Grasshopper Warbler showing well this morning on road to old hall farm below pumphouse. Also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher and a possible Ringed Plover or little Ringed flew off over res.
Paul Wilson said
Tue Jun 20 6:52 PM, 2023
Water level back to very high at main reservoir, water level going over the outflow at Withins.
Morning highlights (few and far between):
2 Grasshopper Warblers (heard only) 2 Common Tern 1 female Common Merganser with 4 young (on the river) 2 GS Woodpeckers (1 male and 1 young) - these were visitors to my garden feeders at Daisyfield.
David Hughes said
Mon Jun 19 9:24 PM, 2023
Thanks Paul.
Paul Wilson said
Mon Jun 19 9:08 PM, 2023
David Hughes wrote:
Can someone tell me where the goyt is at elton, thanks
The goyt is the stream which runs through the marsh from the canal. It can be seen on the map (as a winding blue line running down from Bennie's) in the site guide on the main Manchester Birding website. Note that the goyt is often used as another name for the whole of the marsh area. Also note that the goyt is on private land, and you should stick to the public footpath or the canal towpath to view this area.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Monday 19th of June 2023 10:01:31 PM
Ian Campbell said
Fri Jun 16 11:34 AM, 2023
Morning highlights, 4 Mediterranean Gulls (seen regularly over the last days). Also 2 Reeling Grasshopper Warblers (heard only).
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed Jun 7 7:37 PM, 2023
Highlights from evening walk around the Reservoir 17.45 to 19.25pm. 1 Drake Goldeneye. 1 Great Black backed Gull. Ringed necked parakeet heard.
Managed a morning walk today, and worth logging in this report:
Chiffchaff Willow warbler Blackcap Whitethroat Grasshopper warbler x2 Sedge warbler x3+ Swallow Swift House martin Jay Common tern Lapwing Pheasant Song thrush Willow tit
Ta!
Ian Campbell said
Tue May 23 3:34 PM, 2023
Morning highlights, Reed Warbler and Ring-necked Parakeet in dip and Yellow Wagtail near car park.
Roger Halsey said
Sun May 21 12:05 PM, 2023
Highlight from this mornings WeBS count- a Lesser Whitethroat along the canal! Not much to count on the water, with the best being 4 Gadwall and 6 Great Crested Grebe( excluding 2 young on Withins). Also 3 Swift and 2 Kestrel.
Derek Richardson said
Sat May 20 6:11 PM, 2023
08.30am - 11.30am. Clear, still. 09c-13c.
Quick visit, Reservoir levels high, less then 50 birds in total on the water, and the boats were not out.
I'm going to throw my inexpert opinion but recent experience in - having just been in Israel for 4 weeks, where the Hooded Crow is the normal crow, this one just doesn't look right - where are the actual grey feathers?
If it is a hoody then it's one very sick looking bird, imagine that all those grey areas are black, doesn't look healthy. I'm wondering whether the feather mites idea might be correct.
Derek Polley said
Wed May 17 9:59 PM, 2023
As an occasional visitor from Northern Ireland to Elton I'll throw in my opinion. Hooded crow is our default crow so I am always looking for a carrion crow on the County Down coast. There are a lot of birds which look like carrion but have too many grey bits and have to be put down as hybrids. This looks to me like a hybrid as the grey/black boundary isn't clean enough and the wing pattern is too patchy. True hoodies can have an almost pinkish tinge to the grey and this bird doesn't have that. I think it is a hybrid - sorry! However I have been wrong before!!Looking forward to being back in early June when there may still be a few migrants I won't get at home like redstart or even little owl.
Martin Loftus said
Mon May 15 9:37 PM, 2023
Some off the back of the camera pics of the interesting looking Crow.
Can't work out whether it's got some slight hybridisation, leucism or it's suffering from a bad case of feather mites . Either way it definitely looks like a hooded crow at first glance.
Bit of excitement tonight. I found a Hooded Crow possible Hybrid Hooded crow tonight at Elton, it was in the field next to brookbottom Road, I managed to get the word out quickly and luckily a few got to.see it, Martin had his camera so expect pics soon. A very interesting bird
Highlights this morning: 1 Little Gull still 3 Common Tern 1 Common Sandpiper Several Swifts, (my first of the year). 1 Sedge Warbler, by canal 3 Common Whitethroat 1 Oystercatcher 1 Greenfinch
-- Edited by Adam Jones on Saturday 29th of April 2023 08:36:47 AM
Chiffchaff Blackcap Willow warbler Sedge warbler Grasshopper warbler heard x2 Common whitethroat Grey wagtail House Martin Sand Martin Swallow Swift Pheasant Lapwing Oystercatcher Little gull Common tern x2
Ta!
Simon Warford said
Wed Apr 26 12:40 PM, 2023
Sightings this morning-
1st summer Little Gull still present, was perched on the wall at one point this morning 2 female Wheatear 3 White Wagtail 3 Common Sandpipier 2 Grasshopper Warblers Shelduck 2 Shoveler Several Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers singing now and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.
Rob Creek said
Mon Apr 24 10:32 AM, 2023
Sun 23rd April
Morning visit.. - 2CY Little Gull on res - fem/imm male type Wheatear - 3 Common Sandpiper together - 3 Common Swift - c150+ Sand Martin - 2 House Martin - c10+ Swallow - 3 Reed Bunting (2m 1f) - 4 Grey Wagtail - 1 Shoveler - 1 Gadwall - plenty of singing Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap around the site
A good morning despite heavy rain early morning combined sightings
Blue-headed Wagtail or hybrid along the wall 2 Tree pipit north 5 Wheatear Yellow Wag north 3 Swift 12+ House Martin Green Sandpiper NE 7 Common Sandpiper Snipe 2 Oystercatcher 2 Possibly 3 Arctic Tern which departed when rain cleared 2 Common Tern 2 Little Gull adult & 1w 41 Linnet north Redpoll 128 Meadow pipit north Little owl Kingfisher Little egret 2 willow tit Sedge warbler Grasshopper warbler
Mike c cooper said
Fri Apr 21 8:25 PM, 2023
White throat definitely Iberian
Martin Loftus said
Fri Apr 21 7:43 PM, 2023
3pm - 5pm
Some photos below of the possible Iberian Wagtail present in Capstics marsh plus x8 little gulls were still on the res when I left.
Quick check of Elton reservoir on my way home 2 Common Terns. 1 Arctic Tern. 1 Little Gull 1st winter plumage.
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Apr 16 11:37 AM, 2023
Highlights from this morning 16th April 2023 1 Common Tern. 1 Kittiwake. 1 Common Scoter. 2 Gadwall. 2 Teal. 1 pink footed Goose. 3 Greylag Geese. 1 Linnet. 2 House Martins amongst the Sand Martins and Swallow.
09.OOam - 13.00pm. Clear, then light cloud, light breeze. 04c-12c.
48 Species including.
1 Kestrel. 1 Sparrowhawk. 2 Oystercatcher. 1 Common scoter. 6 Sand Martin. 8 Swallow. 7 Chiffchaff. 1 Willow warbler. 1 Pheasant. 13 Lapwing. 7 Long tailed tit. 4 Song thrush. 40+ Starling. (one flock in marsh). 1 Goldeneye. 4 Goosander. 7 Great crested grebe. 19 Tufted duck.
Thanks Derek.
Simon Warford said
Sat Apr 15 5:30 PM, 2023
This morning with Paul Wilson-
1 Common Sandpiper 1 female Common Scoter 1 Goldeneye 4 Gadwall 2 Teal 2 Little Owl 5 House Martin amongst the Swallows and Sand Martins 3 Little Egret 1 Pink-footed Goose and 1 Greylag amongst the Canada Geese 23 Meadow Pipits north 1 singing Willow Tit 3 Linnet 2 Kingfisher
Richard Thew said
Fri Apr 14 12:20 PM, 2023
Highlights this morning:
Yellow wagtail x1 male along the wall. Jay x2 Willow warbler Chiffchaff Blackcap singing House Martin Sand Martin Swallow Grey wagtail Lapwing Pheasant Sparrowhawk Kingfisher Goosander x2f x1m
Ta!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 14th of April 2023 12:31:14 PM
With Mike.
41 species including.
3 Kestrel.
2 Common tern.
1 Shelduck.(M).
4+ Great black backed gull.
100+ Lesser black backed gull.
20+ Herring gull.
150+ Sand martin.
20+ Swallow.
11 Swift.
3 House martin.
6 Great crested grebe.
1 Grey wagtail.
2 Mute swan.
Thanks Derek.
2 Dunlin
Willow tit
Common Tern
160 Swift
Cheers Ian
51 species including.
1 Kestrel.
1 Buzzard.
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Grasshopper warbler.
1 Common tern.
5 Lesser black backed gull.
1 Kingfisher.
35+ Sand martin.
22 Swallow.
8 Swift.
1 House martin.
3 Long tailed tit.
2 Sedge warbler.
5 Chiffchaff.
3 Willow warbler.
4 Whitethroat.
12 Greenfinch.
100+ Jackdaw.
1 Pheasant.
5 Song thrush
6 Collared dove.
1 Water Rail.
3 Reed bunting.
1 Grey wagtail.
10 Great crested grebe.
33 Coot.
1 Grey heron.
7 Mute swan.
Thanks Derek.
Water level back to very high at main reservoir, water level going over the outflow at Withins.
Morning highlights (few and far between):
2 Grasshopper Warblers (heard only)
2 Common Tern
1 female Common Merganser with 4 young (on the river)
2 GS Woodpeckers (1 male and 1 young) - these were visitors to my garden feeders at Daisyfield.
The goyt is the stream which runs through the marsh from the canal. It can be seen on the map (as a winding blue line running down from Bennie's) in the site guide on the main Manchester Birding website. Note that the goyt is often used as another name for the whole of the marsh area. Also note that the goyt is on private land, and you should stick to the public footpath or the canal towpath to view this area.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Monday 19th of June 2023 10:01:31 PM
1 Drake Goldeneye.
1 Great Black backed Gull.
Ringed necked parakeet heard.
Cheers Steven.
5.45am to 10.30. Leisurely walk round, trying to count everything I saw. Didn't quite make the 60 (58 species though):
37 Canada Goose
1 Mute Swan
2 Gadwall
35 Mallard
7 Tufted Duck
3 Common Pheasant
8 Great Crested Grebe
15 Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
35 Common Wood Pigeon
7 Eurasian Collared Dove
37 Common Swift
12 Common Moorhen
22 Eurasian Coot
2 Eurasian Oystercatcher
49 Northern Lapwing
1 Little Ringed Plover
15 Black-headed Gull
2 European Herring Gull
4 Lesser Black-backed Gull
2 Great Cormorant
5 Grey Heron
1 Common Buzzard
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Rose-ringed Parakeet
2 Eurasian Jay
30 Eurasian Magpie
22 Western Jackdaw
4 Rook
23 Carrion Crow
2 Coal Tit
8 Eurasian Blue Tit
10 Great Tit
7 Sedge Warbler
25 Sand Martin
47 Barn Swallow
3 Common House Martin
19 Willow Warbler
11 Common Chiffchaff
17 Long-tailed Tit
11 Eurasian Blackcap
6 Common Whitethroat
1 Goldcrest
3 Eurasian Nuthatch
2 Eurasian Treecreeper
64 Eurasian Wren
25 Common Starling
9 Song Thrush
36 Common Blackbird
23 European Robin
13 Dunnock
52 House Sparrow
1 Grey Wagtail
3 White Wagtail (Pied)
25 Common Chaffinch
4 Eurasian Bullfinch
30 European Greenfinch
18 European Goldfinch
5 Common Reed Bunting
Lovely Summer Bird therapy walk with Mike Horwood.
48 species including.
1 Kestrel.
1 Great black backed gull.
2 Oystercatcher.
1 Great spotted woodpecker.
1 Nuthatch.
1 Common tern.
6 Swift.
1 House Martin.
11 Sand Martin.
33 Swallow.
2 Bullfinch.
4 Whitethroat.
3 Chiffchaff.
3 Sedge Warbler.
1 Blackcap.
4 Collared dove.
8 Great crested grebe.
1 Teal.
20+ Goldfinch.
2 Grey wagtail.
50+ Starling.
15 Lapwing. (Including 2 juvenile).
9 Tufted duck.
Thanks Derek.
Chiffchaff
Willow warbler
Blackcap
Whitethroat
Grasshopper warbler x2
Sedge warbler x3+
Swallow
Swift
House martin
Jay
Common tern
Lapwing
Pheasant
Song thrush
Willow tit
Ta!
Highlight from this mornings WeBS count- a Lesser Whitethroat along the canal! Not much to count on the water, with the best being 4 Gadwall and 6 Great Crested Grebe( excluding 2 young on Withins). Also 3 Swift and 2 Kestrel.
Quick visit, Reservoir levels high, less then 50 birds in total on the water, and the boats were not out.
44 Species including.
2 Rose ringed parakeets.
1 Kingfisher.
2 Oystercatcher.
1 Sparrowhawk.
3 Kestrel.
4 Sand Martin.
14 Swallow.
5 Chiffchaff.
5 Willow Warbler.
6 Whitethroat.
2 Blackcap. (M).
3 Lesser Black backed gull.
1 Jay.
28 Blackbird.
7 Song Thrush.
2 Gadwall.
2 Great crested grebe.
1 Grey Wagtail.
4 Pied Wagtail.
3 Mute swan.
Thanks Derek.
I'm going to throw my inexpert opinion but recent experience in - having just been in Israel for 4 weeks, where the Hooded Crow is the normal crow, this one just doesn't look right - where are the actual grey feathers?
If it is a hoody then it's one very sick looking bird, imagine that all those grey areas are black, doesn't look healthy. I'm wondering whether the feather mites idea might be correct.
As an occasional visitor from Northern Ireland to Elton I'll throw in my opinion. Hooded crow is our default crow so I am always looking for a carrion crow on the County Down coast. There are a lot of birds which look like carrion but have too many grey bits and have to be put down as hybrids. This looks to me like a hybrid as the grey/black boundary isn't clean enough and the wing pattern is too patchy. True hoodies can have an almost pinkish tinge to the grey and this bird doesn't have that. I think it is a hybrid - sorry! However I have been wrong before!!Looking forward to being back in early June when there may still be a few migrants I won't get at home like redstart or even little owl.
Some off the back of the camera pics of the interesting looking Crow.
Can't work out whether it's got some slight hybridisation, leucism or it's suffering from a bad case of feather mites . Either way it definitely looks like a hooded crow at first glance.
Bit of excitement tonight. I found a Hooded Crow possible Hybrid Hooded crow tonight at Elton, it was in the field next to brookbottom Road, I managed to get the word out quickly and luckily a few got to.see it, Martin had his camera so expect pics soon. A very interesting bird
52 species including.
Reservoir still full, hardly any birds on it.
1 Kestrel.
1 Sparrowhawk.
2 Oystercatcher.
1 Reed warbler.
1 Ringed necked parakeet.
2 Grasshopper warbler. (1 seen, 1 heard close by).
1 Treecreeper.
2 Nuthatch.
7 Swift.
13 Sand martin.
21 Swallow.
13 Lapwing.
3 Pheasant.(2F, 1M).
2 Blackcap. (1F,IM).
30+ Goldfinch.
4 Whitethroat.
6 Chiffchaff.
2 Sedge warbler.
4 Willow warbler.
14 Long tailed tit.
2 Reed bunting.
8 Song thrush.
1 Jay.
100+ Canada goose.
60+ Jackdaw.
40+ Starling.
80+ Wood pigeon.
2 Grey wagtail.
5 Pied wagtail.
1 Grey heron.
4 Mute swan.
52 Species Including.
Great day, hardly anyone around, and boats not out.
Reservoir very full, with hardly any birds on the water.
1 Kingfisher.
1 Buzzard.
1 Oystercatcher.
3 Common Tern.
2 Mistle Thrush.
1 Greylag Goose.
1 House Martin.
14 Sand Martin.
9 Swallow.
16 Chiffchaff. (Heard several more).
1 Grasshopper Warbler.
4 Sedge Warbler.
7 Willow Warbler.(Heard several more).
5 Blackcap. (2F, 3M).
5 Whitethroat.
2 Bullfinch.
5 Chaffinch.
23 Goldfinch.
8 Greenfinch.
1 Long Tailed Tit.
4 Reed Bunting.
9 Song Thrush.
18 Lapwing. (Including 3 Juvenile).
3 Pheasant. (3M).
2 Jay.
17 Carrion Crow.
50+ Jackdaw.
2 Collared Dove.
30+ Starling.
70+ Wood Pigeon.
1 Grey Wagtail.
6 Pied Wagtail.
1 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
36 Canada Goose.(Including 6 goslings).
1 Cormorant.
10 Great Crested Grebe. (Including 2 Juveniles).
3 Gadwall.
7 Tufted Duck.
5 Grey Heron.
3 Mute Swan.
Thanks Derek.
Cheers Ian
I dont post often but visited this afternoon 16.30-17.45 and notables were
2 common tern
1 grasshopper warbler
chifchaff
25+ swift above boat house
100+ sand Martin during rain over res
50+ swallow
and best of all female goosander on Irwell with 16 babies!
Gaz
1 Shelduck.
3 Teal.
1 Gadwall.
8 Wigeon .
40+ Swifts.
2 Grasshopper warblers.
1 Lesser Whitethroat.
8 Sedge Warblers.
Common Whitethroats.
1 Rook.
1 Common Sandpiper.
3 Common Tern.
1 Little Gull juv.
Cheers Steven.
7am - 10am
X3 common sandpiper near the car park
X1 Dunlin near the pumphouse
X 3 swift over crow trees
X 4 grasshopper warbler (X2 in Bennies, 1 in Goyt, 1 in field near red bridge.
X5+ sedge warblers, mainly in the Goyt and along the canal.
Very low counts of gulls and ducks on reservoir, even before the boats come out!
NOT counted canal or Withins.
44 species including:
1 Kestrel.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Grasshopper Warbler.
3 Whitethroat.
7 Chiffchaff.
9 Willow warbler.
4 Blackcap. (1F, 3M).
16 Sand Martin.
7 Swallow.
2 Lesser black backed gull.
3 Herring gull.
47 Black headed gull.
4 Great crested grebe.
41 Mallard (including 9 ducklings, 1x6, 1x3).
23 Canada goose.
9 Tufted duck.
22 Coot.
1 Gadwall
1 Mute swan.
2 Grey heron.
1 Grey wagtail.
1 Pied wagtail.
1 Reed bunting.
14 Lapwing.
34 Jackdaw.
23 Blackbird.
4 Song Thrush.
12 Goldfinch.
5 Greenfinch.
Thanks Derek.
1 Little Gull still
3 Common Tern
1 Common Sandpiper
Several Swifts, (my first of the year).
1 Sedge Warbler, by canal
3 Common Whitethroat
1 Oystercatcher
1 Greenfinch
-- Edited by Adam Jones on Saturday 29th of April 2023 08:36:47 AM
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Willow warbler
Sedge warbler
Grasshopper warbler heard x2
Common whitethroat
Grey wagtail
House Martin
Sand Martin
Swallow
Swift
Pheasant
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Little gull
Common tern x2
Ta!
1st summer Little Gull still present, was perched on the wall at one point this morning
2 female Wheatear
3 White Wagtail
3 Common Sandpipier
2 Grasshopper Warblers
Shelduck
2 Shoveler
Several Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers singing now and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.
Morning visit..
- 2CY Little Gull on res
- fem/imm male type Wheatear
- 3 Common Sandpiper together
- 3 Common Swift
- c150+ Sand Martin
- 2 House Martin
- c10+ Swallow
- 3 Reed Bunting (2m 1f)
- 4 Grey Wagtail
- 1 Shoveler
- 1 Gadwall
- plenty of singing Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap around the site
Great birdwatch with my friend Mike Horwood.
52 species including.
1 Iberian Yellow Wagtail.
1 Stock Dove
2 Arctic Tern.
1 Common Tern.
1 Little Gull.
1 Swift.
3 House Martin.
1 Sedge Warbler.
1 Wheatear.
3 Common Sandpiper.
3 Kestrel.
1 Sparrowhawk.
200+ Sand Martin.
20+ Swallow.
5 Chiffchaff.
4 Willow Warbler.
1 Blackcap.
3 Reed Bunting.
1 Kingfisher.
1 Little Egret.
3 Pheasant. (2F, 1M).
2 Gadwall.
1 Goldeneye.
3 Goosander.
2 Grey Heron.
3 Pied Wagtail.
Thanks Derek.
2 Little Gulls ( adult and 1st Winter )
1 Mediterranean Gull.
1 Common Sandpiper.
1 Common Swift this morning but not seen in the afternoon.
Cheers Steven.
Blue-headed Wagtail or hybrid along the wall
2 Tree pipit north
5 Wheatear
Yellow Wag north
3 Swift
12+ House Martin
Green Sandpiper NE
7 Common Sandpiper
Snipe
2 Oystercatcher
2 Possibly 3 Arctic Tern which departed when rain cleared
2 Common Tern
2 Little Gull adult & 1w
41 Linnet north
Redpoll
128 Meadow pipit north
Little owl
Kingfisher
Little egret
2 willow tit
Sedge warbler
Grasshopper warbler
3pm - 5pm
Some photos below of the possible Iberian Wagtail present in Capstics marsh plus x8 little gulls were still on the res when I left.
9 Little Gulls currently feeding in middle of res
My first swift of the year
Wheatear
Common sandpiper
Goldeneye
Siskin flew over car park calling at 13:00
Cheers Ian
3;30pm - 5;30 pm
Total of 28 little gulls on the res. (26 adults and two juveniles)
absolutely amazing sight.
Some showing incredibly well!
Will probably never experience that again in my lifetime!
3;30pm - 5;30pm
x1 1st - winter Little Gull
x3 Arctic Terns
x1 Common Scoter
X1 Sparrowhawk
2 Common Terns.
1 Arctic Tern.
1 Little Gull 1st winter plumage.
Cheers Steven
1 Common Tern.
1 Kittiwake.
1 Common Scoter.
2 Gadwall.
2 Teal.
1 pink footed Goose.
3 Greylag Geese.
1 Linnet.
2 House Martins amongst the Sand Martins and Swallow.
Cheers Steven
48 Species including.
1 Kestrel.
1 Sparrowhawk.
2 Oystercatcher.
1 Common scoter.
6 Sand Martin.
8 Swallow.
7 Chiffchaff.
1 Willow warbler.
1 Pheasant.
13 Lapwing.
7 Long tailed tit.
4 Song thrush.
40+ Starling. (one flock in marsh).
1 Goldeneye.
4 Goosander.
7 Great crested grebe.
19 Tufted duck.
Thanks Derek.
This morning with Paul Wilson-
1 Common Sandpiper
1 female Common Scoter
1 Goldeneye
4 Gadwall
2 Teal
2 Little Owl
5 House Martin amongst the Swallows and Sand Martins
3 Little Egret
1 Pink-footed Goose and 1 Greylag amongst the Canada Geese
23 Meadow Pipits north
1 singing Willow Tit
3 Linnet
2 Kingfisher
Yellow wagtail x1 male along the wall.
Jay x2
Willow warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap singing
House Martin
Sand Martin
Swallow
Grey wagtail
Lapwing
Pheasant
Sparrowhawk
Kingfisher
Goosander x2f x1m
Ta!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 14th of April 2023 12:31:14 PM