Little Egret a site First

I was at work when I got a call from Mark saying he had just found our first Little Egret for Astbury a site first. Marks on a roll with the sighting of two Greenshank last Sunday morning , that in itself was only the second ever record. Surprisingly there have been no sightings of Little Egret at all either flying over or on the deck at Astbury, but they have been recorded at a small pool on a few occasions which is less than a mile away. But we will take this one as being the first .The Egret was found at 9-40 and was still present at 10-50 when I left feeding on the small spit just off the sailing club car park. It flew around once but came back to the same spot . The bird arrived between 8-30 and 9-30 as Mark visited earlier in the morning and left at 8-30 with no sign of its presence. Apparently the Little Egret flew off high over Visitors Centre just before midday. Also this morning small numbers of Meadow Pipits passed overhead , along with a single Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.I managed a few shots of the Egret just for the record books.

August 30th

Mark had a walk around early this morning not a great deal going on . Cormorant , Grey Heron , Blackcap , Bullfinch , Goldcrest and Chiffchaff. Also House Martin's and Swallows still hanging on.

August 28th

Quiet again this morning just a couple of Buzzards , Swallow's and House Martin's are still hanging on . Couple of female Blackcap noted along with good numbers of Goldfinch and Bullfinch , both these finch's seemed to have had a good breeding season. Fisherman tell me that the Tawny Owls were in good voice last night.

August 27th

Very quiet this morning just three Buzzards , a flock of 26 Goldfinch , single Kestrel and Raven over. Twenty-five Tufted Duck and 26 Black Headed Gulls on small sand bar along with a couple of Lesser Black Backs.

Photo by Tracey Stubbs

Greenshank

Absolutely fantastic record this morning of two Greenshank on the sailing club shore found by Mark Stubbs. The two birds were first picked up by Mark at 5-43 after he heard them calling, they flew off high North over visitors centre at 6-23. This is only the second ever record for the site , the first being found by Andy Goodwin on 26/09/02. Other birds of note a single Tawny Owl calling and in last couple weeks a Hobby and two juvenile Shelduck . A single Swift present late afternoon.

Archive photo of Greenshank taken a few years ago.

August 14th

Another quiet visit this morning , twenty seven House Martin's , single Grey Heron , eight Tufted Duck , eight Great Crested Grebe's and plenty of juvenile Bullfinches around. Sparrowhawk put up a small Goldfinch flock and Mark had three Swift again yesterday.

August 12th

A wet morning at the Mere , Reed Warbler , Cormorant , five Swift , four Chiffchaff , juvenile's of Bullfinch and Goldcrest , also Blackcap and Willow Warbler. (MS)

August 11th

Mark had fourty species on his walk this morning nothing special but not a bad total , with a couple of easy ones missed. Best of the bunch , Great Spotted Woodpecker , Nuthatch , Chiffchaff , Coal Tit , fourteen Greenfinch , Willow Warbler , Blackcap , House Martin's , Sparrowhawk and Buzzard.

100 UP

It's took a long time coming but finally early this morning Mark managed to get us up to the 100 species for the year. When four Common Terns dropped in at 5-35 this morning and flew out again at 6-05. All marks hard work has paid off putting in many hours birding to get us to this total , nice fella.

Strange sighting

Be careful if you go down to the woods today.

Mark Stubbs doing what he does best .

August 2nd

Struggling this morning to find much of interest the best being Reed Warbler , Buzzard , several House Martin's and Great Spotted Woodpecker.No sign of yesterday's two Common Sandpipers . Duck numbers basically the same as day before. Local fisherman told me he saw a pike take a young Coot last night.

August 1st.

Two Common Sandpipers early morning along the fisherman's shore which at present with the water levels very low , looks remarkable attractive for waders. 46 Coot , 43 Mallard , 8 Tufted Duck , 10 Great Crested Grebe's and 6 House Martin's. The area of rough grass just to the left of the visitors center held around 14 Common Blue and 2 Small Copper butterflies early morning. Six Swift and a single Reed Warbler this afternoon (MS).

Common Blue female.