Details of December sightings compiled by John Thompson will appear on the Monthly Sightings page.
26 Comments
Mike&Andy 31st December 2020
A decent end of the year at Doddington with,1 male+3 female Pintail,a male Mandarin,16 Goldeneye,14 Shoveler,7 Pochard,4 Teal,2 Wigeon,L Grebes,12 Redpoll,Brambling,50 Linnets,Kestrel,3 Mistle Thrush,6 G.B.B. Gull and Common Gull.
Colin 30th December 2020
just back from a walk round the golf course and birds of note were around 30 fieldfare, but well scattered in ones and twos. Back home and lo and behold — a single fieldfare in my garden, the first for a few years.
John Thompson 28th December 2020
21 – 27 Dec
EHF/PHF: Greylag Goose, Goosander, L Grebe, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Yellow-legged & Med Gull, L Egret, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine
WLF: Cetti’s Warbler
Alsager: Wigeon, Goosander, Raven, Linnet, Yellowhammer
Astbury Mere: Shelduck, Shoveler, Pochard, Water Rail, L Grebe, Dusky Warbler, Siskin
Borrow Pit Meadows: Goosander
Church Lawton/Woods/Lake: Kingfisher, Dipper
Congleton: Goosander, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail
Doddington: Gadwall, Pochard, Goldeneye, Water Rail, Kestrel
Middlewich/Canal: Whooper Swan, Woodcock
Queens Park: Mandarin, Goosander
Rode Heath/Pool: Egyptian Goose, L Egret, Kingfisher
Scholar Green: Stonechat, Yellowhammer
Mike&Andy 27th December 2020
Water Rail on the island at Doddington this morning.
GLYN JONES 25th December 2020
25th December 2020
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
Spent an hour walking round the partly frozen lake at Queen’s Park Crewe today,
M & F Mandarin Ducks only birds of note.
They get several people going in every day with bags of birdfeed to feed all the geese, ducks and all the smaller birds.
The birds are all looked after very well.
Colin 24th December 2020
At Doddington this late afternoon counting the gull roost. It gets harder every year but certainly in the order of black-headed 8,000; lesser black-backed 2,400; herring 50; common 10.
Colin 24th December 2020
Mick on the 22nd ; working in the garage? — or smoking?! Have a good Christmas
Nigel Henderson 24th December 2020
Congleton park – River Dane: Male Kingfisher; Female Goosander
River Dane between the Steamboat and the park; Grey Wagtail
Mick Ball 22nd December 2020
c300 pinkfeet flying high straight over my house in Alsager heading NW at 1.40 p.m.
Earlier a Raven went over.
Alerted to both species when hearing them while I was working in my garage.
M
Colin 22nd December 2020
Best birds at Rode Pool this morning were 2 little egrets, 2 egyptian geese, 3 goosanders and 2 kingfishers that were seen well enough to identify as 1 male and 1 female
John Thompson 22nd December 2020
Late morning on Meremoor Moss: Englesea Brook has overflowed at a few points and there are a few large pools but nothing new has been attracted by them.
Muscovy Ducks on the nearby fishery. Also noted: a Kestrel, 2 Rook, 2 singing Song Thrush and a Stonechat
Glyn Jones 21st December 2020
21st December 2020
Borrow Pit Meadows this morning, 9 Goosanders on the pool, 8 F, 1 M.
Nigel Henderson 21st December 2020
Astbury Mere – Dusky Warbler
For all of you that haven’t read John Thompsons posting carefully, Astbury Mere CP is normally a mute swan, mallard, coot type of place but it occasionally comes up with a rarity. Today I have seen a Dusky Warbler, first found by Mark. My technique for finding it was to walk round the Mere until I came across a bunch of bird watchers with long lens cameras and binoculars all pointing in the same direction.
John Thompson 21st December 2020
14 – 20 Dec
MGT/RF: Water Rail, GBb & LBb Gull, Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit
FF: L Redpoll, Siskin
GF: Water Rail
WF: Snipe, Barn & Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch, Linnet
Alsager: Woodcock, Sparrowhawk, Skylark, Chaffinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Astbury Mere: Pochard, Water Rail, L Grebe, Dusky Warbler, Chiffchaff
The Cloud: Raven, Siskin
Doddington: Egyptian Goose, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Goldeneye, L Grebe, Kestrel, Greenfinch
Lea Forge: Lapwing, Raven, Meadow Pipit
Middlewich: Whooper Swan
Sandbach: Sparrowhawk
Mike&Andy 20th December 2020
Highlight at Doddington this morning were 2 Egyptian Geese,the first since last January .Also 14 Goldeneye ,10 Pochard,6 Wigeon,2 Teal,9 Little Grebes and a Kestrel.An impressive flock of around 375 Lapwings were at Lea Forge with just Raven and Meadow Pipits of any other note.
Colin 20th December 2020
Last Friday (18th) at Doddington; 13 goldeneye in a group with some of the 5 males displaying to the 8 females; 104 tufted, 6 pochard; 3 shoveler and 3 wigeon. The best sighting was a large mixed flock of at least 500 birds actively feeding in the maize stubble with around 300 starlings, 80 redwing, 30 fieldfare, 50 chaffinch, 10 goldfinch and 10 greenfinch
John Thompson 17th December 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: Water Rail calling briefly
John Thompson 15th December 2020
Meremoor Moss this morning: a hunting female Kestrel, a Jay, 2 Rooks, a nervous flock of Fieldfare & Redwing, 4 Stonechat and a Reed Bunting
And on the way home another Kestrel: on wires above a field on the corner of Slaughter Hill
Dave Winnington 15th December 2020
Saltline Tilly’s bridge area 30+ finch flock 8 Siskin with them
Male Sparrowhawk NE from Abbey Road, Sandbach, across north end of Abbeyfields development.
Mike&Andy 13th December 2020
Single Pink-f Goose still at Doddington and Goldeneye up to at least 17 this morning.Also 7 Pochard,4 Wigeon,4 Teal and 3 Little Grebes.
Nigel Henderson 9th December 2020
Comgleton – River Dane – Dane Street riverside walk; Kingfisher flying; Grey Wagtail
John Thompson 7th December 2020
30 Nov – 6 Dec
EHF/PHF: Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Shoveler, Pintail, Goosander, Water Rail, L Grebe, Golden Plover, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Peregrine
MGT/RF: Barnacle Goose, Snipe, GW Egret, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Peregrine, Skylark, Raven, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting
CF: Goosander, Great W & L Egret
FF: Goosander
GF: Meadow Pipit
WF: Goosander, Snipe, Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Linnet
Astbury Mere: Pochard, L Grebe
Bagmere: Cetti’s Warbler
Bradwall: Skylark
Brereton Heath LNR/Smethwick: Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Congleton: Siskin
Doddington: Shoveler, Wigeon, Pochard, Goldeneye, Kestrel
Lawton Woods/Lake: Goosander, L Grebe, Woodcock
Lea Forge: Woodcock
Middlewich Canal: Whooper Swan
Mow Cop: Woodcock, Snipe, Stonechat
Mike&Andy 3rd December 2020
A brief view at Doddington before the road closed,Goldeneye up to at least 8 with 3 males,8 Pochard,3 Shoveler,Wigeon and Kestrel.
John Thompson 1st December 2020
A regular walk on Meremoor Moss this morning brought me my first Snipe of the Autumn/Winter plus a Kestrel, 4/5 Stonechat including a very confiding 1st W bird. Also, c40 Chaffinch feeding on a track to farmland and a pair of Reed Bunting
31st December 2020
A decent end of the year at Doddington with,1 male+3 female Pintail,a male Mandarin,16 Goldeneye,14 Shoveler,7 Pochard,4 Teal,2 Wigeon,L Grebes,12 Redpoll,Brambling,50 Linnets,Kestrel,3 Mistle Thrush,6 G.B.B. Gull and Common Gull.
30th December 2020
just back from a walk round the golf course and birds of note were around 30 fieldfare, but well scattered in ones and twos. Back home and lo and behold — a single fieldfare in my garden, the first for a few years.
28th December 2020
21 – 27 Dec
EHF/PHF: Greylag Goose, Goosander, L Grebe, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Yellow-legged & Med Gull, L Egret, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine
WLF: Cetti’s Warbler
Alsager: Wigeon, Goosander, Raven, Linnet, Yellowhammer
Astbury Mere: Shelduck, Shoveler, Pochard, Water Rail, L Grebe, Dusky Warbler, Siskin
Borrow Pit Meadows: Goosander
Church Lawton/Woods/Lake: Kingfisher, Dipper
Congleton: Goosander, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail
Doddington: Gadwall, Pochard, Goldeneye, Water Rail, Kestrel
Middlewich/Canal: Whooper Swan, Woodcock
Queens Park: Mandarin, Goosander
Rode Heath/Pool: Egyptian Goose, L Egret, Kingfisher
Scholar Green: Stonechat, Yellowhammer
27th December 2020
Water Rail on the island at Doddington this morning.
25th December 2020
25th December 2020
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
Spent an hour walking round the partly frozen lake at Queen’s Park Crewe today,
M & F Mandarin Ducks only birds of note.
They get several people going in every day with bags of birdfeed to feed all the geese, ducks and all the smaller birds.
The birds are all looked after very well.
24th December 2020
At Doddington this late afternoon counting the gull roost. It gets harder every year but certainly in the order of black-headed 8,000; lesser black-backed 2,400; herring 50; common 10.
24th December 2020
Mick on the 22nd ; working in the garage? — or smoking?! Have a good Christmas
24th December 2020
Congleton park – River Dane: Male Kingfisher; Female Goosander
River Dane between the Steamboat and the park; Grey Wagtail
22nd December 2020
c300 pinkfeet flying high straight over my house in Alsager heading NW at 1.40 p.m.
Earlier a Raven went over.
Alerted to both species when hearing them while I was working in my garage.
M
22nd December 2020
Best birds at Rode Pool this morning were 2 little egrets, 2 egyptian geese, 3 goosanders and 2 kingfishers that were seen well enough to identify as 1 male and 1 female
22nd December 2020
Late morning on Meremoor Moss: Englesea Brook has overflowed at a few points and there are a few large pools but nothing new has been attracted by them.
Muscovy Ducks on the nearby fishery. Also noted: a Kestrel, 2 Rook, 2 singing Song Thrush and a Stonechat
21st December 2020
21st December 2020
Borrow Pit Meadows this morning, 9 Goosanders on the pool, 8 F, 1 M.
21st December 2020
Astbury Mere – Dusky Warbler
For all of you that haven’t read John Thompsons posting carefully, Astbury Mere CP is normally a mute swan, mallard, coot type of place but it occasionally comes up with a rarity. Today I have seen a Dusky Warbler, first found by Mark. My technique for finding it was to walk round the Mere until I came across a bunch of bird watchers with long lens cameras and binoculars all pointing in the same direction.
21st December 2020
14 – 20 Dec
MGT/RF: Water Rail, GBb & LBb Gull, Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit
FF: L Redpoll, Siskin
GF: Water Rail
WF: Snipe, Barn & Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch, Linnet
Alsager: Woodcock, Sparrowhawk, Skylark, Chaffinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Astbury Mere: Pochard, Water Rail, L Grebe, Dusky Warbler, Chiffchaff
The Cloud: Raven, Siskin
Doddington: Egyptian Goose, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Goldeneye, L Grebe, Kestrel, Greenfinch
Lea Forge: Lapwing, Raven, Meadow Pipit
Middlewich: Whooper Swan
Sandbach: Sparrowhawk
20th December 2020
Highlight at Doddington this morning were 2 Egyptian Geese,the first since last January .Also 14 Goldeneye ,10 Pochard,6 Wigeon,2 Teal,9 Little Grebes and a Kestrel.An impressive flock of around 375 Lapwings were at Lea Forge with just Raven and Meadow Pipits of any other note.
20th December 2020
Last Friday (18th) at Doddington; 13 goldeneye in a group with some of the 5 males displaying to the 8 females; 104 tufted, 6 pochard; 3 shoveler and 3 wigeon. The best sighting was a large mixed flock of at least 500 birds actively feeding in the maize stubble with around 300 starlings, 80 redwing, 30 fieldfare, 50 chaffinch, 10 goldfinch and 10 greenfinch
17th December 2020
Macon Meadows this morning: Water Rail calling briefly
15th December 2020
Meremoor Moss this morning: a hunting female Kestrel, a Jay, 2 Rooks, a nervous flock of Fieldfare & Redwing, 4 Stonechat and a Reed Bunting
And on the way home another Kestrel: on wires above a field on the corner of Slaughter Hill
15th December 2020
Saltline Tilly’s bridge area 30+ finch flock 8 Siskin with them
14th December 2020
7 – 13 Dec
EHF/PHF: Barnacle & Pink-footed Goose, Pintail, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Peregrine
MGT/RF: Gadwall, Pintail, Peregrine, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit
FF: Goosander, Goldcrest
Alsager: Brambling, Yellowhammer
Astbury Mere: Pochard, L Grebe, Raven, Chiffchaff
Congleton: Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail
Doddington: Pink-footed Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Goldeneye, L Grebe
Lawton Woods/Lake: Woodcock
Queen’s Park: Barnacle Goose, Mandarin, L Grebe
Rode Heath: Egyptian Goose
14th December 2020
Male Sparrowhawk NE from Abbey Road, Sandbach, across north end of Abbeyfields development.
13th December 2020
Single Pink-f Goose still at Doddington and Goldeneye up to at least 17 this morning.Also 7 Pochard,4 Wigeon,4 Teal and 3 Little Grebes.
9th December 2020
Comgleton – River Dane – Dane Street riverside walk; Kingfisher flying; Grey Wagtail
7th December 2020
30 Nov – 6 Dec
EHF/PHF: Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Shoveler, Pintail, Goosander, Water Rail, L Grebe, Golden Plover, Curlew, Bl-t Godwit, Snipe, Peregrine
MGT/RF: Barnacle Goose, Snipe, GW Egret, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Peregrine, Skylark, Raven, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting
CF: Goosander, Great W & L Egret
FF: Goosander
GF: Meadow Pipit
WF: Goosander, Snipe, Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Linnet
Astbury Mere: Pochard, L Grebe
Bagmere: Cetti’s Warbler
Bradwall: Skylark
Brereton Heath LNR/Smethwick: Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Congleton: Siskin
Doddington: Shoveler, Wigeon, Pochard, Goldeneye, Kestrel
Lawton Woods/Lake: Goosander, L Grebe, Woodcock
Lea Forge: Woodcock
Middlewich Canal: Whooper Swan
Mow Cop: Woodcock, Snipe, Stonechat
3rd December 2020
A brief view at Doddington before the road closed,Goldeneye up to at least 8 with 3 males,8 Pochard,3 Shoveler,Wigeon and Kestrel.
1st December 2020
A regular walk on Meremoor Moss this morning brought me my first Snipe of the Autumn/Winter plus a Kestrel, 4/5 Stonechat including a very confiding 1st W bird. Also, c40 Chaffinch feeding on a track to farmland and a pair of Reed Bunting