Cholmondeley Estate

[Mark Powell]

Couple of hours on the Estate this afternoon Canada geese numbers increasing to 250 on Deerpark Mere also 9 Greylags 3 ravens over and the Tawny Owl showing really well in its usual roosting spot.
Incedently still a pair of House Martins feeding young today on our estate today

Mark

[The Doc]

Over 200 Canada Geese in stubble field by Moulton Village this am too, Mark, there's a lot of em about

[Mark Powell]

[The Doc]

The village has many pairs of House Martins breeding but no sign for a few weeks now, they all seem to have gone. Yours is a very late record.
Back to the geese I had heard them several times as I got in my car in the morning and expected to see them flying. But it was only today that I saw them in the fields, making aracket as they just flew up a bit and relanded - no wonder I didn't see them in the sky.

[Mark Payne]

send it in Mark, survey taking place this year.

housemartins@bto.org

[Mark Powell]

Thanks Mark will pass the record on to Charles Hull who is the BTO rep for South Cheshire and a member of our Society. The House Martins were there yesterday but no sign of them today. Anyway had a walk around Deerpark Mere this afternoon and had the first returning Wigeon with a pair on Deerpark Mere and 18 on chapel Mere not a lot else other than the Tawny Owl showing its Tits off in the same tree as usual also 100's of Fieldfare and Redwing at Barmere

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Cold and wet on the Estate late morning Peragrine, Raven Tufted Duck numbers up to 50, two pairs of Bullfinch was a nice splash of colour on such a crap day. Tawny Owl still present though not in its usual tree also a very wet and cold dog

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Late morning early afternoon walk around the Mosses and Deerpark Mere today. Very strange to see huge parts of the Estate white over with snow at this time of year. Anyway plenty of activity around the feeding station on Deerpark Mere star performer being a Marsh Tit, the Tawny owl still present back in its usual tree, six Bullfinch today with five male's and one female. On to the Mosses and small flocks of Siskin all over the place, the dog also got two Woodcock up from a freshley planted area in the wood, a single female Crossbill was a nice end to a very cold walk

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Superb morning on the Estate yesterday with the arrival of 100's of Redwing and Fieldfare also the first returning Goldeneye with four females on Deerpark Mere, Two Tawny owls in the roosting Tree and a Marsh Tit on the feeding station two Ravens showing off in the bright autumn sky as only Ravens do

Mark

[Mark Powell]

A few hours on the Estate late morning so mild i thought spring had sprung
anyway Redwings and Fieldfare in the 100's all over the Estate also had a couple of Skylark which is quite a scarce bird on the Estate, Marsh Tit on the feeders again and all three Woodpeckers

Mark

[Mark Powell]

A quick visit today and a walk around Deerpark Mere produced not much other than the Goldeneye numbers upto 12, female's 10 and 2 magnificent drake's only other thing of interest was the Marsh Tit on the Feeding Station

Mark

[Mark Powell]

First visit for a while and most of Deerpark Mere still froze so not much in the way of Wildfowl but did have a flock of 50 Siskin. Only other thing of note were Two Marsh Tit on the feeding station

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Nice end of the year walk round the Estate today albeit very cold nice surprise in the way of a Chiffchaff in the gardens, not much else though, other than three Water Rail feeding on the ice amongst the reed bed. Happy New Year to all

Mark

[Mark Powell]

First Chiffchaff's calling on the Estate today also had 9 Crossbill. Its been quite a good month thus far on the Estate with Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Goosander, Raven and Peragrine all being seen regularly

Mark

[Mark Powell]

What a fantastic walk around the Estate today in this superb sunshine Ravens all over the Estate Five birds seen, also had all three Woodpeckers for the first time this year. Two Ruff on some land behind Chapel Mere were new birds for me on the Estate. Fourteen Buzzards all together over the Mosses was also a cracking site

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Another good couple of hours on the Estate this morning with all three Woodpeckers again and at last three Redpoll a small flock of Siskin and large flock of 300+ Redwing with the odd Fieldfare amongst them

Mark

[Mark Powell]

First Swallow of the year on the Estate today quickly followed by the second third fourth etc seven seen in total. All three woodpeckers seen again on three occasions this week with three Lesser spots on Tuesday. 100 plus Redwing and 60 Fieldfare seen today around Chapel Mere.

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Loads of familys on the Estate today with the kids being on holiday so opted to give the Mosses a grilling, wasnt long before i was watching my first Willow Warbler of the year quickly followed by the second and third. Also had first House Martin and Sand Martins of the year other birds of note 50 Siskin, Mallard with 11 chicks

Mark

[The Doc]

WOW!! That's a typical Mallard thing, ducklings in early April, but pretty much expected! The Estate will prob just get worse over the weekend, hope you've got a few fairs to go to

[Mark Powell]

Lifer for the Estate this afternoon in the way of a Drake Maderin also had my first Reed Warblers from the hide at Chapel Mere also still present from the hide a pair of Goldeneye this seems late to me does anyone else still have Goldeneye on local lakes/Meres

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Now a pair of Manderin on flooded field also Garden Warbler today

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Pair of Manderin still present also a pair of Goldeneye still on Chapel Mere

Mark

[Mark Powell]

Pair of Shelduck with chicks today. Manderin still present also Drake Goldeneye

Mark