Simon we are not worthy Paul, just love the avatar, thinking about starting a thread about avatars, now emoticoners have been locked Cheers Ian
that avatar is just rubing it in i was there the day after straight from work and missed it
Ian Campbell said
Sun Mar 22 9:28 PM, 2009
Simon we are not worthy Paul, just love the avatar, thinking about starting a thread about avatars, now emoticoners have been locked Cheers Ian
Simon Warford said
Sun Mar 22 1:47 PM, 2009
It would seem you lot missed the 2 Little Ringed Plovers present by the Creek mid morning(wink). No sign of the Bittern again.
Ian Boote said
Sun Mar 22 12:14 PM, 2009
South of the res were 3 Heron, East of Crow tree farm 16 Lapwing and 2 Oyster Catchers poss one raven Withins Res 4 GC Grebe In front of Withins Dam 3 Sky lark On Canal 3 Reed Bunting , few Chaffinch and a few Long Tailed Tits In front of Car park A large number of young people with large speakers starting to have a good time.
Ian Campbell said
Sun Mar 22 11:51 AM, 2009
To add to Jim's list from this a.m. were 30+ Sand Martin over the res and 2 Little Owl. Cheers Ian
Jim Nisbet said
Sun Mar 22 10:26 AM, 2009
Early morning Sunday 22nd March.0630 hrs. Most things in two's 2 x Ravens (being mobbed by crows) 1x Fieldfare 1x Redwing (In the pony filed near the creek) 2x Oyster catchers 2x Cormerant 2x Bullfinch male and female 2x little grebe 1x male wheatear (on wall farm end) at least three Chiffchaff near to sailing club Only saw Mallards today and Canada geeseon the reservoir, worthy of note was a single brown hare in the lapwing field.
Paul Wilson said
Sat Mar 21 2:47 PM, 2009
No sign of Bittern this morning - no sign of birders either! Well, not many!
Nice male Wheatear near Old Hall Farm and 20+ Meadow Pipits. 20+ Sand Martins and 2 Redshank also. Not much else on a misty morning.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 21st of March 2009 05:22:22 PM
nigel siddall said
Fri Mar 20 6:38 PM, 2009
i was around at dawn got out of work early but nothing
Paul Wilson said
Fri Mar 20 3:00 PM, 2009
Still no sign of Bittern up to 3pm.
One Redshank on res, plus a nice male Wheatear on and off the wall for most of the day. One Chiffchaff heard near top of Dip mid-morning.
Simon Johnson said
Fri Mar 20 1:16 PM, 2009
No sign of the Bittern out in the open this morning, pair of Little Grebe on pool and Raven and 4 oyc's flew over
Steve Collins said
Thu Mar 19 9:21 PM, 2009
Thanks to everyone with their scopes when I sneaked on about 2.00pm- only had my old bins in the car boot. Felt sorry for the kingfisher dazzling with a display of how to deal with lunch on the dead tree in the middle of the pond and only getting a supporting role to the main star" Steve
Simon Warford said
Thu Mar 19 9:07 PM, 2009
Dont worry, it's probably the bird that's already been at Pennington this year!
ouch
The finder was Brian Fogg, who also found the Great White Egret, lets hope he makes it a hat trick with the 3rd county cattle egret. He also had 4 Wheatears near the pumphouse this am but we couldnt find any this evening, just 7 sand martins on and the Bittern didnt show again after 4.15pm.
nigel siddall said
Thu Mar 19 9:03 PM, 2009
im at work now but i finnish at 6AM so going to get home pick up my scope and bins and head straight down there
Adrian Dancy said
Thu Mar 19 9:01 PM, 2009
If anyone sees the bird tomorrow , will you ask it to stay over at least until Saturday.
Cheers
Edit : at least two kingfishers on the pond this evening.
-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Thursday 19th of March 2009 09:38:17 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 19 8:22 PM, 2009
Paul Wilson wrote:
don't want it buggering off to Pennington!
Dont worry, it's probably the bird that's already been at Pennington this year!
Paul Heaton said
Thu Mar 19 8:13 PM, 2009
2 ravens flew over the main water today, just as I was getting out of the white van.
Excellent views well worth the visit, it was nice to stroll to a bird instead of running like a madman.
where was it last year warfy?
Well done to the man who found it.
Keep birding
nigel siddall said
Thu Mar 19 7:57 PM, 2009
Paul Wilson wrote:
Park at Bennies, then walk up the road from Bennies car park until you get to the sailing club boat house. On the left there is a house (they sell bird baths and other garden ornaments). Just past here. on the same side, is a small style. Hop over this into the field and make your way to the edge, looking down onto the small pool at the bottom of the hill.
Please don't go further down the hill, to avoid flushing the bird. We'd like it to stay a while - don't want it buggering off to Pennington!
thanks paul that is wat i want to avoid thanks for the info
nigel
Paul Wilson said
Thu Mar 19 7:47 PM, 2009
Park at Bennies, then walk up the road from Bennies car park until you get to the sailing club boat house. On the left there is a house (they sell bird baths and other garden ornaments). Just past here. on the same side, is a small style. Hop over this into the field and make your way to the edge, looking down onto the small pool at the bottom of the hill.
Please don't go further down the hill, to avoid flushing the bird. We'd like it to stay a while - don't want it buggering off to Pennington!
nigel siddall said
Thu Mar 19 7:27 PM, 2009
i live on bennys side of elton guys wat is the best way to approach the site from
Paul Wilson said
Thu Mar 19 6:54 PM, 2009
Simon Warford wrote:
probably the best bird you have photographed at Elton Paul.(not just any random emoticon)
Hmm, not sure about that. I think the Shag last year, might run it close. And I am still more proud of my Firecrest pics. Certainly up there though, and I was glad it showed so well early on.
Ian C. - glad you got to see it too.
Ian Campbell said
Thu Mar 19 5:19 PM, 2009
If anyones interested there are also 2 Ringed Plover at the res. itself 4.15pm but a big thank you to Mr Bittern for waiting around until I could get there after workFantastic to see such a bird at Elton. Cheers Ian
Simon Warford said
Thu Mar 19 4:53 PM, 2009
Dave, get for it over the weekend, its been heard booming at least twice in the last 2 weeks by 2 different people(one of whom thought he was hearing things and that no way could it have been a Bittern at Elton), so might hang around, probably the best bird you have photographed at Elton Paul.(not just any random emoticon)
The bird flew into the main reedbed at 4pm (5 mins before warfy senior and Simon Johnson got there)
Please only view from the top.
Dave Lowe said
Thu Mar 19 4:18 PM, 2009
it's painful enough to see one picture Ian, let alone the whole suite!!!!!!
Ian Boote said
Thu Mar 19 4:11 PM, 2009
The bird was still showing at 2pm as I darted up from work to take a long distant peek. Thanks to Pete for letting me use his bins and trying to point oit to me a well camoflauged bird.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 19 3:54 PM, 2009
Never mind Birdguides, the full suite of Bittern pics are now on the galleries of this website Birdguides indeed
Dave Lowe said
Thu Mar 19 3:29 PM, 2009
Paul, looked at your pics on birdguides and feel totally gripped!! When i watched Elton regularly i longed for a Bittern in just that spot.
Really good pics - thanks
Dave
Neil Collier said
Thu Mar 19 3:26 PM, 2009
Brilliant views around lunch time, many thanks to the birders there and particularly to the gentleman who let me view through his scope. This bird is a first in the UK for me.
Paul Wilson said
Thu Mar 19 3:15 PM, 2009
Bittern still showing at 1.30 when I left, although it had moved into a small bush near the front of the pond. Photos sent to Ian to put on the web, and three submitted to BirdGuides.
What a fantastic find!
Simon Warford said
Thu Mar 19 1:04 PM, 2009
BITTERN still showing well 12.30pm at least.
Biggest twitch at Elton for years, over 10 birders there.
View ONLY from the top of the Dip. Park in the main car park and access behind sailing club.
Good Photo's to follow from Paul who is still with the bird.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Thursday 19th of March 2009 01:06:45 PM
Simon Warford said
Thu Mar 19 10:34 AM, 2009
BITTERN still showing extremely well in small pond in the Dip 10.30am at least (1st ever Elton record)
(info thanks to Paul Wilson/John Raynor)
**Bird is extremely close to the path that runs down so it is vital it is only viewed from the top of the Dip**
Thanks very much.
Simon Warford said
Thu Mar 19 9:37 AM, 2009
BITTERN showing well 9.30am at least feeding in small pond in the Dip, possibly present 1 week (heard booming last week)!
Info from Paul Wilson.
View only from the path that runs down from the sailing club, or from the hedge at the top of the Dip.
Simon Warford said
Thu Mar 19 8:54 AM, 2009
Info from Peter Baron.
A BITTERN in the small reedbed in the Dip this morning!!!
View only from the path down or from the top hedge.
Ian Boote said
Wed Mar 18 4:11 PM, 2009
Walk from Bennies to the dip back along the southern dam down to Crow Tree Farm In Dip Great Tit Little Grebe Coot Morehen Greater Spotted Woodpecker Resovoir Usiual and flock of 16+ Lapwings that were scattered to fields below withins Res 2 Great Crested Grebes Several Tufted Duck Withins Res 2 Gt Crested Grebes Crow Tree Farm Area Two Jays Poss Heard Little Owl. Canal More Moorhen Coot Reedbunting Greenfinch Great Tit 3 Long Tailed Tits Mute Swan Robin Blackbird
Paul Wilson said
Wed Mar 18 10:56 AM, 2009
Very quiet morning on the res - quite foggy so couldn't make out much. In addition to usual stuff: 4 Read Bunting 20+ Lapwing (in fields) 2 GC Grebe 3 Snipe (flushed from Boggy Corner of field at top of res) 1 Goldeneye (f) 1 chiffchaff / willow warbler 1 Bullfinch
No sign of any Wheatears or Sand Martins.
Peter Johnson said
Tue Mar 17 6:16 PM, 2009
Female Wheatear on the wall at 17:00.
Paul Wilson said
Tue Mar 17 11:50 AM, 2009
Quiet morning on the res. In addition to usual stuff: 6+ Read Bunting 2 Little Grebe (in the Dip) 15+ Lapwing (in fields) 3 GC Grebes 1 Little Owl (Crow Tree farm) 1 Goldcrest (New Bridge) 4+ Skylarks (Withins) 1 Goosander (f) 1 Peregrine (over main car park)
Oh, forgot, 7+ Sand Martins
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Tuesday 17th of March 2009 11:51:51 AM
Paul Wilson said
Mon Mar 16 1:26 PM, 2009
Nice 4 hours spent wandering around this morning in good spring weather. Saw: 5 Grey Heron 8+ Read Bunting 2 Jay 2 Oystercatcher (Wader Point) 1 Little Grebe (in the Dip) 1 Kingfisher (in the Dip) 20+ Lapwing (in fields) 2 GC Grebes (1 on Withins 1 on main res) 2 Tufted Duck 2 Little Owls (Crow Tree farm - 1 seen, the other heard calling) 10+ Fieldfare (near New Bridge) 2 Goldcrests (New Bridge) 1 Curlew (flew around res then away) 3+ Skylarks (Withins) 6 Siskin (flew 10 feet above my head in main car park - I had just put my camera away - damn) 2 Goosander (1m, 1f)
43 species in total
Paul Wilson said
Sun Mar 15 10:37 PM, 2009
Simon Johnson wrote:
Green Plover ?? or was it Green Sand?
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 15th of March 2009 10:26:35 PM
Lapwing
Simon Johnson said
Sun Mar 15 10:19 PM, 2009
Green Plover ?? or was it Green Sand?
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 15th of March 2009 10:26:35 PM
Paul Wilson said
Sun Mar 15 9:24 PM, 2009
Mark Rigby wrote:
Plover ??????? Was that Golden, Ringed, Little Ringed or something more exotic-Greater Sand perhaps
Green
Mark Rigby said
Sun Mar 15 8:20 PM, 2009
Plover ??????? Was that Golden, Ringed, Little Ringed or something more exotic-Greater Sand perhaps
Ian Boote said
Sun Mar 15 1:56 PM, 2009
early morning shufti saw heron read bunting 6 jay moorhen dabchick dip plover song thrush water rail canal mute swan canal coot great crested grebe withins feral birds robin dunnock house sparrow tufted duck
Ian Campbell said
Sat Mar 14 2:33 PM, 2009
Thanks to Mike for putting Peter J and myself onto the Sand Martin this a.m. also had 1 Goosander and 2 flyover Curlew. Cheers Ian
Paul Wilson said
Sat Mar 14 10:51 AM, 2009
Similar to Mike, also had Skylarks displying and a Weasel in the creek (viewed upstream form stone bridge). Three pics of the Weasel added to the Wildlife forum website (on the mammals sightings thread).
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 14th of March 2009 02:15:02 PM
Mike Cooper said
Sat Mar 14 10:13 AM, 2009
Sat 14/3 06:30 - 09:20 Oyks 2 + 2 Curlew 1 Lapwings c. 20 Tufted MF Goleneye imm M Gadwall MF Bhd Gull c 40 C Gull 8 (4 imm) LBbGull 4 (2 ad) Cormorant 4 Sand Martin 1 (W end 08:20 ->) Kinfisher pair (stream in by Sailing club) Dip Dabchick 1 Jay Bullfinch MF 43 species in all - not bad for a windy morning in mid-March
Paul Wilson said
Fri Mar 13 11:56 AM, 2009
A calm, overcast day brought not a lot. 2 Goosander, 2 GC Grebes, 2 Oystercatchers (over the canal from Radcliffe), 4 Mistle Thrush, 70+ Lapwings in two flocks, 50+ Redwings in trees near Crow Tree farm, 1 Common Gull in amonst the 100 or so BH Gulls. Saw perhaps 20+ Wrens and 6 Reed Buntings also.
Ian Boote said
Thu Mar 12 3:14 PM, 2009
Seen today on a veryu windy res 2 Redshank 4 oyster cathcher Coot Greatr Crested Grebe 2 Reed Bunting Loads of mallards Jay Pied wagtail magpie Black headed gulls
Paul Wilson said
Sun Mar 8 2:00 PM, 2009
Not much on a choppy res this morning - just a few Goosander and Oystercatcher with 3 Goldeneye amongst the usual stuff. Paid a visit to the Dip where there was a Kestrel in the trees behind the hospital, 1 Kingfisher showing well and 2 Little Grebes on the pond.
Ian Campbell said
Sat Mar 7 12:51 PM, 2009
a.m.with Peter J, not much on the res. just 3 Goosander and 2 Oystercatcher with small number of Lapwing. Around the area 2 singing Skylark, 12 displaying Lapwing below Withins, 1 Little Owl in hedgerow near Crow Trees, 1 Kestrel and approx 12 Reed Bunting seen. Cheers Ian
Paul Wilson said
Fri Mar 6 2:22 PM, 2009
5 Goosanders, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Water Rail (in canal reedbed near Bennies). Not much else around so I went to spend a couple of hours with the Waxwings down at Gigg before the Rochdale fans frighten them all off tomorrow lunchtime.
that avatar is just rubing it in
i was there the day after straight from work and missed it
Paul, just love the avatar, thinking about starting a thread about avatars, now emoticoners have been locked
Cheers Ian
East of Crow tree farm 16 Lapwing and 2 Oyster Catchers poss one raven
Withins Res 4 GC Grebe
In front of Withins Dam 3 Sky lark
On Canal 3 Reed Bunting , few Chaffinch and a few Long Tailed Tits
In front of Car park A large number of young people with large speakers starting to have a good time.
Cheers Ian
2 x Ravens (being mobbed by crows)
1x Fieldfare
1x Redwing (In the pony filed near the creek)
2x Oyster catchers
2x Cormerant
2x Bullfinch male and female
2x little grebe
1x male wheatear (on wall farm end)
at least three Chiffchaff near to sailing club
Only saw Mallards today and Canada geeseon the reservoir, worthy of note was a single brown hare in the lapwing field.
Nice male Wheatear near Old Hall Farm and 20+ Meadow Pipits. 20+ Sand Martins and 2 Redshank also. Not much else on a misty morning.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 21st of March 2009 05:22:22 PM
One Redshank on res, plus a nice male Wheatear on and off the wall for most of the day. One Chiffchaff heard near top of Dip mid-morning.
Steve
Dont worry, it's probably the bird that's already been at Pennington this year!
ouch
The finder was Brian Fogg, who also found the Great White Egret, lets hope he makes it a hat trick with the 3rd county cattle egret. He also had 4 Wheatears near the pumphouse this am but we couldnt find any this evening, just 7 sand martins on and the Bittern didnt show again after 4.15pm.
Cheers
Edit : at least two kingfishers on the pond this evening.
-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Thursday 19th of March 2009 09:38:17 PM
Dont worry, it's probably the bird that's already been at Pennington this year!
Excellent views well worth the visit, it was nice to stroll to a bird instead of running like a madman.
where was it last year warfy?
Well done to the man who found it.
Keep birding
thanks paul that is wat i want to avoid thanks for the info
nigel
Please don't go further down the hill, to avoid flushing the bird. We'd like it to stay a while - don't want it buggering off to Pennington!
Hmm, not sure about that. I think the Shag last year, might run it close. And I am still more proud of my Firecrest pics. Certainly up there though, and I was glad it showed so well early on.
Ian C. - glad you got to see it too.
Cheers Ian
The bird flew into the main reedbed at 4pm (5 mins before warfy senior and Simon Johnson got there)
Please only view from the top.
looked at your pics on birdguides and feel totally gripped!! When i watched Elton regularly i longed for a Bittern in just that spot.
Really good pics - thanks
Dave
What a fantastic find!
Biggest twitch at Elton for years, over 10 birders there.
View ONLY from the top of the Dip. Park in the main car park and access behind sailing club.
Good Photo's to follow from Paul who is still with the bird.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Thursday 19th of March 2009 01:06:45 PM
(info thanks to Paul Wilson/John Raynor)
**Bird is extremely close to the path that runs down so it is vital it is only viewed from the top of the Dip**
Thanks very much.
Info from Paul Wilson.
View only from the path that runs down from the sailing club, or from the hedge at the top of the Dip.
A BITTERN in the small reedbed in the Dip this morning!!!
View only from the path down or from the top hedge.
In Dip
Great Tit
Little Grebe
Coot
Morehen
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Resovoir
Usiual and flock of 16+ Lapwings that were scattered to fields below withins Res
2 Great Crested Grebes
Several Tufted Duck
Withins Res 2 Gt Crested Grebes
Crow Tree Farm Area
Two Jays
Poss Heard Little Owl.
Canal
More Moorhen Coot
Reedbunting
Greenfinch
Great Tit
3 Long Tailed Tits
Mute Swan
Robin
Blackbird
In addition to usual stuff:
4 Read Bunting
20+ Lapwing (in fields)
2 GC Grebe
3 Snipe (flushed from Boggy Corner of field at top of res)
1 Goldeneye (f)
1 chiffchaff / willow warbler
1 Bullfinch
No sign of any Wheatears or Sand Martins.
In addition to usual stuff:
6+ Read Bunting
2 Little Grebe (in the Dip)
15+ Lapwing (in fields)
3 GC Grebes
1 Little Owl (Crow Tree farm)
1 Goldcrest (New Bridge)
4+ Skylarks (Withins)
1 Goosander (f)
1 Peregrine (over main car park)
Oh, forgot, 7+ Sand Martins
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Tuesday 17th of March 2009 11:51:51 AM
5 Grey Heron
8+ Read Bunting
2 Jay
2 Oystercatcher (Wader Point)
1 Little Grebe (in the Dip)
1 Kingfisher (in the Dip)
20+ Lapwing (in fields)
2 GC Grebes (1 on Withins 1 on main res)
2 Tufted Duck
2 Little Owls (Crow Tree farm - 1 seen, the other heard calling)
10+ Fieldfare (near New Bridge)
2 Goldcrests (New Bridge)
1 Curlew (flew around res then away)
3+ Skylarks (Withins)
6 Siskin (flew 10 feet above my head in main car park - I had just put my camera away - damn)
2 Goosander (1m, 1f)
43 species in total
Lapwing
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 15th of March 2009 10:26:35 PM
Green
heron
read bunting 6
jay
moorhen
dabchick dip
plover
song thrush
water rail canal
mute swan canal
coot
great crested grebe withins
feral birds
robin
dunnock
house sparrow
tufted duck
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 14th of March 2009 02:15:02 PM
Oyks 2 + 2
Curlew 1
Lapwings c. 20
Tufted MF
Goleneye imm M
Gadwall MF
Bhd Gull c 40
C Gull 8 (4 imm)
LBbGull 4 (2 ad)
Cormorant 4
Sand Martin 1 (W end 08:20 ->)
Kinfisher pair (stream in by Sailing club)
Dip
Dabchick 1
Jay
Bullfinch MF
43 species in all - not bad for a windy morning in mid-March
2 Redshank
4 oyster cathcher
Coot
Greatr Crested Grebe
2 Reed Bunting
Loads of mallards
Jay
Pied wagtail
magpie
Black headed gulls
Cheers Ian