Waders on the move

30/09/26 - 08:05 to 12:30

An inclement start to the day produced some wader movement this morning. There were some short rain showers when I arrived but not enough to force me to take shelter. I'd been stood for 30 minutes counting the wildfowl when I heard a Ringed Plover, it called several times but I was unable to locate it but did manage a reasonable recording of the call. I could only record it as a single bird but there could have been others with it.

It then started to rain persistently and I was forced to retreat to the hide. I was still counting the wildfowl when I group of 9 waders flew through my field of view, Dunlin, I followed them as they circled but they suddenly gained height and departed to the west.

A little later another 4 waders flew in, after circling they landed briefly, another Ringed Plover and 3 more Dunlin. Before I could get my camers on them they were off, again heading west.

More Lesser Black-backed Gulls came in today, at least 170 but possibly more and with them 4 Common Gulls and an adult and first winter Herring Gull.

Herring Gull - adult

Common Gull - first winter

Three Stonechat were on the fence line by the gorse field but not many migrants today although the rain made it difficult to look for smaller birds. At least 4 Chiffchaff and perhaps 30 Meadow Pipit.

Stonechat - female

The Ringed Plover recording is on my eBird checklist

https://ebird.org/checklist/S397695930

29/09/26 - 7am - 11.15am with Andy Butler

NEW IN - A very misty dark morning with the odd shower of drizzle, visibility was very poor at times. Only significant bird of the morning was a Marsh Harrier that arrived at 8.20am and stayed around showing the odd occasion through the mist for just over an hour or so.

Lingering Migrants - A few Chiffchaff were calling but generally very quiet down around Black Harry Lane and surrounding area.

Nothing was going through but the visibility was poor, initially just before 7am about 50 Meadow Pipit were counted going over and later on the central bund, duck numbers again pretty consistent with 1 Pintail, 3 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall and a slight increase in Teal to 107. On arrival 17 Canada Goose were present but they left soon after dawn. Full lists on eBIRD links below:

eBird Checklist - 29 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 28 species

eBird Checklist - 29 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 41 species

Marsh Harrier - Ray Scally

28/09/26 - 8am to 11:30

 Nothing new to report today, yesterday's Pochard had departed but there were still 3 Pintail and a record count of 12 Gadwall. Only a single Wigeon now but still around 100 Teal and 40 Shoveler.

Female typeGadwall in the foreground with an eclipse drake Mallard

6 Swallows came down for a drink and still around 8 Chiffchaff.

Other birds of interest were 3 Stonechat and 2 Grey Wagtail.

27/09/26 - with Jon Lowe - 7am - 10.30am

New in - 1 male Pochard was new this morning along with 1 Pintail taking the total to 3. Good news was yesterdays Whooper Swan had departed.

Lingering Migrants - a few Chiffchaff were calling but didn't seem as many as previous days but weather was bad with light rain and overcast, the juv Peregrine put in an appearance, duck numbers were constant with previous days. 11 Lapwing and 6 Snipe were the only waders.

2 Little Grebe at least are still present, 23 Pied Wagtail from the roost was down on previous mornings, 3 Skylark over but generally there was little movement, 60 Linnet were gathering and feeding on the entrance to Rosa Lane but flew down to the lower fields. Full lists on eBIRD links below.

eBird Checklist - 27 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 40 species

Pochard - Ray Scally

Two Egrets and a Whooper

26/09/26 - 06:35 to 11:15 with Jon Lowes and Ray Scally

New In - a strange day! It started with the arrival of a lone Whooper Swan at 8:05 which flew in from the north and landed on the lagoon and is probably the earliest autumn arrival date with most records coming in October and November.

Whooper Swan - Jon Lowes

Just over an hour later 3 Great Egret came in from the north on a similar flight line to the swan and landed on the lagoon. They stayed just 10 minutes before heading off west rapidly gaining height.

Great Egret

We jokingly speculated what the next large white bird to arrive would be and shouldn't therefore have been too surprised when two Little Egrets flew in at 10:00. They stayed a little longer but flew off NW just after 11am.

Little Egret top Ray Scally bottom Andy Butler

The lone Pintail was joined by another and a Common Gull flew west which completes the new birds for the day.

Migrant wise we estimated 15 Chiffchaff this morning and a single male Blackcap was seen. Very few Meadow Pipits today and no hirundines.

25/09/2026 - 6.30am to 11.30am with Andy Butler

A slightly frustrating morning today. Firstly because someone had decided to drive a small 4WD truck onto the lagoon in the past 24 hours, got it stuck and abandoned it 😒.

Secondly because a small wader whizzed overhead at about 7.10am before I could even get binoculars on it. It called twice and was possibly a Curlew Sandpiper but wasn’t seen again.

New in on the lagoon was 1 Dunlin, present on arrival.

Dunlin byAndy Butler

7 Snipe were at the south end early morning, with groups of 5, 3 and 3 seen flying west late morning, but didn’t drop in.

Duck numbers were largely unchanged, including 1 Pintail still but no Shelduck today. First time for a few weeks there hasn’t been at least one.

Wigeon by Jon lowes

Reasonable movement of Meadow Pipits early morning with an estimate of 50 birds being conservative. Effectively every time you scanned the sky you would pick up small groups going over, so likely many were missed when looking elsewhere. Also a group of 8 Skylarks went through and at least 21 Mistle Thrushes were in fields between the lagoon and the Old Quarry.

Lingering / passage summer migrants included 1 Wheatear on Rosa Lane, 1 Swallow and  6+ Chiffchaffs.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S396112175

https://ebird.org/checklist/S396026739

24/09/26 - 06:20 to 11:00

I couldn't find anything new this morning but 1 of the 3 Pintail was still present and I counted 104 Teal this morning along with 10 Gadwall, 25 Shoveler,  4 Wigeon, 19 Mallard and 22 Tufted Duck so a decent wildfowl count.

Four Lapwing and 5 Snipe were the only waders this morning.

Common Snipe

Migrant wise; single Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff and 4 Swallows with 38 Meadow Pipits counted flying south.

23/09/26 08:55 to 12:10

NEW IN - A juvenile male Ruff was the first noteable bird on arrival. It was feeding along the shorelone for most of the morning although I couldn't see it as I was leaving.

Ruff - juvenile male

Duck numbers were up with at least 98 Teal and 10 Gadwall now but also 3 Pintail which are the first I've seen this year.

Pintail

Arriving a bit later this morning I was still there as the gulls started to arrive late morning. I counted 74 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and with them a single adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Yellow-legged Gull with Lesser Black-backs

A juvenile Peregrine made a brief visit and a Red Kite glided over the hillside.

The weather was poor, mainly cloudy with a strong westerly breeze with frequent rain showers so it was difficult to locate small birds but I managed at least 4 Chiffchaff but no hirundines today and only a couple of Meadow Pipit.

22/09/26 - 6.30 - 10am with Andy Butler

NEW IN - An incredibly warm morning with cloudless blue skies, bird movements were few with a constant trickle of Skylark numbering 15 birds approx, at 9.50am the sites first Pink-footed Goose of the year went over distantly numbering 50 birds approx, other notable fly throughs consisted of 6 Cormorant and 1 Grey Heron

Lingering Migrants - 3 Reed Warbler was heard and seen and a marked increase in Chiffchaff probably due to the weather as most birds were heard or watched flycatching. 16 Swallow and 10 House Martin were in and out over the morning.

Duck numbers remained constant, 3 Snipe, 1 Stonechat, 1 Jay, 150 Starling out of roost and 40 Pied Wagtail out of roost and 1 Siskin being the other highlights.

 Full list on eBIRD links below:

eBird Checklist - 22 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 50 species

eBird Checklist - 22 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 48 species

Pink-footed Geese - Andy Butler

21/09/26 - 08:50 to 11:50

A moulting juvenile Black-tailed Godwit was the star bird this morning, it was feeding on the shoreline when I arrived but I couldn't find it after 10:30, but didn't see it leave. 

Four Snipe were feeding on the edge of the mud and four Lapwing flew in, so three species of wader today!

Black-tailed Godwit - juvenile moulting to 1st winter

A few more hirundines around with at least 7 Swallow and 2 House Martin, still half a dozen Chiffchaff calling and 80 Meadow Pipit moving south.

Jay appear to be on the move with 8 this morning, including a flock of 5 which flew in together.

Two Red Kite circling over Cavendish Mill were the only raptors today.

20/09/2026 - 6.30am to 10am with Jon Lowes and Roy Middleton

 The most unusual sighting today was a Water Rail feeding out in the open along the dam wall, Although it occasionally ran in to the reed bed it spent a long period feeding amongst the rocks.

Water Rail

There are still a few migrants about but just one Swallow today, 8 Chiffchaff, a single Blackcap and a Reed Warbler calling from the reedbed near the hide.

A light passage of Meadow Pipits moving south with 34 counted but doubtless more scattered around the site.

Waterfowl were the same a yesterday with the 8 Goosander roosting overnight and departing early morning.

19/09/2026 - 6.30am to 12 noon with Jon Lowes and Ray Scally

The only obvious new birds this morning were a group of 4 Wigeon, all the other wildfowl were much the same as yesterday although we couldn't find the hybrid type Wigeon from yesterday.

Wigeon

At least 9 Snipe from a more thorough search today and 8 Skylark on the settling beds. Much windier, from the west, and no sign of any significant Meadow Pipit movement today and consequently it was much harder to find any passerines but still at least 5 Chiffchaff.

Gull numbers still very low with just 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls arriving late morning but there were at least two Herring Gulls with them, first and second winter birds.

The photo below shows one of the main differences to separate immature Herring and Lesser Black-backs in flight; the pale inner primaries on the Herring Gull, which are all dark in the Lesser. The mantle colour would also be a help at this age with the Herring having a noticeably paler mantle.

Herring Gull 2nd winter (right) with 2dd winter LB-b Gull (left)

18/09/2026 - 6.30am to 12 noon with Andy Butler

Most of this morning was taken up with a somewhat confusing duck. It appeared to be a Wigeon but had an unusually large bill and longish neck, at times recalling a Pintail, so possibly a hybrid.

Wigeon / Hybrid by Andy butler (top 2) & Jon Lowes

Other ducks of note included 1 Shelduck, 6 Goosander, 6 Gadwall and 28 Shoveler.

Goosanders by Jon Lowes

Summer migrants are getting scarcer with just 4 Swallows, 5 Chiffchaffs and 1 Blackcap recorded.

Signs of autumn included at least 47 Mistle Thrushes in fields and on wires between No.4 lagoon and the Old Quarry and plenty of Meadows Pipits on the move. A count of 100 including flyovers and birds in surrounding fields is likely an underestimate.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S393886840

https://ebird.org/checklist/S393889336

16/09/26 - 3.00pm - 4.30pm approx

NEW IN - Wasn't expecting anything new and about to pack up, as it was very quiet generally when a Little Egret dropped in at 3.35pm, as with all egret species it had departed within 20 minutes towards Cavendish Mill. At 4.30pm while packing up 4 Snipe dropped in.

Lingering Migrants - 1 Reed Warbler was heard, 3 Chiffchaff were heard.

Duck numbers remained constant and a small Lesser black backed Gull roost started with 102 birds. 4 Stonechat on Rosa Lane was about the best of it. Full list on eBIRD link below:

eBird Checklist - 16 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 23 species

                                                            Little Egret - Ray Scally

15/09/26 - 6.30 - 10.00am approx.

NEW IN - The morning started well with 5 Ringed Plover dropping in at 7.25 but only stayed the hour and left, at 8.45 a Goosander dropped in which was unusual, its a scarce species up here with normally 4-5 roosting and leaving at dawn so this was a first for me, at 9am a Hobby went thru'. Other moving species, 2 Skylark over, at 9.32am 3 Canada Goose dropped in staying for about an hour and another 6 circled 30 mins later and went down Combs Valley, the first geese for a couple of weeks. 20 Meadow Pipit went over.

Lingering Migrants - Weather was poor so difficult to say, 2 'Acro' Warblers were flitting in the reeds and passerines were keeping to the bushes, 2 Chiffchaff were heard.

Duck numbers remained constant  approx 60 Starling left the roost, Gull roost numbers were 200 Black headed Gull, other notable species, 3 Jay, 1 Peregrine, 3 Snipe, 12 Swallow, 16 Linnet. Full list on eBIRD link below:

eBird Checklist - 15 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 36 species

                                                        Ringed Plover - Ray Scally

13/09/26 - 6.15 - 10.30am with Jon Lowes

NEW IN - The morning started well with 1 Ringed Plover dropping in at 6.25 but only stayed the hour and left, at 6.56 a Tree Pipit went over calling, generally there was a very noticeable increase in grounded passerines with 50 Chiffchaff, a very conservative count, 5 Blackcap and tit flocks moving through, 120 House Martin and 30 Barn Swallow approx, 1 Skylark, no noticeable movement of Meadow Pipit with 20 birds approx observed, 2 Willow Warbler.

Lingering Migrants - 4 Reed Warbler minimum, 2 Sedge Warbler.

Duck numbers remained constant with a high count of 32 Mallard but 12 departed at first light. presuming these were birds moving through as we were back to the usual 20 birds approx. 120 Starling approx left the roost, Gull roost numbers were 250 Black headed Gull, other notable species, 3 Jay, 1 Water Rail, 3 Snipe. Full lists on eBIRD links below:

eBird Checklist - 13 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 50 species

eBird Checklist - 13 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 48 species

Starling - Ray Scally

12/09/2026 - 6.30am to 10.30am with Ray Scally

Very quiet on the lagoon this morning. Duck numbers remained ordinary with 1 Shelduck, 26 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall and 2 Wigeon.

Other birds of note included a Barn Owl on fence posts on Rosa Lane first thing that flew towards the settling beds. 2 Red Kites flew over together mid-morning.

Lingering / passage summer migrants included 12 Swallows, 5 House Martins, 1 Blackcap and 16+ Chiffchaffs

11/09/2026 – 6am to 9.30am with Ray Scally

Quiet on the lagoon this morning. No waders and nothing obviously new in. Notable absences were any geese and Starlings departing the roost.

A Hobby flew through at 6.50am and what was likely the same bird was seen later over the plantation. A Red Kite flew up from Black Harry Gate mid morning.

Duck numbers were ordinary and included 1 Shelduck, 22 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall and 2 Wigeon.

Lingering / passage summer migrants included 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 Swallow, 6 House Martins, 8+Chiffchaff, 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat and 1 Wheatear.

Whinchat by Ray Scally

Redstart by Ray Scally

https://ebird.org/checklist/S391860445

https://ebird.org/checklist/S391803794

10/09/26 - 6.15am for 2.5 hours.

NEW IN - A steady movement of 40 Meadow Pipit over for the duration, including 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail

LINGERING MIGRANTS - Chiffchaff still numerous, time duration was only on the lagoon and BHG area was not checked.

Duck numbers remained constant with Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Shoveler remaining, Starling roost had 80 birds approx, leaving just after first light. 1 Stonechat scoped on gorse field. The juv Peregrine paid a visit dispersing most of the ducks, 1 Jay, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker passed through. Noticeable by their absence were the Greylag Geese with none on the lagoon at dawn and the Shelduck are down to 1 juv. Full list on eBIRD link below.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S391486757

    Peregrine - Ray Scally

                                           Great spotted Woodpecker - Ray Scally

07/09/26 - Retrospective sighting - per eBIRD

New in - 2 Whinchat per anonymous eBIRD list, timed at 13.30pm.

09/09/26 - Late Morning - per Andy Deighton

NEW IN - Late morning 2 Redshank and 1 Shelduck increasing to 4 birds currently on site all per Andy Deighton.

08/09/26 - 6.15am for 3 hours

NEW IN - 7.50am a Great Egret dropped in and stayed 2 minutes and departed, overall bird movement was non existent, at 9.15am a sudden flurry occurred with 75 House Martin approx dropping in and out and 3 Cormorant over, a scarce bird, which very rarely lands.

LINGERING MIGRANTS - Chiffchaff still numerous and a couple of Willow Warbler.

Duck numbers remained constant with Teal remaining around the 40 mark, Starling roost had 100 birds approx, leaving just after first light. Black-headed Gull numbers have decreased from previous mornings, and very few LBB Gull coming in, the Water Rail showed very briefly, the first sighting in a month. Full list on eBird link below.

eBird Checklist - 8 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 45 species

Cormorant - Ray Scally

                                                                Great Egret - Ray Scally

06/09/2026 - 6am to 12 noon with Ray Scally

‘New in’ and most notable sightings this morning were a Dunlin that flew through at around 8am but didn’t actually land, heading off high east.

A Hobby came in and landed on the shore at 8.35am, then spent about 20 minutes apparently hunting insects on the ground before departing.

A cream crown Marsh Harrier then flew low over the ridge behind the hide towards Longstone Moor at 10am with a Red Kite also nearby.

Hobby - Ray Scally

Duck numbers were generally down but included 4 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon, 18 Shoveler and the seemingly resident 3 Shelduck.

Lingering / passage summer migrants included 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcaps, 8+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Swifts, and c50 Swallows moving through in various groups.

c20 Mistle Thrushes were on Rosa Lane late morning.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Ray Scally

https://ebird.org/checklist/S390277909

https://ebird.org/checklist/S390256833

05/09/2026 - 6.00am for 3.5 Hours with Jon Lowes

NEW IN - On arrival just as the sun was rising a Little Egret was on the far shore line being harassed by gulls, unfortunately a Peregrine (juv) came in and the bird left at 6.20am, other new specie or one not recorded for some time was a Goshawk (juv), briefly, as I was leaving at 9.30.

LINGERING MIGRANTS - 2 Ringed Plover (juv) still. 

Duck numbers remained constant for Wigeon and Shoveler but the Teal have decreased by about 50%, as was the Starling roost with only 55 birds counted. Black-headed Gull numbers have decreased from previous mornings, 2 Jay went through. Noticeable by their absence, no Reed or Sedge Warbler were seen or heard today and both Swallow and House Martin were lucky to get into double figures. 1 Whitethroat was seen and heard. Full lists below.

eBird Checklist - 5 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 41 species

eBird Checklist - 5 Sep 2026 - Middleton Moor - 36 species

Goshawk - Ray Scally

                                                            Little Egret - Ray Scally

04/09/2026 - 6am to 9am

 Blustery morning after overnight rain, with Ray Scally.

‘New in’ birds included two juvenile Ringed Plovers that appeared on the shoreline at 6.30am. Unclear if they had just dropped in or we had missed them in the dim early morning light up to that point.

Ringed Plover - Jon Lowes

Shoveler were up to 24, but other duck numbers were largely unchanged, including 3 juvenile Shelducks.  

Lingering / passage summer migrants were scarce, possibly due in part to the gusty winds keeping everything hunkered down, but they included 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs and 12 Swallow.

A possible Greenshank was seen briefly in flight just before 9am and appeared to be heading towards the lagoon, but couldn’t be relocated or positively ID'd.

Ray then had an adult Yellow-legged Gull later in the morning.

Yellow-legged Gull - Ray Scally

https://ebird.org/checklist/S389635128

https://ebird.org/checklist/S389571160