I discovered Marbury Country Park in 1980 whilst out on a drive with my parents. We enjoyed a stroll around the park and observed a good variety of bird species. My visits became limited because I relied on my mother for transportation, but I still made occasional trips with my father when she would take us.
Map Of the Area
In 1994, I moved to the area and began visiting the park regularly. I quickly got to know other birders and have enjoyed discovering various bird species together with them over the years.
Although I moved away from the area in 2007, I still visit the patch whenever any new bird species are discovered, as local birders continue to explore it daily. Currently, my patch lifelist contains 201 species. See below
Latest Birds seen on the Patch:
Blue-Winged Teal-Neumann's Flash-18th October 2021
(c)Fred Fearn
Ring Ouzel-Fisherman's Path fields-21st April 2021
Cattle Egret-Neumann's Flash-5th October 2020
(c)Greg Baker
Siberian Stonechat-Ashton's Flash-27th December 2019
Great White Egret-Neumann's Flash-12th July 2018
Glossy Ibis-Neumann's Flash-26th July 2016
Ring-Necked Duck-Neumann's Flash-15th May 2014
Green-Winged Teal-Neumann's Flash-9th January 2014
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Stilt Sandpiper-Neumann's Flash-31st August 2013
Tundra Bean Goose-Budworth Mere-23rd February 2012
Redstart-Path between Neumann's flash and Ashton's flash-20th July 2011
Waxwing-Ashtons Flash-12 seen from here, looking towards National tyres, over Wade Brook-16th December 2010
Long-billed Dowitcher-Neumann's Flash-25th August 2010
Black Redstart-Marbury Park-28th March 2010
Hawfinch-Marbury Park-3rd January 2009
Black Winged Stilt-Neumann's Flash-25th April 2008
Red-Necked Phalarope-Neumann's Flash-23rd May 2006
Pectoral Sandpiper-Neumann's Flash-31st May 2005
Whiskered Tern-Ashton's Flash-19th May 2005
White Stork-Ashton's Flash-2nd May 2004
Spotted Crake-Witton Brook-No1 Tank-6th August 2002
During Christmas, I decided to challenge myself to surpass the patch record of 150 species observed in a calendar year, competing alongside John Gregory and Pete Antrobus. I knew this would be a difficult record to beat, but I was ready for the challenge. Little did I realise how competitive the year would become and how much time it would consume. It practically took over my life! Below, I’ve included my monthly notes on the species I observed and my memorable experiences during the year on the patch.
January
On New Year's Day, I made an early morning visit to the patch and recorded 52 different species. I observed a good variety of wildfowl and woodland species, and I had excellent views of a Water Rail right in front of the Bittern hide in the park.
The rest of the month went well, recording all three Woodpeckers. On the 24th, Pete Antrobus (Pod) found a Long-Eared Owl on Neumann’s flash, but after a good search, I couldn’t connect with it. I arrived the next evening and had good views of the bird as it flew across Marbury Lane and then perched up in a bush. On the 27th, I found a Ruddy Duck on Budworth Mere. I spent the evening with Malc Curtin, whom I had met while out on the patch, in his pub, watching Manchester United play. Throughout the month, I dedicated many evenings to searching for Woodcock in Carey Park, and I finally managed to spot one on the 28th.
91 Species recorded
February
The month began positively for me. While I was walking through the park with the children, Dave Bedford called out and mentioned he had found a Mediterranean Gull. The rest of the month remained quiet until the 15th, when I discovered a Pintail on Ashton’s Flash.
93 Species recorded
March
The month started off well with a Willow Tit being seen near the canal opposite the Forge bed. A Peregrine Falcon showed really well, perched up on top of one of the chimneys at ICI.
At the end of the month, I added two spring migrants, Sand Martin and Chiffchaff.
98 Species recorded
April
The month started off really well with Swallow and House Martin, and then on the 10th, I had a phone call from Pod to say he had found a Red-Legged Partridge in a field near Higher Marston, and it could be viewed off the patch boundaries.
Early morning visits were now the key to the success of seeing migrant birds passing through the patch, so I was up at 5.00am every morning. On the 17th, this really paid off when I found Wheatear, Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo, and Reed Warbler. On the way back to the car, whilst walking over the bund, a Little Egret flew from Ashton’s flash right over my head and landed on Neumann’s flash. I rang John Gregory(Gregsey), who was on the patch, and he came running towards me, dripping in sweat to the hide!
This bird hung around until the 19th, when I connected with a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. The funniest thing happened that day, as Pod needed both of these birds, and it was raining late in the morning. He walked across the bund with an umbrella and had the Egret fly right over his head, and he missed it and dipped the Gropper! The 21st was another day to remember, as now most of the patch lads were getting up early. I met up with Fred Fearn and Gregsey at about 5.15am and had Black Tern as soon as we scoped over Neumann’s flash. After this, we walked towards Bund hide, where Fred connected with a Wood Sandpiper right in front of the hide. What a morning!. I returned to the park in the evening and found the first Yellow Wagtail of the year in fields along the fisherman's path.
The next day I visited the park and connected with the annual Garden Warbler in its usual returning site on the entrance to Big Wood (Patch lads call this Garden Warbler’s corner)
On the 25th, a ringer caught a Lesser Whitethroat on the Forge bed. I was contacted by Fred Fearn, and I planned a visit after I took the kids to school. Fred phoned me to say that he had just seen the bird and gave me the directions. On arrival, I heard the bird and got great views of it as it sat out. The phone then rang, and it was Vernon, another patch regular; he had found a Common Scoter on the Budworth Mere; a quick dash over to the mere, and the bird was on!
On the 27th, I had already visited the park for a Common Tern in the morning, when, late afternoon, I had a phone call from Gregsey to say that a Wood Warbler had been heard around Bittern hide in the park. On arrival, I met up with Gregsey, and eventually I found the bird perched up on top of a tree. What a month's patch birding!
125 Species recorded
May
I will always remember the 3rd of May on the patch. I arrived on Neumann's Flash at first light and found the first Little Ringed Plover of the year, and then, when I was walking down Fisherman’s Path from Higher Marston, I flushed a Grey Plover from the embankment. I just couldn’t believe my eyes and watched it land right on the spit at Kidbrook on the other side of the mere. I phoned Pod straight away, and he had just seen it land on the spit from Bittern hide. I put the news out to all the lads, who thankfully all connected, and it stayed the whole day.
The next day, the 4th, I found a Spotted Flycatcher near Bittern hide in the park, and then a Hobby flew across Neumann's Flash.
On the 7th, I found a Ringed Plover on Neumann's flash, and later I was walking down Fisherman's Path when all the corvids got up over Big Wood in the park, and a Goshawk flew right over my head. Unbelievable! I watched the bird fly right over the mere and then flew over the woods near Malc`s pub in Great Budworth, putting all the corvids up there as well.
On the 9th, I was on my way to Old Trafford with Malc and Elliot, my son, for Roy Keane's testimonial when Fred phoned to say that a guy had found a Temminck`s Stint on Neumann’s flash. We turned around and connected with the bird, and thankfully, made the match by the skin of our teeth. A patch lifer and a good win versus Celtic!
On the 13th, a Sanderling and a Knot were on Neumann's Flash, and then on the 22nd, I found a Curlew Sandpiper.
On the 25th, I was at work when the phone rang—it was Malc. He informed me that Mark Taylor had spotted a Red-Necked Phalarope on Neumann’s Flash! I didn’t want to hear this news because I worked until 3:30 PM. Thoughts raced through my mind; I needed to see this bird, but how could I get away? Frustrated, I approached the nurse in charge and told her I had forgotten my medication. She replied, “That’s fine; go and get it. Take as long as you need!”
Relieved, I took off like a madman from Winsford and managed to connect with the bird. What an incredible sight! And it was another patch lifer for me!
137 Species recorded
June
Things were really slowing down on the patch now, and a Greenshank was the only bird added during the month on the 26th on Ashton's flash.
138 species recorded.
July
Gregsey phoned me on the 14th to say he had just found a Black-Necked Grebe on Neumann’s flash. I went straight down there and had great views of the bird.
The next evening, the 15th, I received another phone call from Gregsey, who had connected with two Little Owls on Budworth Lane, not far from his house. I managed to see one of the birds.
140 Species recorded
August
On the 6th, Gregsey had found a Yellow-Legged Gull on Neumann’s flash in the evening, so the next night, Pod and I met up in the Bunker hide, waiting for the gulls to come into the evening roost. No luck! We started to meet up in the evenings after this, so I started to take a few beers down with me whilst we did the Gull watch, and Pod renamed the hide AL`S BAR! On the 9th, we met up and were having a few beers when the heavens opened and it poured down. The rain was rattling off the hide when Pod shouted out, “WHITE WINGED BLACK TERN.” I got on the bird as it flew low over the water and then gained height and flew over towards Marbury. Pod and I couldn’t believe it. We danced around the hide, shouting and screaming. What a bird! This was a Mega for the patch and a total blocker; we were both so happy.
The rest of the month was very quiet; a Ruff was seen on the 25th, and then on the 31st, I added a Mandarin Duck found by Mark Taylor on the mere, and then I found a Barnacle Goose on Neumann’s flash with Malc.
144 Species recorded
September
147 Species recorded
October
148 Species recorded
November
The last bird of the year came on the 17th when a Goosander was seen on the Budworth Mere.
149 Species recorded
I met up with Gregsey on the 16th, and had a good view of the flyover Tree Pipit calling on Carey Park mound, and a Little Stint showed well on Neumann’s flash.
On the 17th, I was walking back to my car when I found a Whinchat on Ashton`s flash. This bird was well twitched by the patch lads, and it was Gregsey`s 150th bird for the patch race! Gutted!
147 Species recorded
October
I had to wait the whole month for a new bird, which eventually arrived on the 31st, a Short-Eared Owl, which showed really well
148 Species recorded
November
The last bird of the year came on the 17th when a Goosander was seen on the Budworth Mere.
149 Species recorded
After a gruelling year on the patch, I came third in the race with 149 species, Pod saw 150, and Gregsey saw 151. I will never forget doing this race, as it was fun and very competitive, and I made some great new friends and found some good birds. Would I do it again? Cause I would!
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