Dave Riley was on No1 bed on the Thursday catching 47 birds with 39 new, including 2 Common Redpolls along with 4 Lessers. 4 Goldcrests and a Song Thrush were amongst the other highlights, with the majority of the new birds comprising Greenfinches (24). Sightings during the morning included 1740 Woodpigeons heading south along with 70 Skylarks.

On No3 bed, Mike Miles, Kieran Foster were joined by Lisa Warvill and Nicky Edmonds on the Saturday. After the light drizzle stopped they caught 61 birds, with 41 new, mainly at the feeders. Highlights were a Redwing and 3 Lesser Redpolls. Greenfinches were around in good numbers with 29 captures. Sightings during the morning were restricted to a flock of about 50 Pink-footed Geese

Other sightings included an excellent Visible Migration watch from Butchersfield Tip, characterised by an exceptional eastward movement of Pink-footed Geese and a good passage of winter thrushes. Highlights included: 6,970 Pink-footed Geese, 533 Fieldfares, 398 Redwings, 1 Pintail, 2 Bramblings, 5 Siskins, 20 Lesser Redpolls, 36 Skylarks and 327 Lapwings. More local sightings included Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Goldcrest.

Dave Riley ringed on No1 bed on the Tuesday and Friday, catching a total of 88 birds with the 76 new including the third latest Reed Warbler for the bed, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrests, 1 Treecreeper, 28 Greenfinches and 8 Lesser Redpolls.

The No3 bed team were ringing on the Saturday catching 8 new birds including the first Redwing of autumn/winter period.

There were some interesting sightings during the week with 2 probable Richard’s Pipits flying over No1 bed on 15th, first north then east, giving there diagnostic call. Also seen on the bed on that day were 35 Skylarks, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Water Rails. the 18th produced 66 Redwings moving south along with 12 Lesser Redpolls.

Sightings from No3 bed included 3 Mandarins (1 male and 2 females) in front of the Morgan Hide on the Friday along with 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, 25 Linnets, 23 Redwings, 1 Water Rail, and 220 Teal, also, a Stonechat was seen on the Saturday.

Dave Riley was ringing on No1 bed on the Friday and Saturday, catching 60 birds with 50 new including 33 Greenfinches, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Chiffchaffs (including the heaviest he has ever caught on the bed, weighing in at 9.9 grms), the fourth Treecreeper of the year for the bed and a single Lesser Redpoll.

The No3 bed team caught 7 new birds on the Saturday, included a Chiffchaff.

Sightings included:

3,500 Redwings heading northwards during the during the Saturday morning. 54 Fieldfares on the Friday 7 Whooper Swans (flying east, low over No.3 bed) 2 Golden Plover 13 Snipe 2 Black-tailed Godwits 2 Siskin 1 Brambling 10 Stock Doves 3 Grey Wagtails 273 Teal 70 Shovelers 3 Little Grebes 1 Water Rail 15 Buzzards 7 Sparrowhawks 2 Kestrels 1 Common Gull 45 Skylarks 45 Lesser Redpolls 1 Green Sandpiper 2 Swallow

A fairly quiet day for my weekly walk around the reserve with spells of sunshine and the odd brief shower. I found a late Comma before it clouded over and there were good numbers of Canada Geese (150) and Tufted Duck (170) at Bollin Point. Totals included 95 Mallard, 24 Cormorant, 21 Greylag Geese, 212 Tufted Duck, 62 Gadwall and 154 Canadas. Robins were still quite numerous and a total of 56, although less than in recent weeks, was still a good count. Photo; Fly Algaric mushrooms on No.1 bed.

Ringing on No1 this morning, sightings included: 1600 Woodpigeons, 180 Fieldfares, 30 Redwings, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 30 Lesser Redpolls and 1 Water Rail

Photo of a Moorhen under the Morgan Hide feeders today.

Cheers David

Photo of a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the Morgan hide feeders today.

Cheers David

Photo of a female Shoveler in No.3 bed today.

Photo of Canada and Greylag Geese on the alert today.

A quick afternoon dash onto No.3 bed, between showers, where water levels have risen substantially this week. Two Pintails, 1 Snipe, 2 Water Rails plus good numbers of Teal and Shoveler were the main sightings.

Photo of a rainbow between the sqalls today!

A lovely morning spent on our usual bed 3. Highlights included a Kingfisher perched in front of the Morgan hide diving down to occasionally feed, a Sparrowhawk sped past and managed to grab an unfortunate greenfinch for breakfast, a dozen Redwing in the berry trees at the entrance to the Morgan hide with a male Bullfinch dashing about following them and 2 Willow tits. Also lots of Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blue and Great Tits and a couple of G.S Woodpecker feeding at the stations. About 40 different species over the course of the morning.

Thanks Gill and Keith

An excellent Visible Migration watch from Butchersfield Tip, characterised by an exceptional eastward movement of Pink-footed Geese and a good passage of winter thrushes. Highlights included: 6,970 Pink-footed Geese, 533 Fieldfares, 398 Redwings, 1 Pintail, 2 Bramblings, 5 Siskins, 20 Lesser Redpolls, 36 Skylarks and 327 Lapwings. More local sightings included Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Goldcrest.

Photo of the view from Butchersfield Tip

Cheers David (with Dave Steel, Les Jones, Dave Spencer and Paul Hazlehurst)

Another enjoyable few hours at the reserve.

We met several members which was nice to have a catch and get some hints and tips on the birding as we are relatively new.There wasn’t a great deal happening there were approx 12 lapwings on the far side of the new hide.A few snipe lots of teal coots and one moorhen.Buzzards circling from time to time lots of greenfinches one green finch shot past the front of the hide followed by a sparrowhawk don’t know the outcome of that.G.s.woodpecker also showed itself just as we were leaving 3.30 a dozen greylag landed we then walked around the reserve saw a few longtail tits. Look forward to our next visit Gill and Roger Riley

A glorious autumn day for my weekly walk round the reserve. Around 80 Robins were present together with over 100 Lapwing and 2 Wigeon on No.3 bed. The warm sunny weather was ideal for butterflies. 4 Red Admirals, 3 Commas, 2 Small Coppers and a Small White was an excellent showing for late October. Photo; Red Admiral on Ivy at Latchford Locks.

No sign of the Mandarins on Saturday, though a Stonechat was found by a permit holder, in front of the Morgan Hide. Two Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Snipe were with 220 Teal from the same hide, while odd Siskins and Redpolls passed over.

Cheers David (with Dave Spencer, Brian Martin, Roger Benbow, Paul Hazlehurst and Ste Dodd)

Dave Spencer found 3 Mandarin Ducks (1 male and 2 females) in front of the Morgan Hide this morning. They were still there, in front of the Tower Hide, when i left at 1.30 pm. Other sightings were: 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, 25 Linnets, 23 Redwings, 1 Water Rail and 202 Teal.

Cheers David

Another great day for watching migration, with 3,200 Redwings heading northwards during the morning. Fieldfares were much scarcer, with just 20 noted, while other good sightings for the Reserve included:7 Whooper Swans (flying east, low over No.3 bed), 2 Golden Plover, 13 Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Siskin, 10 Stock Doves, 3 Grey Wagtails, 273 Teal, 70 Shovelers, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Water Rail, 15 Buzzards, 7 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels and 1 Common Gull. Photo of a Buzzard

Cheers David (with Les Jones, Dave Spencer and Ste Dodd)

Love it when the last summer migrants and incoming winter visitors overlap. An early afternoon visit to No.3 bed saw 420 Redwings moving south-west in numerous small flocks, in an hour and a half, while a single Merlin followed close behind on the same track and 2 Swallows slid due south. Teal numbers were up to around 250 and 309 Canada Geese were a less than welcome addition in front of the Morgan Hide. Waders were scarcer than recently, with just 3 Snipe noted.

The colder weather seems to have brought in a small influx of Teal, with 185 in front of the Morgan Hide towards dusk. Six Black-tailed Godwits were still present, though Snipe numbers were lower with just 7 found (and no sign of yesterday’s Jack Snipe). One Water Rail was in front of the hide, along with a couple of score each of Shoveler and Gadwall.

Photo of No.3 bed at dusk.

Spent the afternoon on No.3 bed and from the Morgan Hide watched a Jack Snipe feeding and preening for a couple of hours. Six Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 17 Snipe, 2 Water Rails , 1 Kingfisher and 116 Teal were other decent sightings.

Photo of a mushroom (don’t know what, yet!) on No.3 bed.

Cheers David

Glistening Inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), No3 Bed.

Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes)- No3 Bed.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)- from John Morgan Hide, No3 Bed.

Comma (Polygonia c-album)- No3 Bed

Garden or Cross Spider (Araneus diadematus)- No3 Bed

A really pleasant morning covering the whole Reserve, with good species variety and a strong passage of Meadow Pipits. Some of the more interesting totals included: 1 Redstart, 2 Green Sandpipers (per K.Foster), 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Snipe, 6 Water Rails (3 seen and 3 heard), 2 Kingfishers, 10 Swallows, 1 Siskin, 11 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Pied Wagtail, 145 Teal, 8 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 9 Buzzards, 160 Lapwings, plus 235 Meadow Pipits passing south during a one and a half hour count. Less enticing was the mass arrival of 490 Canada Geese!!

Photo of a Yellow Fieldcap (I think!)

Cheers David (with Les Jones, Paul Hazlehurst and Ste Dodd)

Good Afternoon Out

We arrived at woolston eyes monday afternoon 30th september about 1.30pm. We enjoyed a nice walk around the reserve, very little bird activity the odd magpie and wood pigeon to be seen. We went to the new hide, the reedbed was very quiet there were six snipe, 1 lone canada goose, 6 moorhens dotted about and two coots and the usual mallards. Around three o clock two buzzards where circling and shouting over the reedbed a short while later joined by a third pair which flew over the hide and dissapeared leaving the other circling on it’s own on the other side. A few minutes later one of the pair returned to circle with the lone one. We then realised that the one circling on it’s own was a young one and the parent which had returned had food. They circled together a few times then a pass was made with the food. The young one then settled in a tree, the parent bird then settled in a different tree. I had never seen buzzards do that before. At 4 o’clock two lapwings settled and one heron followed by 7 godwits on the foreshore. 4.15 approx 70canada geese arrived they settled behind the reedbed so difficult to count. The feeders were very quiet, one squirrel the other feeders covered with greenfinches whereas on our previous visit we saw male and female woodpeckers and three willow tits. We left at 5.30pm looking forward to our next visit Gill and Roger.

A late morning visit produced; 1 Ruff, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Snipe, 3 Siskins (on the Morgan Hide feeders), 91 Lapwings and 125 Teal.