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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> Doffcocker Lodge
Post Info TOPIC: Doffcocker Lodge
Annette Cutts


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For those who are interested there are more Common terns than ever nesting at Doffcocker this year with 12 pairs sitting on eggs. Two of the rafts are currently occupied and for the first time one pair is also nesting over on goose island (the top waters edge nearest to the rafts) There are no chicks as yet but as the majority of the eggs were laid in the first week of May hatching is due any day now. The males are currently very busy in feisty territorial displays that was getting quite nasty this afternoon. Lets hope when the chicks hatch they will be too busy catching fish to worry about attacking each other.

The Great crested grebe is also still sitting on her nest. Incubation here is 4 weeks and so the eggs should hatch some time this week with luck. Sadly the other two pairs, who attempted to nest earlier have disappeared.

There are numerous reed warblers on the reserve with one particular bird consistently singing and showing well on the causeway. I havent seen any sedge warblers on the reserve this season. A few years ago these birds were more numerous than the reed warblers but it seems recently to have swung in the other birds favour. I have yet to hear any Grasshopper warblers on the reserve this season either.

I have also found at least 4 pairs of nesting reed bunting and 2 pairs of willow warbler. Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Bullfinch can also regularly be heard. On the Chorley old road side there is also a small colony of House Martins nesting in the big residential house.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 24th of May 2012 06:08:43 PM

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Martyn Jones


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Doffcocker Lodge has surely got to be THE place to see Common Terns at the moment. I didn't count them but there must be at least 16, with many of them doing fantastic aerial displays, catching fish and doing fish passes etc. It's fascinating to watch how the Black-headed Gulls gang up on them trying to steal the fish - but the Terns do hold their own in these jousts.

I also had a great view of two Reed Warblers (photos on my blog) quite by chance whilst I was waiting for a Tern to land on the 'No Fishing' sign for a photo. They're very noisy in the reed beds at the end of the causeway and so there must be a few of them here. I've been told there are Sedge Warblers nearby too, but I didn't hear or see any today.

Also seen:
2 Tufted Duck
1 Great Crested Grebe
2 Moorhens
4 Coot
Several chicks of different varieties

... and all the usual ferals.

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Keith Mills


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After getting some motivation from Martyn's last post, I had a cappuccino at Zest and then went along the causeway this afternoon.
Certainly at least 16 Common Terns.
Two Reed Warblers heard and seen, one getting up on a Willow Bush.

Other sightings:
Grey Heron...1
Tufted Duck....7
Reed Bunting...1
Swifts...4
House Sparrow...1




-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 04:16:00 PM

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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.

 

 
JOHN TYMON


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late pm
tufted duck-12
great crested grebe-4
sedge warbler-1
reed warbler-1
common terns - 20




-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 7th of May 2012 05:27:37 PM

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Dean Macdonald


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late report. 3 common terns yesterday(sat).

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Kane Brides


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1 Kingfisher this evening

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Kane Brides
Rick Hall


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First time here today. Nice place for a quick scoot around.

Got my first ever Garden Warbler today.biggrin.gif
12-15 Common Tern on a floating platform
1 Male Reed Bunting
and a kestrel successfully hunted a vole.

Rick

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Simon Warford


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2 singing Reed Warblers back in the small reedbed today, single Common Tern on the raft.

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Keith Mills


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cry.gif Sorry Annette , I think Doffcocker did not suit them, as no signs there at 10.30
Probably they flew over to RUMWORTH ...see Steve's posting of this morning.

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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.

 

 
Annette Cutts


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wow that is 2 weeks earlier than usual!

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Keith Mills


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smile.gif Common Terns 2 This am
INFO Thanks to Geoff Leather ,Bolton RSPB

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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.

 

 
Mark Jarrett


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Just checked my records - it was actually 6 January 1974 - well it was over 35 years ago!biggrin.gif

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Mark Jarrett


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Haven't birded at Doffcocker for years. Cycled over from Darwen circa 1975 for the Ferruginous Duck with a mate of mine from Blackburn. It was a good tick that.

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JOHN TYMON


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plenty common terns,great crested grebe,reed warbler,lots of mute swans,sedge warbler,whitethroat etcsmile.gif

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Annette Cutts


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Despite being drowned 3 times in the thunder storms this afternoon there was some busy tern activity. Birds were busy fishing and flying about. I counted 8 adults and one newly fledged juvenile. (ringed) Birds still seem to be raising young on both rafts.

The pair that raised the eldest of the grebe chicks appear to be nesting again.

Also present were 12 tufted ducks mainly males in eclipse plumage.

No sign of any waders or warblers singing but then I wouldnt be singing in that rain either!

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Annette Cutts


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Waders present on that mud is often disappointing though there are often good numbers of snipe through the winter.

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Dean Macdonald


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I've only really started watching Doffcocker regularly this year and have been hoping for a decent wader on the bit of mud. Well pleased.

Dean.

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Annette Cutts


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Usually see common sandpipers quite regularly on migration at doffcocker but havent seen any this year, nice one!

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Dean Macdonald


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1 Common Sandpiper 4.30pm 14/7/07

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