2 Arctic Terns briefly at 7.15am before flying off and then 2 more probably different birds appeared after 9am. Also 2 Curlew through and 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Swift. With Paul Wilson and Ian Campbell.
First visit in ages. A very muddy circuit - wish I'd taken my wellys rather than just my boots.
Common & Lesser Whitethroat were new for the year for me, though I couldn't manage to see either bird. Nothing else of particular note amongst the 37 species I heard or saw.
Looks good for Blue-Headed "flava", though I couldn't rule out "Channel Wagtail" (not uncommon hybrid flava x flavissima - seem to get a few locally) as the head is a little on the pale side
That Yellow Wagtail is surely one of the sub-species, something like Blue-headed Wagtail (M.f.flava) - I'm no expert but someone who is will surely see those photos
Brilliant morning around Elton with the following highlights
an Osprey over the reservoir at 6.30am being pursued by 3 lesser black-backed gulls, circled briefly before flying off north towards Lowercroft. Viewed distantly from the canal (2 poor record shots attached). single Arctic Tern briefly at 6.45am but chased off by black-headed gulls 1 Common Tern 3 Mediterranean Gulls 1 poss 2 Ringed Plovers 1 Common Sandpiper 2 Snipe 2 Wheatear 1 Lesser Whitethroat 5 Willow Tits 250 Sand Martin 7 House Martin 60 Swallow 22 Willow Warbler 14 Blackcap 2 White Wagtails 2 Siskin 5 Redpoll 7 Linnet 21 Mipits
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 14th of April 2024 01:59:34 PM
2 male Redstarts and a male Yellow Wagtail present this morning. Also 2 House Martin, Common Sandpiper, Little Owl and good numbers of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps fresh in.
A Sandwich Tern was perched on a buoy out from the sailing club at 6.55am viewed distantly from capsticks, by the time I got nearer it was flying around the reservoir, it went quite high towards Radcliffe then came back to the reservoir before flying NE at 7.10am. Also Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, 1 Wheatear and 7 Goldeneye.
Its already on ebird so no need for our annonymous friend to put it on there for us..
2 Common Crane over Old Hall farm side of Elton heading East towards Pilsworth 8:45 (ish), viewed from the lane up to the farm with Paul Wilson. Terrible phone photo attached as neither of us had camera equipment.
Both Black Necked Grebe still on at 11.30am. 2 pairs of Great Crested Grebes. 12 Lapwings 7 Chiffchaffs 2 Grey Herons 1 Kestral Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, on car park feeders. Lots of Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Black Headed Gulls.
Warning - Reservoirs Western pathways are waterlogged and heavily muddy.
Willow warbler (singing top of the dip) Siskin Brambling Nuthatch Ring-necked parakeet 4 Teal 4 gadwall Shoveler 14 gadwall Little egret 40 sand Martin
Redshank on the wall which flew east 6 Snipe east 2 Curlew west 2 oystercatcher 5 Sand Martin 6+ Chiffchaff 24 Redwing 2 skylark ( 1 singing dofferfold + 1 north) 2 Siskin north 268 meadow pipit north 2 Greylag Geese dropped in Mediterranean Gull ad flew down res towards sailing club 17 Goldeneye Gadwall
06.45am-10.30am. Nice to see a general increase in activity.
1 Redshank (on shoreline near car park - not seen when back at car park later) 5 Curlew (1 east, then 4 SW) 6 Little Egret (3 again near stream at Crow Trees, 3 more up towards Coney Green) 2 Kestrel 1 Willow Tit 4 Chiffchaff (1 just past sailing club, 3 between creek and capsticks) 5 Siskin (2 male and 3 female at feeders) 26 Lapwing 15 Redwing (in field near Crow Trees) 15 Pied Wagtail (flooded field near canal) 16 Meadow Pipits (15 over in small groups plus 1 in capsticks field) 2 Common Gull
Also heard Blackcap twice near capsticks (once near reservoir and once in hedgerow up to Doffer farm, but could not see it.
-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Monday 11th of March 2024 10:55:33 AM
a selection of notables seen by me from Irwell/canal side of the res
siskin (f) and treecreeper at feeders plus numerous goldfinches, greenfinches, chaffinches, blue tits, great tits, coal tits, bullfinch (m) pair of collared doves
on/over res
2 goldeneye
3 oystercatcher
20+ lapwing
2 gadwall
1 goosander (on Irwell)
3 cormorant
4 mute swan
4 great crested grebe
2 rooks
also shoveler, tufted duck, teal, black headed gull, gbb gIll, lbb gull, Canada geese,
Sightings from this morning with Paul and Simon produced 68 species.
3 Pintail (2 drakes) circled the res twice at 07:50 and flew off SE ish 13 Whooper Swan flew NW at 10am looked like they dropped down to Lowercroft (same birds seen over Carr Vale in Derbys at 08:12). 129 Pink-footed Geese NW (20 and 109). 1 Green Sandpiper 2 Woodcock 3 Oystercatcher 1 Curlew over 13 Skylark over 21 Goldeneye 36 Goosander roosted 4 Water Rail 1 Little Egret 3 Ring-necked Parakeet 1 Dipper - Paul 100 Fieldfare 3 Redpoll feeders 18 Siskin 2 Meadow Pipit
Dear annonymous ebirder, there is no need to keep putting our sightings on ebird on our behalf, we are capable of putting our own sightings on ebird. All you are doing is duplicating records which is completely senseless.
7.30am - 10.50am. Very tough - ice everywhere (only a small area of the reservoir near the creek was not iced up)
Highlights:
3 Shoveler 27 Gadwall 40+ Teal 2 Lapwing 1 Jack Snipe (took 20 minutes looking at it at stream in Capsticks before I could see enough for positive ID) 9 Common snipe (1 in Capsticks, others on main marsh) 2 Common Gull 2 Kingfisher 1 GS Woodpecker 1 Willow Tit (at feeders) 2 Redwing 4 Fieldfare 6 Meadow pipit (on banking blow pump house)
Mornings highlights, 4 Little Egrets, 13 Greylag Geese flew over NE and 2 Willow Tits with numerous Finches at the feeders. Also 2 Woodcock flying over.
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Monday 8th of January 2024 07:09:11 PM