Details of January sightings compiled by John Thompson will appear on the Monthly Sightings page.
24 Comments
John 1st February 2019
Bagmere Starling murmuration –
not the best conditions to watch the murmuration yesterday afternoon! Some of the flock were roosting in the trees on the Moss as well as the reeds.
Uncertain how long they will continue to come here as the reedbed compacts under their weight?
If you’re planning on going, make it sooner than later
Mike&Andy 31st January 2019
Mostly frozen at Doddington this morning but still 1 Pinkfoot swimming with a Barnacle Goose,75 Teal,Peregrine on the edge of the wood again and a few Common Gulls left over from the roost.No real change for Goldeneye and Shovelers.
Mike&Andy 29th January 2019
Two male and one female Mandarin in courtship display at Doddington this morning.Not too far from your nest box Colin!
Mike&Andy 28th January 2019
The first Oystercatcher back at Doddington this morning and a Peregrine was perched up on the edge of the wood.Also 5 Snipe,8 Goldeneye,21 Shoveler.Pochard and 61 Tufted Duck.Geese were on the move in and out but when around 190 Greylags settled we picked out 2 Pink-footed Geese,one of which flew soon after.
Mike&Andy 26th January 2019
Just a single Siskin of note in the mixed Tit flock at Lea Forge this morning.
Mike&Jenny 25th January 2019
Two Marsh Tits in a mixed Tit flock that passed through at Lea Forge this afternoon.
John 24th January 2019
SWaBBS on Macon Meadows this afternoon:
Sparrowhawk hunting, Buzzard ‘cruising’, Water Rail called ( from same area I heard it on a previous visit ) and Peregrine on comms tower behind Mannin House.
Nice to connect with Greenfinch again too
Sylvia Jarvis 22nd January 2019
I don’t believe I missed it !!!
Peter 22nd January 2019
BARN OWL along David Whitby Way, Crewe at 10.00pm Monday eve and ANOTHER opposite the sand quarry entrance on the A51 at Walgherton.
Mike Tonks 22nd January 2019
Male blackcap feeding on the fatballs in our Elworth garden this morning. A first for the year and a first for the garden!
John 21st January 2019
Marsh Tit – Wybunbury Moss.
SWaBBS this morning: 2 Marsh Tit back on territory!
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, Song Thrush singing.
John 20th January 2019
Brambling – Bath Vale, Congleton. ♂ & ♀ reported – ( per Tom Davison )
John 17th January 2019
Elton Hall Flash: Whooper Swan this afternoon
John 17th January 2019
SWaBBS – Meremoor Moss: relatively quiet at lunchtime. Displaying Buzzard, pair of hunting Kestrel, Raven heard in distance, pair of Stonechat, 4 Bullfinch & Greenfinch calling. 100c of Fieldfare & Redwing + 100c Starling in a feeding concentration on the Moss
Mike&Andy 16th January 2019
Yesterday off Checkley Lane at least 7 Yellowhammers,6 Brambling,2 Reed Buntings,Greenfinches,Sparrowhawk and 30 Skylarks.At Doddington another Sparrowhawk,8 Goldeneyes,female Gadwall and 15 Teal.
John 12th January 2019
Macon Meadows this morning – Kingfisher, Buzzard & immature Sparrowhawk only things of note
Mike&Andy 12th January 2019
Unnaturally quiet on the water at Doddington this morning with only Goldeneye and a single Wigeon of note.Along the drive to the units were Greenfinch,Linnets and a male Kestrel.Last Sunday we had a Peregrine through and a Shelduck and midweek two female Reed Buntings.Once again around 600 Lapwings in the air.
Colin 11th January 2019
At Doddington this morning, very similar birds to last week with the addition of a male Speckled Teal of the race Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris flavirostris I guess it’s out of a collection since it’s range is southern South America.
Peter 10th January 2019
Early morning flight … Barn Owl opposite Bridgemere 4am today
Terry Hughes 7th January 2019
Female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Wheelock Rail Trail. She was on a tree stump by the steps going down from Lightley Close. I stood in the rain and watched her for a good 5 minutes. Didn’t want to get my new camera wet so no photo – yet.
Colin 5th January 2019
Some good, although distant, displays from the starlings as they came in to roost at Bagmere NR this evening. Impossible to count but we (me, Kate, Brian) guessed in the order of 10,000; started to arrive at 15-45 and by 16-20 they had all gone to bed!
Colin & Sylvia 4th January 2019
At Doddington this morning; 52 mute swan, 65 tufted, 18 shoveler, 9 goldeneye, 8 pochard, 2 wigeon, plus 1 snipe flushed from the juncus.
Mike&Andy 3rd January 2019
Red Kite low over Lea Forge this morning,also Goldcrest,Red legged Partridge,Mistle and Song Thrush.The last few visits to Doddington gave 12 Shoveler, low counts of Goldeneye,Pochard,Teal,Wigeon and Little Grebe.Around the pool were 5 Skylarks,Linnets,Raven,Jays,G.S. Woodpecker,Mistle Thrush,Coal Tits,Nuthatch and the impressive Lapwing flock dominated the skyline.
Peter 1st January 2019
first bird of 2019 … BARN OWL … along the Haslington Bypass between Elton Lane and Clay Lane sitting on top of a footpath signpost at 12.30am
1st February 2019
Bagmere Starling murmuration –
not the best conditions to watch the murmuration yesterday afternoon! Some of the flock were roosting in the trees on the Moss as well as the reeds.
Uncertain how long they will continue to come here as the reedbed compacts under their weight?
If you’re planning on going, make it sooner than later
31st January 2019
Mostly frozen at Doddington this morning but still 1 Pinkfoot swimming with a Barnacle Goose,75 Teal,Peregrine on the edge of the wood again and a few Common Gulls left over from the roost.No real change for Goldeneye and Shovelers.
29th January 2019
Two male and one female Mandarin in courtship display at Doddington this morning.Not too far from your nest box Colin!
28th January 2019
The first Oystercatcher back at Doddington this morning and a Peregrine was perched up on the edge of the wood.Also 5 Snipe,8 Goldeneye,21 Shoveler.Pochard and 61 Tufted Duck.Geese were on the move in and out but when around 190 Greylags settled we picked out 2 Pink-footed Geese,one of which flew soon after.
26th January 2019
Just a single Siskin of note in the mixed Tit flock at Lea Forge this morning.
25th January 2019
Two Marsh Tits in a mixed Tit flock that passed through at Lea Forge this afternoon.
24th January 2019
SWaBBS on Macon Meadows this afternoon:
Sparrowhawk hunting, Buzzard ‘cruising’, Water Rail called ( from same area I heard it on a previous visit ) and Peregrine on comms tower behind Mannin House.
Nice to connect with Greenfinch again too
22nd January 2019
I don’t believe I missed it !!!
22nd January 2019
BARN OWL along David Whitby Way, Crewe at 10.00pm Monday eve and ANOTHER opposite the sand quarry entrance on the A51 at Walgherton.
22nd January 2019
Male blackcap feeding on the fatballs in our Elworth garden this morning. A first for the year and a first for the garden!
21st January 2019
Marsh Tit – Wybunbury Moss.
SWaBBS this morning: 2 Marsh Tit back on territory!
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, Song Thrush singing.
20th January 2019
Brambling – Bath Vale, Congleton. ♂ & ♀ reported – ( per Tom Davison )
17th January 2019
Elton Hall Flash: Whooper Swan this afternoon
17th January 2019
SWaBBS – Meremoor Moss: relatively quiet at lunchtime. Displaying Buzzard, pair of hunting Kestrel, Raven heard in distance, pair of Stonechat, 4 Bullfinch & Greenfinch calling. 100c of Fieldfare & Redwing + 100c Starling in a feeding concentration on the Moss
16th January 2019
Yesterday off Checkley Lane at least 7 Yellowhammers,6 Brambling,2 Reed Buntings,Greenfinches,Sparrowhawk and 30 Skylarks.At Doddington another Sparrowhawk,8 Goldeneyes,female Gadwall and 15 Teal.
12th January 2019
Macon Meadows this morning – Kingfisher, Buzzard & immature Sparrowhawk only things of note
12th January 2019
Unnaturally quiet on the water at Doddington this morning with only Goldeneye and a single Wigeon of note.Along the drive to the units were Greenfinch,Linnets and a male Kestrel.Last Sunday we had a Peregrine through and a Shelduck and midweek two female Reed Buntings.Once again around 600 Lapwings in the air.
11th January 2019
At Doddington this morning, very similar birds to last week with the addition of a male Speckled Teal of the race Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris flavirostris I guess it’s out of a collection since it’s range is southern South America.
10th January 2019
Early morning flight … Barn Owl opposite Bridgemere 4am today
7th January 2019
Female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Wheelock Rail Trail. She was on a tree stump by the steps going down from Lightley Close. I stood in the rain and watched her for a good 5 minutes. Didn’t want to get my new camera wet so no photo – yet.
5th January 2019
Some good, although distant, displays from the starlings as they came in to roost at Bagmere NR this evening. Impossible to count but we (me, Kate, Brian) guessed in the order of 10,000; started to arrive at 15-45 and by 16-20 they had all gone to bed!
4th January 2019
At Doddington this morning; 52 mute swan, 65 tufted, 18 shoveler, 9 goldeneye, 8 pochard, 2 wigeon, plus 1 snipe flushed from the juncus.
3rd January 2019
Red Kite low over Lea Forge this morning,also Goldcrest,Red legged Partridge,Mistle and Song Thrush.The last few visits to Doddington gave 12 Shoveler, low counts of Goldeneye,Pochard,Teal,Wigeon and Little Grebe.Around the pool were 5 Skylarks,Linnets,Raven,Jays,G.S. Woodpecker,Mistle Thrush,Coal Tits,Nuthatch and the impressive Lapwing flock dominated the skyline.
1st January 2019
first bird of 2019 … BARN OWL … along the Haslington Bypass between Elton Lane and Clay Lane sitting on top of a footpath signpost at 12.30am