Working in Nether Alderley, I've started spending my dinner hour birding the local sand quarries, which are only a stone's throw from where I work. As a kid, I used to go birding regularly with my dad around Chelford sand quarries when I was growing up in Holmes Chapel and have seen Long-tailed ducks and Lesser spotted woodpeckers in the recording area over the years. The quarries I've started watching again are Acre Nook Sand Quarry, where the Caspian tern was found in July 2013, and Lapwing Hall Pool. There is a link below to the area and the other surrounding quarries in the area. Most quarries are inaccessible to the public, which is frustrating, but the number of bird species recorded over the years is in the 190s. Regular birding in the area is based on the common species of wetland, woodland, and farmland birds.
Click Link Below Map Of Chelford Sand Quarries
The Two Quarries I'm Birding
Lapwing Hall Pool with Shutlingsloe in the Peak District in the distance
Acre Nook Sand Quarry
Anyway, after a brief description of the area I visited today and soon found the long-staying black-necked grebe on Lapwing Lane pool along with Wigeon, Shoveller, Teal, Goldeneye, Coot, Murray, Greylag, and Canada Goose.
Black-necked Grebe
Goldeneye
Walking around the pool, I also saw a Meadow pipit and flushed 6 Snipe.
Meadow Pipit
Walking back to the car, I looked in at Acrenook, where I connected with Lapwing, Shelduck, and Mute Swan, and a green woodpecker was calling from the Mosses.
Shelduck
Mute Swan
The field across from Lapwing Farm had Fieldfare and Redwings before a Sparrowhawk got them all up. Dunnock, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Wren, Blue, and Great Tits were in the hedgerows.
Redwing
Dunnock
A good hour of birding, and it really breaks the day up, and I'm fortunate to have it on my doorstep so close to work.
