Details of April sightings will appear on the Monthly Sightings page.
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Colin 1st May 2022
On the 1st May.
At Congleton on the river Dane. Dipper; a pair carrying food into a probable nest site; best viewed from the small carpark by the old steamboat roundabout. Goosander; a female with six very small juvs and another female with four slightly larger but still small juvs; best viewed from the footbridge in the park. Thanks to Nigel and Pam for info.
Nigel Henderson 30th April 2022
Congleton
River Dane: Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher (perched and flying), Dipper (swimming, perched and flying), Grey Wagtail, Goosander female with six fluffy young
Park: Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush x 2 on the rugby pitch
Mike&Andy 26th April 2022
2 L.R.Plovers still on the flooded field at Doddington this evening along with Oystercatcher,Lapwing and the 2 Shelduck.A good 50 Sand Martins were feeding over the main pool.
Glyn Jones 26th April 2022
26th April 2022 – 1130
Borrow Pit Meadows
2 Canada Geese 1 Greylag Goose with several Mallards but a lot of disturbance by dog in water and the owner unable to get him out, causing havoc.
Later 2 noisy Ravens interacting with 2 Common Buzzards high above the pool, very entertaining!
Nantwich Lake – 1400
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and several Mallards, Mute Swan on 8 eggs on the nest, also close by Moorhen with chick.
Queen’s Park – 1600
Great Spotted Woodpeckers, M&F toing and froing from nest site, also close by Nuthatch nest site M&F a lot of movement,
Mallard F with 3 chicks, also Blackcap, Chiffchaff singing.
Glyn Jones 25th April 2022
25th April 2022 – 1430
Borrow Pit Meadows
2 Canada Geese, single Greylag Goose and a pair of Tufted Ducks, several Mallards on pool.
Chiffchaff singing and a possible Common Whitethroat calling.
Mike&Andy 19th April 2022
A late evening visit to Doddington to check for any Yellow Wagtails produced zilch,but a quick check of the pool gave 2 Black-necked Grebe
Mike&Andy 18th April 2022
We could only find 1 L.R. Plover on the flood at Doddington this morning and apart from the regulars on the Pool,just male Gadwall and Shoveler.Good views of a Peregrine down Checkley Lane, distant Kestrel and singing Skylarks.
At Doddington this afternoon the count was : yachts 10 – wheatears 0. However on the diminishing flood in the field were 2 little ringed plovers
Mike&Andy 16th April 2022
2 Male+2 Female Wheatear poolside at Doddington this afternoon to the right of the road to the units.Also Common Sandpiper on the island, Blackcap,Oystercatchers,Shelducks,Pochard and Shoveler.Our first Swallow on patch at Lea Forge as well as Blackcap,Chiffchaff,Linnets and Stock Dove.
Glyn Jones 15th April 2022
15th April 2022
My garden in Crewe
M&F Bullfinch and even rarer 2 Greenfinch, not had a Greenfinch in the garden for possibly three years.
Also behind my fence Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
Colin & Sylvia 15th April 2022
At Doddington this morning 20 sand martins feeding over the water, mute swans up to 7, 2 with blue darvic leg rings but not possible to read. A pair of linnets at Lea Forge and two singing skylarks.
Colin 14th April 2022
At Mere Moor Moss this morning; a pair of bullfinch and singing skylark, willow warbler and sedge warbler. Also one raven cronking over.
Mike&Andy 13th April 2022
5 Wheatear from the high ground off Checkley Lane this morning as well as our first House Martins of the Spring.Not a great deal of movement but we added Skylarks,Linnets,Reed Buntings,Red-l Partridge and Chiffchaff.
Graham 12th April 2022
EHF – Common Sandpiper, Blackcap singing.
FFF – f. Goosander, Cettis Warbler (heard briefly)
Darron Boulton 11th April 2022
Wybunbury Moss.
Reed Bunting, Swallow.
Mike&Andy 11th April 2022
L.R.Plover still at Doddington this morning and on the water,male and female Gadwall and the 2 Shelduck still around the site.Also Kestrel and the surprise visit of 10 Oystercatchers as we were leaving giving at total of at least 16.
Dave Winnington 11th April 2022
Red Kite over Church Lawton Church heading South south east
Mike&Andy 9th April 2022
A L.R.Plover was a rare treat at Doddington this afternoon,also 6 Oystercatchers,2 Shelduck,8 Shoveler,2 Ravens,1 Little Grebe,Stock Dove and Reed Bunting.
At Doddington this morning the winter ducks have all gone except for a single male shoveler although tufted numbers are holding up with a total of 89. One pair of mute swans were present but will they stay to breed? Also reed bunting, skylark, lapwing and raven but probably the best record was a flock of 22 linnets. We counted the heronry and finished with a total of 25 nests, a further increase in the size of this heronry, up from 22 last year.
Mike&Andy 7th April 2022
A week since our last sighting of Goldeneyes at Doddington a roosting male and female were showing, either an elusive or transient pair.2 Shelduck,2 Shoveler,Oystercatchers,Reed Buntings and Red-l Partridge also.At Lea Forge we managed Snipe,Grey Wagtail,Chiffchaff,M.Pipits and Song Thrush before getting soaked and heading home early.John,many thanks for the very enjoyable monthly news letters whilst under your tenure,a nice diversion during the pandemic.
Darron Boulton 5th April 2022
Queens Park, Crewe.
Mistle Thrush.
Nigel Henderson 4th April 2022
Congleton park – field
Mistle Thrush x2
River Dane – Dane Street riverside walk
Mandarin Duck ♂ ♀
Kingfisher Flying upstream under the road bridge.
Grey Wagtail opposite the flats car park; also between the flats and the road bridge; also where the Dane-in-Shaw brook joins.
Dipper Below the road bridge. Perched between the flats and the road bridge
River Dane – park
Goosander ♂ ♀ and lone ♀
John 4th April 2022
28 Mar – 3 Apr
EHF/PHF: Oystercatcher, LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Ruff, Dunlin, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Y-l Gull, Great W Egret, White Wagtail, Brambling, Reed Bunting
MGT/RF: Jack & Common Snipe, Skylark, Sand Martin, Cetti’s Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Meadow Pipit
WLF: Swallow, House Martin
Arclid SQ: LR Plover
Astbury Mere: Goldeneye, Common Gull, Sand Martin
Congleton: L Egret, Willow Warbler
Danebower: Ring Ouzel, Wheatear
Doddington: Pintail, R-l Partridge, Oystercatcher, Kestrel, Jay, Raven, Sand Martin
Lea Forge: Jay, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Linnet
Meremoor: Great W Egret, Osprey
Rode Pool: Oystercatcher, Great W & L Egret, Swallow
Wallhill: R-l Partridge. Yellowhammer
Wildboarclough: Red Kite
Wrinehill: Grey & R-l Partridge, Cetti’s Warbler, Wheatear
Graham 3rd April 2022
3 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk circling (loosely) together over Abbeyfields estate, Sandbach
Mike&Andy 2nd April 2022
First White Wagtail of the year at Lea Forge.what a stunning bird they are.Also Linnets collecting nest material, Chiffchaffs,Blackcaps,M. Pipits and Jay.An equally stunning drake Pintail at Doddington and 6 Shoveler,3Wigeon,3L.Grebe,6 Oystercatchers,Stock Dove,Red-l Partridge,Jay and a single Lapwing on the flooded field.
1st May 2022
On the 1st May.
At Congleton on the river Dane. Dipper; a pair carrying food into a probable nest site; best viewed from the small carpark by the old steamboat roundabout. Goosander; a female with six very small juvs and another female with four slightly larger but still small juvs; best viewed from the footbridge in the park. Thanks to Nigel and Pam for info.
30th April 2022
Congleton
River Dane: Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher (perched and flying), Dipper (swimming, perched and flying), Grey Wagtail, Goosander female with six fluffy young
Park: Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush x 2 on the rugby pitch
26th April 2022
2 L.R.Plovers still on the flooded field at Doddington this evening along with Oystercatcher,Lapwing and the 2 Shelduck.A good 50 Sand Martins were feeding over the main pool.
26th April 2022
26th April 2022 – 1130
Borrow Pit Meadows
2 Canada Geese 1 Greylag Goose with several Mallards but a lot of disturbance by dog in water and the owner unable to get him out, causing havoc.
Later 2 noisy Ravens interacting with 2 Common Buzzards high above the pool, very entertaining!
Nantwich Lake – 1400
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and several Mallards, Mute Swan on 8 eggs on the nest, also close by Moorhen with chick.
Queen’s Park – 1600
Great Spotted Woodpeckers, M&F toing and froing from nest site, also close by Nuthatch nest site M&F a lot of movement,
Mallard F with 3 chicks, also Blackcap, Chiffchaff singing.
25th April 2022
25th April 2022 – 1430
Borrow Pit Meadows
2 Canada Geese, single Greylag Goose and a pair of Tufted Ducks, several Mallards on pool.
Chiffchaff singing and a possible Common Whitethroat calling.
19th April 2022
A late evening visit to Doddington to check for any Yellow Wagtails produced zilch,but a quick check of the pool gave 2 Black-necked Grebe
18th April 2022
We could only find 1 L.R. Plover on the flood at Doddington this morning and apart from the regulars on the Pool,just male Gadwall and Shoveler.Good views of a Peregrine down Checkley Lane, distant Kestrel and singing Skylarks.
18th April 2022
17.04.2022
Congleton
River Dane: Kingfisher, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Goosander female, Blackcap
Park: Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush
17th April 2022
At Doddington this afternoon the count was : yachts 10 – wheatears 0. However on the diminishing flood in the field were 2 little ringed plovers
16th April 2022
2 Male+2 Female Wheatear poolside at Doddington this afternoon to the right of the road to the units.Also Common Sandpiper on the island, Blackcap,Oystercatchers,Shelducks,Pochard and Shoveler.Our first Swallow on patch at Lea Forge as well as Blackcap,Chiffchaff,Linnets and Stock Dove.
15th April 2022
15th April 2022
My garden in Crewe
M&F Bullfinch and even rarer 2 Greenfinch, not had a Greenfinch in the garden for possibly three years.
Also behind my fence Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
15th April 2022
At Doddington this morning 20 sand martins feeding over the water, mute swans up to 7, 2 with blue darvic leg rings but not possible to read. A pair of linnets at Lea Forge and two singing skylarks.
14th April 2022
At Mere Moor Moss this morning; a pair of bullfinch and singing skylark, willow warbler and sedge warbler. Also one raven cronking over.
13th April 2022
5 Wheatear from the high ground off Checkley Lane this morning as well as our first House Martins of the Spring.Not a great deal of movement but we added Skylarks,Linnets,Reed Buntings,Red-l Partridge and Chiffchaff.
12th April 2022
EHF – Common Sandpiper, Blackcap singing.
FFF – f. Goosander, Cettis Warbler (heard briefly)
11th April 2022
Wybunbury Moss.
Reed Bunting, Swallow.
11th April 2022
L.R.Plover still at Doddington this morning and on the water,male and female Gadwall and the 2 Shelduck still around the site.Also Kestrel and the surprise visit of 10 Oystercatchers as we were leaving giving at total of at least 16.
11th April 2022
Red Kite over Church Lawton Church heading South south east
9th April 2022
A L.R.Plover was a rare treat at Doddington this afternoon,also 6 Oystercatchers,2 Shelduck,8 Shoveler,2 Ravens,1 Little Grebe,Stock Dove and Reed Bunting.
9th April 2022
4 – 8 Apr
EHF/PHF: Bl-t Godwit, Y-l Gull, Swallow, House Martin, Willow Warbler, Brambling, Reed Bunting
WF: Mandarin, Great W Egret, Tawny Owl
WLF: Swallow
Alsager: Wheatear
Astbury Mere: Common Scoter, Sandwich Tern, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Brambling
Bathvale: Dipper
Congleton: Mandarin, Goosander, Kingfisher, Dipper, Grey Wagtail,
Doddington: Goldeneye, R-l Partridge, Oystercatcher, Raven, Skylark, Linnet, Reed Bunting
Lea Forge: Snipe, Song Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit
8th April 2022
At Doddington this morning the winter ducks have all gone except for a single male shoveler although tufted numbers are holding up with a total of 89. One pair of mute swans were present but will they stay to breed? Also reed bunting, skylark, lapwing and raven but probably the best record was a flock of 22 linnets. We counted the heronry and finished with a total of 25 nests, a further increase in the size of this heronry, up from 22 last year.
7th April 2022
A week since our last sighting of Goldeneyes at Doddington a roosting male and female were showing, either an elusive or transient pair.2 Shelduck,2 Shoveler,Oystercatchers,Reed Buntings and Red-l Partridge also.At Lea Forge we managed Snipe,Grey Wagtail,Chiffchaff,M.Pipits and Song Thrush before getting soaked and heading home early.John,many thanks for the very enjoyable monthly news letters whilst under your tenure,a nice diversion during the pandemic.
5th April 2022
Queens Park, Crewe.
Mistle Thrush.
4th April 2022
Congleton park – field
Mistle Thrush x2
River Dane – Dane Street riverside walk
Mandarin Duck ♂ ♀
Kingfisher Flying upstream under the road bridge.
Grey Wagtail opposite the flats car park; also between the flats and the road bridge; also where the Dane-in-Shaw brook joins.
Dipper Below the road bridge. Perched between the flats and the road bridge
River Dane – park
Goosander ♂ ♀ and lone ♀
4th April 2022
28 Mar – 3 Apr
EHF/PHF: Oystercatcher, LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Ruff, Dunlin, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Y-l Gull, Great W Egret, White Wagtail, Brambling, Reed Bunting
MGT/RF: Jack & Common Snipe, Skylark, Sand Martin, Cetti’s Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Meadow Pipit
WLF: Swallow, House Martin
Arclid SQ: LR Plover
Astbury Mere: Goldeneye, Common Gull, Sand Martin
Congleton: L Egret, Willow Warbler
Danebower: Ring Ouzel, Wheatear
Doddington: Pintail, R-l Partridge, Oystercatcher, Kestrel, Jay, Raven, Sand Martin
Lea Forge: Jay, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Linnet
Meremoor: Great W Egret, Osprey
Rode Pool: Oystercatcher, Great W & L Egret, Swallow
Wallhill: R-l Partridge. Yellowhammer
Wildboarclough: Red Kite
Wrinehill: Grey & R-l Partridge, Cetti’s Warbler, Wheatear
3rd April 2022
3 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk circling (loosely) together over Abbeyfields estate, Sandbach
2nd April 2022
First White Wagtail of the year at Lea Forge.what a stunning bird they are.Also Linnets collecting nest material, Chiffchaffs,Blackcaps,M. Pipits and Jay.An equally stunning drake Pintail at Doddington and 6 Shoveler,3Wigeon,3L.Grebe,6 Oystercatchers,Stock Dove,Red-l Partridge,Jay and a single Lapwing on the flooded field.