I started at Brook Furlong Lane this morning where a Common Chiffchaff was seen and heard alongside and a Cetti’s Warbler blasted out as I passed by.
A Brown Hare was watched grazing the vegetation then slipping away through a hedge and out of site.
Both Raven and a Common Kestrel were sat on the fence along the pipeline that crosses No.1 tank alongside a pale morph Common Buzzard. A male European Stonechat was near to Marsh Farm and there were hundreds of Eurasian Starling feeding with the sheep.
On to the River Weaver and the duck numbers are low compared to recent visits but still held Eurasian Teal, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Common Shelduck, Gadwall, Common Goldeneye and a few Common Pochard. Additionally, 17 Mute Swan and 4 Great Crested Grebe were also present. A flock of c30 Pied Avocet were seen disappearing from view over the bank towards the I C I plant and c 20 Common Redshank moved up river.
Another Common Chiffchaff was calling near to the Weaver Bend and 2 Little Egret were on the ‘shooters’ pool’.
I stopped at Ince on my way home and 2 more Little Egret were feeding amongst the pigs and another c25 were around the flooded area. The Barn Owl was again at the entrance to its box. A Western Marsh Harrier was seen by the berth and flew towards the reed beds.
Out on Frodsham Score saltmarsh was a few hundred Pink-footed Goose were by the river alongside Common Shelduck and Eurasian Curlew. Three Whooper Swan flew east along the Manchester Ship Canal and the Great Egret was in the same field as yesterdaywith its breeding plumes blowing in the breeze.
Observer: Paul Ralston (images 1-8).
After I put in a few visits this week to the marshes i made a switch and headed over to Blakemere at Delamere Forest and sheltering under the bosses umbrella I managed to scope the breeding colony of Black-headed Gull there. It wasn’t long when a rather beautiful rosy hued gull (Ross’s like) paired with a much regular looking bird put on a great display.
A little further revealed a leucistic Black-headed Gull which has been seen at various locations in the north-west this winter.
A further scan and a displaying pair of Mediterranean Gull gave me a fine observeraton. Finding a mobile phone and managing to reunite it with its owner some hours later was also satisfying.
Observers: JS & WSM (images 9-20).
