July 31st

Kingfisher early morning possibly due to the high water levels along the rivers. Twelve Swift this afternoon also Goldcrest , Sparrowhawk , four House Martin and Buzzard.

Congleton
Barn Rd
Hobby over water treatment works @ 17-30 (RB).

July 30th

Congleton Barn Rd
Raven over at mid-day (RB).

Astbury Butterflies yesterday .
Holy Blue x3
Large White
Comma
Gatekeeper
Ringlet
Meadow Brown
Small Skipper
Large Skipper

July 28th

Another excellent find by Mark this morning during the heavy rain when at 6-40 this morning he found eight Common Scoter at the mere. Unfortunately they were flying around and only landed briefly before flying off in a South Westerly direction. Just south of us in Staffordshire good numbers of Common Scoters were being found with!
Blithfield Res  x 108
Westport Lake x 18
Gailey Res x 4
Tucklesholme x 1
Branston GP x 1

July 26th

Still very quiet at the mere early morning Treecreeper , Goldcrest , Jay , Bullfinch and Chiffchaff . Below a couple of images from few days ago taken by Tracey Stubbs.

Meadow Brown by T Stubbs.

Gatekeeper by T Stubbs.

July 24th

Sixteen Raven flew over at 5-20 this morning , along with twelve two days ago. Also this morning Holy and Common Blue and Brown Hawker and Migrant Hawker.

July 21st

Tracey Stubbs found our first Emperor Dragonfly this afternoon at Astbury , possibly over looked but never been recorded before at the mere.Also good numbers of Gatekeeper and Small Skipper Butterflies.

July 19th

Common Sandpiper again early morning on the sailing club beach , also Reed Warbler calling.

Black-tailed Skimmer female.

July 18th

Things still very quiet around the mere bird wise , the Reed Warbler can still be heard calling early mornings. Also a good selection of butterflies are now on the wing , we have already had eighteen out of the nineteen species that get recorded annually , the only one missing is Small Copper . So if anyone sees one please drop us a text or better still a photo.

July 13th

Bird wise it's still very quiet at the mere with all the resident species feeding their offspring and staying mostly out of site. The Great Crested Grebe seems to have at least two chicks , as they were seen on mum's back this afternoon. Also around Swallow, House Martin , Swift , Buzzard , G S Woodpecker and Jay. Butterflies are still showing well with Large White , Small White , Small and Large Skipper , Gatekeeper (12) , Meadow Brown , Comma(3) and Ringlet . A female Black-tailed Skimmer and possibly a Southern Hawker along with plenty of Azure Blue Damselfly. Shaded-broad Bar and Six-spot Burnet were a couple of the day flying moths noted. All photos below courtesy of Tracey Stubbs.

Large Skipper by T Stubbs.

Ringlet by T Stubbs.

Large White by T Stubbs.

Comma by T Stubbs.

Shaded-broad Bar by T Stubbs.

Six-spot Burnet by T Stubbs.

July 11th

Congleton Area
Bent Lane
Yellowhammers
Tree Sparrow
Linnet
Pied Wagtails x 8
Oystercatcher f/o
Reed Bunting
Stock Dove

Congleton Town Centre
Raven x 2 f/o
Swift x 40

Astbury Mere
Buzzard
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Ringlet
Small Whites x 3

July 10th

No sign of yesterday's Common Scoter's. A single juvenile Grey Wagtail on the sailing club beach , also noted Grey Heron , 25 Tufted Duck , Goldcrest , Pheasant , Chiffchaff , Jay , single Swift and Two House Martin's. Afternoon saw the first Gatekeeper of the year along with Small and Large Skipper , Meadow Brown , Ringlet , Green-veined White , Speckled Wood and Comma.

Ringlet photo by Tracey Stubbs.

Small Skipper photo by Tracey Stubbs.

Gatekeeper photo by Tracey Stubbs.

July 9th

Excellent find by Mark Stubbs at 5-30 this morning , finally rewarded for all his hard work and effort. Five Common Scoter on the mere , four drakes and a single female. They were still present mid- morning but we're being pushed around by the sailing boats. They were always distant when on the water but did come closer when flying around.

Common Scoter.

Common Scoter.

Common Scoter.

Common Scoter.

July 6th

Reed Warbler in full song and Oystercatcher over.

July 1st

July 1st
Congleton Park
Two juvenile Goosander
Juvenile Dipper.

Astbury Mere
Jay , Buzzard , Swift , Common Toad , Smooth Newt , Meadow Brown,
Ringlet and Wood Mouse.


June 30th
Bent Lane
Whitethroat x 2
Oystercatcher x 2
Shelduck.

Astbury Mere 29th
Kestrel
Willow Warbler
Reed Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
G S Woodpecker
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Swift
Coal Tit
House Martin
Bullfinch
Greenfinch

Astbury Mere 28th
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Chiffchaff
House Martin
Swift

Astbury Mere 27th
Small Skipper
Large Skipper
Ringlet
Meadow Brown
Speckled Wood

Astbury Mere 26th
Common Sandpiper

Brereton Heath CP 25th
Whitethroat
Black-tailed Skimmer
Common Blue
Meadow Brown x 5
Painted Lady