Photo issues

As you will see some of the blog photos have a no entry sign on...this means the photo is not accessible apparently. Try as I might with Blogger, Google etc I just can't suss out how to get them back...rats!!
another blog that's been shafted by technology and jargon...sometimes I wonder why I bloody well bother at all.
Google you suck!!!!!

MAY..HEM!!

Sunday 11th and an early visit to the flashes despite the rain produced a flurry of avian activity.
On Stilt Island a couple of Avocets were new in, the 4th and 5th this year I've found plus a trio of Dunlin (always a good sign).
At the bund bench now becoming a great place just to sit and view for a while a flyby Hobby was a real bonus. Still more was to come as the Garganey that had been here earlier 6th flew back in from Ashton's direction. I presume it must be the same individual but you never know?

Tuesday 13th and a flock of Ringed Plovers were rummaging around on Neumann's muddy spit whilst 2 Common Terns landed nearby.

BOOM!! a very late sojourn to the flashes and I could not believe my eyes...floating in among the nearest group of Tufted Duck just out from Bund Hide one stonking drake RING-NECKED DUCK..unbelievable!

A patch lifer and a first record for the flashes (I think?), several locals made it before the light set in.
No sign the next day oh dear! what a gripper...

Some piccies by patch digiscoper Dave Bedford

nice one Dave (I've got to carry my scope more often..doh!)

The weekend again and I get there first on the Saturday 17th because someone surely would of picked out the roosting SPOONBILL that's having a wee nap on Stilt Island.

And just for good measure as I'm stood up on the mound viewing the Spooner a Lesser Whitethroat moves through the bushes in front of me,another good year tick in the bag.

Spoony did fly off over Northwich but came back onto Ashton's much to the delight of the gathered throng of local patchers...what a great bird!

Sunday and I'm sat in the garden knocking back a chilled beer when a
RED KITE flies over the house...garden tick!
I race over to the mound on Neumann's as Malc has just seen it flyover Scary Park...too late 2 points missed. Still it's a garden and a Marbury CP/Neumann's patch lifer...awesome!...more beer me thinks!

If anybody wants me to take a drugs test after the week I've just had then I'll gladly oblige...phew!!
more of the same this next week please.

#PWC  113 species    134 points (3+3 RND and 2 for Spoony)

TTFN

ONE DAY DUCK DELIGHTS

The 6th May and a cracking drake Garganey appears on Neumann's Flash tucked away in the south west corner near the nesting Mute Swans. I'm over in South Yorkshire surveying so it's a long wait till I manage to get to grips with the Garg, that M62 is just one big car park.

What a great bird and it did one over night so phew!

Also added were a couple of Swifts seen zooming high over Ashton's Flash as I strolled back to the layby...sorted evenings patching me thinks!

#PWC  107 species    122 points (2 for Garganey) 

TTFN

WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN

Last day and the Brockholes dude has already uploaded his April scores before the months end...madness!
I on t'other hand play it cool and yes boom! a last day #theflashes first for me in the shape of a rather nice addition to my ever growing flashes list an Egyptian Goose 102. Managed to get a phone piccy through my bins (posted on twitter feed) but its that bad I won't embarrass myself by posting it here.

Into May and an after work Friday bash around Neumann's produced a first for the year in the shape of a very nice Greenshank 103, seen from the view point above the Bund Hide ie the roof (to see over the reedbed).
New in Garden Warblers 104, were giving it some along by the linnet brambles and are beginning to out number the singing Blackcaps me thinks!

Another #theflashes first for myself was a flyover Yellow Wagtail 105, on the 3rd.

A feature of late April early May is the almost guaranteed flocks of migrating Whimbrel that pop up throughout the day on Ashton's usually en route to their Northern breeding grounds and so far we've had flocks of 10, 26, 21, 28 and a few smaller parties coming through.

#PWC  105 species   119 points

TTFN

100 CLUB AND COUNTING

Bank Holiday produced a cracker of a find, not by me unfortunately but Groucho Payne who heard then saw a TREE PIPIT fly-in and perch up near the Witton Brook vp. A couple of other patchers were able to get onto it before it flew down towards Witton Brook.
I was just leaving Old Hide so legged it over to be greeted by three smug faces...rats bottom!
Tape in hand I ventured off #PWC patch (what!!) and whapped out the call of Tripit...zap in it flew to a tree by the car park. I legged it a second time back onto #PWC patch and repeated the call...zap in it flew again right above me calling like a goodan. OML what a prize and the first ever I've seen/heard not flying over. A measly one point ( #PWC rules) for such a patch crippler just not fair. Also in a couple of Sedge Warblers on Ashton's flash below the vp.

Mid week and a Common Sandpiper on Neumann's flash was most welcome.

Saturday and its weekend again, patchers out in force and I'm lounging in bed chimping away on my mobile. I get two calls about a Tern sp. on Ashton's, surely it's an Arctic Tern and yes it is with possibly two before they depart rapidly in the improving weather. Just timed it right whap! 100 up for the year and it's not yet May!

More avian delight was to come as I'm chatting to the boss (of Avian Ecology no less) in Bund Hide, Fred locates a flying over Little Egret...get in what a bonus. Two egrets in the same year (Little and Large).

Rain from the east but not much else to show for it with no new passerines in...where's the groppers and whinchats?

no patch gold at the end of this rainbow from Old Hide

#PWC  101 species   115 points (2 each for Arctic Tern and Little Egret)

TTFN

JACK SNIPE

In the words of the great man himself Fluff Freeman...''well pop pickers, down to number 9 goes Podster550'' and so it comes to pass as new players come into the top ten down goes moi.

#PWC2014 March Inland North League Table

Understandably though and I'm clutching at straws here, March is a pretty naff month for birds with hardly anything of note added to the list except of course the pair of
Bearded Tits on the 1st. A new patch bird and all I get is a lousy 2 points, still we're in April now and things are going smoothly..Great White Egret for a start.
Padders so far after the lone Whimbrel have been in order of appearence:-
Dunlin a fly through flock of 5
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Little Ringed Plover

Common Whitethroat

Reed Warbler

but without doubt the highlight of the week has been the very showy (at times) Jack Snipe that I found on Ashton's Flash last Thursday 17th. As I write this Sunday night the bouncer is still doing his thing just out from the bench on the bund. There was even a crowd there this afternoon 7 birders no less.

But and there's always a but!! Saturday was a proverbial nightmare...having decided to have a leisurely mornings breakfast before patching I missed 2 flyover Goosanders and worse still a patch lifer...RED KITE!!! found by part time patcher Fred. What a blow but that's patching I suppose. Just shows what's passing through when we get some decent coverage (and decent birders) on patch.
Fingers crossed at the mo as Arctic Terns seem to be on the move and there's over night rain with constant easterlies....bring it on...

#PWC  96 species    108 points

TTFN

GWE...BOOMMMMM!!!!

For once right place right time and my first scan with the bins over Ashton's Flash produces a rather stonking big white job...GREAT WHITE EGRET!!! wow what a MEGA!! patch birding at it's best.
What a great (excuse the pun) addition to the #PWC year list. 6 big fat points (3 for the bird and 3 for finding it) take that Brockholes!

Phone-scoped 'record' shots of Granville II my 2nd for the Marbury Patch area after the legendary Granville of  07/01/2002.

Next day and no big white jobbies but the first Whimbrel of the year found skulking in the undergrowth around Ashton's puddle. Also there 2 Redshank and a Snipe. Over on Neumann's the pair of Pintail were back. Things beginning to hot up and Ashton's Flash sure looking like THE place to be watching at the mo especially with the bloody maggot danglers who now seem to live on Kid Brook spit over on Budworth Mere flushing everything in sight. Roll on....

#PWC  90 species   102 points (6 GWE + 2 Whimbrel)

TTFN