2 isolated male Stonechat ( hopefully with second nests?) and a separate group of 6 mixed age young birds.
1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler.
1 lesser Redpoll and a flock of 15+ Linnet.
Martin Loftus said
Sun Jul 24 5:06 PM, 2022
8:30am - 12pm
The juvenile Cuckoo has been hanging around the Red brook valley for over a week now. It's very elusive, yet today we were lucky to catch up with it. It's feeding well on caterpillars and is managing to stay out of the way from the bullying corvids.
X 10 Kestrels
X2 Green Woodpecker
X2 stonechat (m+f)
Had a family group of whitethroat on Moorbottom rd one adult and 3 juveniles.
Same circuit as Monday, and quite a few differences in the species seen, with the following highlights:
1 Hobby, my second record of the year, 3 Kestrel and 1 Raven.
Small numbers of Swift, Swallow and House Martin.
2 Green Woodpecker, with a juvenile bird showing particularly well.
2 Stock Dove.
7 Stonechat and 2 Wheatear.
10+ Linnet, 4 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Mon Jul 11 1:01 PM, 2022
Highlights from a short morning higher level circuit:
1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl, 4 Raven.
1 Green Woodpecker.
1 Stock Dove.
5 Stonechat, 6 Linnet, both probably locally bred families.
Roger Halsey said
Thu Jul 7 8:11 PM, 2022
48 species on a longer morning circuit this morning was pretty good for the time of year, with the following highlights:
1 Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl and 2 Raven.
1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Kingfisher, 1 Dipper and 1 Grey Wagtail- all scarce of late.
c70 Swallow around the farms and stables, hopefully a good sign after a poor year for this species locally.
Still the odd Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat singing.
3 Goldcrest and 1 Treecreeper.
6 finch species including 3 Lesser Redpoll( 2 splendid males), 3 Bullfinch and 3 Linnet.
Roger Halsey said
Thu Jun 30 12:16 PM, 2022
This morning:
1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl, my first for a good while.
1 Green and 1 juv Great Spotted Woodpecker, presumably bred locally.
3 Stock Dove.
4 Swift.
4 Stonechat.
12+ Linnet in a single flock.
Roger Halsey said
Wed Jun 29 1:30 PM, 2022
Highlights from a morning circuit:
2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.
5 Stock Dove.
2, possibly 3 Green Woodpecker.
2 Lapwing.
1 Garden Warbler singing in yet another new location. Ive never seen/heard more than one on any day so suspect it is an unmated male. 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and 1 Whitethroat.
1 Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.
1 Lesser Redpoll.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Jun 24 1:29 PM, 2022
Highlights from morning visits over the last three days:
2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and today, 1 Hobby flying south over White Hill.
At least 2 Green Woodpecker showing well for a change .
2 Stock Dove.
5 or so Swift and 10+ Swallow.
5+ Stonechat and 2 Wheatear, including the first Juvenile of the year.
2 Goldcrest.
1 juvenile Siskin(see Ramsbottom post!), 6 Linnet and 1 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Jun 17 1:23 PM, 2022
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 2 Raven.
2 Swift and 15+ Swallow around the farms.
6 Stonechat, but only 1 Wheatear.
1 Garden Warbler singing in a new location.
3 Linnet.
Roger Halsey said
Wed Jun 8 2:26 PM, 2022
Best from a morning circuit:
1 Tawny Owl, helpfully flushed by some mobbing Blackbirds.
1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.
Pair of Curlew.
1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
3 Goldcrest.
Roger Halsey said
Sun Jun 5 6:18 PM, 2022
Highlights from a late circuit in the drizzle:
1 Raven.
2 Green Woodpecker, showing well for a change.
My first singing Snipe of the year.
3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Wheatear and 3 Stonechat.
Roger Halsey said
Mon May 9 1:07 PM, 2022
Garden Warbler still present this morning. Also Green Woodpecker, 4 Stock Dove, 6 Stonechat, including pair feeding young, and 5 Wheatear.
Roger Halsey said
Fri May 6 1:58 PM, 2022
I finally managed to track down a Garden Warbler this morning, my first anywhere this year. It was singing well close to a path that I seldom use at the top of Redisher Wood. Also 2 Whitethroat and good numbers of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.
Roger Halsey said
Tue May 3 1:43 PM, 2022
42 species on a longer morning circuit, with the highlights of:
1 Kestrel.
1 Green Woodpecker.
6 Stock Dove.
1 Ring Ouzel.
1 Grasshopper Warbler.
2 Stonechat and 6 Wheatear.
1 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Linnet.
Roger Halsey said
Tue Apr 26 12:18 PM, 2022
48 species including a patch tick on a long circuit this morning! The highlights:
Pair Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.
1 Curlew and 1 Lapwing.
9 Stock Dove.
1 Common Gull, the rather surprising patch tick!
The first Whitethroat of the year with 2 birds.
3 Stonechat, including one bird carrying food, and 8 Wheatear.
Female Ring Ouzel seen briefly but appeared to head off south over the firing range.
6 Linnet including pairs in 2 new places.
Roger Halsey said
Tue Apr 19 1:19 PM, 2022
A quieter morning circuit today, with the modest highlights being:
2 Raven.
2 Green and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
First reeling Grasshopper Warbler of the year, with good numbers of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
2 Stonechat, 6 Wheatear.
First returning Swallow and Pied Wagtail.
Roger Halsey said
Wed Apr 13 10:13 PM, 2022
47 species on a longer morning circuit with the highlights being:
Single Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
3 or 4 Curlew.
11 Stock Dove, my record count here, in 5 locations with a group of 5 together in one place.
1 Green and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Herring Gull over- quite scarce here.
4 male Stonechat, hopefully with 4 females sitting nearby.
4 Wheatear.
6 Fieldfare over.
2 Lesser Redpoll in display flights with a separate flock of 12-15 birds moving through. 3 Linnet , 1 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Apr 1 6:15 PM, 2022
This mornings limited highlights:
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Raven.
3 Stock Dove.
Grounded flock of 10 Skylark.
1 Dipper.
2 Stonechat.
1 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Mon Mar 28 5:01 PM, 2022
Highlights from a shortish morning circuit:
1 Green Woodpecker.
Pair Stock Dove.
Good numbers of singing/displaying Skylark and Meadow Pipit on the higher ground.
My first Linnet and first Chiffchaff of the year here.
Roger Halsey said
Mon Mar 7 12:18 PM, 2022
Highlights from this morning:
Pair of Teal, my first record here this year.
1 Buzzard.
Pair Stock Dove in a different location to Friday. Maybe 4 pairs here?
1 Green and 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
3 singing Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper.
2 Dipper in different locations.
2 Siskin.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Mar 4 1:21 PM, 2022
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
My first returning Curlew.
Pairs of Buzzard and Raven.
4 Stock Dove including 2 singing males, suggestive of 3 pairs in different locations.
1 Green and 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Kingfisher.
1 Stonechat, the first bird this year.
25 Redwing.
An excitable group of 5 Lesser Redpoll, and 5 Siskin flying north.
Roger Halsey said
Wed Mar 2 10:30 AM, 2022
Highlights from a short morning circuit:
1 Goosander.
3 Lapwing.
1 singing Stock Dove.
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker including a male drumming on a plastic junction box to get some extra resonance!
1 Dipper.
1 singing Goldcrest and 1 Treecreeper.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Feb 25 1:28 PM, 2022
Highlights from another morning circuit:
1 Green Woodpecker.
1 Stock Dove.
1 Dipper.
7 Skylark and my first returning Meadow Pipit.
6 Siskin and 2 Lesser Redpoll, my first record of both species here this year, 3 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Wed Feb 23 1:19 PM, 2022
Highlights from a morning circuit:
15 Lapwing.
2 Green but no Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Pair Stock Dove including singing male.
1 Buzzard, 1 Raven.
Kingfisher.
The first singing Skylark of the season, with at least 4 birds.
Roger Halsey said
Mon Feb 7 1:13 PM, 2022
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
2 male Goosander and the first returning pair of Canada Geese.
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, but still no Green.
1 Goldcrest, amazingly my first of the year!
20+ Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush.
2 Dipper.
2 Brambling, 6 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Thu Feb 3 1:14 PM, 2022
A short circuit this morning with the highlights being Kingfisher, Dipper and the first returning Lapwing.
Roger Halsey said
Mon Jan 24 1:13 PM, 2022
Another rather quiet morning circuit with the following highlights:
1 singing Stock Dove.
1 male Goosander.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
50+ Redwing and 3 Mistle Thrush.
1 Treecreeper.
Roger Halsey said
Wed Jan 5 5:21 PM, 2022
A very quiet morning circuit with the limited highlights of:
1 Kestrel.
2 Stock Dove.
Mistle Thrush still defending the same holly tree as the last visit! 20 Redwing.
Roger Halsey said
Thu Dec 16 1:45 PM, 2021
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
6 Cormorant fishing on Simons Lodge, my first record here.
2 Green and 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
2 Stock Dove.
1 Mistle Thrush vigorously defending a berry laden holly tree from a marauding flock of Redwing! 50+ Redwing in total.
1 Stonechat.
1 Dipper.
1 Lesser Redpoll over, 2 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Mon Dec 13 11:10 AM, 2021
Green Woodpecker again on the east side of the moor this morning and, for a change, showed very well. Also 2 Kestrel and 2 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Dec 10 3:57 PM, 2021
Green Woodpecker on the east side of the moor this morning.
Roger Halsey said
Thu Dec 9 1:42 PM, 2021
Highlights from a morning circuit:
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
2 Raven.
2 Dipper.
2 Treecreeper, 1 Goldcrest.
1 Lesser Redpoll over.
Roger Halsey said
Mon Nov 29 2:55 PM, 2021
Highlights from a morning circuit:
1 Kestrel and 1 Tawny Owl showed well after being flushed out of a thicket by a group of noisy blackbirds.
1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker .
1 Common Gull (not so common!)
Lots of small birds feeding in the leaf litter including (surprisingly) 1 Treecreeper. Also 2nd Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.
10+ Redwing, 2 Song and 1 Mistle Thrush.
Flock of at least 8 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Bullfinch. Plus another 4 Bullfinch elsewhere.
Excellent count of 48 Siskin in a single flock feeding on an Alder. Also 7 Goldfinch and 4 Bullfinch in the same flock.
1 Kestrel, 2 Raven.
1 Mistle Thrush.
2 Dipper, 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Goldcrest.
1 Stonechat.
Roger Halsey said
Thu Oct 21 1:03 PM, 2021
An excellent finch morning! 2 mixed flocks encountered, with the first containing 4 Siskin, 7 Bullfinch, 5 Goldfinch and 2 Brambling. The second contained 2 Siskin, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 12+ Goldfinch, 1 Goldcrest and 3 Lesser Redpoll.
My first site Brambling record since October 2018, and the first Redpoll since May of this year. Also:
1 Raven, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 Stonechat.
-- Edited by Roger Halsey on Thursday 21st of October 2021 04:00:29 PM
Roger Halsey said
Thu Oct 14 2:10 PM, 2021
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 2 Raven.
2 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, all in different places.
Big (for here!) movement of Redwing south/south west with at least 250 birds over. Also 10 Mistle Thrush mixed in with the Redwing on the east side of the moor.
1 Stonechat.
1 Siskin and 3 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Oct 8 3:10 PM, 2021
Highlights from a short morning circuit:
An obvious southward movement of 2 common species, with 180+ Jackdaw and 60+ Woodpigeon over in an hour.
6 Raven and 1 Kestrel.
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
2 Mistle Thrush.
1 Goldcrest.
3 Bullfinch.
Roger Halsey said
Wed Sep 29 5:40 PM, 2021
Another day of contrast between the east and west sides of the moor. The west was very quiet and wet, with only singles of Raven and Kestrel of note.
The east was sunny and alive with birds! Finches predominated again with lots of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch, with at least 3 Bullfinch and 3 Siskin mixed in. About 12 Swallow and a lone House Martin flew south.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Sep 24 12:55 PM, 2021
The main finch flock appeared to have moved through this morning, but still 6 Mistle Thrush and 1 Song Thrush in the same tree. Also large mixed tit flock that included 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.
42 Pink-footed Geese flew south.
Also 1 Kestrel sheltered from the rain in Harcles Quarry, 1 Stonechat, and 10 Jay .
-- Edited by Roger Halsey on Friday 24th of September 2021 01:55:58 PM
Roger Halsey said
Thu Sep 23 12:30 PM, 2021
An interesting contrast this morning between the exposed western side of the moor and the sheltered eastern side. The western side was very quiet, with only 4 Kestrel and 1 Stonechat of note.
The eastern side was alive with birds in a loose large mixed species flock. Most numerous were the finches, with 50+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch and 5+ Chaffinch. Also 7 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipit, 1 Coal Tit and 1 Chiffchaff , with a few Blackbird, Starling and Blue Tit mixed in.
Also 1 Green Woodpecker on the east side.
Roger Halsey said
Tue Sep 21 5:49 PM, 2021
Highlights from a short afternoon circuit:
6 Kestrel hover hunting in a line along the western side of the moor. 2 Sparrowhawk passed through and indulged in a period of aerial combat with the Kestrel.
1 Green Woodpecker called 3 times, but remained unseen.
c10 Swallow, 15 House Martin, 2 Skylark and c25 Meadow Pipit moving through.
4 Stonechat.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Sep 17 11:42 AM, 2021
Highlights from a morning circuit:
1 Kestrel and 1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Kingfisher.
1 Raven.
1 singing Chiffchaff.
Kevin Forde said
Thu Sep 16 4:57 AM, 2021
Kevin Forde Magpie
Jay
Meadow Pipit
Green Woodpecker
Little owl
Sparrowhawk
Kestrels
Stonechat
Raven
Many swallow over flying.
-- Edited by Kevin Forde on Thursday 16th of September 2021 04:57:45 AM
Roger Halsey said
Mon Sep 13 2:08 PM, 2021
An interesting mixture of migrants on the west side of the moor this morning included 20+ Swallow, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Stonechat, 2 Skylark and 2 Greenfinch.
On the east side of the moor a loose mixed flock included Treecreeper, Nuthatch, 4+ Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and 5 Siskin.
Only 1 kestrel over the end of the moor.
Roger Halsey said
Fri Sep 10 1:43 PM, 2021
Highlights from a morning circuit:
Marsh Harrier flew south without stopping, 2 Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrel.
2 Raven flew in from the south and had a long period of aerial combat with the 2 Sparrowhawk at the south end of the moor.
Another patch tick in the form of a Redstart at the bottom of Saplin Wood, 2 Wheatear.
1 Skylark flew south, my first here for a while.
c 40 Swallow and 1 House Martin.
2 Willow Warbler, including 1 singing, 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap.
2 Siskin over.
Ian Latham said
Wed Sep 8 12:13 PM, 2021
2 x Little Owl
1 x Merlin
2 x Raven
Several Kestrel's
-- Edited by Ian Latham on Wednesday 8th of September 2021 12:14:33 PM
Highlights from a morning circuit:
1 Sparrowhawk and at least 6 Kestrel.
3 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
At least 10 Stock Dove.
2 isolated male Stonechat ( hopefully with second nests?) and a separate group of 6 mixed age young birds.
1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler.
1 lesser Redpoll and a flock of 15+ Linnet.
8:30am - 12pm
The juvenile Cuckoo has been hanging around the Red brook valley for over a week now. It's very elusive, yet today we were lucky to catch up with it. It's feeding well on caterpillars and is managing to stay out of the way from the bullying corvids.
X 10 Kestrels
X2 Green Woodpecker
X2 stonechat (m+f)
Had a family group of whitethroat on Moorbottom rd one adult and 3 juveniles.
Red kite photographed also along Moorbottom rd at 5pm..by Aaron Wilkinson.
Juvenile Cuckoo hanging around on Moorbottom road this afternoon. Was still there at 7pm before disappearing.
Photo and info, courtesy of Gary Taylor
Same circuit as Monday, and quite a few differences in the species seen, with the following highlights:
1 Hobby, my second record of the year, 3 Kestrel and 1 Raven.
Small numbers of Swift, Swallow and House Martin.
2 Green Woodpecker, with a juvenile bird showing particularly well.
2 Stock Dove.
7 Stonechat and 2 Wheatear.
10+ Linnet, 4 Bullfinch.
Highlights from a short morning higher level circuit:
1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl, 4 Raven.
1 Green Woodpecker.
1 Stock Dove.
5 Stonechat, 6 Linnet, both probably locally bred families.
48 species on a longer morning circuit this morning was pretty good for the time of year, with the following highlights:
1 Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl and 2 Raven.
1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Kingfisher, 1 Dipper and 1 Grey Wagtail- all scarce of late.
c70 Swallow around the farms and stables, hopefully a good sign after a poor year for this species locally.
Still the odd Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat singing.
3 Goldcrest and 1 Treecreeper.
6 finch species including 3 Lesser Redpoll( 2 splendid males), 3 Bullfinch and 3 Linnet.
This morning:
1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl, my first for a good while.
1 Green and 1 juv Great Spotted Woodpecker, presumably bred locally.
3 Stock Dove.
4 Swift.
4 Stonechat.
12+ Linnet in a single flock.
Highlights from a morning circuit:
2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.
5 Stock Dove.
2, possibly 3 Green Woodpecker.
2 Lapwing.
1 Garden Warbler singing in yet another new location. Ive never seen/heard more than one on any day so suspect it is an unmated male. 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and 1 Whitethroat.
1 Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.
1 Lesser Redpoll.
Highlights from morning visits over the last three days:
2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and today, 1 Hobby flying south over White Hill.
At least 2 Green Woodpecker showing well for a change .
2 Stock Dove.
5 or so Swift and 10+ Swallow.
5+ Stonechat and 2 Wheatear, including the first Juvenile of the year.
2 Goldcrest.
1 juvenile Siskin(see Ramsbottom post!), 6 Linnet and 1 Bullfinch.
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 2 Raven.
2 Swift and 15+ Swallow around the farms.
6 Stonechat, but only 1 Wheatear.
1 Garden Warbler singing in a new location.
3 Linnet.
Best from a morning circuit:
1 Tawny Owl, helpfully flushed by some mobbing Blackbirds.
1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.
Pair of Curlew.
1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
3 Goldcrest.
Highlights from a late circuit in the drizzle:
1 Raven.
2 Green Woodpecker, showing well for a change.
My first singing Snipe of the year.
3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Wheatear and 3 Stonechat.
Garden Warbler still present this morning. Also Green Woodpecker, 4 Stock Dove, 6 Stonechat, including pair feeding young, and 5 Wheatear.
I finally managed to track down a Garden Warbler this morning, my first anywhere this year. It was singing well close to a path that I seldom use at the top of Redisher Wood. Also 2 Whitethroat and good numbers of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.
42 species on a longer morning circuit, with the highlights of:
1 Kestrel.
1 Green Woodpecker.
6 Stock Dove.
1 Ring Ouzel.
1 Grasshopper Warbler.
2 Stonechat and 6 Wheatear.
1 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Linnet.
48 species including a patch tick on a long circuit this morning! The highlights:
Pair Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.
1 Curlew and 1 Lapwing.
9 Stock Dove.
1 Common Gull, the rather surprising patch tick!
The first Whitethroat of the year with 2 birds.
3 Stonechat, including one bird carrying food, and 8 Wheatear.
Female Ring Ouzel seen briefly but appeared to head off south over the firing range.
6 Linnet including pairs in 2 new places.
A quieter morning circuit today, with the modest highlights being:
2 Raven.
2 Green and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
First reeling Grasshopper Warbler of the year, with good numbers of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
2 Stonechat, 6 Wheatear.
First returning Swallow and Pied Wagtail.
47 species on a longer morning circuit with the highlights being:
Single Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
3 or 4 Curlew.
11 Stock Dove, my record count here, in 5 locations with a group of 5 together in one place.
1 Green and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Herring Gull over- quite scarce here.
4 male Stonechat, hopefully with 4 females sitting nearby.
4 Wheatear.
6 Fieldfare over.
2 Lesser Redpoll in display flights with a separate flock of 12-15 birds moving through. 3 Linnet , 1 Bullfinch.
This mornings limited highlights:
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Raven.
3 Stock Dove.
Grounded flock of 10 Skylark.
1 Dipper.
2 Stonechat.
1 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Bullfinch.
Highlights from a shortish morning circuit:
1 Green Woodpecker.
Pair Stock Dove.
Good numbers of singing/displaying Skylark and Meadow Pipit on the higher ground.
My first Linnet and first Chiffchaff of the year here.
Highlights from this morning:
Pair of Teal, my first record here this year.
1 Buzzard.
Pair Stock Dove in a different location to Friday. Maybe 4 pairs here?
1 Green and 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
3 singing Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper.
2 Dipper in different locations.
2 Siskin.
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
My first returning Curlew.
Pairs of Buzzard and Raven.
4 Stock Dove including 2 singing males, suggestive of 3 pairs in different locations.
1 Green and 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Kingfisher.
1 Stonechat, the first bird this year.
25 Redwing.
An excitable group of 5 Lesser Redpoll, and 5 Siskin flying north.
Highlights from a short morning circuit:
1 Goosander.
3 Lapwing.
1 singing Stock Dove.
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker including a male drumming on a plastic junction box to get some extra resonance!
1 Dipper.
1 singing Goldcrest and 1 Treecreeper.
Highlights from another morning circuit:
1 Green Woodpecker.
1 Stock Dove.
1 Dipper.
7 Skylark and my first returning Meadow Pipit.
6 Siskin and 2 Lesser Redpoll, my first record of both species here this year, 3 Bullfinch.
Highlights from a morning circuit:
15 Lapwing.
2 Green but no Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Pair Stock Dove including singing male.
1 Buzzard, 1 Raven.
Kingfisher.
The first singing Skylark of the season, with at least 4 birds.
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
2 male Goosander and the first returning pair of Canada Geese.
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, but still no Green.
1 Goldcrest, amazingly my first of the year!
20+ Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush.
2 Dipper.
2 Brambling, 6 Bullfinch.
A short circuit this morning with the highlights being Kingfisher, Dipper and the first returning Lapwing.
Another rather quiet morning circuit with the following highlights:
1 singing Stock Dove.
1 male Goosander.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
50+ Redwing and 3 Mistle Thrush.
1 Treecreeper.
A very quiet morning circuit with the limited highlights of:
1 Kestrel.
2 Stock Dove.
Mistle Thrush still defending the same holly tree as the last visit! 20 Redwing.
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
6 Cormorant fishing on Simons Lodge, my first record here.
2 Green and 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
2 Stock Dove.
1 Mistle Thrush vigorously defending a berry laden holly tree from a marauding flock of Redwing! 50+ Redwing in total.
1 Stonechat.
1 Dipper.
1 Lesser Redpoll over, 2 Bullfinch.
Green Woodpecker again on the east side of the moor this morning and, for a change, showed very well. Also 2 Kestrel and 2 Bullfinch.
Green Woodpecker on the east side of the moor this morning.
Highlights from a morning circuit:
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
2 Raven.
2 Dipper.
2 Treecreeper, 1 Goldcrest.
1 Lesser Redpoll over.
Highlights from a morning circuit:
1 Kestrel and 1 Tawny Owl showed well after being flushed out of a thicket by a group of noisy blackbirds.
1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker .
1 Common Gull (not so common!)
Lots of small birds feeding in the leaf litter including (surprisingly) 1 Treecreeper. Also 2nd Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.
10+ Redwing, 2 Song and 1 Mistle Thrush.
Flock of at least 8 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Bullfinch. Plus another 4 Bullfinch elsewhere.
4 x Brambling, 100m or so up from Alpaca Farm
Highlights from a morning circuit:
Excellent count of 48 Siskin in a single flock feeding on an Alder. Also 7 Goldfinch and 4 Bullfinch in the same flock.
1 Kestrel, 2 Raven.
1 Mistle Thrush.
2 Dipper, 1 Grey Wagtail and 2 Goldcrest.
1 Stonechat.
An excellent finch morning! 2 mixed flocks encountered, with the first containing 4 Siskin, 7 Bullfinch, 5 Goldfinch and 2 Brambling. The second contained 2 Siskin, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 12+ Goldfinch, 1 Goldcrest and 3 Lesser Redpoll.
My first site Brambling record since October 2018, and the first Redpoll since May of this year.
Also:
1 Raven, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 6 Stonechat.
-- Edited by Roger Halsey on Thursday 21st of October 2021 04:00:29 PM
Highlights from a longer morning circuit:
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 2 Raven.
2 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, all in different places.
Big (for here!) movement of Redwing south/south west with at least 250 birds over. Also 10 Mistle Thrush mixed in with the Redwing on the east side of the moor.
1 Stonechat.
1 Siskin and 3 Bullfinch.
Highlights from a short morning circuit:
An obvious southward movement of 2 common species, with 180+ Jackdaw and 60+ Woodpigeon over in an hour.
6 Raven and 1 Kestrel.
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
2 Mistle Thrush.
1 Goldcrest.
3 Bullfinch.
Another day of contrast between the east and west sides of the moor. The west was very quiet and wet, with only singles of Raven and Kestrel of note.
The east was sunny and alive with birds! Finches predominated again with lots of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch, with at least 3 Bullfinch and 3 Siskin mixed in. About 12 Swallow and a lone House Martin flew south.
The main finch flock appeared to have moved through this morning, but still 6 Mistle Thrush and 1 Song Thrush in the same tree. Also large mixed tit flock that included 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.
42 Pink-footed Geese flew south.
Also 1 Kestrel sheltered from the rain in Harcles Quarry, 1 Stonechat, and 10 Jay .
-- Edited by Roger Halsey on Friday 24th of September 2021 01:55:58 PM
An interesting contrast this morning between the exposed western side of the moor and the sheltered eastern side. The western side was very quiet, with only 4 Kestrel and 1 Stonechat of note.
The eastern side was alive with birds in a loose large mixed species flock. Most numerous were the finches, with 50+ Goldfinch, 10+ Greenfinch and 5+ Chaffinch. Also 7 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipit, 1 Coal Tit and 1 Chiffchaff , with a few Blackbird, Starling and Blue Tit mixed in.
Also 1 Green Woodpecker on the east side.
Highlights from a short afternoon circuit:
6 Kestrel hover hunting in a line along the western side of the moor. 2 Sparrowhawk passed through and indulged in a period of aerial combat with the Kestrel.
1 Green Woodpecker called 3 times, but remained unseen.
c10 Swallow, 15 House Martin, 2 Skylark and c25 Meadow Pipit moving through.
4 Stonechat.
Highlights from a morning circuit:
1 Kestrel and 1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Kingfisher.
1 Raven.
1 singing Chiffchaff.
-- Edited by Kevin Forde on Thursday 16th of September 2021 04:57:45 AM
An interesting mixture of migrants on the west side of the moor this morning included 20+ Swallow, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Stonechat, 2 Skylark and 2 Greenfinch.
On the east side of the moor a loose mixed flock included Treecreeper, Nuthatch, 4+ Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and 5 Siskin.
Only 1 kestrel over the end of the moor.
Highlights from a morning circuit:
Marsh Harrier flew south without stopping, 2 Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrel.
2 Raven flew in from the south and had a long period of aerial combat with the 2 Sparrowhawk at the south end of the moor.
Another patch tick in the form of a Redstart at the bottom of Saplin Wood, 2 Wheatear.
1 Skylark flew south, my first here for a while.
c 40 Swallow and 1 House Martin.
2 Willow Warbler, including 1 singing, 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap.
2 Siskin over.
2 x Little Owl
1 x Merlin
2 x Raven
Several Kestrel's
-- Edited by Ian Latham on Wednesday 8th of September 2021 12:14:33 PM
Highlights from a short morning circuit:
Patch tick in the form of a Marsh Harrier that flew south around 9.45, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.
1 Green Woodpecker.
c30 Swallow and 10 House Martin.
1 Willow Warbler in sub song.
2 Wheatear.