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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> Reddish Vale Country Park LNR and environs
Post Info TOPIC: Reddish Vale Country Park LNR and environs
Tony Mossman


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RE: Reddish Vale Country Park LNR and environs
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Wall to wall sunshine again.

Mill Ponds

Single Great Crested Grebe

Bridleway to Hyde hall farm

1 Goldcrest
1 Skylark
1 Buzzard
1 White Wagtail

Hyde Hall Farm via boardwalk to Mill Ponds

1 Grasshopper Warbler (Heard only)
1 Stock dove
1 Greater spotted Woodpecker
1 Lesser Whitethroat


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Tony Mossman


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Beautiful sunny morning.

Mill Ponds

1 Reed Bunting
1 Treecreeper

Bridleway to Hyde Hall Farm.

1 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipits
2 Linnets

Hyde Hall Farm via Boardwalk towards Mill Ponds.

1 Skylark
2 Wheatear
1 Grasshopper Warbler (Heard only)
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Lesser Whitethroat
Pair of Goosander on river


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Tony Mossman


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Sunny, calm morning

Mill Ponds

Nothing out of the ordinary

Bridleway to Hyde Hall Farm

1 Lesser Whitethroat in full song
1 Skylark
1 Buzzard
2 Swallows collecting mud from puddle

Hyde Hall Farm via boardwalk towards mill ponds

2 groups of Sand Martins about 15 in one and 10 in the other.
1 Whitethroat

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Tony Mossman


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Sorry also single Dipper in flight along river beneath Motorway bridge.

7.4.11

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Tony Mossman


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Light drizzle.

Mill Ponds

Pair Great Crested Grebe
A few singing Willow Warblers and Blackcaps
1 Kestrel on Viaduct
3 Sand Martin
1 G S Woodpecker drumming

Bridleway to Hyde Hall Farm

2 Skylark

Not much to report really

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Tony Mossman


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Pleasant morning with a light rain shower. Mill Pools Pair of Great Crested Grebe 1 Heron Bridleway to Hyde Hall Farm 2 Pair Mistle Thrush 1 Swallow Hyde Hall Farm via Boardwalk towards Mill Ponds 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Buzzard (No interaction) 2 Sand Martin 3 Kestrels mobbing resident Buzzard 2 Blackcaps (Heard) 1 Reed Bunting at new wetland scrape

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Scott Reid


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Had quick 20 min walk around the mill ponds and the developing scrape area this afternoon: Usuals on Mill ponds but no sign of the little grebes, with the amount of families and dog walkers they must have taken cover or moved on to the river. Beyond the viaduct: 3 chiffchaff - one giving close up views about 12 feet away 5 buzzard - all together circling higher until out of sight 2 fieldfare 1 kingfisher 1 kestrel Also, according to a ranger, the first sand martins arrived back over the last couple of days (although I did not see them today) however a lot of the river bank where they nest has been lost over the winter due to high waters along the river.

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Scott Reid
Tony Mossman


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Post for 25.03.11 Mill Ponds Pair of Little Grebe 8 Tufties 2 Herons Elsewhere 14 Fieldfare At least 6 singing Chiff Chaff 1 Skylark

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Andy Graham


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26/03/11 - 1330hrs 1 Kingfisher (flew through viaduct towards main pond) 1 Pied Wagtail (m) 2 Nuthatch Chiff Chaff (heard but not seen) Sadly day abandoned due to too many of the benefit reliant tracksuit wearing brigade with their pitbulls crash.gif

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Andy Graham


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19/03/11 - 1345hrs. Reddish Vale stables - 2 x Nuthatch nest building in a small hole located in the Oak tree directly behind the lower menage access gate. "Awesome" I was able to view, unaided from 2 meters away for at least 15mins. biggrin.gif

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Nigel Troup


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Two Chiffchaffs were singing this morning from trees by the main trail above the golf course.

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Tony Mossman


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Mill ponds

Single G C Grebe

Beyond viaduct

1st Chiff Chaff of the year singing its head off!
C.40 Fieldfare

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Nigel Troup


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A drake Shoveler was on the pond this morning, along with the trusting drake Mandarin Duck, and plenty of Tufties. Three Coromorants sat with the fisherman on the banks.

A single Redwing in trees by the visitor centre confused me with its unfamiliar song for a while. The significant rise in temperature must make it think of returning home.

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Tony Mossman


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Mill Ponds

2m Shoveler
Pair Pochard
1 Kingfisher
1m Mandarin
2 Herons

Elsewhere

2 Skylarks singing + 3 over
22 Fieldfare
40 Redwing
1F Kestrel

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Tony Mossman


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Nothing out of the ordinary today

1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
2 Singing Skylarks beyond motorway.

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Nigel Troup


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12:45 to 13:15

2 Pochard (oair)
2 redhead Goosander
3 Cormorant
1 Mandarin (male)
10+ Fieldfare

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Tony Mossman


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Mill Ponds
------------

Now 3m Shoveler 1f
5 Pairs Goosander
1m Mandarin paired with Mallard
1 Pair Pochard
1 Heron

Elsewhere....

1m Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Mixed flock c.40 (equal numbers) Redwing/Fieldfare
1 Common Gull
2 Skylark


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Rick Donkin


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11.20 to 12.45

Mandarin Drake
Shoveler 2m/1f
Pochard 1m/1f
Tufties 30
Greylag 1
Canada's 80+
Mute Swan 1 pair on main pond and a lonely Juv on smaller pond.
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
All the usual smaller birds.

Pair Goosander on Tame just up river from viaduct.

Rick.


-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Tuesday 15th of February 2011 01:47:45 PM

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Tony Mossman


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Mill ponds contained 5 Goosander, 18 Tufted Duck and 1 Pochard.
Nearby 1 Treecreeper
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Beyond Motorway 1 Skylark in song.

Spring is on the way.

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Tony Mossman


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Not much to report this morning, pair of Shoveler pair of Pochard on Mill Ponds.

Beyond motorway bridge Dipper heard but not seen on river. Same area 12 Fieldfare and 2 Goldfinch amongst 40 Redwing.

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Ian McKerchar


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David, it's an honourable man who admits to a mistake. We all make them but all too often refuse to admit to it. We all live and learn and with it become better birders, hopefully

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David Bramhall


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Weather: Overcast and cold light wind ice and ground frost in sheltered areas.

Monday 31/01/2011 13:00-16:30

Woodley to Redish Vale via Peak Forest Canal, Trans Pennine Way and Tame Vale Trail.

Peak Forest Canal

Redwings and two Goldfinch of note

Haughton Vale Nature Reserve

Spent a while scanning the river between Gibralter Bridge and Meadow Lane nothing seen except Mallard and Moorhen. Woods and surrounding area produced a Buzzard being mobbed by Carrion Crows.

River Tame to Stockport Road

Teal two pair: female are brown small fast and have white central wing bar disbelief.gif and self doubt setting in RE: sandpiper.

Reddish Vale Mill Ponds (Part frozen)

Pair Shoveler male Manderin present plus Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swans and one pair Goosander. Also Noted two Herons and a single Grey Wagtail.

Heads Up David

-- Edited by David Bramhall on Monday 31st of January 2011 10:08:24 PM

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Tony Mossman


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18 Goosander on the Mill Ponds, 4 Mistle Thrush from the bridleway, beyond the motorway bridge 6 Stock Dove, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Dipper singing on the river.

No sign of the Mandarin.

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David Bramhall


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RE: Common Sandpiper

Hi Everyone

The birds in question were at the Woodley end on the Trans Pennine Trail not long before it meets the Peak Forest Canal. There is a stretch of the river where you look down from about 100ft above, the birds were resting on a small sand island. I would have not noticed them except for a close by calling Moorhen attracting by attention.

Heads up David

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Roger Baker 3


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Haughton Vale Country Park

Two Common Sandpiper on very small sand bank in River Tame

...........................................................................................................

Hello David..... this is a fairly long length of river.

Were they at the Hyde or Woodley end ?

Or were they on they on the big bends on the fields between the weir at bottom of Apethorn Lane and the next downstream weir ? This area tends to be more productive.

Hope this helps.

Roger.



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Tony Mossman


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Checked Haughton Vale LNR today, no sign of Sandpipers.

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Judith Smith


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Maybe someone could re-check that area?

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Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Rob Smallwood


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About 34 years ago I flushed a Common Sandpiper from Ashton on Mersey Sewage Farm in mid-winter. no.gif

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John Rayner


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David Bramhall wrote:

The bird in question was of a similar size and colour and had white wingbars when it flew up the river.



Hi David,

Green Sandpipers don't have wingbars. But Spotted Sandpipers, the American cousin of Common, do and very rarely overwinter.

However, this is a big long shot as, according to the systematic list on the main website, there has never been a GM wintering record and the last summer record was in 1982. The next one is long overdue then smile.gif

Cheers, John

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David Bramhall


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Common Sandpiper confuse.gif

Hi Judith

The bird in question was of a similar size and colour and had white wingbars when it flew up the river. My field guide book shows the birds to winter in southern England and added to my identification. Looks to me now like a miss-identification and a lesson learned. Winter pumage on waders and gull I can't wait for summer and the warblers laughing.gif

Heads up David

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Judith Smith


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Common Sandpipers are summer visitors, so perhaps they were Green Sandpipers, some of which do overwinter on our rivers?

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David Bramhall


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Weather Cold clear and sunny with ground frost and ice in places.

12:00 - 17:00

Reddish Vale Country Park to Ashton via Trans Pennine Trail and Peak Forest Canal.

Mill Ponds (Light iceing still present.)

Amongst the Mallards,Canada Geese and Black-Headed Gulls were noted.

One pair Shoveler, one pair Pochard, a single male Mandarin two male and one female Goosander. Others present included: Coot, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, two Mute Swans, three Cormorants and a single Grey Heron.

House Sparrows how times have changed I spent a minute just watching and listening to their chirping by the stables.

Haughton Vale Country Park

Two Common Sandpiper on very small sand bank in River Tame.

Not a great deal more seen probably due to my brisk pace. It just felt great to be out in the crisp cold sunshine.

Heads up David


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Rick Donkin


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Tony Mossman wrote:

27 Tufted Duck on Mill Pond along with an extremely aggressive Drake Mandarin.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quick visit today 12.15 to 13.00

Also 1 male and 1 female Pochard and 1 female Goosander.

The work to create the wetland area beyond the viaduct seems to have started with the diversion of water from the small brook into the lower lying land already forming a pool.

Rick.



-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Thursday 27th of January 2011 02:41:23 PM

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Tony Mossman


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27 Tufted Duck on Mill Pond along with an extremely aggressive Drake Mandarin.
1 Treecreeper.
Tameside end produced Stock Dove, Female Kestrel, Male and Female Buzzard (not exactly getting on like a house on fire) and a mixed flock of 70 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush and 6 Goldfinch.

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Tony Mossman


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Kingfisher and 5 pairs of Goosander on Mill ponds.
Elsewhere mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing (about twenty of each)

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John Rayner


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Pair Shoveler, pair Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck and Kingfisher on Mill Pool

Towards motorway the highlights were:
1 Little Grebe (river)
3 Teal (river)
1 Woodcock

Cheers, John



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John Rayner


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Now 4 Shoveler (2m, 2f) on the mill pool with one pair swimming in a tight circle presumably to stir up food. Also female Goosander and male Pochard.

Very little on the river. 4 Teal (2m, 2f) on a riverside flood and 2 Grey Wagtails. Only 2 Goldfinches. A noisy party of 6 Mistle Thrushes.

I had a nice chat with Alex, the senior warden, who explained the plans for a scrape and reedbed. She would welcome any records so please drop them in at the warden's office. If shut post them through the letterbox.

Cheers, John.

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Tony Mossman


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Raven mobbing the resident Buzzard, first I have seen here. Also female Goldeneye on the river along with three drake teal and drake Goosander.

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Mark Rigby


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John Rayner wrote:

Dec 7th



Cheers, John





2010 or 2011? confuse.gif

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John Rayner


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Jan 7th

Mill Pools:
2m, 1f Shoveler (a goody for Stockport)
1m Pochard
1f Goosander
15 Tufted Duck
uncounted Mallard, Coot, Moorhen
2 Grey Herons
3 Mute Swans (1 blue darvic SHD)

1m Teal (river)
Kestrel hunting
Buzzard mobbed by Carrion Crows
c10 Fieldfare over

Cheers, John

Edit: Thanks Mark

-- Edited by John Rayner on Friday 7th of January 2011 03:48:31 PM

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Rick Donkin


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Walked up river towards motorway this afternoon but no smew, but 1 female Goosander on shingle bank just after first big loop on river gave false hope that the other redhead was still around!

1 Jay; 1 Buzzard in tree high on left was spooked by sparrowhawk. 1 Cormorant overhead.

As well as pochard (1m/1f), 1f Goosander there was 1f Shoveler, plenty of Tufties and Mallard, 2 Grey Heron and loads of Coot, Moorhen and Canada Geese. Also Mute Swan.

Rick.

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John Rayner


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On the Mill Pools

2 Pochard (m, f)
1 Goosander (f)

Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woody in the woods.

The Smew photographs are from the river (not the pools) so it might be worth looking along other stretches of the river in the surrounding area.

Cheers, John

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Terry Sykes


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No Smew @ 9.00 am
1 gooseander
1 pochard
Watched a guy photographing the Herons very interesting, he's doing a series of shots on the improvement in water quality in the area.One of his shots from Reddish Vale got into British Wildlife Photographic Awards Book 2010 . Great photo if anyone gets a chance to see it.

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Scott Reid


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Spent a couple of hours at RV when I finally dragged myself away from Woodley precinct.

Sadly no smew cry.gif

However, two very approachable herons and a drake pochard on the mill pond.

On the river by the viaduct, a dipper in good voice, a single male teal and a fly over male goosander.

Also, a warden was telling me about plans to excavate the large swampy area beyond the viaduct to form a reedbed and scrape with a controlled inlet from the river to hopefully attract wading birds to RV! He said it may be a couple of years before it's complete but the plans sound very promising for birders!




-- Edited by Scott Reid on Sunday 2nd of January 2011 07:05:12 PM

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Rob Smallwood


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It's a Smew alright - nice one!

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Rob
Ken Dunning


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Flickr pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56493375@N05/5315216021/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56493375@N05/5315809178/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56493375@N05/5315807518/in/photostream/
I know they are poor quality but hope they suffice for identification purposes.
Its quite exciting, I've never had a rarity sighting before, oh and it was quite misty!
Regards Ken Dunning

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Ian McKerchar


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Much appreciated indeed Ken. I've also sent you a private message regarding this excellent sighting.

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Ken Dunning


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Ian,
I have sent you the picuter to your gmail account.
Cheers Ken

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Ian McKerchar


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It would certainly appear so Ken.

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Ken Dunning


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My avatar is my pic of the reddish vale bird.
Is it a red headed smew?

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