Redstart in the nature reserve, in a clearing to the left of the second ponds as you enter from the main path by the two tall wooden posts. It was in juvenile type plumage.
Walked over to Blackleach yesterday. Birds seen: House Martin x 2 Goldfinch x 7 Starling x 4 Great Crested Grebe x 1 Mute Swan x 8 Canada Goose x lots Mallard x 6 Tufted Duck x 8 Coot x lots Black Headed Gull x lots Herring Gull x 1 Lesser Black backed Gull x 2 common Tern x 1 Feral Pigeon x 7 Robin x 7 Reed warbler x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Magpie x 4 House Sparrow x 8 Blackbird x 6 Swallow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 3
Yesterday my wife and I walked across Kearsley and Linnyshaw mosses to Blackleach country park. 21 birds seen: Goldfinch x 4 Feral Pigeon x 6 Herring Gull x 1 Black Headed Gull x 30+ Blackbird x 7 Magpie x 30+ House Sparrow x 10 Coot x 12 Carrion Crow x 4 Mute swan x 11 Canada Goose x 14 Moorhen x 2 Tufted Duck x 8 Mallard x 5 Lesser Black Backed Gull x 2 Mediterranean Gull x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Robin x 6 Starling x 12 Wood Pigeon x 4 And last but not least. A stunning Ring Ouzel in the field adjoining the old railway. A first for me at this site,
Still 2 Whooper Swans today plus good nos. of Coot,few Gadwall, Mallard,8 Comorants,120 Black Headed Gulls,10 Common Gull and a single ad. Lesser Black Back Gull, and 3 Bullfinch just past the carpark
Where have all the Gadwall gone, only 11 birds there this morning, must have been the fireworks. 2 Whooper Swans, 12 Mute Swans, 212 Canada Geese. Also 250 Woodpigeon flew south toward Worsley.
A male Brambling using feeders in a garden on the north west side of the reservoir, near the allotments. There's also a female I saw the other day around this area, but didn't see it today. Also a Water Rail still at the back of the reservoir. 24 Gadwall , 6 Shoveler , 20 Redwing and a Willow Tit.
A Brambling at the back of the reservoir, it then flew toward the visitor centre. Later, that or another female brambling was with chaffinches on the north side of the reservoir, near the allotments. Also a Water Rail in reeds at the back.
Black-necked grebes still present. 2,30pm - 4,30pm.
Still showing very well on the west side from the benches, both keeping a healthy distance from my camera lens when they weren't under water (which was most of the time! ) Still a joy to see them so local .
-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Monday 2nd of July 2018 06:12:02 PM
-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Monday 2nd of July 2018 06:12:28 PM
Called in for half an hour this morning both birds showing well (see picture) great to see them on my local patch but cant believe that more people are not going to see them as went yesterday met one guy from Bolton who said the same and no one this morning
Yes,I was down early this morning too, met two separate birders, both locals.
Good views on the western side near the tern rafts, though bit distant for good images!!
Called in for half an hour this morning both birds showing well (see picture) great to see them on my local patch but cant believe that more people are not going to see them as went yesterday met one guy from Bolton who said the same and no one this morning
10.20am to 11.05am, Did not make a complete list, highlights:
Black-necked Grebes 2
Little Grebe 1
Great Crested Grebes 4+
Common Terns 15+
Singing Song Thrush 1
Thanks to the Warden who pointed me to the Black-necked Grebes, also to Tony Hill for his post and Rick Parker for phoning me yesterday about the Black-necked Grebes.
A male Pied Flycatcher was most unusual. It was in the woods behind the reservoir dam and was mainly in the tops of the trees, but it did come lower down in the bushes from time to time. This was at around 10am, I did search for it again about an hour later, but there was no sign, but it could still be around. There was also 8 Blackcaps around the site, 3 of them in the same tree in the allotments north of the reservoir.