21/06/17 - Birdlog

A brief visit to the flash today in the early evening certainly produced. A large number of Black-headed Gulls were hawking for insects over the water (5 newly fledged juvs were worthy of note). As I was scanning the flock from the Sailing Club I was delighted to come across a stunning first summer LITTLE GULL.

Apart from that obvious highlight, the main waterbody was relatively quiet despite the usual numerous Great Crested Grebes (now 7 nests). The next highlight came at the scrapes at Dairy House Farm, where I came across a drake GARGANEY (less than annual), this bird was well into eclipse plumage.

The scrape at Rilshaw Lane held 3 Little Ringed Plover.

Observer: Findlay Wilde

02/06/17 - Birdlog

The highlight of an afternoon stroll around Winsford Flash appeared at Rilshaw Lane where I picked up the first record of a *CETTIS WARBLER* present in the large reedbed alongside the mere. The bird was being bossed about by the resident breeding Reed Warblers. After a relatively long spell of dry weather, the spit is now looking fantastic for waders, so it was no surprise to find 4 Little Ringed Plover present. One pair seemed rather settled as there appeared to be a lot of displaying going on and at one point they were indeed mating. A flyover Redshank (first of the year)was an extra added bonus to an already fairly good species tally.

The scrape at Dairy House Farm held another Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing and 3 Greylag Geese.

Observer: Findlay Wilde