DOTTEREL

 

The largest 'trip' of Dotterel ever found in the county was of 14 birds on Crook Moor, near Watergrove on the 10th May 1997.

 

The only real 'lowland' record in the county was of a single female on fields by Shell Carrington on the 11th May 1992.

All Dotterel records in Greater Manchester fall within the two months of April and May and all but one record have been in the 'upland' areas of the county with a distinct bias towards the moorland areas above Rochdale.

 

 

1870   Pilsworth, near Heywood no date single bird shot
1909   Near Oldham 10th May single killed against telegraph wires
1981   Darcy Lever 26th Apr Two birds were the first sightings in the county for many years
1982   Knowl Hill 14th & 15th May 12 or 13 near Knowl Hill was only the second recent county record and the first in the Rochdale area for close on half a century
1989   Ding Quarry, near Rochdale 8th May 2 birds
1990   Hail Storm Hill, Rochdale 13th May 2 birds very close to the county boundary.
1991   Billinge May At least two observers were lucky enough to catch sight of two female birds passing through a stony field near Billinge Hill. Exact dates not known.
1992   Shell Carrington NR 11th May A female
1993   Ding Quarry, near Rochdale 3rd May 11 birds
1993   Smithills Moor 8th May 8 departed north, low towards Turton Moor
1993   Whittle Pike 24th Apr 3 birds
1994   In the north of the county 15-16th May 2 females and a male
1995   Knowl Moor 1st May A pair
1995   Rough Hill 18th May 3, just north of Watergrove Reservoir
1996   Two Lads Hill 3-9th May 2 birds
1997   Crook Moor, near Watergrove 10th May 14 birds
1997   Knowl Moor 6th Apr single 
1997   Knowl Moor 13th Apr 4 birds
1998   Crook Moor, near Watergrove 4th May 4 birds
1999   Crook Moor, near Watergrove 6th May Single bird
2002   Naden Valley 12th May Single at Birchens Holts
2003   Rooley Moor 18th Apr Single bird
2003   Rooley Moor 3rd May 2 on hailstorm hill
2004   Top of Leach 3rd May 4, 3 females and 1male
2006   Bleakedgate Moor 30th Apr male
2008   Axletree Edge, Bleakedgate Moor 28th Apr single