Newchurch Common

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

RE: Newchurch Common

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A morning walk again, overcast, dry but cool.

A drake Gadwall was a surprise, seen from the extreme western patch boundary on Nunsmere and looking alert. A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over the mosses. A total of 4 Swallows included 2 over Big Pool and 2 on territory at Dairy Farm, also 25 Sand Martins over Big Pool.

Now 3 Garden Warblers singing on Shemmy Moss, all very elusive but a long search gave reasonable views of one of the birds. All the ploughed fields were again checked but just 1 Pied Wagtail was the reward, although 2 Starlings were a scarcer find! at least 2m Reed Buntings were on Abbot's Moss. The first Nuthatch for a while was heard in woods by Gull Pool.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 27th of April 2024 03:36:25 PM

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A great morning walk in the sunshine, but nippy when the clouds obscured the sun at times!

A pair of Greylag Geese flew over Shemmy Moss and were then seen on Gull Pool. The fields east of the Pine Belt were being ploughed and 2 Oystercatchers fed there. At least 12 Lapwings mooched around in fields that have been ploughed, no doubt that nests and young have been destroyed and/or predated.

A distant displaying Sparrowhawk was seen. The star birds today were 2(1m) Stonechats, a pair, on Shemmy Moss, after an absence of 25 days! A breeding attempt may now be possible, everything crossed. Also here were 2m Yellowhammers, again after no sign for some while, and 2(1m) Reed Buntings together. A Garden Warbler was again singing on Shemmy Moss and a pair of Whitethroats was seen around a bramble clump, obviously on territory.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A brief visit this morning in rain to only check the ploughed fields.

Not much seen and the tractors were still planting potatoes. Opposite in a flooded horse paddock a female Mallard had 11 newly hatched ducklings in tow.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A morning walk with a brief visit back pm, sunny and warm.

At least 35 Tufted Ducks were on Big Pool, a good number in late April. On Shemmy Moss 4(3drk) Teal were seen. Also on Shemmy Moss a pair of Mallards with a well grown duckling and a Mallards nest with 11 eggs, well hidden so I hope she hatches them safely. In the fields off Sandy lane that were being ploughed I found 12 Lapwings and one small young that I hope can survive now that the cover has all been ploughed away

In the ploughed fields were 2 White Wagtails and 16 Pied Wagtails, the former being the first seen this year and overdue, but ploughing is late. Also over these fields were 2 Swallows whilst 20 Sand Martins were over Big Pool. Again 2 Ravens were over the mosses. A Chiffchaff was seen carrying nest material on Shemmy Moss where a Whitethroat was heard.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A long morning walk, mainly on the mosslands. Sunny, cool at first but warm when sheltered.

A total of 4 drake Teal was noteworthy on Shemmy Moss. A small group of 2 House Martins and 5 Sand Martins was over Big Pool.

A pair of Ravens were over Shemmy Moss, at first being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows and then one of the Ravens mobbed a Buzzard! A Green Woodpecker was heard across the mosses, just the second record this year. The best bird of the day was a singing Garden Warbler on Shemmy Moss, the first this year, with the four other warbler species all singing too. A total of 6 Linnets included a bird collecting nesting material and a male in full song at the edge of Shemmy Moss. A Pied Wagtail was in a ploughed field off Sandy Lane.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A limited afternoon walk just in the Big Pool area, sunny and warm.

There were 17 Stock Doves and 10 Lapwings in the field east of the Pine Belt. A Goldcrest fed in trees near the main track.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Afternoon visit and the only birds of note were 12 Sand Martins over Big Pool!! The current 4 warbler species were heard, Garden Warblers must arrive soon!

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

An early start on Newchurch with sun forecast, which came but a cool wind in exposed areas confuse

A drake Teal was on Shemmy Moss. A Common Snipe was on Shemmy Moss and must be a breeding candidate now.

A first for this year (anywhere) were 3 House Martins, consisting of my first one over Big Pool and then 2 more high over the mosslands. Also seen were 1 Swallow over Big Pool and 80 Sand Martins, 30 over Big Pool and 50 over the mosslands. There were 4 Mistle Thrushes on patch with two in the former Leek Field. A male Reed Bunting was on Shemmy Moss as was a Linnet carrying nesting material. There were 2 Whitethroats on Shemmy Moss and a profusion of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps spread across the whole patch. A pair of Long-tailed Tits were on the edge of Shemmy Moss.

Late News for 14th April 2024: A Treecreeper was in a thin-branched elder just inside the entrance barriers from the car parking area, this species really is abundant and widespread this year on patch.