Middlewich to Billinge along T&M Canal:

The Great Crested Grebes are still on Whatcroft Wides, with 4 young growing nicely, although they'd done another disappearing act, first thing this morning. Other highlights included Sparrowhawk, Common Sandpiper, calling Water Rail, Kingfisher and several 4 Bullfinch.

Singing warbler totals:

Blackcap 11

Common Whitethroat 5

Chiffchaff 21

Willow Warbler 3

Sedge Warbler 9

Reed Warbler 21

Cetti's Warbler 5

Canal walk this evening from Middlewich and veered off the canal towards Davenhan.

Warbler song was generally quiet apart from 2 Cettis Warblers on Croxton Flash, along with a few Reed Warblers and a single Willow Warbler. The ploughed field behind Croxton Flash held 137 adult LBB Gulls and 5 adult Herring gulls, plus other large gulls at different sub adult age ranges.

Further along the canal I came across a Mink trying to separate a Female Mallard and 3 ducklings. Lobbed a few stones at it and it disappeared, but no doubt it will be back. None of the 5 Mallard broods Ive found in the last couple of weeks, seem to survive more than a couple of days

On a brighter note, I found 21 Lapwings across 3 fields towards Davenham. Although first breeding attempts have failed due to the plough. 

My regular Spring walk along the T&M Canal, between Middlewich and Billinge (7.5KM):

3 Mute Swan nests

1 Mallard brood of 7 ducklings

1 Calling Water Rail, Croxton Flash

1 Calling Green Woodpecker, Bostock Estate area (patch tick)

4 Fieldfares 

4 Calling Cettis Warblers

1 Singing Willow Warbler

1 Swallow

First canal walk for a couple of weeks from Billinge back to Middlewich. It was pretty quiet to begin with apart from a couple of Cettis, a Willow Warbler and a pair of Great Crested Grebes with 3 young on Whatcroft Wides.

As I approached Croxton Flash, I bumped into another local birder, who put me onto a reeling Grasshopper Warbler, which was a Middlewich tick for me. A little further on and a Cuckoo flew across the canal in front of us and then called from the wooded area opposite Croxton Flash, which was Middlewich tick number two!

06:00 AM start this morning Middlewich to Billinge along the canal. Female Goosander with 8 chicks on the River Dane below Croxton Lane. Both Reed and Sedge warbler numbers still increasing with 18 Reed and 8 Sedge singing between Croxton Flash and Whatcroft Wides. Also my first singing Garden Warbler of the spring between Croxton Flash and Bramble Cuttings.

Other warblers singing were 31 Chiffchaff, 15 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 3 Cetti's Warbler.

5 Shelduck flew over and 5 Mallard broods along the canal. The Mute Swans, Canada Geese and Great Crested Grebes are still nest sitting in close proximity on Whatcroft Wides.

16:00 walk last night from Middlewich to Billinge:

More warblers evident in the various reed patches between Croxton Flash and Whatcroft Wides with 13 Reed Warblers and 3 Sedge Warblers singing. Also 3 singing Cetti's Warblers and more Reed Buntings starting to sing. Other warblers were 37 singing/calling Chiffchaffs, 19 Blackcaps, 2 Common Whitethroats and a 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Other birds included both singing Goldcrest and Treecreeper, calling G S Woodpecker and 2 Kingfishers.

On Croxton Flash the Great Created Grebes appear to have left and with a failed Canada Goose nest, I'm wondering if the local Mink or Otters were the culprits?

On Whatcroft Wides, there is a Mute Swan nest, Canada Goose nest and Great Crested Grebe nest, all within a few feet of each other. I'm really surprised that the male Mute Swan is tolerating it and things will likely kick off when the cygnets hatch!

Long walk this evening, Middlewich to Billinge along the canal, Shipbrook loop and back home down the Canal.

First Reed Warbler of the spring singing on Croxton Flash and a further 2 singing birds between here and Whatcroft Wides, where there was also a singing Sedge Warbler.

The usual Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs  and Cettis Warblers, plus 2 singing Willow Warblers. 

5 Lapwings now sitting on nests around Manor Lane, plus 2 seen copulating.

Only new bird of note on last nights Billinge to Middlewich canal walk was a singing Common Whitethroat.

Singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap numbers appear to have increased, but still no Willow Warblers.

Billinge back to Middlewich along T&M Canal.

Quiet in the cold wind, singing Blackcaps outnumbered Chiffchaffs. 15 Sand Martins and 4 Swallows Whatcroft Wides. 5 Fieldfares and 2 Cettis Warblers

Tonights walk, Billinge back to Middlewich, via T&M Canal, with highlights being:

3 pairs of G C Grebes (Billinge, Whatcroft Wides and Croxton Flash)

1 Gadwall, Billinge

1 Shelduck

3 Cettis Warblers singing (Whatcroft Wides and Croxton Flash)

10 Chiffchaffs singing

2 Bullfinch

Small groups of Redwings and Fieldfares 

Evening walk Middlewich to Billinge along T&M Canal

5 Great Crested Grebes (2 Croxton Flash and 3 Whatcroft Wides)

1 Mute Swan nest.

1 Curlew

5 Kingfishers

3 singing Chiffchaffs

1 Cetti's Warbler

2 Treecreeper

1 G S Woodpecker

12 Fieldfares

Wintery stroll around Marbury country park. Quite busy but some enjoyable spots! 

The absolute highlight on my Birthday was my first proper spot of a Kingfisher! First time I have spotted one perched and it was beautiful!

My other faves were;

Goldcrest 

Redwing 

Song thrush

Not the best walks this week locally. Yesterday I got a call that a Swan had a large fishing hook in its beak, with a length of line attached on Shipbrook Flash. The RSPCA had been called earlier in the day by concerned Fishermen, but hadnt shown up, so I went up to the lake, with a gardening glove, pair of forceps, bread and some courage. On arriving I found a pair of swans with 5 cygnets; the hook and line could clearly be seen in the beak Of the male swan.

I roped in one of the anglers present into helping me and after feeding the male bits of bread by my feet, I quickly grabbed it firmly just below the head. A bit of flapping ensued, but I soon had it under control and settled between my legs. My assistant quickly moved in, removed the hook and line with the forceps, and 30 seconds later the swan was eating bread again. Not bad for a first attempt at grabbing hold of a swan!

Next I went for a walk along the River Dane at Byley and was totally shocked by what greeted me. Along the river for a 1.5KM length, all the mature willows had recently been cut down/pulled out. It looked like a scene from a disaster movie! These trees were known to hold many bats and given the timing, nesting birds would have also been disturbed, along with the clear destruction of fish and otter habitat.

This has since been reported to the relevant authorities and hopefully a criminal investigation is now underway.

This mornings walk from Middlewich along the T&M Canal and Whatcroft loop.

First bird of note was a Lesser Whitethroat singing 200 meters from my front door and its been there for 2+ weeks. 2 other singing Lesser Whitethroats encountered on the walk, along with all the usual warblers.

The Great Crested Grebes are no longer on Croxton Flash and Im concerned its down to more Mink predation? Further along the Great Crested Grebes on Whatcroft Flash, now have 2 young. Theres also a Mute Swan nest, where they seem to have been incubating for weeks and I can only think that the eggs are sterile?

2 Lapwings still incubating on Manor Lane, plus at least one pair with young at the end of Old Lane, but difficult to view due to the height of the maize crop? 

Tonights walk from Whatcroft back to Middlewich, 64 Stock Doves feeding in the fields around Manor Lane, also 4 Lapwings are now sitting in the same fields and must have laid eggs in the last couple of days? 3 Lapwings still sitting off Old Lane too.

Only other birds of note were 40+ House Martins over Shipbrook Flash.

Quiet tonight, apart from a couple of singing Lesser Whitethoats, Cettis and Willow Warblers. Looked hard for Spotted Flycatcher again but no joy, it does look good habitat for them between canal bridges 177 and 179?

Great Crested Grebe still visible on nest at Whatcroft Flash.

Id been meaning to mention that Swallows are thin on the ground again; however they seemed a bit more plentiful this evening, including one group of 15, which drifted over the canal