Another afternoon visit and the sun came out and it was warm again, until the cloud & strong breeze started late anoon!

Very quiet on the two main pools. The 2 Oystercatchers flew around together calling over the Big Pool area. A nice array of summer 'high fliers' with 12 Swifts, 4 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins and a House Martin over Big Pool.

The Cuckoo was heard again west of Big Pool. On the track by the former leek field there were 2(1ad+1y) Pied Wagtails, local breeding no doubt.

Again changeable this morning on patch .

A Cuckoo was again calling west of Big Pool, heard from east of Big Pool.

A morning walk, back to mainly sun and still warm.

A flock of 5ad Greylag Geese flew over the mosses, strange to see them not in breeding pairs!

A Cuckoo called and was seen over Gull Pool Woods today, no doubt the bird I keep hearing west of Big Pool. A Treecreeper was in Gull Poo Woods.

A morning patch walk, warm & sunny again.

A group of 5(2ad+3y) Coots were on Big Pool.

Whilst I was in the Big Pool SW corner glade I could hear a Cuckoo again to the west of Big Pool.

A Wren was seen taking food to a nest as was a Blackbird, both breeding records for CAWOS!

Very sunny and warm today on patch but my afternoon walk was cut short by unforeseen circumstances.

One bird sighting of note was a really optimistic one. At least 6 adult Lapwings were in the breeding field east of the Pine Belt and with them I found 3 Lapwing Chicks! These were from two different broods as one was smaller than the other two, and they were split into the two 'broods' spatially in the field. The chicks were well enough developed to be looking like miniature adults but fuzzier and flightless, so past the tiny chick stage giving stronger hope of survival. The field is one that was re-ploughed so the adults did well. The deep furrows make it hard to see all birds in the field so other Lapwing chicks may have been out there. This is excellent news and I have everything crossed for their survival.

The only other report was that I heard a Cuckoo calling over to the west of Big Pool somewhere, heard from the east side of the pool.

Last few days were spent on patch in the sunshine but very little news on the bird front until today!

A new bird for the year was seen a 12.15pm when a stunning Red Kite drifted over Shemmy Moss. Initially if circled up to gain height and then floated off to the east at c.12.30pm. A Grey Heron flew over too for the second time in 3 days. The Canada Geese on Shemmy Moss hatched 3 goslings yesterday too and still had them today. On Nunsmere today 2 drake Gadwall were again seen.

Yesterday (11th May 2024) 2 Hobbies and 2 Kestrels were watched over Shemmy Moss, all at the same time and all hunting, the Hobbies taking Four-spotted Chaser Dragonflies and a Kestrel seen to catch a Common Lizard.

A very early pop onto patch and then a more prolonged afternoon walk. Sunny but a bit cooler.

A Common Teal egg was found on Shemmy Moss, broken but I couldn't tell if it had hatched or had been taken by a predator from the nest. On the mossland pools 2 drake Teal were again seen. A Water Rail was heard squealing on Abbot's Moss again.

A Hobby was over Shemmy Moss early afternoon and then moved to Gull Pool where it was later seen patrolling the canopy of Gull Pool Wood.

A cracking morning on patch even though the weather was dull, cool and had a real flat feel to it!

A Patch Lifer in the shape of an immature (prob 2nd calendar year) Marsh Harrier which flew at mid height through Abbot's Moss and headed off SE without pausing. This species is increasing as a breeder in Cheshire so it was only a matter of time before one was seen over patch and luckily for me today was that day! Another good bird was the first Cuckoo of the year, heard only, over the mosses but distant. I had had a report from a dog walker that they had heard one last Thursday 2nd May.

On Shemmy Moss 2 drake Teal were on one of the pools and 2 Greylag Geese were flying around as usual. A Water Rail was heard squealing on Abbot's Moss, a relief after finding one dead a while ago, since when I hadn't heard one. A Cormorant flew over the mosses, a scarce bird in May followed by the same or a second one around half an hour later. Given their scarcity in May I'll err on the side of caution and record it as one bird. A Herring Gull and then later 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over Abbot's Moss, the former being the rarer gull on patch.

A Raven was again over Abbot's Moss. A flock of 10 Goldfinches fed on dandelion heads and was joined by 2 Linnets. In a dead tree 2 male Reed Buntings perched together. A also watched 2 Whitethroats go into probable nest sites on Shemmy Moss. At least 5 Garden Warblers still sang on Shemmy Moss.

A very early morning walk (5.30-7am) and then an afternoon in the sun with Carys my wife.

A flight of 4(2drk) Teal was seen over Abbot's Moss, presumably two pairs. A total of at least 4(3drk) Gadwall included 3 drakes on Redesmre and 3(2drks) flying over Abbot's Moss, and I'm assuming some overlap in individuals! Also on Nunsmere I watched 2 Great Crested Grebes in the full 'weed dance', rearing right up out of the water to do it, fantastic.

The best passerine was heard by Carys only, as it is a hearing frequency that I lost years ago when I had meningitis, namely a Grasshopper Warbler on Abbot's Moss. This is a patch first and I can now only hope that it shows itself sometime. Also on Abbot's Moss 2(1m) Reed Bunting were seen together. The common warbler species were all present including a probable female Garden Warbler in the early morning visit as it was just a meter away from a singing male, was silent, and came out of the cover of a bramble when first seen.

Morning walk, dry and overcast.

A Great Crested Grebe was on a nest near Big Pool Island. An Oystercatcher showed well in the recently ploughed and plated field east of the Pine Belt. As I watched 5 Sand Martins dropped in to feed over Big Pool.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

A morning on Newchurch proved very productive, sunny and hot!

On Shemmy Moss the female Mallard has 1 well-grown duckling left. Also here a pair of Teal was seen. A lone Greylag Goose was also on the mosses.

Possibly the best bird of the day was the first Green Woodpecker of the year here, heard yaffling on Abbot's Moss. A Raven was heard cronking here too. At least 10 Stock Doves were in fields off Sandy Lane. On Shemmy Moss the first Whitethroat for anywhere in the UK was seen and heard. At least 10 Willow Warblers are now singing with lots of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps still. A pair of Linnets were on Shemmy Moss as were 2(1m) Reed Buntings.

Not a lot to report today, other than 2 Sparrowhawks (one by Big Pool and one over Shemmy Moss) and at least 12 Blackcaps including a pair in courtship, and 1 Willow Warbler.

Morning walk, dull and not warm.

No Goldeneye today! I did have 4(2drk) Teal, a pair on Gull Pool and a pair on Shemmy Moss. On Shemmy Moss I saw the Water Rail kill for the first time and the feathers were plucked, so a bird kill, almost certainly Sparrowhawk as suspected.

A Willow Warbler was heard singing much more strongly from the main scrub at Shemmy Moss rather than on the fringes as last time.

Went down in heavy drizzle today as my best chance of a hirundine, and it worked

On Big Pool there were 4(1drk) Goldeneye today. Over on Shemmy Moss 4(2drk) Teal were seen, in two pairs. Success with my quest was 12 Sand Martins flying over Big Pool but at mid-height rather than low over the surface, my first here for 2024.

A large female Sparrowhawk flashed across in front of me on the edge of Shemmy Moss and the small passerines went into alarm call overdrive as it landed in the middle of an elder! One of said passerines was a cracking little Goldcrest, brave soul! The male and female Stonechats were still on Abbot's Moss. A Couple of Linnets were also seen. Generally the rain kept most stuff hidden and I don't blame them!

Fab walks am and pm :) Sunny warm and a tad breezy!

On Big Pool 5(1drk) Goldeneye, the permutations continue! The pair of Gadwall were still on Shemmy Moss and a pair of Teal were on Gull Pool. Also on Gull Pool 24 Tufted Ducks was a good count. A Cormorant flew over Shemmy Moss. An Oystercatcher fed on the nursery fields. Three Common Snipe flew up from Shemmy Moss. A Water Rail called continuously on Shemmy Moss and was seen too.

The best birds of the day were 2(1m) Stonechats on Abbot's Moss. The pair were mobile and elusive though. This was closely followed by a brief snatch of Cetti's Warbler song from the margins of Gull Pool, no chance of seeing the bird from where I was even if it had showed! A nice group of 3 Ravens was over Abbot's Moss, 2 in display and 1 chasing them off! Also over the mosses were 3 Buzzards including one in skydancing display. A Kestrel was also over Shemmy Moss.  A Treecreeper and a Nuthatch were in Gull Pool Wood. Linnets were singing on Shemmy Moss as were Reed Buntings. Just one Blackcap was heard along with 20+Chiffchaffs.

A excellent morning walk, dry, even a bit of sun and warm out of the wind.

The biggest surprise was on Shemmy Moss were there was a female Mallard + 2 ducklings. These must have hatched today looking at size and are probably my first March ducklings on patch! Also on Shemmy Moss were 2(1drk) Gadwall, a pair, still on the mossland pools. On Big Pool 3(2drk) Goldeneye were out in the middle. Teal called on Gull Pool. On Shemmy Moss 2 Common Snipe were seen. From the track to the Nursery across Abbot's Moss a Water Rail was heard squealing from dense cover. A Grey Heron flew over Big Pool and a Cormorant flew over Gull Pool Wood.

A Raven flew over Abbot's Moss. On the now scrub-filled meadow on the left just after Finch Hedge 2 Redwings were singing, I watched one which was in sublime plumage with a beak that glowed bright yellow! On the pre-breeding theme a pair of Yellowhammers exhibited distraction behaviour on Shemmy Moss, the male flying up and perching within 2m of me, which they never usually do, before leading me away. A pair of Linnets were here too and a male Reed Bunting was singing.  A Goldcrest was in wing-flicking display in the hedge opposite the car parking area on Novia Scotia Lane, with a probable second bird deeper in the hedge. Now 2 Blackcaps are present and singing with over 25 Chiffchaffs here too.

An afternoon visit to a mates house on the west side of Big Pool allowed me to do a quick check of farm fields and Big Pool without a proper patch walk!!

On Big Pool now 5(3drk) Goldeneye, with one of the drakes being a first-winter bird coming into adult plumage!

Three-figure numbers of Sand Martins on Budworth Mere had me nipping down to Newchurch to check the pools.

Only thing of note on Big Pool were 2(1drk) Goldeneye. No hirundines at all!

In the field east of the Pine Belt I counted 71 Stock Doves which I think now sneaks it as my highest ever flock!

In contrast to yesterdays all day walks today was a brief afternoon visit mainly for invertebrates due to the warm sunshine.

On Big Pool just 3(1drk) Goldeneye today. Also on the water were lots of Gulls but the only one of note was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.

At least 45 Stock Doves were in the field east of the Pine Belt in a single species flock still. Three Dunnocks were in courtship display. Double figures of Chiffchaffs singing now.

On Newchurch am in the sun before the forecast rain. A wee bit nippier at first.

A bit more of interest on the pools. There were now 3(1drk) Goldeneye on Big Pool as well as 2(1drk) Gadwall and 2(1drk) Shoveler. A brief count gave 45 Tufted Ducks on here. The 4(3ad) Mute Swans were on the two main pools. A sighting of 3 Greylag Geese over Gull Pool Wood was the first of this species for a while.

There were 7 Buzzards loosely together soaring over the mosslands. In fields off Sandy Lane a nice flock containing 180 Fieldfares, 10 Redwings and 10 Starlings was down feeding. A Siskin was again near Big Pool Island Cut and again 3 Chiffchaffs were recorded.