The constant revision during my Cheshire stay often resulted in life feeling somewhat mundane. After the previous day's success with the Siberian Stonechat twitch, I decided to keep things interesting. News of Whooper and Bewick's Swans within walking distance of where I was staying proved just too tempting to resist. So, after revising hard, I decided to try my luck at the two species in the light that remained.
Off I set with high hopes and visions of interesting Swans - the flittering of 3 Long-tailed Tits just before entering the marsh were a nice welcome. As a first-timer there, I was shocked at the sheer size of the place with seemingly never-ending fields in front of me. After some helpful directions from a fellow birder, I set off in the direction of the Swans just as a Kestrel hovered close by.
Eventually, my chosen path led me up to the grazing marsh where I was greeted by a large number of distant Lapwing - with a solitary Great Black-backed Gull mixed in. Some Wrens flitted about in the reeds nearby, whilst a single Great Tit sat in a nearby tree. After some considerable walking, I reached number 6 tank which gladly held some wildfowl to provide a bit more variety for the day's list. A decent number of Tufted Duck were present as well as Little Grebe and the more colourful Shoveler. But best of all, was a pair of Pintail patrolling the pools - looking stunning in the mid-afternoon light. Again, this was a lovely bird to add to the day's list and meant the trip was going to be worth it, even if I dipped the Swans. After enjoying the Pintails for a good while, I decided to venture on due to my limited time. Unfortunately, the marsh was rather quiet, but a couple of Buzzards kept me company and ensured things remained fairly interesting. A few Chaffinch flitted about in the nearby bushes and the distant Crows provided me with something to check (for raptors). After walking for about another mile, I must admit I began to feel a bit disheartened; with no sign of any Swans, my focus turning onto my aching legs (due to there being bugger all birds). I became tempted to turn back...
But luckily, I encountered another birder who gladly reassured me that he had seen the Swans 10 minutes ago, and that I wasn't far from reaching them. So I carried on with a bit more of a spring in my step - encountering another Buzzard nearby. As I turned the corner I noticed another raptor, but this time it was no Buzzard, instead the cream coloured head of a Female Marsh Harrier could be seen in my binoculars - another nice edition to the day's tally. After enjoying the bird for a while, I reached the end of the path and, to my relief, a large group of Swans greeted my eyes. Excitedly, I set up my scope and scanned the Swans, I immediately realised that I was looking at a large group of Whooper Swans. A long overdue life tick, but one I was delighted with nonetheless.
But things got even better as I continued to scan the Swans and there, next to 2 Mute Swans, was a Bewick's Swan! Yet another lifer, which meant that I had successfully seen both of my target birds.
Unfortunately, the vastly fading light and the looming journey back resulted in me only watching the birds for 15 minutes. The return journey proved slightly less exciting with all of the same species seen again. A good scan of the Cattle for the reported Cattle Egret sadly came to no avail, but I didn't let this dishearten me after the previous excitement of two new lifers. Near the end of the path, 4 Thrushes greeted me, a quick scan of them revealed that they were Fieldfare - my first in a good 10 months and a great way to end a successful days birding. I'll certainly be paying another visit to the marshes next time I'm up!
Off I set with high hopes and visions of interesting Swans - the flittering of 3 Long-tailed Tits just before entering the marsh were a nice welcome. As a first-timer there, I was shocked at the sheer size of the place with seemingly never-ending fields in front of me. After some helpful directions from a fellow birder, I set off in the direction of the Swans just as a Kestrel hovered close by.
Eventually, my chosen path led me up to the grazing marsh where I was greeted by a large number of distant Lapwing - with a solitary Great Black-backed Gull mixed in. Some Wrens flitted about in the reeds nearby, whilst a single Great Tit sat in a nearby tree. After some considerable walking, I reached number 6 tank which gladly held some wildfowl to provide a bit more variety for the day's list. A decent number of Tufted Duck were present as well as Little Grebe and the more colourful Shoveler. But best of all, was a pair of Pintail patrolling the pools - looking stunning in the mid-afternoon light. Again, this was a lovely bird to add to the day's list and meant the trip was going to be worth it, even if I dipped the Swans. After enjoying the Pintails for a good while, I decided to venture on due to my limited time. Unfortunately, the marsh was rather quiet, but a couple of Buzzards kept me company and ensured things remained fairly interesting. A few Chaffinch flitted about in the nearby bushes and the distant Crows provided me with something to check (for raptors). After walking for about another mile, I must admit I began to feel a bit disheartened; with no sign of any Swans, my focus turning onto my aching legs (due to there being bugger all birds). I became tempted to turn back...
But luckily, I encountered another birder who gladly reassured me that he had seen the Swans 10 minutes ago, and that I wasn't far from reaching them. So I carried on with a bit more of a spring in my step - encountering another Buzzard nearby. As I turned the corner I noticed another raptor, but this time it was no Buzzard, instead the cream coloured head of a Female Marsh Harrier could be seen in my binoculars - another nice edition to the day's tally. After enjoying the bird for a while, I reached the end of the path and, to my relief, a large group of Swans greeted my eyes. Excitedly, I set up my scope and scanned the Swans, I immediately realised that I was looking at a large group of Whooper Swans. A long overdue life tick, but one I was delighted with nonetheless.
Whooper Swans
But things got even better as I continued to scan the Swans and there, next to 2 Mute Swans, was a Bewick's Swan! Yet another lifer, which meant that I had successfully seen both of my target birds.
Bewick's Swan
Unfortunately, the vastly fading light and the looming journey back resulted in me only watching the birds for 15 minutes. The return journey proved slightly less exciting with all of the same species seen again. A good scan of the Cattle for the reported Cattle Egret sadly came to no avail, but I didn't let this dishearten me after the previous excitement of two new lifers. Near the end of the path, 4 Thrushes greeted me, a quick scan of them revealed that they were Fieldfare - my first in a good 10 months and a great way to end a successful days birding. I'll certainly be paying another visit to the marshes next time I'm up!
Now that sounds like a really good place to visit.
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