Ian McKerchar wrote:

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On the 29th December 2009 Roy Ganley found a couple of Crows feeding on a dead drake Goldeneye at High Rid. There wasn't much of the Goldeneye left but although Roy couldn't confirm it was the injured winged long-staying drake one has to assume that it probably was

We live in hope though and Roy for one will be regularly checking to see if the injured little fella turns back up. Thanks very much to Roy for this information.

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daupt it would walk to anywere elsewas it capable of flying?

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 12th of January 2010 04:38:15 PM

On the 29th December 2009 Roy Ganley found a couple of Crows feeding on a dead drake Goldeneye at High Rid. There wasn't much of the Goldeneye left but although Roy couldn't confirm it was the injured winged long-staying drake one has to assume that it probably was

We live in hope though and Roy for one will be regularly checking to see if the injured little fella turns back up. Thanks very much to Roy for this information.

Yep that sound about right, probably just misread rumours, maybe we could start a rumour about Britain not being in recession, petrol prices are dropping and everyone has lots of money and taxes actually went down and not up again

You'll probably find that the 'rumour' originates from someone misinterpreting the posts on this thread and you know how Chinese whispers go from there. If the bird has met it's end (and it may seem likely ) then we'd most probably have confirmation one way or the other by now. We live in hope, what little we have left

Simon Warford wrote:

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Where did you hear that Dennis?
Gutted, Mr Woosey was right condemned to die in Bolton

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 10th of January 2010 09:59:13 PM

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I heard this today from someone i was chatting to at pennington flash, it was not someone i had met before so i was wondering if someone else could confirm?

Very sad news if it turns out to be true

Where did you hear that Dennis?
Gutted, Mr Woosey was right condemned to die in Bolton

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 10th of January 2010 09:59:13 PM

Ian Campbell wrote:

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Just curious but what has become of the male Goldeneye with the damaged wing now the res. is frozen over, anybody know?, shame if it's met it's end.
Cheers Ian

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I did hear this weekend that the long staying goldeneye has sadly been found dead, can anyone else confirm this?

Very sad news, the bird has been there so long and has survived ok till now

There was a small area of water on the fishing lodge by the road, but only a few mallard on there.

Its probably met the same sad end that alot of other birds will during this severe cold weather, that means we have absolutely no open water in the Bolton area other than Wayoh, might have to start watching Lancs!

Just curious but what has become of the male Goldeneye with the damaged wing now the res. is frozen over, anybody know?, shame if it's met it's end.
Cheers Ian

Completely frozen today. No Scaup or any other wildfowl.
2 Snipe and 4 Lapwing.

3/1/10 pm

Drake Scaup
Pochard 3
Goldeneye 6
Little Grebe 9
Common Gull 63

Drake Scaup still present this afternoon.

2.00p.m. Yes Gary, the path is very slippy !!, fell flat on my a**e.
Good views of male Scaup( I've only seen females before ) associating with 2 female Pochard. As I was leaving the res. a nice bonus was a Merlin flying across the water and disappearing West
Cheers Ian

29-12-09

Drake scaup stil showing but was too far out for a decent picture but great close up views of the little grebes diving then shaking the cold water of their backsbeware anyone going up there the path was very slippy.

28/12/09 late am

Drake Scaup - looking like an adult now.
Goldeneye 5 male
Pochard 4
Tufteds 20+
Little Grebe 10
Selection of gulls on the partly covered ice.

Scaup still present this morning, plus 6 Goldeneye.

First winter drake Scaup still present this morning and moulting quite nicely appearently.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

First winter drake Scaup still present today at 1pm. Peregrine also seen over there.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

scaup still present at 12 noon friday 34 coots 12 dab chicks 4 goldeneye 4 malard 2 moorhens 50 blackheaded .15 common gulls sorry forgot to mention 4pochard 5wigeon

-- Edited by steve ashworth on Saturday 5th of December 2009 07:30:35 PM

Scaup still present at 13.30 plus minima of the following:-

Mallard 12
Tufted 10
Pochard 4
Goldeneye 4
Little Grebe 8
Coot 30
Moorhen 1
BH Gull 50
Common Gull 12
Kestrel 1
GS Pecker 2

thanks for that mikes regards steve

Steve,

High Rid is not far from the Reebok Stadium. From the M61 continue past Reebok on the A6027. Then take A673 (Bolton) and turn left after pertrol station (Fall Birch Rd). Easy to find.

Regards

Mike

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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David Winnard sent me some great images of the bird in question and it does indeed have a damaged wing. Which sort of proves why it stays all year

Photos on the galleries in a bit.

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Poor sod.........condemned to live and die in Bolton

David Winnard sent me some great images of the bird in question and it does indeed have a damaged wing. Which sort of proves why it stays all year

Photos on the galleries in a bit.

Met a couple at High Rid saturday, they said the long staying male goldeneye has a damaged wing.

This male has been here for about 8 years (see bird report). I thought there must be something wrong with it - now I know!

I was photographing a male Goldeneye the other day here and thought it was a cracking bird in terms of plumage, until i looked at the pics of when it flapped it wings. Its left wing feathers look in a right state, almost like a skeleton. Having noticed the comments about the summering drake wondered if this may be a reason. Will be emailing Ian the Pics for others to have a nosey at what i mean.

Dave

:hi mike could you please let me know were high rid res is

Scaup still at 10 am.

Also 7 Little Grebe and 5 Goldeneye

Scaup still present this afternoon.
also
2 Pochard
5 Goldeneye (2M/3F)
7 Little Grebe
15 Tufted Duck
15 + Fieldfare

Late news for the 25th:

first winter drake Scaup still present

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

First winter drake Greater Scaup still present today, along with:

8 Tufted Duck
6 Goldeneye
single Pochard
7 Little Grebe

info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Scaup still present at 11:30.

Dave

Yesterday 16 Nov 2.15pm

L.Grebe 9
Pochard 1
Tufties 4
Coots 27
Scaup asleep
Goldeneye 5 including an obliging close-in male. Hope you got some good shots to make up for the missing Snow Bunting Jon.

Scaup still there 2pm with pochard. Crackin low soaring Buzzard over.

Dean.

Scaup still present at midday today.

Info thanks to Dave Ousey

14/11/09 with Paul Cliff

Scaup still present with drake Pochard, 6 Goldeneye and lots of Little Grebes.

First winter drake Greater Scaup present today.

7/11/09

6 Goldeneye
15 Little Grebe

In its 10th year now, yet it appears fully-winged.

Drake Goldeneye still present, in eclipse plumage. Also 1 Common Tern.

Drake Goldeneye present on High Rid still today.

2.30pm

10 little grebe
6 goldeneye
70+ coot

Loads of birds today, maybe due to Rumworth still being partly frozen.

6 little grebe
100+coot
plenty mallard
a few tufted
3 goldeneye including 2 stunning males
many BH gulls with quite a few common gull
40+ canadas

A lot of aquatic plants either floating or growing to the surface which seems to attract waterfowl.

And I know what you were looking for!

21/10/08 popped in this afty before a completely useless 2 hours on Winter Hill..

Wigeon 1 male
Goldeneye 2 female and the summering male still on
Little Grebe 13
Fieldfare 5

28/9/08 and still better than Rumworth..

Little Grebe 10
Wigeon 6
Goldeneye 1 male

24/9/08 early pm

Little Grebe 13
Wigeon 7
Goldcrest 4+

Better than Rumworth

took your time