2 Swallow Sand Martin through at 0900 3 Oystercatcher Goldeneye Goosander 2 Curlew 3 Tufted Duck 6 Mallard Reed Bunting
Kath Butterworth said
Mon Apr 6 9:58 PM, 2009
5th April
Raven over top res calling and being mobed by crows 1400hrs Oystercatcher 2 and also a pair on New years Bridge res Fieldfare 5 - behind wood farm. Lapwing 1 Skylark 2 singing Swallows back at T'Heights on 1st April
15 Curlew in field above Friarmere cricket ground
Mark Rigby said
Sun Apr 5 3:26 PM, 2009
04/04/09 1330-1500
Little Grebe 2 Great Crested Grebe 5 Goosander Goldeneye 2 Oystercatcher 2 Redshank 16 Curlew
No Osprey this week-I must be slacking
Mark Rigby said
Mon Mar 30 10:36 PM, 2009
It circled the bottom res a few times then got mobbed. It flew to the top res, still being mobbed then settled in one of the 3 small trees in the east side of the top res.
It was still being mobbed by the crows and Jackdaws but when the Ravens joined in it flew off north over the moor-same direction as last year!
Graham Beverley said
Mon Mar 30 6:27 AM, 2009
nice Sunday afternoon birding 13.00 - 16.00 Snipe ? from under feet and didn't go far ? + normal Good day till i get home onto the computer Well done mark I will be dropping my bins off at the charity shop again on the way home today Did the Osprey take the same route as last time over the hill and was it on the top or bottom res?
Mark Rigby said
Sat Mar 28 10:33 PM, 2009
Bill Myerscough wrote:
Fantastic Mark! - isn't that the second year running you have had Osprey there? Don't be expecting one every year!!
A brilliant record. Well done.
Still my best ever sighting at Piethorne was an Osprey hovering over Piethorne Res. on 7th April 2004. I still get nostalgic thinking about it now! Surely must be due another one! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are quite correct Bill, 04/04/08 was last years date but that was just a flyover. This was hovering over the water and even perched up for a short time, but just got sick of the mobbing and flew off north. Thats 3 in the last 2 years in GM But I would gladly swap 1 for a Red Kite or Dotterel
Its just rewards for persistance. Just as you start to question why you bother freezing your Parus's off, staring at nothing for hours, along comes a stonker like that to give you a boost-mind you, it has been hotting up in recent weeks with Shelduck and Shoveler putting in an appearance. You lowland birders dont know how lucky you are! with your Bitterns, Black Necked Grebes, Egrets and Spoonbills......etc
Judith Smith said
Sat Mar 28 8:23 PM, 2009
With the wind having dropped away tonight and a good forecast for the next couple of days, keep your eyes on the skies tomorrow. I still need it for GMC!
James Minchin said
Sat Mar 28 6:21 PM, 2009
What a great sighting and just up the road from me, if only I was up there today.
Bill Myerscough said
Sat Mar 28 5:34 PM, 2009
Fantastic Mark! - isn't that the second year running you have had Osprey there? Don't be expecting one every year!!
A brilliant record. Well done.
Still my best ever sighting at Piethorne was an Osprey hovering over Piethorne Res. on 7th April 2004. I still get nostalgic thinking about it now! Surely must be due another one!
Cheers,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Saturday 28th of March 2009 05:45:30 PM
stuartherring said
Sat Mar 28 5:08 PM, 2009
oh i would of loved to have seen the osprey brilliant spot mark
-- Edited by stuartherring on Saturday 28th of March 2009 05:09:39 PM
Mark Rigby said
Sat Mar 28 4:38 PM, 2009
28/03/09 1350-1600
Osprey 1520-1535 flew off north being mobbed by Ravens.
Friday Redshank 3 ontop res Curlew 7 Meadow pipits Goosander 12 oystercatcher 2 Lapwing Goldeneye 1 M 3 F Tufted 1M Cormorant 3 Pied wagtails
Mark Rigby said
Sat Mar 21 5:41 PM, 2009
1400-1600
2 Shoveler (first record for me at this site) 10 Goosander 5 Goldeneye 21 Curlew 3 Redshank 2 Oystercatcher
Geoff Walton said
Fri Mar 20 9:47 PM, 2009
Sorry, news to me all "this stuff"
Steve Suttill said
Fri Mar 20 5:11 PM, 2009
As Ian posted on this forum just two days ago:
"No upland sightings of Merlins from March onwards should be posted although informing the county bird recorder would be adviseable and the same applies for any locations of owls.
If in doubt, simply don't post it."
Geoff Walton said
Fri Mar 20 5:01 PM, 2009
We four were at the reservoir and on the moors above today.Fab. weather. Must say I think it is daft that this is Gtr.M/cr. but there you go.
Shelduck-1st record for me there and Oldham tick 9 Cormorants 3 Goldeneye 9 Goosander Great Crested Grebe 31 Mallard Herring, Black Headed and Common gulls
Graham Beverley said
Tue Feb 17 8:50 AM, 2009
Sunday pm
Goosander 3m 2f Goldeneye 4f not much else only a quick visit bottom res frozen top ok
Mark Rigby said
Wed Feb 4 11:34 PM, 2009
04/02/09 1600-1645 (Battled through the snow drifts!)
2 Goldeneye 7 Goosander 2 Reed Bunting 3 Blackbird 2 Magpie 7 Stock Dove 16 Woodpigeon 21 Mallard 29 Lesser, 3 Great, 2 Herring,31 Common and 150+ Black Headed Gull
Mark Rigby said
Sat Jan 31 10:04 PM, 2009
31/01/09
5 Cormorant 2 Goldeneye 20 Mallard Reed Bunting Robin
Graham Beverley said
Wed Jan 28 10:46 AM, 2009
forgot to mention the 5 cormorant on sunday
Mark Rigby said
Tue Jan 27 7:38 PM, 2009
27/01/09 0900-1045
2 Goldeneye 8 Goosander Cormorant 15 Mallard Coal,Blue and Great Tit Robin Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail 20+Fieldfare 300+ Black headed Gull 75+ Common Gull 50+Lesser Black backed Gull 2 Herring Gull
Graham Beverley said
Tue Jan 27 9:53 AM, 2009
25.02.09
very quiet so went for a look on top of the hill behind the Saddleworth Hotel but still no look? Main res goldeneye 1 m 2 f Not many gulls canada geese >40 fieldfare 10 Top res Goosander 10 f 3m
Mark Rigby said
Wed Jan 21 3:28 PM, 2009
Recent highlight
17/01/09
64 Great Black-backed gulls(which coincided with the large count at Pennington Flash and also large numbers of gulls present at Castleshaw-about 1500 assorted)
Otherwise very quiet and cold.
-- Edited by Mark Rigby at 15:28, 2009-01-21
Mark Rigby said
Thu Jan 1 7:29 PM, 2009
1100-1245
Lower Res 90% frozen
Canada Goose 70+ Gulls (LBB,Common, BH and 2 GBB)
Upper Res
35 Mallard Teal 3 Goldeneye Kestrel
Mark Rigby said
Mon Dec 22 8:14 PM, 2008
20/12/08 1100-1500
usual suspects +
8 Goosander (3males-stunning!!!) 4 Goldeneye
Flushed a Snipe from a good looking area, so it was on with the wellies in search of Jack's. After a good half hours stomping,I had flushed the only bird present but a new bird for my Castleshaw list
At 1600, I spotted a large raptor very high up in the blue sky,head on into the afternoon sun. It was being mobbed by corvids and flying in and out of the lower cloud. I grabbed my scope from the car but the bird flew into the cloud never to been seen again.
I am 90% sure it was a Red Kite-but could not clinch ID on the views I got.
Saturday 20.9.08 - complete circuit of both resrs (0900 - 1100):
3 separate family groups of Stonechat and one Whinchat. 120 Canadas + one Canada x Greylag (?) hybrid, 5 Tufties, 1 Cormorant, numerous Mallard, 1 Heron, hunting Kestrel, a few Black-headed Gulls. Gave up shaking a stick at Mipits when it became obvious there were too many! Dipper, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail on overflow channel of bottom resr. Dipper appeared colour-ringed but need to examine photos closely.
Nice to see some birds at last! Though nothing unusual Yet!!
Mark Rigby said
Thu Sep 11 8:51 PM, 2008
Very Quiet recently.1845-1945 tonight
36 Mallard(6 young still!) 76 Canada Goose Great Crested Grebe Grey Heron 3 Robin 3 Mistle Thrush(flock of 20 recently) kestrel 6 Blackbird Few Swallow(10+)
Just before dark-18 duck flew in off the moors,thought I was in for a treat!
2 Swallow
Sand Martin through at 0900
3 Oystercatcher
Goldeneye
Goosander
2 Curlew
3 Tufted Duck
6 Mallard
Reed Bunting
Raven over top res calling and being mobed by crows 1400hrs
Oystercatcher 2 and also a pair on New years Bridge res
Fieldfare 5 - behind wood farm.
Lapwing 1
Skylark 2 singing
Swallows back at T'Heights on 1st April
15 Curlew in field above Friarmere cricket ground
Little Grebe
2 Great Crested Grebe
5 Goosander
Goldeneye
2 Oystercatcher
2 Redshank
16 Curlew
No Osprey this week-I must be slacking
It was still being mobbed by the crows and Jackdaws but when the Ravens joined in it flew off north over the moor-same direction as last year!
Snipe ? from under feet and didn't go far ?
+ normal
Good day till i get home onto the computer
Well done mark I will be dropping my bins off at the charity shop again on the way home today
Did the Osprey take the same route as last time over the hill and was it on the top or bottom res?
A brilliant record. Well done.
Still my best ever sighting at Piethorne was an Osprey hovering over Piethorne Res. on 7th April 2004. I still get nostalgic thinking about it now! Surely must be due another one!
Cheers,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Saturday 28th of March 2009 05:45:30 PM
-- Edited by stuartherring on Saturday 28th of March 2009 05:09:39 PM
Osprey 1520-1535 flew off north being mobbed by Ravens.
6 Cormorants
3 Goldeneye
6 Goosander
Redshank
10 Curlew
wheatear f end of top res wall near house
Redshank
11 Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
5 Goosander
3 Goldeneye
4 Cormorants
Redshank 3 ontop res
Curlew 7
Meadow pipits
Goosander 12
oystercatcher 2
Lapwing
Goldeneye 1 M 3 F
Tufted 1M
Cormorant 3
Pied wagtails
2 Shoveler (first record for me at this site)
10 Goosander
5 Goldeneye
21 Curlew
3 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
"No upland sightings of Merlins from March onwards should be posted although informing the county bird recorder would be adviseable and the same applies for any locations of owls.
If in doubt, simply don't post it."
Res. 6 pairs Goosander
1 Pair Mallard
1 Tuftie.
umpteen Canada
Around.
Stonechat on post at the end of the Res.
up to 6 Curlew, and heard more 3
3 Skylarks
Meadow Pipit
Starlings
Blue Tits
Robin
Crows
Pheasant
Geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Walton on Friday 20th of March 2009 05:02:36 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 20th of March 2009 08:56:25 PM
yes it was. Rest of 2008 records with you next week. Sorry for the delay.
Cheers, Steve
Curlew flock up to 35 (best ever seen at this site), 1 Gt. Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 pair Goosander + usual Canadas and Mallard.
Also, a very odd bird call that I couldn't pin down. Like a Crow but much higher pitched - any ideas?
Steve
Goosander
Stonechat 2 m
Goldeneye 1m 3f
Cormorant 6
Fieldfare
Shelduck-1st record for me there and Oldham tick
9 Cormorants
3 Goldeneye
9 Goosander
Great Crested Grebe
31 Mallard
Herring, Black Headed and Common gulls
Goosander 3m 2f
Goldeneye 4f
not much else
only a quick visit bottom res frozen top ok
2 Goldeneye
7 Goosander
2 Reed Bunting
3 Blackbird
2 Magpie
7 Stock Dove
16 Woodpigeon
21 Mallard
29 Lesser, 3 Great, 2 Herring,31 Common and 150+ Black Headed Gull
5 Cormorant
2 Goldeneye
20 Mallard
Reed Bunting
Robin
2 Goldeneye
8 Goosander
Cormorant
15 Mallard
Coal,Blue and Great Tit
Robin
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
20+Fieldfare
300+ Black headed Gull
75+ Common Gull
50+Lesser Black backed Gull
2 Herring Gull
very quiet so went for a look on top of the hill behind the Saddleworth Hotel but still no look?
Main res
goldeneye 1 m 2 f
Not many gulls canada geese >40
fieldfare 10
Top res
Goosander 10 f 3m
17/01/09
64 Great Black-backed gulls(which coincided with the large count at Pennington Flash and also large numbers of gulls present at Castleshaw-about 1500 assorted)
Otherwise very quiet and cold.
-- Edited by Mark Rigby at 15:28, 2009-01-21
Lower Res 90% frozen
Canada Goose
70+ Gulls (LBB,Common, BH and 2 GBB)
Upper Res
35 Mallard
Teal
3 Goldeneye
Kestrel
usual suspects +
8 Goosander (3males-stunning!!!)
4 Goldeneye
Flushed a Snipe from a good looking area, so it was on with the wellies in search of Jack's. After a good half hours stomping,I had flushed the only bird present but a new bird for my Castleshaw list
4 Goldeneye
37 Mallard
Goosander
Cormorant
Grey Wagtail
8 Greater BB Gull
18 Lesser BB Gull
54 Common Gull
3 Herring Gull
100+ BH Gull
Lots and lots and lots of rain
Goldeneye
2 Great Crested Grebe
Tufted Duck
5 Cormorant
Goldcrest
150 mixed flock Fieldfare/Redwing
At 1600, I spotted a large raptor very high up in the blue sky,head on into the afternoon sun. It was being mobbed by corvids and flying in and out of the lower cloud. I grabbed my scope from the car but the bird flew into the cloud never to been seen again.
I am 90% sure it was a Red Kite-but could not clinch ID on the views I got.
2 Goldeneye
4 Cormorants
Kestrel
5 Goosander
2 Stonechat
50+Fieldfare
Great Crested Grebe
4 Tufties
141 Canada Goose
24 Mallard
Kestrel
Goosander
Great Crested Grebe
100+ Fieldfare
Kestrel
22/10/08
3 Goosander
3 Cormorant
Great Crested Grebe
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Kestrel
Grey Wagtail
2 Wigeon (ecl drk+fem)
Coot
otherwise-very quiet
Only thing to add
Whinchat and Stonechat in field over road coming out of carpark and no Canada Geese?
-- Edited by Graham Beverley at 11:10, 2008-10-14
After several recent visits not worthy of any posts today, the valley was full of birds.
18 Goosander
4 Cormorant
53 Mallard
7 Tuffted Duck
70+ Mipit
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
2 Kestrel
Greenfinch
7 Pied Wagtail
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
27 Black Headed Gull
3 House Sparrow
2 Moothen
154 Canada Goose
Blue Tit
Great Tit
2 Wren
39 Mallard
2 Goosander
Great Spotted Woodpecker
5 Tufted Duck
3 Blackbird
Robin
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Mipit
LITTLE GREBE(juv)
5 Tufted Duck
Kestrel
18 Mipits
Goldfinch
10 Mallard
Otherwise very quiet
Kestrel
2 Teal
5 Tufted Duck
7 Mallard
Great Crested Grebe
3 Pied Wagtail
Grey Heron
-- Edited by Mark Rigby at 00:25, 2008-09-28
3 separate family groups of Stonechat and one Whinchat.
120 Canadas + one Canada x Greylag (?) hybrid,
5 Tufties, 1 Cormorant, numerous Mallard, 1 Heron, hunting Kestrel, a few Black-headed Gulls.
Gave up shaking a stick at Mipits when it became obvious there were too many!
Dipper, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail on overflow channel of bottom resr. Dipper appeared colour-ringed but need to examine photos closely.
No hirundines and no grebes.
Migration well under way
200+ Meadow Pipits
20+ Robin
2 Stonechat
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
2 Kestrel
20+ Mistle Thrush
20+ Blackbird
Plenty of Hirundines-a lot more than recently
30 Mallard
Great Crested Grebe
Nice to see some birds at last! Though nothing unusual Yet!!
36 Mallard(6 young still!)
76 Canada Goose
Great Crested Grebe
Grey Heron
3 Robin
3 Mistle Thrush(flock of 20 recently)
kestrel
6 Blackbird
Few Swallow(10+)
Just before dark-18 duck flew in off the moors,thought I was in for a treat!
All Mallard-escaping from West Youkshire
3 ravens overhead just before I left
Warfy-get on the phone,I need Geeing Up!!!!!!
Not much about-even the Teal have moved on.
Some people dont know how lucky they are.
Very tough going Mr Warfy
2 teal
102 Canada goose
5 Kestrel
2 Grey Wagtail
36 Mallard(still 6 Duckling)
8 Tufted Duck
Grey Heron
10 Mistle Thrush
tonight 6.30-8.00
Kestrel
7 TEAL
38 Mallard
8 Tufted Duck
Raven
Grey Wagtail
Very Quiet!!