Female Stonechat on the grass banking not far from the hide.
2 Skylarks feeding close to the hide.
3 Ringed Plovers.
1 Curlew overhead.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 25th of March 2013 02:53:47 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 25 1:14 AM, 2013
Sightings from this morning: -
Two female Stonechat The usual Brent Goose, which departed early 4 Ringed Plover Oystercatcher 150+ Golden Plover
Site access by permit only
Henry Cook said
Sat Mar 23 8:13 PM, 2013
23/03/2013 - 3 Ringed Plovers and c20 Golden Plovers by number 3 reservoir at 6.45pm.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 23rd of March 2013 08:13:41 PM
Rob Creek said
Wed Mar 20 2:57 AM, 2013
Scoured the edges of quite alot of the Res this evening but no sign of any Scandanavian Rock Pipit but there were a few Pied Wagtails present. No sign of the Red Breasted Merganser and couldn't see the Pochard either although to be honest there seems to be a bit of a reduction in the Ducks this last week, namely Goldeneye, Tufted and Goosander.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 19 3:53 AM, 2013
Scandinavian Rock Pipit present this evening.
Site access by permit only.
Rob Creek said
Mon Mar 18 2:22 AM, 2013
Not much of note this evening except the ever increasing Gull colony, small group of Pochard plus all the usuals. Speaking to another birder up there and he hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary neither.
Unable to locate the Red Breasted Merganser, has she finally flown???
Michael Wait said
Sun Mar 17 7:47 PM, 2013
Noted today between 1345 - 1515,
Shelduck - 2 (No2) Pochard - M3, F1 (No3) Goldeneye - M5, F3 (No2 & 3) Goosander - M4 (No2 & 3) Pied Wagtail - 4 (No3) and what looked like a Rock Pipit on the water line of No3
-- Edited by Michael Wait on Sunday 17th of March 2013 11:33:37 PM
Rob Creek said
Fri Mar 15 2:54 AM, 2013
Thursday 14th 5.45-6.45pm
Good to meet Gary Crowder up there and thanks for the scope view of the Med Gull in the roost. Wouldv'e took me ages to pick that out amongst the vast number of Black Headed's. Lesser Black Back Gulls, Great Black Back Gulls, all the usuals present.
8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Oystercatchers and a single Curlew flying overhead, would've missed them all if not for their call.
Brent Goose not present with the Canada Geese up to 6.45pm, couldn't see the Red Breasted Merganser although the light was diminishing so probably there just not seen.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Mar 13 4:34 PM, 2013
The Brent Goose departed from the reservoirs at 07:20 this morning.
Yesterday evening:
Breeding plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull on no2 in the roost. Also 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull and c700 LBBGulls, plus the female Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Shoveler and 12 Pochard.
Site access by permit only.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 12 3:47 PM, 2013
Brent Goose present again at 08:30 this morning, with 100 Golden Plover and 2 Shovelers.
Site access by permit only.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 11 3:07 PM, 2013
Brent Goose on No3 reservoir this morning, still present at 7:30am at least.
Site access by permit only.
Rob Creek said
Mon Mar 11 5:58 AM, 2013
Nice one cheers for that Vicky, will keep you posted if it turns up while I'm there this week
Vicky Harper said
Mon Mar 11 5:34 AM, 2013
thanks for the pictures of the brent goose. I think its very likely the same bird as at Broomstairs. Its only a stones throw away from audenshaw. Iv been checking to see if it would turn up with the flocks of canada geese. yesterday was the first day i couldn't get down and it chose to turn up. I'll check the area again tomorrow.
Rob Creek said
Mon Mar 11 4:21 AM, 2013
Do you think the Brent Goose I saw at Broomstairs could be the same bird, it's not too far away? (Photos sent to Vicky Sumner as Broomstairs is normally her domain)
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Mar 10 4:11 PM, 2013
Kittiwake on no.1 this morning and 5 Curlew through so far.
Yesterday the Brent Goose was again present in the morning before heading off with a few Canada Geese.
Site access by permit only.
Rob Creek said
Mon Mar 4 12:49 AM, 2013
1.30pm - 3pm. Went up to spot the Brent Goose but no sign of it on any of the res. The Red Breasted Merganser still present, 8 Goosander, Pochard still there, I counted 13 so could be same group as last week. Plenty of Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Coot, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and I could only see 3 Great Black Backed Gulls, they stood out in the crowd.
Vicky Harper said
Mon Mar 4 12:13 AM, 2013
No sign of Brent goose at 3 pm. Red Breasted Merganser still present. Oystercatcher, numerous goldeneye, herring, black headed and common gull.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Mar 3 3:16 PM, 2013
Brent Goose present on number 3 reservoir this morning.
Site access by permit only.
Henry Cook said
Sun Mar 3 3:21 AM, 2013
02/03/2013 - Red-breasted Merganser redhead still on No.2 this evening.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 27 3:14 PM, 2013
Yesterday late afternoon:
Red-breasted Merganser still present on no 2 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull in the roost
Site access by permit only
Rob Creek said
Tue Feb 26 3:04 PM, 2013
Sunday 24th Feb 3.30pm Red Breasted Merganser still present although as soon as I spotted her she was being bombarded by a couple of gulls so she took off and disappeared onto another reservoir and I lost her. 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Oystercatcher, plenty of Tufted Duck, a handful of Goosander right in the corner of 1 of the res, 13 Pochard, 4 Great Crested Grebe, numerous Coot, a very large Carrion Crow with white streaks in tail and rump feathers (think its the same bird I saw last week) and a massive Gull colony but the light was going so only Black Headed, Herring, and Lesser Black Backed picked out!
Took me a good few hours to thaw out and my eyes to stop streaming from the piercing wind, it's like Alaska up there!
My apologies there's good numbers of Goldeneye up here too.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 26th of February 2013 03:13:35 PM
Andy Bissitt said
Mon Feb 25 4:20 AM, 2013
A nice stroll given the conditions, with a little reward.
3 ringed plover 13 pochard 22 coot (seemed like a big number for here) 1 raven over quite low 1 golden plover on the grass reservoir.
Plenty of dog walkers.
Site access by permit only (applications apparently to Crufts)
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Feb 23 2:56 AM, 2013
Tonight: Red-breasted Merganser (redhead), 3 Shelduck, 2 Ringed Plover, good sized gull roost though with c400 Herrings, the only gull of note being the regular 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull.
Site access by permit only.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Feb 17 3:35 AM, 2013
Rob, the white headedness of gulls in relation to the identification of Yellow-legged Gulls at this time of year, has no significance I'm afraid as all the races of Herring Gull are either pure white headed now, or certainly well on their way. Leg colour is often difficult to assess in the field and at range so I'm assuming you saw the legs very well? Yellow-legged Gulls are county rarities though so would be worth submitting to the County Rarities Committee
Rob Creek said
Sun Feb 17 3:04 AM, 2013
Couple of hours up here this afternoon. Highlight was the female Red Breasted Merganser, ( just a dot at first but managed to get some far shots ) Pied Wagtail Great Crested Grebe Goldeneye Tufted Duck Pochard Goosander Cormorant Oystercatcher Carrion Crow with white streaks. massive Gull colony constantly being spooked by dogs but managed to identify mainly Black Headed, Common, not many Herring Gull, about 10 Lessser Black Backed Gulls, and 2 or 3 Gulls I thought were Herring at first but closer inspection showed the heads to be a lot cleaner looking than the Herring and the yellow legs on show so I make them Yellow Legged Gulls (I'm sure I'll be corrected if I've misidentified)
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Feb 16 2:38 AM, 2013
Single Common Scoter present in no.1 reservoir today.
Access is by permit only.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Feb 9 5:54 AM, 2013
No sign of the Slavonian Grebe today.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Feb 7 5:26 PM, 2013
Slavonian Grebe on number 3 reservoir this morning.
Access is for permit holders only.
JamieDunning said
Thu Feb 7 7:12 AM, 2013
Quick visit late afternoon
Plenty of Goldeneye, fewer Tufted duck. 3 Goosander over head, 2f1m 2 Ringed plover, first heard then seen in flight over water.
Gulls (roughly) 55% Black-headed 45% Common (fantastic numbers!) 5% other species including Lesser-black backed and Herring. nothing more interesting that I managed to pick out.
very quite on the avifauna front...
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jan 23 7:47 PM, 2013
Juvenile Iceland Gull (appeared to be same as individual as last week) present until c8.20am when it flew off NE. Also 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull, and fem/imm Red-breasted Merganser.
Please note, access to this site is permit only.
Roger Baker 3 said
Sat Jan 19 6:22 AM, 2013
Not many reports coming from this site, for some unknown reason ???
Probably all the reporters have succumbed to hypothermia ..... and eaten by bears !
Roger
Henry Cook said
Thu Jan 17 9:48 PM, 2013
Not many reports coming from this site, for some unknown reason, but RBA reports the following in the roost today:
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 17th of January 2013 09:50:50 PM
Robert Adderley said
Wed Dec 5 3:34 AM, 2012
Adult Yellow-legged Gull in roost. Also female Common Scoter on no 1 Resv.
Robert Adderley said
Fri Nov 9 1:49 AM, 2012
2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls in roost this pm, (same birds as on Sunday).
Robert Adderley said
Mon Nov 5 3:15 AM, 2012
A Snow Bunting briefly late afternoon flew off north. Also 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and a Redshank.
Robert Adderley said
Tue Oct 23 4:13 AM, 2012
This evening's Gull roost held single adult Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls.
Robert Adderley said
Tue Oct 16 4:33 AM, 2012
2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls in tonight's roost.
jason fisher said
Mon Oct 15 5:19 PM, 2012
thanks steve
Steve Suttill said
Mon Oct 15 6:12 AM, 2012
The birds which winter here breed in Scandinavia. Most of the ringing recoveries are of Swedish breeders with lesser numbers from Norway and Finland.
jason fisher said
Sun Oct 14 9:10 PM, 2012
just out of general nosiness, does anyone know where the goldeneye which over winter on here go to breed, have any of them been ringed or tracked to their breeding grounds?
simon ghilks said
Tue Oct 9 3:33 AM, 2012
8/10/2012 1645-1830
7 Teal 11 Cormorant 1 Meadow Pipit Great views of the Gull roost tonight on No1 res. close to the central well in slanting sunlight. Didn't pick out anything unusual even though other observers have seen both Yellow-legged and Mediterranean Gulls in the roost recently. Plenty more Gulls drifting in as I left.
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Oct 6 2:06 AM, 2012
Late afternoon visit
1 Wheatear 1 Grey Heron 30+ Pied Wagtail roosting 800+ Jackdaw flying to roost in groups of 40+ from 4pm onwards 3 Goldeneye Fewer Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe than in recent weeks
1 Wigeon 5 Teal 270 Tufted Duck 5 Goldeneye 3 Goosander 45 Great Crested Grebe 4 Cormorant 1 Rock Pipit 1 Meadow Pipit 20+ Pied Wagtail + 2 possible White Wagtail 2 Wheatear 5 Mistle Thrush
Karen Foulkes said
Wed Sep 19 3:41 AM, 2012
Evening visit with Rob Adderley and Simon Ghilks
Juv Peregrine (RA only) 5 Turnstone, flew around a couple of times and then away 1 Wheatear 1 Meadow Pipit 4 Goldeneye 1 Grey Heron 4 Cormorant
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Sep 14 12:20 AM, 2012
Mid Afternoon visit with Simon Ghilks
Highlights included
Skylark Ringed Plover Common Sandpiper 2 Wheatear, both appeared to be juvs Little Grebe, either the same birds are hanging around, but moving between reservoirs or we have had an unprecedented passage of this species this year!
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Sep 1 8:43 PM, 2012
Early morning sightings with P Wren, R Adderley and S Ghilks
Adult Knot Yellow Wagtail Wheatear 5 Swift
Bar Tailed Godwit also seen by P Wren flying through only.
Plus the usuals
Roger Baker 3 said
Thu Aug 30 11:38 PM, 2012
What reports were these Simon ?
Roger
simon ghilks said
Thu Aug 30 6:40 PM, 2012
30/8/2012 0545-0715
3 Common Sandpiper 1 Juv Yellow Wagtail 2 Grey Heron 350+ Canada Goose 5 Goldeneye A few Sand Martin through.
Reports from yesterday of birds being shot including Goosander, Grey Heron, Gulls and Magpie.
What can I say.
We breed birds so that we can shoot them. We shoot birds so that we can shoot more birds. We shoot birds just because we can.
Female Stonechat on the grass banking not far from the hide.
2 Skylarks feeding close to the hide.
3 Ringed Plovers.
1 Curlew overhead.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 25th of March 2013 02:53:47 PM
Two female Stonechat
The usual Brent Goose, which departed early
4 Ringed Plover
Oystercatcher
150+ Golden Plover
Site access by permit only
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 23rd of March 2013 08:13:41 PM
No sign of the Red Breasted Merganser and couldn't see the Pochard either although to be honest there seems to be a bit of a reduction in the Ducks this last week, namely Goldeneye, Tufted and Goosander.
Site access by permit only.
Unable to locate the Red Breasted Merganser, has she finally flown???
Shelduck - 2 (No2)
Pochard - M3, F1 (No3)
Goldeneye - M5, F3 (No2 & 3)
Goosander - M4 (No2 & 3)
Pied Wagtail - 4 (No3)
and what looked like a Rock Pipit on the water line of No3
-- Edited by Michael Wait on Sunday 17th of March 2013 11:33:37 PM
Good to meet Gary Crowder up there and thanks for the scope view of the Med Gull in the roost. Wouldv'e took me ages to pick that out amongst the vast number of Black Headed's.
Lesser Black Back Gulls, Great Black Back Gulls, all the usuals present.
8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Oystercatchers and a single Curlew flying overhead, would've missed them all if not for their call.
Brent Goose not present with the Canada Geese up to 6.45pm, couldn't see the Red Breasted Merganser although the light was diminishing so probably there just not seen.
Yesterday evening:
Breeding plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull on no2 in the roost. Also 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull and c700 LBBGulls, plus the female Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Shoveler and 12 Pochard.
Site access by permit only.
Site access by permit only.
Site access by permit only.
(Photos sent to Vicky Sumner as Broomstairs is normally her domain)
Yesterday the Brent Goose was again present in the morning before heading off with a few Canada Geese.
Site access by permit only.
Went up to spot the Brent Goose but no sign of it on any of the res. The Red Breasted Merganser still present, 8 Goosander, Pochard still there, I counted 13 so could be same group as last week. Plenty of Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Coot, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and I could only see 3 Great Black Backed Gulls, they stood out in the crowd.
Site access by permit only.
Red-breasted Merganser still present on no 2
3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull in the roost
Site access by permit only
Red Breasted Merganser still present although as soon as I spotted her she was being bombarded by a couple of gulls so she took off and disappeared onto another reservoir and I lost her.
3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Oystercatcher, plenty of Tufted Duck, a handful of Goosander right in the corner of 1 of the res, 13 Pochard, 4 Great Crested Grebe, numerous Coot, a very large Carrion Crow with white streaks in tail and rump feathers (think its the same bird I saw last week) and a massive Gull colony but the light was going so only Black Headed, Herring, and Lesser Black Backed picked out!
Took me a good few hours to thaw out and my eyes to stop streaming from the piercing wind, it's like Alaska up there!
My apologies there's good numbers of Goldeneye up here too.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 26th of February 2013 03:13:35 PM
3 ringed plover
13 pochard
22 coot (seemed like a big number for here)
1 raven over quite low
1 golden plover on the grass reservoir.
Plenty of dog walkers.
Site access by permit only (applications apparently to Crufts)
Site access by permit only.
Highlight was the female Red Breasted Merganser,
( just a dot at first but managed to get some far shots )
Pied Wagtail
Great Crested Grebe
Goldeneye
Tufted Duck
Pochard
Goosander
Cormorant
Oystercatcher
Carrion Crow with white streaks.
massive Gull colony constantly being spooked by dogs but managed to identify mainly
Black Headed, Common, not many Herring Gull,
about 10 Lessser Black Backed Gulls, and 2 or 3 Gulls I thought were Herring at first but closer inspection showed the heads to be a lot cleaner looking than the Herring and the yellow legs on show so I make them
Yellow Legged Gulls (I'm sure I'll be corrected if I've misidentified)
Access is by permit only.
Access is for permit holders only.
Plenty of Goldeneye, fewer Tufted duck.
3 Goosander over head, 2f1m
2 Ringed plover, first heard then seen in flight over water.
Gulls (roughly)
55% Black-headed
45% Common (fantastic numbers!)
5% other species including Lesser-black backed and Herring.
nothing more interesting that I managed to pick out.
very quite on the avifauna front...
Please note, access to this site is permit only.
Probably all the reporters have succumbed to hypothermia ..... and eaten by bears !
Roger
1 Glaucous Gull - juv
1 Iceland Gull - juv
1 Yellow-legged Gull - 3w
1 Red-breasted Merganser - redhead
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 17th of January 2013 09:50:50 PM
7 Teal
11 Cormorant
1 Meadow Pipit
Great views of the Gull roost tonight on No1 res. close to the central well in slanting sunlight.
Didn't pick out anything unusual even though other observers have seen both Yellow-legged
and Mediterranean Gulls in the roost recently. Plenty more Gulls drifting in as I left.
1 Wheatear
1 Grey Heron
30+ Pied Wagtail roosting
800+ Jackdaw flying to roost in groups of 40+ from 4pm onwards
3 Goldeneye
Fewer Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe than in recent weeks
Info thanks to Daryll Falconer
1 Whinchat
2 Wheatear
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Teal
7 Goldeneye
1 Wigeon
5 Teal
270 Tufted Duck
5 Goldeneye
3 Goosander
45 Great Crested Grebe
4 Cormorant
1 Rock Pipit
1 Meadow Pipit
20+ Pied Wagtail + 2 possible White Wagtail
2 Wheatear
5 Mistle Thrush
Juv Peregrine (RA only)
5 Turnstone, flew around a couple of times and then away
1 Wheatear
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Goldeneye
1 Grey Heron
4 Cormorant
Highlights included
Skylark
Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
2 Wheatear, both appeared to be juvs
Little Grebe, either the same birds are hanging around, but moving between reservoirs or we have had an unprecedented passage of this species this year!
Adult Knot
Yellow Wagtail
Wheatear
5 Swift
Bar Tailed Godwit also seen by P Wren flying through only.
Plus the usuals
Roger
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Juv Yellow Wagtail
2 Grey Heron
350+ Canada Goose
5 Goldeneye
A few Sand Martin through.
Reports from yesterday of birds being shot including Goosander, Grey Heron, Gulls and Magpie.
What can I say.
We breed birds so that we can shoot them.
We shoot birds so that we can shoot more birds.
We shoot birds just because we can.
God really messed up when he made us.