24/5/11

No sign of the Osprey by the time I left at 1pm (from 10:45).

2 Mandarins (f) with one chick on Arley Lodge NR. 3 Grey Wagtails on Worthington Reservoir, and 2 Buzzards over.

Sid, cameras are in the top carpark next to the visitors centre...

,

Dennis atherton wrote:

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Well done Sid for catching up with it, I dipped last night, would of loved to try this morning but stuck in work

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Sorry for typeo, I cant seem to edit misplaced nonsmilie from my phone

Dennis atherton wrote:

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Well done Sid for catching up with it, I dipped last night, would of loved to try this morning but stuck in work

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And me
Anyone got any further updates today ,would be most welcome,last sighting i can find was 8am-Please post if you go and you do not see the Osprey as well as if you see it

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 01:24:12 PM

Well done Sid for catching up with it, I dipped last night, would of loved to try this morning but stuck in work

06.45 to 09.00 very windy and cold - gloves required in May!!!!

Had my first good flight view of the Osprey at 07.25 when standing on the dam separating Arley and Adlington reservoirs - it was over the small pool north of Adlington. Saw it twice more before 08.00, again flight views. The second time it was accompanied by Crows although they didn't seem to be bothering it. Didn't see it fishing or perched but never-the-less worth the effort of getting up early. I was surprised that there were no others birders present when I was on site

Ian, I didn't notice any security cameras in the car park

Lee Griffiths wrote:

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Ian Woosey wrote:

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What is wrong with parking in the carpark and walking round to the causeway ?? The carpark is free and overlooked by security cameras. If you walk down from the layby opposite Platt Lane you might run the risk of disturbing it, as it often flew to that area perhaps to rest in a tree (and may even roost there tonight).

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hi Ian sorry nothing wrong with the main carpark parked in there myself 1st . But was told by a chap to move my car as they sometime's lock the gate's at 6.30.. Did.nt even think about what i was writing last night with being on a high with seeing my 1st osprey ! !

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Lee, it is not a problem pal. I have sent you a PM. Glad you saw your first Osprey in Wigan

Osprey still present at 07:30 this morning, over Adlington Reservoir.

Info thanks to Sid Ashton

Ian Woosey wrote:

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What is wrong with parking in the carpark and walking round to the causeway ?? The carpark is free and overlooked by security cameras. If you walk down from the layby opposite Platt Lane you might run the risk of disturbing it, as it often flew to that area perhaps to rest in a tree (and may even roost there tonight).

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hi Ian sorry nothing wrong with the main carpark parked in there myself 1st . But was told by a chap to move my car as they sometime's lock the gate's at 6.30.. Did.nt even think about what i was writing last night with being on a high with seeing my 1st osprey ! !

Ian Woosey wrote:

---

What is wrong with parking in the carpark and walking round to the causeway ?? The carpark is free and overlooked by security cameras. If you walk down from the layby opposite Platt Lane you might run the risk of disturbing it, as it often flew to that area perhaps to rest in a tree (and may even roost there tonight).

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That sounds like a plan Ian - I'll give it a go

What is wrong with parking in the carpark and walking round to the causeway ?? The carpark is free and overlooked by security cameras. If you walk down from the layby opposite Platt Lane you might run the risk of disturbing it, as it often flew to that area perhaps to rest in a tree (and may even roost there tonight).

Lee Griffiths wrote:

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hi sid carry on past the main car park you will see a lay by on the right just after the left turn .. . the path there leads right down to the lake its a bit quicker than parking in the main carpark .. what a cracking bird to !!

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Thanks Lee, is the road you mean on the left Platt Lane? From my maps it looks like the path down to the lake is directly opposite - is this correct? The layby looks to be before the left turn.

hi sid carry on past the main car park you will see a lay by on the right just after the left turn .. . the path there leads right down to the lake its a bit quicker than parking in the main carpark .. what a cracking bird to !!

Assuming that the bird is still there tomorrow where is the best place to park for we visitors

No sign by 9pm, probably gone to roost.

Info thanks to Dennis Atherton

Osprey still present at 20.00,5 birders were walking in as i left so there could be later news.

cheers geoff

Osprey still present by 7pm

Info thanks to Iain Campbell

23/5/11

Osprey still present at 17:15

Thanks to Neil Southworth (Chorley Nats) for the phone call.

Chorley Natural History Society covers the northern end of Worthington Lakes as it falls within Chorley Borough. The Osprey was crossing over the county boundary constantly.

http://www.forum.chorleynats.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=23df07e2d7e543f986d7161ddf570331

Osprey still Present at 4.15, fishing on Adlington Reservoir.

Info thanks to Ian Woosey

Osprey lingering and fishing on Arley Reservoir at 3:10 today.

Info thanks to Ian Woosey

This p m
6 G C Grebe
2 Whitethroat
Mute Swans nest building

Arley Woods
1 Dipper

Chorley Road
Entrance to Worthington Lodge House
4 Tree Sparrows
Entr to Lakeside Care Home
Tree Sparrows on territory
Opp Worthington Farm
1 Yellowhammer
1 Whitethroat

Cheers Jimmy

This pm
9 G C Grebe
4 Gadwall
Pr Mute Swans
4 Treecreepers
3 Nuthatch
2pr LT Tits nest building
1 Kingfisher
Willow Tit calling fron nature res
Rookery masses of nesting activity
No GSW which is very unusual

Arley Woods
1 Dipper
Pr Grey Wagtails

Cheers Jimmy

Lunch-time visit produced only the usual waterfowl but at least three Coot on nests and four apparent pairs of Great Crested Grebe sharing the three main Lakes. That was the good news - the bad was that we disturbed a Mink feeding on a Canada Goose carcass under the trees on the left hand corner of Adlington. It swam under the submerged trunks of some large trees and we informed a United Utilities employee who said he would tell his bosses.

Hope they act quickly otherwise there's no hope for the Coot, GCGs Mallard or any of the other Worthington nesters - including Dipper and Kingfisher.

Quiet-ish morning around the Lakes after heavy rain. Very few small birds, but on the reservoirs:

2 Goosander
6 Gadwall (but see Jimmy Meadows's entry for Bradley today - could have been some overlap)
7 Tufties
5 Great Crested Grebes
Plus usual Mallards and Canada geese, and one large, peculiar-looking white-headed duck which is definitely not in Wildfowl and probably involves an input from a Muscovy.

This a m
Worthington
7 Gadwall MEGA for here
1 Goosander (f) also rare nowadays
pr G C Grebe

Mayflower Lodge
pr Mute Swans
10 Tufted Duck

Arley
1 Mute Swan flew in

Feeding Station
9 Long T Tits on nut feeder

No Wrens or Goldcrest seen seen

Jimmy

Over this way with time for a walkabout..1100 to 1400. Saw the following;
2 Dipper on the Brook in Arley Wood
2 Nuthatch
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 f Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
Greenfinch,Goldfinch,Bullfinch and Chaffinch
Lots of Tit flocks plus 1 Coal Tit
2 Tree Sparrow near Crawshaw Hall
Mixed flock c75 Redwing/Fieldfare by the Canal
3 Tufted Duck (1m)
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 f Goosander
9 Teal
Plenty of Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot and 2 Mute Swan

Rob Archer

I think i,ll have to cross one off my borough list
Right at the top end of the lakes I found a dippernice bird but i,ve strayed into lancslovely day but the search begins again.

cheers geoff

19/1/11

Observations hampered somewhat by the mist, which stubbornly refused to lift all morning. Managed to see the following however:

2 Mandarin (pr) and 5 Teal on Arley Lodge NR (partly in Lancs).
1 Kingfisher
c20 Siskin with c12 Goldfinch in the car park
1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Treecreeper
1 Nuthatch
1 Bullfinch
8 Moorhens at the feeding station.

original posting by jimmy meadows
"On the far bank of Arley Tawny Owl dead sadly hanging in the trees and no way to retrieve it"

Been on local news tonight that the owl was actually alive and rescued by a walker and taken to local wildlife hospital where it has made a good recovery and they hope to release it back in area soon. Its wing had become tangled in some fishing wire and then became stuck in tree.

Cheers
Andy

-- Edited by Andy Isherwood on Wednesday 5th of January 2011 08:53:16 PM

Posted by Alan Rimmer today (please use the search function to locate this thread when necessary Alan ):

Not much changed this morning from last Sunday's WeBS count - still around 200 mallard, 1 'call' duck, 3 Canada geese, 10 moorhen, 6 coot, but on an even smaller amount of water: one tiny pool on Worthington Reservoir, the only unfrozen bit on any of the lakes.

Good to see a kingfisher still around, flying along the frozen channel alongside Adlington Reservoir, but not sure where it is feeding; also a dipper was on the Douglas just above the bridge.

Other sightings: 2 jay, 2 nuthatch, and various tits etc. coming in to feed almost immediately as we scattered mixed seed around.

Walking through the fields to Adlington and back down the canal bank (OOA) the most notable sightings were of small flocks of fieldfare and redwing, feeding on hawthorn berries.

'Challenging' walk in the snow up to Worthington and back for the WeBS this morning/early afternoon produced some decent sightings:

Around 40 pink feet were flying east as we walked through Gidlow Cemetery and various small birds seemed to appreciate the liberal amounts of mixed seed we scattered en route, including a flock of about 15 long-tailed tits.

At the reservoirs, Worthington had two small areas of unfrozen water, holding 202 mallard, 10 Canadas, 10 coot, 1 'call' duck, 4 moorhen plus a flock of 32 lapwing roosting on the ice.

Everywhere else was frozen solid apart from a tiny pool at the outflow on Adlington where, unfortunately, we disturbed a kingfisher which flew round before heading north. At the top end of the reservoir a fox prowled along the edge of the reeds.

Walking back towards Beech Hill, a flock of 18 whooper swans flew east (Jimmy Meadows had heard them calling as they passed over his house but was unable to see them).

So worth the effort!

PS: the dead birds mentioned by Jimmy in the previous post had disappeared.

Wigan RSPB Christmas Walk

Nature Res
14 Mandarins
9 Teal
2 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
Adlington and Arley frozen
On the far bank of Arley Tawny Owl dead sadly hanging in the trees and no way to retrieve it
Worthington
only partially frozen
2 Grey Wagtails
Mallard
Coots
Moorhen
B H Gulls
Common Gulls
Canada Geese

Cheers Jimmy

2 GCG's one on Arley and one on Worthington lake. Unfortunatly both birds were dead. Victims of the cold snap. Other birds; 3 Tufted duck, 1 Goosander 1 Kingfisher.

This Afternoon
Birds of note
Worthington
Pr Mute Swans
2 Little Grebe
10 Tufted Duck
with viewing down to about 20 yards due to the foggy conditions there could have been anything in the middle of the res and it would have been impossible to see

Arley and Adlington completly frozen

Cheers from a frozen birdwatcher

Originally posted by Mark Pearson today:

1 drake Shoveler, 1 drake Teal, 1 Cormorant, 18 Tufted duck 2 Little grebe.

A Fem / imm Scaup dropped in on Arley Reservoir for 15 minutes yesterday morning (30th November)

Info from Mark Pearson

This afternoon

3 Little Grebe
1 G C Grebe
10+Tufted Duck
1 Woodcock first one i have ever seen here

Cheers Jimmy

Posted by Allan Rimmer today:

Four Mandarins (one male and three females) on top end of Adlington Reservoir this morning, along with four Teal. On the other Reservoirs numbers well down apart from 102 Canada Geese and 10 Tufties; high water levels may have driven off the usual Great Crested Grebes though there was one Little Grebe. Two Sparrowhawks and a Buzzard overhead but being given a hard time by the local Rooks.

This morning
Worthington Res
pr Mute Swans
163 B h gulls
2 Little Grebe
9 Tufted Duck
1 Buzzard over
1 GSW showing well on the fence line

Arley Res
Pr Mute Swans with 2 cygnets

Cheers Jimmy

-- Edited by Jimmy Meadows on Saturday 6th of November 2010 07:24:38 PM

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Arley Lane c.5pm. Also 4 Mandarin on Arley reservoir, along with Kingfisher, Little Grebe, 2Buzzards and 3 Great Crested Grebes.In Arley woods, Dipper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit, and Nuthatch, with both Pied and Grey Wagtails and 2 herons by the canal. Three flocks of Tree Sparrowws in the area

This pm
Not much doing
2 G C Grebe
1 Little Grebe
1 Teal f
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Tufted Duck
Plus usual suspects

Jimmy

Late Posting for yesterday
5 possibly 6 Broods of G C Grebes
4 Treecreepers looked to be a family party
Goldcrest with 2 young in tow
2 Willow Tits
1 Yellowhammer

Cheers Jimmy

This Morn
4 Pr GC Grebe
Pr Grey Wagtail collecting food
Pr GSW feeding young
Pr Great Tit feeding young
Pr Mute Swan on Mayflower Lodge

Cheers Jimmy

Mid Morning Only round first res

1 Dipper
2 Mute Swan
2 Cormorants
2 Coots Nesting
1 GC Grebe nesting about 2ft from a Coots nest dont fancy the grebes chances of succeeding here,

Cheers Jimmy

27/3/10 (am)

1 Dipper
1 Buzzard
1 Treecreeper
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
10 Great Crested Grebe

13/3/10 (am)

Sightings of note included:

1 Oystercatcher (over)
1 Dipper
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Yellowhammer
3 Linnet
1 Reed Bunting
3 Stock Dove
6 Great Crested Grebe
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1/3/10 (pm)

1 Dipper
2 Oystercatcher on Arley Reservoir
12 Great Crested Grebe
3 Tufted Duck
several Nuthatches calling.

-- Edited by Ian Woosey on Monday 1st of March 2010 02:40:35 PM

Three mandarin (two male, one female) on Adlington reservoir this afternoon.

5/2/10 am

Very little of note on the lakes apart from 5 Mute Swans (one wearing blue Darvic "SYV") and a single Tufted Duck........

Fields off Chorley Rd:

8 Yellowhammer
2 Reed Bunting
c45 Chaffinch
3 Skylark (over)
2 Stock Dove
16 Fieldfare (over)
1 Kestrel

1 Goldcrest in the car-park

Morning visit - although there is now a film of water over most of the melting ice, very little change bird-wise: 141 Mallard, 11 Teal, one adult and one immature Mute Swan, 16 Canada Geese, 28 Coot and eight Moorhen.

Good to see two Dippers on the river, between the bridge and the tunnel entrance, but no sign of Kingfisher on the lakes.

15/1/10

Brief visit, mid-afternoon:

8 Yellowhammer over
1 Grey Wagtail over
1 Treecreeper
2 Nuthatch
1 Goldcrest in the car-park
1 Coal Tit
5 Teal on the Wigan side of Arley Lodge (as opposed to the Chorley side )
1 Jay

Only a few large gulls passing over from the land-fill.
Numbers of Rooks & Jackdaws coming in to the rookery to roost were starting to build up as I was leaving.