-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 5th of May 2018 06:27:25 PM
Richard Thew said
Sat May 5 1:04 PM, 2018
An almost completely albino woodpigeon currently around old hall marsh. I had to look twice to check as I couldnt believe my eyes!!!
Simon Johnson said
Sat May 5 10:43 AM, 2018
The poor spring continues for me
6 Willow Warbler around the whole site And only 8 Swallow, 2!! Sand Martin and 3 House Martin .. where is everything? Nothing much moving over other than 17 Swift
Other birds inc 9 Blackcap 8 Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat 5 Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler coney green Common Sandpiper
Lapwings with 4 and 2 chicks
Mallards with 12, 4 and 7 Ducklings
Steven Higginbottom said
Fri May 4 6:05 PM, 2018
15:00-16:10pm 2 Common Terns present when I arrived but flew up high and headed west after a couple off minutes. 2 Arctic Terns flew through at 15:18 heading west. On Checking the Gulls there was one which looked like a possible Yellow Legged Gull (record shots attached)but thinking it was a Northern Herring Gull as the primaries looked to short and mirrors to large for Yellow Legged Gull. 1 Great Black Gull 3rd Yr 1 Common Buzzard.
Also down the canal was a singing sedge warbler with a common whitethroat.
Ta!
Ian Campbell said
Fri May 4 10:29 AM, 2018
A good mornings birding began with a fly through Little Tern (W) at 7.30, later a Common Tern was feeding over the res. Also 2 Goosander over, 1 Common Sandpiper and heard only a Greenshank and a Whimbrel. At Coney Green reedbed 1 Reed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing near Coran Stud. Cheers Ian
06:00-10:00am with Brian F & Ian C highlights. 2 Sedge Warblers. Singing Lesser Whitethroat , Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Blackcap. 1 Common Sandpiper. 1 Oystercatcher 1 Female Wheatear. 1 Peregrine falcon. 1 House Martin amongst good numbers of Swallows, Sand Martins and Swifts. 2 Linnets.
60 Swift Water Rail 3 Common Sandpiper 2 Gadwall Gallard - Gadwall/mallard Hybrid Buzzard Sedge Warbler 4 Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat
Ian Campbell said
Fri Apr 27 9:24 AM, 2018
6.50-8.15 a.m. best was 1 Arctic Tern sat on a buoy for 10 mins at 7 a.m. before flying off, also 5 Common Sandpiper of note. Cheers Ian
Derek Richardson said
Thu Apr 26 5:36 PM, 2018
8.45am - 11.45 am . Dry, Cool, Windy, 9c.
43 Species spotted. Including:
4 Linnet.[ 4f, Dandelion field at Withens] 3 Sedge Warbler. 3 Willow Warbler. 2 Jay. 3 Skylark. 180+ Swallow. 30+ Sand Martin. 11 House Martin. 1Pheasant 1f. 2 Grey Wagtail. 12 Chaffinch. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. 75 Jackdaw.
Thanks Derek.
Richard Thew said
Thu Apr 26 2:00 PM, 2018
Also noteworthy along the canal near the mini old bolton junction railway reedbed thingy spot- common whitethroat seen and heard. Ta!
Martin Loftus said
Thu Apr 26 1:26 PM, 2018
12,40pm Male Merlin briefly out on the res hunting hirundine before flying off towards crow trees. Also common sandpiper near wader point.
Roger Halsey said
Thu Apr 26 11:36 AM, 2018
Best birds from a morning visit:
C20 Swift, c150 Swallow, c100 Sand Martin and 5+ House Martin over the reservoir.
3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 along the canal and one in the hedge by Capsticks.
3 Common Sandpiper.
Singles of Gadwall and Goosander.
Mike Cooper said
Wed Apr 25 7:31 PM, 2018
09:00-12:00 car park area
100s of swallows and sand martins C 40 Swift
4 house martins 1 common sandpiper flew along to dam wall opposite sailing club
At least 10 blackcaps singing with 2 females seen
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed Apr 25 3:26 PM, 2018
14:40-15:20pm short visit. 1 Male Merlin had an attempt at the Sand Martins as I was trying to count them. 24 Sand martin counted before disappearing away from the Merlin. 5 House Martins 12 Swallows 11 Swift 2 Shoveler. 1 Gadwall. 1 Common Gull. 1 Great black backed Gull.
Cheers Steven
Martin Loftus said
Tue Apr 24 5:17 PM, 2018
4pm-4,30pm in torrential rain. Very very quiet. Apart from a hundred or so hirundines and the usual resident waterfowl, I've actually never seen the Res so peaceful.
X1 juv great black- backed gull
X2 juv herring gulls
X2 adult lesser black - backed gulls
And X1 ! Adult Black-headed gull (yes just one)
One bird of note was a common sandpiper in the creek
This morning in part with Paul Wilson and Brian Fiedling
The rain brought a few birds in Common Tern 15 Swift 8 House Martin 200+ Sand Martin 50+ Swallow 3 Little Ringed Plover Common Sandpiper Oystercatcher Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat Sedge Warbler Water Rail 5 Pheasant 3 Kestrel
JohnThirkell said
Sun Apr 22 7:37 AM, 2018
I called yesterday morning around 7am. On the feeders there where great tits and a dunnock on the ground feeding. Also a grey heron on the grass near the little wooden bring near the boat house.
Derek Richardson said
Sat Apr 21 9:02 PM, 2018
8.45am - 11.45am. Clear,Sunny,Still,13c.
37 Species spotted: Including:
1 Willow Warbler. 1 Gadwall. 4 Great Black Backed Gull. 5 Great Crested Grebe. 2 Song Thrush. 7 Reed Bunting.
Thanks Derek.
Steven Higginbottom said
Sat Apr 21 8:51 PM, 2018
07:00-10:45am very quite morning. 8 Gadwall 4 Great Black backed Gulls 2Adult 2 Immature. 5 Sand Martins 2 Swallow. 2 Common Whitethroat. 1 LesserWhitethroat. Chiffchaff,Willow Warbler and Blackcap all singing.
Cheers Steven
Simon Johnson said
Sat Apr 21 8:50 PM, 2018
This afternoon
Little Egret on river Kingfisher 3 Gadwall Lesser Whitethroat along canal
Steven Higginbottom said
Fri Apr 20 10:15 PM, 2018
14:30-16:00pm An unbelievable number off gulls when I arrived so I took a series of photos to help me count them. Amongst 1150 gulls was what I thought to be a Skua (Record shot attached) but think it was a trick off the light making the bird look different and darker due to shadow and poor optics. 721 Lesser Black Backed Gulls. 226 Herring Gulls. 8 Great Black backed Gulls. 192 Black headed Gulls.(including an individual with white wings but bill said Black headed Gull. 3 Gulls unidentified. 4 Common Scoters (record attached) 3 Oystercatchers. 1 Common Whitethroat. 2 Sand Martins heading north over the car park as i was leaving.
Also noteworthy, lesser whitethroat still along the canal!
Simon Warford said
Fri Apr 20 9:18 AM, 2018
Early morning, 4 drake Common Scoters present getting harassed by large gulls, also 3 Gadwall still and a singing Whitethroat still in the Creek.
Simon Johnson said
Thu Apr 19 9:17 PM, 2018
This evening 6-30 -8-30pm
White Wagtail - sailing club Little Egret - fields at coney Green Lesser Whitethroat sang briefly along canal 3 Gadwall 6 Oystercatcher Common Sandpiper Buzzard Great spotted Woodpecker 2 Jay 5 Blackcap 220 Lesser Black-backed Gull 17 Herring Gull 3 Great Black-backed Gulls
Steven Higginbottom said
Thu Apr 19 5:58 PM, 2018
Walk around after work 15:00-17:45pm very quite highlights. 1 Common Whitethroat singing in Creek. 1 Common Sandpiper. 2 Gadwall. 1 Kestrel. Water Rail heard.
Cheers Steven
Richard Thew said
Thu Apr 19 11:02 AM, 2018
Lesser whitethroat singing along canal by flooded fields (south).
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed Apr 18 6:48 PM, 2018
14:50-16:00 highlights. 1 Little Ringed plover record shot attached. 1 Common Sandpiper. 2 Gadwall. 1 Tufted duck with Scaup features but bill says Tufted Duck, record shot attached.
4 Brambling (3m 1f) still at the feeders Possible rock Pipit called twice flying over but couldnt see it Golden Plover NE 3 Little Ringed Plover E/NE Curlew north 2 Yellow Wagtail Wheatear 17 Fieldfare 6 Redwing 7 Willow Warbler 5 Blackcap 7 Buzzard NW 2 Goldeneye 3 Gadwall Little Egret 3 House Martin
Trickle of Meadow Pipit, Swallows and Sand Martins north
Richard Thew said
Fri Apr 13 4:27 PM, 2018
Some pictures of the brambling, - KING OF the feeders!!!
Plus, a little egret still in the fields.
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 13th of April 2018 04:30:12 PM
Only just got back home at lunchtime and I made a beeline straight for the feeders since I haven't seen a brambling at Elton before and thankfully were still around. Unfortunately there was constant interruptions from magpies and someone's dogs etc that were allowed to run underneath the feeders, plus two squirrels and woodpigeon taking over two of the feeders by perching with ease on the side of the feeder and just reaching over to gobble the seeds. Thankfully after a bit of patience they eventually showed and both male and female brambling showed exceptionally well though briefly. Ta!
Steven Higginbottom said
Fri Apr 13 11:13 AM, 2018
06:45-11:00am 53 species seen plus 3 heard only. 4 Brambling 3m 1f at feeders. 1 Common Sandpiper. 2 Oystercatchers. 2 Little Egrets. 6 Teal.3m 3f. 6 Gadwall males. 2 Goldeneye males. 2 House Martins amongst the Swallows & Sand Martins. 2 Blackcap + 8 heard singing. 2 Willow Warbler + 5 heard singing. 1 Chiffchaff + 4 heard singing. 2 Water Rails heard only.
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Thu Apr 12 4:14 PM, 2018
Quick visit after work with Martin L. 1 Common Sandpiper record shot attached. 1 House Martin amongst 100+ Swallows and sand martins. 1 Brambling male on feeders. 2 Goldeneye.
2 Brambling. 1M,1 (juv or F) on feeders. 16 Fieldfare. 3 Meadow Pipit. 1 Little Egret. 3 Kestrel. 1 Water Rail. 1 Grey Wagtail. 2 Oystercatcher. 9 Great Crested Grebe. 8 Bullfinch 5M,3F. 1 Willow Warbler (Singing). 200 + Swallow/Sandmartin.
Thanks Derek.
Mike c cooper said
Wed Apr 11 10:39 AM, 2018
So far from 09:00 11/4 cold overcast cold ENE blustery wind
Over res c 100 Swallows and 150+ sand martins
Willow warbler singing from creek
Mike c cooper said
Tue Apr 10 10:35 PM, 2018
08:30-16:00 car park area Chiffchaff at least 3 singing Willow warbler 1 singing early on Blackcap 3m and a fem ivy covered hawthorns and trees beside sailing club feeding and wooing fem Sparrowhawk imm/small fem thro feeders caught small prey item (tit?)
Oystercatcher 1+ heard several times
Simon Warford said
Tue Apr 10 5:54 PM, 2018
Early morning in heavy rain, a male Redstart was present in the bushes on the mound.
8.30am - 11.30am . Warm, Sunny, Clear, Still. 16c.
37 Species spotted : Including:
1 Kingfisher.(Irwell ).
5 Linnet.
4 Sedge Warbler.
13 Reed Bunting.
1 Reed Warbler.(heard Coney green).
2 Whitethroat.
1 Bullfinch.1m.
45 Starling.
60 Jackdaw.
140+ Black Headed Gull.
17 Lapwing.
9 Great Crested Grebe.
3 Mistle Thrush.
4 Song Thrush.
Thanks Derek.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 5th of May 2018 06:27:25 PM
6 Willow Warbler around the whole site
And only 8 Swallow, 2!! Sand Martin and 3 House Martin .. where is everything? Nothing much moving over other than 17 Swift
Other birds inc
9 Blackcap
8 Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
5 Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler coney green
Common Sandpiper
Lapwings with 4 and 2 chicks
Mallards with 12, 4 and 7 Ducklings
2 Common Terns present when I arrived but flew up high and headed west after a couple off minutes.
2 Arctic Terns flew through at 15:18 heading west.
On Checking the Gulls there was one which looked like a possible Yellow Legged Gull (record shots attached)but thinking it was a Northern Herring Gull as the primaries looked to short and mirrors to large for Yellow Legged Gull.
1 Great Black Gull 3rd Yr
1 Common Buzzard.
Cheers Steven
Ta!
Cheers Ian
48 Species Spotted : Including:
1 Nuthatch.
1 Chiffchaff.
1 Blackcap.
1 Skylark.
1 Jay.
2 Mistle Thrush.
5 Whitethroat.
11 Lapwing.
50+ Swift.
15 Swallow.
2 House Martin.
3 Willow Warbler.
4 Reed Bunting.
3 Long Tailed Tits.
Thanks Derek.
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
46 Species spotted: Including:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
3 Whitethroat.
1 Lesser Whitethroat.
4 Jay.
1 Chiffchaff.
1 Blackcap.
1 Kestrel.
1 Pheasant.1M.
9 Reed Bunting.
1 Bullfinch.1M.
2 Mistle Thrush.
7 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
100 + Swallow.
100 + Swift.
50 + Sand Martin.
1 House Martin.
Thanks Derek.
2 Sedge Warblers.
Singing Lesser Whitethroat , Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Blackcap.
1 Common Sandpiper.
1 Oystercatcher
1 Female Wheatear.
1 Peregrine falcon.
1 House Martin amongst good numbers of Swallows, Sand Martins and Swifts.
2 Linnets.
Cheers Steven
55 Species spotted: Including:
1 Water Rail.
1 Willow Warbler.
1 Rook.
1 Blackcap.
60+ Swallow.
30+ Sand Martin.
50+ Swift.
1 House Martin.
1 Gadwall.
9 Wren.
3 Grey Heron.
4 Linnet.
35 Starling.
7 Great Crested Grebe.
5 Mute Swan.
1 Bullfinch 1M.
2 Jay.
4 Song Thrush.
Thanks Derek.
60 Swift
Water Rail
3 Common Sandpiper
2 Gadwall
Gallard - Gadwall/mallard Hybrid
Buzzard
Sedge Warbler
4 Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Cheers Ian
43 Species spotted. Including:
4 Linnet.[ 4f, Dandelion field at Withens]
3 Sedge Warbler.
3 Willow Warbler.
2 Jay.
3 Skylark.
180+ Swallow.
30+ Sand Martin.
11 House Martin.
1Pheasant 1f.
2 Grey Wagtail.
12 Chaffinch.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
75 Jackdaw.
Thanks Derek.
12,40pm Male Merlin briefly out on the res hunting hirundine before flying off towards crow trees. Also common sandpiper near wader point.
Best birds from a morning visit:
C20 Swift, c150 Swallow, c100 Sand Martin and 5+ House Martin over the reservoir.
3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 along the canal and one in the hedge by Capsticks.
3 Common Sandpiper.
Singles of Gadwall and Goosander.
100s of swallows and sand martins
C 40 Swift
4 house martins
1 common sandpiper flew along to dam wall opposite sailing club
At least 10 blackcaps singing with 2 females seen
1 Male Merlin had an attempt at the Sand Martins as I was trying to count them.
24 Sand martin counted before disappearing away from the Merlin.
5 House Martins
12 Swallows
11 Swift
2 Shoveler.
1 Gadwall.
1 Common Gull.
1 Great black backed Gull.
Cheers Steven
4pm-4,30pm in torrential rain. Very very quiet. Apart from a hundred or so hirundines and the usual resident waterfowl, I've actually never seen the Res so peaceful.
X1 juv great black- backed gull
X2 juv herring gulls
X2 adult lesser black - backed gulls
And X1 ! Adult Black-headed gull (yes just one)
One bird of note was a common sandpiper in the creek
40 Species spotted: Including:
2 Dunlin.
10 Swift.
1 Lesser Whitethroat.
1 Whitethroat.
2 Willow Warbler.
120+ Swallow.
30+ Sand Martin.
3 House Martin.
6 Long Tailed Tit.
80 Starling.
70 Wood Pigeon.
1 Common Tern.
15 Lapwing.
1 Kestrel.
1 Gallard.
Thanks Derek.
The rain brought a few birds in
Common Tern
15 Swift
8 House Martin
200+ Sand Martin
50+ Swallow
3 Little Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Oystercatcher
Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Sedge Warbler
Water Rail
5 Pheasant
3 Kestrel
37 Species spotted: Including:
1 Willow Warbler.
1 Gadwall.
4 Great Black Backed Gull.
5 Great Crested Grebe.
2 Song Thrush.
7 Reed Bunting.
Thanks Derek.
8 Gadwall
4 Great Black backed Gulls 2Adult 2 Immature.
5 Sand Martins
2 Swallow.
2 Common Whitethroat.
1 LesserWhitethroat.
Chiffchaff,Willow Warbler and Blackcap all singing.
Cheers Steven
Little Egret on river
Kingfisher
3 Gadwall
Lesser Whitethroat along canal
721 Lesser Black Backed Gulls.
226 Herring Gulls.
8 Great Black backed Gulls.
192 Black headed Gulls.(including an individual with white wings but bill said Black headed Gull.
3 Gulls unidentified.
4 Common Scoters (record attached)
3 Oystercatchers.
1 Common Whitethroat.
2 Sand Martins heading north over the car park as i was leaving.
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 20th of April 2018 07:09:41 PM
White Wagtail - sailing club
Little Egret - fields at coney Green
Lesser Whitethroat sang briefly along canal
3 Gadwall
6 Oystercatcher
Common Sandpiper
Buzzard
Great spotted Woodpecker
2 Jay
5 Blackcap
220 Lesser Black-backed Gull
17 Herring Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Common Whitethroat singing in Creek.
1 Common Sandpiper.
2 Gadwall.
1 Kestrel.
Water Rail heard.
Cheers Steven
1 Little Ringed plover record shot attached.
1 Common Sandpiper.
2 Gadwall.
1 Tufted duck with Scaup features but bill says Tufted Duck, record shot attached.
Cheers Steven
41 Species spotted. Including:
2 Shoveller.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Little Egret.
3 Reed Bunting.
2 Song Thrush.
1 Mistle Thrush.
2 Water Rail.
10 Swallow.
6 Sand Martin.
70 Starling .
1 Grey Wagtail.
Thanks DEREK.
55 Species spotted, Including:
1 Willow Warbler.
1 Nuthatch.
1 Blackcap.
3 Brambling.1M 2F.
1 Pheasant.
3 Kestrel.
1 Little Egret.
1 Buzzard.
5 Song Thrush.
2 Mistle Thrush.
5 Fieldfare.
1 Redwing.
Thanks Derek.
4 Brambling (3m 1f) still at the feeders
Possible rock Pipit called twice flying over but couldnt see it
Golden Plover NE
3 Little Ringed Plover E/NE
Curlew north
2 Yellow Wagtail
Wheatear
17 Fieldfare
6 Redwing
7 Willow Warbler
5 Blackcap
7 Buzzard NW
2 Goldeneye
3 Gadwall
Little Egret
3 House Martin
Trickle of Meadow Pipit, Swallows and Sand Martins north
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 13th of April 2018 04:30:12 PM
4 Brambling 3m 1f at feeders.
1 Common Sandpiper.
2 Oystercatchers.
2 Little Egrets.
6 Teal.3m 3f.
6 Gadwall males.
2 Goldeneye males.
2 House Martins amongst the Swallows & Sand Martins.
2 Blackcap + 8 heard singing.
2 Willow Warbler + 5 heard singing.
1 Chiffchaff + 4 heard singing.
2 Water Rails heard only.
Cheers Steven
1 Common Sandpiper record shot attached.
1 House Martin amongst 100+ Swallows and sand martins.
1 Brambling male on feeders.
2 Goldeneye.
Cheers Steven.
44 Species Spotted. Including:
2 Brambling. 1M,1 (juv or F) on feeders.
16 Fieldfare.
3 Meadow Pipit.
1 Little Egret.
3 Kestrel.
1 Water Rail.
1 Grey Wagtail.
2 Oystercatcher.
9 Great Crested Grebe.
8 Bullfinch 5M,3F.
1 Willow Warbler (Singing).
200 + Swallow/Sandmartin.
Thanks Derek.
Over res c 100 Swallows and 150+ sand martins
Willow warbler singing from creek
Chiffchaff at least 3 singing
Willow warbler 1 singing early on
Blackcap 3m and a fem ivy covered hawthorns and trees beside sailing club feeding and wooing fem
Sparrowhawk imm/small fem thro feeders caught small prey item (tit?)
Oystercatcher 1+ heard several times
1 Male Brambling on feeders when I arrived. Record shot attached.
150+ Swallows
100+ Sand martins.
1 Kestrel.
Cheers Steven