Still a couple pair of Common Terns with well grown young on the nesting rafts.The adults bringing small fish in to feed the young.
Other that that just a few Tufted Duck,Coot and a couple of Great Crested Grebe out on the water with the masses of Canada Geese,Mute Swan and Mallards. Several Chiffchaff and a Blackcap still singing and at least 6 House Martin and a single Swift feeding high above the trees.
Tony Hill said
Thu Jun 20 12:36 PM, 2024
Reed Warbler singing this morning in reeds in the south-east corner of Reservoir + 2 Little Grebe at back of Reservoir.
Tony Hill said
Tue Jun 18 12:20 PM, 2024
Unusual an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the water near the back of the Reservoir, it then flew to the west at around 10.00am.
Tony Hill said
Wed Jun 12 12:08 PM, 2024
Grasshopper Warbler & pair of Common Whitethroat in nature reserve. The ten pairs of Common Tern have chicks, l saw 6 altogether, but there could be more, they are difficult to count. Also a Drake Pochard, a scarce bird at Blackleach these days, or anywhere else.
Tony Hill said
Wed May 15 5:08 PM, 2024
21 Common Tern counted today, 10 or 11 pairs. All Seven rafts being used.
CALLUM VERNON said
Tue May 7 6:41 PM, 2024
At least 20 Common Terns now
Willow Tit
Grey Wagtail
3 blackcap
Tony Hill said
Tue May 7 11:48 AM, 2024
Little Egret flying over the Reservoir at 10.20am heading South-West.
Tony Hill said
Mon May 6 10:40 AM, 2024
Yellow Wagtail on one of the Tern rafts, then flew to the back of the Reservoir. 12 Common Tern and 5 Great Crested Grebe being very territorial.
Kevin Forde said
Tue Apr 30 1:17 PM, 2024
Cettis warbler, Whitethroat, Reed bunting, Grasshopper warbler, Buzzard, Tree sparrow
-- Edited by Kevin Forde on Wednesday 1st of May 2024 08:15:42 AM
-- Edited by Kevin Forde on Wednesday 1st of May 2024 08:19:54 AM
Tony Hill said
Tue Apr 30 12:02 PM, 2024
Garden Warbler in the middle of the Nature Reserve.
Tony Hill said
Thu Apr 25 12:43 PM, 2024
Whinchat in the allotments. Also 24 Mute Swan. Six Common Tern are back. Two of the rafts have had to be repaired, one is now back on the water, the other one should be back on next week. But they can nest 2 or 3 pairs to a raft, ten pairs bred last year and only five rafts were used.
CALLUM VERNON said
Tue Apr 23 4:33 PM, 2024
6 Common Tern
Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
Few Swallows low over the water
bernard hooley said
Sun Apr 21 8:56 AM, 2024
I had some business in Swinton so I called in here on my way from Yorkshire. Birds seen were as follows. Herring Gull x1 Woodpigeon x4 Starling x4 Mallard x10 Blackbird x4 Carrion Crow x2 Magpie x3 Canada Goose x8 Mute Swan x6 Tufted Duck x6 Lesser Black Backed Gull x2 Sparrowhawk x1 Feral Pigeon x4 Common Buzzard x1 Shoveler x2 Robin x4 Common Tern x2 Great Black Backed Gull x1
Tony Hill said
Thu Apr 11 11:23 AM, 2024
Common Tern on one of the rafts, the earliest record, the next being Apr 15th on two occasions.
Tony Hill said
Thu Apr 4 11:39 AM, 2024
Female Brambling feeding on the ground with a Chaffinch in the Woods under the Reservoir dam. Willow Warbler singing behind reservoir and 23 Mute Swan some people going on with bags of bread for them , not a good idea.
Tony Hill said
Fri Feb 2 4:38 PM, 2024
Water Rail showing well in small reed bed at the far North-West corner of the Reservoir. Kingfisher , 12 Gadwall , 9 Siskin.
CALLUM VERNON said
Sun Jan 21 10:58 PM, 2024
Water Rail showing well on ice 20/01/2024
Tony Hill said
Sun Jan 7 11:10 AM, 2024
3 Ring necked Parakeet flying west toward Walkden Town Centre. Also around were 75 Lapwing and 150 Starling on Linnyshaw Moss, + 60 Siskin feeding in Alders by the Reservoir.
CALLUM VERNON said
Tue Dec 26 7:00 PM, 2023
1 Water Rail in reeds near visitor centre
Tony Hill said
Thu Nov 30 10:51 AM, 2023
A Water Rail and a Great Black backed Gull were there today.
CALLUM VERNON said
Mon Oct 9 11:02 PM, 2023
One Raven on Linnyshaw Moss at 1230pm and one cronking low overhead at 4pm, in a similar area.
Tony Hill said
Fri Sep 22 12:54 PM, 2023
Peregrine Falcon on a pylon in the Nature Reserve eating pray.
Tony Hill said
Fri Aug 11 12:21 PM, 2023
Spotted Flycatcher with a flock of Long tailed Tits in the Nature Reserve, also in the flock were 2 Juvenile Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Nuthatch and Treecreeper. + 3 Shoveler on the Reservoir.
CALLUM VERNON said
Wed Jun 21 8:48 AM, 2023
2 Ravens being harassed by crows and magpies on Linnyshaw Moss next to the garden centre
Tony Hill said
Sun May 14 11:07 AM, 2023
18 Common Tern , some are two pair to a raft and some sat on eggs. Garden Warbler singing in the wood on Linnyshaw Moss and a Pheasant calling.
CALLUM VERNON said
Wed Apr 26 8:35 PM, 2023
4 Common Terns (2 pairs) on rafts
CALLUM VERNON said
Mon Apr 24 5:58 PM, 2023
1 Common Term
1 Reed Bunting
Good number of Swallow and Sand Martin over the water
Tony Hill said
Sun Apr 23 10:37 AM, 2023
Two Bramling behind the Visitor Centre with four Bullfinch.
Tony Hill said
Tue Apr 18 2:05 PM, 2023
Little Gull flew through at 10.15am, heading West.
Tony Hill said
Wed Mar 22 11:55 AM, 2023
Cetti's Warbler singing in small reed patch at back of Reservoir this morning .
Tony Hill said
Sun Feb 19 3:14 PM, 2023
A Water Rail in reeds under the wall on Visitor Centre side of Reservoir. Showed quite well and was calling a lot. Shoveler numbers which reached 46 in January, down to 9.
Tony Hill said
Thu Sep 15 11:52 AM, 2022
Spotted Flycatcher in trees on the loop line by the cross roads.
Tony Hill said
Sat Sep 10 12:26 PM, 2022
Redstart in the nature reserve just behind the second ponds.
Tony Hill said
Tue Jul 26 1:58 PM, 2022
31 Common Tern on the Reservoir which included 14 juveniles, some weren't quite fully fledged but getting there. Also 2 Reed Warbler and a Sedge Warbler.
Tony Hill said
Fri Jun 24 1:22 PM, 2022
Red Kite over Blackleach Reservoir moving slowly to the East toward Clifton, at 10 50a.m..
bernard hooley said
Sat Jun 4 11:41 AM, 2022
Late post for yesterday 10am.Over40 swifts above the reservoir with10 Sand Martins and 2 house Martins.
CALLUM VERNON said
Sun May 29 11:25 PM, 2022
Willow Tit fledglings around Linnyshaw Garden centre area was a nice sight to see. Hopefully they were from the adults that came to the garden feeders over winter.
Tony Hill said
Tue May 17 5:01 PM, 2022
17 Common Tern . Six pairs bred last year, but there could be more this year, some are two pairs to a raft.
bernard hooley said
Fri Apr 15 12:48 PM, 2022
Common Tern on one of the rafts this morning.
Tony Hill said
Tue Mar 15 3:26 PM, 2022
Two Curlew flew over Nature Reserve, heading North-East. Also 3 Chiffchaff and a pair of Reed Buntings.
Tony Hill said
Fri Mar 4 3:04 PM, 2022
Peregrine Falcon on pylon on Linnyshaw Moss, looked like a one year old female, going off plumage and size. Also 2 Skylarks, 3 Linnets and 35 Chaffinch feeding on the ground. On the Reservoir were 16 Shoveler and a drake Wigeon. There were also 7 Gadwall on the flooded part of the allotments.
Tony Hill said
Fri Feb 25 1:08 PM, 2022
A male Brambling and two Skylark feeding on the ground on Linnyshaw Moss with around 20 Chaffinch, 40 Goldfinch and 4 Linnets , they were 50 metres West of Linnyshaw Garden Centre, I could only spot them with a cope. Also 25 Shoveler on the Reservoir.
Tony Hill said
Thu Feb 17 11:56 AM, 2022
Woodcock flew up just 3 feet in front of me on the loop line by the Reservoir, it flew into the Nature Reserve. Two adult Great Black backed Gulls landed on the water with an Herring Gull. 14 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe and 27 Mute Swans.
bernard hooley said
Tue Jan 25 8:45 AM, 2022
3 Common Gulls amongst the Black Headed Gulls yesterday.
CALLUM VERNON said
Fri Jan 14 12:46 PM, 2022
Walk from Linnyshaw garden centre to the reservoir and back.
Of note:
2x singing Willow Tits
2 flocks of Siskin, one containing around 20 and the other 10
1 Greenfinch calling
Bullfinch pair
2x Song Thrush singing
1 Goldcrest
Sparrowhawk over
On the reservoir was 5 Gadwalls, a great crested grebe, around 8 cormorants plus usuals.
I saw a post on Facebook that a swan had died of suspected bird flu at Blackleach. There are around 30 swans on the reservoir now so hopefully this does not spread to the others.
bernard hooley said
Thu Dec 30 12:28 PM, 2021
A walk around the country park around midday. Grey Wagtail x 1 Starling x 5 Feral Pigeon x 8 Magpie x 4 Black Headed Gull x 40+ Moorhen x 3 Tufted duck x 21 Little Grebe x 1 Coot x 50+ Canada Goose x 12 Mute Swan x 16 Mallard x 10 Herring Gull x 2 Gadwall x 4 Shoveler x 1 Blue Tit x 3 Wood Pigeon x 4
bernard hooley said
Fri Dec 3 5:36 PM, 2021
Short visit this morning around 10.00 am Wren x 1 starling x 5 Black Headed Gull x lots Feral Pigeon x 5 Carrion Crow x 3 Magpie x 7 Collared Dove x 1 Blackbird x 8 Wood Pigeon x 4 Robin x 6 Song Thrush x 1 Great Black Backed Gull x 1 Mute swan x 9 Coot x lots Tufted Duck x 6 Cormorant x 2 Wigeon x 1 Moor hen x 1 Gadwall x 4 Teal x 4 Bullfinch x 3 (m) Chaffinch x 2
Tony Hill said
Mon Nov 22 2:18 PM, 2021
Water Rail at the back of Reservoir this morning, also on there were. 3 Teal, Wigeon , 3 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall and 29 Mute Swans. There was also a male Mandarin on a flooded field on Linnyshaw Moss two weeks ago, only just found out.
Tony Hill said
Tue Nov 2 12:01 PM, 2021
7 Whooper Swans, 6 adult and one juvenile, were on the reservoir this morning, but they flew off to the west at 10 20a.m.. A Peregrine Falcon on a pylon on Linnyshaw Moss, near the Garden Centre.
Tony Hill said
Thu Oct 7 11:45 AM, 2021
15 Brambling feeding together in a Rowan tree on the loop line near the cross roads of paths, 200 metres east of the reservoir. Also 2 Whooper Swans flew over the reservoir to the south-west. 20 Redwing around and a Swallow flying south.
Unusual an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the water near the back of the Reservoir, it then flew to the west at around 10.00am.
Grasshopper Warbler & pair of Common Whitethroat in nature reserve. The ten pairs of Common Tern have chicks, l saw 6 altogether, but there could be more, they are difficult to count. Also a Drake Pochard, a scarce bird at Blackleach these days, or anywhere else.
21 Common Tern counted today, 10 or 11 pairs. All Seven rafts being used.
At least 20 Common Terns now
Willow Tit
Grey Wagtail
3 blackcap
Little Egret flying over the Reservoir at 10.20am heading South-West.
Yellow Wagtail on one of the Tern rafts, then flew to the back of the Reservoir. 12 Common Tern and 5 Great Crested Grebe being very territorial.
Cettis warbler, Whitethroat, Reed bunting, Grasshopper warbler, Buzzard, Tree sparrow
-- Edited by Kevin Forde on Wednesday 1st of May 2024 08:15:42 AM
-- Edited by Kevin Forde on Wednesday 1st of May 2024 08:19:54 AM
Garden Warbler in the middle of the Nature Reserve.
Whinchat in the allotments. Also 24 Mute Swan. Six Common Tern are back. Two of the rafts have had to be repaired, one is now back on the water, the other one should be back on next week. But they can nest 2 or 3 pairs to a raft, ten pairs bred last year and only five rafts were used.
6 Common Tern
Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
Few Swallows low over the water
Herring Gull x1
Woodpigeon x4
Starling x4
Mallard x10
Blackbird x4
Carrion Crow x2
Magpie x3
Canada Goose x8
Mute Swan x6
Tufted Duck x6
Lesser Black Backed Gull x2
Sparrowhawk x1
Feral Pigeon x4
Common Buzzard x1
Shoveler x2
Robin x4
Common Tern x2
Great Black Backed Gull x1
Common Tern on one of the rafts, the earliest record, the next being Apr 15th on two occasions.
Female Brambling feeding on the ground with a Chaffinch in the Woods under the Reservoir dam. Willow Warbler singing behind reservoir and 23 Mute Swan some people going on with bags of bread for them , not a good idea.
Water Rail showing well on ice 20/01/2024
1 Water Rail in reeds near visitor centre
A Water Rail and a Great Black backed Gull were there today.
One Raven on Linnyshaw Moss at 1230pm and one cronking low overhead at 4pm, in a similar area.
4 Common Terns (2 pairs) on rafts
1 Common Term
1 Reed Bunting
Good number of Swallow and Sand Martin over the water
Sand Martins and 2 house Martins.
Walk from Linnyshaw garden centre to the reservoir and back.
Of note:
2x singing Willow Tits
2 flocks of Siskin, one containing around 20 and the other 10
1 Greenfinch calling
Bullfinch pair
2x Song Thrush singing
1 Goldcrest
Sparrowhawk over
On the reservoir was 5 Gadwalls, a great crested grebe, around 8 cormorants plus usuals.
I saw a post on Facebook that a swan had died of suspected bird flu at Blackleach. There are around 30 swans on the reservoir now so hopefully this does not spread to the others.
Grey Wagtail x 1
Starling x 5
Feral Pigeon x 8
Magpie x 4
Black Headed Gull x 40+
Moorhen x 3
Tufted duck x 21
Little Grebe x 1
Coot x 50+
Canada Goose x 12
Mute Swan x 16
Mallard x 10
Herring Gull x 2
Gadwall x 4
Shoveler x 1
Blue Tit x 3
Wood Pigeon x 4
Wren x 1
starling x 5
Black Headed Gull x lots
Feral Pigeon x 5
Carrion Crow x 3
Magpie x 7
Collared Dove x 1
Blackbird x 8
Wood Pigeon x 4
Robin x 6
Song Thrush x 1
Great Black Backed Gull x 1
Mute swan x 9
Coot x lots
Tufted Duck x 6
Cormorant x 2
Wigeon x 1
Moor hen x 1
Gadwall x 4
Teal x 4
Bullfinch x 3 (m)
Chaffinch x 2
7 Whooper Swans, 6 adult and one juvenile, were on the reservoir this morning, but they flew off to the west at 10 20a.m.. A Peregrine Falcon on a pylon on Linnyshaw Moss, near the Garden Centre.
15 Brambling feeding together in a Rowan tree on the loop line near the cross roads of paths, 200 metres east of the reservoir. Also 2 Whooper Swans flew over the reservoir to the south-west. 20 Redwing around and a Swallow flying south.