Details of April sightings will appear on the Monthly Sightings page.
18 Comments
Mike 29th April 2023
More migration at Doddington this evening with the unusual sight of 6 Common Sandpipers feeding in the grass field opposite the sailing club.I could only find 1 male Wheatear in the ploughed field.
Mike 28th April 2023
Late this afternoon at Doddington Colin’s Common Tern was joined by 2 more,also Red Kite over,Dunlin on the island,2 Wheatear in the ploughed field and a very forlorn looking L.R. Plover!
Colin 28th April 2023
At Doddington this morning was a common tern, present all morning. Many hirundines over the water, probably 100 sand martin, 50 swallow, 10 house martin and definitely 3 swifts. Coot numbers were down to 65, mute swan numbers up to 9 and tufted at 44 with most birds paired and a few spare males with them. After drainage the flood pool turned into a flood puddle and now has no water and consequently no birds. Blast that woman – a good opportunity wasted.
Nigel Henderson 25th April 2023
Congleton park – rugby field; Mistle Thrush
River Dane riverside walk – the rise to Dane Street; Mandarin ♂ ♀ in the garden where the mallards are fed.
River Dane – below the weir just outside the park;
Goosander ♀ and 6 downy young (the first sighting of young on this stretch of the river.) The mother was trying to lead them up the weir but they were too small to make it up against the flow of water. She was still trying to lead them up the weir when I came back after walking round the park. Is there a Goosander parenting association we can report her to?
River Dane – Steamboat car park Grey Wagtail also several sighting along the riverside walk
River Dane – Steamboat car park Dipper
Glyn Jones 24th April 2023
Borrow Pit Meadows – 1100
2 Canada and 2 Greylag Geese and female Teal on pool, male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, male Reed Bunting, Robins still coming to food.
Queen’s Park – 1500
2 Barnacle Geese, male and female Blackcaps, Greenfinch.
Mike & Andy 21st April 2023
Probably our best ever count of 190 Sand Martins at Doddington this morning and 2 Common Sandpipers around the pool.Still at least 3 L.R.Plovers on the flood puddle.
Glyn Jones 18th April 2023
Queen’s Park – 1440
30 + Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans on nest on one of the islands, Little Owl at old nesting site showing well.
Mike&Andy 11th April 2023
A Common Sandpiper around the pool at Doddington this morning and our first House Martin of the spring in with at least 120 Sand Martins and a few Swallows.A female Goldeneye dropped in on it’s return journey and Barnacle Goose and Shelduck also present as were the L.R.Plovers and 5 Oystercatchers.
Dave Winnington 11th April 2023
M Redstart and M Wheatear Fanny’s Croft Cheshire border Hedge also Yellow wagtail and m and fm Wheatear ploughed Field from public path Same area
Jon A 10th April 2023
Little egret flying over Lawton Road, Alsager heading north west
Colin 9th April 2023
at Doddington yesterday (the 8th ) ; the redshank now on the floodpuddle along with 3 lr plover and 2 lapwing. A count of nests in the heronry gave a total of 26, up from last year’s total of 25
Mike&Andy 7th April 2023
Female Wheatear close to the fence line along the road to the units and a surprise Redshank in the sailing club!
Nigel Henderson 6th April 2023
Congleton
Park;
Whooper Swan – 2 flying overhead
Dane riverside walk;
Kingfisher – Flying downstream
Goosander – ♂
River Dane – Steamboat car park;
Dipper
Colin 3rd April 2023
with Mike and Andy at Doddington this morning: red kite 2 together over the estate, sand martin 25 over the pool, lr plover 4 still hanging about at the flood pool although very little water left now also 4 lapwing there, on the water shelduck 3, shoveler 2, wigeon 1, gadwall 1, mute swan 1, great crested grebe numbers up to 13; also oystercatcher 4, reed bunting 1, pied wagtail 4, sparrowhawk 1, tufted and canada goose.
Glyn Jones 3rd April 2023
Queen’s Park – 1045
male Blackcap, pair of Coots with six very small young
Mike 1st April 2023
Still 2 L.R Plovers on the remnants of the flood at Doddington this afternoon,otherwise poor on the main pool with just 4 Shelduck and a single Shoveler of any note.j
Colin 1st April 2023
Blackcaps singing in the same spot on the Salt Line as you had them Dave.
Colin 1st April 2023
20 swallows and 10 house martins at Rode Pool this afternoon; from John Triner
29th April 2023
More migration at Doddington this evening with the unusual sight of 6 Common Sandpipers feeding in the grass field opposite the sailing club.I could only find 1 male Wheatear in the ploughed field.
28th April 2023
Late this afternoon at Doddington Colin’s Common Tern was joined by 2 more,also Red Kite over,Dunlin on the island,2 Wheatear in the ploughed field and a very forlorn looking L.R. Plover!
28th April 2023
At Doddington this morning was a common tern, present all morning. Many hirundines over the water, probably 100 sand martin, 50 swallow, 10 house martin and definitely 3 swifts. Coot numbers were down to 65, mute swan numbers up to 9 and tufted at 44 with most birds paired and a few spare males with them. After drainage the flood pool turned into a flood puddle and now has no water and consequently no birds. Blast that woman – a good opportunity wasted.
25th April 2023
Congleton park – rugby field; Mistle Thrush
River Dane riverside walk – the rise to Dane Street; Mandarin ♂ ♀ in the garden where the mallards are fed.
River Dane – below the weir just outside the park;
Goosander ♀ and 6 downy young (the first sighting of young on this stretch of the river.) The mother was trying to lead them up the weir but they were too small to make it up against the flow of water. She was still trying to lead them up the weir when I came back after walking round the park. Is there a Goosander parenting association we can report her to?
River Dane – Steamboat car park Grey Wagtail also several sighting along the riverside walk
River Dane – Steamboat car park Dipper
24th April 2023
Borrow Pit Meadows – 1100
2 Canada and 2 Greylag Geese and female Teal on pool, male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, male Reed Bunting, Robins still coming to food.
Queen’s Park – 1500
2 Barnacle Geese, male and female Blackcaps, Greenfinch.
21st April 2023
Probably our best ever count of 190 Sand Martins at Doddington this morning and 2 Common Sandpipers around the pool.Still at least 3 L.R.Plovers on the flood puddle.
18th April 2023
Queen’s Park – 1440
30 + Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans on nest on one of the islands, Little Owl at old nesting site showing well.
11th April 2023
A Common Sandpiper around the pool at Doddington this morning and our first House Martin of the spring in with at least 120 Sand Martins and a few Swallows.A female Goldeneye dropped in on it’s return journey and Barnacle Goose and Shelduck also present as were the L.R.Plovers and 5 Oystercatchers.
11th April 2023
M Redstart and M Wheatear Fanny’s Croft Cheshire border Hedge also Yellow wagtail and m and fm Wheatear ploughed Field from public path Same area
10th April 2023
Little egret flying over Lawton Road, Alsager heading north west
9th April 2023
at Doddington yesterday (the 8th ) ; the redshank now on the floodpuddle along with 3 lr plover and 2 lapwing. A count of nests in the heronry gave a total of 26, up from last year’s total of 25
7th April 2023
Female Wheatear close to the fence line along the road to the units and a surprise Redshank in the sailing club!
6th April 2023
Congleton
Park;
Whooper Swan – 2 flying overhead
Dane riverside walk;
Kingfisher – Flying downstream
Goosander – ♂
River Dane – Steamboat car park;
Dipper
3rd April 2023
with Mike and Andy at Doddington this morning: red kite 2 together over the estate, sand martin 25 over the pool, lr plover 4 still hanging about at the flood pool although very little water left now also 4 lapwing there, on the water shelduck 3, shoveler 2, wigeon 1, gadwall 1, mute swan 1, great crested grebe numbers up to 13; also oystercatcher 4, reed bunting 1, pied wagtail 4, sparrowhawk 1, tufted and canada goose.
3rd April 2023
Queen’s Park – 1045
male Blackcap, pair of Coots with six very small young
1st April 2023
Still 2 L.R Plovers on the remnants of the flood at Doddington this afternoon,otherwise poor on the main pool with just 4 Shelduck and a single Shoveler of any note.j
1st April 2023
Blackcaps singing in the same spot on the Salt Line as you had them Dave.
1st April 2023
20 swallows and 10 house martins at Rode Pool this afternoon; from John Triner