Whitley Reed/ Stretton Airfield

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

RE: Whitley Reed/ Stretton Airfield

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen yesterday 1 Gt Black backed Gull 70c Lapwing 1/2 Sparrowhawk 2 Kestrel 1 Stonechat ( f ) 12 Common Snipe 1 Jack Snipe 1 Woodcock ( hard to find so far this autumn/ winter ) 1 Grey Wagtail 5 Redpoll 3/4 Siskin 2 Bullfinch 5 Yellowhammer Several Treesparrow 3 Songthrush

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Subsequent to reading Andy Slees post regarding the probable Gt Grey Shrike at High Legh yesterday , I tried my luck on the old Stretton Airfield ( only a mile or two from the site ) . No joy Im afraid but did find a male Merlin there with small avian prey . Opposite -ie just to the south west of the Arley Mile /New Road , 3000/4000 Pinkfeet feeding on stubble fields - An astonishing spectacle , (not to mention the sound ) Wonderful ! Chris Hancock

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Nearest place probably................

A50 Leigh - Great Grey Shrike about 100 yards west the High Leigh Junction this afternoon. Saw it from passenger side of vehicle (lorry). Got a copy of the vehicle cam this eve and it looks spot on colour and silhouette. Keep an eye out on the Reed or Lymm / Woolston!

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

After a bit of a lean spell , certainly more birds around this morning Kingfisher 1 Raven. 6 ( tail chasing one another ) Redwing 3. ( first of the autumn on the patch ) Mistle Thrush 3 Green Sandpiper 2 ( both flushed from Gale brook ) Golden Plover. ( calling overhead ) Lapwing 45/50 Tree sparrow. 5-8 only ( harder to find this autumn ) Little Egret 1 Pinkfeet 100c ( feeding on stubble ) Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Buzzard 2 Jay 8/10c Reed Bunting 2/3 Coal Tit 1 Skylark 30 c Linnet 30/40 c

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

2,000 (ish) Pink-footed Goose over. 148 Skylark in the Appleton and Stretton Moss area and North of the M56 private road/footbridge.

Other than that very quiet, one Lapwing, two Pied Wagtails the best of the rest.

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen in a couple of visits over the weekend .

110 c Lapwing. One flock of approx 80 contained many juvs
3 Little Ringed Plover. 2 adults and 1 juv on the old airfield
35 Curlew. Numbers now being to grow. Regular at this time of year.
6. Oystercatcher
1. Red Kite. Been around for a few days
1 Grasshopper Warbler. Heard only on at eastern end of the Reed
3 Spotted Flycatcher. 2 pairs within 150 yards of each other . Along Reedgate lane / Sandy lane .
7/10 Treesparrows plus the first young birds out of the nest boxes
2 Yellowhammer
11 Mistle Thrush
1 Raven
2 Kestrel
25 Stockdove
6 Swift

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen today

7 Northern Wheatear ( all males )
2 Stonechat
1 Fieldfare
2 Oystercatcher
2 Kestrel
10 Lapwing
1 Mistle Thrush
2 Grey Partridge
Many Chiffchaff ( one with leg ring )
3 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
20c Linnet
2 Tufted Duck - unusual on the Reed , due to lack of deeper water .
Sev Reed Bunting , Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow

Chris Hancock

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen yesterday

1 Red Kite
5 + Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 male Kestrels - both at known nest sites
3 Little Egret
2 Stonechat
2 Northern Wheatear ( m )
1 Raven
2 Oystercatcher
A few Mipits ( probably the last of them )
2 Grey Partridge
40/50 Linnet
Several Skylark/ Yellowhammer/ Reed Bunting
12/15 Tree Sparrow at feeders
Approx 12/14 Lapwing. Numbers much reduced from a few years ago. A sorry situation indeed

Chris Hancock

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Have had Wheatear here as the spring pushes come through in the past so went after work today to see if any were about, via Occupation Lane/Gale Brook/Appleton Moss. No Wheatear but star bird was a Cattle Egret near Moss Farm.

Good numbers of Lapwing (16) on territories in the fields. 33 Pied Wagtails, poss two White in that number, in the fields between Occ. Lane and Gale Brook.

Kestrel hunting over and three Buzzards.

Seven Yellowhammers in total, two Linnet flocks 16 + 26 in the hedges.

Flyover Curlew (single bird) and two Oystercatchers at the garden pond of one of the houses on South end Occ. Lane. Also 21 Canada Geese and two Bar-headed Geese - feral clipped birds as none seen to fly.

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

South end of the Reed towards Antrobus today - Keepers Lane and North. Very flooded fields. Biggest flood two Shelduck, four Teal, 17 Mallard - behind golf course on flood, which had 3 Snipe and one Jack Snipe in margins.

Curlew over and I could swear heard Redshank but no visual.

Otherwise Blackbird, Song Thrush (singing), Mistle Thrush (12), Redwing (210+), Fieldfare (47), Yellowhammer (1m), Tree Sprog, all the usual Titmouse, 1 Moorhen by the A537.

Not a single raptor!

Plenty Corvids, Pied (m+f) and Grey Wagtails (m), Stonechat (m), Linnets in small flocks (3-10). Few Redpoll and Siskin and Greenfinch on the Arley to Appleton Prison Road.

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Saw seven Waxwings as I was on New Road (near the Evergreen Containers) in the berry bushes in the hedge. Possibly more but was on a schedule and couldn't stop for more than 1 minute.

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Posted on Arley thread as well as these seem to be the closest Red Kite being mobbed by two Kestrels over the A50 at Sworton Heath at 3:30pm.

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Good to be back on the patch after a trip to N Norway

Birds seen this morning

Red Kite 1
Yellow Wagtail 2
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Linnet 18c
Mistle Thrush 16/18
Song thrush 5/6
FIELDFARE 1 feeding with Mistle Thrushes- from foot path off Occupation lane toward Moss Hall farm
Lapwing 45/48
Curlew 8
Oystercatcher 3
Tree sparrow 10/12
Bullfinch 1

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds of note seen this morning on the Reed .

Raven 6 ( inc a family group of 5 )
Hobby 1
Kestrel 1
Oystercatcher 4 ( inc 2 juvs )
Linnet 10/12
Yellow Wagtail 4 / 5. ( difficult to catch up with this spring so far )
Grey Partridge 2
Lapwing 10 ( plus 2 small chicks )
Starling. 40/50 - including first juveniles of the season .
Bullfinch 2
Song thrush 6/8
Lesser Whitethroat 1

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Two hours this morning from 9.50, parked up on the corner of Occupation Lane and Reed Lane, ventured onto Appleton Moss, returned by the same route and then walked around some of the lanes. Had intended to start by visiting Stretton Moss but the footpath from Occupation Lane seemed hard to locate. Weather blustery and quite cold, feeling nowhere near the 12*c that it was supposed to be. Highlights :-

Stock Dove (6)
Oystercatcher (2)
Lapwing (13
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Skylark (9)
Blackcap (2)
Whitethroat (1)
Wheatear (1f)
Linnet (6)
Yellowhammer (6)
Reed Bunting (2)

A total of 41 species seen. Most of the Wheatear would appear to have moved through with just a single female remaining on one of the ploughed fields just west of Occupation Lane. Appleton Moss is still being ploughed with several tractors moving about and Motorway Maintenance vans were in the far top right corner. A morning or evening visit next time in warmer weather and less work going on recommended!

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Hi Andy
A good days work on the Whitley Reed!
Could you p.m me ref the Little Owls - Ive got two locations and it will be
interesting to see if yours is a third ?
Cheers
Chris Hancock
Chancock666@gmail.com

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Having plenty of time out today either side of work, this afternoon after having being at Rixton this morn and failed to see any Hoopoe I forgot to check my phone leaving work (1 mile from Rixton where the Hoopoe was now showing) and decided to go to Appleton and Stretton Mosses (if we can call them that now drained and Appleton Moss being ploughed today - hope there were no Lapwing nests there).

I am glad I did. As I saw the most gorgeous Little Owl out sunning itself. Seven Northern Wheatear and a a Stonechat on the fields west of Occupation Lane. A Lapwing with two chicks in the same area (plus Ravens stalking the field). Two Grey Partridge and two Linnet (m,f) same area.

Loads of Swallows feeding and in song.

Next to M56, two more Ravens attacking Buzzards loafing on the thermals with a Kestrel joining in at all of them.

Two Oystercatchers around the South end Occupation Lane and three Yellowhammers in the trees there.

Almost stood on a Snipe crossing one of the ditches and a Yellow Wagtail tweeped past me at low level giving great views next to Jacks Oil Rig.

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Tuesday 25th of April 2023 09:20:44 PM

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen yesterday Flushed by jays along Arley Mile but lost to sight . 2 x Woodcock 5 x Teal 20c Tree Soarrow 10c Yellowhammer 2/4 Mistle Thrush 1x Green Sandpiper ( Gale Brook nr motorway ) 1 x Oystercatcher 7 x Golden Plover - landed briefly in field along Occupation lane 200/250c Linnet 2/3 Kestrel Up to 10 Lapwing on territory 9 x Stonechat ( 7 feeding in newly ploughed field along Occupation lane - like mini Wheatears ! ) My highest count I think. Chris Hancock

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

A.m. in the snow, circuit from by the M56 over ex-Appleton Moss, Stretton Moss and Occupation Lane.

35 Redwing, 14 Fieldfare, eight Snipe, 18 Yellowhammer, 180 (!) Linnets with four Chaffinch on Appleton Moss, a few reed Bunting and 47 Canada Geese being highlights, Curlew heard to call but not seen.

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Yellowhammer in amongst a flock of Chaffinch by Reed Lane. 42 Fieldfare on stubble at Reed-gate Lane, with two Kestrels looking menacing on the telegraph poles, a couple of Buzzards and an all too fleeting glimpse of a probable (fork tailed raptor) Red Kite disappearing over the old airfield, going E.

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

A good weekend on the patch , with the following seen

WILLOW TIT
- first heard 13/11 but great views obtained yesterday . First one on the patch for 9 years.

Red Kite . V high , coming from the west. Mobbed by jackdaws and then moved south .
4 Raven
Possible Short Eared Owl , reported by a local farmer but I had no luck in finding it .
3-4 Woodcock
3 Jack Snipe
150c Linnet
1000 ( approx ! ) Corvids
30c Treesparrow
15c Yellowhammer
3 Grey Wagtail
5/6 Bullfinch
60/70 Skylark
3 Song Thrush
4 Mistle Thrush

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

After a bit of lean spell on the ' Reed in the last couple of weeks , an improvement yesterday .....

150c Skylark - south
200/250 Meadow Pipit -south
1 Merlin ( female , pale bird - prob following the Mipits )
2 Kestrel
2 Sparrowhawk
4/5 Buzzard
5 Mistle Thrush
3 Swallows , 4 Housemartin
1/2 Grey Wagtail
35c Linnet

6/7 Bullfich ( mostly males migrating through at medium height with a party of pipits )
1 Redpoll
12c Siskin
10 c Treesparrow
6/7 Stonechat ( 5/6 in one field )

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Notable birds seen over the long weekend on the 'Reed.

8 Yellow Wagtail
150/200 Hirundines
2 Swift
28 Curlew
2/3 Hobby
4 Stonechat ( 1 m , 2 f , 1 Juv )
1 possible Wheatear
2 Whinchat. - nb - chat species very elusive and difficult due to amount of cover .
2 Sparrowhawk
1 Great Black backed Gull
6 Mistle Thrush
40c Tree Sparrow
2 Snipe
Possible Lesser Whitethroat calling briefly

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Notable Birds seen over the weekend .....

Yellow Wagtail 15/18 - all juvs as far as I could tell.
2 Whinchat ( juv and Ad ) . Weedy field along Occupation lane .
Little Owl 1
Kestrel 3
Hobby 1
Starlings 200/250
Curlew 50c
Grey Partridge 2 ( Airfield )
Sand Martin 2
Hirundines -70c
Swifts 6
Possible Grasshopper warbler singing briefly , however couldn't be located , ( but same field they were found in spring. )
Cuckoo - juv , flushed from edge of the airfield .

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen today / recently. .
Currently 82/84 Curlew and 5/6 Oystercatcher ( the former are regular at this time of year but this number is encouragingly high and the latter have done well this season with my best count being 10 on 1/7 ) - both species on cut grass field just off Occupation lane. , also with several hundred Corvids . Female 'Channel' wagtail paired with a flava male with the first juv found 28/6 . A female Common Redstart on 3/7 was I assume an early autumn migrant. Other notables in the last couple of weeks - Mandarin Duck , Grasshopper warbler , Lesser Whitethroat , Hobby (2) , 20/25 Tree Sparrow in nest boxes off Barbers lane , also possible Merlin seen by a friend a couple of days ago.

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen this morning 1 Whimbrel (first spring bird for a few years , for some reason I tend to see / hear them more in the autumn ) 3 Wheatear 2 Swallow 2 Common Whitethroat

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen this morning

1 Little Ringed Plover
22c Wheatear
20c Lapwing
6 Snipe
2 Grey Partridge
6 Linnet
1 Brambling ( on feeders with good numbers of Treesparrow , Yellowhamer etc )
Certainly more Blackcap and Willow warbler now but no Swallows yet !
2 Mistle Thrush

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Hi Andy Yes , sad about Appleton Moss , I used to rent it for a number of years and we did a fair bit of habitat work on it , scrapes and removing the drains etc ( one of the reasons its taking the new owners a fair old while to improve it ! ) The current owner is P P O Connor , the demolition / construction. Contractor whose diggers you see all along the M56 at the moment. I did make contact with him to see it he would at least leave some habitat alone but had no joy. No great surprises there . Ref the Corn Bunting audio , I would be most interested to have a listen. Could you maybe email the file to me ,,? Chancock666@gmail.com I had one last year below the feeders on my small rewilded patch on the eastern edge of the Reed , but apart from that brief sighting they seem long gone from these parts , so would be more than interested to say the least . Thanks Chris

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Not going out far at the moment for various reasons so I thought watching the weather front approaching with some downdraught showers an afternoon meander over the Appleton / Stretton Moss / Occupation Lane was in order to see if any migrants dropped in. As it was the weather front seemed to weaken and not push as far South, but nevertheless.

13 Tree Sparrows, good numbers of Black-Headed Gulls following the slurry spraying tractors (farmer knows it is going to rain), two Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the midst. Two buzzards, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Single Yellowhammer. Cormorant over (patch tick!). Numerous Chiffchaffs and my target bird for the day, Blackcap (first of spring) greeted me as I stepped out the car on the Arley - Appleton Thorn Road!

14 Pied Wagtail in one field, a pause to scan the flock produced two Whites so perhaps I wasn't far off with my prediction of migrants dropping in!

Unfortunately the field I'd know as "Appleton Moss" which used to be an area of scrub about 400m square has been cleared, no doubt for arable farming. Was always good for both Chats and Reed Bunting, and in the winter have have both Snipe there as well all of which were absent today.

Most curious though was the sound of a Corn Bunting singing near Occupation Lane. Managed to get a audio recording the second time I heard it and examining the sonogram it looks right in duration, build up to the "jangling keys" timeline for the final burst and in frequency but there is a lot of noise from the M56 when trying to re-listen to the audio so without a sighting can't be more than "possible", did look at a few other species such as Skylark in case it was that but frequencies only seem to match Corn Bunting. Interesting to see the two low frequency strips that must be either carriageway of the M56 giving off slightly different sonograms. Anyone want a listen the file is 1Mb .wav file, PM and I'll return it. Curious almost to eliminate Corn Bunting as I thought they were long gone from this part of Cheshire.

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Tuesday 29th of March 2022 10:41:01 PM

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen this morning ..

Jack Snipe 3
Common Snipe 10
Woodcock 1
Lapwing . Sev now establishing territory
Raven 1
Kestrel 3-4
Stonechat 1 ( f )
Greylag goose 1
Siskins - sev heard
Brambling 3/4
BH gull. Sev hundred on flooded fields

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen this morning 8/10 Grey Partridge 42/45 Snipe 6 c Redpoll 8 c Siskin 4 Brambling ( on feeders ) 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Spar ( f ) 22 Lapwing ( plus large flush of sev hundred east of Airfield ) 1 Grey Wagtail 40 c Tree Sparrow at west end of Reed

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

A most excellent walk around today, starting at Arely Road by Burley Heys Woodyard. Fields full of Restart and Fieldfare. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew S.

I proceeded along Sandy Lane, where a Siskin was present on alder cones.

Via the public footpath to Penny Pleck Lane and the east end of the airfield and two raven were present, angry at something. A female Peregrine down at the end of the runway on prey.

Returning to head South Down Penny Pleck Lane, 2 Nuthatch were a courting and 6 Yellowhammer in the hedge opposite the dog kennels.

Onto Caudwell Gate Land and in a 12 Chaffinch flock a male brambling was present, plus two more Siskin.

M+F Goosander flew over.

Looping to Park Moss Nature reserve, in the trees East of Arley Road, 100 yrds South of the nature reserve was a white washed out belly, wing bar, generally looking scruffy plumaged, large (almost as large as the male Chaffinch it was near/with), very visible red crowned Redpoll. Probable Meally? Flew towards barns opposite side of the road to Park Moss.

Seven more yellowhammer were seen on the way to Occupation Lane over the field and back paths and two more on Occupation Lane.

37 species in total and two blisters as a four mile walk turned into a seven mile one as I was having such a good afternoon! Patch birding at its best!

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen this morning.

1/2 Brambling at feeders
4 Siskin
22/25 Snipe
2 Jack Snipe
1 Common Gull
70c Redwing
100c Fieldfare
700/800 Starling
60/70 Stockdove. In fields behind 'Spooky World '
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Peregrine . Small male ( adult I think ) over Sandy Lane .

Andy J · Status: Offline

Thanks Chris. I called to the site again first thing this morning when much the same was around (so good to see so many Tree Sparrows again) but more spread out around the surrounding hedgerows. I did see the Little Egret flying about and also Redwings. Thanks about hopping over the gate next time, I shall if that's ok! I shall also explore some of the surrounding footpaths as I like what you are seeing in the area.

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Hi Andy
Glad you enjoyed the visit. The only problem at the moment is keeping the feeders
filled up , now a virtually daily occurrence ! There is a Little Egret around , which was on the pond/ scrape yesterday evening , which I dont think you can see from the gate , so feel free to hop over the gate next time you are around .
Chris

Andy J · Status: Offline

Thanks Chris for your excellent posts and sightings from Whitley Reed! I have joined the forum especially to post about my visit there today. I was delighted to find your feeding area this lunchtime on my first ever visit to the Reed. A fantastic flock of birds in the hedgerow there in the breezy conditions: including Tree Sparrow (20+) together with the House Sparrows, Yellowhammers (at least six just near the feeders), Bramblings (3), Greenfinches (pair) etc - a fantastic sight and sound! My birding highlight of the year.

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen yesterday. 1 Little Egret ( west end of the Reed ) . 13 Grey Partridge . The first time I have seen this species in over a year 50 /60 Snipe Sev Brambling 30/35 Skylark 20 Linnet

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen yesterday. Some good numbers

25/30 Brambling , with Chaffinches / Redwings north of Sandy lane
35/40 Treesparrow. ( 30 c on feeders on west end of the ' Reed )
8 Redpoll
Sev Siskins
25/30 Linnet
7 Songthrush - all from small scrap of cover
30/40 Skylark
34 / 36 Yellowhammer . Two separate ' flocks '
30/40 Eurasian Teal . From two field ponds , so probably some duplication
70 Snipe. Best count of the winter , made 20/1. These on the Stretton Airfield . Worth noting that access to this site is private and access now v limited - more's the pity.

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen yesterday...

3 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Woodcock
2 Jack Snipe
9 Common Snipe
Sev Brambling ( calling overhead )
9 Siskin
50/60 Treesparrow
25 Yellowhammer
1 Grey Wagtail

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Notable birds seen yesterday ...
8/9 Siskin
4 Redpoll
12c Brambling
2 Bullfinch
20 c Yellowhammer
80 c Tree Sparrow ( . This is a record count on the Whitley Reed , particularly bearing in mind that only a couple of years ago this species was difficult to find . The acquisition of 2 acre field and subsequent planting , pond creation , some 30+ nest boxes installed and most importantly an intensive feeding regime, has gratifyingly resulted in clouds of these lovely little sparrows and many other species to boot. )
3 Woodcock
1 Stonechat (f)
2 Raven

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

11/12 Brambling feeding with Chaffinches Redwings and Starlings on flooded fields just off the Arley Mile this morning

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds ( notables ) seen yesterday 3 Raven 2 Woodcock 1 Green Sandpiper 15c Snipe 20/22 Pinkfooted Geese 3 Wigeon Sev Siskin and Bullfinch 1 Redpoll 35c Treesparrow 1 Treecreeper 60/70 Skylark 12 Yellowhammer

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Birds seen this morning.

Peregrine ( m)
Raven. X4
Woodcock x2
Common Snipe x8
Jack Snipe x2
Brambling - heard
Redpoll - Heard
Siskin 8/10
Bullfinch 4/5
Grey Wagtail x3
Yellowhammef 20 plus
Treesparrow x16
Pink-footed Geese X 20/22 . Seen going into land Stretton area
Grey Partridge. X 15. . Seen yesterday by a ( reliable !) friend on a private site nearby. An excellent count of this now dIfficult to find species

-- Edited by Chris Hancock on Tuesday 23rd of November 2021 02:17:08 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 23rd of November 2021 02:53:10 PM

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Notable sightings this morning ....

Brambling ( f ) X1
Siskin. Sev overhead
Water Rail. X 1 ( v close view - from 10ft )

Jack Snipe X 2
Common Snipe X 3
Woodcock X 2
Pink footed Geese X 2 low over heading North
Treesparrow X 12
Yellowhammer X 6
Bullfinch x4/5
Mistle Thrush x5
Raven X 2
Grey Wagtail x2
Stonechat (f f ) X 2
Kestrel x 2

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Ta Chris, will be in touch, might be the other side of Christmas before I have time to meet but will txt to arrange a date.

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Hi Andy
Saw your post regarding the Whitley Reed / Stretton Airfield. This is a patch I've birdied for many years but have not posted on this Forum for a fair old while. Ref Yellowhammers , i now own a couple of acres at the east end of the ' Reed and have got a serious feeder regime going on there ! Plenty of both Buntings there ( even had a Corn Bunting flew up from underneath the seed feeders a few weeks back ! ) and approx 30/35 Tree Sparrow there too.
If you want to meet up , give me a ring and I'd be happy to show you some of better places as I've got permission from the local farmers to access ( most ) of the land in the area ?
Chris Hancock 07964379696

Andy Slee · Status: Offline

Whilst I'd call the section I walked 3 miles over this morn "Appleton and Stretton Moss", Whitley Reed and the old HMS Blackcap airfield cover a bigger area so I'll stick this report in as a sub-area.

First visit, inspired by a friend who saw Jack Snipe and Tawny Owl up there a couple of weeks ago.

1hr visit, bit mizzley, SW breeze.

31 species so not a bad start.

Quite feel I could make this a bit of a local patch being only a few minutes from home. Surprised though on this visit not to see yellowhammer as there are regular on many of the paths round Arley, Grappenhall, towards Budworth, never in great numbers, but predictably single figures.

Todays record.

Blackbird

Black-headed Gull

Blue Tit (1)

Buzzard (2)

Chaffinch

Collared Dove (1)

Crow

Curlew (1, flew over)

Dunnock

Feral Pigeon

Fieldfare

Goldfinch (13)

Greenfinch (2)

Grey Wagtail (1)

House Sparrow (1)

Jack Snipe (1), flew from ditch between public footpath and M56 when flushed, see photo

Jay (2)

Kestrel

Linnet (6)

Magpie

Meadow Pipit (7)

Pheasant

Raven

Redwing

Reed Bunting (2)

Skylark

Song Thrush

Starling

Stonechat (1f)

Wood Pigeon

Wren (1)

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Friday 12th of November 2021 10:15:32 PM

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

Hi All
Apologies for lack of postings from that well known birding' Hot Spot' that is the Whitley Reed !
Am getting huge numbers of Starlings coming through every morning now , coming out of the N.E at around 7.45 /8.00 am . My best estimate is 25- 30,000 and a tremendous spectacle it is too . Some mornings they stay feeding on the winter stubble [ attracting at least 2 Sparrowhawks and a Merlin ] other days they just keep on going .
Has anyone got any idea where they might be roosting ? Woolston Eyes seems an obvious bet , but the guys there say not . Any thoughts ? If so pls drop me an email-
chancock666@gmail.com .
Thanks

Cheers

Chris Hancock

Chris Hancock · Status: Offline

A good day on the ' Reed ...

1 Jack Snipe
2 only Common Snipe
1 Woodcock
1 ( possibly 2 ) Water Rail calling. New bird for the patch!
1 Raven
1 Peregrine (f ) chasing the starling flocks
1 Merlin - a splendid adult ' blue ' male , gorgeous bird , also after the starlings - both raptors seen along the track ( Occupation lane ) across the ' Reed .
1 Barn Owl
1 Little Owl
1 Chiffchaff
Sev Siskin
1 Probable Mealy Redpoll , seen well but briefly
1 Stonechat ( f )
1 Kingfisher . Great view in the sunshine
1 Grey Wagtail

Chris Hancock