as heading NE over Kennel Lane at 10.14am, but the news wasn't transmitted until after 6.50am.
Yes, Paul, I realise that now. I took the info off our WhatsApp Group, rather than checking the details myself.
Another Osprey was reported on BirdGuides as passing over nearby Cuddington, heading north east, early evening. This would have taken it close to Budworth Mere but, with no further reports, it may well have veered off northwards.
On RBA the Cuddington Osprey is reported as heading NE over Kennel Lane at 10.14am, but the news wasn't transmitted until after 6.50am.
An Osprey put in an appearance over Budworth Mere around 2pm today. Not sure how long it hung around for but it was missed by all patchers, including myself, who were mainly birding in the morning!
Another Osprey was reported on BirdGuides as passing over nearby Cuddington, heading north east, early evening. This would have taken it close to Budworth Mere but, with no further reports, it may well have veered off northwards.
There have recently been anything up to 300 Sand Martin over the mere and a single Swallow has been seen on two occasions.
First Blackcap of the year for me this morning, in song just behind the mereside path. The mere was quiet although there were around 100 Sand Martin, midday, although most appeared to be moving through northwards.
High Tony - Any chance of an exact location or dropping a pin on the spot etc. The Firecrest was last seen on 31 December (if the same one) so there will be a few people wanting to look for it. Thanks, Mark.
10:30 At least 5 Sand Martin at west end of mere. Also a stunning male Firecrest at the west end of Big Wood then across the small field to the other side. Flycatching and flitting about.
Three and a half hours from 7am, 0*c to start with and light winds. Same route as last time out. Just waiting for he first migrants to arrive, everything a bit same as, same as.
Two Green Sandpiper around Kid Brook Spit were the highlight and on the Mere were a pair of Goosander, otherwise as it has been for several weeks now. Three separate Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard drumming, one in Big Wood, one in Black Wood and one at the northern end of Marbury Lane. All other woodland species as recently.
Two of the regular patchers have them. Good for locating birds like Woodcock, Common Snipe and Jack Snipe without any possibility of flushing them. Seven Woodcock plus a number of Snipe feeding in a field (in the dark) on patch recently. Also good for checking if the two Bittern are still present even though you cant see them in the usual way. Whats it going to be like in another ten years? We wont have to leave the house!
Usual array of commoner species around. Two Bittern had been picked up by thermal imaging earlier and viewed briefly although they werent on show during my two visits to the hide overlooking Coward Reedbed.
One of the two current Bittern was showing in Coward Reedbed late afternoon today just prior to dusk. Also around were one or more Little Grebe trilling, two Water Rail and a Cettis Warbler. Two Oystercatcher, several Curlew and Lapwing plus a couple of Goosander were just about visible over on Kid Brook Spit.
Two and a quarter hours from 9.20am, light rain to start, otherwise overcast, 8*c, light winds. Mereside path - Slipway - Forge Brook - Big Wood - Marbury Lane. Of note :-
Nice array of commoner species around, Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit etc. Eighteen Meadow Pipit had been seen earlier at the flooded fields inbetween Big Wood and Hopyards. The two I saw were probably remnants of that flock, not too common on patch.
Four hours from 8.45am in mild and pleasant weather, light southerly winds, 8-9*c. Mereside Path - Slipway - Forge Brook - Big Wood - Dairy House Meadow - Haydns Pool - Marbury Lane - Big Wood - Slipway - Mereside Path. Of note :-
Canada Goose (75) Greylag Goose (3) Cormorant (6) Grey Heron (4) Great Crested Grebe (3) Little Grebe (1) Tufted Duck (31) Wigeon (3) Pintail (1) Oystercatcher (2) Curlew (71) Lapwing (41) Kingfisher (1) Grey Wagtail (1) Water Rail (2) Cettis Warbler (1) Great Spotted Woodpecker (2) Siskin (6) Redwing (2) Reed Bunting (2) Goldcrest (2) Raven (1) Sparrowhawk (1) Buzzard (4)
Photos of the recently returned Wood Duck pair.
-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Wednesday 17th of February 2021 02:32:55 PM