Single Waxwing in rowan in garden of 22 Kingston Close as I type at 11.35 showing well. Road next to Buckingham Drive. 2 willow tit in railway cutting plus 3 goldcrest. 10 pochard, 6 wigeon and 78 tufted on resr.
Alan Warford said
Sat Nov 20 9:00 PM, 2010
Very sorry to hear that Colin has passed away, I often met him round Elton and we always chatted about birds. He was till recently a frequent visitor despite his failing eyesight, he will be sadly missed by all Elton regulars.
Paul Wilson said
Sat Nov 20 11:10 AM, 2010
7.25 - 10.30 with Sue Fargher
Highlights:
3 Pochard 2 Gadwall 5 Teal (flew fram Capsticks) 1 Scaup 1 Kestrel 1 Little Owl 6 Snipe 1 Water Rail (at canal nearest Crow Trees - never had one that far up before) 1 Treecreeper (hedgerow near new bridge bween Withins & Crow Trees) 3 Bullfinch
Simon Warford said
Sat Nov 20 12:55 AM, 2010
Oh no thats very sad news, what a nice guy.
Adrian Dancy said
Fri Nov 19 10:47 PM, 2010
I am so sorry to hear this news. Colin loved his birds and he was a great bloke to talk to.
May he rest in peace.
Judith Smith said
Fri Nov 19 5:21 PM, 2010
Elton birders will be sorry to learn of the death on 8th Nov of Colin Loughnan, a long-time birdwatcher at Elton Resr, who found quite a few rarities over the years. He was 75 and had been hampered by cataracts in recent years.
Ian Boote said
Thu Nov 18 4:03 PM, 2010
Wet day Lots of winter thrushes all over the shop Reed Bunter on canal Kingfisher below woos nab 4 Bullfinches Family of 8 swans moved in below Bennies Family of 5 swans moved to pond in Dip Res 30 Tufties 12 Mute Swans 8 Cormerants Withins 3 Goosander 2m 1f snipe
Ian Boote said
Wed Nov 17 12:47 AM, 2010
its like the morning after a tsunami out there, black pudding venice with mud.
Mike Passant said
Tue Nov 16 9:16 PM, 2010
-Don't want to be alarmist but it sounds a bit GEOTHERMAL from what you say...-
Watch out for any dangerous vents opening up, but do listen out for calls of Volcano Junco, - there could be some around?
Ian Boote said
Tue Nov 16 6:27 PM, 2010
water very high Bridge looks like a pier. North bank almost impassable due to steam flooding. Alternate route could be from Doffer fold take footpath accross Spenmoor to creek bridge.
Res Only a few tufties, cormerant 8 pochard Grey Pied Wag house sparrows etc
Fields north Jay Bullfinches redwing field fares
Paul Wilson said
Sun Nov 14 5:09 PM, 2010
I also had 2 Goldcrests and heard Willow Tit in railway cutting, and 4 Bullfinches near Daisyfield.
Ian Campbell wrote:
Early a.m. in the mist with Peter J and Paul W, 7 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, lots of Tufted and Coot, Kingfisher flypast, lots of Winter Thrushes, Kestrel catching a worm and heard a Water Rail on the canal. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Sun Nov 14 3:25 PM, 2010
Early a.m. in the mist with Peter J and Paul W, 7 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, lots of Tufted and Coot, Kingfisher flypast, lots of Winter Thrushes, Kestrel catching a worm and heard a Water Rail on the canal. Cheers Ian
Simon Warford said
Sat Nov 13 3:13 PM, 2010
2 very vocal Willow Tits along the railway cutting near Buckingham Drive late morning, also a Treecreeper with some Long tailed tits.
Been a few years since the Reservoir was this high, you cant even get off the little bridge near the car park.
Ian Boote said
Tue Nov 9 1:58 PM, 2010
AM Very windy and res full overflowing at the end of dam Tufties decamping the withins when boat launched 7 Pochard Cormerants Heron 6 Grey wags at outflow Mistle thrush fieldfare and redwing
Paul Wilson said
Sat Nov 6 12:11 PM, 2010
7.30 - 10.30 with Ian Campbell & Sue Fargher.
1 Scaup Tufted (loads) 5 Pochard 7 Bar-tailed Godwits (flying around near Capsticks. Appeared to drop into Capsticks but no sign when we got there) Several flocks of Fieldfare (largest of 55 flushed from trees by Sparrowhawk) 1 Goldeneye (male) 5 male Bullfinch (3 near redstart hedge and 2 in dip) Redwing everywhere
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 6th of November 2010 12:12:05 PM
brian fielding said
Fri Nov 5 2:17 PM, 2010
0800 till 1345 much the same as yesterday 1 scaup 2 goldeneye 6 pochard 1 willow tit
Mike hirst said
Fri Nov 5 11:17 AM, 2010
Very common occurance Steve
Mike
Paul Coupe said
Thu Nov 4 3:15 PM, 2010
Just seen Stonechat on fence in marsh opposite the canal.(also Snipe in marsh and great views of Water Rail by bridge at Bennies)
brian fielding said
Thu Nov 4 1:12 PM, 2010
0845 till 1245 1 scaup, back in front of boathouse 6 pochard 1 willow tit heard only along cycle track, also goldcrest and coal tit 1 kingfisher, withins 2 little owls also 2 goldeneye this morning on clarence park lido could be yesterdays elton birds
brian fielding said
Wed Nov 3 7:22 PM, 2010
hi stephen, no sign of stonechats along the fence so may have moved on, couldnt find the scaup either, i will post them if i find them over the next few days.
brian fielding said
Wed Nov 3 3:53 PM, 2010
1400 till 1530 2 goldeneye 5 pochard
Ian Boote said
Mon Nov 1 6:10 PM, 2010
Where are your location for lower hinds?
Lower Hinds is accross the river at the back of the School and north of the metrolink line its a large calcerous spoil tip now an SBI on account of it fauna.
Hinds in the site of the former mill now a great mound of rubble thats gone wild, again quite interesting for wildlife, on the north side of the river but south of the canal where it's filled in.
And not forgetting the dip north of the canal with a path that comes out at the back of the sailing club, good sight for GSW, and confusingly also the former sight of an old mine called Hinds still relayed as an area called this on the maps like Hinds Lane that meanders all around this area.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Monday 1st of November 2010 06:58:05 PM
Ian Boote said
Mon Nov 1 5:51 PM, 2010
1pm -2pm on fdinner hour along dam around bennies Tufties 4 pochard norgh west res quite a few cormerants scattered about some knocking gulls of bouys grey and pied wag in front of Old Hall farm Male Stonechat which posed for a distant pic on fence post hopping from one to another kestral bullfinch in flight sparrow hawk being mobbed over bennies car park by carrion crow
brian fielding said
Mon Nov 1 3:58 PM, 2010
1345 till 1530 1 scaup, nr boathouse 4 pochard
Ian Campbell said
Sun Oct 31 2:46 PM, 2010
Female Scaup still present this a.m. near Boathouse. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Sat Oct 30 11:17 AM, 2010
Scaup still present 1st thing, also at least 39 Cormorant fishing together and 25 minimum Great Crested Grebe plus many Tufted and Coot, also 4 Goosander near pump house which flew off. Cheers Ian
Simon Warford said
Thu Oct 28 11:47 AM, 2010
2 Waxwings flew low east at 11.30 this morning.
Info thanks to Peter Baron.
Ian Campbell said
Thu Oct 28 10:06 AM, 2010
Also this a.m. 1 Teal and 1 Snipe at Capsticks, 12 Meadow Pipit below pumphouse trying to avoid a hunting Kestrel. Also lots of Redwing, Fieldfare and Blackbirds in the hedgerows. 2 Water Rail heard but not seen at the canal. Cheers Ian
Bill Myerscough said
Thu Oct 28 9:09 AM, 2010
28th Oct.
F/imm Scaup near boathouse at first light. Also c140 Coot, 50 Tufted Duck, 4 Cormorant & at least 13 Gt Crested Grebe.
Cheers,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Thursday 28th of October 2010 10:24:32 AM
Ian Boote said
Wed Oct 27 3:36 PM, 2010
PM Very little on Canal and Res 3 Fly by Bullfinches on canal In Dip the family of Swans 2 adult three cygnet appear to have set up home on the pond aswell as three heron 1 snipe. few Redwing on Hedge top Res very littlke again Meadow Pipits 1 jay on dam and 12 GC Grebe 2 cormerant res No tufties Withins Much better 3 Teal 1 Pochard 60+ Tufties 1 Kingfisher all west end morer redwings in hedge and fly by female bull fimch Good flock of LT Tits Crow tree Canal below crow tree othe family of swans 2 adult 6 cygnets.
Ian Campbell said
Wed Oct 27 9:21 AM, 2010
1st light this a.m. 5 female Goldeneye upto 8.30, 100+ Fieldfare in hedgerow around Capsticks where also 3 Snipe. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Tue Oct 26 4:35 PM, 2010
Early a.m. very pale Buzzard sat in hedgerow near Old Hall Farm for 10 minutes being mobbed by lots of Crows and Magpies before flying off. On res 1 Pochard, 46 Tufted Duck, 74 Coot and 16 Cormorant and 13 Great Crested Grebe. On Withins a further 24 Tufted and 2 Teal with 2 Snipe over. Then the rain really started Cheers Ian .................... Forgot to mention 2 Jays burying what I presume to be Acorns in grass below the res.
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 26th of October 2010 04:40:24 PM
Ian Boote said
Mon Oct 25 9:33 AM, 2010
till 9 am not much 1 pochard 25 tufties 1 little grebe flocks of redwing 15 cormerants and usuals
brian fielding said
Sun Oct 24 12:18 PM, 2010
0915 till 1145 not much 5 pochard 15 tufted ducks 1 herring gull 1 meadow pipit 20 fieldfares 1 sparrowhawk
brian fielding said
Sat Oct 23 1:37 PM, 2010
0800 till 1245 1 peregrine, adult on pylon 5 pochard 18 snipe in marsh 30+ fieldfare nr crow trees loads of redwings
Ian Boote said
Tue Oct 19 3:53 PM, 2010
Called 10 am between client visits Throwing it down Waited in car and espied 2 adult Whooper Swans near carpark and some pochard. Braved the rain to get some snaps on a small spare camera I keep in car Returned 2pm with better camera and better weather did circle of res and peep at withins no Whoopers both gone but
Comerant Raft of tufties Jay pied wags on Dam Fieldfare capsticks Male Sparrow hawk flew accross res one teal on west of res with two more tufties Creek 3 Bullfinch Large flock of mixed chaff and gold finchers flock mixed blackbirds and redwings 2 goldcrest
brian fielding said
Mon Oct 18 1:27 PM, 2010
0800 till 1245 1 hobby, adult flew from creek over the res at 1145 then over fields nr withins then back towards the creek, last seen at 1200, my first at elton and my 100th species this year, 98 self found. 1 buzzard 4 wigeon lots of redwings
Paul Wilson said
Sun Oct 17 7:02 PM, 2010
We also had 4 Pink-footed Geese
Also, I had in the dip:
1 Chiffchaff (calling like there was no tomorrow) 30+ Redwing in a berry feeding frenzy with a dozen or so Blackbirds 2 GS Woodpeckers 7 Grey Heron (mostly in the trees)
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Sunday 17th of October 2010 07:04:24 PM
Ian Campbell said
Sun Oct 17 6:43 PM, 2010
Also this a.m. another Buzzard over, seen by Riggers an J Rayner(good to have your company on our usual walk with the 3 Amigoes), Little Owl near Crow Trees, found obviously, by OWL ManJohnson, this time without 'er indoors, also Snipe over marsh and still interesting Swan activity on the canal, also feel for Blackpool Cheers Ian
brian fielding said
Sun Oct 17 1:10 PM, 2010
0800 till 1245 no sign of short eared owl 9 wigeon 45 tufted ducks 1 goldcrest 1 coal tit
Simon Warford said
Sat Oct 16 7:05 PM, 2010
Late news 15th October - 2 Whooper Swans present 6pm, info Brian Fogg.
This evening a SHORT EARED OWL present until dusk, a fantastic find by Norma & Peter Johnson. Brilliant birding.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 16th of October 2010 07:06:39 PM
Ian Campbell said
Sat Oct 16 12:06 PM, 2010
Early a.m. with Paul Wilson, 40 Tufted Duck, 6 adult and 1 juv Mute Swan, 1 Little Grebe. Over 6 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing and 1 Buzzard. Also 2 adult Swans on Withins. On the canal the 2 Swan families have had an arguement(yesterday according to Peter Johnson) resulting with the disappearance of the adults of one pair, their 3 young remain and were very vocal, it appeared they were calling for their parents and the other pair now have 5, not 7 young. Cheers Ian
Simon Warford said
Thu Oct 14 5:43 PM, 2010
14/10/10 late afternoon
3 Whooper Swans (2ad & juv) flew south east Willow Tit, 2 Goldcrest & male Blackcap all in disused railway cutting (all Buckingham drive end) Several Redwing
Ian Boote said
Wed Oct 13 10:04 AM, 2010
Not much Few redwing little grebe westend of res tufties cormerant millions of coots etc
brian fielding said
Tue Oct 12 12:10 PM, 2010
0800 till 1130 not much 1 kingfisher 5 teal 1 common gull 3 redwing
brian fielding said
Mon Oct 11 1:24 PM, 2010
0815 till 1245 nothing of note on res 12 fieldfare over 6 swallows going south at least 30 meadow pipits between capsticks and withins
Ian Boote said
Mon Oct 11 9:25 AM, 2010
Sunrise
Shelduck very tame or stupid. Let myself and two creeping cats (flushed as I approached) get to within 10 feet of it. Also Large flock redwing back of Old Hall Farm, few teaL capsticks field Kestrel north of res Grey Pied wag Tufties Cormerant etc Large flock 50 gold finches
Peter Johnson said
Sun Oct 10 4:50 PM, 2010
4 Swallow south at 15:20 Goldeneye still Also a Brown Hawker along the canal (don't know if that's a late sighting?)
Also large "pipit" like bird, slightly undulating flight with sharp "pweep" single note call reapeated every second or so. No idea what it was but flew over and away anyway!
He was till recently a frequent visitor despite his failing eyesight, he will be sadly missed by all Elton regulars.
Highlights:
3 Pochard
2 Gadwall
5 Teal (flew fram Capsticks)
1 Scaup
1 Kestrel
1 Little Owl
6 Snipe
1 Water Rail (at canal nearest Crow Trees - never had one that far up before)
1 Treecreeper (hedgerow near new bridge bween Withins & Crow Trees)
3 Bullfinch
May he rest in peace.
Lots of winter thrushes all over the shop
Reed Bunter on canal
Kingfisher below woos nab
4 Bullfinches
Family of 8 swans moved in below Bennies
Family of 5 swans moved to pond in Dip
Res
30 Tufties
12 Mute Swans
8 Cormerants
Withins
3 Goosander 2m 1f
snipe
Watch out for any dangerous vents opening up, but do listen out for calls of Volcano Junco, - there could be some around?
Bridge looks like a pier. North bank almost impassable due to steam flooding. Alternate route could be from Doffer fold take footpath accross Spenmoor to creek bridge.
Dip
Heron, Redpoll, 3 Reed bunters, canal swan, redwing
Res
Only a few tufties, cormerant 8 pochard Grey Pied Wag house sparrows etc
Fields north
Jay Bullfinches redwing field fares
Cheers Ian
Been a few years since the Reservoir was this high, you cant even get off the little bridge near the car park.
Tufties decamping the withins when boat launched
7 Pochard Cormerants Heron 6 Grey wags at outflow
Mistle thrush fieldfare and redwing
1 Scaup
Tufted (loads)
5 Pochard
7 Bar-tailed Godwits (flying around near Capsticks. Appeared to drop into Capsticks but no sign when we got there)
Several flocks of Fieldfare (largest of 55 flushed from trees by Sparrowhawk)
1 Goldeneye (male)
5 male Bullfinch (3 near redstart hedge and 2 in dip)
Redwing everywhere
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 6th of November 2010 12:12:05 PM
much the same as yesterday
1 scaup
2 goldeneye
6 pochard
1 willow tit
Mike
1 scaup, back in front of boathouse
6 pochard
1 willow tit heard only along cycle track, also goldcrest and coal tit
1 kingfisher, withins
2 little owls
also 2 goldeneye this morning on clarence park lido could be yesterdays elton birds
2 goldeneye
5 pochard
Lower Hinds is accross the river at the back of the School and north of the metrolink line its a large calcerous spoil tip now an SBI on account of it fauna.
Hinds in the site of the former mill now a great mound of rubble thats gone wild, again quite interesting for wildlife, on the north side of the river but south of the canal where it's filled in.
And not forgetting the dip north of the canal with a path that comes out at the back of the sailing club, good sight for GSW, and confusingly also the former sight of an old mine called Hinds still relayed as an area called this on the maps like Hinds Lane that meanders all around this area.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Monday 1st of November 2010 06:58:05 PM
along dam around bennies
Tufties
4 pochard norgh west res
quite a few cormerants scattered about some knocking gulls of bouys
grey and pied wag
in front of Old Hall farm
Male Stonechat which posed for a distant pic on fence post hopping from one to another
kestral
bullfinch in flight
sparrow hawk being mobbed over bennies car park by carrion crow
1 scaup, nr boathouse
4 pochard
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Info thanks to Peter Baron.
Cheers Ian
F/imm Scaup near boathouse at first light. Also c140 Coot, 50 Tufted Duck, 4 Cormorant & at least 13 Gt Crested Grebe.
Cheers,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Thursday 28th of October 2010 10:24:32 AM
3 Fly by Bullfinches on canal
In Dip the family of Swans 2 adult three cygnet appear to have set up home on the pond aswell as three heron 1 snipe. few Redwing on Hedge top
Res very littlke again
Meadow Pipits 1 jay on dam and 12 GC Grebe 2 cormerant res No tufties
Withins Much better
3 Teal 1 Pochard 60+ Tufties 1 Kingfisher all west end morer redwings in hedge and fly by female bull fimch
Good flock of LT Tits Crow tree
Canal below crow tree othe family of swans 2 adult 6 cygnets.
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
....................
Forgot to mention 2 Jays burying what I presume to be Acorns in grass below the res.
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 26th of October 2010 04:40:24 PM
not much
1 pochard 25 tufties 1 little grebe flocks of redwing 15 cormerants and usuals
not much
5 pochard
15 tufted ducks
1 herring gull
1 meadow pipit
20 fieldfares
1 sparrowhawk
1 peregrine, adult on pylon
5 pochard
18 snipe in marsh
30+ fieldfare nr crow trees
loads of redwings
Throwing it down
Waited in car and espied 2 adult Whooper Swans near carpark and some pochard.
Braved the rain to get some snaps on a small spare camera I keep in car
Returned 2pm with better camera and better weather did circle of res and peep at withins no Whoopers both gone but
Comerant
Raft of tufties
Jay pied wags on Dam
Fieldfare capsticks
Male Sparrow hawk flew accross res
one teal on west of res with two more tufties
Creek
3 Bullfinch
Large flock of mixed chaff and gold finchers
flock mixed blackbirds and redwings
2 goldcrest
1 hobby, adult flew from creek over the res at 1145 then over fields nr withins then back towards the creek, last seen at 1200, my first at elton and my 100th species this year, 98 self found.
1 buzzard
4 wigeon
lots of redwings
Also, I had in the dip:
1 Chiffchaff (calling like there was no tomorrow)
30+ Redwing in a berry feeding frenzy with a dozen or so Blackbirds
2 GS Woodpeckers
7 Grey Heron (mostly in the trees)
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Sunday 17th of October 2010 07:04:24 PM
Cheers Ian
no sign of short eared owl
9 wigeon
45 tufted ducks
1 goldcrest
1 coal tit
This evening a SHORT EARED OWL present until dusk, a fantastic find by Norma & Peter Johnson.
Brilliant birding.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 16th of October 2010 07:06:39 PM
Cheers Ian
3 Whooper Swans (2ad & juv) flew south east
Willow Tit, 2 Goldcrest & male Blackcap all in disused railway cutting (all Buckingham drive end)
Several Redwing
Few redwing little grebe westend of res tufties cormerant millions of coots etc
not much
1 kingfisher
5 teal
1 common gull
3 redwing
nothing of note on res
12 fieldfare over
6 swallows going south
at least 30 meadow pipits between capsticks and withins
Shelduck very tame or stupid. Let myself and two creeping cats (flushed as I approached) get to within 10 feet of it.
Also Large flock redwing back of Old Hall Farm, few teaL capsticks field
Kestrel north of res
Grey Pied wag
Tufties Cormerant etc
Large flock 50 gold finches
Goldeneye still
Also a Brown Hawker along the canal (don't know if that's a late sighting?)
1 goldeneye
1 pochard
1 shelduck
1 singing chiffchaff
Not much:
32 Tufted Duck
1 Pochard
230 BH Gull
1 Raven
1 Willow Warbler (near hospital)
1 Buzzard (from dip)
Also large "pipit" like bird, slightly undulating flight with sharp "pweep" single note call reapeated every second or so. No idea what it was but flew over and away anyway!