Saturday 08:30 - 12:10 from Shaw Moss to the Lake nature reserve hide and return.
Set out with a spring in my step hoping for (praying for) a yellow-browed warbler no joy unfortunately.
4 Common Gull,
2 Lesser Black Backed Gull,
4 Mistle Thrush,
3 Raven,
2 Grey Heron,
2 Tufted Duck,
1 Sparrowhawk,
1 Common Buzzard,
1 Kestrel,
5 Lapwing,
1 Wigeon,
8 Swallow,
35 Teal,
32 Goldfinch,
11 Meadow Pipit,
3 Jays,
-- Edited by Andrew Huyton on Monday 26th of September 2016 04:05:02 PM
-- Edited by Andrew Huyton on Monday 26th of September 2016 04:06:44 PM
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Sep 11 10:21 PM, 2016
A Green Sandpiper at Shaw Moss this morning
Also 1 Little Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Chiffchaff and 2 Linnets
A female/imm Pied Flycatcher was in the Big Hedge area early this morning though it unfortunately could not be relocated later on - only my 2nd record at the site - checking my notes the other was on 21st August 1987 which makes me feel quite old!
Also a male Redstart in the same area and a Spotted Flycatcher was along Turnough Lane (Ian Kimber earlier had 4 Spotted Flycatcher in this area)
Also today 1 Dipper, 1 Kingfisher and a Green Woodpecker. Ian Kimber had a single adult Shelduck early morning
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Aug 28 11:48 PM, 2016
Sunday 28th August
2 juv Shelduck at Shaw Moss this evening were presumably the same birds that Ian Kimber saw on Hollingworth Lake this morning. Ian also had 12 Wigeon first thing but they flew off NW at 0710.
Saturday 27th August
adult Hobby at Shaw Moss - a very rare bird here in the east of the county
7 Shelduck on the Lake (4 adults, 3 juv)
Also 1 Buzzard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff. Ian Kimber had the male Redstart at Shaw Moss again
Green sandpiper at Shaw Moss this morning. Also 5 Teal here
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Aug 17 7:28 AM, 2016
Tuesday 16/8
female Redstart in Big Hedge area
Kingfisher showing well from hide
1 Buzzard
dave broome said
Fri Jul 22 7:30 PM, 2016
2 Raven over today
111 Lapwing and a pristine adult Common Gull at Shaw Moss
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Jul 21 9:19 PM, 2016
Green Sandpiper at Shaw Moss this evening - info courtesy of Alan Nuttall
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Jul 20 11:34 PM, 2016
Greenshank at Shaw Moss today - originally found by Alan Nuttall this morning and still present this evening
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Jul 13 1:17 PM, 2016
Female Common Scoter this morning
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Jul 5 10:01 PM, 2016
A Green Sandpiper at Shaw Moss today - autumn must be on its way
Also a Whitethroat still singing here
Simon Hitchen said
Thu May 19 9:05 PM, 2016
Great-crested grebe carrying a newly hatched chick on its back
Also 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Lesser redpoll
Simon Hitchen said
Sun May 15 10:19 PM, 2016
Cuckoo calling and showing quite well in Ealees Valley this afternoon - been present for at least 3 days and the first i've seen at the Lake for about 25 years!
Also Stonechat pair
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Sunday 15th of May 2016 10:21:46 PM
A Spotted Flycatcher was hawking from bushes below the Shaw Moss dam this morning
Also a male Goldeneye displaying to a pair of Tufted Ducks that looked distinctly unimpressed, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler near the dipping pond and 2 Swifts
Simon Hitchen said
Thu May 5 11:53 PM, 2016
2 Teal
1 Redshank
1 Buzzard
2 Grey Partridge
1 first summer Common Gull
pair Stonechat near Rakewood
4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 15+ Willow Warblers
1 Nuthatch
4 Linnet
1 Lesser Redpoll
Attached are some record shots of last week's Ring Ouzels
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 5th of May 2016 11:55:08 PM
Also 2 Goosander, 2 Buzzard, 1 Curlew over, Green Woodpecker calling and a Grey Wagtail
Andrew Huyton said
Sun Mar 20 7:23 PM, 2016
Saturday am
Kingfisher along ealees
Sunday am
Pair Great crested grebe displaying on nature reserve 2 pair Tufted duck 2 female GoldenEye 1 male 2 female goosander 14 lapwings flew over 2 Redshank dropped in for the briefest of visits 3 grey wagtails along ealees
Green woodpecker calling daily along canal close to Halifax Rd
Simon Hitchen said
Wed Mar 9 10:53 PM, 2016
3 adult Kittiwakes this afternoon 2:30-3:00 at least
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Mar 8 10:30 PM, 2016
1 Curlew over - the first of the spring here
also 15 Cormorant, pair Goldeneye, 4 Goosander and 10 Tufted Ducks
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Feb 21 10:32 PM, 2016
An adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost this evening moulting into summer plumage - still a rare bird here in the east of the county and, I think, only my 5th ever here
Also an Oystercatcher on Akzo Pond, 5 Goosander and lots of weather!
Simon Hitchen said
Sat Jan 2 11:29 PM, 2016
A Short-eared Owl was hunting the area behind Shaw Moss - an unexpected New Year bonus and the first I've seen in the area since 1983!
Also today - 5 Great-crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 26 Teal, a female Goldeneye, 90 Lapwing and a Buzzard over Shaw Moss
Adam Jones said
Mon Dec 7 4:17 PM, 2015
Hi John,
It's highly recommended, and often a nice place to get out of the cold wind. You didn't miss a great deal while in there
John Rayner said
Mon Dec 7 3:58 PM, 2015
Adam Jones wrote:
A couple of hours here this afternoon from 2:15pm and a full circuit of the lake. Nice to get out with no wind and rain.
Hi Adam,
I too went to Hollinworth Lake yesterday but didn't see much more than the interior of the Olive and Pickle Deli. Those that know me will not be surprised
Cheers John
Adam Jones said
Sun Dec 6 5:11 PM, 2015
A couple of hours here this afternoon from 2:15pm and a full circuit of the lake. Nice to get out with no wind and rain. 1 Kingfisher from the hide. Sat on the metal raft. 2 Goldeneye from the hide too. 2 Cormorants 25 Lapwings 5 Great Crested Grebes 4 Coots 1 Moorhen 1 Greenfinch 6 Goldfinch 1 Common Buzzard on a post 1 Pheasant in a field Plenty of the usual bits and bobs too Plus a very large gull roost. Roughly 600 birds at the time I left.
Eugene Dillon-Hooper said
Wed Dec 2 6:18 PM, 2015
Spent a couple of hours at the lake today, my first visit.
1 goldeneye 1 Cormorant c40 Lapwing 1 gold crest c5 Long tailed tit lots of coot 500+ Black headed Gulls 1 Gadwall 3 Great Crested Grebe Blue tit 20 Starling 1 Heron
Star of the show, 1 Mediterranean Gull mixed in with the black headed gulls
Karen Clewer said
Mon Nov 30 7:34 PM, 2015
I remember you coming to collect the manx shearwater. We once had a goosander in our freezer, it died choking on a big fish. It's now stuffed and in the Visitor Centre.
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon Nov 30 3:38 PM, 2015
Wouldn't have thought a Shag provides a tasty Xmas dinner ?
Simon Hitchen said
Mon Nov 30 2:58 PM, 2015
Did manage to get it on 'birds I've seen in my freezer' list though - a short list - Manx Shearwater, Shag and Domestic Chicken .....hoping that my wife didn't notice it!
Simon Hitchen said
Mon Nov 30 1:58 PM, 2015
No obvious injuries Karen - unfortunately I suspect it may have died of starvation, despite the amount of fish in the lake. When I saw it on the 24th it wasn't diving at all. The body has been taken to Manchester museum.
Karen Clewer said
Sun Nov 29 9:19 PM, 2015
That's a shame Simon. Did it have any obvious injuries?
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Nov 27 9:12 PM, 2015
Unfortunately the juvenile Shag was found dead on Wednesday
Steve Suttill said
Wed Nov 25 9:32 AM, 2015
Simon Hitchen wrote:
I was surprised to find that the Shag was still present this morning - there don't seem to be many local birders around here these days, I guess it may have been present throughout and just evaded detection.... strange because nothing else much seems to turn up here!>
The few local birders would probably see the Shag in the distance, mutter "Cormorant", shrug their shoulders and leave it at that. Not everyone has had the valuable lesson of overlooking a rare American vagrant
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Nov 24 11:13 PM, 2015
I was surprised to find that the Shag was still present this morning - I wonder if it might have been on some other local reservoir in the meantime as I had a thorough look for it last Thursday without success. However I've been at work the rest of the time, including the weekend, and as there don't seem to be many local birders around here these days, I guess it may have been present throughout and just evaded detection. Hollingworth Lake seems to have a good record with this species as it's the 5th record that I'm aware of for the site, and the 3rd one I've found here in the last ten years - all juvenile birds in late October or November.... strange because nothing else much seems to turn up here!
Also 3 Gadwall this morning
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Nov 19 1:07 PM, 2015
No sign of the Shag today.... and not much else either - 4 Great-crested grebe, 5 Cormorants and a Goosander with a couple of flyover Siskin was the best I could muster in inclement conditions.
The Shag was still present on Tuesday afternoon but I have not heard of any sightings since then
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 19th of November 2015 04:34:14 PM
Mark Rigby said
Tue Nov 17 11:30 AM, 2015
Shag still close in near 'The Wine Press'
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 17 11:29 AM, 2015
Juvenile Shag present this morning; in front of the boat club.
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 23 3:08 PM, 2015
No sign of the Scaup this morning.
Info thanks to Dave Ousey
Simon Hitchen said
Fri Oct 23 12:50 PM, 2015
1st winter drake Scaup this morning. Also the drake Common Scoter still and the long staying eclipse drake Shoveler
Also 3 Tufted Duck, 30 Teal, 2 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Redwing, a late Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest amongst the usual suspects
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Oct 22 8:34 PM, 2015
Drake Common Scoter (also here yesterday) 4 Wigeon 6 Gadwall 1 Kingfisher 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Siskin
1 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 18 Teal, 9 Tufted, 1Buzzard, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin over
Also a Dipper on the stream in Ealees Valley
Ian Kimber had a male Ring Ouzel with a flock of Redwings in Big Hedge this morning
1 female Shoveler
Also 5 Cormorant, 2 tufted Ducks, 1 kingfisher, 1 grey wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff
-- Edited by Andrew Huyton on Monday 26th of September 2016 04:05:02 PM
-- Edited by Andrew Huyton on Monday 26th of September 2016 04:06:44 PM
A Green Sandpiper at Shaw Moss this morning
Also 1 Little Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Chiffchaff and 2 Linnets
3 Wigeon 1 Shoveler and 52 Teal on Shaw Moss
Elsewhere 20+ Swallows 3 Chiffchaff 1 Blackcap 1 Whitethroat and 2 Goldcrest
A female/imm Pied Flycatcher was in the Big Hedge area early this morning though it unfortunately could not be relocated later on - only my 2nd record at the site - checking my notes the other was on 21st August 1987 which makes me feel quite old!
Also a male Redstart in the same area and a Spotted Flycatcher was along Turnough Lane (Ian Kimber earlier had 4 Spotted Flycatcher in this area)
Also today 1 Dipper, 1 Kingfisher and a Green Woodpecker. Ian Kimber had a single adult Shelduck early morning
Sunday 28th August
2 juv Shelduck at Shaw Moss this evening were presumably the same birds that Ian Kimber saw on Hollingworth Lake this morning. Ian also had 12 Wigeon first thing but they flew off NW at 0710.
Saturday 27th August
adult Hobby at Shaw Moss - a very rare bird here in the east of the county
7 Shelduck on the Lake (4 adults, 3 juv)
Also 1 Buzzard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff. Ian Kimber had the male Redstart at Shaw Moss again
Another good day here - highlights being:-
2 Cormorant
1 Little Grebe - Shaw Moss
drake Gadwall - Shaw Moss
1 Greenshank - heard flying over Shaw Moss but couldn't locate it
1 Buzzard
1 Grey Wagtail over
male Redstart - Shaw Moss
2 Blackcap
1 Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
2 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warblers
6 Spotted Flycatchers - 3 Shaw Moss, 3 Turnough Lane
14 Linnet
Lesser Redpoll over
One of the Lake's better days - there seemed to have been a fall of birds overnight
11 Spotted Flycatchers (6 Shaw Moss, 2 Pavilion Wood, 2 Big Hedge, 1 Sheep Bank)
2 Redstarts ( 1 Big Hedge, 1 Sheepbank)
1 Garden Warbler - Big Hedge
Also 1 Cormorant, 15 Teal, 2 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 25+ Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Nuthatch and family parties of Lesser Redpoll and Bullfinch amongst the usuals
Green sandpiper at Shaw Moss this morning. Also 5 Teal here
Tuesday 16/8
female Redstart in Big Hedge area
Kingfisher showing well from hide
1 Buzzard
2 Raven over today
111 Lapwing and a pristine adult Common Gull at Shaw Moss
Green Sandpiper at Shaw Moss this evening - info courtesy of Alan Nuttall
Greenshank at Shaw Moss today - originally found by Alan Nuttall this morning and still present this evening
Female Common Scoter this morning
A Green Sandpiper at Shaw Moss today - autumn must be on its way
Also a Whitethroat still singing here
Great-crested grebe carrying a newly hatched chick on its back
Also 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Lesser redpoll
Cuckoo calling and showing quite well in Ealees Valley this afternoon - been present for at least 3 days and the first i've seen at the Lake for about 25 years!
Also Stonechat pair
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Sunday 15th of May 2016 10:21:46 PM
At least 6 Arctic terns through today
A Spotted Flycatcher was hawking from bushes below the Shaw Moss dam this morning
Also a male Goldeneye displaying to a pair of Tufted Ducks that looked distinctly unimpressed, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler near the dipping pond and 2 Swifts
2 Teal
1 Redshank
1 Buzzard
2 Grey Partridge
1 first summer Common Gull
pair Stonechat near Rakewood
4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 15+ Willow Warblers
1 Nuthatch
4 Linnet
1 Lesser Redpoll
Attached are some record shots of last week's Ring Ouzels
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 5th of May 2016 11:55:08 PM
Female Goldeneye - my latest ever here
1 Common Sandpiper
Green woodpecker calling
2 House Martins
3 Blackcap singing
2 Lesser Redpoll
2 redshank
1 Little owl
1 House Martin
20+ Swallow
1 Blackcap
1 Lesser redpoll
and at nearby Longden End, Rakewood 2 male Ring ouzels as well as Dipper and 2 Grey wagtails
Pair Shoveler
4 Goosander
1 Willow warbler singing this morning
1 Swallow
1 Barnacle Goose of dubious origin
also 1 Wheatear, 2 Sand Martins as well as Dipper and Grey Wagtail at Longden End, Rakewood
Adult Kittiwake this morning (record shots attached)
Also 1 Oystercatcher 1 Little ringed Plover 2 Redshank 2 Swallows 20+ Sand Martins 3 Chiffchaff and a White Wagtail
Yesterday Alan Nuttall had a Short-eared Owl at Shaw Moss and Ian Kimber had 4 Swallows at the Lake
First Chiffchaff of the year today
Also 2 Goosander, 2 Buzzard, 1 Curlew over, Green Woodpecker calling and a Grey Wagtail
Kingfisher along ealees
Sunday am
Pair Great crested grebe displaying on nature reserve
2 pair Tufted duck
2 female GoldenEye
1 male 2 female goosander
14 lapwings flew over
2 Redshank dropped in for the briefest of visits
3 grey wagtails along ealees
Green woodpecker calling daily along canal close to Halifax Rd
3 adult Kittiwakes this afternoon 2:30-3:00 at least
1 Curlew over - the first of the spring here
also 15 Cormorant, pair Goldeneye, 4 Goosander and 10 Tufted Ducks
An adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost this evening moulting into summer plumage - still a rare bird here in the east of the county and, I think, only my 5th ever here
Also an Oystercatcher on Akzo Pond, 5 Goosander and lots of weather!
A Short-eared Owl was hunting the area behind Shaw Moss - an unexpected New Year bonus and the first I've seen in the area since 1983!
Also today - 5 Great-crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 26 Teal, a female Goldeneye, 90 Lapwing and a Buzzard over Shaw Moss
It's highly recommended, and often a nice place to get out of the cold wind. You didn't miss a great deal while in there
Hi Adam,
I too went to Hollinworth Lake yesterday but didn't see much more than the interior of the Olive and Pickle Deli. Those that know me will not be surprised
Cheers John
1 Kingfisher from the hide. Sat on the metal raft.
2 Goldeneye from the hide too.
2 Cormorants
25 Lapwings
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Coots
1 Moorhen
1 Greenfinch
6 Goldfinch
1 Common Buzzard on a post
1 Pheasant in a field
Plenty of the usual bits and bobs too
Plus a very large gull roost. Roughly 600 birds at the time I left.
1 goldeneye
1 Cormorant
c40 Lapwing
1 gold crest
c5 Long tailed tit
lots of coot
500+ Black headed Gulls
1 Gadwall
3 Great Crested Grebe
Blue tit
20 Starling
1 Heron
Star of the show, 1 Mediterranean Gull mixed in with the black headed gulls
Wouldn't have thought a Shag provides a tasty Xmas dinner ?
The few local birders would probably see the Shag in the distance, mutter "Cormorant", shrug their shoulders and leave it at that. Not everyone has had the valuable lesson of overlooking a rare American vagrant
I was surprised to find that the Shag was still present this morning - I wonder if it might have been on some other local reservoir in the meantime as I had a thorough look for it last Thursday without success. However I've been at work the rest of the time, including the weekend, and as there don't seem to be many local birders around here these days, I guess it may have been present throughout and just evaded detection. Hollingworth Lake seems to have a good record with this species as it's the 5th record that I'm aware of for the site, and the 3rd one I've found here in the last ten years - all juvenile birds in late October or November.... strange because nothing else much seems to turn up here!
Also 3 Gadwall this morning
No sign of the Shag today.... and not much else either - 4 Great-crested grebe, 5 Cormorants and a Goosander with a couple of flyover Siskin was the best I could muster in inclement conditions.
The Shag was still present on Tuesday afternoon but I have not heard of any sightings since then
-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 19th of November 2015 04:34:14 PM
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen
Info thanks to Dave Ousey
1st winter drake Scaup this morning.
Also the drake Common Scoter still and the long staying eclipse drake Shoveler
Also 3 Tufted Duck, 30 Teal, 2 Grey Wagtail, 10+ Redwing, a late Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest amongst the usual suspects
4 Wigeon
6 Gadwall
1 Kingfisher
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Siskin