Photos:
Juvenile Cuckoo at No. 6 tank Frodsham Marsh
6th August
Mid morning I took Bill and decided to go for a wander around Frodsham Marsh. Sometimes this place can be dead, however today was an interesting day with good birds popping up all the way round my walk around the perimeter of No. 6 tank. The first thing I noticed was a good build up of ducks and scanning through them was chuffed to find a good range of species present:
1 Pintail
1 Goldeneye
2 Ruddy Duck
5 Shelduck
4 Gadwall
7 Shoveler
126 Teal
123 Tufted Duck
20 Pochard
65 Mallard
A flock of 160 Canada Geese, 7 Greylags and 14 Mute Swans completed the wildfowl line up. I could also hear a Common Sandpiper calling but couldn’t see it.
Scanning the grassy plain at the top end of the tank I spotted a male Marsh Harrier stood in amongst some clumps of vegetation. From my lofty view point I could also see a Pheasant walking towards the harrier and could also see that each was completely unaware of the presence of the other. Eventually the Pheasant popped out right in front of the raptor and a brief staring session ensued before the Pheasant wandered off completely unperturbed. It was a striking Pheasant too being a leucistic cock with the mantle and wing coverts pure white.
Five juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were present on the small pool and a couple of Buzzards loitered nearby. A family of five Ravens appeared at the back and flew off over No. 4 tank and then proceeded to mess about as though playing. A Sparrowhawk then flew over, shortly afterwards a Yellow Wagtail did likewise. There were lots of warblers in evidence too with plenty of Whitethroats and Reed Warblers seen and heard plus a very scruffy Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap with a tit flock and a Sedge Warbler still singing.
Around by the model plane club I was fascinated watching one model plane which appeared to be powered by miniature jet engines. The plane looked like an old Vampire or Venom but was lime green in colour. The aerial display it put on was stunning and I stood and watched in awe as the plane did virtually anything a Red Arrows hawk could do! Amazing!
Walking back to the car I picked up another Buzzard and a couple of Kestrels and then spotted a juvenile Cuckoo on the fence line. This bird was flighty and wouldn’t let me get too close, constantly flying off and perching up on the fence further down. Eventually it was flushed by a cyclist. Very nice way to spend a morning!
Mid morning I took Bill and decided to go for a wander around Frodsham Marsh. Sometimes this place can be dead, however today was an interesting day with good birds popping up all the way round my walk around the perimeter of No. 6 tank. The first thing I noticed was a good build up of ducks and scanning through them was chuffed to find a good range of species present:
1 Pintail
1 Goldeneye
2 Ruddy Duck
5 Shelduck
4 Gadwall
7 Shoveler
126 Teal
123 Tufted Duck
20 Pochard
65 Mallard
A flock of 160 Canada Geese, 7 Greylags and 14 Mute Swans completed the wildfowl line up. I could also hear a Common Sandpiper calling but couldn’t see it.
Scanning the grassy plain at the top end of the tank I spotted a male Marsh Harrier stood in amongst some clumps of vegetation. From my lofty view point I could also see a Pheasant walking towards the harrier and could also see that each was completely unaware of the presence of the other. Eventually the Pheasant popped out right in front of the raptor and a brief staring session ensued before the Pheasant wandered off completely unperturbed. It was a striking Pheasant too being a leucistic cock with the mantle and wing coverts pure white.
Five juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were present on the small pool and a couple of Buzzards loitered nearby. A family of five Ravens appeared at the back and flew off over No. 4 tank and then proceeded to mess about as though playing. A Sparrowhawk then flew over, shortly afterwards a Yellow Wagtail did likewise. There were lots of warblers in evidence too with plenty of Whitethroats and Reed Warblers seen and heard plus a very scruffy Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap with a tit flock and a Sedge Warbler still singing.
Around by the model plane club I was fascinated watching one model plane which appeared to be powered by miniature jet engines. The plane looked like an old Vampire or Venom but was lime green in colour. The aerial display it put on was stunning and I stood and watched in awe as the plane did virtually anything a Red Arrows hawk could do! Amazing!
Walking back to the car I picked up another Buzzard and a couple of Kestrels and then spotted a juvenile Cuckoo on the fence line. This bird was flighty and wouldn’t let me get too close, constantly flying off and perching up on the fence further down. Eventually it was flushed by a cyclist. Very nice way to spend a morning!
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