When I first saw it early on Sunday it's head was lied to the side and it appeared to have a dent in the middle of its back indicating a strike of some kind but later on it appeared to have recovered but never moved from where it was sat

Yes Steve,it was.We were lucky seeing the water rail right away but I had been twice before with the briefest look of it's back end.We are the last vestige pf the former Age Concern group which I lead from Ashton.

What you think killed it? Mink maybe?

Bill Beckwith wrote:

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Also saw dippers from bridge lower down river with cottage on one end.

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As I was walking home on Friday about 12.30 I looked back towards Wright Mill bridge and saw 4 people on the bridge, presumably watching the Dippers. I guess you were one of the quartet, Bill?

Thank you for the directions, Ashley and Roger: I've found the spot. However, no water rail (4.00 pm). I'm not saying it wasn't there though - for one thing I have no binoculars (to be rectifiied when I go to Leighton Moss next month, I hope) so if it wasn't close to the little bridge I would probably not have seen it. Also, at that time on this lovely day, as I looked along the ditch I was looking directly into the sun. I'll try again on a cloudy day, or during a morning. No moorhens there (though I can imagine there often are, as you say) - just Canada geese feeding in the field alongside.

Mallards on Manns, two moorhens (and more Canadas) on the grass (Pasture side) and a wren in the long grass by the path.

And (compensation for lack of water rail) brief but good views of a dipper in the stream close to the bridge over Wellihole Road.

Sat 2nd March. 07.00 hrs.

At least 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers having a drum off around Tanners Mill.
Mistle Thrush.

Roger.

Liz follow the footpath through where the campsite is, keep going and there is bridge on your right that crosses the river. Go over this and the path gets bit muddy, just before the path becomes very narrow near some hedgerow there is a ditch between two fields. Normally tons of moorhen in that area if it helps.

Pleasant stroll up the river to Uppermill and back with Dave Sanderson (good to have a natter, Dave).

Water Rail showing well - until I got my camera out

3 Little Grebe, 2 Coot and a pair of Tufted Duck on Royal George Lodge.

Pair of Dipper putting finishing touches to nest on river near Mossley border.

Royal George

At last, the Water Rail gave excellent, prolonged views out in the open.it was flushed by a dog walker at 0820hrs and no further sign. Makes up for the numerous rear end views as it disappeared into the juncus

5 Moorhen
Grey Heron

Coot on Manns

Fri 15th Feb. 07.25 hrs.

Brilliant views of the Water Rail for at least 20 minutes ...... was out in the open feeding confidently when I got there. Really boggy now with all the melt-water.

The Moorhen were feeding in the middle of the field so the Rail had the ditch to itself and was only spooked when a Canada goose flew in honking

Roger..

This morning WeBS visits.

Waterside Mill (Tanners) lodge: anglers got there before me, so no countable birds. Dipper on the island was a first for me though.

Royal George Mill lodge:

3 Little Grebe - developing breeding plumage
2 Coot - one on lodge, 1 on Manns pond
5 Goosander - 4 drakes
78 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
4 Moorhen
9 Mallard
8 Canada Geese

Sat. 2/2/13 - 0830:

brief but clear view of Water Rail in its favourite ditch as it crossed the ice from one clump of rushes to the next (and I only had to wait for two minutes )

Ashley Edwards wrote:

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GSW Drumming

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Ashley, could I please direct you to have a read of the sticky threads at the top of the county sightings forum please

Thurs 31st Jan. 07.30 - 08.30 hrs

Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Nuthatch.
Mistle Thrush (pair).
Moorhen (4).

No sign of the Water Rail.

Roger.

Friday 25th Jan. 15.30 hrs.

Water Rail.

In the Ditch (Thanks Steve & Mark). 30 minute wait for a 5 second sighting.

Only 20 yds down the ditch viewed from the little bridge on the path accessed from Royal George Mill car-park.

Also 1 Heron & 4 Moorhen.

Roger.

Wont admit that the girlfriend spotted it first though! Will definitely be going back to have another look, stunning bird to see. Never thought I would see that only few miles from my house

Water rail
Litte Grebe x 2
Buzzard
Nuthatch calling
Long tailed tit flock
Goosander flying over, may have been heading castleshaw as went there briefly after and was a lone individual near the gulls on lower reservoir
Several moorhens and single coot (keeping the Grebes company)
Heron x 3

Think me and the Mrs will spend a bit of time there this weekend then

Where was the water rail? Spent tons of time trying to spot one at Burton Mere at the weekend!

Hi Mark,
Tried to add to Greenfield post, but added new post by mistake. Stables at Higher Tunstead have brambling, hard to spot around feeders in amongst chaffinch, siskin, goldfinch, greenfinch with jay and nuthatch regular. Waxwing flock flew north to roost at 4 pm on 4th and 5th , but not seen since. Large flock of field fare 40-50 at Hawkyard too.

This afternoon's WeBS visit - morning spent waiting for builder

Royal George Mill lodge:

1 Coot - first here for many months
3 Little Grebe
3 Moorhen
35 Mallard
26 Canada Geese

plus Grey Wagtail on the river,

Ashley,

There is a path along one side of Royal George Lodge - enter from a small wooden gate on the left at the north (church side) of the hump-backed bridge on Well-i-hole Road. On the other side of the road you can walk down the track towards the Manns cottages - natives are quite friendly

Heronry and some good Dipper sites are best viewed from the bridleway which follows the old railway line. Good place to start is diagonally opposite the Royal George pub on Manchester Road (there's a small car parking area across the road). You can follow the bridleway up to Greenfield village (or further if you like). Good return walk by turning left down the village main street and joining the canal towpath at Tesco. This will take you back to Royal George Lodge and the Manns.

Good Luck!

Walk up the valley and back this morning.

Four Heron nests already occupied by birds staking a claim. A Cormorant in breeding finery was also present.

2 Dippers on the river by the ETW busy foraging for food. Both colour-ringed with orange over metal on right leg. The left leg rings were red over orange and blue over red as far as I could make out. Both ringed locally.

2 Little Grebes on Royal George Lodge.

At least 2 pairs Goosander on river.

This morning WeBS visits - very little ice left

Waterside Mill (Tanners) lodge: got there before the human fishermen - 1 Cormorant, 1 Kingfisher, 10 Canada Geese, plus Grouse heard calling from the moors.

Royal George Mill lodge:

3 Little Grebe
76 Black-headed Gulls
5 Common Gulls
4 Moorhen
12 Mallard
just 2 Canada Geese

plus Dipper (unringed) on the river,