Sightings this morning 10 -11.30 include,
3 Common Tern
6 Shelduck
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
2 Wheatear

At 4.30 pm all the waders with the exception of 8 Dunlin looked to have departed, and only 3 Black Terns present but still at least 12 Common Terns on No2

The Knot flock increased to 12 during the morning but possibly all departed.

Common Tern built up to 13. 

A very good morning so far has produced:

2 breeding plumaged Grey Plover

1 male Bar-tailed Godwit

11 Knot  (including some in breeding plumage)

1 Sanderling

up to 12 Dunlin

8 Ringed Plover

4 Common Tern

This am . Joined by another site regular.

Highlights.

Dunlin X 2.

Common Sandpiper X 1.

Lapwing X 2.

Oystercatcher X 2.

Wheatear X 3.

White Wagtail X 3.

Grey Wagtail X 2.

Linnet X 2.

House Martin 100+.

Sand Martin X 10+.

Swallow X 20+.

Swift X 60+.

Goosander X 1.

Mute Swan X 5.

This am 05:30-09-35 with another site regular.

Highlights.

Arctic Tern X 2.

Yellow Wagtail X 1.

Wheatear X 3.

Dunlin X 4.

Lapwing X 4.

Goosander X 6.

Pochard X 1.

Kestrel X 1.

Linnet X 1.

Grey Heron X 2.

Mute Swan X 7.

This am, With other site regulars.

Highlights.

Bar-tailed Godwit X 2.

Sanderling X 1.

Dunlin X 3.

Curlew X 1.

Lapwing X 6.

Oystercatcher X 1.

Common Sandpiper X 1.

Yellow Wagtail X 1.

White Wagtail X 4.

Goosander X 4

Mute Swan X 5.

12:00 today

2 Bar-tailed Godwit

3 Dunlin

Buzzard overhead

An hour before sunset, in the driving rain:

3 Bar-Tailed Godwit still (2 in breeding plumage)
Whimbrel
Curlew
3 Dunlin
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
25 Goosander
Pochard

vic chatterton wrote:

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Late afternoon -  Bar-tailed Godwits down to 3.  Arriving in sunshine and light winds within minutes the weather turned nasty to say the least, with hail and torrential rain and a gale force southerly wind. Arriving at the hide totally soaked, conditions over No2 were awful, but there were 3 terns flying, but it was difficult to ascertain which due to the appalling conditions.Eventually 2 came reasonably close to the hide when I could ascertain 1 Common and 1 Arctic. The other one was further away and in the conditions I was unable to tell whether Common or Arctic. By the time I plucked up courage to leave the hide I couldn't see them but they possibly were still present somewhere.

The weather had turned back to sunny with light winds. 3 Yellow Wagtails were on the wall by the hide and a flock of Linnets also. A rough count of Sand Martins produced c150. Back on No1, the Godwits had moved to the west side  feeding near the central well. 2 Whimbrel were showing well on the northern bank.

On arriving at Audenshaw, the covered reservoir had been mowed, almost certainly destroying the Skylarks nests for the umpteenth year running. Sadly on leaving a couple of days previously there was a pair of Lapwings on. One of which appeared to be on a nest. Needless to say they weren't there today. They were regular nesters on the covered reservoir years ago and we used to mark any nests when it was being cut

. Probably the finest show for many miles around of Cowslips were also destroyed in full flower,as they are every year, and are gradually being reduced in numbers. 

A few years ago I did have a word with 2 young men from the company cutting the grass, and they told me that they had been instructed by United Utilities to cut it monthly, to keep the grass too short so that birds couldn't nest on it. Why they are against nesting birds I haven't got a clue. I was given a number at UU to ring at the time, and although I rang the number a couple of dozen times or more over a period of time, nobody ever answered.

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Vic,

It looks as if a different company has being sourced this year, but they obviously all get the same message 'keep the grass short enough for the dog walkers'. It is the privatised Companies way out of everything these days: get a third party to do the dirty work (as Network Rail do with their trees), so they can say 'don't ask me, I'm only doing what I was told to'.

Regarding the terns. The same 3 (probably) had been around since 1.30 p.m., and myself and two other watchers had them resting on one of the islands on No.1. After much consultation, discussion and photographs taken, the jury came down on them being 1 adult common tern, and two 'winter' plumaged (mostly the darker bill) common terns (this was AFTER I'd already written an earlier prognosis in the record log!). Of course, yours could have been different birds.

Andy

Late afternoon -  Bar-tailed Godwits down to 3.  Arriving in sunshine and light winds within minutes the weather turned nasty to say the least, with hail and torrential rain and a gale force southerly wind. Arriving at the hide totally soaked, conditions over No2 were awful, but there were 3 terns flying, but it was difficult to ascertain which due to the appalling conditions.Eventually 2 came reasonably close to the hide when I could ascertain 1 Common and 1 Arctic. The other one was further away and in the conditions I was unable to tell whether Common or Arctic. By the time I plucked up courage to leave the hide I couldn't see them but they possibly were still present somewhere.

The weather had turned back to sunny with light winds. 3 Yellow Wagtails were on the wall by the hide and a flock of Linnets also. A rough count of Sand Martins produced c150. Back on No1, the Godwits had moved to the west side  feeding near the central well. 2 Whimbrel were showing well on the northern bank.

On arriving at Audenshaw, the covered reservoir had been mowed, almost certainly destroying the Skylarks nests for the umpteenth year running. Sadly on leaving a couple of days previously there was a pair of Lapwings on. One of which appeared to be on a nest. Needless to say they weren't there today. They were regular nesters on the covered reservoir years ago and we used to mark any nests when it was being cut

. Probably the finest show for many miles around of Cowslips were also destroyed in full flower,as they are every year, and are gradually being reduced in numbers. 

A few years ago I did have a word with 2 young men from the company cutting the grass, and they told me that they had been instructed by United Utilities to cut it monthly, to keep the grass too short so that birds couldn't nest on it. Why they are against nesting birds I haven't got a clue. I was given a number at UU to ring at the time, and although I rang the number a couple of dozen times or more over a period of time, nobody ever answered.

This morning’s highlights included:

4 Bar-tailed Godwits still on no 1

1 Whimbrel

1st year Little Gull

3 Pochard

1 Curlew

1 Dunlin

2 Common Sandpiper

2 Oystercatcher

Peregrine

Swift

Wed. 24/04/19 19.30 - 20.00

Arrived on site after a quick dash down from Durham and had 20 minutes scanning over no. 1 res.

1 Lapwing, 1 Whimbrel, and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, (2 of which in breeding plumage).

Back home for 22.50.

Cheers,

Mike & Barb

Further sightings from earlier in the day included 6 whimbrel, 8 dunlin, 1 common sandpiper, 5 yellow wagtails, and 2 adult little gulls which cruised around for a while at height, but did not descend to anywhere near water level.

Quick visit after the storm from 6.15 to 6.45pm.

4 Bar Tailed Godwit on number 1 as well as the Whimbrel. Also mu first Common Swift of the year with many Swallow and House Martin 

2 Little Ringed Plover and 4 Lapwing too 

5 Bar-tailed Godwin on no. 1 this morning, still present this afternoon.

1 Whimbrel

7 Dunlin

1 Yellow Wagtail

Was on earlier didn't see the Bar-tailed Godwits at approx 2pm. when it was pretty dead

In addition 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover. Sparrowhawk circling overhead. Bushes perimeter of No 2 - 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Lesser Whitethroat

Brief evening visit 6.30 - 8pm

Wader numbers down on what was reported earlier in the week, but lots of fishermen and dog walkers probably had an impact. Also, the midgies were out in force!

Greenshank
1 Ringed Plover
3 Snipe
2 Oystercatcher
6 Lapwing
No sandpipers of any description (Common, Wood or Green)
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Wheatear
c10 Linnet
1 Peregrine
12 Goosander
1 Goldeneye
6 Teal
3 Gadwall

Evening visit from 18.50-20.15

No sign of Whimbrel, but Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, 2 Dunlin, Avocet , 2 White Wagtail, 5 Snipe, 6 Little Ringed Plover , Ringed Plover, 6 Swallow , House Martin collecting mud, 30 Sand Martin, Green Sandpiper, 3 Oystercatcher , 6 Lapwing, 2 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 15 Goosander, 2 Teal, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Linnet.

A couple of '2 waders in 1' images attached. Not often you get Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper in the same shot

This am with other site regulars.

Highlights. 

Wood Sandpiper X 1.(record shot)

Whimbrel X 1.

Avocet X 1.

Greenshank X 1.

Common Sandpiper X 1.

Oystercatcher X 3.

Little Ringed Plover X 8+.

Ringed Plover X 2.

Dunlin X 1.

Lapwing X 6+.

Shelduck X 3.

Teal X 4.

Goosander X 3.

White Wagtail X 4+.

Mute Swan X 5.

Swallow X 2.

A very busy morning here with lots to see. The avocet and little gull hang on, but new for the year was an Arctic tern, viewed alongside at least 1 common. Next best was an impressive flock of 33 wigeon down on No.1, with 2 shovelor drakes, 5 teal, and 1 gadwall drake. 5 oystercatchers and a redshank mingled with the ringed and little ringed plovers and a curlew and 2 common sandpipers were found late on. 5 wheatears remained and 6 white wagtails were scattered about. A buzzard buzzed No.3 a couple of times. All in a couple of hours.

Avocet and Little Gull still present again today.

Avocet and Little Gull still present today.

Avocet still present on no.1 this morning, also Little Gull and Dunlin.

Avocet still present late pm today, along with a Greenshank, 2 Dunlin, 2 Snipe and the Little Gull still present. 

Avocet still there in same location at 13.30. Favours the shallow water between the largest island and the bank wall

Avocet still present in the North East corner of No 1 at 11:20.

This morning:

1st summer Little Gull still on no. 2.

1 Shoveler

10 Teal

1 Ringed Plover

4 Little Ringed Plover

1 Wheatear

1 male Yellow Wagtail

Rob Creek wrote:

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Vicky Harper wrote:

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Any news of sightings of the Little Gull this morning?

Thanks

Vicky

-- Edited by Vicky Harper on Thursday 11th of April 2019 10:46:11 AM

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Only just seen your post Vicky, a 1st Winter was reported this morning at 10.38am

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Vicky Harper wrote:

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Any news of sightings of the Little Gull this morning?

Thanks

Vicky

-- Edited by Vicky Harper on Thursday 11th of April 2019 10:46:11 AM

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On my visit pre-avocets (which I went back for), a female merlin flew through, going NW, at 9.25 a.m. Only other things of real note (not already mentioned below) were 2 wheatears and c80 sand martins.

2 Little Gulls  (adult and 1st summer) on no 2 reservoir along with the 2 Avocets. Also 2 White Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail on no 1.

Very brief visit but on number 1 reservoir  were 2 Avocet still, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Goosander and Goldeneye 

Crop pic of Avocets attached

2 Avocet on no. 1 reservoir at 1:35 at least today.