The Barwits (females) were present from approx. 10:00 hrs until at least 11:00 hrs bathing and preening. It's amazing that this species has occurred here for the 2nd year running given that there were no records before last year. When I returned at 12:30 they had gone. However 10 Ringed Plover were feeding on the spit close into the club house, probably brought down by the murky weather. A record count for this site and probably the highest count in Rochdale since 1965 (unless anyone knows differently) when 16 were at Blackstone Edge Resr on 22nd August.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
An epic bike ride around Watergrove Reservoir today included all the surrounding hills (and what a slog they were to get to!), Crook Hill (and moor), Hades (that's what it said on the map) and Brown Wardle Hill (only half of it in GM), then around each and every path I could find elsewhere. Unfortunately, it was relatively quiet but the weather and views were fantastic,
Wheatear- 22 Raven- 1 on Crook Hill being mobbed by Crows Lesser Redpoll- 3+ around the boat house
A cracking male Ring Ouzel this evening flew past at close range and landed in the top of a Larch, above the compensation lagoon, on the east side of the resr. It then flew north and was lost to view behind the trees near the memorial garden. Otherwise it has been very quiet here so far this month. Migrants are late arriving and only in small number , hardly surprising given the awful weather. A circuit of the whole valley last Sunday produced just one Wheatear. The first Willow Warbler arrived on 13th April and only two have been heard singing.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
37 species recorded today for the Bird Atlas / GM Breeding Atlas including pairs of the following: Great Crested Grebe Oystercatcher Coot (2 pairs) Tufted Duck Grey Partidge Also seen 4 Snipe, a Stonechat, a Sand Martin (the first of the year was here on 30th March), a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. The highest breeding evidence code was Curlew and Wood Pigeon displaying. Did anyone get more than 37 specie? You can't count them unless you have / are going to submit the records to the BTO website http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/index.htm
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 6th of May 2012 09:34:11 PM
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.