19:00 - 19:45 hrs
Greenshank were heard calling as I reached the south-east corner of the reservoir. Two birds were picked up in flight low over the water and landed on the north shore near the hide. Not particularly active they seemed to be just resting up. Still present at 19:45 hrs.

Also a female Tufted Duck on compensation lagoon with 3 ducklings just over a week old. Quite comical to watch them jumping into the air to gain sufficient momentum to dive under the water, then popping up above the surface.
I just hope they survive to fledging. Tufted Duck broods don't have a good track record here. Might have something to do with the large Pike lurking in the reservoir

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Thursday 8th of August 2013 08:59:06 PM

08:30 - 09:30 hrs
A male Redstart in heavy moult was calling in the Tree for a Life garden on the east side of the resr. Seen well for several minutes as it flew on and off the fence by the wooden 5-bar gate on the north side of the garden.

Late post from Thurs 25th July.

4 Crossbills flew across the bottom of Ramsden Rd by the windsurfers club house at approx. 18:30 hrs. They were picked up on call and I managed to briefly get onto 2 birds with my bins before they disappeared into the plantation. These were females. No further sign since.

A Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling from the Juncus to the north of Steward Barn at the same location as a couple of weeks ago, so clearly on territory.
3 Whitethroats singing - all on territory
Willow Warbler singing
Blackcap heard calling from plantations

Siskin heard calling over head in flight

Skylark carrying food (a late date) and one singing. Normally by now they have all left the moors. The start of breeding was delayed by the cold spring. Although the first birds returned in early Feb they left the moors during the cold snap in March.
Grey Partridge - seen well and calling along Higher Slack Brook
Wheatear - a single migrant. For the first time in many years there has been no sign of breeding here this year.

Pair of Great Crested Grebes roosting on the water, appear to have given up attempting to breed this year after several unsuccessful attempts. Each nest being left high and dry by the falling water levels. Still, looking on the bright side, the site is looking great for waders this autumn, providing we get some unsettled weather.

A solitary Lapwing on the hide spit


Steve

I wasn't expecting to see any waders this evening as two people and a dog were on the main spit Clearly the numerous footpaths around the site aren't good enough for some folk.

Anyway as luck would have it, just as I was walking away from the hide six Whimbrel flew in low over the resr, called once and landed on the hide spit. They gave excellent views for about 10 minutes and then flew north calling. The largest ever flock recorded at Watergrove. The previous highest count was four birds on nearby Crook Moor on 4th May 2007.

The combination of low water levels and bad weather is certainly turning up the waders here this spring.

Steve

Thanks for the reminder Steve! Yes, water levels are currently similar to what they were in May 2005 and the weather conditions yesterday were also the same (rain and strong winds). I live in hope that one day something of equal rarity to the Broad Billed Sandpiper will drop in.
Do birds remember anniversaries? Unfortunately, I'm working on the 21st, but I'm sure some kind soul will check out the site for me during the day!

Steve Atkins wrote:

---

The wader fest continued this evening with an incredible variety of species for this site:

---

Two reports from Watergrove in one day
Next Tuesday will of course be the anniversary of Watergrove's and Mr. Atkins' best ever bird

The wader fest continued this evening with an incredible variety of species for this site:

Sanderling - initially roosting with its head tucked in became active and started feeding
Ringed Plover - 3
Dunlin - 3 in breeding plumage
Redshank - 6
Common sandpiper

The birds were initially on the spit in front of the windsurfer's club house and then flew to the hide spit. All still present at 19:15 hrs but no sign of the Turnstone.

Steve

2 Turnstones at 9am feeding on hide spit (north shoreline) with 2 Common Sandpipers. The first seen here and in Rochdale borough since 2009. Still present at 10:15 hrs.

Also 50+ Swallows hawking low over resr in strong wind and rain.
Linnet - 3
Reed Bunting - pair
Lesser Redpoll
Willow Warbler - 4+ singing
Whitethroat - in song flight

2 Dunlin in breeding plumage were here on Mon 13th May.






-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 11:43:35 AM

4 Crossbills, picked up initially on calls, circled low over the north end of the resr at approx. 10am and flew east. They may have dropped down into the plantations either side of Ramsden Rd running north from the windsurfers club house.

Also a Treecreeper in the willows along the path to the hide. Very rarely seen here except in autumn and winter.

18 Black-headed gulls. A few trying to snatch weed from a juv Coot as it surfaced from its dive. Adult Coot on hide pools.

9 Meadow Pipits flying south
A Siskin high up flying NW
Goldcrest -1
Bullfinch - 1
Kestrel -1
Great Crested Grebe - 3

A pleasent afternoon wandering around the lake

Carrion Crow 7
Woodpigeon 2
Swallow 6
Robin 1
Great Crested Grebe 3 (2 Juvinile)
Blackbird 1
Magpie 2
Coot 3 (2 chicks)
Mallard 4
Canada Goose 60+ (It was great to watch these coming into land on the resovior which they finally managed to do despite the best efforts of the wind surfers to prevent them)
1 unidentified duck (Very dark possibly a solitary Scoter but to far away to be possitive)

Regards

Dave

Nice find Steve, and your description of a ragged V formation, fits what I saw the other night on the bits and bobs section, blooming scoters of course!

NOT on Audenshaw late afternoon at least Steve.

22 Common Scoter still present at 19:00 hrs despite windsurfers having been out this afternoon and a police helicopter circling overhead this evening. Clearly these birds are not going to be intimidated by a windsurfer when they are used to dodging super tankers!

The flock of 104 seen this morning was a county record. The previous highest count was 80-90 at Castleshaw Resrs on 29th July 2005.

Thanks for posting this Ian. An absolutely incredible sight! When I arrived at 08:25 hrs there were no birds on the resr apart from a couple of Mallard and the family party of Great Crested Grebes (2 well grown juvs and 2 adults). It started raining heavily and whilst sheltering in the hide I could make out a soft call which I didn't recognise and was struggling to identify where it was coming from. Suddenly a raft of Common Scoter swam into view and it became clear it was these birds that were calling. They were packed so closely together that it was difficult to count groups of 10 let alone individuals. I estimated 50+ initially but the birds were very excited and swimming backwards and forwards in the flock splashing water, so impossible to count accurately.

I then walked to the windsurfers club house to gain a better view when the flock took flight. Luckily Alan Nuttall had arrived and was able to count the Scoter as they circled the reservoir gaining height. An amazing 104 birds, most of which formed a ragged V formation and headed south at 09:10 hrs. A small group of 22 birds (21m & 1f) dropped back down onto the resr and were still present at 11.00 hrs.

Audenshaw Resrs lie due south of Watergrove so may be worth checking out.

An initial check of the database on records going back to 1985 shows this to be the largest flock of Common Scoter recorded in GM. Will check the county reports prior to 1985.

Steve

104 Common Scoter present this morning, the majority of which flew off south at 09:10, leaving 22 left on the water.

Info thanks to Steve Atkins

Eclipse male Pintail roosting on west pool next to the hide at 09:00 hrs. That's the one on the left as you go through the door

When it lifted it's head it gave very close views of its blue bill. However, it then swam under an overhanging willow on the far side of the pool and tucked it's head in making it far from obvious. Although sandwiched between 2 mallard.

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 22nd of July 2012 12:00:01 PM

A Red Kite was seen by Eddie (sorry don't know your surname) at approx. 10.15 hrs soaring and heading south, skirting Brown Wardle (of Dotterel fame) to the west of Watergrove.

This was almost certainly the same bird seen at Hollingworth Lake at 11:00 hrs, although no plumage details have been made available. Although it was approaching from the south east (Longden End), half an hour is plenty of time for a Red kite to do a circuit of the area perhaps via the Piethorne Valley.

Steve

Sun 6/5 16:00-20:00 sunny cloudy spells, cool e breeze

Walked up valley and along the crest of the western rim looking for dotterel - alas no sign but trial bikes, quad & two range rovers on the summit of last hill didn't help

Willow warblers c 8 singing males
Whitethroat MF singing/display chase
Curlew 1 h
Wheatear MMM singing
Green woodpecker h
Lesser redpoll c. 8 s/d
G c grebe
M swan


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 6th of May 2012 09:34:35 PM

07:40 to 08:40 hrs
Chiffchaff - 1 singing above compensation lagoon (east side of resr)
Tufted Duck - 4
Lesser Redpoll - 1 singing
Pair of Oystercatchers flew north calling
Hide pool - a pair of Teal
Pair of Great Crested Grebes mating
3 Shelduck appeared on the resr after 8am almost certainly the birds from Hollingworth Lake which were presumably flushed by boats
Redshank on shoreline by windsurfers' club house
An unusual sight of a Moorhen displaying its white tail feathers and being closely followed by a coot
Green Woodpecker heard calling

The Shelduck were still on the resr at 19:30 hrs with 2 Teal

Good walk round both the Reservoir and out on the moorland walk above.

2 Grey Heron
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Buzzard
1 Moorhen
3 Coot
1 Chaffinch
5 Tufted Ducks (3m 2f)
2 Teal (pair)
2 Pied Wagtail (really close up views for 15mins on the dam wall)
Numerous Mallard,Magpie, Blue and Great Tits

Out on the moorland loop above the Res we were constantly accompanied by lots of Skylark, too many to count for me. All singing merrily away in the Sunshine.

Mon 12/12 12:30 - 15:15 cold, damp, strong S breeze sunny spells initially

B hd Gull c 30
C Gull 10
L Bb Gull 1
C Goose 1

Green Woodp (H??) from W

Short Eared OWl 1 on moor N off res to E above large Beech trees

One of my best duck days ever on Watergrove.
At 07:40 hrs
male Goldeneye (first of the autumn here)
11 Teal
a pair of Wigeon.

When I came out of the hide at about 8am more ducks had flown in:
Now 19 Teal
6 Gadwall These may well have been flushed from Hollingworth Lake as at 08:10 Simon Hitchen reported 14 rowing boats & no ducks

At 08:45 Dave Ousey reported 8 Gadwall. Teal had increased to 21.
I returned with my scope and was delighted to see 3 male gadwall (2 adults & a 1st winter) displaying to 5 females. This is the highest known count of Gadwall in Rochdale beating the previous record of 6 on Hollingworth Lake in Dec 1984. The previous max at Watergrove was 2 birds in Dec 2007. Only the 3rd record for this species on Watergrove.

Gadwall still present at 14:30 hrs according to Alan Nuttall.

It was good to meet you too Steve last Sunday. Thanks for the photos of the Watergove Red Kite, although it rubbed salt into the wound reminding me of the bird I'd missed. From the missing secondaries it seems highly likely it was the bird I saw on Rooley Moor on 16th April.

Steve

after getting off the train at smithy bridge (to start my walk up to the res) 5 mins down smithy bridge rd there was 9 whooper swans high over heading in the direction off hollingworth lake at 9.40am.
at the res from 10.15am till dark...
3 goosanders
2 snipe
3 wigeon
2 tufted duck
1 buzzard
1 sparrowhawk
4 meadow pipits
3 redwings
2 flocks off fieldfares, 34 & 50+
42 pink footed geese south/west at 12.50pm
9 common gulls
3 l b b gulls
1 pied wagtail
b h gulls, canada geese, mallards, moorhen
blackbirds, robins, wrens, dunnocks
goldfinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, chaffinches
goldcrests, redpolls, collared doves
jays, crows, magpies, jackdaws, starlings
blue/great/coal & long tailed tits
green woodpecker (heard only)
tawny owl (heard only)

a pleasant day with great scenery

also a pleasure to meet steve atkins,thanks for the chat & the lift.

another great day up there today

goosander 3
tufted duck 1
kestrel 2
jay 2
pheasant 2
chafinch 2
wren 1
long tailed tit (lots of)
coal tit 3
great tit 2
snipe 1
lesser black backed gul 1
cormorant 1
treecreeper 1
pied wagtail 1

and also two roe deer right in front of the hide wich was a nice end to the day


regards

deon

Hope you get your field glasses repaired/replaced soon, Deon.
Glad you enjoyed Watergrove and the surroundings!

had a great day yesterday on the walk from buckley lane smallbridge up to watergrove a good mix of blue,great,coal and longtailed tits also magpie,crow,woodpigeon,wren,chafinch,mistle thrush,kestrel,jay,feildfare and a barn owl
all in and around the woods along buckley lane further on at rydings lodge no ducks present today apart from a solitary moorhen but up in the trees there came accross a roosting tawny owl being mobbed by blue and great tits. onwards and upwards to watergrove a little further along saw a sparrowhawk winging its way towards wardle village then nightmare of all nightmares my field glasses decided to pack up just my luck so had to rely on my camera zoom which isnt the greatest but hey ho decided to carry on up to the hide anyway pretty quiet at the hide nothing much to report
common gulls 8
black headed gulls 3
feildfare 2
wren 1
moorhen 1
green woodpecker 1
long tailed tits 10
blue tits 4
blackcap 1
kestrel 1
but all in all a great day dont think i have seen that many raptors in one session before
and many thanks to steve atkins for all his feedback and opening up the hide managed to get some great pictures (hopefully some will be in next wednesdays observer) and will be visiting again soon as work permits

deon

7 Crossbills seen from the hide. The birds came in from the north-east low over Ramsden Rd plantation, calling. Then passed low over the hide heading south-west over the resr.

Fieldfare - 20+
Lesser redpoll
Bullfinch - 3
Common Gull - 2
Black-headed gull -16
Lesser Black-backed Gull

Yesterday - a Great Spotted Woodpecker in willow just outside the hide. GSW is actually less common here than Green Woodpecker.

Steve

Hi Deon,

Welcome to the Manchester Birding forum. I've sent you a personal message regarding the Watergrove hide which unfortunately is normally locked most weekdays. However, I do open it up most weekends.

I look forward to reading your posts from Watergrove and the Littleborough area.

Best wishes


Steve

hi steve i am a new member on here a keen birder and photographer recently moved back to littleborough from wales i have visited the watergrove site on three occasions in the hope of spending some time in the bird hide but on each occasion found it locked up are there set opening times or do you have to contact the rangers office to arange access
kind regards deon meadowcroft

At 18:00 hrs again a solitary Whooper Swan in the middle of the resr. The bird was calling occasionally, dipping its bill in the water, stretching its neck and tilting it's head back. Presumably drinking.

It swam to within 50yds of the east shore and was still present at 18:35 hrs.

At 18:00 hrs
3 Wigeon - my first of the autumn here
24 Teal in the middle of the resr

9 Wigeon which I am reliably informed by Mr.Watergrove are the first of the autumn here

also 2 Great-crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Skylarks west, 2 Siskin over, 5+ Lesser Redpoll and 2 Bullfinch

3 Crossbills flew low over Steward Barn this a.m. The greenish-yellow rump of one bird visible as they headed towards the resr.

Otherwise fairly quiet:
Chiffchaff - 1 heard calling & 1 singing
Blackcap - heard calling
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Reed Bunting
Bullfinch
Goldcrest

A Carrion Crow hovered over the water approx. 10 metres out from the shore and picked a dead fish up from the surface. Landing on the shoreline it was quickly robbed of its catch by another crow.

Steve

A male Common Scoter in the middle of the resr at 18:00 hrs. Amazingly the first here since 2005 before which they used to be almost annual. Still present at 19:40 hrs despite the arrival of junior windsurfers from Hollingworth Lake. I'll be glad when they turn the tap back on again
Thanks to Dave Ousey for the loan of his scope.

Juv. Sparrowhawk hunger calling from one of the plantations.


Steve

One of my closest ever encounters with Crossbills this a.m. Standing at the top of the steps down to Higher Slack Brook they were heard calling from a beech sapling just a few feet away. However, I was unable to see them until they took flight up the clough (3 green females) and landed in a hawthorn. Not really typical Crossbill habitat here on the edge of open moorland A minute later they flew back down the clough, circled in front of me and headed back north again. About an hour later 3 (possibly 4) Crossbills flew north over Trap Farm car park. The same birds? Perhaps it's going to be another influx year.

Great Crested Grebe - a pair
Coot - a pair with 1 remaining chick. With 2 parents feeding it continuously it's not surprising it has put on a lot of weight
Kestrel
Curlew - a single and a pair in display flight
Lapwing - 1 displaying
Black-headed Gull - 1 in breeding plumage (first returning bird since the spring)
Skylark - 5 singing (S)
Willow Warbler - 7S
Blackcap - 3S
Whitethroat - 2S
Lesser Redpoll
Goldcrest - 2 S
Reed Bunting - 1S

It was nice to meet Dave from Oldham (sorry I've forgotten your surname).

Steve

This evening a superb summer plumaged Sanderling was feeding on the north shoreline by the path to the hide. Only 20 metres away and lit by the sun, so there was no need to set the scope up. My Springer Spaniel sat patiently for 10 minutes whilst I watched it with 2 Dunlin in breeding plumage. How's that for good behaviour

Also seen this a.m.
Starlings still flying towards Wardle carrying food
Blackcap - 1 singing by the hide
Reed Bunting - 1S
Pair of Coot with 2 small chicks - there were 3 yesterday
Pair of Whitethroat
Blue Tit carrying food
Pair of Great Crested Grebe
Willow Warbler - 3+ singing

Pete,

That's interesting to know that Starlings are also collecting leather jackets in the Naden valley. Thanks for the excellent photo of a leather jacket. Not sure though whether Ian will want to put that in the photo gallery I expect this is being repeated all along the moorland fringe in GM.

Starlings were still collecting food at Watergrove today. On Friday 13th May over a 15 minute period I counted 55 Starlings flying south towards Wardle carrying food. There was a continuous stream of birds flying north towards the top of the valley which was presumably where they were finding the leather jackets. The distance between the feeding area and the village is about 1.5 - 2.0 miles which means they are making a 3 to 4 mile round trip every time so they must be clocking up a good number of miles over the course of the day.

A single Dunlin in breeding pluumage has been seen on 11th, 12th and 15th May.

Today a pair of Bullfinches was seen (the male was carrying dandelion seeds in its bill). Both birds disappeared into the plantation.

Also a Moorhen with 2 small downy chicks just a few days old.


Steve

Steve Atkins wrote:

---

Congratulations Steven on finding the Red Kite. This is the 2nd official record from Watergrove. The last was seen in March 2006 by Brian Warren, Dave Winnard and Steve Collins. Despite watching the site on virtually a daily basis for nearly 15 years I've yet to see one here It's a pity it wasn't wing tagged as it would be interesting to know whether its the same bird I saw on Rooley Moor in April. Another local birder told me this a.m. that he saw a Red Kite flying in the directiion of Rochdale next to the A627M (south of the M62) during the week.

Yesterday p.m. at Watergrove 170 Starlings were counted in a 10 minute period, all carrying food (FF) and flying in the direction of Wardle where they must have chicks in the nest. There are lots of old properties which must provide suitable nest sites. I'm pretty confident that there was no double counting as only a handful of birds flew back towards the fields where they were collecting the food. This a.m. I counted 45 Starlings in the space of 2 minutes doing the same and saw a bird half a mile down the road in the village perched on a tv aerial with food in its bill.

Whilst totally unscientific it does give an indication that the local population must be pretty healthy. Assuming both adults are now feeding the young this would represent 85 pairs and is probably only a small percentage of the local population. So if all the nests fledge 4 young there should be a flock of over 500 birds feeding on the moors by early June.

Clearly the intensive sheep stocking on the moorland fringe provides good foraging habitat for this species as the grass is very closely cropped. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds 1988-91 says The preferred foraging habitat of Starlings is grazed permanent pasture, as this provides high densities of the main breeding season food item leatherjackets

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 8th of May 2011 10:07:32 AM

---

hi steve, brilliant find for me its a shame you was not there yesterday after 15 years off watching this site, feel like i have robbed you as it is my first visit did get a couple off pics (not great) but you can tell what it is,when i did zoom in after taking the pic it did not have a wing tag.
the starlings were back and forth all day long only in small flocks off about 6-12 at a time some times even more and they do have nests in the houses in wardle as i walked from smithy bridge train station to here and back. did not count the amount off times i could hear young starlings in the nest,but its fair to say there was a lot. so like you say if there is 4 young to each nest that fledge,there should be a good size flock off starlings on the moors by early june.
cheers,steve.

Steve, I have had a similar experience with 100+ Starlings in the upper Naden valley above Greenbooth reservoir. Got a couple of photos of the starlings filling their beaks with caterpillars and eventually found one. Not identified the caterpillar yet but looks like a leatherjacket.
The Starlings were flying back and forth from the pasture in the direction of Doctor Dam in Norden.
Pete

Congratulations Steven on finding the Red Kite. This is the 2nd official record from Watergrove. The last was seen in March 2006 by Brian Warren, Dave Winnard and Steve Collins. Despite watching the site on virtually a daily basis for nearly 15 years I've yet to see one here It's a pity it wasn't wing tagged as it would be interesting to know whether its the same bird I saw on Rooley Moor in April. Another local birder told me this a.m. that he saw a Red Kite flying in the directiion of Rochdale next to the A627M (south of the M62) during the week.

Yesterday p.m. at Watergrove 170 Starlings were counted in a 10 minute period, all carrying food (FF) and flying in the direction of Wardle where they must have chicks in the nest. There are lots of old properties which must provide suitable nest sites. I'm pretty confident that there was no double counting as only a handful of birds flew back towards the fields where they were collecting the food. This a.m. I counted 45 Starlings in the space of 2 minutes doing the same and saw a bird half a mile down the road in the village perched on a tv aerial with food in its bill.

Whilst totally unscientific it does give an indication that the local population must be pretty healthy. Assuming both adults are now feeding the young this would represent 85 pairs and is probably only a small percentage of the local population. So if all the nests fledge 4 young there should be a flock of over 500 birds feeding on the moors by early June.

Clearly the intensive sheep stocking on the moorland fringe provides good foraging habitat for this species as the grass is very closely cropped. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds 1988-91 says The preferred foraging habitat of Starlings is grazed permanent pasture, as this provides high densities of the main breeding season food item leatherjackets

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 8th of May 2011 10:07:32 AM

here from 10.00am-5.30pm great day apart from the earlier rain. 47 species seen.

no dotterels for me, but a RED KITE will do nicely seen going over res towards brown wardle hill (cheers for the earlier post ian) other birds seen...
common sandpiper, oystercatcher, lapwing, canada goose, mallard, cormorant,
tufted duck, whitethroat, blackcap, sedge warbler (heard only), willow warbler
heard and then eventually seen grasshopper warbler in between res and b w hill
lots off wheatear,meadow pipits and skylark,swifts, swallows and house martins
crows, rooks, magpies, jackdaws, reed bunting, linnet, siskin, redpoll, bullfinch,
goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, house sparrow, starling,
collared dove, wood pigeon, feral pigeon, blackbird, robin, dunnock, mistle thrush,
great crested grebe, l-b-b gull, pied wagtail, sparrowhawk and kestrel.

also seen 3 roe deer



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 7th of May 2011 09:29:40 PM

Red Kite just flown over Watergrove Reservoir in the direction of Brown Wardle Hill.

Info thanks to Steven Burke

No sign of any Dotterels this morning.

Info thanks to Dave Ousey

I parked by Golf course accessed from Whitworth by Church Lane past Red Lion.

18:00 - 19:30 Walked up Brown Wardle and around the summit scannong likely grassy area slopes doen from summit - No Dotterel

c. 8 sleeping bag hang gliders on SW slopes may have scared birds off. Went arounf to N and E sides away from disturbance but couldn't find any birds.

May have gone or may have relocated due to disturbance. MAy be worth an early morning visit - weather permitting to confirm 'our' trip has moved on.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Joe, Keith Mills' post a few below offers decent directions. Using Google maps it should give you a good idea

---

Cheers Ian!

Joe, Keith Mills' post a few below offers decent directions. Using Google maps it should give you a good idea

Hi, I was planning a trip up tomorrow to look for dotterel, could anyone tell me a good route? I don't have the map of the area but is it still quite easy to find?
Cheers,
Joe

5 Dotterel still present at 1245hrs today.

info from Birdnet

Hi John,

Welcome to the Manchester Birding Forum. I look forward to reading more posts from you in the future.

There doesn't appear to be any news from Brown Wardle today. Althought the paragliders have now been joined by a radio controlled model aircraft, so perhaps the Dotterel have chosen to go somewhere more peaceful. It is incredible how much disturbance this area is subjected to by other people's leisure activities. We normally have to contend with off road motorbikes as well.

I certainly agree with you about what a wonderful site Watergrove is despite all the disturbance.

Seen this evening:

A pair of Common Sandpipers
Whitethroat singing
Willow Warbler - 8 singing
Skylark - 4 singing
Lapwing displaying
Lesser Redpoll - 5 +
Reed Bunting singing

Steve