9.40 to 13.05 around the reservoir & up Broadhead Valley

Reservoir :-
4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cormorants, 5 Canada Geese, 10 Mallards, 9 Tufted Ducks, 2 Moorhens, 8 Coots. No gulls on the reservoir but Black-headed & Lesser Black-backed passing over, Pheasants, Stock Doves, Woodpigeons, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 6 House Martins, 2 Swallows, Pied Wagtail, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Starlings, House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, & Bullfinches.

Valley birds included :-
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
7 Pheasants
1 Moorhen
4 Curlews
6 Stock Doves
Numerous Skylarks & Meadow Pipits
5 Pied Wagtails
2 Wheatears
4 Willow Warblers
2 Ravens
1 Linnet

Butterflies :-
Green-veined Whites, Orange Tips, Peacocks

8.40am to 12.50pm. Reservoir & Broadhead Valley.

Reservoir :-
4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 3 Greylags (the newly arrived pair kept trying to join the now resident bird but it was having nothing to do with them), 7 Canada Geese, 11 Mallards, pair of Teal, 4m + 3f Tufted Ducks, pair of Goldeneyes, 5 Moorhens, 9 Coots, 1 Oystercatcher flew across, 4 Black-headed Gulls, Pheasants, Stock Dove, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Wagtail, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Starlings, House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, & Bullfinches.
1 Roe Deer.
Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, & a couple of Comma.

Broadhead Valley birds included :-
7 Canada Geese around the various ponds, 2 Mallards, 2 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 2 Curlews, 9 Stock Doves, 5 Skylarks, 20+ Meadow Pipits, 6 Pied Wagtails, 1f Wheatear, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Nuthatches, 2 Ravens, & a Reed Bunting.

10.15am to 12.50pm.

4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons flying over
1 Greylag + 5 Canada Geese
8 Mallards, 2 Teal (in the middle of the main reservoir for a change), a few Tufted Ducks (mostly hidden away on Little Wayoh so unable to count them), 1m & 2f Goldeneyes (between the causeway & the viaduct).
6 Moorhens & 5 Coots
21 Black-headed Gulls + a Lesser Black-backed Gull flying over
1 Swallow flying around the fields behind the houses on Embankment Road. Probably the same bird that flew through St Anne's Churchyard about 10 minutes earlier.
3 Pheasants
11 Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Doves, 1 Stock Dove & 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
1 Pied Wagtail at the waterworks & a Dipper on Broadhead Brook
Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, & a Song Thrush
1 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, & at least a dozen Goldcrests
Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, & Nuthatches
Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, & Carrion Crows
Starlings & House Sparrows
Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, & Bullfinches

9.10 to 13.00 around the reservoir & up Broadhead Valley.

Reservoir :-
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant on the reservoir & 2 flying over
1 Greylag & 14 Canada Geese
8 Mallards, 13 Tufted Ducks, 1m Pochard, 1m Goosander
Pair of Goldeneye by the causeway near the railway viaduct. At first I only saw the male but when he started displaying the female came out of cover and laid flat on the water by him. After some more displaying they started to mate. I have seen them display many times before but watching them actually mate is a first for me.
5 Moorhens, 9 Coots
14 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Buzzard, Pheasants, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Starlings, House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, Bullfinches.
2 Small Tortoiseshells & 7 Peacocks. Buff-tailed & White-tailed Bumble Bees.

Broadhead Valley birds included :-
2 Grey Herons, 2 pairs of Canada Geese, 1 Buzzard, 7 Pheasants, 2 Curlews, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Stock Doves, 4 Woodpigeons, 10+ Skylarks, 30+ Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails, 8 Pied Wagtails, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Raven, 1 Reed Bunting.
1 Rabbit, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, and some frogspawn.

9.20am to 10.35am.

6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
14 Canada Geese
1 Greylag
15 Mallards
Teal heard only
12 Tufted Ducks
Pair of Goldeneye
3f Goosanders
4 Buzzards. Two soaring over the main reservoir and two rising up from the top end of Little Wayoh. When the latter pair started soaring around they were joined by a passing Raven.
3 Moorhens
8 Coots
7 Black-headed Gulls

An early morning wander in decent weather, the sun shone, the temperature was fine, 28 bird species the result:- Dunnock; Robin; Grey Heron; Magpie; Mallard; Canada Goose; Blue Tit; Pied Wagtail; House Sparrow; Pheasant; Goldeneye; Tufted Duck; Carrion Crow; Black Headed Gull; Long Tailed Tit; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Sparrowhawk; Greylag Goose; Coal Tit; Grey Wagtail; Great Crested Grebe; Mistle Thrush; Fieldfare + Great Tit; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Goldcrest; Nuthatch and Wren on call.

Good to see Mr Lumb doing the rounds - fine work indeed.

Fungalpunk Dave - www.fungalpunknature.co.uk

10.05am to 12.45pm.

Reservoir :-
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
1 Greylag
21 Canada Geese
A few Mallards
15 Tufted Ducks
Pair of Goldeneye
8m + 23f Goosanders
3 Moorhens
4 Coots
13 Black-headed Gulls

Broadhead Valley birds included :-
3 Buzzards
1 Kestrel
1 Curlew
1 Snipe
6 Stock Doves
1 Tawny Owl
4 Skylarks
5 Meadow Pipits
3 Pied Wagtails
1 Raven

8.40am to 10.15am

2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
9 Canada Geese
1 Greylag
10 Mallards
15 Tufted Ducks
1m Goldeneye
3m + 3f Goosanders
6 Moorhens
2 Coots
3 Black-headed Gulls
7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over

2 Buzzards together were the highlight of the woodland until I came across a very vocal flock of at least 15 Crossbills (very few other small birds calling in the strong wind). They were flying around the tops of the conifers on Little Wayoh.

9.30am to 13.20 around the reservoir & up the Broadhead Valley.

Reservoir :-
34 Whooper Swans when I got there (31 adults & 3 juveniles). They took off heading NW at 10.08am.
A male Shoveler was even more unusual, a site tick for me. This left not long after the Whoopers.
20 Canada Geese flew in with the now regular Greylag and a few minutes later as I was heading for the valley a pair of Greylags flew over me heading for the reservoir. When I got back down to the reservoir at lunchtime only the single Greylag remained.
3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
17 Mallards
4 Teal seen, probably more hidden away
9M + 11f Tufted Ducks
2m Goldeneyes
3m + 8f Goosanders
1 Moorhen
4 Coots
25 Black-headed Gulls
1 Herring Gull
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Buzzard
1 Tawny Owl

Broadhead Valley :-
Pair of Canada Geese, 2 Buzzards, 1 Snipe, 5 Stock Doves, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Skylarks, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, c120 Fieldfares, 3 Mistle Thrushes, a few Chaffinches, Greenfinches, & Siskins, + 2 Reed Buntings.

10.50am to 11.45am.

1 Great Crested Grebe
16 Canada Geese
1 Greylag
8 Mallards
Teal heard only
8m + 6f Tufted Ducks
1m Goosander
2 Moorhens
3 Coots
24 Black-headed Gulls
1 Skylark flying low over Little Wayoh was unusual

8.30am to 10.55am

1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
8 Canada Geese
13 Mallards
8m + 8f Tufted Ducks
2m Goldeneyes
6m + 5f Goosanders
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Moorhens
2 Coots
18 Black-headed Gulls
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

9.30am to noon.

Two Shelducks were a big surprise, and my first ones on the local reservoirs. They were not here when I started so they must have flown in while I was working my way around.

2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Canada Geese
Teal again heard only
2m Pochards
19 Tufted Ducks
1m Goldeneye
4m & 2f Goosanders
2 Moorhens
2 Coots
7 Black-headed Gulls
1 Dipper
1 Buzzard, being mobbed by a Crow
1 Pheasant
Woodpigeons & Collared Doves
1 Green Woodpecker & 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, a Song Thrush, & Mistle Thrushes
Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, & Treecreepers
Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Rooks, Carrion Crows, Starlings, & House Sparrows
Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, & Bullfinches

11.15 to 13.00

2 Cormorants
38 Canada Geese
14 Mallards
Teal heard only. Waters levels are back up so they are hidden away again
2m Pochards
17 Tufted Ducks
1m Goldeneye
Pair of Goosanders
1 Moorhen
26 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull

According to a fisherman the Raven I had seen earlier on a pylon at Clough House Farm had made a few visits to the reservoir

WeBS count this morning. Forestry workers due to start work along the overflow want the water lowered by 1.1/2 metres (they don't want to cross the rushing water with their equipment), which means that the Teal are back just in time for this month's count.

1 Great Crested Grebe
2 Cormorants
29 Canada Geese
15 Teal
47 Mallards
18 Tufted Ducks
1m + 3f Goldeneye
9 Goosanders
48 Black-headed Gulls

Another very quiet day around the woodland with just some of the residents

11.30am to 12.30pm.

1 Grey Heron
5 Canada Geese
15 Mallards
17 Tufted Ducks
Pair of Goldeneye
3m + 3f Goosanders
1 Moorhen
11 Black-headed Gulls
1 Buzzard

10.50am to 12.55pm.

35 Mallards
1m Pochard
17 Tufted Ducks
2m Goldeneyes
18 Goosanders
1 Moorhen
20+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c150 Woodpigeons flew up from the woodland floor near the viaduct
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker by Strawbury Duck

10.20am to 12.10am.

1 Cormorant
50+ Mallards
1m Pochard
14 Tufted Ducks
2m Goldeneyes
18 Goosanders
1 Moorhen
1 Coot
8 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the water + 3 flying across
1 Great Black-backed Gull
200+ Woodpigeons flying over
2 Pied Wagtails
2 Grey Wagtails
20+ Crossbills flying around Little Wayoh. The flock stayed very close together each time I saw it making it very difficult to get an exact count. Very noisy !
Numbers here normally match ones on Entwistle so this could be yesterday's flock there with a few additions. Not far at all between there and here at the top end of the reservoir.

9 Meadow Pipits by Overshores Road.

8.45am to 10.40am.

1 Cormorant
1 Canada Goose
3 Teal
26 Mallards
1m Pochard
20 Tufted Ducks
1m Goldeneye
1m Goosander
1 Moorhen
1 Coot
8 Black-headed Gulls

12.00 to 13.10. Water levels even lower than last time. Nowhere for the water fowl to hide, making life easier.

2 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
35 Teal
50+ Mallards
14 Tufted Ducks
13 Goosanders
7 Moorhens
1 Coot
25 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over
30+ Fieldfares
A few Redwings hidden in the tops of conifers
1 Mistle Thrush

10am to 11am.

1 Great Crested Grebe
12 Teal
25 Mallards
2 Pochards
22 Tufted Ducks
3 Moorhens
2 Coots
15 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

11.15am to 12.10pm.

1 Redwing with a Mistle Thrush & numerous Blackbirds by the terraced row near Strawbury Duck as I crossed from Entwistle Reservoir.

1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Canada Goose
20+ Mallards
2m Pochards
13 Tufted Ducks, including a female with a large white face patch. Looked like a hybrid.
2m + 1f Goosanders
1 Moorhen
2 Coots
25+ Black-headed Gulls

10.50am to 12.35pm.

2 Great Crested Grebes
Only one Teal out in the open, presumably more hidden away
30 Mallards
1 male Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
1 Moorhen
2 Coots
22 Black-headed Gulls
1 Meadow Pipit near the waterworks

1 Small Tortoiseshell

12.15 to 13.20. Water levels much higher after the last few days of rain.

3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
20+ Teal. Much harder to see now the water has risen. Lots of places to hide now.
38 Mallards
2m Pochards
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Moorhens
14 Black-headed Gulls

1 Red Admiral

11.30 to 13.00

1 Great Crested Grebe
2 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
9 Teal
50+ Mallards
3 Tufted Ducks
4 Moorhens
1 Coot
15 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
A small flock of Crossbills flying around the top of conifers on Little Wayoh. Unable to count them from where I was below the trees.