70+ Redwings in copse between golf course & Turton Tower this morning

25+ Redwings at Turton Tower at lunchtime

Snipe flushed from the field between golf course & Turton Tower this morning. On the same field I had a Stock Dove, a Redwing, a Meadow Pipit, & 25 Jackdaws.

Lots of Redwings & Fieldfares around Turton Golf Course/The Bungalow area this morning (200+ birds in total). Also saw them them early afternoon heading back across the golf course.

Clough House Farm birds included 70+ Woodpigeons, a few Blackbirds & Redwings, 30+ Fieldfares that flew down from the copse near The Bungalow, a flock of Long-tailed Tits, a Nuthatch, Chaffinches, & Bullfinches.

Along the track from the farm to Greens Arms Road I came across another Nuthatch, a Meadow Pipit, a couple of Siskins, & 2 Reed Buntings.

Birds from 8.05am to 11.15am included :-

Turton Golf Course :-
1 Kestrel, 4 Pheasants, 2 Moorhens, 12 Black-headed Gulls, 80+ Woodpigeons, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtails, 13 Blackbirds, 40+ Fieldfares which flew across to the copse near The Bungalow, 2 flocks of Redwings (16 + 9), 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Goldcrests, 5 Jays, 20+ Carrion Crows, 20+ Jackdaws, 10 Chaffinches, 15 Goldfinches, 1 Siskin, 1 Lesser Redpoll on the course + a flock of 14 flying over, 4 Reed Buntings.

Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road :-
1 Kestrel, 30+ Woodpigeons, 1 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Redwings, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Jays, numerous Jackdaws & Rooks on the farm fields.

Turton Golf Course/Hazelhurst Wood from 8.10am to 11.20am.

1 Buzzard flying over, 3 Pheasants, 2 Moorhens, 9 Lapwings flying over, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying across the course,
80+ Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 25+ Meadow Pipits seen but probably more in the long grass by the course, 4 Pied Wagtails,
Numerous Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins,
12 Blackbirds, 3 small flocks of Redwings (25+ in total), 1 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush,
Lots of Goldcrests. Flock of 6 + 2 together on the course. In Hazelhurst Wood I was surrounded by Goldcrests with 20+ low in the conifers. Hard to see the tops of the conifers from the bottom of the wood but I could see a few birds feeding up there when I did get a clear view through the trees. Goodness knows how many were in the wood altogether.
Numerous Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue Tits. 4 Nuthatches, 1 Treecreeper.
Numerous Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, & Carrion Crows. 1 Rook flying over & numerous near Turton Tower.
25+ Chaffinches, 30+ Goldfinches, 8 Siskins, 1 Linnet, 8 Bullfinches.
9 Reed Buntings included a flock of 8 birds.

A couple of Oystercatchers on Turton Golf Course this morning.

Young Sparrowhawks calling in Hazelhurst Wood.

For once I did not mind having to stand outside the Chetham Arms waiting for it to open.
After seeing my first Swifts of the year in Edgworth I had two more flying around Chapeltown. Also able to note at least 10 House Martins around the houses opposite the pub.
Swallows already seen at the farm down the road.

7.15am to 9.35am.

Turton Golf Course :-
1 Canada Goose, 5 Mallards, 1 Buzzard, 2 Pheasants, 15 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 15 Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Doves, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Skylarks, 7 Meadow Pipits, 1 Swallow, 3 Pied Wagtails, numerous Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins, 3 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 9 Willow Warblers, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 5 Magpies, 15 Carrion Crows, 20+ Starlings, 20+ Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 10+ Lesser Redpolls (as usual very mobile flying to and from the course so unable to get an exact count as I cannot tell which may have already been counted), 2 Linnets, 2 Bullfinches, 2 Reed Buntings.
Snipe & Grasshopper Warblers called from the field going up the left of the course. This puts them on the other side of the boundary fence so actually in Egerton. Reed Buntings in the same area covered both sides of the fence.

The Bungalow area :-
1 Grey Heron flying over, 6 Canada Geese, 2 Lapwings, 9 Black-headed Gulls, a few Skylarks & Meadow Pipits, 6 Swallows.

Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road :-
2 Mallards, 1 Curlew, 2 Skylarks, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Swallow, 1m Stonechat, 1f Wheatear, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Raven, 4 Chaffinches, 1 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpolls.
From this track I saw a bird land on a wall on the side of Cheetham Close. Was quite distant so I had to wait for it to call before confirming it was a Cuckoo.

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Early afternoon birds included :-
A couple of Swallows & a House Martin around Chapeltown.
A male Kestrel flew around with a Stock Dove across the field between Chapeltown & Turton Tower. When the Kestrel landed in a tree I noticed there was already a female perched in it.
c40 Jackdaws on the field between Turton Tower & the golf course.

7.45am to 10.30am + wander back across golf course at lunch time.

Turton Golf Course :-
1 Buzzard, 3 Pheasants, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 2 Snipe calling from a field by the course, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Woodpigeons, 2 Skylarks, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Grasshopper Warblers heard reeling, 11 Willow Warlers, 2 Nuthatches, 2 Treecreepers, 10 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins, 2 Linnets, 10+ Lesser Redpolls, 2 Bullfinches, pair of Reed Buntings, + other common stuff.

The Bungalow area :-
13 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Swallows, 1 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Siskins, 1 Lesser Redpoll, pair of Reed Buntings.

Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road :-
1 Kestrel, 2 Pheasants, a few Skylarks & Meadow Pipits, 3 Blackbirds, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, & a few Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, & Lesser Redpolls.

7.15am to 11.45am.

Turton Golf Course :-
1 Grey Heron, 3 Mallards, 3 Pheasants, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Lapwing, a few Black-headed Gulls on the course + lots flying over, 10 Woodpigeons, 3 Skylarks, 1 Swallow, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, a few Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins, 6 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 9 Willow Warblers, a few Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue Tits, 2 Nuthatches, 2 Jays, 14 Magpies, 25 Jackdaws (most of them flying out of Cox Green Quarry), 1 Rook flying over, 16 Carrion Crows, 10 Chaffinches, 4 Greenfinches, 5 Goldfinches, 1 Siskin, 10+ Lesser Redpolls, 1 Linnet, 2 Bullfinches, 1 Reed Bunting.

The Bungalow area :-
3 Mediterranean Gulls with 41 Black-headed Gulls, When they took off they all headed for Walsh Fold where I saw the 3 yesterday. Same birds ?
3 Mallards, 2 Skylarks, 1 Swallow (good timing as it flew in just as the farmer told me none had returned to the barn yet), 4 Meadow Pipits, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Linnets, 3 Reed Buntings.

A few Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, & Reed Buntings were on the slopes of Cheetham Close.
Just numerous Skylarks & a Lapwing were along the top of the hill.

Greens Arms Road to Clough House Farm :-
2 Lapwings, 2 Curlews, a few Skylarks & Meadow Pipits, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Ravens, a few Lesser Redpolls & Linnets, 1 Reed Bunting.

Forgot to mention 2 Swallows flying low heading for Little Stanrose Farm

7.20am to 9.40am. All of Turton Golf Course covered, with only a light breeze and migrants moving in now, turned it into a cracking morning.

Pair of Canada Geese
3 Pheasants
I normally only get Oystercatchers flying over. This morning one was seen feeding each time I was near the 12th green.
1 Lapwing & 1 Curlew seen in flight over the fields above the course
20+ Black-headed Gulls on the course. Dozens more seen flying over, as were 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls & a Mediterranean Gull.
14 Woodpigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Skylark
4 Meadow Pipits
4 Pied Wagtails
11 Wrens, 6 Dunnocks, 8 Robins
10 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Mistle Thrushes,
Grasshopper Warblers back in breeding area at the top of the course. A bonus was actually seeing one, especially when it reeled from a fence post. Another one heard only.
8 Chiffchaffs, 11 Willow Warblers,
A few Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue Tits,
2 Nuthatches
2 Jays, 10 Magpies, 15 Carrion Crows,
12 Chaffinches, 6 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins, 10+ Lesser Redpolls, 1 Linnet, 2 Bullfinches,
3 Reed Buntings

9.20am to 10.50am.

Usual stuff on Turton Golf Course, but at least half a dozen Willow Warblers now.

Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road :-
4 Canada Geese, 1 low flying Buzzard, pair of Kestrels, 2 Curlews, a few Skylarks & Meadow Pipits, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Reed Bunting.

A Swallow has been back at the farm in Chapeltown since the weekend.

7.30am to 8.50am.

Willow Warbler in the same place on Turton Golf Course as a couple of days ago.

25 Fieldfares in the copse between golf course & Turton Tower.
Meadow Pipit on the field.

Chiffchaffs calling from Turton Tower.

Birds seen from Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road included :-
2 Grey Herons flying over from Entwistle Reservoir, 5 Canada Geese, 1 Lapwing, 4 Curlews, 7 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Skylarks, 7 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1m Stonechat, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Goldfinches, & 2 Siskins.

As I got to Greens Arms Road I found 2 Willow Warblers & 2 Lesser Redpolls.

7.40am to 9.25am. Very strong eye-watering wind for the first hour, sleet and heavy rain for the remainder, so not as much as usual showing.

Pair of Canada Geese on a pond was unusual.
Lots of Black-headed Gulls
A few Meadow Pipits & a Skylark.
The only small birds seemingly not bothered by the wind were the finches (a few Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, & Lesser Redpolls)
Some of the resident species did not show at all and it took me over an hour to actually hear a Robin singing, in about the only area sheltered from the wind. My first Willow Warbler of the year on the course was singing in the same area.

Hardly anything showing or singing around Turton Tower woods, by which time I was drenched.

A flock of 5 Jays & a Chiffchaff by King William pub on Chapeltown Road this morning.

On the fields between Holts Fold & the pub I checked all the 84 Black-headed Gulls I counted just in case there was a Mediterranean Gull mixed in but without sucess. Just the one Meadow Pipit & one Pied Wagtail amongst them.
(Same result with the 180+ gulls on Jumbles farmland)

Full morning in mist to start with and then a bit of everything including a rainbow.

All areas of Turton Golf Course :-
1 Grey Heron flying over, 4 Mallards, 1 Moorhen, 24 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over, 1 Oystercatcher passing through, 1 Curlew,
Pair of Kestrels, 5 Pheasants, 30+ Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Skylarks, 12 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail,
7 Wrens, 5 Dunnocks, 10 Robins, 6 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, 1 Mistle Thrush,
1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Coal Tits, 6 Great Tits, 8 Blue Tits,
2 Jays, 6 Magpies, 14 Carrion Crows, 1 Jackdaw, 9 Starlings,
18 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Siskins, 5 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Bullfinches,
5 Reed Buntings.

80+ Meadow Pipits on the field between the golf course & Turton Tower.

Pair of Canada Geese by The Bungalow Pond and as I headed up the hill to Cheetham Close a Snipe flew down from the top.
I only saw a few Skylarks + Meadow Pipits along the top of the hill.

Greens Arms Road to Clough House Farm :-
2 Curlews
2 Skylarks
18 Meadow Pipits
Pair of Stonechats
1 Wheatear
1 Mistle Thrush
4 Reed Buntings

9am to 10am.

Jumbles to Turton Bottoms birds included :-
5 Mallards
1 Dipper
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
30+ Siskins

5 Fieldfares with 100+ Redwings near Turton Tower this morning

7.10am to 9.50am. Plan "A" was to check all the farmland & moorland. A lot of the usual small birds were not showing around exposed areas in the strong eye-watering wind so I gave up
eventually & went to plan "B" and headed for the reservoirs.

2 Redwings & a calling Reed Bunting the best I could do around the golf course.
c185 Redwings in the hillside copse near The Bungalow. They moved down to the shooting target area before heading to Turton Tower.
A Kestrel on a telegraph pole at Clough House Farm.
When I could only find 2 Curlews, 1 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, & 1f Reed Bunting along the track to Greens Arms Road I knew it was time to try somewhere else.

21 Redwings in trees between golf course & Turton Tower this morning

7.50am to 9.20am. A cold easterly wind meant some of the smaller birds did not show this morning.

Turton Golf Course birds included :-
2 Canada Geese
2 Moorhens
2 Buzzards soaring around, probably the same ones seen at Jumbles later, and one soaring over Bromley Cross late morning could have been one of these.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Skylarks
5 Meadow Pipits
2 Pied Wagtails
2 Dunnocks having a really good scrap on the floor as another called from nearby
20 Redwings
33 Carrion Crows

As usual the field between the course & Turton Tower was good :-
A couple of Fieldfares with 50+ Redwings
2 Mistle Thrushes
2 Grey Wagtails with 2 Pied Wagtails

Green Woodpecker on the golf course at 7.20am.

7.30 to 13.30. Thin low cloud until 11am, sunny after that. Birds very active.

As usual I started at the pond nearest the golf club entrance. No Moorhens which is unusual but a cracking start to the day when a Jack Snipe flew up and flew over Last Drop.
Other birds around the golf course included a Kestrel, 19 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Skylarks, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 15+ Chaffinches, 5 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins, 5 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Bullfinches, & 3 Reed Buntings.

The field between the golf course & Turton Tower had 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtails, 15 Redwings, 4 Mistle Thrushes, & 2 Nuthatches.

A pair of Canada Geese & a pair of Mallards on the pond near The Bungalow, with a pair of Reed Buntings near the barn.
A Buzzard pursued by Jackdaws flew over the pond.

A wander over the top of Cheetham Close produced 4 Lapwings, a flushed Snipe, at least a dozen Skylarks, & a flyover Raven.

From Greens Arms Road to Clough House farm I had 1 Curlew, a few Skylarks, & a male Reed Bunting.
At Clough House Farm there was another pair of Reed Buntings, a Sparrowhawk, & 16 Jackdaws.

A Grey Wagtail was on the roof of one of the houses at the old Turton station.
Continuing through the grounds of Turton Tower I added Stock Dove to today's species list. Not much else in this area.

In the Chapeltown Road pill box area I heard a Moorhen in the field on the Turton Tower side of the road & a Meadow Pipit (surprisingly my only one today) was by the pond as I headed towards Jumbles.

Only the regular stuff on Jumbles Reservoir so I headed for Hazelhurst Wood to finish off the day. By the pond between Chapeltown Road & the railway tunnel I found a pair of Treecreepers.
Another pair was in the main wood.
A Buzzard flew into the wood & a Raven flew over.

8.15am to 9.15am.

Green Woodpecker in the hillside copse near The Bungalow. After a while it flew across to the golf course.
Pairs of Canada Geese & Mallards on the pond in the field.
Mistle Thrush on a pylon.

Moorhen & Reed Bunting at Clough House Farm.

A couple of Skylarks, a Nuthatch, & a couple of Siskins along the track to Greens Arms Road.

Half hour mooch around the grounds of Turton Tower from 8.30am.

1 Pheasant, 5 Woodpigeons, 2 Collared Doves, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 5 Blackbirds, 55 Redwings, 1 Mistle Thrush. 2 Nuthatches.
Also had a few Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, & Bullfinches.

7.50am to 12.15pm.

Even though I covered all of Turton Golf Course I only came across the usual species.

As soon as I got onto the fields between the golf course & Turton Tower I had a flock of 15 Redwings. My only Pied Wagtail of the day was also on these fields.

A pair of Reed Buntings, a Skylark, & 2 Mistle Thrushes were in The Bungalow area.

Along the track to Greens Arms Road I had my best birds of the day :-
A Barn Owl hunting around Three Lowes
1 Buzzard flying around
1 Skylark
2f Stonechats which at one point were on the track right in front of me
1 Linnet, my first of the year
A Crossbill flew up from the direction of Wayoh heading for the small plantation on the other side of the track
A pair of Reed Buntings with the Stonechats

A mooch around Hazelhurst Wood to finish the day :-
Pairs of Treecreepers & Nuthatches, flock of 10+ Redwings (maybe the flock seen earlier), Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, & Bullfinches.

Amongst the usual birds at Turton Tower this morning were 50+ Redwings & 3 Siskins

Full tour of Turton Golf Course from 7.20am. Mostly the usual stuff but a Barn Owl made up for a lack of birds. Canada Geese are unusual on the course but 4 flew in with 2 landing. The other 2 flew through heading for Jumbles.
Also very quiet along the track from Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road the highlight being a female Stonechat.

Called for a pint in Chetham Arms at lunchtime and the landlord told me he had a Grey Wagtail by a puddle on a flat roof on the back of the pub yesterday.
50+ Jackdaws along High Street in Chapeltown.

Heading for home a Buzzard gave good views on the field between Turton Tower & the golf course.

On a morning walk to Entwistle I did not see much until I got to Clough House Farm.
Great Spotted Woodpecker & 2 Nuthatches there.

To the right of the track to Greens Arms Road I saw a Stonechat on a fence post. A Green Woodpecker was calling from down by Greens Arms Road.

To the left of the track I heard strange noises coming from an area of long grass / rushes. I went to explore hoping for an unusual bird as that is what it sounded like.
I was rather surprised to see a large Fox come bounding out !

7.50am to 10.15am. Murky start around Turton Golf Course, misty above the course. Sightings included :-
1 Moorhen at a frozen pond
1m Goosander flying low above a fairway heading straight towards me with 4 Mallards. It veered off and flew over Last Drop Village.
Barn Owl hunting around the top of the course between 8.15am & 9am.
2 Snipe flushed from boggy patch on field at Turton Tower end of the course.
5 Redwings flew from Turton Tower into the copse on the same field.

Turton Tower at 9am.
25+ Redwings in tops of trees by the main house & 2 Bramblings flew up from the ground below them as a cock Pheasant walked across the lawn.
20+ Siskins with a few Goldfinches near the gatehouse, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across from Chapeltown.

Not much around Turton Golf Course this morning, but the field between there & Turton Tower was much better.

A Buzzard flew up off the ground & then perched in a nearby tree.
A mixed flock of thrushes feeding on the ground. 30+ Fieldfares & 10+ Redwings. They flew up into the trees before I finished trying to get an exact count of them.
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Stock Dove on the pylon wires
1 Nuthatch
7 Magpies
6 Carrion Crows

10.00am to 11.35am.

Turton Tower :-
The Buzzard seen earlier on Jumbles seen and heard a few times flying around,
1 Pheasant, 4 Woodpigeons, 3 Stock Doves, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Wrens, 5 Robins,
15 Blackbirds, a few Redwings (unable to get an exact count), 2 Song Thrushes, 3 Mistle Thrushes,
1 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tits, 4 Great Tits, 7 Blue Tits, 2 Nuthatches,
1 Jay, 4 Magpies, 6 Jackdaws, 5 Carrion Crows, 2 Chaffinches, 1 Greenfinch, 4 Bullfinches.

I headed up towards Cheetham Close and found a Buzzard on the ground, and later a fence post, near the barn/copse.

No wind and blue skies seemed like good conditions for birding on the top of Whittle Hill. Was hoping for Snipe/Jack Snipe but did not see a single bird of any sort.
(Not a single bird on the top fields of Cox Green either)

8.10am to 11.20am. Not much about even though for a change there was no rain or wind.

Turton Golf Course :-
4 Mallards, 1 Moorhen, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Pheasant, 12 Woodpigeons, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtails, 6 Wrens, 3 Dunnocks, 6 Robins,
6 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, a few Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue Tits, 1 Nuthatch,
1 Jay, 7 Magpies, 3 Jackdaws, 12 Carrion Crows, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 6 Bullfinches.

A walk along the track to Greens Arms Road was also very quiet. A few dozen Jackdaws on a field and a Nuthatch at Clough House Farm the best I could do.

8.00am to 10.35am around Turton Golf Course.

1 Buzzard over the course. Another distant one at the same time.
3 Pheasants. Surprised to find them in the top of a tree rather than scurrying across the course.
Only 1 Moorhen seen this morning, and only 2 Black-headed Gulls.
1 Barn Owl around the top end of course & a Tawny Owl upsetting Jays & Chaffinches.
112 Woodpigeons, mostly birds flying over.
1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail.
7 Wrens, 1 Dunnock, 6 Robins,
5 Blackbirds, 25 Fieldfares in copse between course & Turton Tower, 5 Redwings flying over, 2 Mistle Thrushes,
1 Goldcrest, flock of Long-tailed Tits, numerous Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue Tits, 2 Nuthatches,
2 Jays, 9 Magpies, 12 Jackdaws, 4 Rooks, 7 Carrion Crows,
12 Chaffinches, 3 Goldfinches, 12 Siskins, 8 Bullfinches,
2 Reed Buntings.

8.15am to 10.45 around Turton Golf Course and adjacent fields. A few unusual species made up for lower than usual counts of the usual species.

5 Goosanders flying over
1 Buzzard over
1 Pheasant
3 Moorhens
1 Snipe
4 Black-headed Gulls
1 immature Herring Gull, 1st winter ? Unusual species around these parts, even flying over, but I actually also had a 1st winter & a 2nd winter on a football crossbar at Eagley Junior School as I headed into Bromley Cross after leaving the golf course. Maybe one of these was the golf course bird.
A flock of 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over
3 Woodpigeons, 1 Stock Dove
1 Barn Owl giving great views on fence posts at the top end of the course. Eventually chased off by a Crow.
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Wrens, 3 Robins
1 Redwing at Holts Fold end & a flock of 80+ on field between course & Turton Tower. 1 Fieldfare flying over, 4 Blackbirds & 3 Mistle Thrushes.
A few Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue Tits. 3 Nuthatches.
1 Jay, 13 Magpies, 9 Carrion Crows.
4 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins, 2 Bullfinches.

Green Woodpecker near the old Turton Station this morning

8.15am to 11.25am around Turton Golf Course & Hazelhurst Wood.

5 Moorhens
1 Woodcock, flushed from by the Moorhen pond at Last Drop end of course
15 Black-headed Gulls
11 Woodpigeons, 3 Stock Doves
5 Meadow Pipits, 3 Pied Wagtails
5 Wrens, 1 Dunnock, 2 Robins
4 Blackbirds, 12 Fieldfares, c90 Redwings, 1 Mistle Thrush
1 Goldcrest
1 flock of Long-tailed Tits (10+)
Numerous Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue Tits. Hard to get an exact count as most were high up in the wood.
2 Nuthatches
1 Jay, 6 Magpies, 7 Jackdaws, 13 Carrion Crows
5 Starlings
5 Chaffinches, 23 Goldfinches, 4 Siskins, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Bullfinches

8.40am to 12.05pm. Good passage of thrushes and Cheetham Close sheltering me from the worst of the wind kept me here all morning.

Very windy on Turton Golf Course. Not been much showing all week and today no different. I did have a flock of 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over.

Out of the wind the field between the course & Turton Tower had lots of birds :-
20+ Black-headed Gulls, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 40+ Redwings, 3 Fieldfares, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 50+ Jackdaws, numerous Magpies & Carrion Crows, 10 Starlings.

The next field heading towards The Bungalow also had lots of corvids, which now included Rooks as well.
Up by the barn I found a flock of 30+ Fieldfares, a Stonechat, a Dunnock, a Robin, a Meadow Pipit, & a Jay.
A Raven flew over and later on a mate saw 2 Buzzards flying over this area.

Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road :-
1 Kestrel, 1 Snipe, 5 Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Wren, 2 Blackbirds, 10 Fieldfares, 2 Redwings, 1 Mistle Thrush, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Magpies, 2 Jays, 4 Carrion Crows, 7 Starlings, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinches.

Turton Tower very quiet, only a Goldcrest and a few common birds until I came across a flock of Long-tailed Tits with a Treecreeper & a couple of Nuthatches.

Nothing much at Turton Tower or the golf course this morning (a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the latter the best I could do), until I heard a skein of Greylags heading my way. They came into view coming from the direction of Wayoh.
Easy to count 34 birds which were right above me before veering off to the right which took them over to Egerton.
Easily my highest local count of Greylags.

7.50am to 11.15am. All areas of Turton Golf Course & Hazelhurst Wood checked, but fairly quiet even with hardly any wind for a change.

3 Pheasants
2 Moorhens
12 Black-headed Gulls
3 Woodpigeons
2 Meadow Pipits
6 Pied Wagtails
10 Wrens
1 Dunnock
9 Robins
9 Blackbirds
26 Fieldfares
1 Redwing
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Goldcrest
3 Coal Tits
2 Great Tits
6 Blue Tits
2 Nuthatches
12 Magpies
8 Jackdaws
11 Carrion Crows
14 Starlings
16 Chaffinches
1 Greenfinch
18 Goldfinches
2 Siskins
11 Lesser Redpolls
4 Bullfinches

A couple of Redwings at Turton Tower & c35 Fieldfares over the golf course this morning.

7.10am to 9.50am around Turton Golf Course.
Lovely and sunny up here this morning (misty lower down on Jumbles) which was needed to count 4 passing flocks of Fieldfares all heading south over Bromley Cross (30+, 120+, 100+, & about 75 in the last one)
Also a few Redwings in a couple of the flocks.

Birds on the course :-
1 Kestrel, 8 Pheasants, 2 Moorhens,
12 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over,
12 Woodpigeons
6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, 7 Wrens, 1 Dunnock, 20 Robins,
10 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, 3 Redwings, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrushes,
3 Goldcrests, 20+ Long-tailed Tits, 6 Coal Tits, 2 Great Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 3 Nuthatches, 1 Treecreeper,
3 Jays, 6 Magpies, 7 Jackdaws, 1 Rook, 12 Carrion Crows,
14 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, 12 Goldfinches, 3 Siskins, 2 Bullfinches,
1 Reed Bunting.

Forgot to mention a Raven & a flock of 5 Rooks flying over the course

Birds on Turton Golf Course this morning included :-

1 Grey Heron
3 Moorhens
1f Sparrowhawk in the bottom of Hazelhurst Wood
1 Buzzard flying over used the strong breeze to hover for a while
3 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Skylark
7 Meadow Pipits
3 Pied Wagtails
1 Chiffchaff
2 Nuthatches
1 Treecreeper
A few of the usual finch species, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Bullfinch

7.20am to 9.40am around Turton Golf Course.
Mostly the same species as last time, but not as many birds.

Highlight was a Raven flying over.

Others included :-
2 Fieldfares
1 Redwing
1 Chiffchaff
5 Goldcrests (still checking them in the hope of a Firecrest)
71 Goldfinches

7.40am to 11.25am around Turton Golf Course and Hazelhurst Wood.

1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
5 Pheasants
4 Moorhens
1 Snipe
7 Black-headed Gulls
6 Woodpigeons
2 Skylarks flying over
6 Meadow Pipits
6 Pied Wagtails
9 Wrens
1 Dunnock
19 Robins
9 Blackbirds
12 Fieldfares which included a flock of 9 flying over heading east
4 Redwings
1 Song Thrush
1 Chiffchaff
10+ Goldcrests. 9 of them on the course + a few high up in Hazelhurst Wood
2 flocks of Long-tailed Tits (25+)
8 Coal Tits
6 Great Tits
12 Blue Tits
1 Nuthatch
5 Jays
4 Magpies
8 Jackdaws
12 Carrion Crows
1 Starling
15 Chaffinches
7 Greenfinches
8 Goldfinches
4 Siskins
1 Lesser Redpoll
8 Bullfinches
2 Reed Buntings

7.15am start at Turton Golf Course, just coming light with a very strong wind.

Not much about to start with apart from the 4 Moorhens sheltering from the very strong easterly wind on the ponds. Normally at first light they are on the fairway.
Usual early morning passage of Lesser Black-backed Gulls made up today of 10 birds.

It soon became evident that it was not good for small birds, but by the top half of the course on the county boundary I had a female Stonechat and two Reed Buntings.

From about 8am for about half an hour numerous flocks of Redwings flew in from Egerton, some making a brief stop, before heading E or NE.
Flocks were :- 2, 17, 28 (with 8 Fieldfares), 9, 21, 60+, & 2.
A later flock was 35 at 8.50am.

The wind dropped as the morning went on so after a wander past Clough House Farm (just a few Meadow Pipits & a Nuthatch) I went back to the golf course.
No more Redwings after the early rush but at least there were some smaller birds about but just the usual stuff.

Some other golf course sightings :-
1 Sparrowhawk, 12 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Meadow Pipits, 5 Pied Wagtails, 10 Blackbirds, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, a few Goldcrests.
Only single figure counts of all the finch species present.