Ian McKerchar wrote:

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If you want to see what is frankly one of the most incredible county occurences ever then get down to Dover Basin NOW! At the last count, 241 Black-tailed Godwits had ammased on Dover Basin alone.

In answer to my own question yesterday of 'will it ever stop', then the answer very clearly is no!

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all bar 6 gone to lightshaw,after disturbance from some lads with dogs & a flock of cows
an amazing sight inland

If you want to see what is frankly one of the most incredible county occurences ever then get down to Dover Basin NOW! At the last count, 241 Black-tailed Godwits had ammased on Dover Basin alone.

In answer to my own question yesterday of 'will it ever stop', then the answer very clearly is no!

Dover basin and Lightshaw 19.30 the godwits had all moved onto lightshaw,the best count I got was 72,still a fine sight.The greenshank still present.

cheers geoff

Obviously not!

Dave Broome has now declared on 139 Black-tailed Godwits between Dover Basin and Lightshaw Hall Flash. a frankly huge flock for the county, only split into two as they won't all fit onto one site!

Now 105 Black-tailed Godwits! Will it ever stop

Info thanks to Dave Broome

The old county record flock for this species is now well and truely smashed.

104 Black-tailed Godwits and single Greenshank on Dover Basin at 3:25pm today.

Info thanks to Dave Broome

Sunday 23 May 2010
evening

1 Greenshank (LHF)
54 Black-tailed Godwit (LHF then DB)
2 Ringed Plover (LHF)

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 24th of May 2010 12:11:52 AM

Saturday 22 May 2010
afternoon
28'C!

1 Ringed Plover (LHF)
1 Grasshopper Warbler singing
1 Lesser Whitethroat singing

Dover basin ,lightshaw,glovers etc,every tree and likely perching post checked this afternoon no sign of Victor EchoVery nice to see the photos in the gallery,hats off to Mr Wilcox on a great find.I was in Norfolk when the news came through, a 416 mile twitch was discussed and quickly dismissedcos it will be back.

cheers geoff

I hope it makes it back to Scotland fit, well (full of Wigan fish) and unharmed!

I know we have all probably seen it fly off north this past few days and thought it had 'gone' only to see it return a little while later ...... but I couldn't help but feel that we really had seen the last of it yesterday morning. The gulls and the crows just would not let it get down to catching a meal. It seemed to me that since last Saturday it has fed well and had a look round and gradually extended its range and gone to other waters close by - all the while getting ready to leave and move further north ........ I hope it remembers us on the way down - or even next spring!

I read somewere recently that if the rings are on the left leg and from the last 4 years or so-they have been bred in scotland and right leg England and Wales

John concur with that I have seen Ospreys before but never one so close and so obliging.

I was there this morning 10am till 1pm no sign of him / her.

Judith Smith wrote:

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Ringing details: it was ringed as a pullus nr Kirriemuir, Angus, in a brood of 2 on 28.6.07. It was seen in the Ythan Estuart, Aberdeenshire, Sep 2009.

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Thanks Judith
Just noticed one has arrived at Marton Mere near blackpool according to birdgides-could it be our bird heading North? let hope it reaches its destination,and we can hear of more sightings of this brilliant bird.I cannot remember a bird that has given me so much pleasure to see,and all the people who saw it must feel the same.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 20th of May 2010 01:22:44 PM

Ringing details: it was ringed as a pullus nr Kirriemuir, Angus, in a brood of 2 on 28.6.07. It was seen in the Ythan Estuart, Aberdeenshire, Sep 2009.

no sign of osprey at dover between 1930 and 2100, barn owl showed well.

Yes very surprised and pleased to find it along the path near the pub! Thanks for looking Pauline and as you say look to the skies from now on!
Didn't see the Osprey myself today but wasn't there long and I'm sure it'll be back. I might do an early shift for the Barn Owl sometime!
Steve

We arrived just after 7am and soon spotted it sat in its 'perching eating tree' lower left branch. It was preening and looking round and taking its time ......... We watched the pair of grebe with a huge fish - totally unable to swallow it despite many tries (I wanted them to just leave it where it was on the surface right in front of me - just in case a certain osprey wanted an easy meal) Finally as Pete Berry says two visits over the basin, heavily mobbed by gulls (damn them!) and the second visit at 10.30-ish it went very high and off in the direction of Wigan Flashes ..........

PS Almost forgot - there was a barn owl hunting the nearby fields as we walked down the canal and it hunted on for quite a while into the morning .......

PPS Steve Collins has refound his retention screw - so we can all stop scanning the floor and look to the skies!! Glad you found it Steve!

-- Edited by Pauline Greenhalgh on Wednesday 19th of May 2010 01:43:58 PM

-- Edited by Pauline Greenhalgh on Wednesday 19th of May 2010 01:46:42 PM

According to Birdguides seen at 9.40 am drifting over Dover Basin this morning.Also seen again at 10.28.

-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 19th of May 2010 12:17:20 PM

Still present upto 8.45, in trees behind dover bason.

Had really good views as Judith said 11-11.30. I then walked back to the Dover Lock pub and could see it in the distance being mobbed by a Buzzard over Wigan Flashes direction so might have been you I spoke to Pete! Glad to see it came back to base for more to see. I also thought there were 20 Godwits but there was 21 on the photo!
On the walk back I lost a big retention screw from my tripod so will probably have to go back tomorrow to look for it If anyone has spotted it please let me know!
Cheers
Steve

-- Edited by Steve Collins on Tuesday 18th of May 2010 05:45:59 PM

Had to go for a look at lunch time and at first the Osprey was high up towards the Wigan Flashes being mobbed by a buzzard, then it flew back down the canal for two passes or so over Dover Basin before steadily flying North at some height. I went to see what else was at the basin and then as I got back to the Dover Lock Inn it seemed to take off from North West of the pub [OS map shows a couple of further pools in that area] with a fish and was steadily mobbed by a buzzard again to quite a height before a long glide down which seemed to take it back to just west of the basin.

From all reports its feeding really well in the area so hopefully it'll stop by on its return journey! A fantastic bird and good to meet some of the forum regulars.

Osprey still present at 4.45pm but eating a small fish in the trees behind Dover Basin. Last caught fish at 3.50pm.

Osprey high and roaming between 3.00 and 4.00pm. It drifted over towards Wigan flashes a couple of times before eventually returning with a fish. It then disappeared beyond the hedge line by Dover Basin to eat it.

Showing well 1100 to 1130 at least. Had one go at fishing at Dover but failed so must be peckish. Also 20 Blackwits.

No sign (yet!) of Osprey between 6am and 7.15am although hopefully it is still around perched somewhere close. Cuckoo heard calling and Barn Owl seen hunting.

nick,
me and my dad got there just before you left and you said we had just missed it. however just after you left my dad found it sat on top of a tree in the distance (good job he brought his scope). 2 other birders were with us and they got to see it too. great sighting. our first ever osprey

17.00 - 19.30, Sunny and Warm

Chatted to Jon Taverner when we first arrived - 3 Common Tern fishing but no sign of the Osprey so we walked along the canal to Smith's Bridge picking up the Blackwits on Lightshaw Hall Flash and a Kingfisher on the canal as well as a couple of singing Lesser Whitethroat. On the return walk just as we reached the smaller pond before Dover Basin the Osprey began circling over our heads with sudden dives toward the flash - unfortunately we didn't see the catch and by the time we got round the corner the bird was on a telegraph pole with the fish in its talons - thanks to Alison Brown and her husband for pointing it out. We then watched it eating its supper for more than three quarters of an hour before we left - very dainty eaters are Ospreys Also nice to meet Nick Isherwood and Mike Unsworth - a very pleasant evening. Well done to Tim Wilcox for finding the bird in the first place.

Osprey still in trees at 9.0pm. a fantastic site and a massive 1st for me and my son. it was also nice to share the experience with another couple who were there looking for it aswell.

Osprey still on telegraph pole until 8.30 this evening. It then moved off into nearby trees.

Other birds seen included a male cuckoo on the opposite side of the basin, a barn owl quartering near the reed beds, a kingfisher on the canal and a dozen Black tailed Godwits.

Also nice to meet a few fellow birders from the website.

The Osprey was eating (another) fish at 8:15pm this evening, on a telegraph post!

Also a Cuckoo present.

Info thanks to Mike Unsworth

Osprey still present at Dover Basin with a fish in it's talons at 6:56pm.

Info thanks to Sid Ashton

The Osprey hunted over Dover Basin between 12.35 and 12.50 pm after reportedly flying off north around 10.30 am with a fish. Got a hard time from the lapwings and BH Gulls but eventually took a fish and flew south and dropped below the treeline immediately south of the basin.

Lesser whitethroat singing just off the tow path close to the road and two black tailed godwits on LHF.

It took a fish about 12.30pm I got a few shots of it too.

The fish was a big one about a pound at least. Looked like a Chub to me.

It then flew off towards Golborne.

Of interest, when it did finally come from its roost, it caught a fish then dropped it, came back and caught another fish and dropped that as well. Third time lucky and it was last seen, at around 11am, flying towards the trees where it often perches.

still present at 11.30-I got a message at work from Jon Taverner-apparently been fishing quite a lot in dover lock-so anyone wants to see it fish,id get thier fairly quick,as after 2pm yesterday it was roosting a lon way off.

Osprey still present in trees at Dover Basin 07:40am this morning.

Info thanks to Jon Taverner.


Information on the bird's history came in late last night and it currently apears to be a Scottish bird, born in 2007! There goes my ageing theory I am still curious as to a few plumage traits for such an aged adult though, most notably the amount of ochre feathering still on the underwing coverts (and elsewhere) and the only half black greater coverts on the underwing

Osprey still present this morning but distant, perched in a tree.

Nearly as good as the Osprey - the Oystercatchers at Lightshaw Hall Flash hatched 2 chicks during the day - they weren't there this morning but present when I went back later this afternoon.
The Abram Flashes has never seen as many birders!

An excellent afternoon watching this bird and meeting so many people. A special thanks to Tim for not only finding it in the first place but letting me rest my camera on his shoulder for 10 minutes or so - I hope you're not suffering as a result!

It was still perched in the above mentioned tree up to 20.40 this evening when it flew towards Dover basin, but disappeared behind the tree line and did not reappear. I can only presume it has another tree in that tree line it prefers as a roost.

Other sightings:

14 Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank plus all the usual stuff.

Very nice to bump into so many forum users today.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 16th of May 2010 09:27:33 PM

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 16th of May 2010 10:03:00 PM

The bird appears to be a first summer bird (second calender years spring if you prefer)to my eyes due to certain plumage traits. From the ring the bird looks to have come from the Rutland breeding birds but I have no info on 2009 ringed juveniles as yet, so cannot confirm it just yet.

Watch this space.

The Osprey still present at 6:03pm, eating another fish (!) in a tree between Dover Basin and Lightshaw Hall Flash.

Info thanks to Mark Rigby

John Rayner wrote:

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What a stunning display !!!

Whilst I was at Dover Basin (12.25 - 15.15) the Osprey circled and hovered then plunged into the water, caught 2 Roach and posed for photographs, all at no more than 50 yards range - Awesome It was still there when I left.

There was that much camera action that there must be have been getting on for 1000 images taken, so look forward to seeing some of those.

One image taken by John Tavener of the bird leaving the water with fish in talons clearly shows that it was ringed on the left leg - white VE.

It was good to put faces to many familiar names and a big thank you to Tim Wilcox for finding the bird in the first place.

Cheers, John





-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 16th of May 2010 04:50:21 PM

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still there on the tree eating a fish at 16.15
nice to meet you John-THANKS FOR POSTING IT AT DINNER TIME

What a stunning display !!!

Whilst I was at Dover Basin (12.25 - 15.15) the Osprey circled and hovered then plunged into the water, caught 2 Roach and posed for photographs, all at no more than 50 yards range - Awesome It was still there when I left.

There was that much camera action that there must be have been getting on for 1000 images taken, so look forward to seeing some of those.

One image taken by John Tavener of the bird leaving the water with fish in talons clearly shows that it was ringed on the left leg - white VE.

It was good to put faces to many familiar names and a big thank you to Tim Wilcox for finding the bird in the first place.

Cheers, John





-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 16th of May 2010 04:50:21 PM

With the exception of one pie-eater Ian, who has just managed to bag himself a species missing from his GM list and Wigan list for far far far too long

At 2:30pm the hungry Osprey Put on a great show as it caught a large Roach and proceeded to eat it on a fencepost in front of eager county birders and photographers alike. Look forward to the photos

Meanwhile Wigan's pie-eating and Abram Flashes site watching faithful continue to miss the action whilst eating ice creams in north Norfolk

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 16th of May 2010 02:43:23 PM

Osprey currently eating a fish on a fencepost at Dove Basin, 12:45pm.

Info thanks to John Rayner

Osprey still present in the area at 10:30 atleast.

No sign of the Wood Sandpiper but 20 Black-tailed Hgodwits around and about.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes and Judith Smith

Osprey once again perched in tree just west of Lightshaw Hall Flash viewed from canal towpath at 6.05pm then again at 6.30pm on a post still eating a fish. Eventually lost to view behind the sheep field.

Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony

Osprey again at Dover Basin 5:30pm, with the Wood Sandpiper still at Lightshaw.

Info thanks to Terry Thorpe