February 28th

With more overnight snow and temperatures down to -6 it was no supprise that the water was partially frozen and had around a thousand Black-headed Gulls sitting on the ice. A quick count of the ducks this morning produced 47 Tufted and 83 Coot , along with 10 Great Crested Grebe's and two Little Grebe's. On the Hawfinch front I managed to find three in quick succession but only noted one Brambling a female which showed reasonably well. Iam putting seed down daily in a certain area and we now have Brambling , Bullfinch , Greenfinch , Chaffinch , Goldfinch and all the other regulars feeding on it . The snow started to come down heavy again so it was time to retreat. Mark and Tracey had male Blackcap in conservation area this afternoon also one male Hawfinch still and a female Brambling in usual area. Also four Bullfinch , twelve Redwing ,Fieldfare , Mistle Thrush , two Jay and a single Lapwing . On the Mere were two drake Shoveler , two Little Grebe and four Pochard. We have finished the month with 64 species that's five more than same period last year , and six more than February 2016.

Brambling (female).

February 27th

I found four of the Hawfinch's this morning but they are getting more and more elusive . I spent four hours around the area where they frequent and only saw them a few times. The Brambling still seem to be increasing with eight males seen this morning and a couple of females later in the day. The male Reed Bunting was seen and photographed today that's the first time he as been seen this year. Two Little Grebe are on the Mere but no sign of any Gadwall. Male Sparrowhawk made a couple of passes while watching the Brambling and several Bullfinch were noted. Four Jay and seven Fieldfare passed overhead but no sign yet of any Raven this year strange as they do breed close by.

Brambling (male).

Hawfinch (male).

February 26th

Four Hawfinch this morning but very elusive now early mornings seems to be best chance of connecting.They have moved area another 200 mts further along from original place. Brambling are increasing we now have five males and two females. Didn't have time to check the water this morning so don't know if the Gadwall stayed another night.

February 25th

Myself and Mark decided to meet up early this morning and it paid off . We now have six Hawfinch feeding about another couple hundred mts from were first originally found. Also four Brambling with them and with a male Brambling at the original location we now have five possibly more . Also the pair of Gadwall are still present which gave me a chance to photograph them in better light . Also noted this morning Cormorant , a fly over Lapwing ,four Pochard ,Grey Wagtail ,two Grey Heron , Sparrowhawk and a single Oystercatcher flew over again . Mark then had a flyover Skylark calling that's another first this year and nine Fieldfare . Just before we left we put Rob Black onto the Hawfinch's and Brambling , Rob's now a happy man as he missed them in the week. A text from Rob he saw three Hawfinch two Brambling , five Bullfinch and six Jay .

Gadwall (drake).

Status of Gadwell at Astbury

Gadwall is a very rare species at Astbury with only twelve records during the last twenty three years . They are mostly one day sightings and usually arriving in pairs . The first breeding record in Cheshire was in 1981 when they first bred at Woolston , but are now widespread along the inner Mersey valley. Gadwalls have found several sites in the county to their liking with the population steadily growing . Gadwalls forage almost exclusively on the green parts of plants especially emergent macrophytes , being of such poor nutritional quality the ducks have to eat vast amounts . They tend to breed in areas where the biomass of food plants is high , in deeper waters such as gravel pits and reservoirs. So when you come across a Gadwall at Astbury you should really appreciate how special these birds are to our area and not just take these little ducks for granted they are still a very rare bird in south east Cheshire...... The image below was of yesterday's pair at Astbury photographed by Tracey Stubbs.

Gadwall (T Stubbs).

February 24th

No sign of yesterday's evening's Oystercatcher or the pair of Gadwall I wonder if that's our one and only record for this year. Still two Hawfinch and a female Brambling in the same area 100 mts left from visitor's centre car park by small copse . Not a great deal else to report plenty of Bullfinch around a single Grey Wagtail and three Pochard two drake's and a female. Jack came down late afternoon and the Gadwall are still present .

Gadwall

Just got in from work early evening as Mark called me saying he had just had Oystercatcher low over the water . And again about five minutes later with a pair of Gadwall now that got me moving. Oystercatchers fly over occasionally this time of the year but Gadwall are very scarce , with only one sighting a year and last year's I missed. So a site tick for me thanks Mark. On arrival the Gadwall were close into the shore but at it was late afternoon there was no sun on them . The Oystercatcher was relocated sitting on a buoy in the middle giving me some distant but reasonable record shots. Must make a note to myself see if I can get that buoy moved a little closer. That takes us onto 70 species for the year getting closer to that magical 100 never been done at the site before.

Oystercatcher.

The last record for Gadwall at the site was for one day on 25/01/17.

February 22nd

Still two Hawfinch this morning along with one Brambling noted also Four Pochard , Cormorant and two fly over Goosander .B Hicks.

February 21st

Arrived at 8-30 this morning just as Jack was walking through the car park so we walked down to the area where the Hawfinch's have been and sure enough two popped up onto a silver birch tree with in minutes of us being there. Jack then left as he was doing one of his long day out walks . Also in same area this morning were three Lesser Redpoll our first this year , a fly over Siskin , eight Bullfinch , several Long-tailed Tits , Greenfinch , Goldfinch and three Brambling the two males looking good.Several Redwing are feeding and can be seen at times perched up along side the Hawfinch's. Jack phoned me on his walk less than half a mile away was a Little Egret feeding in a small area of flooded water in a farm field. Fingers crossed it finds the Mere as it is one bird that's never been recorded here. I left at 10-45 having seen the Hawfinch's several times . Rob Black came down at lunch time and added female Reed Bunting to our year list cheers Rob.

Brambling (female).

Hawfinch

I spent three hours searching this morning they are getting very elusive , but we still have three Hawfinch's present at the Mere. They are 100 mts left of the visitor's centre in small copse area on occasions dropping down into gardens behind silver birch trees. Also present in same area are six Bullfinch , three Greenfinch , Goldfinch, Siskin and three Brambling two males and a single female. On the water are nine Pochard , ten Great Crested Grebe's and a single Little Grebe.

February 19th

Birdguides relaying message of Hawfinch still present this afternoon in same area.

February 18th

Mark had a very early start this morning walking around at 6 o'clock listening for the Tawny Owl which he managed to get .Taking the years total so far upto 67 , as we are trying for that magical 100 species this year . I was there for a couple of hours before having to leave for work , but there was no sign of any Hawfinch or Brambling . All I managed was eleven Canada Geese , six Pochard , a single Siskin several Redwing , thirteen Great Crested Grebe , four Bullfinch , three Goldfinch and a Treecreeper in the car park .Two Hawfinch still present at 14-15 , also female Goldeneye and now seven Pochard. In same area as Hawfinch are six Bullfinch. M Stubbs.  John had the pair of Brambling in the copse this morning .

Hawfinch's

Three Hawfinch's again this morning 100 mts left of visitors centre in and around small coppice area and in nearby silver birch trees . Also the pair of Brambling are around with good numbers of Bullfinch and Greenfinch . Also this morning Siskin , Treecreeper , Jay , six Canada Geese , Cormorant , Stock Dove and five Pochard . Mark Stubbs.

Spring Bird Walk

The rangers at Astbury have talked me into doing a spring bird walk around the mere to find early passage migrants . So we have set up two dates one in early April and one in early May , for more details of times and dates go onto the Astbury Mere Facebook page or contact one of the park rangers on 01260 297237. Look forward to seeing you there.

February 16th

Myself and Jack found two Hawfinchs still in the same area as yesterday along with the pair of Brambling , and several Greenfinch and Bullfinch. The birds can be elusive but we only waited half hour for them to appear. Also noted a single Mistle Thrush and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Finch Bonanza

A steady walk around this morning with my better half Tracey and our two small pups before work when we came across a Hawfinch sitting up in a silver birch just 100 mts down from the visitor's centre . On close inspection it was with two Greenfinch and a pair of Brambling . After a few record shots were taken to document the bird it flew towards the coppice and disappeared . Tracey re located it sitting with some Redwing back where we originally found it. I quickly texted Mark who luckley was already on site with his brother and together we found another two possibley three . Also 8 Siskin in trees by the sailing club and a pair Shoveler on the water. These are not the sort of photos I like taking but at least they document the birds . Mark went back this afternoon but no sign possibly due to high winds and also the amount of people around. But did manage to pick up three adult Common Gulls on the water amongst fifteen Lesser Black Backs. This is a good record as we only get a single bird sighting of Common Gull in a year.

Brambling female.

Brambling male.

Hawfinch male.

February 6th

Not very much happening at present very quite at the mere , all the Pochard have disappeared now possibley due to the presence of the sailing boats . Great Crested Grebe number's have dropped back to eight and the pair of Mute Swan's have reappeared . One thing I did notice this morning was the number of Bullfinches around at least eight seen possibly more hidden . Other birds of note were Cormorant , Goldcrest , Coal Tit and Grey Heron.