ELTON RESERVOIR

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

RE: ELTON RESERVOIR

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

9am - 11.30 am.
38 species spotted.
Including:
2 Little Egret. Below pumphouse.
Oystercatcher.Below pumphouse.
Peregrine .
12 Redwing.
60 + Starling.
5 Goosander 3m 2f .
3 Lesser redpoll.
2 Grey Heron.
9 Lesser blacked - backed Gull.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. with Malcolm, on res. 3 Goosander and 1 Scaup of note, on withins 5 Teal. Buzzard near crow trees with 2 Stock Dove in sheep field here also. Peregine with prey on pylon near Bury.
Cheers Ian

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

This morning

260 Fieldfare
41 Redwing
4 Lesser Redpoll
Oystercatcher - west
Single Pink-footed Goose
2 possibly 3 Little Egret
Peregrine
2 Jay

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

8-10 a.m. with Paul, 2 Little Egret in old hall marsh, 11 Goosander, 12 Teal, 3 Goldeneye and Scaup on res. 2 Snipe at capsticks. Mealy Redpoll seen at feeders.
Cheers Ian

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

15:15-16:30pm after work.
2 Pintail (record shot attached)
1 Scaup female ( record shot attached)
1 Goosander.

Cheers Steven.

Mike c cooper · Status: Offline

Report by Alan Ball of a pair of Pintail in Canada goose flock at midday

i couldnt refind with him but canadas had left. So keep eyes peeled

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

8-10 a.m. with Malcolm, 1 Oystercatcher and 26 Teal on res. with 4 on Withins. 1 Buzzard in usual area below Crow Trees. Mealy Redpoll and at least 3 Lesser at the feeders.
Cheers Ian

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

9.00am - 11.00. Cold clear sunny windy 4 °c.
34 species spotted.
Including:
Little Egret .Near Creek.
Brambling.near feeders.
9 Goosanders 6m 3f.on lodge top of elton.
Pochard f
Waterail.
Pheasant.
Great spotted woodpecker.
6 Teal.

Derek .

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

Quick look after work was hard work finding any birds on the Res but managed to find.
6 Tufted Ducks.
11 Teal.
3 Goldeneye.
1 female Goosander.
No Large gulls.

Cheers Steven.

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Just down the canal way- flooded fields have had a good number of gulls in over the past 4 days. Mostly black headed and a few common gulls. Today included a lesser black backed gull and a few herring gulls along with a nice looking argentatus one - from which after a number of weeks of trying to separate the races of herring gulls - I finally get it!!! (Well, adults or near adults at least - it's a start).

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

11.00 - 12.30pm.
28 species seen including :
1 Greater Scaup.
4 Nuthatch.
2 Bullfinch.
1 Rook.
1 Kestrel.
7 Lesser Backed Gull.
1 Common Gull.

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

14:45-15:55pm
Feeders.
1 Goldcrest.
7 Lesser Redpoll
4 Bullfinch.
23 Greenfinch.
1 Male Sparrowhawk.

On Elton Reservoir.
3 Goldeneye.
4 Teal.
49 Herring Gull.
31 Argentatus Herring Gulls.
5 Great Black Backed Gulls.
8 Lesser Black backed Gulls.
5 Common Gull.

Cheers Steven

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

8-10 with Malcolm, on the res. 1 Greater Scaup, 3 Shoveler, 5 Goldeneye and 11 Teal. At the feeders 7 Lesser Redpoll but no sign of Mealy. 34 Lapwing over.
Cheers Ian

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

07:45-09:00 with ian staying at the feeders and myself doing a quick look of the reservoir.
At the feeders.
1 Woodcock flew over the feeders.
7 Lesser Redpoll.
1 Mealy (common) Redpoll.
75 Goldfinch.
23 Greenfinch.

On Elton Reservoir.
1 Greater Scaup record shot attached.
3 Goldeneye.
19 Teal.
2 Common Gull.

Cheers Steven .

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

After a fruitless hour at Hollingworth Lake arrived at sailing club car park and got cracking views of the Mealy Redpoll on the feeders standing out well next to 3 Lesser Redpoll.

Also 2 Bullfinch.

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Took my parents to see the Mealy redpoll this afternoon as my mother needed to get out for a bit.

Very windy periods and the feeders were swinging quite a bit which didn't help much, but we got some good views of the Mealy redpoll and mum found the bullfinches.

I walked it back home and I managed the Scaup which was still around. He was surprisingly close to the shore at the top end (although the boats had been out) and got the picture of it through a wide gap in the trees. Apparently, it was hanging out with 2 tufted ducks (de-ja-vu) and a female goldeneye.

Ta!

Chris Cunliffe · Status: Offline

Hi Mike, Just joined the site and had to wait for approval, but as promised here are the images from January 26th of Lesser Redpolls, Greenfinch and Brambling.

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

07:50-11:10am with Ian C and Martin L highlights.
1 Female Greater Scaup.
4 Wigeon.
9 Goldeneye.
1 Goosander.
24 Teal.
1 Goosander.
40 Pink Footed Geese.
2 Snipe.
5 Common Gulls.
3 Great Black backed Gulls.
1 Peregrine Falcon.
2 Kestrel.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Mealy (Common) Redpoll.
8 Lesser Redpoll.
80+ Fieldfare.
30+ Redwing.
2 Jay.

Cheers Steven

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

Female Scaup present this morning in the creek
Cheers Steven

Paul Wilson · Status: Offline

Quick visit this morning (with Malcolm) before going to Hollingworth
No sign of Scaup and not much else. Highlights:
9 Teal.
1 Wigeon
1 Oystercatcher (heard).
1 Common Gull.
1 Common Redpoll.
3 Lesser Redpoll.

Mike c cooper · Status: Offline

Car park area 09:30-15:30

Common (Mealy) Redpoll several times during stay with 4 fem/imms and a very smart male Lesser Redpoll

Male Brambling in winter plumage in hawthorn and elder along stream by field right after wooden bridge. Another birder got some good photos which he said he would post

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

Quick visit this morning
1 Female Scaup.Record shot attached.
6 Goldeneye.
8 Teal.
1 Oystercatcher.
1 Common Gull.
1 Mealy Redpoll.
Afternoon visit. 1 Sparrowhawk. 3 Lesser Redpoll. 1 Possible Yellow Legged Gull dropped in for about five minutes record shot attached.
Cheers Steven
.

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Friday 26th of January 2018 09:40:26 PM

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

10 - 12
26 species including:
Mealy redpoll
3 Lesser redpoll
30+ Goldfinch
15 Starling
4 Greenfinch
240+ Black headed gull
4 Mute swan
Kestrel
8 Lesser black backed gull

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

13.45 -14.10

Mealy Redpoll visiting the right hand feeders fairly regularly until just after 14.00 when it flew off. At least 4 different Lesser Redpoll visiting during the same period judging by size and markings.
C 6 Long-tailed Tit
Great Tits
Blue Tits
Good numbers of Greenfinch and Chaffinches
Uncounted Goldfinches
4 Bullfinch 3 males and 1 female on the feeder trays lower down

En route from and to Radcliffe tram stop inc the reservoir
Black-headed Gull
Canada Goose
Mallard
Moorhen
Wren
Mistle Thrush
Cormorant
Mute Swan
Tufted Duck
Common Gull 6+
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Woodpigeon
Robin
Blackbird
Magpie.
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Mealy Redpoll showing occasionally on the feeders late morning

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

Slow 2 hour stroll midday. 24 species spotted. Including : 2 water rail 3 lesser redpoll 12 cormorant 6 great crested grebe 25 starling 80 + canada goose 15 long tailed tit 5 bullfinch all male 8 tufted duck 1 pochard

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. Mealy Redpoll still present, also 1 Kingfisher over car park and 3 Goldeneye and 2 Wigeon on res.
Cheers Ian

Paul Wilson · Status: Offline

This morning with Ian C and Steve H - Highlights:

1 Mealy Redpoll
3 Lesser Redpoll
1 Brambling (record shot attached - the best I could get in the hour I was looking for this bird!)
1 Coal Tit
1 Buzzard
A few of each thrushes: Redwing; Fieldfare; Mistle Thrush; Song Thrush
11 Teal
1 Pochard (drake)
Goldeneye

-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Sunday 21st of January 2018 01:37:35 PM

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

A really good selection of birds at the feeding station this morning -

Mealy Redpoll was showing well
3 Lesser Redpoll
Female Brambling
Willow Tit
2 Coal Tit
8 Long-tailed Tit
8 Bullfinch
30+ Greenfinch
50+ Goldfinch
5 Robin
3 Dunnock
6 Blackbirds
Wren
5 Moorhen
4 Mallard

Also Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Woodpigeon and Magpie

As you can probably guess not much else about other than 7 Goldeneye on the res

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

8-9 a.m. Mealy Redpoll still present, also 2 brief views of a Brambling on the ground below the feeders.
Cheers Ian

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Mealy Redpoll showed well on the niger feeders today at 11am and then at 1-1.30pm with 5 Lesser Redpoll all of variable size and markings with one very bright red-breasted male. Excellent supporting cast of large 50+ Goldfinch flock, 20+ Greenfinch, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tits on the fatballs and 3 Bullfinches

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

Britishis morning up to 10:30am with Ian C highlights..
22 Goosander first light.
2 Little Egret.
5 Goldeneye.
6 Gadwall.
10 Teal.
1 Water rail.
1 Kestrel.
100+ Goldfinch at feeders first light.
1 Mealy (Common) Redpoll.
4 Lesser Redpoll. 1 Brambling record shot attached
2 Skylark.

Cheers Steven

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Thursday 18th of January 2018 01:59:15 PM

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

And Mealy Redpoll on the feeders again at 9.20 and 9.40. Thanks Ian! Also 2 Lesser Redpoll on the feeders, 7 Goldeneye and 12 Teal on the reservoir, and 2 Little Egret on Old Hall Marsh.

50 Fieldfare flew over heading west, and a mixed flock of Redwing, Filedfare and 9 Mistle Thrushes on the fields by the canal.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

Mealy Redpoll seen twice at the feeders between 8-9 a.m. when I left.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Wednesday 17th of January 2018 09:54:20 AM

Norman Price · Status: Offline

The Mealy Redpoll appeared around 10.40 this morning and showed well. It disappeared when the Beluga flew over but soon returned.
Other birds much as yesterday's report.

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Not been around the main area today but worthy of note; 2 gadwall on the flooded fields along the canal near crow trees farm and over half a dozen mistle thrushes were also seen there. Ta!

Tony Koziol · Status: Offline

Mealy Redpoll showing well at 11.00 this morning. Two lesser redpoll also active. Other birds include:

30+ Goldfinch

15+ Greenfinch

4 Bullfinch

2 Chaffinch

2 Coal Tit

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 15th of January 2018 05:33:56 PM

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

Mealy Redpoll on feeders this a.m. at 8.15 with 3 Lesser Redpoll for comparison.
Cheers Ian

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 14th Jan, late morning.

Good to see Chris Greene & wife, and some other forum members.
(I actually came yesterday afternoon after work but the Mealy Redpoll was a no show)

- 1 Mealy Redpoll (Common Redpoll)
An absolute cracker of a bird with a stunning rosey plumage, and an obvious size difference between it and the Lesser Redpolls.
- 4 Lesser Redpolls
- 2 Bullfinch (m)
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Sparrowhawk (near the hospital)

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 14th of January 2018 05:22:46 PM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 14th of January 2018 05:33:42 PM

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

08:00-11:00am very quite highlights...
1 Common Redpoll...
5 Lesser Redpoll...
1 Linnet near Crow Trees...
1 Coal Tit...
22 Teal...
2 Kestrel...

Cheers Steven.

brian fielding · Status: Offline

Mealy redpoll showing well on feeders at 1.20 pm

Paul Wilson · Status: Offline

7am to 11am partly with Ian and Malcolm.

5 Lesser Redpoll
1 Common Redpoll
1 Coal Tit
1 Nuthatch
2 Teal
2 Common Gulls
1 Sparrowhawks
1 Kestrel
2 Water Rail at Capsticks
10+ Common Snipe in marsh below farm
1000+ Jackdaw murmurating over the res before sunrise

Good to meet fellow birders (Simon Gough, Ian Boote and others, who chipped in with donations for Steve, for all the seed he's been buying!)

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

8.30/8.45 Mealy Redpoll still present on car park feeders with a supporting cast of 6/7 Lesser Redpoll for good comparison

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

Also this morning
40 Redwing,
5 Fieldfare.
3 Gadwall 2m 1f.
1 Pochard Drake.
1 Meadow Pipit.
5 Lesser Redpoll.
1 Mealy Redpoll showed around 12noon and 14:15pm photo attached of Mealy Redpoll on left, Lesser Redpoll on right. You can see the size difference as pointed out by Simon Jonson in an earlier post.
Cheers Steven

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

Also this a.m. 1 Raven and 1 Peregrine.
Cheers Ian

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

Nice morning round elton 51 species seen

Mealy Redpoll was in trees next to the sailing club with 11 Lesser Redpoll - there are also 2 very pale Lesser Redpolls within the flock which might be confused for the Mealy - one pointer to look out for with the Mealy is that it is larger than all the other Redpolls.

also -
904 Pink-footed Geese flew west in 8 Skeins between 10.28 and 10.43
Woodcock flew out of old hall marsh at dawn
2 Tawny Owl calling along the canal
4 Treecreeper
Nuthatch
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers - drumming in the dip
4 Water Rail ( Old hall marsh, Bennies and 2 Coney green)
3 Wigeon
25 teal
24 Goosander
3 Coal Tit

Martin Loftus · Status: Offline

3.49pm The Mealy Redpoll made a 5 minute appearance on the niger feeder before flying off towards the pump house with one single lesser redpoll. Many other birders had given up and left as it was going dark and most bird activity had died down. Also a pair of sparrowhawks (M+F) flew over together scaring everything but the mealy off the feeders.. They were not in hunting mode as they were high up and looked to be flying off to roost.

-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Thursday 11th of January 2018 07:10:38 PM

-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Thursday 11th of January 2018 11:00:06 PM

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Mealy redpoll turned up at 9:45am. Showing well in the hazy sunshine!!! Lesser redpolls not as numerous as yesterday- at least 5. Ta!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 12th of January 2018 09:38:10 AM

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

No sign of Mealy Redpoll when I left although they were being looked for (good luck Simon et el), Woodcock over the car park at 8.00 a.m. and a Water rail near Bennies.
Cheers Ian