Sunday 22 February 2015

Bolton Ings et al - Sunday 22nd February

Started out this morning at 08.00, had to scrape ice off windscreen, 2c and only got to 4c when I returned. Had a good start with Great Spotted Woodpecker in Broomhill Park and 12 Shelduck on Wombwell Ings from the old road. A Buzzard was up early and later 3 drifted over to Old Moor, soon after (another?) 4 were up over Bolton tip with 2 displaying and dropping down onto the fence posts between the 2 pools. Also displaying today were 4 pairs of Great Crested Grebes, a couple of Little Egrets were flying about and Goldeneye were down to 8. A Redshank was on the river. Full list :- Grey Heron 2, Little Egret 2, Mute Swan 10, Canada Goose 9, Grey Lag Goose 5, Cormorant 2, Great Crested Grebe 8, Little Grebe 4, Mallard 43, Teal 6, Gadwall 62, Shoveler 16, Pochard 15, Tufted Duck 32, Goldeneye 8 (1 male, 2 imm males, 5 females), Coot 68, Moorhen 5, Redshank 1, Black Headed Gull 82, Common Gull 15, Herring Gull 1, Buzzard 4, Kestrel 4, Sparrowhawk 1, Green Woodpecker.

Later I visited Old Moor for the roost, in the Willows were 5 Cormorants and 4 Little Egrets, 43 Goosander were roosing on the Wader Scrape. A further 26 Cormorants departed for Denaby, 2 Oystercatchers were on the Wader Scrape and a single Shelduck was on the Willow Pool.

Yesterday morning I called in at Old Moor to see the returning adult male Mediterranean Gull on Island 1 on the Mere. This bird has returned for its 6th year with us, it has never attracted a mate so maybe this year that will change. It was still present today.

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