1 Cormorant 45 Canada Geese 37 Mallards 2 Teal 1 Osprey (Seen as it landed on a fence post at the back of the reservoir. I checked the wading birds whilst hoping it may come closer, but when I looked across again it had gone, presumably heading south into GM. It left about 11am) 1 Buzzard at Hill Top (usual area) 130 Lapwings 2 Snipe 4 Black-headed Gulls 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 1 Woodpigeon 12 Swallows 1 Skylark 11 Meadow Pipits 9 Pied Wagtails (3 along embankment + 6 on island) 1 Wren 1 Robin 1 Magpie 40+ Carrion Crows on fields south of Belmont by the main road 14 Starlings 1 Chaffinch 50 Goldfinches
10.30am to 12.30pm My first trip since May when the water levels were reasonable. Hardly anything on reservoir today, mostly moorland birds above and below the reservoir. No gulls at all instead of the thousands last time.
1 Cormorant flying past 35 Canada Geese on fields at Higher Pasture House Farm 5 Mallards, the only birds on the reservoir until the flock of Lapwings arrived 1 Kestrel 1 Moorhen on sailing club ponds 4 Pheasants 80 Lapwings 3 Woodpigeons 2 Stock Doves 6 House Martins in Belmont Village 17 Swallows 45 Meadow Pipits 1 Grey Wagtail on sailing club ponds 2 Pied Wagtails 2 Robins 2 Stonechats at Wards Reservoir 6 Wheatears 1 Willow Warbler between church and Wards Reservoir Mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, and Blue Tits at sailing club 3 Magpies 2 Carrion Crows 2 Chaffinches 2 Goldfinches
Common Hawkers, Brown Hawkers Green-veined Whites, Small Tortoiseshells (12 + 6 Peacocks on a Buddleia in the village allotments), Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns.
Short Eared Owl at Stones Bank at around 9.00pm this evening - lucky - I was cycling past and it dropped to ground about 15 feet away by side of road in my torchlight. It missed whatever it had seen and so carried on hunting.
Superb close up views of a Raven playing in the strong breeze over the moor just north of the reservoir. It seemed strange to find the island deserted.
Also plenty of Meadow Pipit and Mistle Thrush. Wheatear and Stonechat near Bromiley's farm.
A good hour this afternoon watching the mass of BH Gulls on the reservoir. Also seen were 5 Curlews, 3 Redshank and 2 Terns in the distance. Best of all was as I was getting back into my car a Green woodpecker flew across the main road
Walk from Belmont to Winter Hill mast at 8am 7 grasshopper warblers singing 5 Lapwing 4 Curlew 3 Skylark 6 Wheatear on boundary wall nr mast Highlight was male Redstart near Belmont
Bolton rspb walk today, A med gull present today at the gull roost on belmont res, thanks for spotting it out to us from the two birders already there, i did not get there names?
A few redshanks, curlew, snipe, lots of meadow pipits, linnets, a single redpoll,
We also got bit by loads of midgys today
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 6th of June 2010 05:24:38 PM
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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
I am reliably informed that a male Hen Harrier has been present over the past week or so approx 1 mile NW of Belmont Res, near the Tockholes turning off the A675 just north of GM, could well be the same bird thats been wintering in the area over the past couple of years that occaisonally wonders to Smithalls Moor
A Peregrine swooped into the Black Headed Gull colony and put up every single Gull at the place, it was then chased off by about 2000 Black Heads, quite a sight.
Adult Mediteranean Gull on the island at Belmont this evening amongst the hundreds of B H Gulls..also 2 Common Sands, Redshank and Tawny Owl flew over the road near Belmont village.
If it continues to be dry things will only get much worse too and then there's the kids summer holidays to contend with again soon, all the little 'darlings' running around with matches...I'll get me gun
Drove over Belmont rd today. What a sorry sight There's been more fires reported recently but i didn't expect it to be this bad. A huge area from Belmont res up past the Tockholes rd is black! On the left of the road right up to the top of the moor is completely burnt out. God knows how many Lapwing and other ground nesters have lost their br broods.
There was i passed it on the way back from martin mere. It didn't look too bad but there were about 10 fire engines parked up on the road. Firemen where looking but there didn't seem to be any urgency.
There was apparently what sounds like quite a serious moorland fire up on Belmont Moors on Wednesday the 11th, I certainly hope it hasn't caused too much destruction (but unfortunately they usually do!)