A fine start to the day but it came on to rain just as I was starting to walk round No.4 bed so a rather damp ending! Birds of interest included a male Stonechat on fields to the north of No.1 bed. A Kingfisher was on the canal near Butchersfield Tip and a Willow Tit and 20 Linnets were on No.1 bed. The Black-headed Gull colony on No.3 bed stood at about 450 and another 50 were on the Loop. Two Little Grebes were trilling on No.3 bed and a Water Rail was heard there. A second bird was heard on the Loop. Reserve-wide totals included 335 Tufted Duck, 65 mallard, 27 Coot, 23 Mute Swan, 46 gadwall, 61 Shoveler and 49 Pochard. 85 Robins were nearly all singing males as were 19 of the 21 Song Thrushes noted.

Canada Goose (branta canadensis) from The John Morgan Hide

Shoveler (Anas clypeata) from The John Morgan Hide

Moorhen (Gallinula chloorpus) from The John Morgan Hide

I was unable to gain access to The Eyes this morning as police and ambulance personnel were not allowing people to proceed beyond the first barrier due to an “incident”. I have no further information about this! Undeterred I decided to take a walk through the fields to the south of the canal and east of Lymm Golf Course. I was rewarded with a good variety of birds including 2 Grey Partridge. Other sightings of note were 12 Skylark, 250 Fieldfare, 250 Lapwing, 100 Crows, 100 Starling and a Snipe.

WeBS Count on 11/02/17

Little Grebe 6,Great Crested Grebe 3, Cormorant 27, Mute Swan 23, Grey Heron 3, Canada Goose 31, Shelduck 40 Gadwall 29, Teal 828, Mallard 75, Shoveler 85, Pochard 17, Tufted Duck 291, Moorhen 46, Coot 28, Snipe 2, Black headed Gull 25, Lesser Black backed Gull 3.

The count of 40 Shelduck could well be a record for The Eyes.

A pleasant morning but turning bitterly cold in the afternoon! Nevertheless there were some good reserve-wide totals with the highlight a flock of 44 Wigeon on No.3 bed. Another 3 were on the Loop of No.4 bed making a reserve total of 47, the highest for many years. Other reserve totals included 74 Mallard, 42 Moorhen, 352 Tufted Duck, 56 Robin, 13 singing Song Thrush, 44 Gadwall (including 31 on the loop), 32 Shelduck, 28 Pochard, and 52 Shoveler. About 50 Fieldfare were in trees to the south of the canal and 20 lapwing flew south.

Shoveler (Anas clypeata) from the John Morgan Hide

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba} from The john Morgan Hide

Photo of a Greylag Goose from No.3 bed

Cheers David

Photo of a Black-headed Gull from No.3 bed

Cheers David

Photo of a male Greenfinch from No.3 bed today.

Cheers David

Photo of Stagshorn fungus from No.3 bed today

Cheers David

More, as yet unidentified, fungi from No.3 bed today.

Cheers David

Photo of a small Toadstool sp. from No.3 bed today - not sure what species.

Cheers David

Photo of a Bracket Fungus from No.3 bed today.

Cheers David

Photo of Jelly Ear fungus from No.3 bed this morning

Cheers David

Photo of an Elf Cup fungus from No.3 bed today.

Cheers David

A quiet, frosty morning on No.3 bed produced some good wildfowl counts, despite the lagoon being largely frozen. 1,000 Teal, 67 Shoveler, 21 Pochard, 28 Shelduck, 14 Gadwall and 12 Mallards were working hard to keep the pools open. Around the margins, 2 Water Rails, 3 Willow Tits and 2 Woodcock were also of interest. Overhead, a couple of Skylarks and a Mistle Thrush passed over. It’s now that time of year, with the Snowdrops in full bloom, last of the winter fungi still clinging on and the first few dozen Black-headed Gulls back at the breeding colony, when Spring feels just around the corner.

Photo of a Snowdrop

Cheers David

A wonderful morning on No.3 bed, with blue skies and a hint of spring lifting the spirits. Good bird variety too, with highlights of: an early morning Marsh Harrier, a couple of Tree Sparrows calling obligingly from the North Meadow, 2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese passing over, 1,500 Teal flushed by the harrier, Kingfisher and Water Rail posing for photos for Mike and Hazel Rothwell while the rest of us were off doing a bird count, plus the usual Lesser Redpolls, Willow Tits, Sparrowhawks, Buzzards, Kestrels, Shovelers, Pochards,Gadwall, Shelducks, Little and Great Crested Grebes etc.

Photo of a Greylag Goose from the Morgan Hide

Cheers David Bowman (with Alan Warford, David Spencer, Helen Wynn, Brian Baird, Les Jones, Hazel and Mike Rothwell, George Dunbar and Kieran Foster)

Common Buzzard (taken from the bank on No.3)

Common Buzzard (taken from the bank on No.3)

Kingfisher (record shot) in front of John Morgan hide

Water Rail (record shot) crossing in front of John Morgan Hide

A fairly uneventful day but some good reserve-wide counts. About 200 Fiedlfare were in trees to the south of the canal opposite Butchersfield Tip and a male Goldeneye was on the canal. Five Little Grebes were on the river between Nos.2 and 3 beds. Totals included 38 Shelduck which may be a record count for Woolston (?), 82 Robins (nearly all singing males), 323 Tufted Duck, 37 Shoveler, 23 Pochard and 76 Mallard.