RSPB Middleton Lakes (1 Viewer)

[geoffw1946]

I was there a bit earlier than you Geoff, and saw 13 Golden Plover and 2 Stonechats.

Cheers

Steve

Today there were 106 Golden Plover plus the Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover still. Also seen were 1 Great White Egret, a Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Raven.

 

[Piccalilli]

Today there were 106 Golden Plover plus the Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover still. Also seen were 1 Great White Egret, a Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Raven.

Late afternoon Oystercatcher numbers had doubled (2), Ringed Plover now on JW South as was the White-Fronted Goose after coming off the field to the West of North Pit. GWE Egret went to roost at the Heronry at 17:18.

Steve

 

[paulthomas]

Late afternoon Oystercatcher numbers had doubled (2), Ringed Plover now on JW South as was the White-Fronted Goose after coming off the field to the West of North Pit. GWE Egret went to roost at the Heronry at 17:18.

Steve

Hmmm. I may possibly have walked past the White-fronted Goose without giving it a second look. This was late morning. Set la vie.

 

[geoffw1946]

The White fronted Goose (92) and a Red Kite (93) were reported this morning, other highlights were 1 Great White Egret, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 364 Golden Plover, 1 Woodcock and 3 Stonechat.

 

[SteveAtkinson]

The White-fronted Goose was moving between the field to the west of the North Pit and the North Pit itself. It looked like a probable Greenland race flavirostris and I phonescoped a few pictures which I shared with a couple of very experienced birders and the consensus is that it is one.
A noticeably dark bird with a longer more orange bill than albifrons. Strong dark belly markings and narrow white tail band - see pictures.

Also the Ringed Plover is still present and now 16 Shelducks around the reserve including 5 on the Hall Lake (officially called Middleton Pool apparently).

A number of work parties were on Jubilee Wetlands clearing willows and bushes.

All the best

Steve

 

[geoffw1946]

Highlights since the 8th Feb.
9/2, 1 Great White Egret, 1 White-fronted Goose, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Golden Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper NP and 1 Dunlin (94) per TVB.
10/2, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Woodcock, 2 Stonechat and a Red Kite per TVB.
12/2, 2 Great White Egret NP, 1 Goosander, 3 Oystercatcher and a Curlew (95) on JWs then flew NE.

 

[geoffw1946]

Today's best birds were 2 Great White Egret (1 JWs and 1 NP), 1 White-fronted Goose flew in from the south with some Greylags and landed on JWs, 3 Oystercatcher DL, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrests along the river. A Skylark (96) was reported by NP.

 

[geoffw1946]

Today's birds included 1 Great White Egret, 1 Goosander, 1 Water Rail, 3 Oystercatcher, circa 500 Golden Plover over JWs, 1 Green Sandpiper flew from NP and 1 pair of Stonechat,

 

[geoffw1946]

The year list is now on 98 with the addition of Marsh Harrier and Egyptian Goose.
Waders included 6 Oystercatcher, 4 Ringed Plover and a Golden Plover all on JWs. 3 Stonechat were noted and a Great White Egret was on JWs this afternoon.

 

[punta]

I dont get out very often these days with pressure of work. Nice trek round in the mud.

 

[geoffw1946]

I dont get out very often these days with pressure of work. Nice trek round in the mud.

Hi punta, always nice to see some photos on the forum.

 

[geoffw1946]

Highlights this afternoon were 1 Great White Egret seen on JWs and DNR (2 were reported on NP per SP), 1 White-fronted Goose and 1 Egyptian Goose in field northwest of NP best viewed from canal, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Ringed Plover still JWs, 1 Skylark singing by NP and 1 Stonechat.

 

[geoffw1946]

Quiet today, 1 Great White Egret JWs, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 32 Snipe flew in and landed between FMP and NRB, 1 Grey Wagtail on river, 1 Stonechat and a Raven over.

 

[Piccalilli]

This afternoon/evening - 5 Lesser Redpoll Mill Plantation between the farm and Silt Pool viewing platform. On JW - 2 Stonechat, 7 Oystercatcher, Adult & Juv Greater Black-Backed Gull and approx 2000 Black-Headed Gulls which contained a white ringed bird with a 4 black digit alpha code "TENA". Looks like a Polish bird - awaiting confirmation from ringer. On NP m&f Goosander.

I didn't see the Great White Egret out on the reserve but was already in the Heronry when I got back to the car park at 17:30.

Steve

 

[geoffw1946]

This morning a Great White Egret and a Little Egret were hiding in reeds viewed from the new screens on DNR but no Bitterns yet, 2 Chiffchaffs were near the 1st screen and a Willow Tit was calling on the east side of the lake (99). 18 Goldeneye were noted on the various pools.

 

[geoffw1946]

This morning a Great White Egret and a Little Egret were hiding in reeds viewed from the new screens on DNR but no Bitterns yet, 2 Chiffchaffs were near the 1st screen and a Willow Tit was calling on the east side of the lake (99). 18 Goldeneye were noted on the various pools.

Re the new screens at DNR, I can't say I'm very impressed with them, they are just a quarter of a proper hide, there still won't be much shelter from the elements even though there is a bit of a roof on them.
IMHO the best shelter/hide on the main reserve is the bus shelter by the river near FMP, it's simply 8 posts with a roof on it and a trained willow hedge for screening (it just needs a bench), it cost peanuts to make and the views are better than the Lookout and the four screens.
The most comfortable and best looking hide is the Gazebo on the car park play meadow but cost more to make.

 

[Piccalilli]

Black Headed Gull white ring black digits "TENA" was ringed in Poland as a fledgling 14/06/2011. It was controlled in the same area of Poland on 19/06/2015 and then turned up at Kingsbury Water Park on 11/09/2016 and is now in the Middleton Roost.

 

[xFritzx]

White-fronted Goose was on North Pit with a group of Canadas at around 10:30. Also present were two Cettis, five Stonechats, one Oystercatcher. A Kestrel sent all the birds up a few times. As I left I could see a large flock of waders (100-150) fly in and settle onto North Pit. Golden Plovers perhaps?

 

[geoffw1946]

10 years celebration (28/2/2007)

The RSPB are doing a 10 year celebration of the purchase of the reserve on twitter. https://twitter.com/RSPBMiddleton
After hearing about the new reserve in the local paper I did my first visit on the 14/4/2007 and by the end of the year I'd done 43 visits including 5 work parties.
My total species for the year was 109 which included Rock Pipit, Red legged and Grey Partridge (both now extinct in the area) Ruddy Duck, Merlin and Glaucous Gull. There were a few common waders but the habitat wasn't so good for them then (too many willows) also Little Egret was scarce.
Since my first visit I've now seen 194 species there. I wonder how long it will take me to reach 200?

 

[geoffw1946]

Best birds today were 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 44 Golden Plover, 3 Dunlin and 3 Snipe.