Quick walk around res and canal 8am till 10:30 am Lots of 50+ Swifts, Sand Martins, Swallows, Coots and Canada Geese. Nice to see plenty of fledged birds around including Black Headed Gulls, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Starling, Heron, Great Tit, Carrion Crow and young Grey Squirrels. Linnet 7 , Greenfinch 8, Chaffinch 3, Goldfinch 4, Reed Bunting 5, Sedge Warbler 3, Willow Warbler 2, House Martin 5, Oystercatcher 2, Common Tern 1, Grey Wagtail 3 and Lesser Black Backed Gull 2. Also herd but not seen Grasshopper warbler and Pheasant. An enjoyable morning walk.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 1st of July 2013 04:36:12 PM
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jun 30 5:36 PM, 2013
This a.m. 1 Common Tern, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew over and a Kestrel. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Mon Jun 24 3:41 AM, 2013
7-8.30 a.m. at capsticks watching Skylark battling with the wind and Sedge Warblers trying also to compete with it when a Hobby flew right over my head and carried on in the direction of Peel tower, made my day. Also 2 Common Tern, 2 Oystercatcher, and a Kestrel. Cheers Ian
Ian Boote said
Sun Jun 23 5:19 AM, 2013
Few other bits Curlew Spen Moor, Lapwing east of Crow Tree Farm (The large number west of the farm have reduced due to Grass Length, and cutting in the fields for silage) Teal male wader point, Kestrel quite a few singing Sedge Warblers and the more usual stuff.
Ian Campbell said
Sat Jun 22 6:02 PM, 2013
7-9.00 a.m. angler sat on wader point , 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Tern and 120ish Sand Martin over res, on Withins 4 young Great Crested Grebe still present. Ocanal near Bennies Swans still have 6 young. Cheers Ian
Peter Johnson said
Fri Jun 21 8:32 PM, 2013
Juvenile Ringed Plover on Wader Point at 17:00.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 21st of June 2013 09:08:06 PM
Simon Johnson said
Thu Jun 20 4:09 AM, 2013
Pm visit
2 Common Tern 50+ Swift 300+ Starling which included many juveniles Great Crested Grebe on withins with 4 young
Ian Campbell said
Sat Jun 15 5:26 PM, 2013
8.00 a.m. after visiting Turton for the Greenish Warbler, Redshank near wader point was a surprise, 2 Common Tern and Oystercatcher over. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jun 9 1:51 AM, 2013
8-9.00a.m. 2 Common Tern, 3 singing Sedge Warbler in Capsticks also here 4 fledged Pied Wagtail, Swans at Bennies still have 6 young. Cheers ian
Jason Dulhanty said
Tue Jun 4 2:54 PM, 2013
10.30-13.30 In the Dip and along the canal Grey Heron juv Sedge warbler Jay Female Sparrowhawk Blackbirdxloads Whitethroatxloads Reed buntingx6 Moorhens Coots Canada Geese with juvs Mute swan with 6 juvs Lots of Lapwings with juvs Various Carrion Wrensx3 Oystercatcher over Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard only Mistle thrush Song thrush juvs Greenfinch Goldfinch Female Chaffinch Nice sunny day and nice to have met Ian Peters Cheers Jay Don't twitch and drive
-- Edited by Jason Dulhanty on Tuesday 4th of June 2013 02:57:19 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 4th of June 2013 03:08:49 PM
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Jun 2 7:44 PM, 2013
On Canal 9.45 till 10.50am plenty off Lapwings, Magpies, Wood pigeons, Starlings, Jackdaws, Canada Geese 2 Goslings, House Sparrows 7 Reed Buntin, 5 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Blackbirds, 5 Greenfinch, 9 Swifts, 5 Swallows, 1 Sand martin, 1 Heron, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit 3 Coots, 5 Moorhens, 4 Tufted Ducks, 12 Mallards + 6 Chicks.
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jun 2 4:39 PM, 2013
6.30-8.00 a.m. Curlew in field North West of res. 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Tern and flock of over 100 juv. Starling in pump house area. Cheers Ian
steven burke said
Sun Jun 2 5:47 AM, 2013
evening visit.
300+ mostly swifts, swallows, sand martins & house martins. the swifts whizzing past my head near the pumphouse coming to within inches away. 2 common terns 4 tufted ducks 1 little owl & 1 willow tit, along canal. 2 reed warblers 1 sedge warbler 3 reed buntings 2 whitethroats 2 blackcaps 5 willow warblers plus usuals
Paul Wilson said
Sat Jun 1 6:24 PM, 2013
I had a Stock Dove and a Rook this morning. Also one (possibly two) Grasshopper Warblers.
Ian Campbell wrote:
7.30 a.m. 2 Common Tern. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Sat Jun 1 4:47 PM, 2013
7.30 a.m. 2 Common Tern. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Thu May 30 5:16 PM, 2013
7-9.00 a.m. on the res 1 Common Tern, approx 100 Swift over, in field between Elton and Withins Skylark feeding young, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap and Willow Warbler all seen. Along the canal no Coot or Moorhen nests but Little Owl in canal side bush, single parent Swan with 5 young next to bridge 19 and pair with 6 young near Bennies. Cheers Ian
James Walsh said
Tue May 28 8:01 PM, 2013
Hi Ian, if you're not bothered about Curlews and Common Terns, please encourage them over to The Quays where both species, especially Curlew, are gold dust
Ian Campbell said
Tue May 28 7:11 PM, 2013
7-9.00 a.m. with Brian Fielding, sometimes I really wonder why we bother, only birds of note were Curlew and Common Tern, no sign of yesterdays Grasshopper Warbler either. Cheers Ian
A Barn Owl flew over the canal and down by the river at 17:00.
SY4 and mate have 6 cygnets on the canal near Benny's.
Oystercatchers are again on the old MacPherson's paint works site. I presume they are breeding on the roof like last year.
brian fielding said
Thu May 23 8:56 PM, 2013
0500 till 0645 2 common terns 4 ringed plover 1 curlew 1 oystercatcher 2 goosander over
John Doherty said
Tue May 21 3:42 PM, 2013
A HOBBY flew over Old Hall Marsh for myself and Ian Peters today - headed North, low.
Also Reed Warbler seen briefly in usual place, plus 2 Sedge Warblers
Capsticks Marsh had a third Sedge Warbler At least 1 possibly two Common Terns were on the reservoir, but apart from Lapwings it was quiet wader-wise. Lots of Swift, some Swallow, occasional Sand and Housemartin. A single Linnet was around too, plus Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Mistle Thrush, Tufted Duck, Mallard etc etc
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 21st of May 2013 03:54:59 PM
brian fielding said
Mon May 20 6:27 PM, 2013
0730 till 1115am
4 common terns the only birds of note.
Simon Johnson said
Sat May 18 5:30 PM, 2013
Early morning
Not a single wader present - water levels up but still some shoreline
Female Yellow Wagtail - shore by creek 3 Common Tern 2 Imm. Great Black-backed Gull flew through 100+ Swift 100+ House Martin
100s of Swallows - resting where they could out on the boats and even had 37 perched in a small tree
Simon Warford said
Fri May 17 3:29 PM, 2013
7.15am, pair of Common Scoter in centre of the reservoir, also 90 Swift and 3 Common Tern present.
Steven Higginbottom said
Thu May 16 4:59 PM, 2013
MORNING 8.15-11.10 WALK ALONG Elton RES TO CANAL AND BACK TO RES Sunny with little wind Swifts 80+ Swallows 30+ House martin 5 Sand martin 20+ Linnet 3 Goldfinch 2 Greenfinch 5 Chaffinch 2 Lesser Black Backed Gull 1 adult 1 Juv Black Headed Gull 15 Mute Swan 4 Canada Geese 8+5 Chicks Great Crested Grebe 2 Jay 3 Carrion Crow 7 Jackdaw 11 Magpie 6 Lapwing 4, Ringed Plover 2 on Wader Point Whitethroat 2 Willow Warbler 3 Sedge Warbler 5 Barn Owl below pump house at 9.20 being chased by Carrion Crow towards Bennys SEEN WITH David Lyle Common Tern 1 on Res at 11.00.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 16th of May 2013 05:30:16 PM
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed May 15 5:27 PM, 2013
Quick walk around res 8 to 9.30 am. Very wet and windy. Swallow over 200, Sand martin 50+, House Martin 2, Swift 2, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Reed Buntin 7, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 3, Goldfinch 2, Chaffinch 1, Blackbird 2, Coot 7, Moorhen 4, Mallard 12, Tufted Duck 8, Great Crested Grebe 2, Black Headed Gull 8, Common Tern 1 Flew off towards Spenmoor, Oystercatcher 2 Flying towards Bury, Ringed Plover 9 on Shore near Boat house then took flight landing on Wader Point Pied Wagtail 1
Simon Johnson said
Tue May 14 11:54 PM, 2013
2-4pm
9 Ringed Plover on shore near capsticks flew off east 2 Common Tern 8 Sedge Warbler Curlew calling from spenmoor
Also a weather front passed through and dropped 500+ Swift down most of these then moved on north
brian fielding said
Tue May 14 5:39 PM, 2013
0715 till 10am 1 yellow wagtail on side of res between pumphouse and old hall farm for about 30mins before being flushed by a dog walker 7 ringed plover together on wader point 1 common tern 1 lesser whitethroat
Peter Johnson said
Tue May 14 12:56 AM, 2013
Several hundred Swift over res. this evening.
brian fielding said
Sun May 12 6:06 PM, 2013
0630 till 1030
2 arctic terns early morning only plus 2 dunlin.
Simon Johnson said
Fri May 10 7:39 PM, 2013
2 Dunlin Curlew 120 Swift 50 House Martin
a Weasel was seen running about in the grass near wader point
There was also a dead Cormorant on wader point
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Friday 10th of May 2013 08:21:58 PM
brian fielding said
Fri May 10 2:51 PM, 2013
0545 till 0730 4 commic terns through quickly 1 dunlin 1 lesser whitethroat
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 10th of May 2013 03:42:26 PM
Simon Johnson said
Thu May 9 10:33 PM, 2013
Early afternoon
2 Arctic Tern - left after 10 mins to the SW 8 Dunlin (6 flew east with a ringed plover) 2 Ringed Plover 300 Sand Martin 200 Swallow 30 House Martin 1 Swift (really late in numbers building up here)
brian fielding said
Thu May 9 9:35 PM, 2013
0530 till 0700
1 lesser whitethroat below pumphouse, 2 common sandpiper
Steven Higginbottom said
Thu May 9 12:43 AM, 2013
Walk around Elton Res past Withins lodge along canal back to Elton Res BETWEEN 8am & 11am 5 Great Tit 40+ Mallard 20+ Tufted Duck 20+ Swallow 30+ Sand Martin 1 House Martin 6 Dunnock 9 Blackbird 3 Wren 10+ Black Headed Gull 7 Jackdaw 17 Coot 5 Goldfinch 3 Swift 10+ House Sparrow 5 Moorhen 10+ Magpie 4 Whitethroat 2 Linnet 6 Carrion Crow 5 Mute Swan +5 Cygnets 8 Robin 10+ Lapwing 4 Chaffinch 7 Greenfinch 20+ Canada Geese 1 Skylark 50+ Starling 6 Wood Pigeon 20+ Reed Buntin 2 Willow Warbler 8 Mistle Thrush 1 Little Owl 6 Sedge Warbler 2 Heron Also a deer below Withins
David Lumb said
Wed May 8 4:49 AM, 2013
Wheatear this morning between Elton & Withins reservoirs
brian fielding said
Tue May 7 5:04 PM, 2013
So far this morning 1 common tern,1 gadwall,2 little grebe,1 rook over.
brian fielding said
Mon May 6 6:45 PM, 2013
0645 till 11am with ian and paul not much on 1 common sandpiper 4 wheatear 3 goosander
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 5 8:49 PM, 2013
3 Sandwich Terns present around 10am but flew off west shortly afterwards.
Info thanks to Peter Baron/Brian Fielding
brian fielding said
Sat May 4 11:19 PM, 2013
0600 till 0815 the arctic tern and the whimbrels moved on also this morning 1 common sandpiper 1 wheatear 1 curlew
brian fielding said
Sat May 4 2:38 PM, 2013
Single arctic tern and 3 whimbrel present
brian fielding said
Fri May 3 10:02 PM, 2013
0530 till 0745 very quiet 1 common sandpiper 2 wheatear 4 oystercatcher 2 goosander over
brian fielding said
Thu May 2 10:06 PM, 2013
0615 till 0745
1 common sandpiper,5 wheatear,1 lesser whitethroat,2 oystercatcher,2 goosander,mallard ducklings now down to eight.
Simon Johnson said
Tue Apr 30 11:51 PM, 2013
11 - 2 too add
Whinchat female blow pump house 2 Common Buzzard over NW Sparrowhawk Herring gull Female mallard with 11 ducklings
Also 12 drake mallard gang raping a female which was nearly left for dead - worse attack I have ever witnessed nearly drowned her but managed to get to the banking next to people who then shooed the drakes away!
brian fielding said
Tue Apr 30 6:47 PM, 2013
0615 till 1100 1 common tern 1 shelduck 10 wheatear 2 little ringed plover called in briefly before heading north 1 white wagtail 4 oystercatcher 1 curlew over 1 lesser whitethroat 1 reed warbler 6 sedge warbler
Peter Johnson said
Tue Apr 30 1:48 AM, 2013
This evening:
8 Wheatear
brian fielding said
Mon Apr 29 6:57 PM, 2013
0630 till 1115 1 female whinchat present first thing only below pumphouse, no sign after about 0715 2 lesser whitethroat, 1 below pumphouse and 1 just where the path drops down at the end of withins 4 wheatear 1 white wagtail 1 dunlin the only wader this morning
Simon Johnson said
Mon Apr 29 1:14 AM, 2013
6pm
Below pump house still Female Whinchat 7 Wheatear Lesser Whitethroat
Lots of 50+ Swifts, Sand Martins, Swallows, Coots and Canada Geese.
Nice to see plenty of fledged birds around including Black Headed Gulls, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Starling, Heron, Great Tit, Carrion Crow and young Grey Squirrels.
Linnet 7 , Greenfinch 8, Chaffinch 3, Goldfinch 4, Reed Bunting 5, Sedge Warbler 3, Willow Warbler 2, House Martin 5, Oystercatcher 2,
Common Tern 1, Grey Wagtail 3 and Lesser Black Backed Gull 2.
Also herd but not seen Grasshopper warbler and Pheasant.
An enjoyable morning walk.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 1st of July 2013 04:36:12 PM
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Curlew Spen Moor, Lapwing east of Crow Tree Farm (The large number west of the farm have reduced due to Grass Length, and cutting in the fields for silage) Teal male wader point, Kestrel quite a few singing Sedge Warblers and the more usual stuff.
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 21st of June 2013 09:08:06 PM
2 Common Tern
50+ Swift
300+ Starling which included many juveniles
Great Crested Grebe on withins with 4 young
Cheers Ian
Cheers ian
In the Dip and along the canal
Grey Heron juv
Sedge warbler
Jay
Female Sparrowhawk
Blackbirdxloads
Whitethroatxloads
Reed buntingx6
Moorhens
Coots
Canada Geese with juvs
Mute swan with 6 juvs
Lots of Lapwings with juvs
Various Carrion
Wrensx3
Oystercatcher over
Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard only
Mistle thrush
Song thrush juvs
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Female Chaffinch
Nice sunny day and nice to have met Ian Peters
Cheers Jay
Don't twitch and drive
-- Edited by Jason Dulhanty on Tuesday 4th of June 2013 02:57:19 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 4th of June 2013 03:08:49 PM
7 Reed Buntin, 5 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Blackbirds, 5 Greenfinch, 9 Swifts, 5 Swallows, 1 Sand martin, 1 Heron, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Great Tit
3 Coots, 5 Moorhens, 4 Tufted Ducks, 12 Mallards + 6 Chicks.
Cheers Ian
300+ mostly swifts, swallows, sand martins & house martins. the swifts whizzing past my head near the pumphouse coming to within inches away.
2 common terns
4 tufted ducks
1 little owl & 1 willow tit, along canal.
2 reed warblers
1 sedge warbler
3 reed buntings
2 whitethroats
2 blackcaps
5 willow warblers
plus usuals
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
1 Common Tern
1 Oystercatcher
1 Reed Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler
c50 Starling
2 Mute Swan with 6 cygnets
3 Blackcap
4 Willow Warbler
3 Whitethroat
2 Mistle Thrush
1 common sandpiper
1 common tern
SY4 and mate have 6 cygnets on the canal near Benny's.
Oystercatchers are again on the old MacPherson's paint works site. I presume they are breeding on the roof like last year.
2 common terns
4 ringed plover
1 curlew
1 oystercatcher
2 goosander over
Also Reed Warbler seen briefly in usual place, plus 2 Sedge Warblers
Capsticks Marsh had a third Sedge Warbler
At least 1 possibly two Common Terns were on the reservoir, but apart from Lapwings it was quiet wader-wise.
Lots of Swift, some Swallow, occasional Sand and Housemartin.
A single Linnet was around too, plus Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Mistle Thrush, Tufted Duck, Mallard etc etc
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 21st of May 2013 03:54:59 PM
Not a single wader present - water levels up but still some shoreline
Female Yellow Wagtail - shore by creek
3 Common Tern
2 Imm. Great Black-backed Gull flew through
100+ Swift
100+ House Martin
100s of Swallows - resting where they could out on the boats and even had 37 perched in a small tree
Swifts 80+ Swallows 30+ House martin 5 Sand martin 20+
Linnet 3 Goldfinch 2 Greenfinch 5 Chaffinch 2
Lesser Black Backed Gull 1 adult 1 Juv Black Headed Gull 15
Mute Swan 4 Canada Geese 8+5 Chicks Great Crested Grebe 2
Jay 3 Carrion Crow 7 Jackdaw 11 Magpie 6
Lapwing 4, Ringed Plover 2 on Wader Point
Whitethroat 2 Willow Warbler 3 Sedge Warbler 5
Barn Owl below pump house at 9.20 being chased by Carrion Crow towards Bennys SEEN WITH David Lyle
Common Tern 1 on Res at 11.00.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 16th of May 2013 05:30:16 PM
Swallow over 200, Sand martin 50+, House Martin 2, Swift 2,
Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1,
Reed Buntin 7, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 3, Goldfinch 2, Chaffinch 1, Blackbird 2,
Coot 7, Moorhen 4, Mallard 12, Tufted Duck 8, Great Crested Grebe 2, Black Headed Gull 8,
Common Tern 1 Flew off towards Spenmoor,
Oystercatcher 2 Flying towards Bury,
Ringed Plover 9 on Shore near Boat house then took flight landing on Wader Point
Pied Wagtail 1
9 Ringed Plover on shore near capsticks flew off east
2 Common Tern
8 Sedge Warbler
Curlew calling from spenmoor
Also a weather front passed through and dropped 500+ Swift down most of these then moved on north
1 yellow wagtail on side of res between pumphouse and old hall farm for about 30mins before being flushed by a dog walker
7 ringed plover together on wader point
1 common tern
1 lesser whitethroat
Curlew
120 Swift
50 House Martin
a Weasel was seen running about in the grass near wader point
There was also a dead Cormorant on wader point
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Friday 10th of May 2013 08:21:58 PM
4 commic terns through quickly
1 dunlin
1 lesser whitethroat
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 10th of May 2013 03:42:26 PM
2 Arctic Tern - left after 10 mins to the SW
8 Dunlin (6 flew east with a ringed plover)
2 Ringed Plover
300 Sand Martin
200 Swallow
30 House Martin
1 Swift (really late in numbers building up here)
5 Great Tit 40+ Mallard 20+ Tufted Duck 20+ Swallow 30+ Sand Martin
1 House Martin 6 Dunnock 9 Blackbird 3 Wren 10+ Black Headed Gull
7 Jackdaw 17 Coot 5 Goldfinch 3 Swift 10+ House Sparrow
5 Moorhen 10+ Magpie 4 Whitethroat 2 Linnet 6 Carrion Crow
5 Mute Swan +5 Cygnets 8 Robin 10+ Lapwing 4 Chaffinch
7 Greenfinch 20+ Canada Geese 1 Skylark 50+ Starling 6 Wood Pigeon
20+ Reed Buntin 2 Willow Warbler 8 Mistle Thrush 1 Little Owl 6 Sedge Warbler
2 Heron
Also a deer below Withins
not much on
1 common sandpiper
4 wheatear
3 goosander
Info thanks to Peter Baron/Brian Fielding
the arctic tern and the whimbrels moved on
also this morning
1 common sandpiper
1 wheatear
1 curlew
very quiet
1 common sandpiper
2 wheatear
4 oystercatcher
2 goosander over
Whinchat female blow pump house
2 Common Buzzard over NW
Sparrowhawk
Herring gull
Female mallard with 11 ducklings
Also 12 drake mallard gang raping a female which was nearly left for dead - worse attack I have ever witnessed nearly drowned her but managed to get to the banking next to people who then shooed the drakes away!
1 common tern
1 shelduck
10 wheatear
2 little ringed plover called in briefly before heading north
1 white wagtail
4 oystercatcher
1 curlew over
1 lesser whitethroat
1 reed warbler
6 sedge warbler
8 Wheatear
1 female whinchat present first thing only below pumphouse, no sign after about 0715
2 lesser whitethroat, 1 below pumphouse and 1 just where the path drops down at the end of withins
4 wheatear
1 white wagtail
1 dunlin the only wader this morning
Below pump house still
Female Whinchat
7 Wheatear
Lesser Whitethroat