After successfully twitching the nearby hoopoe, went for a quick wander round the lake and nearby farmland (26/04)

2 Little Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
8 Teal
6 Tufted Duck
2 Great Crested Grebe
6 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
2 Buzzard
Lots of Swallows and Goldfinches about

23/4

A stonking male Ring Ouzel was near Rakewood in fields up from Schofield Hall Lane behind Benny Hill Plantation (yes that is its real name)

Other highlights of a long walk around the Lake and surrounding areas included 1 Buzzard, 2 Redshank, 6 Grey Partridge, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Little Owls, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, c15 singing Willow Warblers, 4 Linnets and song-flighting Lesser Redpoll.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 24th of April 2015 06:06:58 AM

Pretty dead here recently but a few summer migrants now starting to trickle in:-

1 Greylag Goose
8 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Ringed Plover
2 Redshank
10 Swallows
2 Grey Wagtails - Longden End
2 Wheatears - Longden End
1 Blackcap singing Rakewood
Willow Warblers - first arrived on 9th April but counted 9 singing this morning
2 Chiffchaff
1 Goldcrest
1 Lesser Redpoll
4 Linnets - Longden End

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 07:40:05 AM

3/4/15 lunchtime walk between showers

Swallow 2
'Sinensis' southern cormorant 1
Chiffchaff singing by NR

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 3rd of April 2015 05:05:59 PM

At least one, and possibly two, chiffchaffs singing in the nature reserve this morning.

Regards, Chris J-B

We live near Hollingworth Lake and for a few days this week we have had a reed bunting on our bird feeder. It is years since we have seen any around the lake, so are there anymore around?

2 pairs of Goosanders are still showing well and I wonder whether these are the same ones that turn up on the Little Clegg lodge.

Had an amble round this morning 9.00-10.30 am

Blackbird x 1
Black Headed Gull x 89
Blue Tit x 6
Canada Goose x 122
Carrion Crow x 6
Coal tit x 2
Coot x 4
Cormorant x 2
Goosander x 3 1m+2f
Great Crested Grebe x 5
Great Tit x 5
Grey Wagtail x 1
Lapwing x 2
Long Tailed Tit x 3
Magpie x 12
Mallard x 45
Mistle Thrush x 1
Moorhen x 1
Mute Swan x 2
Oystercatcher x 2
Pied Wagtail x 2
Robin x 2
Teal x 2
Woodpigeon x 14

2 drake Shoveler this afternoon - unusual here

20/11

1 Great Crested Grebe
14 Teal
1 Wigeon female
1 Goldeneye female
1 Goosander male
1 Nuthatch - Big Hedge
male Brambling - very vocal - with a small flock of Chaffinches at the nature reserve
5 Siskin
1 Lesser redpoll
2 Bullfinch


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 21st of November 2014 08:33:06 AM

8 Whooper Swans this morning but flew off southwest at 0950 after being harrassed by the inevitable rowing boats

A herd of eleven whooper swans on the lake, at nine o' clock this morning.

Chris J-B

A big influx of winter thrushes today with a conservative estimate of 300 Redwings 'down' in the area (the first of the autumn here) and a further 560 over south in loose flocks between 0830 and 1130. Despite the stacks of Redwings there was only one Fieldfare (at Shaw Moss). Also an influx of Blackbirds (40+)

The highlight however was at least 2 RING OUZELS in the area behind Turnough Hill up the track from the TSPalatine.
The male Stonechat was still in the field behind the hide and a Brambling was with around 20 Chaffinches in Pavilion Wood.
Also 4 Great-crested Grebes, 37 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Coots, 2 Pheasant, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskins south and 10+ Reed Buntings

Apologies for the late notice Wednesday between 12:00 & 14:00

3 Gadwall between Pavilion Café and the Nature Reserve (2 males and a female)
Common Sandpiper still present
13 Lapwing

Also apologies for no other details but I was working and not technically birding though I always carry my bins.

-- Edited by Andrew Huyton on Thursday 2nd of October 2014 09:16:26 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 2nd of October 2014 09:28:50 PM

3 Great-crested Grebe
4 Cormorant
1 Coot
2 Snipe
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Kingfisher
2 Swallow
15 House Martins
1 Chiffchaff
1 Linnet S
2 Lesser Redpoll

Also a Dipper and 4 Grey Wagtails along Longden End Brook in Rakewood

Barb and I visited Hollingworth Lake on Friday after Ogden Res. in view of its close proximity. We walked all round in very pleasant conditions; the only bird of note among teal and a single lapwing being a common sandpiper on the islet just in front of the hide.

What we did enthuse over was the excellent deli cafe opposite the car park. This was the Olive and Pickle (01706 838688) where we earlier had breakfast, nicely refurbished and reopened just 2 months ago, run by a young girl who is a superb self taught baker. Her cakes will tempt even the most resolute dieter!

I will not visit Hollingworth lake in future without diving in here to eat, (possibly even BEFORE twitching a nearby target G M lifer!)

Regards,
Mike P.

7 Cormorant
14 Teal
male Sparrowhawk
40+ Swallow
15+ House Martin
20+ Meadow Pipits
1 TREE PIPIT showing very well at the bushy hillside just east of Shaw Moss
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Blackcap
1 LESSER WHITETHROAT - Bib Knowl
10 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
1 Goldcrest
Nuthatch calling Bib Knowl Plantation
4 Linnets

Alan Nuttall also had a Treecreeper at Bib Knowl Plantation

Also a Mink brazenly walking out in the open at the Nature Reserve

-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Tuesday 9th of September 2014 11:33:06 PM

3 Great-crested grebes
3 Cormorant
22 Teal (15 Shaw Moss, 7 nature reserve)
71 Lapwing (Akzo)
1 Common Sandpiper
3 Pheasant
female Sparrowhawk
male Kestrel
2 Great spotted Woodpeckers
steady trickle of Swallows south throughout the morning - estimated 150+
30+ House Martins high south
16 Sand Martins south
25+ Pied Wagtails
1 Grey Wagtail
3 REDSTARTS (male and 2 fem/imm) together in Bib Knowl area
2 Willow Warblers
6 Chiffchaffs
10+ Long-tailed Tits
1 Nuthatch heard only Bib Knowl Plantation
2 Jays
3 Linnets
1 Lesser Redpoll over

2 Tawny Owls calling in Whittaker area at dusk


-- Edited by Simon Hitchen on Thursday 4th of September 2014 11:16:31 PM

A late start this morning but autumn migration continues to provide good birds:

3 Spotted flycatchers in the dell next to pavillion wood
3 more at Shaw Moss
1 Garden Warbler
1 Redstart female

With numerous Willow warblers and Chiffchaffs

17 Teal Shaw Moss
1 Kestrel Shaw Moss
5 Moorhen Shaw Moss

On the lake

1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
2 Cormorants

News of big hirundine movement on the east coast at Hunmanby gap near Flamborough (1500 each of swallows and house martins in less than 2 hours of vis mig) seemed to be mirrored around the lake, counts impossible as I was constantly on the move but Swallows and House Martins seemed to be everywhere today.


-- Edited by Andrew Huyton on Saturday 30th of August 2014 06:49:54 PM

-- Edited by Andrew Huyton on Saturday 30th of August 2014 06:51:52 PM

That's interesting Andrew - I have sent you a PM, but I think the Lesser Whitethroat may have been present for over a week as I heard one calling in the same general area last week but couldn't locate it.

Today the Lesser Whitethroat again showed briefly in the Big Hedge area

Also today a male Sparrowhawk, 5 Swifts over south, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Linnets and a Siskin over

Pretty quiet...

2 Cormorant
1 Tufted Duck
female Sparrowhawk
male Kestrel
1 Green Woodpecker
40+ Sand Martins
70+ Swallows
1 Lesser Whitethroat in Big Hedge
7 Willow Warblers
1 Chiffchaff
Bullfinch family party
1 Linnet over
4 Lesser Redpoll over

That's great Andrew. We did hear one by the Visitor Centre in May. Excellent that you actually saw one.
Thank you for your post.
Karen

730 pm A female Common Scoter now present

A Little Egret flew west over the lake at 19:58 this evening and headed off in the direction of Clegg Hall.

Three Common Scoters still present again today.

Info thanks to Alan Nuttall