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
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
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
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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.
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!
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
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
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!
7.15-8.45 a.m. juv. Arctic Tern gave good views sat on bouy near pumphouse also at least 170 Swallow and 40 Meadow Pipits passed overhead and 8 Goosander. Cheers Ian
07:10 -10:15 partly with Ian C 18 Teal. 22 Great crested Grebe. 1 Little Grebe. 2 Kingfishers. 3 Snipe. 1 Kestrel. 1 Pale Common Buzzard. 110+ Swallows south 36 House Martins south 11 Meadow pipits. 4 Mistle Thrush.
Spotted Flycatcher - on wires by canal over flow 3 Willow Warbler 6 Chiffchaff 6 singing Tree Pipit - heard over Meadow Pipit 269 south and 10 NW Redpoll west 234 Swallow Sand Martin south 78 House Martin south 8 gadwall 4 Wigeon 3 Goosander south 9 Teal 18 Snipe SW and 8 Old hall Buzzard 4 Jay 3 Sparrowhawk including a cracking male which darted below the pumphouse then perched up on the nearby fence post
This a.m. with Malcolm(happy birthday) and Howard, best was a Garganey on the canal and then to the pool at side of canal. Also 3 Snipe, 1 Willow Tit and a Water Rail(heard only) near here. On res just 5 Swallow but Tufted Duck now at 72. Cheers Ian
This a.m. with Malcolm, similar numbers of Swallow and House Martin as yesterday, also 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Kingfisher with 26 Meadow Pipit and 9 Mistle Thrush. Cheers Ian
14:30-15:50pmQuick walk around reservoir highlights. 1 Siskin on Niger seed. 1 Kestrel. 1 Shoveler. 3 Teal. Large flock of Tits and warblers with counts of the following 2 Coal Tits 27 Blue Tit. 9 Great Tit. 14 Long tailed Tits. 2 Willow Warblers. 8 Chiffchaff. Goldcrest heard but not seen.
This a.m. 7.45-9.30, 1 Whinchat giving good views on Hawthorn below pumphouse for 10 mins and a minimum of 250 Swallow and 70 House Martin over the res. were the highlights. Cheers Ian
06:30-11am 2 Shoveler. 2 Gadwall. 11 Teal pool by Canal. 4 Goosander on River Orwell. 14 Great Crested Grebe. 1 Little Grebe. 8 Mute Swans 2 Snipe along canal near Crow Trees. 3 Tree Pipit over Sw 35 Meadow pipit 8 at Pumphouse the rest flyovers S 1 Linnet. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. 2 Willow Warblers. 6 Chiffchaff. 3 Blackcap. 1 Stock dove over SE 120+ Swallows, 45 House Martins & 1 Sand Martin. 1 Sparrowhawk chasing a Jay
This a.m. with Malcolm, at 7.30 a Tree Pipit flew over the car park SW, 1 Little Grebe (creek), 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 60 Swallow and 40 House Martin over the res. heading S. Cheers Ian