BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Gordon Newman said
Sat Oct 3 12:20 PM, 2015
09.50-11.30 still foggy when I left but clearing slightly 4 Swallow SE Pink-footed Goose - a group flew over over NW directly above me but was unable to see them through fog 2 Chiffchaff 1 Great spotted Woodpecker - C5 60+ Goldfinch - C6 plenty of Pied Wagtail & Meadow Pipit moving around (none going South)
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Oct 3 8:30 AM, 2015
Early morning dog walk in thick fog, Blackbird, Robin and dunnock all foraging alongside path, great tit, magpie, wood pigeon, carrion crow, Diggle flash only birds I could see were 2 moorhen and 3 mallard up on the bank and a few coot close in,
Scott robinson said
Fri Oct 2 6:58 PM, 2015
Quick hour after work,
5 Siskin over 2 Jays 2 Buzzard 1 Water Rail, New Water 2 Mistle thrush 1 Raven C3 heading over towards Penny
Plus usual suspects
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Oct 2 9:18 AM, 2015
Morning dog walk- very foggy so restricted views especially across the flash, 1 pied wagtail, 5 blackbird, 3 dunnock, 2 Robin, 1 blue tit with 6 long tailed tit, 8 great tit, 1 reed bunting, 2 pheasant,2 meadow pipit, goldfinch could be heard across field but not seen, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, Diggle flash- coot, mute swan family,tufted duck,mallard, the kingfisher gave brief but good views from post neaest diggle flash on stock pond before flying low across the water presumably to its usual post on the other side but couldn't see that far through the fog,
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Oct 1 10:44 AM, 2015
morning dog walk 2 jay, 4 blackbird, 4 robin, 3 wren, 2 dunnock, small numbers great tit and goldfinch, 1 kestrel, 1 skylark, 5 reed bunting, 7 meadow pipit, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow, diggle flash- 37 coot, 12 tufted duck, 7 great crested grebe, 3 little grebe, 3 moorhen, 2 adult and 2 cygnet mute swan, 3 mallard, 1 lesser black backed gull and surprisingly no black headed gull,
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Sep 30 6:51 PM, 2015
Kingfisher showing well on stock pond @ 17-00, 2 common snipe from drainage ditch,
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Sep 30 10:31 AM, 2015
Morning dog walk 4 Jay,kestrel,sparrowhawk,2 skylark,7 meadow pipit,3 reed bunting,7 pheasant a family party of 6 +1 cock on opposite side of field, 2 small charms of goldfinch 9 + 7, mixed tit flock 8 long tailed,4 blue and 2 great tit, blackbird,wren,Robin,dunnock, brief glimpse of a warbler that I think was a chiffchaff, Diggle flash - 38 coot,23 tufted duck,5 great crested grebe, 3 little grebe, 2 mallard, 3 moorhen, 4 mute swan 2 adult, 2 cygnets,2 black headed gull, willow tit heard around stock pond area,
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Sep 29 1:05 PM, 2015
Late morning/ early afternoon dog walk C6 fir tree flash and surrounds- 14 coot,9 mallard,4 black headed gull,2 Canada geese,2 mute swan,2 moorhen,1 little grebe, c30 goldfinch, blue tit,great tit, siskin heard from island but not seen, C8-1 great spotted woodpecker, 7 meadow pipit, 1 skylark, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,2 Jay, C9 diggle flash- 37 coot,29 tufted duck, 7 black headed gull, 5 great crested grebe, 5 mallard,2 moorhen, 1 little grebe, blackbird,wren,Robin,
Gordon Newman said
Mon Sep 28 7:19 PM, 2015
25 Pied Wagtail flew over C6 & C5 towards Leigh @ 18.40
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Sep 28 5:09 PM, 2015
Morning dog walk Diggle flash- 42 coot,31 tufted duck,12 black headed gull,7 moorhen including 2 juvs, 6 great crested grebe,4 mallard,3 little grebe, 4 mute swan 2 adult 2 cygnets, Approx 25 goldfinch with 3 Linnet tagging along, 11 meadow pipit,2 reed bunting,1 pheasant, small numbers blue and great tit, 8 long tailed tit,1 dunnock, blackbird,Robin,magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon,
james hall said
Sun Sep 27 6:20 PM, 2015
between 11 and 3 this afternoon:
1 hobby! (first for me on the rucks flying high and stooping in between the path that leads from black ruck's to the scrap yard at bickershaw, managed get a distant shot of the red at the back. then headed south didnt manage to relocate massive flocks of goldfinch 30+ tufted duck 2 teal( fir tree) 3 little grebe 2 buzzard 3 kestrel loads of jay, robin,magpie
1 kingfisher at stock pond, then one on fir tree flash, hovering and fishing for about 5 minutes, i also managed to watch it head from fir tree back to the stock pond
low flying planes and motorbikes cause chaos all day
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of September 2015 06:27:36 PM
early morning dog walk again very misty over water and lower fields, 14 goldfinch, 8 long tailed tit, 1 chiffchaff, several robin, 4 blackbird, 6 dunnock, 2 wren, 4 blue tit, 11 great tit, 3 jay, 8 meadow pipit seen others heard, magpie, carrion croe, wood pigeon, 1 collared dove, diggle flash- coot,tufted duck, mute swan family, moorhen, mallard, 2 little grebe, great crested grebe, black headed gull,
Gordon Newman said
Sat Sep 26 1:28 PM, 2015
09.15-11.30 further sightings from this morning 1 Hobby perched in top of bush on edge of C8 then flew low and fast towards C10 and promptly lost to view as I was stood in C4 and was not able to relocate it. warbler sp skulking in undergrowth which called a couple of times which sounded similar to Whitethroat but different somehow, I didn't manage to see the bird frustratingly. 3 Chiffchaff plenty of Meadow Pipit about didn't count them but quite a few Pied Wagtail flying over in 1's & 2's
Morning dog walk thick mist over flash and lower fields, very atmospheric but restricted viewing especially over the water,
Diggle flash- mute swan family,coot,tufted duck,mallard,moorhen,great crested grebe,little grebe, 3 shoveler,black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, 4 Jay,1 jackdaw,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,great, long tailed and blue tit,goldfinch, meadow pipit only 3 seen but more could be heard,blackbird,dunnock,wren,Robin,
Scott robinson said
Fri Sep 25 9:12 PM, 2015
Not a lot to add to Bernards sightings this evening,
2 Linnet C8 2 Very noisy Jays C6 7 Reed Bunting 2 Goldcrest, 1 C6 and 1 C10 1 Cormorant, Fir Tree Flash 1 Willow tit C9
Plus usual suspects
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Sep 25 5:36 PM, 2015
Great views of a kestrel perched on a fence post devouring a field vole @ 16-10
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Sep 25 2:27 PM, 2015
morning dog walk diggle flash- kingfisher giving excellent views on stock pond the morning sun was really highlighting her colours, 39 coot, 16 tufted duck, 11 mallard, 8 great crested grebe, 7 moorhen, 5 little grebe the juvenile was diving for itself although parent bird was still close, 9 black headed gull, 4 mute swan 2 adult-2 cygnet, 6 grey partridge strolling down the old road behind scrapyards, 3 pheasant, c30 meadow pipit flocks of 11 and 7 plus singles, 2 x 2 and 2x3, 2 skylark, 20+ long tailed tit, 6 blue tit, several great tit, 4 goldfinch drinking from rain water puddles alongside several magpies, blackbird, robin,wren, dunnock, carrion crow, wood pigeon, 1 jay,
Scott robinson said
Thu Sep 24 7:40 PM, 2015
Mooch after work, Very Quiet
3 Redwing in C3 this evening 1 Water Rail heard only, Nevisons 1 Goldcrest 1 Kestrel
Plus usuals
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Sep 24 4:51 PM, 2015
06-25 this am 37 jackdaw over,usual great and blue tit, diggle flash- coot,tufted duck, mute swan,great crested grebe, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, little grebe, mallard, moorhen, hurried walk this morning due to morning appointments so didn't do any counting
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Sep 23 6:38 PM, 2015
Late afternoon/early evening a few birds to add to morning sightings 1 possibly 2 goldcrest, 1 cormorant over, 12 long tailed tit, 8 goldfinch, 3 shoveler on diggle flash,
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Sep 23 11:32 AM, 2015
1 juvenile whinchat, 11 meadow pipit, 2 reed bunting, 2 canada geese and 5 lesser black backed gull over, 1 cock pheasant, 1 jay, magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow, blackbird,robin,great tit, diggle flash- 1 canada goose soon chased off by mute swan family, 38 coot, 19 tufted duck, 5 mallard, 8 black headed gull, 8 great crested grebe, 4 moorhen, 5 little grebe 4 adult 1 juv,
Joel Tragen said
Wed Sep 23 7:49 AM, 2015
A late report for the 19th when I was helping red rose forest to maintain the grasslands. Firs wood flash 1 mute swan 1 grey heron 4 black headed gull And 1 man blasting who had been blasting wood pigeons out of the sky, I saw him packing his air rifle away in the car park right next to people's houses. If I saw him blasting them out of the sky I would have called the police because he was defiantly less than 50 yards from a road or public footpath
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Sep 22 1:36 PM, 2015
morning dog walk 7 great tit, 2 blue tit and 9 long tailed tit all in one flock, 4 goldfinch, blackbird, robin, 2 swallow, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon, diggle flash, 36 coot, 11 tufted duck, 7 great crested grebe, 5 little grebe 4 adult-1 juv, 4 mallard, 3 black headed gull, 2 adult 2 cygnet mute swan,
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Sep 21 7:25 PM, 2015
Thanks Bill, i was always under the impression the male little grebe didn't partake in the raising of the young, but i have done a bit of double checking and the rspb handbook of british birds also says both parents will feed the young, they are reasonably close so on second thoughts they probably are from the same brood.
Bill Myerscough said
Mon Sep 21 6:25 PM, 2015
Bernard McGurrin wrote: 4 adult 2 juv little grebe again each juv fed by different adult so presumably not from same brood,
Hi Bernard,
Pairs of Little Grebes can sometimes practice brood division with their young, especially as the young get older and more demanding. This involves each of the pair of adults taking responsibility for feeding 'their' juvenile(s) and often showing some aggression to young from their own brood that come begging for food that are being 'managed' by the other adult of the pair. I guess this may help the adults with the division of labours of bringing up their young and also the young probably benefit in that each will get fed, rather than any dominant and more aggressive juvenile getting the lion's share of any food? So it is possible that they may be from the same brood.
Best wishes,
Bill.
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Sep 21 4:20 PM, 2015
Afternoon stroll c30 goldfinch, 14 long tailed tit, great tit, 2 chaffinch, 4 blue tit, 2 jackdaw,Robin,wren,kestrel,blackbird,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, Diggle flash-c30 coot,17 tufted duck,7 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 5 great crested grebe, 7 mallard,2 moorhen, 4 adult 2 juv little grebe again each juv fed by different adult so presumably not from same brood, 1 hen pheasant with at least 5 almost full grown young on path around flash they scattered into the undergrowth as I approached so I may have missed some,
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Sep 20 6:32 PM, 2015
late afternoon stroll a few birds to add to morning sightings kingfisher on stock pond,6 mallard, 3 adult 2 juv little grebe on main flash 2 seperate birds feeding different juvs, 1 kestrel, 2 pheasant, 20+ goldfinch,
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Sep 20 1:14 PM, 2015
Early morning dog walk- thick fog very restricted views 4 blackbird, 6 dunnock, 4 chaffinch and 3 Robin all foraging in different spots along edge of road leading to old car park, small flock of about 8 long tailed tit, several great tit, usual magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon, 2 reed bunting,1 Jay, Diggle flash very restricted views so didn't bother with any counting tufted duck,coot, mute swan, moorhen,black headed gull all seen, great crested grebe young could be heard calling,
Scott robinson said
Sat Sep 19 11:24 AM, 2015
Very quiet this morning,
1 Jay 1 Goldcrest 2 Buzzard 2 Lapwing 1 Sparrowhawk
Plus all usuals
Gordon Newman said
Sat Sep 19 9:30 AM, 2015
07.00-08.30 8 Siskin
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Sep 18 6:18 PM, 2015
afternoon stroll great views of a kestrel perched on a fence post tucking in to what looked like a field mouse,
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Sep 18 8:41 AM, 2015
morning dog walk 30+ long tailed tit, 7 blue tit, 20+ great tit, 5 blackbird,3 robin, 1 wren, 9 goldfinch, magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon, diggle flash, 24 tufted duck, 37 coot, 31 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 7 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 5 moorhen, 6 mallard,2 adult + 2 cygnet mute swan,
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Sep 17 1:21 PM, 2015
morning dog walk very quiet in C8 field only 2 meadow pipit and 1 skylark, trreline between C9 and C7 quite busy with great tit, long tailed tit, blue tit, robin, blackbird, dunnock, wren, 2 chaffinch, usual magpie,carrion crow and wood pigeon, 2 willow warbler, diggle flash- 32 coot, 30 tufted duck,8 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull on water 6 more over, 4 mallard, 3 little grebe, 8 great crested grebe including young, 4 mute swan 2 adult 2 cygnets, 3 jay flew across flash.
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Sep 16 1:46 PM, 2015
Late morning/early afternoon struggled a bit due to eyes being dilated and blurred due to investigative treatment Diggle flash- 80+ tufted duck managed a count of 82 but could have missed or double counted some, 26 coot, 4 little grebe including 1 juv being fed by parent, 3 adult great crested grebe 5 juv, 1 moorhen, 3 mallard, 2 lesser black backed gull,9 black headed gull, 2 adult mute swan, 2 cygnets, kingfisher showing well on stock pond, goldfinch,blackbird,great tit,blue tit,wrn,Robin,2 chaffinch,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Sep 15 12:04 PM, 2015
Morning dog walk 1 great spotted woodpecker, 3 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 3 reed bunting, 1 meadow pipit seen at least 2 more heard, 1 pheasant, 27 goldfinch, mixed flock c15 each great and long tailed tit, 3 siskin, 2 blue tit, 6 blackbird,2 dunnock, 2 Robin, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, 1 mute swan circled field then semed to drop onto fir tree flash probably one of the fir tree residents stretching its wings, Diggle flash,- 42 coot,23 tufted duck, 14 black headed gull, 5 little grebe including 1 juv being fed by parent,3 adult great crested grebe could only see 5 young,2 adult mute swan 2 cygnets,
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Sep 14 6:59 PM, 2015
Late pm/early evening not much to add to morning sightings 1 kestrel, 2 willow warblers,2 Canada geese over, 1 cormorant over,
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Sep 14 10:14 AM, 2015
Morning dog walk 2 goldfinch, small numbers great tit, 3 blue tit, 2 small flocks long tailed tit 6 and 8, 2 reed bunting,blackbird, 1 chaffinch, Robin,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, Diggle flash- 26 black headed gull, 28 coot,15 tufted duck, 3 little grebe,6 mallard, 2 adult mute swan 2 cygnets, 3 adult great crested grebe didn't see any young today but could hear them from in and around reed beds,
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Sep 13 6:36 PM, 2015
Late afterñoon - early evening 8 long tailed tit, 7 great tit,4 blue tit, 3 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 1 greenfinch, 1 swallow,4 pheasant,2 Jay, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow,7 lesser black backed gull over, Diggle flash- 4 mute swan 2 adult 2 cygnets,31 coot, 24 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 15 tufted duck, 1 little grebe,2 moorhen, 2 mallard, 4 adult great crested grebe 5 juv,
Gordon Newman said
Sun Sep 13 10:33 AM, 2015
07.00-10.00 pretty quiet again 10 Siskin - C4, small numbers of Meadow Pipit, 3 Chiffchaff,usual numbers of Willow Warbler, 6 Grey Partridge, single House Martin
Gordon Newman said
Sat Sep 12 10:44 AM, 2015
08.45-10.00 C3 &4 only As I arrived masses of Swallow were drifting SES, I estimated a very rough 750+ with at least another 200 + in the next hour. How many I missed before I arrived is anybody's guess? Did anybody count them over Pennington Flash? 2 Snipe flying over calling (first I have seen for awhile) and at least 5 Willow Warbler tagging along with group of 40+ Long-tailed Tit otherwise generally quiet.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Sep 12 7:55 AM, 2015
Morning dog walk- very wet 3 blackbird, 2 Robin and a dunnock foraging under bushes, small number great tit, 2 Canada geese and 5 lesser black backed gull over, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, 2 collared doves, Diggle flash- didn't do any counting- mute swan family, 2 great crested grebe families, coot,moorhen,mallard, black headed gull, little grebe,
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Sep 11 10:00 AM, 2015
Morning dog walk 41 lesser black backed gull- flock of 36 over south 5 over flash,6 grey partridge, c20 long tailed tit,c30 great tit,5 blue tit, 7 goldfinch, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow, 6 blackbird,2 Robin, 2 wren, nuthatch heard but not seen, Diggle flash- 4 little grebe including 1juv being fed by mother, 3 adult great crested grebe 5 young, 2 mute swan 2 cygnets, 27 black headed gull, 29 coot, 13 tufted duck, 6 mallard, 4 moorhen,
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Sep 10 12:11 PM, 2015
morning dog walk 1 kestrel, mixed flock c30 blue, long tailed and great tit, magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow, goldfinch, blackbird, robin,wren, diggle flash- 11 tufted duck, 27 coot, 4 adult 7 juv great crested grebe, 3 little grebe 2 adult 1 juv, 4 mute swan 2 adult 2 cygnets, 6 mallard, 4 moorhen, 3 black headed gull,
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Sep 9 10:20 AM, 2015
Morning dog walk Diggle flash- kingfisher showing well perched on end of a fishing platform on main flash, 9 swallow over, 4 lesser black backed gull over, 24 black headed gull, 34 coot, 11 tufted duck, 2 adult mute swan 2 cygnets, 3 adult great crested grebe 5 juvs, 1 little grebe,5 moorhen, 4 mallard, 1 reed bunting,2 meadow pipit, 14 goldfinch, 1 pheasant, 5 grey partridge, magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow, great tit, blue tit, blackbird, wren,
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Sep 8 11:07 AM, 2015
morning dog walk diggle flash- kingfisher on stock pond, 7 little grebe 5 adults- 2 juvs being fed small fish by mother, 3 adult - 5 juv great crested grebe, 2 adult -2 cygnet mute swan, 13 black headed gull, 14 tufted duck, 27 coot, 10 mallard, 2 moorhen, great tit, blue tit and goldfinch all in smallish numbers ( less than 10) 1 jay, 1 kestrel, 5 lesser black backed gull over, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow, blackbird,dunnock,robin,wren,
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Sep 7 10:23 AM, 2015
Morning dog walk 1 whitethroat, 3 robin, ,3 blackbird, 2 wren, 4 dunnock, mixed flock of 30 ish great and long tailed tit in a pretty even split, good numbers of great tit all round this morning but only 5 blue tit, 2 reed bunting, c40 goldfinch, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow, young kestrel showing really well perched on fence post, 15 lesser black backed gull over, Diggle flash- yesterday's large flock of tufted duck have moved on counted 29 this morning, 32 coot, 44 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 3 little grebe, 2 mute swan + 2 cygnets,6 mallard,4 moorhen, both families of great crested grebe close to different reed beds,
Kristian Wade said
Sun Sep 6 6:28 PM, 2015
Ran through the Rucks and past Fir Tree Flash this morning.
Not much on the flash - just a few Coot and a skulking Moorhen.
A few Jay around & a flock of 7 or 8 Canada Geese flew over
Flushed a flock of 6 Grey Partridge as well
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Sep 6 12:58 PM, 2015
Morning dog walk 2 small flocks long tailed tit 7 +5, 2 siskin seen others heard, 5 meadow pipit, c30 goldfinch, 2 swallow, buzzard,kestrel,blackbird,great tit,blue tit,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, 1 Jay, Diggle flash- when I first walked round about 11am I counted 18 tufted duck walked round again at 12-30 and counted 146 tufted duck, 2 adult mute swan 2 cygnets, 27 coot,23 black headed gull over, 1 little grebe, 4 adult great crested grebe 7 young, 3 moorhen, 6 mallard, Good to catch up with Gordon
still foggy when I left but clearing slightly
4 Swallow SE
Pink-footed Goose - a group flew over over NW directly above me but was unable to see them through fog
2 Chiffchaff
1 Great spotted Woodpecker - C5
60+ Goldfinch - C6
plenty of Pied Wagtail & Meadow Pipit moving around (none going South)
Blackbird, Robin and dunnock all foraging alongside path, great tit, magpie, wood pigeon, carrion crow,
Diggle flash only birds I could see were 2 moorhen and 3 mallard up on the bank and a few coot close in,
5 Siskin over
2 Jays
2 Buzzard
1 Water Rail, New Water
2 Mistle thrush
1 Raven C3 heading over towards Penny
Plus usual suspects
1 pied wagtail, 5 blackbird, 3 dunnock, 2 Robin, 1 blue tit with 6 long tailed tit, 8 great tit, 1 reed bunting, 2 pheasant,2 meadow pipit, goldfinch could be heard across field but not seen, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,
Diggle flash- coot, mute swan family,tufted duck,mallard, the kingfisher gave brief but good views from post neaest diggle flash on stock pond before flying low across the water presumably to its usual post on the other side but couldn't see that far through the fog,
2 jay, 4 blackbird, 4 robin, 3 wren, 2 dunnock, small numbers great tit and goldfinch, 1 kestrel, 1 skylark, 5 reed bunting, 7 meadow pipit, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow,
diggle flash- 37 coot, 12 tufted duck, 7 great crested grebe, 3 little grebe, 3 moorhen, 2 adult and 2 cygnet mute swan, 3 mallard, 1 lesser black backed gull and surprisingly no black headed gull,
4 Jay,kestrel,sparrowhawk,2 skylark,7 meadow pipit,3 reed bunting,7 pheasant a family party of 6 +1 cock on opposite side of field, 2 small charms of goldfinch 9 + 7, mixed tit flock 8 long tailed,4 blue and 2 great tit, blackbird,wren,Robin,dunnock, brief glimpse of a warbler that I think was a chiffchaff,
Diggle flash - 38 coot,23 tufted duck,5 great crested grebe, 3 little grebe, 2 mallard, 3 moorhen, 4 mute swan 2 adult, 2 cygnets,2 black headed gull, willow tit heard around stock pond area,
C6 fir tree flash and surrounds- 14 coot,9 mallard,4 black headed gull,2 Canada geese,2 mute swan,2 moorhen,1 little grebe, c30 goldfinch, blue tit,great tit, siskin heard from island but not seen,
C8-1 great spotted woodpecker, 7 meadow pipit, 1 skylark, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,2 Jay,
C9 diggle flash- 37 coot,29 tufted duck, 7 black headed gull, 5 great crested grebe, 5 mallard,2 moorhen, 1 little grebe, blackbird,wren,Robin,
Diggle flash- 42 coot,31 tufted duck,12 black headed gull,7 moorhen including 2 juvs, 6 great crested grebe,4 mallard,3 little grebe, 4 mute swan 2 adult 2 cygnets,
Approx 25 goldfinch with 3 Linnet tagging along, 11 meadow pipit,2 reed bunting,1 pheasant, small numbers blue and great tit, 8 long tailed tit,1 dunnock, blackbird,Robin,magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon,
1 hobby! (first for me on the rucks flying high and stooping in between the path that leads from black ruck's to the scrap yard at bickershaw, managed get a distant shot of the red at the back. then headed south didnt manage to relocate
massive flocks of goldfinch
30+ tufted duck
2 teal( fir tree)
3 little grebe
2 buzzard
3 kestrel
loads of jay, robin,magpie
1 kingfisher at stock pond, then one on fir tree flash, hovering and fishing for about 5 minutes, i also managed to watch it head from fir tree back to the stock pond
low flying planes and motorbikes cause chaos all day
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of September 2015 06:27:36 PM
3 Linnet C8
1 Coal tit C6
3 Snipe 1 New water, 2 C10
2 Siskin C6
14 goldfinch, 8 long tailed tit, 1 chiffchaff, several robin, 4 blackbird, 6 dunnock, 2 wren, 4 blue tit, 11 great tit, 3 jay, 8 meadow pipit seen others heard, magpie, carrion croe, wood pigeon, 1 collared dove,
diggle flash- coot,tufted duck, mute swan family, moorhen, mallard, 2 little grebe, great crested grebe, black headed gull,
further sightings from this morning
1 Hobby perched in top of bush on edge of C8 then flew low and fast towards C10 and promptly lost to view as I was stood in C4 and was not able to relocate it.
warbler sp skulking in undergrowth which called a couple of times which sounded similar to Whitethroat but different somehow, I didn't manage to see the bird frustratingly.
3 Chiffchaff
plenty of Meadow Pipit about
didn't count them but quite a few Pied Wagtail flying over in 1's & 2's
1 Stonechat C8
2 Skylark C8
3 Linnet C8
9 Long tailed tits C4
2 Snipe C10
Plus usual suspects
Diggle flash- mute swan family,coot,tufted duck,mallard,moorhen,great crested grebe,little grebe, 3 shoveler,black headed gull, lesser black backed gull,
4 Jay,1 jackdaw,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,great, long tailed and blue tit,goldfinch, meadow pipit only 3 seen but more could be heard,blackbird,dunnock,wren,Robin,
2 Linnet C8
2 Very noisy Jays C6
7 Reed Bunting
2 Goldcrest, 1 C6 and 1 C10
1 Cormorant, Fir Tree Flash
1 Willow tit C9
Plus usual suspects
diggle flash- kingfisher giving excellent views on stock pond the morning sun was really highlighting her colours, 39 coot, 16 tufted duck, 11 mallard, 8 great crested grebe, 7 moorhen, 5 little grebe the juvenile was diving for itself although parent bird was still close, 9 black headed gull, 4 mute swan 2 adult-2 cygnet,
6 grey partridge strolling down the old road behind scrapyards, 3 pheasant, c30 meadow pipit flocks of 11 and 7 plus singles, 2 x 2 and 2x3, 2 skylark, 20+ long tailed tit, 6 blue tit, several great tit, 4 goldfinch drinking from rain water puddles alongside several magpies, blackbird, robin,wren, dunnock, carrion crow, wood pigeon, 1 jay,
3 Redwing in C3 this evening
1 Water Rail heard only, Nevisons
1 Goldcrest
1 Kestrel
Plus usuals
diggle flash- coot,tufted duck, mute swan,great crested grebe, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, little grebe, mallard, moorhen, hurried walk this morning due to morning appointments so didn't do any counting
1 possibly 2 goldcrest, 1 cormorant over, 12 long tailed tit, 8 goldfinch, 3 shoveler on diggle flash,
diggle flash- 1 canada goose soon chased off by mute swan family, 38 coot, 19 tufted duck, 5 mallard, 8 black headed gull, 8 great crested grebe, 4 moorhen, 5 little grebe 4 adult 1 juv,
Firs wood flash
1 mute swan
1 grey heron
4 black headed gull
And 1 man blasting who had been blasting wood pigeons out of the sky, I saw him packing his air rifle away in the car park right next to people's houses. If I saw him blasting them out of the sky I would have called the police because he was defiantly less than 50 yards from a road or public footpath
7 great tit, 2 blue tit and 9 long tailed tit all in one flock, 4 goldfinch, blackbird, robin, 2 swallow, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash, 36 coot, 11 tufted duck, 7 great crested grebe, 5 little grebe 4 adult-1 juv, 4 mallard, 3 black headed gull, 2 adult 2 cygnet mute swan,
c30 goldfinch, 14 long tailed tit, great tit, 2 chaffinch, 4 blue tit, 2 jackdaw,Robin,wren,kestrel,blackbird,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,
Diggle flash-c30 coot,17 tufted duck,7 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 5 great crested grebe, 7 mallard,2 moorhen, 4 adult 2 juv little grebe again each juv fed by different adult so presumably not from same brood, 1 hen pheasant with at least 5 almost full grown young on path around flash they scattered into the undergrowth as I approached so I may have missed some,
kingfisher on stock pond,6 mallard, 3 adult 2 juv little grebe on main flash 2 seperate birds feeding different juvs, 1 kestrel, 2 pheasant, 20+ goldfinch,
4 blackbird, 6 dunnock, 4 chaffinch and 3 Robin all foraging in different spots along edge of road leading to old car park, small flock of about 8 long tailed tit, several great tit, usual magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon, 2 reed bunting,1 Jay,
Diggle flash very restricted views so didn't bother with any counting tufted duck,coot, mute swan, moorhen,black headed gull all seen, great crested grebe young could be heard calling,
1 Jay
1 Goldcrest
2 Buzzard
2 Lapwing
1 Sparrowhawk
Plus all usuals
8 Siskin
30+ long tailed tit, 7 blue tit, 20+ great tit, 5 blackbird,3 robin, 1 wren, 9 goldfinch, magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash, 24 tufted duck, 37 coot, 31 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 7 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 5 moorhen, 6 mallard,2 adult + 2 cygnet mute swan,
diggle flash- 32 coot, 30 tufted duck,8 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull on water 6 more over, 4 mallard, 3 little grebe, 8 great crested grebe including young, 4 mute swan 2 adult 2 cygnets, 3 jay flew across flash.
Diggle flash- 80+ tufted duck managed a count of 82 but could have missed or double counted some, 26 coot, 4 little grebe including 1 juv being fed by parent, 3 adult great crested grebe 5 juv, 1 moorhen, 3 mallard, 2 lesser black backed gull,9 black headed gull, 2 adult mute swan, 2 cygnets, kingfisher showing well on stock pond, goldfinch,blackbird,great tit,blue tit,wrn,Robin,2 chaffinch,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,
1 great spotted woodpecker, 3 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 3 reed bunting, 1 meadow pipit seen at least 2 more heard, 1 pheasant, 27 goldfinch, mixed flock c15 each great and long tailed tit, 3 siskin, 2 blue tit, 6 blackbird,2 dunnock, 2 Robin, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, 1 mute swan circled field then semed to drop onto fir tree flash probably one of the fir tree residents stretching its wings,
Diggle flash,- 42 coot,23 tufted duck, 14 black headed gull, 5 little grebe including 1 juv being fed by parent,3 adult great crested grebe could only see 5 young,2 adult mute swan 2 cygnets,
1 kestrel, 2 willow warblers,2 Canada geese over, 1 cormorant over,
2 goldfinch, small numbers great tit, 3 blue tit, 2 small flocks long tailed tit 6 and 8, 2 reed bunting,blackbird, 1 chaffinch, Robin,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,
Diggle flash- 26 black headed gull, 28 coot,15 tufted duck, 3 little grebe,6 mallard, 2 adult mute swan 2 cygnets, 3 adult great crested grebe didn't see any young today but could hear them from in and around reed beds,
8 long tailed tit, 7 great tit,4 blue tit, 3 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 1 greenfinch, 1 swallow,4 pheasant,2 Jay, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow,7 lesser black backed gull over,
Diggle flash- 4 mute swan 2 adult 2 cygnets,31 coot, 24 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 15 tufted duck, 1 little grebe,2 moorhen, 2 mallard, 4 adult great crested grebe 5 juv,
pretty quiet again
10 Siskin - C4, small numbers of Meadow Pipit, 3 Chiffchaff,usual numbers of Willow Warbler, 6 Grey Partridge, single House Martin
C3 &4 only
As I arrived masses of Swallow were drifting SES, I estimated a very rough 750+ with at least another 200 + in the next hour. How many I missed before I arrived is anybody's guess? Did anybody count them over Pennington Flash?
2 Snipe flying over calling (first I have seen for awhile) and at least 5 Willow Warbler tagging along with group of 40+ Long-tailed Tit otherwise generally quiet.
3 blackbird, 2 Robin and a dunnock foraging under bushes, small number great tit, 2 Canada geese and 5 lesser black backed gull over, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, 2 collared doves,
Diggle flash- didn't do any counting- mute swan family, 2 great crested grebe families, coot,moorhen,mallard, black headed gull, little grebe,
41 lesser black backed gull- flock of 36 over south 5 over flash,6 grey partridge, c20 long tailed tit,c30 great tit,5 blue tit, 7 goldfinch, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow, 6 blackbird,2 Robin, 2 wren, nuthatch heard but not seen,
Diggle flash- 4 little grebe including 1juv being fed by mother, 3 adult great crested grebe 5 young, 2 mute swan 2 cygnets, 27 black headed gull, 29 coot, 13 tufted duck, 6 mallard, 4 moorhen,
1 kestrel, mixed flock c30 blue, long tailed and great tit, magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow, goldfinch, blackbird, robin,wren,
diggle flash- 11 tufted duck, 27 coot, 4 adult 7 juv great crested grebe, 3 little grebe 2 adult 1 juv, 4 mute swan 2 adult 2 cygnets, 6 mallard, 4 moorhen, 3 black headed gull,
Diggle flash- kingfisher showing well perched on end of a fishing platform on main flash, 9 swallow over, 4 lesser black backed gull over, 24 black headed gull, 34 coot, 11 tufted duck, 2 adult mute swan 2 cygnets, 3 adult great crested grebe 5 juvs, 1 little grebe,5 moorhen, 4 mallard,
1 reed bunting,2 meadow pipit, 14 goldfinch, 1 pheasant, 5 grey partridge, magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow, great tit, blue tit, blackbird, wren,
diggle flash- kingfisher on stock pond, 7 little grebe 5 adults- 2 juvs being fed small fish by mother, 3 adult - 5 juv great crested grebe, 2 adult -2 cygnet mute swan, 13 black headed gull, 14 tufted duck, 27 coot, 10 mallard, 2 moorhen,
great tit, blue tit and goldfinch all in smallish numbers ( less than 10) 1 jay, 1 kestrel, 5 lesser black backed gull over, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow, blackbird,dunnock,robin,wren,
1 whitethroat, 3 robin, ,3 blackbird, 2 wren, 4 dunnock, mixed flock of 30 ish great and long tailed tit in a pretty even split, good numbers of great tit all round this morning but only 5 blue tit, 2 reed bunting, c40 goldfinch, magpie,wood pigeon, carrion crow, young kestrel showing really well perched on fence post, 15 lesser black backed gull over,
Diggle flash- yesterday's large flock of tufted duck have moved on counted 29 this morning, 32 coot, 44 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 3 little grebe, 2 mute swan + 2 cygnets,6 mallard,4 moorhen, both families of great crested grebe close to different reed beds,
Not much on the flash - just a few Coot and a skulking Moorhen.
A few Jay around & a flock of 7 or 8 Canada Geese flew over
Flushed a flock of 6 Grey Partridge as well
2 small flocks long tailed tit 7 +5, 2 siskin seen others heard, 5 meadow pipit, c30 goldfinch, 2 swallow, buzzard,kestrel,blackbird,great tit,blue tit,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, 1 Jay,
Diggle flash- when I first walked round about 11am I counted 18 tufted duck walked round again at 12-30 and counted 146 tufted duck, 2 adult mute swan 2 cygnets, 27 coot,23 black headed gull over, 1 little grebe, 4 adult great crested grebe 7 young, 3 moorhen, 6 mallard,
Good to catch up with Gordon