Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal then through Haigh Country Park - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return. Good to get some fresh air in my lungs after the festivities! Happy New Year to all fellow birders.
Kestrel x 2 Buzzard x 2 Sparrowhawk x 1 House Sparrow x 2 Coal Tit x 2 Nuthatch x 2 Treecreeper x 1 Goldcrest x 2 Dunnock x 1 Mistle Thrush x 2 Carrion Crow x 5 Blackbird x 8 Chaffinch x 2 Blue Tit x 5 Great Tit x 3 Robin x 5 Moorhen x 3 Mallard x 10 Magpie x 12 Woodpigeon x 2 Mute Swan x 2
Paul Risley said
Sun Dec 17 3:58 PM, 2017
Woodcock flushed down by the River also single Dipper in same area
Pair of Willow Tits at one of Lady Mabel's wood feeding stations and possibly another individual at the other one
Male Kestrel showing well at Sennicar lane
Single Buzzard. 2 locations
best moment 2 pairs of Ravens above the mist and gloom of the woods giving a full range of their unusual vocalisations
Paul Risley said
Sun Dec 10 8:39 PM, 2017
nice walk in the falling snow, not much showing.
the remains of a female Sparrowhawk close to a regular Buzzard still hunting perch was a sad find
no signs yet of the Tawny Owls using their usual winter roost sites
Grey Wagtail along the river
Coal Tit and Treecreeper among a decent sized Tit flock
usual other stuff, Blackbirds, Robins Wrens Wood pigeon Magpies
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 10th of December 2017 08:41:12 PM
Steve Judge said
Sat Nov 11 4:11 PM, 2017
Saturday, 11th November 2017 - 10:30 - 14:30 hrs.
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations to bridge over River Douglas) - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return.
Willow Tit x 1 Redwing x 3 Mistle Thrush x 1 Kestrel x 5 different sightings (at least two different birds) Tree Sparrow x 1 Bullfinch (F) x 1 Coal Tit x 2 Nuthatch x 5 Treecreeper x 2 Goldcrest x 4 Long-Tailed Tits x 15 Goldfinch x 5 Dunnock x 1 Jay x 3 Jackdaw x 8 Carrion Crow x 10 Blackbird x 5 Chaffinch x 3 Blue Tit x 7 Great Tit x 5 Robin x 3 Moorhen x 2 Mallard x 7 Magpie x 5
Craig Higson said
Sun Nov 5 9:25 PM, 2017
Decided to try my theory that Haigh might offer a good bet for finding one or more of the Hawfinches frequenting GM at the moment. Sadly my theory didn't pay off today. 2 hours around the middle section of the plantations - an area dominated by beech - produced not a single Hawfinch. It did however produce lots of Nuthatches, Goldcrests, tit species etc and two Ravens over which were a site tick! A skein of pink-footed Geese went over but were largely obscured by trees so I couldn't count them.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 5th of November 2017 09:26:09 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 5th of November 2017 10:00:25 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 13 2:14 PM, 2017
Originally posted today by Tim Mason:
Several Tawny Owls are calling regularly at dusk in different localities around Bottling Wood and Balniel Walk areas. Also one calling regularly in Wigan Park very early morning near to the old John England Mill.
Steve Judge said
Sat Jul 15 5:49 PM, 2017
Saturday, 15th July 2017 - 13:00 - 16:00 hrs.
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations) - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return.
Pretty sure I saw at least 2 Lapwing chicks in the fields I think you are referring to (just before the bridge at Sennicar Lane) last weekend Paul. Stood watching for ages and thought I saw an adult with two, but they were sitting tight and not moving. Also had Garden Warbler in Lady Mabel's wood. Completely forgot to add my sightings for the day.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 11th of June 2017 10:51:51 PM
Paul Risley said
Sun Jun 11 3:44 PM, 2017
5 juvenile Kestrels fledged, 2 yesterday the other 3 today, a wonderful sight
Sparrowhawk incubating at one site another pair on territory elsewhere, nest not located yet
So far it seems to have been a good breeding season, fledged juveniles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Mandarin with 2 young, Grey Wagtail, Long tailed Tits and Coal Tits, Song Thrush seen with food, the 13 nest boxes produced, 80+ young Blue tits from 11 nests, 6 young Nuthatches from one box and 4 young Great Tits from another box, one of the boxes was taken down due to squirrel damage before the season started and three Treecreeper boxes were kindly donated and put up but too late in the season for them to be used.
Sennicar lane fields still have around 10 Lapwings no juveniles visible but adults are still mobbing any passing corvid, 3 pairs of Whitethroats at different stages of the breeding cycle, 1 pair carrying nesting material 1 pair carrying food whilst another pair were alarm calling at the presence of a Magpie,
Swallows nesting under the bridge again, a couple of pairs of Skylarks are in the fields and quite a few pairs of Reed Buntings too.
Jeff Gorse said
Thu May 25 7:30 PM, 2017
Late afternoon / early evening walk along canal from Bridge 63 to Lady Mabel's Wood then back to Bridge 65
4 x whitethroat
8x lapwing in fields on either side of canal
1x curlew in fields beside canal
1x buzzard over woodlands near bridge 65
Paul Risley said
Tue May 9 10:44 PM, 2017
Sennicar lane and lady mabels wood
single juvenile Lapwing in fields, not much cover for it though, still about 4 pairs present.
single Willow tit
single Tawny Owl
blue tits feeding young in nestbox
3 pairs of Reed Buntings
several whitethroats and chiffchaffs
Karl Bishop said
Thu Apr 27 9:51 PM, 2017
Tonight 27/04 18.45 - 20.45
Leeds - Liverpool Canal Whitethroat Wheatear x 3
Lady Mabels Wood Grasshopper Warbler x 1
Karl
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Thursday 27th of April 2017 10:31:52 PM
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations) - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return.
Grasshopper Warbler x 1 (heard reeling and seen in Lady Mabel Wood) Willow Warbler x 3 Chiffchaff x 5 Wheatear x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Swallow x 5 House Martin x 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Lapwing x 8 Mistle Thrush x 2 Kestrel x 2 House Sparrow x 10 Coal Tit x 2 Nuthatch x 5 Dunnock x 1 Jackdaw x 5 Carrion Crow x 8 Blackbird x 7 Chaffinch x 3 Blue Tit x 7 Great Tit x 4 Robin x 4 Moorhen x 1 Canada Geese x 7 Mallard x 12 (and 2 chicks) Mute Swan x 2 Buzzard x 1 (on way home at Junction 13 M60 near Worsley Woods)
Jimmy Meadows said
Thu Apr 20 8:31 PM, 2017
Lady Mabels Wood
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Whitethroat
Jimmy
Karl Bishop said
Tue Apr 18 8:43 PM, 2017
Lady Mabel's wood Grasshopper Warbler's back in usual spot
Along the canal Mandarin x 2 Curlew x 2
Plus the usual stuff
Karl
Jimmy Meadows said
Thu Mar 30 1:39 PM, 2017
This Morning
Pr Mandarins
Pr Curlews
16 Lapwings.
Jimmy
Steve Judge said
Sat Mar 25 10:48 PM, 2017
Saturday, 25th March 2017 - 11:30 - 16:30 hrs.
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations feeding stations) - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return. On return to Red Rock - walked along Leeds/Liverpool canal towards Adlington as far as Bridge 66 and return.
Highlight - Leucistic Magpie in field opposite exit to main car park at Haigh Country Park Goldcrest x 2 Lapwing x 10 Buzzard x 1 Nuthatch x 4 Coal Tit x 3 Jay x 5 House Sparrow x 6 Dunnock x 4 Wren x 3 Chaffinch x 1 Robin x 12 Blue Tit x 8 Great Tit x 7 Blackbird x 3 Collared Dove x 2 Woodpigeon x 50 Moorhen x 3 Magpie x 4 Mallard x 7 Black-Headed Gull x 2 Carrion Crow x 20 Rook x 1 Goldfinch x 5 Long Tailed Tit x 3 Canada Geese x 5
Paul Risley said
Fri Mar 24 11:10 PM, 2017
12.30 - 5pm
Douglas Valley
3 mandarins 2 male 1 female
Single Kingfisher
Single Dipper
Pair of Grey Wagtails
Singles of Buzzard and Sparrowhawk
Pair of Treecreepers
2 Goldcrests
2 great spotted woodpeckers
Long tailed tit nest building
Fields between Sennicar Lane and Lady Mabel's wood
11 Lapwings, I can't remember ever seeing more here
Pair of Curlews
Pair of Willow Tits
4 Reed Buntings, 3 male 1 female
1 white pheasant
Tom Morton said
Wed Mar 8 1:13 PM, 2017
Two Mediterranean Gulls feeding with Black headed Gulls amongst sheep by canal at Red Rock at 13.00
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Feb 27 1:00 PM, 2017
Originally posted today by Tim Mason:
I heard a Green Woodpecker calling from the golf course on Saturday 18 Feb, the first I have heard there for probably 7 or 8 years.
Paul Risley said
Sun Feb 26 11:19 PM, 2017
3 hours on saturday and 3 hours on sunday
3 Willow Tits, single at shedfield bridge pair in lady Mabel's wood, first Ive seen on my patch for some time
Pair of Tawny Owls lower plantations
Pair of Lapwings, two Snipe and a single Curlew on fields off Sennicar lane
Single Kingfisher upper plantations
Pair of Goosanders on canal
Pairs of Mandarin and Dipper on Dougy
Single Grey Wagtail on Dougy
Singles of Buzzard and Sparrowhawk
Pairs of Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch using the shedfield bridge feeding station
Leucistic Magpie in Lady Mabel's wood, again not seen this bird for some time
Goldcrest singing
Frog spawn in ponds
Steve Judge said
Sat Feb 18 5:14 PM, 2017
Saturday, 18th February 2017 - 12:30 - 16:00 hrs.
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Sennicar Bridge - cross over bridge and turn left back along canal to Pendlebury Bridge - up to School Lane - through Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations feeding stations) - back along canal by side of Lady Mabel Wood - and return
Tawny Owl x 2 (Lower Plantations roost site) Goldcrest x 3 Kestrel x 1 Mistle Thrush x 4 Nuthatch x 5 Coal Tit x 5 Jay x 1 House Sparrow x 1 Chaffinch x 3 Robin x 8 Blue Tit x 7 Great Tit x 6 Blackbird x 10 Woodpigeon x 50 Magpie x 7 Mallard x 10 Black-Headed Gull x 15 Carrion Crow x 4 Rook x 8 Goldfinch x 3 Long Tailed Tit x 2 Cormorant x 1 Canada Geese x 15
Paul Risley said
Thu Feb 16 9:31 PM, 2017
Steve Christmas wrote:
Probably micro moth larvae. I have found both brown house moth and white-shouldered house moth in nest boxes.
Cheers Steve
Steve Christmas said
Thu Feb 16 5:15 PM, 2017
Probably micro moth larvae. I have found both brown house moth and white-shouldered house moth in nest boxes.
Paul Risley said
Wed Feb 15 10:40 PM, 2017
A couple of hours this morning cleaning out nestboxes,
Pair of Mandarins
Buzzard over
Pair of Dippers
Pair of Goldcrests
Singles of Grey Wagtails and Heron, good numbers of the usual suspects
As a side issue I often wondered about cleaning nest boxes out, my thoughts being that natural nest sites would not get cleaned out and that adult birds often roosted in nest boxes during winter and that the lining would act as insulation, I finally decided to clean them out, Whilst cleaning out the boxes this morning I was surprised to find that at least four nests contained very small live maggots and at least half contained fleas, has anyone got any ideas on what the maggots would be?
Paul Risley said
Sun Feb 5 11:23 PM, 2017
Lower plantations early afternoon
Pair of Mandarins
Pair of Dippers
2 Skeins of Pink footed Geese over heading west
Singles of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk(m),Heron,Treecreeper and Goldcrest
Large charm of Goldfinches in trees
Upper plantations Dusk
Remains of a Magpie, Buzzard or female Sparrowhawk kill
Pair of Tawny Owls calling from roost site, a possible third bird calling ten minutes later about half a kilometer from first pair
Very good numbers of Thrush species in song
Steve Judge said
Sat Jan 28 4:43 PM, 2017
Saturday, 28th January 2017 - 12:15 - 15:30 hrs.
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Sennicar Bridge - cross over bridge and turn left back along canal to Pendlebury Bridge - up to School Lane - through Haigh Country Park (including Lower Plantations feeding station) - back along canal by side of Lady Mabel Wood - and return
Goldcrest x 2 Bullfinch x 3 (1M and 2F) Redwing x 30 Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 1 Mistle Thrush x 1 Nuthatch x 2 Coal Tit x 3 Jay x 1 House Sparrow x 1 Dunnock x 2 Wren x 3 Moorhen x 3 Chaffinch x 4 Robin x 7 Blue Tit x 4 Great Tit x 5 Blackbird x 5 Woodpigeon x 50 Magpie x 7 Mallard x 15 Black-Headed Gull x 1 Carrion Crow x 4 Rook x 30 Jackdaw x 10
dave broome said
Thu Jan 26 12:05 PM, 2017
6 Mandarin on the R Douglas today
Paul Risley said
Wed Jan 25 7:51 AM, 2017
pair of Tawny Owls in the lower plantations roost site, the pair in the upper plantations have relocated so not found them yet
5 Bramblings and a single Dipper on the Dougy best of the rest, good numbers of Titmice using both feeding sites
Paul Risley said
Sun Jan 8 8:48 PM, 2017
4 Mandarins, 2 pairs, first sightings for a while for an area what is usually good for this species
singles of Dipper, Great spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Cormorant, Bullfinch and Buzzard
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Lady Mabel Wood - back through Haigh Country Park and return
Kingfisher x 1 Goldcrest x 1 Nuthatch x 2 Reed Bunting x 3 Coal Tit x 3 Jay x 5 Goldfinch x 3 Moorhen x 1 Robin x 4 Blue Tit x 8 Great Tit x 6 Blackbird x 5 Woodpigeon x 50 Magpie x 4 Mallard x 20 Black-Headed Gull x 10 Canada Geese x 12 Cormorant x 1 Carrion Crow x 8 Mute Swan x 2
Paul Risley said
Tue Jan 3 7:42 AM, 2017
late post for yesterday 2/1/17
singles of Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest Treecreeper and Dipper
Snipe off Pendlebury lane, good numbers of Sparrows near the houses
Paul Risley said
Sun Dec 18 3:42 PM, 2016
pair of Dippers on the Dougy, one singing away, Buzzard over and Ravens heard the highlights of a quick hour
dave broome said
Tue Nov 22 11:33 AM, 2016
6 Whooper Swan SE over Lower Plantations 11:15
1 Goosander S towards town centre
Steve Judge said
Sat Nov 5 8:35 PM, 2016
Saturday, 5th November 2016 - 12:00 - 15:30 hrs.
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Lady Mabel Wood - back through Haigh Country Park (past Haigh Hall) and return
Kingfisher x 1 Goosander x 3 Redwing x 4 Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 1 Chaffinch x 3 Moorhen x 1 Blue Tit x 5 Nuthatch x 1 Great Tit x 5 Blackbird x 4 Collared Dove x 4 Woodpigeon x 20 Magpie x 7 Mallard x 5 Black-Headed Gulls x 20 Herring Gull x 1
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 5th of November 2016 08:35:53 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 5th of November 2016 11:09:39 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 5th of November 2016 11:14:16 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 27 8:23 PM, 2016
Originally posted today by Tim Mason:
Good sighting of a kingfisher on Sunday 23-10-2016 on the canal near Shedfield bridge also male bullfinch in the same locality
Allan Rimmer said
Sun Jun 19 1:44 PM, 2016
HAIGH COUNTRY PARK
Pleasant half hour this morning watching a pair of Little Grebes feeding two young on the Swan Pond in the Upper Plantations (first breeding we've seen here),
plus Moorhen and Mallard also feeding young. Hope they survive the Mink.
Neil Ferguson said
Fri Jun 17 6:24 PM, 2016
Thanks Paul.
I've been toying with the idea of doing something similar here in Highfield but my concern is positioning the boxes where they won't be disturbed.
When I used to nest record many years ago the number of eggs that disappeared was quite staggering really.
-- Edited by Neil Ferguson on Friday 17th of June 2016 06:24:30 PM
Paul Risley said
Fri Jun 10 5:15 PM, 2016
Hi Neil
I placed them between 8 and 10 foot high, mainly because I was worried about them getting vandalised, they were situated away from any of the main paths mainly on sloping ground, bought an 8 x 4 sheet of 12 mm exterior ply and managed to get 14 bto measurement sized boxes out of it, after cutting the wood up some of the plywood layers started to part indicating it was not a very good quality exterior ply, so ended up giving each box 3 coats of a water based dark coloured varnish, hardest part was putting them up by myself, hiding ladders and tools whilst going back and forth for the boxes, been well worth it though really chuffed with the results and hopefully should get a few more years out of the boxes.
hope this helps
Neil Ferguson said
Thu Jun 9 7:48 PM, 2016
How high do you site the boxes Paul ?
Paul Risley wrote:
Upper plantations, juvenile Tawny Owl reported
Lower plantations
Mandarin with 3 young
Tawny Owl out in daylight
Sparrowhawk on nest
Dipper and Grey Wagtail singles on Dougy
Buzzard over
Jay carrying food
In one of the quieter more private parts of the woods I put up 14 nest boxes back in February, incredibly all 14 are in use, 9 by Blue Tits and 5 by Great Tits, on checking today there are 67 young Blue Tits and 18 young Great Tits in these boxes with one Great Tit nest not checked as someone was camping nearby, the boxes were placed at least 70 yards from each other and on doing my rounds I have found another 2 Great Tits, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, a family of fledged Long tailed Tits and a Treecreeper nest that unfortunately got predated by Great Spotted Woodpecker , what surprised me was the population density of all these Titmice, just praying that the weather holds out for the next few days for them as most are getting close to fledging,
Keith Mills said
Sat Jun 4 5:21 PM, 2016
Jimmy Meadows wrote:
Mandarin F with a single young nr shedfield bridge this morning seen while doing BBS,
Jimmy
The female Mandarin had a brood of 7 On the 27th May. That's a low survival rate if they are down to one.
Jimmy Meadows said
Sat Jun 4 2:38 PM, 2016
Mandarin F with a single young nr shedfield bridge this morning seen while doing BBS,
Jimmy
Paul Risley said
Wed Jun 1 11:44 PM, 2016
Upper plantations, juvenile Tawny Owl reported
Lower plantations
Mandarin with 3 young
Tawny Owl out in daylight
Sparrowhawk on nest
Dipper and Grey Wagtail singles on Dougy
Buzzard over
Jay carrying food
In one of the quieter more private parts of the woods I put up 14 nest boxes back in February, incredibly all 14 are in use, 9 by Blue Tits and 5 by Great Tits, on checking today there are 67 young Blue Tits and 18 young Great Tits in these boxes with one Great Tit nest not checked as someone was camping nearby, the boxes were placed at least 70 yards from each other and on doing my rounds I have found another 2 Great Tits, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, a family of fledged Long tailed Tits and a Treecreeper nest that unfortunately got predated by Great Spotted Woodpecker , what surprised me was the population density of all these Titmice, just praying that the weather holds out for the next few days for them as most are getting close to fledging,
Paul Risley said
Mon May 16 1:34 PM, 2016
A couple of hours this morning in the upper plantations.
Grey Wagtail feeding fledged young near the Swan pond
Single Little Grebe on the Swan pond
Female Mallard crossing the footpath towards the pond with 3 chicks when a Carrion Crow swoops down and grabs one, as she gets to the pond with the remaining two chicks at least 8 male Mallards make straight for her on the banking two of them grabbing her and trying to mate with her, they fly back to the pond as I approach and the female remains with the chicks, as I back off she eventually goes into the pond with the youngsters and 1 male Mallard swims alongside her
Tawny Owl active and calling
8 juvenile Long tailed Tits all sat huddled up on a branch high up in a Hawthorn tree
Mallard on Canal with 4 young
2 x Song Thrush
2 x Mistle Thrush
Singles of Treecreeper and Goldcrest
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Monday 16th of May 2016 01:35:03 PM
Tonight 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing well but briefly at times.
Jimmy
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 20 4:00 PM, 2016
Originally been poated today by Timothy Mason:
A lovely sighting of a Nuthatch yesterday near the bridge over the Yellow Brook. There seem to be good numbers of Nuthatches in and around the Plantations, regularly seen at The Hall Lane feeding station.
Karl Bishop said
Wed Apr 13 8:52 PM, 2016
Wednesday 13fh April 18-15 to 20-30 Of note Leeds Liverpool Canal Wheatear - field in front of big house towards bridge 63 Dead Mute Swan Lady Mabel's Wood Grasshopper Warbler - brief glimpse and reeling away in usual spot 20-15 Cheers Karl
Steve Judge said
Sun Apr 3 7:03 PM, 2016
Sunday, 3rd April 2016 - 14:00 - 17:00 hrs.
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Lady Mabel's Wood - River Douglas bridge - back through Haigh Country Park (past Haigh Hall) and return
Tawny Owl x 2 (together at usual roost at the Lower Plantations site) Chiffchaff x 2 Buzzard x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Nuthatch x 5 Goldfinch x 4 Jay x 1 Wren x 1 Jackdaw x 20 Carrion Crow x 2 Coal Tit x 5 House Sparrow x 1 Long Tailed Tits x 2 Dunnock x 1 Blue Tit x 20 Great Tit x 9 Robin x 5 House Sparrow x 1 Chaffinch x 3 Blackbird x 10 Woodpigeon x 30 Magpie x 8 Mallard x 7 Black-Headed Gulls x 10 Reed Bunting x 2 Canada Geese x 4 Bullfinch x 1 (on way home flying across road in Aspull near Co-op food store)
Allan Rimmer said
Wed Mar 23 8:26 PM, 2016
This morning two Little Grebe were very active on the Swan Pond in the Plantations - only seen one there in the past.
At the feeding station Lady Mabel's Wood
Jay - 2
Willow Tit - 1
Nuthatch - 1
Chaffinch - 5
Blue Tit - 6
Great Tit - 3
Reed Bunting - 1m
Coal Tit - 2
Robin - 3
Magpie - 2
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal then through Haigh Country Park - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return.
Good to get some fresh air in my lungs after the festivities! Happy New Year to all fellow birders.
Kestrel x 2
Buzzard x 2
Sparrowhawk x 1
House Sparrow x 2
Coal Tit x 2
Nuthatch x 2
Treecreeper x 1
Goldcrest x 2
Dunnock x 1
Mistle Thrush x 2
Carrion Crow x 5
Blackbird x 8
Chaffinch x 2
Blue Tit x 5
Great Tit x 3
Robin x 5
Moorhen x 3
Mallard x 10
Magpie x 12
Woodpigeon x 2
Mute Swan x 2
Woodcock flushed down by the River also single Dipper in same area
Pair of Willow Tits at one of Lady Mabel's wood feeding stations and possibly another individual at the other one
Male Kestrel showing well at Sennicar lane
Single Buzzard. 2 locations
best moment 2 pairs of Ravens above the mist and gloom of the woods giving a full range of their unusual vocalisations
nice walk in the falling snow, not much showing.
the remains of a female Sparrowhawk close to a regular Buzzard still hunting perch was a sad find
no signs yet of the Tawny Owls using their usual winter roost sites
Grey Wagtail along the river
Coal Tit and Treecreeper among a decent sized Tit flock
usual other stuff, Blackbirds, Robins Wrens Wood pigeon Magpies
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 10th of December 2017 08:41:12 PM
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations to bridge over River Douglas) - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return.
Willow Tit x 1
Redwing x 3
Mistle Thrush x 1
Kestrel x 5 different sightings (at least two different birds)
Tree Sparrow x 1
Bullfinch (F) x 1
Coal Tit x 2
Nuthatch x 5
Treecreeper x 2
Goldcrest x 4
Long-Tailed Tits x 15
Goldfinch x 5
Dunnock x 1
Jay x 3
Jackdaw x 8
Carrion Crow x 10
Blackbird x 5
Chaffinch x 3
Blue Tit x 7
Great Tit x 5
Robin x 3
Moorhen x 2
Mallard x 7
Magpie x 5
Decided to try my theory that Haigh might offer a good bet for finding one or more of the Hawfinches frequenting GM at the moment. Sadly my theory didn't pay off today. 2 hours around the middle section of the plantations - an area dominated by beech - produced not a single Hawfinch. It did however produce lots of Nuthatches, Goldcrests, tit species etc and two Ravens over which were a site tick! A skein of pink-footed Geese went over but were largely obscured by trees so I couldn't count them.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 5th of November 2017 09:26:09 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 5th of November 2017 10:00:25 PM
Originally posted today by Tim Mason:
Several Tawny Owls are calling regularly at dusk in different localities around Bottling Wood and Balniel Walk areas. Also one calling regularly in Wigan Park very early morning near to the old John England Mill.
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations) - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return.
Fairly quiet birdwise. Sightings included Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Lapwing, Kestrel, Jay, Pied Wagtail, Swallows, Swifts, Moorhen, Carrion Crow, Magpies, Juvenile Robin, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Wren, Canada Geese, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Great Tit
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 11th of June 2017 10:51:51 PM
5 juvenile Kestrels fledged, 2 yesterday the other 3 today, a wonderful sight
Sparrowhawk incubating at one site another pair on territory elsewhere, nest not located yet
So far it seems to have been a good breeding season, fledged juveniles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Mandarin with 2 young, Grey Wagtail, Long tailed Tits and Coal Tits, Song Thrush seen with food, the 13 nest boxes produced, 80+ young Blue tits from 11 nests, 6 young Nuthatches from one box and 4 young Great Tits from another box, one of the boxes was taken down due to squirrel damage before the season started and three Treecreeper boxes were kindly donated and put up but too late in the season for them to be used.
Sennicar lane fields still have around 10 Lapwings no juveniles visible but adults are still mobbing any passing corvid, 3 pairs of Whitethroats at different stages of the breeding cycle, 1 pair carrying nesting material 1 pair carrying food whilst another pair were alarm calling at the presence of a Magpie,
Swallows nesting under the bridge again, a couple of pairs of Skylarks are in the fields and quite a few pairs of Reed Buntings too.
Late afternoon / early evening walk along canal from Bridge 63 to Lady Mabel's Wood then back to Bridge 65
4 x whitethroat
8x lapwing in fields on either side of canal
1x curlew in fields beside canal
1x buzzard over woodlands near bridge 65
Sennicar lane and lady mabels wood
single juvenile Lapwing in fields, not much cover for it though, still about 4 pairs present.
single Willow tit
single Tawny Owl
blue tits feeding young in nestbox
3 pairs of Reed Buntings
several whitethroats and chiffchaffs
18.45 - 20.45
Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Whitethroat
Wheatear x 3
Lady Mabels Wood
Grasshopper Warbler x 1
Karl
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Thursday 27th of April 2017 10:31:52 PM
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations) - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return.
Grasshopper Warbler x 1 (heard reeling and seen in Lady Mabel Wood)
Willow Warbler x 3
Chiffchaff x 5
Wheatear x 2
Greenfinch x 1
Swallow x 5
House Martin x 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1
Pied Wagtail x 1
Lapwing x 8
Mistle Thrush x 2
Kestrel x 2
House Sparrow x 10
Coal Tit x 2
Nuthatch x 5
Dunnock x 1
Jackdaw x 5
Carrion Crow x 8
Blackbird x 7
Chaffinch x 3
Blue Tit x 7
Great Tit x 4
Robin x 4
Moorhen x 1
Canada Geese x 7
Mallard x 12 (and 2 chicks)
Mute Swan x 2
Buzzard x 1 (on way home at Junction 13 M60 near Worsley Woods)
Lady Mabels Wood
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Whitethroat
Jimmy
Grasshopper Warbler's back in usual spot
Along the canal
Mandarin x 2
Curlew x 2
Plus the usual stuff
Karl
This Morning
Pr Mandarins
Pr Curlews
16 Lapwings.
Jimmy
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations feeding stations) - back through Lady Mabel Wood - along canal and return. On return to Red Rock - walked along Leeds/Liverpool canal towards Adlington as far as Bridge 66 and return.
Highlight - Leucistic Magpie in field opposite exit to main car park at Haigh Country Park
Goldcrest x 2
Lapwing x 10
Buzzard x 1
Nuthatch x 4
Coal Tit x 3
Jay x 5
House Sparrow x 6
Dunnock x 4
Wren x 3
Chaffinch x 1
Robin x 12
Blue Tit x 8
Great Tit x 7
Blackbird x 3
Collared Dove x 2
Woodpigeon x 50
Moorhen x 3
Magpie x 4
Mallard x 7
Black-Headed Gull x 2
Carrion Crow x 20
Rook x 1
Goldfinch x 5
Long Tailed Tit x 3
Canada Geese x 5
12.30 - 5pm
Douglas Valley
3 mandarins 2 male 1 female
Single Kingfisher
Single Dipper
Pair of Grey Wagtails
Singles of Buzzard and Sparrowhawk
Pair of Treecreepers
2 Goldcrests
2 great spotted woodpeckers
Long tailed tit nest building
Fields between Sennicar Lane and Lady Mabel's wood
11 Lapwings, I can't remember ever seeing more here
Pair of Curlews
Pair of Willow Tits
4 Reed Buntings, 3 male 1 female
1 white pheasant
Two Mediterranean Gulls feeding with Black headed Gulls amongst sheep by canal at Red Rock at 13.00
I heard a Green Woodpecker calling from the golf course on Saturday 18 Feb, the first I have heard there for probably 7 or 8 years.
3 hours on saturday and 3 hours on sunday
3 Willow Tits, single at shedfield bridge pair in lady Mabel's wood, first Ive seen on my patch for some time
Pair of Tawny Owls lower plantations
Pair of Lapwings, two Snipe and a single Curlew on fields off Sennicar lane
Single Kingfisher upper plantations
Pair of Goosanders on canal
Pairs of Mandarin and Dipper on Dougy
Single Grey Wagtail on Dougy
Singles of Buzzard and Sparrowhawk
Pairs of Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch using the shedfield bridge feeding station
Leucistic Magpie in Lady Mabel's wood, again not seen this bird for some time
Goldcrest singing
Frog spawn in ponds
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Sennicar Bridge - cross over bridge and turn left back along canal to Pendlebury Bridge - up to School Lane - through Haigh Country Park (including Upper and Lower Plantations feeding stations) - back along canal by side of Lady Mabel Wood - and return
Tawny Owl x 2 (Lower Plantations roost site)
Goldcrest x 3
Kestrel x 1
Mistle Thrush x 4
Nuthatch x 5
Coal Tit x 5
Jay x 1
House Sparrow x 1
Chaffinch x 3
Robin x 8
Blue Tit x 7
Great Tit x 6
Blackbird x 10
Woodpigeon x 50
Magpie x 7
Mallard x 10
Black-Headed Gull x 15
Carrion Crow x 4
Rook x 8
Goldfinch x 3
Long Tailed Tit x 2
Cormorant x 1
Canada Geese x 15
Cheers Steve
Probably micro moth larvae. I have found both brown house moth and white-shouldered house moth in nest boxes.
A couple of hours this morning cleaning out nestboxes,
Pair of Mandarins
Buzzard over
Pair of Dippers
Pair of Goldcrests
Singles of Grey Wagtails and Heron, good numbers of the usual suspects
As a side issue I often wondered about cleaning nest boxes out, my thoughts being that natural nest sites would not get cleaned out and that adult birds often roosted in nest boxes during winter and that the lining would act as insulation, I finally decided to clean them out, Whilst cleaning out the boxes this morning I was surprised to find that at least four nests contained very small live maggots and at least half contained fleas, has anyone got any ideas on what the maggots would be?
Lower plantations early afternoon
Pair of Mandarins
Pair of Dippers
2 Skeins of Pink footed Geese over heading west
Singles of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk(m),Heron,Treecreeper and Goldcrest
Large charm of Goldfinches in trees
Upper plantations Dusk
Remains of a Magpie, Buzzard or female Sparrowhawk kill
Pair of Tawny Owls calling from roost site, a possible third bird calling ten minutes later about half a kilometer from first pair
Very good numbers of Thrush species in song
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Sennicar Bridge - cross over bridge and turn left back along canal to Pendlebury Bridge - up to School Lane - through Haigh Country Park (including Lower Plantations feeding station) - back along canal by side of Lady Mabel Wood - and return
Goldcrest x 2
Bullfinch x 3 (1M and 2F)
Redwing x 30
Buzzard x 1
Kestrel x 1
Mistle Thrush x 1
Nuthatch x 2
Coal Tit x 3
Jay x 1
House Sparrow x 1
Dunnock x 2
Wren x 3
Moorhen x 3
Chaffinch x 4
Robin x 7
Blue Tit x 4
Great Tit x 5
Blackbird x 5
Woodpigeon x 50
Magpie x 7
Mallard x 15
Black-Headed Gull x 1
Carrion Crow x 4
Rook x 30
Jackdaw x 10
6 Mandarin on the R Douglas today
pair of Tawny Owls in the lower plantations roost site, the pair in the upper plantations have relocated so not found them yet
5 Bramblings and a single Dipper on the Dougy best of the rest, good numbers of Titmice using both feeding sites
4 Mandarins, 2 pairs, first sightings for a while for an area what is usually good for this species
singles of Dipper, Great spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Cormorant, Bullfinch and Buzzard
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Lady Mabel Wood - back through Haigh Country Park and return
Kingfisher x 1
Goldcrest x 1
Nuthatch x 2
Reed Bunting x 3
Coal Tit x 3
Jay x 5
Goldfinch x 3
Moorhen x 1
Robin x 4
Blue Tit x 8
Great Tit x 6
Blackbird x 5
Woodpigeon x 50
Magpie x 4
Mallard x 20
Black-Headed Gull x 10
Canada Geese x 12
Cormorant x 1
Carrion Crow x 8
Mute Swan x 2
late post for yesterday 2/1/17
singles of Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest Treecreeper and Dipper
Snipe off Pendlebury lane, good numbers of Sparrows near the houses
pair of Dippers on the Dougy, one singing away, Buzzard over and Ravens heard the highlights of a quick hour
6 Whooper Swan SE over Lower Plantations 11:15
1 Goosander S towards town centre
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Lady Mabel Wood - back through Haigh Country Park (past Haigh Hall) and return
Kingfisher x 1
Goosander x 3
Redwing x 4
Buzzard x 1
Kestrel x 1
Chaffinch x 3
Moorhen x 1
Blue Tit x 5
Nuthatch x 1
Great Tit x 5
Blackbird x 4
Collared Dove x 4
Woodpigeon x 20
Magpie x 7
Mallard x 5
Black-Headed Gulls x 20
Herring Gull x 1
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 5th of November 2016 08:35:53 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 5th of November 2016 11:09:39 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 5th of November 2016 11:14:16 PM
Good sighting of a kingfisher on Sunday 23-10-2016 on the canal near Shedfield bridge also male bullfinch in the same locality
HAIGH COUNTRY PARK
Pleasant half hour this morning watching a pair of Little Grebes feeding two young on the Swan Pond in the Upper Plantations (first breeding we've seen here),
plus Moorhen and Mallard also feeding young. Hope they survive the Mink.
I've been toying with the idea of doing something similar here in Highfield but my concern is positioning the boxes where they won't be disturbed.
When I used to nest record many years ago the number of eggs that disappeared was quite staggering really.
-- Edited by Neil Ferguson on Friday 17th of June 2016 06:24:30 PM
Hi Neil
I placed them between 8 and 10 foot high, mainly because I was worried about them getting vandalised, they were situated away from any of the main paths mainly on sloping ground, bought an 8 x 4 sheet of 12 mm exterior ply and managed to get 14 bto measurement sized boxes out of it, after cutting the wood up some of the plywood layers started to part indicating it was not a very good quality exterior ply, so ended up giving each box 3 coats of a water based dark coloured varnish, hardest part was putting them up by myself, hiding ladders and tools whilst going back and forth for the boxes, been well worth it though really chuffed with the results and hopefully should get a few more years out of the boxes.
hope this helps
How high do you site the boxes Paul ?
The female Mandarin had a brood of 7
On the 27th May. That's a low survival rate if they are down to one.
Mandarin F with a single young nr shedfield bridge this morning seen while doing BBS,
Jimmy
Upper plantations, juvenile Tawny Owl reported
Lower plantations
Mandarin with 3 young
Tawny Owl out in daylight
Sparrowhawk on nest
Dipper and Grey Wagtail singles on Dougy
Buzzard over
Jay carrying food
In one of the quieter more private parts of the woods I put up 14 nest boxes back in February, incredibly all 14 are in use, 9 by Blue Tits and 5 by Great Tits, on checking today there are 67 young Blue Tits and 18 young Great Tits in these boxes with one Great Tit nest not checked as someone was camping nearby, the boxes were placed at least 70 yards from each other and on doing my rounds I have found another 2 Great Tits, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, a family of fledged Long tailed Tits and a Treecreeper nest that unfortunately got predated by Great Spotted Woodpecker , what surprised me was the population density of all these Titmice, just praying that the weather holds out for the next few days for them as most are getting close to fledging,
A couple of hours this morning in the upper plantations.
Grey Wagtail feeding fledged young near the Swan pond
Single Little Grebe on the Swan pond
Female Mallard crossing the footpath towards the pond with 3 chicks when a Carrion Crow swoops down and grabs one, as she gets to the pond with the remaining two chicks at least 8 male Mallards make straight for her on the banking two of them grabbing her and trying to mate with her, they fly back to the pond as I approach and the female remains with the chicks, as I back off she eventually goes into the pond with the youngsters and 1 male Mallard swims alongside her
Tawny Owl active and calling
8 juvenile Long tailed Tits all sat huddled up on a branch high up in a Hawthorn tree
Mallard on Canal with 4 young
2 x Song Thrush
2 x Mistle Thrush
Singles of Treecreeper and Goldcrest
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Monday 16th of May 2016 01:35:03 PM
Lady Mabels Wood
Tonight 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing well but briefly at times.
Jimmy
A lovely sighting of a Nuthatch yesterday near the bridge over the Yellow Brook. There seem to be good numbers of Nuthatches in and around the Plantations, regularly seen at The Hall Lane feeding station.
Of note
Leeds Liverpool Canal
Wheatear - field in front of big house towards bridge 63
Dead Mute Swan
Lady Mabel's Wood
Grasshopper Warbler - brief glimpse and reeling away in usual spot 20-15
Cheers
Karl
Walk from Red Rock / Bridge 63 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal) - along canal to Lady Mabel's Wood - River Douglas bridge - back through Haigh Country Park (past Haigh Hall) and return
Tawny Owl x 2 (together at usual roost at the Lower Plantations site)
Chiffchaff x 2
Buzzard x 2
Greenfinch x 1
Nuthatch x 5
Goldfinch x 4
Jay x 1
Wren x 1
Jackdaw x 20
Carrion Crow x 2
Coal Tit x 5
House Sparrow x 1
Long Tailed Tits x 2
Dunnock x 1
Blue Tit x 20
Great Tit x 9
Robin x 5
House Sparrow x 1
Chaffinch x 3
Blackbird x 10
Woodpigeon x 30
Magpie x 8
Mallard x 7
Black-Headed Gulls x 10
Reed Bunting x 2
Canada Geese x 4
Bullfinch x 1 (on way home flying across road in Aspull near Co-op food store)
This morning two Little Grebe were very active on the Swan Pond in the Plantations - only seen one there in the past.
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