A NEW YEAR ON THE WING–CHESHIRE 1ST-2ND JANUARY 2026

The year began in classic Cheshire fashion — unpredictable weather, good birds, and plenty of miles covered in search of them.

Marbury Memories and Midwinter Colour

New Year’s Day saw Jenna and I enjoying a gentle run out in mid Cheshire, returning to my old patch at Marbury Country Park. A brief stop at Whitley Reed set the tone for the day, with excellent views of Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers brightening the winter gloom. Finch numbers were impressive too, with good flocks of Greenfinch and Chaffinch, while a smart pair of Bullfinches showed particularly well.

Whitley Reed

Tree Sparrow

Budworth Mere

At Marbury itself, the headline bird was a fine drake Scaup, which performed admirably and offered prolonged views. Hopes of catching up with the elusive first-winter Little Gull were dashed after a sharp hailstorm, which seemed to clear both birders and birds alike. Nevertheless, there was plenty to enjoy, including good numbers of Goosander, five Little Egrets, and a lone but imposing Great White Egret.

Drake Scaup

Goose Chasing on the Weaver

On the afternoon of 2 January, attention turned to Frodsham and reports of four Russian White-fronted Geese along the River Weaver. True to form, the birds proved elusive, repeatedly moving just ahead of us and testing our patience.

River Weaver

The chase was far from fruitless, however. The river corridor held lively flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing, while adjacent pools and riverside habitats produced Pintail, Goldeneye, Wigeon, and Shoveler.

Fieldfare

Eventually, perseverance paid off. Thanks to Cheshire stalwart Frank Duff, who successfully relocated the birds further downstream, we finally connected with the White-fronts. They were found loosely associating with a skein of Greylag Geese — distant, but unmistakable, and a satisfying end to the search.

Russian White-fronted geese

A Wider Movement

These sightings form part of a much broader picture. This winter has seen a significant influx of Russian White-fronted Geese into south-east England, with hundreds arriving from mainland Europe. Since late November, over 100 sites between Norfolk and the Isle of Wight have logged birds, many involving family groups, likely assisted by persistent easterly winds from the Near Continent.

The movement has also included notable arrivals of Tundra Bean Geese, while Bewick’s Swans have appeared in better numbers than in recent years — welcome signs for wildfowl enthusiasts.

Back to Reality

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable couple of days birding in Cheshire — a fine way to start the year. With work beckoning again on Monday, it’s hard not to wonder just where the time goes.