Details of April sightings compiled by John Thompson will appear on the Monthly Sightings page.
62 Comments
Mick Ball 29th April 2020
Red Kite flew south straight over my house at 17.10.
David Cookson 29th April 2020
Despite a cloudy morning with a very cold wind at Doddington. I had lots of Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins. There were a few Swifts too. Other birds of note were Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Colin 28th April 2020
On the golf course this morning, my first definite garden warbler of the year, nine pied wagtails feeding were probably passage birds. Also one jay flying around.
John 28th April 2020
Macon Meadows
Yesterday lunchtime in the sunshine ( 1 till 2 ): a Peregrine flew low over the fields heading in the direction of The Flashes. A couple of Buzzard circling low over the gantry, nearby the pair of Grey Wagtail were acrobatically plucking Mayfly ( I think ) out of the air – occasionally both going for the same fly! Young Blackbird heard begging somewhere in the dense undergrowth, a female Bullfinch begging and receiving food from her attendant male.
In contrast this morning in the drizzle ( 7 till 8 ), it was quieter. The pungent perfume of Wild Garlic. A glimpse of a Jay as it flew off in the direction of the MMU was a highlight ( rarely see them here ). A brief view of a Grey Wagtail by the culvert, cock Blackbirds duelling and a distant Song Thrush were the only other things of note
Mick 27th April 2020
4 Swifts Alsager.
6 Oystercatcher Rode Heath
David 27th April 2020
Out at Lea Forge this morning. In addition to the usual ones there were. Oystercatcher, Bullfinch, Garden Warbler,Red-Leddeg Partridge,Whitethroat,Raven, Swallow and Blackcap.
Dave Winnington 27th April 2020
Scholar Green Wheatear still 3rd ploughed field from Brickhouse could be same bird been there over a week
John 27th April 2020
20 – 26 Apr
EHF/PHF: Oystercatcher, LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Common Sandpiper, L Egret, Y-l Gull & Yellow Wagtail
MGT: L Grebe, Lapwing, Curlew, L Egret, Kestrel, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Wheatear
CF: Garden Warbler
FF: Tawny Owl
FFF: Goosander
WLF: Water Rail, Common Tern, L Egret, Kestrel, Reed Warbler
Astbury Mere CP: Common Sandpiper, Reed Warbler
Brereton/Heath LNR: Garden Warbler, Tree Sparrow
Brownlow: Yellowhammer
The Cloud: Tree Pipit
Congleton: Goosander, Kingfisher, Dipper Grey Wagtail
Crewe GC: Green Woodpecker
Elworth: Whitethroat
Lawton Woods/lake: Mandarin, Dipper
Lea Forge: Raven, Skylark, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer
Mow Cop: Jack Snipe, Hobby, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Ring Ouzel, Redstart, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Linnet, Reed Bunting
Rope: Garden Warbler
Sandbach Heath: Lapwing, Sand Martin, Raven
Scholar Green: Mandarin, Green Woodpecker, L & C Whitethroat, Fieldfare, Whinchat, Wheatear, Yellowhammer,
Timbersbrook: Garden Warbler
Wheelock: L Whitethroat
Triggered by Colin’s email … we are so lucky to live in a rural spot. A Great Tit on 5 eggs in one box. Blue Tits in and out of another for several weeks now, but still just an incomplete nest. 4 Blue Tit eggs in a box in a nearby field. The Chiff Chaffs and Blackcaps are singing regularly; Mallard must be nesting somewhere close by. A Green Woodpecker occasionally calling in the distance. Almost no calls from Tawny Owls this year. But last night clear Barn Owl “snores” from the direction of a nearby Oak tree which has one of Dave’s owl boxes. We have heard these “snores” over the past few weeks, but have never seen one yet!
John 26th April 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: a first sighting for a week or two of a Buzzard: briefly perched on the overhead gantry on the railway track. The pair of Grey Wagtails were very busy collecting insects before flying into the culvert. A pair of amorous Robins copulated ( 3 times! ) while a third bird looked on nearby. Still just the odd Chiffchaff, far outnumbered by the Blackcaps, there contact ‘clicks’ all around me with the local Mistle Thrush still singing but appears a little more subdued than usual. No joy in finding the suspected Common Whitethroats of yesterday.
John 25th April 2020
Macon Meadows (7 till 8): I’m no lover of the Grey Squirrel so when I saw one jump from one tree to another and it missed, dropping some 20 ft, I said “Hurray!” quietly.
Not much of note to report: two immaculate Song Thrush foraging; Blackbird, Robin, Grey Wagtail all with food, a Jay flying over ( not common here ). I picked up a new contact call and got partial, brief views of 2 birds close together. The light brown upper body suggested to me they were Common Whitethroat. They have nested in that area in previous years
Andy Warner 24th April 2020
Although I couldn’t top my brother Mike’s Garden Warbler along Gresty Lane, I’ve seen some nice birds on walks from home in Wistaston. Birds seen include Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, Tree Creeper, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Jay, Bullfinch and Goldcrest. I’m hoping that, like John T, I will have a breeding pair of Grey Wags. Not been out birding in the Wybunbury area for a month now so really looking forward to going out in the near future. Hoping I find everyone well
John 24th April 2020
My diary reminds me that we should have been driving to Dorset today to try to connect with all the ‘exotic’ birds the area has to offer. Instead I’m cycling past the long queue outside the B&Q Superstore and heading for the Weston Road Industrial Estate.
Plenty of gulls loafing around on the roofs of the buildings on both sides of the road. I also checked out the waste ground between the units for migrants, etc. and connected with my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year. Close by there was a small group of Greenfinch – similar to the other day on Macon Meadows, they were all adults!
David Cookson 24th April 2020
This morning at Lea Forge, I recorded Skylark,Chiffchaff,Blackcap,Raven,Whitethroat and Yellowhammer among others.
Michael Ball 23rd April 2020
Lesser Whitethroat in the hawthorns around Brickhouse farm Scholar Green but ranges widely.
Also pair of Whitethroats in the adjoining hedge.
In the field by the nearby Ashbank farm a Green Woodpecker and 5 late Fieldfares.
Yellowhammers in good numbers in the area.
Finally a single House Martin on territory near my house.
Mick
Gavin Henderson 23rd April 2020
Congleton Park (we’re all local patchers now) – Kingfisher, female Goosander with 10 small young, 3 x Grey Wagtail
River Dane, near the Aldi roundabout – Dipper
Brownlow Farm – male and female Yellowhammer (22/04/20 – 2 x Red-legged Partridge)
John 23rd April 2020
Spent the first part of the afternoon in the garden with my bins and Collins Bird Guide – trying to separate the passing gulls in flight!
Between 1 and 2 pm, I also had Buzzards kettling, stooping and ‘talon-tapping’. Also, a couple of distant views of Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine directly overhead.
Colin 23rd April 2020
Green woodpecker heard on the golf course this morning, also my first whitethroat of the spring
John 23rd April 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: male & female Grey Wagtails on the banks of the stream with food; a party of 5 Greenfinch was nice to see – I didn’t expect to see so many together as I thought they would have paired off by now and be raising a brood. None of the group appeared to be juveniles! Not long after, I connected with my first juvenile Robin of the year. I’ll have to pay closer attention to the pair in my garden, but all the documentation says they are very crafty at not giving away clues to the whereabouts of their nest.
Colin 22nd April 2020
Just back from the exercise walk to the golf course and watching the most aggressive coot I can remember seeing! Watched it for the last four days on the big pond where usually three pairs of moorhens nest each year. The coot pair have just one young which stays with the female whilst the male chases off every moorhen that has the nerve to land on the water. Today there were five moorhens on the grass at the edge of the pond wondering whether they dare take another chance to get on the water!
Darron Boulton 22nd April 2020
Whitethroat at Lea Forge.
John 22nd April 2020
Macon Meadows yesterday: 2 Rooks grubbing on the grass verge on Macon Way suggests they have young nearby. Both male & female Grey Wagtails on the banks of the stream with beaks full & seen flying into the culvert where a pair nested last year. Also, a Blackbird with food. The ratio of Blackcap to Chiffchaff is about 10:1. The recent strong gusts of wind appear to have dislodged the sitting Carrion Crow AND her nest!
Quakers Coppice this morning: an optimistic visit in the hope of seeing the owlets in daylight… No luck “a needle in a haystack” springs to mind! Considering the agility of one of the owlets the other night, they could be anywhere? A Stock Dove perched within a metre of the Tawny Owl nest box
A Song Thrush belting out, a Blue Tit seen repeatedly collecting moss and entering a natural nest site; Jackdaws returning to a rotten tree with food – this tree has several holes close together and has been used as a nest site regularly by a group of Jackdaws.
At home, some of my neighbours have Jackdaws nesting in their chimney pots. For the past week, each morning, from 6 o’clock, a group of Carrion Crows have been perched on the pots calling loudly. It will be interesting to see what happens if & when the eggs/young become accessible to the Carrion Crows.
Pam Henderson 22nd April 2020
Congleton Park and river Dane – Grey Wagtail, Goosander(female), Dipper, Kingfisher, Treecreeper
Pam Henderson 22nd April 2020
6th April
Mandarin Duck (Male) on river Dane, Congleton, near Dane St bend
Mike 22nd April 2020
At last a bit of quality on my walk from home along Gresty Lane,a Garden Warbler in song and flight.Also this morning, Bullfinch,Chiffchaff,Blackcap,Lapwing,Song and Mistle Thrush and a pair of Swallows that arrived 10 days ago.
John 20th April 2020
Quakers Coppice this evening: I arrived in time to get enough light to see if the owlets were still in the nest box but there were no heads / movement in the opening. From a distance I scanned up and down the tree to see if any had ‘branched’. Again – no joy ( from any angle ).
Disappointed, I decided to cycle slowly round the path to see if any of the adults I had heard on a previous visit might call while I was there. I was adjacent to the old entrance when a noise/call I’d not heard before caused me to stop and listen to see if it was repeated. Sure enough, I heard it again: a series of very soft ‘squeaks’. Looking up in the gloom, I saw a silhouette of an owlet! As I raised my bins, it flapped its wings and flew up to the branch above. I then noticed a second silhouette not far from where the fist owlet was originally. On lowering my bins and getting used to the gloom, I then spotted an adult Tawny Owl on a lower branch in a neighbouring tree. The squeaking continued but the adult took off and flew through the trees towards University Way.
John 20th April 2020
13 to 19 Apr
EHF/PHF: Goosander, Oystercatcher, R & LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Dunlin, Snipe, Common & Green Sandpiper, L Egret, Swallow, Willow Warbler
MGT: L & GC Grebe, L Egret, Kestrel, Skylark, Cetti’s, Reed Warbler, L Whitethroat, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Linnet & Reed Bunting
CF: Garden Warbler
FFF: Goosander, Oystercatcher, Grey Wagtail
Railway embankment/Rookery Bridge: L & C Whitethroat, Wheatear
Red Lane: Sedge Warbler
WLF: Gadwall, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, L Egret, Kingfisher, Sedge, Reed Warbler, Yellow Wagtail
Arclid: Whinchat, Wheatear, Tree Sparrow
Astbury: Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail
Astbury Mere CP: L Grebe, Swallow, Willow Warbler
Basford: Raven
Betchton: LR Plover, Common Sandpiper, Wheatear
Betley: Cetti’s Warbler, Sand Martin
Coppenhall Moss: S-e Owl
Crewe GC: Willow Warbler, Mistle Thrush
Doddington: Tawny Owl, Willow Warbler
Joey the Swan: Grasshopper Warbler
Lawton Woods/lake: Mandarin, Kingfisher, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting
Malkins Bank: Wheatear
Mow Cop: Ring Ouzel, Wheatear
Scholar Green: Green Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Yellowhammer,
Weston: Garden Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Linnet
Wrinehill: Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler, Stonechat
John 19th April 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: 2 Jay ( don’t see them often here ), the female Grey Wagtail ( not seen her since the 2nd ), a Kingfisher flying east to west across the railway tracks just above the overhead cables and a single Swallow which appeared to be following the tracks as it flew north. Three Willow Warbler singing – all favouring the gardens bordering the field and in the background a duet of Mistle Thrush – one at each end of the patch
Colin 18th April 2020
Three singing willow warblers around the golf course this morning as well as my usual mistle thrush. Also a brood of six tiny mallard chicks have appeared overnight, but I still can not connect with a swallow yet.
John 18th April 2020
Is it my imagination or has the overnight showers and clouds made the foliage a deeper green?
Nothing new to report from Macon Meadows this morning before the showers were repeated other than that I mentioned the other day that there appeared to be a Blackcap in every bush I passed. This morning there appeared to be a female alongside every singing male Blackcap!
John 16th April 2020
Nothing new on Macon Meadows this morning.
Back at home, I’d been in the garden about 10 minutes, when at about 14:50 two Buzzards were kettling above the roundabout at Crewe Green. Moments later two Sparrowhawk, a male and a female, crossed my line of sight through my bins. As I watched them, a more distant bird ( perhaps over Haslington ) with a similar ‘jizz’ appeared behind them as they rose in a thermal. As this bird was more distant, it appeared to be bigger than the two closer to me! It was flying away from me and I lost sight of it. I wonder if anyone else was watching this bird and had better views?
David Winnington 16th April 2020
Scholar green Wheatear on ploughed fields Brickhouse area 2 yellowhammers Green Woodpecker yesterday
David Cookson 15th April 2020
During my visit to Doddington this morning. I had a Tawney Owl hooting. The warblers included Willow, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. The Nute Swan flock is starting to build with 9 being counted.
Colin 15th April 2020
On the golf course this morning the coot pair had just one young. A poor brood size for reasons unknown but it’s always comical to see the punk spiky red head of a juv.
John 15th April 2020
9 till 10ish this morning on Macon Meadows: gardeners with hedge-cutters and leaf-blowers at Macon House meant little to see/hear on that half of the patch but groups of Long-tailed Tit feeding suggest they fledged locally. A Blackbird seen with wet leaves suggests nest-building. Also, a Magpie was very aggressive to a Squirrel – not wanting the squirrel anywhere near the tree with its nest on, although the structure isn’t as impressive as the Magpie nest in the tree in my neighbour’s garden. In the grounds of MMU, there was a territorial dispute between the Jackdaws and Magpies – each not wanting the other near ‘their’ tree.
John 14th April 2020
7 till 8 ish this morning on Macon Meadows: I caught the ‘tail end’ of the Dawn Chorus. Blackbirds and a Song Thrush belting out and what appeared to be a Blackcap in every bush I passed! Just 1 or 2 Chiffchaff. The Willow Warbler I heard yesterday must have moved on, but new for me was a singing Reed Bunting – presumably attracted to the emergence of fresh reeds? The virtually ever-present Buzzard was in the grounds of MMU, as was a Sparrowhawk but the latter was not tolerated by the local Jackdaws nesting in the nearby trees. Nice to see a Bullfinch – the first for a while
John 13th April 2020
6 – 12 Apr
EHF/PHF: Goosander, Oystercatcher, R & LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, L Egret, Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher & Yellow Wagtail
MGT: Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, L Egret, Kestrel, Skylark, Cetti’s, Willow & Reed Warbler, Meadow Pipit & Reed Bunting
FF: Kingfisher
FFF: Goosander
WLF: Reed Warbler
Arclid: LR Plover, Green Woodpecker, Raven, Skylark, Wheatear, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer
Basford: Wheatear
Congleton: Dipper, Grey-headed Wagtail
Crewe GC: Willow Warbler
Doddington: Common Sandpiper, Skylark
Holmes Chapel: Mandarin
Lawton Woods/lake: Mandarin, Dipper, Grey Wagtail
Middlewich: Pied Flycatcher
Scholar Green: Green Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer,
Wheelock RT: Willow Warbler
Wrinehill: Skylark
+ many gardens report Swallow & House Martins
A busy hour here (Smallwood) this morning. A female Great Spot on the nut feeder, then a few minutes later a smart looking male Reed Bunting taking its time on the seed feeder – we haven’t seen one here for a few years. Shortly after a magpie looked like it was raiding a nest in an ivy covered damson tree; two blackbirds and a crow were trying to see it off. Then a male Great Spot on the nut feeder.
John 12th April 2020
Early start this morning to avoid the biting insects in Quakers Coppice to see if any of the Tawny Owl chicks had ‘branched’: what appeared to be the back of two heads the chicks visible in the box. Only other bird of note was the drumming of a GS Woodpecker, my first record here for quite a while. shortly after I located a male in branches lower down. Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Goldcrest heard
Graham 11th April 2020
At 2.25pm today, I was alerted to the sound of a Buzzard “mewing” somewhere near and found it circling above Abbey Road, Sandbach, slowly drifting SE across Abbeyfields estate. Two more then appeared, one being harassed by a crow. Once I’d grabbed the bins, I then found a couple more higher and then another two, all obviously in the same air movement. Three is a regular number here since I moved, but 7 is a UK record number in one group for me.
Nigel Henderson 10th April 2020
Congleton – Bath Vale, where a tributary enters Timbers Brook – Yellow Wagtail (Grey-headed but I cannot be certain of the ssp); also Dipper x1 and Grey Wagtail x 2.
There is a Treecreeper nest in Congleton park. If you walk along the park path with the R. Dane on your right you come across a tree stump with a metal band round the top that has been “planted”. It is carved with what look like kiddies drawings. The treecreeper nest is in a long crack neat the bottom of trunk.
Glyn ( non member!) 9th April 2020
9th April 2020
Chiffchaff and male Blackcap just off Frank Webb Avenue, three more Chiffchaffs towards Minshull New Road.
Male Blackcap again at entrance to new cemetery, heard but not seen this time, two Long-tailed Tits.
Kestrel hunting over edge of cemetery and 30 Jackdaws feeding amongst the newly mown grass in cemetery.
Glyn ( non member!) 9th April 2020
8th April 2020
Walk from Frank Webb Avenue to Minshull New Road, Crewe
Four Chiffchaff and male Blackcap at entrance of new cemetery,
Colin 9th April 2020
Nothing special on my daily exercise walk on the golf course but heard blackcap, chiffchaff, mistle thrush, blackbird, robin, wren, dunnock, nuthatch all singing. Several others seen including great spotted woodpecker and also nice to see a huge carpet of wood anemone flowers.
John 9th April 2020
Macon Meadows early morning: no sign of the Dipper, but Grey Wagtail still on territory. A Mistle Thrush belting out its song, a Song Thrush collecting nest material, a Kingfisher flying upstream with a small fish. A partial song of a Willow Warbler but I failed to connect with it. A second new tick for Lockdown was a flyover Grey Heron.
John 8th April 2020
Just back from a bike ride to Quakers Coppice to check on the Tawny Owl in one of the nest boxes. En route, I heard the alarm call of a Sparrowhawk by the mini roundabout at the end of Electra Way. One flew out of a tree by the Shield Health building, but although I couldn’t relocate it, one continued to call from nearby for the next few minutes.
In Quakers Coppice, as I approached the nest box where Bill & I had seen three eggs at the end of February I could see something in the box. Keeping my distance, but getting a better look through my bins, I saw one pale grey head and a pair of eyes peering out of the opening. Occasionally, a second juvenile appeared alongside its sibling.
Graham 8th April 2020
Repeated the 6th April circular walk, in reverse today, and noted Nuthatch in Abbey Road, Sandbach; and Willow Warbler, Coal Tit, Chiffchaff and Mistle Thrushes were the pick of the numerous birds along Wheelock Rail Trail (not Salt Line, as previously recorded – I blame only living here for a few months!). And this afternoon, a lone Raven drifted gently NW over the house but didn’t have the company of the pair of Sparrowhawk that it did yesterday.
Colin 8th April 2020
a willow warbler singing briefly at the golf course this morning
David Cookson 8th April 2020
I was at Doddington this morning. I recorded Great Black-backed Gull, Common Sandpiper,Blackcap,Chiffchaff and Skylark that are noteworthy.
David Winnington 7th April 2020
Scholar Green Ashbank area Swallow Willow Warbler Green Woodpecker Yellowhammer Kestrel Linnets
David Winnington 7th April 2020
Scholar Green Ashbank area Swallow, Willow Warbler other sightings same area Green Woodpecker GS Woodpecker Yellowhammer Linnets Kestrel
Nigel Henderson 7th April 2020
Congleton: River Dane: Rood Hill road bridge: Grey Wagtail; Dipper; Goosander male
Congleton Park: Treecreepers nesting at the bottom of a stump ringed with iron at the top and covered with kiddie drawings. Also Mistle Thrush.
John 7th April 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: the grass has been cut by ANSA – the smell of wet, cut grass. Also, a forager picking nettle heads, probably for soup? The wild garlic is likely to be on the menu, too.
Moorhen with nest material, both Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing in two or three different areas of the patch. Also heard Nuthatch, Song Thrush and Greenfinch.
As I crossed Macon Way & walked towards the railway lines a Buzzard flew low over the stream, only to turn around and land on a handrail by the tracks. Raising my bins, I could see two Buzzards perched together. Moments later the Woodpigeons scattered and a passing Peregrine flew and landed on the aerial tower behind Macon House. I later also had a Sparrowhawk fly over.
On other side of rail tracks, lots of gull action above Tesco / Dunelm. While I was watching them, something by the grill covering the culvert caught my eye. Expecting it to be one of the Grey Wagtail, I was surprised to connect with a Dipper! Presumably attracted to the stream now that this small stretch has been dredged of sediment and exposed the rocks, etc. underneath.
Colin 7th April 2020
My first singing blackcap of the year, along the brook at the golf course.
Minimum 4 Chiffchaff along Salt Line path between Crewe Road and Elwood Road, part of a lovely circular walk from home.
John 5th April 2020
a post-breakfast walk on Macon Meadows this morning: Lesser Black-backed Gull washing in the stream. Song Thrush and Greenfinch singing. A second Chiffchaff heard today ( unless it’s flying to both ends of the patch & singing to confuse me? ) also my first singing Blackcap here.
A pair of Nuthatch seen going in and out of a hole they used last year plus just the one Grey Wagtail
John 4th April 2020
Macon Meadows yesterday: a pair of Coal Tit and a Grey Wagtail. Still only one singing Chiffchaff, also Mistle & Song Thrush and now two Greenfinch singing.
This morning, a bike ride to Quakers Coppice via Crewe Business Park: my first singing Blackcap by the pool at the roundabout with Crewe Road; another Moorhen chick, probably too small to be from last week’s brood?
In Quakers Coppice there were a pair of Goldcrest, one with nesting material.
Pam Henderson 4th April 2020
Pam Henderson
Lovely walk around Congleton park and along river yesterday.
2 dippers near steam boat, grey heron, grey wagtail and male goosander below weir. 2 treecreepers and mistle thrush in the park. Another dipper beyond park (upsteam). Returned to Rood Hill and crossed over then down steps, heard a chirrup and a kingfisher flew out from under the bridge.
Nigel Henderson 1st April 2020
Congleton: River Dane: Aldi Roundabout to Congleton Park: 2 x Dippers, Male goosander
Congleton: River Dane: Rood Hill road bridge: Grey Wagtail
Graham 1st April 2020
3 Raven over Abbeyfields development in Sandbach, pretty close until the Jackdaws had seen enough! A couple of Carrion Crows joined in and the Raven disappeared north towards Middlewich Road. Two Pied Wagtails in the garden every day now, down from the four that have enjoyed the earth being continually turned over by the builders for quite a while. Everything quiet now, of course. Will they stick around to breed?
Colin Lythgoe 1st April 2020
Back from my daily exercise walk around the golf course at Haslington. Several chiffchaff singing but no other spring migrants heard yet. A noisy flock of around 30 redwings were around the big trees but the best was my old friend the mistle thrush. Still belting it out from the same perch that he uses every day. It always surprises me how far the song carries on a still and silent day.
29th April 2020
Red Kite flew south straight over my house at 17.10.
29th April 2020
Despite a cloudy morning with a very cold wind at Doddington. I had lots of Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins. There were a few Swifts too. Other birds of note were Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
28th April 2020
On the golf course this morning, my first definite garden warbler of the year, nine pied wagtails feeding were probably passage birds. Also one jay flying around.
28th April 2020
Macon Meadows
Yesterday lunchtime in the sunshine ( 1 till 2 ): a Peregrine flew low over the fields heading in the direction of The Flashes. A couple of Buzzard circling low over the gantry, nearby the pair of Grey Wagtail were acrobatically plucking Mayfly ( I think ) out of the air – occasionally both going for the same fly! Young Blackbird heard begging somewhere in the dense undergrowth, a female Bullfinch begging and receiving food from her attendant male.
In contrast this morning in the drizzle ( 7 till 8 ), it was quieter. The pungent perfume of Wild Garlic. A glimpse of a Jay as it flew off in the direction of the MMU was a highlight ( rarely see them here ). A brief view of a Grey Wagtail by the culvert, cock Blackbirds duelling and a distant Song Thrush were the only other things of note
27th April 2020
4 Swifts Alsager.
6 Oystercatcher Rode Heath
27th April 2020
Out at Lea Forge this morning. In addition to the usual ones there were. Oystercatcher, Bullfinch, Garden Warbler,Red-Leddeg Partridge,Whitethroat,Raven, Swallow and Blackcap.
27th April 2020
Scholar Green Wheatear still 3rd ploughed field from Brickhouse could be same bird been there over a week
27th April 2020
20 – 26 Apr
EHF/PHF: Oystercatcher, LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Common Sandpiper, L Egret, Y-l Gull & Yellow Wagtail
MGT: L Grebe, Lapwing, Curlew, L Egret, Kestrel, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Wheatear
CF: Garden Warbler
FF: Tawny Owl
FFF: Goosander
WLF: Water Rail, Common Tern, L Egret, Kestrel, Reed Warbler
Astbury Mere CP: Common Sandpiper, Reed Warbler
Brereton/Heath LNR: Garden Warbler, Tree Sparrow
Brownlow: Yellowhammer
The Cloud: Tree Pipit
Congleton: Goosander, Kingfisher, Dipper Grey Wagtail
Crewe GC: Green Woodpecker
Elworth: Whitethroat
Lawton Woods/lake: Mandarin, Dipper
Lea Forge: Raven, Skylark, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer
Mow Cop: Jack Snipe, Hobby, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Ring Ouzel, Redstart, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Linnet, Reed Bunting
Rope: Garden Warbler
Sandbach Heath: Lapwing, Sand Martin, Raven
Scholar Green: Mandarin, Green Woodpecker, L & C Whitethroat, Fieldfare, Whinchat, Wheatear, Yellowhammer,
Timbersbrook: Garden Warbler
Wheelock: L Whitethroat
26th April 2020
Triggered by Colin’s email … we are so lucky to live in a rural spot. A Great Tit on 5 eggs in one box. Blue Tits in and out of another for several weeks now, but still just an incomplete nest. 4 Blue Tit eggs in a box in a nearby field. The Chiff Chaffs and Blackcaps are singing regularly; Mallard must be nesting somewhere close by. A Green Woodpecker occasionally calling in the distance. Almost no calls from Tawny Owls this year. But last night clear Barn Owl “snores” from the direction of a nearby Oak tree which has one of Dave’s owl boxes. We have heard these “snores” over the past few weeks, but have never seen one yet!
26th April 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: a first sighting for a week or two of a Buzzard: briefly perched on the overhead gantry on the railway track. The pair of Grey Wagtails were very busy collecting insects before flying into the culvert. A pair of amorous Robins copulated ( 3 times! ) while a third bird looked on nearby. Still just the odd Chiffchaff, far outnumbered by the Blackcaps, there contact ‘clicks’ all around me with the local Mistle Thrush still singing but appears a little more subdued than usual. No joy in finding the suspected Common Whitethroats of yesterday.
25th April 2020
Macon Meadows (7 till 8): I’m no lover of the Grey Squirrel so when I saw one jump from one tree to another and it missed, dropping some 20 ft, I said “Hurray!” quietly.
Not much of note to report: two immaculate Song Thrush foraging; Blackbird, Robin, Grey Wagtail all with food, a Jay flying over ( not common here ). I picked up a new contact call and got partial, brief views of 2 birds close together. The light brown upper body suggested to me they were Common Whitethroat. They have nested in that area in previous years
24th April 2020
Although I couldn’t top my brother Mike’s Garden Warbler along Gresty Lane, I’ve seen some nice birds on walks from home in Wistaston. Birds seen include Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, Tree Creeper, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Jay, Bullfinch and Goldcrest. I’m hoping that, like John T, I will have a breeding pair of Grey Wags. Not been out birding in the Wybunbury area for a month now so really looking forward to going out in the near future. Hoping I find everyone well
24th April 2020
My diary reminds me that we should have been driving to Dorset today to try to connect with all the ‘exotic’ birds the area has to offer. Instead I’m cycling past the long queue outside the B&Q Superstore and heading for the Weston Road Industrial Estate.
Plenty of gulls loafing around on the roofs of the buildings on both sides of the road. I also checked out the waste ground between the units for migrants, etc. and connected with my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year. Close by there was a small group of Greenfinch – similar to the other day on Macon Meadows, they were all adults!
24th April 2020
This morning at Lea Forge, I recorded Skylark,Chiffchaff,Blackcap,Raven,Whitethroat and Yellowhammer among others.
23rd April 2020
Lesser Whitethroat in the hawthorns around Brickhouse farm Scholar Green but ranges widely.
Also pair of Whitethroats in the adjoining hedge.
In the field by the nearby Ashbank farm a Green Woodpecker and 5 late Fieldfares.
Yellowhammers in good numbers in the area.
Finally a single House Martin on territory near my house.
Mick
23rd April 2020
Congleton Park (we’re all local patchers now) – Kingfisher, female Goosander with 10 small young, 3 x Grey Wagtail
River Dane, near the Aldi roundabout – Dipper
Brownlow Farm – male and female Yellowhammer (22/04/20 – 2 x Red-legged Partridge)
23rd April 2020
Spent the first part of the afternoon in the garden with my bins and Collins Bird Guide – trying to separate the passing gulls in flight!
Between 1 and 2 pm, I also had Buzzards kettling, stooping and ‘talon-tapping’. Also, a couple of distant views of Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine directly overhead.
23rd April 2020
Green woodpecker heard on the golf course this morning, also my first whitethroat of the spring
23rd April 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: male & female Grey Wagtails on the banks of the stream with food; a party of 5 Greenfinch was nice to see – I didn’t expect to see so many together as I thought they would have paired off by now and be raising a brood. None of the group appeared to be juveniles! Not long after, I connected with my first juvenile Robin of the year. I’ll have to pay closer attention to the pair in my garden, but all the documentation says they are very crafty at not giving away clues to the whereabouts of their nest.
22nd April 2020
Just back from the exercise walk to the golf course and watching the most aggressive coot I can remember seeing! Watched it for the last four days on the big pond where usually three pairs of moorhens nest each year. The coot pair have just one young which stays with the female whilst the male chases off every moorhen that has the nerve to land on the water. Today there were five moorhens on the grass at the edge of the pond wondering whether they dare take another chance to get on the water!
22nd April 2020
Whitethroat at Lea Forge.
22nd April 2020
Macon Meadows yesterday: 2 Rooks grubbing on the grass verge on Macon Way suggests they have young nearby. Both male & female Grey Wagtails on the banks of the stream with beaks full & seen flying into the culvert where a pair nested last year. Also, a Blackbird with food. The ratio of Blackcap to Chiffchaff is about 10:1. The recent strong gusts of wind appear to have dislodged the sitting Carrion Crow AND her nest!
Quakers Coppice this morning: an optimistic visit in the hope of seeing the owlets in daylight… No luck “a needle in a haystack” springs to mind! Considering the agility of one of the owlets the other night, they could be anywhere? A Stock Dove perched within a metre of the Tawny Owl nest box
A Song Thrush belting out, a Blue Tit seen repeatedly collecting moss and entering a natural nest site; Jackdaws returning to a rotten tree with food – this tree has several holes close together and has been used as a nest site regularly by a group of Jackdaws.
At home, some of my neighbours have Jackdaws nesting in their chimney pots. For the past week, each morning, from 6 o’clock, a group of Carrion Crows have been perched on the pots calling loudly. It will be interesting to see what happens if & when the eggs/young become accessible to the Carrion Crows.
22nd April 2020
Congleton Park and river Dane – Grey Wagtail, Goosander(female), Dipper, Kingfisher, Treecreeper
22nd April 2020
6th April
Mandarin Duck (Male) on river Dane, Congleton, near Dane St bend
22nd April 2020
At last a bit of quality on my walk from home along Gresty Lane,a Garden Warbler in song and flight.Also this morning, Bullfinch,Chiffchaff,Blackcap,Lapwing,Song and Mistle Thrush and a pair of Swallows that arrived 10 days ago.
20th April 2020
Quakers Coppice this evening: I arrived in time to get enough light to see if the owlets were still in the nest box but there were no heads / movement in the opening. From a distance I scanned up and down the tree to see if any had ‘branched’. Again – no joy ( from any angle ).
Disappointed, I decided to cycle slowly round the path to see if any of the adults I had heard on a previous visit might call while I was there. I was adjacent to the old entrance when a noise/call I’d not heard before caused me to stop and listen to see if it was repeated. Sure enough, I heard it again: a series of very soft ‘squeaks’. Looking up in the gloom, I saw a silhouette of an owlet! As I raised my bins, it flapped its wings and flew up to the branch above. I then noticed a second silhouette not far from where the fist owlet was originally. On lowering my bins and getting used to the gloom, I then spotted an adult Tawny Owl on a lower branch in a neighbouring tree. The squeaking continued but the adult took off and flew through the trees towards University Way.
20th April 2020
13 to 19 Apr
EHF/PHF: Goosander, Oystercatcher, R & LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Dunlin, Snipe, Common & Green Sandpiper, L Egret, Swallow, Willow Warbler
MGT: L & GC Grebe, L Egret, Kestrel, Skylark, Cetti’s, Reed Warbler, L Whitethroat, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Linnet & Reed Bunting
CF: Garden Warbler
FFF: Goosander, Oystercatcher, Grey Wagtail
Railway embankment/Rookery Bridge: L & C Whitethroat, Wheatear
Red Lane: Sedge Warbler
WLF: Gadwall, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, L Egret, Kingfisher, Sedge, Reed Warbler, Yellow Wagtail
Arclid: Whinchat, Wheatear, Tree Sparrow
Astbury: Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail
Astbury Mere CP: L Grebe, Swallow, Willow Warbler
Basford: Raven
Betchton: LR Plover, Common Sandpiper, Wheatear
Betley: Cetti’s Warbler, Sand Martin
Coppenhall Moss: S-e Owl
Crewe GC: Willow Warbler, Mistle Thrush
Doddington: Tawny Owl, Willow Warbler
Joey the Swan: Grasshopper Warbler
Lawton Woods/lake: Mandarin, Kingfisher, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting
Malkins Bank: Wheatear
Mow Cop: Ring Ouzel, Wheatear
Scholar Green: Green Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Yellowhammer,
Weston: Garden Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Linnet
Wrinehill: Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler, Stonechat
19th April 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: 2 Jay ( don’t see them often here ), the female Grey Wagtail ( not seen her since the 2nd ), a Kingfisher flying east to west across the railway tracks just above the overhead cables and a single Swallow which appeared to be following the tracks as it flew north. Three Willow Warbler singing – all favouring the gardens bordering the field and in the background a duet of Mistle Thrush – one at each end of the patch
18th April 2020
Three singing willow warblers around the golf course this morning as well as my usual mistle thrush. Also a brood of six tiny mallard chicks have appeared overnight, but I still can not connect with a swallow yet.
18th April 2020
Is it my imagination or has the overnight showers and clouds made the foliage a deeper green?
Nothing new to report from Macon Meadows this morning before the showers were repeated other than that I mentioned the other day that there appeared to be a Blackcap in every bush I passed. This morning there appeared to be a female alongside every singing male Blackcap!
16th April 2020
Nothing new on Macon Meadows this morning.
Back at home, I’d been in the garden about 10 minutes, when at about 14:50 two Buzzards were kettling above the roundabout at Crewe Green. Moments later two Sparrowhawk, a male and a female, crossed my line of sight through my bins. As I watched them, a more distant bird ( perhaps over Haslington ) with a similar ‘jizz’ appeared behind them as they rose in a thermal. As this bird was more distant, it appeared to be bigger than the two closer to me! It was flying away from me and I lost sight of it. I wonder if anyone else was watching this bird and had better views?
16th April 2020
Scholar green Wheatear on ploughed fields Brickhouse area 2 yellowhammers Green Woodpecker yesterday
15th April 2020
During my visit to Doddington this morning. I had a Tawney Owl hooting. The warblers included Willow, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. The Nute Swan flock is starting to build with 9 being counted.
15th April 2020
On the golf course this morning the coot pair had just one young. A poor brood size for reasons unknown but it’s always comical to see the punk spiky red head of a juv.
15th April 2020
9 till 10ish this morning on Macon Meadows: gardeners with hedge-cutters and leaf-blowers at Macon House meant little to see/hear on that half of the patch but groups of Long-tailed Tit feeding suggest they fledged locally. A Blackbird seen with wet leaves suggests nest-building. Also, a Magpie was very aggressive to a Squirrel – not wanting the squirrel anywhere near the tree with its nest on, although the structure isn’t as impressive as the Magpie nest in the tree in my neighbour’s garden. In the grounds of MMU, there was a territorial dispute between the Jackdaws and Magpies – each not wanting the other near ‘their’ tree.
14th April 2020
7 till 8 ish this morning on Macon Meadows: I caught the ‘tail end’ of the Dawn Chorus. Blackbirds and a Song Thrush belting out and what appeared to be a Blackcap in every bush I passed! Just 1 or 2 Chiffchaff. The Willow Warbler I heard yesterday must have moved on, but new for me was a singing Reed Bunting – presumably attracted to the emergence of fresh reeds? The virtually ever-present Buzzard was in the grounds of MMU, as was a Sparrowhawk but the latter was not tolerated by the local Jackdaws nesting in the nearby trees. Nice to see a Bullfinch – the first for a while
13th April 2020
6 – 12 Apr
EHF/PHF: Goosander, Oystercatcher, R & LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, L Egret, Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher & Yellow Wagtail
MGT: Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, L Egret, Kestrel, Skylark, Cetti’s, Willow & Reed Warbler, Meadow Pipit & Reed Bunting
FF: Kingfisher
FFF: Goosander
WLF: Reed Warbler
Arclid: LR Plover, Green Woodpecker, Raven, Skylark, Wheatear, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer
Basford: Wheatear
Congleton: Dipper, Grey-headed Wagtail
Crewe GC: Willow Warbler
Doddington: Common Sandpiper, Skylark
Holmes Chapel: Mandarin
Lawton Woods/lake: Mandarin, Dipper, Grey Wagtail
Middlewich: Pied Flycatcher
Scholar Green: Green Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer,
Wheelock RT: Willow Warbler
Wrinehill: Skylark
+ many gardens report Swallow & House Martins
12th April 2020
A busy hour here (Smallwood) this morning. A female Great Spot on the nut feeder, then a few minutes later a smart looking male Reed Bunting taking its time on the seed feeder – we haven’t seen one here for a few years. Shortly after a magpie looked like it was raiding a nest in an ivy covered damson tree; two blackbirds and a crow were trying to see it off. Then a male Great Spot on the nut feeder.
12th April 2020
Early start this morning to avoid the biting insects in Quakers Coppice to see if any of the Tawny Owl chicks had ‘branched’: what appeared to be the back of two heads the chicks visible in the box. Only other bird of note was the drumming of a GS Woodpecker, my first record here for quite a while. shortly after I located a male in branches lower down. Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Goldcrest heard
11th April 2020
At 2.25pm today, I was alerted to the sound of a Buzzard “mewing” somewhere near and found it circling above Abbey Road, Sandbach, slowly drifting SE across Abbeyfields estate. Two more then appeared, one being harassed by a crow. Once I’d grabbed the bins, I then found a couple more higher and then another two, all obviously in the same air movement. Three is a regular number here since I moved, but 7 is a UK record number in one group for me.
10th April 2020
Congleton – Bath Vale, where a tributary enters Timbers Brook – Yellow Wagtail (Grey-headed but I cannot be certain of the ssp); also Dipper x1 and Grey Wagtail x 2.
There is a Treecreeper nest in Congleton park. If you walk along the park path with the R. Dane on your right you come across a tree stump with a metal band round the top that has been “planted”. It is carved with what look like kiddies drawings. The treecreeper nest is in a long crack neat the bottom of trunk.
9th April 2020
9th April 2020
Chiffchaff and male Blackcap just off Frank Webb Avenue, three more Chiffchaffs towards Minshull New Road.
Male Blackcap again at entrance to new cemetery, heard but not seen this time, two Long-tailed Tits.
Kestrel hunting over edge of cemetery and 30 Jackdaws feeding amongst the newly mown grass in cemetery.
9th April 2020
8th April 2020
Walk from Frank Webb Avenue to Minshull New Road, Crewe
Four Chiffchaff and male Blackcap at entrance of new cemetery,
9th April 2020
Nothing special on my daily exercise walk on the golf course but heard blackcap, chiffchaff, mistle thrush, blackbird, robin, wren, dunnock, nuthatch all singing. Several others seen including great spotted woodpecker and also nice to see a huge carpet of wood anemone flowers.
9th April 2020
Macon Meadows early morning: no sign of the Dipper, but Grey Wagtail still on territory. A Mistle Thrush belting out its song, a Song Thrush collecting nest material, a Kingfisher flying upstream with a small fish. A partial song of a Willow Warbler but I failed to connect with it. A second new tick for Lockdown was a flyover Grey Heron.
8th April 2020
Just back from a bike ride to Quakers Coppice to check on the Tawny Owl in one of the nest boxes. En route, I heard the alarm call of a Sparrowhawk by the mini roundabout at the end of Electra Way. One flew out of a tree by the Shield Health building, but although I couldn’t relocate it, one continued to call from nearby for the next few minutes.
In Quakers Coppice, as I approached the nest box where Bill & I had seen three eggs at the end of February I could see something in the box. Keeping my distance, but getting a better look through my bins, I saw one pale grey head and a pair of eyes peering out of the opening. Occasionally, a second juvenile appeared alongside its sibling.
8th April 2020
Repeated the 6th April circular walk, in reverse today, and noted Nuthatch in Abbey Road, Sandbach; and Willow Warbler, Coal Tit, Chiffchaff and Mistle Thrushes were the pick of the numerous birds along Wheelock Rail Trail (not Salt Line, as previously recorded – I blame only living here for a few months!). And this afternoon, a lone Raven drifted gently NW over the house but didn’t have the company of the pair of Sparrowhawk that it did yesterday.
8th April 2020
a willow warbler singing briefly at the golf course this morning
8th April 2020
I was at Doddington this morning. I recorded Great Black-backed Gull, Common Sandpiper,Blackcap,Chiffchaff and Skylark that are noteworthy.
7th April 2020
Scholar Green Ashbank area Swallow Willow Warbler Green Woodpecker Yellowhammer Kestrel Linnets
7th April 2020
Scholar Green Ashbank area Swallow, Willow Warbler other sightings same area Green Woodpecker GS Woodpecker Yellowhammer Linnets Kestrel
7th April 2020
Congleton: River Dane: Rood Hill road bridge: Grey Wagtail; Dipper; Goosander male
Congleton Park: Treecreepers nesting at the bottom of a stump ringed with iron at the top and covered with kiddie drawings. Also Mistle Thrush.
7th April 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: the grass has been cut by ANSA – the smell of wet, cut grass. Also, a forager picking nettle heads, probably for soup? The wild garlic is likely to be on the menu, too.
Moorhen with nest material, both Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing in two or three different areas of the patch. Also heard Nuthatch, Song Thrush and Greenfinch.
As I crossed Macon Way & walked towards the railway lines a Buzzard flew low over the stream, only to turn around and land on a handrail by the tracks. Raising my bins, I could see two Buzzards perched together. Moments later the Woodpigeons scattered and a passing Peregrine flew and landed on the aerial tower behind Macon House. I later also had a Sparrowhawk fly over.
On other side of rail tracks, lots of gull action above Tesco / Dunelm. While I was watching them, something by the grill covering the culvert caught my eye. Expecting it to be one of the Grey Wagtail, I was surprised to connect with a Dipper! Presumably attracted to the stream now that this small stretch has been dredged of sediment and exposed the rocks, etc. underneath.
7th April 2020
My first singing blackcap of the year, along the brook at the golf course.
6th April 2020
30 Mar – 5 Apr
EHF/PHF: Oystercatcher, LR Plover, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Common & Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Sand Martin, Swallow
MGT: Pochard, GW & L Egret, Kestrel, Skylark, Meadow Pipit
Wheelock/Ettiley Heath towpath: Yellowhammer
Railway embankment: Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap
WLF: GC Grebe, Oystercatcher, Swallow
Alsager: Red Kite
Arclid: Oystercatcher, LRP, Skylark, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer
Astbury Mere: Wigeon, Little Gull
Congleton: Goosander, Kingfisher, Mistle Thrush, Dipper, Grey Wagtail
Chorlton/Weston: Sparrowhawk, Redwing, Linnet
Crewe: Raven
Crewe GC: Mistle Thrush
Lawton Woods/lake: Mandarin, Dipper, Grey Wagtail
Middlewich: Red Kite
Sandbach: Raven
Scholar Green: Peregrine, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Swallow
6th April 2020
Minimum 4 Chiffchaff along Salt Line path between Crewe Road and Elwood Road, part of a lovely circular walk from home.
5th April 2020
a post-breakfast walk on Macon Meadows this morning: Lesser Black-backed Gull washing in the stream. Song Thrush and Greenfinch singing. A second Chiffchaff heard today ( unless it’s flying to both ends of the patch & singing to confuse me? ) also my first singing Blackcap here.
A pair of Nuthatch seen going in and out of a hole they used last year plus just the one Grey Wagtail
4th April 2020
Macon Meadows yesterday: a pair of Coal Tit and a Grey Wagtail. Still only one singing Chiffchaff, also Mistle & Song Thrush and now two Greenfinch singing.
This morning, a bike ride to Quakers Coppice via Crewe Business Park: my first singing Blackcap by the pool at the roundabout with Crewe Road; another Moorhen chick, probably too small to be from last week’s brood?
In Quakers Coppice there were a pair of Goldcrest, one with nesting material.
4th April 2020
Pam Henderson
Lovely walk around Congleton park and along river yesterday.
2 dippers near steam boat, grey heron, grey wagtail and male goosander below weir. 2 treecreepers and mistle thrush in the park. Another dipper beyond park (upsteam). Returned to Rood Hill and crossed over then down steps, heard a chirrup and a kingfisher flew out from under the bridge.
1st April 2020
Congleton: River Dane: Aldi Roundabout to Congleton Park: 2 x Dippers, Male goosander
Congleton: River Dane: Rood Hill road bridge: Grey Wagtail
1st April 2020
3 Raven over Abbeyfields development in Sandbach, pretty close until the Jackdaws had seen enough! A couple of Carrion Crows joined in and the Raven disappeared north towards Middlewich Road. Two Pied Wagtails in the garden every day now, down from the four that have enjoyed the earth being continually turned over by the builders for quite a while. Everything quiet now, of course. Will they stick around to breed?
1st April 2020
Back from my daily exercise walk around the golf course at Haslington. Several chiffchaff singing but no other spring migrants heard yet. A noisy flock of around 30 redwings were around the big trees but the best was my old friend the mistle thrush. Still belting it out from the same perch that he uses every day. It always surprises me how far the song carries on a still and silent day.