A short visit this morning, overcast, dry and flat light!

Off Sandy Lane the goose numbers had dropped with around 350 Pink-footed Geese feeding in the maize stubble along with 2 Greylag Geese and a total of around 60 Canada Geese on the fields and pools. On Big Pool duck numbers were up with 14 Gadwall and 31 Wigeon. A single Cormorant was still present.

In the maize stubble fields large numbers of Woodpigeons were joined by 36 Stock Doves. On Sandy lane at least 40 Chaffinches were seen but no Bramblings, but a Redwing flew over.

Due to working every day at the moment I popped onto patch am and pm today!! Sunny and warm.

The big highlight was approx. 900 Pink-footed Geese feeding on spilled grain in the recently harvested maize fields by Sandy Lane, the car parking area and east of the Pine Belt.  This is easily the largest number of this species ever on the deck on my patch as they are only ever usually seen flying over. A good number of Canada Geese and a few Greylag Geese fed with them but I couldn't find anything more unusual as I scanned through those that I could see clearly. On Big Pool nothing extraordinary just a few Wigeon and Gadwall with the usual wildfowl.

A couple of Siskins fed in alders by Big Pool. Lots of Chaffinches were seen flying around and one white rump gave away a Brambling with them on Sandy Lane. A Large number of Woodpigeons were also feeding on the spilled maize.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 13th of November 2022 08:08:17 PM

Another morning walk and starting to pay more attention to the birds now.

The sad news was that I came across a Canada Goose, alive and in the throes of bird flu. It was horrible to see but nothing I could do as we are advised not to touch birds with this disease and DEFRA won't come out for a just 1 case. I am trying to get professional advice currently. On Big Pool were 40 Wigeon, c.28 of which were seen flying in with 4 Teal. Also here were a drake Shoveler and 8 Gadwall. A flock of Pink-footed Geese was heard but not seen and they must have been pretty high as they sounded faint.

From the car as I parked I watched 7 Redwings feeding on holly berries. Near Big Pool a small group of 5 Bullfinch was nice to see.

 

I had an afternoon walk with company

Not much birdwise but a Goosander was on Big Pool, the first this end of the year and a day-calling Tawny Owl was heard in Gull Pool Wood as we walked the Whitegate Way.

Went for a short late afternoon walk in the Big Pool area of my [patch.

The pools were quiet with Gadwall, Tufted Ducks and lots of Canada Geese but nothing new. Two Cormorants fished East Bay.

The main action was all along Finch Hedge where 3+Bramblings were the highlight, in stunning plumage too. These were in a large feeding gathering including 6+Siskins, 1+Greenfinch, a Nuthatch, a Redwing, 20+Goldfinch and over 40 Chaffinch.

At patch am again, not birding but kept an eye out!!

On Big Pool 2(1drk) Wigeon were new in and 2+Gadwall were still present. A total of 6(5ad) Mute Swans were seen, 3 adults on Small Pool and the family on Big Pool.

A Grey Wagtail was on Beach Peg at Big Pool.

A visit this morning was for fungi but a look at Big Pool was necessary too! Drizzly and overcast.

No Smew again but 6 Gadwall. Goose numbers are still high with 67 Greylag Geese and 400 Canada Geese. The 3(2ad) Mute Swans still survived.

A cracking male Sparrowhawk landed right next to me in Finch Hedge.

Had a morning on Newchurch, dull and grey but the main sighting lifted the gloom!

On Big Pool I was surprised to find the female Smew back with a small group of Tufted Ducks on the west side. This was the first sighting of her since May 2021 and I was convinced that she had persished, either of natural causes of been killed. There was a definite increase in wildfowl numbers today with at least 50 Tufted Ducks, 2 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall and probably more Mallard than usual. Also very evident were 350 Canada Geese and 4 Greylag Geese. Just 1 Cormorant was on Big Pool. At least 3 Common Gulls were also seen.

Elsewhere 5 Rooks were over the mosslands with Jackdaws and Carrion Crows. A party of 12 Long-tailed Tits was nice to see crossing the main track between the two fishing pools.

Another afternoon on patch albeit a shorter walk. Overcast but warm.

On Big Pool plenty of Tufted Ducks but only 2 Gadwall noted on open water. The 3(2ad) Mute Swans were still present.

Bird of the day was a heard only day-calling Tawny Owl, which only called a couple of times in the birch woodland near Big Pool Island Cut. There was a lot of activity in Finch Hedge, mainly Chaffinches and Goldfinches but with a Chiffchaff joining the feeding flock.

Another morning on patch feeling very autumnal, cloud and drizzle, very grey.

The 2 juv Mandarins were still on the private pool. A Teal flew over Shemmy Moss where a Water Rail was heard. A Snipe was also on Shemmy Moss in the wet area.

A Raven called near Gull Pool. A Goldcrest was in Gull Pool Wood as was a Nuthatch. A Meadow Pipit and a Linnet flew over Shemmy Moss where a Reed Bunting was seen.

Another morning, even earlier start, pretty cold at first but a few rays of sun started to warm it up a bit.

On the private pool 2 juv Mandarins were still present. A Water Rail called on Shemmy Moss and 3 Cormorants flew over here.

A beautiful female Sparrowhawk flew low over the area where the Water Rail was and caused a Moorhen to alarm call. Good birds recorded on the mosslands were a Meadow Pipit, a Skylark and 10 Linnets together, no doubt adults and this years young gathering into a winter flock. A Chiffchaff was seen and heard near Shemmy Moss. At least 4(ad+J) Goldfinches were around Finch Hedge and a Nuthatch called near the entrance barrier.

An afternoon stroll around Big Pool, dry and warm with occasional sun.

On Big Pool 3 Mute Swans consisted of the 2 adults and a single remaining well grown cygnet. A flock of 90 Lapwings flew over Big Pool coming from the north, circling two or three times and then slowly flying off to the south.

There were 2 Goldfinches by Finch Hedge and 3 Feral Pigeons flew over to the north of Big Pool.

Very late report for yesterday, Sat 3rd Sept. Sunny and still.

On Big Pool a new bird for the year was found in the shape of 2 Pintail, coincidentally earlier in the day 2 Pintail were at Sandbach Flashes and from pictures mine could well have been the same two birds.The Sandbach birds were never reported again and mine were seen a couple of hours later. At least 6 Gadwall and over 40 Tufted Ducks were also on Big Pool. A Chiffchaff was still calling and a Collared Dove was on Dairy Farm barn roof, otherwise it was very quiet.

A morning walk: sun and cloud.

The male Stonechat was still on Shemmy Moss where a Common Snipe , 2 Lapwings and a Grey Heron were still present. A female Teal was on Gull Pool and a drake Gadwall on Big Pool.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 28th of August 2022 11:34:24 PM

A week since I was last on and the drake Gadwall was still on Big Pool. A count of 68 Tufted Ducks was made. The Mute Swan pair has 1 remaining cygnet.

On patch am mainly, hot & sunny.

Still 60+Tufted Ducks on Big Pool, also 2 Sand Martins over. 3 Swallows fed over the mosses. The male Stonechat was on Shemmy Moss. Also here were 2 Linnets and a female Sparrowhawk circled overhead. A male and female Blackcap were on Shemmy Moss as were young Willow Warblers. 

An afternoon walk produced a couple of sightings of note.

A Green Woodpecker yaffled near Big Pool where a Grey Heron was seen in flight.

Nearby one adult and two young Green Woodpeckers were near our horse paddocks at Foxwist Green.

A morning walk and again very little bird news.

23 Mallard was a good count on Gull Pool where a Little Grebe was seen.

A count of 12 Magpies near the entrance barriers was noteworthy. A Green Woodpecker and 6 Linnets were again on Shemmy Moss.

Late Report for SUNDAY 17th JULY, starting at 5.30am before the heat :

A Water Rail was heard squealing in the same area in which I had my first ever on Abbot's Moss. Just 2 Sand Martins were over Big Pool. The 2 Mute Swan cygnets  Swan cygnets still survive on Big Pool.

The male and female Stonechats were still on Shemmy Moss but no sign of any young for several days now. 2(ad+j) Green Woodpecker was on Abbots Moss where a male Yellowhammer was also seen. A Raven flew over Shemmy Moss cronking and a Kestrel was nearby. At least 6 Linnets flew over Shemmy Moss. A Goldcrest was seen in the pines west of Small Pool. A female Reed Bunting was on Shemmy Moss. Great Tit young were seen.

A morning walk, very hot sunshine. A patch yeartick in the shape of a Meadow Pipit on Shemmy Moss was the highlight. No sign of any Stonechats, yesterday just the 2 young were seen. Lots of Black-headed Gulls were insect catching over Shemmy Moss where 4 Lapwings flew over. A very high Cormorant over Big Pool was unseasonal.

A short morning walk, a few sunny intervals but very windy.

17 Swifts passed over Abbot's Moss where the 4(m,f,2y) Stonechats still remained. Also seen here a very young Carrion Crow being defended by its parents against two overflying Buzzards.

An early start, out onto patch at 6.30am today, warm and mainly sunny.

The biggest highlight was a Red Kite heading south over Abbot's Moss at 7.45am, the fourth sighting in the last few weeks (two by me and two by a mate). On Shemmy Moss a prolonged bout of viewing at a distance confirmed that the Stonechat pair have 2 fully fledged youngsters and it was fantastic to watch the parents feed them not bothered by me being there but a long way from them! A male and female Reed Bunting, a male Bullfinch and a Linnet were all on Shemmy Moss. An Oystercatcher flew over calling too and a Snipe was seen, in July surely a hint at breeding. Nearby 2 Red-legged Partridges called from Abbot's Moss Nursery fields and a Green Woodpecker was heard yaffling. A Grey Heron flew over the mosses too. A Little Grebe was on Gull Pool as was a young Moorhen. Final bird was a Collared Dove on Sandy Lane, the species stronghold on patch.

A couple of walks recently for inverts produced very few bird sightings, but a few are summarised here:

15/6/22: The Mute Swan cygnets are down to just 2 now. Long-tailed Tits with 5y.

Today (21/6/22): On the mosslands at least 4(m, f + 2y) Stonechats were seen. This is fantastic news, after I found the first Stonechats ever on patch this year they have now succesfully fledged young. Also on the mosslands a male Reed Bunting carrying food and Linnet and juvenile Goldfinch.

A short morning walk mainly spent sheltering from rain.

The Mute Swan pair on Sandiway Big Pool have just 3 cygnets left of the original 4 and one of these is showing signs of a possible attack with a neck injury. At least 12 Sand Martins fed low over the surface of Big Pool.

A Cuckoo was calling again from the Big Pool Island area.