Tree Sparrow....5 frequenting trees that border the Lodge, in Old Kiln Lane back gardens. Goosander.....5 ...including 2 drakes Tufted Duck....c10 Goldfinch...5 Greenfinch...1 Long-tailed Tit...3 Reed Bunting...4 Teal...a pair. Kestrel...1 female perched. Cormorant...5 Bumped into Paul Thompson, as he was leaving, who helped us with the Tree Sparrow location.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 09:58:11 AM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Visited the site between 8.40 am and 10.00 am 29 species seen highlights being: Kingfisher on the island, 6 Goosanders, 5 Reed Bunting, couple of Teal and a single female Bullfinch.
Walked around the lodge 9.30 am to 10.40 am. Western end of the lodge is frozen, the eastern end was ice free. Highlights include Water Rail, Kingfisher and half a dozen Snipe. 33 species seen in total.
Walked around the lodge 9.15 am to 10.10 highlights: kingfisher showing well, willow tits in with a flock of longtailed tits, a male song thrush sing, 5 Goosanders, large numbers of redwings and a juvenile goldeneye.
Walked round the lodge between 11.40 to 12.35. Three sightings of Kingfisher (not sure if they were the same or different birds), 3 Goosander (1 male and 2 female). About 50+ Redwing in the hedges along Moss Bank Way. A single Great Crested Grebe the first one I've seen for about a week, they seem to know the lodge was going to freeze and moved off. No sign of the Water Rail or bittern which a saw on Tuesday. Plenty of people still looking for the bittern.
Other birds seen: Starlings 25+, Coots 20+, Black Headed Gulls 80+, Tufted Ducks 25+, Robins 2, Moorhens 8, Cormorants c3, Chaffinches 8, Dunnocks 2, Blackbirds c12, Magpies 6+, Goldfinches 5, Wood Pigeons 15+, Greenfinches 8, Blue Tits 2, Common Gull 1, Lesser Black Backed Gull 2, Greylag Geese (Domestic) 5, Canada Geese 17, House Sparrows 4+, Mallard 20+ and Jackdaws 2.
Just to add to Dave's notes on previous entry:
Goosander 4
Water Rail 2
Kingfisher 1
Jackdaw - flocks coming to roost in willow carr at dusk (no count)
Nice to have your company Dave and Dave (Broome).
Attended the lodge at first light but thick fog affected visibility. Saw kingfisher and heard water rails calling .Met Andy Makin but we gave up hope of seeing bittern due to weather. Thought I would call after work and returned to lodge an hour before dusk. Met David Broome and Peter from Heywood (sorry but forgot your surname). Eventually Dave saw movement in the edge of reed bed at the northern edge of the smaller lodge (left of causeway).Saw bittern walking steadily in the reeds but only giving partial sightings. Just before dusk the bittern climbed up the top of the reeds to roost. It gave good views as it preened. Last seen at this location before darkness came and we had to leave. I have attached a record shot which was taken on phone though Dave's scope. Thanks to Dave and Pete and nice to meet you
Bittern still in reeds on the right hand side of the smaller lodge, viewed from the causeway. Well hunkered down when we were there at around mid-day but still visible.
This am up to 11.30 Two great views of the Bittern, which is currently located in the Phragmites in the smaller lake, and at its northern end. At 10.25 the Bittern was showing fully at the front of the reeds for 1 to 2 mins. Viewed from the causway at about 70 yards. At 11am with Andy Makin from the grassy slope to the south of the lake , the Bittern was seen flying, 30 yards, along the northern edge of same reeds. Later the bird was elusive with only partial views from 50 yards. Probably will show better from further back on causeway. A County tick for me! Also: Kingfisher....1 Teal....6 Tufted Duck...7 Grey heron...1
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
This morning sightings, with thanks, from Paul Thompson:
At 8.50 a Bittern was showing well on the Ice (Yes A Bittern!) Also seen were Water rail...1 Kingfisher...1 At the top of Smithills Dean, by Scout Road, a Single Golden Plover was with Lapwings.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 29th of November 2016 08:11:57 PM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
This morning 10 Whooper Swans present (9 adult, 1 juvenile). They flew out at 10.13 after being disturbed by a dog chasing a ball in the water. The sign saying dogs must be on a lead is widely ignored. Also present 1 Little Grebe and 1 female Goosander.
WeBS visit 0900 - 0940 Great Crested Grebe x 1 Domestic Greylag Goose x 5 Mallard x 18 Tufted Duck x 13 Coot x 21 Moorhen x 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull x 1 Black-headed Gull x 125
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 16th of October 2016 11:14:15 PM
Drake Ruddy Shelduck flew in around 8.30am today. Also Common Tern seen. Info thanks to Paul Thomson, who left, with the bird still present, at 9.20am No sign of either on my short visit this evening just... 10 Tufted Duck, a Willow Warbler, and 1 Swallow.
-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 15th of April 2016 06:07:51 PM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Hour over lunch time today.
2 Common Terns
Willow Tit (pair)
2 snipe
Swallows and House Martins
Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler in song at far end of causeway with brief views of the former.
Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff also adding their voices.
Very smart looking adult Mediterranean Gull with the Black-Headed Gulls yesterday at 3.40pm. On the water for some time, then flew off for a while in the direction of Rumworth but was present again a little later.
Other notables were the return of the monster Terrapin sunning himself on the lower branches of a fallen bush in the water at the eastern corner of the lodge and the complete absence of any swans.
Visited this morning and saw the following:
Reed bunting,
Black headed gull,
Goosander (2 pairs)
Chiffchaff (first of the year for me),
Teal,
Pied wagtail,
Goldfinch.
First summer migrant of the year with Chiffchaff over far end of the lodge Also Goldcrest 3 Goosander Greater Black backed Gull 3 tufted Duck 4 Wren Buzzard Sparrowhawk kill around the back of the lodge
10.30 to 11.30 this morning 7 Goosander (3m 4f) 5 tufted Duck Common Gull Lesser Black backed Gull Canada Goose Great Crested Grebe Single Kingfisher, which having caught a fish was then pursued by half a dozen black headed gulls around the lodge
For the last week I have watched two kingfishers do battle on the lodge. There are some great chases as one chases the other in great agitation. Today they flew round and round repeatedly through the back gardens of houses on Ripon road. What a sight to see as you stand doing the washing up! I always see them around late morning/noon though other people who have gone up say they have never seen them but they are giving some great views all over the main lake.
My wife and I had a late walk round the lodge last evening and we were treated to a fantastic display by the feeding swifts.
As the dusk fell from around 9.30pm the swifts started feeding lower and lower. In the end as the light was falling they were buzzing past us from all sides, almost within touching distance (if we could have been quick enough!), as we stood on the path near the gate at the Kiln Lane end.
Reed Warbler 1 singing in left reed bed Sedge Warbler - good views in right hand reed bed 2 Common Tern arrived back and reclaimed the raft whilst I was there Pair of Blackcaps Pair of Bullfinches Cormorant Long Tailed Tit carrying food up to 6 Reed Buntings (4 males) Pair of Tufted Duck Great Crested Grebe sitting tight plus lots of the usuals (copyright JT)
Blowing a bit this morning between 8.30 - 10.00. Highlights Singing Blackcap Greenfinch 5 Swallows Willow Tit in scrub around the back of left hand lake 3 Willow Warblers 2 Chiffchaff
This morning between 09.45 and 11.00am - windy, over-cast
Moorhen x4 Coot x31 Mallard +40 Tufted Duck x12 Mute Swan x4 (2 adults and 2 young) Great Crested Grebe x3 (2 adults and 1 young who was constantly begging one of the parents for food, and diving after them - great to watch) Canada Goose x10 Black headed Gull x4 House Martin x6
Whitethroat x1 Willow Warbler x4 Great Tit Blue Tit Robin x2 Wren x1 Goldfinch x1 Greenfinch x6 Siskin x2 Chaffinch x2 Blackbird x1 Magpie Carrion Crow
Hi I have been away for a few days.I read the post about the signet with the fishing tackle so went to have a walk round today 3/8/13 at 4.30pm. Both adults and two signets on the lodge. As I walked towards the swans I saw the adult male tangled in a fishermans line. He was trying to drag the swan towards shore. The line eventually snapped. I borrowed some sweetcorn and enticed all 4 swans to the very edge.They all looked okay I could see no injury to the male swan and no sign of a hook or line. I did speak to the group of fishermen who seemed fairly unconcerned. No sign of the third signet.
Hi Keith, presumably the same Ian I have not seen for years. I knew him well, from socialising not cycling, when he lived in Egerton. Please pass on my regards.
Information thanks to my neighbour , and longtime Lancashire Road Club Secretary, Ian Marshall....
Ian has been watching the Mute Swans all Summer as his son-in- law and grandkids live by the Lodge. Today he noticed that one of the remaining 3 Cygnets(originally 5) had what looked like a 2 coloured fishing float stuck in it's bill. He contacted the RSPCA this afternoon ,who took full details. Ian has cycled up late this evening and could only see 2 normal Cygnets. He hopes that the Swan has been collected to get some help, and that hopefully this story has a happy ending!
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 24th of July 2013 10:10:41 PM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Common Tern 8+ adults & 6 newly hatched juvs that are unable to fly yet, seems the previously fledged juvs have already left. Reed Warbler still singing ! Mute Swan 2 adult, 3 cygnets. Pair Great Crested Grebes Tufted Duck 15 in eclipse
Mute Swan 2 adult + 3 Cygnets Common Tern 15+ Adults & at least 4 newly fledged juveniles in flight. Reed Warbler still singing Great Crested Grebe 2 Canada Goose 55 Swift 8
-- Edited by Alan Warford on Thursday 4th of July 2013 04:33:50 PM