Early morning visit to Cant Clough Reservoir. There just before sunrise, cold and a bit windy but it gradually got a bit warmer. Just myself and another observer at first light but another 3 turned up a little later.
- Wryneck 1 I was watching Twite when one observer said he saw the Wryneck fly low into a willow on the edge of the reservoir opposite the 2 benches, but nobody could locate it so I started scanning the stone wall back towards the res corner to see what else was about as there was lots of bird activity. Suddenly it popped up distantly on the wall, I called it but it dropped down immediately and by the time the others got their optics on the location there was no sign. Same happened again and I don?t think they believed me when one said ... they?re all Reed Buntings. I left the others and walked slowly towards the area I?d seen it and I was soon watching it when it popped up again. I signalled over a few times but nobody came so I carried on watching it by myself. Eventually they came over and one admitted he doubted me, but we were soon all watching the Wryneck at close range.
I started heading to the gate to walk back across the moor when the unbelievable happened. The Wryneck flew off the wall and landed on the path banking to within 5-6 feet of my feet, where it stayed foraging and feeding for around 5-10 minutes. Absolute quality!
- Twite 15+ Not sure exactly how many, firstly a group of 5, then 2s and 3s and singles, feeding on the reservoir cobbles, then on the stone wall with the other birds and a few flyovers.
Also on the wall... - 1 Northern Wheatear - c20+ Reed Bunting - Meadow Pipits
- 2 Raven over - 2 Kestrel - 1 Grey Wagtail - 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 29 Goosander together
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 25th of September 2020 08:19:15 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 25th of September 2020 08:42:34 PM
Thought Id try for the Wryneck at Cant Clough Res this morning, thinking the rain might keep it another day.
The rain battered down for ages but finally eased and stopped for a while so I seized the chance. I walked to Hurstwood Res and dropped down to Cant Clough Res rather than walk the direct route through the Cattle area as the Bull was out with them and I wasnt in a wrestling mood for taking him down if he came over!
- no sign of Wryneck, searched the Willows at the side of the res, the cobbles near the banking, and the grassy areas near the 2 benches.
But on the plus side... - 6 Twite near res gate - 2 Wheatear - 1 Reed Bunting - 1 Cormorant - Meadow Pipits
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 23rd of September 2020 10:26:54 AM
I think that is the only place you can park. I did not fare better, I fared much worse. I asked someone where Cant Clough Reservoir was and they pointed me to Hurstwood nearby. Good exercise though. It has not appeared at the roost today. Maybe it has moved on or died?
Early morning visit on Sunday for the Glaucous Gull at Cant Clough Reservoir, as part of a 190 mile round trip to a few sites before Man-U vs Arsenal.
Unfortunately no sign of any Gull whatsoever on the reservoir, a report later in the day revealed it had left its roost site at 7am so I'd not long since missed it.
Birds of note around this remote reservoir... - Curlew 1 - Mallard 1 - Goosander 1 pair flew over - Bullfinch 1 male - Goldfinch and Chaffinch around - Pied Wagtail 1 - Grey Wagtail 1
In the fields near where I parked the car... - Black-headed Gull ~ a few 100 - Common Gull - at least a 100 - Fieldfare ~ 50 - Mistle Thrush 2 - lots of Rook and Jackdaw
Sarfraz...the closest I could get my car to this Res was parking near Hurstwood Lane and walking 0.9 mile to the Res up passed the dairy farm, did you fare any better? Cheers Rob
Glaucous Gull giving very close views at Cant Clough Reservoir - been present nearly a week. Comes to roost about 4pm and departs just after sun rise. It looks like quite a small specimen but with a big bill. It roosts all alone - so none of that sifting through the masses to weed out those rarities.
-- Edited by Sarfraz Hayat on Monday 29th of February 2016 09:22:07 PM
good views of the rose-coloured starling (lifer) at 1.40pm after searching around for almost 3 & a half hours, not in any of the areas mentioned in previous posts, it was in the bushes in the field inbetween lockyer avenue & Middlesex ave that have allotments behind them. viewed for a few minutes before flying of with the starlings, got some record shots
Rose-coloured Starling showed for a few minutes around 7.15 pm. In silver birch in back garden of house on Dugdale Road. Viewed from across the playing fields on Lockyer Avenue. Left at 8.20 without seeing the bird again.
2nd July 2014 13:15 hrs. Rose-coloured Starling showing well along Dugdale Road off A671 (just past pub on the right). (Lifer for me! Crack open the Cava!). Nice to meet up with Dave Stewart and his better other half.
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Wednesday 2nd of July 2014 02:39:04 PM
Just browsing my photos again and it looks as if this bird has either got something caught on the left side of its bill hanging down, or it has had an injury to its bill at some point, ie.cracked. Any ideas?
Nice to meet some familiar faces that turned up this evening.
The Rose-coloured Starling was showing well but from a distance at first, then after a while it flew down into the playing field but was out of sight due to the in level field. It soon reappeared on the green wire fence surrounding the field and stayed there for a little while. It flew off again out of sight but within minutes after walking to the next street with Mum, I relocated it on a TV aerial, and offering some great opportunities for photo'd. With no other birders present on the street I couldn't let anyone know it was there, but luckily Mum had walked back to the corner and had beckoned to Mark Rigby and co. that it was relocated. I'm glad everyone got some good close up views and shots, and well worth the journey over there after work.
I hope it is there tomorrow for those who haven't seen it, and judging by the Lowestoft bird this last week and the Long Rock Morrison's bird in Cornwall a few weeks ago, they seem to stay a while, and if anyone IS going tomorrow then it's worth having a walk round the immediate area of Lockyer Ave, Surrey Ave, Essex Ave and Sycamore Ave looking for any flocks of Starling as it could prove worthwhile. Good Luck!
Rose coloured starling showing very well from Lockyer avenue off A671 from 7-7.30 this evening.
Very nearly went for this last night Chris but I'm going after work later as it still seems to be hanging around. I take it the bird is with a flock of Starlings or is it a loner? ...and someone reported the playing fields? Cheers mate
From images I've seen it is with a flock of starlings
Rose coloured starling showing very well from Lockyer avenue off A671 from 7-7.30 this evening.
Very nearly went for this last night Chris but I'm going after work later as it still seems to be hanging around. I take it the bird is with a flock of Starlings or is it a loner? ...and someone reported the playing fields? Cheers mate
you made it then i tryed this morning but some guy deceided to park his lorry on the center barrier at j5 m65 sat on the motorway for 3/4 hr going nowhere so i dipped that one had to go to work maybe try again tomorrow graeme
Bit of bad luck there Graeme did you manage to get over there today??
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Wednesday 13th of October 2010 10:19:59 PM
you made it then i tryed this morning but some guy deceided to park his lorry on the center barrier at j5 m65 sat on the motorway for 3/4 hr going nowhere so i dipped that one had to go to work maybe try again tomorrow graeme
Quick visit this afternoon with Henry Cook for the reported Yellow-Browed Warbler.
Suprised to find that the site is a just a small Community Centre Car Park lined with a few trees and bushes on a side road in the outskirts of Burnley.
The bird was heard calling after a few minutes of arrival but still took a bit of time to eventually locate, but then good but sporadic views were had as it flitted about in the canopy, the eyestripe being so distinct in the bins - lovely bird.
Apparently this is the second record for this unusual site as one was reported there three years ago.
did you manage to get over there today??