This morning a male Stonechat seen from along the canal.

This a,m, with Malcolm, on the res. 34 Teal, 3 Gadwall, 3 Snipe. Pylon towards Bury had a Peregrine eating it's breakfast, also Kestrel and Sparrowhawk seen. At capsticks a Water Rail called loudly. Many Redwing with fewer Fieldfare in the hedgerows. 2 Goosander on the river.
Cheers Ian

08.30am - 13.00pm. Clear Blue Sky, Still. 4c.

Mainly with Simon J.

38 Species spotted. Including:

3 Buzzard.
3 Kestrel.
4 Gadwall.
2 Willow Tit.
1 Coal Tit.
1 Pochard.
50+ Redwing. (In hedgerows).
2 Song Thrush.
1 Meadow Pipit.
3 Goosander.
17 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
30+ Herring Gull.
22 Teal.
1 Water Rail. (overflow near Withins).

Thanks Derek.

This evening

2 Goldeneye still on withins
132 Tufted Duck
Wigeon
29 Great crested Grebe
450 Starling west/sw
110 Redwing
44 Fieldfare
2 Common Buzzard

7.45am - 11.45am. Dark cloud, Light breeze, 8c.

45 Species spotted: Including:

11 Wigeon (W).
1 Little Egret. (Irwell, east side of Wharf).
120+ Redwing. ( 55 W, rest in hedges ).
33 Fieldfare. (SW).
40+ Pink Footed Goose. (E).
25 Lapwing (SW).
300 Starling (200+ SW, rest cattle field).
3 Kingfisher (Irwell).
2 Kestrel.
1 Willow Tit.
13 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
2 Common Gull.
23 Cormorant.
17 Great Crested Grebe.
14 Teal.
54 Tufted Duck.
12 Grey Heron.
250+ Jackdaw (From roost towards Elton).
2 Pheasant (2m).
1 Water Rail. (Capsticks).
11 Mute Swan.
1 Snipe.

Thanks Derek.

This afternoon -

7 Whooper Swans

A Little Egret has been on the Irwell every day this week

07.30am - 12.45pm.Dark cloud, Light breeze. 9c.

48 Species spotted:

In Addition to Steven's post below.

130+ Redwing.(Flitting between hedgerows).
13 Lesser Black Backed Gull.
1 Pheasant. (M).
20+ Continental Blackbird. ( Mixed flock with Redwing).
13 Mute Swan.
38 Cormorant.
20+ Great Crested Grebe.
200+ Jackdaw. (Flying towards Elton from roost).
60+ Tufted Duck.
1 Willow Tit.
1 Mistle Thrush.
3 Grey Wagtail
8 Grey Heron.
1 Reed Bunting.
1 Jay.

Thanks Derek.

6.45-9.00 this morning, Tawny Owls calling, 1 near Corran Stud and 1 towards garden centre at 6.55. The bird near Corran Stud was then seen flying across the river downstream. A second Rock Pipit of the week was between pumphouse and overflow. On the res. 1 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe and 25 Teal.
Cheers Ian

This afternoon -

Little Egret on the Irwell.

This a.m. 8-9 with Malcolm, at 8.10 6 Whooper Swan flew in only to be chased off by the resident Mute family, they returned 5 mins later only to be chased off again, then at 8.45 2 more Whooper Swans landed and these were also sent packing by the Mute Swans !. Also on the res 2 male Pochard, 20 Teal and a Kingfisher with a Peregrine on the pylon towards Bury.
Cheers Ian

Some more good birds around today (for Elton standards)

Rock Pipit - one along res wall between pump house and old hall farm
2 Ring-necked Parakeets flew over east
Female/Imm type Merlin east
Peregrine - Male on pylons
57 Brambling over with flocks of 47,9 and 1+ heard only over withins
Tree Sparrow south
Tawny Owl coran stud
Water Rail
2000+ Woodpigeon south
11 Wigeon
3 Gadwall
55 Teal
2 Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk also noted displaying

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

Pintail still present in the creek this morning.
Cheers Ian