Although the bird alerts sent by Ian M are brilliant, they don't include birds that might be useful to Elton regulars, such as Merlin, Brambling, Greenshank etc. Ian Campbell and I were discussing this the other day and he asked if I would forward anything he messaged me about, as he is on a pay-as-you go service. Taking this a step further, I thought it would be useful, if I am going to do this, to set up a group on my phone.

If you're interested in this, then i'll set one up. Please register your interest to me by private message. Please note, this is NOT like Ian's GM bird alert service and is really just aimed at the Elton regulars. I won't be able to include people who only occasionally visit Elton.


-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 10th of January 2015 09:38:00 PM

This morning, think the wind has blown everything away, certainly not much about, just 5 Goldeneye and the 2 Little Grebe on the res.
Cheers Ian

6.30-10.00 a.m. Got there early as on a bit of an Owl hunt, eventually paid off with Tawny Owl being mobbed in trees at side of lodge at Daisyfield at 7.30 a.m. it then flew in direction of Bury. Also 3 Stock Dove over res. later.
Elton year list now 65.
Cheers Ian

7.15-10.00 a.m. with Steve H, 1 Water Rail capsticks, on res the usual 2 Little Grebe, 6 Goldeneye. A Bullfinch with all the usual Gold, Green and Chaffinch at the feeders.
Cheers Ian

7.15-10.45 a.m. with Steve H, nothing different on res. Water Rail near Benny's and Coal Tit behind hospital.
Elton year list now 63.
Cheers Ian

7.30-10.30 with Ian P, Peregrine on pylon, Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander and Little Grebe on the res. Goldcrest near Corran Stud.
Elton year list now 61.
Cheers Ian

This afternoon, up to dusk-

28 Goosander roosted
70 Tufted Duck
11 Teal
1 Pochard
2 Little Grebe
1 Woodcock
1 Little Owl
3 Rook
5 Goldcrest
2 Treecreeper
65 Fieldfare

early a.m. with Ian P, Paul W and Steve H, Woodcock near hospital also Treecreeper near here.
Elton year list now 57.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 4th of January 2015 12:49:56 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 4th of January 2015 05:21:40 PM

14:40-15:45 pm
11 Great Black backed Gulls
7 Herring Gulls
3 Lesser Black backed Gulls
500+ Jackdaws over Newbank returning to their roost.
1 Pochard
2 Wigeon
1 Goldeneye
Cheers Steven

A wet morning with Simon Johnson, Paul Wilson and Ian Campbell produced the following highlights-

68 Snipe
2 Gadwall
1 Pochard
1 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
3 Teal
2 Goldcrest
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
5 Stock Dove
11 Fieldfare
25 Redwing
11 Bullfinch
80 Goldfinch & 30 Greenfinch at feeders
3 Treecreeper in trees behind main car park.

7.30-10.30 with Steve H, on res. 8 Goldeneye, 4 Goosander and 2 Little Grebe, in the dip Willow Tit.
Elton Year list total now 48.
Cheers Ian

Ian Peters ended with a total of 133 species recorded over the calender year, once again congratulations on breaking the previous record of 130.
Cheers Ian

This a.m. with Ian Peters, capstick end of res. was frozen, on the water 1 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe and a single Great Black-backed Gull of note. Peregrine on pylon and Snipe at Old Hall marsh.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Wednesday 31st of December 2014 11:36:34 AM

Late news from yesterday (29th Dec).

Single Rock Pipit and Dunlin feeding near Creek.

Info. from Peter Baron.

To add to Richard's sightings at around 9.00 a.m. approx 350 Canada Geese flew onto res. from Withins, very noisy and quite spectacular, also 7 Goosander flew off at dawn.
Cheers Ian
p.s. Ian Peters still has 133 for his Elton year list, which has beaten the previous record of 130 held by Simon Warford and Brian Fielding and still has 1 day to add to this, again congratulations Ian. Rather stupidly I have decided to have a go at an Elton Year list next year (I have just retired so will have the time), I would therefore appreciate any help, texts etc from the Elton regulars if they find any good birds next year. Thanks in anticipation, if you don't have my mob. number please send me a PM and I will give it to you.
Cheers Ian

Nothing overly exciting but loads of gulls present (just a couple of hundred at least) but mostly black headed gulls with a few common gulls, then fewer numbers of lesser black backed gulls including one winter adult that was very rich in colour and a couple of herring gulls including at least 2 juveniles. Several more gulls were coming in at my leave time at 12:30pm but these looked like black headed gulls too. 2 immature drake goosanders were also found and at least 2 lapwings at wader point. It was very calm and peaceful this morning but cold.

Dawn to 9.45 a.m. with Paul W and Ian P, 9 Goosander, 5 Goldeneye and 1 Little Grebe on res. Water rail called in Capsticks but not seen.
Cheers Ian

Quick visit early with Steve H, 12 Goldeneye and 2 Little Grebe of note.
Cheers Ian

This a.m. with Ian P 'till 9.45 a.m. 5 Goldeneye, 11 Goosander and 2 Little Grebe of note on res with Sparrowhawk over, 6 Lesser Redpoll (Ian C) in tree by river and a Nuthatch(Ian P) heard only. Also it wasn't raining, HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all out there that know me, in fact to all of you that don't as well.
Cheers Ian

Late post from Sunday 21st

Late afternoon on way back from Fylde Coast.
A few familiar faces on site doing the same as me, Gull watching, but nothing of note as regards rarities, and as stated by one of the other birders...very few Gulls except for Black-headed and that they were probably at Heaton Park that evening.

A few Lesser Black-backed around, none of them adults, none that I saw anyway.
At least 50 Black-headed G's, mainly near car park (I expected more)
1 Herring Gull

...and 2 girls (looked like hospital workers) that were amazed I hadn't got my fingers bitten off when hand feeding the Geese. Amazing how gentle some can be taking it from your hand when free food is on offer in poor weather conditions.

0800-10:00am With Ian P & Ian C
150+ Jackdaw over
3 GoldenEye
1 Gadwall
11 Goosander
2 Little Grebe
Steady movement of Gulls included
Black headed Gulls
Lesser Black backed Gulls
Herring Gulls
Great Black backed gulls

Cheers Steven

14:30-16:30 pm
Very few gulls
2 Great Black backed
5 lesser black backed
8 Herring gull
100 Black headed Gulls
Ian P had an interesting one earlier that looked like a first winter Glaucous Herring Gull hybrid

18 Lapwings
3 Goldeneye
19 Goosander came in to roost

Cheers Steven

Would have liked to have known about these, but for some reason I haven't received any emails from this site today - and I subscribe to this thread.

Sorry pete, I forgot to put in he was definitely an adult winter. Ive managed a few photos of him too (not very good though). If heaton park was definitely a 2 winter then its obviously a different gull. I'm wondering if those strong winds moved a lot about last night? Thanks.

There's been a 2nd winter Iceland Gull coming to roost at Heaton Park Res. for a couple of weeks or so (but not in roost tonight),just wondering what the age of this bird was, as presumably same bird ?

Gull update. I can comfirm there was an ICELAND GULL hiding amonst hundreds and hundreds of other gulls. Great black backed, lesser black backed, herring, common and black headed gulls in juvenile, immature and adult. I can also 100% comfirm there was also one adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL. I had some fantastic views of it through my telescope earlier and after carefull research just to double check, it was a yellow legged Gull. Fantastic or what? Been quiet for weeks then suddenly this happens. All this discovered from soon after 2pm to 3:30pm

Adult Iceland gull present at 14:54 pm
Cheers Steven

breaking news there is a white winged gull on reservoir. Likely Iceland gull

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 20th of December 2014 03:10:18 PM

8.00-10.00 a.m. 2 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander and 2 Little Grebe the only birds of note.
Cheers Ian

2 Woodcock flew over hedge with Feeders towards river at 15:57pm
Cheers Steven

13:40-14:45 pm
5 Wigeon
1 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
6 Lapwings
2 Common Gulls
36 Lesser black backed Gulls
7 Herring Gulls
200+ Black headed Gulls
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Cheers Steven

08:00-11:30 am With Ian P
1 Little Egret flew over west
2 Goldeneye
3 Snipe

Cheers Steven

08:00-10:40 am With Ian P
3 Whooper Swans on Elton Res.
2 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
6 Snipe
1 Sparrowhawk
plenty of Redwings, Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Mistle Thrushes in Hedgerows and field near Withins, Capsticks Marsh.

Cheers Steven

Early a.m. with Paul W and later Simon J and Ian P, 4 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye and 2 Little Grebe on the res, 100's of Redwing and Fieldfare continually passing overhead, mainly West and the feeders were very busy with the common Finches.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 14th of December 2014 02:53:56 PM

Passing through this morning and later at 2pm. Within the area there are thousands of thrushes in this order of numbers...(larger numbers first) redwings, fieldfares, blackbirds, mistle thrushes and song thrushes. Hundreds of house sparrows and likely close to that number for goldfinch and greenfinch on feeders. (Every perch had a bird on it). I was talking briefly to a couple who were watching them feed too and said how wonderful it was for whoever set up and maintains the feeders. So well done and a big thankyou to whomever it is. Plenty of chaffinches too and I saw a brief view of a bullfinch nearby with possibly more in a small hawthorn with it. Loads of gulls including black headed, common and lesser black backed gulls. Possibly herring gulls too but my binoculars started steaming up at this point :-/. Maybe my next local scout I will have more time for a proper look. All the best to you all!!

07:30-09:30 am Not a lot seen due to fog.
11 Goosander
1 Goldeneye
Redwing and Fieldfare in Hedgerows
Snipe heard in Capsticks Marsh

Cheers Steven


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 13th of December 2014 10:18:23 AM

08:30-10:00am
Good number of Gulls on Res first thing 50+ Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 30+ Herring Gulls, 4 Great Black Backed Gulls 200+ Black Headed Gulls 2 Common Gulls.
5 Lapwings
3 Teal
4 Goldeneye
large flocks of 100+ Redwing near Withins and Bennies
50+ Fieldfare Near Withins
Sparrowhawk successful in catching a Redwing near Bennies

What looked like a Merlin flying SW over Radcliffe at 08:15am whilst stuck in Traffic.

Cheers Steven

08:00-09:40 am with Ian P
1 Kingfisher
2 Redshank
3 Goldeneye
10 Teal
1 Wigeon
1 Sparrowhawk successfully catching a Redwing
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker enjoying the Fat balls at the Feeders
4 Lapwings

Cheers Steven

20 Goosander, 2 Teal, Female Goldeneye, very confiding meadow Pipit, White, Pied and Grey Wagtail, Little Grebe, Redwing, Fieldfare, single Redshank, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Black Backed Gull, and a couple of Herons.

08:30-10:15 am
Harris Hawk being mobed by Carrion crows near River Irwell
Skylark near Old Hall Farm
4 teal
14 Goosander
Over 40 Greenfinch at Feeders most I seen at once here. Plus Goldfinch,Chaffinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker
Cheers Steven

a.m. with Steve H, Paul W and Ian P, on the res. 9 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe and 5 Goosander and 8 Lapwing on wader point. At capsticks over 50 Snipe flew out. Feeding station very busy with the common Finches and the Harris Hawk again behind sailing club. Ian Peters now has 133 for his Elton year list with addition of the recent Long-tailed Duck, well done that man

Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 30th of November 2014 12:12:43 PM

7.30-9.00 with Paul W & Ian P, on res. 5 Goosander, 1 Goldeneye, 4 Teal, 1 Kingfisher. 1 Water Rail and 1 Snipe Capsticks. As I was leaving 30+ Lesser Redpoll flew into one of the riverside trees for approx. 10 seconds before flying off upriver.
Cheers Ian

07:30-10:00am
1 Wigeon
4 Teal
3 Little Grebe
8 Lapwing
1 Kingfisher
4 Goldcrest in Hedge between Elton and Withins
2 Willow Tit along canal between Bennies and the Dip
Plenty of Fieldfare, Redwing feeding in Hedgerows near Dip and Canal

Cheers Steven

Those to note: Grey wagtail near boat house. At feeders- plenty of green, gold and chaffinches with a number of house sparrows. One jay enjoying scraps on the floor. Gulls include Lesser black backed, common and black headed, about 3 goosanders seen (all female) with 2 common goldeneyes, 3 redwings near old hall farm, 7 lapwings at wader point, 1 drake European teal and 4 more goosanders very close right at the far end by capsticks marshy area (2 drake and 2 female). Plus all the usual great crested grebes, coots, mallards etc.

early morning with Ian C, Ian P and Steve H

Still no sign of the long-tailed duck

35 Goosander, 3 Little Grebe, 15 Great crested Grebe, 4 Goldeneye, 14 Teal on res. 3 Wigeon flew south and a further 5 dropped in later and went straight to sleep

4 Skeins of Pink-feet went west c100, 48, 106 & 55

1000's of big gulls moving towards tip - mainly Herring Gull, 40 of which dropped on to the res

300+ Redwing flew NW and 200 near Bennies and 100+ Fieldfare flew NW

at the feeders
50+ Goldfinch, Great spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Jay, and several Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Starling etc - very active

Peter Johnson wrote:

---

The Harris Hawk has been around for at least 6 weeks having blitzed the livestock of the small holding it was seen at earlier.

---

Cheers for that Peter,
A couple of passers by that knew the occupants said he had a load of Ducks up until recently, they got less and less and now there isn't a single Duck in his garden. There are loose Guinea Fowl and a few Chickens in his garden though (not just the ones in cages) but it made no attempt at them. It was perched on top of the coops and was snooping round all over peering in and trying to get through the bars. It made a couple of flights over the valley at the back and almost immediately was intercepted by a Sparrowhawk but didn't really flinch during the flight, the Sparrowhawk backed off and the Hawk quickly came back to the garden. Adaptable and resourceful birds from what I saw of this one. Did pretty much what the Heaton Park bird does, goes about its business quietly, but doesn't bother about the other birds that try and mob it. Top birds!

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 22nd of November 2014 08:54:25 PM

The Harris Hawk has been around for at least 6 weeks having blitzed the livestock of the small holding it was seen at earlier.

No sign of the Long-tailed duck at 3.45 amongst 88 Tufted Duck on withins

few bits and bats (2) flying over at dusk

1000+ Big Gulls west mainly Herring Gull with some Great and Lesser black-backed.
3-400 Jackdaw towards the roost in Radcliffe
4 Wigeon west with some big gulls
30+ Feildfare towards old hall farm and a few Redwing noted dropping in also
Snipe over
Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches over
3+ Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest and Kingfisher withins
also thought I heard a female Tawny Owl call towards the river

3 Little Grebe and 33 Goosander on main res

Harris Hawk still present in same location, made 2 attempts for a Rabbit but missed, and has tried to get in the cages but unsuccessful at that too!