Trip reports
A MORNING IN MARBURY COUNTRY PARK
Saturday, 14 April 2007
Walking along the lime avenue to the birdhide overlooking Budworth Mere we saw long-tailed tits and listened to the rich warbling song of the blackcap. We managed to have a good look at it, as it tried to hide from us in a newly leafed tree.
From the hide we watched great tit and a male reed bunting at the bird-table, across the mere a heron perched in a tree. Members had a good sighting of a handsome, colourful kingfisher.
From the path along the edge of the mere two black hooded Mediterranean gulls with white wing tips were picked out from among the mainly immature black-headed gulls. On the lake, a pair of great crested grebes fancied each other. Also there were tufted duck, shelduck and shovellers and of course mallard. A flock of twenty coot fed on the opposite undisturbed bank and we caught a glimpse of a beautiful grey wagtail.
The woodland walk was very rewarding, scented with carpets of wood anemone and bluebells. Our first sighting of a shy jay. A busy calling coal tit, 'seetoo seeetoo'. Glowing marsh marigolds edging a pool. "Oh look!" cried Harry, "Two nuthatches copulating!" Well fancy that, birds is singin', trees is sprittin' and t'sap is risin'. Spring is sprung! A goldcrest was seen carrying nesting material. Robins were singing and Walter heard jackdaws in the background. A treecreeper showed well, running up tree trunks carrying on with its busy little life. Lesser celandine covered the woodland floor. A mistle thrush gave out his dry rasping chatter. We stood on some ransom, releasing its garlic smell.
Next we moved on to Haydyn's Pool, where a buzzard circled overhead. A good selection of duck, gadwall, teal and shelduck with some Canadas and two mute swans. Sharp eyed observer, Doreen, found three snipe, blending in at the foot of a low bush. A kestrel hovered, then swooped. There were scattered oystercatchers, odd redshank (pictured), with lapwing mewing and displaying.
Photo by Ian King