Bolton Ings - 7th October

Glorious weather this morning, only 11c but clear blue skies and not a breath of wind. Started well with 3 Jays flying west quickly followed by 2 Green Woodpeckers and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. 3 Buzzards were up over the tip with a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel, they werent close but I could here the Buzzards calling. On the grassland between the 2 main pools were nearly 400 Canadas and Grey Lags grazing as well as a couple of Mute Swans which had been chased off the water by the resident pairs. Surprisingly an Oystercatcher was also in with the Geese, it was limping and looked a bit sorry for itself and I thought its wing was trailing but it soon flew round and looked a lot better. On the open water were 22 Pochard amongst the many Coot and Little Grebes. Didnt see anything of note on Warbler Way and Dave had 16 Goldcrests, I must be looking the wrong way. Full list as follows:- Grey Heron 5, Mute Swan 12, Canada Goose 271, Grey Lag Goose 103, Cormorant 12, Great Crested Grebe 2 ads + 3 juvs, Little Grebe 28, Mallard 18, Gadwall 28, Shoveler 3, Teal 4, Tufted Duck 23, Pochard 22, Coot 204, Moorhen 16, Lapwing 11, Golden Plover 2, Oystercatcher 1, Black Headed Gull 82, Common Gull 6, Lesser Black Backed Gull 4, Buzzard 3, Kestrel 2, Sparrowhawk 2, Green Woodpecker 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Jay 6. Ventured onto Old Moor after, very quiet apart from the Golden Plovers which put on a fine display. Only other waders seen apart from Lapwings were 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 Snipe. A redhead Goosander was asleep on the mere where there were also 6 Lessers. Wigeon are slowly building up and c200 had previously been counted. 3 Whooper Swans were in the book at Old Moor but nobody else mentioned them.