Sunday 24 February 2013

Bolton Ings - 24th February

Another bitterly cold day, we will have to wait a little longer for spring. 0c at 8 o'clock this morning only rising to 3c this afternoon, a few snow flurries and an icy north easterly. No ice on main ponds but very quiet bird-wise, Gadwall up to 80 and a couple each of Goldeneye and Oystercatcher. Full List:- Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 10, Canada Goose 16, Grey Lag Goose 4, Great Crested Grebe 1, Little Grebe 4, Cormorant 1, Mallard 15, Teal 9, Gadwall 80, Shoveler 6, Wigeon 6, Tufted Duck 26, Pochard 12, Goldeneye pair, Goosander 2, Coot 155, Moorhen 4, Lapwing 1, Oystercatcher 2, Black Headed Gull 260, LBB Gull 1, Common Gull 12, Jay 2, Willow Tit 1.

Spent rest of day at Old Moor/Broomhill Flash, highlight being a possible area maximum for Goldeneye. 19 birds were present on the Main Marsh this evening (2 adult males, 2 imm. males and 15 females), 3 were on the Mere (drake and 2 females). With a pair on Broomhill and the pair on Bolton a total of 26, the current area max. was 23 I think. Other numbers at Old Moor today to add to The WIM Man's earlier post are as follows:- Cormorant 39, Shoveler 63, Gadwall 210+, Wigeon 430, Teal 180+, Tufted Duck 90+, Pochard 30+, Goosander 45 roosting on Wader Scrape, Redshank 2, Golden Plover 12, Yellowhammer 12, Reed Bunting 70+, Bullfinch 9, Chaffinch 90+.


1 comment:

The WIM Man said...

I'm pretty sure 26 is a record Nige. We need to get an updated maximums list drawn up as the last one I have is well out of date. I know you are aware Goldeneye home-in to Old Moor from the fringes to roost so assume you know the Broomhill and Bolton birds were still in situ at the time?