25/01/2020 Martin Mere WWT

Swan Goose: After spending almost a week indoors fighting off a horrible cold I was glad to get out and about this Saturday afternoon.

I thought I would take it easy and go somewhere that provides a nice warm hide, a place to grab some hot drinks and cake and a place with a bean goose also on the menu. So I shot over to Martin Mere WWT.

Black-tailed Godwit: Nice also to see the bizarre looking swan goose that wasn't shy and came right up to the waters edge before heading off with a gaggle of greylag geese.

This swan goose is considered as a feral bird, reading up on this species I have leaned that there are some feral breeding swan geese in Germany and the closest potentially wild bird record is nearly 4000 miles away!!

Swan geese can be found in Mongolia and they winter in SE China.

There were a few black-tailed godwits foraging around the rocky banks of the main mere.

This pair regularly broke out in fighting, squawking, flapping and pecking at each other it was fascinating to watch.

And look closer, I had several shots were the birds held each others bill and even appeared to peck inside the opponents bill. Both of them were trying to pull out each others feathers..

Aggressive behaviour!!

Tundra Bean Goose: The Bean Goose was still present feeding around the main mere loafing around with a small flock of pink feet's.

Turndra's are a stockier bird than the common pink-footed goose Turndra's appear darker and browner in appearance. But its their combination of orange legs and orange in the bill that are the main ID features.

These images show a really nice comparison between the two geese and their bills colouration. 

There were also 2 Mediterranean gulls on the main mere within the large black-headed gull flock. I also had a lovely marsh harrier flyby, 60ish ruff and three common snipe. No sign of the tawny owl n its box.

Common Snipe: Really enjoyable afternoon out, nice hot drink and some more cold & flu tablets and I will be back to my normal self.

22/02/2017 Martin Mere WWT

Brambling: It's been ages since I have been down to Martin Mere, but despite the poor weather and a very surly man on the reception desk I had an enjoyable afternoon.

My main reason for going was to see the long staying Brambling that has been frequenting the bird feeders at the Janet Kear Hide, the fact I was surveying in the area was just a nice coincidence.

This smashing male didn't disappoint, after only a short wait of around 30 minutes the bird appeared on the right hand side of the hide.

Shame about the cage over the feeders, but never mind it's not everyday you see such a stunning bird.

Black-tailed Godwit: After having my fill of the Brambling I walked down to other hides and made sure I checked the grassy bank between the Janet Kear and the Gladstone Hide as there had recently been a show Woodcock.

Unfortunately I was unable to relocate the Woodcock but as a little bit of a brucy-bonus I spent a while watching some BTG up close and personal.

From the new Swanlink Hide there were around eight BTG and four Ruff foraging around the rocky edge of the shoreline.

Two of the Godwit put on a brilliant fighting display, where they hunched down low and flared their black tail, raising it above their heads while calling. It seemed that if this display didn't work they would fly at each other and one would be pushed away.

I love Godwit, particularly BTW, they remind me of the Dee Estuary and the time I spent working at Burton Mere Wetlands. Good memories.

Ruff: Even the Ruff were fighting, however they were just aggressively displaying and they didn't actually come to fisty-cuffs.

I must make the use of my membership more often and make more regular trips to this lovely nature reserve.

01/09/2016 Houghton Green Pool

Green Sandpiper: Another pleasant morning spent on the flash, every time the flash emerges from over the hill I am always hoping I'll find something rare!


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Black-tailed Godwit:  Although there was nothing rare I did pick up a small flock of 13 blackwits, a new bird for me on Houghton Green which was good.







Greenshank: The usual suspects still remained, plenty of Yellow Wags,  a single Greenshank, a single Ruff and two Green Sandpiper.

The last time I was here the water levels were very low, so low I could see large fish swimming and gasping for air in the muddy pool.

By the time I packed up and left the site was becoming really busy with several dog walkers, one of which spooked the Ruff and blackwits which disappeared.

Grey Wagtail: Rare, maybe nextime....

22/05/2013 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB

Black-tailed Godwit: These stunning elegant birds are just one of the 682 coastal species for which we have trends, 60% have declined and 29% have declined strongly according to The State of Nature Report published today, see the RSPB link below.

These were taken from Burton Mere Wetlands Inner Marsh Farm hide (IMF).

This part ofthe reserve I shamefully rarely visit as it is superb, with closer views of Black-tailed Godwit and much more.

Sanderling: NOT LITTLE STINT! While enjoying views of Common Tern and talking to Ron Thomas in BMW's Visitor Centre  hide I was tipped off by Tony that there was a few Little Stint over at IMF so I shot straight over.

The State of Nature Report -
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/stateofnature_tcm9-345839.pdf

*****MUST READ*****

09/04/2013 Martin Mere WWT

Ruff: We soon wandered down to Martin Mere were I am still astonished to see how variable Ruff are, I mean if you were no birder you would not be mistaken to think they are a different species.

Take a look at this pale white ruff, absolutely stunning.

This darker Ruff's plumage looks nothing like what you would see in most books, from the Swan Link Hide we spotted at least 2 white headed Ruff 4 dark phase Ruff and at least 15  brown Ruff.

And look at this Ruff, presumably the females with their brown plumage phase. There were loads of theses normal looking Ruff, some with a white fronted face and others without. Even their legs can be different colors making identification even more tricky!

Lapwing: Other waders from the Swan Link Hide induced this Lapwing which unlike the Ruff  blackwit was very flighty.

Black Tailed Godwit: There was half a dozen blackwits from here too and once again put on a great show foraging right up close. We caught 2 Tawny Owl near the United Utilities Hide a Stoat and a female Wheatear all in the same area.

One thing that was striking was the lack of Whooper Swans from the last time I was here there was about 100 and this was only about 2 weeks ago . We only saw one pair from the Swan Link and one pair from the United Utilities Hide.

Spoonbill: I was made up to spot this Spoonbill knowing we had missed it earlier that day at Marshisde.

On the way home Scott said 'lets go see some Corn Buntings' and I said 'OK, but I doubt we will see any' and just as that sentence left my lips he said 'Oh, look over there' and there was a tree full of Corn Buntings.


Brilliant, two lifers in one day Corn Bunts and Black Grouse now that can't be bad!

18/03/2013 Martin Mere WWT

Black Tailed Godwit: A very nice trip to Martin Mere and I was not disappointed, I was surprised to see this stunning Godwit right in front of the Swan Link Hide.   

A good wader day with 74 Avocet, 70+ Ruff, 40+ Oystercatcher, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Redshank, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 Curlew, 2 Dunlin and ~ 200 Lapwing. Most of which can be seen from the Ron Barker Hide.

Ruff: This ruff was also feeding right in front of the Swan Link Hide, it wasn't phased at all by the presence of Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal and Pintail all feeding together around and under the rocks!

Pintail: There were reports of the sites first Chiffchaff   of spring heard around the reserve, near the bird feeding station, I spent sometime here and there but didn't see or hear anything.

Whooper Swan: They are loud, bright, active and all over Martin Mere and now on my year list, brill. And they wont be around for long!

01/10/2012 Burton Mere Wetlands

Long-Billed Dowitcher: I had a phone call this afternoon from somebody on Burton Mere Wetlands while I was on the reserve working, they were saying they think they have found a Long-Billed Dowitcher but needed some identification help as they were not 100%.

 So me and Dan rallied the troops and headed down to see, it was among several Black-Tailed Godwits. Another lifer, made up!


Other highlights from the past few days at Burton Mere Wetlands are: Golden Plover, Greenshank, Hen and Marsh Harrier.

 

28/06/2012 Frodsham Marsh

Black-tailed Godwit: Another after work  trip to Frodsham Marsh again by far the star bird was this stunning large wader.  It was seen further along Tank no.5.

This was one of those time I wished I had a 500mm lens, one day. For now I will do my best with my 300mm and 50mm Macro.