Hi Bill, What a cracking little list for Kingsway. Could you be a bit more specific where you find the warblers. Did have a Bar Tailed Godwit there a few week ago couple of Reed Buntings too. Cheers Dave Phillips.
A brief but clear and close view of a Reed Warbler this morning. A first site record I think? Also 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler and varying numbers of Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Reed Bunting too.
The Wood Sandpiper was initially found by Gary Crowden (I think - apologies Gary if I've got your surname wrong) on his first visit to the site! A long awaited Rochdale tick for me and appears to be the first in Rochdale since 1991!
Also this morning in the arctic conditions I briefly saw a yellow wagtail resembling a Grey- headed Wagtail - it had a dark grey head and a yellow throat - I couldn't see any supercilium but the view was frustratingly brief - wonder if it could have been the Elton bird.
Simon, is that in the rushy pasture across the road from Stanney entrance? There was one there last summer too if it's the same place.
Were you on the New Road just before dinnertime Bill? I saw an 'observer' there when I was driving past. If I'd have known it was you I would've stopped for a chat.
C. B
-- Edited by C Brown on Thursday 3rd of May 2012 09:02:37 PM
-- Edited by C Brown on Thursday 3rd of May 2012 09:03:09 PM
First visit to see the Ruff since 27/4 and to marvel how at quickly their plumages appear to be evolving. It was quite breezy conditions this morning but two of the birds appear to be showing signs of developing their ruffs and possibly their head feathers too?
Cheers,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Thursday 3rd of May 2012 08:04:02 PM
4 Ruff feeding in the middle of water. c6 Lapwing c5 Swift c5 Swallow 1 House Martin 1 Oystercatcher 2 Skylark plus one singing in the distance 1 White Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Kestrel 2 Wheatear
Cheers Geoff,you where spot on with second roundabout. Called today and wasn't disappointed.Good views of ruff,also present wheatear and what looked like linnet. Didn't get a look quick enough. Thanks again. Danny
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 1st of May 2012 07:46:25 PM
The best place to park and to watch is at the second roundabout from which ever direction that you are travelling from on the Isac Newton Way. You don't need to walk - if you do you will scare off what you are going to see. There was a good turn out of different birds there yesterday but people walking too close to them did frighten the ruff (4) off while I watched. I returned an hour or so later but there was no sign of them.
Nice to see the Ruff this afternoon they really do look fantastic.There was a small fall of birds around the pool about 1500hrs. A stonking male Whinchat,I usually have to wait till August in Rochdale. 6 Wheatear,3 Linnet,3 Little Ringed Plover,7 Lapwing at least 3 nests lost due to the wet weather of late.Cheers Alan
Also saw the Ruffs this pm together with a few Lapwings.
Great to finally get to see them, but our time observing them was somewhat curtailed by the weather - it was really cold in the wind and as I'd not taken my gloves my hands were freezing holding the binoculars.
Still, it was well worth a bit of discomfort, I might pop up there again tomorrow even though the weather forecast is even worse than today!
I saw the ruffs late this aft', plus two little ringed plover and a couple of swallows. The views of the ruffs were great today, with the birds pretty close to the New Road. They all look fab', but one in particular looks utterly sensational. What a subject.
C. Brown
-- Edited by C Brown on Saturday 28th of April 2012 08:14:23 PM
-- Edited by C Brown on Saturday 28th of April 2012 08:14:57 PM
A nice hour here this morning.....before the weather took a turn for the worse.
Amazingly, 4 Ruff still present. Also singles of Dunlin, Redshank and Oystercatcher. 1 Grey Heron, c15 Swallows, 5 singing Willow Warblers, 1 singing Blackcap and 1 male Reed Bunting. A pair of Coot and 2 pairs of Moorhen also.
A flock of c40 Starlings were all collecting and carrying food in the direction of the nearest housing estate. I thought this might be a little early but checking my records it's pretty much in line with the last 3 years, when adult birds were first seen carrying food on 28/4/11, 29/4/10 and 23/4/09. It's amazing how Starlings appear to be able to loosely synchronize their first clutches, with birds also seen carrying food at Higher Boarshaw later this morning.
nice walk over kingsway this afternoon in search of the ruff plenty of ringed and little ringed plover,pied wagtail ,meadow pipit,skylark,black headed gull,lesser black backed gull,sparrowhawk flew over and just one female ruff lovely to see although it would have been nice to see the male ah well better luck next time nice to see the lapwings still doing well despite the rising water levels
Rain,The water level now quite high,this could well cause some problems with early nesing attempts. 4 Ruff the male now quite splendid,2 Ringed,1 Little Ringed,5 Lapwing,2 Meadow Pipit,3 Black Headed Gull. Cheers Alan
Conditions not ideal, 5.30 to 6 this evening, with a cold, strong, blustery wind.
All the target birds located in the far corner from the roundabout. Ruff....3...feeding together. (could not locate the other) Little Ringed Plover....2 Ringed Plover....I would say at least 4 ( my eyes were watering by this time) Lapwing...5 Pied Wagtail ....1
I lost the Ruff 5 minutes before departing
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
4 Ruff still present late pm feeding on the pools next to Europe's largest warehouse Snipe - 1 Lapwing -10 A Swallow flew over - this appears to be the first reported from Rochdale this spring, at least I've not heard of any other sightings in the borough so far.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
4 Ruff still this morning but were flushed about 1130 and had not returned half an hour later 3 Little ringed Plovers 2 Ringed Plovers 2 Oystercatchers 12 Lapwing 1 Kestrel