Water Rail at the back of Reservoir this morning, also on there were. 3 Teal, Wigeon , 3 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall and 29 Mute Swans. There was also a male Mandarin on a flooded field on Linnyshaw Moss two weeks ago, only just found out.
7 Whooper Swans, 6 adult and one juvenile, were on the reservoir this morning, but they flew off to the west at 10 20a.m.. A Peregrine Falcon on a pylon on Linnyshaw Moss, near the Garden Centre.
15 Brambling feeding together in a Rowan tree on the loop line near the cross roads of paths, 200 metres east of the reservoir. Also 2 Whooper Swans flew over the reservoir to the south-west. 20 Redwing around and a Swallow flying south.
A Garden Warbler in trees by the wooden benches behind the Visitor Centre. It wasn't doing much warbling, but was showing really well. Also a Yellow Wagtail on a raft, Oystercatcher and 6 Common Tern.
1:35 - 2:45
Two knot flying about the reservoir during the downpour, occasionally landing on one of the rafts then taking flight again. Fifty or so sand martins and swallows hawking low over the water, which helped enormously to get a sense of scale!
Also three common terns.
A Brambling was with a large flock of finches on Linnyshaw Moss, half way between the Garden Centre and the reservoir. On the reservoir there was a Greylag Goose, 12 Shoveler, and 2 Oystercatchers that have been around for a month.
Visited this morning. Nothing special. Starling x 8 Blackbird x 2 Grey Wagtail x 1 Pied Wagtail x 2 Coot x 40 + Feral Pigeon x 7 Mallard x 4 Mute Swan x 7 (1.m 1.f 7 imm) Little Grebe x 1 Gadwall x 4 Great Crested Grebe x 1 Cormorant x 1 Tufted Duck x 22 House Sparrow x 2 Tree Sparrow x 1 And strangely only 2 Black Headed Gulls . But I was only there for about 10 minutes . Moorhen x 3
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