Sunday 6 November

a brief amble alongside the reservoir

- single female common scoter
- single female goosander
- a few meadow pipits and pied wagtail
- kestrel
- dozens of black headed gulls with the odd immature herring gull

A brief walk on the moors next to the reservoir produced a brief Short-eared Owl, heading towards Knowl Hill.

Few bits of fungi - in the wildlife section

Dave

Walked over for first light.. Saw the following of note,
1 Dunlin
2 Teal
76 Goosander
4 Redwing
2 Kestrel

Rob Archer

Fri 7/10 12:30 - 13:40 - very strong blustery NW winds

Goosander 2 F (sheltering on leeward side of spit)

Mipit 7

Skylark 1 h ---> S

C Crow 2

Stonechat MF (on N side between house & barn conversion) + 1+ imm (very downy!!! 2nd or 3rd brood?)

Single Golden Plover and 28 Pink Footed Geese on the Res first thing this morning..

Rob Archer

Walked over first light..Wet and windy;
3 Grey Partridge
3 Raven
juv Peregrine
1 Wheatear
1 juv Dunlin
2 Kestrel
2 Skylark

Rob Archer

Walked over first light. Saw the following;
Peregrine.
3 Kestrel
9 Skylark over SW
1 Wheatear
1 Golden Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Snipe

Rob Archer

Popped up here early pm 1 - 3 pm in the hope of Short-eared Owl. Not to be.

On the Res:
Goosander 6
GS Woodpecker flew over

Around and up Knowles Moor to the wind turbines 50+ Mipits

Anyone wishing to find rare birds on the moors give me a bell first to make sure I'm not going to be there to spoil it for you!

Walked over last light.. Short Eared Owl and 64 Goosander at the Res..

Rob Archer

Grey Phalarope seen briefly at 1115hrs in flight from north shore and flew strongly north over the reservoir and lost to view. Could have landed towards the northern end near Owd Betts but unable to relocate. Wind is very strong so may be sheltering in the rocks.

Certainly not the Pennington bird Steve as that individual appears still to be present!

Well done Rob for finding this bird and making a number of Rochdale birders very happy.

When I arrived at approx. 13:00 hrs the bird wasn't showing. However, Alan Nuttall, Brian Fielding, Ian Peters and I walked round to the dam in the north west corner and saw the bird crouching between the rocks. We watched it for about 45 mins. An adult in winter plumage, it occasionally took flight and was just hanging in the air, such was the strength of the wind!

Possibly the Pennington bird? Maybe the photos will help us.

To put this record into context, according to Peter Hill's book, The Status of Birds in Rochdale 1900-1977, the last Grey Phalarope seen in Rochdale was shot at Milnrow on 26th Sept 1899.

Steve

Still present in the concrete channel on the north corner of the res.
The bird looks tired and is getting blown around by the wind.
I will post a photo later.
Pete



-- Edited by Pete Stevens on Monday 12th of September 2011 07:41:03 PM

Grey Phalarope still present at 3:45 today.

Info thanks to Steve Collins

Grey Phalarope still present at 2pm. Apparently best viewed from the north side of the reservoir looking back towards Owd Bets pub.

Info thanks to Brian Fielding.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 16th of September 2011 08:00:46 PM

Grey Phalarope still present when I left the Res at 1245.. Mainly sheltering from the wind low on the rocky shoreline directly below Owd Betts and swimming close to shore.. Blowing a hoolie up there so would imagine it may hang around..

Rob Archer

Grey Phalarope currently on rocks below Owd Bets this morning.

Info thanks to Rob Archer (via Judith Smith)

Sun 14/8 18:30 - 20:30 Sunny, clear, strong W breeze (cool)

Goosander 13 F
Lapwing 7
[Possible Turnstone - odd call heard moving but couldn't detect flying bird!!!!]

Wheatear 1 imm
Kestrel MF
P Wagtail c. 30 imms
Greenfinch m over
Mipits 1 & 2's

L Bb Gull c 30 on res at any time with 10's leaving and arriving throughout visit

Swallow a few families growing to c. 150 by evening feeding low over res and N grassy area
Swift 2 growing to 20 over E dam / road in eves
S Martin pairs then c. 20 in eves

A brief visit here this evening;

1 Great Crested Grebe
14 Goosander
12 Black Headed Gull (7 Juvs)

Dave

Good news re the struggling Stonechats after the harsh winters.. The local pair are now feeding fledged young and may hopefully have a couple of further broods.

Rob Archer

Also today, in addition to Mikes Sightings;

1 White Wagtail
1 Whimbrel
Another Grasshopper Warbler

Dave

Sun 8/5 18:30 - 20:00 cloudy/sunny/rain spells. SE wind. (Thunderstorm at 19:00)

C Goose c. 16
Mallard MMF (on res) MMM on west pool
Goosander MMM FFFF

L BbGull 4 - 8's drifting in washing drinking and moving off W
B hd Gull 4

Lapwing 2 (T) E of res mobbing C Crow for . 5 mins
Curlew 1 + 1 + 2 + 2

Swallow 2 + 2
S Martin 4 + 4

Storm

L Bb Gull c. 100
R Plover 1
S Martin c. 30

Grasshopper Warbler 1 (singing) from rushes at W end near water run off


-- Edited by Mike Cooper on Sunday 8th of May 2011 08:47:31 PM

Sat 9/4 18:00 - 20:00 Clear / light cloud / sunny intervals. Cools E breeze

C Goose c. 14
Goldeneye 3 (2 imm M + F
Goosander 5 M + 18 F
Mallard 3 M + 1 MF + 4 M+F

L Bb Gull 3 + 5 + 4 + 9 (all adults except 1 imm) landed on water and then drifted off W

L Owl 2 (T)

Wheatear M + M (normal sized but still dashing)
Swallow 1

Dunlin 1 moulting into s.p.
Curlew many singing (bubling in valleyt and around res)

Green Woodp vociferously calling from valley

They had Greenland Wheatears at Portland yesterday so some are here already.

Wheatear at least 12 males (2 very large, long winged and bright orange underparts - surely too early for Greenlands??)
............................................................................

I was watching 9 birds on Lees Hill at 07.00 hrs this morning........ 3 of the males were as you described.......... real superb specimens and bold with it.

Roger.

At 16:00

Same as Mike plus 1 Cormorant, a male Goosander, Kestrel, 6 Pied Wagtail, 30+ Meadow Pipit

Dave

FRi 8/4 12:30 = 13:30 Gorgeous sunny spring day

Goldeneye 2 (MF)
Lapwing 9
Goosander 2 F
Curlew at least 6 displaying (song flight males)

Wheatear at least 12 males (2 very large, long winged and bright orange underparts - surely too early for Greenlands??)
P Wagtail pair (M+ F - latter was carefully checked for alba)
Linnet 3 MMF

[Williow Warbler singing down Ashworth Road - hidden pool opposite Leaches farm entrance]

pair of shoveler on this am :) - my first on here since 26th Nov 2006.

From 6.30 to 8.15am

1 swallow
8 sand martin
2 linnet
15 skylark
1 fem wheatear
3 goldeneye
2 goldfinch
2 oystercatcher
6 curlew
6 bh gull
12 lbb gull
1 goosander
20 crow
33 meadow pipit
1 kestrel

Dave

-- Edited by David Winnard on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 08:35:06 AM

-- Edited by David Winnard on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 08:52:19 AM

Fri 25/3/11 12:30 - 13:10 Sunny / cloudy spells, warm in sun, cool SW breeze

Goosander 4 M + 4 F
Mallard 4 M + F
Goldeneye 2 M (1 imm/2y)
C Goose 2+2+2+2

Lapwing 19 on res (Dave 1 wasn't an Oyk) + 3 displaying Bird in'th Fields
Curlew 3 on res + 2 valley

L Bb Gull 3 (ad)
B hd Gull 2 (ad)

Sparrrowhawk F (old - white nape flecking) hunting S res wall and fields below

Skylark S + S
Mipit 2 S/Display + c. 10
P wagtail M

C Crow 6 + 2 + 2

Met Dave Wells from Bury

two dunlin present, info from rose grabham

Dave

Walked over.. 1630 till 1900hrs.. Saw the following;
1 Kestrel, 1 Stock Dove and 1 f Sparrowhawk over Fletcher Bank Woods
3 Snipe plus many Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Curlew on the Moors.
On the Res,
2 m Goldeneye
22 Goosander
4 Wigeon (2m)
5 Lapwing
4 Oystercatcher
1 Mallard
2 LBB Gull
5 Pied Wagtail
2 Reed Bunting

Rob Archer

Walked over first light..0600 till 1000. Saw the following;
2 Linnet
Lots of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Curlew on the moors,
1 Kestrel
5 LBB Gull
2 m Goldeneye
1 f Goosander
5 Oystercatcher
10 Lapwing
3 Pied Wagtail
1 Raven
1 Little Ringed Plover in Fletcher Bank Quarry (GM Side)

Rob Archer

Wander about 2.30-3

11xlapwing
1xcormorant
12xgoosander(6xmale 6xfemale)
1xmeadow pipit
2xpied wagtail
plenty canada

Fri 18/3/ 11:40 - 12:50 Sunny/ cloudy spells, cold WNW breeze

C Goose 16
Mallard 2 M (possibly third)
Goosander 4 (ad) M+ 1 (imm) M + 2 F
Curlew 4 on res (spit) plus at leat 2 singing (bubbling) from fields / valley below
Lapwing 13 on res (spit)
B hd Gull 2 (ad)

Skylark 1 over plus 1 singing
R Bunting M (singing just)
P Wagtail M
Mipit 2 + 2 + several H (over)

Midday

1 Shelduck
1 Redshank
1 Goldeneye (m)
2 Oystercatchers
2 Curlew

Dave

Sun 6/3/11 16:30 - 18:00

Oyks 2
Lapwing 18 (birn in'th field - muck spread) + c. 100 Starlings
Curlew 6 (on spit at dusk)

Goosander 4 M (1 imm) + 10 F
Mallard MMF
C Goose 9
Bhd Gull 5

P Wagtail M
R Bunting M
Greenfinch M

Walked over and back last light. Saw the following;
1 m Peregrine over the Res
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Skylark
10 Curlew
16 Lapwing
1 Goldeneye (m)
21 Goosander (13m)
3 Mallard
2 Canada Geese
46 BH Gulls
4 Common Gulls
3 Little Owls heard in half light returning home ( 10 Roe Deer too)

Rob Archer

Early morning walk over towards Cowpe in Lancs looking for Snow Buntings. No joy, but;
13 Golden Plover on Knowl Moor was a great result.
On the res;
1 Goldeneye (m)
1 Goosander (f)
4 Mallard
4 Canada Geese
1 Oystercatcher
5 Curlew
7 Lapwing
4 Skylark
1 Reed Bunting

1 f Sparrowhawk gave one of the Ravens a right whacking above the quarrry

Rob Archer

Walked over for last light. Great sunset. Saw the following;
2 Stock Dove. Seem to be setting up in Fletcher Bank Quarry..Not a good idea!
c40 Fieldfare mixed with Starlings
Several Skylark
2 Meadow Pipit
2 Kestrel
1 Grey Heron

On the res,
1 Moorhen..In the adjacent pond..1st for here I think
6 Goldeneye(4 m)
3 Teal(2 m)
14 Goosander (6 m)
4 Mallard
5 Curlew
14 Lapwing
1 Oystercatcher
2 Reed Bunting
1 Pied Wagtail
6 Canada Geese.

On the walk back heard 3 Little Owls and 1 Tawny Owl

Rob Archer

Walked over am after the rain stopped. Saw the following;
2 Raven.(Both had several primary feathers missing from the same place in the middle of their right wings leaving a good size gap..Unusual to have happened to both birds in the same place on the same wing)
Lots of Skylark singing on the Moors
1 Oystercatcher
3 Curlew
1 Grey Heron
7 Lapwing
3 Goldeneye (2 m)
8 Goosander (4 m)
3 Mallard (2 m)
2 Canada Geese

Rob Archer

Walked over a few times in the last few days. seen the following;
1 m Goldeneye
6 f Goosander
4 Mallard
4 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Cormorant
15 Lapwing
c100 mixed flock Starling, Redwing and Fieldfare today
4 Teal (2 m) in flooded field near Fletcher Bank Quarry
1 Raven
Walking back home last light on 16\2\11 heard 4 x Little Owl (2 in GM 2 in Lancs)

Rob Archer

Wet walk over from home..Not lots about. 1200 till 1430

1 Snipe
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Fieldfare
1 Oystercatcher
15 Lapwing
1 m Goldeneye
5 Goosander (3 m)

Rob Archer

Walked over from Rammy via White ash and back.. 1000 to 1600
Saw the following;
2 Goldcrest in Fletcher Bank Woods

On Ashworth Moor Res;
2 Goldeneye (both m)
31 Goosander (14 m)
c30 Fieldfare
1 Dipper
2 Raven
2 Peregrine m & f over the Res flew off high N above the windtowers
1 Redwing.

On Lodges near Walmersley Golf Course.
6 Goosander (3 m)
1 Cormorant

White Ash
6 Goosander (3 m)

Rob Archer

Thats the spot Judith. Your right,tis over t`border.. Great spot though. Steep sided woody wet gullies. I saw 2 Woodcock but heard another 2 separate birds (probably) taking flight through the woodland and bushes.
Rob Archer

Hi Rob - from my childhood in that area, I think Whitewall Wood (all or mostly Rhododendron) are by the series of lodges between Gindles Farm and Whitewall Farm, by Sales Lane - the valley drops down to the M66. The wood looks like it's just in Rossendale from the map, but part of the lodges are in GMC.

Walked over from Rammy. 1200 till 1700. Saw the following;
1 x m Sparrowhawk
2 x Kestrel
Mixed flock of c100 Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling.
Good numbers of Goldfinch,Chaffinch,Greenfinch and 5 Bullfinch
46 Common Gull, 23 BH Gull and 9 Goosander (4 m) on Res
2 Woodcock in a wood called Whitewell Woods. My first time there and a local couple walking their dog said the woods were right on the GM/Lancs border. Excellent spot for Woodcock though.

Rob Archer

Walked over from Rammy for sunset. Amazing colour tonight.
22 Goosander ( 8 m )
1 Mallard
2 B H Gull
3 Common Gull
Little Owl
Peregrine flying east over Knowl Moor

Rob Archer

Fri 17/12 14:30 -15:20 Freezing, Res open except thin sheets of ice at West end and in bay (under barn conversion)

C Crow 1
Magpie 1

Sat 20/11/10 15:15 - 16:30
Mallard 3 M + 2 F
Goosander 9 M + 15 F

B hd Gull c.130
Common Gull c. 90
L Bb Gull 7

Mipit (h)
P Wagtail 2
Pheasant M (ring necked)

Sat 16/10 15:30 - 18:30 REs, Moor & valley
REs

Cormorant 2
Common Gull 9
B hd Gull 25
Mallard 3 (MMF)
Goosander 15 F
P wagtail
Goldfinch 3
Blackbird 1 M

Moor

R Bunting F
Mipit c. 12

Cheesden brook / Deepley Vale

Mipit c. 20 (incl 6 perched in Hawthorn tree)
M Thrush 9
Blackbird 2 M
B Tit c 6
G Tit 1
Goldcrest (h)
Robin 1
Green Woodp