Sparrohawk near viaduct, grey wagtail, meadow pipits, redwings and 50 lapwings heading over to Pilsworth.

1st November.

Dipper singing loudly aside the River Roch here this morning. Also Kingfisher heard, c40 Redwing over, 2 Cormorant over and 5 Bullfinch (4 males min - other bird not seen clearly) feeding on blackberries.

Cheers,

Bill.

28th May - am.

6 warbler species - Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (female carrying food), Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and perhaps surprisingly Reed Warbler.

Fledged independent young of Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird and Greenfinch. Robins feeding young.

Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallow. Reed Bunting, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and a single Common Tern too.

Female Mallard with possibly as many as 13 ducklings on the R. Roch.

Cheers,

Bill.

The weir and ass channels have been totally removed.
Two Chiffchaffs, Two Grey Wagtails, Mallard, Canada Goose, Sand Martin, Long Tailed tit, pied wagtail, chaffinch Dunnock etc were todays birds .

24th March - am.

As per Ian Boote's post from last year the weir had been breached when I visited here in the early winter of 2010. A visit to the area this morning found the appearance of the River Roch changed yet again, with the weir now demolished and gone altogether. Such a shame as there was usually a pair of Grey Wagtails present and a pair of Dippers fledged 2 young from a nest right underneath the middle of the weir last year. Sadly there will not be a repeat performance this year.

A few sightings of interest - a pair of Long-tailed Tits nest building. The third one I have found in GM in last few weeks. It was right alongside a busy path in brambles. One of the other ones was also at the side of a busy footpath but in gorse and the other in a fairly dense ornamental grass, very close to a heavily disturbed duck pond. Seems strange to me to build nests in what appears to be less than ideal sites - certainly in all three locations, there have to my eyes anyway, appeared to be better locations for them in which to nest-build. However, I wonder if there is some method in their madness? As possibly such locations, with their regular human disturbance might be less likely to be frequented by potential predators?

Also close by - male Sparrowhawk in woodland, at least 2 pairs of Mistle Thrush in Bury Cemetery and another pair in the area, with one sat on a nest approx. 25 feet up a bare tree at the edge of a side road. Great Spotted Woodpecker heard and a pair of Nuthatches was nest building. Feral Pigeons with begging young in nest(s) also.

A Lapwing displayed over the roof of a nearby industrial unit.

Will revisit in a few weeks time to check on the progress of the L T Tit and Nuthatch nests.

On one of the footpaths two large female Toads were giving "piggy-backs" to two smaller males.

Cheers,

Bill.


-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Thursday 24th of March 2011 06:46:58 PM

Rather Wet Dinner time
The water fold weir has been breached and collapsed
Over 200 Redwing and Field fares
Pied wags
3 Bullfinch Greenfinch
Flock of LT Tit
Fly over Cormorant, goosander and Canada goose
Usuals

Reason for mooch was looking for Waxwings down Gigg Lane and this area NOWT

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Thursday 4th of November 2010 02:55:33 PM

The area are the fishiong lodges you mentioned. I think that they are private with views from rights of way. Other reservoirs exist further on towards Pilsworth. I was in the area and just went for a mooch. I [parked on the new housing estate and went accross the bridge by foot. It stated as a 'fragile bridge' use at your own risk sign

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Wednesday 17th of February 2010 02:59:13 PM

In the past a certain stifftail was seen there and I think Mute Swans have also tried. You can get there over a bridge on the R Roch (or you used to be able to)

Hi Ian,

Whilst I'm not local to Bury, I wonder if the reservoirs that you are referrring to are the fishing lodges which I think are also known as Gigg Reservoirs at grid ref SD816095. I "stumbled across" this area last summer and thought that the combination of these reservoirs, the proximity of the River Irwell, the nearby industrial estate and some interesting farmland made for an nice combination of habitats. I certainly had plenty of interesting sightings in the area last summer to make me want to return several times and I will be back again this summer to have a better look around the area.

I don't know if anyone one regularly visits this area but I'm sure that with coverage it might turn up some interesting birds?

Best wishes,

Bill.

At the end of Gigg Lanes river few Res Moorhen, Mallard Littler Grebe on River Flock of Fielfares and song thrushes Great bluel Lt Tit wren