Saturday 6th April
1 Swallow, 2 House Martins and at least 6 Sand Martins were my first hirundines locally this year
Also 2 Willow Warbler singing and a female Stonechat
1 Whooper Swan still present today info thanks to Alan Nuttall
Keep an eye out on this site in January as that month there is an international swan census of Whooper and Bewick's Swans which will run over Jan 2020 and in the UK be concentrated over the weekend of 11-12 Jan which coincides with that month's WeBS count. The WWT are working with the BTO on the UK counts and are encouraging birders to look out for swans on agricultural areas away from watched water bodies. I'll be getting more info from Kane Brides who is leading on it out of WWT HQ at Slimbridge.
Alan Nuttall had a drake Garganey here on Saturday (14/4) and there was also a Green Sandpiper present but there was no sign yesterday (15/4) though there was a Red-legged Partridge which is a Rochdale mega and also 4 Pink-footed Geese
3 Pink-footed Geese in the fields on west side of Clegg Hall Rd (by the pools) at 10:30am, feeding with 18 Canada Geese. Just 30m away from the road, they did not seem too concerned by my presence, just looking up occasionally.
Presumably different birds to the three seen at Elton Resr this morning? Although depending on the time seen they could have flown over to Rochdale. Very misty conditions over the hills this morning.
Pair of Gadwall on the pools but not much else.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
Could any visitors to this site, or indeed any others in the Rochdale area, please be aware and extra vigilant for evidence of birds being targeted by high powered crossbows or similar. Any injured birds should be reported to both the Police (making sure to inform them of the likely weapons used in any such attacks) and to the RSPCA.
Site record today with 14 Gadwall present.Not sure what the attraction is to Gadwall but they really seem to like it on the pools. 7 Wigeon 7 Tufted Duck 12 Coot 9 Moorhen 4 Teal 2Comorant Cheers Alan
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 8th of October 2014 11:37:58 PM
Late post from yesterday a male Pochard present only my second record for Cleggs the last being 10th March2007...sad is it not! 6 Wigeon,3 Gadwall,7 Tufted,6 Teal,13 Coot,pair Mute Swan, Again a cock Ringnecked Parakeet feeding on Hawthorn Dyehouse lane,Blackcap,2 Goldcrest,2 Chiffchaff,Willow warbler Cheers Alan
5 Gadwall,7 Tufted,2 Teal, 12 Coot,Pair Mute Swans,60 Lapwing,22 Blackbird feeding on Hawthorn trees. 2 Ring necked Parakeets in the Smallbridge area for the third day. Cheers Alan
I feel it's a bit like visiting Marin Mere..the birds seem to be so stable sometimes I think they should be in pens! 9 Gadwall 6 Wigeon 14 Tufted 19 Teal 33 Coot 4 Moorhen 4Cormorant 18 Mute Swans Cheers Alaan
It was not possible to visit my patch on moors above Rochdale this morning it was too foggy,so I took a look at Clegg Pools. It really is strange that these small pools attract so many birds. 2 Pintail 3 Gadwall 3 Wigeon 1 Little Grebe 2 Tufted 12 Teal 25 Mallard 35 Coot 1Cormorant 11 Mute Swan 2 Grey Heron 4 Snipe Cheers Alan
For the first time I recorded Goldeneye on the pools today. 2 stonking male Goldeneye,8 Wigeon,9 Tufted,42 Coot,8+ Moorhen. The mute Swans young can now fly,only 3 present today I picked it up on Hollingworth looking a little lost.62 Canada,2 Cormorant. Littleborough station canal, still 2 male Mandarin. Shaw Moss, 24 Teal,2 Jay, Kingsway,60+ Snipe. Cheers Alan
The North East wind over night produced a number of new birds on the pools today. Pair Shoveler,1 female Gadwall,6 Tufted,23 Mallard,35 Coot,12 Moorhen,and was pleased to see a maiden flight of one of Mute swans. 70 FieLdfare feeding on Clegg marsh was my first record for the Autumn. For a few days now I have been putting corn down with the hope of perhaps a Brambling.A Redwing was checking out thr area this morning.Cheers Alan
Hi Alan, Thats an impressive list for Clegg Pools. I live in Shaw and I dont think i've ever visited the Pools. Is it possible to give me some directions to the site.
Cheers Dave Phillips.
-- Edited by Dave Phillips on Friday 12th of October 2012 05:05:03 PM