A pal who lives locally popped a great sighting on our grapevine this morning but a possible bat rescue scuppered me until late morning! I then had a chance to travel the few miles away to Blakeden Lane, Winsford, near the Police HQ.
On arrival a couple of birders were present and within about 15mins I connected with the species that I'd come to 'hear' rather than see, Quail. Listening from a metal barred gate on Blakeden Lane, c.100m SE of the SW end of Littler Lane, the Quail sang intermittantly from deep in a tall cereal crop, as they do! It was quite mobile and moved up and down the field approximately 50m out and since this is a small single track lane there was no traffic noise to hamper listening. If anyone is going then the lanes are single track and have almost no parking spots, but being next to a Police HQ it's probably best not to cause an obstruction so park with care and maybe walk from a bit further away (as I did!).
Popped down this afternoon and met up with local birder John Jones to follow up a Black Tern sighting at Winsford Bottom Flash. Despite being there before it was reported as flying off east we never managed to see it
A massive bonus was that as we were there a large bird flew in from the west along the flash causing all the gulls to take to the air to mob it. Immediately we knew we had self-found an Osprey, waht a bonus. The bird flew low over our heads and hovered near the Rilshaw Lane scrape before following the line of the flash off to the east.
I know they are of dubious origin, but couldn't resist a visit to see the Ruddy Shelduck today. After a bit of searching finally located them to the Sothern end of Winsford Flash, on the grassy area just North of Weaver Dairy House, grazing with Moorhen. Viewed from the caravan park. Stunning they looked too.
Also around were 1+ Kingfisher, Little Grebe, 15 Great Crested Grebe, Blackcap pair, Common Buzzard ,7 Swallow and 5 House Martin .
No problem, we just need that Red-breasted Goose to swim dowm the stream onto the R.Waever and that would start a massive twitch No sign of the Barnacle Goose today as I pass over the bridge on my way to Newchurch Common.
My previous (and any future) postings were either on the R.Weaver thread or the Moulton area thread I think, as this bit of the river is by New Bridge just down the track from Moulton Village.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 16th of September 2016 05:19:49 PM
New to posting on the forum (although not visiting)
Hence my question it being from a local 'collection' as I recall the postings re the Wood Ducks (probably made by you) being pretty similar to my own observations.
As I posted before there is a collection just up the stream in a garden along the road. I did one of my Cheshire Breeding Atlas surveys here. At different times I have seen Barnacle Geese, Red-breasted Geese, Wood Ducks, Black Swans and all manner of stuff in his collection
Last Friday (9th) and Saturday just one solitary Barnacle Goose on the Weaver just where the stream joins in by the 'Mobile' home park where the Wood Ducks were spotted a few months ago.
Wouldn't think that it was a migratory bird - too early ?
Tried viewing the Top Flash from the S/U Canal at Wimboldsley Woods but was hopelessly too far away! Did manage to pick out a pair of Mute Swans, four Cormoranrt, two male Shovelers, Mallards and loads of Canada Geese. Female Mallard flushed from a nest with five eggs, in bramble scrub next to the tow path at Wimboldsley Woods. Doesn't appear to be any obvious path (or public right of way) leading from the canal to the Flash (but I don't know the area well).
A cracking Little Tern today on Winsford Bottom Flash, settling close to shore in a small bay with sand banks, along with 3 Common Sands on the same banks. Cracking photographic opportunities. Park in the car park along Rilshaw Lane, Winsford & walk down to the nearest shore line of the flash.
Cheers Paul
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 8th of May 2011 11:11:41 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 21st of May 2011 09:24:42 AM
so park with care and maybe walk from a bit further away (as I did!).
No sign of the Barnacle Goose today as I pass over the bridge on my way to Newchurch Common.