From:<tony.usher@zen.co.uk>
To:KOS update Usher Tony <tony.usher@zen.co.uk>
Sent:11/04/2020 20:55
Attachments:Wood Anemone tatton D Morris April 12 2020.jpeg (image/jpeg, 44 KB)
Subject:Knutsford Nature News #17
Please send any sightings or observations to me via email or text.

emails - tony.usher@zen.co.uk  or tony@10X50.com

texts also ok to 07710 508 544
 
April 11th 2020
 
I took a different route to the field pool at the top of Fox Harbour this morning. Turning right at the Roebuck Inn I continued all the way along Damson Lane until it became a bridleway and then a normal narrow footpath, again well-marked. It was further than I thought and by the time I reached the pool I'd done three kilometres. It was well worth it though as I was able to add two new species to my lockdown list (now 63) in the form of Willow Warbler and a Garden Warbler which was singing in the old withy beds at the side of the Lane. I met Jayne Davies at the pool, we were disappointed to find that the LRPs hadn't returned yet and the Oystercatchers had also done a runner! A Moorhen was a new species for the pool though.
 
A bit of excitement for Bob Melling this afternoon in Knutsford!
 

Hi Tony,

I thought you might like to know and I wanted to tell someone! I think (never having seen one before) there was a Goshawk behind my house, about 150m away, chimney high, skimming across the gardens and then Bexton Lane, at 15:00hrs. It was very grey and between a female Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard in size.

Bob M

Not far from where Bob Groom had one some time ago Bob.

Bob Groom was on the Tabley Hill bridleway, paying particular attention to the dung heap!

I was up on the Bridleway this morning, hoping to see yellow wags but didn't, and Jude has since e-mailed to say she 's seen them at the dung heap!

Today's Report
A local walk, partly on the Tabley Hill Bridleway, began with singing Blackcap and Willow Warbler. No sign of the pair of yellowhammers seen there on my last visit but a pleasant surprise was a Wheatear perching on yellow potato flowers. Tree Sparrows and House Sparrows were around. Skylark singing and Lapwings displaying. No new migrants, my list currently stands at 8, but Chiffchaff and newly arrived Blackcap were near Moss Corner Cottage, where also a Long-Tailed Tit. Goldfinches were ever-present and the inevitable, but welcome  Buzzard sightings, up to 3 at a time. Lots of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, also Peacocks and Orange Tip. Mid-afternoon a Raven was calling and circling, a new (from the) back garden bird for me.    Bob Groom.
 

 Jude Halman didn't tell me where she'd been but from Bob's report it must have been the Tabley Hill area.

Hi Tony, Another beautiful day.

Yellow Wagtails are back lovely to see, also Goldfinches lots, and heard a
Blackcap .  Total for the few weeks all together 35  must work harder.

Keep safe.

Jude 
 
Two new species for Geoff and Sheila Blamire. today.
 

This afternoon we're tried a different route to Rostherne and back taking in several footpaths. It was challenging because the paths were across weedy stubble and autumn cereals with no obvious path - we tried to walk around the edges of the fields which was much longer than it should have been. But worthwhile: the stubble produced 20+Linnets and a Wheatear - both new species for our list. A pond (not on the map) had 2 sleeping Oystercatchers. 

Garden: a new butterfly this morning Holly Blue and 2 ‘frisky' Wood Mice on the trailcam overnight (+ Hedgehog)! 

Cheers.............. Sheila and Geoff

Hon Sec. Derek Pike shares his thoughts about the English at play.

Hi Tony,  Another barren day here except Lapwings, Skylarks in Redrow field, when I say barren we have had   lot of the usual suspects which lots  of people would love. Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Crows, Buzzard calling somewhere, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, House Sparrows, Wood pigeons, Collared Dove Starlings, Nuthatch  plus loads of people going past - walkers ,joggers, cyclists; some have obviously not taken any exercise for years - meat everywhere, not a pretty sight worse than your Lostock Gralam English rose bud  if you remember!!

Yes I remember Derek!

I think Maria Freel should have gone on that walk and had a look for the EG's nest site!

Morning Tony............. Might go for a walk later, but for now the two Egyptian geese flew over the mansion this morning. Think they were headed for the ice pond. :D

Maria 
 

Also in Tatton Darren Morris is missing the visitors. It would have been heaving today.

Such a shame that a beautiful weekend over a bank holiday and the park is shut. 
The natural residents are having some respite though and are even more confiding. A kingfisher perched on the outflow of Tatton Mere this morning and a male and female mandarin were looking resplendent.
A brimstone in Dog Wood near to a patch of wood anemone in flower, here also the bluebells are beginning to appear.
 
 

Steve Barber predicts his local Lapwings face an uncertain future.
 

Hi Tony,  

Along the lanes west of Marton this morning we were rewarded almost immediately with a calling Raven.  This proved to be the only addition to our lockdown bird list but there was compensation in the form of increased numbers of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers and our first Holly Blues of the year.  We counted 35 Lapwings on and over a massive, recently-tilled field.  Many were displaying and one or two may even have been on scrapes.  Trouble is, our past experience shows this field will receive repeated attention from the farmer in the coming weeks and there will be little or no breeding success for the Lapwings. 

Cheers  Steve

Our very own Lapwing guru Wendy Stratford has been out in the fields of Mobberley where she's located some promising nest sites but, as in Marton, they're likely to get trashed before too long.

I walked the fields the other side of the railway today - couldn't earlier as the farmer was muck spreading the previous 2 days. In each of the 3 fields there, and the Smith Lane one, there are at least 2 lapwings on the ground - some of them look like they are on nests  - and more in the air - seeing off a buzzard in one case. Lots of diving and calling.

 
I've put a new webpage on 10X50.com that will contain links to copies of these emails, so they're saved for posterity. Future historians won't believe it!
 
http://www.10x50.com/covid_index.htm
 
http://www.10x50.com/latest.htm 
 
Tony Usher.