I visited Newchurch Common this afternoon as I was passing the site. The weather wasn't great as it hadn't stopped raining in Cheshire for the last two days, but I thought I'd give it a go and try and photograph the Red crested pochard that has been here for the last couple of weeks. I hadn't seen a Red Crested Pochard in Cheshire for years, so I was made up when I found it so close to the shore on arrival
Red Crested Pochard
Luckily, as I was standing in the pouring rain photographing the bird, the female Redhead Smew landed right behind the Red Crested Pochard.
Redhead Smew
This bird has been present for weeks and showed really well before flying off again to the other side of the pool. Other birds of note on site were Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Gadwall and at least 40 Wigeon. A nice afternoon birding!
