Early AM with Paul Wilson of Note Oystercatcher 1 Lapwing 36 Common Tern 3 Tufted Duck 2 Snipe 3 Kingfisher 1 Kestrel 1 Hobby 1
Re yesterdays Juv Swallow thanks Steve and Ian for your feed back.
Cheers Steven
Steve Christmas said
Sat Jul 26 7:20 PM, 2014
'A Juvenile Swallow with a small white band near its rump near to Canal and River Irwell.'
Sounds like the putative house martin x swallow we caught and ringed in August 2012.
Steve
Steven Higginbottom said
Sat Jul 26 11:21 AM, 2014
Early am of note. Lapwing 41 Kingfisher 1 Goosander 4 Little Grebe 1 Common Tern 3 Cormorant 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Jay 2 Grey Wagtail 2 Common Sandpiper 2 Snipe 3 flew from Capsticks marsh over Res before flying South Swift 7 heading South
A Juvenile Swallow with a small white band near its rump near to Canal and River Irwell.
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Fri Jul 25 10:47 AM, 2014
Early a.m.with Ian Peters, little of note just 4 adult Common Tern and a Common Sandpiper also 3 Swift heading South. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Wed Jul 23 9:47 AM, 2014
This a.m. with Ian P and Steve H, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Tern, 3 Pochard, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Kestrel of note. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Tue Jul 22 11:30 AM, 2014
This a.m. 5 Common Sandpiper, upto 6 Common Tern, 2 Kestrel, 1 Ringed Plover and a Kingfisher of note. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 22nd of July 2014 11:31:18 AM
Ian Campbell said
Mon Jul 21 9:57 AM, 2014
6.30-9.00 a.m. with Ian Peters, 4 Common Sandpiper, 5 Common Tern(2 adult and 3 juv.) 3 Kestrels and 2 Oystercatcher. Cheers Ian
Paul Wilson said
Sun Jul 20 11:20 AM, 2014
I then spent TWO hours in the Dip watching: Reed Warbler Reed Bunting 2 Wren families Willow Tit (could only locate a single bird) Jays (up to four) Chiffchaff Moorhen (with 3 young) plus lots if Tit and Finch activity.
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jul 20 9:30 AM, 2014
6.30-9.00 a.m. with Steve H, Paul W and Ian P, 10 Common Tern, 3 Common Sandpiper and 2 Kestrel present. Cheers Ian
Peter Johnson said
Sat Jul 19 6:19 PM, 2014
Just been watching three juvenile Kestrels around Old Hall Farm. One was chasing a Reed Bunting and a second bird we saw catch a Short Tailed Field Vole and was quickly pursued by the other two. Great to watch.
Paul Wilson said
Sat Jul 19 10:54 AM, 2014
7-9.30 with Ian Campbell
Quiet, with no waders, but of note:
Common Tern 5 Pochard 1 Shelduck 6 (flew round but did not land)
Steven Higginbottom said
Fri Jul 18 7:03 AM, 2014
05:00 to 06:15am Nice morning walk Common Tern 2 Kestrel 1 Cormorant 1 Pochard 3 (2f 1m) Lapwing 14
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Thu Jul 17 4:53 PM, 2014
Thursday 17th July 8am till 12:30pm Very quite but plenty of Butterflies enjoying the sun. Only managed 46 species today. Tufted Duck 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (first one seen here this year for me) Common Tern 2 Adults 3 Juveniles (first juvenile Common Terns I have seen this year) Lesser Black Backed Gull 3 Linnets 4 Fledged Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks and Long Tailed Tits in Hedgerows. Swallows collecting mud from the shore line.
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Tue Jul 15 12:43 PM, 2014
08:00 to 10:00 am Very Quite walk around res with Ian Peters. Plenty of juv Whitethroat, Chaffich along hedge. Common Tern 1 Common Sandpiper 1 Little Ringed Plover 1 Plenty of Swifts and Swallows Great Crested Grebe 4 Kestrel 1 Cheers Steven
Q
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Tuesday 15th of July 2014 01:55:43 PM
Paul Wilson said
Sun Jul 13 2:03 PM, 2014
With Ian Campbell - very quiet. Only reportable birds of note were:
2 Oystercatcher c50 Lapwing on rooftop 1 Common Tern 1 Hobby - along stream by dam wall
frank wood said
Sat Jul 12 9:05 PM, 2014
Ian. In Lesvos this spring, we watched nesting house sparrows in a fire watch shelter and they were regularly bringing back smaller dragonflies like common darter for their chicks and also even larger prey like giant Egyptian locust.
Ian Campbell said
Thu Jul 10 9:26 AM, 2014
6.30-7.45 a.m. 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, 50+ Swift and 3 Kestrel. Cheers Ian
Rob Creek said
Sun Jul 6 8:38 PM, 2014
Ian Campbell wrote:
Just remembered this from this morning, walking along canal with Steve H when we saw a House Sparrow predating a Dragonfly, has anyone else seen this before, quite amazing, Steve got some photographs of the event. Cheers Ian
Hi Ian, Yes, yesterday infact and not just a House Sparrow. See my post on Ashton, Dukinfield and Stalybridge thread.
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jul 6 7:10 PM, 2014
Just remembered this from this morning, walking along canal with Steve H when we saw a House Sparrow predating a Dragonfly, has anyone else seen this before, quite amazing, Steve got some photographs of the event. Cheers Ian
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jul 6 12:18 PM, 2014
Additional to the impressive Common Sandpiper total(16), quite a few fledged Kestrels in the area. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Jul 6 7:42 AM, 2014
This morning at least 16 Common Sandpipers present. Little Ringed Plover 2 Common Tern 1 Cheers Steven
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 5 8:23 PM, 2014
Yesterday evening:
6 Little Ringed Plover
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian Campbell said
Sat Jul 5 5:08 PM, 2014
This morning with Paul Wilson 'till 8.20 when I left, only birds of note I can report(I think) were 2 adult and 3 juv. Little Ringed Plover at wader point. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Mon Jun 30 4:08 PM, 2014
08:00 TO 12:00 AM Monday 30th June Very quite this morning Of Note Common Tern 3 Linnet 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Hobby 1 Flew West over Withins.
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Jun 29 9:17 AM, 2014
06:40 to 08:30 am
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Common Tern 1
Linnet 1
Plus the usual.
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Sat Jun 28 10:27 AM, 2014
Morning with Ian Peters, Ian Campbell and Paul Wilson
1 Male Cuckoo was the highlight of the morning a sight first for me and Paul.
Lesser Black Backed Gulls 2 Oystercatchers 3 Linnet 2 Common Tern 1 Swifts, Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins Plenty of fledged Wagtails, Warblers, Finches and Robins
A fledged Swallow almost landed on Ian Peters whilst watching one perched on a tree less than 6ft away from us. Also a Canada Goose swimming in a strange manner almost submerged with just its head showing above the water. We believe it was trying not to be noticed by some other Canada Geese.
The Common Scoter has moved on has not been seen since last Sunday. Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Tue Jun 24 1:05 PM, 2014
8:00 - 12:30 Nice relaxing walk around Elton Withins and along Canal.
Lots of fledged Willow Warbler's, whitethroat, Sedge Warbler , Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtails
Common Tern 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Looks like the Common Scoter has gone, as no sign of him on Elton or Withins.
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Sun Jun 22 12:19 PM, 2014
7AM - 9AM With Ian Campbell Common Tern 2 Oystercatcher 3 on Res 2 on River Grey Heron 2 Kestrel 1 Linnet 2 Swift, Swallow and Sand Martin Plenty of Juvenile Pied Wagtails everywhere.
Common Scoter 1 Managed to get some interesting photos of the Common Scoter last week which gave me more Questions than answers about him. But Andy Voisey you could have a good point about the Food sauce as the Scoter seemed to be returning to the same area to feed. I have put the Photos on my Facebook https://www.facebook.com/steven.higginbottom.16/media_set?set=a.503925876420801.1073741889.100004101792190&type=1 Please feel free to have a look and comment if you wish, in the hope that something might be concluded as to why he has stayed so long at Elton. Cheers Steven
Andy Voisey said
Sun Jun 22 10:53 AM, 2014
The scoter may be there due to the abundance of freshwater mussels in the resevoir. Just a thought, I saw lots of opened shells on the bank when i was up there.
Andy Voisey
Ian Campbell said
Sat Jun 21 6:46 PM, 2014
1st thing this a.m. Common Scoter still present, Peter Johnson tells me he has also seen it on Withins so it must be able to fly, so why is it still here. Also 4 Oystercatcher flying around, so I presume the 2 young have fledged from the factory roof. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Fri Jun 20 9:40 AM, 2014
08:00-09:20 am 20/06/2014
Common Scoter 1
Common Tern 1
Oystercatchers 3
Great Crested Grebe 2
Juv Black Headed Gull 5
Lesser Black Backed Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Whitethroat, Blackcap herd
Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin feeding over Res
Cheers Steven
Rob Creek said
Sun Jun 15 4:04 PM, 2014
Common Scoter still present. Reed Bunting. Willow Warbler.
Ian Campbell said
Sat Jun 14 3:34 PM, 2014
Early a.m. with Ian Peters, Common Scoter still present, 12 juv. Black-headed Gulls, lots of fledged Pied Wagtails and the 2 Oystercatcher young are growing well on the factory roof. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Thu Jun 12 8:45 AM, 2014
This morning of note
Common Scoter seen on bank for the first time for me, didn't see any rings but was on opposite side of Res did walk back into water before I left.
Common tern 1
Juv Black headed gulls 5
Cheers Steven
Steven Higginbottom said
Wed Jun 11 1:30 PM, 2014
Quick walk round Elton and up to Coney Green 08:00 to 09:30am Common Scoter 1 Oystercatcher 1 Great Crested Grebe 5 Great Black Backed Gull 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull 1 juvenile Black Headed Gulls 6 Swift 7 Swallow 8 Sand Martin 12 House Martin 3 Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing in many areas. Pied Wagtail 3 Adult and 7 Juveniles very active around res.
Coney Green Reed Warbler 1
Cheers Steven
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jun 8 2:10 PM, 2014
Common Scoter and 4 Common Terns at res. Cheers Ian
Steven Higginbottom said
Sat Jun 7 4:40 PM, 2014
John Doherty wrote:
Is this Scoter injured does anybody know? Seems a long stayer for a seabird on an inland res.; is he flying?
Could the Scoter be Moulting ? As I also have never seen him fly only dive and swim avoiding the boats on the res. Looking at the pictures I took on the day he arrived 23rd May he was looking very prime with a tail showing very well and sat up high in the water. Took some photos yesterday Friday 6th June, which showed him very low in the water and no sign of a tail. On one of the photos looked like he had some white low down near his right rear, but it could be light reflecting of some water. photo taken Friday 6th June https://www.flickr.com/photos/96636666@N02/14361132025/
There is a photo in the gallery taken on the 23rd May which you can see the difference in posture.
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Saturday 7th of June 2014 04:41:17 PM
Ian Campbell said
Sat Jun 7 9:53 AM, 2014
John Doherty wrote:
Is this Scoter injured does anybody know? Seems a long stayer for a seabird on an inland res.; is he flying?
We have been wondering the same thing, I've not seen it fly but it does not look injured. Anyway it was still present this a.m. along with a fly through Hobby. Cheers Ian
John Doherty said
Fri Jun 6 9:06 PM, 2014
Is this Scoter injured does anybody know? Seems a long stayer for a seabird on an inland res.; is he flying?
Ian Boote said
Fri Jun 6 9:41 AM, 2014
Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat, family of fledged pied wagtails and Drake Scoter
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jun 1 10:45 AM, 2014
Drake Scoter still present, 1 Redshank, Oystercatcher still has 2 growing young on factory roof and a Common tern today, nothing more exciting I'm afraid. Cheers Ian
brian fielding said
Sat May 31 3:15 PM, 2014
drake common scoter still present this morning.
Ian Campbell said
Fri May 30 10:11 AM, 2014
Common Scoter still present as are Garden Warblers near Withins. Cheers Ian
brian fielding said
Thu May 29 9:08 AM, 2014
drake common scoter the only bird of note this morning.
Ian Campbell said
Wed May 28 10:32 AM, 2014
The Arctic and Common Terns had gone by 8.50 when I arrived, just the Common Scoter and an Oystercatcher. Cheers Ian
brian fielding said
Wed May 28 9:09 AM, 2014
0600 till 0830 11 arctic terns dropped in and still present when i left 1 drake common scoter 2 common terns
Richard Thew said
Tue May 27 12:42 PM, 2014
just to update: i Had a look for the little bittern on my way into bury with no joy. 10:30 to 11am. No one else has seen it either i'm afraid. Its either hiding right in the back or the poor thing had enough. However, the common scoter is still showing well and going pretty close to the side of what's known as wader point. Several swifts and a grasshopper wabler below withins reservoir by the shrubs along the brook.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 27 11:52 AM, 2014
Ian McKerchar wrote:
If we could not stray too far off topic from this 'sightings' thread for this site that would be appreciated please
Chris Chandler said
Tue May 27 11:50 AM, 2014
Had great views last night, just after 9pm, when the Little Bittern climbed up into the willow and seemed to go to sleep. Made up for the earlier frustrating glimpses through the reeds.
At one point the only view available was it's eye and a bit of beak - even that required some imagination before you could see it. Thanks very much to the 2 people who let me have a look through their scopes - I left the house in such a rush that I went without my tripod.
A lifer for me - thanks to Brian for a great find!
Also- 5 Oystercatcher over 2 Common Tern 1 Grasshopper Warbler (heard only) - reeling in fields towards Crow Trees Farm
brian fielding said
Tue May 27 11:37 AM, 2014
hi dave, i should think its the best bird of the modern era with the summer plumaged white-winged black terns coming next, also could i say although i found the bittern i was helped by steve higginbottom in relocating the bird and ian campbell and ian peters in clinching identification so a team effort really.
Oystercatcher 1
Lapwing 36
Common Tern 3
Tufted Duck 2
Snipe 3
Kingfisher 1
Kestrel 1
Hobby 1
Re yesterdays Juv Swallow thanks Steve and Ian for your feed back.
Cheers Steven
Sounds like the putative house martin x swallow we caught and ringed in August 2012.
Steve
Lapwing 41
Kingfisher 1
Goosander 4
Little Grebe 1
Common Tern 3
Cormorant 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Jay 2
Grey Wagtail 2
Common Sandpiper 2
Snipe 3 flew from Capsticks marsh over Res before flying South
Swift 7 heading South
A Juvenile Swallow with a small white band near its rump near to Canal and River Irwell.
Cheers Steven
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 22nd of July 2014 11:31:18 AM
Cheers Ian
Reed Warbler
Reed Bunting
2 Wren families
Willow Tit (could only locate a single bird)
Jays (up to four)
Chiffchaff
Moorhen (with 3 young)
plus lots if Tit and Finch activity.
Cheers Ian
Quiet, with no waders, but of note:
Common Tern 5
Pochard 1
Shelduck 6 (flew round but did not land)
Nice morning walk
Common Tern 2
Kestrel 1
Cormorant 1
Pochard 3 (2f 1m)
Lapwing 14
Cheers Steven
Only managed 46 species today.
Tufted Duck 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (first one seen here this year for me)
Common Tern 2 Adults 3 Juveniles (first juvenile Common Terns I have seen this year)
Lesser Black Backed Gull 3
Linnets 4
Fledged Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks and Long Tailed Tits in Hedgerows.
Swallows collecting mud from the shore line.
Cheers Steven
Plenty of juv Whitethroat, Chaffich along hedge.
Common Tern 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Little Ringed Plover 1
Plenty of Swifts and Swallows
Great Crested Grebe 4
Kestrel 1
Cheers Steven
Q
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Tuesday 15th of July 2014 01:55:43 PM
2 Oystercatcher
c50 Lapwing on rooftop
1 Common Tern
1 Hobby - along stream by dam wall
Cheers Ian
Hi Ian,
Yes, yesterday infact and not just a House Sparrow. See my post on Ashton, Dukinfield and Stalybridge thread.
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Little Ringed Plover 2
Common Tern 1
Cheers Steven
6 Little Ringed Plover
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Cheers Ian
Very quite this morning Of Note
Common Tern 3
Linnet 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Hobby 1 Flew West over Withins.
Cheers Steven
1 Male Cuckoo was the highlight of the morning a sight first for me and Paul.
Lesser Black Backed Gulls 2
Oystercatchers 3
Linnet 2
Common Tern 1
Swifts, Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins
Plenty of fledged Wagtails, Warblers, Finches and Robins
A fledged Swallow almost landed on Ian Peters whilst watching one perched on a tree less than 6ft away from us.
Also a Canada Goose swimming in a strange manner almost submerged with just its head showing above the water. We believe it was trying not to be noticed by some other Canada Geese.
The Common Scoter has moved on has not been seen since last Sunday.
Cheers Steven
Common Tern 2
Oystercatcher 3 on Res 2 on River
Grey Heron 2
Kestrel 1
Linnet 2
Swift, Swallow and Sand Martin
Plenty of Juvenile Pied Wagtails everywhere.
Common Scoter 1
Managed to get some interesting photos of the Common Scoter last week which gave me more Questions than answers about him.
But Andy Voisey you could have a good point about the Food sauce as the Scoter seemed to be returning to the same area to feed.
I have put the Photos on my Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/steven.higginbottom.16/media_set?set=a.503925876420801.1073741889.100004101792190&type=1
Please feel free to have a look and comment if you wish, in the hope that something might be concluded as to why he has stayed so long at Elton.
Cheers Steven
Just a thought, I saw lots of opened shells on the bank when i was up there.
Andy Voisey
Reed Bunting.
Willow Warbler.
Cheers Ian
Common Scoter 1
Oystercatcher 1
Great Crested Grebe 5
Great Black Backed Gull 1
Lesser Black Backed Gull 1
juvenile Black Headed Gulls 6
Swift 7
Swallow 8
Sand Martin 12
House Martin 3
Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing in many areas.
Pied Wagtail 3 Adult and 7 Juveniles very active around res.
Coney Green
Reed Warbler 1
Cheers Steven
Cheers Ian
Could the Scoter be Moulting ?
As I also have never seen him fly only dive and swim avoiding the boats on the res.
Looking at the pictures I took on the day he arrived 23rd May he was looking very prime with a tail showing very well and sat up high in the water.
Took some photos yesterday Friday 6th June, which showed him very low in the water and no sign of a tail.
On one of the photos looked like he had some white low down near his right rear, but it could be light reflecting of some water.
photo taken Friday 6th June https://www.flickr.com/photos/96636666@N02/14361132025/
There is a photo in the gallery taken on the 23rd May which you can see the difference in posture.
Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Saturday 7th of June 2014 04:41:17 PM
We have been wondering the same thing, I've not seen it fly but it does not look injured. Anyway it was still present this a.m. along with a fly through Hobby.
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
11 arctic terns dropped in and still present when i left
1 drake common scoter
2 common terns
At one point the only view available was it's eye and a bit of beak - even that required some imagination before you could see it.
Thanks very much to the 2 people who let me have a look through their scopes - I left the house in such a rush that I went without my tripod.
A lifer for me - thanks to Brian for a great find!
Also-
5 Oystercatcher over
2 Common Tern
1 Grasshopper Warbler (heard only) - reeling in fields towards Crow Trees Farm