1 Cormorant 45 Canada Geese 37 Mallards 2 Teal 1 Osprey (Seen as it landed on a fence post at the back of the reservoir. I checked the wading birds whilst hoping it may come closer, but when I looked across again it had gone, presumably heading south into GM. It left about 11am) 1 Buzzard at Hill Top (usual area) 130 Lapwings 2 Snipe 4 Black-headed Gulls 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 1 Woodpigeon 12 Swallows 1 Skylark 11 Meadow Pipits 9 Pied Wagtails (3 along embankment + 6 on island) 1 Wren 1 Robin 1 Magpie 40+ Carrion Crows on fields south of Belmont by the main road 14 Starlings 1 Chaffinch 50 Goldfinches
David Lumb said
Sat Sep 1 3:54 AM, 2012
10.30am to 12.30pm My first trip since May when the water levels were reasonable. Hardly anything on reservoir today, mostly moorland birds above and below the reservoir. No gulls at all instead of the thousands last time.
1 Cormorant flying past 35 Canada Geese on fields at Higher Pasture House Farm 5 Mallards, the only birds on the reservoir until the flock of Lapwings arrived 1 Kestrel 1 Moorhen on sailing club ponds 4 Pheasants 80 Lapwings 3 Woodpigeons 2 Stock Doves 6 House Martins in Belmont Village 17 Swallows 45 Meadow Pipits 1 Grey Wagtail on sailing club ponds 2 Pied Wagtails 2 Robins 2 Stonechats at Wards Reservoir 6 Wheatears 1 Willow Warbler between church and Wards Reservoir Mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, and Blue Tits at sailing club 3 Magpies 2 Carrion Crows 2 Chaffinches 2 Goldfinches
Common Hawkers, Brown Hawkers Green-veined Whites, Small Tortoiseshells (12 + 6 Peacocks on a Buddleia in the village allotments), Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns.
Keith Mills said
Sun Apr 29 1:18 PM, 2012
8.30 to 12 noon Yesterday morning . 12 of us from Bolton RSPB. Full circuit of the Reservoir using Witton Weavers Way down one side. Pleasant weather.
Black- headed Gulls..... 1000plus Lesser Black- backed Gull....15 Mediterranean Gull......1 Goldfinch....3 Willow Warbler.....3 Reed Bunting....1 Kestrel....5 Swallow ....c20 Curlew.....6 Redshank....1 Common Sandpiper....3 Oystercatcher....6 Moorhen...1 Pied Wagtail....4 Canada Geese...c20 Mistle Thrush....3 Lapwing...c25 Golden Plover....Heard only Cormorant...1 Great Crested Grebe....1 Meadow Pipits...3 Skylark....4 Pheasant....3 Mallards...c20 Coal Tit ...1 One or two of our regulars missing believed to be chasing the Cranes!
-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 29th of April 2012 02:04:59 PM
Stephen McCall said
Sat Apr 21 5:22 AM, 2012
Pair of Red Legged Partridge in fields off Belmont Rd morning of 19th
Stephen McCall said
Wed Feb 8 6:49 AM, 2012
Short Eared Owl at Stones Bank at around 9.00pm this evening - lucky - I was cycling past and it dropped to ground about 15 feet away by side of road in my torchlight. It missed whatever it had seen and so carried on hunting.
John Carter said
Wed Sep 21 3:32 PM, 2011
Superb close up views of a Raven playing in the strong breeze over the moor just north of the reservoir. It seemed strange to find the island deserted.
Also plenty of Meadow Pipit and Mistle Thrush. Wheatear and Stonechat near Bromiley's farm.
rob archer said
Mon Aug 22 7:43 PM, 2011
On the Road Bike tonight on the A675 saw single ad Hobby over Belmont Res flying W towards Winter Hill..
Rob Archer
Dave Thacker said
Mon May 2 5:49 PM, 2011
A good hour this afternoon watching the mass of BH Gulls on the reservoir. Also seen were 5 Curlews, 3 Redshank and 2 Terns in the distance. Best of all was as I was getting back into my car a Green woodpecker flew across the main road
Stephen McCall said
Thu Apr 21 9:12 PM, 2011
Walk from Belmont to Winter Hill mast at 8am 7 grasshopper warblers singing 5 Lapwing 4 Curlew 3 Skylark 6 Wheatear on boundary wall nr mast Highlight was male Redstart near Belmont
Dennis atherton said
Sun Jun 6 2:45 PM, 2010
Bolton rspb walk today, A med gull present today at the gull roost on belmont res, thanks for spotting it out to us from the two birders already there, i did not get there names?
A few redshanks, curlew, snipe, lots of meadow pipits, linnets, a single redpoll,
We also got bit by loads of midgys today
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 6th of June 2010 05:24:38 PM
Dennis atherton said
Wed Mar 31 10:17 PM, 2010
good to see you got a swallow before month end, big 100, keep it going
Simon Warford wrote:
No sign of Hen Harrier Belmont area but Merlin and Buzzard today.
Dave Tennant said
Wed Mar 31 10:04 PM, 2010
Black headed gull colony were in full voice yesterday afternoon could not see what had disturbed them though, also pair of redshank flying.
Simon Warford said
Mon Oct 12 6:33 PM, 2009
No sign of Hen Harrier Belmont area but Merlin and Buzzard today.
Paul Heaton said
Tue Sep 29 9:24 PM, 2009
Now dont forget to take a brolly this time buddy
Keep adding to that GM list
Simon Warford said
Tue Sep 29 6:58 PM, 2009
I am reliably informed that a male Hen Harrier has been present over the past week or so approx 1 mile NW of Belmont Res, near the Tockholes turning off the A675 just north of GM, could well be the same bird thats been wintering in the area over the past couple of years that occaisonally wonders to Smithalls Moor
At least 6 adult Med Gulls back at Belmont amongst 1000's of Bh Gull.s
2 Woodcock roding nearby aswell.
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Jul 3 9:01 PM, 2008
A great evening,Simon.
The Gulls going up was a fantastic sight and the Med Gulls are stunning
Midgies not too bad, don't think they like the local food much However in Scotland they love the foriegn cuisine and i get chomped
Cheers Dean.
Simon Warford said
Thu Jul 3 9:31 AM, 2008
2/7/08 very pleasant evening with Mr Dean Mac
A Peregrine swooped into the Black Headed Gull colony and put up every single Gull at the place, it was then chased off by about 2000 Black Heads, quite a sight.
Also 4+ adult Med Gulls showing well.
How are your midgy bites Dean??
Simon Warford said
Sun Jul 1 6:05 PM, 2007
1/7/2007
Pair Med Gulls with 1 chick. 4 Oystercatchers
no mud either here now
Simon Warford said
Sun Jun 24 5:31 PM, 2007
24/06/2007 mid afternoon
4 adult Med Gulls 2 Common Sands 8 Oystercatchers
Simon Warford said
Mon Jun 4 10:09 PM, 2007
4/6/07
Adult Mediteranean Gull on the island at Belmont this evening amongst the hundreds of B H Gulls..also 2 Common Sands, Redshank and Tawny Owl flew over the road near Belmont village.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat May 12 12:50 PM, 2007
If it continues to be dry things will only get much worse too and then there's the kids summer holidays to contend with again soon, all the little 'darlings' running around with matches...I'll get me gun
Dean Macdonald said
Fri May 11 9:32 PM, 2007
Drove over Belmont rd today. What a sorry sight There's been more fires reported recently but i didn't expect it to be this bad. A huge area from Belmont res up past the Tockholes rd is black! On the left of the road right up to the top of the moor is completely burnt out. God knows how many Lapwing and other ground nesters have lost their br broods.
Dean.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Apr 13 6:53 PM, 2007
Yeah, bone idle bunch of layabouts Well, they are when I'm on duty anyway
Dean Macdonald said
Fri Apr 13 6:13 PM, 2007
There was i passed it on the way back from martin mere. It didn't look too bad but there were about 10 fire engines parked up on the road. Firemen where looking but there didn't seem to be any urgency.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Apr 13 5:20 PM, 2007
There was apparently what sounds like quite a serious moorland fire up on Belmont Moors on Wednesday the 11th, I certainly hope it hasn't caused too much destruction (but unfortunately they usually do!)
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Apr 12 9:16 PM, 2007
Heard first Willow Warbler at Belmont Res this a/noon. Also first Wheatear on moors at Tockholes.
1 Cormorant
45 Canada Geese
37 Mallards
2 Teal
1 Osprey (Seen as it landed on a fence post at the back of the reservoir. I checked the wading birds whilst hoping it may come closer, but when I looked across again it had gone, presumably heading south into GM. It left about 11am)
1 Buzzard at Hill Top (usual area)
130 Lapwings
2 Snipe
4 Black-headed Gulls
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Woodpigeon
12 Swallows
1 Skylark
11 Meadow Pipits
9 Pied Wagtails (3 along embankment + 6 on island)
1 Wren
1 Robin
1 Magpie
40+ Carrion Crows on fields south of Belmont by the main road
14 Starlings
1 Chaffinch
50 Goldfinches
My first trip since May when the water levels were reasonable. Hardly anything on reservoir today, mostly moorland birds above and below the reservoir. No gulls at all instead of the thousands last time.
1 Cormorant flying past
35 Canada Geese on fields at Higher Pasture House Farm
5 Mallards, the only birds on the reservoir until the flock of Lapwings arrived
1 Kestrel
1 Moorhen on sailing club ponds
4 Pheasants
80 Lapwings
3 Woodpigeons
2 Stock Doves
6 House Martins in Belmont Village
17 Swallows
45 Meadow Pipits
1 Grey Wagtail on sailing club ponds
2 Pied Wagtails
2 Robins
2 Stonechats at Wards Reservoir
6 Wheatears
1 Willow Warbler between church and Wards Reservoir
Mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, and Blue Tits at sailing club
3 Magpies
2 Carrion Crows
2 Chaffinches
2 Goldfinches
Common Hawkers, Brown Hawkers
Green-veined Whites, Small Tortoiseshells (12 + 6 Peacocks on a Buddleia in the village allotments), Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns.
Full circuit of the Reservoir using Witton Weavers Way down one side.
Pleasant weather.
Black- headed Gulls..... 1000plus
Lesser Black- backed Gull....15
Mediterranean Gull......1
Goldfinch....3
Willow Warbler.....3
Reed Bunting....1
Kestrel....5
Swallow ....c20
Curlew.....6
Redshank....1
Common Sandpiper....3
Oystercatcher....6
Moorhen...1
Pied Wagtail....4
Canada Geese...c20
Mistle Thrush....3
Lapwing...c25
Golden Plover....Heard only
Cormorant...1
Great Crested Grebe....1
Meadow Pipits...3
Skylark....4
Pheasant....3
Mallards...c20
Coal Tit ...1
One or two of our regulars missing believed to be chasing the Cranes!
-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 29th of April 2012 02:04:59 PM
Also plenty of Meadow Pipit and Mistle Thrush. Wheatear and Stonechat near Bromiley's farm.
Rob Archer
7 grasshopper warblers singing
5 Lapwing
4 Curlew
3 Skylark
6 Wheatear on boundary wall nr mast
Highlight was male Redstart near Belmont
A few redshanks, curlew, snipe, lots of meadow pipits, linnets, a single redpoll,
We also got bit by loads of midgys today
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 6th of June 2010 05:24:38 PM
Keep adding to that GM list
Barn owl
Tawny owl (calling)
4 roding woodcock
Grasshopper warbler reeling
2 Woodcock roding nearby aswell.
A great evening,Simon.
The Gulls going up was a fantastic sight and the Med Gulls are stunning
Midgies not too bad, don't think they like the local food much
However in Scotland they love the foriegn cuisine and i get chomped
Cheers Dean.
A Peregrine swooped into the Black Headed Gull colony and put up every single Gull at the place, it was then chased off by about 2000 Black Heads, quite a sight.
Also 4+ adult Med Gulls showing well.
How are your midgy bites Dean??
Pair Med Gulls with 1 chick.
4 Oystercatchers
no mud either here now
4 adult Med Gulls
2 Common Sands
8 Oystercatchers
Adult Mediteranean Gull on the island at Belmont this evening amongst the hundreds of B H Gulls..also 2 Common Sands, Redshank and Tawny Owl flew over the road near Belmont village.
Drove over Belmont rd today. What a sorry sight There's been more fires reported recently but i didn't expect it to be this bad. A huge area from Belmont res up past the Tockholes rd is black! On the left of the road right up to the top of the moor is completely burnt out. God knows how many Lapwing and other ground nesters have lost their br
broods.
Dean.
There was i passed it on the way back from martin mere. It didn't look too bad but there were about 10 fire engines parked up on the road. Firemen where looking but there didn't seem to be any urgency.
Heard first Willow Warbler at Belmont Res this a/noon.
Also first Wheatear on moors at Tockholes.