FRODSHAM MARSH/WEAVER BEND

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

RE: FRODSHAM MARSH/WEAVER BEND

Stephen Wende · Status: Offline

47 Species seen, highlights being:-

1 Garganey

4 Ruff

1 Little Ringed Plover

5 Wheatear

3 Whinchat

1 Reed Warbler

1 Cetti's Warbler but at least 8 heard

2 Yellow Wagtail

2 Buzzard

1 Kestrel

steven burke · Status: Offline

Afternoon visit with 66 species seen.

Green-winged Teal on mitigation pools.
Garganey on phalarope pool also 2 little ringed plovers on there.
On no6 tank..
1 Wood sandpiper
1 greenshank
5 ruff
10 + bar-tailed godwit amongst the hundreds of black tailed godwit.
Several Dunlin
Lapwing
2 snipe
2 Avocet
2 curlew
4 little gulls
Tufted ducks
Pintail
Shoveler
Shelducks
Teal
Gadwall
Several Reed warblers
Cettis warblers everywhere
2-3 marsh harriers
65 + sand Martins
4 swallows
1 yellow wagtail
1 whinchat
4 whitethroat
3 willow warblers
Chiffchaffs
Blackcaps
Loads of ravens all around, 25 were at one point on a sheep carcass.
Plus the usuals around.

Terry Long · Status: Offline

Not a great day for me today for frodsham marsh. No Harriers, no Whoopers and even somehow managed to not see any stonechats!. Plenty of Ravens knocking about, a few skeens of pink foots flew over very close, a few Golden Plovers where mixed in with a large lapwng flock. On 6 tank which was very high with water so no exposed mud the only waders I seen was black-tailed Godwits and about 20 odd snipe. Teal, pochard, pintail, shoveler, little grebe, mallard and shelduck was on the water. I thought I saw a scaup at one point but it disappeared out of range and I couldn't find it again, only had a glimpse it could have been a juv tuftie

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Mute Swan hit by turbine blades of one of the turbines by by Gate 6 10:45 this morn. Rang the Windfarm number but no reply.

Went down like a bag of spuds, body lying to NE of the bottom of the turbine mast.

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

Pectoral Sandpiper distantly with Dunlin flock on No.6 tank at midday.

Also:
1 Spotted Redshank
4 Ruff
Good sized flocks if Dunlin, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit

Andy J · Status: Offline

Here is the link to Frodsham Marsh Bird Blog which posted my sighting of Snow Goose yesterday: the first record of this species at Frodsham Marsh -

https://frodshammarshbirdblog.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/greater-snow-goose-new-to-frodsham-marsh/

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

On the way home from Wales today I called in to view Lordship Marsh, Frodsham from the M56 Helsby bridge again and reconnected with the 4(2ad) Bewick's Swan's in the Whooper herd. Well worth getting on my yearlist considering how long it took to get the species last year!! That left me on 103 species after 3 days of 2022 and that will do me for my start, hopefully back to more local patching again soon!

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

With much flushing happening I wasn't confident of seeing Bewick's - and I didn't!! But at least 20 Whooper Swans were still on Lordship Marsh as well as a handful of Curlew. Both were yearticks and added as I had to visit Frodhsam for a drop off!

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 1st of January 2022 10:49:43 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

After an abortive attempt on Monday to try to see a family of Bewick's Swans that had dropped in, mainly being too late in the day (dark!!) and in the wrong place, I made a repeat trip yesterday (Tuesday 28th Dec) to try for them. Having not seen Bewick's this year it would be a year tick and worth 1 on my list as the Belted Kingfisher would be so this was a much easier option (I'd seen the Staffs BK very well so no pressure to go to Lancs!).

Instead of driving west down the muddy, potholed, flooded track (Lordship Lane) below No.6 Tank as I had done the night (!!) before, I headed to Helsby. Here I parked and walked to Smithy Lane (it is a very narrow road with little or no parking to be honest) and headed down to the end. The lane turns into a muddy track which leads to a high footbridge over the M56 which is the viewing point. At the far end of the ridge I could see a herd of swans on Lordship Marsh, but still a fair distance away. Scoping the group I could see most were Whooper Swans but a couple of Mute Swans had joined them and best of all a family group of 4(2ad) Bewick's Swans were feeding with them. A few record digiscoped shots were fired off but the birds were distant and the light very poor (attached). I'm amazed that it took until 3 days from the end of the year to add this species, but numbers have plummeted and they are a real scarcity now in the NW. These are passage birds so whether they stay to get yearticked nobody knows, but there's lots of folk crossing their fingers for that!!

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 29th of December 2021 01:54:07 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

11.00-14.00

No 6 Tank : 1f Goldeneye moving around with a group of 10 Little Grebes.

6 Pintails, an overflying flock of 6 Black tailed Godwits, a charm of 13 Goldfinches, 5 Fieldfares with 4 Redwings,

2 Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, 2 Ravens and a group of 7 Lapwings.

The water level on the bed was high with very little bare shoreline showing.

Weaver Bend viewed from Redwall Reedbed : 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Buzzard, 9 Pochards and 12 Shelducks.

A skein of 130 Pink footed Geese flew over heading NW.

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

3 Curlew Sandpiper in with the Lapwing

Large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank

Small number of Dunlin but very distant

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-14.00

Weaver Bend : 2 Little Grebes, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Pochards, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 25 Redshanks,

1 first winter Great Black Backed Gull and 10 Common Gulls.

The bushes below the small car park along Brook Furlong appeared to be alive with small birds, a Cettis Warbler called

and then showed briefly, also seen there were 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs, together with numerous

Blue and Great Tits plus a couple of Wrens.

No6 Tank : 1 Spotted Redshank, 18 Ruff and 1 Snipe amongst large numbers of Lapwings, Black tailed Godwits and Redshanks.

At least 6 Pintails were amongst the raft of ducks (Mostly Shoveler and Teal), plus 2 Little Grebes.

Numerous Elder bushes still laden with berries line the track along the North bank, attracted at least 1 Garden Warbler and a couple

of Common Whitethroats. Also seen here were a couple of Kestrels and a single highly vocal Raven.

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

An afternoon visit to see the Long-billed Dowitcher on No.6 tank was made even better when I found a 1st summer American Golden Plover amongst the mass of waders.

Also present:
1-2 Spotted Redshank
a few Ruff
1 Knot in summer plumage
I Peregrine
Masses of Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Lapwing and a few Dunlin.
2 Reed Warbler
1 Cettis Warbler heard

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

Hobby showing well today

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

This afternoon on No6 tank:

1 Red-necked Phalarope - female
2 Green Sandpiper
2 Bar-tailed Godwit in amongst the flock of Black-tailed Godwits
4 Redshank
1 Ringed Plover
3 Pochard in with small group of Tufted Duck
Lots of hirundines swooping low over the area and the track. All 3 species plus lots of Swifts- at times just a couple of feet above my head height.
1 Cettis Warbler singing
A few Reed Warbler singing

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Monday 29th of June 2020 11:05:35 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

After news from yesterday I wasn't surprised when my Whatsapp Alert went off with news of the same bird still at Frodsham wink So I headed the few miles over to the marsh and parked at the bottom of the slope that leads up to No.6 Tank. There are locked 'poles' stopping cars here so it's either bike or walk to look down on the tank. All the waders were at the west end of the main water so I made my way down checking every so often. Soon a few more folk arrived and our search only revealed Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and the usual duck species. Two Green Sandpipers on the far side were the only thing out of the ordinary... for now! Eventually a birding mate announced that he'd found what we had all come to see and a few directuions later I was scoping it too, a Red-necked Phalarope, excellent smile The bird pootled around a bit on the shore but spent more time on the water, loosly on the edge of the Black-tailed Godwit flock, but every so often a godwit would chase it off, so I know it wan't accepted as part of their flock. After watching it for a while and directing newcomers onto the bird I said my farewells and headed home, well I had baking to do!!

Tony Koziol · Status: Offline

Finally getting on the road later than planned after newspaper deliveries we arrived at the parking area over the M56 at 08.00.

Walking along the track towards Marsh Farm we had Stonechat, Chiffchaff,Linnet,Goldfinch, Willow Warbler, Raven, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler.

Things did not look too good as we could only see small numbers of Starling and a chap passing us said he had been there two hours and not seen the Rose coloured Starling nonetheless we had to press on towards the farm totally undeterred as usual.

Half a dozen other birders already there, it didn't take long for a flock to appear over the canal and a call was made that the Rosy was there within a few minutes we had all seen the individual before the flock dropped behind the far bank.

A great looking bird our first adult, we saw a juvenile at Easington in 2018 but this bird is another beast.

Two points to note, a scope is a must as already mentioned in previous posts and the walk there and back to the M56 bridge is just short of three miles, there are closer parking spots towards the farm but you will certainly miss the other birds on offer.

-- Edited by Tony Koziol on Saturday 13th of June 2020 03:38:17 PM

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

I decided on an afternoon visit to try for the Rose-coloured Starling and started at Marsh Farm overlooking Frodsham Score. The bird was seen about 12.30, but disappeared just before I arrived. After waiting about an hour it became evident that the Starling flock was progressively moving towards the River Weaver and out of view. Hence I decided to walk round to the Weaver Bend and scan down the river towards the ship canal and the estuary. The bird gave me a very brief view from the south bank of the river so I moved to the top of the embankment to scan along the west bank of the straight stretch leading to the estuary. The bird eventually gave 4/5 reasonably good flight views, but every time it landed it was in the long grass and out of view. The flock seemed to move back towards the Marsh Farm area about 3.00. As the Doc says, a scope is handy!!!

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Doc Brewster wrote:
Late yesterday news broke of a Rose-coloured Starling being found at Frodsham Marsh, but with other stuff to do I passed on the rush over to see it, pinning hopes on the fact that it should stick around given it had found a carrier flock of Starlings.
So after the rain and wind had abated this morning I headed over the short distance to Frodsham with the only news being a brief sighting at 10am. ON arrival I found out that it had been seen recently but when I arrived at its favoured area, Marsh Farm, it had been missing for about an hour. Quite soon the Starling flock returned and luckily it was me, with my scope, who picked up the stunning adult Rose-coloured Starling in flight leading the whole flock. Thereafter the flock was tracked and tantalising flight views were had by all. Eventually the 'Rosy' landed on the grass opposite us and showed well, even hopping up onto the fence showing off its shaggy crest and looking superb! As more folk arrived the starling flock moved further away and flight views were the norm, at a distance and needing a scope too. A nice additional sighting was a low Great White Egret flapping over languidly from Frodsham Score upriver. A Little Egret was also seen on the far river bank towards the chemical works. Hordes of Swifts, the most I've seen this year, were over the river and farm, nice to see them in such big numbers at last.
I had seen the wintering Rose-coloured Starling in Anglesey earlier in the year but one less than 10 miles from home was too good to miss, a real Cheshire rarity.

The Rose-coloured Starling is still present and it sounds like it is favouring the far side of the river at Marsh Farm again, do take a scope, it helps tremendously!

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

Numerous distant views of the Rosy Starling this afternoon around Marsh Farm and feeding on Frodsham Score. Mostly flight views with a couple of views on the ground. It can stay hidden for periods of time though, and the Starling flock is quite mobile. The first adult Ive seen.
Also:
1 Great White Egret over
1 Avocet
1 Stonechat
Large numbers of Swifts

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Late yesterday news broke of a Rose-coloured Starling being found at Frodsham Marsh, but with other stuff to do I passed on the rush over to see it, pinning hopes on the fact that it should stick around given it had found a carrier flock of Starlings.

So after the rain and wind had abated this morning I headed over the short distance to Frodsham with the only news being a brief sighting at 10am. ON arrival I found out that it had been seen recently but when I arrived at its favoured area, Marsh Farm, it had been missing for about an hour. Quite soon the Starling flock returned and luckily it was me, with my scope, who picked up the stunning adult Rose-coloured Starling in flight leading the whole flock. Thereafter the flock was tracked and tantalising flight views were had by all. Eventually the 'Rosy' landed on the grass opposite us and showed well, even hopping up onto the fence showing off its shaggy crest and looking superb! As more folk arrived the starling flock moved further away and flight views were the norm, at a distance and needing a scope too. A nice additional sighting was a low Great White Egret flapping over languidly from Frodsham Score upriver. A Little Egret was also seen on the far river bank towards the chemical works. Hordes of Swifts, the most I've seen this year, were over the river and farm, nice to see them in such big numbers at last.

I had seen the wintering Rose-coloured Starling in Anglesey earlier in the year but one less than 10 miles from home was too good to miss, a real Cheshire rarity.

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

A chance for a change of scene this morning so decided to try Frodsham Marsh

Weaver Bend:
1 Whinchat on fence posts
c20+ Avocet coming and going from the tank on opposite side of river
1 Cettis Warbler heard

No.6 tank:
2 Cettis Warbler singing- 1 seen
c400 Black-tailed Godwit - many in summer plumage
c15 Dunlin
2 Raven

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

Phil Oddy wrote:

Steven Nelson wrote:
Quite a productive visit this afternoon:

Highlights:
3 Cattle Egret - Marsh Farm
1 Long-tailed Duck - R.Weaver
2 Short-eared Owls - hunting at Weaver Bend
2 Marsh Harrier
6 Raven- Marsh Farm
1 Stonechat
4 Red-legged Partridge
3 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
c.50 Fieldfare
c30 Golden Plover
Large flocks of Shelduck, Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank - Frodsham Score and Mersey Estuary
A few Goldeneye & Pochard amongst a large flock of Tufted Duck & Teal on the R.Weaver but couldnt locate the Scaup.

But weirdest sighting was a Pheasant perched on a telegraph wire! Never seen that before!
Whereabouts were the Red-legs Steven?

Phil
They were near the entrance gate to Marsh Farm. They flew over the road in front of me and landed in the field close to the gate giving good close views.

Phil Oddy · Status: Offline

Steven Nelson wrote:
Quite a productive visit this afternoon:

Highlights:
3 Cattle Egret - Marsh Farm
1 Long-tailed Duck - R.Weaver
2 Short-eared Owls - hunting at Weaver Bend
2 Marsh Harrier
6 Raven- Marsh Farm
1 Stonechat
4 Red-legged Partridge
3 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
c.50 Fieldfare
c30 Golden Plover
Large flocks of Shelduck, Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank - Frodsham Score and Mersey Estuary
A few Goldeneye & Pochard amongst a large flock of Tufted Duck & Teal on the R.Weaver but couldnt locate the Scaup.

But weirdest sighting was a Pheasant perched on a telegraph wire! Never seen that before!

Whereabouts were the Red-legs Steven?

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

Quite a productive visit this afternoon:

Highlights:
3 Cattle Egret - Marsh Farm
1 Long-tailed Duck - R.Weaver
2 Short-eared Owls - hunting at Weaver Bend
2 Marsh Harrier
6 Raven- Marsh Farm
1 Stonechat
4 Red-legged Partridge
3 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
c.50 Fieldfare
c30 Golden Plover
Large flocks of Shelduck, Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank - Frodsham Score and Mersey Estuary
A few Goldeneye & Pochard amongst a large flock of Tufted Duck & Teal on the R.Weaver but couldnt locate the Scaup.

But weirdest sighting was a Pheasant perched on a telegraph wire! Never seen that before!

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

Sunday 6th Jan

A short stop-off en-route to the Wirral for the 4 Eurasian White-fronted Geese unfortunately proved unsuccessful. But there were a few Pink-footed Geese, Greylags Mute and Whooper Swans plus a Buzzard. Also over 100 Curlew feeding in the fields next to Holpool Gutter.

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Monday 7th of January 2019 09:40:45 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.30-15.00

At Holpool Gutter the 4 Eurasian White Fronted Geese are still with a dozen Mute Swans, a Pink Footed Goose and a couple of Greylags on the field West of the brook.

I got decent views with a scope from the metal bridge over the brook.

A local couple though advised that a footpath along the brook would allow me to get loser views, but this is a very open landscape and these birds are easily spooked,

so I stayed on the bridge.

The track from Frodsham is riddled with deep potholes, so driving down with anything less than a robust 4x4 is unwise. A couple of Buzzards patrolled the area.

In the bushes alongside No6 tank were 4 Meadow Pipits and 2 Linnets, whilst a flock of 6 Chaffinches had a female Brambling with them.

Nice to see No6 tank full of Teal, plus 30 Shoveler which were trying to hide in the vegetation. There were no diving ducks on there thoiugh.

4 Ravens and another Buzzard were on the sheep pasture.

At the Weaver Bend were 2 Kestrels, 12 Great Crested Grebes plus 5 female and 1 male Goldeneye. 12 Common Gulls were with a group of Black Headed on the river.

Offroad motorbikes were tearing along the path by the former ICI tank, so there was no birds at all in the bay opposite there.

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Saturday 10th November 08:30

c12 Whooper Swans seen on the marsh close to the M56 as I drove back from the Wirral this morning.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A really good bird today for Frodhsam Marshes in the shape of a Black Redstart. The bird was sowing well, but was mobile, on and around the pipes at the bottom end of No.1 Tank. One of the best vantage points for viewing was the former site of the very original Log Book box at the top of the slop as you drive towards Marsh Farm. The bird was first found late morning and was still present late afternoon at least smile

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 29th November 2017

2 Fulvous Whistling Duck along the north-east fringes of Number 6 amongst large numbers of ducks - Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Mallard

18 Pink-footed Geese flew onto Frodsham Score

25 Fieldfare, singing Cetti's Warbler, Sparrowhawk

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Bill Morton found a drake Green-winged Teal at Frodsham this weekend so having Sunday morning frre I nipped along there to have a look. With the light really bad for viewing myself & two other birders positioned ourselves as well as we could and started scanning. No.6 Tank was full of wildfowl with hundreds of Teal and Wigeon, large numbers of Mallard, lots of Pintail and Tufted Ducks and several Gadwall. So with all these to check with the poor viewing it took a while, but we eventually found the Green-winged Teal on the far side of the tank. The bird looks to be probably coming out of eclipse type plumage as it wasn't as crisp looking as some of the accompanying drake Teal. Although to be fair there were a few of them in similarly dingy plumage. The vertical white breast stripe is relatively thin too but I've seen quite a bit of variation in this in individuals that I've see. The bird was a long way off so too far away for photos but still nice to see and a great find and reward for a local patch watcher smile

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 11th October

Female Marsh Harrier Marsh Farm

sid ashton · Status: Offline

On the way back from New Brighton this morning had a look in at Frodsham where the juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was showing well in the company of 3 Black-tailed Godwits. They were on the small pool at the western end of number 3 bed. Also seen 1 very pale Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers and 3 Ravens.

As mentioned elsewhere, the tracks around the site are still not of the best and care is needed when driving.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 14th of September 2017 07:33:41 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

It's still one of the finest birding spots in Cheshire Neil, once birders turn away, the vandals, scramblers, shooters and developers will move in.
Ok it's not as popular as it was a generation ago, it will probably take another mega to bring the birders back.
Wildfowlers have got a large area between the M56 and the Weaver Bend, so a fair amount of shooting will be going from September, and that may put birders off.
The scramblers I witnessed last were making a mess of areas away from the tracks, although it's unlikely they'll get onto No6 tank or affect the birds on the Weaver.
The presence of the windfarm as meant that security should be a little better than it would of been otherwise.
No6 tank was packed with wildfowl, with masses of Tufted Duck and Shelduck, plus a large flock of Black Tailed Godwits.
So I will still visit on occasions as it has a good selection of habitats, wetland, dry pasture, arable and some fine areas of mature hawthornes.
It's one of those areas where virtually anything can turn up, but is best avoided from June to August because of the horseflies.

Neil Blood · Status: Offline

I've birded here in April/May on a regular basis since 1997; however for various reasons I haven't made it since the wind farm was erected. Finally made a return visit last week and I found the whole walk totally depressing due to the wind farm and especially on No 5 tank, as I remember when that particular tank held the highest density of breeding Lapwings that I have ever encountered (when the sheep weren't in the field). Only birds of note were 3 Avocets plus a Wheatear along the track to Marsh Farm.

I wont be returning! cry

John Williams · Status: Offline

18/05/2017 (17.30-20.15)

Weaver Bend

7 Avocets (4 swimming in the middle of the river amongst the Shelduck), 1 Redshank, 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 6 Great Crested Grebes (inc 1 displaying pair).

1 male Pochard, plus large numbers of Shelduck and Tufted Duck. 1 white Feral Goose with a Canada Goose companion, which as soon as it landed on the river

was attacked by a pair of Mute Swans. The goose made a quick exit. Then all the waterfowl were flushed by a speedboat.

Scrambler motorbikes have made a mess of the path from the parking area down to the river, and much of the banking too, some nettle beds and scrub have been destroyed.

No.6 Tank

140 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Cettis Warbler, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 1 Buzzard, 2 Shovelers, 3m Pochards, 3 Linnets and 2 half grown Lapwing chicks with their parents.

6 Rooks were feasting on a dead sheep.

Motorbikes are a problem here too, mainly West of the "S"Bend, they were there all the time I was, left the same time I did, and they are not a friendly bunch.

Carl Fletcher-Poole · Status: Offline

Went yesterday in same area as Tom Jones has mentioned below. Could only see one and added a distant shot. Sadly passed a dying/very ill otter in one of the streams, didn't have my mobile so went and told someone else who had there mobile and they called the RSPCA. Hopefully they turned up and found it.

Tom Jones · Status: Offline

Went for a visit to-day at approx 1030hrs, found the Great Grey Shrike, along with a friend, making 2 of them in the bushes and brambles along side the Containers that are used by the model Airplane Club. good views but distant.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Still present this afternoon - the Great Grey Shrike that is. Same location as stated below. I actually saw it on a flying visit this morning (10.15am) in absolutely torrential rain and sleet. But despite the horrible conditions the shrike continued to show well, albeit a tad distant!

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

John - as much as I would like to take credit I think the bird was found earlier in the day and I merely followed up on the resulting alerts. However I did have to re-find it as there was no one there when I arrived. Hence I posted with more precise location information. As you said, very active and showy bird. Chris

John O'Neill · Status: Online

8.30 AM
Great Grey Shrike still showing well in field edge trees at junction of Hare Lane and Straight Length. Looking a bit damp in driving light rain but very active.

Great spot Chris.

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

3:30 - 4:00.
Great Grey Shrike.
Showing well at Western end of hares lane in the area between Hares lane, the M56 and straight length (that's a road / track!).
Chris

John Williams · Status: Offline

09.30-14.30

Weaver Bend

4 adult & 1 juv Whooper Swans, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 10 Little Grebes, 1m & 14f Goldeneye, 1 Wigeon, 1 Buzzard, 1 Stonechat, 24 Black Tailed Godwits, 30 Redshanks,

14 Common Gulls, 1 Great Black backed Gull, 6 Meadow Pipits and 4 Grey Partridges.

The male Goldeneye had a harem of 14 females that closely followed him, they all even dived at the same time he did.

No 6 tank

Packed with waterfowl and waders. Lots of Shoveler, Teal and Tufted Duck, plus Black Tailed Godwits ,Redshanks and Lapwings

14 Pintail, 36 Pochard, 6 Snipe, 1 Buzzard, 6 Shelduck, 6 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 6 Ravens, 16 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint and surprisingly just 1 Grey Heron.

A charm of 30 Goldfinches passed through, but at one point many more Goldfinches plus Linnets were flushed by the Buzzard close to the 'S' bend along the North bank.

Just beyond this point a new pool has formed and attracted a few Teal and Lapwings. The track as been given some TLC to give access to the wind turbines, making access a little easier.

There may not have been any rarities about, but a cracking selection of birds nonetheless.

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

Weaver Bend very overgrown so had to detour over pipeline and along field edge.

Black-necked Grebe moulting into winter plumage (thanks Ian for confirming ID)

2 Common Sandpiper

A very obliging Red-legged Partridge by the 'car park'

Good numbers of Swallows and Martins passing through against a strong headwind.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Good numbers of waders on the Weaver Bend this morning. 660 Black Tailed Godwit, 150 Redshank, 3 Ruff, 3 Snipe, 5 Green Sandpiper and 4 Common Sandpiper.

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Morning visit from 9.45 until 12.45 - Brook Furlong motorway bridge - Moorditch Lane - Lordship Lane - Return same route - Brook Furlong - Weaver Bend - Return same route. As Rob states below, much construction work on the ramp leading up to No 6 tank and beyond. Also in connection with the wind turbine project at far end of Brook Furlong. Restrictions and access problems up until 6pm. Amongst others :-

Whimbrel (3)
Black-tailed Godwit (40)
Redshank (2)
Chiffchaff (c.6)
Whitethroat (c.12)
Reed Warbler (c.10)
Sedge Warbler (c.20)
Reed Bunting
Kestrel (2)
Buzzard (2)
Skylark (3)
Lapwing (c.20)
Tufted Duck (c.50)
Shelduck (c.50)

Also around in decent numbers, the following butterflies - Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Orange Tip, Green-veined White and Speckled Wood.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Afternoon visit today.
No sign of the reported Curlew Sandpiper.
No sign of the Dunlin flock it was with either.

- Black-tailed Godwit few 100
- Redshank alot
- Ruff mixed in with the flock
- Avocet 30+
- Shoveler
- Gadwall
- Shelduck
- Whitethroat 1
- Chiffchaff few seen
- Willow Warbler 1, more heard
- Red-legged Partridge 2
- Kestrel 1
- Common Buzzard 1

Warning : the site has had a lot of the tracks dug up now and it is fenced off as private land / construction site just as the track goes up to the main tank. There is a mobile security guard on site too, so be careful should you choose to enter the site.
Cheers
Rob

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Frodsham Marsh this afternoon.

Plenty of usuals around, and Wildfowl numbers are an estimate, may have been more but the light was so bright at times that the reflection off the pool made it difficult to see anything.

Of note on No.6 tank...

- Green-winged Teal 1, eventually showed well in full view on No.6 tank.
- Eurasian Teal 100's, they were put up a few times and I realised most were in the vegetation.
- Pintail ~ 10 that I saw
- Pochard ~ 30-40 (all male that I saw)
- Shoveler ~ 30-40
- Tufted Duck, lots ~ 80-100
- Shelduck only a few - Cormorant 15+

Of Note on No.5 tank and surrounds...

- Short-eared Owl 3
2 together, then 1 further over, eventually 3 seen in the air together. Mainly hunting quartering over the scrub, then perched up on posts, on the ground, and being mobbed by a Herring Gull. Good to see a variation in colour too which helped matters, 1 bird had a brownish almost rusty beige hue but the other 2 seen together at first seemed a lot lighter with a creamy beige plumage.
- Kestrel 1
- Raven ~ 20, singles and groups
- Curlew 3 over
- Golden Plover ~ 60
- Lapwing ~ 75
- Starling ~ 500+ towards the gas towers
- Goldfinch and Greenfinch flock over
- Great Black-backed Gull 4
- ...and the usual constant stream of commoner Gulls over

Met some nice people up there today, including Bill who does the Frodsham Blog.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 27th of December 2015 06:06:42 PM

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Drake Green winged Teal still present on No 6 Tank mid morning. Best viewed from Moorditch Lane roughly where Nos 3,5 & 6 meet. The bird was over to the right (as you look south) in open water.