Some photos taken earlier this year

                                         Lapwing and Shelduck

                                         Pintail duck

                                         Jackdaw

                                         Pochard

                                         Flock of Mute Swans on the canal in Middlewich

South Cheshire BTO Wetland Bird Survey highlights for weekend of 7/8 April.

5  Common Snipe at Baddiley Meres.

 2 Curlew at Burleydam Pool.

2 Gadwall at Baddiley Meres.

16 Great Crested Grebe at Marbury Meres.

2 Little Ringed Plovers at Arclid Sand Quarry.

4 Mandarin Ducks at Comber Mere.

Swan Ringing in Cheshire March 2012

The Cheshire Swan Study Group ringed 10 swans in march 2012.

At Acre Dell pools, Congleton = CCJ5 a male of unknown age.
At Astbury, Congleton = CCF8 a second year male + CCJ6 another second year male as a retrap.
At the canal in Middlewich = CCJ0 a second year female and CCJ5 a second year male.
At Ellesmere, Shropshire = CCJ4 a male of unknown age.
At the Nantwich Boating Lake = CCJ8 a retrap as a male of unknown age.
At the river Dane in Northwich = CCJ3 a retrap as a female of unknown age.
At Spike Island, Widnes = CCJ2 a third year female and CCJ3 a second year male.

The highest site counts in march were as follows.

Acre Dell pools, Congleton = 43 on 18th.
Astbury, Congleton = 18 on 18th.
Canal, Coole Pilate near Nantwich = 16 on 30th.
Canal, Middlewich = 16 on 18th.
On fields in the Cholmondeley area = 51 on 18th.
Comber Mere near Whitchurch = 8 on 11th.
Doddington mere near Nantwich = 22 on 2nd.
Nantwich Boating Lake = 11 on 12th.

March 2012 Weather Records for Rope, Crewe, Cheshire.

All Temperatures in Degrees Centigrade.

Lowest Night Temperature = - 0.7 = 6-3-12.
Highest Day Temperature = 22.9 = 27-3-12.
Average Minimum Monthly Temperature = 3.3.
Average Maximum Monthly Temperatute = 13.9.
Highest Gust Speed = 30 MPH = NW = 7-3-12.
Rainfall Total = 0.81 inches or 20.2 mm.
Total Rainfall for 2012 so far = 5.36 inches or 134 mm.
Sunshine Total = 176.7 hours.

Swan ringing in Cheshire February 2012

The Cheshire Swan Study Group ringed the following swans in February.

At Acre Dell Pools, Congleton = a female of unknown age = CCH6.
                                                  a retrap male of unknown age = CCH5 ex CT18.

At Astbury mere, Congleton = a second year female = CCH7.
                                               a male of unknown age = CCH8.
                                               a second year male = CCH9.

At Hargrave Hall near Chester = two second females = CCH1 +CCF1.
                                                  two second year males  = CCF0 + CCH0.

At Spike Island, Widnes = two males of unknown age = CCH2 + CCH3.

At Doddington Mere near Nantwich = a second year male = CCH4.

Swan site counts.

Acre Dell pools, Congleton = 45 on 18th.
Astbury Mere, Congleton = 18 on 19th.
Canal in Middlewich = 25 on 26th.
Doddington Mere, Nantwich = 40 on 3rd.
Nantwich Boating Lake = 9 on 7th.

The Cheshire Swan Study Group Report for 2011 will be available during late march. As it will be too big for publication please ask for a copy to be Emailed to you.
Please let me know as soon as possible = Email address = cheshireswans@aol.com.

February 2012 Weather Records for Rope, Crewe, Cheshire

                                       All temperatures in degrees Centigrade

Lowest Nighttime temperature = - 6.4 = 3-2-12.

Highest Daytime Temperature = 15.9 = 23-2-12.

Average Minimum Monthly Temperature = 1.47.

Average Maximum Monthly Temperature = 7.75.

Highest Gust Speed = 37 MPH = SSW = 22-2-12.

February Rainfall = 1.5 inches - 37.5 mm.

Total Rainfall for 2012 = 3.55 inches - 88.75 mm.

Sunshine = 150.7 hours.

Cheshire Swan Study Group News Sheet No 9 February 2012.

Cheshire Swan Study Group News Sheet No 9 February 2012.

Since my last report in October, the Swan Study Group has ringed a total of 48 Swans including 27 cygnets, 7 adults, 11 second years and 3 third year birds.

There was 9 retrap.

The maximum counts of flocks of Mute swans since October  are as follows.

Acre Dell Pools, Congleton = 46 on 23^rd October, 42 on 26^th November, 43 on 10^th December and 52 on 28th January.

Astbury, Congleton = 10 on 23^rd October, 15 on 27^th November and 14 on 22^nd January.

Canal in Middlewich = 26 on 26^th October, 37 on 28^th November, 33 on 11^th December and 62 on 22^nd January.

Comber Mere = 5 on 20^th November, 19 on 12 December and 8 on 9^th January.

Doddington Mere, Nantwich = 31 on 31^st October, 31 on 7^th November, 33 on 2^nd December and 37 on 28^th January.

Nantwich Boating Lake = 13 on 21^st October, 14 on 19^th November, 10 on 1^st December and 10 on 8^th January.

Quoisley Meres near Whitchurch = 45 on 17^th October, 42 on 21^st November, 36 on 19^th December and 5 on 16^th January.

Redes Mere, Macclesfield = 24 on 16^th October, 15 on 20^th November, 9 on 18^th December and 8 on 15^th January.

The Cheshire Swan Study Group Report for 2011 will be available either by email or post from march onwards, please contact me if you require a copy.

Sightings of all Swans should be sent to:- David Cookson.

Email = Cheshireswans@aol.com  giving details of place (6 fig map ref) , colour/character combination of ring and, if with other swans, total number present in flock. All sightings will receive a printout of the history for the relevant bird(s).

NB. Please note that our Swan Reports and Newsletters are now available on our Website as listed below.

Website = www.record-lrc.co.uk/Group.aspx?Mod=Article&ArticleID=G0012001

Blog site = http://cheshireswanringing.blogspot.com/

Sponsored by Roberts Bakery, Northwich.