Party of long-tailed tits. Robins - a definite pair. Grey heron (in stream on cricket field side of bridge), also 9 mallards (5m, 4f).
Steve Suttill said
Fri Jan 10 12:59 PM, 2014
Sewage works: 3 Goosander (2m) on river, male Great Spotted Woodpecker, pair Bullfinch, 2 Jays, Treecreeper.
Nearby at the old Station House: no Bramblings, but 8 Lesser Redpolls on feeders. Having struggled through the recent British Birds paper on Redpoll taxonomy ("the new gulls" indeed!) I paid particular attention to this flock which contained an amazing array of different plumages (including the reddest male I've ever seen) and bill sizes.
Royal George Lodge & Manns pond: 2 Mute Swan, pair Goosander, male Tufted Duck, 5 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 21 Black-headed and 4 Common Gulls.
JSPALDING said
Sat Jan 4 2:41 PM, 2014
Swans still present plus a drake goosander on the Royal George pond. Dipper, kingfisher and 2 goosander on the river, no sign of any water rail this winter. I had a common buzzard overhead yesterday.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Jan 3 1:12 PM, 2014
Swans still present but not interested in bread at 10.20 this morning.
Called round to a friends nearby for a coffee and birding chat. When I returned, the swans had moved under the bridge to the Manns where they decided that the bread was quite tasty after all - and revealed that both are unringed.
Only one Little Grebe seems to be left from the trio in mid-December.
Mark Rigby said
Wed Jan 1 9:05 PM, 2014
The 2 Mute Swans still present on Royal George lodge at 1030hrs
Steve Suttill said
Tue Dec 31 4:53 PM, 2013
A real site rarity, John
Unless I've missed any (quite possibly!) the last Mute Swan at Royal George was a first-winter bird back in December 2006. Prior to that, a pair was around in December 2002 until the lodge became completely frozen. One of that pair was colour-ringed and turned out to be from Nottinghamshire.
Thought these birds might be worth a closer look but they didn't like the look of me, didn't come to bread and moved to the far side of the water so I couldn't check for rings. Both appear to be 2nd winter birds.
JSPALDING said
Tue Dec 31 10:04 AM, 2013
A couple of mute swans on the Royal George pond at 9am plus one goosander.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Dec 14 11:07 AM, 2013
WeBS counts this morning:
Waterside Mill (Tanners) Lodge: not one single waterbird present - and no anglers to blame either!
Royal George Lodge: 193 Canada Geese, 19 Black-headed Gulls, 13 Mallard, 5 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 3 Little Grebe and one redhead Goosander.
Grey Wagtail and singing, unringed Dipper on the river.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Nov 15 8:38 PM, 2013
Royal George Lodge - 10am
now Little Grebe present - one with much paler cheeks than the other two. Female Tufted Duck Dipper (unringed) singing enthusiastically from overhanging branch by river. Grey Wagtail.
212 Canada Geese and 4 Moorhen in "Water Rail" field. Nuthatch.
Liz Headon said
Wed Nov 6 6:49 AM, 2013
4th Nov, 2.00 pm. Jay on bridleway near Friezland horse arena.
4th Nov, 3.15 pm. Coot (1), moorhen (2), mallard (2m 2f) on Manns. About 50 Canada geese grazing in the field between the pond and the farm. Small party of long-tailed tits in the trees around the pond.
Liz Headon said
Thu Oct 31 8:21 PM, 2013
12.30 pm... Pair of grey wagtails in the car park behind the former Co-op grocery (now Premier, I believe) on Chew Valley Road.
Liz Headon said
Mon Oct 21 10:17 PM, 2013
Lovely to see a dipper feeding in the stream alongside Greenbridge Lane (2.45 pm), apparently relaxed and totally undisturbed by the noisy building work going on just a few feet above it on the old bowling green site.
Steve Suttill said
Mon Oct 14 5:34 AM, 2013
This morning's WeBS counts:
Tanner's Lodge (Waterside Mill): 1 Kingfisher and 1 Heron (no human anglers)
Royal George Lodge: 7 Coot, 7 Tufties and first returning Little Grebe of the winter as well as the usuals.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Oct 11 7:07 PM, 2013
3 adult swans (almost certainly Whoopers, but they were quite high) flew over Wharmton Hill at 11.00 and headed off in the direction of Dove Stone.
Could these be the birds seen at Castleshaw yesterday?
Livened up a Winter Thrush Survey which had very few thrushes!
S Rothery said
Sun Oct 6 9:51 PM, 2013
1400 - 1430 Around my house (off Boarshurst Lane) and adjacent lanes Buzzard over - glided over and into valley nr Roaches Kestrel 3 siskins over Nuthatch heard 2 jays 1 peacock, 3 red admiral, 6 small tortoiseshell, 1 comma, 1 speckled wood and a cabbage white enjoying the warm sun!
Liz Headon said
Sun Sep 22 7:57 PM, 2013
Intermittent swallow activity over the last few weeks. The resident swallows in the Bockin area, around Springfield Farm, gathered noisily and left a few weeks ago. Since then, groups still active around the farms on Intake Lane, but gradually getting quieter. Yesterday (21st Sept) groups feeding around Bockin again but clearly on passage rather then local.
Steve Suttill said
Sun Sep 22 4:28 PM, 2013
WeBS counts this morning at Waterside Mill (Tanners) and Royal George lodges.
Nothing much of interest (no returning Little Grebes yet) but Chiffchaffs singing and Jays present at both sites.
Mark Rigby said
Sun Sep 22 4:55 AM, 2013
c30 Swallows feeding low over trees at junction of Manchester Road and Well-I-Hole Road at 0845hrs
Steve Suttill said
Mon Aug 26 4:48 PM, 2013
early morning stroll up to Royal George Lodge to see if Mr. Chorley's Little Grebes had turned up. Not yet
Only birds on the lodge were 4 Coot - 3 adults and one of this year's young - now well grown.
Good to see two Kingfishers on the canal nearby.
Gary Crowder said
Sat May 4 3:51 AM, 2013
Walk from Uppermill to Royal George Lodge 15:15 - 17:30.
Highlights:-
6 Dippers - inc three immatures along the river
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Jay
A few Chiffchaffs and a couple of Willow Warblers.
1 drake wing-clipped Mandarin on canal.
1 singing male Goldcrest behind Alexandra Mill in Uppermill.
'Lowlight' one dead Woodock floating in canal near tesco's.
stuartherring said
Sun Apr 28 5:49 PM, 2013
Good day in the garden today cracking pair of bullfinches this morning and this afternoon 1 female redpoll ,4 goldfinch ,2 treecreeper ,3 long tailed tits and a garden first female blackcap mega
-- Edited by stuartherring on Sunday 28th of April 2013 05:50:48 PM
JSPALDING said
Thu Apr 25 1:48 AM, 2013
Water rail showing well at the far end of the usual ditch, best viewed from the canal towpath. It appeared to be displaying at one point.
John Doherty said
Mon Apr 22 8:30 PM, 2013
this morning in cold wind - No Water Rail.
Birds seen - 3 Moorhens, 1 Heron (ditch) 5 Jays Willow Warbler and several Chiffchaff singing
2 Jackdaws nearby
JSPALDING said
Sun Apr 21 10:15 PM, 2013
Water rail present this afternoon in the usual ditch.
Liz Headon said
Fri Apr 19 11:22 PM, 2013
Mid-afternoon - Female sparrowhawk alighted briefly on house roof, Greenbridge Lane.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Apr 19 7:39 PM, 2013
My first Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Swallows of the year this morning
Heronry seems to have lost a few nests in this week's strong winds
Royal George Lodge: 7 Tufted Duck (4m, 3f), 2 pairs Coot. No sign of Water Rail.
Liz Headon said
Sat Apr 13 6:03 PM, 2013
Bridle path from Waters Edge to Station Lane:
Pair of chaffinches Pair of coal tits Chiffchaff (heard twice - or two birds - but not seen) Grey heron (overhead)
Plus usual robin, blackbird, wood pigeon, magpie, jackdaw etc
stuartherring said
Sat Apr 13 2:26 PM, 2013
First willow warbler of the year singing on the bridle path near Friezland horse arena
Michael Wait said
Tue Apr 9 12:08 AM, 2013
Water Rail noted today 1400 in ditch (excellent views), also noted Grey Wagtail on river, Jay in trees by the canal, Mistle Thrush in field and Mandarin Duck (M & F) on the canal, plus all the usual
JSPALDING said
Sun Apr 7 4:50 PM, 2013
A walk from 8 to 9-30 this morning, water rail, dipper, about 20 redwing and my first chiffchaff of the year.
JSPALDING said
Sat Apr 6 10:02 PM, 2013
Water rail still present at 2-30 this afternoon in the ditch plus the rather unusual sight of a bat flying around above it.
Andy Platt said
Sun Mar 31 2:36 AM, 2013
5.00pm
Water rail showing well 1 heron 1 Goldcrest 1 Dipper
Andy Platt said
Sun Mar 31 2:27 AM, 2013
5.00pm
Water rail showing well 1 heron 1 Goldcrest 1 Dipper
Liz Headon said
Fri Mar 29 12:52 AM, 2013
Yesterday - heron flying overhead on Friezland Lane in the early evening, no doubt on its way back to the heronry for the night.
Today - pair of grey wagtails at the edge of the stream on Greenbridge Lane, close to the spot where I saw one last week.
JSPALDING said
Thu Mar 28 11:38 PM, 2013
Water rail seen yesterday in the usual ditch, today I had common snipe and a kingfisher successfully catching a couple of fish in the hour that I was there.
JSPALDING said
Wed Mar 27 12:10 AM, 2013
Water rail still present at 4.00pm this afternoon in the usual ditch.
Steve Suttill said
Sun Mar 24 4:51 PM, 2013
Royal George Lodge: 7 Tufted Duck (4m + 3f) 5 Coot 1 Little Grebe 2 Goosander (pr) now 40 Lapwing and 15 Starlings in field by the Manns Water Rail found today
Still trying to thaw out
Whooper Swan on Royal George last Monday morning (info from John Spalding)
Liz Headon said
Sun Mar 24 2:26 AM, 2013
Friday 22nd March
Grey wagtail in the snow on Greenbridge Lane (actually on the lane - it flew over the wall to the stream as I approached). Pied wagtail about 50 yards further on: only saw one but could hear more.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Mar 23 6:37 AM, 2013
Mandarin drake, escaped from its pen, was swimming on the canal.
Royal George Lodge: 5 Tufted Duck (3m + 2f) 5 Coot 1 Little Grebe (now in breeding plumage) 7 Lapwing in field by the Manns (presumably forced down from the hills by this lovely spring-like weather!) 8 Moorhen in the "Water Rail" field (but no Water Rail to be seen)
Andy Platt said
Sun Mar 17 10:14 PM, 2013
Morning Walk along Canal and River
1 Kingfisher flashed by on the river 2 Dipper one with Orange and white rings C10 Herons at the Heronery and in Fields 3 Coot 1 Male tufted Duck 2 Cormorant C20 Siskin 1 pair Bullfinch 5 Wren seen or heard Chaffinch Blue Tit Great Tit Long Tailed Tit Robin Blackbird Jay Great Spotted Woodpecker Pied Wagtail 1 male Reed Bunting
Steve Suttill said
Sun Mar 17 4:58 PM, 2013
Heronry Census at sewage works: 9 definitely occupied nests. Also in vicinity: 2 Cormorant, 2 Siskin, 2 Jay, Goldcrest, etc. Plus Mink on river
Royal George Lodge: 4 Coot, 1 Tufted drake + usual Mallard, Canada Geese (mostly paired up) and Moorhen. Curlew flew over. Light snow overnight on hilltops.
Liz Headon said
Thu Mar 14 1:54 AM, 2013
6.30 pm - Heron flying along the stream towards Uppermill, crossing Chew Valley Road by the Kingfisher (pub, not bird... )
Steve Suttill said
Sun Mar 10 4:43 PM, 2013
This morning WeBS visits in light snow showers and freezing wind
Waterside Mill (Tanners) lodge: no anglers today - 3 Canada Geese and a Mallard. Pair of Dipper (both colour-ringed) at the bridge but no Pochard.
Royal George Mill lodge:
5 Coot 1 Goosander drake 1 pair Tufted Duck 12 Black-headed Gulls 25 Mallard 21 Canada Geese 1 Heron Little Grebes appear to have left (any sign at Strines, Mike?) ... and strangest of all NO Moorhen!
Roger Baker 3 said
Thu Mar 7 10:29 PM, 2013
There was another dead Canada Goose at the other end of the field the previous week. I presumed a fox to be the culprit but I did also see an idiot let their sheepdog terrorise the goose flock the other day ...............................................................................
Steve, A fox kill on poultry usually results iin the head and neck being eaten, not just a few neck feathers missing ...... it's after feeding on its prey, not giving it a love-bite. Ashleys bird sounds more of a dog being the culprit, which doesn't suprise me there as I've witnessed the same as you, on two occasions with different dogs being out of control. Brings me to another point while I'm at it ...... the amount of dog mess on that narrow path ...... the North of England Hopscotch Champion would be lucky to get through there uncscathed. A dog-warden would soon have the Greenfield coffers overflowing.
Roger.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Mar 7 5:18 PM, 2013
Ashley Edwards wrote:
Thought I had posted it earlier but obviously it didnt work. Dead Canada goose next to little bridge where you stand to watch water rail in Well-I-hole area. Couldn't work out how it had been killed, feathers missing from section of neck
There was another dead Canada Goose at the other end of the field the previous week. I presumed a fox to be the culprit but I did also see an idiot let their sheepdog terrorise the goose flock the other day
stuartherring said
Thu Mar 7 4:31 AM, 2013
hope it was okay it never seemed to move
Roger Baker 3 said
Thu Mar 7 3:32 AM, 2013
Wednesday 6th March. 13.00 hrs
Pochard vanished from under Tanners bridge.
Roger.
Ashley Edwards said
Wed Mar 6 2:07 AM, 2013
Thought I had posted it earlier but obviously it didnt work. Dead Canada goose next to little bridge where you stand to watch water rail in Well-I-hole area. Couldn't work out how it had been killed, feathers missing from section of neck
Liz Headon said
Wed Mar 6 1:49 AM, 2013
Yes, I saw the pochard there at about 3.00 pm, apparently sleeping. I wonder when it feeds ?
Greenfinch(es) - heard but not seen - at Boarshurst. At least I'm assuming greenfinch: single note, repeated wheezing call.
Party of long-tailed tits.
Robins - a definite pair.
Grey heron (in stream on cricket field side of bridge), also 9 mallards (5m, 4f).
Nearby at the old Station House: no Bramblings, but 8 Lesser Redpolls on feeders. Having struggled through the recent British Birds paper on Redpoll taxonomy ("the new gulls" indeed!) I paid particular attention to this flock which contained an amazing array of different plumages (including the reddest male I've ever seen) and bill sizes.
Royal George Lodge & Manns pond: 2 Mute Swan, pair Goosander, male Tufted Duck, 5 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 21 Black-headed and 4 Common Gulls.
Swans still present plus a drake goosander on the Royal George pond. Dipper, kingfisher and 2 goosander on the river, no sign of any water rail this winter. I had a common buzzard overhead yesterday.
Called round to a friends nearby for a coffee and birding chat. When I returned, the swans had moved under the bridge to the Manns where they decided that the bread was quite tasty after all - and revealed that both are unringed.
Only one Little Grebe seems to be left from the trio in mid-December.
Unless I've missed any (quite possibly!) the last Mute Swan at Royal George was a first-winter bird back in December 2006. Prior to that, a pair was around in December 2002 until the lodge became completely frozen. One of that pair was colour-ringed and turned out to be from Nottinghamshire.
Thought these birds might be worth a closer look but they didn't like the look of me, didn't come to bread and moved to the far side of the water so I couldn't check for rings.
Both appear to be 2nd winter birds.
Waterside Mill (Tanners) Lodge: not one single waterbird present - and no anglers to blame either!
Royal George Lodge: 193 Canada Geese, 19 Black-headed Gulls, 13 Mallard, 5 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 3 Little Grebe and one redhead Goosander.
Grey Wagtail and singing, unringed Dipper on the river.
now Little Grebe present - one with much paler cheeks than the other two.
Female Tufted Duck
Dipper (unringed) singing enthusiastically from overhanging branch by river.
Grey Wagtail.
212 Canada Geese and 4 Moorhen in "Water Rail" field.
Nuthatch.
4th Nov, 3.15 pm. Coot (1), moorhen (2), mallard (2m 2f) on Manns. About 50 Canada geese grazing in the field between the pond and the farm. Small party of long-tailed tits in the trees around the pond.
Tanner's Lodge (Waterside Mill): 1 Kingfisher and 1 Heron (no human anglers)
Royal George Lodge: 7 Coot, 7 Tufties and first returning Little Grebe of the winter as well as the usuals.
Could these be the birds seen at Castleshaw yesterday?
Livened up a Winter Thrush Survey which had very few thrushes!
Buzzard over - glided over and into valley nr Roaches
Kestrel
3 siskins over
Nuthatch heard
2 jays
1 peacock, 3 red admiral, 6 small tortoiseshell, 1 comma, 1 speckled wood and a cabbage white enjoying the warm sun!
Nothing much of interest (no returning Little Grebes yet) but Chiffchaffs singing and Jays present at both sites.
Only birds on the lodge were 4 Coot - 3 adults and one of this year's young - now well grown.
Good to see two Kingfishers on the canal nearby.
-- Edited by stuartherring on Sunday 28th of April 2013 05:50:48 PM
It appeared to be displaying at one point.
Birds seen - 3 Moorhens, 1 Heron (ditch)
5 Jays
Willow Warbler and several Chiffchaff singing
2 Jackdaws nearby
Heronry seems to have lost a few nests in this week's strong winds
Royal George Lodge: 7 Tufted Duck (4m, 3f), 2 pairs Coot. No sign of Water Rail.
Pair of chaffinches
Pair of coal tits
Chiffchaff (heard twice - or two birds - but not seen)
Grey heron (overhead)
Plus usual robin, blackbird, wood pigeon, magpie, jackdaw etc
Water rail showing well
1 heron
1 Goldcrest
1 Dipper
Water rail showing well
1 heron
1 Goldcrest
1 Dipper
Today - pair of grey wagtails at the edge of the stream on Greenbridge Lane, close to the spot where I saw one last week.
fish in the hour that I was there.
7 Tufted Duck (4m + 3f)
5 Coot
1 Little Grebe
2 Goosander (pr)
now 40 Lapwing and 15 Starlings in field by the Manns
Water Rail found today
Still trying to thaw out
Whooper Swan on Royal George last Monday morning (info from John Spalding)
Grey wagtail in the snow on Greenbridge Lane (actually on the lane - it flew over the wall to the stream as I approached). Pied wagtail about 50 yards further on: only saw one but could hear more.
Royal George Lodge:
5 Tufted Duck (3m + 2f)
5 Coot
1 Little Grebe (now in breeding plumage)
7 Lapwing in field by the Manns (presumably forced down from the hills by this lovely spring-like weather!)
8 Moorhen in the "Water Rail" field (but no Water Rail to be seen)
1 Kingfisher flashed by on the river
2 Dipper one with Orange and white rings
C10 Herons at the Heronery and in Fields
3 Coot
1 Male tufted Duck
2 Cormorant
C20 Siskin
1 pair Bullfinch
5 Wren seen or heard
Chaffinch
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Robin
Blackbird
Jay
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
1 male Reed Bunting
Royal George Lodge: 4 Coot, 1 Tufted drake + usual Mallard, Canada Geese (mostly paired up) and Moorhen. Curlew flew over. Light snow overnight on hilltops.
Waterside Mill (Tanners) lodge: no anglers today - 3 Canada Geese and a Mallard. Pair of Dipper (both colour-ringed) at the bridge but no Pochard.
Royal George Mill lodge:
5 Coot
1 Goosander drake
1 pair Tufted Duck
12 Black-headed Gulls
25 Mallard
21 Canada Geese
1 Heron
Little Grebes appear to have left (any sign at Strines, Mike?)
... and strangest of all NO Moorhen!
...............................................................................
Steve, A fox kill on poultry usually results iin the head and neck being eaten, not just a few neck feathers missing ...... it's after feeding on its prey, not giving it a love-bite.
Ashleys bird sounds more of a dog being the culprit, which doesn't suprise me there as I've witnessed the same as you, on two occasions with different dogs being out of control.
Brings me to another point while I'm at it ...... the amount of dog mess on that narrow path ...... the North of England Hopscotch Champion would be lucky to get through there uncscathed.
A dog-warden would soon have the Greenfield coffers overflowing.
Roger.
There was another dead Canada Goose at the other end of the field the previous week. I presumed a fox to be the culprit but I did also see an idiot let their sheepdog terrorise the goose flock the other day
Pochard vanished from under Tanners bridge.
Roger.
Greenfinch(es) - heard but not seen - at Boarshurst. At least I'm assuming greenfinch: single note, repeated wheezing call.