Andy Bissitt wrote:

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Didn't see the wigeon, but there was a flock of c70 golden plover which were flying around to the south of No. 2 for over 5 minutes. May have been looking for a roof to land on?

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Alright Andy,
The Golden Plovers are probably the regulars (or at least some of them) on Tom Chandleys Ovens roof on Windmill Lane not more than 500yds away

Didn't see the wigeon, but there was a flock of c70 golden plover which were flying around to the south of No. 2 for over 5 minutes. May have been looking for a roof to land on?

Today:

Red-necked Grebe still on no. 3 reservoir
1 Rock Pipit
5 Pochard
2 Wigeon

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RE: AUDENSHAW RESERVOIRS Reply Quote

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Andy Bissitt wrote:
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Didn't see the wigeon, but there was a flock of c70 golden plover which were flying around to the south of No. 2 for over 5 minutes. May have been looking for a roof to land on?



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Alright Andy,
The Golden Plovers are probably the regulars (or at least some of them) on Tom Chandleys Ovens roof on Windmill Lane not more than 500yds away



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Andy,

The most Golden Plover I have ever counted on Tom Chandleys roof roost has been 32 ........ I suspect that there is another roost in the locality but hard to check due to accessability (lack of).

Numbers may be higher during the working week ....... I noticed that numbers of Lapwings dropped when the plant stopped working week-end overtime ....... they probably find a warmer roof ??

Also the Golden Plover seem to start leaving the roost before the Lapwings ...... often in the half-light. Makes the count harder.

Roger.


-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Saturday 26th of October 2013 12:23:10 AM

Great Skua currently scouring all 3 Res ... 9am

Great Skua still present this morning.

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Tim Roberts wrote:

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Does it count as a twitch if the site is less than 2 miles from your front door?

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Hi Tim,

If you step out of the house knowing a particular bird is at a particular place and make the effort to see it then it is a twitch in my view, even if it is in next door's garden

Cheers John

Parked car approx 2.30pm and set off walking down central spine. Less than 5 mins later the bonxie obligingly came to have a look at me - seems to be a common story. It wheeled about a couple of times then flew off to the easternmost point of the site and I lost it. Obviously reappeared in time to have a look at Rick!

Does it count as a twitch if the site is less than 2 miles from your front door?

Other sightings of note :

a female Wheatear in exact same location as this weeks previous ones so possibly one of the same birds.

Also a Pipistrelle Bat battling against the wind near the grass banking between No.1 and 2

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 3rd of October 2013 08:43:40 PM

Great Skua still present from 6.15pm up to 7.25pm


Late drama up here in last 20 mins as the Skua dive bombed and attacked a white farm goose that was present with some Canada Geese on No.3. It had hold of the goose by its wing but somehow the goose freed itself and made a dash for it, the Skua had a 2nd go but eventually gave up as it sought sanctuary again in the middle of the Canada's. The light has defeated me once more and the Skua was present at 7.25pm sitting on No.1.

With such a range of species to mob and attack (and kill if indeed it did kill the Lesser Black Backed Gull and would've done the same to the Goose) then it's hard to see why it would want to leave just yet. Hope it's still here Saturday!!!

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 3rd of October 2013 08:42:10 PM

Great Skua still present this morning.

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Just connected with stunning bird. And it very nearly connected with me! Fly-by views down to about 6 feet at one point. Amazing!

3-4pm

-- Edited by Rick Hall on Thursday 3rd of October 2013 04:02:27 PM

Other sightings Included 9 Goosander, 2 female Wheatear, a male Kestrel being harassed by a Carrion Crow, and an enormous gathering of airborne mixed Gulls that probably numbered around 600

Great Skua present from 6pm until I left at 7.10pm. It was leisurely floating about 15ft away from the hide then unbelievably stood up and started walking up the cobbled bank towards me and I was leaning on the wall so estimate under 10ft. Truly remarkable! Good to meet Paul Shaw up there.

14.00

Close-up views of Great Skua - resting near carcass.

Also Sparrowhawk with Carrion Crow.
Wheatear - now 3
Kestrel
No sign of any waders, but too engrossed with Skua to pay much attention to much else!

Other sightings, up to noon today:

Cormorants...3
Great Crested Grebe..1
Tufted Duck...14
Wheatear...2
Dunlin..1
Kestrel...1 close
Second raptor jousting with a Corvid . Seen at distance but thought to be Sparrowhawk.

Great Skua resting on No 3 res about one third of the way out from the inspection platform at 13.00 after a substantial lunch of Lesser Black-backed Gull

Doesn't seem bothered by passing dog-walkers (just moved up from the waterline into the dead vegetation) but it moved out onto No 3 just as a Kestrel passed over. The corpse is more or less in line with a white 9 on the wall of No 3.

15 Goosander N.W. corner of No 3
12 Tufted Duck, mostly on No 1
2 Cormorant
8 Black-headed Gulls
8 Wood Pigeons
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Pied Wagtail
Great Crested Grebe
and the aforementioned Kestrel

At 11-35am bird flew over our heads at 8 feet and landed on no1 and chased a few gulls,also 2 Wheatear,Dunlin & Redshank. What a cracking bird the Great Skua is up close.
Dave Ousey

Great Skua still on the res around the Hide (on Res and appeared to be limping at one point) 5.30 along with 3 Goldeneye, 32 Goosander, 2 Wheatear, Kestrel, Heron, 3 Teal 15 Pied Wagtail and over 100+ Jackdaws flying over towards Debdale

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 2nd of October 2013 07:51:08 PM

Great Skua still present on no3 bed at11-30am.
Dave Ousey

Great Skua still present on no.1 reservoir at 10:10 this morning.

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Can photographers please not bait the Great Skua in order to tempt it closer, I think many have got decent shots without resorting to that but bread or other similar crap doesn't really form part of a skua's diet.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 2nd of October 2013 04:18:09 PM

Great Skua still present this morning; currently feeding on a floating carcass on no.1 reservoir.

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Good to be with Dave Ousey and Paul Dewey when the Great Skua came to look us over from 8 feet
A brilliant Bonxie!
County life tick of course!

-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 2nd of October 2013 01:38:46 PM

Female Wheatear also present and very active this evening

Martyn Jones wrote:

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Has the Great Skua got a permit then?

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It shouted to Andy Bissitt and myself as it flew over our heads ... "I've got one lads"

Seriously it treated us to some cracking aerial displays and typical Bonxie behaviour. I hope it sticks around for those who haven't seen it but it is a wild predator and scavenger so who knows!
Cheers
Rob

Andy,

have to agree whilst I haven't been birding GM for long it's a fantastic run of birds, really regretting the fact that I'm going to Spain on Thursday. Great Skua in GM wouldn't have believed it

A prayer. Dear Lord. Forgive me, for I have often mocked thy Divine County of Greater Manchester. If I should ever commit this sin again, may I be beaten senseless with a rolled up copy of 'Birdwatching'. Seriously though, two County lifers in two days, and both virtually dancing on my eyeballs. It's like the 1990's all over again, and certainly a couple of days I will never forget. More to come??
















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Great Skua still present from 5.40pm to 7.10pm. Good to meet up with Nigel, Gary and Andy up there. At about 6.15 to 6.30 the Skua put on a show and mobbed any Gull in sight, mainly Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed. I would estimate it flew over myself and Andy Bissett's head to within about 15-20ft chasing Gulls. What a fantastic bird and yet another lifer in a short space of time, including the Pectoral Sandpiper and the Glossy Ibis.

Great Skua still present at 5 with amazing views within 5 meters as flew between reservoirs

Great Skua still present at 3:45 today.

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Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Great Skua still present at 11:40 but mobile over all three reservoirs.

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It's 30 years since I was last at Audenshaw Reservoirs (I saw my first Velvet Scoter there). Is it possible to view the reservoirs (and hopefully the skua) without going in (I don't have a permit)?

Colin

Great Skua still present at 1.15pm when I left. Making circuits of all 3 tanks, sometimes disappearing over the houses. Was down on No.3 tank as I departed

Great Skua still present at 11:40 but mobile over all three reservoirs.

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Had to have a ride out this morning for this one seeing as I couldn't make it last night.

The Great Skua was circling aroud over the lower reservoir (don't know the number) as I arrived but as I type this it's currently settled on the water. Cracking bird to see in GM.

The answer on this public forum is no I'm afraid Colin, as for Health and Safety reasons any visitors must have the required permit.

I've sent you a private message explaining the situation in more detail.


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 1st of October 2013 03:09:31 PM

Great Skua still present at 7:50 this morning; harassing Canada Geese!

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Great Skua still present at 6:30pm

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Great Skua now on/over no. 1 reservoir but obviously mobile.

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Great Skua still present at 4:30pm

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Great Skua currently on no.3 reservoir.

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No sign of the Red-necked Grebe this morning.

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Red-necked Grebe present on no.1 reservoir today.

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-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 27th of September 2013 05:31:36 PM

Three Rock Pipits on the causeway between no.s 1 and 3 this evening, plus 3 Dunlin on no. 3 earlier.

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Yesterday afternoon:

2 Lapwing over
1 Common Sandpiper
17 Goosander
4 Goldeneye
55+ Great Crested Grebe

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Rock Pipit present this morning.

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This morning:

male Peregrine
1 Dunlin
1 Common Sandpiper
8 Goosander
2 Goldeneye

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Adult Mediterranean Gull present in the gull roost again this evening with only 180 Lesser Black-backed Gulls too.

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Three Whinchats present on the southern bank of no.2 reservoir this morning.

Also 13 Goosander and a Grey Wagtail.

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This evening in the gull roost:

Adult Mediterranean Gull
First winter Yellow-legged Gull
630 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

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