Evening walk around the reservoir 17:30 - 18:30 hrs
7 Wigeon male Pochard male Tufted Duck 8 Goosander came in to roost 9 Snipe left the roost and headed SW
I'd just reached the SE corner of the reservoir at 6.30pm when the unmistakeable sound of calling Whooper Swans came from the south. A flock of 31 birds appeared in the fading light and flew north up the valley. A great way to finish the day and the second largest flock ever recorded at Watergrove. A perfect night for migration with a cloudless sky and light winds.
Steve Atkins said
Sun Nov 8 7:02 PM, 2020
The Wigeon flock had increased to 56 by 16:00 hrs - a site record.
16 were seen earlier by a local birder flying away from Hollingworth Lake. So additional birds must have dropped in during the course of the day, perhaps called down by the flock already on the reservoir.
Steve Atkins said
Sun Nov 8 11:08 AM, 2020
07:50 - 10:20 hrs, light easterly, high thin cloud, drizzle at first One of the best mornings for duck here in a while. My first scan of the reservoir produced a flock of 40+ ducks keeping close together on the west side. As they drifted into the middle of the reservoir the flock was identified (bins only) as follows:
28 Wigeon 10 Teal 4 male Pochard One male Shoveler
There looks to have been a good movement of duck across the north of the county with other birds at Elton Reservoir and Hollingworth Lake. Perhaps brought down overnight by poor visibility over the Pennines.
Charles Farrell said
Mon Oct 26 8:54 PM, 2020
Sunday 25-Oct (9:30-11:00)
Only Herring & Black-headed Gulls on the main part of the reservoir, and just Mallards in the more sheltered areas. Male Bullfinch from the hide, but little else. A nice walk though.
Steve Atkins said
Wed Oct 21 8:40 PM, 2020
14 Wigeon on the reservoir this evening at 18:20 hrs. Very obliging, whistled to confirm their ID in the fading light.
Also 2 Great Crested Grebes.
Steve Atkins said
Sun Oct 18 9:51 AM, 2020
The Whoopers have gone. Thought they would be free from windsurfer disturbance today with no wind. Unfortunately someone has decided to paddle a boat across the reservoir instead!
Steve Atkins said
Sun Oct 18 8:57 AM, 2020
20 Whooper Swans on the reservoir since 08:00 hrs. Adults and 3 juveniles.
Steve Atkins said
Sat Oct 17 7:58 PM, 2020
48 Whooper Swans flew SE over the reservoir at 08:48 hrs heading in the direction of Hollingworth Lake. They were photographed 5 minutes later flying over the house of a local birder in Smithy Bridge.
This is probably the largest flock ever recorded in Rochdale but will need to check. The previous highest number at Watergrove was 24 down on the reservoir on 30th January 2009.
Steve Atkins said
Thu Aug 13 8:44 PM, 2020
A cream crown Marsh Harrier flew low over the Juncus field to the north of the Little Town ruin at 18:30 hrs. Amazingly, just one day later than last year's bird. It flew north over the tree tops gaining height and then dropped down over Middle Hill where it was lost to view.
Lapwing - 47 feeding on shoreline by the path to the bird hide which is still locked.
Steve Atkins said
Sun Jul 12 12:11 PM, 2020
Four Common Scoters (three males, one female/immature) on the reservoir at 8am, still present at 10:30hrs. Windsurfers setting up, so may get flushed but can tolerate them at times.
Canada Goose - 128
Common Sandpiper - 1
Grasshopper Warbler reeling from field to north of Little Town. Blackcap - 2 singing Willow Warblers - two collecting food and one family party
Grey Wagtail - one. Have bred successfully this year with one family party seen in May. Dunnock - 3 singing Song Thrush - 3 singing and one calling agitatedly. Wren - 15 singing
Reed Bunting - 2 singing Bullfinch - pair and independent juvenile (latter feeding in willow) Linnet on dam Lesser Redpoll - 3 Siskin - flock of six
James Walsh said
Mon May 18 3:38 AM, 2020
Sunday 17th May 2020
Singing Garden Warbler still present along the track adjacent to the old visitor centre building / windsurfers club house
Male Wheatear, 10 singing Skylark, 1 Curlew, 1 Lapwing, 1 Buzzard on Brown Wardle Hill
Steve Atkins said
Sat May 16 4:17 PM, 2020
08:00 - 11:00 hrs a fairly chilly morning, just +8C at the start
Common Scoter - three males in the middle of the reservoir Common Sandpiper - a pair and a displaying male
Singing birds Garden Warbler - one has been showing well for the past two weeks in the trees next to the vehicle track, on the bend just before the windsurfers' club house Watergrove Garden Warbler What was almost certainly a second bird was heard singing some distance to the north of the hide which remains closed
Willow Warblers - 22. The peak number this spring was 37 singing on 12th April, one week earlier than 2019's record count of 42. Blackcap - 5 Whitethroat - 1 Great Tit - 2 Dunnock - 2 Wren - 9 Robin - 3 Blackbird - 3 Song Thrush - 2 Chaffinch - 4 Goldfinch - 1 Lesser Redpoll - 3
The car park reopened yesterday much to the delight of a local flytipper who celebrated the lifting of this lockdown restriction by dumping his builder's waste within hours of the gates being unlocked
Steve Atkins said
Sat Jan 25 8:59 PM, 2020
A good day for ducks with low cloud shrouding the ridge and valley this morning at 08:30 hrs.
3 Wigeon on the reservoir initially had increased to 18 by 10:30am. Keeping close together in a single flock in the middle of the reservoir whistling loudly.
8 Gadwall (5 males and 3 females) in a separate group swam into the willows disappearing from view.
male Tufted Duck
Song Thrush - 3 singing Redwing - 29
Bullfinch - 6
A flock of 28 Goldfinches feeding in alders along Higher Slack Brook with 4 Siskins and 2 Lesser Redpolls,
Reed Bunting - 2
Steve Atkins said
Fri Jan 24 9:41 AM, 2020
Male Red-breasted Merganser on the reservoir at 08:15 hrs showing well close into the dam. No further sign when I left at 09:15 hrs but the bird was diving frequently.
Also a pair of Goosander and three Song Thrushes singing.
Steve Atkins said
Sun Nov 17 11:33 AM, 2019
WeBS Count 08:00 - 10:40 hrs with Aqeel Azam
The highlight was 8 Wigeon (5m, 3f) which flew in at 10:30 hrs and landed on the reservoir.
Teal - 2 Mallard - pair Goosander - male flew SE Great Crested Grebe Coot
did find a large flock of Fieldfare feeding on the Hawthorn hedge down the side of the Jumping field didn't get a good count but in excess of 100
Lots of Goldfinch around and a Lone Red headed Goosander on the Nature reserve pond
Rain stopped play
Steve Atkins said
Wed Nov 6 9:47 AM, 2019
Four Crossbills landed in conifers by the fisherman's car park on the east side of the windsurfers' club house at 08:50 hrs. Watched for about 10 minutes preening and feeding on very large spruce cones.
3 Whooper Swans (a pair with a juvenile) flew in calling at 17:03 hrs. The birds lowered their legs as they lost height and landed on the reservoir. No sign of them later, so they may have flown off.
A pair of Wigeon
10 Snipe left the hide pool roost between 18:18 and 18:23 hrs and flew west calling.
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Steve Atkins said
Sun Oct 20 7:16 PM, 2019
Was just about to get in the car this evening when I heard the calls of Whooper Swans and located 11 losing height over the dam to the west of Trap Farm car park. They dropped down out of sight, so a quick (for me!) sprint up the steps to the top of the dam and the swans were down on the water on the west side of the reservoir. The light was fading, so they are presumably going to roost overnight. It might be worth checking for them early tomorrow morning.
Looks to be the highest count here since 20 on 6th November 2009.
Steve Atkins said
Sun Oct 6 9:41 PM, 2019
6 Wigeon on the reservoir at 17:45 hrs. Still present at 19:05 hrs visible on the water in the reflected sunset.
12 Redwing flew south this am.
Steve Atkins said
Wed Sep 18 9:01 PM, 2019
52 Pink-footed Geese over SE at 09:27 hrs. Moments earlier a Golden Plover was heard calling in flight coming in from the east. so had to choose between trying to pick up the GP or counting the geese. The geese won
56 Lapwings roosting on the inside of the dam this evening.
Steve Atkins said
Sat Sep 14 1:01 PM, 2019
A female Ring Ouzel perched in a hawthorn along Higher Slack Brook at 10:30 hrs was the highlight of the morning Location of Ring Ouzel
Also present were (singles unless count specified): Teal Great Crested Grebe Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Goldcrest - 2 Skylark - 3 flying east Swallow - 5 Chiffchaff - 7 Blackcap - 2 Grey Wagtail Meadow Pipit - 23 Goldfinch - 20 Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch - 3
Steve Atkins said
Tue Sep 10 8:10 PM, 2019
Male Common Scoter on the reservoir at 18:00 hrs standing up out of the water and flapping its wings. There was no sign of it at 19:00 hrs, so it had presumably flown off whilst out of view.
Kingfisher on the hide pool Pied Wagtail - 17 on the dam Grey Wagtail - 2 at the top of the spillway Chiffchaff - 2 calling Blackcap - heard alarm calling Bullfinch - 3
Steve Atkins said
Mon Aug 12 8:44 PM, 2019
I was very surprised to find the Marsh Harrier still present this evening at 19:00 hrs. It initially appeared over the eastern ridge south of the wind turbines then flew down the hillside and was quartering over the fields by the Crook farm ruin (2 mature sycamores mark the location). It dropped to the ground once then resumed hunting flying within approximately 300 metres of my view point at Steward Barn
Steve Atkins said
Mon Aug 12 3:59 PM, 2019
A Marsh Harrier (cream crown) was the highlight of the month (so far!) viewed from Steward Barn, it was flying low over the moor at 09:30 hrs and drifted east over Crook Hill by the wind farm. It was in view for about ten minutes and is only the second site record (6th for Rochdale borough). A visiting bird watcher from Oldham (sorry I didn't get your name) was with me, and it certainly made his day, as it was a GM first for him.
A Kingfisher on the hide pool was the first of the autumn.
Also this morning: Great Crested Grebe - 2 Kestrel Lapwing -13 Swift - single high up over eastern ridge Great Spotted Woodpecker Raven - 2 Goldcrest - 3 House Martin - 12+ hawking over the dam with 2 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows Chiffchaff Willow Warbler - 8 Blackcap - 2 Treecreeper Stonechat - immature in the car park was presumably a migrant Lesser Redpoll - 2
Steve Atkins said
Sun Jul 28 12:33 PM, 2019
Thanks for posting Simon. Having checked the GMBRG database I can confirm it is a first for Watergrove Reservoir. Two new species in one week, following the Mediterranean Gull on Monday, that doesn't happen very often! Ian Kimber has just reported that all the birds on the island have been flushed by a windsurfer and he is no longer able to see the Knot.
Also this morning, a FLOCK of nine Common Sandpipers flew low over the water calling and landed on the shoreline. The highest count here since ten on 5th August 1980. Certainly don't think I've ever seen so many Common Sandpiper together before.
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Jul 28 11:32 AM, 2019
Summer plumaged Knot showing well on the island just now - found by Watergroves no.1 lister Steve Atkins - who reliably informs me its a first for the site.
A very smart bird and a great find Steve
Steve Atkins said
Mon Jul 22 8:54 PM, 2019
An adult Mediterranean Gull in almost full breeding plumage was roosting with Black-headed Gulls on the spit in front of the Windsurfers' club house at 18:45 hrs. I returned home to get my scope and met Dave Ousey on top of the dam. He relocated the bird on a small island between the spit and the dam. It took flight south at 19:38 hrs and was moulting outer secondaries on both wings. Surprisingly a site first for Watergrove.
Also 3 Common Sandpipers flying together near the dam. A pair bred successfully here this year with a downy juvenile (50% adult size) seen on 6th July.
Common Scoter - 3 males on the reservoir when I arrived and still present at 11:00 hrs although windurfers were setting up. Tufted Duck - 2 males and a female flew in and landed close to the scoter Common Sandpiper displaying along the shoreline Oystercatcher - 2 flew south Skylark - 4 singing Swallows - 17 feeding in the rain Blue Tit chicks heard calling from nest in drystone wall Blackcap - 5 singing Willow Warbler - 12 singing and 2 calling suggesting they were near a nest. Several have been seen carrying food since 27th May. Whitethroat - 1 singing Wren - 6 singing Blackbird - 6 singing Dunnock - 4 singing Meadow Pipit - 4 parachuting Chaffinch - 4 singing Lesser Redpoll - 2 in song flight Reed Bunting - recently fledged juveniles hunger calling by the hide with a male close by. 1 singing on the moors.
Steve Atkins said
Mon May 20 9:02 PM, 2019
Late post from Sunday 19th May
28 Willow Warblers singing Garden Warbler singing
Probably the highlight of the breeding season here so far in 2019 is confirmed breeding of two pairs of Treecreepers. A single pair fledged young in 2016 which was the first time breeding had been proved here. On Friday evening (17th) an adult was feeding two juveniles in the plantations on the west side of the reservoir and this family party was seen again on Sunday evening. However, a second pair at a different location had been seen carrying food over the past week and then on Sunday evening I noticed an adult Treecreeper carrying food on a drystone wall and initially thought it was searching for insects on the wall. I could hear young birds hunger calling and was amazed to see the adult disappear into a cavity in the wall and then emerge a few seconds later carrying a faecal sac!
This morning Tucker managed to take this fantastic photo of one of the adults again carrying food by the nest hole. The literature refers to Treecreepers nesting up to 16 m above ground behind a flap of loose bark or in a crevice on a tree trunk, in a building or stone wall and occasionally hidden among or behind vegetation I'd be interested to know if anyone else ever observed the species nesting in a drystone wall.
Monday 20th May The Garden Warbler was showing really well this evening in the willows outside the hide door and sang occasionally.
Goosander - 2 males roosting on the spit (quite unusual here in May)
Willow Warblers - numbers have dropped down to 27 singing (64% of the peak count) Blackcap - 3 singing Whitethroat - 1 singing Garden Warbler - heard from the hide singing in the distance (probably on the NW side of the reservoir
Steve Atkins said
Fri May 10 8:55 PM, 2019
David, that's an impressive count of Willow Warblers. You probably won't be surprised to hear that it is a record number from Tameside (in the GMBRG database) surpassing the 34 territories recorded by Arthur Renshaw at Park Bridge on 14th April 1995.
David Walsh said
Mon Apr 22 10:22 PM, 2019
Steve Atkins wrote: There must be other upland sites in GM where similar numbers are present, especially where new plantations have been established in the past 20 years. In the case of Watergrove tree planting began here in the late 1980's.
Steve, Wild Bank SBI in Stalybridge also has large areas of new birch growth on the moor, which replaced heather, following large moorland fires in 2006. The birch reaches as far as the 1,000 ft contour. My count of 38 singing Willow Warblers from Saturday morning included 32 from one of the two areas of birch, and is certainly an underestimate due to the impenetrability of the trees; I can only count from around the perimeter. There is another area of birch at the northern edge of the SBI, so it will be interesting to be able to add them together. The trees also hold decent numbers of Lesser Redpoll, although I find this species a little trickier to count.
Steve Atkins said
Mon Apr 22 5:36 PM, 2019
Well the new record didn't stand for very long 42 Willow Warblers were singing on Sunday morning 21st April which is a Rochdale borough record. Despite a later start this morning due to my BTO heronry survey at Queen's Park, Heywood there were still 40 birds singing. The territories from this morning's visit are mapped here Willow Warbler Territories Watergrove Reservoir 22 Apr 2019 Unfortunately, my phone's battery died on Sunday before I had completed my circuit, so I had to resort to old fashioned notebook and pen for the remaining birds.
Willow Warblers have small territories, as shown on the map. However, to avoid double-counting, I stood for a couple of minutes at each location where several birds were singing against each other and made sure that they were taking it in turns to sing. Over the past four days it is really noticeable how the majority are keeping to the same small areas and the Willow Warbler singing in the plantation next to the car park at 10:30am was still singing when I returned at 1pm
The map also shows the areas of the plantations I didn't cover, so whilst not wishing to estimate how many additional Willow Warblers there are in these areas, the 42 actually recorded is definitely a minimum. It will be interesting to see how many stay to breed. There must be other upland sites in GM where similar numbers are present, especially where new plantations have been established in the past 20 years. In the case of Watergrove tree planting began here in the late 1980's.
Two Bramblings were still at the feeding station on Sunday but none seen today.
Steve Atkins said
Sat Apr 20 8:59 PM, 2019
Morning visit with Kevin McCabe.
I spoke too soon! 39 Willow Warblers were singing around the usual route which takes in most of the plantations. A new site record.
Great Crested Grebe - pair Sparrowhawk - 1 Coot - 1 (a rare visitor here in recent years) Curlew - 1 in display flight over the moors Lapwing - 1 Green Woodpecker - 1 heard calling Raven - heard calling in the distance Goldcrest - 1 singing Coal Tit - pair (one carrying nesting material) Chiffchaff - 1 singing Blackcap - 1 singing Fieldfare - 1 calling in flight with 2 Mistle Thrushes Song Thrush - 2 singing Wheatear - 1 Grey Wagtail - 1 Brambling - male and female at the feeding station Siskin - 1 flying over Linnet - 3 Lesser Redpoll - 3 Bullfinch - 3 Reed Bunting - 1 singing
Steve Atkins said
Fri Apr 19 2:32 PM, 2019
08:30 - 12:00 hrs, light NE, sunny, temperature climbing from +13C at the start to +21C at midday
33 Willow Warblers singing in the plantations is the second highest site count. Assuming this is the peak number for spring migration this year, the date is within the same 5 day window for the peaks in 2017 (37 on 23/04/17) and 2018 (26 on 21/04/18). Their arrival has been remarkably consistent over the past eight years. Blackcap - 2 singing (first reported from the site yesterday by Tucker when a male and female were present). Brambling - 9 still at the feeding station, looked to be all males. Possibly additional birds calling from the trees by Little Town
Great Tit - one carrying moss into a bat box. I just hope it didn't eat any Pipistrelles that may have been roosting in the box before commandeering their home! Goldcrest - 2 singing Skylark - 5 singing Wren - 12 singing Dunnock - 3 singing Redwing - 1 in sub song Pied Wagtail - carrying food. An early date for here Chaffinch - 7 singing Lesser Redpoll - 3 Reed Bunting - 1 singing near the hide and 1 male on the moors Treecreeper - 1 singing. On 8th April one was seen collecting slivers of bark from a birch tree Great Crested Grebe - a pair which has already lost two nests due to fluctuating water levels
Paul Samuels said
Mon Apr 8 3:22 PM, 2019
Spent a good three hours on site today 10.30am up until 1.30pm no sign for me of the Mealy amongst the Lesser Repolls, Brambling still present albeit keeping their distance
Paul Samuels said
Sat Apr 6 7:24 PM, 2019
Mealy Redpoll and Brambling showing well this morning only issue is every Saturday's is a Parkrun day....doh !...more images loaded on blog
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of April 2019 09:24:09 PM
dave broome said
Sat Apr 6 6:58 PM, 2019
Mealy Redpoll at the feeders 18:40-18:50
-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 6th of April 2019 07:00:11 PM
The suspected Mealy Redpoll was showing well this morning.
Paul Samuels said
Thu Apr 4 10:19 PM, 2019
What appears to be the Mealy was present this afternoon, tried to post some images but all to confusing for me, you can see the images on the blog
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Apr 4 11:53 AM, 2019
Following up the post from yesterday I checked the feeding station this morning and there is indeed a Mealy Redpoll (in my opinion) with around 30 Lesser Redpolls - also 15+ Brambling , 1 Chiffchaff and a Green Woodpecker calling I think Mealy Redpoll will be a first for Rochdale subsequent to acceptance by the GMRC
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 4th of April 2019 12:02:25 PM
I was hoping to catch the first signs of spring this morning but instead caught the end of winter. The wood around the feeders is raucous with finches, possibly preparing to move on. The flocks of bramblings and redpolls were pretty spread out but I counted eight of the former at one time at the near feeder and twenty of the latter at the one further into the wood, with at least double of both species queuing up in the nearby trees and in the wood.
One of the redpolls stood out as being much different to the rest of them, whiter, particularly in the face and flank and with white in the supercilium. I'm pretty sure it was a common redpoll but I couldn't get a photo, sorry.
Steve Atkins said
Mon Feb 25 7:24 PM, 2019
7 Wigeon (4m, 3f) on the reservoir this evening at sunset. These birds are believed to spend the day on Clegg Hall Pools and then fly to Watergrove late afternoon to roost.
Six (3m, 3f) were present at the same time on Saturday 23rd Feb.
Steve Atkins said
Sat Feb 16 6:25 PM, 2019
Steve Judge wrote: I notice the hide a little further on was locked up - is it permanently locked up?
Hi Steve,
I put a post about the Watergrove hide on the General Discussion section of the forum on 12th Jan. It's currently about half way down the page!
If you or any other birders visiting the site on a weekday let me know 24hrs in advance, I can arrange for someone to open it up. Although to be honest, at the moment there isn't a lot to see from the hide and most of the pool is visible from the path.
Steve
Steve Judge said
Sat Feb 16 3:46 PM, 2019
Friday, 15th February 2019. 11:30 - 16:00 hrs. Watergrove Reservoir Car Park - Feeding Station (near former Visitor Centre) - Middle Hill - Brown Wardle Hill - Brown House Wham Reservoir - through village of Wardle- back to Watergrove Reservoir Car Park.
Brambling x 2 Skylark x 2 Greenfinch x 3 Reed Bunting x 1 Goosander x 1 Teal x 8 Coal Tit x 1 Raven x 1 (heard gronking) Lapwing x 30 Black-Headed Gull x 50 Herring Gull x 1 Mistle Thrush x 10 Robin x 5 Great Tit x 3 Blue Tit x 4 Blackbird x 5 Chaffinch x 3 Crow x 10 Dunnock x 1
A big thank you to the guys who keep the feeding station well stocked. I notice the hide a little further on was locked up - is it permanently locked up?
Steve Atkins said
Sat Feb 16 12:10 PM, 2019
5 Wigeon (3 males) were on the reservoir yesterday evening at 17:25 hrs. Still present this morning but took flight high up to the SW at 11:15 hrs. Also seen this morning: Teal - 7 Great Crested Grebe Buzzard Skylark - 2 singing (the first returning birds were heard flying over high up on Mon 11th) Grey Wagtail - 3 flew west then possibly one of the same birds singing in flight over the dam Dunnock - 5 singing Wren - 2 singing Robin - 6 singing Song Thrush - 2 singing Treecreeper Brambling - 3 at the feeding station (including 2 males moulting into breeding plumage) Bullfinch - 2 Chaffinch - 5 singing Lesser Redpoll - 8
Steve Atkins said
Fri Feb 1 1:53 PM, 2019
Late post from Sunday 27th Jan. Brambling Bonanza!
I counted 15 Bramblings in the hedge in the windsurfer's car park first thing. Nigel Taylor who runs the feeding station with Tucker emailed me early afternoon to say that he had counted 20 below the feeders. He managed to get a couple of photos with a maximum of 17 birds in one shot (attached). This is the highest Brambling count at Watergrove since 14th Nov 1980 when Bob Turner recorded 24. It is also the highest count in Rochdale since 2002 when 100 were in Healey Dell.
Also: Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Blackbird at feeders.
Black-headed, Common, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull on water with Mallard.
Crow and Pied Wagtail in front of Sailing Club.
Steve Atkins said
Sun Jan 6 7:56 PM, 2019
Late post from Saturday 5th January (additional to Adam's sightings).
Morning Visit
Wigeon - 5 (3 males)
Afternoon Visit with Zoe Barrett Canada Geese - 153 most arriving after sunset to roost Teal - 6 Common Gull - 30 Redshank - feeding on the shoreline by the Windsurfers' club house at 14:10 hrs. Still present at 16:45 hrs. Snipe - 20 left the hide pool roost from 16:30 to 16:40 hrs Tawny Owl - pair calling to each other Treecreeper - 2 feeding close together along the path to the hide Goldcrest - 1 Reed Bunting - 3
Redshank is a fairly scarce bird in GM at this time of year. There are only 14 January records in the GMBRG database from 2012 to 2018, so an average of 2 per year. However, they do show an interesting trend with number of records in brackets: 2012 (0), 2013 (2), 2014 (1), 2015 (0), 2016 (0), 2017 (6), and 2018 (5). Maximum counts of five on the Manchester Ship Canal at Weaste on 27th Jan 2013 and 5 at Audenshaw on 12th and 19th Jan 2018.
Many thanks to Nigel and Tucker for setting up the feeding station again this winter and keeping it well stocked with food. Brambling used to be mainly a spring and autumn migrant here but the provision of food is undoubtedly the reason why there is now a small over wintering flock.
7 Wigeon
male Pochard
male Tufted Duck
8 Goosander came in to roost
9 Snipe left the roost and headed SW
I'd just reached the SE corner of the reservoir at 6.30pm when the unmistakeable sound of calling Whooper Swans came from the south. A flock of 31 birds appeared in the fading light and flew north up the valley. A great way to finish the day and the second largest flock ever recorded at Watergrove. A perfect night for migration with a cloudless sky and light winds.
16 were seen earlier by a local birder flying away from Hollingworth Lake. So additional birds must have dropped in during the course of the day, perhaps called down by the flock already on the reservoir.
One of the best mornings for duck here in a while. My first scan of the reservoir produced a flock of 40+ ducks keeping close together on the west side. As they drifted into the middle of the reservoir the flock was identified (bins only) as follows:
28 Wigeon
10 Teal
4 male Pochard
One male Shoveler
There looks to have been a good movement of duck across the north of the county with other birds at Elton Reservoir and Hollingworth Lake. Perhaps brought down overnight
by poor visibility over the Pennines.
Also 2 Great Crested Grebes.
This is probably the largest flock ever recorded in Rochdale but will need to check. The previous highest number at Watergrove was 24 down on the reservoir on 30th January 2009.
Lapwing - 47 feeding on shoreline by the path to the bird hide which is still locked.
Canada Goose - 128
Common Sandpiper - 1
Grasshopper Warbler reeling from field to north of Little Town.
Blackcap - 2 singing
Willow Warblers - two collecting food and one family party
Grey Wagtail - one. Have bred successfully this year with one family party seen in May.
Dunnock - 3 singing
Song Thrush - 3 singing and one calling agitatedly.
Wren - 15 singing
Reed Bunting - 2 singing
Bullfinch - pair and independent juvenile (latter feeding in willow)
Linnet on dam
Lesser Redpoll - 3
Siskin - flock of six
Singing Garden Warbler still present along the track adjacent to the old visitor centre building / windsurfers club house
Male Wheatear, 10 singing Skylark, 1 Curlew, 1 Lapwing, 1 Buzzard on Brown Wardle Hill
Common Scoter - three males in the middle of the reservoir
Common Sandpiper - a pair and a displaying male
Singing birds
Garden Warbler - one has been showing well for the past two weeks in the trees next to the vehicle track, on the bend just before the windsurfers' club house
Watergrove Garden Warbler
What was almost certainly a second bird was heard singing some distance to the north of the hide which remains closed
Willow Warblers - 22. The peak number this spring was 37 singing on 12th April, one week earlier than 2019's record count of 42.
Blackcap - 5
Whitethroat - 1
Great Tit - 2
Dunnock - 2
Wren - 9
Robin - 3
Blackbird - 3
Song Thrush - 2
Chaffinch - 4
Goldfinch - 1
Lesser Redpoll - 3
The car park reopened yesterday much to the delight of a local flytipper who celebrated the lifting of this lockdown restriction by dumping his builder's waste within hours of the gates being unlocked
3 Wigeon on the reservoir initially had increased to 18 by 10:30am. Keeping close together in a single flock in the middle of the reservoir whistling loudly.
8 Gadwall (5 males and 3 females) in a separate group swam into the willows disappearing from view.
male Tufted Duck
Song Thrush - 3 singing
Redwing - 29
Bullfinch - 6
A flock of 28 Goldfinches feeding in alders along Higher Slack Brook with 4 Siskins and 2 Lesser Redpolls,
Reed Bunting - 2
Also a pair of Goosander and three Song Thrushes singing.
The highlight was 8 Wigeon (5m, 3f) which flew in at 10:30 hrs and landed on the reservoir.
Teal - 2
Mallard - pair
Goosander - male flew SE
Great Crested Grebe
Coot
Black-headed Gull - 17
Common Gull - 20
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2
Herring Gull - 3
A Peregrine flew west over north end of reservoir
Went to try and find the crossbills to no avail
did find a large flock of Fieldfare feeding on the Hawthorn hedge down the side of the Jumping field didn't get a good count but in excess of 100
Lots of Goldfinch around and a Lone Red headed Goosander on the Nature reserve pond
Rain stopped play
Crossbill location
A pair of Wigeon
10 Snipe left the hide pool roost between 18:18 and 18:23 hrs and flew west calling.
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Looks to be the highest count here since 20 on 6th November 2009.
56 Lapwings roosting on the inside of the dam this evening.
Also present were (singles unless count specified):
Teal
Great Crested Grebe
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Goldcrest - 2
Skylark - 3 flying east
Swallow - 5
Chiffchaff - 7
Blackcap - 2
Grey Wagtail
Meadow Pipit - 23
Goldfinch - 20
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch - 3
Kingfisher on the hide pool
Pied Wagtail - 17 on the dam
Grey Wagtail - 2 at the top of the spillway
Chiffchaff - 2 calling
Blackcap - heard alarm calling
Bullfinch - 3
Steward Barn
A Kingfisher on the hide pool was the first of the autumn.
Also this morning:
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Kestrel
Lapwing -13
Swift - single high up over eastern ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Raven - 2
Goldcrest - 3
House Martin - 12+ hawking over the dam with 2 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler - 8
Blackcap - 2
Treecreeper
Stonechat - immature in the car park was presumably a migrant
Lesser Redpoll - 2
Also this morning, a FLOCK of nine Common Sandpipers flew low over the water calling and landed on the shoreline. The highest count here since ten on 5th August 1980. Certainly don't think I've ever seen so many Common Sandpiper together before.
Also 3 Common Sandpipers flying together near the dam. A pair bred successfully here this year with a downy juvenile (50% adult size) seen on 6th July.
Common Scoter - 3 males on the reservoir when I arrived and still present at 11:00 hrs although windurfers were setting up.
Tufted Duck - 2 males and a female flew in and landed close to the scoter
Common Sandpiper displaying along the shoreline
Oystercatcher - 2 flew south
Skylark - 4 singing
Swallows - 17 feeding in the rain
Blue Tit chicks heard calling from nest in drystone wall
Blackcap - 5 singing
Willow Warbler - 12 singing and 2 calling suggesting they were near a nest. Several have been seen carrying food since 27th May.
Whitethroat - 1 singing
Wren - 6 singing
Blackbird - 6 singing
Dunnock - 4 singing
Meadow Pipit - 4 parachuting
Chaffinch - 4 singing
Lesser Redpoll - 2 in song flight
Reed Bunting - recently fledged juveniles hunger calling by the hide with a male close by. 1 singing on the moors.
28 Willow Warblers singing
Garden Warbler singing
Probably the highlight of the breeding season here so far in 2019 is confirmed breeding of two pairs of Treecreepers. A single pair fledged young in 2016 which was the first time breeding had been proved here.
On Friday evening (17th) an adult was feeding two juveniles in the plantations on the west side of the reservoir and this family party was seen again on Sunday evening. However, a second pair at a different location had been seen carrying food over the past week and then on Sunday evening I noticed an adult Treecreeper carrying food on a drystone wall and initially thought it was searching for insects on the wall. I could hear young birds hunger calling and was amazed to see the adult disappear into a cavity in the wall and then emerge a few seconds later carrying a faecal sac!
This morning Tucker managed to take this fantastic photo of one of the adults again carrying food by the nest hole. The literature refers to Treecreepers I'd be interested to know if anyone else ever observed the species nesting in a drystone wall.
Monday 20th May
The Garden Warbler was showing really well this evening in the willows outside the hide door and sang occasionally.
The intermittent showers brought down a few waders which were feeding on the spit in front of the windsurfers' club house:
Common Sandpiper - 3 (including a pair displaying)
Dunlin - 1
Lapwing - 1
Oystercatcher - 1
Ringed Plover - 1
Goosander - 2 males roosting on the spit (quite unusual here in May)
Willow Warblers - numbers have dropped down to 27 singing (64% of the peak count)
Blackcap - 3 singing
Whitethroat - 1 singing
Garden Warbler - heard from the hide singing in the distance (probably on the NW side of the reservoir
Steve, Wild Bank SBI in Stalybridge also has large areas of new birch growth on the moor, which replaced heather, following large moorland fires in 2006. The birch reaches as far as the 1,000 ft contour. My count of 38 singing Willow Warblers from Saturday morning included 32 from one of the two areas of birch, and is certainly an underestimate due to the impenetrability of the trees; I can only count from around the perimeter. There is another area of birch at the northern edge of the SBI, so it will be interesting to be able to add them together. The trees also hold decent numbers of Lesser Redpoll, although I find this species a little trickier to count.
The territories from this morning's visit are mapped here Willow Warbler Territories Watergrove Reservoir 22 Apr 2019
Unfortunately, my phone's battery died on Sunday before I had completed my circuit, so I had to resort to old fashioned notebook and pen for the remaining birds.
Willow Warblers have small territories, as shown on the map. However, to avoid double-counting, I stood for a couple of minutes at each location where several birds were singing against each other and made sure that they were taking it in turns to sing. Over the past four days it is really noticeable how the majority are keeping to the same small areas and the Willow Warbler singing in the plantation next to the car park at 10:30am was still singing when I returned at 1pm
The map also shows the areas of the plantations I didn't cover, so whilst not wishing to estimate how many additional Willow Warblers there are in these areas, the 42 actually recorded is definitely a minimum. It will be interesting to see how many stay to breed. There must be other upland sites in GM where similar numbers are present, especially where new plantations have been established in the past 20 years. In the case of Watergrove tree planting began here in the late 1980's.
Two Bramblings were still at the feeding station on Sunday but none seen today.
I spoke too soon! 39 Willow Warblers were singing around the usual route which takes in most of the plantations. A new site record.
Great Crested Grebe - pair
Sparrowhawk - 1
Coot - 1 (a rare visitor here in recent years)
Curlew - 1 in display flight over the moors
Lapwing - 1
Green Woodpecker - 1 heard calling
Raven - heard calling in the distance
Goldcrest - 1 singing
Coal Tit - pair (one carrying nesting material)
Chiffchaff - 1 singing
Blackcap - 1 singing
Fieldfare - 1 calling in flight with 2 Mistle Thrushes
Song Thrush - 2 singing
Wheatear - 1
Grey Wagtail - 1
Brambling - male and female at the feeding station
Siskin - 1 flying over
Linnet - 3
Lesser Redpoll - 3
Bullfinch - 3
Reed Bunting - 1 singing
08:30 - 12:00 hrs, light NE, sunny, temperature climbing from +13C at the start to +21C at midday
33 Willow Warblers singing in the plantations is the second highest site count. Assuming this is the peak number for spring migration this year, the date is within the same 5 day window for the peaks in 2017 (37 on 23/04/17) and 2018 (26 on 21/04/18). Their arrival has been remarkably consistent over the past eight years.
Blackcap - 2 singing (first reported from the site yesterday by Tucker when a male and female were present).
Brambling - 9 still at the feeding station, looked to be all males. Possibly additional birds calling from the trees by Little Town
Great Tit - one carrying moss into a bat box. I just hope it didn't eat any Pipistrelles that may have been roosting in the box before commandeering their home!
Goldcrest - 2 singing
Skylark - 5 singing
Wren - 12 singing
Dunnock - 3 singing
Redwing - 1 in sub song
Pied Wagtail - carrying food. An early date for here
Chaffinch - 7 singing
Lesser Redpoll - 3
Reed Bunting - 1 singing near the hide and 1 male on the moors
Treecreeper - 1 singing. On 8th April one was seen collecting slivers of bark from a birch tree
Great Crested Grebe - a pair which has already lost two nests due to fluctuating water levels
Spent a good three hours on site today 10.30am up until 1.30pm no sign for me of the Mealy amongst the Lesser Repolls, Brambling still present albeit keeping their distance
Mealy Redpoll and Brambling showing well this morning only issue is every Saturday's is a Parkrun day....doh !...more images loaded on blog
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of April 2019 09:24:09 PM
-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 6th of April 2019 07:00:11 PM
What appears to be the Mealy was present this afternoon, tried to post some images but all to confusing for me, you can see the images on the blog
Following up the post from yesterday I checked the feeding station this morning and there is indeed a Mealy Redpoll (in my opinion) with around 30 Lesser Redpolls - also 15+ Brambling , 1 Chiffchaff and a Green Woodpecker calling I think Mealy Redpoll will be a first for Rochdale subsequent to acceptance by the GMRC
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 4th of April 2019 12:02:25 PM
I was hoping to catch the first signs of spring this morning but instead caught the end of winter. The wood around the feeders is raucous with finches, possibly preparing to move on. The flocks of bramblings and redpolls were pretty spread out but I counted eight of the former at one time at the near feeder and twenty of the latter at the one further into the wood, with at least double of both species queuing up in the nearby trees and in the wood.
One of the redpolls stood out as being much different to the rest of them, whiter, particularly in the face and flank and with white in the supercilium. I'm pretty sure it was a common redpoll but I couldn't get a photo, sorry.
Six (3m, 3f) were present at the same time on Saturday 23rd Feb.
Hi Steve,
I put a post about the Watergrove hide on the General Discussion section of the forum on 12th Jan. It's currently about half way down the page!
If you or any other birders visiting the site on a weekday let me know 24hrs in advance, I can arrange for someone to open it up. Although to be honest, at the moment there isn't a lot to see from the hide and most of the pool is visible from the path.
Steve
Brambling x 2
Skylark x 2
Greenfinch x 3
Reed Bunting x 1
Goosander x 1
Teal x 8
Coal Tit x 1
Raven x 1 (heard gronking)
Lapwing x 30
Black-Headed Gull x 50
Herring Gull x 1
Mistle Thrush x 10
Robin x 5
Great Tit x 3
Blue Tit x 4
Blackbird x 5
Chaffinch x 3
Crow x 10
Dunnock x 1
A big thank you to the guys who keep the feeding station well stocked. I notice the hide a little further on was locked up - is it permanently locked up?
Also seen this morning:
Teal - 7
Great Crested Grebe
Buzzard
Skylark - 2 singing (the first returning birds were heard flying over high up on Mon 11th)
Grey Wagtail - 3 flew west then possibly one of the same birds singing in flight over the dam
Dunnock - 5 singing
Wren - 2 singing
Robin - 6 singing
Song Thrush - 2 singing
Treecreeper
Brambling - 3 at the feeding station (including 2 males moulting into breeding plumage)
Bullfinch - 2
Chaffinch - 5 singing
Lesser Redpoll - 8
I counted 15 Bramblings in the hedge in the windsurfer's car park first thing. Nigel Taylor who runs the feeding station with Tucker emailed me early afternoon to say that he had counted 20 below the feeders.
He managed to get a couple of photos with a maximum of 17 birds in one shot (attached). This is the highest Brambling count at Watergrove since 14th Nov 1980 when Bob Turner recorded 24. It is also the highest count in Rochdale since 2002 when 100 were in Healey Dell.
27 Jan 2019 at 11.30am
2 Brambling under feeders
3 Lesser Redpoll in adjacent trees
Also: Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Blackbird at feeders.
Black-headed, Common, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull on water with Mallard.
Crow and Pied Wagtail in front of Sailing Club.
Morning Visit
Wigeon - 5 (3 males)
Afternoon Visit
with Zoe Barrett
Canada Geese - 153 most arriving after sunset to roost
Teal - 6
Common Gull - 30
Redshank - feeding on the shoreline by the Windsurfers' club house at 14:10 hrs. Still present at 16:45 hrs.
Snipe - 20 left the hide pool roost from 16:30 to 16:40 hrs
Tawny Owl - pair calling to each other
Treecreeper - 2 feeding close together along the path to the hide
Goldcrest - 1
Reed Bunting - 3
Redshank is a fairly scarce bird in GM at this time of year. There are only 14 January records in the GMBRG database from 2012 to 2018, so an average of 2 per year. However, they do show an interesting trend with number of records in brackets: 2012 (0), 2013 (2), 2014 (1), 2015 (0), 2016 (0), 2017 (6), and 2018 (5). Maximum counts of five on the Manchester Ship Canal at Weaste on 27th Jan 2013 and 5 at Audenshaw on 12th and 19th Jan 2018.
Many thanks to Nigel and Tucker for setting up the feeding station again this winter and keeping it well stocked with food. Brambling used to be mainly a spring and autumn migrant here but the provision of food is undoubtedly the reason why there is now a small over wintering flock.