A Whimbrel was at Shaw Moss pools this morning but flew off east at 09:55 - also 3 Redshank and 2 Swallows
Cheers, Simon
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 11 8:42 PM, 2007
Just to let you know that I'd contacted Sean Gray (photographer of the Blackstone Edge littoralis) before I left for Cyprus and he very kindly sent me a couple of his images, unfortunately I hadn't time to put them onto the galleries but will get around to it imminently, so those who haven't visited Sean's great blog to see the images (which you really should try to ) can view them on the galleries on the manchesterbirding main site.
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Apr 8 10:54 PM, 2007
Willow Warbler singing this morning - first here this year.
Dean Macdonald said
Thu Apr 5 9:07 PM, 2007
The hide was open on sunday.
Paul Wilson said
Thu Apr 5 12:59 PM, 2007
Dean Mac wrote: Went to Hollingworth Lake this afternoon. MISTAKE! It was like Blackpool promenade. No harm in that, of course, everyone having a nice time but not conducive to good bird watching. Saw very little, a couple of great crested grebe, Herring and lesser black backed Gull, most prominent thing on the water where boats. Still a very nice walk with great scenery.
We went last week (on the Friday, after a trip to Light Hazzels to see the Twite), and there was hardly anyone around. Had great views of the female Mandarin Duck - what a gorgeous bird that is. Is the hide permanently locked nowadays?
Simon Hitchen said
Tue Apr 3 8:46 PM, 2007
6 adult Kittiwakes on the Lake this morning from 0830-1000 at least - also a Chiffchaff
And in reply to previous post - Hollingworth Lake is best avoided on weekends or any vaguely sunny day unless you get there first thing. At weekends rowing boats are out about 0800 and do a good job of scaring everything off, and by 1000 the place generally resembles Blackpool. We have been lobbying for a string of buoys to cordon off the nature reserve area to limit disturbance from boats but haven't had much joy - no money for wildlife in the Rochdale council budget.
Cheers, Simon
Dean Macdonald said
Sun Apr 1 10:21 PM, 2007
Went to Hollingworth Lake this afternoon. MISTAKE! It was like Blackpool promenade. No harm in that, of course, everyone having a nice time but not conducive to good bird watching. Saw very little, a couple of great crested grebe, Herring and lesser black backed Gull, most prominent thing on the water where boats. Still a very nice walk with great scenery.
Simon Hitchen said
Sat Mar 31 11:10 PM, 2007
2 Little-ringed Plovers and a male White Wagtail at Shaw Moss this evening.
Also of note the 'Scandinavian' Rock Pipit at Blackstone Edge Res'r was seen again yesterday and some excellent photos were taken by a Yorkshire birder and can be viewed at www.calderbirds.blogspot.com
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 29 3:24 PM, 2007
Thanks for that Simon, there were then, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers in the county early this morning, which is quite remarkable given their scarce status of late.
As for "May not sound that impressive a selection to birders in the west of the county but to us poor souls in the birdless wastes of Rochdale this was as good as it gets!" Well I'm impressed, I think you're doing yourself an injustice there Simon, nice to hear from you though
Simon Hitchen said
Thu Mar 29 3:10 PM, 2007
An excellent morning at Hollingworth Lake with a pair Red-breasted Mergansers present early am (at least 0750) until flushed by a power boat at 0920 - therefore must be different from Audenshaw birds.
3 Kittiwakes ( 2 adults and an imm) from 0915-0945 at least.
Also a drake Gadwall, 21 Wigeon, 20 Goldeneye, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 2 Teal and, most surprisingly, a female Mandarin Duck - not sure where that's come from.
Unfortunately all the ducks shoved off by the depressingly predictable appearance of a power boat at 0920.
May not sound that impressive a selection to birders in the west of the county but to us poor souls in the birdless wastes of Rochdale this was as good as it gets!
Cheers, Simon
The hide was open on sunday.
6 adult Kittiwakes on the Lake this morning from 0830-1000 at least - also a Chiffchaff
And in reply to previous post - Hollingworth Lake is best avoided on weekends or any vaguely sunny day unless you get there first thing. At weekends rowing boats are out about 0800 and do a good job of scaring everything off, and by 1000 the place generally resembles Blackpool. We have been lobbying for a string of buoys to cordon off the nature reserve area to limit disturbance from boats but haven't had much joy - no money for wildlife in the Rochdale council budget.
Cheers, Simon
Went to Hollingworth Lake this afternoon. MISTAKE!
It was like Blackpool promenade. No harm in that, of course, everyone having a nice time but not conducive to good bird watching. Saw very little, a couple of great crested grebe, Herring and lesser black backed Gull, most prominent thing on the water where boats. Still a very nice walk with great scenery.
Also of note the 'Scandinavian' Rock Pipit at Blackstone Edge Res'r was seen again yesterday and some excellent photos were taken by a Yorkshire birder and can be viewed at www.calderbirds.blogspot.com
As for "May not sound that impressive a selection to birders in the west of the county but to us poor souls in the birdless wastes of Rochdale this was as good as it gets!" Well I'm impressed, I think you're doing yourself an injustice there Simon, nice to hear from you though
3 Kittiwakes ( 2 adults and an imm) from 0915-0945 at least.
Also a drake Gadwall, 21 Wigeon, 20 Goldeneye, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 2 Teal and, most surprisingly, a female Mandarin Duck - not sure where that's come from.
Unfortunately all the ducks shoved off by the depressingly predictable appearance of a power boat at 0920.
May not sound that impressive a selection to birders in the west of the county but to us poor souls in the birdless wastes of Rochdale this was as good as it gets!
Cheers, Simon