Good early morning birding today with two Dunlin new in , also 5 x Oystercatcher's still. Two male Redstarts made a timely appearance, so did two male Pied Flycatcher's. Both different birds from last year as one was a first year male which could be one of our offspring from last year returning.
Little-Ringed Plover x 1 ( first back)
Common Sandpiper x 3
Oystercatcher x 5
Willow Warbler x 4 ( first back)
Blackcap x 7
Chiffchaff x 18
Pied Flycatcher x 1 male (until mid day)
Redstart x 2 male (long periods dissappearing)
Raven
Mandarin x 5 drakes (along inlet stream)
Little Egret x 2
Butterflies 🦋
Peacock x 2
First Dates
Mar 16th Chiffchaff
Mar 24th Sand Martin
Apr 1st House Martin
Apr 7th Swallow
Apr 8th Pied Flycatcher
Apr 10th Blackcap
Apr 10th Redstart
Our first Redstart of the year this morning with two males seen at different locations. Also Common Sandpiper x 3 , Oystercatcher x 2 , Blackcap x 1 and good numbers of Swallow and House Martin over the water.
And some good news it looks like we have Willow Tits back in a completely different location at Rudyard.
Sand Martin x 2
Chiffchaff x 6
Greylag Geese x 5
Oystercatcher x 8
Greenfinch
G S Woodpecker
Mistle Thrush
I couldn't find the Merganser in a two hour search this morning , but did manage two female Goldeneye. 5 x Goosander, 30 x Tufted Duck , 78 x Canada Geese , 89 x Lapwing ,and a single Little Egret. Also good numbers of Siskin around , 3 x Buzzard , 2 x Jay and a Kingfisher.
The female Red-breasted Merganser has reappeared at the north end of the lake , found this morning feeding 100mts down from caravans. Also a single Oystercatcher , 5 x Goosander and 5 x Snipe . At the south end past miniature railway 3 x Little Egret, Kingfisher, Gt S Woodpecker and Kestrel.
The lake is still frozen but in one of the pockets of unfrozen water a single Goldeneye amongst the Mallards and Coots. Plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare around , 7 Snipe along the edge on west side and several small flocks of Siskin. Two separate Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming this morning.
Overnight temperatures again down to minus 7 has completely frozen over the 2.5 mile lake . Just three very small pockets of unfrozen water. Holding quite a few wildfowl.
Wigeon x 78
Teal x 38
Goosander x 7
Mallard x 97
Coot x 17
Canada Geese x 217
Snipe x 8
Little Egret x 1
38 species recorded in two hours.
Single Little Egret .
Late News
Yesterday Jan 17th
Brambling x 6 at house feeder in village.
Red-breasted Merganser female still frequenting the area opposite the scout hut. Also female Goldeneye, 2 x Goosander and 3 x Snipe.
Late News
Tawny Owl x 1 on 14th.
Just a quick visit this morning , I try not to visit at weekends as there are too many people around for my liking . Red-breasted Merganser was at north end by caravan park, also female Goldeneye .
For anyone visiting the bird it is at the north end commuting between the reedbed by the caravans and the scout hut which is about 800 yds down the old Railway line. Its usually on the far side which is the west bank. Occasionally it can be seen feeding just in front of the scout hut. Merganser's are rare inland especially at Rudyard as you can see from the records below.
Red-breasted Merganser past Records.
09/01/24 ......1 x female
04/05/22 ......1 x pair
04/04/95 ......1 x pair
14/11/87 ......1 x female
13/11/83 ......1 x female
Red-breasted Merganser still at the north end also 17 x Wigeon , 2 x Goosander , fem Goldeneye, Common Gull and another rare visitor to Rudyard a Great Black Backed Gull.
Female Red-breasted Merganser still present opposite scout hut , also female Goldeneye eighteen Wigeon , 26 Siskin and a Great Black Backed Gull.
A female Red-breasted Merganser at the north end today. Also 17 x Wigeon , 10 Goosander and a couple of Lesser Redpoll.
A very quick visit this morning found 7 x Goosander , 1 x fem Goldeneye, 1 x Little Egret and 5 x Snipe.
At the north end 10 x Goosander , 47 x Wigeon , 18 x Teal , 1 x Kingfisher. At the south end 4 x Little Egret , 8 x Snipe , 1 x Tawny Owl and 2 x Grey Wagtail. Good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing around the lake and several good sized flocks of Siskin.
A north end visit this morning produced our first Goldeneye of the winter period a single female. Also recorded were 37 x Wigeon , 12 x Teal , 7 x Goosander, 9 x Tufted Duck, 3 x Snipe , 11 x Cormorant, 267 x Canada Geese, 2 x Raven over calling and Siskin on the feeders. Temperatures were a little milder this morning with all the previous days snow and ice gone.
Overnight snow and a very misty start to the day , temperatures around -3 . Only birds of note were 2 x Goosander and 3 x Little Egret.
Overnight temperatures of -4 saw some good duck numbers not seen on the lake for a while. With 5 x Gadwall and 5 x Shoveler making a welcome appearance. Also 56 x Wigeon , 17 x Teal , 15 x Tufted Duck and 4 x Goosander all at the north end . This obviously didn't last long as paddle boarders (AGAIN) flushed them all . This situation needs dealing with urgently. At the south end a Tawny Owl was getting some winter sunshine and 4 x Little Egret were feeding in the Marsh area. Good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare can be found and a female Reed Bunting and four Bullfinch were noted along with a single male Kestrel and two Buzzard.
A Willow Tit has been sighted on the Marsh at the southern end , also Lesser Redpoll at north end feeders.
460 Pink-footed Geese over at 9-45 this morning heading west. Only birds of note on the water were two drake Goosander. Their are several large flocks of Siskin at the north end.
Pink-footed Geese over heading west at 12-20 , around 200 birds in one large group and one smaller group. Three Raven and a Sparrowhawk at the north end along with good numbers of Redwing. Also noted Bullfinch , Goldfinch , Chaffinch , 10 x Coal Tit and 8 x Nuthatch .
Just heard of a late record from Birdtrack of 6 x Whooper Swans being on the lake on Monday 20th last week. Record is genuine.
South End beyond the Dam.
Two drake Goosander and Kingfisher on the fishing pool and several flocks of Siskin (60+) and Fieldfare along feeder stream. Several Teal feeding in the stream south of the model railway station . Good numbers of Bullfinch around the south end , also Raven and Kestrel noted. A single Grey Wagtail along the dam overflow and a dead Barn Owl along the main road from Leek to Macclesfield eastern Side of lake.
Brief visit this morning to north end saw good numbers of Siskin moving around . The drake Goosander still present and 12 Teal noted amongst the Willows in the swamp area. Goldfinch's are now regular at the feeders with a female Reed Bunting seen there aswell. Other birds noted were Mistle Thrush , Buzzard , Raven , Bullfinch and several Coal Tits , 4 x Nuthatch and 5 x Chaffinch.
Still no sign of any Willow Tits at the feeding station. A good count of 43 x Lesser B B Gulls loafing on the water off the scout hut , also 8 x Common Gull amongst them. Also noted 5 x Cormorant, a drake Goosander and still 12 x Tufted Duck . Plenty of Siskin and Redwing around along with good numbers of the more common species.
Good numbers of Redwing around the lake with several good sized flocks noted. Still concerning news that there is still no sign of the Willow Tits at the feeders. Siskin numbers seem to be good this year with quite a few small flocks especially around north end. No way of counting the size of the Teal flock this winter because the water levels are so high they are feeding down the channel from the reeds towards the bridge.
Still no sign of any Willow Tits at Rudyard this morning , have they been predated or have they simply not breed this year and moved area.
The Imm Scaup was relocated this morning unfortunately 4 miles up the road at Tittesworth.
I couldn't find the Imm Scaup this morning it dosnt mean it's not there it could have been further down the lake where I didn't go, it is over 2 miles long. Around thirty plus Siskin in one flock by the bridge feeders also a male Reed Bunting put in an appearance. Eight Teal were feeding in the swamp area on the left after the bridge .There has been no sign of Willow Tit this winter period so a little concerning. A report of over 200 Redwing and Fieldfare coming into roost at the north end late last night.
Just had notification of a old record from last year of a pair of Red-breasted Merganser's on the lake on 4th May 2022 for the morning only. And apparently a day later a pair were noted at Carsington Water.
Imm Scaup still present at North end frequenting between the point and reedbed by caravans. Siskin numbers are increasing around the feeders , 30+ noted last week.
Past Scaup records
08/05/1980.......... x 4 Birds (2 pair)
02/02/1985.......... x 1 Bird (drake)
16/12/1985.......... x 1 Bird ( imm drake)
07/11/1987.......... x 1 Bird (imm)
20/12/1987.......... x 3 Birds ( imm)
14/04/2013.......... x 1 Bird (adult fem)
16/04/2013.......... x 1 Bird (adult drake)
05/11/2023.......... x 1 x Bird ( imm)
Imm Scaup still present at North end along with Peregrine , Kingfisher and Raven. Good numbers of Redwing around and all the local suspects around the feeders.
A large Aythia type duck (possibly Scaup) seen from distance by MS early this morning. No further sign by mid- morning , also 70 Pink-feet over .
Imm Scaup refound and identified by M Stubbs. Last record was 16/04/2013 M B.
High water levels throughout the year have had a major effect on wader passage at Rudyard or as the case maybe the lack of it. Usually each spring / Summer the levels are dropped to feed the canal systems nearby. Exposing a vast amount of shoreline at the north end which in turn attracts a variety of wading species. For reasons unknown the levels were not dropped and kept high throughout.
2 x Red Kite over the Dam.
October 10th
1 x eclipse drake Wigeon .
October 4th
200+ Pink-feet over N/W.
First visit for a while as I try to stay away in July and August , especially around school holidays. Early this morning Little Egret x 2 , Common Sandpiper x 2 , Dunlin , Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Tern, Bullfinch and my first Hare at the site a big beast aswell.
Not much of note today before storm came through just Kingfisher , Common Sandpiper and Mandarin.
If anybody visits this year and sees a Little Grebe can you let me know , as we seem to have lost the pair we have had for the last couple of years.
All the usual stuff doing well , no Black Terns here unfortunately. Red Kite over the north end , looks like the same bird as a few days ago. Five Greylag Geese over and two Garden Warblers singing well , also adult male Grey Wagtail noted. We seem to have lost our Spotted Flycatcher this year. He was around during early May but has not been seen for couple of weeks now , perhaps the female has not returned this year so he has moved on to pastures new.
My first Common Blue of the year today long overdue.
Another Long-horned Beetle photographed, this time it's Strangalia maculata.
Found this Golden-bloomed Longhorn Beetle this morning, a first for me at this site. Normally a open grassland species this was along the path at the northern end of the lake.
First Broad-bodied Chaser today , also 2 x Common Tern , 2 male Pied Flycatcher's , 3 x Common Whitethroat and single Spot Fly.
Three pairs of Pied Flycatcher's and three pairs of Redstart's today also , two Common Whitethroat and two Common Sandpiper and our first Swift over this morning .
Spotted Flycatcher still at North end , and now three male and two female Pied Flycatchers on site.
Pied Flycatcher x 4 , Redstart x 6 , Common Tern x 1 , Common Sandpiper x 3 , Garden Warbler x 3 , Whitethroat x 2 and Oystercatcher x 5.
Garden Warbler and two Shelduck both new in this morning. Second male Pied Flycatcher still singing by the Dam. South end two Common Whitethroat which are scarce here and another Garden Warbler .
We now have six Redstart on site , four singing males and two females. Also noted today were 3 x Common Sandpiper , 8 x Oystercatcher ( equals site record) . Single L R Plover and Common Tern , 2 x Willow Warbler and hundreds of Sand Martin and Swallow with a few House Martin.
The pair of Pied Flys are settling into life at Rudyard very well. I have checked on them every day since their arrival and they have picked a box and are starting to take nest material in , so all looks good. All photography as been done from a distance with a 600mm lens and pictures are heavily cropped as not to disturb.
All quiet today nothing new in , Pied Flycatcher's seem to be settling down . Couple more shots below of yesterday's surprise Whimbrel.
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