One Dark Phase Arctic Skua - found as I was walking along the causeway between No. 1 & 3 and thinking that maybe I should have gone to Winter Hill after a very quite morning.
The Skua was on the far side of the top reservoir (No.3) from the causeway and was being harassed by two LBBGs. Initially it flew NW but then did a 180 degree turn and headed SE towards Denton and unfortunately was lost to view. Stuck around for a while but no further sign.
Other highlights included:
c40 Pink Footed Goose flying over heading approx SE 50+mixed group of swallow and house martin 2 sand martin although it sounded like there were a few more higher up 1 common sandpiper
So after a quiet start a good mornings birding
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 18 8:56 AM, 2010
Arctic Skua present at 08:50 this morning. Lost to view and at this point not known whether it flew straight through or not.
Info thanks to Iain Johnson
Karen Foulkes said
Mon Sep 13 8:25 PM, 2010
You gotta get 'em while they're there.
I packed myself off to Audenshaw after work and located the Scaup.
I afforded myself some time after to watch the Gulls arriving to roost, but face on I couldn't locate anything out of the ordinary, with the majority being Common and Black Headed, but there were also Herring, LBB and GBB with there being about 2,000 in total. They were still arriving in large numbers when I was leaving.
I couldn't find any waders apart from 4 Lapwings which flew over.
Thanks again to Robert Adderley for letting me know about the Scaup and also thanks to the bird for staying, so frustrating when you have to wait several hours to finish work to go and see it!
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Monday 13th of September 2010 08:30:32 PM
juv Black Tern there at 12:10 Also Common Tern Common Sandpiper
Original Black Tern info from Rob Adderley
Just noticed my posting from yesterday should have read late pm
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 11th of September 2010 08:03:37 PM
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 11th of September 2010 08:06:26 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Sep 10 7:00 PM, 2010
Late am
1 Ringed Plover 1 Goldeneye
Karen Foulkes said
Tue Sep 7 8:53 PM, 2010
No sign of any Terns this evening. After a heavy shower just before I finished work, I went in the hope that something might have been forced down by the weather.
Highlights
1 Redshank may have been forced down by the weather 2 Coots 2 Goldeneye 1 Swallow
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 7 11:30 AM, 2010
Think someone's got mixed up there Henry.
Coincidence that 10 Black Terns were at Alston Reservoir, Lancashire on no. 1 resr at 08:20 this morning? Certainly wasn't Audenshaw Resers anyway.
Atleast Birdnet got it right first time.
Henry Cook said
Tue Sep 7 9:22 AM, 2010
RBA 'were' reporting 10 Black Terns over No1 Res at 8.20am. They are now saying this was erroneous?!
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 7th of September 2010 11:25:18 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 7 9:01 AM, 2010
Black Tern present on number 2 reservoir this morning.
Info thanks to Rob Adderley
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Sep 5 12:37 PM, 2010
A late morning visit to Audenshaw
The highlight was a Coot, my first on Audenshaw this year!
At least 2 Swift Lots of hirundines, couldn't stop and look and count properly, also Sparrowhawk circling.
Robert Adderley said
Mon Aug 23 8:50 PM, 2010
Mon 23/8/10 early evening.
HOBBY - 1 showed well over the central well during a break in the showers at 6.15pm,before flying off low over no 1 Resv.
Yellow Wagtail - 1 juv. Wheatear - 3 Swift - 4
Didn't see the 2 Goldeneye tonight (at Pennington perhaps?).
Paul Hammond said
Sat Aug 21 8:59 AM, 2010
Saturday 21st August 2010 06.25-08.45 Moderate SW Cloudy
Goosander c30 Great Crested Grebe 37 Tufted Duck c170 Ringed Plover Dunlin 6 Golden Plover (heard)
Iain Johnson said
Fri Aug 20 7:54 AM, 2010
Another early evening wander (19th) produced:
12+ swifts 100 ish sand martins 6 ish swallows 1/ 2 house martins circa 40 Goosander 3 very flightly mallards! usual gulls, grebes, peid wagtails and tufted ducks
Iain Johnson said
Thu Aug 19 7:52 AM, 2010
early evening walk on the 18th produced
1 female kestrel 4 goosander 1 goldeneye 5 lapwing 2+ sand martin mixed flock swallow and house martin of circa 12 birds 1 wheatear
plus the usual GC grebe, tufted duck, common gull, BH gull, LBB gull and pid wagtail.
Robert Adderley said
Wed Aug 18 8:33 PM, 2010
18/8/10 early am
Dunlin - 6
Goldeneye - 2 Goosander - 43 Tufted Duck- 152
Swift - 8
Graham Gill said
Wed Aug 18 9:29 AM, 2010
17/08/10 19:15--20:50
Mediterranean gull - 1 (very aloof from the BHG masses on No1; eventually flew N) Common scoter - 2m + 1f Canada geese - 105 Goosander - 39 Tufted duck - c200 GC grebes - c50 Gulls (BH + LBB) - 1500+ (No2); 450+ (No1)
Redshank Lots of Goosander and Tufted Ducks as usual GC Grebes 2xLabradores
Iain Johnson said
Wed Aug 4 9:41 PM, 2010
early evening walk produced:
1 Sparrowhawk (about 20 ft overhead so great views) GC Grebe Tufted Duck Common Sand 1 Swift 4 Sand Martin 3 House Martin 20+ Swallow 1 Pied Wagtail 3 Meadow Pipit 1 LBBG, H and BG Gulls Wood Pigeon
Graham Gill said
Wed Aug 4 9:51 AM, 2010
Monday 7.45 -- 9.15 pm
A lot different at dusk. More gulls flying in as I left.
Gulls (BH and LBB) - 1000+ on No2; 300 on No1 Goosander - 36 (No2) Canada geese - 70 (No1) Tufted duck - 150 GC grebes - 30 Pied wagtails - 2 Swifts - 10 (fly through at 8.50 pm)
Robert Adderley said
Sun Aug 1 6:08 PM, 2010
Sun -1/8/10 early am
Shoveler - 1 Goldeneye - 2 Goosander - 27
Common Sandpiper - 1 Dunlin - 1
Herring Gull - 1 ad with LBBG'S.
Linnet - 8
Rob Bell said
Tue Jul 27 5:36 PM, 2010
CORRECTION - 4 Linnets NOT Twites!!
Iain Johnson said
Sun Jul 25 4:45 PM, 2010
-- Edited by Iain Johnson on Sunday 25th of July 2010 09:08:32 PM
Rob Bell said
Sun Jul 25 12:21 PM, 2010
24/07/10 (afternoon)
Loads of Dufted Tuck 30+ Goosander 10 Lesser Black Backed Gulls 4 Twite (edge of reservoir 3) Common Sandpipers and the usual Great Crested Grebes.
No Sanderling this time and lots of anglers!
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Jul 17 6:46 PM, 2010
17/07/10 pm
Decided to see if there were any waders undisturbed by dog walkers
1 adult Sanderling 1 Common Sand chased away by juv Pied Wagtail 6 Ringed Plover (mostly juvs)
80+ Tufted Ducks 15 Goosander 2 Goldeneye
Robert Adderley said
Thu Jul 8 7:01 PM, 2010
Thurs - 8/7/10 early am
Common Scoter - 2 drakes still on no 1 Resv. Goldeneye- pair. Goosander - 10
Ringed Plover - 10 Common Sandpiper - 3
Graham Gill said
Thu Jul 8 4:07 PM, 2010
7-7-10 10:00--12:00
No 1 res Saw a commotion on the water -- ducks and gulls -- but couldn't figure out what was happening. Eventually got close enough to see 10 Goosanders followed by 16 BH Gulls now calmly crossing to the railway side. When I got round there, there was more frantic splashing and I could see the water's edge was boiling with fish on the surface, Goosanders diving for them and the BH Gulls picking fish off the surface. LBB Gulls watched from the bank. So the BH Gulls use this tactic of trailing the Goosanders until they find fish and force them to the surface, then sharing the meal. Clever. In all ...
10 Goosander (all with brown heads -- juv, f and eclipse m?) 16 BH Gulls 6 LBB Gulls 2 Swallows 5 Swifts (roughly 2995 less than the last visit in May!) 1 Ring-necked Plover 10 GC Grebes Couldn't identify any Scoters, but there were little black things in the middle out of bin range (must get a scope). 16 Tufties (on No3)
Met a dog walker who was surprisingly well informed about the local wildlife. He reckons UU have introduced carp into No 2 and 3 res's to control the water-borne insect larvae. Bit more environmentally friendly than spraying the grass.
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Jul 4 10:34 AM, 2010
Sun 4/7/10 - am
2 drake Common Scoter still present, diving quite a lot, don't birds have a habit of making you feel foolish 1 Common Sand 4 Ringed Plover 1 Cormorant 30+ Tufted Duck
Robert Adderley said
Sat Jul 3 8:32 PM, 2010
Sat 3/7/10 - am
Common Scoter - 2 drakes still on no 1 resv. Gadwall - 5 Goldeneye - 2
Yellow-legged Gull - ad on the factory roof by the Railway line with Herring and LBB Gulls.
Ringed Plover - 1
-- Edited by Robert Adderley on Saturday 3rd of July 2010 08:35:29 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Jul 2 10:21 PM, 2010
2 Common Scoter still present 20:45 pr Goldeneye c30 Tufted Duck 5 Goosander 1 Ringed Plover
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 2nd of July 2010 10:24:39 PM
Robert Adderley said
Fri Jul 2 8:22 PM, 2010
2/7/10
2 Common Scoter today- info per R Travis.
Iain Johnson said
Thu Jun 17 9:35 PM, 2010
2 sand martins were the highlight of a lunchtime walk.
Iain Johnson said
Fri Jun 11 6:31 PM, 2010
lunchtime Friday
1 common tern 1 sand martin c20 LBB Gulls 1 BH Gull 11 GC Grebe Swifts and swallows Linnets 3+ Goldfinch 5+
2 whitethroats along the railway line 400+ swifts (a marvellous sight) 2 common terns (ever so briefly) 4 dunlin 2 ringed plovers
Most amazing thing - no anglers!! Last time I went they had scaled a new peak of disturbance and were out on the middle of No.3 reser in an inflatable!!!!
Into thanks to Rob and Sonia Adderley and Karen Foulkes
1 common sandpiper
2 goldeneye
3 linnet
2 meadow pipit
GC grebe
tufted ducks
goosander
LBBG
BHG
quite a few swallows and house martins still
Info thanks to Rob Adderley
Info thanks to Rob Adderley
Info thanks to Sonia Adderley
62 Tufted Duck
17 GC Grebe
2 Goosander
1 Goldeneye
1 Wheatear
4 Fishing Tents
Cheers, John
One Dark Phase Arctic Skua - found as I was walking along the causeway between No. 1 & 3 and thinking that maybe I should have gone to Winter Hill after a very quite morning.
The Skua was on the far side of the top reservoir (No.3) from the causeway and was being harassed by two LBBGs. Initially it flew NW but then did a 180 degree turn and headed SE towards Denton and unfortunately was lost to view. Stuck around for a while but no further sign.
Other highlights included:
c40 Pink Footed Goose flying over heading approx SE
50+mixed group of swallow and house martin
2 sand martin although it sounded like there were a few more higher up
1 common sandpiper
So after a quiet start a good mornings birding
Info thanks to Iain Johnson
I packed myself off to Audenshaw after work and located the Scaup.
I afforded myself some time after to watch the Gulls arriving to roost, but face on I couldn't locate anything out of the ordinary, with the majority being Common and Black Headed, but there were also Herring, LBB and GBB with there being about 2,000 in total. They were still arriving in large numbers when I was leaving.
I couldn't find any waders apart from 4 Lapwings which flew over.
Thanks again to Robert Adderley for letting me know about the Scaup and also thanks to the bird for staying, so frustrating when you have to wait several hours to finish work to go and see it!
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Monday 13th of September 2010 08:30:32 PM
Scaup - 1 juv on no 2 Resv.
Goldeneye - 2
Redshank - 1
Common Sandpiper - 1
Wheatear - 2
Also Common Tern
Common Sandpiper
Original Black Tern info from Rob Adderley
Just noticed my posting from yesterday should have read late pm
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 11th of September 2010 08:03:37 PM
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 11th of September 2010 08:06:26 PM
1 Ringed Plover
1 Goldeneye
Highlights
1 Redshank may have been forced down by the weather
2 Coots
2 Goldeneye
1 Swallow
Coincidence that 10 Black Terns were at Alston Reservoir, Lancashire on no. 1 resr at 08:20 this morning? Certainly wasn't Audenshaw Resers anyway.
Atleast Birdnet got it right first time.
They are now saying this was erroneous?!
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 7th of September 2010 11:25:18 AM
Info thanks to Rob Adderley
The highlight was a Coot, my first on Audenshaw this year!
Otherwise
2 Goldeneye
10 Cormorant
25 Tufted Duck
3 Goosander
1 Meadow Pipit flew through
Kestrel
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 5th of September 2010 01:41:49 PM
Teal - 7
Goldeneye - 2
Dunlin - 1
No1 Res only
Grey wagtail - 2
Pied wagtail - 3
Goosander - 9
House martin - 20
Swift - 15
LBB gull - 10
BH gull - 20
Common gull - 1
GC grebe - 30
Flies - c10 billion
Goosander doing repeated synchronous diving along the bank. Tried to catch up with them while they were underwater -- they won.
Tufted duck 90
Mallard 3
G.C.Grebe 40
Cormorants 5
BH Gull 30
LBB 23.
Swallows 100+
Sand Martins 50+
Swifts 4
Pied wags 5
Wheatear 1
Fishermen 11 tents 3.
Keep Birding
At least 2 Swift
Lots of hirundines, couldn't stop and look and count properly, also Sparrowhawk circling.
HOBBY - 1 showed well over the central well during a break in the showers at 6.15pm,before flying off low over no 1 Resv.
Yellow Wagtail - 1 juv.
Wheatear - 3
Swift - 4
Didn't see the 2 Goldeneye tonight (at Pennington perhaps?).
06.25-08.45
Moderate SW
Cloudy
Goosander c30
Great Crested Grebe 37
Tufted Duck c170
Ringed Plover
Dunlin 6
Golden Plover (heard)
12+ swifts
100 ish sand martins
6 ish swallows
1/ 2 house martins
circa 40 Goosander
3 very flightly mallards!
usual gulls, grebes, peid wagtails and tufted ducks
1 female kestrel
4 goosander
1 goldeneye
5 lapwing
2+ sand martin
mixed flock swallow and house martin of circa 12 birds
1 wheatear
plus the usual GC grebe, tufted duck, common gull, BH gull, LBB gull and pid wagtail.
Dunlin - 6
Goldeneye - 2
Goosander - 43
Tufted Duck- 152
Swift - 8
Mediterranean gull - 1 (very aloof from the BHG masses on No1; eventually flew N)
Common scoter - 2m + 1f
Canada geese - 105
Goosander - 39
Tufted duck - c200
GC grebes - c50
Gulls (BH + LBB) - 1500+ (No2); 450+ (No1)
3 Shoveler
2 Wheatear - imm
2 Goldeneye
1 Redshank
6 Swift
26 Goosander
26 Canada Geese
Cormorant
15+ Pied Wagtail
1 imm Kestrel
Common Scoter - 1 female.
Goldeneye - 2
Goosander - c30
Common Sandpiper - 1
Wheatear - 3
Goosander - 52
Goldeneye - 2
Common Sandpiper - 1
Swift - 32
Redshank
Lots of Goosander and Tufted Ducks as usual
GC Grebes
2xLabradores
1 Sparrowhawk (about 20 ft overhead so great views)
GC Grebe
Tufted Duck
Common Sand 1
Swift 4
Sand Martin 3
House Martin 20+
Swallow 1
Pied Wagtail 3
Meadow Pipit 1
LBBG, H and BG Gulls
Wood Pigeon
A lot different at dusk. More gulls flying in as I left.
Gulls (BH and LBB) - 1000+ on No2; 300 on No1
Goosander - 36 (No2)
Canada geese - 70 (No1)
Tufted duck - 150
GC grebes - 30
Pied wagtails - 2
Swifts - 10 (fly through at 8.50 pm)
Shoveler - 1
Goldeneye - 2
Goosander - 27
Common Sandpiper - 1
Dunlin - 1
Herring Gull - 1 ad with LBBG'S.
Linnet - 8
-- Edited by Iain Johnson on Sunday 25th of July 2010 09:08:32 PM
Loads of Dufted Tuck
30+ Goosander
10 Lesser Black Backed Gulls
4 Twite (edge of reservoir 3)
Common Sandpipers and the usual Great Crested Grebes.
No Sanderling this time and lots of anglers!
Decided to see if there were any waders undisturbed by dog walkers
1 adult Sanderling
1 Common Sand chased away by juv Pied Wagtail
6 Ringed Plover (mostly juvs)
80+ Tufted Ducks
15 Goosander
2 Goldeneye
Common Scoter - 2 drakes still on no 1 Resv.
Goldeneye- pair.
Goosander - 10
Ringed Plover - 10
Common Sandpiper - 3
No 1 res
Saw a commotion on the water -- ducks and gulls -- but couldn't figure out what was happening. Eventually got close enough to see 10 Goosanders followed by 16 BH Gulls now calmly crossing to the railway side. When I got round there, there was more frantic splashing and I could see the water's edge was boiling with fish on the surface, Goosanders diving for them and the BH Gulls picking fish off the surface. LBB Gulls watched from the bank. So the BH Gulls use this tactic of trailing the Goosanders until they find fish and force them to the surface, then sharing the meal. Clever. In all ...
10 Goosander (all with brown heads -- juv, f and eclipse m?)
16 BH Gulls
6 LBB Gulls
2 Swallows
5 Swifts (roughly 2995 less than the last visit in May!)
1 Ring-necked Plover
10 GC Grebes
Couldn't identify any Scoters, but there were little black things in the middle out of bin range (must get a scope).
16 Tufties (on No3)
Met a dog walker who was surprisingly well informed about the local wildlife. He reckons UU have introduced carp into No 2 and 3 res's to control the water-borne insect larvae. Bit more environmentally friendly than spraying the grass.
Sun 4/7/10 - am
2 drake Common Scoter still present, diving quite a lot, don't birds have a habit of making you feel foolish
1 Common Sand
4 Ringed Plover
1 Cormorant
30+ Tufted Duck
Common Scoter - 2 drakes still on no 1 resv.
Gadwall - 5
Goldeneye - 2
Yellow-legged Gull - ad on the factory roof by the Railway line with Herring and LBB Gulls.
Ringed Plover - 1
-- Edited by Robert Adderley on Saturday 3rd of July 2010 08:35:29 PM
pr Goldeneye
c30 Tufted Duck
5 Goosander
1 Ringed Plover
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 2nd of July 2010 10:24:39 PM
2 Common Scoter today- info per R Travis.
1 common tern
1 sand martin
c20 LBB Gulls
1 BH Gull
11 GC Grebe
Swifts and swallows
Linnets 3+
Goldfinch 5+
2 Sanderling (1 s/pl)
3 Dunlin
1 Ringed Plover
1 Oystercatcher through
2 whitethroats along the railway line
400+ swifts (a marvellous sight)
2 common terns (ever so briefly)
4 dunlin
2 ringed plovers
Most amazing thing - no anglers!! Last time I went they had scaled a new peak of disturbance and were out on the middle of No.3 reser in an inflatable!!!!
1 ringed plover and 2 dunlin
1 Dunlin
1 drake Goldeneye
Pr Tufted Duck
plus lots of children and a couple of families