Friday 31 December 2010

at dusk:
some very vocal Grey Partridge
1 Woodcock
0 last minute Wigan Borough year-ticks

nice walk this evening

sedge warbler
blackcap
whitethroat
2 buzzard¨
kestrel
10 swallow
4 swift
2 grey partridge
song thrush
reed bunting
3 pheasent
chiffchaff
willow warbler
5 grasshopper warblers heard, none seen.

unfortunatly the barn owl was found dead a few days ago.

Sunday 25 April 2010

Afternoon around the farm and surrounding fields/paddocks:
1 Buzzard
2 Grey Partridge
4 Lapwing
1 Little Owl
2 Pied Wagtail
4 Whitethroat
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Linnet
1 Lesser Redpoll

evening today: Barn owl in usual field, long tailed tits, willow tit, kestrel, song thrush and a small bat flapping around

Buzzard showing well this afternoon
Also mixed flock of 50 Fieldfare and Redwings at northern edge of Forestry Commission area.

more stunning views of the barn owl from around 4pm until i left at about 6:15 pm, coming quite close to where i was sat

Barn owl present this evening (around 4 o clock ) at the end of maple avenue, just off atherton road Splendid views and i got some great photos . It was still knocking around when i left about 6 o clock . It was in open fields just before you reach barlows farm from the hindley green side.

-- Edited by Adam Dyson on Saturday 20th of March 2010 06:32:58 PM

Rear of 69/71 Belmont Ave which i think comes under Barlows Farm Area
Calling Green Woodpecker this morning

Cheers Jimmy

On the adjoining Victoria Fields site I had at least 15 Lesser Redpolls and 2 Siskins today. Best place to access is the path from J's Booze and Foxy's snack shop. on the bend in Bickershaw Lane, where there is parking. There is a newly laid black grit path and the birds come down (by broken wire netting) to take grit there.

Andy Makin had 2 Mealy Redpolls in a large flock of Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch here today (in alders on the opposite side of the track to the farm), also many Redwings.
He also had 1 Siskin at Amberswood.

At the Victoria Fields site this morning (the Council-owned site immediately west of the Forestry Commission's Barlow's Farm site): 22+ Goldfinch, with at least 6 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Willow Tits

green woodpecker present right next to barlows farm around 4pm this afternoon.

2 kestrels fighting above the hills then fighting on the hills themselves.

gs woodpecker this afternoon flying low across the hills close to maple avenue.

called on the way back from penny flash. jay, swifts, swallow, whitethroat and quite a nice reed warbler near the small ponds. heard a reeling grasshopper warbler but didnt catch a glimpse.

I decided to go this morning Judith despite the early rain and wind not being ideal.
Very glad I did because I had a great photo opportunity for a Grasshopper Warbler very close to the path on the way back- I'll send you a copy!
Despite the weather saw at least 12 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 reeling Grasshopper Warblers- the other one over near the pond where 2 Reed Warblers were singing- didn't expect any in the wind! Also had Reed Buntings and a Buzzard. No Cuckoo or Lesser Whitethroat either but a Sparrowhawk was present.
If that's the show in poor weather it must be great on a sunny windless day! Tonight looks ok!
Steve

Thanks Judith- I'll give it a go soon.
Cheers
Steve

There were 2 Lesser Whitethroats singing along the canal today between Plank Lane swing bridge and the BW claypit.
No, Barlows Farm is nowhere near that area really. The grid reference for parking is SD628020 (the Rivington Drive end of Belmont Rd). Walk out of the end of Belmont Rd onto the site. Avoid weekends due to bikes. The FC have made paths over the site. The track running from Bickershaw Lane N to Hindley is good for Groppers. (it's gated). Just to the W along Bickeshaw Lane is a similar area, signposted aas Victoria Fields, also good, enough parking for 1-2 cars just off the road.

I saw a Lesser Whitethroat today Judith, along the first part of the canal from Plank Lane Bridge where you told me about last year. It overlooks Bickershaw Rucks where I've visited before (also from your instructions) . I'm not sure if this is close to Barlow's farm or not.
Can you tell me where Barlow's Farm is i.e where to park and which direction to walk?
Cheers
Steve

-- Edited by Steve Collins on Friday 1st of May 2009 11:36:25 PM

Always an excellent site, this produced 14 Whitethroats, 12 Sedge Warblers, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 7 Reed Buntings, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 displaying Buzzards this morning. 15 years ago this site - essentially the same - had several Cuckoos but not today (though one again at Amberswood). Surprisingly, no Lesser Whitethroats yet.