Trip reports
Field Trip to Northwich Area
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
On our way from the car park to the hide at the Mere, a group of 12 Redwings flew over our heads providing most of us with our first sightings of these migrants this Autumn. The feeding station at the hide provided close views of Blue, Coal and Great Tits and Nuthatch. The Mere had large numbers of Black-headed Gulls and Canada Goose, as well as small numbers of Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Teal, Shoveler, Cormorant and Grey Heron as well as a pair of Goldeneye recently returned from their breedind area.
The walk through Marbury Woods to Neumann's Flash was very quiet except for the occasional alarm call of Blackbbirds and Robins, and sightings of a couple of Jays.
Neumann's Flash provided excellent views of about 20 Golden Plover and a Dunlin feeding in a flock of Lapwing. Also seenwere a Shelduck, a Wigeon and four Snipe, as well as most of the ducks seen at Marbury.
On our return journey to the car park an excellent view was had by all of a perching Buzzard, making a species count of 43 for a most enjoyable day.