Common sandpiper on east shore of Worthington Lake 4.45 pm

4 dippers, two pairs
1 kingfisher
1 grey wagtail
All on river douglas

5 great crested grebes
Canada geese
3 mandarin
1 tufted duck
1 blackcap
4 willow warbler
5 chiffchaff
1 nuthatch
1 treecreeper

Early evening walk - before the rain. 3 Dippers on river, 13 Teal, 2 Kingfishers, 5 Great crested Grebes, Chiffchaff, Curlew in field, 20+ Redwings, 27 Canada Geese, Pair Mandarins, Pair Tufted Ducks, long standing F Smew, just one pair of Coot (lowest no I have ever recorded), pair Grey Wagtails, 59 active Rooks' nests, plus 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Kestrel and pair of Lapwings by public footpath from Chorley Road.

2 dippers by the bridge in arley woods
4 ravens over calling loudly

had a quick hour and a half here myself early morning so just to add to Jame's sightings

6 Siskins in trees alongside fields leading down from platt lane
small mixed finch flock feeding in fields with a couple of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers mixed in
pair of Dippers on river
single Grey Wagtail

Pair of Mandarin
5 Great Crested Grebe
2 Treecreeper
3 Buzzard
10 Tufted Duck
1 Kingfisher
Dodgy Smew

Couple of hours pm
21 Canada geese, plenty mallard, pinioned smew, great crested grebe,moorhen,coot, 1m mandarin,2teal, jackdaw,rook,carrion crow,magpie,jay,wood pigeon,collared dove,4 nuthatch,7 treecreeper, great tit,blue tit,long tailed tit,chaffinch,coal tit,goldfinch,robin,wren,
river Douglas 1 dipper, 1 grey wagtail.

-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Thursday 20th of February 2014 09:50:26 PM

couple of hours this pm, missed my target birds of Dipper on the River Douglas and Grey wagtail.
loads of mallard with a few call ducks, pinnioned smew still showing well, 1 great crested grebe, 5 moorhen, coot,black headed gulls,looking across to the old bleachworks pond 2 mute swan, 6 tufted duck,
near feeders greenfinch, chaffinch, nuthatch, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, 3 siskin, wren, robin,blackbird, collared dove,goldfinch, coal tit.
plenty of corvids, rook, jackdaw,carrion crow,magpie and jay all seen, just off site looking for dipper disturbed a flock of c70 wood pigeon, 2 nuthatch, 1 tree creeper.
nature reserve at least 9 mandarin difficult to count under trees but at least 6m, 3f. 1 buzzard over.

a pm walk today
1 dipper
2 goldcrest
1 nuthatch

Sat 12-3pm approx
Common Buzzard
Kingfisher - 2
Mandarin - 1 flew in
Jackdaw
Great Crested Grebe
Moorhen
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Black-headed Gull
Nuthatch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Kestrel
Robin
Treecreeper
Magpie
Mallard
Coot
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Long-tailed Tit
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Great Tit
Mistle Thrush
House Sparrow
Collared Dove
Goldcrest
Smew - resident bird (managed a picture of ring(see flickr (link below) if anybody knows about ringing , numbers etc - might shed some light on the origin of said bird , unless somebody already knows where it came from)

Couple of hours this pm pretty quiet At least 11 mandarin 4f,7m, few took and jackdaw, only mallard, call duck, coot, moorhen,black headed gull and the resident skew on the water, plenty of chaffinch,great tit and blue tit on feeders, a wren flew between my legs whilst I was scanning the main Lake.

This afternoon 2pm
Mandarin Duck - Adlington Reservoir difficult to count as they were skulking under overhanging branches
Teal
Mallard
Great Crested Grebe - Arley Reservoir

Mike

couple of hours this afternoon
15 canada geese, 4 call duck mixed in with the mallards, 7 moorhen, coot, 1 pinnioned smew, 8 black headed gull, 15 mandarin 9m 6f, 1 teal, 2 pied wagtail, 3 treecreeper, good numbers of goldfinch, great tit, blue tit,long tailed tit and chaffinch around the feeders, small numbers of rook and jackdaw in the horse fields, 1 jay,good numbers wood pigeon and magpie.
first time i have been here and not seen any cormorant or great crested grebe.

Nigel Richards wrote:

---

Neil
Had a walk round the Lakes for the 1st time yesterday looking for the Redpoll
Can I ask where exactly you saw them?
Cheers
Nigel

---

Nigel, they were in a mobile, noisy flock in the treetops around the nature reserve. Check out any alders, they could still be around.

Neil

Nigel Richards wrote:

---

Saw the Smew tho' - a big bonus as I missed it at Pennington Flash
Cheers
Nigel

---

Sorry Nigel, if you read through this thread you'll realise that the Smew has been around for ages and is of captive origin. It is pinioned, ringed and was dumped at the site in August last year I'm afraid.

Neil
Had a walk round the Lakes for the 1st time yesterday looking for the Redpoll
Can I ask where exactly you saw them?
Saw the Smew tho' - a big bonus as I missed it at Pennington Flash
Cheers
Nigel

Red Headed Smew this am
Could this be the same bird that was seen recently at Pennington Flash?

Arley Nature Reserve:- Mandarin min 10, Teal min 20, Mallard min 30, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Treecreeper, Long-tailed Tit 4, Lesser Redpoll c20

15 Mandarin today exactly as 2 weeks ago ie 9 males/6 females but 40+ Teal.

WEBs Count today:
Mandarin - 15 (nine male and six female, all on Adlington Res but wary and sometimes under overhanging trees)
Mallard 95
Teal seven (mixing in with the Mandarin)
Tufted Duck five
Smew one (female, pinioned)
'Call' Duck four
Great Crested Grebe four
Little Grebe one (first seen on Count here for a couple of years)
Moorhen seven
Coot seven
Cormorant three
Canada Goose two
Mute Swan two
Grey Wagtail two

(Flock of about 60 Redwing in nearby fields)

From yesterday....


Unbelievably quiet. A few Mallard, a dozen or so Tufted Duck, the Smew and a couple of Great crested grebes was really just about the sum total of an hours walk round.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 27th of October 2013 02:40:40 PM

7.15 - 9.15 am

1 pair of Great Crested Grebes with four young , another nest 4 eggs missing and a path in the reeds out to it, looks like human interference
Fledged Sparrowhawks, 3 birds near the nest area
single Dipper on the River and a single Buzzard hunting nearby.

Hare in the fields, Brown Hawker near reserve and very good numbers of large white Butterflies also of note

a pair of great crested grebes nesting on adlington.the nest is in open water and it seems to be made entirely of lily pads.2 dippers on the douglas in arley wood.

Nice leisurely stroll round this pm,
pr Mute Swans
2 pr Call Ducks,
1 Smew (captive origin)
pr Common Tern briefly,
Goldfinch feeding young in nest,
Great Spotted Woodpecker young calling in nest hole,
5 pr Great Crested Grebe (2 nest building fingers crossed
Moorhens 3 broods newly hatched 4,3,4,
2 Buzzards over.
Another year without Little Grebes real scarcity on the lakes nowadays

Note waterfowl and the like on the lakes do not breed well at all these days no one reason i suppose but possible causes could be.
1 Mink most likely as young are rarely seen.
2 Nesting sites lack of.
3 Larger fish in the lakes.
4 Fluctuation of water levels.

Cheers Jimmy

quick hour at lunchtime,

A Fledged Buzzard with both parents flew from GM airspace into Lancs, near nature reserve
juvenile Nuthatches with parents
One of the recently fledged Dippers found dead in the water, no signs of predation though
2 pairs of Great Crested Grebes
Whitethroats feeding young in nest

Quick walk around this morning
The Mute Swan nest looks as if its been predated, one bird present making strange calls
At least 3 Dippers on the River Douglas
Pair of Grey Wagtails
pair of Mandarins
Sparrowhawks nest built up, female nearby
Buzzard over being aggressively mobbed by a pair of Carrion Crows, who probably have young in the nest now, the Buzzard turning over in flight trying to grab the crows. Nice flying display lasted for a couple of minutes.
Curlews calling in the fields and a nice male yellowhammer were the other highlights

No sign of any swans this evening but 2 pairs of Mandarins and 1 pair of Teal, along with 2 Dippers, Swallows, Sand Martins and a singing Chifchaff. Also two Yellowhammers and 7 Great Crested Grebes.Canada Goose on nest too.

swans nesting on adlington res

This evening - 9 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Mandarins, 6 Teal , 19 Tufted, 2 Mutes, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Cormorant; also in woods, 3 Dippers, pair Grey Wagtails, pair Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

"Ethereal minstrel! pilgrim of the sky!" Skylarks singing and a Lapwing in a joyous tumble here today. Signs of spring at last? It certainly felt like it along with a singing Treecreeper, displaying Great Crested Grebes and chasing nuptial Mandarins.

"Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks" but this did not deter 6 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk displaying over the area this morning. Also 6 (min) Teal, pair of Mandarins, 4 pairs of displaying Great Crested Grebes, 16 Canadas, 2 Tufted, the long staying Smew, 2 Cormorants, 35 Black headed Gulls, 1 Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhens, Mallard. Also there were Bullfinch, Grey Wagtail and 59 Rook nests. In Arley Woods a Chiffchaff braved the cold, along with a singing Siskin, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and 4 Dippers.

Finch flock on the way down to the nature park contained
3 Brambling
6 Yellowhammer
50+ Chaffinch
Reed Bunting

also mixed Skylark and Meadow Pipit flock across the road from the lay-by.

Also mixed corvid flock or Jackdaw / Rook and Carrion Crow included one 'brown' Carrion Crow which showed same coloration as a bird I've often seen around The Reebok

on the nature reserve
4 Great Crested Grebe
2 Moorhen
2 Cormorants

1 Dipper on the River Douglas

16 Teal (min) and 1 Kingfisher, nature reserve; 6 Great Crested Grebes (courting pair Adlington + 2 each Worthington and Arley); 135 Black headed Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, 2 Cormorants, Smew and pair Tufted Worhington; 10 Curlew in fields on Arley lane +30 Redwings; also in area Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail (river), Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Skylark; 25 active Rook nests.

An hour this afternoon from Platt lane to River Douglas. 2 Jay. 3 Cormorant on Arley. 2 Goosander M and F on nature reserve and 2 Teal. 4 Great Crested Grebe Single Dipper on River Douglas. 3 Pied wagtail in field next to layby.

A quick, bitterly cold hour this afternoon 1.45 - 2.45

Single Kingfisher on the nature reserve showing well for 10 minutes or so
10 Teal

150 plus Woodpigeon in trees at the back of the nature reserve


Mixed flock on the stubble fields on the left of the path held
20 plus Yellowhammer
single male brambling
40 Chaffinch

The large finch flock were right next to the road this morning ( the flock actually flew over the middle of the road and landed again ) i picked out the white rump of a brambling , also plenty of rooks feeding on the stubble.

Between 13.00 and 13.45 At least 3 Bramblings with Chaffinches 100+ and Yellowhammers 20 + in stubble fields; also 200 Jackdaws and Rooks, 3 Grey Partridge, 50 Wood Pigeons. 12 Mandarin, 6 Teal and Kingfisher top pool,with 4 Goosander (1M/3F) on Adlington Reservoir. and 1 Dipper on River by footbridge

The Smew does indeed look pinioned Alan, certainly on the right wing it is and the left looks similar. It is also metal ringed on the right leg too.

Interesting collection of waterbirds on the reservoirs this morning:
Six Goosander (including a fine adult male), the largest number we've seen here for quite a few years but moved from Adlington to Arley without any signs of the usual panic and were still fishing when we left; one male Mandarin (Adlington); six Teal (also Adlington); two Tufted Duck (Worthington); one Great Crested Grebe (Arley); two Common Gulls with the Black-headeds; two Dippers near the bridge over the River Douglas, and the usual pinioned (?) red-head Smew.

Chorley Rd fields opp Platt Lan
10 Brambling in large flock of Chaffinch feeding in stubble
5 Yellowhammers
1 Kestrel
8 Skylark

Jimmy

Large flock of finches - mainly Chaffinch - still feeding in stubble fields sloping down to the Lakes from the A5106 just beyond Kilhey Court.
Just a short walk down the foothpath at about 3pm today gave views of up to 200-250 birds in poor light, with at least one male Brambling standing out as they occasionally perched in the large trees on the left.
Flying and feeding with them was a small group of Skylarks, several Yellow Hammers, a few Pied Wagtails, and probably Meadow Pipits - though the pipits were heard, not seen.

This AM
With Mr Woosey (to prove that we havn't passed away)
Smew still with us
4 Call Ducks
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Mandarins
1 Mute Swan
1 Jay
1 Gadwall
plus all the usuals
70+ Skylarks in stubble fields off Chorley Road

Jimmy

11.30 - 13.30 North End. At least 12 Mandarins, 12 Teal (Min), 72 Mallard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 600+ Rooks/Jackdaws in stubble along with c50 Fieldfares and 100+ finches mainly Chaffinches and Yellowhammers but at least 2 Bramblings watched by a F Sparrowhawk, also 100 Wood Pigeons and 7 Skylarks.

Fully circuit of 3 lakes 11.am-12.30pm in drizzling rain.

30 Canada geese
3 moorhen
6 coots
28 Mallard
4 Mallard Aylesbury hybrids
2 Tufted duck
7 Cormorant
5 Long-tailed tit
2 Goldcrests
1 Grey wagtail
1 Smew
2 Wren






-- Edited by Gary Ingram on Monday 17th of December 2012 01:48:10 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 17th of December 2012 02:14:39 PM

This morning with Wigan RSPB Midweek Group.

Treecreeper ...1 Car Park trees.
Smew(Red head)...1 taking bread.
Call Ducks...2
Canada Geese 60
Numerous Mallards, and a few Coots and Moorhens.
Tufted Duck...6
Grey Wagtail ...1
Cormorants...3 including 1 white chested JUVENILE
Mute Swans...3
Long-tailed Tits...25
Coal Tit...1
Great Tit...1
Jay....1
Dipper...1 ...showing really well on the Douglas, except when spending long times under water feeding !
Common Gulls....6
Black-headed Gulls
Teal...c12 skulking under overhanging tree roots and difficult to count.
Sparrowhawk...1
Numerous Blackbirds and a few Robins.
Small flock of Redwing over
Large mixed Corvid Flock...c250 in field by main road.




-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 12th of December 2012 07:30:47 PM

Captive bred Smew still here now associating wth 2 f Tufted Duck
It was doing a lot of wing exercise but just a shame both wings have been clipped hope they grow back but not sure if they can after being clipped

Also 7 Cormorants
7 Great Crested Grebes
9 Tufted Duck
82 Black Headed Gulls
1 Mute swan with 3 cygnets
6 Goldcrests.

Jimmy

Redhead Smew still here and more signs of it being of captive origin with it showing a silver ring on its right leg,,one thing to note is that it does follow the Mallard when someone brings bread but doesnt take any of the bread.

What it seems to do is follow the ducks in the scramble and it starts diving to take advantage of the stuff that the ducks disturb under the water then it just goes off on its own feeding for while.

Also here on Worthington Res
10 Tufted Duck
6 Cormorants
1 Mandarin
82 Black Headed Gulls
3 Great Crested Grebe
1 Mute Swan + 3 Cygnets
2 pr Call Ducks which are still as noisy as ever

Jimmy

Redhead Smew (of presumed captive origin) still at Worthington Lakes this morning.

Info thanks to Dave Broome