A potter about this afternoon. A few things worthy of a note include 3 (possibly 4) goldeneye with 3 on withins along with 4 pink footed geese which was a nice to find, 7 lapwings, a dozen meadow pipits on Elton fields, the 2 sand martins (my personal earliest sighting in the year), 2 reed buntings, and of course the common scoter. About 30+ large gulls were also present with 8 great black backed gulls in plus the usual including a darker shade grey herring gull (Definitely herring). Ta!
stuart lewis-gough said
Sun Mar 12 3:46 PM, 2017
Siskin, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch all round the feeding station this morning, Great crested Grebes, Goldeneye and a Common Scoter on main res.
I thought I heard a green woodpecker this morning but I thought nah! Couldn't be or so I thought, until Simon's post. I heard it come from the fields area of the canal and withins. This was at around 8am.
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Mar 12 10:17 AM, 2017
To add to previous sightings this morning
1 Redshank
3 Oystercatchers
1 Chiffchaff singing possibly 2
1 Siskin
2 Meadow pipits
1 Buzzard
Cheers Steven
Simon Warford said
Sun Mar 12 8:12 AM, 2017
Green Woodpecker calling behind main car park, then flew across toward the Dip behind the hospital, 7.50am. 29 Wigeon on the Res flew off high 8.10am.
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Mar 12 7:13 AM, 2017
So far this morning
2 Sand Martin's.
1 Drake Common Scoter
22+ Wigeon
6 Goldeneye
2 Teal
5 Tufted Duck
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Fri Mar 10 3:12 PM, 2017
This a.m. with Malcolm, 5/6 Goldeneye and 1 Shoveler on res. 10+ Fieldfare and Redwing in hedgerow between Elton and Withins. Cheers Ian
Martin Loftus said
Thu Mar 9 7:02 PM, 2017
4,30pm gull roost was 200 plus I tried to search through it for any specials, was hard with position of the sun, quite a few juvenile Great black-backed gulls dominating the buoys. Only bird of note was a female Stonechat on the field adjacent to the pump house.
Two Mediterranean gulls flew over my house calling and headed straight towards Elton this morning, unfortunately I couldn't locate them so I assume they passed straight through. At least 150 gulls were on the reservoir once I got there, but when I started scanning through them, they all took flight and all but a few vanished. I managed to find all the usual ones with great black backed, lesser black backed and herring gulls. Ta.
Ian Campbell said
Thu Mar 9 4:46 PM, 2017
This a.m. with Malcolm, 1 Willow tit at feeders, 2 Stock Dove over and 2 Goldeneye on res. with 1 Goosander on river. The Pochard have definately gone, and we could see no Pink-footed Geese. Cheers Ian
Mike Cooper said
Wed Mar 8 10:03 PM, 2017
At feeding station and casting an eye over the res from 09:00-16:15
Willow tit 2 ringed birds
Oystercatcher 3 noisily chasing each other around
L Bb gull c. 300 landed midday Herring gull c. 200 G Bb gull 4 Imms
Ian Campbell said
Wed Mar 8 11:07 AM, 2017
This a.m. with Malcolm, just 2 Goldeneye on the res. the Pochard were absent and 2 flyover Goosander. At capsticks end 3 singing Skylark and the 4 Pink-footed Geese at Withins. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 8th of March 2017 01:09:26 PM
Ian Campbell said
Tue Mar 7 3:54 PM, 2017
This a.m. with Brian, at feeders 2 Willow Tit (1 definitely ringed), on res 4 Pochard and a female that landed briefly before flying off, 3 Goldeneye and the Little Grebe was seen in the creek, at capsicks approx. 20 Fieldfare and the 4 Pink-footed Geese still at Withins. A Buzzard was heard but not seen. 4 Oystercatcher kept flying around. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 7th of March 2017 03:55:53 PM
Ian Campbell said
Mon Mar 6 2:04 PM, 2017
This a.m. with Steven, Malcolm and the return of Brian!, below the pumphouse a pair of Stonechat, on the res. 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and 1 Curlew over. At withins 4 Pink-footed Geese and a singing Skylark. Cheers Ian
Simon Warford said
Sun Mar 5 11:44 AM, 2017
Also this morning,
1 Curlew 2 Oystercatcher 2 Water Rail 3 Stonechat (1 Crow Trees, pair in Elton Goyt) 6 Teal 4 Pochard 4 Pink-footed Geese Within's Also a leucistic Fieldfare (with a pure white head) was in with a feeding flock of 40 birds near Capstick's Marsh, in early January the same bird was in fields by Crow Trees Farm.
Paul Wilson said
Sun Mar 5 9:51 AM, 2017
8 am - 9. 30am - Quick mooch around feeders and hospital area (not much on the reservoir of note except 1 male Goldeneye, although I only viewed from boathouse) produced:
5 Redwing 7 Mistle Trush (some collecting moss) 2 Song Thrush 13 Chaffinch in the undergrowth near the stream
There were also 2 Willow Tit and 4 Bullfinch on the feeders, amongst the usual tits and finches.
Steven Higginbottom said
Sat Mar 4 9:39 AM, 2017
06:50-09:30am. With ian C 1 Kestrel 2 Sparrowhawk 4 Pink footed geese Withins 5 Pochard 5 Skylark 12 Displaying Lapwings 2 Oystercatchers 1 Rook over 1 female Stonechat Crow Trees 4 Teal Elton Goyt
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Fri Mar 3 1:05 PM, 2017
This a.m. with Malcolm, now 4 Pochard (3m 1f), also 2 Male Shoveler on the res. On Withins 2 Teal, below Withins a Goldcrest, near Crow trees approx 20 Lapwing and an Oystercatcher on factory roof by the river. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Thu Mar 2 1:49 PM, 2017
This a.m. very quiet, 3 Pochard now (2m 1f), Curlew heard and 2 Oystercatcher. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Tue Feb 28 10:50 AM, 2017
Brambling at the feeders again this a.m. with 13 Pochard now on the res. (11m, 2f). Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Mon Feb 27 10:33 AM, 2017
Best bird this a.m. was a Brambling at the feeders also the 6 Pochard still on the res. and 2 Oystercatchers. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Monday 27th of February 2017 10:36:43 AM
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Feb 26 9:14 AM, 2017
06:30-09:00am a good morning with 53 Species 3 Curlew 2 Oystercatchers 6 Pochard 1 Teal 1 Goldeneye 7 Goosander 3 Tufted ducks 8 Great black. Backed gulls 2 Common Gulls 4 Skylarks 1 Raven 1 Sparrowhawk 5 Bullfinch
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Sat Feb 25 10:41 AM, 2017
This morning had a walk around with Simon A 1 Brambling on Feeders 4 Bullfinch 4 Siskin at top of Dip before flying off towards carpark 9 Teal 1 Creek 8 Withins 2 Goosander Withins 6 Pochard 1 Goldeneye 1 Skylark 2 Mistle Thrushes 1 Goldcrest 14 Lapwings near Crow trees
Cheers Steven
Mike Cooper said
Fri Feb 24 6:45 PM, 2017
Also at feeders from 08:30-15:15 Coal tit 1 Willow tit 2 both ringed (by me?) Treecreeper 1 on left hand large hawthorn Reed bunting 2 males comi,no into breeding plumage
Common Buzzard juv flew over at 12:00 perched in far hedge being mobbed by magpies Kestrel hunting from first pylon
[Saw the 6 Curlew at 15:13]
Peter Johnson said
Fri Feb 24 4:55 PM, 2017
6 Curlew circling round res. between 15:00 - 15:15 before heading off towards Holcombe. Also Little Egret and Dipper in Dolly Brook below the pumphouse.
Steven Higginbottom said
Fri Feb 24 11:18 AM, 2017
This morning with Ian and Malcolm 6 Bullfinch at feeders 4 m 2 F 2 Oystercatchers 7 Goldeneye group of 4 between creek and wader point group of 3 in front of sailing club. 4m 3f. 22 Tufted Ducks 10 Creek 12 Capsticks end of res 3 Skylark 14+ Lapwings 2 Little Grebe on River Irwell 1 Great Black backed Gull 1st Winter 1 Common gull
Cheers Steven
Roger Halsey said
Fri Feb 24 11:17 AM, 2017
This morning I was hoping that Doris had blown something in, but not so. Best was:
4 Pink feet on Withins, 6 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Teal, 1 Snipe, and a colour ringed Herring Gull.
Steven Higginbottom said
Tue Feb 21 9:43 AM, 2017
This morning with Ian C 1 Wigeon m 1 GoldenEye m 3 Teal 1 f 2 M withins 1 Goosander 1 F Withins 4 Tufted Duck 1 m 3 f 6 Pochard 5 m 1 f 3 Singing Skylark 12 Lapwings 1 Bullfinch 1 Willow tit 8 Snipe Capsticks marsh Water Rail heard in Old hall marsh 1 Kingfisher
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Mon Feb 20 12:02 PM, 2017
08:45-10:30am short walk from car park behind sailing club along wall to capsticks and back. 11 Tufted Ducks 6 Pochard 5m 1f 2 GoldenEye 1m1f 1 Goosander male 12 Lapwings 1 Singing Skylark near capsticks 3 Bullfinch 1 Kestrel 7 Common Gulls 23 Herring Gulls 3 Lesser BLack Backed Gulls 2 Great black Backed gulls
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Sun Feb 19 12:07 PM, 2017
Couldn't find the Stonechat but did have a Rock Pipit near pumphouse very tame, down to 6 ft away. Also 2 Oystercatcher and 6 Pochard (5m, 1f). Single Willow Tit at feeding station.
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 19th of February 2017 12:09:56 PM
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 19th of February 2017 12:10:27 PM
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Feb 19 8:04 AM, 2017
Quick look this morning produced a nice male Stonechat between Sailing club car park and mound Goldcrest also heard. Cheers Steven
17/2 9:00-14:30 ringing at feeding station 8 new birds 1 retrap
G S Woodpecker 1m Lower numbers of birds today with greenfinch = goldfinch c 40 Possibly 2 shelducks flew across behind hospital at 14:15 brief glimpse
Sparrowhawk a small female dive bombed the feeders causing panic and a Blacbird an greenfinch into my net
Ian Campbell said
Fri Feb 17 1:48 PM, 2017
This a.m. with Malcolm and then also Peter J, on res. 10 Pochard, 1 Barnacle Goose, withins 2 Teal, 1 Goosander and a Goldcrest. On the river 1 Little Egret. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Thu Feb 16 2:54 PM, 2017
Quick look after work showed good gull numbers with aprox counts 250+ Herring Gulls 1 very large herring gull about same size as the Great black backed gulls but pale mantle and dark primaries. 40+ Lesser Black backed Gulls 14 Great Black backed gulls. 20+ Common 150+ Black headed Gulls
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Thu Feb 16 11:09 AM, 2017
This a.m. still the 10 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye and 5 Goosander also. 2 singing Skylark at capsticks end. Kingfisher at river with 2 Lesser Redpoll. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Tue Feb 14 10:21 AM, 2017
This a.m. with Malcolm, 10 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Goosander and 0 Tufted Duck !. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers together at feeders. Cheers Ian
Richard Thew said
Mon Feb 13 3:11 PM, 2017
A few things to add today. Willow tit, 2 male sparrowhawks, 2 lapwings and a siskin was heard with his distinct classic wheezing sound with the other main flock of goldfinch, greenfinch and bullfinch but I couldn't find it in the car park area as it was somewhere within the dense shrubbery on the side at the boat club entrance and I couldn't spend too long there either. Thanks..
Ian Campbell said
Mon Feb 13 10:52 AM, 2017
6.55-9.45 a.m. with Malcolm, at 7.05 a Woodcock flew from dip direction over the feeders. On the res. 10 Pochard (8m 2f), 4 Goldeneye and 4 Tufted Duck. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Sun Feb 12 10:48 AM, 2017
7.30-10 a.m. with Steven, on res. 8 Pochard (7m 1f) and just 5 Tufted Duck, near Crow Trees 5 Fieldfare, on river 2 Little Grebe and 1 Raven over. At the feeders at least 150 Goldfinch plus Green, Chaff and Bullfinch; Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits also. Cheers Ian
Paul Wilson said
Sat Feb 11 10:58 AM, 2017
7am - 9.45am this morning partly with Ian Campbell
Not much on reservoir, only thing of note were 7 Pochard and a small number of gulls, mainly Black-headed with 2 GBB and a few LBB and Herring gulls mixed in.
Bullfinch 3M2F Willow Tit 1 several times G S Woodpecker 1F Treecreeper 1 on trunk of tallest hawthorn
Ian Campbell said
Thu Feb 9 1:12 PM, 2017
This a.m. with Malcolm, 1 Little Egret, 8 pochard (7m, 1f), now only 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye and a Barnacle Goose. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed Feb 8 11:29 AM, 2017
This Morning With Ian and Malcolm 1 Brambling at Feeders 2 Bullfinch 2 Peregrine 8 Pochard 1f 7 M. 2 Goldeneye 1 F 1 M 1 Goosander f 1 Barnacle Goose 1 Kingfisher 1 Little Grebe on River Irwell 1 Little Egret Elton Goyt 5 Great Black backed Gulls 2 Adult 3 imm 1 Oystercatcher 25+ Fieldfare 11 Redwing Crow Trees
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Tue Feb 7 2:39 PM, 2017
Quick look after work14:00-14:35pm 1 Male Brambling at Feeders 1 Bullfinch 4 Mute Swan Good number of large gulls 150+ Herring Gulls 70+ Lesser Black backed Gulls 5 Great Black Backed Gulls 7 Common Gulls
Cheers Steven
Richard Thew said
Tue Feb 7 2:37 PM, 2017
2 oystercatchers on the pt flooded fields next to the canal this morning and about 250 large gulls at 2:15pm including mostly herring gulls at 2/3 of the bunch (and half of these were immatures), lesser black backed gulls and almost a dozen great black backed gulls made up the other 3rd. Others included the usual black headed and common gulls and one full summer plumaged black headed gull. Ta!
Ian Campbell said
Tue Feb 7 10:30 AM, 2017
This a.m. 1 Little Egret, 8 Pochard (6m and 2f), only 4 Tufted Duck and no sign of the female Scaup, 4 Teal and 1 Oystercatcher. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Feb 5 10:19 AM, 2017
07:30-10am with Ian Campbell 2 Oystercatchers 1 Skylark singing in between Elton and Withins. 1 GoldenEye f 7 Pochard 1f 6 m 1 Scaup f 11 Teal 2on Elton 9 on Withins 2 Goosander f 103 Canada Geese on Elton plus more along canal and fields near Withins & Crowtees First winter Herring gull that looked to be Scandinavian race. 1 Buzzard pale resident at Crow trees 1 Fieldfare 5 Mistle Thrush
Plus usual birds
Cheers Steven
Steven Heywood said
Sun Feb 5 12:08 AM, 2017
This afternoon's birds on the water included 9 pochard, one (male) tufted duck, 13 great crested grebes (6 first-winter). Plenty of bullfinches about, both in the hedges at the south end and at the feeders by the Yacht Club. Female great spotted woodpecker and a willow tit also at the feeders.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 5th of February 2017 07:45:04 AM
Simon Johnson said
Sat Feb 4 9:48 PM, 2017
This morning partly with Ian C
First returning Oystercather flew round the res 2 Little Egret 9 Pochard 2 Goldeneye 15+ Skylark 4 Greylag Geese Barnacle Goose />Kingfisher Dipper
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 4th of February 2017 09:52:14 PM
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 4th of February 2017 09:52:41 PM
Ian Campbell said
Fri Feb 3 11:40 AM, 2017
This a.m. with Malcolm, the Scaup and 8 Pochard still present, best bird for me was the 1st Skylark of the Year. Cheers Ian
Siskin, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch all round the feeding station this morning, Great crested Grebes, Goldeneye and a Common Scoter on main res.
Cheers Ian
4,30pm gull roost was 200 plus I tried to search through it for any specials, was hard with position of the sun, quite a few juvenile Great black-backed gulls dominating the buoys. Only bird of note was a female Stonechat on the field adjacent to the pump house.
Cheers Ian
Willow tit 2 ringed birds
Oystercatcher 3 noisily chasing each other around
L Bb gull c. 300 landed midday
Herring gull c. 200
G Bb gull 4 Imms
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 8th of March 2017 01:09:26 PM
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 7th of March 2017 03:55:53 PM
Cheers Ian
1 Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
2 Water Rail
3 Stonechat (1 Crow Trees, pair in Elton Goyt)
6 Teal
4 Pochard
4 Pink-footed Geese Within's
Also a leucistic Fieldfare (with a pure white head) was in with a feeding flock of 40 birds near Capstick's Marsh, in early January the same bird was in fields by Crow Trees Farm.
8 am - 9. 30am - Quick mooch around feeders and hospital area (not much on the reservoir of note except 1 male Goldeneye, although I only viewed from boathouse) produced:
5 Redwing
7 Mistle Trush (some collecting moss)
2 Song Thrush
13 Chaffinch in the undergrowth near the stream
There were also 2 Willow Tit and 4 Bullfinch on the feeders, amongst the usual tits and finches.
1 Kestrel
2 Sparrowhawk
4 Pink footed geese Withins
5 Pochard
5 Skylark
12 Displaying Lapwings
2 Oystercatchers
1 Rook over
1 female Stonechat Crow Trees
4 Teal Elton Goyt
Cheers Steven
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Monday 27th of February 2017 10:36:43 AM
3 Curlew
2 Oystercatchers
6 Pochard
1 Teal
1 Goldeneye
7 Goosander
3 Tufted ducks
8 Great black. Backed gulls
2 Common Gulls
4 Skylarks
1 Raven
1 Sparrowhawk
5 Bullfinch
Cheers Steven
1 Brambling on Feeders
4 Bullfinch
4 Siskin at top of Dip before flying off towards carpark
9 Teal 1 Creek 8 Withins
2 Goosander Withins
6 Pochard
1 Goldeneye
1 Skylark
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Goldcrest
14 Lapwings near Crow trees
Cheers Steven
Coal tit 1
Willow tit 2 both ringed (by me?)
Treecreeper 1 on left hand large hawthorn
Reed bunting 2 males comi,no into breeding plumage
Common Buzzard juv flew over at 12:00 perched in far hedge being mobbed by magpies
Kestrel hunting from first pylon
[Saw the 6 Curlew at 15:13]
6 Curlew circling round res. between 15:00 - 15:15 before heading off towards Holcombe. Also Little Egret and Dipper in Dolly Brook below the pumphouse.
6 Bullfinch at feeders 4 m 2 F
2 Oystercatchers
7 Goldeneye group of 4 between creek and wader point group of 3 in front of sailing club. 4m 3f.
22 Tufted Ducks 10 Creek 12 Capsticks end of res
3 Skylark
14+ Lapwings
2 Little Grebe on River Irwell
1 Great Black backed Gull 1st Winter
1 Common gull
Cheers Steven
This morning I was hoping that Doris had blown something in, but not so. Best was:
4 Pink feet on Withins, 6 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Teal, 1 Snipe, and a colour ringed Herring Gull.
1 Wigeon m
1 GoldenEye m
3 Teal 1 f 2 M withins
1 Goosander 1 F Withins
4 Tufted Duck 1 m 3 f
6 Pochard 5 m 1 f
3 Singing Skylark
12 Lapwings
1 Bullfinch
1 Willow tit
8 Snipe Capsticks marsh
Water Rail heard in Old hall marsh
1 Kingfisher
Cheers Steven
11 Tufted Ducks
6 Pochard 5m 1f
2 GoldenEye 1m1f
1 Goosander male
12 Lapwings
1 Singing Skylark near capsticks
3 Bullfinch
1 Kestrel
7 Common Gulls
23 Herring Gulls
3 Lesser BLack Backed Gulls
2 Great black Backed gulls
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 19th of February 2017 12:09:56 PM
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 19th of February 2017 12:10:27 PM
Goldcrest also heard.
Cheers Steven
G S Woodpecker 1m
Lower numbers of birds today with greenfinch = goldfinch c 40
Possibly 2 shelducks flew across behind hospital at 14:15 brief glimpse
Sparrowhawk a small female dive bombed the feeders causing panic and a Blacbird an greenfinch into my net
Cheers Ian
250+ Herring Gulls 1 very large herring gull about same size as the Great black backed gulls but pale mantle and dark primaries.
40+ Lesser Black backed Gulls
14 Great Black backed gulls.
20+ Common
150+ Black headed Gulls
Cheers Steven
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
At the feeders at least 150 Goldfinch plus Green, Chaff and Bullfinch; Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits also.
Cheers Ian
Little Egret flew across behind (from pool?)
Bullfinch 3M2F
Willow Tit 1 several times
G S Woodpecker 1F
Treecreeper 1 on trunk of tallest hawthorn
Cheers Ian
1 Brambling at Feeders
2 Bullfinch
2 Peregrine
8 Pochard 1f 7 M.
2 Goldeneye 1 F 1 M
1 Goosander f
1 Barnacle Goose
1 Kingfisher
1 Little Grebe on River Irwell
1 Little Egret Elton Goyt
5 Great Black backed Gulls 2 Adult 3 imm
1 Oystercatcher
25+ Fieldfare 11 Redwing Crow Trees
Cheers Steven
1 Male Brambling at Feeders
1 Bullfinch
4 Mute Swan
Good number of large gulls
150+ Herring Gulls
70+ Lesser Black backed Gulls
5 Great Black Backed Gulls
7 Common Gulls
Cheers Steven
Cheers Ian
2 Oystercatchers
1 Skylark singing in between Elton and Withins.
1 GoldenEye f
7 Pochard 1f 6 m
1 Scaup f
11 Teal 2on Elton 9 on Withins
2 Goosander f
103 Canada Geese on Elton plus more along canal and fields near Withins & Crowtees
First winter Herring gull that looked to be Scandinavian race.
1 Buzzard pale resident at Crow trees
1 Fieldfare
5 Mistle Thrush
Plus usual birds
Cheers Steven
This afternoon's birds on the water included 9 pochard, one (male) tufted duck, 13 great crested grebes (6 first-winter). Plenty of bullfinches about, both in the hedges at the south end and at the feeders by the Yacht Club. Female great spotted woodpecker and a willow tit also at the feeders.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 5th of February 2017 07:45:04 AM
First returning Oystercather flew round the res
2 Little Egret
9 Pochard
2 Goldeneye
15+ Skylark
4 Greylag Geese
Barnacle Goose
/>Kingfisher
Dipper
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 4th of February 2017 09:52:14 PM
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 4th of February 2017 09:52:41 PM
Cheers Ian