Doffcocker Lodge has surely got to be THE place to see Common Terns at the moment. I didn't count them but there must be at least 16, with many of them doing fantastic aerial displays, catching fish and doing fish passes etc. It's fascinating to watch how the Black-headed Gulls gang up on them trying to steal the fish - but the Terns do hold their own in these jousts.

I also had a great view of two Reed Warblers (photos on my blog) quite by chance whilst I was waiting for a Tern to land on the 'No Fishing' sign for a photo. They're very noisy in the reed beds at the end of the causeway and so there must be a few of them here. I've been told there are Sedge Warblers nearby too, but I didn't hear or see any today.

Also seen:
2 Tufted Duck
1 Great Crested Grebe
2 Moorhens
4 Coot
Several chicks of different varieties

... and all the usual ferals.

After getting some motivation from Martyn's last post, I had a cappuccino at Zest and then went along the causeway this afternoon.
Certainly at least 16 Common Terns.
Two Reed Warblers heard and seen, one getting up on a Willow Bush.

Other sightings:
Grey Heron...1
Tufted Duck....7
Reed Bunting...1
Swifts...4
House Sparrow...1




-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 04:16:00 PM

late pm
tufted duck-12
great crested grebe-4
sedge warbler-1
reed warbler-1
common terns - 20




-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 7th of May 2012 05:27:37 PM

late report. 3 common terns yesterday(sat).

1 Kingfisher this evening

First time here today. Nice place for a quick scoot around.

Got my first ever Garden Warbler today.
12-15 Common Tern on a floating platform
1 Male Reed Bunting
and a kestrel successfully hunted a vole.

Rick

2 singing Reed Warblers back in the small reedbed today, single Common Tern on the raft.

Sorry Annette , I think Doffcocker did not suit them, as no signs there at 10.30
Probably they flew over to RUMWORTH ...see Steve's posting of this morning.

wow that is 2 weeks earlier than usual!

Common Terns 2 This am
INFO Thanks to Geoff Leather ,Bolton RSPB

Just checked my records - it was actually 6 January 1974 - well it was over 35 years ago!

Haven't birded at Doffcocker for years. Cycled over from Darwen circa 1975 for the Ferruginous Duck with a mate of mine from Blackburn. It was a good tick that.

plenty common terns,great crested grebe,reed warbler,lots of mute swans,sedge warbler,whitethroat etc

Despite being drowned 3 times in the thunder storms this afternoon there was some busy tern activity. Birds were busy fishing and flying about. I counted 8 adults and one newly fledged juvenile. (ringed) Birds still seem to be raising young on both rafts.

The pair that raised the eldest of the grebe chicks appear to be nesting again.

Also present were 12 tufted ducks mainly males in eclipse plumage.

No sign of any waders or warblers singing but then I wouldnt be singing in that rain either!

Waders present on that mud is often disappointing though there are often good numbers of snipe through the winter.

I've only really started watching Doffcocker regularly this year and have been hoping for a decent wader on the bit of mud. Well pleased.

Dean.

Usually see common sandpipers quite regularly on migration at doffcocker but havent seen any this year, nice one!

1 Common Sandpiper 4.30pm 14/7/07