3 Green Sandpiper
3 Snipe

Green Sandpiper 1
Lapwing 6

Mallards, Teal(s), Shovelers.
Coots, Moorhens, Black-headed Gulls.

Yesterday

1 Green Sandpiper

Pool 2 2030-2105 hrs
20+ House Martin
20+ lapwing
6 Green Sandpiper
3 Snipe

Pool 2
3 Green Sandpiper
2 Common Snipe
3 Teal


Pools 1 & 2 looking good for waders

3 Green Sandpipers yesterday, Sunday

4.30pm
1-2 Green Sandpipers
2 Snipe
5 Lapwing

Nice to meet Dave Cropper for a few minutes this morning.

Almost getting too dry for waders.
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
Several Lapwing

8.10am
2 Green Sandpipers - 1 front pool, 1 middle pool
Also:
Lots of Sand Martins

4.30pm
1 Green Sandpiper - front pool
Middle pool has limited viewing due to tall vegetation so other(s) Green Sandpiper could still be there.

Plenty of mud on both pools so hopefully will attract more waders.
Also:
c50+ BH Gulls
3 Blackcap - 2 singing m + 1 f
2 Willow Warblers
1 Chiffchaff
1 GS Woodpecker over
1 Buzzard
2 Lapwing

3 Green Sandpipers on middle pool this afternoon at 4.30pm

A Red kite drifted south over at 2pm today.

Info thanks to Chris Greene

Best birds from today's visit in very good weather -

Tufted Ducks; 6 Gadwall; 2 Lapwings; Canada Goose goslings aplenty; but also 6 (4 drake, 2 hen) oversummering Shoveler at the back end. Reed Warblers heard in song, plus usual migrant warblers.

late post for Tues 4th June - 4.50pm

Whitethroat seen feeding a newly fledged youngster in tree at back of ETW. The young bird was calling all the time. 1-2 other youngsters also heard nearby but not seen.
1 Moorhen chick with adult
Lapwing on nest

8.10am
Finally! - the Grasshopper Warbler showed itself this morning! Singing in the overgrown bed opposite side of path to first pool.

4.45pm
4 Yellow Wagtails - all male - in small field between big grey tank and Woodcote stables. 1 bird flew up into the top of one of the big trees.
1 Lapwing on the middle pool was the only wader on the growing muddy edges
1 Shoveler - m
3 Sand Martin
4 House Martin
8 Swallow

A nice trip today. As we went in, there was nothing yellow in the fields except dandelions. Past the fields and into the area with the ponds and reeds visible through the fence: At least 3 reed bunting Many sedge warbler, one seen Reed and grasshopper warblers heard Whitethroat Little grebe Lapwings tumbling: a lovely sound, perhaps spring is finally here! 2 kestrel And as we were leaving heard the call and saw at least 8 yellow wagtail (all male) with some pied wagtails in the donkey field and adjacent fields, some of the males were very bright.

Pete Hines wrote:

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10 male Yellow Wagtail plus an interesting female type flava

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Maybe that was the pale female with light grey head and almost white underparts I saw briefly today with Tony Darby before it flew off to the spinners with a Yellow Wagtail and was not seen again.

At around 4.30-5.00pm there were in the Donkey Field area:

Yellow Wagtail 5
Pied Wagtail 6
Grey Wagtail 1
A wagtail special!
Plus Reed Bunting and a few House Sparrows

Grasshopper Warbler showed superbly but the normally showy Sedge Warblers (3 plus) remained out of sight. As did the Reed Warbler

14:00 - 3 Yellow Wagtails
Grasshopper Warbler showing well - singing in reeds on left side of road at the end.

10 male Yellow Wagtail plus an interesting female type flava

07.00 - 09.15, woolly hat and gloves required for my walk around the works and over toward Danewell Wood.

Plenty of warbler activity including Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Garden Warbler as well as two reeling Grasshopper Warblers but only brief glimpses of one of them. Also on the old sewage beds Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Reed Buntings and two very noisey Wrens. No signs of any of yesterday's Wagtails.

The area over towards Danewell Wood appears to be recovering well after the fire and new growth is coming on ok.

Exactly like that one, Pete, lol Nice footage

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 3rd of May 2013 09:19:35 AM

Doc Brewster wrote:

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After we saw you today, James, we had pretty good close views of one of the Grasshopper Warblers through the fence, showing several times, sometimes at length and briefly reeling too. We also had one of the brightest male Yellow Wagtails I have ever seen in the woodchip paddock opposite the United Utilities gate/parking area. Good birds in the good company of Chris Neild & Chris Taylor

Good to meet you two as well

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 2nd of May 2013 09:36:32 PM

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Like this one filmed through the fence yesterday...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAixik_o33k

It looks like it might be the same bird, shall email you photos

Henry Cook wrote:

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Channel Wagtail again in 2nd paddock on the left.

Info thanks to James Walsh.

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Is it the same bird ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhxJ0eE17aA

Channel Wagtail again in 2nd paddock on the left.

Info thanks to James Walsh.

After we saw you today, James, we had pretty good close views of one of the Grasshopper Warblers through the fence, showing several times, sometimes at length and briefly reeling too. We also had one of the brightest male Yellow Wagtails I have ever seen in the woodchip paddock opposite the United Utilities gate/parking area. Good birds in the good company of Chris Neild & Chris Taylor

Good to meet you two as well

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 2nd of May 2013 09:36:32 PM

Originally posted by Anthony McLean today: -

Had an evening stroll and counted at least 15 yellow wagtails inc one Channel Wagtail
4 grasshoppers reeling and a brief glimpse
Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warbler heard
Male kestrel hunting

1st May

13 Yellow Wagtail
4 White Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
2 Reed Warbler

2 brief glimpses of singing Grasshopper warbler at last in it's usual haunt. Also displaying Whitethroat and singing Sedge and reed warblers too. Yellow wagtail on top of the big grey silo tank thing; another lifer for me!

8.10am
2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling in the overgrown bed on the opposite side of path to the first pool. 1 again seemed close to path but both remained out of sight
2 Mute Swans which then flew off north over my head

5.10-5.25pm
13 Yellow Wagtails (all male) -12 in small field between big grey tank and riding stables. 1 very pale bird in horse paddocks opposite
4 Pied Wagtail
2 Sedge Warbler
4 Little Grebe
1 Whitethroat
3 Canada Geese
4 Tufted Duck -2 pairs
8 Gadwall - 4 pairs
1 Kestrel
1 Coal Tit
Lots of Swallow, House Martin & 2 Sand Martin

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 07:44:05 PM

Late post for yesterday. First visit here, not very scenic or sweet-smelling but looks like it has potential. Unfortunately the rain kept lots of stuff down and made it difficult to hear birds.

Heard reed, sedge and grasshopper warblers, many signs of movement in the reeds but nothing identifiable.
Reed bunting
goldfinch
lots of hirundines...the swallows looked soaked and depressed
stock dove
pied wagtail
whitethroat species seen briefly (not heard)
And a couple of field voles which I heard (had no idea what it was) and then showed v briefly in the undergorwth...made my day!

Sadly though, nothing yellow in the fields whatsoever.

No yellow wagtails today, but Sedge and Reed warblers present, as well as reeling and damned elusive Grasshopper warbler in the fenced-off enclosure. Also reed buntings, Little grebe and plenty of hirundines.

Male redstart in small fields on right past the refuse area - thanks to the couple for putting me on to it! Three or four Yellow Wagtails and a pair of Grey Wagtails on the spinners. Reed Warbler in (usual spot in) Reeds at top end of first old bed to left of path

-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Saturday 27th of April 2013 04:12:03 PM

10 Yellow Wagtail this evening.

Thursday 25th April

6 Yellow Wagtail
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Swift
3 Tufted Duck
2 Gadwall
3 Blackcap
1 Oystercatcher
1 Reed Bunting
c100 hirundines

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 26th of April 2013 12:41:35 PM

Two Yellow Wagtails in the dry horse paddock between the concrete silos and stables today.

Info thanks to Phil Kelly

8.10am - very quick 5 min visit on way to work
2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling - including 1 close to path in the bed on opposite side of path to the pools - but remained hidden and I didn't have time to wait around! Other more distant behind pools.

5.40-6.00pm - longer stop off on way home:
8 Yellow Wagtails (all males) in first horse paddock opposite big grey tank
14 House Martin - my first of year
3 Swallow
5 Sedge Warbler
3 Whitethroat
1 Oystercatcher
7 Little Grebe
2 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
1 Reed Bunting - male
2 Pied Wagtail
1 Cormorant over north




-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 24th of April 2013 08:55:06 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 24th of April 2013 08:56:14 PM

2030hrs
3 Grasshopper warblers reeling
Sedge Warbler
2 Black-necked Grebes
9 Little Grebes!
Pair of Pochard
....plus usuals

23 Apr 11.30:

2 Black-necked Grebes still present.

Cheers, John

4:30 - 7:30 (from foul rain to glorious sunshine - with a brief sojourn to Swiss Cottage in the middle)

Plenty of Wagtails. Had a nice moment when about a dozen of various hues got spooked and flew up calling together above my head, before scattering. Not sure on count, but at least one Grey Wagtail and two Yellow Wagtails were present, think most were Pied.

Other than that,

c20 Starling
1 Oystercatcher
4 Little Grebe
2 Black-necked Grebe
4 Gadwall
1 Swift (thanks Nev)
20+ Swallows (one almost skimming the top of my head, fantastic)
House Martins
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler singing

Just past the pools, Whitethroat, male Blackcap, two Grey Heron on a flooded path

Quick visit this evening with Jason Atkinson at 7.15pm:

3 Yellow Wagtails (males) still around the paddock area
1 Grey Wagtail
Lots of Pied Wagtails
2 Black-necked Grebes
5 Little Grebes
5 Gadwall
1 Reed Bunting
1 Sedge Warbler (heard)
1 Grasshopper Warbler showing well
1 Common Whitethroat
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
3 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
Lots of Swallows
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Pheasant

1845hrs
Similar to Mr Greenwood...
but with only 2 yellow wagtails, both on 'wood-chip' paddock
One white/pied wagtail
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
Sedge Warbler
1 Swift over...

Good to meet Ollie Wright....Hope you managed to see the Yellow Wagtails!

Sunday, April 21st.

Black-necked Grebe 2
Yellow Wagtail 10+
Pied Wagtail 10+, mainly males.
Tufted Duck 10
Gadwall 5
Little Grebe 3
Oystercatcher 1
Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins in decreasing order of numbers.

etc.etc.

Saturday April 20th

Around 7pm 5 Yellow Wagtails & 1 Oystercatcher were on the top of the large white(ish) tank (on the right just after the first paddock on the right as you walk up from the stables parking area), 2 Black-necked Grebes still present on the middle pool, also 5 Little Grebe & 5 Tufted Ducks

-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 21st of April 2013 06:57:59 AM

6 Yellow Wagtails still present late afternoon. Nice to meet Ian and Ruth McGeorge - stable owners nearby and experienced birders too. Black-necked Grebes still present too but no Grasshopper Warbler at that time

This evening, in the gloom two Black-necked Grebe still present.

Pair of Redpoll near the stables.
pair of Black-necked Grebe in same pond as yesterday. Mallard with 12 ducklings.
Plus Yellow Wagtail, Blackcap, House Martins, Swallows.

Kung fu , what a great series...
The glasshoppel walblel was reebling away when I was there this morning

Kung fu - ahhhhh glasshoppel! (David Caradine)

Vaughan Evans wrote:

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but no sight nor sound of glasshoppel walblel.

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Is this a new species or the German version of Grasshopper Warbler?

16 yellow wagtails in farmside paddock (apologies posted to wrong thread), single yellow wagtail in willows in first flooded meadow, single whitethroat, several blackcaps, the two grebes still present (17.00), oystercatcher, but no sight nor sound of glasshoppel walblel. A few swallows and house martins