Grey Phalarope Sorte

On the 12th I received word that the gale had blown a Grey Phalarope inland to Ashworth Moor reservoir on Owd Betts. As I didn’t think I would be able to obtain any film of the bird in the strong wind I decided to wait until first light on the 13th when, in calmer conditions, I might have a better chance of holding the camera steady. It was, of course, a big mistake as the Phalarope flew off at first light and I was left with just a Common Sandpiper and a Charm of thirty Goldfinches for company. So this week’s photo is one I took earlier, much earlier in fact in Spitsbergen when it was in full Summer plumage and completely different to the one this week at Owd Betts. The last Grey Phalarope seen in Rochdale was seen in 1899 so I may have to wait a long time to see the next one!

On Hopwood on the 16th forty Swallows were feeding and resting on one of the fairways. Along Trub Brook was a mixed Swallow / House Martin flock of a hundred birds feeding on insects in the shelter out of the wind.