Been Walking round Shoretop for Years, way past the Woodchat Shrike in 1997, seen a lot of birds come and go, Like Lapwings they bred up there, Oystercatcher , Tree Sparrows, Yellow Wagtails, Twite, little Owl, quite a change over the years. So I thought no one seems to report for Shoretop, here goes.
Stroll round today with my wife Iris a couple of miles round the reservoir, which has a small lodge, which is very weeded, but still at times holds good birds? and overlooks another lodge, with views over the Irwell also.
1 Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Blackbirds , 100+ Black Headed Gulls, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 4 Carrion Crows,1 Wood Pigeon, Grey Heron
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jul 29 6:07 AM, 2015
Originally posted by Ian Moffatt:
Late post due to a afternoon/late evening fishing trip.
Arrived at 1300 to find a Little Egret in the margins which stayed till 1500 before being chased off by a pair of Black-headed Gulls last seen flying towards the river Irwell Pair of Common Terns flying around the water all afternoon also two Grey Herons and a single Cormorant present. Peregrine flew fast and low over the water after being mobbed by ~ 10 Carrion Crows. A pair of Great Crested Grebes feeding four juveniles with there persistent whistling begging calls also a pair of Coots with three juveniles breed successfully on the water. Kestrel hunting over the adjacent fields.
Cheers Ian
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 8 2:48 PM, 2015
Originally posted today by Ian Moffatt:
Ornithological first for me whilst fishing on the lodge yesterday (7th April) Observed a pair of Common Scoters performing a mating display which involved the birds "jerking the head & neck forward simultaneously" whilst calling a short fluting "pyew-pyew" whistle more akin to a wader than a duck. Just 30yds away on the water a pair of G.C.Grebes were performing there spectacular mating dance, plus 3 Swallows put in appearance over the water my 1st siting this spring which always gives me a "uplifting buzz".
Cheers Ian
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jan 15 10:52 PM, 2014
Originally posted by Rosemary Naylor today:
One all brown juvenile cormorant on the banks of the Lodge. Saw diving into the water around 3pm.
Tony Hill said
Wed Jan 8 7:19 PM, 2014
2 Ravens on the pylons.
Antony Wainwright said
Fri May 3 1:03 AM, 2013
4 - 5.30pm. 32 species. Highlights as follows:
Swift 15 High up with 2 House Martin Whitethroat 1 singing Blackcap 1 singing and 1 female Buzzard 1 Stock Dove 1
Originally posted today by Peter Turner:
Been Walking round Shoretop for Years, way past the Woodchat Shrike in 1997, seen a lot of birds come and go, Like Lapwings they bred up there, Oystercatcher , Tree Sparrows, Yellow Wagtails, Twite, little Owl, quite a change over the years. So I thought no one seems to report for Shoretop, here goes.
Stroll round today with my wife Iris a couple of miles round the reservoir, which has a small lodge, which is very weeded, but still at times holds good birds? and overlooks another lodge, with views over the Irwell also.
1pm to 2.15
14, Coot, 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Buzzard, Starlings, House Sparrows, 3 Cormorants, 21 Canada Goose, 2 Moorhen, 35 Fieldfare, 8 Redwings,
1 Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Blackbirds , 100+ Black Headed Gulls, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 4 Carrion Crows,1 Wood Pigeon, Grey Heron
Late post due to a afternoon/late evening fishing trip.
Arrived at 1300 to find a Little Egret in the margins which stayed till 1500 before being chased off by a pair of Black-headed Gulls
last seen flying towards the river Irwell
Pair of Common Terns flying around the water all afternoon also two Grey Herons and a single Cormorant present.
Peregrine flew fast and low over the water after being mobbed by ~ 10 Carrion Crows.
A pair of Great Crested Grebes feeding four juveniles with there persistent whistling begging calls
also a pair of Coots with three juveniles breed successfully on the water.
Kestrel hunting over the adjacent fields.
Cheers
Ian
Ornithological first for me whilst fishing on the lodge yesterday (7th April)
Observed a pair of Common Scoters performing a mating display which involved the birds "jerking the head & neck forward simultaneously"
whilst calling a short fluting "pyew-pyew" whistle more akin to a wader than a duck.
Just 30yds away on the water a pair of G.C.Grebes were performing there spectacular mating dance,
plus 3 Swallows put in appearance over the water my 1st siting this spring which always gives me a "uplifting buzz".
Cheers
Ian
One all brown juvenile cormorant on the banks of the Lodge. Saw diving into the water around 3pm.
2 Ravens on the pylons.
Swift 15 High up with 2 House Martin
Whitethroat 1 singing
Blackcap 1 singing and 1 female
Buzzard 1
Stock Dove 1
40 Redwing
Chiffchaff
Snipe
6 Mute Swan
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes