HAPPY NEW YEAR

I would like to wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. And no you havn't had that much to drink you are still on the Astbury Blog but with a new format covering the Congleton Area. We will now report sightings from the north west of Congleton at Newsbank Pool over to Eaton SQ and following the river Dane over to The Cloud. Then following the Cheshire border along Congleton Edge down to Mow Cop , then over towards Moreton Hall on the A34 still south of Congleton before moving back up north towards Brownlow Heath and back upto Newsbank. It basically covers a 3 mile radios around Congleton Town Centre which takes in some good farmland , Woodland and of course still covers Astbury Mere. Areas covered will be the River Dane and the Macclesfield Canal two miles in either direction of Congleton , Newsbank Pool , Eaton Sand Quarry , Astbury Mere, Bent Lane and Farm , The Cloud , Congleton Edge and Mow Cop. See map below for reference .

December 31st

Three hundred and fifty Pink-footed Geese flew over this morning @ 10-15 heading North/West. This will be the last post this year and from tomorrow the blog will take on a new format . The blog will no longer cover just Astbury Mere but will cover a wider area . Thank you for all your support over the last twelve months . Best wishes and have a great evening . See you all next year.

December 30th

One drake Shoveler this morning and fourteen Pochard , this afternoon Pochard numbers had increased to twenty five. Also Little Grebe , six Great Crested Grebe , two Raven , Kestrel and a single overwintering Chiffchaff. Today,s count of 25 Pochard is the highest total since December 2011.

Bearded Tit a site first.

Two female Bearded Tits were seen on March 11th 2017 and appear in the annual Bird Report as an accepted record which brings the site total to 157 species. Bearded Tit is a rare bird in Cheshire and one that was never really anticipated to visit Astbury, but as every birdwatcher knows always expect the unexpected. Birds don't have a passport and know no boundaries so as we all know to well anything can turn up anywhere. A request again for records please let us no what you find you never no it could be a first for Astbury or even a county first.

100 UP

One Hundred for the year this morning when Mark had Yellowhammer and Greater Black Backed Gull go over. Also present two Raven , five Wigeon , two Teal , thirteen Pochard , three Little Grebe and a drake Goosander. The overwintering Chiffchaff was seen again this morning again by fishing peg eight and nine in gorsey corner.

Bent Lane SQ
Peregrine adult

Cheshire & Wirral Bird Report 2017

The annual Cheshire and Wirral Bird Report 2017 is now out. If you are not already a member why not. Just £15 for Individual Membership. Membership Secretary is Phil Hampson 2 Winsfield Road , Hazel Grove, Stockport , SK7 6ES. Or email memsec@cawos.org The annual report can be purchased alone £10 .

December 26th

A pair of Wigeon thirteen Pochard and drake Goosander still.

Merry Xmas

Merry Christmas to all the contributers and followers of this blog.

December 24th

Drake Goosander still present along with twelve Pochard and two Little Grebe.

December 21st

Eighteen Pochard this morning.

December 20th

Twelve adult Shelduck the largest flock ever recorded on the mere, also a pair Goosander.

December 17th

Two drake Goosander today.

December 15th

WeBS Count
Mallard 93
Pochard 9
Coot 163
Tufted Duck 149
Goosander 1
Moorhen 2
Mute Swan 2
Great Crested Grebe 6
Little Grebe 1
Black Headed Gull 164
L B B Gull 3
Herring Gull 1
Kingfisher 1

Also noted
Siskin
Bullfinch
Chiffchaff
Sparrowhawk
Nuthatch
Song Thrush
Jay

Pochard (female)

December 8th

Nothing changed still the drake Goosander , a pair of Siskin and single Fieldfare and Nuthatch.

Goosander drake by Tracey Stubbs.

December 7th

Drake Goosander present for its third day now , along with ten Pochard and two Little Grebe. Also noted Meadow Pipit , Kestrel , Bullfinch , Cormorant and over two hundred Wood Pigeon. No sign yet of any wintering Bramblings.

Pochard drake by Tracey Stubbs.

Astbury,s Bees

The Bee fauna of Astbury is incredibly diverse, Bumblebees and Honey Bee may be the most familiar. The remaining species exhibit a range of social and solitary lifestyles , many are Cuckoo's that take over the nest cells of other species. Many Bee species are in decline and more recording is needed to help determine changes in abundance. The Field Guide to Bees of Great Britain and Ireland by Steven Falk is a must for identification purposes superbly illustrated by Richard Lewington. If anybody would like to help us record and document the species at Astbury please get in touch with either a Ranger ,  Jack ,Mark or myself. Below is a list of what we found and photographed this year.

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Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Tree Bumblebee
Early Bumblebee
Red-tailed Bumblebee
White-tailed Bumblebee
Garden Bumblebee
Common Carder Bee
Hairy-footed Flower Bee

Honey Bee

Ashy Mining Bee
Clark's Mining Bee
Gwynne's Mining Bee
Tawny Mining Bee
Sandpit Mining Bee
Red Mason Bee

Fabricius Nomad Bee
Sandpit Blood Bee
Gooden's Mining Bee
Early Nomad Bee

December 6th

Astbury Mere
Little Grebe x 3
Goosander (drake)
Pochard x 9 (4 drakes)
Tufted Duck estimated x150
Siskin x1

December 5th

Drake Goosander late afternoon on the mere , also nine Pochard approximately 150 Tufted Duck and two Little Grebe.

Redesmere
Goldeneye x 20 +

December 4th

Astbury Mere
Goosander x 2 female flew over
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Little Grebe x 2
Pochard x 5 (3x drakes)

A34 Child's Lane Astbury
Barn Owl early morning.

Buglawton
Goosander x 2 female flew over.
 

Mammals

In nearly freezing temperatures late afternoon two small bats hunting over the tree tops by visitors centre , possibly not Pipistrelles . Also a Bank Vole along the path near Gorsey corner for second day.

December 3rd

Astbury Mere
Blackcap male by feeding station
Wigeon x 2 female
Little Grebe x 2
Pochard x 3
Tawny Owl x 1
Grey Wagtail x 5
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Two small bats not pipistrelle.?

Redesmere
White-fronted Goose.

Congleton
Raven single over calling.

December 2nd

A pair of Wigeon on this morning also a single Chiffchaff noted feeding around the edge of the water again by fishing peg 8/9 in Gorsey corner.
Late Afternoon. .... 2 pairs of Goosander.


Redesmere
White Fronted Goose still present with resident Graylags.
10 x Goldeneye.

December 1st

A good selection of species today with 54 being recorded around and over the mere. Highlights include , 45 Pinkfeet over at 11-50 heading west . Tawny Owl calling , Kingfisher , Lesser Redpoll , two Chiffchaff , 12 Pochard , two Little Grebe , Redwings and Fieldfares passing over. On the feeders Nuthatch , Bullfinch , Coal Tit and all the other usual suspects . Also noted Kestrel , Sparrowhawk and Buzzard.

Redesmere
18 x Goldeneye (15 fem / 3 drakes)
2 x Gadwall
2 x Pochard
2 x White Fronted Geese in field behind car park.

A fine set of images taken late afternoon by Tracey Stubbs in perfect lighting conditions nice one Tracey.