22nd October, pm. A near full-grown great crested grebe was noisily begging from its parent near the path. (The adult was still in breeding plumage, the ones I saw an hour previously at High Rid were in Winter gear.) Half a dozen gadwalls with the tufted ducks and dabchicks on the small pool. Eighteen mute swans loafing by the car park.
Wednesday (26th) evening quick visit to try out the smartphone adaptor
There are several pairs of Common terns there, difficult to know exactly how many with the coming and going but I would think between 5 & 10 pairs.
Certainly some juveniles on the rafts, didn't appear to be flying yet but nearly adult sized
Also some Black-headed Gulls with young on one of the rafts.
Mute Swan is still on the nest by the path (didn't need adaptor and scope for this shot) - at one stage the male was virtually blocking the path, required a confident but careful approach to go past. But still sitting on eggs does seem to be a bit late, maybe they've failed or a 1st set of eggs has failed and this is a 2nd set.
Sunday late afternoon - quick visit as I was passing - never been before so thought I'd see what it's like - impressed - never knew that Bolton had a tern colony
There seem to be several pairs of Common Terns on "nests" on the rafts in that there would always be one bird sitting in each place - but of course it's difficult to see on the same level - maybe I should have climbed up a tree.
Reed Warblers - not seen but 2 heard at opposite ends of the causeway.
The Swan's nest near the causeway seems to be ok so far.
Evening walk around Doffcocker, nice to see that the Common Terns are back, a number of Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings as well as the normal birds on the lodge.
10.15am to 11.30am. 30 species recorded including:
Chiffchaff 2
Great Crested Grebe 1
Treecreeper 1
Bullfinch 2
Mute Swan 2
Whitethroat 1
Goldcrest 1
Blackcap 3
Possible Cetti's Warbler 1 (my first sighting since the 15/3/2019 as with that sighting seen only and I was unable to film or photo, I've looked at other possible I.Ds for this sighting the nearest I could find was female Siberian Rubythroat. It was not near the reedbeds as the sighting early in the year, but in a garden near the island, I hope next time I see this bird I can get a photo or video to confirm it's I.D.)
Common Terns 6 (2 adults & 4 chicks) (I spent a fair amount of time during this visit watching one of the adults mobbing a Cormorant that was perched on the two rafts which had chicks)
Peregrine Falcon 1 (heard first while in the coppice at the Moss Bank Way side of the causeway, then seen through a gap in the trees flying over the western end of this site)
During this visit there were 2 anglers fishing while wading at the western end of the lodge both sides of the causeway and near the reedbeds and Tern rafts. There were signs prohibiting this, but these have been removed or are obscured by bushes etc. Also there dosen't seem to be any water bailiffs to police any by-laws.
During this visit there were 2 anglers fishing while wading at the western end of the lodge both sides of the causeway and near the reedbeds and Tern rafts. There were signs prohibiting this, but these have been removed or are obscured by bushes etc. Also there don't seem to be any water bailiffs to police any by-laws.
Mute Swans 3 (2 of which appeared to be nesting earlier this week On a hay bale placed in the south-west reedbed by myself and Rick Parker for this purpose though on this visit they seem to have abandoned I thought I could see an egg on the bale through the reeds)
Reed Warbler 1 (heard only)
Reed Buntings 12+
Bullfinch 1
Chiffchaff
Willow Warblers 4
Long-tailed tits 2
Snipe 1 (flying)
Blackcaps 2
Common Terns 2 (Must has arrived during this visit as they were not on the raft when I arrived)