Fri 19/2 10:30-11:00 quck visit as forecast showed the only sun we may see this weekend but alas no cold s breeze, dull, with misty drizzle and dusting of snow on whistle pick and holcombe moor
this didn't put of a harbinger of Spring my earliest ever Curlew flew over res to east plaintively calling with same or another heard calling in the distance later
Bhd Gull c. 120 some attaining full s p hoods
H Gull 2 imms
L Bb Gull 4
common gull c. 20
lapwing 60 sheltering on rock pile below Owd Betts
Barry Corless said
Sat Jan 23 8:30 PM, 2016
Saturday afternoon
Meager pickings c. 15:30
Pied Wagtail on the South reservoir banks Mixture of gulls on the water (Black headed, Herring, Great Black Back, Lesser Black Back) M Stonechat on top of the rubble pile next to the new turbine
Mike Cooper said
Sun Jan 17 5:14 PM, 2016
Sun 17/1 14:45-16:30 Overcast cold light snow showers cold E light breeze
stonechat 2M2F on embankment by road gate
H Gull c. 250
G Bb gull c. 20
L Bb gull c. 40
Common Gull c. 40
Black headed gull c. 400
grey wagtail 1 west overflow channel
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of January 2016 07:16:48 PM
brian kirkwood said
Wed Jan 13 10:17 PM, 2016
Between 1130/1215 hrs today in the field between the new turbine and Yates barns were a minimum of four female and two male Stonechats, also present were two Meadow Pipits and six Reed bunting.
Regards Brian and Geoff.
pete berry said
Tue Jan 5 12:45 PM, 2016
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Originally posted today by Brian Kirkwood:
Huge numbers of Gulls passing over the Irwell valley this afternoon all heading towards Ashworth moor, so scope collected, and drove up to the reservoir, below is the best count I could manage in the mist, rain and failing light.
It should be noted that I gave up when I could no longer see at around 1615 hours, but gulls were still arriving in large numbers.
Black-headed.......2150.
Common..............450.
Herring/Lesser Black-backed.....1100 mostly immature and difficult to separate in those conditions.
I think the above is conservative, as the total could be well over 4000.
Regards Brian.
Just noticed this oost,its very interesting as the roost at Heaton Park reservoir has been severely reduced this winter due to the reservoir being partially drained to get rid of the blue green algae which has affected it.Its extremely likely that these are birds that used to use HPR as a roost,as there are large numbers of gulls feeding at Pilsworth Landfill,but only a proportion are using HPR to roost.It might be worth keeping a check on Ashworth Moor as this winter there as I have already seen a few Yellow Legged Gulls,a Glaucous Gull and one or two Caspians Gulls at HPR.They could also well be using Ashworth Moor as they are not seen all the time at HPR.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 4 8:17 PM, 2016
Originally posted today by Brian Kirkwood:
Huge numbers of Gulls passing over the Irwell valley this afternoon all heading towards Ashworth moor, so scope collected, and drove up to the reservoir, below is the best count I could manage in the mist, rain and failing light.
It should be noted that I gave up when I could no longer see at around 1615 hours, but gulls were still arriving in large numbers.
Black-headed.......2150.
Common..............450.
Herring/Lesser Black-backed.....1100 mostly immature and difficult to separate in those conditions.
I think the above is conservative, as the total could be well over 4000.
Regards Brian.
Mike Cooper said
Tue Dec 29 7:31 PM, 2015
Morning stroll to clear the xmas cobwebs 29/12 9:45-12:30 cloudy sunny spells cold SE breeze
constant in and out of large gulls all morning must have involved
200-300 herring gulls
10 G Bb gulls
10 L Bb gulls
2 common gulls
30 bhd gulls
Yellow legged gull 2 winter black primaries, v dark tertials dark grey mantle ringed bill dark eye striped sides of neck chest
Lapwing 26
goldeneye 1fem
valley
stock dove 2
-- Edited by Mike Cooper on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 07:33:42 PM
rob archer said
Thu Dec 10 4:52 PM, 2015
Short-eared Owl still in same area South of the Reservoir and into Lancs at 1600 today..
rob archer said
Sun Dec 6 4:44 PM, 2015
Short-eared Owl hunting again tonight in the same area south of the Reservoir.
Larger than normal gull roost containing a minimum of 110 Great Black-backed Gull's..
58 Goosander
rob archer said
Sun Dec 6 9:44 AM, 2015
Mute Swan flew onto the reservoir at 0750. Unusual bird up here
rob archer said
Wed Dec 2 4:17 PM, 2015
Short-eared Owl hunting around the south-side rough ground this evening during a lull in the drizzle.
Dipper and a Stonechat along the North shore this morning.
Best count so far this year (for me) of 54 Great Black-backed Gull's amongst a growing gull roost..
rob archer said
Thu Nov 5 7:30 AM, 2015
13 Whooper Swan on the reservoir this morning
Mike c cooper said
Sun Oct 25 7:21 PM, 2015
Sun evening 25/10 16:15-17:30 dark!!! Cold dull overcast light SE breeze
C goose 10 CorMorant 1over (to greenbooth?) Mallard MF Tufted Dluck 1M Goosander 38 F
Lapwing 90
C gull 20 Lbb gull 40 B hd gull c 800
After dusk L owl calling Snipe at least 2 heard
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 25th of October 2015 08:06:10 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 23 3:07 PM, 2015
No sign of the Scaup this afternoon.
Info thanks to Dave Ousey
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 23 12:00 PM, 2015
Female/immature Scaup present this morning.
Info thanks to David Winnard
rob archer said
Tue Oct 20 8:33 AM, 2015
Merlin still in NW corner of the reservoir at 0730 this morning.. Perched up on West Bank wall..Still a few Meadow Pipits about ..
rob archer said
Sun Oct 18 10:38 AM, 2015
A young male Merlin (possibly the same bird as last week) flew out from the north shore wall across the reservoir, fast and low dropping over the banking out of sight first thing this morning.. Also a Dipper on the exposed rocks by the inflow gully
rob archer said
Wed Oct 14 8:41 AM, 2015
7 Greylag geese on the reservoir first thing this morning flew off East at 0750..
rob archer said
Mon Oct 12 8:38 AM, 2015
2 Golden Plover in with the Lapwings this morning
Danny Spencer said
Sun Oct 11 7:15 PM, 2015
Last Wednesday I witnessed a Grey squirrel swim from the north shore to the island. Very bizarre.
Perhaps the rascal is at it again. The resident gulls went crazy, dive bombing and then circling.
Mike c cooper said
Sun Oct 11 4:39 PM, 2015
Sun 11/10 15:30-14:30
As I arrived all gulls and lapwing got up from islands twice??
Lapwing c 90 Golden plover heard and eventually seen high up circled res and headed off north over moors L Bb gull c 40 B had gull c 20 Tufted Duck 3m 2f G c grebe 1 wp
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 11th of October 2015 04:41:19 PM
rob archer said
Mon Oct 5 8:03 AM, 2015
Disturbed a Merlin with a recent kill this morning whilst walking the north bank wall..looked like a Pied Wagtail..
Mike c cooper said
Sun Oct 4 7:44 PM, 2015
Sun 16:15-19:00 3 g c grebes 6th tufted goosander 18 fem Scoter not seen at dusk fem & juv? Teal fem Mallard 18 (10 males Snipe at least 1 heard at dusk L Bb gull c. 200 late afternoon B had gull c. 150 at dusk C goose 55 Lapwing 50 P wagtail at least 30 - 25 at west end mud Grey wagtail 1 inflow G s woodpecker 1 flushed from willows at west end pond Skylark 2 west Meadow pipit flask of 18 early evening
Also barn owl hunting in fields below res at nightfall
Top of chessden brook from red Chiffchaff 1 Gold rest 1 Moorhen heard
-- Edited by Mike c cooper on Sunday 4th of October 2015 08:12:18 PM
Rob Creek said
Sun Oct 4 5:51 PM, 2015
An afternoon visit here today with Simon Gough after a visit Central Pools M/C and Kingsway Bus Pk in Rochdale produced hardly a single bird!
Of note... 2 fem Common Scoter 5 Tufted Duck 5 Goosander 1 Dunlin 1 Kestrel 1 Common Gull amongst the usual Gulls 2 Meadow Pipit 4 Pied Wagtail ...and a single Pied Wagtail probable juvenile that had a bright creamy yellow face.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 4th of October 2015 05:52:28 PM
rob archer said
Sun Oct 4 9:07 AM, 2015
A Grey Plover flew onto the exposed island at 0745 from the South and flew off North East at 0830.. Also present.. 2 Common Scotor Juv Dunlin 6 Tufted Duck
rob archer said
Fri Oct 2 8:15 AM, 2015
Juv Dunlin and Snipe on the North shore this morning
rob archer said
Mon Sep 28 9:33 AM, 2015
A Jay flying high over the Reservoir heading west and a Wheatear on the west wall was the best for me early this morning..
rob archer said
Sun Sep 27 8:22 PM, 2015
Good turnout at last light tonight.. Smart moonrise too.. 28 Wigeon. 2 Teal. 19 Mallard 3 Great Crested Grebe 34 Goosander c100 Black headed Gull c150 Lesser Black backed Gull 2 Common Gull 42 Lapwing Single Wheatear near Yates Farm
rob archer said
Sun Sep 27 8:05 AM, 2015
A Great White Egret flew onto the exposed Island at 0755 this morning.. Flew off NE almost immediately.. Also 28 Wigeon and a Dipper in the overflow..
rob archer said
Thu Sep 10 11:06 AM, 2015
Wigeon, Wheatear and 2 Snipe this morning ..
rob archer said
Mon Sep 7 7:43 AM, 2015
Common Scotor and 2 Redshank on the Res this morning
rob archer said
Thu Aug 6 9:57 AM, 2015
2 Ringed Plover north shore this morning.. Grasshopper Warbler Willow Warbler below Owd Betts
Adam Jones said
Fri Jul 31 7:30 PM, 2015
2 Common Scoters still at 12pm today.
rob archer said
Fri Jul 31 9:16 AM, 2015
3 Common Scotor this morning
rob archer said
Thu Jul 30 6:47 AM, 2015
Common Scotor this morning...
rob archer said
Wed Jul 29 10:07 AM, 2015
Flushed c10 Grey Partridge this morning walking the footpath below the South Bank...
rob archer said
Wed Jul 22 7:24 AM, 2015
Redshank this morning .. Flew off high South at 0630.. Golden Plover flew over South . 2 Common Sandpiper 2 Grasshopper Warbler
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jul 19 10:25 AM, 2015
Originally posted yesterday by John Webb
birds seen at ashwoth moor resr today 18 july 2015,,great crested grebe 1 AD.....,common sandpiper 4 .....,canada goose 25 .....,l.b.b.gull 200.....,herring gull 2 .....,b.h.gull 12 .....,common gull 1 JUV ....swift 5 .....,house martin 7 ....,swallow 5 .....,pied wagtail 3 .....,grasshopper warbler 1 reeling .....,skylark 2in song .....,meadow pipit 3 .....,reed bunting 2 in song.thanks john webb
rob archer said
Mon Jul 6 7:18 AM, 2015
Redshank this morning.. Curlew 2 Oystercatcher Grasshopper Warbler
rob archer said
Sun Jul 5 12:59 PM, 2015
Dipper in the overflow channel this morning. 2 Grasshopper Warbler Common Sandpiper. Also recovered an injured juvenile Canada Goose to Greenmount Wild Bird Sanctuary..now cleaning the car out.. Had no idea that one goose could crap so much..
Mike c cooper said
Fri Jul 3 11:22 PM, 2015
Fri eve 3/7 18:30-20:00 sunny cloudy spells cold strong he breeze
LBb gull 150 on res with at least another 100 in and out H gull 1ad B hd gull 2 ad 3juv & 2 imams
Goosander 13 f G c grebe 1 C goose 41 ad moulting flock
Lapwing 48
P wagtail family party of 8 plus at least 6 imms on edge Grey wagtail 1 h
rob archer said
Wed May 13 8:10 AM, 2015
Cuckoo just south of the Res in Lancs this morning. 2 Grasshopper Warbler Wheatear
rob archer said
Thu Apr 30 8:24 AM, 2015
4 Common Sandpiper Ringed Plover 9 Wheatear in field below South Bank. 3 Teal Buzzard
rob archer said
Wed Apr 29 8:24 AM, 2015
2 Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper this morning..
rob archer said
Mon Apr 27 8:26 AM, 2015
Yellow Wagtail on the south shore this morning... Scarce bird up here..
rob archer said
Fri Apr 24 7:06 AM, 2015
Whimbrel flew onto the Res this morning at 0630.. Still on the south bank spit at 0700
Steve Brown said
Wed Apr 22 9:04 PM, 2015
Beautiful, clear, sunny evening. 17.30 - 19.30.
2 Ring Ouzel over north, turned west as they approached the windfarm. Little Ringed Plover x 2, Common Sandpiper x 1, Wheatear 1m, 2f, Reed Bunting x 1m, 1f, Grey Wagtail at overflow, Great Crested Grebe x 1, Goosander 2m, 5f. Sand Martin x 6, Swallow x 5, LBB Gull 30+, in & out, BH Gull x 1, Mallard 2m, 2f, + Canada Geese, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits & Pied Wagtails.
rob archer said
Wed Apr 22 7:06 AM, 2015
Whimbrel on the North shore this morning.. Flew off North East at 0620
Dave Hill said
Tue Apr 21 11:01 AM, 2015
Grasshopper Warbler reeling last light,last night,just below "Owd Betts" Pair of Teal on small pond at overflow
9 Goosander
300 Black-headed Gull
20 Common Gull
150 Lesser Black-backed Gull
5 Herring Gull
Fri 19/2 10:30-11:00 quck visit as forecast showed the only sun we may see this weekend but alas no cold s breeze, dull, with misty drizzle and dusting of snow on whistle pick and holcombe moor
this didn't put of a harbinger of Spring my earliest ever Curlew flew over res to east plaintively calling with same or another heard calling in the distance later
Bhd Gull c. 120 some attaining full s p hoods
H Gull 2 imms
L Bb Gull 4
common gull c. 20
lapwing 60 sheltering on rock pile below Owd Betts
Meager pickings c. 15:30
Pied Wagtail on the South reservoir banks
Mixture of gulls on the water (Black headed, Herring, Great Black Back, Lesser Black Back)
M Stonechat on top of the rubble pile next to the new turbine
Sun 17/1 14:45-16:30 Overcast cold light snow showers cold E light breeze
stonechat 2M2F on embankment by road gate
H Gull c. 250
G Bb gull c. 20
L Bb gull c. 40
Common Gull c. 40
Black headed gull c. 400
grey wagtail 1 west overflow channel
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of January 2016 07:16:48 PM
Between 1130/1215 hrs today in the field between the new turbine and Yates barns were a minimum of four female and two male Stonechats, also present were two Meadow Pipits and six Reed bunting.
Regards Brian and Geoff.
Just noticed this oost,its very interesting as the roost at Heaton Park reservoir has been severely reduced this winter due to the reservoir being partially drained to get rid of the blue green algae which has affected it.Its extremely likely that these are birds that used to use HPR as a roost,as there are large numbers of gulls feeding at Pilsworth Landfill,but only a proportion are using HPR to roost.It might be worth keeping a check on Ashworth Moor as this winter there as I have already seen a few Yellow Legged Gulls,a Glaucous Gull and one or two Caspians Gulls at HPR.They could also well be using Ashworth Moor as they are not seen all the time at HPR.
Huge numbers of Gulls passing over the Irwell valley this afternoon all heading towards Ashworth moor, so scope collected, and drove up to the reservoir, below is the best count I could manage in the mist, rain and failing light.
It should be noted that I gave up when I could no longer see at around 1615 hours, but gulls were still arriving in large numbers.
Black-headed.......2150.
Common..............450.
Herring/Lesser Black-backed.....1100 mostly immature and difficult to separate in those conditions.
I think the above is conservative, as the total could be well over 4000.
Regards Brian.
Morning stroll to clear the xmas cobwebs 29/12 9:45-12:30 cloudy sunny spells cold SE breeze
constant in and out of large gulls all morning must have involved
200-300 herring gulls
10 G Bb gulls
10 L Bb gulls
2 common gulls
30 bhd gulls
Yellow legged gull 2 winter black primaries, v dark tertials dark grey mantle ringed bill dark eye striped sides of neck chest
Lapwing 26
goldeneye 1fem
valley
stock dove 2
-- Edited by Mike Cooper on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 07:33:42 PM
Short-eared Owl still in same area South of the Reservoir and into Lancs at 1600 today..
Short-eared Owl hunting again tonight in the same area south of the Reservoir.
Larger than normal gull roost containing a minimum of 110 Great Black-backed Gull's..
58 Goosander
Mute Swan flew onto the reservoir at 0750. Unusual bird up here
Short-eared Owl hunting around the south-side rough ground this evening during a lull in the drizzle.
Dipper and a Stonechat along the North shore this morning.
Best count so far this year (for me) of 54 Great Black-backed Gull's amongst a growing gull roost..
13 Whooper Swan on the reservoir this morning
Sun evening 25/10 16:15-17:30 dark!!! Cold dull overcast light SE breeze
C goose 10
CorMorant 1over (to greenbooth?)
Mallard MF
Tufted Dluck 1M
Goosander 38 F
Lapwing 90
C gull 20
Lbb gull 40
B hd gull c 800
After dusk
L owl calling
Snipe at least 2 heard
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 25th of October 2015 08:06:10 PM
Info thanks to Dave Ousey
Info thanks to David Winnard
Also a Dipper on the exposed rocks by the inflow gully
7 Greylag geese on the reservoir first thing this morning flew off East at 0750..
2 Golden Plover in with the Lapwings this morning
Last Wednesday I witnessed a Grey squirrel swim from the north shore to the island. Very bizarre.
Perhaps the rascal is at it again. The resident gulls went crazy, dive bombing and then circling.
As I arrived all gulls and lapwing got up from islands twice??
Lapwing c 90
Golden plover heard and eventually seen high up circled res and headed off north over moors
L Bb gull c 40
B had gull c 20
Tufted Duck 3m 2f
G c grebe 1 wp
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 11th of October 2015 04:41:19 PM
3 g c grebes
6th tufted
goosander 18 fem
Scoter not seen at dusk fem & juv?
Teal fem
Mallard 18 (10 males
Snipe at least 1 heard at dusk
L Bb gull c. 200 late afternoon
B had gull c. 150 at dusk
C goose 55
Lapwing 50
P wagtail at least 30 - 25 at west end mud
Grey wagtail 1 inflow
G s woodpecker 1 flushed from willows at west end pond
Skylark 2 west
Meadow pipit flask of 18 early evening
Also barn owl hunting in fields below res at nightfall
Top of chessden brook from red
Chiffchaff 1
Gold rest 1
Moorhen heard
-- Edited by Mike c cooper on Sunday 4th of October 2015 08:12:18 PM
Of note...
2 fem Common Scoter
5 Tufted Duck
5 Goosander
1 Dunlin
1 Kestrel
1 Common Gull amongst the usual Gulls
2 Meadow Pipit
4 Pied Wagtail
...and a single Pied Wagtail probable juvenile that had a bright creamy yellow face.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 4th of October 2015 05:52:28 PM
Also present..
2 Common Scotor
Juv Dunlin
6 Tufted Duck
Smart moonrise too..
28 Wigeon.
2 Teal.
19 Mallard
3 Great Crested Grebe
34 Goosander
c100 Black headed Gull
c150 Lesser Black backed Gull
2 Common Gull
42 Lapwing
Single Wheatear near Yates Farm
Also 28 Wigeon and a Dipper in the overflow..
Grasshopper Warbler
Willow Warbler below Owd Betts
Golden Plover flew over South .
2 Common Sandpiper
2 Grasshopper Warbler
birds seen at ashwoth moor resr today 18 july 2015,,great crested grebe 1 AD.....,common sandpiper 4 .....,canada goose 25 .....,l.b.b.gull 200.....,herring gull 2 .....,b.h.gull 12 .....,common gull 1 JUV ....swift 5 .....,house martin 7 ....,swallow 5 .....,pied wagtail 3 .....,grasshopper warbler 1 reeling .....,skylark 2in song .....,meadow pipit 3 .....,reed bunting 2 in song.thanks john webb
Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
Grasshopper Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler
Common Sandpiper.
Also recovered an injured juvenile Canada Goose to Greenmount Wild Bird Sanctuary..now cleaning the car out.. Had no idea that one goose could crap so much..
LBb gull 150 on res with at least another 100 in and out
H gull 1ad
B hd gull 2 ad 3juv & 2 imams
Goosander 13 f
G c grebe 1
C goose 41 ad moulting flock
Lapwing 48
P wagtail family party of 8 plus at least 6 imms on edge
Grey wagtail 1 h
2 Grasshopper Warbler
Wheatear
Ringed Plover
9 Wheatear in field below South Bank.
3 Teal
Buzzard
2 Ring Ouzel over north, turned west as they approached the windfarm.
Little Ringed Plover x 2,
Common Sandpiper x 1,
Wheatear 1m, 2f,
Reed Bunting x 1m, 1f,
Grey Wagtail at overflow,
Great Crested Grebe x 1,
Goosander 2m, 5f.
Sand Martin x 6,
Swallow x 5,
LBB Gull 30+, in & out,
BH Gull x 1,
Mallard 2m, 2f,
+ Canada Geese, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits & Pied Wagtails.
Pair of Teal on small pond at overflow