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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> ELTON RESERVOIR
Post Info TOPIC: ELTON RESERVOIR
Richard Thew


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RE: ELTON RESERVOIR
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Paul Wilson wrote:

Redpolls. Doing my head in! I give up trying to work out which one is a Common Redpoll and which ones are Lesser Redpolls, but maybe I'm just not cut out for this birding lark! One is pretty obvious when it appears next to the Lessers, due to the slight size difference, but when a male Lesser appears on its own it is a bit of a challenge!



-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Wednesday 10th of January 2018 05:43:25 PM



You've done very well here, I must admit even after 18 years of birding and research myself, there are still some things I struggle with, like I said in my previous post, I suspected there could be two mealy redpolls- I was wrong, so I'm glad I didn't hold my breath for that! But it's an easy mistake to get confused in the excitement. One thing that threw me (note my pictures) The angle can make things harder as picture 184 doesn't show any red on his body (top left), yet picture 103 shows it extensivly and besides, a pale lesser redpoll with the same side pattern didn't help much either. It's only after experiences like this that it usually clicks for me after some digging!

To be struggling in seperating bird species doesn't make one any less of a birder, it's as long as we enjoy the experience - and we can help each other out here too!

Your pictures are as follows ....... (hopefully)

Mealy redpoll, pictures 1,2,5 (top left) and 6. Pictures 3 and 4 are lesser redpolls.

Pictures attached,- 003- ring necked parakeet, 103 mealy redpoll top right, 184 mealy top left.

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Mark Jarrett


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Mealy Redpoll showed well late morning after a wait of around an hour. Bridge camera shots attached showing Lesser Redpoll on the right.

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https://flickr.com/photos/44931335@N06
Paul Wilson


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Redpolls. Doing my head in! I give up trying to work out which one is a Common Redpoll and which ones are Lesser Redpolls, but maybe I'm just not cut out for this birding lark! One is pretty obvious when it appears next to the Lessers, due to the slight size difference, but when a male Lesser appears on its own it is a bit of a challenge!



-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Wednesday 10th of January 2018 05:43:25 PM

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My bird photos collection on Flickr and My Elton Reservoir highlights collection.
sdneo


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Mealy Redpoll still there today https://flic.kr/p/23mDkFk

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Richard Thew


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Breaking news! A Ring necked parakeet was seen down withins Lane, unfortunately he flew off I think towards Elton res. He was seen in the big tree next to the 2nd bridge from Bury road. At least my mother (who hasn't been too well lately with this virus thing) got to see it as a lifer tick for her. I will post a record shot of it later this evening. Also worth a note; I've finally got to see my Mealy redpoll. (There are possibly 2 (had another birder with me at the time to 2nd that), but I won't hold my breath till I examine my pics). With 7 or 8 lesser redpolls too. We'll done Steven!!!



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 10th of January 2018 10:57:30 AM

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Roger Baker 3


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My thanks to Steve Higginbottom for finding this Mealy ... certainly a well coloured little gem.

As Keith says plenty of disturbance on car park .... only short of a brass band turning up.

Roger.



-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Tuesday 9th of January 2018 04:56:38 PM

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Keith Mills


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This afternoon at 2.15, after a 2 hour watch, with almost every possible disturbance by the feeders, a Mealy Redpoll with 4 Lesser Redpoll on the niger.
County Lifer for me!
Mike Cooper, Pete Baron also present.

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Ian Campbell


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Mealy Redpoll at feeders at around 10.00 p.m.
Cheers Ian

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john tromans


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Thanks  for your help Steven.. I know where to try now.  



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Steven Higginbottom


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They at the side of the car park at the sailing club entrance Cheer Steven

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john tromans


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Can anyone help with the location of the feeders for the Mealy Redpoll. I know the car park by the sailing club coming in from Bolton Road.  Many thanks



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Ian Campbell


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8.15 a.m. Mealy Redpoll (lifersmile) on feeders with 4 Lesser Redpoll. Also 3 Nuthatch and 1 Treecreeper near hospital.
Cheers Ian

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Steven Higginbottom


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08:15-12:00 with Paul W & Ian C Highlights.
6 Lesser Redpoll. 1 Mealy Redpoll. photo attached.
1 Coal Tit.
2 Nuthatch.
2 Goldcrest.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Oystercatcher.
6 Teal.
1 Goldeneye female.
2 Great Black backed Gulls.
5 CommonGulls.
2 Kingfishers.
3 Fieldfare.
7 Redwing.
1 Pheasant.
2 Sparrowhawks.
1 Buzzard.
1 Kestrel.
Water Rail Heard along the Canal.

Cheers Steven



-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Sunday 7th of January 2018 06:14:47 PM

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Paul Wilson


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Good 5 hour mooch this morning. Nothing special, but did see some nice common stuff including:

3 Nuthatches
4 Willow Tit
Goldcrest
2 Lesser Redpoll
Kingfisher
Jay
2 Sparrowhawk
Peregrine
GS Woodpecker
Tawny Owl
Water Rail
8 Bullfinches (on the feeders).



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Steven Higginbottom


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08:15-11:15am with Ian & Malcolm highlights... 1 Water Rail Capsticks... 5 Snipe.... 1 Little Egret Withins. ... 2 Goldeneye female.... 2 Pochard drakes... 9 Teal... 2 Goosander... 1 Great Black backed Gull.... 5 Common Gulls.... 2 Grey Wagtails.... 1 Buzzard... 1 Peregrine... 1 Kestrel... A possible Hawfinch Heard near car park... Cheers Steven

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Richard Thew


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Female goosander was very close on the canal at 1:45pm, unfortunately it flew off as I was on the towpath and had to pass where it was. Ta!

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Ian Campbell


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This a.m. in the rain. on the res 5 Goldeneye, at the feeders 2 Lesser Redpoll and a Willow Tit amongst the usual Finches, also 1 Jack Snipe.
Cheers Ian

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Mike Cooper


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08:30-11:30 car park area

Feeders
At least 300 goldfinches early on M&F lesser redpoll
4 male Bullfinches plus 2 females
Female sparrowhawk
Goldcrest

Res
2 m 3f goldeneye by jetty

-- Edited by Mike Cooper on Thursday 4th of January 2018 05:26:41 PM

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Steven Higginbottom


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15:00-15:30pm quick look after work. 1 Lesser Redpoll... 1 Willow Tit... 1 Kestrel... 2 Great black backed Gulls... 2 Common Gulls... 12 Goosander... 19 Fieldfare flew over s. Cheers Steven.

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Tuesday 2nd of January 2018 03:38:00 PM

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Charles Farrell


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Finally lost my Elton Reservoir virginity. Sadly heavy showers meant that I didn't stay for very long, but long enough to pick up a few species that I rarely see ... at least in GM. - 1 Willow Tit on the feeders - 4 Goldeneye (3m, 1f) on the reservoir Otherwise much as it was earlier in the day.

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Steven Higginbottom


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08:00-11:45am with Ian, Malcolm and Paul total species seen 50. Highlights.

Feeders.
7 Bulfinch..
1 Willow Tit..
1 Coal Tit..
5 Lesser Redpoll...
1 Male Sparrowhawk..

Elton Goyt area..
1 Buzzard...
1 Kestrel..
12 Redwing...
3 Meadow pipits..
5 Teal...

Elton Reservoir..
9 Teal..
5 Goldeneye 3 M 2 f..
2 Pochard drakes...
4 Great Black backed Gulls...
4 Common Gulls...

Other areas..
1 Peregrine..
1 Goldcrest..
1 Little Egret...
2 Goosander ...

Cheers Steven

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Steven Higginbottom


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08:10-10:30am with Ian C. 43 species seen highlights.. 1 Goldeneye drake... 12 Teal... 1 Goosander.... 1 Kingfisher... 1 Snipe... 1 Water Rail Capsticks... 2 Great Blacked Gulls... 1 Common Gull... 1 Buzzard... 1 Sparrowhawk.... 1 Kestrel... Chiffchaff heard but not seen at Capsticks end of Res.... Cheers Steven.

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Ian Campbell


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Rob Creek wrote:

Larry58 wrote:

Hi Ian just a question 

is there any parking at the reservoir 

thanks

simon



-- Edited by Larry58 on Friday 29th of December 2017 05:33:20 PM



I've private messaged you Simon smile


Rob must have pm'd you just before I did !!!
This a.m. with Malcolm, 5 Goosander, 3 Goldeneye, 3 Teal, 2 Gadwall and 4 Pochard on the res. 1 Pheasant below withins.
Cheers Ian

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Rob Creek


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Larry58 wrote:

Hi Ian just a question 

is there any parking at the reservoir 

thanks

simon



-- Edited by Larry58 on Friday 29th of December 2017 05:33:20 PM



I've private messaged you Simon smile

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Phil Hilton


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When approaching from Bolton rd there is parking near the Sailing club.

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Simon Lamb


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Hi Ian just a question 

is there any parking at the reservoir 

thanks

simon



-- Edited by Larry58 on Friday 29th of December 2017 05:33:20 PM

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Ian Campbell


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This a.m. with Steven from 1st light until the blizzard, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Goosander, 5 Pochard and 2 Teal seen on the res. 1 Snipe at capsticks with 9 Meadow Pipit over. 1 Lesser Redpoll amongst all the commoner Finches at the feeders.
Cheers Ian



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Steven Higginbottom


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14:50-15:50 pm quick visit after work.... 7 Goosanders.... 4 Shovelers.... 5 Pochard.... 2 Goldeneye..... 5 Teal... 6 Great Black backed Gulls.... 3 Common Gulls..... 1 Willow Tit.... Cheers Steven .

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Ian Campbell


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This am with Malcolm, very quiet, of note were 3 Pochard, 1 Snipe and a Lesser Redpoll at the feeders.
Cheers Ian

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Steven Higginbottom


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08:30-10:00am.... 1 Lesser Redpoll.... 120 Jackdaw .... 2 Goosander.... 2 Wigeon.... 2 Pochard.... 11 Teal.... 1 Pink footed Goose .... 3 Common Gulls.... Cheers Steven .

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Steven Higginbottom


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11:30-12:50 very quite bird wise... 1 Kingfisher.... 2 Goldeneye.... 4 Goosanders.,.. 9 Teal.... 3 Lesser Redpolls.... 1 Coal Tit... A dead young mute Swan.... Merry Christmas Steven

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Richard Thew


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Only a few things worth noting,

1 water rail close briefly (plus another heard close with an alarn call suprisingly hidden in a field away from water amongst the grasses and bramble)
2 goldeneye
4 female goosander
1 grey wagtail
1 lesser redpoll

Ta!

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Steven Higginbottom


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08:30-11:00am partly with Ian C... 2 Kestrels... 6 Great Black backed Gulls.... 3 Common Gulls... 230 Jackdaws ..... 4 Pochard drakes... 12 Teal. 7 side of Canal 5 on Res.... 17 Fieldfare over... 1 Lapwing.... 1 Lesser Redpoll at Feeders... 1 Goldcrest... Chiffchaff heard only near Capsticks.... Cheers Steven

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Ian Campbell


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Late post for yesterday morning with Malcolm, 4 Wigeon and 2 Kingfisher on res, 1 Kingfisher below Withins. 4 Snipe at Capsticks and Little Grebe on river.
Cheers Ian

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Richard Thew


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Also adding to Steven's sightings included

1 peregrine, 12 common gulls along with about 100 other mixed larger gulls, 8 teal and a meadow pipit.

I only saw 6 goldeneye on my visit although it looked like they were scattered around rather then staying together.

Ta!

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Steven Higginbottom


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08:15-10:00am with Ian and Malcolm... 1 Kestrel.... 1 Sparrowhawk.... 2 Snipe.... 5 Redwing.... 1 Teal.... 10 Goldeneye 7 F 3 M.... 3 Goosander.... Cheers Steven

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Martin Loftus


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Extensive search around the area this morning, in and out of thick fog patches. 

Of note: 

X4 Pochard on the main res near capstics 

Approximately 10 teal flew into the far end of Withins res then disappeared into the mist. 

X1 female sparrowhawk 

X1 female kestrel 

X6 teal on the Goyt, plus a few snipe being very vocal to each other yet staying well hidden. 

X2 little grebe on the Irwell, foraging with X3 female Goosander, all flew off together down the river towards Bury when spooked by a loud bang from the adjacent industrial estate. 



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Ian Campbell


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This am with Malcolm, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. Also 8 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Teal and a Kingfisher.
Cheers Ian

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Ian Campbell


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This am with Malcolm, no sign of yesterdays Smew. 2 Peregrine on pylon towards Bury, 1 Buzzard, 1 Little Grebe and 4 Goldeneye were the highlights.
Cheers Ian

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Richard Thew


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1:45 pm, drake Smew (a real handsom fellow) still showing well along the muddy side dispite the mist and rain, i didn't stay long due to the awful conditions. Pictures are poor but good enough for record shots. Also worth a note was a male sparrowhawk was seen.

Ta!



-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 17th of December 2017 02:49:00 PM

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Martin Loftus


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5mins ago it was between wader point and the creek, still with the goldeneye on the main res. 



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of December 2017 12:49:37 PM



-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Sunday 17th of December 2017 01:25:32 PM



-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Sunday 17th of December 2017 07:29:31 PM

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Rob Creek


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Nice to meet up with Steven Higginbottom, Simon Warford, and Paul Wilson. Nice to see Ian Lith and Roger Baker too!

-Drake Smew was observed with 2 Goldeneye on main Elton Res but was flushed over to Withins when the ice breaking boat came out, doesn't take a lot to spook a Smew as the boat was nowhere near really.
It was distant on Withins and with a mist setting in, that's where we left it, up at the far end at the mainly inaccessible part.

Other birds of note...
- 1 Golden Plover over
- 3 Dunlin
- 2 Lesser Redpoll in Goldfinch flock
- Sparrowhawk 1 female
- 12 adult Great Black-backed Gull + 1 1st Winter
- ...and a Lesser Black-backed Gull that had the same mantle colour as the Great Black-backed next to it

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 17th of December 2017 05:28:14 PM

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Ian McKerchar


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As of about 11:15 the Smew with two female Goldeneye were flushed off Withins and flew back in the general direction of Elton.

Unfortunately, the birds were flushed by three inconsiderate 'birders' who seems to think that walking right up to the bird was a really good idea. Needless to say, please view from a sensible distance if the bird should return so everyone can enjoy it.



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Steven Higginbottom


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Smew flew off Elton reservoir when boat came out breaking ice. Relocated on Withins

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brian fielding


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Drake Smew still present upto 09.00 at least, showing well near the Creek.

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Steven Higginbottom


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07:00-12:30 17th Dec wet and dull. 1 Drake Smew. 1 Pochard. 2 Goldeneye. 9 Teal. 1 Kingfisher. 1 Golden Plover. 1 Sparrowhawk. 1 Kestrel. 1 Stonechat. .Cheers Steven.

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Sunday 17th of December 2017 02:56:53 PM

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Steven Higginbottom


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Quick visit after work at dusk. 1 Merlin flew low over the reservoir NE.... 21 Goosanders... 16 Great Black Backed Gulls.... 6 Goldeneye. ... 330+ Jackdaws heading towards Radcliffe's roost. ... Cheers Steven

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Ian Campbell


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9.30 this am 2 Willow Tit at feeders.
Cheers Ian

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Steven Higginbottom


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08:30-10:45am 4 Lesser Redpoll at Feeders.. 4 Gadwall.... 7 Goldeneye. 3m 4f... 2 Goosander.1m 1f.... 18 Teal... 1 Kingfisher.... 4 Great Black Backed Gulls.... Redshank heard but not seen... Cheers Steven.

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Ian Campbell


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Also this am at 9.50 between 55/60 Meadow Pipits over in a flock going SW. Malcolm earlier had a Willow Tit on the feeders.
Cheers Ian

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