Male Red-footed Falcon just south of Daisy Hill Sewage Works, near Westhoughton at 7am this morning. Appeared to be hunting in the area but moved off north.
Info thanks to Anthony Wainwright
Antony Wainwright said
Sun Jun 2 9:43 AM, 2013
5-9.15am.
Male Red-footed Falcon not seen after 7am. I remained on site until 9am.
Red-footed Falcon was seen briefly as it alighted atop of telegraph post revealing red bare parts around eye & bill and dark sooty grey plumage. Moved off northwards after a few seconds. Not to be confused with a male melanistic Kestrel also within this area.
Had a mooch around here on my way back to Penny. Very,very, quiet.....
House Sparrows....c25 Chaffinch 5...singing Tits Collared Doves ...2 BH Gulls...C50 A few Jackdaws and Crows. Reed Bunting...1 Wren ..1 OUT singing. Woodpigeons Default activity here by Magpies and Midges!
Oh.... and 2 Partridge flushed off the Stubble.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 29th of February 2012 04:40:45 PM
Phil Cunliffe said
Sat Sep 3 8:17 PM, 2011
First walk round here for months this morning. Saw a lovely kestrel flying between the overhead line poles. Fifty or so LBJ's were in the rape stubble and on the overhead line, amonst the LBJ's were linnet and yellow hammer and possibly a corn bunting but I can't be 100% about the latter. Also saw a couple of crows, three or four magpies, a blackbird and four indeterminate gulls.
Nice to get out after being bogged down by work for the last month or so.
1 chiffchaff and the grasshopper warbler from the vicinity of the sewage works but there was a lot of construction type noise and the warbler was stop-start and then ceased altogether.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 24 8:43 PM, 2011
Grasshopper Warbler present yesterday.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Apr 21 11:28 PM, 2011
Male Lesser Whitethroat upto 8pm this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Apr 19 6:59 PM, 2011
3 Wheatear today up to 5:20pm.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Phil Cunliffe said
Tue Mar 29 9:50 PM, 2011
Today 10:00 to 10:45
45 waxwings en-route at Daisy Hill FC
1 meadow pipit
2 oystercatchers overhead
2 buzzards
1 heron
1 greenfinch
2 wrens
15 goldfinches
1 linnet
Various numbers of house sparrows, blackbirds, dunnocks, crows, magpies, starlings, blue tits, great tits, wood pigeons and collared doves.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 29 7:56 AM, 2011
Sightings for yesterday up to 5:45pm:
39 Yellowhammer 5 Reed Bunting 2 Linnet 3 Meadow Pipit north 4 Stick Dove 3 Buzzard 2 Chiffchaff
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 17 9:06 PM, 2011
Single White Wagtail present at 6:07 this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Phil Cunliffe said
Tue Feb 22 1:41 PM, 2011
A very muddy session between 10:30 to 11:30. I'm not very good at counting birds so my estimates are purely that.
1 Redwing 6 Blackbirds 1 Song Thrush 12 Yellow Hammers 1 Reed Bunting 13 Magpies (is this lucky or unlucky?) 25 Skylarks (possibly a mixed flock with other birds but I couldn't tell as they well silhouetted) 1 Blue Tit 1 Great Tit (although there were a number calling but hidden) 1 Male Pheasant 3 Dunnocks
On the way out of the fields I saw a number of other birds.
8 House Sparrows 2 Goldfinches 1 Robin 2 Dunnocks
-- Edited by Phil Cunliffe on Tuesday 22nd of February 2011 11:15:48 PM
-- Edited by Phil Cunliffe on Tuesday 22nd of February 2011 11:16:21 PM
Keith Mills said
Tue Feb 1 2:44 PM, 2011
11. 30 to 1.30 Today.
Looking down the stubble field, the hedge on the left has been chopped and the birds usually there were not. However a Buzzard rose from the green field over the stream (tick)) Along the stream , on a trunk: a (fem) GS Woodpecker(tick) was working hard. In a corner of the stubble, near to the works, were ground feeding: Circa 50 Yellowhammer. c 30 Chaffinch. c45 Linnets (tick) c20 Reed Buntings. few Dunnocks Cock Pheasant(tick) Figures include the adjacent hedge, on which also were a few Lt tits. Around the filters were: c 50 Bhh Gulls c 40 Jackdaws. The large Skylark flock was elusive. Walking back to my vehicle: a Kestrel low along the hedge, and 10 House sparrows.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 1st of February 2011 04:59:40 PM
don't know if i was in the right place yesterday, but went to try and find the yellowhammers, linnets and skylarks. Didn't find them and unfortunately found a dead heron. It looked like it had just layed down and died. It was frozen, so nothing had started eating it yet. All the ponds in the vicinity were frozen solid, so it was easy to see why it had perished. It was a sad sight.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 7th of January 2011 08:24:39 PM
Henry Cook said
Tue Jan 4 7:57 PM, 2011
No sign of the Lapland Bunting early afternoon still, with Phil Owen. A thin covering of snow seemed to be enough to push off the Skylark flock with the Lapland in tow. A flock of 6 Skylarks flew over, had a look, turned around and flew off back south again which is about as close as we got.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Jan 4 4:58 PM, 2011
No sign of Lapland Bunting between 10.00am - 12.30pm today. Also no sign of the Skylark flock that it's with either. Probably forced away by snow. Myself and 3 other birders there.
Only other birds of note: 1 female Sparrowhawk over c.15 Yellowhammer over 2 Reed Bunting 7 Fieldfare over 4 Redwing over
Ken Dunning said
Mon Jan 3 9:18 PM, 2011
Thanks for that Judith, much appreciated.
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Jan 3 8:13 PM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Has this area was my local patch for 15 years between 1975-1990,ill give my thought,as I visited 2 days over the weekend. The path streight through the centre of the field is actually the only right of way through that field,and anywere other than that is not correct,so if anyone birders ,dogwalkers,or Ramblers walked strieght down the centre of the field to the bridge at the bottom,they are doing nothing wrong,if it just happens to walk through the flock of skylarks etc,thats normal,I saw dogwalkers and ramblers walk this way yesterday,while most birders stayed at the top of the field. There is no footpath towards the sewage works,or to the left around the field,but over the last 20 years the area to the left of the central footpath has been a free for all dogwalking area,and there are well trodded paths,all over the edge of the fields to the east,and circling to the bridge at the bottom. On my 2 visits ,I made my way down to the bridge following dogwalkers and ramblers to the east edge of the field has I wanted to to check my old stamping ground,and take some pictures of the old blue brook bridge as we called it has kids,but in the visits i made all the people visiting to see the lapland all stayed in a huddle at the northern edge of the field,but none had seen the lapland bunting during my visits.I saw it twice at the bottom end near the bridge,and told the other watchers id seen it when i returned along my original route,I also told the people searching,that if it was the same farmer i knew,and you went on that field off the central footpath he would be out to move you. Anyway during my visits no one ventured off the paths apart from following the dogwalkers route to the left a few times. It is a great area without the rare bunting anyway,and always worth a visit,but if anyone was seen venturing down the middle of the field,then they were on an actual right of way through the area to daisy hill,a route I took for a few years going to work from westleigh to Daisy Hill.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 3rd of January 2011 07:49:56 PM
John, I am not disputing that the path is an actual right of way but I think it is important to express the local watchers (one of whom found the bird) desire for birders to not use the path running down the middle of the field currently. The area is gaining a lot of attention and other than increased disturbance, once in the middle of the field the temptation to 'just step that little bit off the path' is strong as has been observed. As for dog walkers, what they do should be of no consequence to us as birders I'm afraid.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 3rd of January 2011 08:09:19 PM
No birder used the path during my visits,and were all well behaved,but the general public will use that route has always has been,but like you say to keep disturbance of the birds to a minimum its better that birders stick to the top of the field if possible
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 3 8:07 PM, 2011
Ken Dunning wrote:
Ken Dunning wrote:
But they are calling it Daisyhill sewage works Westhoughton!!! Thats where I tried to locate.
So Where is it? will have to wait till weekend now anyway!
Ken, there are plenty of directions further down the thread including a map reference.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 3 8:06 PM, 2011
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Has this area was my local patch for 15 years between 1975-1990,ill give my thought,as I visited 2 days over the weekend. The path streight through the centre of the field is actually the only right of way through that field,and anywere other than that is not correct,so if anyone birders ,dogwalkers,or Ramblers walked strieght down the centre of the field to the bridge at the bottom,they are doing nothing wrong,if it just happens to walk through the flock of skylarks etc,thats normal,I saw dogwalkers and ramblers walk this way yesterday,while most birders stayed at the top of the field. There is no footpath towards the sewage works,or to the left around the field,but over the last 20 years the area to the left of the central footpath has been a free for all dogwalking area,and there are well trodded paths,all over the edge of the fields to the east,and circling to the bridge at the bottom. On my 2 visits ,I made my way down to the bridge following dogwalkers and ramblers to the east edge of the field has I wanted to to check my old stamping ground,and take some pictures of the old blue brook bridge as we called it has kids,but in the visits i made all the people visiting to see the lapland all stayed in a huddle at the northern edge of the field,but none had seen the lapland bunting during my visits.I saw it twice at the bottom end near the bridge,and told the other watchers id seen it when i returned along my original route,I also told the people searching,that if it was the same farmer i knew,and you went on that field off the central footpath he would be out to move you. Anyway during my visits no one ventured off the paths apart from following the dogwalkers route to the left a few times. It is a great area without the rare bunting anyway,and always worth a visit,but if anyone was seen venturing down the middle of the field,then they were on an actual right of way through the area to daisy hill,a route I took for a few years going to work from westleigh to Daisy Hill.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 3rd of January 2011 07:49:56 PM
John, I am not disputing that the path is an actual right of way but I think it is important to express the local watchers (one of whom found the bird) desire for birders to not use the path running down the middle of the field currently. The area is gaining a lot of attention and other than increased disturbance, once in the middle of the field the temptation to 'just step that little bit off the path' is strong as has been observed. Som birders also get the wrong impression and think that they are okay to wander freely, thinking those they can see in the middle of the field are doing similar. As for dog walkers, what they do should be of no consequence to us as birders I'm afraid.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 3rd of January 2011 08:11:11 PM
Judith Smith said
Mon Jan 3 7:58 PM, 2011
This bunting is in a field belonging to Gillibrand's Farm, Daisy Hill. Turn off Hindley Rd along Turner St and park carefully. Walk to the end of Turner St which is a cul-de-sac and follow the footpath sign to the right (being careful as there is lots of dog dirt) along the field edge, until you reach the stubble field which is behind the farm. Do not access the field via the track to and through the farm.
Ken Dunning said
Mon Jan 3 7:47 PM, 2011
oops Lapland thank you!!
Mark Rigby said
Mon Jan 3 7:45 PM, 2011
Ken Dunning wrote:
But they are calling it Daisyhill sewage works Westhoughton!!! Thats where I tried to locate.
Maybe for Lapland Bunting?
Ken Dunning said
Mon Jan 3 7:45 PM, 2011
Ken Dunning wrote:
But they are calling it Daisyhill sewage works Westhoughton!!! Thats where I tried to locate.
So Where is it? will have to wait till weekend now anyway!
Ken Dunning said
Mon Jan 3 7:44 PM, 2011
But they are calling it Daisyhill sewage works Westhoughton!!! Thats where I tried to locate.
Mark Rigby said
Mon Jan 3 7:42 PM, 2011
Ken Dunning wrote:
Just been on Google maps and am horrified to say that my attempt at finding the sewage works failed by 100 yards. I missed the right turn off Mill Lane and ended at the cul de sac of new houses, blamed the sat-nav and came home. Damn Damn and Damn!!! No life Snow Buntings for idiots!!!
Think you were in the wrong county pal. Snow Buntings up Pendle Hill in Lancs?
Ken Dunning said
Mon Jan 3 7:38 PM, 2011
Just been on Google maps and am horrified to say that my attempt at finding the sewage works failed by 100 yards. I missed the right turn off Mill Lane and ended at the cul de sac of new houses, blamed the sat-nav and came home. Damn Damn and Damn!!! No life Snow Buntings for idiots!!!
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Jan 3 7:35 PM, 2011
Has this area was my local patch for 15 years between 1975-1990,ill give my thought,as I visited 2 days over the weekend. The path streight through the centre of the field is actually the only right of way through that field,and anywere other than that is not correct,so if anyone birders ,dogwalkers,or Ramblers walked strieght down the centre of the field to the bridge at the bottom,they are doing nothing wrong,if it just happens to walk through the flock of skylarks etc,thats normal,I saw dogwalkers and ramblers walk this way yesterday,while most birders stayed at the top of the field. There is no footpath towards the sewage works,or to the left around the field,but over the last 20 years the area to the left of the central footpath has been a free for all dogwalking area,and there are well trodded paths,all over the edge of the fields to the east,and circling to the bridge at the bottom. On my 2 visits ,I made my way down to the bridge following dogwalkers and ramblers to the east edge of the field has I wanted to to check my old stamping ground,and take some pictures of the old blue brook bridge as we called it has kids,but in the visits i made all the people visiting to see the lapland all stayed in a huddle at the northern edge of the field,but none had seen the lapland bunting during my visits.I saw it twice at the bottom end near the bridge,and told the other watchers id seen it when i returned along my original route,I also told the people searching,that if it was the same farmer i knew,and you went on that field off the central footpath he would be out to move you. Anyway during my visits no one ventured off the paths apart from following the dogwalkers route to the left a few times. It is a great area without the rare bunting anyway,and always worth a visit,but if anyone was seen venturing down the middle of the field,then they were on an actual right of way through the area to daisy hill,a route I took for a few years going to work from westleigh to Daisy Hill.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 3rd of January 2011 07:49:56 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 3 7:28 PM, 2011
A great may thanks to everyone (now well into double figures!) who has gone out of their way to get in touch and supply me with their views. Just goes to show how useful in a positive way this forum can be. Tremendous stuff!
Anyway, it seems there's a bit of a mix up and not. Very few birders (low single figures) have been seen wandering the field over the previous few days on occasion and not down the apparent path through it. As for today's episode, it does seem to be a slight misunderstanding and perhaps folk were standing on this alleged path. The site's regular birders (all two of them!) have expressed their wishes that birders would stick to the edges of the field though and not use this apparent middle path. Dog walkers aside (a law unto themselves!), our potential disturbance of this very popular bird and it's flock of fellow larks is obviously best kept to a minimum. The farmer has expressed that he is happy for birders to keep to the edges of the field in order to look down the furrows etc and hopefully gain a view.
At the end of the day it's up to us what we do and not for me or anyone else to attempt to law down the law (who'd listen!) but bearing in mind the close relationship the local birders have built with the farmer and their sterling work in covering this area I'm sure we all wouldn't want to spoil it for them. I realise the Lapland Bunting can be a real pain to see but if it were easy, well, where would the fun be?
Thanks once again everyone. This sort of honest communication squashes rumours and misunderstandings before they get the chance to become harmful and I for one am very grateful for it.
Nick Hilton said
Mon Jan 3 6:47 PM, 2011
Between 1330 & 1530 no birder went any closer to the flock than the dog walkers and members of the public (neither of which flushed anything) using the path described by Colin.
colin davies said
Mon Jan 3 6:43 PM, 2011
Hi Ian, I wasn't there today so I don't know what happened, but there is a footpath which runs from the gate down towards a foot bridge via a telegraph pole (which has a small yellow footpath arrow on it). Apart from the footprints which aren't immediately obvious from the gate, the path just looks like any other part of the field. It's not an obvious footpath. If there were birders standing on the footpath, it may appear to those at the gate that they were standing in the middle of the field. Could that be the answer?
Also, on at least two occasions when I was there on Saturday, dog walkers walked straight across the field and flushed many birds. I'm not saying that it's right, but perhaps frustrated birders seeing this might have thought what's the point in staying by the gate if they're going to walk across the field.
Like I said though, I wasn't there today, so I can't really comment, and I'm not trying to make excuses for anybody, just offering suggestions.
-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 3rd of January 2011 07:24:33 PM
cheshirebirder said
Mon Jan 3 6:35 PM, 2011
Hi, two of us visited today around 12am to 1pm. Everyone (6-8people) stayed on the path during that time but we were all struggling to get any view of the bird. After a while I did ask everybody there if there was any problem if we were to walk some way into the field in an attempt not to flush the bird but to get closer.As nobody seemed to know if this was ok,we stayed on the path.The skylark flock flew up and around us for a good while (no idea what flushed them) and we got reasonable views of the bird as it flew around with the skylarks - it was easy to pick out even with the naked eye. It may be that this has been related and mixed-up as if we DID flush it and enter the field. cheers, Bill T.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 3 6:14 PM, 2011
Though I did not witness it myself, I have been reliably informed that at some point during the day birders were stood in the middle of the field in an attempt to see the Lapland Bunting. There may be a perfectly reasonable explaination (like the farmer gave you permisson?), perhaps you weren't exactly 'in the middle' of the field or perhaps there has been some other misunderstanding.
Can anyone on here who was there today confirm that some were or indeed they themselves were, stood within the field itself. If so perhaps you could explain your reasons. I realise the burning desire to see such a great bird can contribute to make some birders make some poor decisions at times but unless there is a good reason (and this is my initial reason to enquire) it seems there is little excuse for such actions.
Anyway, perhaps someone (and it is obvious there were plenty off this forum there today) can put the record straight before rumours start circulating and the finder of this bird (quite rightly) stops sending me his sightings from there.
Nick Hilton said
Mon Jan 3 4:40 PM, 2011
Bird present between 1330 and 1530 today but very elusive, a couple of brief views of it on the deck and couple of decent flight views when the flock got up and did a couple of circuits. Its staying with the skylarks (rather than the yellowhammer, reed bunts and linnets that were also in the area) and they are keeping low, feeding or resting up, in the longer stubble at the lowest point in the field. Takes alot of patience !
Keith Mills said
Mon Jan 3 4:36 PM, 2011
Long shift on the stubble with several others scoping. But not successful,for me, as far as the Lapland Bunting...........although 2 present caught a glimse of it! Highlight was a flock of circa 45 Skylarks that wheeled above us for 40 minutes until the Sparrowhawk crossed the field and flew away.
Many Yellowhammers, a Kestrel, Reed buntings, Fieldfare and Redwing all present.
Nice to meet Terry Sykes, Andy Makin and Paul from our Bolton RSPB.
I left the Group at 2.45pm.
-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 3rd of January 2011 04:39:48 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 3 11:36 AM, 2011
Land Bunting still present this morning apparently, though typically very elusive.
Info thanks to Iain Johnson
Steve Collins said
Sun Jan 2 2:45 PM, 2011
Really grateful to see my first Lapland Bunting and add to my life and county list after missing the Winter Hill bird(s). Too far to photo but reasonable views as Colin said once you got onto it for an hour or so in the scope. It did fly with the Skylarks and Reed Buntings about 11.00, the flock eventually landing further back in the stubble field and not relocated by 12.00 but must be around. Steve
Info thanks to Anthony Wainwright
Male Red-footed Falcon not seen after 7am. I remained on site until 9am.
Red-footed Falcon was seen briefly as it alighted atop of telegraph post revealing red bare parts around eye & bill and dark sooty grey plumage. Moved off northwards after a few seconds. Not to be confused with a male melanistic Kestrel also within this area.
Other highlights:
Grasshopper Warbler 1 reeling
Whitethroat 6 inc 2 nesting pairs
Lapwing c10
Yellowhammer 3
-- Edited by Antony Wainwright on Sunday 2nd of June 2013 09:44:58 AM
Blackcap 3 singing
Yellowhammer 9
Whitethroat 3
Grey Partridge 1 heard
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
10 Waxwing flew N at 10:48
Chiffchaff
28 Skylark
10 Yellowhammer
Grey Partridge
2 Raven east
3 Grey Wagtail
30 Fieldfare
20 Redwing
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Spotted Flycatcher
50 Meadow Pipit
8 Skylark
12 Yellowhammer
2Grey Wagtail
200 Swallow
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Very,very, quiet.....
House Sparrows....c25
Chaffinch 5...singing
Tits
Collared Doves ...2
BH Gulls...C50
A few Jackdaws and Crows.
Reed Bunting...1
Wren ..1 OUT singing.
Woodpigeons
Default activity here by Magpies and Midges!
Oh.... and 2 Partridge flushed off the Stubble.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 29th of February 2012 04:40:45 PM
Nice to get out after being bogged down by work
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
2 buzzards
2 robins
1 yellowhammer
3 crows
5 blackbirds
1 swallow
2 blue tits
1 great tit
2 goldfinches
1 kestrel
Also heard:
1 chiffchaff and the grasshopper warbler from the vicinity of the sewage works but there was a lot of construction type noise and the warbler was stop-start and then ceased altogether.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
39 Yellowhammer
5 Reed Bunting
2 Linnet
3 Meadow Pipit north
4 Stick Dove
3 Buzzard
2 Chiffchaff
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
1 Redwing
6 Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
12 Yellow Hammers
1 Reed Bunting
13 Magpies (is this lucky or unlucky?)
25 Skylarks (possibly a mixed flock with other birds but I couldn't tell as they well silhouetted)
1 Blue Tit
1 Great Tit (although there were a number calling but hidden)
1 Male Pheasant
3 Dunnocks
On the way out of the fields I saw a number of other birds.
8 House Sparrows
2 Goldfinches
1 Robin
2 Dunnocks
-- Edited by Phil Cunliffe on Tuesday 22nd of February 2011 11:15:48 PM
-- Edited by Phil Cunliffe on Tuesday 22nd of February 2011 11:16:21 PM
Looking down the stubble field, the hedge on the left has been chopped and the birds usually there were not.
However a Buzzard rose from the green field over the stream (tick))
Along the stream , on a trunk: a (fem) GS Woodpecker(tick) was working hard.
In a corner of the stubble, near to the works, were ground feeding:
Circa 50 Yellowhammer.
c 30 Chaffinch.
c45 Linnets (tick)
c20 Reed Buntings.
few Dunnocks
Cock Pheasant(tick)
Figures include the adjacent hedge, on which also were a few Lt tits.
Around the filters were:
c 50 Bhh Gulls
c 40 Jackdaws.
The large Skylark flock was elusive.
Walking back to my vehicle: a Kestrel low along the hedge, and 10 House sparrows.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 1st of February 2011 04:59:40 PM
100+ Skylark
40 Yellowhammer
25 Reed Bunting
53 Linnet
40 Chaffinch
23 Fieldfare
5 Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtail
60 Pink-footed Geese west
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
95 Skylark
40 Yellowhammer
50 Linnet
20 Reed Bunting
1 Raven
Info thanks to Andy Makin
rain dying away
Yellowhammer c30
Linnet c30
Skylark 34
Reed Bunting 10+
Chaffinch c12
All moving between stubble field and Bushes making exact counting difficult.
-- Edited by Alan Warford on Sunday 16th of January 2011 08:50:06 PM
25 Skylark
40 Yellowhammer
14 Linnet
6 Reed Bunting
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
15 Skylark
40 Yellowhammer
10 Linnet
4 Meadow Pipit
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 7th of January 2011 08:24:39 PM
Only other birds of note:
1 female Sparrowhawk over
c.15 Yellowhammer over
2 Reed Bunting
7 Fieldfare over
4 Redwing over
No birder used the path during my visits,and were all well behaved,but the general public will use that route has always has been,but like you say to keep disturbance of the birds to a minimum its better that birders stick to the top of the field if possible
Ken, there are plenty of directions further down the thread including a map reference.
John, I am not disputing that the path is an actual right of way but I think it is important to express the local watchers (one of whom found the bird) desire for birders to not use the path running down the middle of the field currently. The area is gaining a lot of attention and other than increased disturbance, once in the middle of the field the temptation to 'just step that little bit off the path' is strong as has been observed. Som birders also get the wrong impression and think that they are okay to wander freely, thinking those they can see in the middle of the field are doing similar. As for dog walkers, what they do should be of no consequence to us as birders I'm afraid.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 3rd of January 2011 08:11:11 PM
Maybe for Lapland Bunting?
So Where is it? will have to wait till weekend now anyway!
Thats where I tried to locate.
Think you were in the wrong county pal. Snow Buntings up Pendle Hill in Lancs?
No life Snow Buntings for idiots!!!
The path streight through the centre of the field is actually the only right of way through that field,and anywere other than that is not correct,so if anyone birders ,dogwalkers,or Ramblers walked strieght down the centre of the field to the bridge at the bottom,they are doing nothing wrong,if it just happens to walk through the flock of skylarks etc,thats normal,I saw dogwalkers and ramblers walk this way yesterday,while most birders stayed at the top of the field.
There is no footpath towards the sewage works,or to the left around the field,but over the last 20 years the area to the left of the central footpath has been a free for all dogwalking area,and there are well trodded paths,all over the edge of the fields to the east,and circling to the bridge at the bottom.
On my 2 visits ,I made my way down to the bridge following dogwalkers and ramblers to the east edge of the field has I wanted to to check my old stamping ground,and take some pictures of the old blue brook bridge as we called it has kids,but in the visits i made all the people visiting to see the lapland all stayed in a huddle at the northern edge of the field,but none had seen the lapland bunting during my visits.I saw it twice at the bottom end near the bridge,and told the other watchers id seen it when i returned along my original route,I also told the people searching,that if it was the same farmer i knew,and you went on that field off the central footpath he would be out to move you.
Anyway during my visits no one ventured off the paths apart from following the dogwalkers route to the left a few times.
It is a great area without the rare bunting anyway,and always worth a visit,but if anyone was seen venturing down the middle of the field,then they were on an actual right of way through the area to daisy hill,a route I took for a few years going to work from westleigh to Daisy Hill.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 3rd of January 2011 07:49:56 PM
Anyway, it seems there's a bit of a mix up and not. Very few birders (low single figures) have been seen wandering the field over the previous few days on occasion and not down the apparent path through it. As for today's episode, it does seem to be a slight misunderstanding and perhaps folk were standing on this alleged path. The site's regular birders (all two of them!) have expressed their wishes that birders would stick to the edges of the field though and not use this apparent middle path. Dog walkers aside (a law unto themselves!), our potential disturbance of this very popular bird and it's flock of fellow larks is obviously best kept to a minimum. The farmer has expressed that he is happy for birders to keep to the edges of the field in order to look down the furrows etc and hopefully gain a view.
At the end of the day it's up to us what we do and not for me or anyone else to attempt to law down the law (who'd listen!) but bearing in mind the close relationship the local birders have built with the farmer and their sterling work in covering this area I'm sure we all wouldn't want to spoil it for them. I realise the Lapland Bunting can be a real pain to see but if it were easy, well, where would the fun be?
Thanks once again everyone. This sort of honest communication squashes rumours and misunderstandings before they get the chance to become harmful and I for one am very grateful for it.
I wasn't there today so I don't know what happened, but there is a footpath which runs from the gate down towards a foot bridge via a telegraph pole (which has a small yellow footpath arrow on it). Apart from the footprints which aren't immediately obvious from the gate, the path just looks like any other part of the field. It's not an obvious footpath. If there were birders standing on the footpath, it may appear to those at the gate that they were standing in the middle of the field. Could that be the answer?
Also, on at least two occasions when I was there on Saturday, dog walkers walked straight across the field and flushed many birds. I'm not saying that it's right, but perhaps frustrated birders seeing this might have thought what's the point in staying by the gate if they're going to walk across the field.
Like I said though, I wasn't there today, so I can't really comment, and I'm not trying to make excuses for anybody, just offering suggestions.
-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 3rd of January 2011 07:24:33 PM
It may be that this has been related and mixed-up as if we DID flush it and enter the field.
cheers, Bill T.
Can anyone on here who was there today confirm that some were or indeed they themselves were, stood within the field itself. If so perhaps you could explain your reasons. I realise the burning desire to see such a great bird can contribute to make some birders make some poor decisions at times but unless there is a good reason (and this is my initial reason to enquire) it seems there is little excuse for such actions.
Anyway, perhaps someone (and it is obvious there were plenty off this forum there today) can put the record straight before rumours start circulating and the finder of this bird (quite rightly) stops sending me his sightings from there.
Highlight was a flock of circa 45 Skylarks that wheeled above us for 40 minutes until the Sparrowhawk crossed the field and flew away.
Many Yellowhammers, a Kestrel, Reed buntings, Fieldfare and Redwing all present.
Nice to meet Terry Sykes, Andy Makin and Paul from our Bolton RSPB.
I left the Group at 2.45pm.
-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 3rd of January 2011 04:39:48 PM
Info thanks to Iain Johnson
Too far to photo but reasonable views as Colin said once you got onto it for an hour or so in the scope. It did fly with the Skylarks and Reed Buntings about 11.00, the flock eventually landing further back in the stubble field and not relocated by 12.00 but must be around.
Steve