Late post for yesterday (02/06), I think this is probably the nearest site, 1 Cattle Egret seen from M56.

 

47 Species seen, highlights being:-

 

1 Garganey

4 Ruff

1 Little Ringed Plover

5 Wheatear

3 Whinchat

1 Reed Warbler

1 Cetti's Warbler but at least 8 heard

2 Yellow Wagtail

2 Buzzard

1 Kestrel

Not a great day for me today for frodsham marsh. No Harriers, no Whoopers and even somehow managed to not see any stonechats!. Plenty of Ravens knocking about, a few skeens of pink foots flew over very close, a few Golden Plovers where mixed in with a large lapwng flock. On 6 tank which was very high with water so no exposed mud the only waders I seen was black-tailed Godwits and about 20 odd snipe. Teal, pochard, pintail, shoveler, little grebe, mallard and shelduck was on the water. I thought I saw a scaup at one point but it disappeared out of range and I couldn't find it again, only had a glimpse it could have been a juv tuftie

Pectoral Sandpiper distantly with Dunlin flock on No.6 tank at midday.

Also:
1 Spotted Redshank
4 Ruff
Good sized flocks if Dunlin, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit

On the way home from Wales today I called in to view Lordship Marsh, Frodsham from the M56 Helsby bridge again and reconnected with the 4(2ad) Bewick's Swan's in the Whooper herd. Well worth getting on my yearlist considering how long it took to get the species last year!! That left me on 103 species after 3 days of 2022 and that will do me for my start, hopefully back to more local patching again soon!

After an abortive attempt on Monday to try to see a family of Bewick's Swans that had dropped in, mainly being too late in the day (dark!!) and in the wrong place, I made a repeat trip yesterday (Tuesday 28th Dec) to try for them. Having not seen Bewick's this year it would be a year tick and worth 1 on my list as the Belted Kingfisher would be so this was a much easier option (I'd seen the Staffs BK very well so no pressure to go to Lancs!).

Instead of driving west down the muddy, potholed, flooded track (Lordship Lane) below No.6 Tank as I had done the night (!!) before, I headed to Helsby. Here I parked and walked to Smithy Lane (it is a very narrow road with little or no parking to be honest) and headed down to the end. The lane turns into a muddy track which leads to a high footbridge over the M56 which is the viewing point. At the far end of the ridge I could see a herd of swans on Lordship Marsh, but still a fair distance away. Scoping the group I could see most were Whooper Swans but a couple of Mute Swans had joined them and best of all a family group of 4(2ad) Bewick's Swans were feeding with them. A few record digiscoped shots were fired off but the birds were distant and the light very poor (attached). I'm amazed that it took until 3 days from the end of the year to add this species, but numbers have plummeted and they are a real scarcity now in the NW. These are passage birds so whether they stay to get yearticked nobody knows, but there's lots of folk crossing their fingers for that!!

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 29th of December 2021 01:54:07 PM

3 Curlew Sandpiper in with the Lapwing

Large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank

Small number of Dunlin but very distant

An afternoon visit to see the Long-billed Dowitcher on No.6 tank was made even better when I found a 1st summer American Golden Plover amongst the mass of waders.

Also present:
1-2 Spotted Redshank
a few Ruff
1 Knot in summer plumage
I Peregrine
Masses of Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Lapwing and a few Dunlin.
2 Reed Warbler
1 Cettis Warbler heard

This afternoon on No6 tank:

1 Red-necked Phalarope - female
2 Green Sandpiper
2 Bar-tailed Godwit in amongst the flock of Black-tailed Godwits
4 Redshank
1 Ringed Plover
3 Pochard in with small group of Tufted Duck
Lots of hirundines swooping low over the area and the track. All 3 species plus lots of Swifts- at times just a couple of feet above my head height.
1 Cettis Warbler singing
A few Reed Warbler singing

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Monday 29th of June 2020 11:05:35 PM

Finally getting on the road later than planned after newspaper deliveries we arrived at the parking area over the M56 at 08.00.

Walking along the track towards Marsh Farm we had Stonechat, Chiffchaff,Linnet,Goldfinch, Willow Warbler, Raven, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler.

Things did not look too good as we could only see small numbers of Starling and a chap passing us said he had been there two hours and not seen the Rose coloured Starling nonetheless we had to press on towards the farm totally undeterred as usual.

Half a dozen other birders already there, it didn't take long for a flock to appear over the canal and a call was made that the Rosy was there within a few minutes we had all seen the individual before the flock dropped behind the far bank.

A great looking bird our first adult, we saw a juvenile at Easington in 2018 but this bird is another beast.

Two points to note, a scope is a must as already mentioned in previous posts and the walk there and back to the M56 bridge is just short of three miles, there are closer parking spots towards the farm but you will certainly miss the other birds on offer.  

-- Edited by Tony Koziol on Saturday 13th of June 2020 03:38:17 PM

Doc Brewster wrote:

---

Late yesterday news broke of a Rose-coloured Starling being found at Frodsham Marsh, but with other stuff to do I passed on the rush over to see it, pinning hopes on the fact that it should stick around given it had found a carrier flock of Starlings.

So after the rain and wind had abated this morning I headed over the short distance to Frodsham with the only news being a brief sighting at 10am. ON arrival I found out that it had been seen recently but when I arrived at its favoured area, Marsh Farm, it had been missing for about an hour. Quite soon the Starling flock returned and luckily it was me, with my scope, who picked up the stunning adult Rose-coloured Starling in flight leading the whole flock. Thereafter the flock was tracked and tantalising flight views were had by all. Eventually the 'Rosy' landed on the grass opposite us and showed well, even hopping up onto the fence showing off its shaggy crest and looking superb! As more folk arrived the starling flock moved further away and flight views were the norm, at a distance and needing a scope too. A nice additional sighting was a low Great White Egret flapping over languidly from Frodsham Score upriver. A Little Egret was also seen on the far river bank towards the chemical works. Hordes of Swifts, the most I've seen this year, were over the river and farm, nice to see them in such big numbers at last.

I had seen the wintering Rose-coloured Starling in Anglesey earlier in the year but one less than 10 miles from home was too good to miss, a real Cheshire rarity.

---

 The Rose-coloured Starling is still present and it sounds like it is favouring the far side of the river at Marsh Farm again, do take a scope, it helps tremendously!

Late yesterday news broke of a Rose-coloured Starling being found at Frodsham Marsh, but with other stuff to do I passed on the rush over to see it, pinning hopes on the fact that it should stick around given it had found a carrier flock of Starlings.

So after the rain and wind had abated this morning I headed over the short distance to Frodsham with the only news being a brief sighting at 10am. ON arrival I found out that it had been seen recently but when I arrived at its favoured area, Marsh Farm, it had been missing for about an hour. Quite soon the Starling flock returned and luckily it was me, with my scope, who picked up the stunning adult Rose-coloured Starling in flight leading the whole flock. Thereafter the flock was tracked and tantalising flight views were had by all. Eventually the 'Rosy' landed on the grass opposite us and showed well, even hopping up onto the fence showing off its shaggy crest and looking superb! As more folk arrived the starling flock moved further away and flight views were the norm, at a distance and needing a scope too. A nice additional sighting was a low Great White Egret flapping over languidly from Frodsham Score upriver. A Little Egret was also seen on the far river bank towards the chemical works. Hordes of Swifts, the most I've seen this year, were over the river and farm, nice to see them in such big numbers at last.

I had seen the wintering Rose-coloured Starling in Anglesey earlier in the year but one less than 10 miles from home was too good to miss, a real Cheshire rarity.

Phil Oddy wrote:

---

Steven Nelson wrote:

---

Quite a productive visit this afternoon:

Highlights:
3 Cattle Egret - Marsh Farm
1 Long-tailed Duck - R.Weaver
2 Short-eared Owls - hunting at Weaver Bend
2 Marsh Harrier
6 Raven- Marsh Farm
1 Stonechat
4 Red-legged Partridge
3 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
c.50 Fieldfare
c30 Golden Plover
Large flocks of Shelduck, Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank - Frodsham Score and Mersey Estuary
A few Goldeneye & Pochard amongst a large flock of Tufted Duck & Teal on the R.Weaver but couldnt locate the Scaup.

But weirdest sighting was a Pheasant perched on a telegraph wire! Never seen that before!

---

 Whereabouts were the Red-legs Steven?

---

Phil
They were near the entrance gate to Marsh Farm. They flew over the road in front of me and landed in the field close to the gate giving good close views.

Quite a productive visit this afternoon:

Highlights:
3 Cattle Egret - Marsh Farm
1 Long-tailed Duck - R.Weaver
2 Short-eared Owls - hunting at Weaver Bend
2 Marsh Harrier
6 Raven- Marsh Farm
1 Stonechat
4 Red-legged Partridge
3 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
c.50 Fieldfare
c30 Golden Plover
Large flocks of Shelduck, Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank - Frodsham Score and Mersey Estuary
A few Goldeneye & Pochard amongst a large flock of Tufted Duck & Teal on the R.Weaver but couldnt locate the Scaup.

But weirdest sighting was a Pheasant perched on a telegraph wire! Never seen that before!

10.30-15.00



At Holpool Gutter the 4 Eurasian White Fronted Geese are still with a dozen Mute Swans, a Pink Footed Goose and a couple of Greylags on the field West of the brook.

I got decent views with a scope from the metal bridge over the brook.

A local couple though advised that a footpath along the brook would allow me to get loser views, but this is a very open landscape and these birds are easily spooked,

so I stayed on the bridge.

The track from Frodsham is riddled with deep potholes, so driving down with anything less than a robust 4x4 is unwise. A couple of Buzzards patrolled the area.

In the bushes alongside No6 tank were 4 Meadow Pipits and 2 Linnets, whilst a flock of 6 Chaffinches had a female Brambling with them.

Nice to see No6 tank full of Teal, plus 30 Shoveler which were trying to hide in the vegetation. There were no diving ducks on there thoiugh.

4 Ravens and another Buzzard were on the sheep pasture.

At the Weaver Bend were 2 Kestrels, 12 Great Crested Grebes plus 5 female and 1 male Goldeneye. 12 Common Gulls were with a group of Black Headed on the river.

Offroad motorbikes were tearing along the path by the former ICI tank, so there was no birds at all in the bay opposite there.

A really good bird today for Frodhsam Marshes in the shape of a Black Redstart. The bird was sowing well, but was mobile, on and around the pipes at the bottom end of No.1 Tank. One of the best vantage points for viewing was the former site of the very original Log Book box at the top of the slop as you drive towards Marsh Farm. The bird was first found late morning and was still present late afternoon at least

Bill Morton found a drake Green-winged Teal at Frodsham this weekend so having Sunday morning frre I nipped along there to have a look. With the light really bad for viewing myself & two other birders positioned ourselves as well as we could and started scanning. No.6 Tank was full of wildfowl with hundreds of Teal and Wigeon, large numbers of Mallard, lots of Pintail and Tufted Ducks and several Gadwall. So with all these to check with the poor viewing it took a while, but we eventually found the Green-winged Teal on the far side of the tank. The bird looks to be probably coming out of eclipse type plumage as it wasn't as crisp looking as some of the accompanying drake Teal. Although to be fair there were a few of them in similarly dingy plumage. The vertical white breast stripe is relatively thin too but I've seen quite a bit of variation in this in individuals that I've see. The bird was a long way off so too far away for photos but still nice to see and a great find and reward for a local patch watcher

On the way back from New Brighton this morning had a look in at Frodsham where the juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was showing well in the company of 3 Black-tailed Godwits. They were on the small pool at the western end of number 3 bed. Also seen 1 very pale Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers and 3 Ravens.  

As mentioned elsewhere, the tracks around the site are still not of the best and care is needed when driving.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 14th of September 2017 07:33:41 PM

I've birded here in April/May on a regular basis since 1997; however for various reasons I haven't made it since the wind farm was erected. Finally made a return visit last week and I found the whole walk totally depressing due to the wind farm and especially on No 5 tank, as I remember when that particular tank held the highest density of breeding Lapwings that I have ever encountered (when the sheep weren't in the field). Only birds of note were 3 Avocets plus a Wheatear along the track to Marsh Farm.

I wont be returning! 

Went yesterday in same area as Tom Jones has mentioned below. Could only see one and added a distant shot. Sadly passed a dying/very ill otter in one of the streams, didn't have my mobile so went and told someone else who had there mobile and they called the RSPCA. Hopefully they turned up and found it.

Still present this afternoon - the Great Grey Shrike that is. Same location as stated below. I actually saw it on a flying visit this morning (10.15am) in absolutely torrential rain and sleet. But despite the horrible conditions the shrike continued to show well, albeit a tad distant!

8.30 AM
Great Grey Shrike still showing well in field edge trees at junction of Hare Lane and Straight Length. Looking a bit damp in driving light rain but very active.

Great spot Chris.

09.30-14.30

Weaver Bend

4 adult & 1 juv Whooper Swans, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 10 Little Grebes, 1m & 14f Goldeneye, 1 Wigeon, 1 Buzzard, 1 Stonechat, 24 Black Tailed Godwits, 30 Redshanks,

14 Common Gulls, 1 Great Black backed Gull, 6 Meadow Pipits and 4 Grey Partridges.

The male Goldeneye had a harem of 14 females that closely followed him, they all even dived at the same time he did.

No 6 tank

Packed with waterfowl and waders. Lots of Shoveler, Teal and Tufted Duck, plus Black Tailed Godwits ,Redshanks and Lapwings

14 Pintail, 36 Pochard, 6 Snipe, 1 Buzzard, 6 Shelduck, 6 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 6 Ravens, 16 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint and surprisingly just 1 Grey Heron.

A charm of 30 Goldfinches passed through, but at one point many more Goldfinches plus Linnets were flushed by the Buzzard close to the 'S' bend along the North bank.

Just beyond this point a new pool has formed and attracted a few Teal and Lapwings. The track as been given some TLC to give access to the wind turbines, making access a little easier.

There may not have been any rarities about, but a cracking selection of birds nonetheless.

Good numbers of waders on the Weaver Bend this morning. 660 Black Tailed Godwit, 150 Redshank, 3 Ruff, 3 Snipe, 5 Green Sandpiper and 4 Common Sandpiper.