Still at least 8 Stonechat, counted 6 together in similar area as on Monday, 2 others were together in a different area. Meadow Pipit numbers up to c20 3 Linnet were feeding with a flock of around 20 Goldfinch A few Reed Buntings heard again, fleeting sightings of one or two 2 Snipe 1 Kestrel 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Little Grebe and 1 Tufted Duck on MLP
8 Stonechat, moving around as a loose flock. By far the largest number I've seen on here. 2 Chiffchaff 9 House Martin 6 Skylark over, 2 on the mound c6 Meadow Pipit A few Reed Buntings heard Plenty of Robins and Wrens 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Sparrowhawk 3 Little Grebe, 1 Tufted Duck and 2 Coot on Moss Lane Pool Almost constant sound of Pink-footed Geese over, I think a lot of changing of direction occurring, c150 was the maximum at any one time.
A male first winter Redstart was seen twice briefly but well at close quarters along the path on the east side of the mound. First returning Meadow Pipits, 8 seen 1 Reed Bunting 8 Chiffchaff Bullfinch heard 1 Sparrowhawk 2 Jay 3 Little Grebe 1 Kingfisher on Sheldon Pool 2 Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool
15+ Chiffchaff spread around with at least 5 in fitful song 1 Willow Warbler 2 Reed Bunting A few Bullfinch heard 15 House Martin 7 Swallow 1 Kestrel A single Shoveler was on Sheldon Pool as I left, the only one I've seen here. 4 Little Grebe on Moss Lane Pool
I have been making a few visits during August hoping for some spill over migrants from the north and west of our county, only ones seen were a Tree Pipit watched at close range for 3 or 4 minutes perched low down in a small tree, a Wheatear was also present along with 2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrel, all on the 24th. A Sedge Warbler was seen picking around in one of the ditches on the 14th Aug. A nice family group of Whitethroat were moving across the mound on the 8th. The last Whitethroat seen was on the 25th.
On the 30th there were double figures of Chiffchaff with some Willow Warblers along the Moss Lane side of the mound, one Willow Warbler could be heard singing a little.
Very hot conditions today, but a few birds singing.
Four Reed Bunting singing, also two males and a female seen. I accidentally flushed a Skylark and it took off and started singing, it didn't climb very high before it dropped again. Willow Warbler and Blackcap were both singing and a Whitethroat parachuted whilst singing, another Whitethroat was singing elsewhere Several Swallows and a single House Martin were around too. A Jay was also seen.
20/6/2020 from 6-8am all commoner warblers still singing intermittently.
5 Willow Warbler 4 Blackcap 7 Whitethroat 3 Chiffchaff 3 Skylark 10+ Reed Bunting 2 Song Thrush 4 Blackbird 4 House Martin 2 Swift 2 Kestrel Pheasant heard
A single Stock Dove has been seen on a few occasions recently also a Lesser Whitethroat could be heard singing just of site on Little Moss last Saturday 13th and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling briefly on Wednesday 17th
A pair of Swans nested on one of the pools but left the nest a couple of weeks ago, no cygnets have been seen. The pair were moving around this morning and ended up on Sheldon Pool at 8am. Male is 4 BVL, female is not ringed.
A dog walker who has quite an interest in the wildlife informed me that a female Buzzard from a breeding pair in Daisy Nook was seen to be shot down about 2 weeks ago by kids with an air rifle, it was taken into care but failed to survive. Quite possibly one of the birds that had been seen here from time to time.
Best was a singing Lesser Whitethroat along Moss Lane 3 Stock Dove 9 Whitethroat 4 Chiffchaff 8 Willow Warbler 7 Blackcap 8 Reed Bunting 5 Skylark 4 Swift 1 Swallow 2 Kestrel 1 Buzzard
Over recent days there have been a couple of Grasshopper Warblers and Sedge Warblers. Also passing Redstart and Wheatear, both males.
Whitethroat singing in bush directly behind the fence on the mound Reed Bunting singing on the mound Grey Heron flew over being mobbed by a Carrion Crow
Several grotty hybrid type Mallard on Sheldon Pool
1 Stonechat, female, unusually at the far side of the site near Moss Lane Pool 4 Skylark up and singing 6+ Reed Bunting, some singing 1 Little Grebe on MLP 1 Kestrel 6 Meadow Pipit 3 Lapwing on fields over on Littlemoss pair of Teal on Mockridge Pool 4 Tufted Duck on Sheldon Pool Didn't see any Swans on any of the pools, an adult pair were on Mockridge Pool early last week. Mockridge and Sheldon Pools are still flooded out as they have been most of the winter, maybe why the Swans are only occasional visitors at the moment. The back pools are nearly back down to their usual water levels.
the 2 mute swans are a different pair- male 4BVL ZY8876, female unringed lake had numerous canada geese, mallards and tufted ducks plus 40+ black headed gulls, very busy
3, possibly 4 Stonechat on the mound 1 Reed Bunting Couple of Meadow Pipit 1 Kestrel 1 Grey Heron 9 Lapwing flying over Both Mute Swans back on Sheldon Pool 8 maybe 9 Tufted Duck also on Sheldon 2 Song Thrushes singing after sunset.
WEBS count 16/11/19 with Emily Mason, university graduate 32 mallard 2 moorhen 2 tufted duck 42 canada goose 19 black headed gull 1 hybrid duck mute swan cygnetshave moved on again, hopefully adult pair will come back shortly
1 Whinchat (juv) 1 Stonechat (male) 1 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Buzzard 5 Meadow Pipit 3 Chiffchaff 1 Reed Bunting c10 Goldfinch 1 Bullfinch 1 Chaffinch over On Moss Lane Pool 2 Little Grebe 3 Coot (1 juv) 2 Moorhen 1 Heron Didn't see any swans on the back pools
On Moss Lane and Benny Lane pools 1 Kingfisher 2 Little Grebe 2 Mute Swan, adult male 4BVL and the cygnet, couldn't see the adult female. 5 Coot including 1 Juv, 1 Mallard 1 Heron
26/8/19 from noon, fairly quiet which is usually the case in the afternoons.
1 Wheatear 1 Whitethroat Plenty of Chiffchaff calling, 1 singing 2 Little Grebe 5 Mute Swan, adult pair on Sheldon, pair with cygnet on Moss Lane Pool 2 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk
Ahh that's sad. The back lake ones have too. Thanks
Hi Rachel
The back lake (Moss Lane Pool) Swans are still there. They are often out of sight, tucked into the bank at the narrow end of the pool.
Regarding the Sheldon Swans, 5 of last years young have been almost permanent on Audenshaw Reservoirs since the end of March. On Friday evening there were 6 immature and 2 adults, so possibly most of the family were together again.
Has anyone seen our swan pair on the main lake- Lord Sheldon? I've not seen for about a month. Tried pond by mockridge, pond behind The Village and pond opposite Sheldon on the triangle between all the main roads- nothing. Thanks
Some sightings from this morning with Simon Ghilks
Little Grebe Reed Bunting - at least seven singing and a young bird seen Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat - birds of each species seen and heard Lesser Whitethroat - heard singing near the railway, may have been just off site
19/6/19 Some sightings from today around midday and early Sunday 16th
A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling briefly today but more sustained on Sunday and visible for a time in the centre of the mound. 6 Blackcap singing along Moss Lane Plenty of Whitethroat all around some juveniles being attended by adults. 3 Willow Warbler singing. 2 Chiffchaff singing. Lots of Reed Bunting singing, 1 juvenile seen. 8+ Skylark 1 Kestrel 3 Little Grebe A pair of Mute Swans had 6 cygnets on the back pools on 25th May, they only have one left now. Swift, Swallow and House Martin over.
Quick stop for a listen from the car at the wonderfully tangled, overgrown and partially flooded portion of land to the east of the M60 adjacent to Ashton Cricket Club
Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler all heard singing also Reed Bunting, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Moorhen in the area.
On the 11th a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from the area of the mound near the corner of Rayner Lane and Moss Lane, lots of other warblers heard and seen on an early morning visit. 6+ Whitethroat 4 Willow Warbler 3 Chiffchaff 4 Blackcap Also 3 Swift over Kestrel 2 Bullfinch 2 Song Thrush 5+ Reed Bunting 2 Skylark singing and a well grown and independent juvenile Blackbird
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and visible in the middle of the mound, 5 Willow Warbler 1 Blackcap 3 Chiffchaff 2 Whitethroat 6+ Reed Bunting 5+ Skylark 3 Song Thrush Little Grebe 4 Teal Kestrel Buzzard