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

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

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

25/08/2026 Morning Update

NEW IN - 1 Ringed Plover left high at 8.15am, increase in Teal numbers to 67.

LINGERING MIGRANTS - 1 Dunlin still. 

Nothing new or an increase in other species numbers, the Red Kite came down and landed on the shore which is a first, the Starling are starting to roost with at least 140 leaving early morning. Full lists as ebird links below.

eBird Checklist - 25 Aug 2026 - Middleton Moor - 41 species

eBird Checklist - 25 Aug 2026 - Middleton Moor - 24 species

eBird Checklist - 25 Aug 2026 - Middleton Moor - 39 species

Ringed Plover & Dunlin - Ray Scally

Ringed Plover & Dunlin - Andy Butler

23/08/2026 Morning Update

NEW IN - A earlier than usual start at 5.45am paid off with a brief GREEN SANDPIPER which stayed for about 5 minutes and vanished at dawn, I didn't see it go. Not long after a Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin appeared on the shore line but left high at 6.35am, the resident Dunlin was still present. 3 Common Snipe came in at 7.30 approx and at 9.30am 4 YELLOW WAGTAIL flew in and stayed for about 10 minutes, the most I have seen here together. 1 Tree Pipit over.

LINGERING MIGRANTS - Chiffchaff out numbering Willow Warbler with only 1 of the latter seen, 1 Dunlin still. 2 Redstart were present at the main gate on Rosa Lane, probably resident birds.

The early morning paid off with at least 600 Lesser black backed Gulls leaving the roost and over 250 Black Headed Gull, there was also a Herring/ YLG but too dark to discern which, the roosting 175 Greylag Geese were present but left after dawn down Combs Dale. Resident duck numbers were steady with no increase in numbers, the Gadwall were not present but replaced with 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 41 Teal. The single young Shelduck was also present. Full counts on e-bird links below. Interesting to see the Starlings are starting to roost with at least 150 leaving early morning.

eBird Checklist - 23 Aug 2026 - Middleton Moor - 44 species

eBird Checklist - 23 Aug 2026 - Middleton Moor - 53 species (+1 other taxa)

Goldcrest (juv) - Ray Scally

Yellow Wagtail - Ray Scally

Yellow Wagtail - Ray Scally

18/08/2026 Morning Update

Conditions looked promising this morning with overnight rain and low cloud then more rain early morning. 

Four Ringed Plover on arrival was a good sign then a juvenile Greenshank flew in calling at 06:45 but it only stayed for 15 minutes.

Greenshank - juvenile

Ringed Plover

A Dunlin feeding on the dam wall was very elusive and I think it's yesterday's bird.

Lots of hirundines with at least 90 Swallows feeding over the water.

17/08/2026 Morning Update

 A decent start to the morning with a Wheatear with 3 Stonechat on the gorse field then 3 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin on the lagoon. 

Overcast with low cloud it felt like there could be more birds moving but the Ringed Plover departed, followed by the Dunlin. Another Dunlin appeared but no sign of anything else.

Northern Wheatear

Dunlin

Still 3 Wigeon and a single Shoveler with Teal numbers up to 44. The Little Grebes youngsters showed,  one pair had two chicks and it looks like there is another pair with young.

Little Grebe

16/08/2026 Morning Update

 The first morning of any visible movement for some time.

NEW IN - 3 WIGEON were present on arrival, along with a WHEATEAR, both the first of the Autumn, at 6:40am a RINGED PLOVER called as it circled overhead but did not land nor was it seen, at 7:15am 2 DUNLIN came in and circled the lagoon a number of times but went high west.

LINGERING MIGRANTS - Yesterdays WHINCHAT was still present, the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER was still in the plantation, 1 TREE PIPIT, may have been a new migrant but they have been seen or heard most days.

Resident duck numbers were steady with no increase in numbers, there was no sign of the 2 Gadwall or Shoveler but may still be present in the reeds. Gull numbers vary but remaining low, with a COMMON GULL joining the LBBG and BH Gulls briefly.

Wigeon - Ray Scally

eBird Checklist - 16 Aug 2026 - Middleton Moor - 45 species

eBird Checklist - 16 Aug 2026 - Middleton Moor - 43 species

eBird Checklist - 16 Aug 2026 - Middleton Moor - 51 species