Easter Monday, 28th March 2016. 10:30 - 11:30 hrs.
Dippers x 3 (Two on Bradshaw Brook south of Jumbles Reservoir past Bradshaw Hall Fisheries; and one on Bradshaw Brook north of Jumbles towards Turton Bottoms) Grey Wagtail x 1 Nuthatch x 1 Coal Tit x 3 Wren x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Buzzard x 1 Canada Geese x 4 Greylag Geese x 2 Great Crested Grebe x 2 Cormorant x 2 Jackdaw x 10 Woodpigeon x 7 Goldfinch x 5 Blue Tit x 3 Great Tit x 1 Long Tailed Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 3 Robin x 2 Blackbird x 4 Mallard x 20 Carrion Crow x 5 Feral Pigeon x 1
2 Redwings with 4 Song Thrushes, a Mistle Thrush, & a Pied Wagtail on Grange Road field. A Buzzard flew over as I watched them.
Very peaceful for Easter Sunday around the reservoir, just me & 2 fishermen, until a dog waker informed me the car park barrier was still down. Putting the clocks forward was a blessing as barrier timer had presumably not been altered. Best of the reservoir action was by the quarry at the top end :- Pair of Canada Geese, one of them on a quarry ledge, pair of Goldeneye, and a Buzzard being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows.
Other reservoir birds :- 6 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Cormorants on the yatch pontoon, 38 Mallards, 4 Moorhens, 4 Black-headed Gulls.
A Sparrowhawk & a Raven flew over.
Called here again around lunchtime, crowds of people, but still no hirundines, just a few more Canada Geese and Black-headed Gulls to add to the earlier visit.
Reservoir :- 7 Great Crested Grebes 5 Cormorants 2 Grey Herons 15 Canada Geese 44 Mallards 9 Moorhens 12 Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull Usual woodland species included 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers & a flock of 4 Jays seen a few times
Grange Road field :- 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes, & 2 Mistle Thrushes.
A Kingfisher was at the overflow on Bradshaw Brook. A Moorhen called from a nearby pond. 3 aggressive Nuthatches chased each other around at this end of Ousel Nest Meadow.
7.45am to 9.10am :- 7 Great Crested Grebes 5 Cormorants 2 Grey Herons flying over 1 Greylag (Walsh Fold fields with a Canada Goose) 11 Canada Geese 37 Mallards Pair of Tufted Ducks Pair of Goldeneyes 6 Moorhens 25+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Kingfisher by the bridge at the yatch club. I was surprised at one point to see it flying across gardens to the houses at Horrobin Fold. It flew back after a few minutes. 1 Tawny Owl by the footpath from the railway footbridge to Grange Road, calling whilst upsetting a few Blackbirds. "Raisin" (my friend has christened it) has been a regular in her garden, but a couple of weeks ago it's diseased partner was taken into care (cannot remember the name given to that one) and sadly did not survive.
Early afternoon on my way home from Hawkshaw :- Nothing different on the reservoir. 1 Curlew on fields on the other side of Bradshaw Road to Jumbles 5 Buzzards soaring around together over Ousel Nest Meadow. They eventually headed off over Bromley Cross, four continuing their journey and one returning.
7.40am to 12.15. An overdue full count of all birds seen in all areas.
5 Great Crested Grebes 4 Cormorants 1 Grey Heron flying over No Greylags to start with but then a pair flew in. The regular one joined them later. 16 Canada Geese 49 Mallards 2 Buzzards flying over 1 Sparrowhawk on Ousel Nest Meadow 8 Moorhens 25+ Black-headed Gulls, 1 Common Gull. 1 Herring Gull & 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over. 1 Collared Dove, 55 Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, 19 Wrens, 14 Dunnocks (seems a lot more of these about this year on most of my local patches), 22 Robins, 13 Redwings at Grange Road, 30 + on the brow of a hill at Walsh Fold so possibly more over the brow, & a couple of individuals around the reservoir. 22 Blackbirds, 8 Song Thrushes, 3 Mistle Thrushes. 4 Goldcrests 15 Long-tailed Tits, 6 Coal Tits, 20+ Great Tits & Blue Tits, 6 Nuthatches, 3 Treecreepers, 3 Jays, 15 Magpies, 20+ Jackdaws, 30+ Rooks (most of them at the rookery on Bradshaw Road), 12 Carrion Crows, 1 Raven, House Sparrows at Walsh Fold & along Bradshaw Road, 25 Chaffinches, 10 Greenfinches, 30+ Goldfinches, 20+ Siskins, 4 Bullfinches.
9.25am to 11.45am. Better than usual on the reservoir (Whooper Swans the highlight), but very little about in the woodland (Long-tailed Tit with no tail still about though).
4 Great Crested Grebes 1 Cormorant 6 Grey Herons 5 Whooper Swans (3 adults + 2 juveniles) 1 Greylag 37 Canada Geese 64 Mallards Pair of Goldeneye 6 Moorhens 1 Coot 5 Curlews (Walsh Fold farmland) 40+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 Buzzards soaring around Pair of Stock Doves on the quarry 1 Redwing at top end of reservoir
No sign of the Firecrest this afternoon. In the same area that it was seen yesterday I had a Redwing & 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. I also checked for it along the path by the railway. I did come across something up there that I had not seen before. A Long-tailed Tit with no tail !
Reservoir birds :- 5 Great Crested Grebes 1 Grey Heron 2 Canada Geese 51 Mallards Pair of Goldeneyes 6 Moorhens 1 Coot 100+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull
Superb views of a Firecrest this lunch time, half way between the Boat Club and the stables in the trees on the reservoir side. The bird was only a couple of meters away. A lifetime first for my wife and I.
Other birds of note,
Siskins, Treecreeper, Long Tailed Tits, Jay, Great Crested Grebe but the Firecrest took the biscuit!!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 7th of March 2016 06:22:30 PM
Reservoir :- 2 Great Crested Grebes 5 Cormorants 1 Greylag with 9 Canada Geese 63 Mallards 1m Goldeneye 7 Moorhens 46 Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull 1 Skylark flying over
Farmland :- 1 Raven plus the usual corvids, 1 Reed Bunting.
Grange Road field :- 2 Pied Wagtails, 15 Redwings, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 4 Blackbirds, 2 Nuthatches in a field tree. On most of my recent visits there had been a pair of Song Thrushes on this field. Sadly one of them was squashed in the road this morning.
9.30am to 11.45am. Thunder & hail followed by a snowstorm. No surprise that yesterday's frogs had deserted their pond.
4 Great Crested Grebes 3 Cormorants 1 Greylag with 9 Canada Geese 26 Mallards 8 Moorhens. I was surprised to find one running across the field behind the information centre. 1 Coot Only 4 Black-headed Gulls. Probably losing birds here as they breed at Belmont. 1 Great Black-backed Gull flying over. 1 Buzzard flew over the reservoir towards Birches Farm. Later on I saw another one flying in towards Birches. The latter one looked like the one flying across a field in my recent Dunscar report. I was on the fields near Bradshaw Road so I was looking down on the bird as it flew low across lower fields. The upperwings are light brown with dark patches at the end of the wings, making the upperwings look more like Red Kite than Buzzard. Not much other bird activity around the reservoir & nothing on the farmland except Woodpigeons.
2 Pied Wagtails & 1 Grey Wagtail on Grange Road field. Other birds on this field included 26 Woodpigeons, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, & a Mistle Thrush. A small flock of Redwings was calling from trees along the railway. Unable to count them as the snow was blowing straight into my face & onto my binoculars.
3 Great Crested Grebes included a pair dancing together 2 Cormorants 1 Greylag 15 Canada Geese 61 Mallards 7 Moorhens 1 Coot 80+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull
5 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Redwings, 1 Song Thrush, & 2 Mistle Thrushes on Grange Road field. Pied Wagtails also seen at Grange Farm stables & up the access road. 2 Stock Doves & a Tawny Owl on the quarry at the top end. A small flock of Redwings & a Mistle Thrush not far away. 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers amongst the usual stuff around the reservoir.
8.00am to 9.20am. 2 Great Crested Grebes 3 Cormorants 1 Greylag 18 Canada Geese 79 Mallards 1m + 2f Goosanders 8 Moorhens 70+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Buzzard flying around Ousel Nest Meadow 5 Pied Wagtails on Grange Road field including a pair fluttering around together which seemed like a mating display
Early afternoon was much the same as the morning but without Goosanders and 3 Common Gulls added to the morning list
Reservoir :- 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cormorants, 1 Greylag, 18 Canada Geese, 77 Mallards, 1m + 3f Goosanders 6 Moorhens 60+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the water + 3 passing through 2 Common Gulls 1 Stock Dove on the quarry at the top end + 1 on the small quarry by the bottom of the steps from the main car park 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 2 Mistle Thrushes on the embankment
Grange Road field :- 5 Pied Wagtails, 30+ Redwings
3 Buzzards & 2 Ravens flew over, one of each taking time to soar around. 2 Goldcrests near the information centre Small flocks of Siskins at Ousel Nest (with a flock of Long-tailed Tits) & by Chapeltown Road car park Grey Wagtail with a Pied Wagtail on Grange Road field
Sightings from this morning :- 3 Great Crested Grebes 2 Cormorants 1 Greylag 13 Canada Geese 60 Mallards 9 Moorhens 50+ Black-headed Gulls 6 Pied wagtails on Grange Road field
I lost the internet over the weekend so a few sightings which differ from the above :- Saturday 13th :- Kingfisher & a Grey Wagtail at the reservoir. 2 more Grey Wagtails were with 2 Pied Wagtails on Grange Road field. Other birds on this field included 40+ Woodpigeons, 8 Redwings, 4 Mistle Thrushes, & 2 Song Thrushes.
Friday 12th :- A few dog walking friends have asked if I saw the Mute Swans. Unfortunately not (unusual species here) but the birds were an adult with an immature.
Reservoir :- No Grebes seen today. 8 Cormorants 1 Grey Heron 14 Canada Geese 1 Greylag 70 Mallards 1m Goldeneye 12 Moorhens 100+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull
Best of the rest as I wandered around, mostly the usual species :- 25 Siskins & a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Ousel Nest by Grange Road. Lesser Redpolls the only unexpected species today with a pair at Grange Farm. A Great Spotted Woodpecker by the railway line. Whilst up there I scanned the fields on the far side of the reservoir & picked out a flock of about 100 Lapwings between Walsh Fold and Birches. 2 Stock Doves flying over the quarry at the top end. A stream that runs under the road between Walsh Fold & Bradshaw Road has always looks possible for Dipper and today I had one here for the first time. It became wet & windy as I checked the farmland so I just had lots of Jackdaws, Rooks, & Carrion Crows on the fields up here. I eventually finished off back along Grange Road where I now had the Redwing flock (none earlier) which has been around for weeks. Very flighty so needed numerous counts but I eventually settled for 110.
2 Great Crested Grebes 5 Cormorants 12 Grey Herons. Higher count than normal probably due to the strong winds pushing birds down here for shelter from the very exposed Entwistle heronry. 17 Canada Geese 1 Greylag 81 Mallards 2m Goldeneyes 6 Moorhens 1 Coot 70+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull
Reservoir :- 3 Great Crested Grebes 4 Cormorants, including one with lots of white on it's head 2 Grey Herons 1 Canada Goose 72 Mallards 9 Moorhens 100+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull 1 Grey Wagtail
Mixed flock at Grange Road made up of 14 Redwings, 2 Mistle Thrushes, & 20+ Goldfinches. Resident House Sparrows are on Bradshaw Road side of the reservoir so one at Ousel Nest Gate House was a surprise. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker on a garden feeder by Horrobin Lane car park. 2 Stock Doves on the quarry at the top end. 1 Buzzard & 50+ Rooks flying around.
Someone must have thrown some bread out at Water Fold giving me birds to search through from the main car park. Mainly Black-headed Gulls & Jackadws but I did manage to pick out a Herring Gull & a Common Gull. The latter showed some great acrobatic skills as 3 times it dropped the bread it was carrying (once whilst being mobbed by a Jackdaw), but each time it caught it again in seconds after swooping around to retrieve it in the strong wind.
Did not manage to get out until late morning so Grange Road (no Redwings) & reservoir very busy. I did not see any point going all the way around so I scanned the reservoir from the woodland by Grange Farm & then headed up the path by the railway.
Reservoir :- 3 Great Crested Grebes 2 Cormorants 1 Grey Heron The usual Greylag was with the Canada Goose waiting for bread at Horrobin Lane car park. 6 other Canada Geese around the reservoir included another Greylag Numerous Mallards & the male Goldeneye Unable to count Moorhens from here, only one seen nearby 50+ Black-headed Gulls 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over
A pair of Goldcrests chased other around by the stables, the male looking splendid with it's open displaying crest. Lots of Woodpigeons flushed from the field between reservoir & railway.
Just hanging about for a while by the stile by the railway at the top of the path I had a good selection of birds which included :- Two more Goldcrests, a Treecreeper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a flock of Goldfinches, 2 Nuthatches, & 60+ Redwings flying over heading for Holts Fold/Last Drop area.
As usual I checked Grange Road on the way to the reservoir, and some good stuff as usual. Near the gate to Ousel Nest Meadow I checked lots of noise coming from Nuthatches. I usually get one or two here but did not expect to see four together. An increase in Redwings (170+) further down the road. On the field & in trees by the road & by the railway. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was quite content at the top of a tree until it moved and disturbed two more, when it became very noisy as it chased them around the tree tops. Another Nuthathch was heard in the same area.
Reservoir :- 2 Great Crested Grebes 3 Cormorants 1 Grey Heron 90 Mallards 1m + 1f Goldeneyes 1m Goosander 8 Moorhens 50+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull 1 Pied Wagtail 3 more Nuthatches took me up to 8 for the afternoon
3 Great Crested Grebes 1 Grey Heron Greylag with just one Canada Goose. 110 Mallards 9 Moorhens 100+ Black-headed Gulls 3 Common Gulls Not much around the woodland again.
30+ Redwings with 3 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Pied Wagtails, and a flock of 30+ Goldfinches on Grange Road fields. Another 20+ Goldfinches were further down Grange Road as I headed towards the railway station.
2 Great Crested Grebes 2 Cormorants on reservoir + 3 flying over Greylag (became very tame a few weeks ago, and will now come for food at Horrobin Lane car park with the 2 Canada Geese) 110 Mallards 1m Goldeneye 3m Goosanders 8 Moorhens 40+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull 1 Dipper on the brook at the top end 1 Buzzard
Reservoir :- 4 Great Crested Grebes 5 Cormorants Greylag flew in with the 2 Canada Geese 80+ Mallards 7 Moorhens 30+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Common Gull Great Spotted Woodpeckers & Treecreepers not seen much recently so two of each species was welcome
Grange Road :- 30+ Goldfinches mixed with 20+ Redwings & a Mistle Thrush Buzzard & 2 Herring Gulls flying over 8 Bullfinches along the footpath from Grange Road to the railway footbridge (7 more seen around the reservoir)
3 Great Crested Grebes 4 Cormorants Greylag with the 2 Canada Geese c110 Mallards 6 Moorhens 40+ Black-headed Gulls, one with full summer plumage head. I have seen this one a few times over the last week. Buzzard at the top end again being mobbed by a Carrion Crow 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail 5 Redwings along Grange Road + the usual species
As I was here later than normal (10.20am) crowds of people already out and about so I just walked along the railway side. I normally speak to most of the regulars about the wildlife, possibly with your daughter George at some time, but the number of folk about got a bit too much this morning. I hope they all had a good time though, except the cyclists who keep ignoring the no cycling signs.
2 Great Crested Grebes 1 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron The Greylag with the 2 Canada Goose Numerous Mallards & Moorhens. 70+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 Common Gulls
5 Redwings & a Mistle Thrush at Horrobin Fold A Buzzard by the quarry at the top end was being mobbed by a Carrion Crow. The Crow got so close it looked at one point as though it would land on the Buzzards's back. The Buzzard flew off towards Turton Tower, and not long after two more Buzzards appeared from over Walsh Fold soaring around quite high up.
Full morning from 8.10am checking all areas. When it started getting busy I moved onto farmland. We missed the worst of the rain here, just got lots of rubbish washed down onto the top end of the reservoir. A slight problem having to pick out birds swimming amonst it all. 3 Great Crested Grebes 1 Cormorant 2 Grey Herons Greylag was on it's own when I got to the reservoir but it soon joined the two Canada Geese 60+ Mallards 8 Moorhens 40+ Black-headed Gulls Not long ago I reported Herring Gulls being unusual locally. Seen them most days since ! Two on the reservoir this morning & numerous passing over, which included a flock of 5 being followed into the distance by a Grey Heron. Also a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over. 1 Sparrowhawk on Ousel Nest Meadow. 1 Pheasant at Walsh Fold. Lots of Woodpigeons, a small flock of Feral Pigeons, the usual few white doves along Grange Road, & a Stock Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail by the raging overflow, numerous Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins, 11 Blackbirds, 5 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Mistle Thrushes. a flock of 3 Goldcrests by Grange Road & 1 by the quarry at the top end, Numerous Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, & Nuthatches. A few Starlings, & House Sparrows in the usual places, As usual plenty of corvids, 5 Jays, 24 Magpies, 20+ Jackdaws, 20+ Rooks (most of them in the rookery by Bradshaw Road), 14 Carrion Crows, 1 Raven. A few Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins (1 flock of about 10 birds), Bullfinches showing well in most areas (11 seen + a couple more heard)
8.20am to 9.45am. Not many people about for a Christmas Day morning, but it was raining all the way around. Trouble was, not many birds about either.
2 Great Crested Grebes 1 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron 2 Canada Geese c75 Mallards 5 Moorhens 20+ Black-headed Gulls Tawny Owl at Grange Farm A couple of Redwings heard at top end of reservoir
3 Great Crested Grebes 2 Cormorants 2 Grey Herons 2 Canada Geese with the Greylag. Still not sure if it is an escape from the access road farm or the one which has been seen here & Wayoh for the last 2 winters Numerous Mallards 1m Goldeneye 50+ Black-headed Gulls A Grey Wagtail flew across the reservoir and down to the overflow where I also found a Dipper Only 2 Redwings at Grange Road this morning
Visits before and after wander around Wayoh. 8.15am to 9.30am & 11.30am to 12.20pm.
2 Great Crested Grebes 1 Cormorant 3 Grey Herons 2 Canada Geese 1 Greylag 80+ Mallards 1m Goldeneye 6 Moorhens 80+ Black-headed Gulls 2 Common Gulls 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew off on my first visit. 1 immature on reservoir on second visit. Flock of 9 Herring Gulls flew over Grange Road & then down Bradshaw Valley 1 Buzzard flying over 1 Pied Wagtail Flock of 40+ Siskins Plus the usual species
3 Great Crested Grebes 1 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron 100+ Mallards Pair of Goldeneye 6 Moorhens c80 Black-headed Gulls
Grange Road :- 79 Redwings on the field. A flock of 15 Chaffinches making use of the roadside puddles. Mistle Thrush and Goldcrest. Missed out on these species yesterday.
8.40am to 12.25pm. All areas covered and all birds counted. 4 species of duck on one trip unusual for here,
Reservoir :- 2 Great Crested Grebes 1 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron 2 Canada Geese 100+ Mallards 2m + 1f Teal Pair of Wigeon Pair of Goldeneye 9 Moorhens (another one on a farm pond) 45 Black-headed Gulls
Walsh Fold :- A mixed flock of Jackdaws & Rooks (100+) 1 Pheasant, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, numerous House Sparrows.
Access Road Farm :- Another Pied Wagtail & more House Sparrows. Also had House Sparrows along Bradshaw Road.
Woodland birds :- 17 Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Wrens, 4 Dunnocks, 4 Robins, 16 Blackbirds, 5 Redwings along Grange Road & 1 by the reservoir, 1 Song Thrush by Bradshaw Brook, 4 flocks of Long-tailed Tits (60+ birds in total but surprisingly I did not see any Treecreepers with them), Coal Tits (5), Great Tits (10+), Blue Tits (40+), 7 Nuthatches, 4 Jays, 17 Magpies, 10+ Jackdaws, 20+ Carrion Crows, 10 Chaffinches, 5 Greenfinches, 6 Goldfinches, 4 Siskins, & 9 Bullfinches.
2 Great Crested Grebes 9 Grey Herons c115 Mallards 6 Moorhens 30+ Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull 1 Buzzard flying over Redwings calling along Grange Road. Could only see a couple, may have been a few more.
Just the usual species on the reservoir and not much around the woodland, but I did have a Buzzard calling from Ousel Nest Meadow before it flew off down the Bradshaw Valley.
A short visit this morning looking for anything new. Same species on reservoir as yesterday. Kingfisher at the yatch club bridge for 3rd day running, and again so close no binoculars needed.
2 Meadow Pipits on pill box field the only unusual birds seen.