This was the group’s first visit to Rostherne Mere and was attended by eight members of the group. Access to the reserve is by permit only and we were guided on this visit by two of the volunteer wardens, Dave Clarke and Phil Dell.
A varied site with woodland and meadow habitats as well as the mere and a total of 28 species were recorded (for a full list of sightings click ‘Continue reading’ below).
A sighting of particular interest was a pair of Egyptian Geese. This species of African origins is now established as a breeding bird in the UK and other European countries. According to recent BTO surveys there are around 1,000 breeding pairs in the UK mostly in the Thames Valley and East Anglia but with scattered populations in Northern and Western England. As these birds were on the far side of the Mere it was not possible to get a good picture, the photograph shown here was taken in Germany last year.
Species | Number Seen | Comment |
---|---|---|
Barn Owl | 1 | In nest box |
Blackbird | A few | |
Blackcap | 1 male | Pete G |
Blue Tit | A few | |
Bullfinch | 1 juvenile | Tony |
Canada Goose | Many | |
Carrion Crow | Several | |
Chiffchaff | 1 | |
Coal Tit | Several | |
Coot | A few | |
Cormorant | Several | |
Egyptian Goose | 2 | |
Great Crested Grebe | Several | |
Great Tit | A few | |
Greenfinch | Heard only | |
House Sparrow | A few | |
Jackdaw | Many | |
Jay | Heard only | |
Lesser Black-backed Gull | 1 | |
Mallard | Several | |
Moorhen | 1 | |
Mute Swan | 4 | |
Nuthatch | 1 | several more heard |
Robin | 1 | |
Stock Dove | 2 | |
Swallow | 1 | |
Woodpigeon | A few | |
Wren | Heard only |
Last Updated on October 20, 2017