An afternoon visit after 2 days in work. Sunny and warm.

From a great distance it now looks like it's just 3 Mute Swan cygnets with the 2 adults. The family has depleted very swiftly and this isn't good news at all.

Over Big Pool a huge flock of 150 Sand Martins were feeding, could this mean that the nearby Crown Farm Quarry colony now has young to feed? Also with these hirundines were at least 6 Swifts. A Chiffchaff that was one of the first to arrive has resumed singing after a long silent period north of Big Pool, second brood time possibly?

The (or a new) Cuckoo was calling north of Big Pool, the first heard over in this area this year.

A morning on patch in the heat!

Very little as I was concentrating on invertebrates. A Water Rail showed superbly well on Shemmy Moss as Buzzards flew overhead. A Cuckoo was still calling in the distance but didn't show itself today.

Just a brief visit to my patch today to photograph moths in particular.

Whilst I was there it was nice to see both the Cuckoo and the Hobby on Shemmy Moss, both showing really well. Also over were a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Buzzard as well as 2 House Martins. A Raven was also seen distantly over South Moss.

YESTERDAY 25th MAY 2023 :

Two walks taking all day! Morning around Big Pool area and afternoon on the mosslands, sunny and hot throughout and less breezy than the day before.

The Mute Swan pair on Big Pool have a brood of 7 cygnets, just hatched. Also over Big Pool 2 Swifts and 2 House Martins flew high over. Over on the mosses a Hobby showed very well as it hunted dragonflies over Shemmy Moss. More distant but showing well, calling on top of a tree was a male Cuckoo, in the direction of Nunsmere from Abbot's Moss. Also of note were a Long-tailed Tit near Big Pool and a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Stock Doves over Shemmy Moss. 

On patch all day today, am leading a walk for mates to get pics of Downy Emerald and pm for myself!!

This morning we had superb views of the Cuckoo over Shemmy Moss when I called it in after we heard it calling distantly. I always do this little trick for visitors and it never fails to amuse when I do my cuckoo whistle and the bird responds and flies in. I believe that it provides environmental enrichment for what is possibly a lone male on my patch.

This afternoon I watched the Hobby come into Shemmy Moss a couple of times but even better was a distant Red Kite over the pines at the far side of Abbot's Moss Nursery fields. This was a  patch tick for 2023. Also up in the sunny weather were Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

A nice morning walk on Newchurch in the sun, most of it with the other main patcher, Dave.

A Little Grebe was still on Gull Pool. A Water Rail called on Shemmy Moss again. An Oystercatcher flew over the Pine Belt. A couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over the mosses.

The male Cuckoo called constantly on Abbot's Moss and showed very well. Raptors were pretty well represented by a male Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and a Buzzard. A Raven was over Abbot's Moss and a Jay was near Big Pool. A Yellowhammer was seen on Shemmy Moss and Garden Warblers and Whitethroats were abundant.

An afternoon walk in the sun for inverts rather than birds.

It was nice though to watch a male Cuckoo on Shemmy Moss. Having heard one (possibly the same) the other day it was nice to see one this time as he called for a long period. A Kestrel was also over Shemmy Moss.

Had a morning visit which started in rain and ended in sunshine.

Pretty quiet on the pools again. A drake Teal was on Shemmy Moss. About 150 Sand Martins were feeding with 40 Swallows, a noticeable increase in the latter species. The 2 Oystercatchers were seen over the mosslands area. A handful of Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed over the mosslands at great height.

A Kestrel was over the Whitegate Way near Small Pool. A Sparrowhawk was seen thermalling high up from Shemmy Moss with at least 5 Buzzards up too. A lone White Wagtail was in the former leek field. A Skylark was over the nursery fields and close by at least 4 Linnets and 2(1m) Reed Buntings were on Shemmy Moss. The five common Warblers were again all present and Garden Warbler and Common Whitethroat both showed well.

A leisurely morning wander in dry but dull conditions. Concentrated on the pool area of patch.

No wildfowl highlights at all. A feeding aggregation of hirundines included 200 Sand Martins, 15 Swallows and 5 House Martins. The best of the passerines were 2 White Wagtails in farm field west of Big Pool with 3 Pied Wagtails. But on a patch scale even better was a Greenfinch hear the field edge, my first patch record for 2023.  At least 3 Garden Warblers were singing with 2 showing really well. A less expected species was a Treecreeper near the main track. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers showed well again.

Had a brief morning visit today, drizzle and overcast skies.

There were still 2(1drk) Gadwall and 3(2drk) Teal on Shemmy Moss. A lone Snipe was still on the pools on Shemmy Moss, showing well. A large flock of hirundines low over Big Pool included 3 House Martins and 5 Swallows amongst at least 150 Sand Martins.

A Skylark was over the Abbot's Moss Nurseries. A party of 4 Long-tailed Tits flew across the track by Shemmy Moss.

A morning walk on my patch in light drizzle all the time that I was out.

Wildfowl highlights were Teal and Gadwall still on Shemmy Moss and 36 Tufted Ducks on Gull Pool. On Shemmy Moss 2 Greylag Geese were again seen. A Cormorant was on Big Pool, the first on here for some time.

A flock of hirundines was predictably low over Big Pool due to the rain, consisting of 70 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows. One surprise was 4 Fieldfare still, this time flying over Shemmy Moss. Also on Shemmy Moss a male Yellowhammer, 3 Linnets and a Skylark were all seen. A total of 8 Stock Doves was recorded whilst 6 Starlings in a horse paddock on Sandy Lane was unusual.

In between and during the showers I decided to check for downed migrants and was glad that I did!

Star birds were 2m Wheatears in a muckspread field to the west of Big Pool, a new patch bird for 2023 and this is the same field as one was in last year! On my return to get a record shot (they were mega-distant) I found a White Wagtail too. This gave a total of 2 White Wagtails as another was in the former Leek Field. During rain early afternoon a flock of 15 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows came down low over Big Pool. On Big Pool 2(1drk) Goldeneye remained. In the former Leek Field there were 34 Fieldfares still.

A good day as I managed a morning and an afternoon visit to my patch, both in sunshine with pm lots warmer and with the company of my wife, Carys :)

On Big Pool a fem Goldeneye was still present, a throwback to winter. On Shemmy Moss it was nice to see 2(1drk) Gadwall and 6(4drk) Teal on the mossland pools. Otherwise 25 Tufted Ducks on Gull Pool were of note for duck sightings. A pair of Greylag Geese were on the mosslands, in flight. A Snipe was in a private area still and 4 Lapwings were in the breeding field by the Pine Belt.

On Shemmy Moss 2(1m) Kestrels were in display whilst a day count of 4 Sparrowhawks was my highest ever total for this species, 3 were over horse paddocks near Dairy Farm and 1 was over the mosslands. A day calling Tawny Owl was near the horse paddocks where I saw the one with the thermal camera at the end of March. Several Stock Doves were seen including 2 in residence at one of the new owl boxes off Novia Scotia Lane. A Collared Dove was near Common Farm as usual.

One of the highlights today was a new species for the year anywhere in the shape of 5 Willow Warblers, all on Shemmy Moss. A minimum of 8 Blackcaps were now singing. A Swallow was still around Dairy Farm. A male Stonechat was on Shemmy Moss, nice to see again. At Common Farm 2(1m) Pied Wagtails were in full display on a barn roof. A Yellowhammer and Linnets were on Shemmy Moss. Always nice to see 2(1m) Bullfinch were seen during the walk.

A total of 50 species was seen, which was excellent given the dearth of winter species and the lack of arrival of many summer migrants!!

A day off in a spell of all work days so spent all day on patch, with a break at home for lunch!! Overcast am, sunny and warm pm.

A good day but quite quiet on the pools. A high count of 35 Tufted Ducks were on Gull Pool in the afternoon. Also pm a total of 6(3drk) Teal constituted 2 pairs on Shemmy Moss and a pair on Gull Pool. A Gadwall was head on Shemmy Moss. Also on the mosslands a pair of Greylag Geese were flying around.On Gull Pool 6 Little Grebes were in 3 breeding pairs. A quick count recorded 6 Common Snipe. A total of 8 Lapwings were seen, scattered across patch in several arable fields.

A Kestrel was seen north of Big Pool and then the same bird was to the south of Small Pool, the second patch Kestrel of 2023! A Green Woodpecker was constantly calling in the Small Pool area in the morning. No thrushes were in the former Leek Field am or pm.

The real highlights were amongst the passerines. The first patch male Blackcap was found singing east of Big Pool am and watched as he actively moved up and down the meadow area here. As I was leaving late afternoon my first patch Swallow was on wires above Sandy Lane, taking off and flying over the horse paddocks as I drove by. Other good birds included a very showy male Bullfinch nibbling buds low down on the main track. A Linnet was singing on Shemmy Moss and a Nuthatch called nearby in Gull Pool Wood.

A very unusual walk today, after waking at 3.40am I decided to head onto patch to carry on field testing a Thermal Imaging Monocular, one of several models we have taken in as stock at Focalpoint. A review will be the result of my tests, but don't think there'll be any more as early in the morning as today! The walk started at 4.20am!

As well as several mammals (see other post) a few birds did feature. The best of these by far was a Tawny Owl, a patch and UK Yeartick for 2023. This was watched through the monocular in the horse paddocks at the end of Sandy Lane at the Novia Scotia Lane junction. The views were fantastic as the owl hunted along a fenceline, perching several times before quartering the paddock again. It was like footage from Springwatch and without the Thermal Imager it was pitch black and the owl was invisible. Other Tawny Owls were heard on the walk too. Also in the paddocks were the distinctive shape of ducks, hard to get to species from the image but I'm sure that they were Mallards.

As I was walking back to the car the time was 6.20am and the cacophony of the dawn chorus had got into full swing, the first time that I have ever heard it on my patch, brilliant :)

An even earlier start to my Newchurch Common Local Patch walk today in cold-ish blustery conditions at first getting warmer and sunnier later.

On Big Pool 2(1drk) Goosander, a pair together, was unexpected and I only picked them up on my second visit to the pool. Another nice sighting was of 6(3drk) Teal, two pairs on Shemmy Moss and one on Gull Pool, all presumably possible breeding pairs given the date. A Grey Heron flew over the Big Pool too. A total of 2 Cormorants were seen, both flyovers and both in smart full breeding plumage, over Shemmy Moss and over Big Pool. On Shemmy Moss 2 Snipe were seen on a marshy area watched from the path, and not flushed as I kept my distance. It was brilliant to see them relaxed rather than shooting off high into the sky as they flush out of a marshy area. A total of 7 Lapwings on my whole walk included 5 in the fields by the Pine Belt still.

A total of 2 Sparrowhawks included a huge female showing superbly at close quarters by Lymm Vale and a male thermalling distantly, high in the clear blue sky. At least 3 Ravens were seen, one was watched being mobbed by Carrion Crows over Big Pool and two over Gull Pool Wood were mobbed by various crows. These huge charismatic corvids are fantastic birds and I never tire of seeing them on patch. Just 30 Fieldfares remained in the former leek field today with 1 Redwing, I suspect that it wont be long before they all depart north. Nuthatches called in Gull Pool Wood and near Common Farm. In all, 3 Skylarks were seen, 1 in song flight over Abbot's Moss Nursery where they breed and 2 off Sandy Lane flying over the horse paddocks. Reed Buntings were heard in song on Shemmy Moss, obviously males, whilst a female was by Gull Pool. In Finch Hedge 4(2m) Bullfinches were destroying the new buds in the blackthorn, Im amazed that any survive to produce the fruits but they do, and I am grateful as they find their way into my Sloe Gin! All the Long-tailed Tits seen were paired up and prospecting for nest sites. Chiffchaffs are everywhere now. Their song filling the air and making it seem like spring has sprung, but no Sand Martins today.

Again more bird species than yesterday, which was so uneventful that I never posted a summary here, but a much longer walk so it was sort of expected, but 46 species was still a decent total.

Had another morning walk, breezy but sun and warm in sheltered areas.

On Big Pool a drake Gadwall was unexpected. Around 30 Tufted Ducks was a reduced number today. A Lesser Black-Backed Gull was amongst almost equal numbers of Common and Black-headed Gulls down on Big Pool. A new species for the year anywhere was seen in the shape of 4 Sand Martins over Big Pool, keeping quite high and never really skimming over the surface. Now only 5 Lapwings remain in the field east of the Pine Belt.

At least 6 Buzzards were up thermalling again. In all 6 Stock Doves were seen, whilst a Feral Rock Dove was a patch rarity! A Raven was over field NW of Big Pool again and a Rook flew over the main track between the pools. In the former leek field around 90 Fieldfares remain and a Redwing was near the parking area. A single Chiffchaff was heard north of Big Pool where 2 Yellowhammers were seen too. In the same fields a flock of 30 Linnets were seen and heard.

Another morning walk with an early start, the weather was fine, cold to start off but warmer later with sunshine peeking through!

The best bird on the pools was a drake Goosander. A pair of Teal was on Shemmy Moss.  Two Greylag Geese flew over near Lymm Vale, a species not seen at all recently. On the pools a total of 5 Mute Swans consisted of the family party of three on Big Pool and two adults on Small Pool. A pair of Little Grebes was watched on Gull Pool from the Whitegate Way. A breeding plumaged Cormorant flew over north of Big Pool. A Common Snipe was seen and 28 Lapwings were in the field east of the Pine Belt.

A pair of Buzzards were in display in an area in which I suspect nesting. As well as skydancing the male was seen offering a rabbit to the female. A new bird for patch for 2023 was a Kestrel, seen near Common Farm above the pheasant feeders. A Raven flew over the fields by Sandy Lane, not my usual area for this species. Both Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard in Gull Pool Wood. A spectacular sight was 400 Fieldfares feeding in the former Leek Field, the chattering racket they made was like I had never heard before. A couple of Redwings were in with this flock whilst another 4 near the entrance blocks gave a total of c.6 Redwings for the walk. A total of just 3 Starlings were seen, 1 on Sandy Lane and 2 near Lymm Vale.

My first spring migrants were found on this sunny day in the shape of 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 singing near Beach Peg, Big Pool and a silent bird N.of Big Pool. These were my first of this species anywhere in 2023. Another patch yeartick was a pair of Yellowhammers, again N.of Big Pool. The pair were watched as the male chased the female in courtship display. Another passerine highlight was 4 Meadow Pipits now on the muck heap near Common Farm. A Skylark was seen and in song over the nursery fields by Shemmy Moss. The only wagtail was a Pied Wagtail on a roof on Sandy Lane, hopefully soon wagtail passage will start and something rarer will drop in. On Shemmy Moss it was nice to see 2 male Reed Buntings on breeding habitat, a further 2 were seen on spilt seed at the Common Farm pheasant feeders. a female Bullfinch was on Shemmy Moss. A Coal Tit was on the Big Pool feeders and 2 Long-tailed Tits were just north of here.

A total of 52 species is the best day total since New Years Day and was made in a half day rather than the full day back then!

A day on patch in between several days in work, sunny and mild mostly. A patch yeartick was the reward, more of that later!

The pools were again pretty quiet. On Big Pool 2(1drk) Gadwall were the best sighting. Over the two pools a total of c.40 Tufted Ducks was seen. A Little Grebe was heard on Big Pool. Notable was the ratio of the two gull species with 9 Common Gulls to 12 Black-headed Gulls. In the fields E.of the Pine Belt 55 Lapwings still loafed about...... at first (see below!).

The biggest highlight was a patch yeartick in the shape of a male Peregrine seen over the Big Pool and then shortly afterwards a flock of Lapwings (from the fields) flew through, no doubt that the large numbers of Lapwings had attracted the predator. at least 4 Buzzards were up thermalling taking advantage of the good weather. Lots of Rooks and Jackdaws were in fields by Dalefords Lane where muck-spreading has been taking place. A single Stock Dove was noted as well as a lone Collared Dove. A Fieldfare was in the former Leek Field whilst 7 Redwings were seen, 5 near Big Pool and singles near Finch Hedge and the parking area. A Grey Wagtail was in a wet field near Common Farm where 2 Meadow Pipits were sunning themselves on the dung heaps. At Big Pool 3(2m) Reed Buntings were in chase mode, the males following the female! A Goldcrest flicking around the hedgerows on its own was a surprise as I walked back along Novia Scotia Lane and a pair of Long-tailed Tits were near Common Farm, the winter feeding flocks now seem to be no more. Large numbers of Chaffinches were again seen from across the site but especially in the former Leek Field, just 2 Goldfinches were also seen but no Bramblings today.

An excellent walk this morning on my patch. Overcast but dry and not too cold.

The pools were again quiet but brightened up by a drake Goldeneye and a drake Goosander, both on Big Pool. A total of 70 Tufted Ducks were seen, 40 of these being on Gull Pool. Just 3(2drk) Wigeon and 1 drk Gadwall were on Big Pool. A total of 2 Little Grebes was seen, 1 on Big Pool and 1 on Gull Pool. A Greylag Goose was over on the mossland area and amazingly was my first on patch in 2023. Another 2023 patch tick was Jack Snipe, one being found on my snipe count with 29 Common Snipe in a strictly private area. Also on the wader front my highest ever count of grounded Lapwings was made with 340 Lapwings in the ploughed stubble field east of the Pine Belt (a note that the ones seen on February 22nd were a new patch bird for the year!). A Lesser Black-backed Gull was over the nursery fields. (A note from 18th January was that the Shovelers seen that day were a patch yeartick!).

Whereas wildfowl numbers were low, in contrast passerine numbers were off the scale. In the former leek field a flock of 500 Chaffinches was scanned thoroughly with the welcome reward of 1 female Brambling, only my second on patch this year. In the same field 4 Pied Wagtails and 10 Fieldfares were seen feeding. Another huge 'finch count' was a total of 220 Linnets, with 110 in fields north of Big Pool and groups of 90 and 20 in the mossland/nurseries area. These were singing and making a racket heard from afar, reminiscent of the year I got a mixed finch flock of c.1400 birds in the setaside (former leek) field. Inevitably with all this noise they attracted a male Sparrowhawk which took a Linnet from the flock in mid air, fantastic to see and this was my first patch Sparrowhawk of 2023. Just 2 Buzzards were seen but it wasn't a thermalling day, both took off from trees. Near to the first flock I found north of Big Pool was a female Reed Bunting, my first of this species on patch this year. To complete the thrush family, 4 Redwings were in Finch Hedge whilst Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes were in song all over my patch and double-figures of Blackbirds were seen. A single Long-tailed Tit was recorded in the hedgerows.

A Green Woodpecker called near Small Pool and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers chased each other around trees in Gull Pool Wood. Nuthatches called in the Gull Pool Wood/Whitegate Way area and 7 Starlings were in the nursery fields. A lone Rook flew over Shemmy Moss whilst at least 7 Jays were seen, more than before so far this year. A total of 6 Stock Doves was seen.

Another short morning visit, very flat conditions, not cold.

Today was so quiet, hardly anything to get excited about and very low bird numbers all round. Best of the lot were 3(2drk) Goldeneye on Big Pool, with 20 Gadwall also here but not a single Wigeon. Also on Big Pool were 1 Little Grebe and 1 Cormorant. A Grey Heron was on the north side of the pool.

A Raven flew over Gull Pool Wood. A total of 4 Stock Doves was seen. On Sandy Lane 2 Starlings were seen. A good count of 7 Blackbirds was made in just one small area of the former leek field, some if not all probably being migrant birds. There were 2 Long-tailed Tits north of Big Pool.

A long overdue revisit to my patch this morning. Fine and still but cold-ish.

A great return with a first for patch, what I would class a Patch Mega!! This was a Merlin, seen over on the mosslands, in hunting mode traveling from Shemmy Moss over towards the nursery fields where it gave prolonged views as it sped low over the ground. Also seen over the Nursery Fields were singing Skylarks, a new patch yeartick.

On the pools the highlight were 2(1drk) Goldeneye on Big Pool, the drake looking stunning as he dived for food. Out in the middle of Big Pool were 3 female Teal and another 2(1drk) Teal were on Gull Pool. A large gathering of 40 Mallards were on Gull Pool too. On the mosses 15 Common Snipe were recorded.

Unusual was a count in total of over 600 Woodpigeons on the various farm fields. Also on the harvested fields at least 160 Chaffinches were counted, but not a single Brambling was found amongst them. Other than that a Nuthatch was near the car parking area and a few Mistle Thrushes were seen as well as heard singing.

Due to an eye operation only just back on patch! A very very short walk yesterday and a longer one today. Summary of both below:

Wednesday 11th Jan 2023: A couple of new species for the year in the shape of a singing Mistle Thrush near the Pine Belt and a Siskin near Big Pool Island Cut.

Today, Thursday 12th Jan 2023:

Very little to report on the pools, a drake Goosander on Big Pool being the only bird of note. Three Cormorants were also on Big Pool. A Grey Heron on Lymm Vale was the first of the year for patch as were the 2 Herring Gulls flying over here in the company of up to 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

In the fields near the Pine Belt at least 20 Stock Doves were present. A walk over near Totties Farm and Common Farm produced 5 Collared Doves and a pair of Ravens in display. In the same area a Grey Wagtail on one of Common Farm's barn roofs was new for the year anywhere in the UK for me this year.  Also around Common Farm 2 Pied Wagtails were still present. A Green Woodpecker was heard in the Big Pool area, again my first anywhere in 2023. At least 4 Mistle Thrushes and 6 Redwings were seen. A new patch bird was added when 3 Starlings flew over the horse paddock opposite Dairy Farm as was a Rook that also flew over these paddocks. Two more species were added that were totally new for the year, these being a stunning male Lesser Redpoll near Big Pool Island Cut and a female Brambling on Sandy Lane with Chaffinches. The feeders still held three tit species including Coal Tit.

Popped down for a brief walk this afternoon, dry and still.

Quite a few wildfowl still including at least 12 Gadwall. A Little Grebe was on Small Pool, where a Kingfisher showed well.

In the alders near Big Pool Island Cut 2 Lesser Redpolls were a nice surprise. A Coal Tit was on the feeders by Big Pool.