210 Lapwings roosting on the big island, also there a single feral Swan Goose amongst the flock of Canadas.
A raft of 25 adult Common Gulls rested on the reservoir. Also there 5 Great Crested Grebes, 29 Cormorants and 5 Grey Herons.
200+ Mallards were flushed out of the grassy area at the North end of the reservoir by a couple of hikers who strayed off the path.
Amongst the Mallards were a single drake Tufted Duck (The only diving duck seen on the reservoir) and a one Teal, oddly I could only
find a single Coot too. 2 Sand Martins were amongst a trickle of southbound Swallows skimming the surface of the water.
The only raptor seen was a single female Kestrel, whilst among the corvids were 2 Ravens.
John Williams said
Sat Dec 29 8:49 PM, 2018
10.30-15.15
Stocks Reservoir :
1f Goosander, 1m Pintail, 10m + 16f Goldeneyes (In front of wooden hide), 4m +2f Pochards and 24 Tufted Ducks.
On the large island :1 Oystercatcher, 15 Lapwings plus a single 1st winter and 4 adult Great Black Backed Gulls.
1m Siskin was on the feeders by the hide. Chaffinches were frequent visitors to the woodland feeders, but no sign of Bramblings.
The gull roost was just building up as I left, but with bad light and the fact that they settle in the centre of the reservoir, viewing was extremely difficult.
Mallard were noticeably abundant, have some of these ducks been released by local keepers?.
Lots of Teal too, plus a few Wigeon and feral Greylag Geese, but no sign of any Shoveler.
A skein of 30 Pink Footed Geese flew over heading West, as did a flock of 8 Fieldfares.
John Williams said
Sun Mar 11 6:11 PM, 2018
10.30-14.00
Stocks Reservoir : 30 Oystercatchers (Mainly on the large island), 1 Buzzard, 16 Wigeon, 42 Lapwings, 2 Nuthatches,
2 Goldeneyes, 4 Great Crested Grebes,3 Great Black Backed Gulls and 2 Grey Herons.
Champion Moor : 3 Curlew, 1 Buzzard and 4 Kestrels.
Lots of highly vocal frogs mating between the hides, and right besides the main path at Stocks Reservoir.
Far too much human disturbance for birds to enjoy an amphibian banquet, but once the crowds go the predators may move in.
John Williams said
Sun Feb 11 6:50 PM, 2018
11.00-15.30
Waddington Fell (Birds view able from the lay-by on Slaidburn Road): 4 Kestrels and 1 Buzzard.
Stocks Reservoir : 1 Buzzard, 7 Oystercatchers (On the large island), 3m+1f Goldeneyes, 1m+1f Goosanders, 1 Great Black Backed Gull,
30 Greylag Geese and 1 Grey Heron.
Also a male Sparrowhawk that attacked the garden birds on the feeders, but did'nt catch one.
Plenty of Chaffinches around the feeders but no Bramblings.
John Williams said
Sat Nov 25 5:43 PM, 2017
10.30-14.30
Stocks Reservoir : 4 Goldeneye, 6 Pintail, 16 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 17 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron,
10 Greylag Geese and 1f Pochard. Mallard, Canada Geese and Coots were in abundance.
Whilst around the surrounding fields were : 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and 5 Ravens.
A group of 14 Golden Plover were on sheep pasture alongside Tinklers Lane, which also held a large flock of Rooks.
Hawthorn bushes alongside the surrounding lanes were full of Fieldsfares, Redwings, Starlings and Blackbirds.
The feeding station at Stocks Reservoir attracted Coal Tits in abundance, they were in equal numbers to Blues, and far outnumber the visiting Great Tits.
A single Bullfinch joined the few Chaffinches in attendance here too.
-- Edited by John Williams on Sunday 26th of November 2017 12:15:30 AM
Phil Owen said
Sun Jul 15 12:21 PM, 2012
For anyone thinking of visiting, it's also worth keeping an eye out for Sika Deer.
A pair kept the assembled crowd happy whilst waiting for the Montagu's Harrier to re-appear during our visit yesterday.
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 15th of July 2012 12:22:39 PM
sid ashton said
Sun Jul 15 10:36 AM, 2012
The Montagu's Harrier was still present this morning. It was reported that yesterday the narrow roads around the area became increasingly congested as more birders arrived. A local request asked visitors please not to cause obstruction, not to park in field gateways and to observe only from the road.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 15th of July 2012 10:36:49 AM
Henry Cook said
Sun Jul 15 4:17 AM, 2012
Male Montagu's Harrier still present at 5pm showing distantly from Tinkler's Lane for myself and Phil Owen. Also around were:
Arrived on the moors above Stocks reservoir with Mr Barber in lovely sunshine this morning and within minutes we had our first views of the Montagu's Harrier initially being given grief by a Crow. We watched it for a while before it settled in a walled off area after having a difference of opinion with a family of Kestrels. It then sat resting and preening in the field for half an hour or so before giving us excellent flight views prior to disappearing over the crest of the moor. A lovely bird.
Just as soon as the Harrier disappeared a very pale Barn Owl began quartering the area
We then dropped down to Stocks Reservoir to see if we could pick up the reported Osprey but no luck with that one. We did see family parties of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff and a single Goldcrest in the wooded areas around the hides as well as Red-breasted Merganser and a Barnacle Goose on the water amongst the many Canada and Greylag Geese.
Nice to see Manchester birder Richard Norris.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 15th of July 2012 03:08:14 PM
210 Lapwings roosting on the big island, also there a single feral Swan Goose amongst the flock of Canadas.
A raft of 25 adult Common Gulls rested on the reservoir. Also there 5 Great Crested Grebes, 29 Cormorants and 5 Grey Herons.
200+ Mallards were flushed out of the grassy area at the North end of the reservoir by a couple of hikers who strayed off the path.
Amongst the Mallards were a single drake Tufted Duck (The only diving duck seen on the reservoir) and a one Teal, oddly I could only
find a single Coot too. 2 Sand Martins were amongst a trickle of southbound Swallows skimming the surface of the water.
The only raptor seen was a single female Kestrel, whilst among the corvids were 2 Ravens.
Stocks Reservoir :
1f Goosander, 1m Pintail, 10m + 16f Goldeneyes (In front of wooden hide), 4m +2f Pochards and 24 Tufted Ducks.
On the large island :1 Oystercatcher, 15 Lapwings plus a single 1st winter and 4 adult Great Black Backed Gulls.
1m Siskin was on the feeders by the hide. Chaffinches were frequent visitors to the woodland feeders, but no sign of Bramblings.
The gull roost was just building up as I left, but with bad light and the fact that they settle in the centre of the reservoir, viewing was extremely difficult.
Mallard were noticeably abundant, have some of these ducks been released by local keepers?.
Lots of Teal too, plus a few Wigeon and feral Greylag Geese, but no sign of any Shoveler.
A skein of 30 Pink Footed Geese flew over heading West, as did a flock of 8 Fieldfares.
10.30-14.00
Stocks Reservoir : 30 Oystercatchers (Mainly on the large island), 1 Buzzard, 16 Wigeon, 42 Lapwings, 2 Nuthatches,
2 Goldeneyes, 4 Great Crested Grebes,3 Great Black Backed Gulls and 2 Grey Herons.
Champion Moor : 3 Curlew, 1 Buzzard and 4 Kestrels.
Lots of highly vocal frogs mating between the hides, and right besides the main path at Stocks Reservoir.
Far too much human disturbance for birds to enjoy an amphibian banquet, but once the crowds go the predators may move in.
Waddington Fell (Birds view able from the lay-by on Slaidburn Road): 4 Kestrels and 1 Buzzard.
Stocks Reservoir : 1 Buzzard, 7 Oystercatchers (On the large island), 3m+1f Goldeneyes, 1m+1f Goosanders, 1 Great Black Backed Gull,
30 Greylag Geese and 1 Grey Heron.
Also a male Sparrowhawk that attacked the garden birds on the feeders, but did'nt catch one.
Plenty of Chaffinches around the feeders but no Bramblings.
Stocks Reservoir : 4 Goldeneye, 6 Pintail, 16 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 17 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Greylag Geese and 1f Pochard. Mallard, Canada Geese and Coots were in abundance.
Whilst around the surrounding fields were : 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and 5 Ravens.
A group of 14 Golden Plover were on sheep pasture alongside Tinklers Lane, which also held a large flock of Rooks.
Hawthorn bushes alongside the surrounding lanes were full of Fieldsfares, Redwings, Starlings and Blackbirds.
The feeding station at Stocks Reservoir attracted Coal Tits in abundance, they were in equal numbers to Blues, and far outnumber the visiting Great Tits.
A single Bullfinch joined the few Chaffinches in attendance here too.
-- Edited by John Williams on Sunday 26th of November 2017 12:15:30 AM
A pair kept the assembled crowd happy whilst waiting for the Montagu's Harrier to re-appear during our visit yesterday.
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 15th of July 2012 12:22:39 PM
-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 15th of July 2012 10:36:49 AM
1 Peregrine Falcon
3+ Kestrels
1 Curlew
16 Lapwings
3 Stock Doves
4 House Martins
1 Sand Martin
50+ Swifts
1 Reed Bunting
Just as soon as the Harrier disappeared a very pale Barn Owl began quartering the area
We then dropped down to Stocks Reservoir to see if we could pick up the reported Osprey but no luck with that one. We did see family parties of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff and a single Goldcrest in the wooded areas around the hides as well as Red-breasted Merganser and a Barnacle Goose on the water amongst the many Canada and Greylag Geese.
Nice to see Manchester birder Richard Norris.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 15th of July 2012 03:08:14 PM