Pendlebury Lane near viaduct, at least 3 young Green Woodpeckers calling, parents going absolutly frantic at one point near to one youngster, which drew my attention to them. 5 young manderin on Dougy doing well female blackcap young long tailed and blue tits in area buzzard heard Insect repellent a good idea in this area
sennicar lane swallows feeding young skylark goldfinch
Ian Woosey said
Mon Jun 22 9:06 PM, 2009
22/6/09 Evening stroll
Raven over Sennicar Lane, 2 Buzzards over Golf Course, Common Tern along canal, Yellowhammer near Shedfield Bridge.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk.
Paul Risley said
Sun Jun 21 5:40 PM, 2009
Plantations Sparrowhawk has young, droppings appearing on branches and below nest, female with food nearby,
River Douglas near 64 steps pair of Dippers with 3 very noisy young
Sennicar Lane 3 Buzzards 2 Curlew Skylark singing first I've seen for a while Male Kestrel Green Woodpecker heard
Paul Risley said
Tue Jun 16 11:50 PM, 2009
Water treatment ponds
pair of Coots with 1 youngster 2nd pool Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting both singing in 1st wetland area pair of Reed Buntings carrying food in 2nd wetland area Green Woodpecker heard
Canal nr Dairy pit
4 young Swallows Yellowhammer singing Kestrel over
Paul Risley said
Sat Jun 13 7:35 PM, 2009
douglas valley near thornhill viaduct.
Female Manderin with 5 young now, managed to get a photo of them near viaduct, after searching all up and down the valley for them
female Mallard with 5 young 2 Willow tits (watched for a while, no sign of any young or breeding activity) Dipper attacked by a Moorhen when it went under water then Moorhen tried to stalk it again, dipper seemed to have an injured foot Buzzard over Kingfisher Blackcap Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff looking like its anting itself, never seen them doing this before, got a few pics will try to upload one plenty long tailed tits and blue tits, young Robins, Blackbirds and Magpies in area
Paul Risley said
Mon Jun 8 7:50 PM, 2009
Sadly found the remains of one of the young Green Woodpeckers underneath the nesthole tonight, not sure what was resonsible for taking it. no sign of other young but didnt look for to long. one of adults seen nearby other sightings, Tawny Owl being mobbed by blackbirds. Female Sparrowhawk in nest area chasing Jay, no droppings under nest yet but big increase in prey remains on plucking posts. Bullfinch
Paul Risley said
Sat Jun 6 7:13 PM, 2009
good walk around the country park today in poor conditions. Got drenched but well worth it
1 Reed Warbler and 2 Reed buntings singing at water treatment ponds male Bullfinch also there as well as a few willow warblers
lady mabels, heard a solitary cuckoo call, couldnt locate it and didnt hear it again, discounting it for time being as jays around here are brilliant mimics an have done me before mimicing buzzards and Tawny Owls 2 singing Reed Buntings 2 singing Whitethroats
canal 2 Mute Swans with 6 cygnets, "were did these come from" family party of wrens family party G.S. Woodpeckers Kestrel over golf coarse
Plantations moorhen on nest Sparrowhawk tail visible on nest best of all 2 young Green Woodpeckers being fed in nest and another one already fledged, got a couple of good photo's couple of fox cubs
Ian Woosey said
Fri Jun 5 11:22 AM, 2009
Late post for yesterday, 4/6/09
Garden Warbler along the canal near Basin Quay, 3 Buzzards - Lady Mabels/Thorn Hill area, 2 Sand Martins over Sennicar Lane, Common Tern flying along the canal.
Fledged youngsters of the following seen from various areas ;
Nuthatch, Whitethroat, Pied Wagtail, Blue Tit, Jackdaw, Magpie.
Judith Smith said
Sun May 31 9:06 PM, 2009
Well done Paul, finding those Mandarin chicks.
Paul Risley said
Sun May 31 7:02 PM, 2009
Douglas Valley near thornhill viaduct
female Manderin with 8 small young on river douglas Coal tit and Great tits feeding fledged young Treecreeper Nuthatch Blackcap G S Woodpecker
Paul Risley said
Sat May 30 4:03 PM, 2009
Aspull sough water treatment ponds, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 singing on each of the reedbeds. 2 pairs of reed buntings on 2 different reedbeds young moorhen on 1st treatment pond Also while walking around 1st treatment pond, near main gates came across what looks like a Sparrowhawk kill against the fence, found some small gold/orange breast feathers and was initally thinking possibly Goldfinch, then spotted some azure blue wing and back feathers and realised it was kingfisher Whitethroat, good numbers willow warblers good numbers of butterfly's
canal bridge, 4 Willow tits flew over canal, more about pair of Yellowhammers flew over Greenfinch heard singing family party of Goldfinch over
Almost forgot 12 young mallard on canal doing well
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Saturday 30th of May 2009 04:12:25 PM
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun May 24 3:13 PM, 2009
This Morning 2 Garden Warblers nr Basin Along the Canal Willow Tit Feeding Young Chiffchaff Feeding Young Goldfinch Feeding Young Mallard with 11 Ducklings
Cheers Jimmy
Paul Risley said
Sat May 23 4:44 PM, 2009
slow, short walk through this afternoon revealed Tree Creeper feeding fledged young, impossible to count how many as they were all in tree tops and kept moving 2 different G.S. Woodpecker nests with young, always easy to locate because of the noise they make. Great tit and blue tits both feeding young in nests green woodpecker reported
Rob Thorpe said
Sun May 17 2:15 PM, 2009
a Lesser Whitethroat singing along Riley Lane today. Info thanks to Terry Thorpe.
Paul Risley said
Sat May 9 5:22 PM, 2009
male Sparrowhawk carrying small prey item and calling in nest area Buzzard on ground, middle of field male Manderin on canal with Mallards single Mute Swan young Long Tailed Tits ready for leaving well camoflaged and difficult to see nest pr of Goldfinches good numbers of usuall stuff
Dave Tennant said
Sat May 9 9:01 AM, 2009
A pair of whimbrel flying over meadow pit lane near little scotland 8am.
Rob Thorpe said
Sun May 3 2:47 PM, 2009
Saturday 02 May 2009
2 Wheatear and a Curlew off Pendlebury Lane.
Paul Risley said
Sat May 2 12:36 PM, 2009
9am - 12 fem Sparrowhawk leaving remains of juv Blackbird Buzzard, longest angled stoop I have seen from over canal bridge (one on main path through haigh hall) to behind the rugby union club were I lost sight of it pair of manderin, courtship display on pond just over canal bridge
lady mabels woods and fields to senniar lane,
3 pheasants calling male Kestrel 4 Goldfinches pair whitethroats good numbers of willow warblers 3 poss 4 male reed buntings singing bullfinch sadly no skylarks heard here in what was once a hotbed for them and same on local patch, fields near lower house farm
Paul Risley said
Tue Apr 28 4:23 PM, 2009
Lower House Farm mid afternoon great view of a fox coming across field towards me, got to about 15 metres as I hid behind fence no slgn of Lapwings that were there the other night, possibly due to above sighting but fields also attract good numbers of corvids.
Canal nr Basin pond 1 male Manderin 3 singing willow warblers 2 Canada Geese
Lady mabels wood 2 singing Reed Buntings pair of Whitethroats pheasant
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 07:40:12 PM
Paul Risley said
Tue Apr 21 11:42 PM, 2009
Lapwing displaying over fields, lower house farm, last year they appeared here about same time after nest failed in fields around senicar lane, Green woodpecker again heard but not located
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 30th of April 2009 05:17:35 PM
Paul Risley said
Sat Apr 18 4:31 PM, 2009
1 to 4pm lower and upper plantations
checked last years sparrowhawk territory, new nest being built in area and a plucking post located, prey items include blue and great tit, sparrow, male blackbird and wood pigeon. moorhen on nest in pond near hall lane pair of jackdaws inspecting nest hole and male taking food and feeding female after in nearby tree. good numbers of usuall stuff
pendlebury lane 3 Blackcaps, 2m 1f. males both singing and fighting Bullfinch Greenwoodpecker very vocal f Sparrowhawk
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Saturday 18th of April 2009 05:34:27 PM
Ian Woosey said
Sat Apr 18 12:24 PM, 2009
18/4/09 am
Little change from yesterday evening, unsurprisingly, though the Wheatear must have moved on and the Curlew wasn`t evident.
The drake Mandarin was perched high up in a tree along the canal, and the 2 Buzzards were roaming wide all morning. These birds must soar all over Wigan, as I watched them drift over Whitley, Boars Head, Whelley and New Springs. They were last seen displaying over Thorn Hill, at which point they were intercepted by a Sparrowhawk and seperated.....
Whitethroat, 2 House Martins, f Blackcap, Treecreeper, Stock Doves, 6+ Swallows, Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs aplenty.
Ian Woosey said
Fri Apr 17 8:29 PM, 2009
17/4/09 Evening
2 Mandarin (pr) on canal between Hall Lane Bridge & Sennicar Lane Bridge,
2 Buzzard, one being mobbed over Golf Course and the other over WRUFC Club House,
Rothwell Farm/Sennicar Lane :
f Wheatear, Curlew, 2 Snipe, Skylark, Pied Wagtail.
8 Lesser Redpoll in Lady Mabel Wood,
Kestrel Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, handfulls of Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting.
Paul Risley said
Sun Apr 12 6:41 PM, 2009
Buzzard doing territorial display flight interupted by mobbing Kestrel Sparrowhawk soaring up Green Woodpecker heard G.S. Woodpecker excavating nest hole 8 Jackdaws male manderin sat in tree on Hall lane, no sign of female or tree hole
Ian Woosey said
Thu Apr 9 8:33 PM, 2009
Thanks guys for the info Knowing a local birds history always adds a bit of interest...........
Steve Christmas said
Thu Apr 9 11:06 AM, 2009
Hi Ian,
This was ringed as an adult male in Sept 2005 at Healey Nab, near Chorley.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Apr 9 10:25 AM, 2009
Ian Woosey wrote:
Mute Swan (SLI). As this was sat on the canal bank I could read its metal ring as well as its darvic - W19690...........does anyone know whether this is a BTO ring or a British Museum one (which I`m sure I`ve read about somewhere) ?
The metal ring will be BTO. You can report sightings of BTO rings via the website www.bto.org. The darvic will be NW Swan Study - if it was blue with white letters. Steve Christmas will be able to tell you its origins. Send him a private message if he doesn't read this post.
Cheers, Steve
Ian Woosey said
Thu Apr 9 10:10 AM, 2009
9/4/09 Early am
2 Mandarin (pr) on canal @ Shedfield Bridge,
Oystercatcher over, heading SE (to the Flashes no doubt),
2 Curlews still present in fields between Sennicar Ln & Pendlebury Ln.
Mute Swan (SLI). As this was sat on the canal bank I could read its metal ring as well as its darvic - W19690...........does anyone know whether this is a BTO ring or a British Museum one (which I`m sure I`ve read about somewhere) ?
Paul Risley said
Sun Apr 5 8:06 PM, 2009
Lower Plantations, mid afternoon: 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 male 1 female in different locations single Pairs of Coal Tits, Goldcrests, Tree Creepers and L.T. Tits Tawney Owl heard nearby but not located good numbers of Chiffchaff, Nuthatches and Blue and Great Tits Heron over water treatment ponds
Ian Woosey said
Sat Apr 4 6:13 PM, 2009
4/4/09 Late afternoon
Not much to report, but it keeps me occupied..............
Whelley Loop Line & Dairy Pit :
2 Buzzards (one over Aspull Sough and the other over Higher Lane).
Water treatment ponds to shedfield bridge Willow tit (1st for a while for me) Raven over fields walked round fields listening for Partridge calling but no luck
Ian Woosey said
Sun Mar 29 1:36 PM, 2009
29/3/09 am
Met up with Jimmy Meadows for a morning mooch, hoping for a fly-over Osprey ...............it didn`t happen, but at least we had some raptors to keep us interested -
3 displaying Buzzards and 3 displaying Kestrels in the air together over Shedfield Bridge, 2 displaying Sparrowhawks and another Buzzard over Thorn Hill.
2 Mandarins (pr) flew over the canal near Hall Lane.
Small numbers of Chiffchaff and the usual woodland stuff.........
Ian Woosey said
Fri Mar 20 1:45 PM, 2009
20/3/09 am
2 Mandarin (pr) over River Douglas @ Thorn Hill,
2 Buzzards & 2 Sparrowhawks over Thorn Hill. Another Buzzard (or one of same two ?) later on over Upper Plantations.
whelley loop line long tailed tits pair of bullfinch song thrush, (regularly see up to 5 individuals singing on stretch from behind canon sharples school to ashbourne avenue exit)
water treatment ponds 5 moorhens sparrowhawk over and kestrel over fields
lower plantations 2 coal tits 2 goldcreasts good numbers blue and great tits and plenty nuthatches calling
leeds liverpool canal pair mute swans large male mink, sat on other side sunning itself as bold as brass, first time in ages I didnt have my camara with me
Ian Woosey said
Tue Mar 17 9:06 PM, 2009
Aye pal, that would be about reet. They were circling, calling, and generally mooching about (maybe even displaying ?) all the time I was out....
My mother has seen two of them over her house in Whelley this afternoon...........Beltin`
dave broome said
Tue Mar 17 8:16 PM, 2009
Ian Woosey wrote:
16/3/09 pm
3 Buzzards circling over Aspull Sough
Out of curiosity Ian, I could see 3 Buzzards roughly in that area, looking from Wigan town centre at about 1:45pm yesterday, was that when you had them?
-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 17th of March 2009 08:17:13 PM
Ian Woosey said
Mon Mar 16 3:09 PM, 2009
16/3/09 pm
Pair of Mandarin on the Basin,
3 Buzzards circling over Aspull Sough & 2 Sparrowhawks displaying. 2 Siskin on Whelley Loop.
Sorry for the delay in posting this but yesterday, the 12th, Jean and I had a pair of peregrines, one (the female?) significantly larger than the other, drifting west across the fields below the canal near Sennicar Lane. Didn't appear to be hunting, probably just moving through.
Ian Woosey said
Fri Mar 13 3:12 PM, 2009
13/3/09 am
3 Curlew, 20 Common Gulls, 4 Skylark, and 6 Lapwings in fields off Sennicar Lane.
Willow Tit near Shedfield Bridge, 2 Treecreepers & 2 Stock Doves near Hall Lane Bridge, and 2 Mute Swans on the Basin (one of them wearing blue Darvic SLI).
2 Kestrels and a handful of singing Reed Buntings in Lady Mabel`s Wood.
Jimmy Meadows said
Thu Mar 12 4:47 PM, 2009
This Morning Pr Mandarins off one of the little pools Pr Mute Swans in the Basin 1 Buzzard
Cheers Jimmy
Jimmy Meadows said
Sat Feb 28 6:56 PM, 2009
walk round the area this morning 2 Grey Heron off a little pool in the woods Pr Mute Swan on the Basin one had Blue Darvic Ring SLI Lady Mabels Wood 1 Meally Redpoll with 7 Lesser Redpolls 3 Singing Reed Buntings also 1 singing at the Golf Course side 8 Lapwings in fields farther up from the wood and singing Skylark Curlew over calling Green Woodpecker calling from the old railway line Pendlebury Lane 1 Tree Sparrow in the bushes nr the houses then flew towards Samuel Folds Cottage Dipper on the Douglas bottom of 64 Steps Wingates Lane Pr Mandarin on Douglas opp WRU Club Entrance
Hall Lane Feeding station 4 Reed Bunting
Also lots of Nuthatch in the Plantations calling and 2 GS Woodpeckers
plus all usual suspects
Jimmy
Paul Risley said
Mon Feb 16 6:41 PM, 2009
42 Magpies flying into roost, woodland just north of whelley loop line, another pair roosting together behind canon sharples school. Buzzard over as well
Paul Risley said
Fri Feb 6 7:55 PM, 2009
Evening walk from whelley loop line to canal produced, Buzzard, Kestrel, 20+ Magpies, 8 Mallards, 4 Moorhens and highlight for me was 1 possibly 2 Grey Partridge calling, amazing how these birds cling on here.
fred fouracre said
Fri Nov 21 2:50 PM, 2008
lots of birds at hall lane feeding station today.magpies,jays,blackbirds,1 great spot,1 nuthatch,1 reed bunting,greenfiches,chaffinches,great,blue and coal tits,robins,dunnocks and 2 grey squirrels.
Paul Risley said
Sat Nov 15 5:07 PM, 2008
Hall Lane feeding station. Good numbers of Chaffinch, Gt and Blue tits, 2 coal tits, Goldcreast.
sennicar lane, grey wagtail, fieldfare
basin qauy, 3 manderin, 20+ Mallard,
canal, 11 canada geese, kingfisher
Paul Risley said
Mon Nov 3 7:40 PM, 2008
2 woodcock over lower house farm this evening plus 20 redwings over fox mouching in field got to within 30 feet before it saw me and back tracked
Ian Woosey said
Wed Oct 22 5:04 PM, 2008
22/10/08 p.m.
60 Pink-footed Geese over NW @ 14:45
drk Mandarin on the Basin Quay, Willow Tit nr. Shedfield Bridge, Kingfisher along canal, 2 Sparowhawks, Kestrel, 2 Goldcrests, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Small numbers of Mistle Thrushes and Redwings.
Paul Risley said
Mon Oct 13 12:21 AM, 2008
whelley loop line/ water treatment ponds kestrel 3 bullfinches Goldfinches large flock of tits 20+ magpies good numbers of jays Albino squirrel reported
senicar lane family groups of goldfinches + L T Tits pair of Bullfinches pair greenfinches
pendlebury lane quick look for tree sparrows but none seen
basin qauy male manderin 16 mallard
Ian Woosey said
Thu Sep 11 6:34 PM, 2008
11/9/08 Late afternoon
2 Buzzards over Whelley Loop Line, f. Mandarin at Basin Quay, Kingfisher along canal near Hall Lane bridge.
at least 3 young Green Woodpeckers calling, parents going absolutly frantic at one point near to one youngster, which drew my attention to them.
5 young manderin on Dougy doing well
female blackcap
young long tailed and blue tits in area
buzzard heard
Insect repellent a good idea in this area
sennicar lane
swallows feeding young
skylark
goldfinch
Raven over Sennicar Lane,
2 Buzzards over Golf Course,
Common Tern along canal,
Yellowhammer near Shedfield Bridge.
Great Spotted Woodpecker,
Skylark,
Kestrel,
Sparrowhawk.
Sparrowhawk has young, droppings appearing on branches and below nest, female with food nearby,
River Douglas near 64 steps
pair of Dippers with 3 very noisy young
Sennicar Lane
3 Buzzards
2 Curlew
Skylark singing first I've seen for a while
Male Kestrel
Green Woodpecker heard
pair of Coots with 1 youngster 2nd pool
Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting both singing in 1st wetland area
pair of Reed Buntings carrying food in 2nd wetland area
Green Woodpecker heard
Canal nr Dairy pit
4 young Swallows
Yellowhammer singing
Kestrel over
Female Manderin with 5 young now, managed to get a photo of them near viaduct, after searching all up and down the valley for them
female Mallard with 5 young
2 Willow tits (watched for a while, no sign of any young or breeding activity)
Dipper attacked by a Moorhen when it went under water then Moorhen tried to stalk it again, dipper seemed to have an injured foot
Buzzard over
Kingfisher
Blackcap
Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff looking like its anting itself, never seen them doing this before, got a few pics will try to upload one
plenty long tailed tits and blue tits, young Robins, Blackbirds and Magpies in area
other sightings, Tawny Owl being mobbed by blackbirds.
Female Sparrowhawk in nest area chasing Jay, no droppings under nest yet but big increase in prey remains on plucking posts.
Bullfinch
1 Reed Warbler and 2 Reed buntings singing at water treatment ponds
male Bullfinch also there as well as a few willow warblers
lady mabels, heard a solitary cuckoo call, couldnt locate it and didnt hear it again, discounting it for time being as jays around here are brilliant mimics an have done me before mimicing buzzards and Tawny Owls
2 singing Reed Buntings
2 singing Whitethroats
canal
2 Mute Swans with 6 cygnets, "were did these come from"
family party of wrens
family party G.S. Woodpeckers
Kestrel over golf coarse
Plantations
moorhen on nest
Sparrowhawk tail visible on nest
best of all 2 young Green Woodpeckers being fed in nest and another one already fledged, got a couple of good photo's
couple of fox cubs
Garden Warbler along the canal near Basin Quay,
3 Buzzards - Lady Mabels/Thorn Hill area,
2 Sand Martins over Sennicar Lane,
Common Tern flying along the canal.
Fledged youngsters of the following seen from various areas ;
Nuthatch,
Whitethroat,
Pied Wagtail,
Blue Tit,
Jackdaw,
Magpie.
female Manderin with 8 small young on river douglas
Coal tit and Great tits feeding fledged young
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Blackcap
G S Woodpecker
3 Reed Warblers, 1 singing on each of the reedbeds.
2 pairs of reed buntings on 2 different reedbeds
young moorhen on 1st treatment pond
Also while walking around 1st treatment pond, near main gates came across what looks like a Sparrowhawk kill against the fence, found some small gold/orange breast feathers and was initally thinking possibly Goldfinch, then spotted some azure blue wing and back feathers and realised it was kingfisher
Whitethroat,
good numbers willow warblers
good numbers of butterfly's
canal bridge,
4 Willow tits flew over canal, more about
pair of Yellowhammers flew over
Greenfinch heard singing
family party of Goldfinch over
Almost forgot 12 young mallard on canal doing well
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Saturday 30th of May 2009 04:12:25 PM
2 Garden Warblers nr Basin
Along the Canal
Willow Tit Feeding Young
Chiffchaff Feeding Young
Goldfinch Feeding Young
Mallard with 11 Ducklings
Cheers Jimmy
Tree Creeper feeding fledged young, impossible to count how many as they were all in tree tops and kept moving
2 different G.S. Woodpecker nests with young, always easy to locate because of the noise they make.
Great tit and blue tits both feeding young in nests
green woodpecker reported
Buzzard on ground, middle of field
male Manderin on canal with Mallards
single Mute Swan
young Long Tailed Tits ready for leaving well camoflaged and difficult to see nest
pr of Goldfinches
good numbers of usuall stuff
2 Wheatear and a Curlew off Pendlebury Lane.
fem Sparrowhawk leaving remains of juv Blackbird
Buzzard, longest angled stoop I have seen from over canal bridge (one on main path through haigh hall) to behind the rugby union club were I lost sight of it
pair of manderin, courtship display on pond just over canal bridge
lady mabels woods and fields to senniar lane,
3 pheasants calling
male Kestrel
4 Goldfinches
pair whitethroats
good numbers of willow warblers
3 poss 4 male reed buntings singing
bullfinch
sadly no skylarks heard here in what was once a hotbed for them and same on local patch, fields near lower house farm
mid afternoon
great view of a fox coming across field towards me, got to about 15 metres as I hid behind fence
no slgn of Lapwings that were there the other night, possibly due to above sighting but fields also attract good numbers of corvids.
Canal nr Basin pond
1 male Manderin
3 singing willow warblers
2 Canada Geese
Lady mabels wood
2 singing Reed Buntings
pair of Whitethroats
pheasant
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 07:40:12 PM
Lapwing displaying over fields, lower house farm, last year they appeared here about same time after nest failed in fields around senicar lane,
Green woodpecker again heard but not located
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 30th of April 2009 05:17:35 PM
lower and upper plantations
checked last years sparrowhawk territory, new nest being built in area and a plucking post located, prey items include blue and great tit, sparrow, male blackbird and wood pigeon.
moorhen on nest in pond near hall lane
pair of jackdaws inspecting nest hole and male taking food and feeding female after in nearby tree.
good numbers of usuall stuff
pendlebury lane
3 Blackcaps, 2m 1f. males both singing and fighting
Bullfinch
Greenwoodpecker very vocal
f Sparrowhawk
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Saturday 18th of April 2009 05:34:27 PM
Little change from yesterday evening, unsurprisingly, though the Wheatear must have moved on and the Curlew wasn`t evident.
The drake Mandarin was perched high up in a tree along the canal, and the 2 Buzzards were roaming wide all morning. These birds must soar all over Wigan, as I watched them drift over Whitley, Boars Head, Whelley and New Springs. They were last seen displaying over Thorn Hill, at which point they were intercepted by a Sparrowhawk and seperated.....
Whitethroat,
2 House Martins,
f Blackcap,
Treecreeper,
Stock Doves,
6+ Swallows,
Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs aplenty.
2 Mandarin (pr) on canal between Hall Lane Bridge & Sennicar Lane Bridge,
2 Buzzard, one being mobbed over Golf Course and the other over WRUFC Club House,
Rothwell Farm/Sennicar Lane :
f Wheatear,
Curlew,
2 Snipe,
Skylark,
Pied Wagtail.
8 Lesser Redpoll in Lady Mabel Wood,
Kestrel
Great Spotted Woodpecker,
Coal Tit,
handfulls of Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler,
Reed Bunting.
Sparrowhawk soaring up
Green Woodpecker heard
G.S. Woodpecker excavating nest hole
8 Jackdaws
male manderin sat in tree on Hall lane, no sign of female or tree hole
This was ringed as an adult male in Sept 2005 at Healey Nab, near Chorley.
The metal ring will be BTO. You can report sightings of BTO rings via the website www.bto.org. The darvic will be NW Swan Study - if it was blue with white letters. Steve Christmas will be able to tell you its origins. Send him a private message if he doesn't read this post.
Cheers, Steve
2 Mandarin (pr) on canal @ Shedfield Bridge,
Oystercatcher over, heading SE (to the Flashes no doubt),
2 Curlews still present in fields between Sennicar Ln & Pendlebury Ln.
3 Willow Warblers (my first )
3 Swallows,
many Chiffchaffs
4 Stock Doves,
Kestrel,
Sparrowhawk,
3 Nuthatch,
Bullfinch,
3 Reed Bunting.
Mute Swan (SLI). As this was sat on the canal bank I could read its metal ring as well as its darvic - W19690...........does anyone know whether this is a BTO ring or a British Museum one (which I`m sure I`ve read about somewhere) ?
2 Sparrowhawks, 1 male 1 female in different locations
single Pairs of Coal Tits, Goldcrests, Tree Creepers and L.T. Tits
Tawney Owl heard nearby but not located
good numbers of Chiffchaff, Nuthatches and Blue and Great Tits
Heron over water treatment ponds
Not much to report, but it keeps me occupied..............
Whelley Loop Line & Dairy Pit :
2 Buzzards (one over Aspull Sough and the other over Higher Lane).
Willow Tit,
3 Chiffchaff,
Kestrel,
4 Coal Tit,
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker,
2 Stock Dove.
2 Curlews displaying at Rothwells Farm, Sennicar Lane,
2 Mandarin (pr) over Lady Mabel`s, heading towards the canal,
2 Buzzards soaring over the Lower Plantations,
2 Swallows over Aspull Sough,
Kestrel,
2 Stock Dove,
Skylark,
Coal Tit,
Mute Swan (SLI).
Whelley loop line,
Greenfinch
Song Thrush
Water treatment ponds to shedfield bridge
Willow tit (1st for a while for me)
Raven over fields
walked round fields listening for Partridge calling but no luck
Met up with Jimmy Meadows for a morning mooch, hoping for a fly-over Osprey ...............it didn`t happen, but at least we had some raptors to keep us interested -
3 displaying Buzzards and 3 displaying Kestrels in the air together over Shedfield Bridge,
2 displaying Sparrowhawks and another Buzzard over Thorn Hill.
2 Mandarins (pr) flew over the canal near Hall Lane.
Small numbers of Chiffchaff and the usual woodland stuff.........
2 Mandarin (pr) over River Douglas @ Thorn Hill,
2 Buzzards & 2 Sparrowhawks over Thorn Hill. Another Buzzard (or one of same two ?) later on over Upper Plantations.
Single Tree Sparrow along Pendlebury Lane.
2 Grey Wagtail,
Skylark,
4 Meadow Pipit,
2 Redwing,
4 Bullfinch,
Goldcrest.
long tailed tits
pair of bullfinch
song thrush, (regularly see up to 5 individuals singing on stretch from
behind canon sharples school to ashbourne avenue exit)
water treatment ponds
5 moorhens
sparrowhawk over and kestrel over fields
lower plantations
2 coal tits
2 goldcreasts
good numbers blue and great tits
and plenty nuthatches calling
leeds liverpool canal
pair mute swans
large male mink, sat on other side sunning itself as bold as brass, first time
in ages I didnt have my camara with me
My mother has seen two of them over her house in Whelley this afternoon...........Beltin`
-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 17th of March 2009 08:17:13 PM
Pair of Mandarin on the Basin,
3 Buzzards circling over Aspull Sough & 2 Sparrowhawks displaying.
2 Siskin on Whelley Loop.
Grey Wagtail,
Treecreeper,
Skylark,
Stock Dove,
Kestrel.
3 Curlew, 20 Common Gulls, 4 Skylark, and 6 Lapwings in fields off Sennicar Lane.
Willow Tit near Shedfield Bridge, 2 Treecreepers & 2 Stock Doves near Hall Lane Bridge, and 2 Mute Swans on the Basin (one of them wearing blue Darvic SLI).
2 Kestrels and a handful of singing Reed Buntings in Lady Mabel`s Wood.
Pr Mandarins off one of the little pools
Pr Mute Swans in the Basin
1 Buzzard
Cheers Jimmy
2 Grey Heron off a little pool in the woods
Pr Mute Swan on the Basin one had Blue Darvic Ring SLI
Lady Mabels Wood
1 Meally Redpoll with 7 Lesser Redpolls
3 Singing Reed Buntings also 1 singing at the Golf Course side
8 Lapwings in fields farther up from the wood and singing Skylark
Curlew over calling
Green Woodpecker calling from the old railway line
Pendlebury Lane
1 Tree Sparrow in the bushes nr the houses then flew towards Samuel Folds Cottage
Dipper on the Douglas bottom of 64 Steps
Wingates Lane
Pr Mandarin on Douglas opp WRU Club Entrance
Hall Lane Feeding station
4 Reed Bunting
Also lots of Nuthatch in the Plantations calling and 2 GS Woodpeckers
plus all usual suspects
Jimmy
Buzzard,
Kestrel,
20+ Magpies,
8 Mallards,
4 Moorhens
and highlight for me was 1 possibly 2 Grey Partridge calling, amazing how these birds cling on here.
Good numbers of Chaffinch, Gt and Blue tits, 2 coal tits, Goldcreast.
sennicar lane, grey wagtail, fieldfare
basin qauy, 3 manderin, 20+ Mallard,
canal, 11 canada geese, kingfisher
plus 20 redwings over
fox mouching in field got to within 30 feet before it saw me and back tracked
60 Pink-footed Geese over NW @ 14:45
drk Mandarin on the Basin Quay,
Willow Tit nr. Shedfield Bridge,
Kingfisher along canal,
2 Sparowhawks, Kestrel, 2 Goldcrests, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Small numbers of Mistle Thrushes and Redwings.
kestrel
3 bullfinches
Goldfinches
large flock of tits
20+ magpies
good numbers of jays
Albino squirrel reported
senicar lane
family groups of goldfinches + L T Tits
pair of Bullfinches
pair greenfinches
pendlebury lane
quick look for tree sparrows but none seen
basin qauy
male manderin
16 mallard
2 Buzzards over Whelley Loop Line,
f. Mandarin at Basin Quay,
Kingfisher along canal near Hall Lane bridge.