19:00 - 19:45 hrs
Greenshank were heard calling as I reached the south-east corner of the reservoir. Two birds were picked up in flight low over the water and landed on the north shore near the hide. Not particularly active they seemed to be just resting up. Still present at 19:45 hrs.

Also a female Tufted Duck on compensation lagoon with 3 ducklings just over a week old. Quite comical to watch them jumping into the air to gain sufficient momentum to dive under the water, then popping up above the surface.
I just hope they survive to fledging. Tufted Duck broods don't have a good track record here. Might have something to do with the large Pike lurking in the reservoir

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Thursday 8th of August 2013 08:59:06 PM

Late post from Thurs 25th July.

4 Crossbills flew across the bottom of Ramsden Rd by the windsurfers club house at approx. 18:30 hrs. They were picked up on call and I managed to briefly get onto 2 birds with my bins before they disappeared into the plantation. These were females. No further sign since.

I wasn't expecting to see any waders this evening as two people and a dog were on the main spit Clearly the numerous footpaths around the site aren't good enough for some folk.

Anyway as luck would have it, just as I was walking away from the hide six Whimbrel flew in low over the resr, called once and landed on the hide spit. They gave excellent views for about 10 minutes and then flew north calling. The largest ever flock recorded at Watergrove. The previous highest count was four birds on nearby Crook Moor on 4th May 2007.

The combination of low water levels and bad weather is certainly turning up the waders here this spring.

Steve

Steve Atkins wrote:

---

The wader fest continued this evening with an incredible variety of species for this site:

---

Two reports from Watergrove in one day
Next Tuesday will of course be the anniversary of Watergrove's and Mr. Atkins' best ever bird

2 Turnstones at 9am feeding on hide spit (north shoreline) with 2 Common Sandpipers. The first seen here and in Rochdale borough since 2009. Still present at 10:15 hrs.

Also 50+ Swallows hawking low over resr in strong wind and rain.
Linnet - 3
Reed Bunting - pair
Lesser Redpoll
Willow Warbler - 4+ singing
Whitethroat - in song flight

2 Dunlin in breeding plumage were here on Mon 13th May.






-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 11:43:35 AM

A pleasent afternoon wandering around the lake

Carrion Crow 7
Woodpigeon 2
Swallow 6
Robin 1
Great Crested Grebe 3 (2 Juvinile)
Blackbird 1
Magpie 2
Coot 3 (2 chicks)
Mallard 4
Canada Goose 60+ (It was great to watch these coming into land on the resovior which they finally managed to do despite the best efforts of the wind surfers to prevent them)
1 unidentified duck (Very dark possibly a solitary Scoter but to far away to be possitive)

Regards

Dave

NOT on Audenshaw late afternoon at least Steve.

Thanks for posting this Ian. An absolutely incredible sight! When I arrived at 08:25 hrs there were no birds on the resr apart from a couple of Mallard and the family party of Great Crested Grebes (2 well grown juvs and 2 adults). It started raining heavily and whilst sheltering in the hide I could make out a soft call which I didn't recognise and was struggling to identify where it was coming from. Suddenly a raft of Common Scoter swam into view and it became clear it was these birds that were calling. They were packed so closely together that it was difficult to count groups of 10 let alone individuals. I estimated 50+ initially but the birds were very excited and swimming backwards and forwards in the flock splashing water, so impossible to count accurately.

I then walked to the windsurfers club house to gain a better view when the flock took flight. Luckily Alan Nuttall had arrived and was able to count the Scoter as they circled the reservoir gaining height. An amazing 104 birds, most of which formed a ragged V formation and headed south at 09:10 hrs. A small group of 22 birds (21m & 1f) dropped back down onto the resr and were still present at 11.00 hrs.

Audenshaw Resrs lie due south of Watergrove so may be worth checking out.

An initial check of the database on records going back to 1985 shows this to be the largest flock of Common Scoter recorded in GM. Will check the county reports prior to 1985.

Steve

Eclipse male Pintail roosting on west pool next to the hide at 09:00 hrs. That's the one on the left as you go through the door

When it lifted it's head it gave very close views of its blue bill. However, it then swam under an overhanging willow on the far side of the pool and tucked it's head in making it far from obvious. Although sandwiched between 2 mallard.

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 22nd of July 2012 12:00:01 PM

Sun 6/5 16:00-20:00 sunny cloudy spells, cool e breeze

Walked up valley and along the crest of the western rim looking for dotterel - alas no sign but trial bikes, quad & two range rovers on the summit of last hill didn't help

Willow warblers c 8 singing males
Whitethroat MF singing/display chase
Curlew 1 h
Wheatear MMM singing
Green woodpecker h
Lesser redpoll c. 8 s/d
G c grebe
M swan


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 6th of May 2012 09:34:35 PM

Good walk round both the Reservoir and out on the moorland walk above.

2 Grey Heron
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Buzzard
1 Moorhen
3 Coot
1 Chaffinch
5 Tufted Ducks (3m 2f)
2 Teal (pair)
2 Pied Wagtail (really close up views for 15mins on the dam wall)
Numerous Mallard,Magpie, Blue and Great Tits

Out on the moorland loop above the Res we were constantly accompanied by lots of Skylark, too many to count for me. All singing merrily away in the Sunshine.

One of my best duck days ever on Watergrove.
At 07:40 hrs
male Goldeneye (first of the autumn here)
11 Teal
a pair of Wigeon.

When I came out of the hide at about 8am more ducks had flown in:
Now 19 Teal
6 Gadwall These may well have been flushed from Hollingworth Lake as at 08:10 Simon Hitchen reported 14 rowing boats & no ducks

At 08:45 Dave Ousey reported 8 Gadwall. Teal had increased to 21.
I returned with my scope and was delighted to see 3 male gadwall (2 adults & a 1st winter) displaying to 5 females. This is the highest known count of Gadwall in Rochdale beating the previous record of 6 on Hollingworth Lake in Dec 1984. The previous max at Watergrove was 2 birds in Dec 2007. Only the 3rd record for this species on Watergrove.

Gadwall still present at 14:30 hrs according to Alan Nuttall.

It was good to meet you too Steve last Sunday. Thanks for the photos of the Watergove Red Kite, although it rubbed salt into the wound reminding me of the bird I'd missed. From the missing secondaries it seems highly likely it was the bird I saw on Rooley Moor on 16th April.

Steve

another great day up there today

goosander 3
tufted duck 1
kestrel 2
jay 2
pheasant 2
chafinch 2
wren 1
long tailed tit (lots of)
coal tit 3
great tit 2
snipe 1
lesser black backed gul 1
cormorant 1
treecreeper 1
pied wagtail 1

and also two roe deer right in front of the hide wich was a nice end to the day


regards

deon

had a great day yesterday on the walk from buckley lane smallbridge up to watergrove a good mix of blue,great,coal and longtailed tits also magpie,crow,woodpigeon,wren,chafinch,mistle thrush,kestrel,jay,feildfare and a barn owl
all in and around the woods along buckley lane further on at rydings lodge no ducks present today apart from a solitary moorhen but up in the trees there came accross a roosting tawny owl being mobbed by blue and great tits. onwards and upwards to watergrove a little further along saw a sparrowhawk winging its way towards wardle village then nightmare of all nightmares my field glasses decided to pack up just my luck so had to rely on my camera zoom which isnt the greatest but hey ho decided to carry on up to the hide anyway pretty quiet at the hide nothing much to report
common gulls 8
black headed gulls 3
feildfare 2
wren 1
moorhen 1
green woodpecker 1
long tailed tits 10
blue tits 4
blackcap 1
kestrel 1
but all in all a great day dont think i have seen that many raptors in one session before
and many thanks to steve atkins for all his feedback and opening up the hide managed to get some great pictures (hopefully some will be in next wednesdays observer) and will be visiting again soon as work permits

deon

Hi Deon,

Welcome to the Manchester Birding forum. I've sent you a personal message regarding the Watergrove hide which unfortunately is normally locked most weekdays. However, I do open it up most weekends.

I look forward to reading your posts from Watergrove and the Littleborough area.

Best wishes


Steve

At 18:00 hrs again a solitary Whooper Swan in the middle of the resr. The bird was calling occasionally, dipping its bill in the water, stretching its neck and tilting it's head back. Presumably drinking.

It swam to within 50yds of the east shore and was still present at 18:35 hrs.

9 Wigeon which I am reliably informed by Mr.Watergrove are the first of the autumn here

also 2 Great-crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Skylarks west, 2 Siskin over, 5+ Lesser Redpoll and 2 Bullfinch

A male Common Scoter in the middle of the resr at 18:00 hrs. Amazingly the first here since 2005 before which they used to be almost annual. Still present at 19:40 hrs despite the arrival of junior windsurfers from Hollingworth Lake. I'll be glad when they turn the tap back on again
Thanks to Dave Ousey for the loan of his scope.

Juv. Sparrowhawk hunger calling from one of the plantations.


Steve

This evening a superb summer plumaged Sanderling was feeding on the north shoreline by the path to the hide. Only 20 metres away and lit by the sun, so there was no need to set the scope up. My Springer Spaniel sat patiently for 10 minutes whilst I watched it with 2 Dunlin in breeding plumage. How's that for good behaviour

Also seen this a.m.
Starlings still flying towards Wardle carrying food
Blackcap - 1 singing by the hide
Reed Bunting - 1S
Pair of Coot with 2 small chicks - there were 3 yesterday
Pair of Whitethroat
Blue Tit carrying food
Pair of Great Crested Grebe
Willow Warbler - 3+ singing

Steve Atkins wrote:

---

Congratulations Steven on finding the Red Kite. This is the 2nd official record from Watergrove. The last was seen in March 2006 by Brian Warren, Dave Winnard and Steve Collins. Despite watching the site on virtually a daily basis for nearly 15 years I've yet to see one here It's a pity it wasn't wing tagged as it would be interesting to know whether its the same bird I saw on Rooley Moor in April. Another local birder told me this a.m. that he saw a Red Kite flying in the directiion of Rochdale next to the A627M (south of the M62) during the week.

Yesterday p.m. at Watergrove 170 Starlings were counted in a 10 minute period, all carrying food (FF) and flying in the direction of Wardle where they must have chicks in the nest. There are lots of old properties which must provide suitable nest sites. I'm pretty confident that there was no double counting as only a handful of birds flew back towards the fields where they were collecting the food. This a.m. I counted 45 Starlings in the space of 2 minutes doing the same and saw a bird half a mile down the road in the village perched on a tv aerial with food in its bill.

Whilst totally unscientific it does give an indication that the local population must be pretty healthy. Assuming both adults are now feeding the young this would represent 85 pairs and is probably only a small percentage of the local population. So if all the nests fledge 4 young there should be a flock of over 500 birds feeding on the moors by early June.

Clearly the intensive sheep stocking on the moorland fringe provides good foraging habitat for this species as the grass is very closely cropped. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds 1988-91 says The preferred foraging habitat of Starlings is grazed permanent pasture, as this provides high densities of the main breeding season food item leatherjackets

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 8th of May 2011 10:07:32 AM

---

hi steve, brilliant find for me its a shame you was not there yesterday after 15 years off watching this site, feel like i have robbed you as it is my first visit did get a couple off pics (not great) but you can tell what it is,when i did zoom in after taking the pic it did not have a wing tag.
the starlings were back and forth all day long only in small flocks off about 6-12 at a time some times even more and they do have nests in the houses in wardle as i walked from smithy bridge train station to here and back. did not count the amount off times i could hear young starlings in the nest,but its fair to say there was a lot. so like you say if there is 4 young to each nest that fledge,there should be a good size flock off starlings on the moors by early june.
cheers,steve.

Congratulations Steven on finding the Red Kite. This is the 2nd official record from Watergrove. The last was seen in March 2006 by Brian Warren, Dave Winnard and Steve Collins. Despite watching the site on virtually a daily basis for nearly 15 years I've yet to see one here It's a pity it wasn't wing tagged as it would be interesting to know whether its the same bird I saw on Rooley Moor in April. Another local birder told me this a.m. that he saw a Red Kite flying in the directiion of Rochdale next to the A627M (south of the M62) during the week.

Yesterday p.m. at Watergrove 170 Starlings were counted in a 10 minute period, all carrying food (FF) and flying in the direction of Wardle where they must have chicks in the nest. There are lots of old properties which must provide suitable nest sites. I'm pretty confident that there was no double counting as only a handful of birds flew back towards the fields where they were collecting the food. This a.m. I counted 45 Starlings in the space of 2 minutes doing the same and saw a bird half a mile down the road in the village perched on a tv aerial with food in its bill.

Whilst totally unscientific it does give an indication that the local population must be pretty healthy. Assuming both adults are now feeding the young this would represent 85 pairs and is probably only a small percentage of the local population. So if all the nests fledge 4 young there should be a flock of over 500 birds feeding on the moors by early June.

Clearly the intensive sheep stocking on the moorland fringe provides good foraging habitat for this species as the grass is very closely cropped. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds 1988-91 says The preferred foraging habitat of Starlings is grazed permanent pasture, as this provides high densities of the main breeding season food item leatherjackets

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 8th of May 2011 10:07:32 AM

Red Kite just flown over Watergrove Reservoir in the direction of Brown Wardle Hill.

Info thanks to Steven Burke

I parked by Golf course accessed from Whitworth by Church Lane past Red Lion.

18:00 - 19:30 Walked up Brown Wardle and around the summit scannong likely grassy area slopes doen from summit - No Dotterel

c. 8 sleeping bag hang gliders on SW slopes may have scared birds off. Went arounf to N and E sides away from disturbance but couldn't find any birds.

May have gone or may have relocated due to disturbance. MAy be worth an early morning visit - weather permitting to confirm 'our' trip has moved on.

Joe, Keith Mills' post a few below offers decent directions. Using Google maps it should give you a good idea