1/3 - Drake Pintail still at Shaw Moss 30 Teal ( 22 Shaw Moss, 8 nature reserve) 4 Goosander 5 Oystercatchers 6 Skylarks over east 1 Goldcrest 2 Siskin
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Mar 1 7:12 AM, 2012
29/2 Drake Shoveler and 3 Goldeneye present early this morning
Karen Clewer said
Wed Feb 29 5:53 AM, 2012
What? You don't like my bird anagrams on the board? That whiteboard is very hard to clean but I'll give it a scrub when I'm next in on Saturday. Will also have a word with the powers that be but I think it'd be great to utilise the board more. You could draw a Whooper Robin for me. I do try to get people to add their sightings to the wildlife diary. Thanks again.
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Feb 28 9:10 PM, 2012
28/2
7 Cormorant, 5 Mute Swan, 4 Goosander, 14 Teal, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew over, 1 singing Skylark, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Siskin and a Woodpigeon sitting on a nest. No Whooper Robins today though Sid!
The drake Pintail is still at Shaw Moss (info via Alan Nuttall)
Karen, I would be more than happy for you to write any sightings in the wildlife diary. In fact maybe you could have recent wildlife sightings written on the whiteboard in the visitor centre - I would be happy to update it if you thought it was a good idea.
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Tuesday 28th of February 2012 09:13:27 PM
sid ashton said
Tue Feb 28 2:43 AM, 2012
Simon Hitchen wrote:
Didn't notice the Whooper Robin......
A Whooper Robin, whow - whatever next
Karen Clewer said
Mon Feb 27 11:22 PM, 2012
Simon and Robin Would it be ok to include your sightings in Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centres Wildlife Diary? Next time you're nearby, say hello! Thanks Karen Clewer
Simon Hitchen said
Mon Feb 27 5:41 AM, 2012
A drake Pintail was on Shaw Moss this morning with 12 Teal. 2 Oystercatchers and a Coot on the lake itself but a lot of boating disturbance here starting before 8 am
Didn't notice the Whooper Robin - thanks for the info - will have a look tomorrow.
Robin Parker said
Sun Feb 26 11:41 PM, 2012
There appears to be an immature Whooper Swan with a blue ring happily integrated with the mass of Black headed gulls, Canada geese and Mallards at the feeding area near the Water Activity Centre.
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Feb 17 5:05 AM, 2012
Lake has been iced over for last 10 days but starting to thaw now.
4 Wigeon 16 Goosander quite a few large gulls loafing on the ice which is unusual this winter here - 12 Great black backs, 23 Herring and 7 Lesser black backs but no white wingers
Helen Andrews said
Sat Feb 11 4:06 AM, 2012
Greenfinch still regular visitors to my garden (central Rochdale) but not as numerous as once were.
Helen
Davidcaron62 said
Fri Feb 10 3:28 AM, 2012
Have seen a number of Greenfinch in Higher Boarshaw recently, both in my garden and the general area. Not great numbers but enough to be recognisable.
Regards
Dave
Karen Clewer said
Wed Feb 8 12:08 PM, 2012
Yes, also not seen any Greenfinch recently. Used to see a pair in my garden (central Rochdale) regularly but must be at least 2 years since.
-- Edited by Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 12:09:32 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 8 3:56 AM, 2012
originally posted by Alan Nuttall at 1:15 today:
Not a lot of open water on the lake in the last couple of days but nice to see a spanking male Pintail on the small ice locked pool at the back of the lake. Is it me but as anybody noticed that Greenfinch are very scarce at the moment, least around Rochdale? Cheers Alan
Karen Clewer said
Tue Feb 7 12:56 PM, 2012
Pintail spotted today near the promontory (walkway along lake with blue railings).
-- Edited by Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 12:05:23 PM
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Feb 3 5:55 AM, 2012
Couldn't see any sign of the Slav today in a visit from approx 12:00 - 1:40
1 Great-crested Grebe 55 Cormorant 42 Goosander ( and also a dead drake floating on the water by the ice in Queen's Bay) pair Wigeon - flew off south-west at 1:30 17 Teal 54 Mallard female Goldeneye 1 Coot - almost as rare as Slav Grebe here 3 ist winter Great black-backed Gulls 2 ad LBB Gulls 1 Grey Wagtail feeding on edge of small pool at Rakewood
Not sure where all these Cormorant and Goosander have suddenly come from - is this a county wide influx or just here?
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Feb 3 5:06 AM, 2012
No apparent sign of the Slavonian Grebe today.
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Deon Meadowcroft said
Fri Feb 3 2:23 AM, 2012
great day at the lake today in search of the elusive slavonian grebe lots of goosander and cormorant various gulls saw what i thought was the slav but on closer inspection and a blurry photo turned out to be a goldeneye two more icy laps of the lake still no sighn spent a couple of hours by the feeders behind the visitors centre chaffinch,greefinch,goldfinch,bullfinch,robin ,dunnock,songthrush,blackbird,blue,great,coal and longtailed tits and two marvelous displays from a sparrowhawk one succesfully taking a longtailed tit from the birdtable got chatting to a few likeminded birders about an hour later (great to meet you both ) and it came back for another go not quite as lucky the second time though . heading back up to the lake about 3pm thought i will have one last walk round got to the sea cadet hut and spotted what i thought to be a juv great crested grebe walked on a bit and met up with dave oddy who was watching the same bird after doing a bit of research back home am happy that it was the slavonian grebe exact same plumage as the rspb picture in the visitors centre
Rob Willis said
Fri Feb 3 1:32 AM, 2012
Back at the lake today, plenty of Goosanders and Cormorants about, no sign of the Slavonian Grebe.
Lots of small bird (mostly Long Tails, Great and Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Goldfinch etc) activity around the feeders at the Visitor Centre, where I met Deon Meadowcroft for the first time. Deon informed me that a Sparrowhawk had not long since grabbed a Long Tailed Tit. We had a bit of a chat whilst watching the feeders/birds and the Sparrowhawk came back for seconds, but this time unsuccessfully.
It was a pleasure to meet Deon, having read his posts on here.
Rob Willis said
Wed Feb 1 11:43 PM, 2012
I reckon I got a sighting of the Slavonian Grebe this afternoon, just off Rakewood road side of the lake, not far down from the roadway into the Visitor Centre. As I'm not that experienced/skilled a birder, I asked another birder (didn't get his name, and I don't know if he comes on this site) his opinion and he also reckoned it to be a Slavonian Grebe.
I'd been talking to this other guy earlier, and he seemed pretty clued up on waterbirds generally (which I admit I'm not particularly) and spoke quite knowedgably about the Lake and it's denizens.
Perhaps it's been changing between venues?
Keith Mills said
Wed Feb 1 11:24 PM, 2012
12.00 -1.30 pm today: Missed the previous 2 posts while traveling, but can confirm that there is no sign of the Slav. Grebe. I made it c50 Cormorant , c35 Goosander and 3 GC Grebes.
Mark Rigby said
Wed Feb 1 8:53 PM, 2012
Not surprised that the Slav has moved on given the amount of grief the Gulls were giving it last night!
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 1 7:11 PM, 2012
No sign of the Slavonian Grebe today.
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Feb 1 6:47 AM, 2012
As well as the Slav this morning there were an unprecedented 51 Cormorants on the lake - by far the highest ever count at the site and 22 Goosander - Alan Nuttall later counted 79 Goosander - another monster count though not quite a site record. I found the grebe on a brief pit-stop on my way to work and was inevitably late, and then snowed under for the rest of the day, so I apologise for not posting on here earlier.
Cheers, Simon
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 1 1:12 AM, 2012
Slavonian Grebe present today, in the south west bay (Queens Bay?) by the Naval Cadets Centre.
Info thanks to Mark Rigby and Simon Hitchen
Davidcaron62 said
Sun Jan 29 11:05 PM, 2012
29th January 2011
AM. A very cold morning walk today.
Beside the usual Mallard, Black-headed Gulls, and Canada Geese there were 25+ Cormorants and about six pair of Goosander.
Also noticed two pair of crow in the reeeded area behind the closed down cadet centre appearing to be attacking each other. Very noisy and appeared very vicious. Could they have been mating?
Regards
Dave
Charles Farrell said
Sun Jan 29 3:12 PM, 2012
Sun 29th Jan 12:30-13:30 ish Quick walk round the lake. water level v low, due to works.
9 Goosander (5m, 4 redheads) Pied Wagtail c50 Cormorant out on the lake. c100 Lapwing flying over surrounding fields 200+ Canada Geese 400+ Black-headed Gulls Great, Blue, Long-tailed and Coal Tit on Feeders A few Greenfinch and Chaffinch
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Sunday 29th of January 2012 07:55:23 PM
Davidcaron62 said
Sun Jan 8 11:55 AM, 2012
A pleasant walk around the lake this morning. Not many people about.
The usual collection of
Mallard Mute Swan Canada Geese Black-headed Gulls (One of which had a well defined hood for the time of year) Pied Wagtail Tits Wood Pigeons (Some of the fatest I have ever seen) Blackbird Jay Jackdaw Carrion Crow Grey Heron
Nothing much else to note today.
Regards
Dave
-- Edited by Davidcaron62 on Sunday 8th of January 2012 12:14:23 PM
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Dec 20 9:38 PM, 2011
A Water Rail showed very well at the nature reserve this morning.
Also a drake Goldeneye, 32 Goosander, 17 Cormorant and 2 Lapwing.
Davidcaron62 said
Sun Nov 20 6:48 PM, 2011
20th November 2011
AM dull and overcast again
Usual collection of gulls, geese, mallards.
Plus a few Lapwing and 4 Cormorant on the mud flats. There was also a Cormorant giving an excellent diving display near the disused sailing club and a few Teal on the lake behind the hide (Six or seven).
Spotted female Sparrowhawk close to the woods on the hill behind the disused sailing club. It was sat on a wire being harassed by a couple of Jays until some passing Mistle Thrush caught its eye. Got to watch it for a good few minutes and took some pics so am confident with the ID .
Regards
Dave
Rob Willis said
Thu Nov 17 3:52 PM, 2011
A walk in the wider environs of the lake (rather than by the lake itself) yielded a covey of Grey Partridge, a few Redwings (but not in big numbers yet) and a Kestrel, plus the usual tits etc.
All were seen from the footpath across the fields between the golf course and Blackstone Old Road.
A great view of a big dog fox too, as I crested a rise with the wind blowing towards me I could see him (only 20 yards away) but he didn't detect me for a while, then he was off (probably got his eye on those Partridge!).
Simon Hitchen said
Mon Nov 14 9:39 PM, 2011
Pair Gadwall this morning - first of the year here and continuing the local Gadwall-fest
Egyptian Goose still around though it is wandering about with the Canada flock
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Oct 20 11:00 PM, 2011
Adult Whooper Swan this morning - disappeared late morning and sounds like may have ended up at Watergrove 4 Mute Swan 12 Teal 1 Raven flew SE - still a rare bird here 2 Bramblings over SW 1 Lesser Redpoll over NW 2 Siskin over
Davidcaron62 said
Sun Oct 16 7:38 PM, 2011
16th October 2011
AM Very dull and overcast
Usual collection of gulls, geese, mallards
Plus a flock of Lapwing and 2 Cormorant on the mud flats.
Also 2 Pheasant (Male and female) in the reeded area behind the disused sailing club.
Regards
Dave
Rob Willis said
Sat Oct 15 8:31 PM, 2011
Seen on Thursday 13th but unable to report until now due to computer problems: largish flock of Fieldfare in big hedge area, came over and landed in the big tree (at front of big hedge0 before moving on. Not 100% sure but I got the impression that there were also some Redwings amongst them. Also Treecreeper, Blackcap and the usual Long Tails/Blue/Great Tits.
Today: Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Jays and Goldcrests.
-- Edited by Rob Willis on Saturday 15th of October 2011 08:32:29 PM
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Oct 13 10:53 PM, 2011
Pretty quiet :-
1 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 6 Teal, 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Skylark over, 2 Redwings (first of autumn), Fieldfare heard flying over (also first of autumn), 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Jays, 4 Bullfinch.
The Egyptian Goose has decamped to the canal at Littleborough Station
Simon Hitchen said
Mon Oct 10 11:29 PM, 2011
A single adult Whooper Swan flew west about 0830 but did not land - I think this is the earliest one I've ever had here in autumn.
The Egyptian Goose is still here and looks to be thriving on its diet of chips and bread. Also 7 Teal, 1 Chiffchaff and at nearby Clegg Hall Pools there were 15 Tufted Ducks and a lone Swallow sitting on the wires and looking miserable.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Oct 6 10:52 PM, 2011
I thought you took it remarkably well, Simon. I know how I will feel when someone finds something so rare on my patch.
Your post below was one of the best I've ever read on this forum
"3 Whooper Swans 8 Waxwings - I was alerted by one calling to at least 8 birds flycatching from some tall trees near the Beach Hotel at the bottom of Lakeside/Milbury Drive 2 Pochards 7 Cormorants
Carefully ruled out Trumpeter Swan, Cedar Waxwing, Canvasback and Double-crested Cormorant - wonder if I'm getting paranoid!"
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Oct 6 10:34 PM, 2011
Steve Suttill wrote:
I note from the latest issue of British Birds (Rare Birds in GB 2010) that the Pied-billed Grebe was:
"a just reward for patch workers who persevere at sites like Hollingworth Lake"
Steve
Yes thanks for that Steve - the irony wasn't lost on me - nice picture of the grebe though
Ian Campbell said
Wed Oct 5 9:04 PM, 2011
Last 4 post's just
Mark Rigby said
Wed Oct 5 7:34 PM, 2011
Will you all stop talking rubbish! It's the "clip clop" of our clogs which flushes the birds before we get near them!
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Wednesday 5th of October 2011 07:35:45 PM
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Wednesday 5th of October 2011 09:17:19 PM
Tony Darby said
Wed Oct 5 7:10 PM, 2011
Iv'e always had a problem with my flat-cap falling down over my bins
Steve Suttill said
Wed Oct 5 5:49 PM, 2011
Well, I think the reason I never find any rarities is because my whippets scare them off
Steve
dave broome said
Wed Oct 5 5:24 PM, 2011
Steve Suttill wrote:
I note from the latest issue of British Birds (Rare Birds in GB 2010) that the Pied-billed Grebe was:
"a just reward for patch workers who persevere at sites like Hollingworth Lake"
Steve
It also says that Greater Manchester is a "rarity-starved county", why didn't they just go all the way and say 'I bet the cloth-cap wearing hordes soon gathered like a bunch of matchstick men from a Lowry painting'?
Ian Woosey said
Wed Oct 5 4:35 PM, 2011
James,
Hollingworth Lake is in Rochdale. Check out this map of "major birding haunts" in GM:
just asking. were abouts is this is it close to leigh:]
thanks james.
Steve Suttill said
Wed Oct 5 9:27 AM, 2011
I note from the latest issue of British Birds (Rare Birds in GB 2010) that the Pied-billed Grebe was:
"a just reward for patch workers who persevere at sites like Hollingworth Lake"
Steve
Rob Willis said
Thu Sep 29 10:02 PM, 2011
Spent 3 hours or so in the wider environs of the Lake (rather than the Lake itself) this p.m. and got a good view (two views actually, as I saw it again on my exit from the area) of a Green Woodpecker on the outskirts of the Big Hedge area. Also loads of Long Tailed Tits (I seem to be seeing more of these that just about anything else at the moment) in the same area along with Blue and Great Tits. 3 Jays also.
Continued my walk up to the Pennine Bridleway and saw a Stonechat, came down to Whitacker hamlet and saw Goldcrests in the conifers by the golf course. Then continued down through Whitacker Wood but only saw more Great Tits and Chaffinch.
Carried on down past the old cottage that's in the process of being renovated and saw 25 Lapwing circling and watched them land in the fields between Whitacker and Ealees. Theny got a view of a Treecreeper in the wood below the Lake Visitor Centre.
A good walk in terrific weather and some nice (albeit nothing out of the ordinary) birds, so it was a very enjoyable afternoon.
Steve Atkins said
Wed Sep 28 7:48 PM, 2011
Simon Hitchen wrote:
1 Egyptian Goose - and I can report that it can fly as well as eat bread so I'm sure Steve Atkins will be eagerly anticipating it going for an away day to Watergrove sometime soon
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Sunday 25th of September 2011 10:11:20 PM
I must admit that there are other birds which I've wished had gone for an away day at Watergrove such as the Great Northern Divers and the Pied-billed Grebe. Have not been able to muster the enthusiasm so far to make a specila trip to the Lake for a plastic tick.
Just wondering about ticking the Manx Shearwater found below the Pennine Way 2 weeks ago. You know I could have sworn it twitched the following morning, that's after it defrosted of course.
Steve
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Sep 25 10:10 PM, 2011
Similar to Steve's sightings but also :-
1 Egyptian Goose - and I can report that it can fly as well as eat bread so I'm sure Steve Atkins will be eagerly anticipating it going for an away day to Watergrove sometime soon
6 Cormorant 1 drake eclipse Wigeon 12 Lapwing 1 Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground above Big Hedge 2 Chiffchaff 1 Goldcrest 1 Siskin flew SE
Also a Buzzard was a new garden tick as it flew over Littleborough heading NW towards Watergrove - still a relatively scarce bird in these outer reaches of GM
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Sunday 25th of September 2011 10:11:20 PM
steven burke said
Sun Sep 25 8:46 PM, 2011
11-4pm 36 species seen.
1 great crested grebe 8 teal 1 egyptian goose (in with the canadas) 9 pied wagtails lots off b h gulls 4 common gulls 1 l b b gull 3 cormorants 4 meadow pipits 1 grey heron 2 sparrowhawks 1 kestrel 1 great spotted woodpecker few swallows about + all the usuals around
30 Teal ( 22 Shaw Moss, 8 nature reserve)
4 Goosander
5 Oystercatchers
6 Skylarks over east
1 Goldcrest
2 Siskin
That whiteboard is very hard to clean but I'll give it a scrub when I'm next in on Saturday.
Will also have a word with the powers that be but I think it'd be great to utilise the board more. You could draw a Whooper Robin for me. I do try to get people to add their sightings to the wildlife diary.
Thanks again.
7 Cormorant, 5 Mute Swan, 4 Goosander, 14 Teal, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew over, 1 singing Skylark, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Siskin and a Woodpigeon sitting on a nest. No Whooper Robins today though Sid!
The drake Pintail is still at Shaw Moss (info via Alan Nuttall)
Karen, I would be more than happy for you to write any sightings in the wildlife diary. In fact maybe you could have recent wildlife sightings written on the whiteboard in the visitor centre - I would be happy to update it if you thought it was a good idea.
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Tuesday 28th of February 2012 09:13:27 PM
Would it be ok to include your sightings in Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centres Wildlife Diary?
Next time you're nearby, say hello!
Thanks
Karen Clewer
Didn't notice the Whooper Robin - thanks for the info - will have a look tomorrow.
4 Wigeon
16 Goosander
quite a few large gulls loafing on the ice which is unusual this winter here - 12 Great black backs, 23 Herring and 7 Lesser black backs but no white wingers
Helen
Regards
Dave
-- Edited by Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 12:09:32 PM
Not a lot of open water on the lake in the last couple of days but nice to see a spanking male Pintail on the small ice locked pool at the back of the lake.
Is it me but as anybody noticed that Greenfinch are very scarce at the moment, least around Rochdale? Cheers Alan
-- Edited by Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 12:05:23 PM
1 Great-crested Grebe
55 Cormorant
42 Goosander ( and also a dead drake floating on the water by the ice in Queen's Bay)
pair Wigeon - flew off south-west at 1:30
17 Teal
54 Mallard
female Goldeneye
1 Coot - almost as rare as Slav Grebe here
3 ist winter Great black-backed Gulls
2 ad LBB Gulls
1 Grey Wagtail feeding on edge of small pool at Rakewood
Not sure where all these Cormorant and Goosander have suddenly come from - is this a county wide influx or just here?
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Lots of small bird (mostly Long Tails, Great and Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Goldfinch etc) activity around the feeders at the Visitor Centre, where I met Deon Meadowcroft for the first time. Deon informed me that a Sparrowhawk had not long since grabbed a Long Tailed Tit. We had a bit of a chat whilst watching the feeders/birds and the Sparrowhawk came back for seconds, but this time unsuccessfully.
It was a pleasure to meet Deon, having read his posts on here.
I'd been talking to this other guy earlier, and he seemed pretty clued up on waterbirds generally (which I admit I'm not particularly) and spoke quite knowedgably about the Lake and it's denizens.
Perhaps it's been changing between venues?
Missed the previous 2 posts while traveling, but can confirm that there is no sign of the Slav. Grebe.
I made it c50 Cormorant , c35 Goosander and 3 GC Grebes.
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Cheers, Simon
Info thanks to Mark Rigby and Simon Hitchen
AM. A very cold morning walk today.
Beside the usual Mallard, Black-headed Gulls, and Canada Geese there were 25+ Cormorants and about six pair of Goosander.
Also noticed two pair of crow in the reeeded area behind the closed down cadet centre appearing to be attacking each other. Very noisy and appeared very vicious. Could they have been mating?
Regards
Dave
Quick walk round the lake. water level v low, due to works.
9 Goosander (5m, 4 redheads)
Pied Wagtail
c50 Cormorant out on the lake.
c100 Lapwing flying over surrounding fields
200+ Canada Geese
400+ Black-headed Gulls
Great, Blue, Long-tailed and Coal Tit on Feeders
A few Greenfinch and Chaffinch
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Sunday 29th of January 2012 07:55:23 PM
The usual collection of
Mallard
Mute Swan
Canada Geese
Black-headed Gulls (One of which had a well defined hood for the time of year)
Pied Wagtail
Tits
Wood Pigeons (Some of the fatest I have ever seen)
Blackbird
Jay
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Grey Heron
Nothing much else to note today.
Regards
Dave
-- Edited by Davidcaron62 on Sunday 8th of January 2012 12:14:23 PM
Also a drake Goldeneye, 32 Goosander, 17 Cormorant and 2 Lapwing.
AM dull and overcast again
Usual collection of gulls, geese, mallards.
Plus a few Lapwing and 4 Cormorant on the mud flats. There was also a Cormorant giving an excellent diving display near the disused sailing club and a few Teal on the lake behind the hide (Six or seven).
Spotted female Sparrowhawk close to the woods on the hill behind the disused sailing club. It was sat on a wire being harassed by a couple of Jays until some passing Mistle Thrush caught its eye. Got to watch it for a good few minutes and took some pics so am confident with the ID .
Regards
Dave
All were seen from the footpath across the fields between the golf course and Blackstone Old Road.
A great view of a big dog fox too, as I crested a rise with the wind blowing towards me I could see him (only 20 yards away) but he didn't detect me for a while, then he was off (probably got his eye on those Partridge!).
Egyptian Goose still around though it is wandering about with the Canada flock
4 Mute Swan
12 Teal
1 Raven flew SE - still a rare bird here
2 Bramblings over SW
1 Lesser Redpoll over NW
2 Siskin over
AM Very dull and overcast
Usual collection of gulls, geese, mallards
Plus a flock of Lapwing and 2 Cormorant on the mud flats.
Also 2 Pheasant (Male and female) in the reeded area behind the disused sailing club.
Regards
Dave
Today: Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Jays and Goldcrests.
-- Edited by Rob Willis on Saturday 15th of October 2011 08:32:29 PM
1 Great-crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 6 Teal, 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Skylark over, 2 Redwings (first of autumn), Fieldfare heard flying over (also first of autumn), 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Jays, 4 Bullfinch.
The Egyptian Goose has decamped to the canal at Littleborough Station
The Egyptian Goose is still here and looks to be thriving on its diet of chips and bread. Also 7 Teal, 1 Chiffchaff and at nearby Clegg Hall Pools there were 15 Tufted Ducks and a lone Swallow sitting on the wires and looking miserable.
I know how I will feel when someone finds something so rare on my patch.
Your post below was one of the best I've ever read on this forum
"3 Whooper Swans
8 Waxwings - I was alerted by one calling to at least 8 birds flycatching from some tall trees near the Beach Hotel at the bottom of Lakeside/Milbury Drive
2 Pochards
7 Cormorants
Carefully ruled out Trumpeter Swan, Cedar Waxwing, Canvasback and Double-crested Cormorant - wonder if I'm getting paranoid!"
Yes thanks for that Steve - the irony wasn't lost on me - nice picture of the grebe though
Last 4 post's just
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Wednesday 5th of October 2011 07:35:45 PM
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Wednesday 5th of October 2011 09:17:19 PM
Iv'e always had a problem with my flat-cap falling down over my bins
Steve
It also says that Greater Manchester is a "rarity-starved county", why didn't they just go all the way and say 'I bet the cloth-cap wearing hordes soon gathered like a bunch of matchstick men from a Lowry painting'?
Hollingworth Lake is in Rochdale. Check out this map of "major birding haunts" in GM:
http://www.manchesterbirding.com/images/GMC%20sitemap.gif
thanks james.
"a just reward for patch workers who persevere at sites like Hollingworth Lake"
Steve
Continued my walk up to the Pennine Bridleway and saw a Stonechat, came down to Whitacker hamlet and saw Goldcrests in the conifers by the golf course. Then continued down through Whitacker Wood but only saw more Great Tits and Chaffinch.
Carried on down past the old cottage that's in the process of being renovated and saw 25 Lapwing circling and watched them land in the fields between Whitacker and Ealees. Theny got a view of a Treecreeper in the wood below the Lake Visitor Centre.
A good walk in terrific weather and some nice (albeit nothing out of the ordinary) birds, so it was a very enjoyable afternoon.
I must admit that there are other birds which I've wished had gone for an away day at Watergrove such as the Great Northern Divers and the Pied-billed Grebe. Have not been able to muster the enthusiasm so far to make a specila trip to the Lake for a plastic tick.
Just wondering about ticking the Manx Shearwater found below the Pennine Way 2 weeks ago. You know I could have sworn it twitched the following morning, that's after it defrosted of course.
Steve
1 Egyptian Goose - and I can report that it can fly as well as eat bread so I'm sure Steve Atkins will be eagerly anticipating it going for an away day to Watergrove sometime soon
6 Cormorant
1 drake eclipse Wigeon
12 Lapwing
1 Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground above Big Hedge
2 Chiffchaff
1 Goldcrest
1 Siskin flew SE
Also a Buzzard was a new garden tick as it flew over Littleborough heading NW towards Watergrove - still a relatively scarce bird in these outer reaches of GM
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Sunday 25th of September 2011 10:11:20 PM
1 great crested grebe
8 teal
1 egyptian goose (in with the canadas)
9 pied wagtails
lots off b h gulls
4 common gulls
1 l b b gull
3 cormorants
4 meadow pipits
1 grey heron
2 sparrowhawks
1 kestrel
1 great spotted woodpecker
few swallows about
+ all the usuals around