Despite the rather cloudy conditions, the Sedge Warblers were still going crackers at Marshside this evening, singing away, display flighting and generally behaving like lunatics.
Great little birds.
Avocets had chicks everywhere and were defending them from anything that came too close, from a Cormorant on the Sandplant lagoons to a Redshank that wandered too close.
Finding one motionless was quiet hard.
Plenty of young Lapwings out too.
Between 50 and 100 Swifts hawking around the reserve, with smaller numbers of hirundines, and at least 35 Dunlin on Polly's Creek.
At Nels the Whitethroat was squawking away on the bare branches just above the entrance as usual, and the Reed Warblers were chuntering away to the right.
Couldn't see the Glossy Ibis, although I believe it had been around earlier on - probably lurking down a ditch, scoffing snails.
A single male Ruff from Nels and another 20 or so Dunlin, but they were hard to count as they fed in the tussocks and smaller pools at the back.
A few Wigeon and at least one pair of Teal.
The male Ruddy Duck was bubbling away to his mate right under the hide.
Nicest of all was a male Garganey which waddled furtively through the long sedges and grass at the back of the pool - very interesting.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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The breeding Black Winged Stilts at Neumann's Flash are only the seventh pair that have attempted to nest in the UK.
They've made their home near Marbury Country Park, less than a kilometre from Northwich town centre, Cheshire.
The RSPB is providing thousands of wildlife lovers a chance to enjoy a rare spectacle.
From 21st May, an RSPB âÂÂArenâÂÂt birds brilliant!â viewing scheme in partnership with Cheshire County Council will ensure that visitors get the best possible views of this elegant, long legged bird.
There will also be around the clock surveillance of the nesting site to ensure the birds are not disturbed.
They nest commonly on mainland Europe, but are only rare visitors to Britain and have only bred successfully on four occasions.
Stilts made their first attempt to nest in Cheshire in 1993 but bad weather meant that they were unsuccessful. This time the weather has been on their side and early signs are looking encouraging. Experts believe the birds are now incubating several eggs.
The "ArenâÂÂt birds brilliant" public viewing schemeàwill be open from 21st May and will run until 29th June, Mon to Sun 10-5.50. Parking is available in Witton Mill Car Park. To get there, leaveàM56 at junction 10, follow A559, turnàright onto B5075 at higher Marston. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit (Leicester St). Take first right (signed "household waste site"), follow road round to the car park. The viewing scheme is fully accessible to all.
Latest from Haskayne: Osprey reported on the evenings of May 13th-15th, open lake, Old Moss Lane, Haskayne; Grey Heron 11; Common Tern 2; Great Crested Grebe 2: Raven 3; Reed Warblers 4; Barn Owl; Mallard 50+; Oystercatcher 12; Shelduck 10; Great Spotted Woodpecker 2.
Two adult Grey Wagtails feeding a youngster in Liverpool's Sefton Park near drained lake, but the swans have gone.