Juv Shag still on Ogden Reservoir this morning along the dam wall, well worth the couple of hundred mile twitch to the old local patch!

Shag still moving around feeding near dam and twenty metres in front of fishermen who were asking what it was and whether any more were on their way.

Shag feeding at top of reservoir at 6pm.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 15th of September 2014 08:35:11 PM

I guess the anglers spooked it on Sunday

Juv Shag still present on Ogden Res'r

11 Cormorants & 2 Great Crested Grebe on middle reservoir. Fishermen all round Ogden. No sign of Shag 11:00

Shag still present at 7.30am feeding at the end furthest from the footpath, then flew and perched on the side of the tower.

The Shag still showing well on it's usual perch at 18:20. Cheers

Sept 12th.

Also a Kingfisher flew across the lodge below the dam-head at 11.30 hrs.

Roger.

Shag still present at 1250 fishing near south bank then flew to its favorite perch on the water tower to preen.

Shag still present this morning info thanks Mike Passant

The shag was on the tower this evening.

pm visit
as i arrived just after 1pm i was pretty sure the shag was on the stones at the bottom of the bank 30yds up from several cormorant and a grey heron unfortunately before i could get my scope set a walker down on the bank ( possibly going to the anglers near the tower) frightened all the birds the cormorant all went into the water and the heron and possible shag flew off the possible shag flew over the farmhouse and behind the trees and out of site, it was a much darker bird than the others although most of the cormorant seemed to be juvenile and pretty lightish anyway, i hung around for an hour or so but got no further sighting, i honestly think it was the shag but didn't see enough to be 100% sure,

It was not there when I walked past at 0900 this morning. I think it flew up the valley as I walked past the tower at 0700 but I cannot say that it was a positive siting because of the cormorants. However when I returned later an angler had placed himself at the normal cormorant roost and had upset everything. I live local and may wander up there again this evening and will keep an eye open for it.

Any updates re the Shag would be helpful please as we may be able to get to Ogden Res on Thursday night if our homeward flight is on time (normally it isn´t of course!); otherwise it would have to be a case of booking an overnight stay in Manchester and having a go on Friday morning.

Regards,
Mike and Barb

Tim Wilcox wrote:

---

Another great GM lifer! 5-7.30pm with Steve Burke. We walked up to Piethorne and back and also saw:

Grey Heron 2
Great Crested Grebe 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 and 1 heard
Meadow Pipit 2
Grey Wagtail 1
Pied Wagtail 2
Jay 2
Cormorants 8
Canada Geese 31
Woodpigeon 20+
Jackdaws 100+
Swallows 40+
House Martin 4

Lots of good stone walls for migrants but none late in the day

Good spot and our first visits both

---

when I first arrived the shag was on the far bank opposite the tower, but shortly after tim arrived it flew right onto the tower right in front of us
nice to have a chat & a wonder around with you tim & I should of took the offer of a lift home, there was a problem with the trams at cornbrook so when it got into town everybody had to get of & get a bus, 8.55pm when I got home

Another great GM lifer! 5-7.30pm with Steve Burke. We walked up to Piethorne and back and also saw:

Grey Heron 2
Great Crested Grebe 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 and 1 heard
Meadow Pipit 2
Grey Wagtail 1
Pied Wagtail 2
Jay 2
Cormorants 8
Canada Geese 31
Woodpigeon 20+
Jackdaws 100+
Swallows 40+
House Martin 4

Lots of good stone walls for migrants but none late in the day

Good spot and our first visits both

Shag still present this evening up to 7.30
Perched on tower for all my 30 minute observation, preened and defecated.
Good to meet local birder...Peter Sutton who had observed the bird flying
around this afternoon.
County Life tick
Thanks to finder C. J-B
Hope it's still there on Friday, Mike....



-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 10th of September 2014 08:43:49 PM

Shag still present currently, perched on water tower.

Shag still present at till 1.45 at least sunning itself on northern bank, also 12 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Grey wagtail, and Kingfisher showing well on small lodge behind reservoir wall and sounded to be more than 1 present by the racket going on!

shag still present at12-15 but distant on the far bank

Shag still on Ogden Res at 0825 this morning - also 7 Cormorants although the Shag was separate to these

Cheers Gary . Perhaps I should've said that it seems to like the ledge on the draw off tower. It did a lot of moving between there and the water, with a few low flight circuits thrown in.

Regards, Chris

The Shag was still present as I left at 6:15pm sat on the water tower on Ogden Res and showed really well. Great find Chris!!

Shag still present on Ogden Reservoir at 6pm.

Info thanks to Gary Crowder

Juv' shag on Ogden Reservoir this afternoon and a good number of swallows and house martins in the lower valley.

Regards, Chris J-B

On a pretty dismal, in the rain, late afternoon stroll were:

green woodpecker, calling in Knowsley Plantation,
five tufted duck, on Kitcliffe Res',
two grey wagtails, by Piethorne Res'
two meadow pipits, above Springholes,
a few swallows,
woodpigeons starting to flock and a
willow warbler, by the bridge at the eastern end of Ogden Res'.

I also found devil's bit scabious in flower, a floral valley first for me.

Regards, C. Jepson-Brown

On a clear, if slightly autumnal feeling evening, I saw the following:

two great crested grebes, on Kitcliffe,
two grey wagtails flying down the valley,
a few meadow pipits in the upper valley,
two grey herons, on Ogden,
hundred plus swallows, with a few house martins,
linnet over,
dipper flying high down the valley.

Regards, Chris J-B

One Spotted Flycatcher and at least one Redstart above Kitcliffe Farm at 6:30pm today.

Info thanks to Gary Crowder

2 Raven over

-- Edited by Alan Nuttall on Friday 15th of August 2014 02:52:27 PM

This morning:

2 female Redstart
1 Spotted Flycatcher,
1 Common Whitethroat

At the side of Kincliff Farm, on the middle field viewed from path on left hand side.

Info thanks to Alan Nuttall

Male Redstart still showing well above Kitcliffe Farm at 330pm

-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 14th of August 2014 11:20:24 PM

Male common redstart behind farm buildings by Kitcliffe res.

This report is for yesterday evening (6th). Very quiet really:

2 willow warblers contact calling and one in semi-song,
1 female tufted duck on Kitcliffe,
lots of meadow pipits in the upper valley,
1 wheatear by Hanging Lees,
good numbers of swallows and best of all,
grey partridge heard below Wickenhall Water Treatment Works.

Regards, Chris J-Brown.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 7th of August 2014 10:03:52 PM

Visited the parents this weekend and managed a quick visit on the way past, my first to my old stomping ground in a couple of years, and even managed a patch tick! A small gathering of tits in Piethorne Plantation drew my attention, presumably mobbing an unseen owl, but when I lifted my bins to look at some movement, I was more than surprised to lay eyes on a Nuthatch, the first one I've ever seen there (though did hear one briefly in Old House Ground back in about 2002ish I think it was). Not a great deal else, flyover (presumably Lesser) Redpoll, Kestrel sat on a wall with prey, lots of young Swallows, a family of Mistle Thrush and a single Great Crested Grebe on Ogden.

Neil

My first visit for yonks didn't yield many sightings though quite a few warblers were still in song. These were:

chiffchaff
willow warbler
blackcap and
whitethroat.

Also seen were four oystercatchers on Ogden and a common sandpiper on Kitcliffe. A few meadow pipits were still displaying also.
Lots of butterflies about too, with meadow browns, small heaths and small and large skippers in abundance.

Regards, Chris J-B

Couple of hours walk around today - highlights :- 1 Whitetroat, 1 Little Owl, 2 Oystercatcher, at least 3 Common Sandpipers Plenty of butterflies on the wing including >10 Large Skippers, 3 Small Heaths plus Meadow Browns, Whites and Red Admiral

There as been a Melanistic Grey Heron feeding on Kings way for a couple of weeks now.I have sent you a photograph jot this bird.It does look very dark when flying overhead! Cheers Alan

Pete Sutton, another birdwatcher from Milnrow, told me last week he had seen a 'black heron' flying over Peppermint Bridge, New Hey. This would explain it.
Chiffchaff, blackcap and willow warbler all singing in the vicinity of Paddy Greenhalgh's this morning.

C. Jepson-Brown

Remarkably timely, there was another melanistic bird in Staffordshire today too!

Ian, thank you for clearing that up. And you are right the bird is quite magnificent in its own right.

John

There is indeed a melanistic Grey Heron in the Oldham/Rochdale area; I was not given a precise location after being contacted a couple of weeks ago but it's likely to have been here. I have some excellent images of the bird and was able to confirm to the observer that it was indeed a rather fetching melanistic bird, a superb thing indeed

Just had a beautful work around piethorn, and my heart was sent racing - a 'black' heron standing with its back to me at the waters edge of east end Ogden res. Managed to get closer views until it flew further around the reservoir. Can't say I'm an expert on any form of herons apart from the norm - but this bird I think was essentially a melanistic from of a grey heron (as far as I am aware). The same size as a grey heron, black/dark slate grey back and body, similar very vague markings to that of grey heron, yellow bill, a yellowish legs. No rings or anything to suggest of captive origin and was spooked when I got within 100yrds. If anyone is around Piethorn today I'd suggest looking out for it, just to make sure I'm not going mad.

Otherwise, common sandpiper, tawny owl (heard), swallows, goosander (x4), little owl in usual spot, pied, white & grey wagtail.

Regards

John

I fluked a Garden Warbler this morning while checking out the Common Sandpipers. Being intent on foraging it was silent but provided prolonged observation for me to come to that identification decision.
Good sighting of a Reed Bunting also.
Not so sure about a Grasshopper Warbler though. I have never been able to hear them when others have been pointing the call out to me ( apparently it is an age thing) however I was convincing myself I could hear something, as described, as I tried to pin down another little brown job. Right habitat which meant three or four half second glimpses over ten minutes but then I was joined by curious walkers so I opted to move on and give it it's peace.

Yellow Wagtail late afternoon in the field between Piethorne and Hanging Lees reservoir

Grasshopper warbler reeling very loudly in juncus beds, on the southern side of Piethorne' Res this afternoon.

Regards, Chris

Pink-footed Goose with Canadas on Ogden Res'r

A short stroll this aft' produced:

2 common sandpipers (one on Piethorne and one on Kitcliffe)
3 willow warblers singing
a few skylarks and meadow pipits
a few swallows
and 3 beautifully plumaged male wheatears, feeding on some strange multi-legged creatures in the short turf near Springholes.

Regards, C. Jepson-Brown

Swallows have arrived. No sign of sand martins yet.

Very pleasant walk around all the reservoirs including Rooden this morning 7.30 - 9am
Highlights:

2 little owls (first time I've seen this year) at there usual spot
8 Goosander
2 Oystercatcher
1 Tufted Duck
2-3 Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff
Pair Bullfinch
Pair Wheatear
and a pair of Grey Partridge (in fields just below Rooden)

and the usuals.

John