March 31st

Very cold and windy place this morning but Mark still managed eight Goosanders flying over along with two Cormorant and three Canada Geese. Also noted three singing Chiffchaff , two Grey Wagtail , Sparrowhawk and Lapwing. We still have a pair of Hawfinch on site and a male Brambling first thing. We both left at 9-00 just before the Saturday fun run started.

March 30th

Two Sand Martin's flew straight through , a female Hawfinch pair of Brambling a male Reed Bunting and two Chiffchaff. (MS).

The first Cowslips of the year. (Tracey Stubbs).

March 29th

Still two Hawfinch this morning also two singing Chiffchaff and eight Brambling.

March 28th

Heavy showers on and off this morning not good for the birder but good for bringing migrants down . Two Chiffchaff singing this morning one staying low and feeding at ground level.

Chiffchaff.

Four Hawfinch were found just after it got light but soon headed for cover as the rains moved in. During a heavy shower six Sand Martin's were brought down over the water . The feeding table is still producing with a pair of Brambling first thing along with four Reed Buntings two of which are photographed below.

Reed Buntings.

All the other usual birds were seen on or around the feeders , and it's nice to see so many Greenfinch back and looking in good condition aswell. Mark found the Kestrel again earlier and late evening Rob had a single Hawfinch and a male and two female Reed Buntings on Stubbs table.

Greenfinch (male).

Sand Martin

The first Sand Martins of the year early morning with six passing through heading east (JS) . Also three Hawfinch and five Brambling. A possible second Chiffchaff this afternoon or could just be same one moved area. The first has been singing by what we call dog beach in the north east corner of the mere . And this afternoon another was singing by the sailing club opposite side of the mere.

March 26th

The five Scaup have finally departed after a eight day stay last seen last night (Sunday) at 19-00 . Two Hawfinch showed reasonably well this morning as did a pair of Brambling on the feeders. A pair of Wigeon was a nice surprise early morning but they had departed by 9-30. The pair of Pochard still remain and the male Reed Bunting is still visiting the feeders. Brambling noted later on by people numbered upto six birds there is definitely more around but like the Hawfinch they are becoming more elusive. We are still awaiting our first Sand Martin's of the year . The Chiffchaff was singing again mid-afternoon (RS), and the Wigeon had reappeared (MS).

Wigeon (drake).

Wigeon (drake).

Wigeon (female).

March 25th

Got there at 7 o'clock with the sun just coming through the trees filled the feeders up and made my way down to the water. The Scaup were closer in than normal so I settled down to do some photography and within 30 minutes you could not see the water . The fog had come down so quickly and to make it worse the Scaup just kept coming even closer, the closest I have had them in over a week typical. Between myself Jack and Mark we managed five Scaup , eight Brambling , two Hawfinch , pair Pochard , seven Buzzard up together , two adult Common Gull on water , two Sparrowhawk , Kestrel ,Cormorant , nine Bullfinch , Chiffchaff , Treecreeper , Raven and Meadow Pipit over and Siskin. Mark also had Buff-tailed Bumblebee and Comma our first Butterfly of the year. Also two Tawny Owls calling throughout the night. The five Scaup were still present at 18-00 this evening and six adult Common Gulls in the roost.

Adult Common Gull coming into roost this evening.

The Astbury Five on the evening of their eighth day.

March 24th

Who would have thought seven weeks down the line and we still have four Hawfinch , along with the five Scaup which we found last Saturday . Also several Brambling around the site . Turn the clocks back a few months and we would have settled for anyone of these species being on site now we just take them for granted , enjoy it while it lasts. Today between myself and Mark going down after I have gone to work we have added Greylag , Canada Geese , Pochard ,Goldcrest , Reed Bunting , Raven , Sparrowhawk , Kestrel , Chiffchaff , Cormorant ,several Bullfinch and three Buzzard.

March 23rd

Five Scaup still this morning also two Hawfinch , four Brambling and single Chiffchaff . P Dobson had the same later on with the addition of single Greylag , Goldcrest , two Fieldfare and three Bullfinch.

Two out of the three drake Scaup present on the mere.

March 22nd

I didn't get down today due to work but thanks to Mark & Trace who visited late afternoon to find the five Scaup still present along with two Hawfinch , two Brambling , Kestrel , Goldcrest and Cormorant. First Chiffchaff back at 18-15 this evening singing it's little heart out.

Feeding Station

I don't like taking birds on a feeding table but I will make a exception today as the sun was out and the birds just looked so good . Taken on or around Stubbs table today .

March 21st

Nothing new this morning just the five Scaup still present , eleven Great Crested Grebe's , a pair of Pochard and a pair of Gadwall . Eleven Brambling were found along with just two Hawfinch which are now getting very elusive and took ages to find. Bullfinch are here in good numbers with at least five pairs seen today . Siskin numbers are around twelve birds with just two Lesser Redpoll . Still no Chiffchaff or Sand Martin yet hopefully as the weather warms up they should be here by the weekend.

Gadwall (drake).

March 20th

Five Scaup still three drake's and two females , also four Hawfinch and twelve Brambling. A pair of Pochard remain on the mere and a single Little Grebe was noted aswell. A pair of Sparrowhawk's were hunting this morning and three Greylag Geese circled the mere but left without touching down .Still good numbers of Redwing around early mornings seen feeding on area in front of visitors centre . Stubbs feeding table had a single male Brambling , pair Bullfinch , pair Greenfinch and a male Reed Bunting plus Treecreeper and Goldcrest around the conservation area ......Mark and Trace had five Goosander over late afternoon , eight Brambling and the Scaup still present at 16-15.

Redwing.

March 19th

The five Scaup are still present and three Hawfinch showed reasonably well again early morning . Myself and Jack had six Curlew over our second record this month for them . An adult Common Gull was in amongst the Black Headed Gulls and Sparrowhawk and Buzzard circled overhead. There are still quite a few Brambling at various places but the feeding station seems the best place now to connect. There are still good numbers of Redwing around with around 30 on the grass in front of the visitor's centre early morning.

Common Gull.

Curlew .

Curlew.

March 18th

A excellent early start this morning after overnight snow and freezing temperatures myself and Mark met up at 6-30 this morning . To find the five Scaup from yesterday still present . Jack joined us around 7-30 and between us we managed to get our first record of Golden Plover on the list with a flock of 32 over followed by another eleven. We had five Hawfinch , 4 male Brambling three of which were on Stubbs feeding table , then to our amazement we had two Hawfinch near the feeders. Full list for two hours this morning as follows. Two Goosander , five Lapwing , Grey Wagtail , Cormorant , 28 Meadow Pipits , Mistle Thrush , 11 Fieldfare , 50+ Redwing , seven Skylark , five Lesser Redpoll , Siskin , seven Bullfinch , Treecreeper , 1000+ Starlings in one flock , Goldcrest , Greenfinch , Sparrowhawk , five Canada Geese and Grey Heron........Scaup still present late afternoon also Kestrel and two Brambling. (MS).

The five Lapwings from early this morning a scarce bird here even more so to get them on the ground.

Greater Scaup

Todays five Greater Scaup 3 x drakes and 2 x females are the first on sight since 16th Oct 2016 . And the first time we have had more than one bird , all previous records are of single bird sightings. These five are very possibly the ones that were at Tittisworth Reservoir in Staffordshire this morning , and quite possibly moving from the east coast heading west with the bad weather system.

First Swallow

Pete Dobson had our first Swallow through this morning our earliest sighting for several years . Also present two Hawfinch , single Siskin and Brambling (M S). Stonechat female found by Jack a first site record , unfortunately it was flushed by a jogger then lost in a heavy snow storm. I arrived shortly afterwards to search with Jack but to no avail. Walking around the other side Jack noticed five Scaup close inshore three drake's and two females possibly the five from nearby Tittesworth which were there this morning. I could see the Scaup heading over towards one of the fishing platforms so I got in place and managed some half decent photos. Also noted amongst the Snow showers and then sunshine were two Hawfinch and six Brambling. On Stubbs feeding table three male and one female Brambling late afternoon (MS).

Scaup female.

Scaup drake.

Scaup pair.

Scaup 3 drake's , 2 females.

Paul Sefton Image's

A few images take at Astbury yesterday cheers Paul.

March 16th

Three Hawfinch again this morning and at least three Brambling , and a flock of twenty Lesser Redpoll over. Also noted Sparrowhawk , Goldfinch , Bullfinch , Greenfinch , Cormorant and Redwing . (RB , MS , IW). This afternoon two Hawfinch , male Blackcap , and three Brambling thanks to Karl Stockton for info.

March 15th

Two Hawfinch around mid-day (Jack) . Then later on Mark had a single Cormorant on the water a single Lapwing over and five Buzzard's and Sparrowhawk in the air all together . Also two Brambling in the usual area. A single Brambling still visiting Stubbs feeding table also male Reed Bunting (P Sefton).

Brambling (male).

Hawfinch Directions

I keep being asked about directions ............... Stand in the visitor's centre car park facing the water go left for about 100 mts untill you reach a small copse in the field . Stand by the copse and with your back to the water look at the silver birch trees in front of the houses. They can be elusive but with patients can be found. They also get anywhere further along again looking at the trees with your back to the water, early mornings are usually the best chance of connecting . But they have been seen throughout the day. Hope this helps.

March 14th

Strong biting winds today put pay to the Hawfinch's showing anything like they did yesterday . I met up with Jack early morning who had already seen two and I had a couple more with two other birders in a different area , so the conclusion was four birds at least still on site . Brambling showed a little better staying lower down with six showing there are undoubtedly more around. Also noted this morning 48 Fieldfare flying over , single Cormorant and 11 Bullfinch . Decided to call it a morning after a couple of hours being battered by the winds , and go down this afternoon and concentrate on the feeding station . Brambling , Bullfinch , Reed Bunting and Greenfinch were all using Stubbs table , so called as Mark and Tracey Stubbs donated the feeding table. Also on the feeders were Long-tailed Tits and Coal Tits but no sign today of the male Blackcap. Images below are of the male Reed Bunting on Stubbs table , and male Brambling taken around the feeding area. If viewing please be sensible and keep your distance give the birds chance to feed .

Reed Bunting (male).

Reed Bunting (make).

Brambling (male).

Brambling (male).

Frog Spawn

At least ten frogs could be seen and heard in the small pond in the conservation area today doing what frogs do best making frog Spawn.

March 13th

A walk around this morning with Jack produced eight Hawfinch and eleven Brambling . Five other birders turned up later and we managed to get everyone on at least four of the birds which showed very well. No sign of any migrants yet ie (Sand Martin or Chiffchaff). Still four Pochard on the water but no sign of any Little Grebe's. As before the Hawfinch's can be found by going left out of visitor's centre car park for about 100mts stand by the small copse and look towards the houses , the birds perch up in the silver birch trees but can be elusive. With some patience the birds will show well.Went back down again after dinner mainly to fill feeders up and check out what's coming to the feeding station. A male Brambling and male Reed Bunting were photographed but the overwintering male Blackcap eluded the camera and only made brief appearances. Also on the feeders were Bullfinch , Greenfinch , Goldfinch , Coal, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits. Three Hawfinch's were around the usual place also with a few Brambling . Around twelve visiting birders that I saw today all went away happy with good views of both Hawfinch and Brambling.

Reed Bunting (male).

Brambling (male).

March 12th

Well this time last year it was warm sunny and we had our first returning Chiffchaff singing his heart out. Not today it is a miserable wet cloudy day but four Hawfinch and seven Brambling brightened things up a little . Also the male Blackcap showed briefly around the feeders while a male Reed Bunting was feeding on spilt seed underneath. Four Pochard are still present and two pairs of Great Crested Grebe's were displaying.

Lucky Escape

Amazingly this Smooth Newt was picked up alive off the path yesterday just after 145 pairs of feet had just done three laps of the mere.

Feeders

We set up a small feeding station just over a week ago now in the conservation area , and it's attracting a steady stream of birds. We have already had a overwintering male Blackcap , several Bullfinch along with Goldfinch , Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tits and this morning I photographed a male Reed Bunting . And I have heard this afternoon Jack has photographed a male Brambling so all good news.

Reed Bunting (male).

Hawfinch Location

The Hawfinch's are ranging between 100/400 mts left of the visitor's center car park . Stand in the car park facing the water then walk left looking in the trees that back onto the garden's . The birds can be elusive but if you can pin them down they do show very well. Sometimes it is best just to stand in the middle of the grass and just watch on occasions they will come and feed in the copse by the path.

March 11th

Myself and Mark had a very early start this morning then met up with Jack a little later on . We had five Hawfinch together in one Beach tree then eight Brambling nearby . Also noted male Reed Bunting on feeders , Siskin, Bullfinch , Sparrowhawk , Buzzard , Goldcrest , Mistle Thrush , two Cormorant over along with thirteen Meadow Pipits. On the water four Pochard three drake's and a female , twelve Great Crested Grebe. Tufted and Coot numbers looked about the same as last week's count.

March 10th

Another new addition to the year list when Mark had three Curlew fly over early morning . Also noted two Hawfinch ,two Brambling , Lapwing , seven Canada Geese , two drake Pochard , Goldcrest and Jay.

March 9th

Two Hawfinch again mid-morning same area 100 mts left of visitor's centre car park , also three Brambling. (B Hicks).

Pochard pair photograph by (B Hicks)........... This afternoon Mark has managed a pair Gadwall , three Pochard , Hawfinch , Brambling , pair Mistle Thrush and two Little Grebe's.

March 8th

The male Hawfinch is still singing mid-day it's now three weeks on site , the female is possibly nearby but not seen today . M Stubbs. We have had upto six birds present on and off over these last three weeks and many birders have connected with them and gone away happy.

March 6th

Very very quite today only one single Hawfinch found . On the water three Little Grebe's still along with twelve Great Crested. Coot , Mallard and Tufted numbers all back to normal now the weather has warmed up and other waters in the area are now thawing . Several Bullfinch around along with twenty plus Redwing. Mark and Trace just had two Hawfinch usual place 100 to 200 mts left of the visitor's center car park mid-day , and a single Lapwing over.

March 5th

Still two Hawfinch this morning , three Brambling , three Little Grebe's , two drake Shoveler first thing but had departed by 8 o'clock ,96 Coot and 12 Great Crested Grebe's.Twenty Redwing and two Fieldfare feeding on the grass. No sign of the female Goldeneye. On the the feeders were Bullfinch , Goldfinch , Greenfinch , Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit. One of the male Hawfinch has been heard singing over the last couple of days.

March 4th

The redhead Smew is still present at the Mere this morning it took me a good hour to find it . Also two Dunlin , two Hawfinch , four Brambling , female Goldeneye a pair of Shoveler and 28 Redwing feeding on grass in front of visitors centre. I managed to get some reasonable images of one of the Dunlin very early this morning at 7-00 on the sailing club beach , very little light but pleased with the efforts.

I left at 9-00 due to work commitments and Mark texted me at 9-15 to say the Smew had just flown off high south east.