Slav grebe was still present last night along with approx ten sand martin, three wheatear, three meadow pipit, c62 goldeneye, c8 tufted, one, lapwing, one shelduck and a probable white wagtail (was looking into the sun).

This afternoon Sightings pretty much the same as Iain Johnson's although an added extra in the form of 1 Coot!

How do dog walkers get on to the site when it's fenced and the gates locked?

jason fisher wrote:

---

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Probably Tony O'Mahony you met Jason that's a distinct possibility hehe

Quite a bit too early for Greenland Wheatears yet too I'd have thought

---

i did say possible, definitely a full warm buff breast but i'm not convinced it was quite big enough

---

"a full warm buff breast but i'm not convinced it was quite big enough"

Not sure that's how I would describe Tony O'Mahony

Steve

Slavonian Grebe present on Number 1 Reservoir this Lunchtime.
Mainly feeding in corner near water inlet. Horns appear well developed.
Also
Wheatear 1
Meadow Pipits 2
Tufties c10 pairs
Goldeneye c10 pairs
Goosander (fem) 5
LBB Gulls 7
Many thanks to one ''ANTONY'', a photographer present, who not only told me which was No.1 but told me which corner the Slav. was in!



-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 28th of March 2011 02:44:26 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 28th of March 2011 02:50:15 PM

-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 28th of March 2011 03:54:30 PM

Slav grebe still present this am along with 2 wheatear, 1 shelduck, 1 lapwing, 1 grey wagtail and 10+ sand martin.

Sorry Jason definately not me, as Ian says the only other birder I saw/spoke to was Tony. There were c100 Sand Martins this morning split between nos 2 and 3 Resvs and the Swallow was feeding with these over no 3.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Probably Tony O'Mahony you met Jason that's a distinct possibility hehe Quite a bit too early for Greenland Wheatears yet too I'd have thought

---

i did say possible, definitely a full warm buff breast but i'm not convinced it was quite big enough

Probably Tony O'Mahony you met Jason

Quite a bit too early for Greenland Wheatears yet too I'd have thought

Yes I cannot deny it was me, I was just going to add the Slav to my sightings as I forgot about it, I was that annoyed about the dog walkers! I was on a mission to catch the bus!

i'm sure his name was adderley, i did introduce myself first time we've met you see, though it may not have been rob, now i'm confused.

he did say he ends up on here through other people, he also mentioned he'd seen someone else too. this may possibly have been you but my brain is obviously becoming addled now i've passed 40 as i can only half remember a conversation i had this morning.

you'rs bemusedly j fisher

just thought he might have said he'd seen rob adderley and my addled brain had got it down as his name in which case i possibly saw the chap who rob saw.

now i'm even more confused


on the 5 wheatear subject, 3 were together pointed out to me by the chap i spoke to, 2 more then flew in but a dog walker came along the bank towards them and they flew straight off accross number 1, one of them was possibly a greenland race

-- Edited by jason fisher on Sunday 27th of March 2011 07:11:51 PM

-- Edited by jason fisher on Sunday 27th of March 2011 07:14:27 PM

Phil Owen and myself spoke to a lady with a scope about 5pm - presumably you Karen? Slav Grebe still showing well pair of Wheatear on the wall 1 Rock Pipit 4 or 5 Meadow Pipits

1500 - 1730 1 Rock Pipit with 7-10 Meadow Pipits most of which seemed to appear when it went cloudy, don't know whether Rock Pipit was this morning's bird or a different one Same cloud also brought down 8-10 Sand Martin 2-3 Wheatear 51 Goldeneye 1 Cormorant 10 Tufted Duck 1 Ringed Plover disturbed by dog walker

Rob only saw/spoke to one other regular Audenshaw birder during his visit this morning Jason. Have you got the right man

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

This morning:

Slavonian Grebe still present
Single Rock Pipit
Single Swallow
3 Wheatear

Info thanks to Rob Adderley

---

did see rob, didn't see the swallow,
a pair of goosander
1 lapwing

there were actually 5 wheatear.

plus one ringed plover which rob must have walked straight past and missed, it was about 15 yards from where the wheatears were.



-- Edited by jason fisher on Sunday 27th of March 2011 04:11:29 PM

Early afternoon

Slav Grebe present on No1
2 Goldeneye
5 Meadow Pipit
2 Wheatear

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of March 2011 03:36:56 PM

This morning:

Slavonian Grebe still present
Single Rock Pipit
Single Swallow
3 Wheatear

Info thanks to Rob Adderley

This mornings birding: Slavonian Grebe still present on no 1 4 Black-tailed Godwits through SE at 8.30 6 Ringed Plover c80 Sand Martins Wheatear 2 Redpoll north Info thanks to Rob Adderley

Slavonian Grebe still present this morning, plus:

Rock Pipit
2 Wheatear
Oystercatcher

Info thanks to Rob Adderley

Wheatear present late morning

Info per Roy Travis

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Thursday 24th of March 2011 01:26:56 PM

Slav Grebe present this am - still on no 1
4 Ringed Plovers
Redshank calling
3 Sand Martins

Slav still present, otherwise quiet

Slav Grebe still present

5 Redshank
2 Sand Martins

There were about 200 LBBG in the roost last night.

When I visited around mid-day I counted a grand total of 55 Goldeneye scattered over the 3 reservoirs. Otherwise quiet apart from the Slav Grebe.

Oystercatcher 2
Ringed Plover 3
Meadow Pipit 1 only

Cheers, John

Slavonian Grebe still present this evening.

Goldeneye numbers down 17 female 10 male
Teal male and female
Tufted duck 8
Mallard 12

Gull roost LBB, Herring Gull Common Gull, BH Gull.
Corvids Crows Rooks Jackdaws Magpies.

Did not count as was gas- bagging with Ian

Pied wagtail 4
1 Dunlin.

Keep Birding

Monday 21st March 2011
06.00-09.20
Sunny
Light. Westerlies

Cormorant 2
Goldeneye 36
Tufted Duck 5
Grey Plover flew off west
Slavonian Grebe
Grey Heron
Teal pair
Curlew flew through east
Redshank 2
Sparrowhawk 2
Sand Martin
Ringed Plover

-- Edited by Paul Hammond on Monday 21st of March 2011 09:22:30 AM

Saw all the things mentioned below by Jason and Roger (Slav was back right by the south wall of No 1 when I arrived at about 9.30 giving as close a view as I've ever seen of one), with the addition of 18 sand martins which were driven down onto No 2 when the drizzle turned to driving rain. It was wet!!

Sunday March 20th. 06.30 hrs - 08.30 hrs.

Slavonian Grebe showed well for first hour then got a bit giddy with its diving skills.
5 G Crested Grebe.
4 Ringed Plover.
1 Dunlin.
2 Cormorant over.

I spent 10 minutes watching a Carrion Crow gathering moss (facing Blue Pig) ......... a real specimen, handsome, must be a contender for largest & fittest C Crow int' North of England.

Roger.

drizzle arrived the same time as us
plenty of golden eye and tufties around
4 great crested grebes
the slav showed well eventually.

our first mippits of the year
plus one rock pippit.

spoke to a chap who reported having seen ringed plover but no sign of little ringed.

too manky to get a look at any of the gulls

Slavonian Grebe still present this morning

Info thanks to Paul Hammond

I got 4 ringed plover and a dunlin.

I got close to the dunlin near water's edge in very nice but low and fading light. When close to the bird for decent shots I was joined by a tennis ball or something that splashed in the water near me, followed by a big dog that went in after it, whereafter the dog decided to come out of the water and have a good shake. As dogs do. Of course the bird shot off since they are not partial to dogs swimming in their space. I don't blame the dog ...it was a nice friendly dog but the owners unfortunately must have had frontal labotomies...Joe public always seems to manage to ruin my day.

Apart from the Grebe which was spending most of its time against the south bank, other sightings this afternoon included:

1 possibly 2 LRPs on No 2
1 Ringed Plover
19 Golden Plover over No 2 SE
24 Lapwing bathing and resting on No 3 until disturbed by joggers
2 Mipits
162 Lesser Black Backed Gulls

And Adrian Dancy out of his usual habitat!

Slavonian Grebe still present on No1 at NE end at 13:00, and showing very well for long periods. There was also a Rock Pipit and a Meadow Pipit near the central well.

Slavonian Grebe still present on number 1 this morning with 4 Sand Martins.

Ingo thanks to Rob Adderley

18/3/2011 16:00-18:00

Slav present last thing.
Spending a lot of time under water and moving around perimeter of No 1. Went from South West corner to North East corner in a little over 20 mins.

Hi Karen, I've not been here before and with it being only about 6 miles from home would like to have a walk around, wheres the best place to park at these Reservoirs?

thanks Phil

Slavonian Grebe still present 3:50 this afternoon plus singles of Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover on number 2.

Info thanks to Sonia Adderley

Slav was still present at 1215

Not quite full plumage, has ear tufts and is starting to change colour around the neck. Still a very smart bird all the same.

It's behaviour is similar to the bird present last October, possibly the same bird?

Breeding plumaged adult Slavonian Grebe present on number 1 reservoir mid morning today.

Info thanks to Karen Foulkes (via Roy Travis)

0700-0830 Cloudy and calm

c15 Sand Martin
1 Ringed Plover
1 Curlew heard only. I was by no 2 and it sounded like it may have been flying over no 1
8 Tufted Duck
1 Cormorant

17/3/2011 17:15-18:30

3 Gadwall with 2 Wigeon still present on No2
6 more Wigeon on No1
2 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover seen By JB earlier
1 of each seen later
2 Sand Martin briefly on No2

Thurs 17/03/2011 0900-1100 Cold and windy

3 Gadwall (2 drake)
2 Wigeon (pair)
5 Tufted Duck
1 Cormorant
2-3 Mipits

The east of the county continues to show a distinct lack of spring migrants!

Weds 16/03/11 1400-1645

Started off with great promise

4 Wigeon (2 drakes)
1 Shoveler (drake)
59 Pochard
10 Tufted Duck
4 Mallard
4 Cormorant
6 G C Grebe
40+ Goldeneye
5 Ringed Plover
1 Redshank

Then the dog walkers appeared and the waders disappeared

Also in the log Roy Travis recorded White Wagtail this morning


-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Wednesday 16th of March 2011 07:25:00 PM

11:00--13:15 Bright, hot, calm

Goldeneye - c60
Cormorant - 1
Ringed plover - 1
G-C grebe - 7
Pied wagtail - 8
Peregrine - 1 (viewed for all of 10 seconds)

1130-1330

Most of what Paul saw this morning still present, only addition being Ringed Plover.

Oystercatcher being pushed all over the place by dog walkers, although it did keep landing on the walls either side of the causeway. At one point it even landed in the middle of No 2!

Mute Swan and Pochard had departed and only one Cormorant present.

Saturday March 12th 2011
Moderate southerlies
Grey Cloud
06.10-08.15

GC Grebe 5
Goldeneye 35
Cormorant 5
Mute Swan 2 imm
R. Plover

Sunday March 13th 2011
Moderate south westerlies becoming north westerly
Light rain
06.15-08.30

GC Grebe 5
Goldeneye 38
Pochard 4m 1f
Tufted Duck Pr
Oystercatcher
Mute Swan 2 imm
Cormorant 3

1 ad Med Gull with a partial hood (probably last night's bird)
3 female Wigeon also present

Very windy

Tues - 8/3/11....pm

Med Gull - 4 adults in the roost tonight, starting with a bird in sum plum for the duration of the afternoon on no 1 Resv, then a second bird with a partial hood on no 2, and finally a pair in sum plum appeared on no 2 at around 5.45pm and even indulged in a little display.

Black-headed Gull - 1 leucistic bird.

Ringed Plover - 4




-- Edited by Robert Adderley on Tuesday 8th of March 2011 07:52:02 PM

6/3/11

1 ad s/pl Med Gull in roost
1 Linnet singing by the hide
2 Tufteds

Few larger gulls present this evening

Late posting for yesterday

5/3/11

2 Wigeon (pr)
1 Kestrel
4 Tufteds
7 Ringed Plover