Page 31 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019

Birds at Keep an eye open on buoys and
posts in the water on which

Hollingworth Lake they like to rest.

by IAN KIMBER In the surrounding woodland,
one of the commonest, yet most
Hollingworth Lake, nestled in the Pennine foothills, is well-known as a local attraction, beautiful birds, is the goldfinch.
drawing visitors far and wide to walk its circumference, enjoy an ice-cream or coffee, or
generally spend an enjoyable day out with the family in beautiful countryside.
Look carefully and you may
see a plump and rosy bullfinch,
and keep an eye out overhead
Hundreds of mallard, for birds of prey - kestrels,
Canada geese, black-headed sparrowhawks and buzzards are
gulls and the odd mute swan all present in the area, but tend
will approach almost within not to stay around too long for
touching distance when Black-headed gull careful observation. Sometimes
visitors at the rowing club you may find a kestrel perched
car park offer bread and atop a tree, but sparrowhawks
titbits by the water’s edge. will dash by in an instant,
whereas buzzards can be seen
Beyond this, most casual soaring overhead.
visitors will likely not notice Goosander Goldfinch
the wide variety of other With regular observation, it is
bird species that can been possible to see around 100 bird
countered with regular and species around the Lake itself,
careful observation. and over the years, the reserve
has attracted the occasional
To see the best birds, major rarity, bringing twitchers
typically you need to be an from far and wide.
early riser.
In 1983, a collared pratincole
The Lake acts as a cross- from southern Europe was a
Pennine resting point for superb find for a local birder.
migrating ducks and swans,
but these are wary beasts In 1993 another southern
and will be off in an instant visitor, black-winged stilt
as soon as any boats are out Kingfisher Common tern Kestrel appeared, but stayed for only a
on the water. few minutes.
of these), there is a fair chance will sometimes perch on handy as tufted duck or goosander, However, there is still the
Watch out for wild whooper of them being common scooter, branches over the water. both regular species. opportunity to see something In November 2010, an
swans with their straight a marine species that breeds in spectacular. American pied-billed grebe had
necks and yellow bills. From northern Europe and Russia. In spring and summer, watch out In spring, great-crested twitchers descending from all
late autumn until spring, for common sandpipers, bobbing grebes will perform their If you look carefully among over the country.
a bevy of swans seen out Visit the nature reserve in the as they search for invertebrates head-shaking, weed-carrying the flying black-headed
in the middle of the water south-east corner, and you along the water’s edge. breeding ritual. gulls, you may find a more More recently, a ghostly
could well be this enigmatic will find a small enclosed pool graceful version, likely to be a glaucous gull from the high
species, en route to or from surrounded by willows, and a Lapwings (aka Peewits, after Summer is a time for wandering common tern. Arctic spent much of the winter
their Icelandic breeding visitor’s hide where you can their plaintive call) are common, breeding species, and things here in 2018.
grounds. sometimes get close views of but a close encounter reveals quieten down from a birder’s These elegant species, with
wading birds. how beautiful their plumage perspective, as the local birds their black caps, pointed wings Whatever the time of year,
Keep an eye open too, for really is. get down to rearing their and long, forked tails, are a joy there’s always something to see.
odd ducks – if you see an If you are especially lucky, a young, busy with collecting to watch as they dive into the
all-black duck with a yellow fleeting glimpse of cyan and In winter, you may get closer to nesting material or food for water in search of small fish. Dust off your binoculars and
bill (or even a small group orange, the kingfisher, which some of the diving ducks, such their brood. see what you can find.

REAL ROCHDALE - Summer 2019 30 31 REAL ROCHDALE - Summmer 2019