Had a meeting this morning with the contractor who is doing the reedbed restoration work on No.3 bed. Seems to be progressing well and not causing too many birds to abandon the site. Water levels are now a foot lower than at the highest recorded level Plenty of wildfowl around and Snipe numbers were up to 37, which is the highest on the bed for some while. Equally, Water Rails were very active, probably due to interactions as birds are moving around in response to the changes - 7 were heard/seen round the whole bed. Most pleasingly, a Long-eared Owl roost was discovered, with at least 2 birds present, again the first for a fair while. Unfortunately, its not in a place which is publically accessible. A Woodcock was also flushed, while at the Morgan Hide 6 Bramblings were with the scores of Greenfinches and Chaffinches.

The photo shows the changes to what was an extensive, drying reed bed, viewed from the east bank of No.3 bed. Eventually, more pools and channels will be visible from the hides.

Cheers David

Sightings noted during the week 12 - 18th Novemeber 2012.

Dave Riley visited No1 bed three times during the week on ringing sessions, catching a total of 39 birds, 20 new, including 6 Goldcrests and 1 Lesser Redpoll. Sightings on the bed included 39 Lapwings, 1 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe and 30 Redwings (all 14th), 1 Woodcock, 2 Water Rails, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff and 4 Siskins (all 16th), 2 Water Rails, 3 Skylarks, 1 Grey Wagtail and 40 Fieldfares (all 18th).

Mike Miles was on No3 bed on Tuesday on a ringing session catching 37 birds, 18 new including 3 Goldcrests, 2 Linnets, 1 Lesser Redpoll and 5 Reed Buntings, the only sighting of note was a Jack Snipe.

A survey of all four beds produced a wide range of wildfowl. Particularly noteworthy was a total of 491 Tufted Duck including 265 on No.3 bed alone, where the ongoing work has resulted in a significant lowering of the water level. Also present were 80 Mallard, 19 Moorhen, 19 Mute Swans, 380 Teal, 50 Coot, 53 Gadwall and 7 Shoveler. A male Goldeneye was at the weir and a single Snipe in front of the Frank Linley Hide, where 2 Wigeon were present together with 2 Little Grebes. The feeders attracted good numbers of Greenfinch together with a Willow Tit, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Jay. At the eastern end of the reserve 200 Lapwing were seen and 12 Greylag Geese flew west. A flock of Long-tailed Tits on No.4 bed included a male Goldcrest and 2 Pied Wagtails were at the locks.

A busy morning, with both the BTO Thrush Survey and Wildfowl Count to complete,so Dave Steel ,Les Jones, Brian Baird and I covered all four beds and Bollin Point. Walking on to No.3 bed, 3 Goldcrests were along the south bank, along with a Water Rail calling. From the Morgan Hide small numbers of wildfowl were evident (with most of the Teal calling from cover), though 2 Water Rails, 2 Bramblings and a Willow Tit were reliably present. About 1,200 Starlings then left the roost a bit tardily in the early drizzle. With the weather brightening we counted the ever-growing Chaffinch flock on the North Meadow, an estimated 220, with maybe 60 Greenfinches mixed in. Plenty of thrushes were around the Hawthorn hedges on the west bank of the bed, along with another Brambling. Similarly on No.4 bed, most of the thrushes were feeding in the hedgerows around the bed’s perimiter. The flooded east side of No.2 bed held 70 Teal along with smaller numbers of other wildfowl, while a Grey Wagtail flew over and a Common Snipe flushed from cover. No.1 bed was relatively quiet but at Bollin Point we were greeted by a Kingfisher, which flew from a perch below us and again a good variety of wildfowl. Across the Ship Canal c.320 Lapwings and c.450 Black-headed Gulls were feeding on the flooded fields to the east of Lymm Golf Course. Another very enjoyable morning!

Thrush totals were: Blackbirds 129, Redwings 222, Fieldfares 8 and Song Thrushes 7.

The photo is of the flooded area on No.2 bed.

Cheers David

A sunny morning on No.3 bed with lots of bird activity. Counts included: 1 Goldeneye,15 Snipe, 240 Teal, 2 Bramblings, 5 Redpolls, 4 Water Rails, 10 Redwings, 14 Reed Buntings, 115 Chaffinches and 65 Greenfinches.

Photo of mushrooms (not sure what species!) from No.3 bed

Cheers David

Marsh Harrier sighted on No.3 Bed

It was excellent weather for today’s Migration Watch, with morning mist soon giving way to sunshine. The main features of the morning were : a large movement of Starlings from a presumed roost over Manchester way, arriving to feed on Rixton Moss, a reasonable passage of thrushes and good numbers of Chaffinch and Lapwing. Totals included: 1 Peregrine, 9 Buzzards, 422 Lapwings, 359 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Tawny Owls, 15 Song Thrushes, 24 Blackbirds, 127 Redwings, 232 Fieldfares, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 8 Goldcrests, 3 Coal Tits, 10,145 Starlings, 188 Chaffinches, 51 Goldfinches and 4 Siskins.

At Woolston Weir (see photo!), two male Goldeneye were still present

Cheers David

A walk round all four beds produced the following counts; 307 Tufted Duck, 83 Mallard, 63 Coot, 59 Gadwall, 27 Greylag Geese, 19 Shoveler, 6 Great-crested Grebes and 3 male Goldeneyes (Weir Basin). 120 Lapwing and 200 Starlings were on flooded fields to the south of Butchersfield Tip. A willow Tit was calling on No.1 bed and four Water Rails were heard on No.3 bed. Snipe in front of the Frank Linley Hide were down to four.

On No.3 bed 14 Snipe were still in front of the Lindley Hide, plus a few Redwing and Goldcrests moving around the margins. Duck numbers are holding up well, despite the start of the work on the east side of the bed, with 240 Teal, 21 Shovelers and 143 Tufted Duck in front of the Morgan Hide, along with 2 Water Rails on the muddy edge. Two male Goldeneyes are still on the Weir Pool.

Cheers David

A Marsh Harrier was seen by David Roberts on the bridge when leaving No 3 Bed.

Here’s the photo of Jason’s Coot!

Cheers David

A late Chiffchaff was ringed on No.3 bed by Kieran Foster, Jason Atkinson et al this morning. c.2,000 Starlings left the roost on the same bed early on, while 10 Snipe were still in front of the Lindley Hide. Les Jones, Brian Baird and I also noted 1 Brambling (on the Morgan hide feeders), 3 Willow Tits, 5 Water Rails, 16 Greylag Geese, 30 Lapwings, 60 Greenfinches, 80 Chaffinches, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 11 Jackdaws, 60 Redwings, 8 Moorhens and 16 Long-tailed Tits, before heading off, late morning, for a quick and productive walk round Rixton Moss.

The photos are of the Coot which provided Jason Atkinson with a ringing “tick” this morning and the Robin which was looking on.

Cheers David

This morning one Jack Snipe was with 9 Common Snipe in front of the Lindley Hide on No.3 bed. The work to open up fresh water areas, which has started on the eastern side of the bed, doesn’t seem to be affecting the wildfowl too much, with 240 Teal, 56 Tufted Ducks, 39 Gadwalll and 13 Shovelers out on the open water. Two Bramblings were still with the large Chaffinch flock by the North Meadow, while 35 Redwings were also present.

This photo of a Comma, taken in mid-October, is a last reminder of summer!

Cheers David

A very autumnal morning on No.3 bed, with plenty of thrushes and finches feeding actively. Counts included: 3 Bramblings, 8 Goldcrests, 34 Greylag Geese, 130 Redwings, 7 Fieldfares, 41 Blackbirds, 12 Linnets, 8 Reed Buntings, 80 Chaffinches, 110 Greenfinches, 4 Song Thrushes, 2 Willow Tits, 137 Tufted Ducks and 14 Snipe.

Picture of a Common Buzzard over Butchersfield Tip during last weeks Migration Watch Cheers David