5th November 2012

Dry, bright and cold (Still very wet underfoot )

2.20 - 3.50 pm.

Black-headed Gull 5
Blackbird 5
Blue Tit 2
Canada Goose 32
Carrion Crow 3
Dunnock 1
Fieldfare 6 (Certain they were all Fieldfare but there was a larger flock in the area on Sunday morning with a few Redwing mixed in)
Grey Heron 1
Jackdaw c30 (Flying over site East to West)
Jay 1
Lapwing 3
Magpie 9
Mallard 3
Mistle Thrush 1
Moorhen 4
Robin 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Teal 2
Woodpigeon 6

Regards

Dave

15th October.

c80 Redwing heading SE this morning. Also a few Meadow Pipits over. The numbers of Teal here has varied most days since late July, with my highest count to date of c45 on 12th October.

Cheers,

Bill.

20th September.

This morning - a minimum count of 38 Teal, c50 Swallow and a Kestrel.

Cheers,

Bill.

10th September - am.

Adult Little Grebe still present today and both 3/9 and 5/9. The juvenile seems to have gone.

22+ Teal, c15 Moorhen - David has previously reported the high numbers of this species here and there is a good selection of juveniles of varying ages, possibly suggesting a good breeding season here on these relatively undisturbed ponds.

c50 hirundines feeding over the back pond, mostly Swallows but with a few House Martins too.

No sign of any Snipe here yet despite good numbers for a few weeks now at Kingsway, which isn't that far away.

Common Sandpiper here on 3/9, in addition to earlier dates mentioned.

Cheers,

Bill.

25th August.

Common Sandpiper along the edge of the back pond mid-morning. Also 7 Teal and 2 Little Grebe - an adult and an independent juvenile with just a few remnants of the stripy lower face and neck marks in evidence. This species hasn't bred here though.

Yesterday - 24/8. In addition to the 2 Little Grebes - 13 Teal, c80 Lapwing and c25 Starling. The begging sounds of young Greenfinch and Dunnock could be heard.

Today late morning at Boarshaw Clough and Lodges - excellent views of a Kingfisher. When I last visited here on 3/8 the male of the pair of Mute Swan was in the process of being rescued by the RSPCA due to its entanglement with some fishing line, I think. Nice to see the pair back together again with their single cygnet.

Cheers,

Bill.

-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Saturday 25th of August 2012 06:22:49 PM

14th August - am.

c65 Lapwing and c55 Black-headed Gull. 2 Teal were present on 24/7. Unfortunately not a lot else here in recent weeks.

Cheers,

Bill.

11th July 2012

4:45pm Cloudy but warm with a slight breeze

Blackbird 1
Blck-headed Gull 1
Canada Goose 5
Carrion Crow 2
Coot 3 (1 Juv)
Goldfinch 5
Grey Heron 2
Jackdaw 2
Long-tailed Tit 4
Magpie 2
Mallard 12
Moorhen 16 (3 Chicks, 13 Juv)
Oystercatcher 2
Swallow 15
Lesser Whitethroat / Whitethroat 4 (Hard to tell but possibly 3 Lesser and 1 Whitethroat)
Woodpigeon 6
Unidentified 4 (Small with noticable white flashes on greater coverts. Seen in reed beds but flew into scrub cover and did not return).

Did not hear Bill's Grasshopper Warbler but am keeping my eyes and ears open


Regards

Dave

25th June 2012

3.30pm very warm and bright with a slight breeze (Mostly)

Blackbird 6 (1 Juv)
Canada Goose 7
Carrion Crow 5
Chaffinch 1
Chiffchaff 1
Coot 3 (1 Juv)
Goldfinch 1
Great Tit 1
House Sparrow 3
Jay 3
Lapwing 1
Long-tailed Tit 5
Magpie 6
Mallard 8 (6 Chicks)
Moorhen 6 (2 Chicks, 2 Juv)
Robin 1
Starling c30
Swallow 2
Swift 1
Whitethroat 8
Woodpigeon 20

Good to be back out after a long lay off .

Regards

Dave

18th May 2012

3.00 pm Bright.

Blackbird 7
Canada Goose 11
Carrion Crow 4
Chiffchaff 2
Coot 3
Feral Pigeon 5
Goldfinch 2
Great Tit 2
House Sparrow 3
Jackdaw 2
Magpie 10
Mallard 5
Moorhen 2
Mute Swan 2
Pied Wagtail 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Starling 13
Swallow 24
Whitethroat 1
Woodpigeon 41 (Large flocks of these in the fileds at the side of Boarshaw Lane)

Regards

Dave

2nd May 2012

3.45 pm Sunny but slightly chilly.

First trip out in ages due to the most painful bout of sciatica I have had . Well its actually the only bout I've ever had but I certainly dont want another one. Still suffering but trying to work through it . Somebodys got to count them birds

Blackbird 3
Canada Goose 7
Carrion Crow 7
Coot 3
Feral Pigeon 3
Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 2
Jackdaw 1
Kestrel 1
Magpie 1
Mallard 10
Moorhen 2
Mute Swan 2
Pied Wagtail 1
Starling 17
Swallow 5 (First of the year for me )
Woodpigeon 18

Regards

Dave

16th April 2012

5.20pm Clear ans bright no wind

2 Blackbird
10 Canada Goose
3 Carrion Crow
3 Coot
1 Dunnock
6 Goldfinch
3 Great Tit
4 Jay
8 Magpie
6 Mallard
2 Moorhen
2 Oystercatcher
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Ringed Plover
2 Teal
45 Woodpigeon

Regards

Dave

25th March 2012

5.15pm Bright and warm.

A quick wander round the area after a weekend in the Peak District

2 Black-headed Gull
2 Blackbird
2 Blue Tit
16 Canada Goose
3 Carrion Crow
3 Coot
13 Great Tit (Where have all these come from? the areas full of them )
10 House Sparrow
2 Jay
6 Lapwing
4 Long-tailed Tit
17 Magpie
14 Mallard
2 Moorhen
2 Mute Swan
2 Oystercatcher
1 Pied Wagtail
3 Starling
3 Teal
1 Wigeon (On the canal again and seem a little less nervous when people passed and even posed for some photos )
58 Woodpigeon (large flocks of these on the fields)

Regards

Dave

18th March 2012

4pm Bright but chilly

4 Blackbird
1 Blue Tit
1 Buzzard
37 Canada Goose
5 Carrion Crow
1 Chaffinch
2 Coot
1 Feral Pigeon
4 House Sparrow
1 Jay
3 Lapwing
1 Long-tailed Tit
15 Magpie
24 Mallard
2 Moorhen
2 Oystercatcher
1 Robin
11 Teal
1 Wigeon (Appears to be favouring the rear ponds now)
20 Woodpigeon

Regards

Dave

14th March 2012

4.40 pm Bright and mild.

Front Ponds

1 Magpie
2 Canada Geese
1 Coot
1 Moorhen
8 Mallard
1 Black-head Gull
1 Jackdaw
2 Oystercatcher
2 Woodpigeon

Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)

8 Canada Geese
7 Mallard
1 Mallard hybrid
2 Woodpigeon
1 Robin

Boarshaw Lane (From back path to canal)

6 Goldfinch
1 Robin
1 Chaffinch
2 Magpie
8 Woodpigeon
1 Mallard

Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)

1 Great Tit
1 Blue Tit
1 Dunnock
1 Woodpigeon

Rear Pond

1 Wigeon
2 Coot
4 Teal
20 Canada Geese
1 Moorhen
6 Mallard
5 Lapwing
1 Goosander (Male)
13 Black-headed Gull
1 Pied Wagtail

Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)

2 Magpie
2 Jay
2 Oystercatcher (Flying over East to West)
4 Mallard
5 Blackbird
3 Great Tit

Fields (Between canal and school)

18 Magpie
2 Carrion Crow
13 Woodpigeon
1 Blackbird

Regards

Dave

Hi David,
AT6 was one of last year's cygnets from Higher Boarshaw.
Steve

10th March 2012

3.00 pm Dull but mild.

Front Ponds

2 Canada Geese
1 Coot
2 Moorhen
4 Mallard
6 Black-head Gull
1 Wigeon
2 Jackdaw
1 Carrion Crow
2 Woodpigeon

Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)

7 Canada Geese
1 Mute Swan
1 Carrion Crow
6 House Sparrow

Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)

1 Blackbird
1 Blue Tit
2 Long-tailed Tit

Rear Pond

2 Mute Swan (Another one flew over the site heading South looked as though it landed further down the canal toward Chadderton park).
2 Coot
5 Teal
20 Canada Geese
1 Moorhen
9 Mallard

Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)

2 Magpie
2 Long-tailed Tit
1 Woodpigeon
3 Mallard

Fields (Between canal and school)

5 Magpie
7 Woodpigeon
3 Mallard

Lots of pairing going on at the moment

Regards

Dave

5th March 2012

Got an unexpected day off today so made the most of it in the sunshine. It cetainly made up for a boring weekend.

1.30 pm sunny but cold.

Front Ponds

4 Canada Geese
1 Coot
2 Moorhen
1 Magpie
1 Jackdaw
2 Black-headed Gull
1 Wigeon ( a first for me)

Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)

12 Canada Geese
3 House Sparrow
4 Mallard
1 Mallard hybrid
1 Long-tailed Tit

Boarshaw Lane (From back path to canal)

1 Chaffinch
1 Blackbird
3 Blue Tit
1 Great Tit

Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)

1 Blackbird
2 Great Tit
2 Magpie

Rear Pond

2 Mute Swan
1 Grey Heron
2 Lapwing
38 Gulls (Mainly Black-heads)
2 Pied Wagtail
1 Coot
1 Moorhen
2 Teal
2 Unidentified fowl similar to teal but different colouring to tail ends. Just to far away for decent photo or id.
2 Magpie
1 Carrion Crow

Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)

1 Magpie
6 Woodpigeon
1 Blackbird
1 Robin
2 Mallard

Fields (Between canal and school)

3 Magpie
12 Mixed Corvids
3 Canada Geese
2 Woodpigeon
1 Robin

Regards

Dave

Steve Christmas wrote:

---

Hi Bill,
LY4 was ringed as a cygnet at Irlam on 17/10/2009.
Steve

---

Many thanks for that Steve.


1st March.

Drake Gadwall early afternoon on one of the front ponds.

Cheers,

Bill.

Hi Bill,
LY4 was ringed as a cygnet at Irlam on 17/10/2009.
Steve

Hi David,
Yes, if you can read the plastic darvic ring numbers I can give you a history of the mute swans.
Steve Christmas
NW Swan Study

29th February.

Early pm.

Singles of Oystercatcher, Goldcrest and Grey Heron.

On the adjacent Rochdale Canal a pair of hungry Mute Swan. They and 4 Mallards quickly polished off a whole loaf of bread. What appeared to be the pen had a blue darvic ring with the white lettering LY4 on her right leg.

At nearby Myrtle Road Lodges - a pair of Long-tailed Tits were nest building in brambles. Nest about 1/6th finished. Long-tailed Tits have really "kicked on" with nest building of late and this was the 5th rudimentary nest for this species that I have stumbled across in the last 6 days. Of the others - 2 are being built in ornamental Berberis shrubs besides busy footpaths in suburban parks, 1 was in Holly very close to a frequently sat upon bench in a country park and 1 in a pine tree in the well-walked grounds of a garden centre. 4 of the 5 nests have been at 4 feet or less in height above the ground. However, the one in pine was at a much greater height, possibly over 9' above ground level, situated just below the rounded canopy top of this small tree. It's brilliant watching Long-tailed Tits building their remarkable nests - they are so focused and intent on what they are doing that they seem to be unaware of anything else that is going on around them (although I'm sure that they're not! ) and you can watch and enjoy and marvel at their industry and skill at your leisure.

Cheers,

Bill.


-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Wednesday 29th of February 2012 07:49:47 PM

26th February 2012

PM Dull and warm

Thought I would have a change this afternoon and check out Myrtle Road lodges between lunch and the footie.

Top Lodge

4 Canada Geese
2 Mallard
1 Moorhen
3 Blackbird
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Collard Dove
1 Robin
2 Blue Tit
4 Great Tit

Bottom Lodge

6 Canada Geese
3 Mallard
8 Tufted Duck
2 Coot
1 Moorhen
4 Longtailed Tit
2 Blue Tit
1 Great tit
4 House Sparrow
1 Reed Bunting ? (Possibly. Definately wasn't a sparrow)

Regards

Dave

17th February 2012

AM Dull but mild (An early morning walk for a change)

Front Ponds

27 Black-headed Gull
2 Common Gull
2 Canada Geese
1 Moorhen

Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)

3 Dunnock
8 Mallard
1 Mallard cross (Similar to a Cayuga)
3 House Sparrow
3 Blackbird
1 Collared Dove
1 Goldfinch
1 Magpie
2 Blue Tit
1 Long Tailed Tit
1 Wood Pigeon


Boarshaw Lane (From back path to canal)

7 Magpie
3 Goldfinch
2 Blackbird
1 Great Tit
1 Blue Tit
2 Mistle Thrush
1 Robin
6 Wood Pigeon
2 Dunnock
1 Greenfinch

Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)

1 Robin
3 Blackbird
2 Chaffinch
5 Blue Tit

Rear Pond

1 Black-headed Gull
1 Mallard
5 Teal
2 Canada Geese

Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)

4 Blackbird
21 Carrion Crow
1 Robin
1 Long Tailed Tit
1 Thrush
1 Unidentified Raptor possibly a Sparrow Hawk.

Fields (Between canal and school)

1 Magpie

Regards

Dave

5th February 2012

AM A brisk walk in the snow. Very cold.

Front Ponds

8 Black-head Gull
3 Common Gull (The most I hve seen at any one time on the ponds)
1 Herring Gull (Juv)

Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)

3 Mallard
1 Mallard cross (Similar to a Cayuga)
2 House Sparrow
4 Blackbird
2 Carrion Crow
2 Greenfinch
4 Blue Tits
3 Great Tits
4 Wood Pigeon
2 Collared Dove
3 Robin

Fields (Between canal and school)

8 Lapwing (Just stood motionless in the snowy fields)
4 Carrion Crow
3 Wood Pigeon

Regards

Dave