May 20th

Still nothing happening at the mere very quiet. A single Greylag this morning , Chiffchaff , Blackcap , two House Martin's and a single Jay. Holy Blue Butterflies in conservation area , and eight Smooth Newts in pond.

Congleton Area
Mow Cop
Hobby over early afternoon.

Congleton Town Centre
Raven over .

Cloud
Wood Warbler still performing well.
Spotted Flycatcher
No sign of Redstart

May 19th

Very very quiet at the mere , two Greylags over , Buzzard , 12 x Sand Martin's , 4 x House Martin's , Reed Warbler , Goldcrest singing .
Congleton Area
Bent Lane
Yellowhammer
Linnet
Red-Legged Partridge

Mow Cop
Red Kite

The Cloud
Wood Warbler
Redstart
Tree Pipit

Wood Warbler (Tracey Stubbs).

Wood Warbler (Tracey Stubbs ).

Wood Warbler (Tracey Stubbs ).

May 11th

Eighteen Swift over the water this morning along with around 70 Sand Martin and 8 Swallow. Also two Greylag Geese flew over and Buzzard and Sparrowhawk noted.
This afternoon two Shelduck dropped in briefly , Raven and Kestrel over. Also noted Reed Warbler , Willow Warbler , Chiffchaff , Blackcap and Swift.

Congleton Area
Mow Cop
Little Owl
Garden Warbler
Wheatear x 2...(AG)

The Cloud
Wood Warbler
Hobby
Tree Pipit..(MS)

Graylag Goose.

May 10th

Early morning before work 200 plus Sand Martin , 2 Swift , 10 Swallow and several House Martins noted amongst them .

Sand Martin.

Black Tern's

Yesterday's Black Tern was a nice addition to the year list as they are not annual, its only the third record since 2006. . It's always nice to see these elegant marsh terns flycatching over the water wherever you are , and to see one at Astbury is extra special . There was a good passage throughout the Midlands yesterday and with the weather conditions being just right it was almost certain that we would get one sometime during the day. Rob Black called it right and decided to pay a quick visit at lunch time and was rewarded with this elegant bird along with three Arctic's which is only our third record at the site for this species. Two of the records coming this year as two weeks previous Mark Stubbs found two birds feeding over the water mid afternoon on 27th April.

May 9th

No Terns today but five Swift and three Lapwing over this morning. And this afternoon in the rain 300 plus Sand Martin's , 10 Swallow and 12 House Martin's. Also noted GS Woodpecker which is quite scarce at the site.

May 8th

One Black Tern and three Arctic Terns at mid-day (R Black). Also 200 plus Sand Martin's , Kestrel and Garden Warbler. Mid-afternoon and  all four Terns are still present, along with nine Swift and a single Willow Warbler. Quiet an eventful day with eight Common Terns coming in this evening . With dull conditions and fading light the images below are the best I could do.

Black Tern.

Black Tern.

Black Tern, with three Commons.

Common Terms.

May 7th

Common Sandpiper early morning and around 60 Sand Martin's.

Congleton Area
The Cloud
Wheatear x 3
Willow Warbler x 3
Siskin
Linnet  x 4
Raven x 2
Mandarin drake
Northern Eggar Moth (MS).

May 6th

First Hobby sighting of the year this morning with a single bird over. Also Swift , two Willow Warbler , eighty Sand Martin's , single Swallow and two House Martin's . This afternoon Kestrel , two Coal Tits , two Willow Warbler , three Chiffchaff and three Blackcap. One hundred plus Sand Martin's and Oystercatcher over.

Congleton Area
Bent Lane
Yellowhammer
Skylark x 2
Linnet
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat (MS).

May 3rd

Drake Shoveler early morning , our fist Swift of the year back this afternoon . Also noted Reed Warbler , Chiffchaff , Willow Warbler , Blackcap plus all the other regulars. And around 200 Sand Martin hawking insects over the water durig a rain storm . Mark had Oystercatcher later this afternoon.

May 2nd

Our first Garden Warbler of the year is back on site and singing this morning. Oystercatcher on the fishermans shore briefly this afternoon.

May 1st

Our first Reed Warbler back today along with another Common Sandpiper our third record this spring.

Congleton Area
 Bent Lane
Yellow Wagtail
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat
Yellowhammer
Skylark in song....(MS)

Lamberts Lane
Lesser Whitethroat (JS)

Canal
Bridge 53
Lesser Whitethroat
Garden Warbler x 2 (JS)

Waggs Rd
Swift x 3 (NS)

Town Centre
Oystercatcher over calling (NS)

Mow Cop
Cuckoo by Ariel
Wheatear
Swift (AG).