This a.m. with Steven H, as well as the Great Northern Diver were 3 Goldeneye, 1 Pochard, Willow Tit heard only, 57 Lapwing over SE, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Goosander. Sorry we missed you Steven was that you walking along the canal with another birder as we were crossing the fields looking for Stonechat ? Cheers Ian
It probably was Ian, John Doherty was with me. I had a scan of the marsh hoping for a stonechat myself but no joy.
Richard Thew said
Wed Nov 11 2:11 PM, 2015
Just to update that the great northern diver is still here. Mostly hanging around between the sluice gate hut (pump house) and the boat club house.
Ian Campbell said
Wed Nov 11 12:39 PM, 2015
This a.m. with Steven H, as well as the Great Northern Diver were 3 Goldeneye, 1 Pochard, Willow Tit heard only, 57 Lapwing over SE, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Goosander. Sorry we missed you Steven was that you walking along the canal with another birder as we were crossing the fields looking for Stonechat ? Cheers Ian
steven burke said
Wed Nov 11 9:19 AM, 2015
Great northern diver still present near boat club
Little owl along canal.
-- Edited by steven burke on Wednesday 11th of November 2015 12:35:54 PM
Jim Caulfield said
Tue Nov 10 3:52 PM, 2015
Tues 10 Nov 13:50 to 14:30.
A much better day. compared with yesterday's drenching to no avail. Views of the Great Northern Diver, from the overflow area towards the northern bank pylons, but very mobile, surfacing for the last views much nearer by the boat area.
Great to meet Phil Kelly again, who's becoming a good omen for me at Elton, we last met celebrating the Little Bittern.
What a difference a day makes ! Thanks Ian - too excited !
-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Tuesday 10th of November 2015 04:08:55 PM
Paul Wilson said
Tue Nov 10 3:34 PM, 2015
GN Diver still present at 3.30pm when I left this afternoon.
It was difficult to track as it was diving for long periods, and the waves were making it hard to locate again.
Steven Higginbottom said
Tue Nov 10 11:34 AM, 2015
08:15-11:00am with Ian C up to 0930am of note
1 Great Northern Diver (juv) favering area near out flow near boats
360 Pink feet over in 3 Skiens 120 @ 08:05am 140@ 0820am 100 @ 08:30 all SE
5 Greylag geese NW
1 Pochard
1 GoldenEye
20+ Meadow Pipit's
Willow Tit heard behind sailing club
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Tuesday 10th of November 2015 01:19:59 PM
Paul Wilson said
Tue Nov 10 7:35 AM, 2015
GN Diver still present this morning. Info Simon Warford
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Nov 9 5:23 PM, 2015
Steven Higginbottom wrote:
A very nice juvenile John
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Monday 9th of November 2015 03:58:49 PM
Great lets hope it stays a few days then gets on its way back to the Sea :) Thanks
Steven Higginbottom said
Mon Nov 9 3:55 PM, 2015
A very nice juvenile John
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Monday 9th of November 2015 03:58:49 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Nov 9 3:41 PM, 2015
Is the Great northern Diver an Adult or a Juvenile?
Richard Thew said
Mon Nov 9 2:33 PM, 2015
The great northern diver is still on the reservoir. He is hanging around the area in front of the sluice gate hut (pump house) giving fantastic views at times. Brings back memories of the year I saw my very first one in December 2000 while I was still learning some of the commonest species. Nice indeed.
Simon Johnson said
Mon Nov 9 9:59 AM, 2015
Nice find Ian and worth getting drenched for!! Showing incredibly well preening itself off the boat club
Rock pipit flew over the pump house and 3 shoveler capsticks end
Ian Campbell said
Mon Nov 9 9:36 AM, 2015
Elton year list now 141. Cheers Ian
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 9 9:29 AM, 2015
Great Northern Diver showing very well from the boat house at 09:20.
Info thanks to Simon Johnson
Steven Higginbottom said
Mon Nov 9 8:17 AM, 2015
Great northern Diver present this morning
Cheers Ian C & Steven
Ian Campbell said
Sun Nov 8 1:05 PM, 2015
7.15-8.45 a.m. On res. just 1 Pochard, 2 Goosander and 2 Teal. Overhead at 8.05 120 Pinkfeet SE and most unusually at 8.16 8 Ring-necked Parakeets flew from Bury direction towards Bolton. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 8th of November 2015 01:06:20 PM
An hour in the rain this a.m. was enough for me, 10 Teal, 5 Goldeneye, 1 Pochard and 6 Snipe on wader point. Cheers Ian
Simon Johnson said
Fri Nov 6 9:33 PM, 2015
too add - a Dipper flew into channel that comes from below the pump house
Ian Campbell said
Fri Nov 6 11:28 AM, 2015
Dawn-9.30 with Simon J , 5 Goldeneye, 6 Teal, 1 Pochard and 2 Shoveler on res. 3 Snipe out of Capsticks also. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Friday 6th of November 2015 11:31:55 AM
Ian Campbell said
Thu Nov 5 10:40 AM, 2015
8-9.15 a.m. Great Spotted Woodpecker at boat club, on res. 10 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and a Kingfisher. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 5th of November 2015 11:19:13 AM
Richard Thew said
Wed Nov 4 2:48 PM, 2015
Masses of finches and tits passing around capsticks area which included greenfinch, goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, long tailed tits, blue and great tits and goldcrest. Also to note was a passing Jay, 3 pochards still here, song thrush, Goldeneye drake, 3 common gulls, half a dozen great crested grebes, and about 40 black headed gulls and tufted ducks (each).
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed Nov 4 12:37 PM, 2015
Walk round Elton with George after Ian had gone of note
25 Fieldfare
18 Redwing
1 Skylark
1 Willow Tit along Canal
1 Pale Common Buzzard Crow Trees
5 Wigeon on res when leaving
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Wed Nov 4 10:43 AM, 2015
7-9.15 a.m. with Steven, 2 Lesser Redpoll over, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Teal, 3 Pochard and Kingfisher on res. Willow Tit again in hedgerow behind sailing club. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Tue Nov 3 10:39 AM, 2015
7-9.00 a.m. part with Steven H, excellent morning 4 Brambling over pumphouse then 5 over Capsticks, making up for yesterdays miss!. Also 4 Lesser Redpoll, 17 Meadow Pipit, 1 Snipe, 30 Fieldfare and 20 Redwing. On the res. 11 Teal, 1 Pochard and 1 Goldeneye. In hedgerow behind Boathouse 1 female Blackcap and 1 Willow Tit. Elton year list now 140. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 3rd of November 2015 12:20:23 PM
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 3rd of November 2015 12:20:46 PM
Simon Warford said
Mon Nov 2 8:47 PM, 2015
Also this morning 06:45 to 08:00, Vis Mig watch from Spen Moor (just light fog on the north side of the Res and no fog whatsoever to the north). Highlight was a flock of 15 Bramblings, despite the height they were at, the relaxed undulating flight, with fairly long-wings was very distinctive. A further 3 Bramblings dropped into the Creek briefly before also flying south. Also moving south were 1,070 Fieldfare in some large flocks, 116 Redwings, 299 Woodpigeon, 9 Rook, 5 Siskin and 2 Repoll.
Also 2 Nuthatch and 6 Goldcrest along the cycle track behind Buckingham Drive.
Ian Campbell said
Mon Nov 2 9:56 AM, 2015
7-9.00 a.m. in the fog, my most frustrating day of the year so far, as I got out of the car at least 2 Brambling flew over calling but I couldn't see them thanks to the fog !!!. Would have been 140 birds for the year list. Did see 30+ Meadow Pipits around the pumphouse with at least 1 Rock Pipit and 4 Goosander flew onto the res. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Nov 1 10:29 AM, 2015
06:40-10:15am With Ian C of note
1 Merlin
1 Blackcap
24 Redwing
66 Fieldfare
21 Chaffinch
1Willow Tit
250+ Jackdaws leaving roost
Skylark 2
Cheers Steven
Simon Johnson said
Sat Oct 31 4:58 PM, 2015
an amazing morning for migration
6.45 13.30 part with Steve H
5140+ Fieldfare Se in 77 flocks, lots of other birds in amongst 10 Skylark in one flock and lots of finches which couldnt get and ID on.
30 Brambling flew SE in a single flock, 18 redpoll, 80 Chaffinch, Linnet, 10+ Reed Bunting.
1900+ Starling flew west, 800 Woodpigeon one flock had a collared dove and another 2 Stock dove
280 Lapwing flew south in 7 flocks, 6 female Goldeneye dropped on to res and a further 5 and a male had been seen earlier along with 12 Teal & 3 Pochard
Steven Higginbottom said
Fri Oct 30 8:20 AM, 2015
06:45-08:15am Another wet morning
8 Teal
3 GoldenEye (1m 2 f )
2 Pochard
17 Redwing
1 Willow Tit on lane behind sailing Club
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Grey Wagtail
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Thu Oct 29 3:30 PM, 2015
Avoiding this mornings rain 2 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper and a Willow Tit of note in trees at side of road to sailing club and 1 Goldeneye on the res.
Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Thu Oct 29 9:29 AM, 2015
07:00-09:00am not much about and very wet of note
2 Pochard
35 Redwing over SW
1 Willow Tit on lane behind sailing club
1 Grey Wagtail
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed Oct 28 8:45 AM, 2015
Good duck numbers this morning
54 Wigeon
23 Teal
16 Pochard
1 GoldenEye
1 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
Cheers Steven and Ian C
Ian Campbell said
Tue Oct 27 11:59 AM, 2015
7-9.45 a.m. with Brian(for the last time this year apparently, this means I'll have to provide my own coffee but I'll save a fortune on Titan bars !!!) and Simon J, on the res. 5 Wigeon 1 Pochard and 1 Goldeneye. On a pylon 1 Peregrine, in hedgerows near creek at least 3 Goldcrest with small number of Redwing and Fieldfare also 33 Fieldfare over South. Simon also had a Merlin before we met up.
Cheers Ian
Simon Johnson said
Sun Oct 25 8:08 PM, 2015
6.45 till 11am
highlight a calling rock pipit sw
2 Shoveler, 7 Teal, goldeneye, 3 Goosander and a little grebe on the res
700+ woodpigeon sw in high flocks with 3 collared dove amongst
350 + Starling west 20 fieldfare in same direction
hundred over herring gull over with a single great black backed gull
kingfisher on the river
lots of pinkfeet with skeins of 1695 east in 10 skeins and 12 nw
Simon Johnson said
Sat Oct 24 10:49 PM, 2015
Late afternoon - dusk
70 Herring gull on the res with 2 Great and 30 lesser Black-backed gulls
73 tufted Duck on withins and 30 on elton
10 teal
kingfisher
2400 Jackdaw over at dusk to roost
pale Buzzard at crow tree farm
Ian Campbell said
Fri Oct 23 11:33 AM, 2015
This a.m. with Brian, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Teal, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Snipe and a Peregrine. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Thu Oct 22 12:14 PM, 2015
8-10.00 a.m. with Steven, 5 Goosander over, 1 Goldeneye and 6 Teal on res. In a large mixed Tit flock below Withins were at least 5 Goldcrest. Cheers Ian
Richard Thew said
Wed Oct 21 5:40 PM, 2015
Also adding to today's sightings including a drake wigeon and a goldeneye. Also to note was a grey wagtail at the withins end of the reservoir.
Ian Campbell said
Wed Oct 21 3:41 PM, 2015
Early afternoon visit in the drizzle, similar to Steven's sightings but also 90 Lesser-black Backed gulls(usually single figures only on morning visits) and a Peregrine. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed Oct 21 10:29 AM, 2015
08:00-10:00am Hedgerows full of Blackbirds with some Redwings 1 Sparrowhawk 1 GoldenEye 7 Teal ( One had me thinking it was a gargany but after cross referencing apps field guide decided Teal ) 1 Little Grebe 1 Willow Tit 1Bullfinch
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Tue Oct 20 11:35 AM, 2015
0830-1115am same a Brian and Ian plus 7 Goldcrest in Dip 1 Little Owl 10 Common Gull at 11am 45 Collard Dove highest count I have ever had here in flocks of 9 , 21 & 15
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Tue Oct 20 11:13 AM, 2015
12 female Common Scoter present from 1st light but flew off after being flushed by a quad bike around 8.30, 1 of these returning, or a new bird was on the res at 10.30 when Brian and I left. Also 1 Goldeneye, 3 Teal, 2 Little Grebe and at least 1 Peregrine seen. Cheers Ian
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 20 9:13 AM, 2015
12 Common Scoter present at 8am this morning at least.
Info thanks to Brian Fielding
Ian Campbell said
Mon Oct 19 11:40 AM, 2015
this a.m. with Brian, Paul and Malcolm, on res. 5 Teal and 1 Little Grebe, 3 Teal on Withins with 1 Kingfisher, 5 Skylark over a Willow Warbler below withins and Fieldfare and Redwing in the Hedgerows. Cheers Ian Paul also had 2 Willow Tit and Goldcrest in the dip.
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Oct 18 9:21 PM, 2015
Andy Bissitt wrote:
Paul Wilson wrote:
Steven Higginbottom wrote:
07:30-10:50am with Ian, Brian & Paul of note 460 Pink footed Geese in aliens of 60 200 + 200 heading north west
A bit overestimated there Steven: Actual Pink-footed Geese counts were: 40, 121 and 204 - Counted from photos.
There was also a Willow Tit near the boathouse.
My phones predicted text changed it from Skiens to aliens Cheers Paul for the correct counts Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Sunday 18th of October 2015 11:45:15 AM
How has the word 'skiens' become 'aliens'?!! Some extraterrestrial interference there perhaps?
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Oct 18 8:25 PM, 2015
Paul Wilson wrote:
Steven Higginbottom wrote:
07:30-10:50am with Ian, Brian & Paul of note 460 Pink footed Geese in aliens of 60 200 + 200 heading north west
A bit overestimated there Steven: Actual Pink-footed Geese counts were: 40, 121 and 204 - Counted from photos.
There was also a Willow Tit near the boathouse.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Sunday 18th of October 2015 11:45:15 AM
How has the word 'skiens' become 'aliens'?!! Some extraterrestrial interference there perhaps?
Paul Wilson said
Sun Oct 18 11:44 AM, 2015
Steven Higginbottom wrote:
07:30-10:50am with Ian, Brian & Paul of note 460 Pink footed Geese in aliens of 60 200 + 200 heading north west
A bit overestimated there Steven: Actual Pink-footed Geese counts were: 40, 121 and 204 - Counted from photos.
There was also a Willow Tit near the boathouse.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Sunday 18th of October 2015 11:45:15 AM
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Oct 18 11:03 AM, 2015
07:30-10:50am with Ian, Brian & Paul of note365 Pink footed Geese in skiens of 40 + 121+ 204 heading north west 5 Teal 1 Wigeon 1 Goldeneye 1 little Grebe 31 Fieldfare 50+ Redwing 1 Siskin 1 Coal Tit 6 Goldcrest 1 Sparrowhawk
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Sunday 18th of October 2015 04:45:23 PM
It probably was Ian, John Doherty was with me. I had a scan of the marsh hoping for a stonechat myself but no joy.
Cheers Ian
Great northern diver still present near boat club
Little owl along canal.
-- Edited by steven burke on Wednesday 11th of November 2015 12:35:54 PM
A much better day. compared with yesterday's drenching to no avail. Views of the Great Northern Diver, from the overflow area towards the northern bank pylons, but very mobile, surfacing for the last views much nearer by the boat area.
Great to meet Phil Kelly again, who's becoming a good omen for me at Elton, we last met celebrating the Little Bittern.
What a difference a day makes ! Thanks Ian - too excited !
-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Tuesday 10th of November 2015 04:08:55 PM
It was difficult to track as it was diving for long periods, and the waves were making it hard to locate again.
08:15-11:00am with Ian C up to 0930am of note
1 Great Northern Diver (juv) favering area near out flow near boats
360 Pink feet over in 3 Skiens 120 @ 08:05am 140@ 0820am 100 @ 08:30 all SE
5 Greylag geese NW
1 Pochard
1 GoldenEye
20+ Meadow Pipit's
Willow Tit heard behind sailing club
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Tuesday 10th of November 2015 01:19:59 PM
GN Diver still present this morning. Info Simon Warford
Great lets hope it stays a few days then gets on its way back to the Sea :) Thanks
A very nice juvenile John
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Monday 9th of November 2015 03:58:49 PM
Is the Great northern Diver an Adult or a Juvenile?
Rock pipit flew over the pump house and 3 shoveler capsticks end
Cheers Ian
Info thanks to Simon Johnson
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 8th of November 2015 01:06:20 PM
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Friday 6th of November 2015 11:31:55 AM
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 5th of November 2015 11:19:13 AM
Cheers Ian
Elton year list now 140.
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 3rd of November 2015 12:20:23 PM
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 3rd of November 2015 12:20:46 PM
Also 2 Nuthatch and 6 Goldcrest along the cycle track behind Buckingham Drive.
Cheers Ian
an amazing morning for migration
6.45 13.30 part with Steve H
5140+ Fieldfare Se in 77 flocks, lots of other birds in amongst 10 Skylark in one flock and lots of finches which couldnt get and ID on.
30 Brambling flew SE in a single flock, 18 redpoll, 80 Chaffinch, Linnet, 10+ Reed Bunting.
1900+ Starling flew west, 800 Woodpigeon one flock had a collared dove and another 2 Stock dove
280 Lapwing flew south in 7 flocks, 6 female Goldeneye dropped on to res and a further 5 and a male had been seen earlier along with 12 Teal & 3 Pochard
Avoiding this mornings rain 2 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper and a Willow Tit of note in trees at side of road to sailing club and 1 Goldeneye on the res.
Cheers Ian
7-9.45 a.m. with Brian(for the last time this year apparently, this means I'll have to provide my own coffee but I'll save a fortune on Titan bars !!!) and Simon J, on the res. 5 Wigeon 1 Pochard and 1 Goldeneye. On a pylon 1 Peregrine, in hedgerows near creek at least 3 Goldcrest with small number of Redwing and Fieldfare also 33 Fieldfare over South. Simon also had a Merlin before we met up.
Cheers Ian
6.45 till 11am
highlight a calling rock pipit sw
2 Shoveler, 7 Teal, goldeneye, 3 Goosander and a little grebe on the res
700+ woodpigeon sw in high flocks with 3 collared dove amongst
350 + Starling west 20 fieldfare in same direction
hundred over herring gull over with a single great black backed gull
kingfisher on the river
lots of pinkfeet with skeins of 1695 east in 10 skeins and 12 nw
Late afternoon - dusk
70 Herring gull on the res with 2 Great and 30 lesser Black-backed gulls
73 tufted Duck on withins and 30 on elton
10 teal
kingfisher
2400 Jackdaw over at dusk to roost
pale Buzzard at crow tree farm
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Hedgerows full of Blackbirds with some Redwings
1 Sparrowhawk
1 GoldenEye
7 Teal ( One had me thinking it was a gargany but after cross referencing apps field guide decided Teal )
1 Little Grebe
1 Willow Tit
1Bullfinch
Cheers Steven
7 Goldcrest in Dip
1 Little Owl
10 Common Gull at 11am
45 Collard Dove highest count I have ever had here in flocks of 9 , 21 & 15
Cheers Steven
Cheers Ian
Info thanks to Brian Fielding
Cheers Ian
Paul also had 2 Willow Tit and Goldcrest in the dip.
How has the word 'skiens' become 'aliens'?!! Some extraterrestrial interference there perhaps?
A bit overestimated there Steven:
Actual Pink-footed Geese counts were: 40, 121 and 204 - Counted from photos.
There was also a Willow Tit near the boathouse.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Sunday 18th of October 2015 11:45:15 AM
5 Teal
1 Wigeon
1 Goldeneye
1 little Grebe
31 Fieldfare
50+ Redwing
1 Siskin
1 Coal Tit
6 Goldcrest
1 Sparrowhawk
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Sunday 18th of October 2015 04:45:23 PM