Quail singing at 11:15 in wheat field just North of horse paddocks at Crookhurst Farm - SD 525 005
Park on farm approach road close to B5205, walk NE to farm then N. Pass horse paddocks which are on your Right, and at their end turn Right. After passing the paddocks, stop & listen. The bird is on the higher part of the field close to the paddocks, some 50 yards away from you.
Obviously, do not enter the field !
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 17 11:37 PM, 2014
Single Redwing over at first light today.
Also, yesterday, a Great Crested Grebe flew over high to the east; a quite remarkable sight!
Info thanks to Peter Alker
Mark Wilde said
Thu Sep 11 11:37 AM, 2014
Sparrowhawk chasing pipits across fields, , 2 kestral , 3 buzzard, wheatear sitting on fence by the paddock, nuthatch, chiffchaff, goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, flock of long tailed it and blue tit, great tit, large numbers of meadow pipit, house martins, swallow, yellowhammers, plus usuals.
-- Edited by Mark Wilde on Friday 12th of September 2014 08:50:12 AM
dave broome said
Tue Apr 29 9:06 PM, 2014
Hi Paul, I'll send you a PM when I get chance to put pc on. I can't do that via my phone for some reason, which I'm using at the moment. Cheers, dave
paul brady said
Tue Apr 29 2:23 PM, 2014
dave broome wrote:
Male Redstart at Billinge Hill this morning, just below the beacon. Info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
What a great find, knew I shouldve got out of bed!
Do you have any contact info for Chris, Dave?
dave broome said
Mon Apr 28 8:07 AM, 2014
Male Redstart at Billinge Hill this morning, just below the beacon. Info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
paul brady said
Thu Oct 31 9:31 PM, 2013
Had my 1st brambling of the autumn today and also my 1st fieldfare
aftr an hour or so i'd had 2 brambling, c30 fieldfare and c60 redwing.
skylark, meadow pipits, chaffinches also were over in small numbers
several goldcrest were moving through the undergrowth in several different places too
must be at least 5 bullfinch about too plus a couple of willow tits
paul brady said
Fri Oct 11 8:37 PM, 2013
First redwings are pushing thru now with c20 yesterday morning before work and over 200 today whilst working from home :)
paul brady said
Thu Oct 3 7:31 PM, 2013
Almost a garden tick of a hobby today as one flew over the paddocks, had a punch up with a kestrel and then headed over the beacon. Really pleased and really noticable how easily it made headway into the wind compared with the kestrel.
Other birds up there on an early lunch break included the female blackcap again and a whitethroat (juv/fem), willow tit and about a dozen yellowhammers.
paul brady said
Thu Oct 3 4:52 PM, 2013
Female blackcap feeding on my food 3 bullfinch 1 willow tit 1 chiffchaff 18 mistle thrush
highlights from a quick trip up yesterday tea-time
paul brady said
Wed Sep 25 5:23 PM, 2013
First for me yesterday as a friend and I spotted a peregrine (with kill) on the mobile phone towers, the one thats in Greater Manchester. I'm sure that it flew into St Helens airspace though!
it had a kill too. Other notable birds included willow tit, bullfiinch, chiffchaff, yellowhammer, linnet, kestrel and sparrowhawk. Also a small passage of meadow pipits, pied wagtails and skylarks
Photo on the blog www.sthelensbirds.blogspot.co.uk
paul brady said
Mon Sep 23 5:52 PM, 2013
News from last night a lovely spotted flycatcher on telephone wires ... only had binoculars with me and no camera though. Bullfinch and chiffchaff also present, single grey wagtail, house martin, skylark all going over too.
@sthelensbirds
dave broome said
Sat Sep 14 2:11 AM, 2013
Spotted Flycatcher and at least 6 Whitethroat on Billinge Hill this morning, also a Redstart briefly on the edge of the former quarry/landfill. Info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
paul brady said
Tue Sep 10 9:58 PM, 2013
Summary of this mornings sightings:
2 juvenile yellow wagtails still present on Red Barn Lane, Billinge with about 20 pied wagtail
6+ wheatear in field near to horse paddocks
whitethroats, chiffchaff, willow tit, yellowhammer, sparrowhawk also present
www.sthelensbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter @sthelensbirds
Cheers
PS No sign of black tern nor yelllow-legged gull on Eccleston Mere or surrounding waters (Taylor Park and Carr Mill) from 12 - 1.30pm :(
dave broome said
Sat Sep 7 3:19 AM, 2013
On SW side of Billinge Hill near golf course this morning- 5 Wheatear, 4 Tree Pipit, 3 Blackcap, Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher. Info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
dave broome said
Mon Aug 26 1:47 AM, 2013
Redstart and four Tree Pipit on Billinge Hill this morning. Info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
paul brady said
Mon Nov 5 11:21 PM, 2012
Belated news from yesterday: Morning: 1 male brambling feeding with chaffinches and yellowhammer in muddy field
1 Brambling and total 1000+ Woodpigeon south and total of 21 Fieldfare east, over Billinge Hill this morning, info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
dave broome said
Sat Oct 20 12:15 PM, 2012
an elusive Ring Ouzel this morning, a probable first-winter male found by Chris Darbyshire, on the east side of Billinge Hill beacon in the edge of the former quarry, showing occasionally in berry-laden Hawthorns (unfortunately didn't show itself during the time I spent there) what little visible migration was occurring included 3 Siskin south
-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 20th of October 2012 12:16:40 PM
colin davies said
Sat Oct 22 5:53 PM, 2011
8am - 9:30am with Chris Darbyshire, 1 Wheatear on the midden pile below the beacon, 2 Crossbills over west, about 70 Fieldfares and 100 Redwings. Big numbers of geese in the area, about 1000 over east at 8:30am. Yesterday there were at least 6000 in the Billinge Hill area.
colin davies said
Sun Oct 16 7:09 PM, 2011
Richard's Pipit flew west, calling, over horse paddocks at 8am, lost in mist. Presumably the same bird reported again at 11am SW over Brownlow pine wood at 11:06am.
colin davies said
Fri Oct 14 11:09 AM, 2011
Big movement of thrushes this morning, with at least 2200 Redwings and 1200 Fieldfares over the beacon.
colin davies said
Sat Oct 8 1:32 PM, 2011
This morning, one Merlin over horse paddocks and two Wheatears, one in field near horse paddocks and one on midden pile near beacon. Almost no passage today (10 each of Meadow Pipit and Skylark, compare with yesterday!).
colin davies said
Fri Oct 7 10:47 AM, 2011
This morning over beacon, all flying south, 7:45 - 9:15am, 1 Crossbill, 300+ Meadow Pipits in groups of up to 10 and 100+ Skylarks. Also 1 Wheatear in the horse paddocks.
colin davies said
Sun Oct 2 8:29 PM, 2011
1 Crossbill, at least 10 Siskin and 9 Pintail over beacon this morning
dave broome said
Mon Sep 26 8:59 PM, 2011
min 10 Crossbill around Billinge Hill/Billinge Plants in misty conditions on morning of Sunday 25th, info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
colin davies said
Sat Aug 27 5:42 PM, 2011
1 Tree Pipit over and 9 Wheatears this morning at 9am.
colin davies said
Thu Aug 25 6:16 PM, 2011
2 Tree Pipits, 1 Wheatear and 10 Swifts this morning. One of the Tree Pipits was sitting on a wire, the other flew over calling.
colin davies said
Wed Aug 24 12:36 PM, 2011
6 Tree Pipits over between 8am and 9am. Also 1 Wheatear on the fence near the summit.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 24th of August 2011 11:46:32 AM
dave broome said
Tue Aug 23 12:52 PM, 2011
4 Tree Pipit and 1 Wheatear late a.m. - Pipits in bushes on SW slope of Beacon Info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
colin davies said
Mon Aug 22 7:29 PM, 2011
2 Spotted Flycatchers and 4 Wheatears on the fence at the summit this afternoon.
dave broome said
Sun Aug 21 9:03 PM, 2011
2 or 3 Redstart today, info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
Darren carr said
Mon Apr 25 1:19 PM, 2011
Late post for 24th early evening visit Very brief view of the female ring ouzel Flew in front of me into the trees at the bottom left hand side of the stone circle field Several meadow pipits resting on the cages 4 lapwing and 6 skylarks also a pair of linnets resting on the gravel path Buzzard being mobbed by carrion crow. No wheatears
dave broome said
Sun Apr 24 9:31 PM, 2011
an elusive male Ring Ouzel today below the Beacon in the former quarry/landfill area, i.e. the 'stone circle field' (not to be confused with the Glastonbury Festival Stone Circle Field )
info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
Ian Woosey said
Wed Apr 20 9:38 PM, 2011
20/4/11
5 Wheatears in the "stone circle" field this evening, and 4 Yellowhammers in fields surrounding the golf course..
Darren carr said
Mon Apr 18 3:10 PM, 2011
No ring ouzel today But still wheatears and other thrushes And a lovely yellow wagtail
Darren carr said
Sun Apr 17 10:11 PM, 2011
Hi Brian The ouzels were towards the bottom of the hill Were the stone circles are The male flew into the tall trees to the left Then flew back to the field. I found it an excellent place for thrushes Congrats on the black redstart.
Brian Burnett said
Sun Apr 17 9:40 PM, 2011
No Ring Ouzel this am but Black Redstart, Yellow Hammers, Skylarks, Linnets and other Thrushes. I suspect this is an under-reported location
Darren carr said
Sat Apr 16 5:58 PM, 2011
Male and female ring ouzel still present Showing well in the fields below the billinge beacon Also several wheatear lots of skylarks and mistle/song thrushes Sat 16th 17 57
dave broome said
Sat Apr 9 11:44 AM, 2011
2 Ring Ouzel at Billinge Hill this morning, 1 male and 1 female, in the former landfill/quarry below the Beacon, also 4 Wheatear around the stone circle area and 3 Fieldfare - info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
Just one Wheatear on show when I called later, plus 3 Lesser Redpoll
dave broome said
Fri Apr 8 12:06 PM, 2011
Ring Ouzel at Billinge Hill near the beacon found yesterday evening and present again today, info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
dave broome said
Sat Oct 2 4:04 PM, 2010
Approx 5000 Pink-Footed Geese were visible this morning on fields near Rainford
dave broome said
Mon Sep 8 6:45 PM, 2008
Sunday 7th: An impressive group of 12 Buzzards circling in the vicinity of Ashurst Beacon before dispersing Peregrine along the West Lancs side of the Billinge Hill ridge
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 20th of April 2011 10:27:00 PM
Park on farm approach road close to B5205, walk NE to farm then N. Pass horse paddocks which are on your Right, and at their end turn Right. After passing the paddocks, stop & listen. The bird is on the higher part of the field close to the paddocks, some 50 yards away from you.
Obviously, do not enter the field !
Also, yesterday, a Great Crested Grebe flew over high to the east; a quite remarkable sight!
Info thanks to Peter Alker
-- Edited by Mark Wilde on Friday 12th of September 2014 08:50:12 AM
What a great find, knew I shouldve got out of bed!
Do you have any contact info for Chris, Dave?
aftr an hour or so i'd had 2 brambling, c30 fieldfare and c60 redwing.
skylark, meadow pipits, chaffinches also were over in small numbers
several goldcrest were moving through the undergrowth in several different places too
must be at least 5 bullfinch about too plus a couple of willow tits
Other birds up there on an early lunch break included the female blackcap again and a whitethroat (juv/fem), willow tit and about a dozen yellowhammers.
3 bullfinch
1 willow tit
1 chiffchaff
18 mistle thrush
highlights from a quick trip up yesterday tea-time
it had a kill too. Other notable birds included willow tit, bullfiinch, chiffchaff, yellowhammer, linnet, kestrel and sparrowhawk. Also a small passage of meadow pipits, pied wagtails and skylarks
Photo on the blog www.sthelensbirds.blogspot.co.uk
@sthelensbirds
2 juvenile yellow wagtails still present on Red Barn Lane, Billinge with about 20 pied wagtail
6+ wheatear in field near to horse paddocks
whitethroats, chiffchaff, willow tit, yellowhammer, sparrowhawk also present
www.sthelensbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter @sthelensbirds
Cheers
PS No sign of black tern nor yelllow-legged gull on Eccleston Mere or surrounding waters (Taylor Park and Carr Mill) from 12 - 1.30pm :(
Morning:
1 male brambling feeding with chaffinches and yellowhammer in muddy field
Evening:
3 goldcrest
2 kestrel
2 raven
1 grey partridge calling by horse paddocks
what little visible migration was occurring included 3 Siskin south
-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 20th of October 2012 12:16:40 PM
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 24th of August 2011 11:46:32 AM
Info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
Very brief view of the female ring ouzel
Flew in front of me into the trees at the bottom left hand side of the stone circle field
Several meadow pipits resting on the cages
4 lapwing and 6 skylarks also a pair of linnets resting on the gravel path
Buzzard being mobbed by carrion crow.
No wheatears
info thanks to Chris Darbyshire
5 Wheatears in the "stone circle" field this evening, and 4 Yellowhammers in fields surrounding the golf course..
But still wheatears and other thrushes
And a lovely yellow wagtail
The ouzels were towards the bottom of the hill
Were the stone circles are
The male flew into the tall trees to the left
Then flew back to the field.
I found it an excellent place for thrushes
Congrats on the black redstart.
Showing well in the fields below the billinge beacon
Also several wheatear lots of skylarks and mistle/song thrushes
Sat 16th 17 57
Just one Wheatear on show when I called later, plus 3 Lesser Redpoll
An impressive group of 12 Buzzards circling in the vicinity of Ashurst Beacon before dispersing
Peregrine along the West Lancs side of the Billinge Hill ridge
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 20th of April 2011 10:27:00 PM