Just for a bit of interest there was a Bar-headed Goose on no1 this morning, firmly in cat E but always nice to see a new bird on a local patch whatever the origins. Not much else around, Ringed Plover, 8 Tufted Duck and a drake Goldeneye.
Morning visit (with John Ireland) in strengthening SE winds that promised much but delivered little. A scattering of waders, lots of Swifts, but not much else:
Sanderling 1 Dunlin 3 Ringed Plover 1 Lapwing 1 Swift 200+ Sand Martin c30 House Martin 1 Linnet 3 Goosander 2 Coot 1 Great Crested Grebe 28
1 Hobby through east early evening 1 Sanderling 1 Oystercatcher 3 Ringed Plover 2 Dunlin 2 Lapwing C100 Swift 50+ each of Sand Martin and Swallow 3 immature Mute Swan
5 arctic terns, which arrived mid a.m., were top of the 'best of' what was seen this morning. Other than that it was mostly stuff seen on other days recently (e.g. wheatears, dunlins, ringed plovers etc...)
In addition, 2 whimbrel dropped onto the east shore of No. 3 water at 11.05 a.m. and stayed during a heavy shower for about 20 minutes. A third wheatear was also found.
24/4/2018 Some combined sightings from this morning up to 11:30.
3 Whimbrel 13 Ringed Plover 3 Little Ringed Plover 7 Dunlin 2 Wheatear 2 White Wagtail 2 Swift 1 House Martin 2 Goldeneye Still not that many Sand Martins and Swallows, maybe 20+ of each before 8am.
First swifts of year 6+; 2 house martins, 25+ sand martins, 30+ swallows, 2 yellow wagtails, 3 dunlin, 5+ ringed plover, 3 little ringed plover, 1 common sandpiper, 1 curlew, 2 blackcaps along railway side. Expected more suprises in view of weather.
6 adult little gulls (one with a slightly incomplete hood) arrived at 9.10. A while later, I noticed a bird in the same area with a 'W' shape wing pattern. Unfortunately, I attributed this to kittiwake, but having doubts I checked properly when I got home and saw that it was really a 1st winter little gull. Definitely no trace of a hood forming, so not 2nd summer yet.
A female peregrine decided to dine out on the grass bank of No. 3 resulting in the grizzly image below! No wonder there has been a lack of passerines recently (see Friday).
initially with another site regular, but joined by another 3 site regulars also.
Great White Egret, Over low at 06:58 heading Northwest towards Winter Hill, observed by myself and the other initial regular.
Curlew X 30+ (16 was down on #1 on arrival, but upped at 06:44 and continued to circle the site for approximately the next 15 minutes or so. Another 10 came down again on #1 at 08:25, with the odd 1's and 2's continuing over throughout the morning.
Shelduck X 2.
Grey Heron X 2.
Pochard X 1 (Drake).
Little Ringed Plover X 2.
Ringed Plover X 8.
Common Sandpiper X 3.
Greylag Goose X 2 on #3.
Yellow Wagtail X 2.
Kittiwake X 2.
Common Scoter X 1(female).
Cormorant X 5.
Little Gull X 1.
Teal X 2 (pair).
Goosander X 2 (males).
Mute Swan X 1.
White Wagtail X 4.
Meadow Pipit X 1.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 14th of April 2018 01:59:32 PM
Really excellent find this a.m. of a female merlin snacking on a pied wagtail on one of the reservoir walls. A first for me here. Also seen 3 dunlin, redshank, curlew, pr. goosander, house martin, c50 swallows.
Some sightings from this morning with other site regulars
5 Curlew (3 on no 1 and 2 over) 2 Lapwing flew over 3 Common Scoter (2 drake) Pair of Wigeon Drake Teal 7 Swallow Sand Martin Greylag Goose Willow Warbler Wheatear 2 White Wagtail 12 Meadow Pipit
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 8th of April 2018 10:42:50 AM
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 8th of April 2018 10:43:39 AM
3/4/18 some combined sightings from this morning by a few of the regulars.
1 Yellow Wagtail 2 Wheatear 4 Sand Martin 1 Swallow 1 Chiffchaff 1 Redshank 1 Curlew 1 Snipe 3 Greylag Geese 1 Red-breasted Merganser, same one as has been seen occasionally over recent weeks, 2 Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel
Dunlin - landed briefly before flying off high again Curlew 4 Snipe 2 Lapwing 2 Skylark through 3 Meadow Pipit through and 2 birds on the ground 2 Kestrel 1 Pochard 4 Mute Swan
I visited for the first time from 9am-12am this morning. Had a great time and saw a few new birds for myself. Must thank the birding contingent on-site for the warm welcome and pointing out the Iceland Gull to me! I'll be back.
Highlights:
At No.2:
x4 Goldeneye
x1 Reed Bunting (Male. Appeared for 20 seconds at the southwest corner, perched just 10m away giving me a flawless view)
x1 Kestrel (On the grass south of No.2)
At No.1:
x1 Iceland Gull (2nd winter. Noted it flying north away from reservoir at 11am)
x1 Little Ringed Plover
x4 Snipe
x1 Green Sandpiper (caught it flying from E>W side of the reservoir at about 11:15am)
x~15 Linnet (Flock flew down to waterside from east briefly, around 11:30am)
x1 Pochard (Female, at south end of reservoir at 12am)