Spent an hour and 30 minutes this morning from 8.35am. Sighting highlights : House Martin 1, Sand Martins 2, Swallows 6+, Reed Warblers 3 (1 seen), Common Terns, Blackcaps 2, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Buntings 6+, Willow tits 2, Song Thrush and Long-tailed Tit 1.
Jon Bowen said
Sun Apr 22 10:12 AM, 2018
A hour and a half before the rain produced 3 Common Terns 1 Common Sandpiper 2 Sand Martins high over the lodge 1 Swallow 2 singing Sedge Warblers 1 singing Reed Warbler 4 Chiffchaffs 2 Male Blackcaps 1 Great Crested Grebe Grey Heron
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Sunday 22nd of April 2018 10:13:57 AM
Paul Thompson said
Fri Apr 20 11:33 AM, 2018
Arrived at 8.40am left at 10.05am highlights of the visit : Sedge Warbler 1 (1st of the year), Reed Warbler 1, Common Terns 2 (1 landed on one of the raft surrounds and stay there till I left), Blackcap 3 (all singing males), Chiffchaff 4, Willow Warbler 6+, Bullfinch 2, Grey Heron 1, Great Crested Grebe 1, Long-tailed Tits 2, Mistle Thrush 1 and a Willow Tit (carrying what look like nest building material).
Paul Thompson said
Thu Apr 19 6:13 PM, 2018
Visited this morning 8.40 to 10.15 hightlights : Reed Warbler 1 (first of the year), Reed Bunting, Great Crested Grebe 1. Blackcaps 3 (2 male 1 Female), Jay 1 and a couple of Chiffchaff. As was the case yesterday no Common Tern or Willow Tit.
Paul Thompson said
Wed Apr 18 1:38 PM, 2018
Site visit this morning 8.45 to 10.20 not much of interest seen : Reed Buntings 3, Willow Warblers 6+, Chiffchaffs 3, Song Thrush 2, Blackcap 1, Rook 1, Bullfinch 1. Great Crested Grebe 1, Buzzard 1 and Long-tailed Tits 2. I drew a blank on anymore Common Tern or Willow Tit sightings today.
Jon Bowen said
Tue Apr 17 7:27 PM, 2018
Great that the Terns are back - sounds about a week early for the site
Paul Thompson said
Tue Apr 17 1:59 PM, 2018
A short visit this morning 8.35 to 9.10 highlights : Common Tern 1 flying over the tern rafts and feeding on small fry picked from the lodge surface, my first of the year . Chiffchaff (1 seen, 2 others heard)
and a Willow Tit 1.
Paul Thompson said
Mon Apr 16 12:08 PM, 2018
Arrived 8.45am left 10.10am. birds observed included :male Sparrowhawk chasing a small bird which managed to escape, Song Thrushes 4, Great Crested Grebe 1, Snipe 1, Reed Buntings 4, Willow Warblers 3, Blackcap 1 (a singing male), Mistle Thrush 1 and Willow Tit 1.
Paul Thompson said
Fri Apr 13 1:41 PM, 2018
Damp and overcast this morning visited 9.00am to 10.30pm. A single Great Crested Grebe on the lodge, 5 Song Thrushes, 1 Female Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler seen (2 or 3 others heard), 2 Willow Tits seen (one of which was a singing male), 2 Swallows, 2 Snipe, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chiffchaff (both heard only), numbers of Black-headed Gulls well down I counted 11 on the lodge (usually 50+) and Reed Bunting 6+.
Paul Thompson said
Wed Apr 11 12:17 PM, 2018
Visited 8.45 to 10.10 this morning, birds seen included Willow Tit 1, Swallows 20+, Sand Martins 2 or 3, a single Chiffchaff, Song Thrush 1, Reed Bunting 1, Long-tailed Tits 4+, Jay 1 and some House Sparrows gathering feathers to line their nest from around the geese nests on the island. Also heard only a Nuthatch and a Blackcap.
-- Edited by Paul Thompson on Wednesday 11th of April 2018 12:18:41 PM
Paul Thompson said
Mon Apr 9 4:42 PM, 2018
Had a stroll around the lodge this morning 8.35 to 9.55 birds seen include 1 Bullfinch, 4 Blackcaps (2male & 2Female), 1 Chiffchaff (several others heard), 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting and 1 Oystercatcher which flew low over the island while calling but failed to land.
Notable absentees: Great Crested Grebes if as appears to be happening, it will be the first year they've fail to breed on this site since I started birding here (12 years or so ago). There have not been any Mute Swans this spring so far. I have not seen any Willow Tits in the last couple of weeks I'm glad Jon had a sighting on Sunday I was worried they may have left also.
Jon Bowen said
Sun Apr 8 9:04 PM, 2018
more spring like at least from a bird perspective this morning; 2 Swallows 1 White Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail 4 Chiffchaffs Willow Tit Increased number of Starlings about Tufted Duck numbers down, likewise Black-Headed Gull numbers 6 House Sparrows Song Thrush Greenfinch Bullfinch plus the usual
Jon Bowen said
Sun Apr 1 8:48 PM, 2018
Weekly walk around the lodge - the rafts are looking good and lots of work completed in the roadbeds. Still no sign of spring migrants but plenty of life, highlights Pair of Willow Tits Great Crested Grebe back on the lodge 6 Snipe Goldcrest Oystercatcher (flyover) Kingfisher Plenty of Dunnock, Reed Bunting and Wrens in song plus lots of usual species and Tufted Ducks looking great in the sunlight
I had to touch my brakes, as a large Cock Pheasant crossed the ring road, from the field by Old Kiln Lane, onto the Lodge area.
Loked dark; probably a melanistic one.
Paul Thompson said
Wed Mar 21 1:54 PM, 2018
This Morning I walked around the lodge 8.40 to 10.30. The highlights were 2 Water Rail showing behind the reeds at the Moss Bank Way end of the causeway on the eastern side. Also a single Snipe in front of the reeds at the other end of the causeway on the eastern side. Other sightings included Chiffchaff 1 (my second sighting this year I saw one here on the 14th of this month) Willow Tit 2, Song Thrush 3, Goldcrest 1, Pheasant 1(fairly rare to this site) and Reed Bunting 12+. The single Great Crested Grebe that returned after the harsh weather seems to have left again.
Bolton Conservation Volunteers are due to work on the site this Sunday 25th March 2018 including repairing the Common Tern rafts and returning them to their correct positions, anyone interested see their website(www.boltonconservation.org.uk) for details.
8.55am to 10.45am. Buzzard flying low over the willow scrub at the western end of the lodge, couple of sightings of a Kingfisher, 3 Snipe seen 2 at one location the other on the opposite side of the lodge, a pair of Goosanders, a Kestrel perched on the back of one of the benches on the Moss Bank Way side, 2 Willow Tit seen in the small wood at the Moss Bank Way side of the causeway others also heard on the opposite side of the lodge.
-- Edited by Paul Thompson on Friday 15th of December 2017 05:35:37 PM
-- Edited by Paul Thompson on Friday 15th of December 2017 05:43:09 PM
Walked round the lodge this morning 9.00am to 10.25pm. Highlights a flock of half a dozen small birds which land in a tree nearby on closer inspection of 2 of them I I.D. them as Mealy Redpoll (both male with crimson breasts with white wingbars). Also observed were 2 Kingfishers, I was glad to see they had survived the lodge freezing. A single Snipe, 2 Goosanders, 5 Reed Bunting, A Grey Heron and 3 Tufted Duck(usually about 30 to 50) (returned after the lodge thawed out on the eastern side of the causeway), Still no Great Crested Grebe.
Paul Thompson said
Tue Dec 12 11:17 AM, 2017
9.10am to 10.15am. The Lodge is completely frozen this morning. highlight of the visit a pair of Water Rail behind the reedbed on the North West side of the causeway. other birds seen include a Jay, a Redwing, a Grey Wagtail and 5 Common Gull. Birds not seen which are usual sightings round Doffcocker include Snipe, Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron Tufted Duck and Mute Swan. Yesterday there was a single female Goldeneye that had also gone. Also no sign of the Bittern I saw last week.
Paul Thompson said
Thu Nov 30 11:28 AM, 2017
Walked round the lodge between 9.00am to 10.20am. Highlights Bittern flew into the site from the Moss Bank Way side of the lodge and passed over me and landed in the reedbed on the island side of the causeway. As I got around the opposite side of the lodge I had a good look at the front of the reedbed, but was unable to see the Bittern. Other birds seen include Kingfisher, Snipe, Goosander, Sparrowhawk, Common Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron,Teal and Bullfinch.
Paul Thompson said
Fri Nov 24 2:29 PM, 2017
Walk around this morning 8.45 to 10.30 several sightings of snipe at various spots round the lodge, the vegetation that they like has increased since the removal a few years ago of 85% of the farmyard geese that grazed the lodge banks . A kingfisher was in the willow at the western end of the lodge, it flew off flying toward me and passed over the causeway where I lost sight of it. A Grey Wagtail was on the wall next to the overflow at the dam end. A Water Rail was heard only. A single Grey Heron, a couple of Cormorants and a couple of Great Crested Grebe were also observed. Notable absentees this autumn are Teal(no sighting on this site at all) and winter thrushes (only a few Redwing & Fieldfares have been see and none on this visit). The Mute Swans that bred over the summer (2 signets and the pen) which left 5 or 6 weeks ago have not returned. There was a flyover of Pinkfooted Geese ( see my post under that heading).
Paul Thompson said
Wed May 17 12:00 PM, 2017
Had a walk round between 8.35am to 10.00am. Highlights of my visit were Willow tits visiting an obvious nest site carrying food, 4 Whitethroats, 4 sedge warblers, a single sand martin, 2 Reed Warblers and the Common Terns most of which were on or around the rafts on the east side of the causeway. There were 2 Common Terns which landed on the raft on the west side of the causeway a couple of times but didn't settle. 40 species see and heard in total.
Phil Cunliffe said
Tue May 2 8:37 PM, 2017
I had a brief visit at lunchtime and saw four common tern (two on each raft in the main pool), a whitethroat, a sedge warbler and a reed warbler (the reed warbler was arguing with a reed bunting at one point!) and I heard a chiffchaff and a willow warbler.
Simon Ladds said
Sat Apr 29 10:33 AM, 2017
2 Common Terms on the nest platform this morning. Fingers crossed
Lots of Willow Warblers also
Whitethroat
Paul Thompson said
Tue Apr 25 2:45 PM, 2017
Had quick walk round this morning and I am glad to say Rick Parker and another member of Bolton Conservation Volunteers were there with a boat and were about to start correctly positioning the Tern Rafts etc.
Paul Thompson said
Mon Apr 24 3:27 PM, 2017
8.40 am. to 9.50 am. Went round the lodge, no sign of any action over the tern rafts, no Common Terns seen on this visit. 26 species seen, highlights. Common Sandpiper 1 seen at the eastern end around the dam etc. Lesser Redpolls 8+ seen in 2 locations, Sand Martins 20+, Blackcap, Reed Bunting 3 and Reed Warbler1.
Keith Mills said
Thu Apr 20 1:52 PM, 2017
Paul, Try Bolton Conservation Volunteers. They have worked on these rafts in the past. They have a contact form on their website.
Paul Thompson said
Thu Apr 20 1:17 PM, 2017
Walked round the lodge this morning between 9.10am. to 10.15am. 29 species seen, 2 others heard only. The highlights being : Reed Warbler spotted after a long search while listening to it's scratchy song (my first of the year), A single Common Tern perched on the raft near the causeway, worryingly the rafts have not been moved back to their correct positions away from the banks and this could cause the Terns to move on. As this is one of the best breeding sights in the region I feel that this needs to be addressed urgently. Other birds seen include Reed Bunting, house Martin, Song Thrush & Great Crested Grebe.
Keith Mills said
Sun Apr 16 11:56 AM, 2017
This morning' dog walk. Raining. 5 Swallow. 8 Reed Buntings, all immaculate and including one female. 2 Mute Swans, being hand fed. Only one tern raft in open water, the other 2 being up against the reeds.
Paul Thompson said
Thu Apr 13 10:58 AM, 2017
Walked around the lodge between 9.10am. to 10.15am. 34 species seen, Highlights : Osprey hovering over the lodge for several minutes about 10.00am. eventually seen off by some corvids, it flew off to the west towards High Rid. A single Tree Sparrow, Blackcaps 2 & Reed Bunting 1.
Paul Thompson said
Wed Apr 5 11:17 AM, 2017
Walk around the lodge this morning 8.45am to 10.10am 31 species seen, highlights : Common Sandpiper 1, Blackcap 1, Chiff chaffs 6, Willow Warbler 1, Reed Bunting 1, Sandmartins 3, Swallows 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (having a bath under a willow bush) & a pair of adult Mute Swans ( the juvenile seems to have been chased off by the adult male which it was doing on my last visit).
Paul Thompson said
Fri Mar 24 11:20 AM, 2017
Walked round the lodge this morning 8.40 to 9.55 30 species seen, highlights: Chiffchaff 2, Snipe 2, Goldcrest 1, Willow Tit 1, Grey Wagtail1, Teal 2, Reed Bunting 4, Grey Heron 1 and a single Juvenile Mute Swan.
P.S. Late post single Sand Martin seen on 13th March 2017.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 24th of March 2017 12:52:07 PM
Dan Brown said
Wed Mar 15 7:27 PM, 2017
Bittern showed well (eventually) this evening at 6.15pm in the usual place.
Peter Krischkiw said
Wed Mar 15 6:42 PM, 2017
Nice to meet up with Phillip,no show for me,stayed till 5.00pm
Also seen pair Great Crested Grebe trying to build a nest in a sunken nest of twigs,
5 Reed Bunting,1 Chiffchaff,1 Wren,plenty of Dunnocks,few Long tailed Tits.
1 Buzzard over.
-- Edited by Peter Krischkiw on Wednesday 15th of March 2017 06:45:53 PM
phillipskelly said
Wed Mar 15 4:08 PM, 2017
Bitern showed briefly at 12.50pm. Seen from the seat looking down to the left of the causeway from the old kiln lane / markland hill lane entrance. ....I stayed until 2.30pm but didn't see it again.
john tromans said
Tue Mar 14 5:33 PM, 2017
I arrived at 14 10 and the Bittern was showing although partly hidden in its usual area. At first I thought it was a large clump of reed heads until it moved and its head and breast showed well in typical pose. I even managed a photo.
i watched it for 15 minutes till it moved left and disappeared into the reeds. It was very windy and quite cold
My first Chiffchaff of the year was in song.. No sign of any Sand Martins ...Although I didn't look too hard.
A GM tick for me at last having been here twice in November and twice at Pennington.
it pays to persevere.
Dan Brown said
Mon Mar 13 6:51 PM, 2017
Bittern still in its usual spot this evening.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 13 4:00 PM, 2017
Two Sand Martins present mid morning today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Phil Cunliffe said
Sun Mar 12 7:46 PM, 2017
Second time lucky, I got there at 6:30 just as a group of birders were leaving. Thankfully they yold me the bittern was still showing. I met two other birders, Gary and another chap who said he'd just got a lifer. The bird showed well for 5 minutes before taking off and flying to the reeds on the opposite side of the pond. A flying bittern was a great first for me as the only other bittern I saw at Pennington Flash last year stuck to the reed bed. I managed to get a couple of phone scope shots. If I can I'll post them.
Simon Warford said
Sun Mar 12 7:14 PM, 2017
Bittern again at dusk tonight, showing well on the same perch as last night.
Simon Warford said
Sat Mar 11 8:16 PM, 2017
Bittern showed well at dusk tonight, and phone-scoped.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 11th of March 2017 08:22:09 PM
Tried for the bittern this lunchtime but no joy. I did however see three goosander, 3 tufted duck, 1 juvenile mute swan, numerous coot, moorhen and black headed gull. Additionally, I saw a reed bunting and blue tit feeding in the reeds. The compensation for missing out on the bittern though was hearing my first chiffchaff of the year. Spring is well and truly here for me now.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 10 10:34 PM, 2017
Bittern present at the top end of the Lodge, showing well behind the raft at 6:25pm until dark.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Dan Brown said
Thu Mar 9 8:06 PM, 2017
Bittern still this evening in the usual place.
Keith Mills said
Wed Mar 8 5:55 PM, 2017
Up to 5.30 this evening. After an hour of watching the Bittern tucked down in the reeds, just after 5pm, it walked a few yards left. Thus showing quite well with, at one point, it's head and neck out of the reeds. The Bittern is in the reed bed that is at right angle to the causeway at the end of the smaller water( looking North) The Tern raft has gone, so forget it. David Sulway and Ian Roe present for parts of the watch.
NB The Bittern's position today was identical to my sightings at the end November 2016; probably the same bird.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 8th of March 2017 06:03:21 PM
Paul Thompson said
Wed Mar 8 12:53 PM, 2017
Went around the lodge 8.30 am to 10.00 am. Many thanks to Dave Sulway who pointed out where the bittern tends to show and the point on the causeway you need to be to see it, also letting me borrow his scope. Also seen behind no.2 to 10 Old Kiln Lane 4 Tree Sparrows. I would suggest not using the tern raft as a point of reference as it appears to be no longer anchored and is drifting about. When I met Dave I was looking in the reed bed on the southern shore where the raft had been the day before. The Bittern is located in the northern reed bed on the Moss Bank Way side. Don't use the maps on birdtrack as the roads are wrong ( Moss Bank Way is shown as Stapleton Ave., Old Kiln Lane is shown as Markland Hill Lane & Chorley Old Road is shown as Doffcocker Brow and Monserrat Brow.) see google maps.
Went back later with David Aldred and my own scope 10.30 am to 12.00 noon, but the Bittern failed to show again.
Keith Mills said
Wed Mar 8 11:12 AM, 2017
The Bittern was seen earlier this morning by Paul Thompson, who has gone back to collect his scope and David Aldred for a return visit.
Dan Brown said
Tue Mar 7 7:27 PM, 2017
17.30 to 18.15. Bittern showing well as the light disappeared. In the same area as described in the previous posts. Many thanks to David Sulway who put me on it. Also of note, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Goosander (m) and 1 Water Rail (heard).
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 6 9:52 AM, 2017
Bittern showing again in the same place as yesterday early this morning but low down in the reeds.
Info thanks to Joe Palframan
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 6 9:49 AM, 2017
Bittern sat in the reeds behind the tern raft which has drifted to the north shoreline of smaller waterbody for much of yesterday afternoon.
Spent an hour and 30 minutes this morning from 8.35am. Sighting highlights : House Martin 1, Sand Martins 2, Swallows 6+, Reed Warblers 3 (1 seen), Common Terns, Blackcaps 2, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Buntings 6+, Willow tits 2, Song Thrush and Long-tailed Tit 1.
3 Common Terns
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Sand Martins high over the lodge
1 Swallow
2 singing Sedge Warblers
1 singing Reed Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Male Blackcaps
1 Great Crested Grebe
Grey Heron
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Sunday 22nd of April 2018 10:13:57 AM
Arrived at 8.40am left at 10.05am highlights of the visit : Sedge Warbler 1 (1st of the year), Reed Warbler 1, Common Terns 2 (1 landed on one of the raft surrounds and stay there till I left), Blackcap 3 (all singing males), Chiffchaff 4, Willow Warbler 6+, Bullfinch 2, Grey Heron 1, Great Crested Grebe 1, Long-tailed Tits 2, Mistle Thrush 1 and a Willow Tit (carrying what look like nest building material).
Visited this morning 8.40 to 10.15 hightlights : Reed Warbler 1 (first of the year), Reed Bunting, Great Crested Grebe 1. Blackcaps 3 (2 male 1 Female), Jay 1 and a couple of Chiffchaff. As was the case yesterday no Common Tern or Willow Tit.
Site visit this morning 8.45 to 10.20 not much of interest seen : Reed Buntings 3, Willow Warblers 6+, Chiffchaffs 3, Song Thrush 2, Blackcap 1, Rook 1, Bullfinch 1. Great Crested Grebe 1, Buzzard 1 and Long-tailed Tits 2. I drew a blank on anymore Common Tern or Willow Tit sightings today.
A short visit this morning 8.35 to 9.10 highlights : Common Tern 1 flying over the tern rafts and feeding on small fry picked from the lodge surface, my first of the year . Chiffchaff (1 seen, 2 others heard)
and a Willow Tit 1.
Arrived 8.45am left 10.10am. birds observed included :male Sparrowhawk chasing a small bird which managed to escape, Song Thrushes 4, Great Crested Grebe 1, Snipe 1, Reed Buntings 4, Willow Warblers 3, Blackcap 1 (a singing male), Mistle Thrush 1 and Willow Tit 1.
Damp and overcast this morning visited 9.00am to 10.30pm. A single Great Crested Grebe on the lodge, 5 Song Thrushes, 1 Female Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler seen (2 or 3 others heard), 2 Willow Tits seen (one of which was a singing male), 2 Swallows, 2 Snipe, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chiffchaff (both heard only), numbers of Black-headed Gulls well down I counted 11 on the lodge (usually 50+) and Reed Bunting 6+.
Visited 8.45 to 10.10 this morning, birds seen included Willow Tit 1, Swallows 20+, Sand Martins 2 or 3, a single Chiffchaff, Song Thrush 1, Reed Bunting 1, Long-tailed Tits 4+, Jay 1 and some House Sparrows gathering feathers to line their nest from around the geese nests on the island. Also heard only a Nuthatch and a Blackcap.
-- Edited by Paul Thompson on Wednesday 11th of April 2018 12:18:41 PM
Had a stroll around the lodge this morning 8.35 to 9.55 birds seen include 1 Bullfinch, 4 Blackcaps (2male & 2Female), 1 Chiffchaff (several others heard), 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting and 1 Oystercatcher which flew low over the island while calling but failed to land.
Notable absentees: Great Crested Grebes if as appears to be happening, it will be the first year they've fail to breed on this site since I started birding here (12 years or so ago). There have not been any Mute Swans this spring so far. I have not seen any Willow Tits in the last couple of weeks I'm glad Jon had a sighting on Sunday I was worried they may have left also.
2 Swallows
1 White Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
4 Chiffchaffs
Willow Tit
Increased number of Starlings about
Tufted Duck numbers down, likewise Black-Headed Gull numbers
6 House Sparrows
Song Thrush
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
plus the usual
Pair of Willow Tits
Great Crested Grebe back on the lodge
6 Snipe
Goldcrest
Oystercatcher (flyover)
Kingfisher
Plenty of Dunnock, Reed Bunting and Wrens in song
plus lots of usual species and Tufted Ducks looking great in the sunlight
I had to touch my brakes, as a large Cock Pheasant crossed the ring road, from the field by Old Kiln Lane, onto the Lodge area.
Loked dark; probably a melanistic one.
This Morning I walked around the lodge 8.40 to 10.30. The highlights were 2 Water Rail showing behind the reeds at the Moss Bank Way end of the causeway on the eastern side. Also a single Snipe in front of the reeds at the other end of the causeway on the eastern side. Other sightings included Chiffchaff 1 (my second sighting this year I saw one here on the 14th of this month) Willow Tit 2, Song Thrush 3, Goldcrest 1, Pheasant 1(fairly rare to this site) and Reed Bunting 12+. The single Great Crested Grebe that returned after the harsh weather seems to have left again.
Bolton Conservation Volunteers are due to work on the site this Sunday 25th March 2018 including repairing the Common Tern rafts and returning them to their correct positions, anyone interested see their website(www.boltonconservation.org.uk) for details.
8.55am to 10.45am. Buzzard flying low over the willow scrub at the western end of the lodge, couple of sightings of a Kingfisher, 3 Snipe seen 2 at one location the other on the opposite side of the lodge, a pair of Goosanders, a Kestrel perched on the back of one of the benches on the Moss Bank Way side, 2 Willow Tit seen in the small wood at the Moss Bank Way side of the causeway others also heard on the opposite side of the lodge.
-- Edited by Paul Thompson on Friday 15th of December 2017 05:35:37 PM
-- Edited by Paul Thompson on Friday 15th of December 2017 05:43:09 PM
Walked round the lodge this morning 9.00am to 10.25pm. Highlights a flock of half a dozen small birds which land in a tree nearby on closer inspection of 2 of them I I.D. them as Mealy Redpoll (both male with crimson breasts with white wingbars). Also observed were 2 Kingfishers, I was glad to see they had survived the lodge freezing. A single Snipe, 2 Goosanders, 5 Reed Bunting, A Grey Heron and 3 Tufted Duck(usually about 30 to 50) (returned after the lodge thawed out on the eastern side of the causeway), Still no Great Crested Grebe.
9.10am to 10.15am. The Lodge is completely frozen this morning. highlight of the visit a pair of Water Rail behind the reedbed on the North West side of the causeway. other birds seen include a Jay, a Redwing, a Grey Wagtail and 5 Common Gull. Birds not seen which are usual sightings round Doffcocker include Snipe, Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron Tufted Duck and Mute Swan. Yesterday there was a single female Goldeneye that had also gone. Also no sign of the Bittern I saw last week.
Walked round the lodge between 9.00am to 10.20am. Highlights Bittern flew into the site from the Moss Bank Way side of the lodge and passed over me and landed in the reedbed on the island side of the causeway. As I got around the opposite side of the lodge I had a good look at the front of the reedbed, but was unable to see the Bittern. Other birds seen include Kingfisher, Snipe, Goosander, Sparrowhawk, Common Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron,Teal and Bullfinch.
Walk around this morning 8.45 to 10.30 several sightings of snipe at various spots round the lodge, the vegetation that they like has increased since the removal a few years ago of 85% of the farmyard geese that grazed the lodge banks . A kingfisher was in the willow at the western end of the lodge, it flew off flying toward me and passed over the causeway where I lost sight of it. A Grey Wagtail was on the wall next to the overflow at the dam end. A Water Rail was heard only. A single Grey Heron, a couple of Cormorants and a couple of Great Crested Grebe were also observed. Notable absentees this autumn are Teal(no sighting on this site at all) and winter thrushes (only a few Redwing & Fieldfares have been see and none on this visit). The Mute Swans that bred over the summer (2 signets and the pen) which left 5 or 6 weeks ago have not returned. There was a flyover of Pinkfooted Geese ( see my post under that heading).
Had a walk round between 8.35am to 10.00am. Highlights of my visit were Willow tits visiting an obvious nest site carrying food, 4 Whitethroats, 4 sedge warblers, a single sand martin, 2 Reed Warblers and the Common Terns most of which were on or around the rafts on the east side of the causeway. There were 2 Common Terns which landed on the raft on the west side of the causeway a couple of times but didn't settle. 40 species see and heard in total.
I had a brief visit at lunchtime and saw four common tern (two on each raft in the main pool), a whitethroat, a sedge warbler and a reed warbler (the reed warbler was arguing with a reed bunting at one point!) and I heard a chiffchaff and a willow warbler.
Had quick walk round this morning and I am glad to say Rick Parker and another member of Bolton Conservation Volunteers were there with a boat and were about to start correctly positioning the Tern Rafts etc.
8.40 am. to 9.50 am. Went round the lodge, no sign of any action over the tern rafts, no Common Terns seen on this visit. 26 species seen, highlights. Common Sandpiper 1 seen at the eastern end around the dam etc. Lesser Redpolls 8+ seen in 2 locations, Sand Martins 20+, Blackcap, Reed Bunting 3 and Reed Warbler1.
worked on these rafts in the past. They have a contact form on their website.
Walked round the lodge this morning between 9.10am. to 10.15am. 29 species seen, 2 others heard only. The highlights being : Reed Warbler spotted after a long search while listening to it's scratchy song (my first of the year), A single Common Tern perched on the raft near the causeway, worryingly the rafts have not been moved back to their correct positions away from the banks and this could cause the Terns to move on. As this is one of the best breeding sights in the region I feel that this needs to be addressed urgently. Other birds seen include Reed Bunting, house Martin, Song Thrush & Great Crested Grebe.
5 Swallow.
8 Reed Buntings, all immaculate and including one female.
2 Mute Swans, being hand fed.
Only one tern raft in open water, the other 2 being up against the reeds.
Walked around the lodge between 9.10am. to 10.15am. 34 species seen, Highlights : Osprey hovering over the lodge for several minutes about 10.00am. eventually seen off by some corvids, it flew off to the west towards High Rid. A single Tree Sparrow, Blackcaps 2 & Reed Bunting 1.
Walk around the lodge this morning 8.45am to 10.10am 31 species seen, highlights : Common Sandpiper 1, Blackcap 1, Chiff chaffs 6, Willow Warbler 1, Reed Bunting 1, Sandmartins 3, Swallows 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (having a bath under a willow bush) & a pair of adult Mute Swans ( the juvenile seems to have been chased off by the adult male which it was doing on my last visit).
Walked round the lodge this morning 8.40 to 9.55 30 species seen, highlights: Chiffchaff 2, Snipe 2, Goldcrest 1, Willow Tit 1, Grey Wagtail1, Teal 2, Reed Bunting 4, Grey Heron 1 and a single Juvenile Mute Swan.
P.S. Late post single Sand Martin seen on 13th March 2017.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 24th of March 2017 12:52:07 PM
Nice to meet up with Phillip,no show for me,stayed till 5.00pm
Also seen pair Great Crested Grebe trying to build a nest in a sunken nest of twigs,
5 Reed Bunting,1 Chiffchaff,1 Wren,plenty of Dunnocks,few Long tailed Tits.
1 Buzzard over.
-- Edited by Peter Krischkiw on Wednesday 15th of March 2017 06:45:53 PM
Seen from the seat looking down to the left of the causeway from the old kiln lane / markland hill lane entrance. ....I stayed until 2.30pm but didn't see it again.
I arrived at 14 10 and the Bittern was showing although partly hidden in its usual area. At first I thought it was a large clump of reed heads until it moved and its head and breast showed well in typical pose. I even managed a photo.
i watched it for 15 minutes till it moved left and disappeared into the reeds. It was very windy and quite cold
My first Chiffchaff of the year was in song.. No sign of any Sand Martins ...Although I didn't look too hard.
A GM tick for me at last having been here twice in November and twice at Pennington.
it pays to persevere.
Two Sand Martins present mid morning today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 11th of March 2017 08:22:09 PM
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
After an hour of watching the Bittern tucked down in the reeds, just after 5pm, it walked a few yards left. Thus showing quite well with, at one point, it's head and neck out of the reeds.
The Bittern is in the reed bed that is at right angle to the causeway at the end of the smaller water( looking North)
The Tern raft has gone, so forget it.
David Sulway and Ian Roe present for parts of the watch. NB The Bittern's position today was identical to my sightings at the end November 2016; probably the same bird.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 8th of March 2017 06:03:21 PM
Went around the lodge 8.30 am to 10.00 am. Many thanks to Dave Sulway who pointed out where the bittern tends to show and the point on the causeway you need to be to see it, also letting me borrow his scope. Also seen behind no.2 to 10 Old Kiln Lane 4 Tree Sparrows. I would suggest not using the tern raft as a point of reference as it appears to be no longer anchored and is drifting about. When I met Dave I was looking in the reed bed on the southern shore where the raft had been the day before. The Bittern is located in the northern reed bed on the Moss Bank Way side. Don't use the maps on birdtrack as the roads are wrong ( Moss Bank Way is shown as Stapleton Ave., Old Kiln Lane is shown as Markland Hill Lane & Chorley Old Road is shown as Doffcocker Brow and Monserrat Brow.) see google maps.
Went back later with David Aldred and my own scope 10.30 am to 12.00 noon, but the Bittern failed to show again.
Aldred for a return visit.
Info thanks to Joe Palframan
Info thanks to Joe Palframan.
2 Redpoll on Boot Lane feeders