when I left Castleshaw on Saturday afternooon, there was just 1 Blue Tit pecking at Riggers' nuts and a Kath & Phil pair nibbling their butties!
I'd gone up there because I always get Whinchat at this time of year (needed to get out of "wooden spoon" position in the Tournament!) and following Mr Rigby's excellent season, I felt sure of at least one Oldham borough tick. Failed on both counts
Nothing of great interest bird-wise, though there was a most confiding Weasel (Phil should have some good pictures of it's tail disappearing into a hole in a wall!)
Mark, I visited Castleshaw a week ago last Monday (7th Sept) and had 3 Bullfinches in the bushes by the picnic tables in the car park, didn't think much of it at the time but I've just noticed that you've not mentioned the species on this thread, so maybe a good record for the site. Nothing on the Reservoirs that day though!
We three were there today. Not knowing there was a feeder, we missed it!! Anyway, not much about. Tufties,Mallard and a GCG on the bottom res, and a single GCG on the upper res. A few swallows,greenfinch and meadow pipits. Regret no curlew to be seen or heard, but heard a stonechat, but did not see it. Then went to Dovestones where there was even less.
Seed and peanut feeders have been put around the car park and up to now have not been trashed by the local youths who use the car park at night as a meeting point in thier fancy hotrods (1L Nova's etc)
Todays birds
18 Greenfinch 3 Blue Tit 2 Great Tit 37 Goldfinch 2 Robin Chiffchaff Dunnock 5 Chaffinch 17 Starling Wren
2 Whinchat 3 Wheatear 2 'White' Wagtail Sand Martin 60+ House Martin through west 200+ Swallow through west Several flocks of Starling over 3 Stonechat (all juvs) 2 Willow Warbler (juv) Chiffchaff
Put some seed down today in the picnic area at the car park and by the wooden gate at lower res. Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock and Robin found it immediatley
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Saturday 5th of September 2009 04:13:49 PM
Another stint (i wish ) at Castleshaw 0645-1615hrs
Should have stayed in bed!
Green Sandpiper till 1230pm when flushed by Geo-surveyors! and not re-located. Common Sandpiper 3 Raven 2 Kestrel Sparrowhawk 2 Sand Martin 40+ House Martin late morning only Swallow(s) 5 Linnet (on their way to the gathering at Piethorne) 2 Curlew 43 Mallard 106 Canada Goose 17 Mistle Thrush Woodpigeon(s) Stock Dove Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Carrion Crow Jackdaw Rook 4 Grey Heron Moorhen +Juv Robin Wren 2 Great Crested Grebe 30 Goldfinch Meadow Pipit 19 Tufted Duck Blue Tit Great Tit Blackbird Magpie
100+ Swift 100+ Swallow 60+ House Martin (must be moving through-massive increase since weekend) 1 Sand Martin Common Sandpiper Oystercatcher 11 Tufted Duck 41 Mallard 87 Canada Goose Redd Bunting Chaffinch Grey Heron
A male RUFF in breding plumage caused a bit of a twitch at Castleshaw this evening. I initially found it at 2010hrs and a massive 5 , yes 5 birders connected with it by 2130hrs. It was still present at 2150hrs as I left.