Spring...still waiting!!

The Chiffy, Sand Martin and Little Ringed Plover that have come all the way from warmer climes to grace the Marbury Patch, must be wondering what on earth all the effort was for.
A South Easterly is blowing as I type and this would have most patchers out and about scouring the land for new arrivals. But no, this SE wind is bloody freezing having come from Russia way...more chance of a Snowy Owl or Nutcracker!!.

Almost festive like conditions out there...

roll on Summer!!

TTFN

Ashton's Flash a new Cheshire mere in the making?

As you may or not already know we've had a lot of rain over the past few months (years) and some of it has found its way into Neumann's Flashes neighbours once dry(ish) confines namely Ashton's Flash.
So much so that we now have a new mere on the patch that will hopefully rival Rostherne or even Burton Mere Wetlands. Fingers are crossed for the arrival this year of some mega Cheshire cripplers that us local patchers can feast our eyes upon before the hordes descend (remember the stilt fiasco).

from Bund bench

from the far corner bench

The hide over at Neumann's, Bund hide is to say the least a bit draughty what!

I've still not seen the dwarf birder who uses the lower viewing window!!

The latest patch year tick was floating just across the water viewable from both upper and lower windows a pair of Pintail. A rather nice grip back having missed probably the same pair way back on the 1st of January.

One and a half Pintail puts me on 94 for the year.  100 up by the end of March now looking virtually impossible especially with these damn snow storms still coming. Still you never know in this game and that's what makes it so enjoyable (and sometimes bloody frustrating)...roll on spring!

TTFN

Orinoco

Mystery goose sp on the mere had me zapping down there pronto to find not the claimed Egyptian Goose but a much rarer Orinoco Goose!!! from South America.

A distant 'record shot' of the fence hopper (apparently plastic duck brothel near to Sandbach patch). I won't be submitting this to the CAWOS rarities committee cos I didn't find it...shame!
Got me out birding though and nearby on Kid Brook spit the first Redshank of the patch year was going about its business.
Next day on the same bit of mud the first LRP of the year and the earliest by 8 days I reckon.

TTFN

Down South

Work had me heading down to Kent for a three day mega survey just in time for the return of that big yellow thing up in the sky and a light southerly wind. Surely I'd pick up a few summer migrants en route.
Well as it happened no! but I did connect with some cracking year ticks non better than a self found Common Crane...

What a surprise and a great start to the 'Spring'

I also had literally crippling views of the long staying Penduline Tit at Stodders took all of two minutes to find the relevant bit of board-walk then whap on it went. My second one here after seeing a male way back in March 1984. and my 7th in the UK.

The Kent paparazzi

first contact

The 'twitch'

The reed mace muncher

Whilst down there I also added the flock of 5 Tundra Bean Geese, Black necked Grebe 

and a Water Pipit  to the year list.

A sea watch off Dunge produced Guillemot for the year plus Kittiwake and Gannet. On the ARC pits I could only find two of the 'flock' of Redhead Smew that had been present most of the winter.

Near Lydd a good size flock of Bewick Swans (43) were performing well for the local listers.

TTFN

Fudge Duck

A top secret mission (for a work colleague) close to the enemies doorstep (Nighthawk DJ) had me conveniently passing through Bedford where on a lake in Priory Country Park floated one rather nice drake Fudge Duck...

Could easily be the bird I saw last year at Minsmere through Mr Bedford's scope (cheers Dave) now coincidence or what?


TTFN

Brute at the Bank

Caught up with this humungous 1st winter Glaucous Gull down at Richmond Bank, Moss Side, Moore, Cheshire. Light as always in your face, wind chill -7'c so I didn't give it long. As is the case when I turn up there not a flippin Caspo Gull insight...funny that!

Could be my last visit ever unless some dude finds the boss his bogie bird USA Herring Gull. The tip is due to close so I'm told, where they gonna tip all that rubbish??

2013 UK Year List = 164 in the great listing year of 2005 I was on 171... 'strewth nearly up with the pace

TTFN

YEAR LISTING ME???

En route to and fro, back and forth, here and there as one does.

Some of the things I've managed to catch up with of late but still 41 species behind the Nighthawk DJ how the feck does he do it??

Seaton Common gull fest minus any Glaucous Gulls, Caspians etc

Midlands (no permit required) Euro Whitefronts

Lancs Waxwings quick piccy cos a woman ran over the road to me, thought I was photographing her house for the local council! she didn't believe me so I legged it before the cops came.

The Beeley Moor Great Grey Shrike via a sat nav b-line short cut home, bloody freezing place.

That's 161 for the year, just holding the Doc at bay but after his sojourn with the rest of the 'B' team up to the Hebs for the Harley Duck looks like I'll be relagated to 2nd or maybe 3rd as Robbo's up there as well...bugger me!!

TTFN