10.20am to 11.15am mooch around Last Drop/Holts Fold.

On my way up there I saw 30+ Goldfinches fly into the trees at what used to be Blair's Hospital, houses now.

Pied Wagtails on roofs at Last Drop Village, around the 18th green, and at Holts Fold Farm (14)

Meadow Pipits on the wires at Holts Fold. They flew off as I was counting them joining a flock of Greenfinches which I had not seen, in the bushes by the golf course. The mixed flock flew off across the golf course showing the flock to be 50+, most of them Greenfinches.
With some Meadow Pipits still around + the ones flying off I counted 20+ pipits.
Not long after the mixed flock flew off a small flock of Chaffinches flew over to the golf course.

80+ Starlings at the pylon on farm fields near the bottom of Haydock Lane.
21 Woodpigeons, most of them on the same fields.

House Sparrows at Last Drop & Ramwells Court.

2 Song Thrushes with a few Blackbirds in a garden on Windy Harbour Lane.

6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls & 50+ Jackdaws flying over.

Turton High School at 7.40am :-
100+ Black-headed Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Holts Fold/Last Drop at 10.30am :-
2 Meadow Pipits, 8 Pied Wagtails, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Jay, 51 Jackdaws flying over, 40+ Goldfinches.
4 Carrion Crows flying from Last Drop Village included 2 with apples in their mouths. No apple trees there so I do not know where they found them.

Turton High School at 7.55am :-
72 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Common Gulls.

Holts Fold from 10.15am to 11.05am :-
15 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 9 Meadow Pipits, 38 Woodpigeons,
30+ Goldfinches, 4 Chaffinches, 4 Greenfinches, 1 Siskin.

A Tawny Owl heard calling from Windy Harbour Lane.

28 Meadow Pipits at Holts Fold this morning as the mist cleared after 10am. Also counted 28 on wires after mid-day.
1 Skylark flying over
7 Pied Wagtails. Another flock of 13 on the golf course
1 Grey Wagtail flew from the golf course to Last Drop
1 Kestrel
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Jay
Mixed flock of Goldfinches/Greenfinches. About 10 of each species.
1 Siskin

I am used to hearing Jackdaws most of the day but last night at 11.15pm I heard some flying over my garden. Never heard them at night before.

At 7.30am today 10 Cormorants flew over the village in v-formation

Two visits to Holts Fold/Last Drop this morning. 7.15am & 11.25am.

1 Kestrel
70+ Woodpigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
16 Meadow Pipits
36 Pied Wagtails on golf course first visit, numerous had moved to the farm on second visit
4 Mistle Thrushes
2 Jays
5 Magpies
9 Jackdaws
6 Carrion Crows
120+ Starlings
5 Chaffinches
12 Greenfinches
40+ Goldfinches

1 Kestrel, 18 Meadow Pipits, & 9 Pied Wagtails at Holts Fold this morning

A Grey Wagtail flew up from the road at the side of Last Drop Village at 9.40am.

20+ Swallows at Holts Fold.

76 Swallows on wires around Holts Fold Farm at 7.15am.

20+ House Martins with 20+ Swallows at Holts Fold at 8am, all of them put up from the wires by a male Sparrowhawk.
10 Meadow Pipits.
Goldfinches split into a few smaller flocks this morning.

Mid-afternoon & tea-time visits to Holts Fold.

Goldfinches everywhere (150+) with a few Chaffinches & Siskins
Greenfinch flocks of 8 & 16 broke off from the Goldfinches.
200+ Starlings
22 Swallows
55 Woodpigeons
19 Pied Wagtails. Most of them seen on golf course and at Holts Fold. A Grey Wagtail with them seen only on golf course.

A flock of Long-tailed Tits & a Nuthatch in gardens on Hospital Road.

Very misty at 7am and no sign or sound of any Swallows or finches at Holts Fold.

Much better at 10.30am when I got back there as I saw a dozen Swallows flying about.
Still no sign of finches until a female Sparrowhawk flew into some distant thistles and put up 100+ Goldfinches. I did not spot any Greenfinches amongst them.

7.15am to 7.55am. Last Drop/Holts Fold/Hospital Road.

1 Kestrel
7 Black-headed Gulls
13 Feral Pigeons
19 Woodpigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
52 Swallows
14 Meadow Pipits
6 Pied Wagtails
5 Wrens
6 Robins
5 Blackbirds
1 Mistle Thrush
2 Chiffchaffs
5 Long-tailed Tits
2 Blue Tits
2 Nuthatches
7 Magpies
5 Jackdaws
9 Carrion Crows
A couple of Rooks & a Raven flying over
17 Starlings
10+ House Sparrows
9 Chaffinches
2 Siskins
Greenfinch/Goldfinch flock = 150+

The House Martins which dropped in at Holts Fold yesterday still there at 7am this morning with the Swallows, making a flock of 200 birds. All the birds flew up as I was heading off past the golf clubhouse. It looked like they were leaving the area. No sign of any this afternoon.
100+ finches still around, with a few Siskins.

If I had done a full count instead of rushing off to check the Edgworth Moors maybe I would have got the Arctic Skuas !

Checked the flocks at Holts Fold at 7.45am before heading across to Egerton.
Goldfinches/Greenfinches approximately 150
c90 Swallows on wires
Other birds included a Kestrel on the wires, a Great Spotted Woodpecker behind the Last Drop, and a Grey Heron flying off the pond at the golf course. Also 20 Pied Wagtails at the 18th.

At lunchtime I went back to Holts Fold to check for butterflies.
Not many finches about and only a few Swallows. I did not find any butterflies but it was a good idea anyway as at 12.30pm dozens of House Martins started flying in from over the golf course. Most of them stopped to land on the wires, with the others flying about close by. It took a few minutes before birds stopped arriving by which time I had counted about 120 birds.
Lots of the missing Swallows from this morning also flew in to join them.

Last Drop/Holts Fold. Morning & early afternoon visits.

1 Black-headed Gull
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
35 Woodpigeons
2 Collared Doves
20+ House Martins passing through
40+ Swallows
8 Meadow Pipits
10 Pied Wagtails
2 Robins
1 Blue Tit
4 Magpies
6 Jackdaws
1 Carrion Crow
25 Starlings
10+ House Sparrows
2 Chaffinches
Greenfinches & Goldfinches back in one big flock (100+)
1 Siskin

As usual I checked Last Drop & Holts Fold before moving on. 8.10am to 8.55am.

1 Grey Heron
1 Kestrel
3 Black-headed Gulls
13 Feral Pigeons
34 Woodpigeons
2 Collared Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
40+ Swallows
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtails
6 Wrens
10 Robins
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
2 Great Tits
3 Blue Tits
1 Nuthatch
14 Magpies
2 Jackdaws
1 Rook flying over
4 Carrion Crows
10+ House Sparrows
4 Chaffinches
80+ birds in Goldfinch/Greenfinch flock
1 Siskin

9.10am to 9.50am around Last Drop & Holts Fold.
Also had a check for anything different at noon.

1 Kestrel
3 Black-headed Gulls
13 Feral Pigeons
42 Woodpigeons
1 Collared Dove
c40 Swallows
1 Meadow Pipit
No Pied Wagtails at Holts Fold but 16 at the golf course
2 Wrens
5 Robins
2 Blackbirds
2 Mistle Thrushes
6 Magpies
4 Jackdaws
4 Carrion Crows
19 Starlings this morning but about 160 on wires at lunchtime. As usual each time I tried to count them some dropped to the ground.
Approximately 80 finches when seen in flight. Seemed to be just Greenfinches & Goldfinches, no Siskins heard.

Much the same as yesterday ay Holts Fold this morning.

At 1.30pm I added to yesterday's list with 2 Mistle Thrushes and a soaring Raven.

Full tour of Last Drop/Holts Fold/Hospital Road area from 7.10am.

1 Grey Heron flying across
3 Black-headed Gulls
72 Woodpigeons, most of them on farm fields near Chapeltown Road
2 Collared Doves
30+ Swallows
2 Pied Wagtails which flew over to the golf course which took the total at the 18th green to 23
2 Wrens
4 Robins
3 Blackbirds
1 Willow Warbler
2 Goldcrests
2 Coal Tits
2 Great Tits
3 Blue Tits
1 Jay
3 Magpies
1 Jackdaw
3 Carrion Crows
70+ Starlings
10+ House Sparrows
3 Chaffinches
Goldfinches/Greenfinches. A tractor driving into the farmyard put the whole flock up and this time I counted a little over 200 birds up in the air.
2 Siskins

120 Swallows on wires at Holts Fold Farm at 7am.

Before I got a chance to check the finches a Kestrel flew in and landed on the wires putting everything up, which meant I had about 300 birds up in the air (Swallows, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, & Starlings.

The only birds not panicking were 8 Meadow Pipits on nearby wires.

Holts Fold/Last Drop from 7am to 7.30am & another mooch on way back from Jumbles late morning.

1 Kestrel
1 Black-headed Gull
1 Feral Pigeon
44 Woodpigeons
80+ Swallows on the wires at the farm
3 House Martins with the Swallows
3 Pied Wagtails
5 Robins
1 Blackbird
1 Coal Tit
2 Great Tits
2 Blue Tits
7 Magpies
11 Jackdaws
4 Rooks flying over
9 Carrion Crows
16 Starlings
10+ House Sparrows
1 Chaffinch
The large flock of Goldfinches & Greenfinches, similar numbers to last visit
Siskins heard flying over, a few individuals

8am to 9am around Last Drop/Holts Fold

1 Kestrel
1 Black-headed Gull
1 House Martin flying around
20+ Swallows
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Pied Wagtails
1 Grey Wagtail flew past me. Not long after I found it on top of the greenkeepers' unit on the golf course.
3 Robins
1 Blackbird
1 Whitethroat
3 Goldcrests
5 Magpies
1 Rook flying over
2 Carrion Crows
7 Starlings
8 Chaffinches
30+ Greenfinches
100+ Goldfinches
3 Siskins
1 Linnet
3 Bullfinches
1 Reed Bunting

Last Drop/Holts Fold was even better than yesterday. Surprising what a couple of fields of Ragwort and thistles can attract. Also horses churning up one of the fields may be helping.

8.20am to 9.10am :-
1 Kestrel
1 Pheasant
3 Black-headed Gulls
2 Feral Pigeons
14 Woodpigeons
1 House Martin
20+ Swallows
5 Meadow Pipits
3 Pied Wagtails
1 Wren
4 Robins
1 Blackbird
1 Coal Tit
1 Great Tit
2 Blue Tits
3 Magpies
1 Jackdaw
10 Carrion Crows
18 Starlings
2 Chaffinches
c30 Greenfinches
100+ Goldfinches
1 Siskin with the Goldfinches + 1 flying over
3 Bullfinches

Additional sightings from 12.30pm to 12.55pm :-
1 Wheatear
2 Rooks flying over
More than one Siskin about when I got back here but I was surprised to see a flock of 30+ fly away from the Goldfinches flock. A few minutes later another 10 flew across from the edge of the golf course, the ones I heard on my return.
1 Reed Bunting

Half hour this morning (8am to 8.30am) and it took me another half hour to check all the birds gain this afternoon (14.20 to 14.50) around Last Drop and Holts Fold.

1 Buzzard overhead this afternoon
14 Black-headed Gulls
9 Woodpigeons
20+ Swallows
Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails included some wandering on the golf course road together. Half a dozen of each species.
1 Dunnock
5 Robins
2 Blackbirds
1 Whitethroat
1 Willow Warbler
1 flock of Long-tailed Tits
1 Great Tit
1 Jay
4 Magpies
5 Carrion Crows
Only 9 Starlings this morning but 120+ this afternoon
A few House Sparrows at Last Drop
1 Chaffinch
100+ Goldfinches
20+ Greenfinches. Hard to get an exact count as they were mixed with the Goldfinches. Could have been as many as 30.
1 Linnet. On wires in the morning, on thistles in the afternoon. I think it was the same bird. No sign of any others amongst the Goldfinches.

Goldfinches at Holts Fold down to about 20 this morning.

29 Swallows on the wires near the farm, & a Kestrel on wires not far away.

3 Pied Wagtails & a Meadow Pipit the best of the rest.

Goldfinches at Holts Fold up to 150+ this morning.

Flock of 9 Pied Wagtails 10yards away from GM/Lancs boundary path on golf course.

Other birds similar to yesterday, including the 80+ Starlings & the Kestrel.

Last Drop Village / Holts Fold around 9am.

12 Black-headed Gulls
6 Feral Pigeons
15 Woodpigeons
7 Swallows
2 Meadow Pipits, one carrying a caterpillar
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Dunnock
1 Blackbird
4 Mistle Thrushes
2 Magpies
4 Carrion Crows
80+ Starlings
3 House Sparrows
2 Chaffinches
c10 Greenfinches
100+ Goldfinches
1 Linnet flying over from the golf course headed south over Bromley Cross

On my way home this afternoon a Kestrel was on the telegraph wires

Last Drop Village / Holts Fold today :-

1 Black-headed Gull
6 Feral Pigeons
25+ Woodpigeons
10+ Swallows
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtails
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Willow Warbler
Flock of Long-tailed Tits
1 Magpie
4 Carrion Crows
100+ Starlings
1 Chaffinch
12 Greenfinches
8 Goldfinches

Mediterranean Gull flew over the village at 9.25am

Went to check butterflies around the scrubland behind Last Drop Village (see other sightings for insects seen). As I was mooching around the thistles I was astonished to see a Kingfisher fly past me. It had come from the direction of Holts Fold Farm and then followed the footpath along the edge of the golf course towards Cox Green Quarry. Beyond Holts Fold Farm is Jumbles so maybe the one seen earlier this morning down there ?
My first ever record for Turton Golf Course.

Other birds seen :-
Dunnocks, Black-headed Gull, Swift, a few Swallows, Woodpigeons, 2 Whitethroats, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinch.

Have not seen any winter thrushes at Holts Fold Farm since Sunday but added a Lapwing to this year's reports this afternoon.

Turton High School at 7.50am

2 Oystercatchers. Also there yesterday afternoon.
26 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull

Started the day's birding checking school playing fields.
A dozen Black-headed Gulls at Turton High School.
3 Canada Geese at Eagley Junior School
1 Grey Heron at the top of these fields, presumably there is some frogspawn there.

Finished off today's birding late morning at Holts Fold Farm/Last Drop.
No winter thrushes for a change, probably explains the extra birds at Turton Tower this morning.
1 Skylark
2 Pied Wagtails
7 Black-headed Gulls
21 Woodpigeons
7 Rooks
10+ Magpies
10+ Carrion Crows
20+ Jackdaws
15 Starlings
2 Nuthatches
Plenty of House Sparrows at top of Haydock Lane & Last Drop
A few Chaffinches, Greenfinches, & Goldfinches

Holts Fold Farm at 10.30am. Strong cold wind.

1 Kestrel
8 Redwings
5 Fieldfares
2 Pied Wagtails
2 Meadow Pipits
1 Skylark

100+ Redwings at Holts Fold Farm at 7.45am, no sign of any Fieldfares.

8.30am at Holts Fold Farm.

c60 Redwings
2 Fieldfares
1 Blackbird
1 Mistle Thrush
4 Rooks (normally only seen flying over) with a dozen Jackdaws
5 Magpies
2 Carrion Crows
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtails
2 Black-headed Gulls
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls & a Grey Heron flying over
8 Woodpigeons
2 Feral Pigeons
3 Chaffinches
c10 Goldfinches

53 Black-headed Gulls & 6 Common Gulls at Turton High School this morning

8.45am at Holts Fold Farm. Calm conditions before wind got going just after 9 o'clock.

1 Feral Pigeon, 2 Woodpigeons, 2 Skylarks, 6-10 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 20+ Redwings, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Tit, 2 Jackdaws, 2 Carrion Crows, 2 Chaffinches, c30 Goldfinches.

Early afternoon blowing a gale. Only 2 birds on the horse field, but they were Fieldfares to add to today's list.

Horse field full of Redwings when I got there at 11.35am. Seemed more than usual, especially when footpath by the field to Last Drop was also covered in Redwings. When birds from footpath flew up, as did the field ones, I estimated at least 120, As usual a few Fieldfare were on the field, with 15+ Goldfinches with a few Chaffinches. Yesterday I searched all the golf course for Skylarks without finding any but had two on this field this morning, with a couple of Meadow Pipits. Two Mistle Thrushes were on a different field.

As I headed over the fields from Last Drop to Cox Green Road a Lesser Redpoll flew over. Another 20+ Redwings were by Cox Green Road with a few Siskins heard.

Only about 25 Redwings and a few Goldfinches just before 8am

Heading for home this afternoon larger flock of thrushes flew in and landed on the horse field. 50+ Redwings and 4 Fieldfares.

Horses field by Holts Fold Farm at 1pm.

c75 Redwings
4 Fieldfares
50+ Starlings
20+ Goldfinches
10+ Chaffinches
3 Greenfinches
A few Magpies & Carrion Crows
11 Feral Pigeons

8.15am between Last Drop & Holts Fold. Good start to the day.

20+ Meadow Pipits
2 Pied Wagtails
30+ Redwings
3 Fieldfares
5 Blackbirds
1 Mistle Thrush
10+ Starlings with the Redwings
Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, & Lesser Redpolls

Late morning around Holts Fold Farm & woodland around top of Hospital Road :-

1 Buzzard flying over
1 Black-headed Gull
10 Feral Pigeons
4 Woodpigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Wren
4 Dunnocks
2 Robins
1 Blackbird
3 Fieldfares
50+ Redwings
2 Long-tailed Tits
3 Great Tits
4 Blue Tits
2 Nuthatches
6 Magpies
30 Jackdaws
10+ House Sparrows
3 Chaffinches
6-10 Greenfinches
15+ Goldfinches
2 Lesser Redpolls

Nobody around Turton High School/Eagley Junior School this morning at 8.30am so did a full count.
80+ Black-headed Gulls
2 Lesser black-backed Gulls
6 Common Gulls
5 Feral Pigeons
9 Woodpigeons
4 Dunnocks
5 Robins
5 Blackbirds
1 Mistle Thrush
4 Long-tailed Tits
10+ Blue Tits
2 Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
2 Carrion Crows
3 Rooks flying over
50+ Starlings
c10 House Sparrows
2 Chaffinches
1 Goldfinch
2 Greenfinches

11am on Holts Fold fields.
40+ Redwings, 5 Fieldfares, 1 Meadow Pipit, a dozen Goldfinches, & a few Chaffinches.

Tong Clough 1.20pm.
10+ Redwings & a Buzzard flying over.

Went to post office this morning to send off last year's bird records and came out to see a Sparrowhawk flying over

A Grey Wagtail by the stream in Tong Clough was a surprise this afternoon. Also had Bullfinches with the more usual Chaffinches, Goldfinches, & Greenfinches.

Late morning on Turton High School playing fields.

20+ Black-headed Gulls
7 Common Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Turton High School playing fields this morning :-

c75 Black-headed Gulls
3 Common Gulls
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

7 Swifts flying up from Darwen Road at 7.30am as I headed for Last Drop.

Pair of Mallards, a Swallow, a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling, and a male Bullfinch at Last Drop. A Grey Heron flew past very low. Pair of Whitethroats as usual on the scrubland at the back.
Yesterday I saw 2 drake Mallards following a female along Carlisle Street, and the day before Mallards were seen by a mate walking along Ramwells Brow. Other mates have recently told me of birds on various streets around the village.

4 Swallows & a Pied Wagtail at Holts Fold.