Full walk around checking Ogden, Kitcliffe, Piethorne, Norman Hill, and Hanging Lees reservoirs, 1hr40min starting at 1:30pm.
33 species including
Red Breasted Merganser drake on Piethorne seen at 3pm,
Wigeon drake on Ogden,
Stonechat male by Hanging Lees,
Also 6 Goosander dotted about, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, and 1 Meadow Pipit.
Dave Ousey said
Tue Dec 15 1:41 PM, 2020
Red breasted Merganser drake still present at Piethorne Reservoir this morning. Also Goosander, Great Crested Grebe. Also two other characters enjoying the Merganser.
Dave Ousey
Ray Scally said
Mon Dec 14 4:38 PM, 2020
OGDEN RES - Lunchtime - 24 species in an hour, Red-breasted Merganser male, 3 Goosander, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker being the highlights. Ray
Charles Farrell said
Sun Dec 13 6:01 PM, 2020
Sun 13-Dec-2020 (14:10-15:00):
- pr Red-breasted Merganser on Piethorn Reservoir - small flock of Goldcrest in Woodland strip down the side of the reservoir - Small flock of Long-Tailed Tits
- c40 Canada Goose on Kitcliffe Reservoir
Not great photos, I'm afraid
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Sunday 13th of December 2020 06:03:08 PM
Wheatear, 5 singing Skylark, 2 Stock Dove, c100 House Martin, 10 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Great Crested Grebe
James Walsh said
Sat May 9 12:46 PM, 2020
Common Sandpiper on Piethorne Reservoir
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Jan 30 9:43 PM, 2020
Drake Red-breasted Merganser on Ogden Reservoir
Also 12 Goosander, female Goldeneye, 2 Great-crested Grebes, 2 Cormorant and a very early (for Rochdale) returning Oystercatcher
James Walsh said
Fri Nov 1 12:44 PM, 2019
9 Whooper Swans reported at Ogden Reservoir, Wednesday 30th October 2019
James Walsh said
Fri Aug 16 10:24 AM, 2019
Thursday 15th August 2019
Green Woodpecker heard yaffling at Kitcliffe Farm, then presumably the same bird in flight over Ogden Reservoir 3 Oystercatcher Ogden Reservoir 5 Tufted Ducks Kitcliffe Reservoir Sparrowhawk in flight Piethorne Reservoir
John Williams said
Sun Apr 14 4:44 PM, 2019
09.00-13.00
8 Swallows were feeding low over Ogden Reservoir.
In the few hawthorns above Kitcliffe Reservoir were 2 male Redstarts and a single Chiffchaff.
A male Ring Ouzel was sat on a nearby stone wall until it was flushed by a passing Kestrel.
A pair of Tufted Ducks were on Kitcliffe, but the only other waterfowl on the reservoirs were a few Mallard and a single Cormorant.
Waders were represented by a single Curlew, 2 Lapwings and a pair of Oystercatchers.
A pair of Goldfinches were on the moorland edge, as were 3 Ravens whilst a single Song Thrush was in the horse paddocks.
Meadow Pipits were numerous throughout.
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Oct 27 11:13 AM, 2018
Red-breasted Merganser photographed here recently per Facebook
Dave Phillips said
Thu Oct 18 10:29 AM, 2018
Was in the Piethorn Valley Wednesday pm No sign of the Short-eared Owl However the valley was alive with large numbers of Winter Thrushes feeding on the abundant Hawthorn berries. Mainly Fieldfares and Mistle Thrushes but also included a few Redwings and three Ring Ouzels. Also had Chaffinch, Kestrel (2) Pheasant and Tufted Duck on Kitcliffe., Cheers Dave Phillips.
Geoff Eldridge said
Tue Oct 16 10:29 AM, 2018
Little Grebe on Foulwater Lodge yesterday morning. There is a Wheatear still hanging around in the vicinity of Rooden catch-water drain. High up in the Piethorn watershed I have twice seen a Short-eared Owl during the last two weeks.
Geoff Eldridge said
Sun Oct 7 6:07 PM, 2018
Grey Partridges. There are some still around but the not the numbers that I have seen in the past. I put up two on the high ground on the south side of the valley last week and have had several sightings in the usual areas of the north side recently. Three today.
James Walsh said
Sun Oct 7 1:24 AM, 2018
6th October 2018
11 Tufted Ducks on Piethorne Reservoir
James Walsh said
Wed Aug 8 12:30 PM, 2018
Tuesday 7th August 11 Tufted Ducks on Kitcliffe
-- Edited by James Walsh on Wednesday 8th of August 2018 12:31:01 PM
Geoff Eldridge said
Fri Apr 27 8:06 AM, 2018
First of the season's wheatears seen up around the Rooden catchwater. Four females.
-- Edited by Geoff Eldridge on Friday 27th of April 2018 08:08:21 AM
Simon Hitchen said
Mon Apr 9 8:29 PM, 2018
Late news for yesterday (8/4) when a Ring Ouzel was in the field above the water treatment works - poor record shot attached
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Monday 9th of April 2018 11:06:12 PM
I didnt find the Red-breasted Merganser. There was a pair of Goosander on the small, unnamed reservoir immediately east of Piethorne reservoir. However, I did see a pair of Ravens chase a Buzzard over a hill and come back seconds later pursued by a Merlin. There was a Kingfisher on the small reservoir below Ogden Reservoir.
C Brown said
Sat Feb 3 4:55 PM, 2018
Red-breasted merganser showing well on Ogden Res' this afternoon.
Regards, Chris Jepson-Brown
Geoff Eldridge said
Wed Jan 10 3:02 PM, 2018
Four grey partridges on Turf Hill. (flushed twice) Not seen them for quite a while.
Red-breasted Merganser was on Norman Hill Reservoir with three female goosander.
Mixed flock of Fieldfare and starlings near Goodfleckers.
dave broome said
Tue Jan 9 2:26 PM, 2018
female Red-Breasted Merganser feeding with a female Goosander on Piethorne Reservoir this afternoon
Gary Crowder said
Sun Jan 7 12:27 PM, 2018
Red-breasted Merganser still on Kitcliffe late morning, also a Great Crested Grebe. 29 Pink-footed Geese over west. Pair of Goosanders on Piethorne
C Brown said
Fri Jan 5 6:56 PM, 2018
Female red-breasted merganser on Kitcliffe this a.m, though later relocated on Ogden Res' (A. Nuttall). Also in the valley, woodcock, kingfisher and nuthatch, plus two separate skeins of pink feet over, heading NW (circa 120 in each group).
Kind regards, C. Jepson-Brown
Geoff Eldridge said
Sun Oct 29 6:25 PM, 2017
Goldcrest Woodmill/near Dyeworks.
Geoff Eldridge said
Sun Oct 22 5:06 PM, 2017
Red Kite battling against the wind as it flew over Ogden Edge. My first on my home turf.
Kath Butterworth said
Sat Oct 21 12:17 PM, 2017
Fri 20th October
Great Crested Grebe 1
Buzzard
Siskin 4 flying over
Redwing heard
Steve Costa said
Wed Aug 30 9:54 PM, 2017
30/8/17 15:25 - 17:55
Very little on the reservoirs. A single mallard (with 4 ducklings) was the total for that species on the 5 large reservoirs!
Great Crested Grebe 2 Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Tree Pipit 1 Raven 2
Steve Costa said
Mon Aug 14 1:41 PM, 2017
Sunday, 13th August, 2017
Great Crested Grebe - 1 Canada Goose - min. 85 Tufted Duck - 7 Peregrine - 1 Little Owl - 1 Green Woodpecker (heard calling) Hirundines - c50 on telegraph wires. Mainly swallows plus a couple of house martins and one sand martin. Tree Pipit - 4-6 on hillside to north of Kitcliffe Reservoir. Sometimes resting/preening on isolated hawthorns, but coming to ground, walls or fences too. A few meadow pipits present in same area. Willow Warbler - 5/6 Linnet 1
Steve Costa said
Sun May 14 11:50 AM, 2017
For clarification - the previous post for Rooden Reservoir was for Saturday, 13th May.
Steve Costa said
Sun May 14 12:59 AM, 2017
Rooden Reservoir
18:15 - 20:00 hrs.
Couldn't find a Denshaw thread, and though Crompton Moor and Saddleworth are adjacent, I decided to include it with the Piethorne Valley Reservoirs. Did a short walk from the Ram's Head pub on the A672 to Rooden Reservoir.
The highlight was 4 whimbrel. Three flew from the reservoir to join another in a field between the pub and the reservoir (quite close to the road too). Good views of all 4 birds. At least one bird called quite frequently. Eventually, the 3 birds flew back towards the reservoir (again calling) while the last bird remained in the field , which also held a curlew for a nice comparison.
At least 2 other curlews in the area. Also c6 lapwings and 2 oystercatchers. Good to hear and see a few skylarks in song.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 23 7:34 PM, 2017
Originally posted today by John Cooper:
Just returned from a pleasant but blustery walk around Piethorn. Main sightings:
Little Egret (first I have ever seen at this sight)
2 Oystercatcher
40 Fieldfare
Dipper
3 Goosander
Geoff Eldridge said
Fri Nov 4 3:57 PM, 2016
We still have Grey partridges. While they remain very elusive 3 were seen on the high ground between Piethorn Valley and Hollingsworth Lake last Tuesday.
Steve Costa said
Wed Aug 10 11:34 PM, 2016
The hobby (last post) may have been a 1st summer bird rather than a juvenile.
Steve Costa said
Wed Aug 10 9:31 PM, 2016
Wednesday 10th August 2016
Hobby 1 juvenile
Heard plaintive calls as it was being mobbed by swallows. It then flew from Ogden south-west over A640.
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 2
Canada Goose c65
Swift 1
C Brown said
Sun Jul 10 10:52 PM, 2016
A walk this aft', as far as Coldgreave Clough brought forth:
great crested grebe pair, plus two young, on Ogden blackcap (2) singing, whitethroat, in song, willow warbler, contact calling, common sandpiper, on Kitcliffe, kestrel, a few meadow pipits, a few linnets, reed bunting (2), in song and... ....a few swallows.
Regards, Chris J - B.
C Brown said
Fri Jun 17 9:18 PM, 2016
An evening stroll up the valley revealed the following:
15 (quite flighty) common scoter, on Piethorne Reservoir, three willow warblers in song, two blackcap, likewise, a single whitethroat, common sandpipers on Kitcliffe and Piethorne and a great crested grebe, with three quite well grown youngsters, on Ogden.
Regards, Chris Jepson - Brown
Geoff Eldridge said
Tue Apr 26 9:24 PM, 2016
The best of a cold, bright and breezy midday walk.
Swallows (3)
Common Sandpiper
Little Owl
C Brown said
Thu Apr 7 4:21 PM, 2016
Rather quiet in the teeth of a NW wind, but my first willow warbler of the year, in the usual willow carr on the south side of Kitcliffe Reservoir. Also a vocal green woodpecker near Kitcliffe Farm, a couple of skylarks singing by Town Hill and a few meadow pipits knocking about.
Regards, Chris Jepson - Brown
Geoff Eldridge said
Sat Mar 12 6:53 AM, 2016
First signs of Spring skylarks heard - above the Rooden Catchwater drain.
Lapwings and kestrel also in same the area. (2 other kestrels seen outside of the Piethorn Valley but in the general area)
Geoff Eldridge said
Wed Mar 2 6:37 PM, 2016
Dippers seen at each end of the valley. My first sightings of these normal common residents since around Xmas.
First reed buntings of the year also seen.
Geoff Eldridge said
Thu Feb 18 3:36 PM, 2016
First curlew that I have seen in the valley for 2016
Pink-footed Goose photographed in the Piethorne Valley in amongst the Canada Goose flock
Information thanks to Paul and Sarah Whiting
1 Stonechat, 10 Goosander, 1 drake Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant
Drake Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Goosander - Piethorne Reservoir
Information thanks to Simon Hitchen and Alan Nuttall
Ogden res
Red breasted Merganser drake sometimes with 2 males and 4 female Goosanders
Whopper Swan 2 circling valley
Drake Red-breasted Merganser
2 drake Goosander
Drake Tufted Duck
1 Grey Heron
Kitcliffe Reservoir
1 Cormorant
Piethorne Reservoir
2 drake Goosander
1 Cormorant
1 Kestrel
Full walk around checking Ogden, Kitcliffe, Piethorne, Norman Hill, and Hanging Lees reservoirs, 1hr40min starting at 1:30pm.
33 species including
Red Breasted Merganser drake on Piethorne seen at 3pm,
Wigeon drake on Ogden,
Stonechat male by Hanging Lees,
Also 6 Goosander dotted about, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, and 1 Meadow Pipit.
Red breasted Merganser drake still present at Piethorne Reservoir this morning. Also Goosander, Great Crested Grebe. Also two other characters enjoying the Merganser.
Dave Ousey
Ray
- pr Red-breasted Merganser on Piethorn Reservoir
- small flock of Goldcrest in Woodland strip down the side of the reservoir
- Small flock of Long-Tailed Tits
- c40 Canada Goose on Kitcliffe Reservoir Not great photos, I'm afraid
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Sunday 13th of December 2020 06:03:08 PM
2 Great Crested Grebe
2 Tufted Ducks
2 Grey Heron
Kitcliffe Reservoir
3 Cormorant
Piethorne Reservoir area
1 Kestrel
Ogden Reservoir : 40+ House Martins, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant and 2 Oystercatchers.
Piethorne Reservoir : 6 Sand Martins, 2 Grey Wagtails and a pair of Willow Warblers.
Norman Hill Reservoir : 1 Wheatear and a charm of 60+ Goldfinches.
Rooden Reservoir : 9 Linnets (Including 2 males still in full breeding plumage) and 18 Swallows resting on a small rowan tree.
Moorland : 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, a family of 4 Stonechats and lots of Meadow Pipits.
Drake Red-breasted Merganser on Ogden Reservoir
Also 12 Goosander, female Goldeneye, 2 Great-crested Grebes, 2 Cormorant and a very early (for Rochdale) returning Oystercatcher
Green Woodpecker heard yaffling at Kitcliffe Farm, then presumably the same bird in flight over Ogden Reservoir
3 Oystercatcher Ogden Reservoir
5 Tufted Ducks Kitcliffe Reservoir
Sparrowhawk in flight Piethorne Reservoir
8 Swallows were feeding low over Ogden Reservoir.
In the few hawthorns above Kitcliffe Reservoir were 2 male Redstarts and a single Chiffchaff.
A male Ring Ouzel was sat on a nearby stone wall until it was flushed by a passing Kestrel.
A pair of Tufted Ducks were on Kitcliffe, but the only other waterfowl on the reservoirs were a few Mallard and a single Cormorant.
Waders were represented by a single Curlew, 2 Lapwings and a pair of Oystercatchers.
A pair of Goldfinches were on the moorland edge, as were 3 Ravens whilst a single Song Thrush was in the horse paddocks.
Meadow Pipits were numerous throughout.
Red-breasted Merganser photographed here recently per Facebook
Was in the Piethorn Valley Wednesday pm No sign of the Short-eared Owl However the valley was alive with large numbers of Winter Thrushes feeding on the abundant Hawthorn berries. Mainly Fieldfares and Mistle Thrushes but also included a few Redwings and three Ring Ouzels. Also had Chaffinch, Kestrel (2) Pheasant and Tufted Duck on Kitcliffe., Cheers Dave Phillips.
Little Grebe on Foulwater Lodge yesterday morning. There is a Wheatear still hanging around in the vicinity of Rooden catch-water drain. High up in the Piethorn watershed I have twice seen a Short-eared Owl during the last two weeks.
Grey Partridges. There are some still around but the not the numbers that I have seen in the past. I put up two on the high ground on the south side of the valley last week and have had several sightings in the usual areas of the north side recently. Three today.
11 Tufted Ducks on Piethorne Reservoir
-- Edited by James Walsh on Wednesday 8th of August 2018 12:31:01 PM
First of the season's wheatears seen up around the Rooden catchwater. Four females.
-- Edited by Geoff Eldridge on Friday 27th of April 2018 08:08:21 AM
Late news for yesterday (8/4) when a Ring Ouzel was in the field above the water treatment works - poor record shot attached
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Monday 9th of April 2018 11:06:12 PM
Regards, Chris Jepson-Brown
Four grey partridges on Turf Hill. (flushed twice) Not seen them for quite a while.
Red-breasted Merganser was on Norman Hill Reservoir with three female goosander.
Mixed flock of Fieldfare and starlings near Goodfleckers.
Kind regards, C. Jepson-Brown
Goldcrest Woodmill/near Dyeworks.
Red Kite battling against the wind as it flew over Ogden Edge. My first on my home turf.
Fri 20th October
Great Crested Grebe 1
Buzzard
Siskin 4 flying over
Redwing heard
15:25 - 17:55
Very little on the reservoirs. A single mallard (with 4 ducklings) was the total for that species on the 5 large reservoirs!
Great Crested Grebe 2
Buzzard 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Tree Pipit 1
Raven 2
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Canada Goose - min. 85
Tufted Duck - 7
Peregrine - 1
Little Owl - 1
Green Woodpecker (heard calling)
Hirundines - c50 on telegraph wires. Mainly swallows plus a couple of house martins and one sand martin.
Tree Pipit - 4-6 on hillside to north of Kitcliffe Reservoir. Sometimes resting/preening on isolated hawthorns, but coming to ground, walls or fences too. A few meadow pipits present in same area.
Willow Warbler - 5/6
Linnet 1
18:15 - 20:00 hrs.
Couldn't find a Denshaw thread, and though Crompton Moor and Saddleworth are adjacent, I decided to include it with the Piethorne Valley Reservoirs. Did a short walk from the Ram's Head pub on the A672 to Rooden Reservoir.
The highlight was 4 whimbrel. Three flew from the reservoir to join another in a field between the pub and the reservoir (quite close to the road too). Good views of all 4 birds. At least one bird called quite frequently. Eventually, the 3 birds flew back towards the reservoir (again calling) while the last bird remained in the field , which also held a curlew for a nice comparison.
At least 2 other curlews in the area. Also c6 lapwings and 2 oystercatchers. Good to hear and see a few skylarks in song.
Originally posted today by John Cooper:
Just returned from a pleasant but blustery walk around Piethorn. Main sightings:
2 Wheatear (1 male/ 1female) earliest ever sighting
Little Egret (first I have ever seen at this sight)
2 Oystercatcher
40 Fieldfare
Dipper
3 Goosander
We still have Grey partridges. While they remain very elusive 3 were seen on the high ground between Piethorn Valley and Hollingsworth Lake last Tuesday.
great crested grebe pair, plus two young, on Ogden
blackcap (2) singing,
whitethroat, in song,
willow warbler, contact calling,
common sandpiper, on Kitcliffe,
kestrel,
a few meadow pipits,
a few linnets,
reed bunting (2), in song and...
....a few swallows.
Regards, Chris J - B.
15 (quite flighty) common scoter, on Piethorne Reservoir,
three willow warblers in song,
two blackcap, likewise,
a single whitethroat,
common sandpipers on Kitcliffe and Piethorne and
a great crested grebe, with three quite well grown youngsters, on Ogden.
Regards, Chris Jepson - Brown
The best of a cold, bright and breezy midday walk.
Swallows (3)
Common Sandpiper
Little Owl
Regards, Chris Jepson - Brown
First signs of Spring skylarks heard - above the Rooden Catchwater drain.
Lapwings and kestrel also in same the area. (2 other kestrels seen outside of the Piethorn Valley but in the general area)
Dippers seen at each end of the valley. My first sightings of these normal common residents since around Xmas.
First reed buntings of the year also seen.
First curlew that I have seen in the valley for 2016