Also this morning in addition to Steve's sightings, singing Willow Warbler at very top of the Creek, male Wheatear, White Wagtail and 2 Little Ringed Plovers. Adult Little Gull still present 11.25am.

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 3rd of April 2016 01:51:04 PM

Adult Little gull just arrived flying around res at minute 09:15 am(photo attached with Black Headed Gull for comparison ) 9 Greylag Geese 2 Gadwall 4 GoldenEye 2 Oystercatchers 3 Bulfinch 2 Kestrel 26 Meadow Pipits 16 Swallows 80+ Sand Martin's
Cheers Steven

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Sunday 3rd of April 2016 10:02:40 AM

06:30-10:15am Good morning partly with Simon J
1 Shelduck
1 House Martin
8 possibly 11 Swallows
100+ Sand Martin
2 Mediterranean Gulls over
1 Greylag Goose
2 Teal
5 possibly 8 Oystercatchers
1 Little Ringed Plover
Siskin heard
1 Snipe
3 Goldeneye
2 Goosander
19 Fieldfare

Cheers Steven

Very few things about on a biting cold morning, I didn't even have my gloves with me so i cut short my wonder about. Very quiet at the moment too Few other highlights were chiffchaff, skylark, lapwing, oystercatcher, 4 goldeneye, grey wagtail, 100+ sand Martin, about 6 swallow, a male kestrel and a sparrowhawk. Oh, and a willow tit called too but didn't see it.

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 1st of April 2016 11:50:45 AM

8am - 12.30

a distant Osprey flew west over Tottington at 11.30am
Rock Pipit showing very well on banking near pumphouse
684 Meadow Pipit flew north mainly after 9.30 high and on a broad front
3 Siskin north
80 Fieldfare NE
3 Swallow north
62 Sand martin in small parties headed north
4 Goldeneye
4 Teal
2 Little Ringed Plover
3 Greylag Geese
4 Oystercatcher 11 Common Buzzard 2 Peregine

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 31st of March 2016 09:10:03 PM

14:50-15:30pm quick visit
1 Rock Pipit along wall (photo attached)
1 Nuthatch near Hospital
3 Chiffchaff singing near car park
only 2 Sand Martins seen
Cheers Steven

7.30-9.30 a.m. with Brian and rain and sleet !, birds included at least 300 Sand Martin and 100 Meadow Pipit with 4 Oystercatcher and a Plover sp.
Cheers Ian

07:00-11am 28/3/16
2 Swallows possibly 3
100+ Sand Martin's
2 Fieldfares
4 Meadow Pipits
5 singing Chiffchaff's
4 Oystercatchers
1 Kestrel
5 Teal ( Withins )
3 Goosanders ( Withins )
Looked to be movement of Wood pigeons and Starlings as small flocks flying through

Cheers Steven

8 - 10 am sightings similar to Steve

2 adult Mediterranean Gull circled over wader point calling but continued north at 8.35am
2 Swallow - bird straight through 8.15am and a second bird feeding over res later on
40+ Sand martin
Little Ringed Plover
9 Chiffchaff (between me and Steve at different spots)
Sparrowhawk
7 Greylag geese were feeding in field by canal at crow tree farm
Redpoll and Siskin both heard flying over curlew heard over spenmoor

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 27th of March 2016 01:27:18 PM

07:00-10:10am BST
1 Swallow
30+ Sand Martins
3 Oystercatchers
6 Teal
1 GoldenEye
7 Chiffchaff
1 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrels
7 Greylag Geese

Cheers Steven

2 Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew over NE
2 Gadwall on capsticks flew on to withins
6 Teal
3 Goldeneye
2 Chiffchaff
40 Fieldfare
17 Redwing

6.45-8.30 a.m. 3 Sand Martin(which didn't linger), 2 Teal, 2 Oystercatcher and trickle of Meadow Pipit over. On Withins 2 Gadwall and 1 Greylag Goose.
Cheers Ian

7.30-9.30 a.m. with Simon J and Steven H, 9 then a further 7 Sand Martin, 2 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Goldeneye on the res. 4 Greylag Geese near Withins and many Meadow Pipit over. At least 2 Pheasant also and a Chiffchaff.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Thursday 24th of March 2016 01:59:05 PM

05:45-06:45am
1 Tawny Owl next to road at side of Hospital
2 Oystercatchers
1 GoldenEye
1 Pheasant
3 Sand martins

Cheers Steven

11.45 a.m. 3 Little Ringed Plover in front of boathouse, 1 Oystercatcher at wader point.
Cheers Ian

Very little about first thing until just after 10am when the flood gates opened the cloud lifted and birds poured through

Birds heading north included
800+ Meadow Pipit
2 Sand Martin 12 wigeon
20 Skylark
300+ Fieldfare
12 Redwing
11 Pied wagtail
3 Grey wagtail
82 Starling
45 Jackdaw
2 Common Buzzard

Withins res
6 Greylag Geese
Kingfisher
2 Chiffchaff
Pheasant

Elton res
Goldeneye - drake
2 Dunlin
2 Oystercatcher
Sparrowhawk

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Tuesday 22nd of March 2016 09:20:52 PM

This morning, very little about. But 2 dunlin and 2 oystercatcher in front of the sailing club are the only note worthy things seen.

14:25-15:00pm quick visit after work
1 Sand martin
3 Gt Crested Grebes ( 2 Displaying )
13 Tufted Ducks
72 adult Lesser Black backed gulls
38 adult Herring Gulls
85 Black Headed Gulls
3 first winter Great Black backed Gulls
Plus about 50 large imature gulls
Most had left before 3pm

Cheers Steven

2 sand martin this morning so far, 3 curlew over, 4 oystercatcher.

This mornings highlights, Little Ringed Plover (2 days later than last year), Sand Martin, 2 Chiffchaff and 3 Water Rail (1 Creek and 2 Dip).
3 Greylag Geese in field by Withins.
20 Meadow Pipit along field side.

This a.m. with Brian, cold and with all the exposed mud slightly disappointing, 5 new Goldeneye along with 4 Teal, 1 Oystercatcher and approx 20 Meadow Pipit over North.
Cheers Ian

late morning

2 Greylag Geese still on withins
Chiffchaff
Redpoll - wader point
100+ Redwing
25+ Fieldfare
5 Common Buzzard
2 Sparrowhawk inc a pair displaying

Coney Green
White Wagtail with 14 Pied Wagtails
Water Rail

This a.m. with Brian, 1 Goldeneye, 4 Teal and 2 Oystercatcher on the res. 50+ Meadow Pipit over North and 2 Greylag Geese over West plus Sparrowhawk hunting below pumphouse.
Cheers Ian

lunch time visit

Not a lot on Elton - not even a Grebe - some good shoreline too but no waders

Female Goldeneye
Chiffchaff
2 Goldcrest

Withins
4 Greylag Geese
91 Canada Geese
2 Oystercatcher
27 Tufted Duck
kingfisher

Spenmoor
130+ Redwing
22 Fieldfare

Crow Tree farm
pair of kingfisher on small pond

Yesterday a male Stonechat was below the pumphouse, info from Peter Baron.

Also yesterday first northerly movement of Meadow Pipits, with a couple of small parties over.

This a.m. with Brian, 4 Snipe, 4 Teal, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Oystercatcher, 5 Redwing, 7 Fieldfare and a fly over Curlew.
Cheers Ian

06:20-10am Quiet only 42 Species seen highlights being,
1 Curlew
4 Oystercatchers
2 GoldenEye
2 Bulfinch
1 Goldcrest
1 Buzzard

Cheers Steven

Also this morning

13 Common Buzzard
3 Kestrel
Peregrine
Curlew
Greylag Goose
100+ Redwing
9 Skylark

This morning upto 5 Oystercatcher and 5 Goldeneye on res. 1 Kingfisher on river as I was leaving. Also Willow Tit seen by Malcolm.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Thursday 10th of March 2016 11:47:07 AM

7.30-9.30 with Brian and Malcolm, this day last year saw the 1st Sand Martin of the year, it didn't show today !, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Oystercatcher and 2 fly over Curlew were present however.
Cheers Ian

0715 till 0900 with Ian Campbell, 2 oystercatcher, goldeneye and singing skylark.

Also this morning up to 11.30am, two Water Rails showing well in the Dip also 3 single Curlews flew over and 2 Siskin flew north.

06:30-09:00am
6 GoldenEye
5 Teal
2 Gadwall
2 Goosander
2 Oystercatchers
1 Chiffchaff

Cheers Steven

9 - 13.30 am in sometimes heavy snow turning to rain - soaked to the skin but an enjoyable morning.

some "snow" migration noted and birds also grounded with some very impressive flocks of skylarks - most I have ever seen at Elton

285+ Skylark in total included 120+ on deck at old hall farm and flocks of 40 and 20 west/sw at Capsticks 56 flew sw near coney Green and 49 on deck just outside elton recording area feeding in horse paddock at coney green
40 Fieldfare - old hall farm
125 Redwing - 25 west and 100 feeding on spenmoor
102 Meadow pipit in several grounded flocks
15 Pied Wagtail
3 Grey Wagtail
2 Curlew heard heading through on separate occasions
8+ Oystercather
2 Snipe
154 Lapwing -several flocks passing through and 51 in front of sailing club
2 Siskin north
4 Gadwall
2 Teal

Chiffchaff
4 Gadwall
6 Goldeneye
3 Oystercatcher
2 Skykark
44 Lapwing
15 Fieldfare Dunlin heard

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Wednesday 2nd of March 2016 02:45:45 PM

Just a quick note; as i was passing to work, I had a quick look at what gulls were on the reservoir. There was about 50 around the carpark area, most of which were lesser black backed gulls, one of which was a very pale lesser black backed that could easily be mistaken for a yellow legged gull (definitely not a hybrid either). Also were a dozen herring and a great black backed gull. The smaller gulls included the usual black headed gulls with half coming into or already in breeding plumage and a few common gulls. I'm afraid that's all I had time for...

highlight this morning was the Little Owl back at the wood pile. Hadn't been seen by anyone (that I know of) this year and i was starting to wonder if the buzzard had pushed it out

other sightings
2 Ringed Plover - between creek and sailing club
3 Oystercatcher - (1 with Ringed Plover and 2 Crow Tree Farm flash)
2 Gadwall - withins
15 Teal (10 withins & 5 flew on to Elton and departed west)
4 Wigeon (2 male and female withins and 1st winter male flew onto Elton with teal)
2 Goosander - withins
8 Moorhen - withins
100+ Redwing - Crow Tree Farm
5 Skylark
40 Fieldfare - crow tree farm
Buzzard
4 Sparrowhawk

16:30-18:25 pm
6 GoldenEye on Withins
2 Gadwall on Withins
22 Tufted Duck on Withins then flew onto Elton at 17:30pm
15 Goosander @ 18:00 pm
4 Oystercatchers 2 on wall 2 in front of sailing club
Highlight 39 Whooper Swans over heading north @ 18:13pm
Dunlin heard but not seen

Cheers Steven

Single Dunlin flew round the res this morning

Duck numbers seem down not many Tufted Duck, 5 Goldeneye and 10 Teal on withins
58 Lapwing
Buzzard
80+ Redwing
20 Meadow Pipit north
8 Skylark

Apologies for a late post; Birds seen at 2pm. 200 large gulls and about the same again for the smaller ones (black headed gulls and common gulls). Sadly, nothing out of the ordinary this time. Was Around 85? Of the larger gulls were herring (mostly 1st winter) and same goes for the lesser black backed gulls. The rest were great black backed gulls. Grey and pied wagtails were to note, along with reed bunting and bullfinch. Plus the usual ducks as in previous days.

Crow Tree farm fields/flash

5 Curlew
Oystercatcher
50 Lapwing
24 Fieldfare
Siskin heard calling over on 3 occasions but not seen
4 Skylark

Chiffchaff calling wader point

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 25th of February 2016 01:28:42 PM

08:10-10:55 am of note 09:42am Merlin flew over Crowtrees Farm heading towards Withins 6 Grey Herons in trees near Car park 08:15am 3 Oystercatchers 2 Skylarks An increase in Reed buntings Due to light being bright and some feed back I believe the Yellow Legged Gull to be a pale Lesser Black backed gull made to look lighter on its mantle matching that expected with a Yellow legged Gull.
Cheers Steven

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Thursday 25th of February 2016 07:42:55 PM

This a.m. on the res. 3 Goldeneye, 2 Teal and 2 Oystercatcher on wader point. The long staying Pochard have moved on. Best was a surprise Woodcock flushed by workmen repairing the embankment.
Cheers Ian

14:20-14:50 pm
Good number of gulls
13 Great Black backed Gulls
30 Adult Herring Gulls
31 Adult Lesser Black backed Gulls
57 Juv mixed Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gulls
1 Possible Yellow Legged Gull but didn't get enough to be sure, right mantle colour and primary's
3 Common Gulls
371 approx Black headed gulls

3 Pochard
4 GoldenEye

Cheers Steven

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Monday 22nd of February 2016 05:11:01 PM

This a.m. on res. 3 Pochard and 5 Goldeneye, in fields around 3 singing Skylark, displaying Lapwing and 3 Oystercatcher. Also Curlew heard but not seen.
Cheers Ian

No sign of glaucous gull so far this afternoon.