On the South Pool this afternoon I found 5 Bar-tailed Godwits. The path is unbelievably muddy at the moment and viewing is getting increasingly difficult now that the small trees aren't small any longer. But hey we don't like it too easy do we?
On the South Pool this afternoon I found 5 Bar-tailed Godwits. The path is unbelievably muddy at the moment and viewing is getting increasingly difficult now that the small trees aren't small any longer. But hey we don't like it too easy do we?
Slavonian Grebe today on Mere Farm Quarry. Found yesterday on the south pool by Philip Gilman, the local birding farmer. Took us ages to find it today because overnight it had moved to the east pool which is really tricky to view. Plenty of wildfowl around - Wigeon, Pochard, Gadwall & Great Crested Grebes plus the odd Oystercatcher and Lapwing. Wasn't really expecting to see a Chiffchaff but there was one happily foraging in the pool-side shrubs.
An end of day dash to Mere Farm Quarry Pools saw me add Great Northern Diver to my yearlist. This area is producing some cracking birds at the moment. The bird was on the Big Pool accessed at the end of the path between the North and South Pools and was present until dusk. Also seen en route to the area was a large flock of Fieldfares, my first sighting of this species this year!!
North Pool : 2 Green Sandpipers, 12 Oystercatchers*, 6 Lapwings, 2 Buzzards and 20+ Sand Martins.
* Highly vocal birds, at one point a pair mobbed a Buzzard. One of the pair passed close to the underside of the Buzzard and attempted to peck it, the raptor though made a sudden lunge with it's talons and almost grabbed the wader.
South Pool : 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes, a further 5 Oystercatchers and 5 Reed Buntings.
Paid a visit to Mere Farm Quarry today, two hours around midday, in very warm and sunny weather. Thought I would see it in its present state, given the depressing news of planning permission having been granted to turn the north lake area into a Watersports and Outdoor Activity Centre.
As Steve mentions below, the path between the north and south lakes is now open and is very dry, given the current weather situation. Fairly quiet, time of day didnt help, the following of note :-
Pochard (1m) Tufted Duck (28) Canada Goose (c.100 incl. goslings) Mute Swan (4) Great Crested Grebe (4) Little Grebe (6) Lapwing Oystercatcher Sand Martin (c.30) Whitethroat Garden Warbler Chiffchaff Blackcap
Talking to a couple of regulars, Cettis, Grasshopper & Sedge Warbler are usually present. Cuckoo, Tree Sparrow and Yellow Wagtail have been seen in recent weeks.
Rows of saplings have been planted to increase tree cover on the east side and there are decent scrub areas inbetween the two lakes and the other larger lake to the east, where there are a few small reed beds.
It remains to be seen what the future will bring to this very pleasant site.
Just to let local birders know that the public footpath at Mere Farm Quarry has re-opened in the last few days, the flooding having subsided. It is worth remembering that for parts of its length the path is less than two metres wide.
It's very disappointing to report that Cheshire East have approved the application for a Watersports and Outdoor Activity Centre on the North Lake of Mere Farm Quarry, Chelford, including new vehicular access, car parking, and multi-use building. This despite objections from CAWOS, Chelford Parish Council and individuals, many of whom are concerned about the effect watersports will have on the ornithological interest of the site. The planning committee voted 5-4 in favour of the application, a couple of its members having expressed themselves satisfied that the effects of watersports on biodiversity on the site were insufficient to merit rejection. Further details can be accessed via the Cheshire East Planning Portal using reference 19/2513M.
In other site news, the public footpath between the lakes remains closed due to flooding. It is said that 14 million cubic litres of water have been pumped from the currently joined north and south lakes, without there being any appreciable reduction in the water level. The closure notice, dated 10th Jan 2020, is for 6 months.
The site in question is known as Mere Farm Quarry.
The most recent planning application has not yet been decided.
According to the Cheshire East planning portal the application is due to go before the planning committee on Feb 26th with a decision target date two days later.
There have been delays in considering the application as revised plans have been submitted so it may not be certain that these Feb dates will be met.
