Three and a half hours from 1pm today in cool weather, although fine and sunny. Bittern Hide - Mereside Path - Woodland Hide - Return to Bittern Hide, where the bulk of my time was spent. The Bittern, seen yesterday, didnt show, although around 5k Starling dropped into Coward Reedbed to roost. Species seen 39, highlights being :-
Three and a half hours from 8.45am in milder weather, light winds, sunny spells and 5-7*c. Mereside Path - Slipway - Big Wood - Open Fields - Mereside Path - Bittern Hide. Species seen 46, of note :-
The Bittern, back for a couple of weeks now, put in a couple of flight views within Coward Reedbed, around midday. I note from BirdGuides that a further sighting was reported early afternoon.
Reported on Twitter, that a birder had 2 Hawfinch yesterday, in the trees surrounding the open area.
Well keep an eye open for the Bittern, Lez, as your possible sighting will be the first of the autumn/winter period.
Hi Mark, it was a very nice local lady from the 'Friends of Marbury Park Group' that pointed out the possible Bittern sighting & myself plus the other Cheshire birder spent a good half hour scanning from different angles the area in question without being totally convinced. A lot of reed movements were observed but could have been from the many roosting starlings.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Saturday 3rd of December 2022 01:19:10 AM
Dipped on the Hawfinch which was briefly seen around 3pm by a Cheshire birder after we decided to go different directions to broaden the search & was unable to re-locate together later.
We did however experience an amazing sight of over 2,000 Starling coming in to roost in Coward Reed bed, where we thought we caught a brief glimpse of a Bittern moving its neck slowly in the reeds but the failing light, distance & camouflage meant we couldn't be certain.
Also seen :- Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Chaffinch; Siskin; Coal Tit; Nuthatch; Treecreeper; Mistle Thrush and plenty Redwing in the treetops.
On Budworth Mere :- Little Egret; Grey Heron skulking around Coward Reed bed; Kingfisher; Buzzard (heard only); & around 100 Greylag Geese with at least 1 Egyptian Goose in tow coming in to roost.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Wednesday 30th of November 2022 09:30:02 PM
The single Hawfinch, found by Kev Bruen on Sunday, is still around today. Very elusive but generally frequenting the tall trees surrounding the open area, above the steps which lead up from the Bittern Hide. Same area as the twenty odd birds frequented five years ago.
A walk along the Fishermans Path, late morning, yielded a pair of Mandarin in the middle field with both Whitethroat and Yellowhammer in the general area of the Magic Hedge.
Two Mediterranean Gull in the ploughed field yesterday morning, a Little Ringed Plover by one of the pools in the next field and a pair of Mandarin in the final field. Two Little Ringed Plover also around Kid Brook Spit. A male Sparrowhawk had earlier flown low over the ploughed field with a squealing House Sparrow in its talons.
The ploughed field by the Fishermans Path has finally seen some wagtail action with both a male and female Yellow Wagtail today at different times. Also a minimum of five Whites over the last couple of days.
Quick visit this afternoon after the rain. Mereside Path to the Woodland Hide, then back the same way. Forty seven species seen, highlights being :-
- Shelduck (2) - Shoveler (1) - Gadwall (3) - Tufted Duck (22) - Great Crested Grebe (10) - Stock Dove (2) - Oystercatcher (2) - Common Sandpiper (1) - Green Sandpiper (1) - Sand Martin (c.20) - House Martin (1) - Willow Warbler (2) - Chiffchaff (15) - Blackcap (2) - Brambling (min 2)
Great to see the Brambling on the Mereside Path. A very scarce Winter visitor on patch here, usually only seen in singles or ones and twos. A female and a handsome male in breeding plumage. Flitting quickly and very high up, I have a feeling there could have been four birds.
Just been talking to a birding friend who tells me he watched an Osprey over Neumann's Flash last Thursday (Mar 31st). I've asked him to let Greg Baker know for the Marbury annual report.
Fifty two species from the Fishermans Path this morning from 7.45 in sunny and cold weather. Highlights being :-
- Mandarin Duck, two pairs circuiting the mere and Big Wood, before departing south. - Mediterranean Gull, two birds off Kid Brook Spit, in with the Black-headed Gulls. - Little Ringed Plover, two on Kid Brook Spit. - Kingfisher - Water Rail, one in eastern reedbed. - Swallow, two over the mere. - Sand Martin, two over the mere. - Skylark, one in the middle field by the Fishermans Path.
I met a birder on the Fishermans Path, who had earlier had a mixed finch flock in the willows, within which were two Brambling, a very scarce bird on patch with usually only the odd single sighting each Winter. Unable to relocate them but they were later reported on our WhatsApp group, from the Slipway/mereside path area.
Couple of hours this morning turned up some really nice spots!
1 nuthatch
3 song thrush
2 male blackcap
1 Jay
1 grey heron
1 treecreeper
Lots of tufted duck and great crested grebe
Over four hours this morning from 7.10, same route as on 15th March but also taking in the fields to the north west of the mere. A mix of sun and cloud, 7-13*c, light winds. 55 species again, more or less the same as previously, adding Little Egret and Redshank on Kid Brook Spit and three Blackcap around the woodlands. Also a minimum of 24 Chiffchaff. Green Sandpiper noted on the Fishermans Path pool (taken from our WhatsApp group).
Forty species seen yesterday morning in the Higher Marston farmland, which is the area immediately to the south east of the eastern end of Budworth Mere. The highlight on the floods and pools was a pair of Shoveler (Willow Pool) and a Snipe from the same location. Three Skylark were up and singing from the potato field and the crop field adjacent to it. Approx eighteen Linnet were noted on the top field nearest to the housing estate. Otherwise, just the usual suspects.
A short walk down to Budworth Mere revealed two pairs of Mediterranean Gull, in full breeding plumage together with two Little Ringed Plover on Kid Brook Spit. A Green Sandpiper was feeding nearby on the North Shore.
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.