04.05.19. Birdlog.

Frodsham Marsh Bird Blog

I was out early doors starting at Godscroft Lane where yet another Brown Hare crossed my path as I parked the car.

On to Lordship Lane which was full of singing Reed and Sedge Warbler filling the morning air before being put in their place by the sudden blast from a Cetti’s Warbler and normal service was resumed. Nesting begins in earnest and Common Whitethroat and Reed Bunting busy building while nearby a Kestrel was hunting the bank.

The Welsh hills could be seen in the distance with a covering of snow and Frodsham Marsh felt the effects of the cold, but it was bright encouraging the birds to start breed and nest.

Looking over the reed bed on No.6 tank both Marsh and Hen Harrier were seen at the same time quartering the beds for food. Further on a dozen or more Avocet (plus c40 Black-tailed Godwit were about)…

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05.05.19. Birdlog.

Frodsham Marsh Bird Blog

My morning jaunt this morning started at Ince where looking across the pools revealed just a few Mallard and a pair of Tufted Duck, 2 pairs of Little Grebe, a pair of Gadwall and several Coot and Moorhen pairs.

Both Reed and Sedge Warbler were seen and heard and a Cetti’s Warbler added to the chorus at Ince berth.

Nearby Common Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Gadwall were all on the Manchester Ship Canal with a single Great Crested Grebe being noted. A dozen Mute Swan were out on the Frodsham Score salt marsh and a lone Little Egret fished in the tidal channels.

A female Northern Wheatear was sat on the far bank of the ship canal and Common Whitethroat seemed to be singing from every bush.

A group of Great Black-backed Gull were on the lookout for wandering goslings straying too far from their parents gaze, while the…

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06.05.19. Birdlog.

Frodsham Marsh Bird Blog

The marsh had 3 female Northern Wheatear on No.1 tank with 2 Eurasian Skylark, the Raven flock were brunching on a recently deceased lamb near to Marsh Farm with worried mum nearby.

A Jackdaw was pecking on a piece of solid earth along Moorditch Lane were a Stoat was seen but not photographed. The weather was not nice.

Observer and images: Paul Crawley.

We took our second hike around No.6 tank during this cold breezy bank holiday weekend. Yesterday didn’t add to PR’s already concise post, so today it was a struggle to eek anything from our walk. The numbers of Tufted Duck have increased to 50 birds with c23 Eurasian Teal and a few Common Shelduck and Gadwall. A flock of c150 Black-tailed Godwit were to far to see them properly and a fly over Marsh Harrier moved on. We met up with Jacqui and idris en route and…

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09.05.19. Birdlog.

Frodsham Marsh Bird Blog

An after work walk down to the River Weaver in continuous rain, which hadn’t relented throughout the day. A selection of Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and Common Shelduck were the most prominent species. A quick scan of the Weaver Bend didn’t produce much but 10 minutes later 3, then 4 then 5 Black Tern were hawking close over the water before coming close enough for me to fire off a few shots on my camera. After 20 minutes 4 of the terns called loudly before heading south then south east towards No.6 tank. The fifth bird headed out to the Mersey estuary.

The river was alive with Common Swift, Barn Swallow, House and Sand Martin.

A ‘Greenland’ type Wheatear was on the pipes that cross No.1 tank.

Observer: WSM (images 1-4).

I headed off to No.6 tank where two of the previous (or different birds) Black Tern were…

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10.05.19. Birdlog.

Frodsham Marsh Bird Blog

I was out and about this afternoon around the River Weaver at Frodsham Marsh. The rain was constant for the first hour or so and suppressing the bird song keeping them hidden in the foliage. The river held the usual wildfowl with Tufted Duck, Common Shelduck, Mallard and Gadwall with several broods of Canada Goose, 4 Mute Swan and 4 Great Crested Grebe. The Swallow, House and Sand Martin were hawking over the river and the Sand Martin were busy excavating their nest holes in the Manchester Ship Canal bank.

A Black Tern made its way up river and was followed a short while later by 2 more birds. There were 4 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, a single Common Sandpiper and a single Avocet were all noted. The Avocet was later seen feeding on the tide line on the Mersey estuary.

A Northern Wheatear was seen on the far bank…

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11.05.19. Birdlog.

Frodsham Marsh Bird Blog

A walk around No.6 tank this morning with a start at Godscroft lane where many Common Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warbler all made their presence known. A Cetti’s Warbler was a little more boisterous. A pair of Oystercatcher was in a field along Lordship lane as were several breeding Lapwing.

A Common Buzzard flew over No.6 much to the annoyance of the small but mob handed Black-headed Gull colony there.

The ‘Splashing Pool’ had a pair of Common Shelduck, a pair of Gadwall and several Mallard while the nearby scrape held Tufted Duck and more Common Shelduck,  6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 pair of Lapwing and the Eurasian Coot family, which is down to 2 chicks. There were 6 Avocet on the scrape with the godwit flock which had relocated from No.6 to feed in the shallow water and increased to c300 birds.

A Small Copper butterfly was also noted.

The…

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12.05.19. Birdlog.

Frodsham Marsh Bird Blog

I had a female Northern Wheatear on No.1, Blackcap along Brook Furlong and Lordship lane, Common Whitethroat all over the marsh as were Sedge and Reed Warbler.

There was a Whinchat on Lordship Marsh and 3 Yellow Wagtail along the track leading to the model airfield consisting of a male and female, the third flew away before I could tell it’s gender.

Sadly there was a Raven by the Marsh Farm that on reviewing the photo’s has a broken wing. It looks like a blunt force injury so I am wondering if this bird and the injured Marsh Harrier have had collisions with a turbine?

Observer: Paul Crawley (images 1-7 & 9-11).

Also additional images by WSM 8 & 12-19.

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