A bit of activity this morning.

Dunlin (still in breeding plumage) feeding on the nature reserve spit. The first I've seen here this autumn.

Male Mandarin (now in eclipse) on the same spit.

As I approached the hide a Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling loudly. Opening up one of the window flaps the bird was perched on the top of Juncus about 30 yds from the hide. Yellow at the base of the bill suggested a juv.

Juv. Sparrowhawks heard hunger calling. 2 seen in flight, one making a half-hearted attempt to stoop at a low flying Wood Pigeon.

Lesser Redpoll -2

SD896183 could be on the border, 50 metres into Rossendale or 50 metres into Rochdale which is why I took 8 figure grid refs (i.e. accurate to 10 metres) when watching the Dotterel on Saturday and Sunday, so I could be certain they were in Rochdale.
Not that I'm a GPS nerd of course

A Whimbrel on the north shoreline by footpath to the hide at 07:15 hrs today. The 3rd seen here this spring. Possibly the closest views I've ever had of a Whimbrel, only 30 metres away.
It took flight and attempted to land on the island (soon to be spit) which has emerged as the water levels drop. A Lapwing decided it wasn't going to tolerate any other waders on its territory and drove it off.
The Whimbrel then flew off to the north-east calling.
Whitethroat - 1 singing
Willow Warbler - 7 singing
Wren - 3 singing

Thanks for the call Dave.
I went right up to the top without finding them. Dave said they were more on the Whitworth side so went down just over the border and suddenly came across them and they flew into Rochdale! Very lucky as they could have gone the other way!
Easy to count 9 in flight and also see where they landed. I sat down and they very kindly walked back towards me and so able also to get a few photos even though it was a bit grim at 8pm. Lovely friendly birds!
Steve

Sun 9/5/10 16:00 - 19:45 & Brown Wardle. Cloudy / sunnt spells, warm with cool NE breeze

G C Grebe 1
L Bb Gull 1
B hd Gull 1
Oyks 2 on N shore as I left

LInnet M + 2F on dam wall
Green Woodp calling from stand of trees at base of hill
Pheasant at least 2 calling
Swift 2
Swallow
Wheatear M + MF

Dotterel 3 F + 2 M + 4 non - breeders - lost whilst I was sketching at 17:45 went around E which is the direction they were walking, re found at 18:30 to the W in a hollow settling down to roost, some asleep. 2 Quads roared past them that woke / altered them at 18:50. When the quads restarted their engines (sounded like gun fire) at 18:55 the trip spooked and flew N out of my binocular sight ........ as I went down the hill they whistled low past me and veered around to the W - so hopefully they have roosted overnight

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 10th of May 2010 06:37:52 AM

I eventually found them thanks to Steve and Dave Ousey despite dodgy phone reception, no other birders around at 1pm - ish but was joined by Robert Hirst and Ian Corbett from Lancs and all 9 performed really well, despite twice having rough riders hurtle right through them!!!!!!!! Also a pair of Wheatear present.

-- Edited by Judith Smith on Sunday 9th of May 2010 08:47:16 PM

Got there for about noon...dipped ...I covered the south face, wished I had gone as far as the black horses. Saw no other birders.

4 wheatear, mipits and skylark.


Grasshopper warbler reeling quite loudly off Smithy Bridge Road. As you turn left from Smithy Bridge station cross the road , there is a field with a dyke running through it. Bird was on the left hand side of dyke about 40 yards from road.

9 Dotterel still present of the southern slope of Brown Wardle Hill at 11:20 this morning.

Info thanks to Dave Ousey

Or one could check the systematic list on the website for full details too

Full trip of Dotterel still present at 4:30pm.

Info thanks to Tim Wilcox

9 Dotterel ( 3 f., 5m. & a very pale bird, possibly 1st summer m.) feeding on the lower slopes of Brown Wardle Hill. Still present at 14:00 hrs. Very confiding, especially if you sit down, they came within 20-30 metres.
The birds were in Rossendale when I first arrived with Simon Hitchen at 12:30 hrs (i.e. to the west of SD 8970 1834) and were then flushed by a dog walker back into Rochdale (if only all dog walkers were so considerate ).
We then moved position and were sitting right on the border at SD 8965 1832, with the birds feeding to the south and east of this point (i.e. in Rochdale). At one point 2 sat down on the ground as if they were on a nest, but that was definitely wishful thinking on our part.
Mark wasn't the only person suffering from oxygen deprivation. We met Gavin in the car park and by the time we were half way up Brown Wardle he was gasping for breath!
After many hours spent searching for Dotterel on the hills around Watergrove it was great to finally connect with these stunning birds. All thanks to Bob Turner. Well done Bob

Now 10 Dotterel present!

Info thanks to Mark Rigby

Dotterel still present this morning on the southern slope of Brown Wardle Hill. Probably also 8 birds present in total.

Inof thanks to Mark Rigby

Another Whimbrel calling loudly an circling high up over the resr at 07:20 hrs, before flying north. Yesterday the first Whitethroat of the spring here.

I try not to take things too seriously Steve, although I'm not sure I always succeed.
That 0.5 C could mean the difference between the polar ice caps melting or remaining intact
It's interesting to compare the arrival dates of migrants with the temperature. There is evidently a link between air temperature and the arrival dates of Swifts although I can't remember where I read this.
No sooner had I posted about a lack of Swallows at Watergrove, 4 turned up on Sunday. They obviously read the forum too.

The first Stonechat of the year (a male) was seen this evening. It's great to know that they are still hanging on in the Rochdale area despite the bad winter.
A male Wheatear in immaculate spring plumage singing and fanning its tail with female nearby.
A pair of Oystercatchers mobbing a female Sparrowhawk as it flew low over the resr this a.m.
Curlew - 1
Willow Warbler - 9 singing
Reed Bunting - 1 singing
Wren - 3 singing
Lesser Redpoll - 1
A pair of Teal
A pair of Coot
2 pairs of Tufted Duck
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Still no sign of any Swallows or other migrants although the temperature was a balmy 13.5 C at 17:40 hrs.

Steve Suttill wrote:

---

Another (or the same) was reported on the canal next to Tesco in Stalybridge a short while ago.

Steve

---

the male mandarin was near tesco in stalybridge from around christmas untill mid january

Another (or the same) was reported on the canal next to Tesco in Stalybridge a short while ago.

Steve

I think it has put in appearances at Cowm Res Steve, Rose has been seeing one when she has been walking the dog.

Dave

Many thanks to Stephen Jones, U.U. Ranger for the Rochdale area, for organising the refurbishment of the hide and providing the massive new white board, which is probably big enough to fit a year's sightings on. There was certainly enough space to put this website's address on, as well as ManchesterWildlife.com.
The seats aren't actually new Bill, just the old ones clad in metal, to prevent some of the local intelligentsia from setting fire to them when they hold their summer barbecues in the hide. Whilst fire proof they are somewhat cold to sit on in the winter
You may have noticed the padlock box fitted to the hide door. The intention is to lock the hide of an evening to prevent a repeat of the events of summer 2008. So if any one would like a key, please drop me a p.m. Unfortunately my financial resources don't stretch to providing all local (or not so local) birders with a free key, so there will be a charge for getting them cut.
John - you will be waiting a long time on that bench. I've been going up to Watergrove for 15 years and not seen one there yet.

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Friday 12th of March 2010 07:12:53 PM

8th March.

Quick visit 10.00 - 11.00 am.

14 (8 males) Goosander, 27 Common Gull, 2 Coot and 3 Snipe. Plus 2 Coal Tit, 2 Jay, 1 Reed Bunting called, 1 Bullfinch sang and singles of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll flew over calling.

Since I last visited some time ago the hide has benefited from a nice new coat of paint and what looks like some new metallic seats - the whole hide looked very smart indeed with an up-to-date sightings board and hopefully now it is completely vandal-proof!

Cheers,

Bill.

Despite the supposed thaw the resr was still 95% frozen over during the WeBS count this morning. A small area of water (probably the deepest part of the resr) has remained unfrozen.
9 Goosander flew south at dawn, probably heading towards the Roch to feed
14 Teal standing on the ice
Coot - 2
Moorhen - 2
a Tawny Owl
Amazingly 2 Skylark flew west over the dam - the earliest ever record here (the previous earliest being 5th Feb.) It would appear that global warming is alive and well.
22 Fieldfare flew north (Redwing heard calling in the flock)
Meadow Pipit - 1



-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 17th of January 2010 10:23:14 AM

The male Mandarin flew in this morning with a couple of Mallard and landed on the resr close into the west shore. It could be seen from the top of the dam and obviously wanted a starring role in this morning's WeBS count. The first sighting since 30th Oct.
Also seen:
Teal - 17
Mallard - 37
Great Crested Grebe
Snipe - 8
Tawny Owl
A chiffchaff feeding with tit flock in plantation. Only my 2nd winter sighting here. The previous one was a possible Tristis in Nov 2006, but that was rejected by the GM rarities committee

Late post from 6th Nov. 20 Whooper Swans were seen on the resr early pm by Alan Nuttall and Alan Cross. Unfortunately they were flushed by one of my favourite people (a windsurfer) befroe I got the chance to see them.

Brian Fielding and another birder (sorry didn't get your name) were looking for the Great Northern Diver which had taken off from Hollingworth Lake (before 9 am), climbed high into the sky and flown in the direction of Watergrove. I'd been hoping that it would take a day trip here. Probably flew right over my head while I was watching the Mandarin and may well have been heading for the Lancashire coast.

Spent several hours here this morning searching for harriers and was rewarded with close views of a ringtail Hen Harrier in the area around ClayPots Hill. Also 2 Ravens, 2 Stonechat, 4 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff and 7 Wigeon and no shortage of Mipits. Missed the Barwit though.

Watergrove is one of the few areas in GM where you can truly get away from all the nonsense of 21st century living, which is why I feel so gutted that the government in their target-driven wisdom have overturned the decision by Rochdale council to reject the windfarm development here - a sobering thought that in the exact area where I was watching Hen Harrier today there'll be 12 giant wind turbines in the next few years waiting to chop them up- give me global warming any day!