And managed to get itself on the WeBS count, I hear - I'm sure Neil Calbrade can tell us how long it is since one was recorded on WeBS!
I can indeed...the last one recorded by WeBS was the Thompson Water, Norfolk bird in April 1999. The Hollingworth Lake bird is the 9th to be recorded by WeBS, the previous 8 were all in the period between 1993 and 1999.
jason fisher said
Sun Nov 14 9:39 PM, 2010
Martyn Jones wrote:
P.S. How many of you lot were on TV last week?
erm i was but only my back, i was right in the middle of the people they interviewed
Martyn Jones said
Sun Nov 14 9:29 PM, 2010
What a 'mega' day and my first twitch. A superb little bird which wasn't at all shy, especially when it swam past the hide today - typical American. Even the sound of cameras firing like a machine-gun volley wasn't enough to scare it off.
I agree with a previous post that it seemed to be doing a circuit every hour or so. Starts off way to the left of the hide in the weeds on the far bank, swam down the bank and then across to the near bank where it caught several fish and then back to the weeds for a nap after eating. I saw it do this twice.
However I got my best pictures quite by chance from the hide when it had been forced in that direction by a group of black-headed gulls waiting to mug it for fish - thanks guys, you did us all in there a favour!
Great pictures by Dennis on his Flickr site and I've tried my best on my own little blog. I just wasn't ready for it coming so close when I walked into the hide - took me completely by surprise. Now I know what it does I may go back as it seems quite at home and will probably be there a while.
And nice meeting some fellow birders today too. I'm the one who kept banging into your tripods. Well, I was excited!
P.S. How many of you lot were on TV last week?
-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Sunday 14th of November 2010 11:30:25 PM
Dennis atherton said
Sun Nov 14 9:00 PM, 2010
Glad you got it Dave, who was twitching who? was the bird going, well theres another GM birder tick for me, i bet it got a lot of ticks this week, quite a lot of out of county ticks too,
Ok sorry, bad puns i know, I'll get my coat
Dave Thacker said
Sun Nov 14 8:38 PM, 2010
What a little cracker of a bird. I managed to escape from work for a couple of hours this afternoon to visit Hollingworth and see this grebe. What did surprise me was how often the bird watched the crowd of birders gathered on the path.
Danny Spencer said
Sun Nov 14 6:19 PM, 2010
Took my wife friday am before a trip to llangollen. Met lots of nice people from a long way away. My wife said at least i`m not that bad yet.What a start to the weekend a mega spot
Judith Smith said
Sun Nov 14 5:53 PM, 2010
And managed to get itself on the WeBS count, I hear - I'm sure Neil Calbrade can tell us how long it is since one was recorded on WeBS!
Anne Wilkinson said
Sun Nov 14 5:09 PM, 2010
What a lovely bird. I was a bit concerned to see how the Black-headed gulls were mobbing and pestering it though.
Paul Wilson said
Sun Nov 14 5:01 PM, 2010
Still showing well at 3pm - caught three fish in about 3 minutes!
graeme robertson said
Sun Nov 14 4:26 PM, 2010
took my 15 year old grandson on his first twitch to see the pied billed greebe. He was happy to see such a rarity but seamed to to more impressed to see 4 tit species blue tit, great tit,coal tit and long tailed tit in less than two mins out side the visitor centre and the robin along the side of the lake. i think he will make a birder not a twitcher graeme
JHN said
Sun Nov 14 4:00 PM, 2010
I have also had some great sites of a fantastic lifer. I suspect this bird will be a long term visitor. Great little bird which is very accomadating.
Joe Wynn said
Sun Nov 14 3:29 PM, 2010
Grebe still showing around 12:15, seems to be on a sort of rotational course, going out towards the back of the pool, then round and then into the reeds near the hide. Also lots of long tailed tits, a mistle thrush, loads of robin and a kingfisher near the hide
Dennis atherton said
Sun Nov 14 2:16 PM, 2010
Showing well. 2·30 near the hide
Sarfraz Hayat said
Sun Nov 14 12:31 PM, 2010
Still there util 11.15
a Jay flew across M62 at Junc 20. at 9.40am
Also 6 Siskins, some Goldfinches, Long tailed Tit Party, some Fieldfares, Blackbirds, Robin singing, 2 Mistle Thrush around the nature reserve.
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Nov 14 11:58 AM, 2010
Lake by hide to 10:15 at least
Terry Sykes said
Sun Nov 14 9:58 AM, 2010
Pied Billed Grebe Showing well at the hide farside opp. Rakewood Rd 9.00am. Looks at home merrily catching fish, caught one a third as big as itself and then another straight away Sunday lunch!
Nice way to bring up 200 for year and on my Birthday. Magic
mike killelea said
Sun Nov 14 7:21 AM, 2010
Joe Wynn wrote:
can i just check, is the grebe on the far side of the lake, in the nature reserve or is it on the open water?
Hi When I visited yesterday at 14:00, it was at the top end of the lake by the road side -at times very close to the road.
It then went across the lake near to the hide until 15:10 and then it went zooning back across the lake back to the road side, so check the road side of the lake on your way round.
can i just check, is the grebe on the far side of the lake, in the nature reserve or is it on the open water?
Joe on the two visits that I have made to Hollingworth the bird has favoured the pond in the nature reserve but it seems that it does occasionally visit open water. If you are going lookout for other birders.
Joe Wynn said
Sat Nov 13 9:53 PM, 2010
can i just check, is the grebe on the far side of the lake, in the nature reserve or is it on the open water?
sid ashton said
Sat Nov 13 6:56 PM, 2010
On the way to the north couldn't resist another look at the Pied-billed Grebe. We arrived at Hollingworth this morning when it was hardly light and pouring with rain to claim the last spot in the visitor centre main car park. When the sun came out we had good views of the bird again but the most entertaining part of the morning was back in the car park where we watched a Sparrowhawk and a Jay trying to resolve a dispute and a birder catching up with the parking warden - " I'm just doing my job" - who had given him a ticket for not displaying his pay and display correctly.
Lee Griffiths said
Sat Nov 13 6:21 PM, 2010
my 1st mega well chuffed
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Nov 13 5:30 PM, 2010
Pied billed still there at 4.30,heading under the road where it had been most of the afternoon apart from once when it went past the hide at about 6 feetand there was only 3 of us on that side of the lake also quite a big gull rooste late on mainly black headeds,and a few cormorants.
kerry skelhorn said
Sat Nov 13 3:14 PM, 2010
Drove 4 hours back from Cambridge where I work to see this bird yesterday morning - fantastic to see such a rare bird so local to home. I thought the GND last year was great for round here but this is cracking! Had to go back for another look this morning - loads of other twitchers there including the little lass who was the star of 'Twitching a Very British Obsession' with her mum. So Hollingworth is even attracting celebrity twitchers now!
Phil Panton said
Sat Nov 13 2:24 PM, 2010
Just back, great views of a lifer for me & quite a few others who were in attendance, never thought i'd ever get the matching set of Grebes in Greater Manchester, its been an incredible few months...so...whats next on the menu ??
Adrian Dancy said
Sat Nov 13 1:00 PM, 2010
Showing very well along with well over a hundred birders. The bird had a nice breakfast at 10.20am.
Ian Coote said
Sat Nov 13 9:46 AM, 2010
Still showing well at 09:00hrs
Pauline Greenhalgh said
Sat Nov 13 8:22 AM, 2010
Chris Greene wrote:
At least you saw my point Ian !! On a more flippant note , my missus seriously thinks that the "poor little thing ",should be caught ,and flown home to the USA !!! ( founder member of the "Pied-Billed Grebe repatriation society ,)......However , her mind was put at ease , when the warden at Hollingworth V.C. told her that the last PBG in the UK ..... ( which he said was about 4 years ago ,) , actually " kopped - off " , with a resident Little Grebe , and liived happily ever after ??? hmmmm... p.s . no probs Henry ... Cheers Chris
Someone should whisper in its ear that it needs to move to Pennington Flash where there are some Little Grebes then
Chris Greene said
Sat Nov 13 8:11 AM, 2010
At least you saw my point Ian !! On a more flippant note , my missus seriously thinks that the "poor little thing ",should be caught ,and flown home to the USA !!! ( founder member of the "Pied-Billed Grebe repatriation society ,)......However , her mind was put at ease , when the warden at Hollingworth V.C. told her that the last PBG in the UK ..... ( which he said was about 4 years ago ,) , actually " kopped - off " , with a resident Little Grebe , and liived happily ever after ??? hmmmm... p.s . no probs Henry ... Cheers Chris
Geoff Walton said
Sat Nov 13 8:01 AM, 2010
Chris Greene wrote:
Visited around 2.00pm today, lovely little bird,shame it's such a long way from home.
Nice to meet you Geoff,and your 2 sidekicks Cheers Chris
Likewise - pleasure to meet you both Chris. Hope to see you around Chadkirk.
Congrats to all the photographers, there are some great shots around the sites.
Wonder if any of the " TV twitchers" turned up??
Bet it's like Blackpool this weekend?
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Nov 13 7:54 AM, 2010
Pied-billed Grebe still present this morning.
Info thanks to Paul Hammond
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Nov 13 7:50 AM, 2010
Did you get it? Long way from home...USA...
Henry Cook said
Fri Nov 12 8:35 PM, 2010
ah, no winking smiley's for me tonight. Apologies Chris!
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Nov 12 8:04 PM, 2010
Tell me your winking/grining smiley's aren't working Henry, please...
Henry Cook said
Fri Nov 12 7:11 PM, 2010
Chris Greene wrote:
shame it's such a long way from home.
Are you kidding Chris? This is surely one of the closest rarities you'll ever see to home. The furthest people had travelled that I spoke to during my visit had travelled from Hampshire! Henry.
mike killelea said
Fri Nov 12 6:54 PM, 2010
Sarfraz Hayat wrote:
Is it very busy?
If the car park is full is there an alternative place to park? Any good place nearby?
Quiet busy - I met a few from the Midlands and a couple from Buxton.
The best place to park is the visitor centre - if the main carpark is full, carry on past the visitor centre and there are some overflow carparks.
Regards
Mike
-- Edited by mike killelea on Friday 12th of November 2010 06:55:13 PM
Sarfraz Hayat said
Fri Nov 12 6:30 PM, 2010
Is it very busy?
If the car park is full is there an alternative place to park? Any good place nearby?
Chris Greene said
Fri Nov 12 5:54 PM, 2010
Visited around 2.00pm today, lovely little bird,shame it's such a long way from home.
Nice to meet you Geoff,and your 2 sidekicks Cheers Chris
Joe Wynn said
Fri Nov 12 4:55 PM, 2010
many thanks
jason fisher said
Fri Nov 12 4:45 PM, 2010
leave the front of the visitor center car park, turn left follow the road till you reach the first right, then follow this path till you reach the bunch of people with scopes bins and cameras
Joe Wynn said
Fri Nov 12 4:42 PM, 2010
Can anyone tell me where the grebe is in relation to the visitor centre, as well as where the best place to watch it from? I have never visited the site and was planning on visiting more often.
Keith Mills said
Fri Nov 12 4:28 PM, 2010
Pied-billed Grebe showing well in corner of lake between NR and road. Watching were approximately 50 birders at around 1.0 pm today. Thanks to Jimmy Meadows for tipping me off on Tuesday, as my web browser had been AWOL for 2 days.
Pauline Greenhalgh said
Fri Nov 12 3:49 PM, 2010
Left just over an hour ago while bird still showing well! We took a chance and went and sat in the hide while everyone was watching it just up the road in the bay. It paid off as the bird came right past us! Those at the front had a grandstand view - both heading out into the main water and on its way back into the bay again - belting looking bird!
Geoff Walton said
Fri Nov 12 11:36 AM, 2010
Many thanks Mike.
If anyone there this around 2 pm, please say hello. There are at least 3 of us, One with a beard, and me the short one
Mike Cooper said
Fri Nov 12 11:18 AM, 2010
Fri 12/11 08:30 - 09:30
Pied billed Grebe still present in resrve bay. Resting in green shoots (reeds / horsetails) at the top of the bay. At frist and when I left. In between very active diving along the reserve eventually ctaching and eating a small fish.
Little belter - I just hope I would have ntoiced the stout bill and not just passed it over as a Dabchick.
Geoff Walton said
Fri Nov 12 11:16 AM, 2010
Can any of you guys with pagers or anything confirm it is around today, to save a fruitless journey this pm please?
brian fielding said
Thu Nov 11 4:47 PM, 2010
went back this morning for another look at this bird, despite the heavy rain it showed very well close to the nearside bank nr the hide. only about 10 birders there this morning when we were.
Rob Thorpe said
Thu Nov 11 4:21 PM, 2010
BirdGuides have named the Hollingworth Pied-billed Grebe as their "Bird of the Week" for 4th-10th November 2010.
Dean Hall said
Thu Nov 11 1:13 PM, 2010
Pied-billed Grebe still present at 1230 Just started birding in October, and this was a real treat
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 11 8:15 AM, 2010
Pied-billed Grebe still present this morning.
Info thanks to Simon Johnson
Andrew Newall said
Wed Nov 10 5:28 PM, 2010
What a cracking little bird viewed from 10.30 to 11.30 my first mega and first twitch!!!!.
May go back tomorow to try and digiscope myself before i go back to work
I can indeed...the last one recorded by WeBS was the Thompson Water, Norfolk bird in April 1999. The Hollingworth Lake bird is the 9th to be recorded by WeBS, the previous 8 were all in the period between 1993 and 1999.
erm i was but only my back, i was right in the middle of the people they interviewed
I agree with a previous post that it seemed to be doing a circuit every hour or so. Starts off way to the left of the hide in the weeds on the far bank, swam down the bank and then across to the near bank where it caught several fish and then back to the weeds for a nap after eating. I saw it do this twice.
However I got my best pictures quite by chance from the hide when it had been forced in that direction by a group of black-headed gulls waiting to mug it for fish - thanks guys, you did us all in there a favour!
Great pictures by Dennis on his Flickr site and I've tried my best on my own little blog. I just wasn't ready for it coming so close when I walked into the hide - took me completely by surprise. Now I know what it does I may go back as it seems quite at home and will probably be there a while.
And nice meeting some fellow birders today too. I'm the one who kept banging into your tripods. Well, I was excited!
P.S. How many of you lot were on TV last week?
-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Sunday 14th of November 2010 11:30:25 PM
Ok sorry, bad puns i know, I'll get my coat
What did surprise me was how often the bird watched the crowd of birders gathered on the path.
blue tit, great tit,coal tit and long tailed tit in less than two mins out side the visitor centre and the robin along the side of the lake. i think he will make a birder not a twitcher
graeme
Still there util 11.15
a Jay flew across M62 at Junc 20. at 9.40am
Also 6 Siskins, some Goldfinches, Long tailed Tit Party, some Fieldfares, Blackbirds, Robin singing, 2 Mistle Thrush around the nature reserve.
Nice way to bring up 200 for year and on my Birthday. Magic
Hi When I visited yesterday at 14:00, it was at the top end of the lake by the road side -at times very close to the road.
It then went across the lake near to the hide until 15:10 and then it went zooning back across the lake back to the road side, so check the road side of the lake on your way round.
Regards
Mike
http://kilyy.zenfolio.com/p973870412
Joe on the two visits that I have made to Hollingworth the bird has favoured the pond in the nature reserve but it seems that it does occasionally visit open water. If you are going lookout for other birders.
also quite a big gull rooste late on mainly black headeds,and a few cormorants.
Someone should whisper in its ear that it needs to move to Pennington Flash where there are some Little Grebes then
Likewise - pleasure to meet you both Chris. Hope to see you around Chadkirk.
Congrats to all the photographers, there are some great shots around the sites.
Wonder if any of the " TV twitchers" turned up??
Bet it's like Blackpool this weekend?
Info thanks to Paul Hammond
Are you kidding Chris? This is surely one of the closest rarities you'll ever see to home.
The furthest people had travelled that I spoke to during my visit had travelled from Hampshire!
Henry.
Quiet busy - I met a few from the Midlands and a couple from Buxton.
The best place to park is the visitor centre - if the main carpark is full, carry on past the visitor centre and there are some overflow carparks.
Regards
Mike
-- Edited by mike killelea on Friday 12th of November 2010 06:55:13 PM
If the car park is full is there an alternative place to park? Any good place nearby?
Nice to meet you Geoff,and your 2 sidekicks Cheers Chris
Watching were approximately 50 birders at around 1.0 pm today.
Thanks to Jimmy Meadows for tipping me off on Tuesday, as my web
browser had been AWOL for 2 days.
If anyone there this around 2 pm, please say hello. There are at least 3 of us, One with a beard, and me the short one
Pied billed Grebe still present in resrve bay. Resting in green shoots (reeds / horsetails) at the top of the bay. At frist and when I left. In between very active diving along the reserve eventually ctaching and eating a small fish.
Little belter - I just hope I would have ntoiced the stout bill and not just passed it over as a Dabchick.
Just started birding in October, and this was a real treat
Info thanks to Simon Johnson
May go back tomorow to try and digiscope myself before i go back to work
Cheers
Andrew