Doxey Marshes.

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Had a lovely morning today at Doxey Marshes - map here - somewhere that i don't visit half as often as i should.

There were some really interesting birds there today;

Teal
teal.jpg

Shoveller - check out that bill
northern-shoveler--tom-munson.jpg

Great Crested Grebe - interestingly already in summer plumage
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as well as many lapwings and a female goosander/red breasted merganser - too far away to be sure.

Some may have noticed that i quite like birdwatching, but i'm not a crazy twitcher or anything - i wouldn't drop everything and rush to Suffolk just to see a Ferruginous duck kind of thing. However, it would be nice if people could post up anything they've seen on the marshes that may be a bit out of the ordinary, so that anyone who may be interested could get themselves down there.

Thanks - that is all. :)
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I painted the bird-hide many years ago and left a particularly good graffito uncovered, as it seemed a shame to paint over it. There was some criticism of that decision, but there was very little additional graffiti for some months afterwards..
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
That hide is so well placed - the last time i was there i got talking to a chap from Stoke who visits at least once a week who said i'd just missed a kingfisher "right there", indicating a branch no more than ten feet away.

There were some long tailed tits today that were even closer, close enough to reach out and...
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I think that it has changed now, but, although the hide has a special dropped section in the centre for use by a wheelchair user, the access used to be by means of a stile - that always amused me. I installed the bench by the entrance, as well - if that's still there....

The hide is a good location for bat watching - or listening. I have a bat detector and the scale of the activity over the pond can be quite dramatic.

I have had no tit-related anti-social behaviour this year - yet.
 

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
Lived in Stafford for last 29yrs and i've never been near the marshes! I'll have take a wander up the lines one weekend
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Oystercatcher
orca-oystercatcher.jpg

there today - as well as Goosander, Reed Buntings, a Cormorant and many more.

Lovely.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
A pair of Shelduck today

orca-shelduck.jpg


Presumably it's the pair that nested here last year - i assume they've come back to do so again, unless they never went away, of course.
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
John Marwood said:
I fancy a goose - greylag..
Whilst there is no doubt some Greylag in this bird it is some sort of hybrid domestic goose.

This particular bird has been around on the marshes for a few years and I believe some of the regulars have named him George.

Most of the geese we get on Doxey Marshes are feral birds, mostly Canada Geese, with some Greylags from time to time. In the winter we get small numbers of Barnacle Geese, which again may well be feral birds, although some may be genuine wild birds.

Occasionally, we do get genuine wild geese, most notably the flock of White Fronted Geese which wintered on the marshes in 2008/09.
 
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