Not much about. But, Surprisingly good views of a grasshopper warbler reeling in almost full view this morning at 10am (info thanks to Ian C), 3 pinkfooted geese, common sandpiper, common tern, blackcap, a jay, a sedge warbler showing of by catching insects in the air whilst singing, common whitethroat, 3 gadwall, female goldeneye and the long staying female long tailed duck.

No signs yet at 4pm. Still looking though

Other bits north shoe Common Sandpiper still Common whitethroat and Sedge Warbler.

Five Little Gulls still present at 1:45pm

Info thanks to Phil Kelly

5 Little Gulls (adults), still present at 12.30 when I left, well done Richard for a splendid find. Earlier this morning 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Pink-footed Geese and still the Long-tailed Duck.
Elton year list now 111.
Cheers Ian

At least 5 full summer plumaged little gulls found as of 11am on the reservoir in the middle with a few black headed gulls.

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Wednesday 22nd of April 2015 11:46:32 AM

This afternoon in really fine weather two common tern on res 1 f 2m blackcap in dip plus reed warbler in usual reedbed down canal towards Radcliffe

Mon 20th April Dead Snipe near Old Hall - looks like a cat had it.

5.45-10.00, Yellow Wagtail 1st thing just missed by Brian, also then joined by Paul and Steve, Grasshopper Warbler still present, on res. Long-tailed Duck, 2 Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Common Tern and 2 Goldeneye.
Elton year list now 110.
Cheers Ian

Quick walk round res after work of note
1 Adult Mediterranean Gull heard calling and seen on water. Not able to relocate after walking past the creek.
2 Redshanks
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Oystercatcher
3 Common Terns
1 Long-tailed Duck
Whitethroats in Creek and hedge along side of Res

Cheers Steven

6.30-10.00 with Brian and Paul, 1 Grasshopper Warbler below pumphouse, 1 Swift, Whitethroat near canal, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank and 3 Common Tern.
Elton year list now 109
Cheers Ian

An enjoyable wander around over lunchtime with Chris Chandler, 45 species if you include the canal back towards Radcliffe. Lots of year ticks today:
House Martin
Swift
Common Tern
Common Sandpiper
Long-tailed Duck

Also a Kingfisher on Withins, first time at this site for me, are they seen often?

7am - 10am highlights:

1 Mediterranean Gull (over)
2 Redshank
2 Common Sandpiper
2 Little Ringed Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Curlew (over)
1 Oystercatcher
1 Long-tailed Duck
5 Gadwall
2 Goldeneye
1 Wheatear
3 Common Tern
2 Linnet
1 Rook
1 House Martin (amongst many Sand Martin and Swallow)
Numerous Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap

-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Sunday 19th of April 2015 12:30:00 PM

I think these are different birds

I think correct me if wrong they were seen at clegg pools the same time as the Elton birds

The Elton birds have been present for a a few months

Hi Simon,Your record of 3 Pinkfooted goose made me wonder..1 have had 3 Pinkfooted on Clegg pools for a month or so and they have disappeared...Can we have them back please?Cheers Alan

14:30-15:50
Whitethroat in Creek and Withins
5 Common Terns sat on wader point
4 House martins over Withins

Late news from Friday afternoon captured a Swift in flight on a photo whilst trying to get some photos of Terns.

Cheers Steven



-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Saturday 18th of April 2015 04:05:00 PM

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Saturday 18th of April 2015 05:32:55 PM

6 Common Tern this afternoon

Near Alpha hospital, at least 4 Treecreeper, possibly 6. And on path towards Daisyfield, another 2. Also in same area:

4 Blackcap
6 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
6 Mistle Thrush

Also

2 House Martin
Whitethroat
27 Willow Warbler
3 Pink footed geese

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 18th of April 2015 09:02:46 AM

a.m. 3 Common Tern, Long-tailed Duck, 2 Redshank and a Wheatear.
Elton year list now 103.
Cheers Ian

This evening

2 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover on wader point
4 Gadwall
2 Goldeneye
48 Tufted Duck
3 Common Tern
Whitethroat in creek

This morning with Paul Wilson and Steve H,

Long-tailed Duck
2 Redshank
1 Whitethroat
24 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcaps
3 Pink-footed Geese
Teal 3
Common Tern 3
Then a quick getaway to Heaton Park for Simon Johnson's superb Red-rumped Swallows

14:30-16:30pm
Elton Res
2 Common Terns
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Redshank

Within
4 Greylag Geese
3 Pink Footed Geese
1 Long Tailed Duck

Plenty of Blackcap, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff singing in most areas

Cheers Steven

14:15-15:20pm of note
1 Common Tern (with ring on right leg)
1 Ringed Plover
2 Little Ringed Plover
5 Common Sandpipers
Cheers Steven


-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 07:23:19 PM

06:39-0830am
Female Long tailed Duck
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Oystercatcher
2 Blackcap
3 Pink footed Geese
plenty of Swallows and Sand martins

Cheers Steven

birds to note: There were three common sandpiper, 1 redshank flying over Withins, at least 2 wheatears in the fields between Elton and Withins, 87 black headed gulls (and 2 juvenile herring gulls), at least 5 willow warblers, 1 blackcap singing, possibly 100 sand martins with about 50? swallow, 1 almost fully summer plumaged female long tailed duck, 5 great crested grebe 2 pairs of goldeneye and 3 gadwall. Oh and a curlew heard just now near Withins.

0615 till 0900,1 whimbrel on wader point until 0830 when flew off north east, 2 common sandpiper, 1 redshank,1 long tailed duck,2 wheatear, 1 house Martin amongst the swallow and sand martins,1 white wagtail.

6.30-10.00 with Brian and Paul, 1 singing Blackcap below Withins, on res. Long-tailed Duck, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover over, large number of Sand Martin and Swallow with a single House Martin (seen only by Paul), 2 Oystercatcher, female Wheatear below pumphouse and 2 male White Wagtail on wall.
Elton year list now 102.
Cheers Ian

I hope Ian McKerchar doesn't mind, but I really wanted to get this message out to any Elton regulars for whom I don't have any contact details.

Ian Peters, who passed away recently, is being cremated at Radcliffe Crematorium this coming Friday, at 1.30pm. His mother has informed us that any of his birding friends are welcome to attend the service.

4-6 in the rain until clearing when I left with a few waders present/passing through

Common Sand near sailing club
4 Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover circled res a few times then flew high NW
Redshank flew south over the pump house as was leaving calling - nearly came down in Old hall Marsh but carried on and may have gone down in flooded fields near crow tree's
Curlew calling
2 Oystercatcher near sailing club

100 Swallow on Elton plus another 30 Withins, 7 Willow Warbler (Creek and withins), 2 Blackcap (Creek), 40 Meadow Pipit grounded at withins and a few more near creek, Willow Tit (below withins), 7 Goldeneye, 7 Gadwall, Long-tailed duck, 2 Common Gull and 7 Great Black-backed Gulls

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 12th of April 2015 07:22:52 PM

This morning, female long tailed duck still present, 1 little ringed plover of over, 1 blackcap by the hospital and at least 2 willow warblers same area, good numbers of swallows and sand martins on res.

14:15- 15:00 quick visit after work.
1 Common Tern being very active feeding with some Black Headed Gulls.
1 Little Ringed Plover

Cheers Steven

A total of 12 Willow Warblers around the whole site this morning, so a sudden arrival as there was only 2 on Thursday. I counted 32 Swallow split between Elton and Withins along with 95 Sand Martin. The 3 Pink-footed Geese still present, also 2 Little Ringed Plover(just one yesterday) and 2 Willow Tit.

0615 till 0800 in the wind and rain 1 wheatear, 1 willow warbler nr car park, female long tailed duck still present, 1 wigeon, 2 curlew over, lots of swallow amongst the sand martins.

With Paul, 6.45-10.20, 1st singing Willow Warbler below Withins, also Long-tailed Duck, pair of Shoveler, 5's of Gadwall, Goldeneye and Oystercatcher, 4 Curlew, also 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine and Sparrowhawk.
Very sadly I must give out the news that long standing Elton birder Ian Peters has died this week, if anyone knew Ian and would like any further information they can PM me.
Elton year list now 101.
Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Friday 10th of April 2015 12:29:37 PM

A pair of wheatears found along the track directly between Elton and Withins reservoir near the farm there.

06:30-10am With Ian C off note
1Long tailed Duck still present
1 Redshank
3 Curlew flew over north
5 Oystercatchers
1 Greylag Goose over south
3 Pink footed Geese on Withins
7 Gadwall
6 Goldeneye
4 Teal
2 Sandmartin
3 Linnet

Cheers Steven

6.45-10.45 a.m. with Brian, totally fog bound, unproductive birding, nearly lost the will to live, still there is always tomorrow. Long-tailed Duck still there though.
Cheers Ian

1pm-4.30pm

Osprey circled and flew north at 2.15
6 Common Buzzard at least passing through
4 Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
2 Raven out towards Holcombe

4 Gadwall on Elton, Long-tailed duck and 64 Tufted duck on withins

vis mig - all heading north
285 Meadow Pipit, 49 Fieldfare, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Swallow and a Sand martin

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Monday 6th of April 2015 06:47:42 PM

a.m. Long-tailed Duck, 1 Raven and 1 Curlew only birds of note.
Cheers Ian

Also this morning, 1 golden plover over and a few swallow amongst the sand martins

10.30 - 11.00
1 Long-tailed Duck
1 Redshank
6 Goldeneye (males displaying)
3 Reed Bunting
Chiffchaffs singing

Nice once the mist went.

Also this morning, covering the whole site, from 06:45 to midday with Simon Johnson and later Paul Wilson;

female Long-tailed Duck
2 male Shoveler on Withins first thing then on Elton then back on Withins when boats came out.
1 Greylag Goose
3 Pink-footed Geese still on Withins
7 Gadwall
3 Curlew
35 Snipe
4 Swallow
7 Chiffchaff
70 Fieldfare

Vis Mig -

413 Meadow Pipits north throughout morning
8 Fieldfare north
1 Greylag Goose north
6 Sand Martin north
2 Repoll north
2 Buzzard north
15 Pied Wagtails north

Seems like all the ducks from Elton have moved on to withins reservoir and these include the long tailed duck, 2 drake (male) shoverlers, 7 goldeneye with at least 4 drakes, 1 gadwall, about 50 tufted ducks, 2 pairs of great crested grebe 1 skylark and a grey wagtail. On Elton (only at the Wader point end) was one great crested grebe, 2 common gulls, a pair of gadwalls and a handful of black headed gulls. In the area was also the usual little owl showing in full view in the sun. All this was from 12:30 till 3pm.

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Saturday 4th of April 2015 04:00:49 PM

a.m. with Paul and Brian, 2 Swallow and 2 male Shoveler (at last), also single wild Greylag, 6 Goldeneye, 9 Goosander, 7 Gadwall and a Long-tailed Duck.
Elton year list now 100.
Cheers Ian

I was there from 3:30 to 4:10. I would have liked to have longer:(
Unfortunately I didn't see the long-tailed duck. But I saw my first swallow of the year and heard my first chiffchaff of the year instead.
I also saw:
24 black headed gulls
1 lesser black backed gull
2 male reed buntings
5 dunnocks
3 robins
13 pied wagtails
12 coots
4 great crested grebes
1 great tit
3 different speices of what I'm assuming to be escape breeds of a goose and ducks.
2 gadwell
And some mallards and some Canada geese.

Long tailed duck still present this evening in from of sailing club
2 Swallow
4 Sand Martin
7 Gadwall
5 Goldeneye
2 Oystercatcher
3-400 Woodpigeon feeding in fields
Raven over

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Friday 3rd of April 2015 08:27:47 PM

When you have parked in the sailing club car park walk over the footbridge then bear left to view res.

Hi Brian thank you for that. Do you turn left or right at the sailing club.

Hi Joel, the long tailed duck is easy to see and is usually out in the middle of the res, if you park at the sailing club car park, cross the bridge and bear left to the raised area overlooking the res you should see it.