Lapwing Lane - Chelford

Nev Wright · Status: Offline

RE: Lapwing Lane - Chelford

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

After four days of following the reports of this bird I finally had chance this evening to get down there and see it myself. Despite the bird being present at Rudyard Lake for most of the day I decided to take a chance and head down to Chelford to preempt it coming into roost. My timing turned out to be good as it flew in to roost at 7.30, just ten minutes after my arrival. Coming in low over the trees it circled just once before dropping in to roost with the assortment of gulls already present. A cracking bird and not one I ever thought I'd get the chance to see anytime soon.

Interestingly, I got talking to the finders of the Tern and after congratulating them on their find I asked them if this was the best bird they'd had on this patch. I was slightly surprised when they said no. The winner of that one was a White Tailed Eagle sometime back in the nineties.

richard howells 2 · Status: Offline

Just found a Common Sandpiper when I heard "Here it comes!". Arrived back at Acre Nook at 1940, settled down on the edge of a group of Black-headed Gulls and after around 10 mins it turned in!

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Caspian Tern reported as back at 5.47pm this evening again in Gull roost at Acre Nook, Chelford, Cheshire

Doc Brewster · Status: Online

Spoke on the phone to a birding mate who told me the tern had flown off high north from Rudyard so headed down to Chelford this evening for my second Caspian Tern of 2013 wink

(jammed in on one at Spurn when twitching the Rock Thrush!!). Managed a full minute before the bird flew off low with a few Black-headed Gulls. Confident that it was still in the area we waited & about an hour later it flew back in from the direction in which it had departed! It then settled down on the spit allowing a few pics that showed the beak before tucking its head in & settling to roost. This bird has settled down into such a regular routine that anyone who wants to see it can have the choice of two destinations, a most obliging bird indeed smile

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 27th of July 2013 10:30:59 PM

John Doherty · Status: Offline

And again for the best part of the afternoon on the mud, north shore, Rudyard Lake, Staffs. - it left to fly and resettled on the East shore with some Blackheaded Gulls - great bird, lifer.

-- Edited by John Doherty on Saturday 27th of July 2013 07:18:27 PM

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Showing well again at Rudyard Lake this morning

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Evening visit again yesterday to Chelford with Stephen Fuentes for the Caspian Tern where we had good views (couldn't resist seconds of this bird!)

Apparently it was seen this morning at 5am at Acre Nook, Chelford but once again has made it's way to Rudyard Lake, Staffs to feed where it is currently showing.

It has roosted for the last 3 nights now at Chelford so might be worth waiting for news this evening for anyone planning on going there to see if it returns to roost once more.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

The Tern was back at Chelford this evening. If it was indeed it was the same bird that has been getting reported a Rudyard lake earlier it appears that from the time of departure from Staffs to arrival time in Cheshire it would have been travelling at 25 - 30 mph smile

sid ashton · Status: Offline

John the Tern is being reported on Rudyard Lake in Staffs at the moment but may well return to Chelford to roost.

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Anyone anyone anyone have info on the bird and its whereabouts? I'm not in the 'twitching loop' regards RBA pagers etc etc I'm thinking of going for it.

Cheers in advance.

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Must have just missed you Sid, good views of the Caspian Tern this evening at 9pm. Cracking bird so close to home!

Also managed to pick out a Yellow-legged Gull amongst the gull roost.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

At the third attempt including a 04.00 start this morning, finally caught up with the Caspian Tern on Acre Nook Sand Quarry, Lapwing Lane, Chelford as the sun was setting this evening. That bill red bill was like a beacon enabling the bird to be picked up relatively easily in the Gull roost biggrin

-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 26th of July 2013 04:10:50 PM

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Sunday 15th July

1 Little Ringed Plover
12 Oystercatchers
250 Lapwings
3 Grey Herons
1 Common Buzzard
1 Goldcrest
1 Nuthatch
20 juvenile Swallows on the telephone lines

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Wednesday 14th September 6.00-7.00pm

Another try this evening for the Grey Phalarope. Alas, no sign, but at least there was some sunshine this evening, which allowed me to get some great views of the Curlews and Gulls still present.
Others I managed to see were:
19 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
2 Swallows
10 Lapwings
2 Great Crested Grebes

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Tuesday 13th September 7.00-7.45pm

Having missed the Grey Phalarope at Pennington recently I followed up the reports on Birdnet of one south of Chelford, at Acre Nook Sand Quary on Lapwing Lane.
Sadly I couldn't locate it due to fast fading light, although a birder I walked past did inform me that it was still there on the second pool. I may try again tomorrow.
What I did manage to see though was quite a surprise.
135 Curlew. I've never seen so many together. Quite amazing
Large mixed group of gulls. Mainly Black Headed, but also Lesser and Greater Black Backed.
1 Hobby
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Grey Heron
A very large flock of geese in flight that I was not able to identify due to them flying behind a wood never to be seen again, but didn't sound like Canada Geese.