Hadnt realised until recently that the far eastern end of this site, where the pools are, is actually a Cheshire Wildlife Trust Reserve, namely Crown Farm Nature Reserve. No access unfortunately (not really needed anyway) but nice to see that four Stock Dove nest boxes have recently been erected, to complement the Osprey pole thats been up for a few years.
The male Mandarin was on Fir Brook that runs close to the golf club and by the housing development at the west end of this site.
Species seen - 39
-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Tuesday 14th of April 2026 12:21:18 PM
Usual walk this morning, just under two hours, to the bench beyond the easternmost pools and back the same way. Weather cloudy, light winds and 7*c.
Quiet overall with only 22 species seen but I did have two new species for this site. A single Siskin and a small group of 5 Red Crossbill that flew, calling, in to conifers in Hornbys Rough (wood).
Oakmere Way runs eastwards from the south east corner of Delamere Forest and provides a link, via a Forestry Commission permissive footpath to the top end of Whitegate Way. The two mile long route is sandwiched between Delamere Golf Club to the north and Cheshire Sand Quarry to the south. Lovely scenery and a variety of habitats including farmland, woodland, meadows, pools and a decent amount of gorse. Once certain areas of the sand quarrying are complete, those areas will be restored to nature. Amongst others :-
Stock Dove (3) Oystercatcher (1) Lapwing (2) Ruff (1) Little Grebe (2) Buzzard (1) Great Spotted Woodpecker (2) Skylark (4) Sand Martin (c.50) House Martin (1) Swallow (c.20) Willow Warbler (9) Chiffchaff (7) Blackcap (8) Garden Warbler (1) Whitethroat (8) Nuthatch (1) Linnet (4)
The eastern most pools look to have a bit of potential, dependent upon water levels, for passage winders and also wildfowl in winter. A platform has been erected in the hope of attracting passing Ospreys.
