ELTON RESERVOIR

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

RE: ELTON RESERVOIR

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

09.00am - Noon. Blue clear sky, Still, 9c.

38 Species spotted: Including:

3 Buzzard.
1 Common Scoter.
1 Kingfisher.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Kestrel.
1 Skylark.
2 Song Thrush.
56 Tufted Duck.
31 Teal.
4 Grey Wagtail.
2 Common Gull.
1 Snipe.
5 Mute Swan Cygnet's (Flying for the 1st time).
3 Herring Gull.
1 Bullfinch.
6 Meadow Pipit.
21 Cormorant.
5 Lesser Blacked Backed Gull.
13 Great Crested Grebe.
7 Grey Heron.

Thanks Derek.

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

early morning till lunch time in part with Ian C and Malcolm

20 Whooper swan flew SE
2 Separate Tree Sparrow flew south over the pump house
30 Brambling (single flock) south
33 Skylark SW
1000+ Redwing SW
150 Jackdaw SW
140+ Fieldfare SW
Little Egret dropped into creek
Chiffchaff wader point
140 Lapwing south
Peregrine
2 Water Rail
2 Kingfisher
11 Rook Sw
11 Snipe SW

Martin Loftus · Status: Offline

2pm - 4,30pm

Female common Scoter on the res in front of the mound.

-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Wednesday 17th of October 2018 05:42:01 PM

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. with Malcolm, 4 Goosander on the res. with 4 Shoveler and 2 Skylark flying over. Dipper on Withins outflow and 11 Teal near canal.
Cheers Ian

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

9.45am - 12.00pm. Light + Dark Cloud. 10c.
Mainly With Simon J.

36 Species spotted. Including:

Migratory:

260+ Pink Footed Goose in 5 Skeins.
(W 70, NE 190).
55 Redwing (W).
150+Starling (S).
1 Skylark (N).
10 Lapwing. (S).

Non Migratory.

1 Stonechat. (Cattle Field ).
1 Kingfisher.
3 Grey Wagtail.
1 Buzzard.
2 Kestrel.
3 Snipe
3 Jay.
3 Goosander.
14 Collared Dove.

1 Greylag Goose. Thanks Derek.

-- Edited by Derek Richardson on Tuesday 16th of October 2018 08:51:02 AM

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

Green Woodpecker was heard waffling distantly withins area
2 Chiffchaff
Coal Tit
894 Redwing north
159 Chaffinch north
Brambling north
17 Skylark
Buzzard
5 Gadwall
35 Lapwing
3 Snipe
568 Pink-footed Geese SE and 298 west

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a short circuit this morning before the worst of the rain:

75 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 22 Teal and 5 Gadwall.

Active mixed flock of Blackbird, Song Thrush and Redwing in the hedge below the pump house.

2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Bullfinch and 1 Reed Bunting.

2 Common Gull and 1 Great Black-back Gull.

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

Quick visit 14:45-15:10pm
1 Pintail.
1 Willow Tit.
3 Common Gulls.

Cheers Steven

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

8am - 11.30am.Dark Cloud, Breezy, 13c.

42 Species Spotted: Including:

61 Redwing. (31 South, 30 redstart hedge).
1 Buzzard.
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Shoveler.
65 Tufted Duck.
19 Teal.
1 Snipe.
23 Cormorant.
21 Great Crested Grebe.
4 Herring Gull.
1 Kingfisher. (Creek).
4 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
3 Jay.
3 Grey Wagtail.
4 Grey Heron.
2 Goosander. (Irwell).

Thanks Derek.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. highlights, 1 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 24 Teal and 1 Shoveler on the water, 2 Snipe near wader point and 5 Redwing over S.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Thursday 11th of October 2018 11:54:43 AM

Peter Johnson · Status: Offline

Circa 90 Pink-footed geese over the res. at 09:40 heading east.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 9th of October 2018 05:25:00 PM

Martin Loftus · Status: Offline

3pm: I was stood near the car park on the shoreline scanning through the gulls when I looked down near my feet and to my surprise I was stood just feet away from this beautiful little Jack snipe.

It was doing its text book " crouch down and be motionless" self defense mechanism. Its the first time I've ever seen one that close that I hadn't accidentally flushed, never mind actually managing to photograph one. biggrin

Also of note:

The Pintail was flying around the res gradually getting higher and higher before it flew off Southbound into the distance.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. with Malcolm, best were 2 Jack Snipe that flew above our heads over the canal. Also Pintail still on res. with 23 Teal, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Gadwall. Around the hedgerows at least 9 Chiffchaff seen/heard. At the feeders 1 Willow and 1 Coal Tit amongst the birds present.
Cheers Ian

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

8.00am - Noon . Dark cloud, light/medium breeze, 11c.

With Ian, Malcolm , Steve.

41 Species spotted: Including:

Migratory:

1 Skien 50+ Pink Footed Goose. (E).
1 Skien 30+ Pink Footed Goose. (NE).
1 Lapwing (S).

Non Migratory:

1 Buzzard.
3 Kestrel.
90+ Tufted Duck.
17 Snipe.
1 Willow Tit.
4 Herring Gull.
1 Great Black Backed Gull.( Irwell).
22 Great Crested Grebe.
7 Grey Heron.
4 Grey Wagtail.
19 Cormorant.
14 Collared Dove
4 Jay.

Thanks Derek.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. with Steven, Malcolm and Derek, Pintail still present, 20 Teal on res and 7 on Teal pool by canal, 2 Kestrel, 1 Snipe and 2 Kingfisher also.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Monday 8th of October 2018 03:16:45 PM

Martin Loftus · Status: Offline

1pm. Little Egret on the rez just under capsticks. Then it flew off towards Withins.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. Ruff on mud near car park gave good views until flushed by dogs at 8.00 a.m. (wonder if it was the same bird as yesterdays), Pintail still in creek, 8 Snipe along Northern edge and 17 Teal also. At feeders 2 Willow Tit (1 ringed).
Cheers Ian

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

9.00am - Noon. Light cloud, light breeze. 11c.

Mainly with Simon J. (See his post below).

41 Species spotted: Including:

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Pintail.
20+ Long Tailed Tit.
1 Sparrowhawk.
3 Teal.
30 Great Crested Grebe.
1 Great Black Backed Gull.
6 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
2 Reed Bunting.
1 Coal Tit.
6 Grey Heron.
24 Cormorant.
21 Collared Dove.
1 Grey Wagtail.
73 Jackdaw (Cattle field).
13 Mute Swan.
1 Grey Wagtail.

On feeders mixture of 40+ (Greenfinch,Chaffinch, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Robin) .

Thanks Derek.

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

To add to Ian and Simons post, this afternoon included; teal, Jay, meadow pipit, and about 20+ great crested grebes. Oh yeah, almost forgot to add, 3 great black backed gulls arrived briefly between boating activitys and a further one on the fields by the canal with at least 2 common gulls. Ta!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Saturday 6th of October 2018 10:25:09 PM

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

To add to this mornings sightings

4 Swallow
240 Pink-footed Geese SE in 2 Skiens and 108 west in 2 Skiens
101 Tufted Duck
4 Gadwall

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. with Paul W and Simon J, Paul and I flushed a Ruff from the bank near the Creek giving us a brief view as it flew off. Pintail still present and approx. 200 Pink-footed Geese over SE were the other highlights.
Cheers Ian

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. with Malcolm and Simon J, not a lot to report but 1 Pintail still, 3 Water Rail heard by canal and a Kingfisher seen, also a dark backed Common Gull on res. which could have been the Russian race (some debate about this between me and Malcolm, makes birding interesting).
Cheers Ian

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

8.30am - 11.30am. Dark cloud, light breeze, 12c.

44 Species spotted: Including:

2 Stonechat. ( together on fencepost Elton Goyt).
2 Sparrowhawk.
1 Kestrel.
21 Meadow Pipit. (S)
2 Song Thrush. (S)
6 Mistle Thrush. (S)
1 Pheasant. (M)
1 Pintail.
1 Goosander.
3 Teal.
1 Snipe.
1 Jay.
17 Mute Swan.
450+ Canada Goose.
100+ Coot.
67 Tufted Duck.
25 Cormorant.
19 Great Crested Grebe.
1 Great Black Backed Gull.
3 Grey Wagtail.
7 Grey Heron.
60+ Mixture of Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow. (Hedges near Creek).

Thanks Derek.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. at the res. 1 Pintail, 5 Gadwall, 18 Teal, 4 Wigeon (fly over), 7 Goosander (fly over), steady passage of Meadow Pipits, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Snipe and 5 adult Mute Swans arrived causing the aggressive resident pair to spend 30 mins chasing them around the res. Approx 500 Canada Geese in horse field near capsticks provided quite a sight.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Thursday 4th of October 2018 01:20:36 PM

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

Pintail still present in the creek this morning.
Cheers Ian

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

Sightings from yesterday

An adult mediterranean Gull flew along the canal at crow trees

Pintail on the res in the creek - defo a Male
10 Chiffchaff
Swallow
Wigeon
Buzzard

Peter Johnson · Status: Offline

This afternoon -

The Pintail was again along the canal in the flooded field.

A Stonechat was on a fence post on the track going up to Old Hall Farm.

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

7.30am - 11.30am. Sunny,Light Cloud.10c.

45 Species spotted:Including:

1 Buzzard.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Willow Tit.
2 Chiffchaff.
1 Pintail.
1 Wigeon.
9 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
22 Collared Dove.
16 Long Tailed Tit.
40+ Greenfinch (Capsticks).
80+ Jackdaw.
29 Cormorant.
22 Great Crested Grebe.
14 Mute Swan.
8 Grey Heron.
9 Grey Wagtail.
2 Jay.
5 Meadow Pipit. (S).
3 Snipe.
23 Teal.(Pond by Canal).
57 Tufted Duck.

Thanks Derek.

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. 8-10 a.m. with Malcolm, Pintail still present with 17 Teal also on the res. On wires near Crow Trees a single Swallow. 5 Teal on pond by canal. 7 Chiffchaff seen around the sight most singing.
Cheers Ian

Dave Cropper · Status: Offline

Looking at the photos attached of the Pintail this also looks like a drake to me similar to the one at Shell Pool this morning. ( Long grey scapulars and a two toned blue beak) but I stand to be corrected!

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

Quick morning visit, 9.15-9.50, in addition to Steven's sightings I had 2 Swallow over heading South and 1 Snipe on tiny patch of mud near wader point.
Cheers Ian

Steven Higginbottom · Status: Offline

07:30-10:45 highlights.
1 Pintail in creek (record shots attached.)
3 Pochard (Record shot attach of 2 )
5 Teal on Reservoir.
82 Tufted Duck.
72 Cormorants.
33 Great Crested Grebes.
11 Mute Swans.
2 Greylag Geese over East.
3 Kingfishers.
1 Great Black back Gull.
3 Herring Gulls.
36 Lapwings over NW
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
2 Chiffchaff.
1 Willow tit.
2 Stock Dove West.
1 Siskin East.
1 Sparrowhawk
Cheers Steven

-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Sunday 30th of September 2018 01:09:44 PM

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Just a short evening visit after popping to the garden centre.

Noteworthy;

Pink footed geese over
Great black backed gull
Jay
Reed bunting
Teal
And a female pintail still on the flooded pool (my Elton local first).

Ta!

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

7.30am - 11.30am. Light Cloud, Sunny. 10c.

51 Species spotted:Including:

Migratory:
63 Pink Footed Goose. (E).
13 Meadow Pipit. (W).
90 Wood Pigeon (SE).
15 Swallow (S).
2 House Martin. (S).
1 Lapwing.(S).

Non Migratory:

3 Buzzard.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Kestrel.
1 Pintail.
2 Great Black Backed Gull.
11 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
1 Common Gull.
13 Blackbird.
250+ Canada Goose.
23 Collared Dove.
56 Cormorant.
24 Great Crested Grebe.
55 Tufted Duck.
1 Goosander. (Irwell).
8 Grey Heron.
7 Grey Wagtail.
11 Mute Swan.
8 Snipe.

Thanks Derek.
.

Ian Boote · Status: Offline

21 Great Crested Grebes on Res 70+ Tufted Ducks on Withins 1 Swallow flying over Crow tree farm due south, Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, 2 Teal on Res 3 Teal in Marsh Buzzard overhead Pintail reported by other birders, 2 Goosander and a Mink on Irwell 27 Cormorant

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

820 Pink-footed Geese East this morning
Tawny Owl below withins
Willow Tit coney green

Pintail on res this morning I thought was an eclipse Male

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

7.30am - 12.30pm. Light Cloud, Sunny, 13c.

42 Species Spotted: Including:

1 Dipper. ( Irwell ).
1 Kingfisher. (Irwell).
1 Buzzard.
1 Kestrel.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Peregrine Falcon.
2 Chiffchaff.
1 Pintail.
43 Tufted Duck.
23 Great Crested Grebe.
2 Mistle Thrush.
11 Snipe.
1 Skylark.
2 Great Black Backed Gull. (Irwell).
Migratory:
Pink Footed Goose 100+ in 3 Skeins East , with Simon.

Later on.

1x 34 Pink Footed Goose East.
24 Meadow Pipit West.

Thanks Derek.

-- Edited by Derek Richardson on Thursday 27th of September 2018 09:20:37 PM

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

55 species during a morning circuit 7.25 to 11.00:

1 Pintail, 1 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler and 25 Teal, the latter mainly on the pool by the canal.

At least 200 Pink Feet over in multiple skeins.

14 Snipe, 1 Water Rail calling next to the canal.

2 Kingfisher, one on the Res and the other on the Irwell.

5 Swallow, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Raven and 2 Lesser Redpoll over.

1 Willow Tit on the feeders.

Peter Johnson · Status: Offline

This afternoon - Female Pintail along the canal in flooded field.

-- Edited by Peter Johnson on Thursday 27th of September 2018 03:12:23 PM

Peter Johnson · Status: Offline

This afternoon.

Male Stonechat. Along the track up to Old Hall Farm sat on barbed wire fence.

Kingfisher on Res.

Dipper below within a Res on stream.

Female Sparrowhawk catching a Snipe. This is the 4th time I have witnessed this.It is normally sat in the same willow bush waiting to ambush. On each occasion two snipe have flown in it has shot across and dropped down. Only one has flown off.

-- Edited by Peter Johnson on Wednesday 26th of September 2018 05:37:53 PM

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

11am - 11.15am . Sunny, Clear, 9c.

15 min visit shown 2 skeins of Pink Footed Goose.

1 x 75, 1 x 90. (Both NW).

Plus 2 Buzzard.

Thanks Derek.

Mike Cooper · Status: Offline

In car park area 07:00-11:00

At least 4 willow tit 2 juvs so probably family group

Chiffchaff at least 2 birds singing

Kingfisher juv male

House Martin 5 circling trees when I left

Pink footed geese heard but not seen at 10:00 plus a skein of 140 heading NW same number of calls as unseen skein

Ian Campbell · Status: Offline

This a.m. with Malcolm, on the res. 67 Cormorant, 3 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 7 Teal, 104 Tufted Duck, 1 Kingfisher and 31 Great Crested Grebe. Overhead 1 Swallow and 46 Meadow Pipit. Around the pumphouse 28 Pied and 3 Grey Wagtail. At the feeders at least 2 Willow Tit.
Cheers Ian. Forgot to mention the Peregrine on the pylon towards Bury.

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Tuesday 25th of September 2018 03:46:32 PM

Derek Richardson · Status: Offline

7.30am - Noon. Cold, Clear, Sunny, 9c.

Mainly with Ian and Simon.

38 Species spotted: Including:

2 Peregrine (1m,1f).
2 Kestrel.
3 Sparrowhawk.
37 Cormorant.
33 Tufted Duck.
9 Mute Swan.
1 Great Black Backed Gull.
4 Lesser Blacked Backed Gull.
1 Continental Blackbird.
4 Chiffchaff.
15 Collared Dove.
21 Great Crested Grebe.
4 Long Tailed Tit.
6 Gadwall.
1 Goosander.
107 Pink Footed Goose.( NW).
19 Greenfinch.
8 Grey Wagtail.
30+ Pied Wagtail.
120+ Black Headed Gull. (Irwell).
6 Grey Heron.
6 Jay.
30+ Swallow.
1Kingfisher.
10 Meadow Pipit. (S).
2 Skylark.
6 Teal.

Thanks Derek.

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

Approx 1000 House Martin this morning
2 Kingfisher
Little Grebe
16 Snipe
8 Shoveler
7 Stock Dove
Peregrine
Buzzard

Martin Loftus · Status: Offline

3pm slow walk around the mound with the dog.

This beautiful female wheatear landed litrally 5 feet from me, posed nicely for a photo and then carried on with its migration flying across the res towards the pump house.

Also X2 juvenile chiffchaff briefly jittering around the hawthorn under the pylon.

At the feeders, X1 Coal Tit of note .

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Also noteworthy was a snipe and a brief view of an eclipse garganey on the pool next to the canal. Several teal were also mingling with it but seemed to be shy. Ta!

Simon Johnson · Status: Offline

Migration watch from the pump house with Ian and Derek

229 Pink-footed Geese NW and 29 SE
1489 Meadow Pipit south
6 Golden Plover sw
19 Lapwing sw
8 Grey Wagtail south
33 Alba Wagtails south
722 House Martin south
555 Swallow south
12 Sand Martin south
8 Siskin south
16 Reed Bunting Sw

On the res
5 Shoveler
Wigeon
2 Gadwall
250 House Martin
100 Swallow

Withins
Dipper on over flow

Martin Loftus · Status: Offline

2:30 -3:3pm

weather = Biblical

Hundreds of hirundines all out feeding on the res in the gailforce winds. Mainly Swallows, Sand Martin and a few House Martin. I would even go as far to say it's the most I've seen all at once all summer!

Shoveler in the creek

At the feeders, of note:

Willow tit.

Female sparrowhawk.

Great spotted Woodpecker.