ta brandreth
Well-known member
Are we sure this is a Grey? There has been a couple of common seal around that where reaching Howley Weir last month...
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Cheshire And Wirral Birding: Hills, Lowland and Coast (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Upland Birder
- Start date
Are we sure this is a Grey? There has been a couple of common seal around that where reaching Howley Weir last month...
The one I saw at Richmond Bank a couple of weeks ago looked like a Common to me ...
John Barber
Well-known member
Budworth LSW
I can't quite believe it but after 40 years I finally managed to get my glasses on a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Budworth Mere - Halleluiah !
Thanks to all those who made it possible: Greg Baker, Sid Ashton, Dave Hughston and his mate Vernon.
Greg, Sid and I glimpsed you as you were leaving Budworth early this morning, just as we were arriving ( Sid recognised you in the distance ) Fortunately, we then bumped into Dave and Vernon at the hide and, being the expert and helpful local birders that they are, took us straight to the trees along the path favoured by the birds. Within a few minutes the female appeared on the double boughed Alder, giving excellent views as she searched for food, completely oblivious to the fact we stood only feet away. It's all so simple if you know the right people !!
Highly delighted after putting this bogey bird to rest, we then moved on to search for the Bitterns - it's self a bogey bird for Sid on this site as he's never managed to see one here. We looked as hard as we could but they weren't in view today, so we decided to move on.
Second target bird of the day was the Spoonbill at Parkgate. Within 30 - 40 minutes of leaving Budworth we had it in our scopes, standing 80 yds behind the Donkey Stand out on the Marsh, giving excellent views. Almost too easy ! But we weren't complaining.
Then on to BMW ( via Well Lane for the Egyptian Goose, but no sign ) and a look at the new screen over looking the pools to the left of the reception hide - which gives very good glass free views !! Unfortunately a flock of Bewick Swans had departed the area just before we arrived, so that was a slight disappointment.
A final stop on the way home for a look at the Egyptian Geese at Rostherne also proved negative, but the Spoonbill and the LSW were the birds we really wanted to see today, so we were more than happy.
A good day.
I can't quite believe it but after 40 years I finally managed to get my glasses on a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Budworth Mere - Halleluiah !
Thanks to all those who made it possible: Greg Baker, Sid Ashton, Dave Hughston and his mate Vernon.
Greg, Sid and I glimpsed you as you were leaving Budworth early this morning, just as we were arriving ( Sid recognised you in the distance ) Fortunately, we then bumped into Dave and Vernon at the hide and, being the expert and helpful local birders that they are, took us straight to the trees along the path favoured by the birds. Within a few minutes the female appeared on the double boughed Alder, giving excellent views as she searched for food, completely oblivious to the fact we stood only feet away. It's all so simple if you know the right people !!
Highly delighted after putting this bogey bird to rest, we then moved on to search for the Bitterns - it's self a bogey bird for Sid on this site as he's never managed to see one here. We looked as hard as we could but they weren't in view today, so we decided to move on.
Second target bird of the day was the Spoonbill at Parkgate. Within 30 - 40 minutes of leaving Budworth we had it in our scopes, standing 80 yds behind the Donkey Stand out on the Marsh, giving excellent views. Almost too easy ! But we weren't complaining.
Then on to BMW ( via Well Lane for the Egyptian Goose, but no sign ) and a look at the new screen over looking the pools to the left of the reception hide - which gives very good glass free views !! Unfortunately a flock of Bewick Swans had departed the area just before we arrived, so that was a slight disappointment.
A final stop on the way home for a look at the Egyptian Geese at Rostherne also proved negative, but the Spoonbill and the LSW were the birds we really wanted to see today, so we were more than happy.
A good day.
Last edited:
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
Other news for today - Great White Egret, 32 Bewick's Swans and Little Gull at Burton Mere Wetlands; Glaucous Gull at Meols; Iceland Gull and 6 Yellow-legged Gulls at Richmond Bank; Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Moore NR;
CB
CB
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
Seems to be some debate about the Seal at Richmond Bank, since my post. There have been several reports of either a grey or common seal in the river since January 4th when a Common Seal was seen at Howley Weir. A Grey or Common Seal at Pickerings Pasture on several occasions with reports of a Grey Seal at Spike Island. Maybe the two Seal theory? Whichever Seal it is, it's still an interesting record.
CB
ta brandreth
Well-known member
at the time of the Howley Wier report there where at least 3 different Commons, initially described as a mother and calf, then a mate of mine saw a darker more advanced juvenile - this was during a period of very stormy weather and when a number of seals ended up in RSPCA's and the like...
Here is the Howley youngster:
Attachments
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
Other news for today - Great White Egret, Spoonbill and Hen Harrier at Parkgate; 50 White-fronted Geese at Burton Mere Wetlands; 2 Bitterns at Budworth Mere;
Yesterday - Iceland Gull at Sandbach Flashes
CB
Yesterday - Iceland Gull at Sandbach Flashes
CB
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
News just in via Birdguides - Garganey at Burton on pool at top end of Denhall Lane before the Old Quay this afternoon also 2 Short-eared Owls;
CB
CB
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
Other news for today - Great White Egret, Spoonbill and Hen Harrier at Parkgate; Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull and Mediterranean Gull at Richmond Bank; 2 Bitterns at Budworth Mere; 8 Bewick’s Swans at Burton Mere Wetlands;
CB
CB
Spent a couple of hours there on Wed and no sign
Jane Turner
Well-known member
Black Restart again on the Seawall about 8 houses down from the point at Red Rocks.
Also heard but failed to see a Snow Bunting.
Also heard but failed to see a Snow Bunting.
Jane Turner
Well-known member
and a Woodcock over j8 of the M53.
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
Today - Great White Egret, Spoonbill and Hen Harrier at Parkgate; 45 White-fronted Geese at Burton Mere Wetlands plus 2 Spotted Redshanks on IMF lagoons; Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Moore NR;
Also no news on yesterdays report of Garganey at Burton.
CB
Also no news on yesterdays report of Garganey at Burton.
CB
deeestuary
Dee Estuary
Crosby, Formby and New Brighton. No idea what the post codes are, you'll have to look on the map. No chance of seeing cetaceans in this wind, though! Porpoises and Dolphins can occur but pretty rare, and you need a flat calm sea.
