Cheers Paul, i didn't know! Will go and get my copy tonight

Dave

Great Northern still here this morning

Bewick swan is a hard call. Indeed I managed some photographs but the birds had winged their way over the lake too fast for me to get my lens off the tripod and get decent shots. I'd say the birds flew at about 200ft off the ground.

I was talking with another birder from Burnley (name I forget). We were looking over the lake at the GND (from near the entrance to the visitors centre) when my attention was distracted probably by the flight sound: so I looked up and behind. As I was looking I saw 3 adult swans in flight and in very close formation. I immediately looked at the other birder and said something like "they're not mute swans? ". The other birder who I feel is a very experienced birder said "possibly Bewick's swan...short necked." I could not disagree. Keeping my eye on the birds I got the lens off the tripod. The bird's flight formation had opened up a bit and they did (if I recall correctly) a half circle beyond the lake and then disappeared dropping down well out of view, I managed about 5 shots, but the birds were a long way off. I will naturally send my pictures off to Ian. The bird's bodies naturally became foreshortened to the view. Given my brief view I certainly would not rule out Bewick's. The other birder went to look for them but could not find them.

If the birder from Burnley reads this thread would you please send me a private message...Many thanks.

Sadly I did not see the iceland gull either.

No sign of Iceland Gull in roost today. Very interested to hear about the Bewick's - anyone see them as I think they are a county rarity these days so unless someone submits a description the sighting will probably disappear into the ether. Bewicks used to be an annual passage migrant here in the eighties but they have become really scarce recently - I think the last ones at the Lake were in about 1996 - just goes to show what can turn up when a site gets a bit of coverage - could have done with those tournament points though!

Great Northern Diver still present this morning.

Info thanks to Simon Hitchen.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Second winter Iceland Gull at Hollingworth Lake 2pm, plus the usual juvenile Great Northern Diver.

Info thanks to Simon Hitchen

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Another excellent find Simon!

Really enjoyed watching this lovely gull, along with the other good number of assembled birdwatchers. Especially so the moment when the gull was in full view through the optics and the diver very conveniently drifted from left to right in the same field of vision....sublime!

Bill.

NB - still there at 3.20 pm - so probably roosting?

-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Saturday 12th of December 2009 04:17:26 PM

Came up again myself and saw it at 2pm for while, then lost it.

GND still here today and showing ridiculously well

Did not see GND AM
But in puddle round corner on hollingworth road
3 Gooseander 2 male 1 female 6 lapwing 1 heron 1 cormerant 12 canada geese BH Gull 3 teal

GND still present this afternoon

Present and correct today, when I delivered more bird reports to the Visitor Centre - they had run out.

Dear Mike,
Done, thanks a lot.

Geoff

Geoff - John Tymon has put some excellent shots on the forum photo gallery.


P.S. to save myself embarrassment there are also very fine photos from Dave W, Simon H, Stuart H, Jon T, Pauline G and Judith S

P.P.S. of course I now realise none of these were in the last three days

-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 2nd of December 2009 04:15:24 PM

Great Northern Diver giving great views late morning between the pub and the pump station. Not a lot else around - 6 Great Crested Grebe, a Cormorant, a good number of Black Headed Gulls, a few Canadas, Mallard, a Pink footed Goose, a couple of hybrids and domestic Duck was the best that I could manage.

11am to 11-45am
GND showing well between the pumping stn. and the white fronted pub. Very active and quite close to the walkway. 1 pinkfoot and one imm. greylag with the canadas near the boat club.
There were a few hybrids about and one in particular got my attention, probably a mallard with green head just beginning to show and a fair amount of white on the breast but the overall size of the bird was 50% bigger than the average, there was another with similar markings (no green on the head) at normal size.

Mike



-- Edited by Mike hirst on Monday 30th of November 2009 05:07:34 PM

Glad to hear it seemed a bit more active today. Noticed on the Calderdale blog that Sean Gray had a Great northern at Ringstone Edge Res'r this morning - could this be our missing diver as it's only a short hop over the Pennines from Piethorne? Having said that Great northerns seem to be all over the place at the moment.

Just the one Great-northern today - looks like the more recent arrival to me - slightly browner and less well marked than the first bird - maybe they weren't as pleased to see each other as I had initially thought - suspect there's not enough fish for 2 divers. Had been expecting them both to go together though. This bird doesnt seem to do much diving (at least not when I've seen it) and seems a bit sluggish compared to the other one - wonder if it's just knackered or not very well.

Also today Jim Taylor had 7 Whoopers fly over south-east around 3 o'clock.

Also 6 Great-crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 110+Fieldfare, 2 Lesser Redpoll over

1 x GND still present 2.30pm, with views close in along east side near visitor centre

Excellent close views of the Diver in front of boathouse between 8.30 and 9.00 a.m.
Cheers Ian

Only the one Great Northern Diver present this morning, the other having nipped across to Ogden Reservoir (see the Piethorne Valley thread)

info thanks to Simon Hitchen

Thought I was suffering from double vision this morning but after a 25 year wait since the last GNDiver here there's now 2 inside a month. Both birds are juveniles - the new bird appears a bit paler and less well marked than the long-stayer. When I first arrived this morning they were at opposite ends of the lake and seemed oblivious to each other's presence - the 'old' bird was diving actively but the 'new' one wasn't diving and quite frankly looked knackered and spent a lot of time asleep so I don't think it can have been here under the radar - it gave me the impression of being recently arrived. The 2 birds then met up - maybe I'm being anthropomorphic but they seemed decidely pleased to see each other and they hung around close together for the rest of the morning until I left at around 11 am.

Popped back at dusk but could only see one bird then.

Made me wonder if an overflying diver would somehow know that one was already down on the water. I remember reading about 14 Red-throats coming down to join 2 on the water at Scotsman's Flash.........here's hoping!


Cheers, Simon

Chimping Pauline (due to how photographers act and sound when looking back at pictures) Gimping is probably something else all together - im sure Paul Cliff will add it to his terms though on the general discussion section

Dave

As I understand it the main car park is the one near the buildings, loos, pontoon and safety boats. The next car park is for disabled only I think - tho I've pulled in just to have a look over the water there and left the engine running. I've also patrolled around towards the visitor centre which is hidden off down to the left half way round towards the pub and driven along the road over there and stopped just to scan without leaving the car. If you're willing to spend time it will most likely do 'its circuit' and come past the pontoons and on round to fish near the water tower - it can be very very close at this point as I found out last time whilst - I believe the word is 'gimping' or 'chimping'? - looking at my monitor to see what I'd got (or not as the case my be) and found the bird looking up at me from 20ft off ........... I nearly dropped the camera in and the bird dove the min I made eye contact - naturally!!!!!!

Pauline

One GND patrolling its usual beat near the car park. Saw no other, though the strong wind made the lake very choppy, so it was difficult to see much in the middle of the lake. I stayed from 2.45 - 3.30 p.m.