The Patch Awakens

With access to the Rudheath lime beds now formally granted, at least for the immediate future, I’ve been trying to make the most of it and visiting most days.

Spring has finally got going, with the weeks highlights as follows:

Ring Ouzel a female on 29th was the first patch record (albeit due to under recording). 

Whinchat; 2 on 30th (m&f). There were around 30 Northern Wheatears the same day and there have been decent numbers all week.

Wood Sandpiper  1 on 30th (flood) found by Paul

Green Sandpiper 2 on 24th (flood)

Whimbrel  2 on 25th and 3 on 27th. No doubt more roosting but not managed to get up in the evening.

Greenshank 1 from 26th to at least 30th.

Avocet pair on 28th and again on 30th. Hopefully settling down to breed.

Dunlin nice flock of 15 on flood and another 6 on No7 bed on 28th, with 5 lingering to the weeks end.

Ringed Plover the resident male with damaged leg present all week, seen in display flight with 2 presumed females on 29th. A further 4 dropped in briefly on 30th before heading east.

Mediterranean Gull ad & 2cy briefly on 26th. Presumably same birds as previous week.

Black-headed Gulls are lingering on the partially excavated bed, with typically 30-50 birds showing signs of breeding, but probably sub adults or inexperienced birds going through the motions. Worryingly an adult showing signs of bird flu was on the flood on 28th.

Wigeon 2 unseasonal males from 27th.

Breeding birds now in full flow, with the first Lapwing broods appearing from around 11 pairs. Up to 5 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers, 4-5 pairs of Redshank and a single Oystercatcher pair.

The Tata works pair of Peregrines are presumably breeding as the male was seen on most visits around the usual building.

My first Common Whitethroat up there on 26th and flyover Yellow Wagtail  on 28th.

I did manage brief forays away from the beds too, with Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers all vocal along the River Weaver on 29th. Highlights of a visit to Neumann’s and Ashton’s on 25th were a distant female Whinchat, and a small fall of Willow Warblers.