Late afternoon today, the gull roost included 173 Herring, 72 Lesser Black-backed, 19 Great Black-backed, 426 Black-headed and 26 Common Gulls. Also, 9 Goosanders and 5 Greylag Geese.
7.45am to 8.25am. Walk from Dimple to Stones Bank, scanning across the reservoir. There are no public footpaths at the reservoir.
3 Cormorants A Canada Goose chasing two very noisy Greylags Numerous Mallards & Black-headed Gulls 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying across 2 Oystercatchers Common Sandpipers heard 3 Swallows Woodland birds included Woodpigeons, a Mistle Thrush, a Blackcap, a few Willow Warblers, Goldcrests, Chaffinches, Siskins, and Lesser Redpolls. 2 Roe Deer.
11am to 11.45am. Stones Bank to Dimple, and a scan across the reservoir.
1 Great Crested Grebe 3 Cormorants 8 Canada Geese 30+ Mallards 1f Goosander Pair of Tufted Ducks 2 Oystercatchers 2 Black-headed Gulls 15+ Stock Doves flew across from Dimple. A high number for these parts, and because of the high number I thought Feral Pigeons at first. When they all looked the same, unlike all different colours of Ferals, I took more notice and saw the familiar Stock Dove upperwing pattern and colour. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Meadow Pipit 1 Grey Wagtail Numerous Chaffinches, Goldfinches, & Siskins.
A scan across the reservoir from the sailing club around 9am, and another scan from the Stones Bank to Dimple side around lunchtime.
2 Great Crested Grebes 2 Cormorants, including a white headed one which is presumably the one I have seen on Jumbles & Wayoh. The markings are the same. 11 Canada Geese Numerous Mallards 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks 3f Goosanders 1 Oystercatcher 29 Lapwings c100 Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Skylark 1 Pied Wagtail
9.05am to 9.55am from Dimple to Stones Bank across the back of the reservoir and early afternoon checking the Longworth Road and overflow sides.
2 Cormorants 2 Canada Geese 50+ Mallards Pair of Tufted Ducks Pair of Goosanders c65 Lapwings 50+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 7 Woodpigeons 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Dipper on Stones Bank Brook A few of the usual common birds through the plantation, including about 20 Chaffinches and a dozen or so Siskins
had to kill sometime whilst waiting to see a client in darwen so had a drive over past the sailing club and around and across towards the road that brings you out eventually on the grane. hoped i might see a raptor or two on the moor but no such luck. 2 oystercatchers in flight near the sailing club. 9 curlews flying west up the valley 1 kestrel 30 or so wood pigeon lots of black headed gulls west towards belmont
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 10th of July 2020 02:05:52 PM
