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Post Info TOPIC: Watergrove Reservoir


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RE: Watergrove Reservoir


27 Jan 2019 at 11.30am

2 Brambling under feeders

3 Lesser Redpoll in adjacent trees

Also: Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Blackbird at feeders.

Black-headed, Common, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull on water with Mallard.

Crow and Pied Wagtail in front of Sailing Club.

 

 



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Late post from Saturday 5th January (additional to Adam's sightings).

Morning Visit

Wigeon - 5 (3 males)

Afternoon Visit
with Zoe Barrett
Canada Geese - 153 most arriving after sunset to roost
Teal - 6
Common Gull - 30
Redshank - feeding on the shoreline by the Windsurfers' club house at 14:10 hrs. Still present at 16:45 hrs.
Snipe - 20 left the hide pool roost from 16:30 to 16:40 hrs
Tawny Owl - pair calling to each other
Treecreeper - 2 feeding close together along the path to the hide
Goldcrest - 1
Reed Bunting - 3

Redshank is a fairly scarce bird in GM at this time of year. There are only 14 January records in the GMBRG database from 2012 to 2018, so an average of 2 per year. However, they do show an interesting trend with number of records in brackets: 2012 (0), 2013 (2), 2014 (1), 2015 (0), 2016 (0), 2017 (6), and 2018 (5). Maximum counts of five on the Manchester Ship Canal at Weaste on 27th Jan 2013 and 5 at Audenshaw on 12th and 19th Jan 2018.

Many thanks to Nigel and Tucker for setting up the feeding station again this winter and keeping it well stocked with food. Brambling used to be mainly a spring and autumn migrant here but the provision of food is undoubtedly the reason why there is now a small over wintering flock.



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Saturday 5th January 12.30pm

12 Brambling around feeders
4 Bullfinch
Lots of the usual tits and finches around the feeders
5 Goosander
c70 Lapwing
1 Great Crested Grebe

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Late post from Christmas Eve.

Morning visit:
Wigeon - 8 (5 males) on the reservoir at 09:00 hrs, still present at 15:30 hrs
Teal - 11 feeding along the shoreline
Canada Goose - 200+ feeding on the shoreline
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Cormorant - 2
Grey Heron - 1
Lapwing - 70 roosting on the north shore
Tufted Duck - 1 female
Fieldfare - 22 feeding on fields to east of Steward Barn
Brambling - 3 by the feeding station

Afternoon visit:
Snipe - 26+ left the day roost on the hide pool 16:31 - 16:37 hrs. I missed a few, as the first flock split into two groups and flew either side of the hide.
Goosander - 5 redheads flew north
Dipper heard calling in flight after sunset presumably heading to its roost site
Raven - landed in the usual roost tree
Bullfinch - 4
Tawny Owl - female heard calling ke-wick from plantations


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WeBS count 08:10 - 10:20

8 Bramblings were in the windsurfers' car park at 8:30am close to the feeding station but flew off north.
Reed Bunting - 4
Bullfinch - 3
Lapwing - 30
Snipe - 3
Canada Goose - 182
Teal -11

Late afternoon visit
Goldeneye - pair
11 Goosander were on the reservoir and stayed to roost.
23 Snipe left the hide pool roost between 16:30 and 16:40 hrs. Most flew SW silhouetted nicely against the clear evening sky. So under counted by a factor of 7:1 on the day time WeBS!
Kestrel - 1
Raven - 1
A Pink-footed Goose was heard calling amongst the numerous Canada Geese that had flown in to roost, but I was unable to locate it in the fading light.

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 9th of December 2018 06:02:32 PM

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 9th of December 2018 06:04:11 PM

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Late post from Friday 26th October

A pair of Whooper Swans with a cygnet were roosting on the edge of the island at 17:40 hrs until dislodged by 39 Canada Geese. Still present at 18:35 hrs but gone this morning.

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Saturday 27th of October 2018 12:52:09 PM

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08:30 - 12:30 with Kevin McCabe

Goldeneye - 3 on the reservoir first thing (one displayed briefly) appeared to have flown off unseen. The first of the autumn here.
Teal - 1
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Cormorant - 2
Lapwing - 45+ roosting on the island
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - young male
Fieldfare - 160+ dropped into trees in small groups over a 15 minute period and fed on rowan berries. Looked like they had just arrived.
Redwing - 80 flew west
Siskin - 6 flew north
Bullfinch - 3

17:35 hrs - 4 Wigeon

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Saturday 20th of October 2018 08:09:04 PM

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9 Wigeon and 3 Pochard together just out from the dam at 18:00 hrs

Also a flock of 60+ Lapwing and a Dipper heard calling in flight.

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08:15 - 10:30 hrs

Six Spotted Flycatchers at three locations around the reservoir is a site record. (3 together hawking from a willow on dried out east bay, 2 in the windsurfer's car park by the path to the hide, and one along Higher Slack Brook). Spotted Flycatcher Locations

Also present:
Kestrel - 2
Male blackcap
Chiffchaff - 2
Willow Warbler - 1
Lesser Redpoll - 3
Siskin - 3
Bullfinch - 2

Nuthatch calling - a very scarce bird here.


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3 male Wigeon and an eclipse male Pintail on the reservoir this evening from 18:45 to 20:00 hrs. The first of the autumn here.

Green Woodpecker flew across the quarry from the SW of the resr and lost to view over East Hill, so covered almost a kilometre in about a minute!
Green Woodpecker flight line

Grey Heron - 2

Sunday morning
Lapwing - 47 roosting on the old Ramsden Road island which has emerged in recent weeks as the water level has continued to drop
Swallow - 6
Chiffchaff - 2
Blackcap - 2
Bullfinch - 2
Lesser Redpoll - 9

Late post from Sat 25th August
A Spotted Flycatcher in trees in the NW corner of the reservoir. A traditional location which is sheltered and catches the early morning sun.

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Wed 25th July

2 female Common Scoters were on the reservoir yesterday evening at 18:15 hrs, bathing and preening.

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Even better than yesterday. Wood Warbler singing in Ramsden Rd plantation just to the north of the windsurfers club house. My first ever for the site, Rochdale and GM biggrinbiggrinbiggrin Also Cuckoo heard calling by the hide.

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Wednesday 9th of May 2018 09:14:25 PM

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An evening visit after the rain (18:30 - 20:00 hrs) proved productive.

Sedge Warbler - one singing by the hide was the first here for several years. Need to check my records biggrin

Cuckoo - heard calling in the distance whilst I was in the hide. I managed to track it down to a fence line below the Shore path. It was silent whilst working its way from post to post along the fence Watergrove Cuckoo Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling from the Juncus on the moors along Ramsden Road.



-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Tuesday 8th of May 2018 08:37:13 PM


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A good morning for bird song with sunshine, clear blue sky and a light easterly 08:35 - 11:35 hrs

Willow Warbler - 26 singing from the plantations around the reservoir, well down on last year's record of 37 on 23rd Apil. However, perhaps there are still more to arrive given the late spring.
Chiffchaff - 1 singing
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 reeling from an area of Juncus on the moor and showing well.
Skylark - 4 singing
Song Thrush - 1 singing
Robin - 8 singing
Wren - 6 singing. They seem to have been hit badly by the harsh weather in March, as there was a maximum of 19 singing in April 2017.
Dunnock - 2 singing
Coal Tit - 2 singing
Chaffinch - 6 singing
Goldfinch - 2 singing
Lesser Redpoll - 2
Reed Bunting - 1 male
Bullfinch - 2
Kestrel - 2
Buzzard - 1 soaring to the SE
Raven - 1
Tufted Duck - 2 pairs
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Canada Goose -1 sitting on nest at a traditional location
Lapwing - 2 displaying

Not many other migrants around. No sign of any Curlew or Wheatear. 1 Blackcap was singing yesterday evening near the hide. A late male Siskin was in the treetops on the 18th. The water level is very high at the moment, so no shoreline to attract waders.



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Drake Red-breasted Merganser still present this afternoon

Also 4 Goldeneye and 40+ Redwings



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WeBS count 11:20 - 12:45 hrs
Later start than usual as I had to walk up due to the snow.
Strong easterly blowing making the reservoir very choppy

The highlight was a male Red-breasted Merganser which gave close views on the east side of the reservoir from the vehicle track round to the windsurfers' club house.

Also on the reservoir
Goldeneye - 3
Great Crested Grebe 1

On the hide pool
Wigeon - pair
Tufted Duck - 3
Teal - 9
Snipe - 2 standing in the snow on the edge of the pool





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Two Tree Pipits flew in at 11:35 hrs (identified on call) and perched obligingly on the dam wall for a few minutes before being flushed by dog walkers.

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A good evening for ducks at Watergrove.

5 Shelduck were standing out of the water on the hide spit (north shoreline) and 5 Common Scoter (1 male & 4 female/immature) were on the reservoir at 19:10 hrs. All were still present at 20:10 hrs, the scoter illuminated by a beautiful sunset.

A pair of Great Crested Grebes has bred successfully for the first time since 2012. Both adults were with the well grown juvenile.

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Tuesday 29th of August 2017 08:59:41 PM

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Migration is under way biggrin

Common Scoter - 2 males and a fem/imm. were on the reservoir at 18:35 hrs and still present when I left at 20:15 hrs
Dunlin - an adult in breeding plumage was roosting on the west shoreline
Little Ringed Plover - 2 juveniles
Wheatear - a male on the fields to the east of Steward Barn

Kingfisher - one dived into the hide pool and flew off with a small fish.
Blackcap - 2 singing intermittently
Lesser Redpoll - 2 in song flight
Grey Wagtail - one feeding at the top of the spillway



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One of the best mornings at Watergrove in a long time. 07:45 - 10:30 hrs

Shelduck - 5 were circling over the reservoir, calling before I'd left the car park. They landed and were still present at 10:30 hrs.
Mallard - female with 9 small ducklings (just a few days old) on the pool by the hide
Tufted Duck - pair on the compensation lagoon. There were 7 here yesterday evening.
Great Crested Grebe - a pair displaying and warding off a solitary bird.
Whimbrel - 3 flew low over the dam at 10:10 hrs within 50 metres of where I was standing. One bird called. Unfortunately, due to the high water levels there is no shoreline for waders to land on at present. They flew east low over the moors.
Sand Martin - 3 flew north
Swallow - 1
Willow Warbler - 37 singing from the plantations, in several places four birds could be heard singing against each other. This is a minimum count as not all areas of the plantations were visited. A new site record beating the previous of 32 singing on 20th April 2015. Surprisingly, no other warblers heard or seen.
Goldcrest - 1 singing
Reed Bunting - 1 male
Skylark - 4 singing
Song Thrush - 1 singing
Wheatear - 1 female
Raven - 1 flew south calling


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A wander around with the family produced (of note)

Main Reservoir and environs

2 x Oystercatcher
1 x Great Crested Grebe
3 x Lesser Black backed gulls + many black headed gull
2 x Song Thrush
1 x Greenfinch

Feeders close to sailing club

2 x Lesser Redpoll
Coal Tit
+ the usuals

Further up Ramsden Road (on the cobbles)

1 x Linnet
2 x Meadow Pipit
1 x Skylark in full song


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Wigeon 8 (5 males) were on the reservoir at 15:50 hrs
Goosander - 2 males looked like they were going to roost overnight
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Lapwing - c.40 flew off from the shoreline inside the nature reserve at 16:20 hrs heading west, perhaps going to feed overnight on the fields.

Two groups of snipe heard calling as they flew out of the roost on the hide pool. On 19th November, I counted 22 leaving the roost in small groups over a ten minute period, about 30 minutes after sunset. All flying high up to the south, nicely silhouetted against a clear sky, making them easy to count smileThese were presumably going off to feed somewhere.

This morning. just before the "Park" Run hoardes arrived:
Bullfinch - 4 feeding on Rowan Berries
Long-tailed tit - a flock of 13
Treecreeper - 1

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Wigeon - 18 at 16:30 hrs, still present at 18:00 hrs
Pink-footed Geese - 200+ came in from the east at 17:40 hrs and flew west
Teal - 6
Tufted Duck - 1
Lapwing - c.40 landed on the inside of the dam
Fieldfare - a flock of 42 spooked by a Sparrowhawk
Kingfisher heard calling on the hide pool at dusk
Goldcrest - 5

Several Brambling heard calling in flight this morning in the low cloud.

It is good to see that United Utilities have put a sign up on the north shoreline informing people that the area is a nature reserve and that there is no public access. All it needs now is for the fence to be fixed to keep out those who can't read bleh

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21 Wigeon on the reservoir at 18:00 hrs, looking settled, so probably going to roost overnight. Males emerging from eclipse. Typically they weren't present on the WeBS count this morning, nor at 2.30pm. Perhaps they had already been logged on another water and delayed their arrival to avoid being double-counted smile

Not a lot to report on the WeBS count itself apart from:
Teal - 4
Goosander - 2 red heads (my first of the autumn here)
Cormorant - 1
Lapwing - 67
Snipe - 2

In addition this morning:
Sparrowhawk - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Raven - 1 flew low over WTW
Lesser Redpoll - 17

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Late post for Sunday 9th October.

15 Wigeon were on the reservoir at 09:35 hrs and still present at 12:15 hrs.

Swallow - one flew south
Lapwing - 30 on hide spit until flushed repeatedly by walkers following the shoreline through what is supposed to be part of the nature reserve. Someone has helpfully cut through the barbed wire fence to make it easier for them
Snipe - 2 on the hide pool
Raven - one landed on the pylon to the SW of the reservoir
Redwing - 5 flew north
Chiffchaff - 2

This evening a Kingfisher was calling at dusk by the hide pool.


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David Walsh wrote:

Steve Atkins wrote:



Whilst both species may be regularly seen elsewhere in GM they are both scarce birds in Rochdale.





Almost as scarce as a post from Watergrove Reservoir these days. wink



To be honest David, there hasn't been a great deal to report since the spring, but I will try to update this thread more regularly over the autumn smile

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Steve Atkins wrote:



Whilst both species may be regularly seen elsewhere in GM they are both scarce birds in Rochdale.





Almost as scarce as a post from Watergrove Reservoir these days. wink

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Two new species for Watergrove in one morning is a rare event. A Willow Tit was calling along Higher Slack Brook to north of reservoir by the steps at SD909188. My initial thoughts were it was the Marsh Tit returning but call was conclusive. Managed to take a poor quality photo. The next surprise was a Little Egret which flew west towards Brown Wardle ( aka Dotterel Hill) at 10:55 hrs. My first ever in Rochdale. Whilst both species may be regularly seen elsewhere in GM they are both scarce birds in Rochdale.

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2 Whimbrel on the spit (island) in front of the windsurfer's club house at 19:00 hrs this evening. One bird noticeably larger than the other.
Common Sandpiper - 2 displaying.
Blackcap, Chiffchaff and 4 Willow Warbler singing.

Ironically, whilst the rest of Rochdale has enjoyed record breaking numbers of Greenshank, Whimbrel and Wood Sandpiper this spring, wader passage has been very poor here due to high water levels.



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7 Redshank circled over the reservoir this morning, calling, before flying off high to the north. A record count for the site.

Whilst walking across the moors this afternoon Zoe Barrett, got on to a female type Marsh Harrier which was flying relatively low in a NW direction, struggling against the strong NW wind. At one point the bird turned to show its cream crown and landed twice on the slope of Brown Wardle before disappearing over the brow of the hill. The first I've seen in Rochdale and only the 3rd record for the borough.

The harrier made up for the disappointment of not finding any Dotterel on Brown Wardle.

2 Wheatear on the hill and four on fields to the south.

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08:30 to 10:30 hrs. Temperature a balmy 3C at start. Cold NW wind.

Willow Warbler - 25 singing during full circuit of the reservoir not matching last year's all time record count of 32 singing on 20th April. Perhaps there are more to arrive.
Chiffchaff - 1 singing
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 heard reeling in Juncus field to north of Little Town (first of the year here)
Whitethroat - 1 singing to the north of the hide (also first of the year here)
Teal - pair on hide pool
Great Crested Grebe - pair
Swallow - 5
Goldcrest - 1 singing
Song Thrush - a pair
Linnet - 1 flew north





-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 24th of April 2016 01:46:02 PM

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A trip out of territory for me today with my first visit to this Rochdale enclave (that I can recall!).

An hour and half wander around midday produced, of note;
5 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
4 Lesser Redpoll
1 Siskin
1 Goldcrest (singing)
5 Jay
4 Meadow Pipit
2 Skylark
1 Coal Tit
1 Lapwing
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Canada Geese
2 Cormorant
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pied Wagtail
plus the usuals.

and nice to bump into Mr & Mrs Atkins (all records will be input into Mapmate Steve, I promise !!)

A very pleasant area and the locals seemed friendly enough, I'll be back!




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Willow Warbler - 4 singing this morning on only a partial circuit of the reservoir
Chiffchaff - 1 singing
Swallow - 2 flew south confuse over reservoir
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Green Woodpecker showed well
Lesser Redpoll - 2
Jay - 2 flying around making strange calls, one of which sounded like a horse whinnying!



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3 female Goldeneye on the reservoir at 09:00 hrs were the first I've seen here since the WeBS count in October 2013. They used to be an annual winter visitor but have become very scarce in recent years. Also seen this morning:

Cormorant - 1

Great Crested Grebe - 1

Siskin - 4

Lesser Redpoll - 4

Yesterday afternoon a treecreeper was just outside the hide with 4 Long-tailed tits and a Goldcrest



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The almost full moon and clear skies overnight have brought the autumn's first influx of ducks to Watergrove.
A mixed flock of 16 Teal and 13 Wigeon were on the reservoir at 08:00 hrs.
They were flushed by someone (clearly not in need of a megaphone bleh) shouting at the top of their voice. The Wigeon droppped back down onto the water fairly quickly but the Teal disappeared for nearly 30 mins and then returned. By 09:25 hrs the Teal had built up to 23 birds.

Cormorant - 5 roosting on the former Ramsden Road spit (revealed by the low water level) with 25 Lapwings, until flushed by a photographer.
Chiffchaff - 3 including one in sub-song
Lesser Repoll - 6
Green Woodpecker - heard calling
Grey Wagtail - 2
House Martin - 5 high up

A small skein of Pink-footed Geese, probably about 30 birds, were high up to the SW at 09:30 hrs, heading south.

Snipe - 2 seen from the hide by Deon Meadowcroft


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A Cuckoo was heard calling this evening. From the direction of the sound the bird was covering quite a large area to the north of the reservoir. By a stroke of luck, I chose the right place to look for it, along the track which runs from Ramsden Road (north of Little Town) down to the reservoir.

It was perched low down on the eastern edge of the plantation, north of the reservoir, close to where the pair was seen last May (approx. grid ref SD909185). At one point it dropped down to the ground and flew up onto a fence post with what looked like a very large caterpillar. It was mobbed a couple of times by a meadow pipit and then took flight chased by a crow, finally flew into a tree and began calling.

Also a Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling from the Juncus to the north of the track.

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Male Common Scoter present until at least 10.30am
Teal - a pair
Great Crested Grebe - a pair
Redshank - a pair displaying
Common Sandpiper -1
Lapwing - 1 diving at a Carrion Crow
Sand Martin - 40+ hawking over the reservoir
Blackcap - 1 singing by club house
Whitethroat - 1 singing to the north of the hide (the first of the year here)
Willow Warbler - 10 singing between car park and hide
Pair of Coal Tits courtship feeding on fat balls
Blue Tit carrying nesting material
No sign of the Marsh Tit since 14th April, as far as I'm aware, but it may be spending its time in the plantations now there is plenty of natural food available
Lesser Redpoll - 4 in display flight together

Thursday evening (23rd April) - a Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling by the hide.

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 26th of April 2015 11:35:28 AM

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A female Common Scoter was on the reservoir this evening and a Ringed Plover feeding on the eastern spit.

The Marsh Tit was at the feeding station by the club house and intimidated a Lesser Redpoll into vacating the nyger seed feeder. The bird was heard calling early last week but the lack of song makes me think this is a female. According to the article, The Ecology and Conservation of the Marsh Tit in Britain, published in the January issue of British Birds females do disperse further than males.

Little sign of any migrants apart from 3 Willow Warblers singing. Perhaps not surprising, as after the warm weather of a few days ago, it feels more like winter again.

Present this morning
Teal - 3
Oystercatcher - 2
Great Crested Grebe - pair



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The Wigeon flock had increased to 33 (15 males) this evening and they were calling, bathing and standing up out of the water wing flapping. Perhaps the birds calling this morning had brought down the others as they were flying over. Still present at 18:50hrs, they may be waiting for darkness before continuing on their journey. Conditions are near perfect for migration with a light westerly and clear skies. Also a beautiful sunset.

This equals the previous highest count from Watergrove of 33 Wigeon which flew in as a single flock and landed on the water on 9th September 2006.

A pair of Oystercatchers flew in and landed on the spit by the hide path.



-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 22nd of March 2015 07:35:31 PM

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16 Wigeon (6 males) were on the reservoir at 08:30 hrs calling occasionally

The Marsh Tit was at the feeding station by the club house having celebrated its five month anniversary yesterday.

A single Coot on the main pool by the hide, the first one here in a long time, with 3 Teal and a Snipe

Great Crested Grebe - a pair displaying

Mute Swan - 2 immatures, almost certainly the birds which have been on Brownhouse Wham Reservoir, Syke in recent weeks.

Lesser Redpoll in display flight by the path to the hide.

A pair of Carrion Crows collecting leaves.

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Hi Mike,

My last sighting was on 7th March when it was puffing out its chest and following a pair of Coal Tits around, behaviour perhaps indicative of a male smile It was also following a pair of displaying Coal Tits on 14th Feb and seen following a single Coal Tit on 24th Feb.

Alan Nuttall saw it on 16th March. I've not been able to get up to Watergrove this week due to problems with my car.

It has been strangely silent since early January and I've rarely heard it call and certainly not sing. I had hoped to make use of GMLRC's sound recording equipment but there has been no point in taking it up there.

Good luck with your record attempt.

Regards

Steve

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Hi Steve,
I've been doing a few "big morning" counts recently at Low Barns (one of my local patches in Co. Durham) with a view to a record attempt in a few weeks time after Easter. I'm hearing our marsh Tits now singing (as opposed to just calling) and consequently rather easier to locate at distance.
I wondered if you still have your Watergrove bird present, and if so, has it started to sing at all?

Regards,
Mike P.



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09:00 - 10:15 hrs
Sunny at first, then clouded over and became misty. Light NE

Skylark - 6 flew north calling. The first I've seen here this spring. A vis mig watch would have produced a lot more biggrin
Lesser Redpoll - 5
Chaffinch - 1 in full song (birds were in sub-song last Sunday)
Dunnock - 4 singing

Spit on north shoreline
Lapwing - 24
Black-headed Gull - 43
Common Gull - 27
Herring Gull -1

Pools by the hide (which will be open all day) smile
Goosander - 2 males and 2 red heads
Tufted Duck - 2 males and a female diving and feeding
Teal - 13

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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.


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Main sighting were at the feeding station- with Lesser Redpolls Long Tailed, Marsh, Coal, Great, and Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Bullfinch, Jay, Blackbird, Robin Reed Bunting and a Kestrel

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Monday 26th of January 2015 12:36:19 PM

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Walk around a snowy and foggy Watergrove 11-12amno need for a scope!
Highlight was the busy feeding station; loads of Tits, great views of Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting and finches.
Thought we would miss out on the Marsh Tit, but then my better half spotted it as we walked about 20m up to the gate to the woods, with a group of foraging Long-tailed Tits.
Lots of people enjoying the opportunity to toboggan down the reservoir banks as we got back to the car too!
Cheers
Nev

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Marsh tit showed briefly just after dinner time today. Other pleasing subjects were a couple of lesser redpoll and a reed bunting. Nice to catch up with Alan Nuttall too.

Cheers, Chris Jepson-Brown

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marsh tit still present also a male brambling showing well for about half an hour this morning along with greenfinch,chaffinch,goldfinch,lesser redpoll,blue,great,long-tailed tits,dunnock,robin all on the feeders by the surf club 4 snipe 2 teal heron and a kestrel on the hide pond .sparrowhawk chasing a flock of fieldfare over little town, great spotted woodpecker on the second feeding station redwing further up ramsden rd along with reed bunting and pheasant smile

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 4th of January 2015 09:26:54 PM

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d.meadowcroft


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Marsh tit showing well still at 10.50

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Marsh Tit at feeding station by windsurfers club house at 8.45 hrs

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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.


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The Marsh Tit was showing well at the feeding station by the windsurfers' club house this morning, even hiding a sunflower seed in a lichen. Here's an interesting quote from the Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland (1981-84):

Marsh Tits generally feed rather low in the woodland profile and especially in the shrub layer. However, beechmast and other tree seeds form an important part of the diet in winter. Like the coal tit, this species is subordinate to great and blue tits. This may explain why coal tits and marsh tits hoard seed in winter. Marsh Tits tend to hoard seeds and insects in the morning, usually retrieving them the same day, although seeds may remain for three days before retrieval. Food items are stored individually in moss on or near the ground. Recent laboratory studies show that marsh tits have tremendous powers of recall, and usually remember where they have stored food.

There is a second feeding station approx. 100 yards up Ramsden Rd on the right and the bird is spending quite a bit of time here and can often be heard calling "pitchoo" from the plantations either side of the cobbled road.

So, hopefully the Marsh Tit will be around on New Year's Day, providing it avoids the attentions of the local Sparrowhawk

Also seen this morning:
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Snipe - 1 on the pools by the hide
Teal - 20
Tufted Duck - 5
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Kestrel - one hunting over the snow covered moors

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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
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This forum is dedicated to the memory of Eva Janice McKerchar.