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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
Ian Campbell


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RE: ELTON RESERVOIR
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Mornings highlights, 1 Peregrine over carrying prey, 4 Little Egrets, Brambling heard below Withins, Water Rail heard along canal and a Willow Tit (again heard only hmm) 2 were seen here at bridge 20 yesterday.

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Ian Campbell


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Red-breasted Merganser still present, also Tawny Owl over car park at 7.30

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Roger Halsey


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Red-breasted Merganser still present at 4.15 in challenging viewing conditions! A decent Gull roost with:

22 Great Black-backed Gull

10 Lesser Black-backed Gull

100+ Herring Gull

6 Common Gull

1120 Black-headed Gull



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Keith Rowland


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a single Red-Breasted Merganser (Redhead) with 4 female Goosander at Lunchtime today



-- Edited by Keith Rowland on Monday 13th of November 2023 04:31:47 PM



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Michael Hood


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Sunday 12/11/2023 - 9:30-11:30

In no particular order - complete list of sightings for a change:

  • Great Crested Grebe - including some juveniles that still had a bit of stripy plumage on the neck/head
  • Cormorant - about 20 on the sailing club jetty and also a dozen on one of the pylons, a few in Withins
  • Little Egret - 1 or 2; might have been the same one - firstly around the creek, later in the field below the lane to Old Hall farm
  • Grey heron - several in various places
  • Mute Swan - 7, at least one juvenile
  • Pink-footed Geese - 2 skeins of 50-60 at the same time around 10:00; 1 to the north-east going south-east, 1 to the south-west going north-west; i.e. totally opposite directions - make your minds up!
  • Canada Goose - only 2
  • Teal - 7+ skulking at the edge near the far (south) end
  • Mallard - many
  • Tufted Duck - many
  • Goldeneye - at least 2m + 2f
  • Goosander - 2 + 1 on the river - no green heads (yet) but judging by the pinkish belly, at least 1 was male
  • Sparrowhawk - female, flying parallel to the canal
  • Moorhen - many
  • Coot - loads
  • Black-headed Gull - many
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull - at least 2, they seem to favour the buoys
  • Woodpigeon - many
  • Grey Wagtail - 1 with the...
  • Pied Wagtail - about 8, in the mud where the path from Crow Trees Farm to bridge 19 turns right
  • Wren - saw a couple, heard more
  • Blackbird - lots
  • Redwing - no big flocks, probably 15-20 overall, no Fieldfare
  • Goldcrest - 2 or 3 in the trees near the creek, with...
  • Blue Tit - a few
  • Great Tit - a few
  • Magpie - all over the place
  • Jackdaw - several
  • Carrion Crow - several
  • Starling - one flock of maybe 30
  • Chaffinch - just the 1
  • Greenfinch - a few in the trees near the creek


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Derek Richardson


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09.30am-13.30pm .Clear, still.02c -06c.

With Mike

44 species including:

3 Ring necked parakeet.
1 Sparrowhawk.
2 Little Egret.
1 Kingfisher.
6 Redwing.
15 Fieldfare.
1 Common gull.
1 Reed Bunting.
2 Bullfinch.
5 Meadow pipit.
2 Long tailed tit.
1 Jay.
60+ Starling (one flock).
5 Pied wagtail.
2 Pheasant.
11 Teal.
33 Tufted duck.
60+ Canada goose.
28 Cormorant.
11 Great crested grebe.
1 Goldeneye.
2 Goosander.
4 Grey heron.
6 Mute swan.

Thanks Derek.

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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a late morning visit:

2 Goosander, 9 Goldeneye.

1 Little Egret.

1 Little Grebe.

3 Great Black-backed and 2 Common Gull.

1 Willow Tit.

 



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Simon Warford


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This morning with Paul Wilson -

7 Whooper Swan east
800 Pink-footed Geese east and 115 west
6 Goosander
46 Teal
150 Tufted Duck
8 Goldeneye
4 Little Egret
2240 Fieldfare SW
161 Redwings SW
2780 Woodpigeon SW
1 Brambling SW
12 Siskin SW
2 Rook


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Ian McKerchar


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Derek Polley wrote:

I am on the "Bury folk keep it green" site and there is a report on there that the current owners of Withins reservoir plan to to drain it and fill it in as they cannot afford to keep it as a reservoir. I am sure this will be of concern to local birders who would like to maintain it as it is. It is possible you all know about this, but I will post a link in case you want to investigate the situation and hopefully try and prevent this. 

 
On current understanding this (mis) information is not the case and is nothing more than a social media kneejerk (over) reaction. We are told the reservoir has been drained slightly to permit essential dam maintenance.



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Simon Johnson


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Sightings from this morning with Paul

Hawfinch flew over withins calling. Originally heading north but then changed to west
2 Goldeneye
8 little egret
500 Redwing NE
10 redpoll withins
6 skylark east

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Simon Johnson


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Sightings from this morning

166 Tufted Duck
4 Goldeneye
Dunlin flying around withins
Kingfisher
415 Pink-footed Geese se
249 starling west
127 Redwing
258 Fieldfare south
Treecreeper
8 Siskin south
5 skylark south

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Simon Johnson


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Elton this morning in the heavy showers!
9 Whooper swan SE,
16 Brambling,
25 linnet
1800 Fieldfare
10 snipe
1052 redwing
Stock dove
254 Woodpigeon all south.
3 little egret withins
5 goldeneye on res

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Simon Johnson


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Sightings from this morning

Female Red-breasted Merganser east with 2 Goosander
4 Goldeneye
Pochard
60 Lapwing,
7 Siskin
400+ Fieldfare south
2 little egret

Yesterday morning
Woodcock flew over the canal at dawn

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Ian McKerchar


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Any further posts relating to this Withins issue please post on the discussion forum not least so they are more easily accessible and remain together for reference.



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Derek Polley


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Couldn't copy the link but this is what it says:
Tragic Day. The waterwell company that bought Withins Reservoir and spent thousands last year on meeting the requirements of the Reservoir Inspectors report have "decided to drain Withins Reservoir". The birders have spoken with the Environment Agency who had been notified and had yesterday had on site presence and they are looking at environmental impacts to the water environment. We don't have any further details don't know if this is a full drain or a limited one. Surely the amount of water coming into the brook this year is a liability concern. Constant juvenile vandalism took it's toll. The owners told us 2021 they wanted an angling business to take it on but no one offered anything that would generate an income. Ourselves and Radcliffe Litterpickers have held multiple tasks to clean the water area and surrounds so it was being well looked after (we mooted a south bank post summer litterpick only yesterday).
The reservoir is in the retained Greenbelt in any event so will "never" be available for building whilst it remains so. But landfill is allowed in Greenbelt if access can be arranged for lorries and planning permission granted. EA have a policy of objecting to the culverting of streams and Places for Everyone and existing council policies would prevent any landfill anyway. So landfill will "never" be allowed as it would revert to a natural wildlife rich valley, a wildlife corridor, crossed by a Roman Road.


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Derek Polley


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I am on the "Bury folk keep it green" site and there is a report on there that the current owners of Withins reservoir plan to to drain it and fill it in as they cannot afford to keep it as a reservoir. I am sure this will be of concern to local birders who would like to maintain it as it is. It is possible you all know about this, but I will post a link in case you want to investigate the situation and hopefully try and prevent this. 



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Keith Rowland


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Elton Reservoir South end and Withins reservoir lunchtime today.

 

Merlin (f) flushed from fence post at Withins Car park/lane which flew off at speed low West.

Withins Reservoir low water level attracted - 87 Tufted, 5 Goldeneye, 8 Teal, 1 Pochard, 2 Little Egret, 37 Lapwing plus numbers of Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Black Headed Gull and Heron.



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Paul Wilson


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Vis mig stand-in for SW/SJ (poor substitute) - missed a lot, but here's what I managed from 7:50 to 8:40 (when it suddenly seemed to slow down massively):

3 Little Egrets (dropped in behind the creek)
2190 Woodpigeon south
118 Redwing SW (also 30+ hanging around the trees)
183 Fieldfare SW
(195 unidentified thrushes) SW
11 Pied Wagtail north
6 Linnet north
3 Siskin NE
4 Skylark SE
143 Starling south
Plenty of other finches which I could identify

On the res:

500+ BH Gull
5 Shoveler
4 Wigeon
3 Goldeneye
1 Little Egret
3 Snipe



-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Wednesday 25th of October 2023 10:20:48 AM

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Simon Johnson


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Sightings from Elton reservoir this morning with Paul

Great White Egret circled withins and was looking to land but continued south
12600 Woodpigeon south. Very intense first half hour with some impressive flocks
Swallow south
600+ Redwing SW
500+ Fieldfare SW
40 Siskin west
80 Chaffinch NW
708 Pink-footed Geese W/NW in 5 Skeins
Little egret
Pochard
Chiffchaff


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Derek Richardson


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09.00am - 12.15pm. Light showers, then clear.07c-09c.

Mainly with Steven.

49 species including:



1 Kestrel.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Kingfisher.
2 Skylark.
1 Goldeneye.
3 Little egret.
5 Lesser black backed gull.
2 Common gull.
13 Cormorant.
3 Shoveler.
1 Pochard.
9 Teal.
6 Gadwall.
13 Great crested grebe.
5 Goosander.
2 Grey heron.
4 Grey wagtail.
11 Mute swan.
4 Pheasant.
5 Meadow pipit.
3 Reed bunting.
2 Goldfinch.
2 Collared Dove.
3 Jay.

Thanks Derek.



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Simon Johnson


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Another great morning of migration watching from withins res with Simon & Paul

6500+ Woodpigeon south
4 Stock dove south
3290 Fieldfare sw
900+ Redwing sw
700+ Starling west in small groups
31 Siskin north
4 redpoll west
245 Chaffinch w/sw
11 linnet south
940 Pink-footed Geese SE

On the res
Goldeneye
Pochard
120 Tufted duck
5 shoveler

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Simon Johnson


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Highlights from a vis mig watch with Paul & Simon this morning

8 Great Egrets E/NE came right over us at Withins
Merlin south
3 Brambling south in a flock of redwing
900 Redwing SE
1100 Fieldfare SE
16 Siskin NE
1000 Starling west

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Paul Wilson


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Highlight this morning (with Simon W and Simon W) was a fly over by no less than EIGHT Great Egrets. Managed a few record shots (one showing three of the birds, one showing five of them and one showing all eight, at distance as they headed off ENE). Also GC Grebe with a pike!



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My bird photos collection on Flickr and My Elton Reservoir highlights collection.
Keith Rowland


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Red Kite 13:11, initial South over sailing club, mobbed by Carrion Crow then headed East, last seen in the distance past Pilsworth tip still heading east.



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Keith Rowland


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Lunchtime walk from Sailing club Car Park to Withins and back

Highlights -

7 Wigeon

9 Swallow (6 and then 3) South over Withins  

4 Sanderling low over res then NE

3 Common Gull

10 Teal

2 Shoveler



-- Edited by Keith Rowland on Tuesday 17th of October 2023 02:30:19 PM

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Simon Johnson


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A vis mig watch from withins with Simon & Paul was rather productive

Hen Harrier - ad female flew right over us south
Merlin - female SW
7 Whooper Swan SE
200+ Pink-footed Geese SE
2500 Woodpigeon south
4 Stock dove in with woodpigeons south
238 Redwing SW
Fieldfare SW
14 Siskin south + 2 NE
15 Linnet south
4 Redpoll south
8 Rook SW
3 Little Egret west

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Derek Richardson


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08.30am-12.15pm. Clear, then mixed cloud, still. 08c-11c.

32 Species included:

5 Whooper swan.
2 Little egret.
1 Kingfisher.
1 Shelduck.
1 Raven.
8 Jay.
1 Pheasant. (F).
1 Bullfinch.(M).
53 Tufted duck.
44 Cormorant.
1 Grey wagtail.
11 Lesser black backed gull.
110+ Herring gull.
100+ Black headed gull.
3 Goosander.
120+ Coot.
9 Great crested grebe.
4 Grey heron.
9 Mute swan.

Thanks Derek.

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Simon Johnson


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Sightings from this morning

9 Whooper Swan on the res
Shoveler
20+ Teal
4 snipe
Swallow
Treecreeper



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Simon Johnson


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Sightings from this morning

7 Whooper Swan dropped in at 7:23 to join 6 on the res. These departed south a further 55 flew SE at 8:55
Golden plover west
1100 Woodpigeon south
3 Wigeon on withins
2 skylark
5 swallow
200+ redwing
Fieldfare

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Simon Johnson


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500+ Redwing west this evening between 5 and 6pm

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Keith Rowland


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Rock Pipit on the pumphouse wall just before 1pm along with 15 Meadow pipits on the fence/ground, no sign of them on the return walk, also 25 Redwing and 9 Wigeon.



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Steven Higginbottom


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Highlights from this morning 7am till 9am.
1 Goldeneye.
11 Wigeon.
7 Gadwall.
18 Teal.
6 Goosander.
1 Pink footed goose with Canada geese.
2 Little Grebe.
2 Kingfisher.
7 Meadow pipit.
56 Redwing.

Cheers Steven.


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Simon Warford


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This mornings vis mig watch between 7am and 12pm produced the following -

2 Goosander SW
4 Snipe
4 Swallow
26 Redwing
34 Pied Wagtails
413 Meadow Pipits, most after 10am
27 Linnet with also 3 in the field by Doffer Farm
2 Redpoll
3 Siskin
30 duck sp. over very high but not in Elton airspace.

On the res, 130 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret. 3 Raven also lingering about.



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Ian Campbell


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Highlights from this morning, 3 Rock Pipits over the pumphouse within 30 mins with a probable 4th. Also 2 Little Egret.
Cheers Ian

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Simon Warford


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This mornings vis mig watch between 7am and 9am produced the following -

15 Golden Plover heading south west (13 at 8.20am and 2 at 8.25am).
c2340 Pink-footed Geese heading east in about 16 or so skeins, most at height and motoring
7 Little Egrets flew high north then veered west
6 Swallow south
271 Meadow Pipit south
1 Siskin south
1 Lesser Redpoll south
2 Skylark

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Simon Johnson


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Migration watch with Paul Wilson this morning.

Really good morning of birds heading south

Female type Merlin flew south over crow tree farm following meadow pipits
1304 Meadow pipit
12 Redpoll
19 mistle thrush
5 song thrush
28 pied wagtail
4 skylark
30 linnet
182 Swallow
3 stock dove
17 long tailed tit
1395 Pinkfooted Geese SE in 7 skeins

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Simon Johnson


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Belated news for yesterday 1/10

Black-necked Grebe
4 Common Scoter
14 Gadwall
Rock pipit flew over the pumphouse calling

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Simon Johnson


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Belated news from yesterday

Vis mig watch with Simon Warford at withins

Birds heading south

Hawfinch
1700+ meadow pipit
300+ swallow
32 Siskin
64 linnet
2 redpoll
58 pied wagtails
11 shoveler
440 Pinkfooted Geese SE and 44 west

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Simon Johnson


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Vis mig watch from withins this morning

All birds heading south

1522 Meadow pipit
45 swallow
6 House Martin
38 pied wagtail
18 Chaffinch
16 Siskin
82 goldfinch
3 coal tit
611 Pink-footed Geese SE in 10 skeins
2 Wigeon dropped in
Kingfisher


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Derek Richardson


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09.30am-12.45pm. Mixed cloud, still. 09c-14c

A nice birthday morning stroll.

40 species including.

1 Little egret.
1 Yellow wagtail.
2 Kingfisher.
2 Kestrel.
2 Little grebe.
3 Willow warbler.
23 Swallow.
1 Bullfinch.
18 Goldfinch.
1 Jay.
4 Grey wagtail.
80+ Starling.
1 Lesser black backed gull.
14 Herring gull.
43 Tufted duck.
16 Great crested grebe.
1 Gadwall.
2 Goosander.
17 Cormorant.
70+ Canada goose.
1 Grey heron.
5 Mute swan.

Thanks Derek.


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dave broome


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Grey Phalarope still present until dusk
464 Black-Headed Gull roosting
1 Kingfisher
1 Goosander

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Stephen Fuentes


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Grey Phalarope still present today at 2pm, and still getting a tough time from the gulls.

Cheers,

Steve.



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Simon Johnson


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Sightings from this morning

Grey Phalarope still present
2 Common Sandpiper
15+ snipe
200 Swallow
50 house Martin
2 sand Martin
1000+ meadow pipit south
18 Siskin
8 Pinkfooted geese west

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Steven Nelson


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In addition to the Grey Phalarope at 7.00pm I also had a Common Sandpiper at the boat club.

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Simon Johnson


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Other sightings from Elton today mainly from a vis mig watch

2100+ Meadow pipit south
Wheatear
Juvenile Arctic Tern
Yellow wagtail south
90 House Martin which included a pure white bird
500+ swallow
3 Sand Martin
50+ Siskin south
3 Skylark
12 Common buzzard
Dunlin west
80 Lapwing

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Dennis atherton


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Grey Phalarope still there 7.30 tonight . It did get a tough time from the Black Headed gulls though



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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
Martin Loftus


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Grey Phalarope still present 9am, at the entrance to the creek 



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Ian Latham


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Grey Phalarope still present at 7.30pm. 

 

Moving around the res 



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Ian McKerchar


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Grey Phalarope present at the sailing club end of the reservoir at 6:30pm

Info thanks to Keith Rowland



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Derek Richardson


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08.45am - 12.30pm.Mixed cloud, breezy. 12c-15c.

41 Species including.


1 Little egret.
2 Kestrel.
2 Kingfisher. (1 Irwell, 1 reservoir).
2 Buzzard.
1 Coal tit.
1 Willow tit.
80+ Swallow. (60+ SW, 20+ feeding over marsh).
1 Common sandpiper.
3 Long tailed tit.
6 Chaffinch.
1 Bullfinch.
2 Jay.
9 Blackbird.
60+ Jackdaw.
120+ Wood pigeon.
19 Goldfinch.
21 Cormorant.
2 Grey wagtail.
50+ Black headed gull.
100+ Canada goose.
130+ Coot.
3 Great crested grebe.
9 Tufted duck.
60+ Mallard.
1 Goosander.
3 Grey heron.
11 Mute swan.

Thanks Derek.


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