With the pending trip to Scotland this week we decided to stick local and paid two trips down to Brockholes Quarry, the first being at 09:00 with the hope of seeing more of the warblers and maybe even the Hobby that has being showing over the past few days.
As we walked the approach road we heard the distinctive call of a Sedge Warbler and after a little watching one appeared the first of three that morning. Over the main pool at the same time a Sparrowhawk circled over, not sure if this is usual behaviour of the bird as all previous sightings have been in flight. The Jay showed for us again on the fence but soon disappeared as a lifted the camera, a bit camera shy I think but I’ll get a good shot of it one day. Further along views of the main pool brought us 1 Shellduck, 10 Black-Headed Gull, 7 Lapwing and a Pied Wagtail. No sign of the usual waders but different times bring different birds. Onto Pit No. 1 from the second lay-by and again no waders but we did manage 1 Greater Black Backed Gull, 8 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 8 Greylag, 1 Reed Bunting, the usual Tufted Duck and Canada Geese as well as 3 Buzzard showing well.
We then moved to a small area near the main buildings that contains some marsh and a small expanse of water. 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Mallard and a Wagtail. A bit of an argument to what it was as it was in flight when we saw it, Reece suggested Grey were as I say Pied, both are seen in the area so we still don’t know.
It was then we moved back to the main pool walking the east end in search of warblers but as much as we heard their calls all we saw was a Reed Bunting.
We then joined several other birders in search of the Hobby but a good half hour search of the skies only brought more Buzzards with a total of 10 for the morning.
Chatting with the other birders we’ve found some new areas to explore to increase our life lists and hope to be reporting on them in the coming months. Last spot of the morning was an area of reeds we’d been told Reed Warbler had been seen and when we arrived we could hear at least two. Sitting amongst the grass for fifteen minutes only brought sight of one but that was enough for a reasonable morning birding even though we didn’t see the Hobby.
The second trip to Brockholes Quarry was at 18:30 and the waders seemed to be back on the main pool with 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin and 2 Heron showing along the island edges. We then decided to sit on the west shore of No1 Pit for an hour and enjoy the last rays of a warm sun. 2 Great Crested Grebe were fishing, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Mute Swan with 2 signets, 4+ Reed Bunting and 1 Sedge Warbler.
There are a couple of Hawthorne bushes near the spot we sat and every time we are in the area we catch sight of a bird and also hear its call but have yet to ID it. It’s probably something we have seen before but we’d just love to know what it is. If you ID them please could you let us know?
As we walked the approach road we heard the distinctive call of a Sedge Warbler and after a little watching one appeared the first of three that morning. Over the main pool at the same time a Sparrowhawk circled over, not sure if this is usual behaviour of the bird as all previous sightings have been in flight. The Jay showed for us again on the fence but soon disappeared as a lifted the camera, a bit camera shy I think but I’ll get a good shot of it one day. Further along views of the main pool brought us 1 Shellduck, 10 Black-Headed Gull, 7 Lapwing and a Pied Wagtail. No sign of the usual waders but different times bring different birds. Onto Pit No. 1 from the second lay-by and again no waders but we did manage 1 Greater Black Backed Gull, 8 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 8 Greylag, 1 Reed Bunting, the usual Tufted Duck and Canada Geese as well as 3 Buzzard showing well.
We then moved to a small area near the main buildings that contains some marsh and a small expanse of water. 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Mallard and a Wagtail. A bit of an argument to what it was as it was in flight when we saw it, Reece suggested Grey were as I say Pied, both are seen in the area so we still don’t know.
It was then we moved back to the main pool walking the east end in search of warblers but as much as we heard their calls all we saw was a Reed Bunting.We then joined several other birders in search of the Hobby but a good half hour search of the skies only brought more Buzzards with a total of 10 for the morning.
Chatting with the other birders we’ve found some new areas to explore to increase our life lists and hope to be reporting on them in the coming months. Last spot of the morning was an area of reeds we’d been told Reed Warbler had been seen and when we arrived we could hear at least two. Sitting amongst the grass for fifteen minutes only brought sight of one but that was enough for a reasonable morning birding even though we didn’t see the Hobby.
The second trip to Brockholes Quarry was at 18:30 and the waders seemed to be back on the main pool with 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin and 2 Heron showing along the island edges. We then decided to sit on the west shore of No1 Pit for an hour and enjoy the last rays of a warm sun. 2 Great Crested Grebe were fishing, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Mute Swan with 2 signets, 4+ Reed Bunting and 1 Sedge Warbler.
There are a couple of Hawthorne bushes near the spot we sat and every time we are in the area we catch sight of a bird and also hear its call but have yet to ID it. It’s probably something we have seen before but we’d just love to know what it is. If you ID them please could you let us know?
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