Birds seen this morning

4 Common Snipe
2 Raven
3 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
120/130 Pinkfooted Geese - high over heading SE . First of the winter .

20 + Reed Bunting
4/6 Yellowhammef
20 /30 Skylark
200+'Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
15/20 Songthrush
25/30 Blackbirds. - these two species in a small area of dense hawthorn
20 LT Tits
1 House Martin
12 Swallows. Both species heading SW but low
2 Chiffchaff

Cheers

Chris Hancock

Birds seen

2 Raven
1 Common Snipe
4 Grey Partridge
6/8 Jays
7/8 Song Thrush
3 Mistle Thrush
1 Common Whitethroat
8 Chiffchaff
1 Stonechat. ( f)
3 Yellowhammer
Up to 7 Bullfinch - a species that seems to have done well around here over the last few years
1 Siskin
2 Linnet only
200 + Lapwing
60+ Starling
Only a few Hirundines.

Cheers

Chris Hancock

Birds seen ..

4 Kestrel
2 Hobby
2 Raven
5-6 Grey Partridge
Poss v distant Plover sp flock
5 Lapwing only
10/11 Mistle Thrush
3 Tree Sparrow
Sev Nuthatch
2 Northern Wheatear

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen .....

1 Barn Owl
1 Raven
3 Kestrel
1/2 Hobby
1 Kingfisher ( heard )
1 Northern Wheatear
1 Grey Wagtail
Sev White Wagtail
5/6 Bullfinch
70/80 Greenfinch
40 Linnet
Up to 200 Goldfinch
80/100 House Sparrow

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen this morning

1 male Redstart. - been around since at least 3/8 . Virtually in the same bush.
4 Raven
4/6 Jays
2 Kestrel
1/2 Lesser Whitethroat
1 prob Sedge warbler
1 yellow Wagtail
Sev Bullfinch
9/10 Mistle Thrush
150/200 Hirundines
9 Grey Partridge

Cheers

Chris Hancock

Birds seen yesterday ...

2 Redstart - 1 1 st winter female , calling softly but staying immobile in deep cover
1. Ad Male in worn plumage but still a striking bird calling vigorously
Almost certainly the same birds I saw 3/8 - same location etc

1 Lesser Whitethroat
15/16 Mistle Thrush
1 Northern Wheatear ( f )

Cheers

Chris Hancock

Birds seen today

1 Hobby
3 Kestrel
12 Curlew
14/18 Lapwing
2 Grey Heron ( plus one dead )
1 Yellow Wagtail
3 White Wagtail
11 Mistle Thrush
Sev Song Thrush
20 + Skylark
1.Bullfinch

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen this morning .....

1/2 Raven
1 Hobby
1 Little Owl
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Green Woodpecker. An unusual bird around these parts.
Grey Partridge calling
20 Lapwing plus 2 nearly fledged juvs and one recently dead .
4 Common Snipe
20 c Linnet
120/150 Goldfinch - a lovely sight drinking from ditch .
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Common Redstart. A fine male in eclipse / worn plumage but still a fine sight!
- possibly a second bird too.

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen yesterday

11 Curlew
2 Common Snipe
Sev hundred corvids
5/6 Yellow Wagtail ( inc at least two juvs )
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Mistle Thrush
1 Kingfisher
1/2 Grasshopper Warbler

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen this morning( Whitley Reed only)

2-3 Oystercatcher
12/14 Common Snipe
15/16 Curlew
50/60 Lapwing
1 possible Green Sandpiper calling distantly
3/4 White Wagtail
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 juv Bullfinch
3 Mistle Thrush
1 Northern Wheatear - 1st of the autumn
1 Hobby

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen

7/8 Common Snipe ( 1st of the autumn)
1 Oystercatcher
75/80 Lapwing
1 Dunlin
Many hirundines - inc 1/2 Sandmartin
1 Kestrel ( juv)
1 Raven
3/4 Yellow Wagtail inc 1 juv
15 Linnet
40/50 Starling

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen today ....

1 Hobby - first of the year for me at the site.

3 Curlew. Inc one prob juv .( seen v briefly)
1 Oystercatcher
25/30 Lapwings inc 3-4 juvs
3/5 Yellow Wagtail
2 Red leg Partridge
1 Raven
1 Mistle Thrush

Cheers

Chris Hancock

Notable birds seen....

2 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
The usual Lapwing numbers with at least 4 chicks
2 Red legged Partridge
2 Grey Partridge
4 Yellow Wagtail
1 Northern Wheatear ( f )
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Raven
1 Kestrel
Sev Pairs of Linnet ( doing better as a breeding bird here over the last few years )


Cheers

Chris Hancock

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 14th of May 2016 07:16:43 AM

A quick couple of hours on the Reed this morning produced the following...

1 White Wagtail
4-6 Yellow Wagtail
First Lesser Whitethroats of the year
1 Sedge Warbler
4/5 Northern Wheatear
2 Curlew
The usual Lapwings with several chicks
1 Kestrel
Sev Buzzard , including a pure white head and chest . Striking bird.

Cheers

Chris Hancock

A quick couple of hours on the Whitley Reed ( but not the Stretton Airfield)

4 Grey Partridge
2 Red-legged Partridge
1 Kestrel ( m )
20/22 Yellowhammer - still a feeding flock on partially ploughed stubble
16 Northern Wheatear
1 Whinchat ( m )
1 lesser Redpoll
8/12 Linnet
40 c Lapwing with several chicks now
2 Curlew
1 Whimbrel - feeding with the above

Cheers
Chris Hancock

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 06:59:51 PM

Had a spin round the area today with Greg Baker and Mark Jarrett ( thanks guys , I enjoyed your company ! )
Birds seen ....

12 Fieldfare ( still feeding quietly in their usual field)
18-20 Northern Wheatear
Up to 6 Yellow Wagtail ( inc a brief unusually dark plumaged female , which couldn't be relocated )
40c Lapwing with 5/6 chicks
1 Red Legged Partridge
2 Grey Partridge
2/3 Kestrel
1 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew
2 Shelduck


Cheers

Chris Hancock


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 28th of April 2016 06:16:27 PM

Birds seen today ...

20 + Fieldfare still around
6 Northern Wheatear
30 + Linnet
12/15 Lesser Redpoll
2 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
40 c Lapwing. No sign of the chicks seen a few days ago. The Farmer has been working on the field ( immaculate timing ! ) and I fear they have not survived . How sad.

1 Common Snipe
2 Grey Partridge
Blackcaps now in - 5 singing birds
1 House Martin
1 Kestrel (M )
3 Yellowhammer ( wintering flock finally dispersed )

Cheers

Chris Hancock

A quick spin round before setting off to Wales

First Lapwing Chicks of the year x 3-5 . V early!

5/6 Coot
1 Oystercatcher
2/4 Grey Partridge
2 Red-legged Partridge
Sev Sand Martin moving thru heading NW
Sev Swallows now on territory
30+ Linnet
1/2 Lesser Redpoll
5 Buzzard soaring at 9.00 am
1 Little Owl
6 Jays - tail chasing each other
5 Northern Wheatear
20/25 Fieldfare still feeding in the same field
Many Willow Warbler
Sev Common Whitethroat
Many Chiffchaff but still no Blackcaps yet !

Cheers

Chris Hancock

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 19th of April 2016 11:04:48 AM

Birds seen this morning......

4/6 Gadwall
4 Coot on now receding flooded field /pond
40 c Lapwing
Oystercatcher (H )
30/40 Fieldfare - quietly feeding on wet pasture
1/2 Yellow Wagtail ( m )
3-5 Lesser Redpoll
30 c Linnet
3 Northern ( ? )Wheatear - all males inc one v bright , large one but distant .
1 Common Whitethroat. ( first of the year and only one bird)
12/15 Yellowhammer
2 Grey Partridge
2 Red-legged Partridge
2 Common Snipe
1 Kestrel (m)

Cheers
Chris Hancock


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 19th of April 2016 11:05:21 AM

Birds seen today ...

1xTufted Duck ( unusual here )
1x Shelduck
2 Greylag geese
1 Bewick/ whooper swan high over ??
8 x Coot - on flooded field and pond
40 cLapwing
3-4 Common Snipe
3 Grey Partridge
2 Raven
50/60 Fieldfare
80/90 Linnet
1 Yellow Wagtail(f)
3 Swallows
Sev Willow Warbler and Chiff but no other warblers yet

40/45 Yellowhammer still feeding on old stubble
3 Northern Wheatear
20 Meadow Pipits dropped in
2 Kestrel
Sev Buzzard

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen on the 'Reed today

11 Coot ( all on one flooded field)
2 Curlew
6/7 Common Snipe
40c Lapwing
7 Northern Wheatear
1 Yellow Wagtail. ( the earliest I've had in 12 years at the site )
1/2 Willow Warbler
Many Chiffchaff
2 Siskin
Sev Linnet
20 + Yellowhammer
110/130 Meadow Pipit - migrants flushed from a small area of stubble
Sev Skylark
4 jays
1 Sparrowhawk
4 Buzzard
2 Grey Partridge
2 RL. Partridge
1 Little Owl
2 Kestrel

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen on the 'Reed.

5 Northern Wheatear
2 White Wagtail
3 Chiffchaff
1 Swallow
1 Sand Martin
35 /36 Lapwing - most on territory
1 Raven
2 Curlew
2 Grey Partridge
1/2 Red Leg Partridge
38 Yellowhammer. ( still in a feeding flock)
1 pale , largish female Merlin , which allowed a very close approach .

Cheers
Chris Hancock

After an enforced lay off ( operation) it was good to be back!

Birds seen
1000 + Jackdaw feeding on old Maize . A great sight and sound.
2 Mistle Thrush
1 Green Sandpiper
2 Woodcock
32/33 Common Snipe
1 Jacksnipe
2 white type Wagtail with 15 + Pied
1 Tawny Owl

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen yesterday ....

1 imm Peregrine ( m )
3 Raven on sheep carcass
800/1000 asst Jackdaw/ Rook
21/23 Grey Partridge
2. Red legged Partridge
11 Common Snipe
45 Pink footed Geese in two separate skeins. The second group seen to land
40 + Lapwing
1 Woodcock
5 Teal
1 Common Gull
Sev Lesser black backs
40 + Skylark
30 + Mipits
200 c Linnet
250/300 Chaffinch
5/6 Bullfinch. ( a species that seems to be increasing hereabouts )
1 Lesser Redpoll
16/18 Siskin

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen on New Years Day

1 Peregrine. 2nd CY Male
2 Raven
45 Teal - from one pond - a great sight
5 Grey Partridge
1 Oystercatcher
250/300 Lapwing
12/14 Common Snipe
4/5 Woodcock
1Common Gull
2 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel.
8 Lesser Redpoll
2 Siskin
5 Bullfinch
200c Linnet
50 + Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting
2 White type Wagtail
50 + Skylark

Happy New Year !

Chris Hancock

Birds seen today

1 Peregrine ( m ) - been around for a while now .
1 Golden Plover over
1 Jack Snipe
50 c Lapwing
9 Common Snipe
1 Woodcock
7 Grey Partridge
70+ Yellowhammer ( wet stubble field )
90/100 Linnet
20 Goldfinch
3Bullfinch
2 Grey Wagtail
100/110 Skylark from one field ( old stubble)
1 Mistle Thrush
3 Song Thrush
1 Little Owl
1 Raven

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen yesterday


1 Peregrine ( m )
5 Grey Partridge
4 Teal
90/100 Pink-footed Geese over , heading S.S.E
4 Golden Plover
250/300 Lapwing
3 Woodcock
12 Common Snipe.
1 Raven
5 Bullfinch
30+ Siskin
40/50 Lesser Redpoll
40 + Pied Wagtail , with 4 or so White types
1 Grey Wagtail

Cheers
Chris Hancock

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 26th of November 2015 09:00:38 AM

Birds seen ...

2 Kestrel
1 Goshawk (m) - with falconers bells attached .
Sev Buzzard
2/3 Grey Wagtail
3 White Wagtail
15 + Lesser Redpoll
10 + Siskin
4 Mistle Thrush
1 Goldcrest
2/3 Bullfinch
35 Linnet
40/50 Skylark
20/ 25 yellowhammer
33 Grey Partridge
2 Red leg Partridge
1 Golden plover
60 Lapwing
1 Woodcock
25/40 Common Snipe. ( some duplication)
A pure White Pheasant( m) - hopefully will stay well away from the Arley estate Shoots !

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen today

1 Peregrine ( m) seen to take a Starling only to lose it to 2 Carrion Crows -some dramatic aerial stuff.
2 Kestrel
3 Buzzard - inc one pale bird .
1/2 Grey Wagtail.
1/2 Bullfinch
A few Redpoll and Siskin with Goldfinches
2 Treesparrow
1 White wagtail
1/2,Mistle Thrush
Sev Song Thrush and Winter thrushes
8 Yellowhammer
1 Little Owl
1 Woodcock
2 Common Snipe only
Grey Partridges calling
1 first winter Common Gull mobbing both Buzzard and Kestrel

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Chris, I've sent you a pm re a bit of info required. Cheers, Mark.

Birds seen yesterday

Sev small flocks of Siskin & Redpoll ( lots about of both this autumn)
1/2 white Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
2/3000 Starling
70 c Skylark
40c Linnet
1 Treesparrow
Sev Bullfinch
15 Yellowhammer
30 c Grey Partridge
21 Pink Footed Geese ( feeding in field alongside track across the Reed . Normally they fly straight over !)
1 Little Owl
1/2 Woodcock - first of the winter.

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen this morning
1 Merlin (f)
1 Kestrel ( m)
I Sparrowhawk ( f)
2 Buzzard
5 Pinkfooted Geese
1 Green Sandpiper( flew into Gale Brook )
21 Common Snipe
1 Jack Snipe
28/30 Grey Partridge- best count for ages!
1,500 - 2,000 Starling
300 c Fieldfare
1-2 Mistle Thrush
Sev Song Thrush
30-40 Redwing
I Grey Wagtail
40 + Skylark
2-4 Bullfinch
Sev each Redpoll and Siskin
20 c Yellowhammer

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen yesterday...

1 Tree Pipit
1 Curlew
35/40 Siskin - lots around over the last month.
1 juv Yellow Wagtail
1 Northern Wheatear ( f )
1 Lesser Whitethroat .
2 Blackcap
1 Kingfisher

Cheers
Chris Hancock

-forgot to mention ....2 Raven as well.
Chris H

Birds seen this morning on the ' Reed ......

1 Cuckoo ( ad )
7 Mistle Thrush.
20 plus White Wagtail.
400 + hirundines ( inc a few Sand Martin , but a total clear out of Swifts)
1 Hobby ( see above ! )
4 Yellow Wagtail.
2 Siskin.
2 juv Kestrel.
1 Little Owl

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen/ heard today

1 Common Quail H)
7 + Yellow wagtail ( inc sev Juvs)
18 Mistle Thrush ( feeding on rowans )
Sev Buzzard
3 Kestrel
1 Reed warbler
1 Raven
32 Siskin
8 Curlew.

Cheers
Chris Hancock

Birds seen yesterday...
10/12 Northern Wheatear ( all carefully checked for potential Green/Icelandic birds )
Female Whinchat
2 Curlew
1 Oystercatcher
1 Swift
A late Meadow Pipit .
2 Kestrel mating
1 Sedge Warbler
15 plus Willow Warbler from one small area of climax woodland
First Lapwing chicks now out , but the farmers decision to let his pigs forage on the best field. ( despite my efforts to persuade him otherwise ) will have decimated 13 nests . It's enough to make you weep .
Cheers
Chris Hancock

Originally posted today by Chris Hancock:

Birds today.....
12/14 pairs of Lapwing nesting on field on the north side of the track, plus several others scattered throughout and 12+ birds on airfield
I Reeve ( feeding on a wet area of the above field)
2 Curlew
8/10 White Wagtail
4/6 Northern Wheatear
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Kestrel
Good presence now of Willow Warblers , Blackcaps , Swallows
Still a flock of approx 150 Linnet on the Airfield

Birds seen yesterday
10 Golden plover ( N )
3 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew ( summering?)
4 Northern Wheatear
70 c Fieldfare (S)
2 Swallows
1 Willow Warbler
1 Blackcap
- both the above 1st of the year
Many Chiffs
2 Grey Partridge
Approx 15- 18 prs Lapwing nesting. ( plus another 6 prs on old Airfield )
Cheers
Chris Hancock