February 2nd 2024

Scholar Green 

Lapwing x 110 over house.

January 31st 2024

Scholar Green 

Pink-footed Geese x 130 approx heading south at 15-10.

January 21st 2024

Astbury Mere 

Little Egret over early morning,  also two possibly three Tawny Owls calling.

January 19th 2024

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler  x 18

Goldeneye x 1 fem

Gadwall x 1pair

Rudyard Lake 

Wigeon x 78

Teal x 36

Goosander x 7

Snipe 8

Little Egret  x 1

January 16th

Astbury Mere 

Common Gull x 13 (site record)

Chiffchaff overwintering. 

January 14th

Astbury Mere 

Dunlin , 50x Pink-footed Geese over N/W @10-45.

Congleton Park (River Dane)

Dipper x 1

Mandarin  x 1 pair

Goosander x1 drake , 2 x fem

Grey Wagtail x 1

Kingfisher x 1

Childs Lane

Lapwing  x 200 approx.

Rudyard Lake 

Red-breasted Merganser north end.

Dipper photo by Tracey Stubbs.

Goosander fem photo by Tracey Stubbs. 

Mandarin drake photo by Tracey Stubbs. 

December 1st

Astbury Mere 

Goldeneye x 1 fem , Goosander x 1 fem   Pochard x 15 , Gadwall x 2 pair , Shoveler  x 2 pair and Little  Grebe  x 7.

Lawton Lake

Goosander x 22 , Mandarin  x 14 , Little Grebe x 2.

November 27th

Astbury Mere 

15 x Pochard. 

November 25th

Astbury Mere 

Teal x 1 pair.

November 21st

Astbury Mere 

Little Egret briefly,  and 4 x Wigeon.

November 18th

Astbury Mere 

Tawny Owl x 2 , Pochard x 12 , Teal x 1 , Little Grebe x 3 .

November 15th

Astbury Mere 

20 x Pink-feet over heading south @8-30.

11 x Pochard,  2 x Little Grebe. 

November 13th

Astbury Mere 

4 x Pochard , 2 x Little Grebe. 

November 12th

Astbury Mere 

Pair Pochard and 8 x Goosander over.

November 8th

Redesmere 

Goldeneye x 1pair.

Macc Forest

Crossbill x 4 by Standing Stone car park.

November 7th

Rudyard Lake 

Imm Scaup still present at North end frequenting  between the point and reedbed by the caravans. 

November 6th

Rudyard Lake 

Imm Scaup still present at North end , also Peregrine , Kingfisher and Raven.

Congleton 

Barn Owl 18-30 over by pass by river Dane.

November 5th

Astbury Mere 

Pochard  x 3 , Tufted x 141 , Little Grebe x 3 , Siskin x 10 and Kingfisher. 

Rudyard 

Imm fem Scaup  (MS)

Pink-feet x 70 over.

Imm fem Scaup photo by Tracey Stubbs.

November 4th

Astbury Mere 

Redwing x 50 , Siskin x 10 and single Grey Wagtail .

Rudyard 

Pink-feet x 200 over this morning. 

News

Both Rudyard and Astbury have been very quiet bird wise this year mainly due to disturbance and high water levels . More and more people are visiting every year for fishing , boating or just a leisurely walk around . And this does and has had a big inpact in the lack of wildlife sightings , its been very noticeable especially of the last 10 years . 

November 3rd 2023

Astbury Mere Nov 3rd

3 x drake Pochard , 80 x Tufted Duck , 2 x Little Grebe.

Rudyard Nov 3rd

1 x Chiffy , 4 x Snipe , 1 x Little Egret  , 2 x Willow Tit  , 1 x fem Mandarin. 

Astbury Mere Nov 2nd

2 x Little Egret. 

Knypersley 

Brambling .

Astbury Mere Nov 1st

3 x fem Goldeneye. 

Rudyard Oct 29th

1 x R N Parakeet 

Congleton Park Oct 27th

2 x Goosander. 

Astbury Mere Oct 25th

2 x Little Grebe ,  1 x pair Pochard.

Pink-feet over Congleton Park (in fog) heard only.

Astbury Mere Oct 23rd

1 x Common Gull .

Siddington 

3 x Cattle Egret. 

Rudyard Oct 18th

2 x Red Kite over Dam.

Cattle Egret Siddington. 

April 27th

Astbury Mere 

Common Sandpiper x 1

Oystercatcher  x 1

April 26th

Astbury Mere 

Lesser Whitethroat waters edge in front of visitors centre. Also Common Sandpiper first this year.

April 24th

Wallhill Lane Congleton 

Cuckoo calling.

Bent Lane

Yellow Wagtail x 1

The Cloud

Pied Flycatcher male

April 6th

Congleton Park

Whooper Swans x 2 over.

Congleton River Dane

Dipper x 1 , Kingfisher x 1 and Goosander drake.

Bent Lane

Curlew x 54.

April 5th

Astbury Mere 

Willow Warbler  x 2

Swallow x 1

House Martin x 1

Sand Martin x 50

March 31st

Astbury Mere 

Red Kite over (possibly the first record for the site)

March 30th

Astbury Mere 

Swallow x 1

Sand Martin x 20

Blackcap x 2

Chiffchaff x 7

Rudyard Lake 

Red Kite over late afternoon. 

March 29th

Bent Lane

Curlew x 37 west of farm.

Astbury Mere 28th

Swallow x 1 , Sand Martin  x 17

River Dane (Steamboat) 28th

Kingfisher x 2

Grey Wagtail  x 2

Goosander fem

Dipper x 1

Buglawton 28th

Mandarin pair flew over .

March 25th

Astbury Mere 

Oystercatcher x1

Blackcap singing

Greylag x 3 over.

Redwing x 30 over.

Rudyard Lake 

Brambling fem

Willow Tit x 1

Rode Pool 24th

Little Egret x 11 in field

Bent Lane 23rd

Red Kite over sand quarry. 

Mow Cop 22nd

Stonechat x 2 by mast.

Astbury Mere 21st

Common Gull x 2 

Scholar Green

Little Egret x 2 stone chair Lane.

March 20th

Scholar Green 

Little Egret x 2 Stone Chair Lane 

Astbury Mere 

Sand Martin x 3

Chiffchaff x 5

Redesmere 

Sand Martin x 4

Rudyard 

Sand Martin x 5

Red Kite over North

L R Plover x 1

Oystercatcher x 4

Siskin x 40+

March 19th

Astbury Mere 

Sand Martin x 10

Chiffchaff x 6

Goosander x 1 drake.

Friday 18th

Bent Lane Quarry

Sand Martin x 4.

Brereton

Marsh Harrier over Sandbach Rd.

March 7th

Astbury Mere 

Common Gull adult.

March 6th

Rode Heath

Little Egret x 9 opposite Rode Pool.

March 5th.

Scholar Green 

Kingfisher 

Kingfisher photo by Tracey Stubbs. 

March 3rd

Astbury Mere 

Goosander drake

River Dane Congleton 

Goosander x 1

Mandarin drake

Dipper x 2

Grey Wagtail x 2.

February 12th

School Lane 

Green Sandpiper field puddle

Linnet x 150+

Chaffinch x 80+

Bent Lane

Curlew x 1 

Fieldfare x 150+

February 9th

Brereton

Barn Owl Smethick Lane

Wagon &Horses Pub

Red Kite over A34

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler x 16

Bent Lane

Little Egret 

January 24th

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler x 18 , Gadwall x 2 , Pochard x 4 .

Astbury

Blackcap on garden feeders.

January 21st

Rudyard Lake

Little Egret x 4 , Teal x 12 , Snipe x 11 , Raven x 2 and Kingfisher. 

January 20th

 Astbury Mere 

Shoveler  x 3 pairs , Wigeon 2 , Teal 3.

Knypersley Reservoir 

Mandarin x 4 , Tawny Owl x 2.

Rudyard Lake 

Wigeon x 71 , Teal x 3 , Snipe x 10 , Willow Tit x 2.

January 19th

Lawton Lake

Mandarin x 13 , Teal x 5 , Tufted x 7 and single Little Grebe. 

Congleton 

Four Swans flew over heading west early morning possibly Whooper.

January 18th

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler x 3 pair , Wigeon x 3 , Gadwall  x 1 , Teal , Pochard , Little Grebe x 6.

Rudyard Lake 

Wigeon  x 15 , Teal x 10.

January 17th

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 3 , Shoveler x 4 , Little Grebe x 4.

January 16th

Astbury Mere 

Goosander x 1 , Shoveler  x 3 , Little Grebe x 2 and single Pochard.

January 14th

Congleton Park

Goosander x 2 , Dipper on river Dane by Old boat.

Astbury Mere 

Raven x 2 , Little Grebe and Greylag Goose. 

January 12th

Moreton Hall A34

Barn Owl early morning flew over road.

Astbury Mere 

Tawny Owl calling early morning. Two Shoveler late afternoon. 

Rode Heath 

Little Egret x 16 on flooded field.

Rudyard Lake 

Goosander x 4 , Teal x 5 and adult Common Gull. 

January 11th

Rode Heath

Little Egret x 12 feeding in sheep field.

January 10th

Astbury Mere 

Teal x 2 , Shoveler x 2 , Lesser Redpoll x 3 , Siskin  x 15 and Chiffchaff. 

January 9th

Rudyard Lake 

Cettis Warbler first since 1978 , also Little Egret x 3 , Water Rail x 2 , Snipe x 6 , Willow Tit x 2 , Goosander  x 7 and Wigeon  x 5.

Astbury Mere 

Raven x 2 , Kingfisher and Shoveler x 2pair .

January 8th

Congleton Park (RiverDane)

Dipper x 2 by steamboat , also Kingfisher and Goosander  x 2.

Redesmere 

Pochard x 3 , Goldeneye  x 10 , Goosander x 5.

Padgebury Lane Astbury 

Pink-footed Geese x approx 50 over.

January 6th

Rudyard Lake 

Little Egret x 3 , Goosander x 4 , Water Rail , Snipe x 2 , Willow Tit x 2.

Congleton bypass

Lapwing x 140 in Dotterel field.

January 5th

Rudyard Lake 

Pink-footed Geese x 52 over N/W@ 11-50 , also single Little Egret , Water Rail , Siskin x 9 , Wigeon x 17 and Teal x 27.

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler drake and Chiffchaff. 

January 4th

Redesmere 

Goldeneye x 9 , Goosander  x 7 , Pochard x 2 , Fieldfare  x 300+.

Biddulph CP

Goosander  x 5

Rudyard Lake 

Little Egret x 4 , Water Rail , Snipe x 7 , Wigeon x 20 , Goosander  x 4 , Kingfisher. 

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler x 1 pair , Lesser Redpoll x 1 flyover.

Bent Lane A34

Red-legged Partridge x 2 .

Bent Lane Quarry

Teal x 80 .

Congleton bypass 

Lapwing x 350 in Dotterel field .

Congleton Park

Dipper x 1 by weir. 

January 2nd

Scholar Green A34

Barn Owl early morning 

Astbury Mere 

Gadwall  x 1 pair , Shoveler  x 1 pair , Stock Dove x 2 .

January 1st 2023

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 7 , Shoveler  x 2 , Gadwall x 2 , Teal fem , Chiffchaff  , G B B Gull.

Little Moreton A34

Tawny Owl early morning. 

Knypersley Reservoir 

Tawny Owl  x 5.

Bent Lane Farm/Quarry

Teal x 60 , Shelduck  x 19.

Congleton River Dane

Dipper x 1 .

Happy New Year 2023

Our area from Redesmere in the north to Knypersley in the south . And from Mow Cop in the west to Macclesfield Forest in the east , and all areas in between. We have a creditable total of 145 species recorded. Thank you to all who contributed to getting that total. And a big thank you and Happy New Year to all who read this blog. Let's all have a good and safe evening and a Bird filled 2023. 🍾🥂🍻

December 31st

Astbury Mere

Chiffchaff , 12 x Siskin , 12 x Redwing. 

Bent Lane 

Lapwing approx x 120.

December 30th

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 2 , Shoveler fem.

December 29th

Astbury Mere 

Wigeon drake , Gadwall drake , Shoveler fem , Siskin x 6 and Raven.

December 27th

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 7 , Goldeneye fem.

Scholar Green 

Lapwing x 74  along A34.

Lawton Lake

Goosander x 5 .

December 26th

Astbury Mere 

Pink-footed Geese x 100 over N/E @8-00 , Shoveler  x 3  Pochard x 2.

Redesmere 

Goosander x 6 , Goldeneye x 8 , Kingfisher  , Little Egret,  Fieldfare  x 300+ , Lapwing x 21 , Redwing x 80+ and adult Common Gull.

Bent Lane / Quarry

Shelduck x 28 , Redwing x 60 , Fieldfare x 20 , Shoveler x 2 and single Yellowhammer. 

Merry Christmas

To everybody that contributes to the blog and everyone who reads the blog a very Happy Christmas to you all. 🍻

Astbury Mere 

Chiffchaff x 3 still present , also single drake Wigeon , Pochard x 2 , and Raven x 2 .

Redesmere 

Goosander x 3 , Goldeneye and Common Gull. Also good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing. 

Astbury 

Goosander x 2 on golf course pond.

December 24th

Rudyard Lake 

Wigeon x 18 , Teal x 27 , Goosander  x 4 , Snipe x 5 , Raven , Kingfisher,  Grey Wagtail. 

Knypersley Reservoir 

Woodcock , Little Egret  and Mandarin x 5.

Biddulph CP

Goosander x 6

December 23rd

Congleton 

Grey Partridge x 2 in fodder beet crop at Bridestone Farm . That takes us to 145 species in our small area around Congleton for this year.

Brook St Congleton 

Little Egret over early morning. 

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 4 .

Annual Bird Report 2021

 

The Cheshire and Wirral Bird Report 2021 is now out , all members receive a free copy.  If you aren't already a member why not. 

Membership Secretary is Carolyn Baily .

E mail   memsec@cawos.org 

December 22nd

Rudyard Lake

Pink-footed Geese x 2 in with Canada flock , drake Pintail and Wigeon 20 +.

Biddulph 

Goosander x 3 over garden 10-55.

Astbury Mere 

Chiffchaff , Pochard x 8 and Goldfinch x 30.

December 21st

Astbury Mere 

Peregrine fem over this morning. Also Little Grebe  x 8 .

Rudyard Lake

Little Egret x 8 , Water Rail , Siskin x 11 and Snipe x 4 all south end of Dam along feeder stream.

December 20th

Biddulph Grange CP 

Little Egret over mid-morning  , also 30+ Redwing.

December 19th

Scholar Green 

Little Egret over A34 mid afternoon .

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 12 , Wigeon x 1 pair , Chiffchaff still and Lesser Redpoll. 

December 18th

Astbury Mere 

Goldeneye x 3 , Cormorant  x 17 , Shoveler  x 4 , Pochard x 7 , Little Grebe  x 8 , Gadwall  x 2 (drakes).

Congleton (River Dane)

Dipper by weir  , further along Goosander  x 5 and Kingfisher. 

December 17th

Redesmere 

Really sad news , the Great Northern Diver which gave so much pleasure to so many people has been found dead ontop of the ice at the Mere. It was feeding well so can only assume it was the lack of open water and cold conditions that finally took its toll.

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler x 7 , Gadwall  x 2 drakes.

December 16th

Astbury Mere 

Goldeneye fem , Common Snipe x 1 , Pochard x 11 , Shoveler  x 7 , Chiffchaff x 2 , Lapwing  x 6 f/o , single Fieldfare  and Redwing x 10.

Congleton Park

Woodcock .

Rudyard Lake 

Dipper on the Dam , Common Snipe x 12 , Kingfisher  x 2 , Grey Wagtail and Little Egret. 

December 15th

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler  x 4 , Pochard x 7.

Redesmere 

G N Diver still on small patch of unfrozen water , also Common Snipe x 3 , Little Grebe and Tawny Owl.

Lawton Lake

Mandarin  x 7 (6 × drakes).

December 14th

Redesmere 

Mere is 95% frozen over , G N Diver still , also G W Egret , Teal x 5 , Goosander  x 7 ,  Goldeneye x 6 , Shoveler  x 1pair , Water Rail and Cettis Warbler.

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 10 , Little Grebe x 7 . Shoveler x 3 and Wigeon x 2.

December 13th

Astbury Mere 

Whooper Swan very briefly late morning,  also Teal x 21 which is highest count for 27 yrs. Shoveler x 4 , Wigeon x 4 ,Pochard x 9 .

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan still present off Stone Childs Lane. 

Redesmere 

G N Diver still viewable from car park.

Rudyard

Snipe x 2 and Reed Bunting x 4 the best I could manage.

December 12th

Biddulph / Mow Cop

Approx 200 Pink-footed Geese going west towards Sandbach @10-55

Astbury Mere 

Pink-footed Geese over at 10-20 (heard only in foggy conditions). Also this afternoon Tufted Duck x 140 , Pochard x 11 , Little Grebe x 7 , Shoveler  x 4 , Lesser Redpoll x 4 and Siskin x 3 .

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan still in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane. 

December 11th

Astbury Mere 

Shoveler  x 4 and Chiffchaff. 

Redesmere 

G W Egret , G N Diver and Kingfisher. 

December 10th

Congleton 

Barn Owl early morning Wall Hill Lane.

Astbury Mere 

Goosander  x 5 , Teal x 5 , Shoveler  x 4 , Gadwall (drake) , Pochard x 11 , Little Grebe x 7 , Cormorant  x 15 and Siskin x 5 .

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan x 1 still present in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane. 

Biddulph Moor

Pink-footed Geese x 50 towards Congleton late afternoon. 

December 9th

Redesmere 

3/4 Frozen over , Wigeon x 1 pair , Goosander  x 8 , Goldeneye x 21 , G N Diver , Common Gull adult , Snipe , Cettis Warbler and Kingfisher. 

Kingfisher Redesmere. 

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 11 , Goosander x 3 and drake Gadwall. 

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan x 1 still in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane. 

December 8th

Astbury Mere 

Mandarin x 1 pair , Little Grebe x 7 , Pochard x 7 and Chiffchaff  calling.

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver  , Great White Egret , Goldeneye x 24 , Goosander x 5 and drake Mandarin.

December 7th

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 8 , Shoveler x 1pair , Siskin x 5.

December 6th

Biddulph 

Pink-footed Geese x 80 approx over east at 8-50.

New Lane off A34

Stock Dove x 70 in stubble field.

December 5th

Astbury Mere 

Chiffchaff  x 3 , Shoveler pair , and Gadwall drake.

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver still from car park,  also Teal x 22 , Goldeneye  x 23 , Kingfisher x 2 , Raven and drake Mandarin. 

December 3rd

Scholar Green 

Sad news this morning as one of the Whooper Swans has died during the night , possibly due to avian flu. The other remaining bird is asleep by the waters edge possibly waiting the same fate.

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver still visible from car park . Also drake Mandarin,  Teal x 12 and Goldeneye x 21.

December 2nd

Astbury Mere 

Teal x 4 , Wigeon  x 4 , Gadwall x 4 and Pochard x 6.

Redesmere 

G N Diver still viewed from car park also 21 x Goldeneye. 

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane , also Common Snipe.

December 1st

Astbury Mere 

Gadwall x 4, Teal (drake) , Pochard x 4 .

Also Hedgehog Congleton Town centre.

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan x 2 still present in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane (19 days).

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver still from car park also Goldeneye  x 21.

November 30th

Astbury Mere 

Gadwall  x 3 (2 × drakes) , Pochard x 3 and Chiffchaff. 

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan x 2 still in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane (18 days).

November 29th

Astbury Mere 

Single Wigeon and Grey Wagtail. 

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still chilling in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane.  (17 days).

November 28th

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane. 

Knypersley 

Mandarin  x 4 , Brambling and Raven x 2.

Astbury Mere 

Chiffchaff still belting out its song , also 8 x Pochard.

November 27th

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane. 

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver still present best viewed from car park at south end of Mere .

November 26th

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan x 2 in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane. 

Astbury Mere 

Common Gull adult , Chiffchaff singing and Pochard x 8.

Knypersley Reservoir 

Pink-footed Geese x 29 over heading west , also Woodcock and Mandarin x 4 .

November 25th

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver still present best viewed from car park at South end . Also approx 16 Goldeneye and Kingfisher. 

November 24th

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still present and enjoying life for there twelfth day in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane. 

Astbury Mere 

Chiffchaff singing , also Pochard x 8 .

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver best viewed from car park end of Mere.

November 23rd

Congleton 

Pink-footed Geese approx 400 heading east over town centre at 12-10.

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver still from car park , also Goldeneye  x 16.

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still present Stone Childs Lane in flooded field. 

Astbury Mere 

Chiffchaff still present. 

Goldeneye Redesmere. 

November 22nd

Redesmere 

Gt Northern Diver juvenile still present viewed from car park.

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still enjoying life in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane .

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 11 , fem Goldeneye and Chiffchaff still.

Dane in Shaw

Little Egret x 2 this morning. 

November 21st

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver still present viewed from car park at South end.

November 20th

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 11 , Teal x 2 , Pink-footed Geese x 12 f/o ,  Shoveler  x 7 f/o  , Siskin x 3, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff also still present. 

Bent Lane 

Shelduck x 7 in quarry.

Redesmere 

Gt Northern Diver still from car park also , Goldeneye  x 19 (6 x drakes).

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane.

November 16th

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 13 (8 drakes) , also fem Goldeneye. 

Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver still present but can be elusive at times , also Goldeneye fem x 3.

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swans x 2 still present in flooded field off Stone Childs Lane  mid-afternoon. 

November 15th

Scholar Green 

Two Whooper Swans still present in flooded field along Stone Childs Lane at 16-00.

Astbury Mere 

Pochard x 5 , Little Grebe x 7 .

Redesmere 

Gt N Diver still but can be elusive in the right hand corner from the car park.

November 14th

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan x 2 still present at Stone Childs Lane.

Astbury Mere

Goldeneye x 2 fem , Pochard x 5  and Teal x 2.

Just up the road at Redesmere 

Great Northern Diver juvenile for second day.

November 13th

Astbury Mere 

Chiffchaff still also , Shoveler  x 3 , and approx 60 x Fieldfare over.

Scholar Green 

Whooper Swan x 2  in flooded field Stone Chair Lane.

Photo by Tracey Stubbs. 

November 10th

Congleton 

Pink-footed Geese x 50 south @11-15.

Astbury Mere 

Tufted Duck x 151.

Bent Lane / Childs Lane

Fieldfare x 52.

November 5th

Astbury Mere 

Peregrine male , Chiffchaff singing , Tawny Owl , Kingfisher  , Pochard pair , Tufted Duck x 124 , Coot x 116 , Little Grebe x 6 , B H Gull x 800+ , Raven , L B B Gull x 2 and Grey Wagtail.