May 28th

Astbury Mere
Shoveler pair
Reed Warbler
Pheasant.
Cormorant  x 3
Goldcrest
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Treecreeper

27th May

Congleton
Hobby over late afternoon.

Roe Park Mow Cop
Red Kites x 2

Bent Lane
Yellowhammer x 6
Skylark x 4
Linnet
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat x 3
Red-legged Partridge x 4
Oystercatcher x 2
Sand Martin 50+..around sand quarry.

May 24th

The Cloud
Mandarin x 3 drakes on small pond
Redstart
Tree Pipit
Spotted  Flycatcher
Garden Warbler
Willow Warbler  x 3
Lesser Redpoll
Siskin
Meadow Pipit x 2
Linnet x 2

May 22nd

The Cloud
Spotted Flycatcher x 2
Redstart
Tree Pipit
Green Woodpecker
Garden Warbler
Raven
Siskin

Bent Lane
Yellowhammer
Tree Sparrow
Linnet
Whitethroat
Sand Martin

May 20th

Mow Cop
Tree Pipit  x 2
Cuckoo heard.

Bent Lane
Red-LeggedPartridge  x 5
Yellowhammer
Skylark.


May 19th
Congleton Park
Spotted Flycatcher
Kingfisher river Dane.

May 16th

The Cloud Spotted Flycatcher Redstart Tree Pipit Lesser Redpoll x 2 Kestrel Meadow Pipit x 2 Bent Lane Yellowhammer x 3 Skylark x 3 Tree Sparrow x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Sand Martin x 30 Linnet x 1

May 15th

Astbury Mere
Shelduck pair very early morning.
Garden Warbler
Willow Warbler
Blackcap good numbers
Chiffchaff good numbers.


The Cloud
Redstart male top wood.
Tree Pipit

May 14th

Bent Lane
Tree Sparrow x 4
Yellowhammer x 7
Skylark
Reed Bunting
Common Whitethroat x 2
Lesser Whitethroat x 1
Sand Martins good numbers
Swallow
House Martin
Goldcrest
Treecreeper.

Golden Oriole

                                    ++++++++++++++++++++MEGA+++++++++++++++++
 Yesterday 13th May just about one mile North of Congleton a male Golden Oriole was heard then seen well at the junction of Cocksmoss Lane and Sandy Lane  off A34 Congleton / Manchester Rd at 10-30. The bird was watched for at least 20 mins before flying towards Cockmoss Farm and lost to view. No further sign by 12-30. The bird was again looked for this morning to no avail.

May 10th

Brereton CP C
Cuckoo x 2 early morning.
Red-legged Partridge x 2 along A5022.

Astbury Mere
GardenWarbler x 1
Reed Warbler  x 1
Sand Martin50+
Swallow 30+
Swift x 8
House Martin x 2

 The Cloud
Tree Pipit x 2

 River Dane Congleton
Grey Wagtail x 2
Dipper x 1
Goosander fem with young.

May 9th

Astbury Mere
Spotted Flycatcher (last record 22/09/95).
Garden Warbler .

Brereton Heath CP
Cuckoo calling this morning.

May 8th

Photo's of a female Goosander and nine youngsters taken a few days ago on the river Dane at back of Aldi supermarket in Congleton town centre.
Photo's taken by Bob Howell.

May 8th

Mow Cop
Garden Warblers  x 3 singing.

Brereton Heath
Cuckoo late evening.

May 7th

COVID-19: Please adhere to current government advice and do not travel to see a bird. Where relevant,comply with recommended  social distancing measures




**********MEGA**********
Buglawton
Honey Buzzard...reported low over A54 @12-40 by the Birdline Information services.
No more information available on this sighting.
The gentleman who found it was a delivery driver delivering between Alderley Edge and Congleton by name of Robert Creek.
Nice one Rob.🖒

Honey Buzzard is a excellent addition to the Congleton area list , and constitutes the 110 species recorded in our area so far this year.

May 6th

Mow Cop
Swifts x 8 around Mow Cop Church.

Astbury Mere
Garden Warbler
Reed Warbler
Sand Martin x 70 plus
House Martin x 2
Swallow x 20 plus

May 4th

DUE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION IT IS VERY LIMITED NEWS ON HERE , IF YOU DO VENTURE OUT PLEASE STAY SAFE.

Astbury Mere
Sedge Warbler a scarce bird at this site.

May 3rd

DUE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION IT IS VERY LIMITED NEWS ON HERE, IF YOU DO VENTURE OUT PLEASE STAY SAFE.

The Cloud
Pied Flycatcher male
Tree Pipit x 3

April 30th

Astbury Mere
Swift x 3 early morning

Water Lane
Mandarin pair flew over.

April 27th

Astbury Mere
Green Woodpecker good site record.

Bent Lane
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat

April 26th

Mow Cop
Wheatear x 2
Green Hairstreak.


Astbury Mere
Swallow x 2
Sand Martin x 40

Watery Lane
Buzzard x 10 in ploughed field.

April 25th

DUE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION WE HAVE LIMITED NEWS ON HERE.
IF YOU DO VENTURE OUT STAY SAFE.

Astbury Mere
Common Sandpipers x 2
Reed Warbler x 1

April 24th

Bagmere Bank Farm
Tree Sparrow x 4
Garden Warbler x 2 in area.

The Cloud
Tree Pipit x 1

Timbersbrook Meadow
Garden Warbler

Astbury Mere
Reed Warbler x 1

April 23rd

Mow Cop
Hobby over @ 8-05
Red-Legged Partridge  (peck's new road)
Willow Warbler x 12 singing
Fieldfare x 6
Common Whitethroat x 1

Congleton Park
Kingfisher
Goosander with 10 young
Grey Wagtail x 3
Dipper near Aldi

Brownlow Farm
Yellowhammer x 2
Red-Legged Partridge x 2

April 22nd

Astbury Mere
Reed Warbler (first one back).

Brereton Heath
Tree Sparrow  x 6
Garden Warbler x 2

April 21st

Mow Cop
Ring Ouzel x 3 ( 1 x male , 2 x fem )
Whitethroat x 1
Jack Snipe x 2
Fieldfare x 5
Siskin (heard)
Willow Warbler x 8 singing
Meadow Pipits x 4
Linnet
Skylark
Lapwing x 9
Reed Bunting x 2


Cloud
Tree Pipit
Green Hairstreak  x 3

April 20th

Mow Cop
Ring Ouzel x 6
Redstart male
Wheatear male

April 19th

Mow Cop
Ring Ouzel x 3 (2 fem , 1 male).


Watery Lane off A34
Yellow Wagtail male.

April 18th

Due to this crazy situation we find ourselves in obviously it is limited news on here.
Everyboby please stay your distance if you do venture out ……... STAY SAFE.

Astbury Mere 18th
Swallow x 2
Sand Martin x 18


Astbury Mere 17th
Sand Martin x 80


Astbury Mere
Chiffchaff x 7
Blackcap x 4
Willow Warbler x 4
Little Grebe x 2


Watery Lane 14th
Wheatear x 1

Mow Cop 13th
Wheatear x 1

March 31st

Astbury Mere
Wigeon x 2 pair

March 30th

Astbury Mere
Little Gull adult all day apparently.


March 29th
Astbury Mere
Brambling male
Sand Martin x 35

March 27th

Astbury Mere
Sand Martin x 15

Dane in Shaw
Kingfisher
Grey Wagtail x 2

March 25th

Mow Cop
Peregrine adult f/o

March 24th

Astbury Mere
Chiffchaff x 6
Sand Martin x 3
Blackcap x 2

Late News

Late News
Saturday 21st March
Watery Lane Astbury
L R Plover in flooded field
S E Owl nearby
Brambling male.

March 22nd

Swetterton Hallgreen Road Curlew x120 plus Cloud Lesser Redpoll x 2 Chiffchaff Meadow Pipit G S Woodpecker Siskin Raven Treecreeper Goldcrest Mow Cop Skylark Meadow Pipit Lapwing Mistle Thrush

March 21st

Congleton River Dane
Dipper
Goosander x redheads
Grey Wagtail

Astbury Mere
Sand Martin x 2
Chiffchaff x 4
Little Grebe x 2
Reed Bunting x 2
Tufted Duck x 41
Coot x 32
Moorhen x 4
Great Crested Grebe x 4
Mallard  x 29
Buzzard x 2

Bent Lane
Sand Martin x 2 f/o
Red-legged Partridge
Yellowhammer x 2
Linnet x 2
Meadow Pipit x 30
Skylark x 3
Stock Dove
Redwing
Fieldfare x 16

March 19th

Astbury Mere

Mandarin pair briefly.

Mow Cop
Stonechat fem
Kestrel
Raven
Lesser Redpoll
Meadow Pipit x8

March 18th

Astbury Mere
Little Egret x 2 f/o
Goosander x pair f/o
Chiffchaff x 3
Goldcrest x 3
Kestrel
Reed Bunting x 2

March 16th

Mow Cop
Vis Mig
Meadow Pipit x 72
Pink Footed Geese x 26
Also
Kestrel
Buzzard x 12
Skylark
Stonechat

Astbury Mere
Sand Martin x 2 first one back
Common Gull adult.

March 15th

81 species recorded so far this year in Congleton area.

Astbury Mere
Chiffchaff x 3
Buzzard x 5
Mistle Thrush
Canada Geese x 9
Grey Heron

Bent Lane
Shelduck x 4
Grey Wagtail
Goosander f/o
Tree Sparrow s


March 14th
Astbury Mere
Chiffchaff
Little Grebe x 2
Kestrel

Bent Lane
Tree Sparrow x 2
Yellowhammer x 3
Skylark
Linnet x 3
Oystercatcher x 2
Shelduck x 3
Lapwing
Buzzard

March 13th
Mow Cop
Stonechat x 2
Kestrel
Raven x 2
Meadow Pipit
Skylark
Lapwing
Reed Bunting

March 11th
Astbury Mere
Raven f/o

Thirty plus frogs on conservation pond.

Photo taken by Brian Hicks.

March 9th

Hall Green Rd
Curlew x 180 in flooded field

Mow Cop
Lapwing
Buzzard
Kestrel

The Cloud
Raven
Lesser Redpoll
Buzzard
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Kestrel
Goldcrest
Coal Tit

Astbury Mere
Grey Wagtail

Bent Lane
Peregrine
Yellowhammer x 2
Grey Wagtail
Skylark
Sparrowhawk
Shelduck x 2

Brereton CP
G C Grebe x 2
Coal Tit
Greenfinch
Buzzard
Lapwing

Buglawton
Goosander female f/o
Raven
Grey Wagtail

March 8th

Bent Lane
Stock Dove x 5
Tree Sparrow x 2
Yellowhammer x 5
Oystercatcher x 1
Skylarks
Meadow Pipits.

Astbury Mere
Pochard x 1drake

March 7th

Bent Lane
Skylark
Yellowhammer
Meadow Pipit
Reed Bunting

Astbury Mere
Chiffchaff in song by Water Sports Centre
Mistle Thrush
Redwing good numbers
Bullfinch x 2
Little Grebe x 2
Buzzard
Treecreeper

March 6th

Astbury Mere
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Small Tortoiseshell
Little Grebe x 2


March 5th
Congleton Park
Buzzard x 2
Raven
Sparrowhawk

March 2nd

Astbury Mere
Common Gull adult.

March 1st

Astbury Mere
Goosander pair
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Cormorant x 8

February 29th

February 29th
Mill House Farm
Shoveler pair

Cheshire Close / Limekiln
Stonechat pair

Bent Lane
Yellowhammer
Skylark x 5
Oystercatcher x 1
Shelduck x 5

Astbury Mere
Common Gull adult
Goosander drake


February 26th
Astbury Mere
Common Gull
Goosander
Nuthatch x 2
Treecreeper
Little Grebe


February 25th
Bath Vale
Dipper

Buglawton
Goosander x pair f/o


February 23rd
Astbury Mere
Lapwing x 4 f/o
Mistle Thrush x 2

Bent Lane
Yellowhammer x 2
Skylark
Meadow Pipit x 5
Nuthatch

Roof Hill
Blackcap

February 23rd

Bent Lane
Grey Wagtail
Greylag

February 22nd

Feb 22nd
Bent Lane
Curlew
Tree Sparrow x 2
Yellowhammer x 3
Skylark x 8


Sand Quarry
Oystercatcher x 2
Shelduck x 4
Kestrel

Astbury Mere
Common Gull x 3
Goosander


21st Feb
Common Gull x 1

Green Lane
Reed Bunting
Yellowhammer x 2
Skylark x 4


20th Feb
Astbury Mere
Chaffinch x 15
Bullfinch x 3
Siskin x 2
Meadow Pipit
Goosander drake

February 18th

Macclesfield Canal
Goosander drake by bridge on Canal St.

February 16th

Astbury Mere
Little Grebe

February 15th

Astbury Mere
Tawny Owl
Stock Dove
Goosander x3
Nuthatch
Canada Geese x 4

February 14th

Congleton River Dane (Aldi)
Dipper x 2
Goosander female
Grey Wagtail

February 13th

Congleton
Pinkfeet calling over town centre at 6-30

Astbury Mere
Goosander drake

February 11th

Astbury Mere
Bumblebee first this year almost certainly a Buff-tailed.
Pochard x 2 drakes
G S Woodpecker x2
Redwing good numbers.
Goosander drake

The Cloud
Siskin x 6
Lesser Redpoll x1
Mistle Thrush x 2

River Dane Congleton
Dipper x 1

February 9th

Congleton Park
Mistle Thrush x 2
Redwing x 21
Nuthatch
Goldcrest

Bent Lane
Skylark x 29
Redwing x 50+

Quarry
Shelduck x 3
Oystercatcher x 1
Canada Geese x 152
Mallard x 178

Astbury Mere
Pochard x 1
Little Grebe x 1
Nuthatch
Kestrel

February 8th

Newsbank Pool
Oystercatcher x 4
Canada Geese x 318
Lapwing x 229
Mute Swan x 48

Astbury Mere
Peregrine immature
Sparrowhawk
Grey Wagtail x 7
Grey Heron
Cormorant x 10 f/o
Goldcrest
Pochard x 1 drake

Congleton River Dane (Aldi car park)
Dipper x 2
Grey Wagtail

Lapwing Newsbank Pool.

February 6th

Congleton  Park
Small Tortoiseshell

Astbury Mere
Lapwing x 12
G C Grebe x 6
LBB GULL x 31
Common Gull adult
Goosander
Pochard drake

Macclesfield Canal
Kingfisher

February 4th

Astbury Mere
Goldeneye drake first for many years.
Tuffed Duck x 54
Canada Geese x 38
Pochard x 4 (1×fem)

February 3rd

Astbury Mere
L B B Gull
Grey Heron
G C Grebe x 2 displaying.
No sign female Goldeneye.
Tufted Duck x 40

February 2nd

Mow Cop
Woodcock x 2
Snipe x 3

The Cloud
Raven
Sparrowhawk
Goldcrest
Treecreeper

Astbury Mere
Goldeneye female
Kestrel
Little Grebe

Congleton Buisness Park
Grey Wagtail x2

February 1st

Astbury Mere
Pochard x 4 drakes
Cormorant x 8 f/o.

January 31st

Astbury Mere
Peregrine over late afternoon.

Tues 28th.
Common Gull x 10 which is a record count for the site.

Saturday 25th
Bent Lane
Skylark  x 7
Redwing x110.

January 19th

Mow Cop
Pink-footed Geese 500+ over at 12-20 heading north west.

January 18th

Astbury Mere
Pochard x 5
Goosander drake
Little Grebe x 1
Kestrel
Buzzard
Kingfisher
Grey Wagtail x 4
Redwing
Bullfinch
Goldcrest
Treecreeper
Common Gull x 2 adults
G B B Gull x 1

January 15th

Astbury Mere
Pochard x 6 (5 x drakes)
Sparrowhawk
Goosander (drake)
Little Grebe
Buzzard
Kestrel
Common Gull x 2 adults
Kingfisher

January 13th

Astbury Mere
Goosander x 3
Little Grebe x 1
Treecreeper x 1
Goldcrest x 1

January 12th

Astbury Mere WeBS count
Coot x 112
Tufted  x 76
Mallard x 64
Little Grebe x 2
G C Grebe x 6
Goosander x 1
Mute Swan x 2
Moorhen x 2
B H Gull x 105
Herring Gull x 2
L B B Gull x 2
Grey Heron x 1
Plus
Sparrowhawk
Goldcrest
Siskin
G S Woodpecker

Dane in Shaw
Dipper x 2

January 11th

Astbury Mere
Shelduck x 2

January 10th

Canal
Woodcock

Bagmere
Water Rail
Starling (Murmeration)
Meadow Pipit


Bererton CP
Goosander x 7
Mistle Thrush
Kingfisher

Astbury Mere
Lapwing x 33 f/o
Sparrowhawk

Bagmere Murmeration photo by Tracey Stubbs.

January 7th

Congleton Wagg Street
Tawny Owl calling early morning

Congleton Bromley Woods
2 x Tawny Owl calling early morning

January 5th

Astbury Mere
Goosander drake still also four Pochard and two Little Grebe.


Redesmere
Three Russian White-fronted Geese along with two Pink-footed Geese and eight Goldeneye.

Pink-footed Geese.

Adult and juvenile Russian White-fronted Geese.

Russian White-fronted & Pink-footed in flight.

January 4th

Just North of our area at Redesmere the three Russian White-fronted Geese are still present , two adults and a juvenile along with two Pink-footed Geese . Also present ten Goldeneye (3 x drakes) and a Kingfisher.

January 3rd

Astbury Mere
Goosander (drake)
Pochard x 2 (drakes).

January 2nd 2020

Astbury Mere
Peregrine over for several minutes
Pochard x 4
Little Grebe x 2
Goosander x 5 f/o
Cormorant f/o
Buzzard
Tufted Duck x 55
Grey Wagtail
Redwing

Tesco Car Park
Pied Wagtail roost approx 150

A34 Astbury
Lapwing x 100

Alexandria Way
Kestrel

Bent Lane
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
Stock Dove
Buzzard
Cormorant
Redwing

January 1st 2020

Sunny Start but Mist by mid-morning.

Astbury Mere
Shoveler (drake)
Pochard x 14
Tawny Owl
Raven f/o
Grey Heron
L B B Gull x 12
Chiffchaff

The Cloud
Tawny Owl x 2
Siskin x 3
Raven f/o
Meadow Pipit x 1

Newsbank Pool
Mute Swan x 53
Canada Geese x 162
Greylag Geese x 4
Lapwing x 58
Coot x 94
Moorhen x 14
Mallard x 79
Tufted Duck x 18
Wigeon x 1 (drake)

River Dane
Dipper
Grey Wagtail
Goosander (drake)

A34 Astbury
Lapwing approx. 100 in field.

Shoveler (drake) Astbury Mere.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I would like to wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. And no you havn't had that much to drink you are still on the Astbury Blog but with a new format covering the Congleton Area. We will now report sightings from the north west of Congleton at Newsbank Pool over to Eaton SQ and following the river Dane over to The Cloud. Then following the Cheshire border along Congleton Edge down to Mow Cop , then over towards Moreton Hall on the A34 still south of Congleton before moving back up north towards Brownlow Heath and back upto Newsbank. It basically covers a 3 mile radios around Congleton Town Centre which takes in some good farmland , Woodland and of course still covers Astbury Mere. Areas covered will be the River Dane and the Macclesfield Canal two miles in either direction of Congleton , Newsbank Pool , Eaton Sand Quarry , Astbury Mere, Bent Lane and Farm , The Cloud , Congleton Edge and Mow Cop. See map below for reference .

December 31st

Three hundred and fifty Pink-footed Geese flew over this morning @ 10-15 heading North/West. This will be the last post this year and from tomorrow the blog will take on a new format . The blog will no longer cover just Astbury Mere but will cover a wider area . Thank you for all your support over the last twelve months . Best wishes and have a great evening . See you all next year.

December 30th

One drake Shoveler this morning and fourteen Pochard , this afternoon Pochard numbers had increased to twenty five. Also Little Grebe , six Great Crested Grebe , two Raven , Kestrel and a single overwintering Chiffchaff. Today,s count of 25 Pochard is the highest total since December 2011.

Bearded Tit a site first.

Two female Bearded Tits were seen on March 11th 2017 and appear in the annual Bird Report as an accepted record which brings the site total to 157 species. Bearded Tit is a rare bird in Cheshire and one that was never really anticipated to visit Astbury, but as every birdwatcher knows always expect the unexpected. Birds don't have a passport and know no boundaries so as we all know to well anything can turn up anywhere. A request again for records please let us no what you find you never no it could be a first for Astbury or even a county first.

100 UP

One Hundred for the year this morning when Mark had Yellowhammer and Greater Black Backed Gull go over. Also present two Raven , five Wigeon , two Teal , thirteen Pochard , three Little Grebe and a drake Goosander. The overwintering Chiffchaff was seen again this morning again by fishing peg eight and nine in gorsey corner.

Bent Lane SQ
Peregrine adult

Cheshire & Wirral Bird Report 2017

The annual Cheshire and Wirral Bird Report 2017 is now out. If you are not already a member why not. Just £15 for Individual Membership. Membership Secretary is Phil Hampson 2 Winsfield Road , Hazel Grove, Stockport , SK7 6ES. Or email memsec@cawos.org The annual report can be purchased alone £10 .

December 26th

A pair of Wigeon thirteen Pochard and drake Goosander still.

Merry Xmas

Merry Christmas to all the contributers and followers of this blog.

December 24th

Drake Goosander still present along with twelve Pochard and two Little Grebe.

December 21st

Eighteen Pochard this morning.

December 20th

Twelve adult Shelduck the largest flock ever recorded on the mere, also a pair Goosander.

December 17th

Two drake Goosander today.

December 15th

WeBS Count
Mallard 93
Pochard 9
Coot 163
Tufted Duck 149
Goosander 1
Moorhen 2
Mute Swan 2
Great Crested Grebe 6
Little Grebe 1
Black Headed Gull 164
L B B Gull 3
Herring Gull 1
Kingfisher 1

Also noted
Siskin
Bullfinch
Chiffchaff
Sparrowhawk
Nuthatch
Song Thrush
Jay

Pochard (female)

December 8th

Nothing changed still the drake Goosander , a pair of Siskin and single Fieldfare and Nuthatch.

Goosander drake by Tracey Stubbs.

December 7th

Drake Goosander present for its third day now , along with ten Pochard and two Little Grebe. Also noted Meadow Pipit , Kestrel , Bullfinch , Cormorant and over two hundred Wood Pigeon. No sign yet of any wintering Bramblings.

Pochard drake by Tracey Stubbs.

Astbury,s Bees

The Bee fauna of Astbury is incredibly diverse, Bumblebees and Honey Bee may be the most familiar. The remaining species exhibit a range of social and solitary lifestyles , many are Cuckoo's that take over the nest cells of other species. Many Bee species are in decline and more recording is needed to help determine changes in abundance. The Field Guide to Bees of Great Britain and Ireland by Steven Falk is a must for identification purposes superbly illustrated by Richard Lewington. If anybody would like to help us record and document the species at Astbury please get in touch with either a Ranger ,  Jack ,Mark or myself. Below is a list of what we found and photographed this year.

.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Tree Bumblebee
Early Bumblebee
Red-tailed Bumblebee
White-tailed Bumblebee
Garden Bumblebee
Common Carder Bee
Hairy-footed Flower Bee

Honey Bee

Ashy Mining Bee
Clark's Mining Bee
Gwynne's Mining Bee
Tawny Mining Bee
Sandpit Mining Bee
Red Mason Bee

Fabricius Nomad Bee
Sandpit Blood Bee
Gooden's Mining Bee
Early Nomad Bee

December 6th

Astbury Mere
Little Grebe x 3
Goosander (drake)
Pochard x 9 (4 drakes)
Tufted Duck estimated x150
Siskin x1

December 5th

Drake Goosander late afternoon on the mere , also nine Pochard approximately 150 Tufted Duck and two Little Grebe.

Redesmere
Goldeneye x 20 +

December 4th

Astbury Mere
Goosander x 2 female flew over
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Little Grebe x 2
Pochard x 5 (3x drakes)

A34 Child's Lane Astbury
Barn Owl early morning.

Buglawton
Goosander x 2 female flew over.
 

Mammals

In nearly freezing temperatures late afternoon two small bats hunting over the tree tops by visitors centre , possibly not Pipistrelles . Also a Bank Vole along the path near Gorsey corner for second day.

December 3rd

Astbury Mere
Blackcap male by feeding station
Wigeon x 2 female
Little Grebe x 2
Pochard x 3
Tawny Owl x 1
Grey Wagtail x 5
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Two small bats not pipistrelle.?

Redesmere
White-fronted Goose.

Congleton
Raven single over calling.

December 2nd

A pair of Wigeon on this morning also a single Chiffchaff noted feeding around the edge of the water again by fishing peg 8/9 in Gorsey corner.
Late Afternoon. .... 2 pairs of Goosander.


Redesmere
White Fronted Goose still present with resident Graylags.
10 x Goldeneye.

December 1st

A good selection of species today with 54 being recorded around and over the mere. Highlights include , 45 Pinkfeet over at 11-50 heading west . Tawny Owl calling , Kingfisher , Lesser Redpoll , two Chiffchaff , 12 Pochard , two Little Grebe , Redwings and Fieldfares passing over. On the feeders Nuthatch , Bullfinch , Coal Tit and all the other usual suspects . Also noted Kestrel , Sparrowhawk and Buzzard.

Redesmere
18 x Goldeneye (15 fem / 3 drakes)
2 x Gadwall
2 x Pochard
2 x White Fronted Geese in field behind car park.

A fine set of images taken late afternoon by Tracey Stubbs in perfect lighting conditions nice one Tracey.

Old Records

Some old records have come to light from Alan Lewis during the 1980,s (via A Goodwin) these include our only sighting of Corn Bunting in 1981 . Also Ruddy Duck , Yellowhammer , Iceland Gull and Sanderling records , all of which have now been added to our database. So please if you visited here during the early Sand Quarry days and just after dig those old sightings out every record is valuable........ Request for sightings , birds that you see regular at other lakes, pools and reservoirs around our area are not always seen at Astbury. Please if you see something of interest around the water on the water or around the feeding station please let us no. Tree Sparrows are recorded near by but are a rareity at the Mere , it's as simple as that.

November 30th

A record count of 167 Tufted Duck two days ago , along with sixteen Pochard and a couple of Little Grebe. And it looks like we have another overwintering Chiffchaff again this year seen in the same area as past two winters in gorsey corner. Very quiet this morning but after a cold night duck numbers looking good with still over 100 Tuffties , around 60 Mallard and just under one hundred Coot. These numbers could hold a suprise amongst them especially if the weather stays cold . The feeders were topped up today as through work Saturdays are the only time I can get down now. I would again like to say a big thank you to whoever left me the bags of seed it is a great help Thank You. The male Kestrel that has been with us now for the past couple of months showed well this morning in the sunshine. And the date for Mark's wildlife walk next Spring has been set for Sunday 26th April .

Kestrel (male).

November 26th

Ten Pochard and a single drake Wigeon this afternoon.