A Peregrine was over the drive to the hall at Doddington this morning and 5 Shoveler were our first of the Autumn there.Still at least 15 Swifts.
Mike&Andy 29th August 2020
A stroll around Wybunbury Moss this morning gave us,2 Spotted Flycatchers,Goldcrest,Nuthatch,at least 12 Chiffchaffs,Whitethroat,Sparrowhawk,Mistle Thrush,Greenfinch,Stock Dove and Jay.
Colin 28th August 2020
At Doddington this morning, 2 male pochard amongst over a thousand geese and coots. Also nice views of a kingfisher, gc grebe numbers steady at 60 but mute swan numbers down to 16
Mike&Andy 25th August 2020
A patch lifer for us at Doddington this afternoon with the arrival of a Turnstone,still there’s when we left.Pochard also new and still around twenty Swifts.
John 24th August 2020
Wybunbury Moss: only species of note was a calling female Tawny Owl
Lea Forge: Skylark, at least 3 Willow Warbler & a Reed Bunting
Crewe Business Park: no sign of the Reed Warbler but I saw 2 adult & 2 imm. Moorhen all feeding 3 tiny chicks
John 24th August 2020
17 – 23 Aug
EHF/PHF: Shoveler, Pintail, R Plover, Curlew, Common & Green Sandpiper, Common Tern, GW Egret, Hobby, Yellow Wagtail,
MGT/RF: Wigeon, Pochard, Green Sandpiper, GW Egret, Kestrel, Peregrine, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail
Hall Ln: Curlew
Astbury & Mere: R-l Partridge, Sparrowhawk, Raven, Reed Warbler
Cloud: Raven, Siskin
Doddington: Swift, GC Grebe, Kingfisher
Lea Forge: Hobby
Mow Cop: Tree Pipit
Rode Pool: Egyptian Goose
Wallhill: Sand Martin, Yellowhammer
Wybunbury Moss: Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher
John 23rd August 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: a female Sparrowhawk perched on railway lighting tower above The Heritage Centre was moved on by gulls presumably protecting the nearby nest sites. The only other species of note was a singing Willow Warbler in the grounds of MMU – my first confirmed record since May!
Colin 21st August 2020
At Doddington this morning 20 swifts, 40 house martins and 5 sand martins feeding over the water in the rain. On the water 54 great crested grebes with three broods of small juvs 3, 3, and 1 – it’s been a long wait this year for them! Also big counts of 210 canada geese, 242 greylag geese and 628 coot — that’s dedication to BTO WeBS Counts!
John 20th August 2020
Bridge House Farm, Hassall ( not to be confused with Brickhouse Farm, Scholar Green ): 2 Kestrel
Winterley Pool: 2 white Greylags, Mute Swan, various mallard-type duck, incl: Cayguga (guessing from the white patch on its throat), GC Grebe
Winterley Pool Farm/Animal Hotel: 20+ Swift, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk ( adult (m) + a juv ), 3 Buzzards, an optimistic Kestrel ( multiple attempts at catching roosting & feeding Woodpigeon ), Swallow, House Martin, singing Chiffchaff & Linnet
Mike&Andy 20th August 2020
Around Wybunbury moss this morn our list included 2 Spotted Flycatchers,Willow Warbler(we’ve struggled with these this year),Goldcrest,Whitethroat,Chiffchaff,Song Thrush and Jay.
John 19th August 2020
My first excursion beyond Macon Meadows in two weeks this morning before the forecasted rain:
Meremoor Moss + environs: very quiet apart from a two or three noisy juvenile Buzzards and three Kestrels – a male and either a female & juvenile or 2 juvs. Only other bird of note was a Linnet singing from the overhead wires
Mike&Andy 18th August 2020
A Hobby low and through at Lea forge this afternoon and 2 Kingfishers in tandem across the pool at Doddington.
Dave Winnington 18th August 2020
2 Egyptian Geese still Rodepool
John 17th August 2020
10 – 16 Aug
EHF/PHF: Barnacle Goose, Shoveler, Teal, Golden & LR Plover, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Ruff, Dunlin, Snipe, Common & Green Sandpiper, Redshank, GB-b Gull, L & GW Egret
MGT/RF: L Grebe, Raven, Skylark, Garden & Sedge Warbler, Bullfinch
Alsager: Hobby, R-n Parakeet, Raven, Willow Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Linnet, Yellowhammer
Arclid SQ: LR Plover, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail
Cloud: Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Siskin
Congleton: Swift, Grasshopper Warbler
Lea Forge: Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Raven, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail, Linnet
Middlewich: L Egret
Elizabeth Buckley 11th August 2020
Little egret down the river Dane middlewich.
Mike&Andy 10th August 2020
A Garden Warbler and a pair of Grey Wagtails at Lea Forge this morning and a list that included,Greenfinch,Sparrowhawk ,Raven,G.S. Woodpecker ,Linnets,Whitethroat and Stock Doves.Nothing new at Doddington and much quieter now that the Oystercatchers appear to have returned to their winter feeding grounds.
John 10th August 2020
3 – 9 Aug
EHF/PHF: Barnacle Goose, Shoveler, Goosander, Goosander, Cuckoo, R & LR Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Common & Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Y-l Gull, L & GW Egret, Red Kite, Kingfisher
MGT/RF: Pochard, Snipe, GW Egret, Whinchat
Alsager: Stock Dove, Hobby, R-n Parakeet, Skylark, Willow Warbler, L&C Whitethroat, Redstart, Stonechat, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Linnet, L Redpoll, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Congleton: Goosander, Kingfisher, Dipper, Grey Wagtail
Crewe: Swift, Sparrowhawk
Hassall: Hobby
Lawton: Kingfisher
Meremoor: Marsh Harrier
Middlewich: Common Sandpiper, Hobby
Rode Pool: Egyptian Goose, Mandarin
Shavington: Hobby
Weston: Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat
Wybunbury Moss: Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat, Song & Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher
John 6th August 2020
I bumped into the gent repairing the boardwalk on Wybunbury Moss this morning: the permissive footpath is open again but where the path is still made up of short branches, it is still slippery when wet – so take care. The pair of Spotted Flycatchers nesting in the tower were feeding young ( back on the nest used at the beginning of the season ) and I saw 2 other adult birds sufficiently far enough away to presume there is at least one other territory – these two were spread out so each could have a mate with young?
PS – I didn’t see Mike and Andy. Sorry I missed you, gents!
Called in at Doddington Pool but only waterfowl noted. 100+ hirundine were hawking above the fields on either side of the pool.
Last stop was Winterley Pool and Farm: 2 large white ( Greylag? ) geese were bullying the Canadas on the pool. A young GC Grebe was constantly begging an attentive adult. I could hear young Sparrowhawk begging nearby. On the farm, one field of rape seed stubble was having manure spread over it. It was attracting Swift, House Martin and Swallow plus at least 3 Kestrels
Mike&Andy 6th August 2020
Multiple sightings of Spotted Flycatchers around Wybunbury moss this morning with 2 separate family groups from different areas.Also a single bird in the trees opposite the boardwalk.Sparrowhawk also of note.
Nigel Henderson 5th August 2020
Congleton:
River Dane, riverside walk: Kingfisher flying upstream; Grey Wagtail (multiple sightings).
River Dane, the weir downstream of the park: one female and two immature Goosander.
Nigel Henderson 4th August 2020
Congleton: River Dane: Kingfisher (a rare sighting of a male perched up), Dipper, Grey Wagtail (multiple sightings).
Mike&Andy 3rd August 2020
Our best bird around Wybunbury Moss this morning was a Spotted Flycatcher,also Goldcrest,Blackcap,Chiffchaff,a family of G.S.Woodpeckers,Song and Mistle Thrush,Jays,Nuthatch and Whitethroat.
John 3rd August 2020
27 Jul – 2 Aug
EHF/PHF: Mandarin, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Dunlin, Common & Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Common, Caspian (poss) & Y-l Gull, L & GW Egret, Hobby
MGT/RF: Common Sandpiper, GW Egret
Tetton Ln: Tawny & Little Owl
Crewe: Hobby
Doddington: L & GR Grebe, Oystercatcher, Bl-t Godwit, Kingfisher, Reed Warbler
Rode Heath: Tawny Owl
Sandbach: Hobby
Wheelock: House Martin
Winterley Pool: Common Sandpiper
John 2nd August 2020
A walk in the fields on Winterley Pool Farm this morning: parking in the layby by the pool, a Common Sandpiper was disturbed by someone walking past.
On the wires by the farm, there was a mixed flock of Greenfinch and Linnet. In the fields by the kennels/animal hotel were 50+ Chaffinch using the trees as cover but dropping into the rape seed stubble and bean crop. In the recently cut field of grass beyond the kennels, I counted 200+ Carrion Crows.
Back at the pool I had another sighting of the Common Sandpiper which appeared to be favouring the recently cleared brickwork at the pool edge.
31st August 2020
24 – 30 Aug
EHF/PHF: Teal, Grey Plover, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Knot, Snipe, Common & Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Med Gull, Marsh Harrier, Spotted Flycatcher
MGT/RF: Green Sandpiper, GW & L Egret, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Peregrine, Whinchat, Wheatear, Crossbill
Alsager: Hobby
Astbury & Mere: Shag, Kingfisher
Bosley Res: L & GW Egret
Cloud: Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Siskin
Doddington: Shoveler, Pochard, Swift, GC Grebe, Turnstone, Kingfisher, Peregrine
Mow Cop: Kestrel, Siskin
Quinta: Spotted Flycatcher
Scholar Green: Willow Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Linnet, Siskin & Yellowhammer
Wallhill: Lapwing, Sand Martin, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Yellowhammer
Wybunbury Moss: Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat, Jay, Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher
30th August 2020
A Peregrine was over the drive to the hall at Doddington this morning and 5 Shoveler were our first of the Autumn there.Still at least 15 Swifts.
29th August 2020
A stroll around Wybunbury Moss this morning gave us,2 Spotted Flycatchers,Goldcrest,Nuthatch,at least 12 Chiffchaffs,Whitethroat,Sparrowhawk,Mistle Thrush,Greenfinch,Stock Dove and Jay.
28th August 2020
At Doddington this morning, 2 male pochard amongst over a thousand geese and coots. Also nice views of a kingfisher, gc grebe numbers steady at 60 but mute swan numbers down to 16
25th August 2020
A patch lifer for us at Doddington this afternoon with the arrival of a Turnstone,still there’s when we left.Pochard also new and still around twenty Swifts.
24th August 2020
Wybunbury Moss: only species of note was a calling female Tawny Owl
Lea Forge: Skylark, at least 3 Willow Warbler & a Reed Bunting
Crewe Business Park: no sign of the Reed Warbler but I saw 2 adult & 2 imm. Moorhen all feeding 3 tiny chicks
24th August 2020
17 – 23 Aug
EHF/PHF: Shoveler, Pintail, R Plover, Curlew, Common & Green Sandpiper, Common Tern, GW Egret, Hobby, Yellow Wagtail,
MGT/RF: Wigeon, Pochard, Green Sandpiper, GW Egret, Kestrel, Peregrine, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail
Hall Ln: Curlew
Astbury & Mere: R-l Partridge, Sparrowhawk, Raven, Reed Warbler
Cloud: Raven, Siskin
Doddington: Swift, GC Grebe, Kingfisher
Lea Forge: Hobby
Mow Cop: Tree Pipit
Rode Pool: Egyptian Goose
Wallhill: Sand Martin, Yellowhammer
Wybunbury Moss: Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher
23rd August 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: a female Sparrowhawk perched on railway lighting tower above The Heritage Centre was moved on by gulls presumably protecting the nearby nest sites. The only other species of note was a singing Willow Warbler in the grounds of MMU – my first confirmed record since May!
21st August 2020
At Doddington this morning 20 swifts, 40 house martins and 5 sand martins feeding over the water in the rain. On the water 54 great crested grebes with three broods of small juvs 3, 3, and 1 – it’s been a long wait this year for them! Also big counts of 210 canada geese, 242 greylag geese and 628 coot — that’s dedication to BTO WeBS Counts!
20th August 2020
Bridge House Farm, Hassall ( not to be confused with Brickhouse Farm, Scholar Green ): 2 Kestrel
Winterley Pool: 2 white Greylags, Mute Swan, various mallard-type duck, incl: Cayguga (guessing from the white patch on its throat), GC Grebe
Winterley Pool Farm/Animal Hotel: 20+ Swift, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk ( adult (m) + a juv ), 3 Buzzards, an optimistic Kestrel ( multiple attempts at catching roosting & feeding Woodpigeon ), Swallow, House Martin, singing Chiffchaff & Linnet
20th August 2020
Around Wybunbury moss this morn our list included 2 Spotted Flycatchers,Willow Warbler(we’ve struggled with these this year),Goldcrest,Whitethroat,Chiffchaff,Song Thrush and Jay.
19th August 2020
My first excursion beyond Macon Meadows in two weeks this morning before the forecasted rain:
Meremoor Moss + environs: very quiet apart from a two or three noisy juvenile Buzzards and three Kestrels – a male and either a female & juvenile or 2 juvs. Only other bird of note was a Linnet singing from the overhead wires
18th August 2020
A Hobby low and through at Lea forge this afternoon and 2 Kingfishers in tandem across the pool at Doddington.
18th August 2020
2 Egyptian Geese still Rodepool
17th August 2020
10 – 16 Aug
EHF/PHF: Barnacle Goose, Shoveler, Teal, Golden & LR Plover, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Ruff, Dunlin, Snipe, Common & Green Sandpiper, Redshank, GB-b Gull, L & GW Egret
MGT/RF: L Grebe, Raven, Skylark, Garden & Sedge Warbler, Bullfinch
Alsager: Hobby, R-n Parakeet, Raven, Willow Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Linnet, Yellowhammer
Arclid SQ: LR Plover, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail
Cloud: Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Siskin
Congleton: Swift, Grasshopper Warbler
Lea Forge: Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Raven, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail, Linnet
Middlewich: L Egret
11th August 2020
Little egret down the river Dane middlewich.
10th August 2020
A Garden Warbler and a pair of Grey Wagtails at Lea Forge this morning and a list that included,Greenfinch,Sparrowhawk ,Raven,G.S. Woodpecker ,Linnets,Whitethroat and Stock Doves.Nothing new at Doddington and much quieter now that the Oystercatchers appear to have returned to their winter feeding grounds.
10th August 2020
3 – 9 Aug
EHF/PHF: Barnacle Goose, Shoveler, Goosander, Goosander, Cuckoo, R & LR Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Common & Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Y-l Gull, L & GW Egret, Red Kite, Kingfisher
MGT/RF: Pochard, Snipe, GW Egret, Whinchat
Alsager: Stock Dove, Hobby, R-n Parakeet, Skylark, Willow Warbler, L&C Whitethroat, Redstart, Stonechat, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Linnet, L Redpoll, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Congleton: Goosander, Kingfisher, Dipper, Grey Wagtail
Crewe: Swift, Sparrowhawk
Hassall: Hobby
Lawton: Kingfisher
Meremoor: Marsh Harrier
Middlewich: Common Sandpiper, Hobby
Rode Pool: Egyptian Goose, Mandarin
Shavington: Hobby
Weston: Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat
Wybunbury Moss: Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat, Song & Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher
6th August 2020
I bumped into the gent repairing the boardwalk on Wybunbury Moss this morning: the permissive footpath is open again but where the path is still made up of short branches, it is still slippery when wet – so take care. The pair of Spotted Flycatchers nesting in the tower were feeding young ( back on the nest used at the beginning of the season ) and I saw 2 other adult birds sufficiently far enough away to presume there is at least one other territory – these two were spread out so each could have a mate with young?
PS – I didn’t see Mike and Andy. Sorry I missed you, gents!
Called in at Doddington Pool but only waterfowl noted. 100+ hirundine were hawking above the fields on either side of the pool.
Last stop was Winterley Pool and Farm: 2 large white ( Greylag? ) geese were bullying the Canadas on the pool. A young GC Grebe was constantly begging an attentive adult. I could hear young Sparrowhawk begging nearby. On the farm, one field of rape seed stubble was having manure spread over it. It was attracting Swift, House Martin and Swallow plus at least 3 Kestrels
6th August 2020
Multiple sightings of Spotted Flycatchers around Wybunbury moss this morning with 2 separate family groups from different areas.Also a single bird in the trees opposite the boardwalk.Sparrowhawk also of note.
5th August 2020
Congleton:
River Dane, riverside walk: Kingfisher flying upstream; Grey Wagtail (multiple sightings).
River Dane, the weir downstream of the park: one female and two immature Goosander.
4th August 2020
Congleton: River Dane: Kingfisher (a rare sighting of a male perched up), Dipper, Grey Wagtail (multiple sightings).
3rd August 2020
Our best bird around Wybunbury Moss this morning was a Spotted Flycatcher,also Goldcrest,Blackcap,Chiffchaff,a family of G.S.Woodpeckers,Song and Mistle Thrush,Jays,Nuthatch and Whitethroat.
3rd August 2020
27 Jul – 2 Aug
EHF/PHF: Mandarin, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Dunlin, Common & Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Common, Caspian (poss) & Y-l Gull, L & GW Egret, Hobby
MGT/RF: Common Sandpiper, GW Egret
Tetton Ln: Tawny & Little Owl
Crewe: Hobby
Doddington: L & GR Grebe, Oystercatcher, Bl-t Godwit, Kingfisher, Reed Warbler
Rode Heath: Tawny Owl
Sandbach: Hobby
Wheelock: House Martin
Winterley Pool: Common Sandpiper
2nd August 2020
A walk in the fields on Winterley Pool Farm this morning: parking in the layby by the pool, a Common Sandpiper was disturbed by someone walking past.
On the wires by the farm, there was a mixed flock of Greenfinch and Linnet. In the fields by the kennels/animal hotel were 50+ Chaffinch using the trees as cover but dropping into the rape seed stubble and bean crop. In the recently cut field of grass beyond the kennels, I counted 200+ Carrion Crows.
Back at the pool I had another sighting of the Common Sandpiper which appeared to be favouring the recently cleared brickwork at the pool edge.