morning dog walk
2 stonechat, 1 buzzard, 3 kestrel, 3 meadow pipit, 1 fieldfare, 1 mistle thrush, 3 redwing, flock of mixed finch 20ish goldfinch, 2 chaffinch and 4 bullfinch feeding on alders, 5 long tailed tit, 4 wren, 5 robin, 8 blackbird, 1 jay, magpies some nest building, carrion crow, wood pigeon, 4 collared dove, blue tit and great tit,coot, tufted duck,black headed gulls, 2 lesser black backed gulls,4 gadwall, 1 little grebe, mallard, 2 moorhen, 1 cormorant, 1 grey heron, no sign of the pochard or goldeneye,

Morning dog walk
1m sparrowhawk spooked 14 goldfinch 2 further goldfinch flocks of c40 +c20 seen later, 1 long tailed tit amongst blue and great tit,3 wren, 4 robin, at least 8 blackbird I did count 13 but I think some were birds already seen, 7 grey partridge again flew in,3 kestrel,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, 1 chaffinch, 2 collared dove, 4 pochard,2 cormorant,1 grey heron,7 gadwall,2 mute swan,mallard,coot,tufted such,black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 2 reed bunting,1 common snipe,

only thing to add to Bernard's & Scott's was 1 Green Woodpecker calling from C12, presumably the same bird later seen on opposite side of field in Crankwood childrens play area before flying to Crankwood Wood.

Nothing much to add to Bernards sightings other than a Buzzard and 3 Feildfare.

Morning dog walk very quite as regards small birds
4 black bird,3 redwing, 4 great tit,2 blue tit, 6 goldfinch,2 robin,2 wren,2 meadow pipit, 2 kestrel,
7 grey partridge flew from direction of firs park flash and landed in field nr bottom of new road first
Of the year for me,
Stock pond still frozen but diggle flash ice free- 4 pochard 1m 3f,12 gadwall,8 mallard,2 mute swan,2 moorhen,1cormornt,1 grey heron,1f GoldenEye,c40 black headed gull, 1 common gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, c30 tufted duck,c40 coot, raven heard but not seen,

2 visits either side of visiting Firs Park a.m and p.m
in addition to Bernard's records
500 Starling at dusk over Nevison Flash 100 of which left for Pennington Flash @17.00
2 Stonechat - C8
3 Water Rail - 2 NF, 1 Choke pond (heard only)
3 possibly 4 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - C3
1 Common Snipe - C6

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Thursday 22nd of January 2015 08:36:10 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 22nd of January 2015 10:27:26 PM

morning dog walk
1 raven over, 1 very vocal jackdaw over, 10 redwing, 1f bullfinch with a small flock of goldfinch, small numbers blue great and long tailed tit,robin, blackbird, 6 meadow pipit, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
stock pond still frozen but diggle flash almost ice free- pair pochard, 2 little grebe, 5 moorhen, 13 gadwall, 1f goldeneye, 2 mute swan, 1 cormorant,1 lesser black backed gull, 17 black headed gull, c40 coot, c30 tufted duck, 7 mallard.
nice to meet up with Gordon

morning dog walk, drizzle but warmer than the last few days, very few small birds until the last 10mins of the walk all in an area i had already walked twice seeing only a robin and 2 blackbirds, 6 bullfinch feeding on floor all male, 14 goldfinch, mixed flock 8 blue tit, 11 great tit, wren,7 long tailed tit, 2 raven over, 5 meadow pipit, carrion crow, magpie, wood pigeon, 1 kestrel,
stock pond still frozen over, diggle flash 75-80% frozen not many gulls 13 black headed 1 lesser black backed, 1 little grebe seen 1 other heard from reedbed, 12 gadwall, 2 mute swan, mallard, coot, tufted duck, 2 moorhen in unfrozen overflow ditch,

morning dog walk
small numbers great tit, blue tit and goldfinch, small flock of 9 long tailed tit, meadow pipit, blackbird,robin, dunnock, 7 starling, 1m stonechat, magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon, skein of approx 160 pink footed geese over @ 10-38,
stock pond 100% frozen - Diggle flash 95 % frozen, coot, tufted duck, mallard, 2 mute swan, gadwall, moorhen, 80+ gulls mainly black headed but a few common and 1 lesser black backed, little grebe calling from reedbed but not seen.

Afternoon dog walk a few birds to add to morning sightings
9 redwing,4 fieldfare,3 buzzard,7 long tailed tit,pair stonechat,pair chaffinch,1 reed bunting,3 starling,1 common snipe, 1 great black backed gull over heading to penny flash roost I would think, 2 great crested grebe and a herring gull on diggle with little grebe showing well close to bank in unfrozen water near reeds,

Stock pond 100% frozen main flash 85% frozen
1 grey heron in reed bed causing 2 little grebe to panic very vocal alarm calls, 2 mute swan, 3 moorhen, 7 mallard+ 9 over,8 gadwall, 40+ gulls mainly black heaed but 3 common and 2 lesser black backed amongst them, c40 each tufted duck and coot, small numbers blue tit great tit and goldfinch, usual blackbird, robin, wren,carrion crow,wood pigeon and magpie, 3 meadow pipit, 1 kestrel.

Morning dog walk freezing with thick fog
12 long tailed tit,5 meadow pipit,2 reed bunting,1 great tit, robin,wren,blackbird, only 2 each of magpie and wood pigeon seen others heard carrion crow heard only due to fog,
Very limited vision at diggle flash coot,gadwall,tufted duck and moorhen seen.

Afternoon dog walk poor weather cold with hail showers
Robin,blackbird,wren, dunnock,great tit, 3 kestrel, wood pigeon,magpie,carrion crow, grey heron,cormorant,mallard,coot,mute swan,tufted duck,gadwall,moorhen,great crested grebe,

Early morning walk
Redwing,starling,woodigeon,blue, great and long tailed tit, pheasant,meadow pipit,goldfinch,dunnock,robin,wren,blackbird,magpie,carrion crow, coot,tufted duck, mallard,mute swan,gadwall,moorhen,great crested grebe,little grebe,black headed, lesser black backed and common gull.

Afternoon walk not much to add to morning sightings,
20+ starling,1 pheasant,2 little grebe, 1 common gull looked like a 1st winter,gadwall had increased in number to 12,

Morning dog walk
2 kestrel being harrassed by carrion crows and magpies,dunnock,robin,wren,blue tit,great tit, long tailed tit,goldfinch,blackbird,wood pigeon, 2 cormorant over, 1 grey heron,1m wigeon,gadwall,mallard,tufted duck,coot,moorhen, 2 mute swan,black headed gulls, 3 lesser black backed gulls over,great crested grebe,

Morning dog walk cold with frost but dry
Mixed tit flock with blue and great tit, 8 goldfinch,robin,wren,blackbird,4 redwing,magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow,12 meadow pipit, pair stonechat, 1m wigeon,1f GoldenEye, 7 gadwall, 10 mallard, 1 cormorant,2 mute swan,2 great crested grebe,3 moorhen, coot,tufted duck, black headed gulls, 2 lesser black backed gulls.

This morning C6,C8 and C10, Highlights,

2 Skylark C6
7 Grey partridge flushed C8
4 Common Snipe, 2 on ground and 2 flushed from C10
1 male Stonechat C8
1 Kestrel C6
1 Goldcrest C6
13 Redwing C6
7 Tufted duck, Fir tree flash

Plus all usual suspects.

So quiet on Fir tree flash at the minute there's hardly anything on it at all, even numbers of Mallard and Coot are down.

Morning dog walk
Diggle flash 1m wigeon,1f GoldenEye,2 mute swan, 2 great crested grebe,3 moorhen, coot, tufted duck,gadwall,mallard,black headed gull,lesser black backed gull,1 grey heron, great black backed gull passed over, 5 starling,2 redwing, 1 song thrush, flock of c30 long tailed tit, smaller numbers great and blue tit,goldfinch,blackbird,robin,wren,meadow pipit,magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow, jackdaw over,

Afternoon walk much calmer weather, but not much to had to my morning sightings and Scotts sightings Kestrel, mistle thrush, small numbers meadow pipit,long tailed tit,goldfinch, little grebe heard only,

Couple of hours after penny highlights being,

3 Siskin C12
5 Snipe 2 C4 and 3 C 10
23 Redwing C2
1 Sparrowhawk over Nevisons flash

Plus usuals

Short morning dog walk very windy
Not many small birds showing small numbers blue and great tit, robin, blackbird, coot, tufted duck, mallard,great crested grebe,gadwall,moorhen,mute swan,grey heron, 1 raven over, carrion crow,magpie, wood pigeon.

Quick mooch around C4 and C6 after penny just a couple of birds to add to Gordon's and Bernard's sightings,

2 Goldcrest C6
3 Reed bunting C4

Nice to catch up with Gordon this morning but not much to add to Gordon's sightings,
1 raven, a decent flock of goldfinch and I did manage to see a little grebe an herring gull and a grey heron.

-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Sunday 11th of January 2015 02:08:01 PM

08.30-10.30
DF
1 Male Wigeon - (although didn't realize until entering records from today, but strangely is actually a new site record for myself, I know from conversation with Bernard he has seen them here before).
1 Female Goldeneye, 7 Gadwall, 30+ Tufted Duck, 30+ Coot, 2 Little Grebe (heard only).
FTF
1 Kingfisher (heard only), 5 Cormorant, 8 Tufted Duck.
C4
1 Common Snipe

Afternoon dog walk very cold and very windy
Birds seen, kestrel,meadow pipit, blue tit,great tit, long tailed tit,goldfinch,magpie,robin,wood pigeon,wren,carrion crow,coot,tufted duck, 6 gadwall, 2 mute swan,mallard, moorhen, great crested grebe, little grebe, c150 gulls mainly black headed but at least 5 lesser black backed,,bullfinch,

Pretty quiet this morning highlights being,

1 Kestrel with prey C6
23 Redwing flew over
1 Jay C6
2 Common Snipe C10
1 Stonechat C8

Plus all usuals

dog walks
birds seen include, coot, tufted duck, mute swan, mallard, little grebe, great crested grebe, gadwall, cormorant, grey heron, moorhen,black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, common gull, jay first of year for me, magpie 2 of which seemed to be nest building, carrion crow, wood pigeon, song thrush, mistle thrush, kestrel,buzzard, flock of c70 goldfinch, stonechat, reed bunting, meadow pipit, blackbird,robin,wren, great tit, blue tit, dunnock,

Hi Bernard sorry to hear your very sad news, may I pass my sincere condolences to you and please take care
Regards
Gordon

if my new years day start didn't go to plan friday was my biggest nightmare, whilst out birding i got a call to say my beloved partner Cath had collapsed and she sadly died friday evening, i have still been walking the dogs in my pretense of normality, the highlights over the last few days being a pretty regular pair of stonechat, raven, redwing and fieldfare, a very early morning tawny owl calling, little grebe, goldeneye, a female wigeon, plus twice hearing willow tit from close by but not being able to spot it,

Early morning C6 and C4.

1 Kingfisher active on Fir tree flash
Usual mallard, Coot and Moorhen
2 Mute swan
6 Canada geese
3 Tufted duck
5 Pochard
Mixed tit flock very active around trees, Mainly blues and great tits but a few long tailed in there.
15 Goldfinch
Chaffinch and Greenfinch both seen
2 Wren
1 Kestrel
4 Reed bunting
3 Common snipe
Plenty robin and Blackbird

Early am 07:00 till 08:00. C6 only.

Usual mallard, coot and moorhen
1 Grey heron
5 Tufted duck
20+ Goldfinch
11 Redwing
Mixed tit flock mobile in trees
5 Robin
1 Goldcrest
4 Blackbird
1 Jay

14.00-14.45
heavy rain and windy
C3 only
1 Herring Gull
1 Great black-backed Gull
6 Common Gull
5 Lesser black-backed Gull
90+ Black-headed Gull
15 Redwing

Happy New Year!!

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Thursday 1st of January 2015 05:38:01 PM

my planned start didn't pan out due to a pretty severe sciatica attack i dosed up on painkillers and got the dogs out weather dry and windy when i set out but got caught in heavy rain.
collared dove, starling, house sparrow across from site entrance,
C9- 14 redwing in trees above diggle flash, c40 goldfinch, robin, wren, great tit, blackbird, reed bunting, c50 gulls mainly black headed but at least 2 common,, 1 lesser black backed and 1 herring gull, c40 coot, c30 tufted duck, 6 gadwall, 2 mute swan, 2 cormorant, 1 great crested grebe, 1 grey heron, 1 moorhen,
C8 kestrel, meadow pipit,magpie, wood pigeon, carrion crow,
C10 1 common snipe, 1 skylark, 3 cormorant over,

2014 review 112 bird species seen by myself, Gordon or Scott may have seen a couple i missed, highlights for me were site firsts in pied flycatcher, garganey and tree creeper,( Gordon,Scott and Dave Wilson had all seen treecreepers but it evaded me until late december), cuckoo were again prominent,downside was very few wheatear we usually have a few around throughout the summer but the only birds i saw were on passage incoming and outgoing,

60+ Magpie became very disgruntled when a Buzzard joined them in their pre roost by Choke Pond @ 16.15.
6 Lesser Redpoll C9 yesterday at back of scrap yard

Afternoon dog walk a few light showers
C9- trees near haulage yard quite busy 14 starling, 3 redwing, small flock blue and great tit, 2 robin, 5 blackbird,7 goldfinch,2 dunnock, 1 wren, diggle flash- 43 coot,31 tufted duck,15 black headed gulls on water with approx 30 more over surrounding fields, 6 gadwall, 10 mallard,2 moorhen,2 mute swan, 1 cormorant over,
C8- 1 kestrel, 8 redwing,2 reed bunting,small numbers meadow pipit,
Trees behind houses near kissing gate entrance held 60-70 starling probably pre roost,

Early morning C3 and C4 only.

1 Water rail, Nevisons flash called once and then managed to locate and have decent views for a few seconds before it skulked off
3 Reed bunting
3 Wren
1 Buzzard
Plenty robins about as well so obliging, some of them just perched in trees within a foot away and they just sit there.
6 Redwing
2 Mistle thrush
2 Common Snipe, New water
2 Meadow pipit
Small mix tit flock also

Happy New year to all forum members

Late morning/early afternoon
C9- 51 coot,26 tufted duck,32 black headed gull,11 gadwall,2 mute swan, 2 moorhen, 1m pochard,1 cormorant,1 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 11 starling, 14 goldfinch, 2 great tit, 4 robin, 9 blackbird, 1 reed bunting,
C8- 1 buzzard giving good views perched in a small hawthorn,1 kestrel,10 goldfinch, 3 meadow pipit,1 wren, magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow,

Afternoon dog walk, icy and foggy
C9- couldn't see across the flash so didn't do a count other than the 11 gadwall that were close in, tufted duck,coot,mallard,black headed gull,lesser black backed gull,cormorant,grey heron, 2 mute swan, 2 little grebe, 3 goldfinch,1 chaffinch,3 robin, 5 blackbird, 3 great tit,kestrel,
C8- 2 kestrel 1 eating prey,1 buzzard,16 goldfinch,2 meadow pipit,2 fieldfare, 2 blackbird, magpie,wood pigeon,carrio crow,

late morning early afternoon
C9- 46 coot, 31 tufted duck, 19 black headed gull, 14 mallard, 8 gadwall, 2 great crested grebe, 2 moorhen, 2 mute swan, 1 cormorant, trees from near haulage yard pretty busy small numbers great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, chaffinch, goldfinch, dunnock, robin + 4 starling 3 redwing and at least 5 blackbird, 2 kestrel giving great photo poses soaking up the sun alas no camera,
C8- 6 common snipe around drainage ditch where the sun had thawed the ice, 8 meadow pipit, 1m stonechat, 4 fieldfare, 2 blackbird, cormorant over, carrion crow, magpie, wood pigeon, dunnock, wren,

Afternoon dog walk
C9-50+ black headed gull,40+coot,30+tufted duck, 11 mallard,5 gadwall,3 great crested grebe,3 moorhen, 2 mute swan,1 grey heron,blue tit,great tit,robin,blackbird,2 redwing,
C8-2 kestrel,magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow, 1 raven over.
Spectacular view over winter hill with light fading mast was lit up and snow highlighted the hill and moors.

afternoon dog walk
C8- 3 kestrel, 3 meadow pipit, 1 grey heron in field,magpie, wood pigeon, carrion crow,
C9- 3 bullfinch, 1 chaffinch, several blackbird,2 wren, 4 robin, small flock mixed tits, 2 small flocks long tailed tit, 7, 9, 30+ goldfinch, 1 song thrush in pristine condition, c30 each black headed gull, coot and tufted duck, 9 mallard, 6 gadwall, 4m pochard, 3 great crested grebe, 3 moorhen, 1f goldeneye, 1 cormorant,2 mute swan,

morning dog walk
C9- 3 chaffinch and 2 bullfinch amongst a flock of c20 goldfinch, 1 willow tit with 6 long tailed tit, great tit, blue tit, 1 wren, 2 dunnock, 3 robin, 3 blackbird, 46 black headed gull on flash with c30 over nearby field, 1 lesser black backed gull, 38 coot, 37 tufted duck, 12 mallard, 4 gadwall, 2 mute swan, 3 great crested grebe, 2 little grebe, 1f pochard, 1f goldeneye, 1 cormorant, 1 grey heron,
C8 1 redwing with 6 fieldfare, 2 kestrel, 1 buzzard,4 reed bunting, 3 meadow pipit, 1 grey heron in drainage ditch,wood pigeon, carrion crow, magpie,

Afternoon dog walk
C9- 2 pochard 1m 1f,7 gadwall, 50+ black headed gull, 30+ each coot and tufted duck, 3 great crested grebe,2 mute swan, 4 mallard, 2 cormorant 1 over 1 on water, small numbers great and blue tit, blackbird,robin,wood pigeon,
C8- 2 kestrel, 2 meadow pipit, 3 redwing, magpie,carrion crow.
Merry Christmas to one and all

Afternoon dog walk
C9- 2 pochard 1m 1f,7 gadwall, 50+ black headed gull, 30+ each coot and tufted duck, 3 great crested grebe,2 mute swan, 4 mallard, 2 cormorant 1 over 1 on water, small numbers great and blue tit, blackbird,robin,wood pigeon,
C8- 2 kestrel, 2 meadow pipit, 3 redwing, magpie,carrion crow.
Merry Christmas to one and all

morning dog walk- cold wind with showers
C9- 58 black headed gulls, 3 lesser black backed gull, 36 coot, 31 tufted duck, 8 gadwall, 3 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, 8 long tailed tit, 4 great tit, 3 blue tit, 3 robin, 4 blackbird, wood pigeon, magpie,
C8- c90 lapwing over actually counted 92 but they were moving round quite a bit so could be a few out either way, 2 kestrel, 3 meadow pipit, plenty carrion crow more than usual.

Morning dog walk
C9- 40+ black headed gull, 35+ each coot and tuftted duck, 3 gadwall, 3 great crested grebe, 4 mallard,2 goldeneye,2 mute swan,2 moorhen,1 cormorant,2 lesser black backed gull,small numbers great blue and long tailed tit, goldfinch, redwing,blackbird,kestrel, meadow pipit,robin,

Morning dog walk
C9- 61 black headed gull, 47 coot,26 tufted duck, 17 mallard, 2 GoldenEye, 2 wigeon 1m 1f,2 mute swan, 3 great crested grebe, 1 moorhen, 2 cormorant over,3 bullfinch, 30+ goldfinch, 5 redwing, great tit, blue tit, robin, blackbird, 20+ starling, wood pigeon,
C8- 2 stonechat,1 kestrel, 1 buzzard, 16 meadow pipit, wren, raven over,

Morning dog walk very cold wind with a few light showers
C9- c 30 each tufted duck,coot and black headed gulls, 1 great crested grebe, 8 gadwall,2 mute swan,1 moorhen, 4 redwing,7 bullfinch,blackbird,robin,dunnock,great tit, blue tit,wood pigeon,
C8- 2 meadow pipit,1 buzzard,1 kestrel, 4 redwing,carrion crow,magpie, 3 cormorant over,