-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Tuesday 27th of August 2013 11:01:25 PM
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Aug 27 6:32 AM, 2013
At least 1, probably 2, Spotted Flycatchers this morning
Also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Teal, 15+ Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap
Simon Hitchen said
Sat Aug 17 3:59 PM, 2013
Juvenile Mediterranean Gull again this morning
Also a Kingfisher
Simon Hitchen said
Sat Aug 17 6:17 AM, 2013
5 Common Scoter this morning (3 drakes, 2 ducks)
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Aug 16 5:57 AM, 2013
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was with Black-headed Gulls this afternoon at the nature reserve and later moved to the feeding area near the rowing club where it was last seen eating chips and an ice cream cone on the beach! Stonking bird - wonder where it's come from.
Also 2 Cormorant, 1 Teal, male Sparrowhawk, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Sandpipers and 3 Lesser Redpoll amongst the usual suspects
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Aug 14 6:57 AM, 2013
Tues 13/8
A Spotted Flycatcher was showing well in the Big Hedge area this morning
Also 1 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 1 Raven over east and a Siskin over
Mike c cooper said
Mon Aug 5 5:18 PM, 2013
Mon 5/8 14:00 -15:30 walk around between showers
3 very noisy oystercatchers flying around
4curlews in field below west dam with Bhd Gulls
2juvenile Common Gulls
-- Edited by Mike c cooper on Monday 5th of August 2013 06:54:36 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 26 11:10 PM, 2013
Green Sandpiper still from the hide at 4pm but elusive.
Info thanks to Dave Ousey
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Jul 26 6:59 AM, 2013
A Green Sandpiper was showing well on the nature reserve this morning and has been present on and off since Sunday
Also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers and a Lesser Redpoll over were of note this morning
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Jul 17 6:21 AM, 2013
2 Ringed Plover 1 Oystercatcher 1 Nuthatch in Pavilion Wood also the first returning adult Common Gull
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Jul 16 5:55 AM, 2013
A Common Tern this morning was the first this year. No sign of the Med Gull since last Tuesday.
Unfortunately the Great-crested Grebe nest has failed again due to the falling water level
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jul 9 5:19 PM, 2013
Breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gull currently on the island at the nature reserve.
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Simon Hitchen said
Tue May 21 5:23 AM, 2013
A single Arctic Tern was showing well this evening
Also the drake Gadwall still around
John Doherty said
Mon Apr 29 9:23 PM, 2013
This morning's visit produced 1 drake Teal, 3 Mute Swan and 2 Common Sandpipers, all from the hide.
Simon Hitchen said
Mon Apr 29 5:57 AM, 2013
Lesser Whitethroat singing
also 2 Blackcaps finally back, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Lesser Redpoll and the increasingly 'plastic' Gadwall now paired up with a female Mallard
James Walsh said
Fri Apr 26 9:46 AM, 2013
Simon Hitchen wrote:
Drake Gadwall of dubious origin hanging around with the Mallards
This bird could be the drake that has spent several years (on & off) on the River Irwell, usually around the Agecroft Bridge area, & associates with Mallards ?
-- Edited by James Walsh on Friday 26th of April 2013 09:47:30 AM
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Apr 26 5:50 AM, 2013
Disappointingly quiet.
Plenty of Willow Warblers and Swallows back now Drake Gadwall of dubious origin hanging around with the Mallards Lesser Redpoll song-flighting
Ian Kimber had 2 Swifts over this morning
C Brown said
Thu Apr 18 3:04 PM, 2013
3 + willow warblers singing in the nature reserve yesterday afternoon.
Chris
Simon Hitchen said
Sat Apr 13 9:36 PM, 2013
1 Cormorant 8 Great Crested grebes 19 Teal drake Shoveler 9 Goldeneye 2 Goosander 1 Oystercatcher Snipe 'chipping' at Shaw Moss 3 Curlew over east 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 34 Redwing 7 Fieldfare 1 Chiffchaff 1 Linnet over 1 Siskin over
Longden End: 2 Wheatear, c10 Sand Martin, 1 Dipper, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Stock Dove
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 13th of April 2013 09:41:08 PM
Simon Hitchen said
Sat Apr 13 6:20 AM, 2013
12/4
Drake Red-breasted Merganser
Also 3 Wigeon, pair Shoveler, 43 Teal, 4 Tufted Ducks and 2 Goldeneye
Yesterday Ian Kimber had 9 Waxwings on Bank Close but there was no sign this morning.
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Mar 26 4:21 AM, 2013
10 Whooper Swans on the Lake this morning made for a beautiful sight with the backdrop of deep snow drifts up here. I had to leave and go to work at 0730 but I was informed by Ian Kimber that they flew off west about 0830.
A Brambling and a Lesser Redpoll were on the feeders in my Mum's garden just back from the Lake on Milbury Drive yesterday.
14 Cormorant 3 Wigeon 1 female Gadwall 4 drake Pochard pair Tufted Duck 6 Coot 2 Oystercatchers steady stream of gulls heading east today included 80+ Herring Gulls which suddenly appeared mid afternoon and then after briefly settling around the Lake started circling and gaining height and disappeared east over Blackstone Edge
in the roost 800+ Black headed, 186 Common, 11 Lesser black-backed and 18 Herring Gulls
Simon Hitchen said
Sat Mar 16 6:23 AM, 2013
15/3 - A major duck passage today - sometimes when there is low cloud and drizzle over the Pennines in March ducks on migration seem to get grounded here and today was one of those days. A big raft of ducks on the water early this morning comprised 143 Wigeon, 11 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 11 Pochard, 15 Tufted Ducks and 7 Goldeneye - the Wigeon count is a record count for this site beating the previous raft of 114 on 1st March 2005. These are all migrants and will have all gone by tomorrow, and we'll be back to the usual couple of Goosander, but exciting to see migration in action - makes you wonder what you'd see passing through if you didn't have to go to work.
Karen Clewer said
Thu Mar 14 11:30 PM, 2013
Not quite the Lake but just seen my first ever waxwings. Flock of 19 in Littleborough. Didn't even have to leave my armchair.
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Mar 10 4:31 PM, 2013
2 adult Kittiwakes this morning
Also drake Gadwall and 6 Oystercatchers on Akzo Pond
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Mar 10 5:48 AM, 2013
4 Curlew flew over east 2 Redshanks on Shaw Moss
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Feb 28 7:10 AM, 2013
Not exactly Hollingworth Lake, but a very nice Peregrine today soaring low over the M62 at the spot that you can look down towards the lake heading east bound.
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Feb 13 6:47 AM, 2013
A Brambling was an unexpected bonus today at the nature reserve
Otherwise quiet :-
2 Coots (rare here), 5 Mute Swan, 2 Goosander, 1 first winter Great black-backed Gull, 10+ Long-tailed Tit
Noticed Rochdale council have approved an expansion of the local caravan site into the area adjacent to the nature reserve - doesn't sound like great news for wildlife.
Simon Hitchen said
Mon Jan 28 6:42 AM, 2013
Drake Gadwall on Akzo Pond
Also 83 Mallard, 4 Mute Swan, 5 Goosander, 4 Cormorant, female Sparrowhawk, 10+ Fieldfare and a Siskin over
Nearby at Littleborough this morning on the canal by the station I was surprised to find a first winter Kittiwake. It looked pretty weak and exhausted but did fly around a few times. I was considering whether it might need taking into care, but when I returned with this in mind later in the morning, I could find no sign of it. However I understand that Steve Atkins saw it again here this afternoon. Also here were 2 drake Mandarins.
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Dec 14 6:26 AM, 2012
1 Water Rail - a good bird here skein of Pinkfeet heard flying over at 10 am but couldn't locate them 2 Goosander 2 Teal 40+ Fieldfare 10+ Redwings 20+ Goldfinches 1 Lesser Redpoll Siskin heard 4 Bullfinch
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Nov 28 6:26 AM, 2012
7 Common Scoter - all female/imm female Wigeon on Akzo Pond
Yesterday Alan Nuttall had 2 Waxwings feeding on rosehips at Akzo Pond but no sign this morning
Charles Farrell said
Mon Nov 19 1:55 AM, 2012
Sun 18th Nov (13:55 - 14:20):
Quick scan of the Lake after lunch but not much of interest
- c200 Gull, mainly Black-headed, though there appeared to be some larger gulls over towards the Nature Reserve - c40 Canada Goose - c50 Mallard + 1 mongrel-type, smaller than the others but with a yellow bill and orange feet
Visitor Centre feeders - Greenfinch - 3 Chaffinch - 4 Great Tit - Dunnock
Graham Beverley said
Wed Nov 7 12:13 AM, 2012
am Tuesday Whooper swans 6 Kingfisher
-- Edited by Graham Beverley on Wednesday 7th of November 2012 12:15:09 AM
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Nov 2 4:30 AM, 2012
1 Little Grebe - my first here for several years, and don't worry I can assure you I checked this bird VERY carefully!! 3 Cormorant 1 Mute Swan on Akzo Pond 76 Mallard 13 Teal - Shaw Moss 15 Wigeon - 14 in middle of lake and a single drake on Shaw Moss 1 Sparrowhawk 2 Pheasant 1 Kingfisher 20+ Redwing 2 Fieldfares 2 Siskins 2 Bullfinch
Karen Clewer said
Sun Oct 28 6:48 PM, 2012
Sunday 28th October 10.30 to 11.30. Sightings reported by a visitor to the bird hide. Flock of redwing, 4 fieldfare, kingfisher dived and caught a fish.
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Oct 19 5:02 AM, 2012
1 Kingfisher 2 Fieldfare - my first of the autumn here 40+ Goldfinches 2 Siskin over
Charles Farrell said
Sun Oct 14 7:56 PM, 2012
Sun 14th 09:30 - 10:30
very misty and unable to see anything on the lake, so parkedupnear the vistor centre and walked down past the carpark and along the stream. Very quiet withhardly anything moving before 10AM ish
- Jay - 4+ Nuthatch - 6+ Blue Tit - 2+ Great Tit - various Jackdaws, Magpie and Carrion Crows
Later 2 Coal Tit with other tits on the feeders by the Visitor Centre.
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Oct 9 1:16 AM, 2012
Thanks Karen for contacting me - shame that mouth-to-beak resuscitation was unsuccessful as the last record at the Lake appears to have been at Rakewood on 24th September 1885, so I'm not sure I'm going to be alive to see the next one!
Living birds today were a little thin on the ground - 2 Great-crested Grebes, 3 Cormorant, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Kingfisher (heard) & 14 Siskin. There was a Mute Swan on Akzo Pond and 13 Teal and a fly-over Grey Wagtail at Shaw Moss. 2 Ravens were at Longden End
Karen Clewer said
Tue Oct 9 12:15 AM, 2012
Thank you to Simon for identifying the Manx Shearwater, to Yvonne Mynett for spotting it and Steve for scooping it up for me.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 9 12:00 AM, 2012
A freshly dead Manx Shearwater was found this morning at the lake.
Rangers contacted Simon Hitchen to come and identify the then mystery corpse.
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Oct 2 4:54 AM, 2012
Drake Common Scoter this morning
Simon Hitchen said
Sat Sep 15 6:14 AM, 2012
A first winter Mediterranean Gull was a nice surprise this morning at 0730 - presumably it had roosted here. Only the second record for the Lake.
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Sep 6 11:07 PM, 2012
Great-crested grebe1 Cormorant 6 Teal 11 - Shaw Moss Buzzard 1 SW Sparrowhawk 4 Kestrel 3 Peregrine juv flew through east Green Woodpecker juv at Bib Knowl Great-spotted Woodpecker 1 Swallow 140+ mainly S House Martin 40+ S Meadow Pipit 40+ mainly S Wheatear 1 male Longden End Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 4 Spotted Flycatcher 1 Bib Knowl Goldfinch 80+ Bullfinch 7 inc 3 juvs Linnet 12 Lesser redpoll 2
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 6th of September 2012 11:23:40 PM
Rob Willis said
Thu Sep 6 2:16 AM, 2012
Late post for yesterday afternnon/evening.
Also saw a Spotted Flycatcher in the 'big hedge' area (as per post below), and a largish charm of Goldfinches raiding the thistleheads by the farm near Bib Knowl. Also a few Linnets around too.
Mike Cooper said
Sun Sep 2 5:35 AM, 2012
Sat 1/9 14:00
Spotted Flycatcher 2+ in hawthorn hedge / scrub over track opposite nature reserve
plus Coat Tit, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Aug 22 6:27 AM, 2012
1 Redstart at Bib Knowl - elusive at times and best located by call
Otherwise quiet - 3 Cormorants, 7 Teal at Shaw Moss, 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Siskin heard flying over
8 Teal
3 Tufted Duck
9 Pheasant
1 Kingfisher
1 Garden Warbler
3 Blackcap
20+ Willow Warblers
1 Spotted Flycatcher
2 juv Bullfinch
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Tuesday 27th of August 2013 11:01:25 PM
Also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Teal, 15+ Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap
Also a Kingfisher
Also 2 Cormorant, 1 Teal, male Sparrowhawk, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Sandpipers and 3 Lesser Redpoll amongst the usual suspects
A Spotted Flycatcher was showing well in the Big Hedge area this morning
Also 1 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 1 Raven over east and a Siskin over
3 very noisy oystercatchers flying around
4curlews in field below west dam with Bhd Gulls
2juvenile Common Gulls
-- Edited by Mike c cooper on Monday 5th of August 2013 06:54:36 PM
Info thanks to Dave Ousey
Also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers and a Lesser Redpoll over were of note this morning
1 Oystercatcher
1 Nuthatch in Pavilion Wood
also the first returning adult Common Gull
Unfortunately the Great-crested Grebe nest has failed again due to the falling water level
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Also the drake Gadwall still around
also 2 Blackcaps finally back, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Lesser Redpoll and the increasingly 'plastic' Gadwall now paired up with a female Mallard
This bird could be the drake that has spent several years (on & off) on the River Irwell, usually around the Agecroft Bridge area, & associates with Mallards ?
-- Edited by James Walsh on Friday 26th of April 2013 09:47:30 AM
Plenty of Willow Warblers and Swallows back now
Drake Gadwall of dubious origin hanging around with the Mallards
Lesser Redpoll song-flighting
Ian Kimber had 2 Swifts over this morning
Chris
8 Great Crested grebes
19 Teal
drake Shoveler
9 Goldeneye
2 Goosander
1 Oystercatcher
Snipe 'chipping' at Shaw Moss
3 Curlew over east
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
34 Redwing
7 Fieldfare
1 Chiffchaff
1 Linnet over
1 Siskin over
Longden End: 2 Wheatear, c10 Sand Martin, 1 Dipper, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Stock Dove
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 13th of April 2013 09:41:08 PM
Drake Red-breasted Merganser
Also 3 Wigeon, pair Shoveler, 43 Teal, 4 Tufted Ducks and 2 Goldeneye
18 Cormorant
4 Great-crested grebes
5 Teal
6 Goosander
2 Redshank
1 KITTIWAKE adult
1 Lesser Redpoll song-flighting
Yesterday Ian Kimber had 9 Waxwings on Bank Close but there was no sign this morning.
A Brambling and a Lesser Redpoll were on the feeders in my Mum's garden just back from the Lake on Milbury Drive yesterday.
32 Wigeon
4 Pochard ( 2m, 2f) - different birds from yesterday
6 Tufted Ducks
6 Goosander
3 Great-crested grebes
10 Cormorant
female Sparrowhawk
2 Oystercatchers
3 Wigeon
1 female Gadwall
4 drake Pochard
pair Tufted Duck
6 Coot
2 Oystercatchers
steady stream of gulls heading east today included 80+ Herring Gulls which suddenly appeared mid afternoon and then after briefly settling around the Lake started circling and gaining height and disappeared east over Blackstone Edge
in the roost 800+ Black headed, 186 Common, 11 Lesser black-backed and 18 Herring Gulls
Also drake Gadwall and 6 Oystercatchers on Akzo Pond
2 Redshanks on Shaw Moss
Otherwise quiet :-
2 Coots (rare here), 5 Mute Swan, 2 Goosander, 1 first winter Great black-backed Gull, 10+ Long-tailed Tit
Noticed Rochdale council have approved an expansion of the local caravan site into the area adjacent to the nature reserve - doesn't sound like great news for wildlife.
Also 83 Mallard, 4 Mute Swan, 5 Goosander, 4 Cormorant, female Sparrowhawk, 10+ Fieldfare and a Siskin over
3 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher
20+ Fieldfare
40+ Siskin
25+ Goldfinch
Nearby at Littleborough this morning on the canal by the station I was surprised to find a first winter Kittiwake. It looked pretty weak and exhausted but did fly around a few times. I was considering whether it might need taking into care, but when I returned with this in mind later in the morning, I could find no sign of it. However I understand that Steve Atkins saw it again here this afternoon. Also here were 2 drake Mandarins.
skein of Pinkfeet heard flying over at 10 am but couldn't locate them
2 Goosander
2 Teal
40+ Fieldfare
10+ Redwings
20+ Goldfinches
1 Lesser Redpoll
Siskin heard
4 Bullfinch
female Wigeon on Akzo Pond
Yesterday Alan Nuttall had 2 Waxwings feeding on rosehips at Akzo Pond but no sign this morning
Quick scan of the Lake after lunch but not much of interest
- c200 Gull, mainly Black-headed, though there appeared to be some larger gulls over towards the Nature Reserve
- c40 Canada Goose
- c50 Mallard + 1 mongrel-type, smaller than the others but with a yellow bill and orange feet
Visitor Centre feeders
- Greenfinch
- 3 Chaffinch
- 4 Great Tit
- Dunnock
Whooper swans 6
Kingfisher
-- Edited by Graham Beverley on Wednesday 7th of November 2012 12:15:09 AM
3 Cormorant
1 Mute Swan on Akzo Pond
76 Mallard
13 Teal - Shaw Moss
15 Wigeon - 14 in middle of lake and a single drake on Shaw Moss
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Pheasant
1 Kingfisher
20+ Redwing
2 Fieldfares
2 Siskins
2 Bullfinch
2 Fieldfare - my first of the autumn here
40+ Goldfinches
2 Siskin over
very misty and unable to see anything on the lake, so parkedupnear the vistor centre and walked down past the carpark and along the stream. Very quiet withhardly anything moving before 10AM ish
- Jay
- 4+ Nuthatch
- 6+ Blue Tit
- 2+ Great Tit
- various Jackdaws, Magpie and Carrion Crows
Later 2 Coal Tit with other tits on the feeders by the Visitor Centre.
Living birds today were a little thin on the ground - 2 Great-crested Grebes, 3 Cormorant, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Kingfisher (heard) & 14 Siskin.
There was a Mute Swan on Akzo Pond and 13 Teal and a fly-over Grey Wagtail at Shaw Moss. 2 Ravens were at Longden End
Rangers contacted Simon Hitchen to come and identify the then mystery corpse.
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Cormorant 6
Teal 11 - Shaw Moss
Buzzard 1 SW
Sparrowhawk 4
Kestrel 3
Peregrine juv flew through east
Green Woodpecker juv at Bib Knowl
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Swallow 140+ mainly S
House Martin 40+ S
Meadow Pipit 40+ mainly S
Wheatear 1 male Longden End
Willow Warbler 1
Chiffchaff 4
Spotted Flycatcher 1 Bib Knowl
Goldfinch 80+
Bullfinch 7 inc 3 juvs
Linnet 12
Lesser redpoll 2
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 6th of September 2012 11:23:40 PM
Also saw a Spotted Flycatcher in the 'big hedge' area (as per post below), and a largish charm of Goldfinches raiding the thistleheads by the farm near Bib Knowl. Also a few Linnets around too.
Spotted Flycatcher 2+ in hawthorn hedge / scrub over track opposite nature reserve
plus Coat Tit, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Otherwise quiet - 3 Cormorants, 7 Teal at Shaw Moss, 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Siskin heard flying over