BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Scott robinson said
Tue Jan 14 12:07 PM, 2014
10 till 12 Goldeneye,tufted duck,3 goosander, Flock of 20 meadow pipit, blue,great and long tailed tits, robin,2 skylark, 2 jays, stonechat male, 1 swan, 25 lapwings flew over, plenty of mallards, coots, goldfinches on paths,no sign of the kingfisher today, 1 pair of teals, great crested grebes,5 snipe,1 grey heron and 4 male reed bunting
-- Edited by Scott robinson on Tuesday 14th of January 2014 04:24:57 PM
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Jan 13 9:35 PM, 2014
Morning stroll
C9 2 GoldenEye, 1 gadwall, 3 great crested grebe, coot, tufted duck, mallard, 2 moorhen, black headed gull, 2 reed bunting, wren, robin, blackbird,long tailed tit, great and blue tit, chaffinch, a great close up view of a song thrush rummaging in the fallen leaves, dunnock,
C8 kestrel, meadow pipit,
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Jan 12 4:12 PM, 2014
morning stroll 8-45--10-35 very cold and pretty quiet bird wise
C8 20+meadow pipit, 15 goldfinch, 1 common snipe, kestrel.
nice to meet Scott yesterday, must have been following Gordon round out for a similar time and saw many of the same birds, missed the raven though, did get a stonechat not in the usual field this one was in C5 close to the corner near Fir tree flash,
Gordon the Mute swan on Fir tree is not AV6 i got a look at it's ring number yesterday it's a blue darvic ring IC 4, i'll send Steve a message and find it's origins.
! Mute Swan, 23 Mallard, 2 Pochard M+F, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail (heard not seen), 2 groups of Starling totalling 145 flying over high and fast heading towards Pennington Flash
plus the usuals, 35 species put that together with Scott's sightings it was a busy afternoon on the Rucks
Scott robinson said
Sat Jan 11 3:18 PM, 2014
Quick hour this afternoon, and what a cracking hour 1 kestrel, 1 buzzard, 1 sparrowhawk, 8 snipe, 10 reed bunting, fir tree flash 1 kingfisher, 11 tufted duck and 1 swan. Also good numbers of meadow pipit, skylark and 6 Grey partridge.
Gordon Newman said
Fri Jan 10 6:16 PM, 2014
only additions this afternoon 13.00-14.15 were 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 20 Magpie together in C6 and 1 Mute Swan on Fir Tree Flash (AV6?)
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Jan 10 1:39 PM, 2014
late morning/early afternoon
c250 pink footed geese over @12-45 heading north/north west
a few larger flocks around today C9 c40 long tailed tit, C8 21 meadow pipit with a couple of smaller 5-6 flocks when i reached the far side of the field a flock of 60+ meadow pipit this could of course have contained the birds seen earlier, C10 c50 mixed flock of goldfinch, chaffinch, linnet, redpoll and 2 reed bunting,
C9 no sign of mute swan AV6 today, 40+ black headed gull, c20 each coot and tufted duck, 3 great crested grebe, 2 moorhen, 2 mallard. robin, dunnock, chaffinch, great tit, blue tit, wren, wood pigeon, carrion crow, collared dove, magpie, blackbird.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Jan 9 4:00 PM, 2014
morning stroll
C9 1m goldeneye, 2 gadwall, 3 great crestedgrebe, 26 tufted duck, 18 coot, 16 black headed gull, an adult mute swan landed on the flash as i was walking round when i saw it's ring i was delighted to see it was AV6 the resident male i don't know if he will stick around on his own but at least i know he's still healthy. goldfinch, chaffinch, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,robin, wren,
walked down the old concrete road to plank lane and back but saw very little 2 jay, a great spotted woodpecker and a pheasant strolling down the road being the highlights.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Jan 7 5:13 PM, 2014
morning stroll
C6 fir tree flash + surrounds
21 mallard, 11 coot, 7 tufted duck,long tailed, great and blue tit, goldfinch, wren, robin, blackbird,
C9 34 tufted duck, 21 coot, 1 moorhen, 23 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 3 great crested grebe, 9 lapwing circling the flash, 1 redwing, small numbers blue and great tit, blackbird, robin and wren.
Gordon Newman said
Tue Jan 7 1:50 PM, 2014
couple hours this morning covering C3 & C4 only
run of the mill stuff i.e Blue ,Great, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Linnet x 3, Kestrel x1, Common Snipe 1, Skylark x3 and star bird of the morning male Bulfinch x1 (which I don't see that often on rucks) + the usual Wren etc
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Jan 6 4:28 PM, 2014
morning stroll just beating the rain
C9 c20 each of tufted duck, coot and black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 1 moorhen, 1 male goldeneye, 4 robin, 2 dunnock, 1 wren, 1 reed bunting, 3 blue tit,
1 Male Sparrowhawk on edge of path in C3, which I didn't realise was there until I heard a unfamiliar call then it flew from about 5ft away from me and landed in tree about 50ft away.
45 Pink-footed Geese west @12.45
Group of 25 Meadow Pipit C8.
Annoying how trials bikes & 4x4's are allowed to destroy public land , in one day compartment 2 is totally stripped of any grass and is a mud bath, which will not be good for Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Grey Partridge not to mention other wildlife dependant on all to rare habitat. Where is the Police presence particularly of a weekend?
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Sunday 5th of January 2014 03:50:19 PM
Scott robinson said
Sun Jan 5 1:40 PM, 2014
Quick hour before I went over to Pennington 2 snipe, 2 carrion crow feeding in the fields 2 redwing flew overhead as did one heron and one cormorant also reed bunting goldfinches, two song thrush and 1 jay.
Scott robinson said
Sat Jan 4 8:44 PM, 2014
Thanks for the info, I have seen one actually a long time ago but never around our area thanks again.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Jan 4 8:19 PM, 2014
Scott robinson wrote:
Hi Bernard sorry to bother you again, where would be the best place to catch a glimpse of the stonechat?
Hi Scott
I have generally seen them towards the bottom of the new tarmac road, sometimes it can be a matter of scanning the fields on either side of the road, but quite often they come pretty close to the edge, good luck Scott.
Scott robinson said
Sat Jan 4 5:48 PM, 2014
Hi Bernard sorry to bother you again, where would be the best place to catch a glimpse of the stonechat?
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Jan 4 5:18 PM, 2014
morning stroll
C9 Diggle Flash + surrounds
2 gadwall, 40+ black headed gull, 3 great crested grebe, 20+ each of coot and tufted duck, 7 mallard, 7 robin, 8 blackbird, small numbers blue and great tits, 5 wood pigeon,1 moorhen,
C8 7 meadow pipit, 33 lapwing over, 1 grey heron over very distinctive with a chunk of wing feathers missing i have noticed it numerous times,4 long tailed tit could be seen in alders but quite a few more could be heard, 3 carrion crow feeding in fields, kestrel,
C6 Fir Tree flash + surrounds
2 canada geese, 12 mallard, 10 coot,7 tufted duck, 1 moorhen, small numbers blue + great tit, 3 wren, 4 blackbird, buzzard, 5 robin. c30 magpie seen throughout walk,
late afternoon/early evening stroll added 2 common snipe and 60+ jackdaw over, 40+ starling over with plenty of robin and blackbird singing in the fading light.
Scott robinson said
Sat Jan 4 5:02 PM, 2014
Couple of hours this afternoon, couple of Great crested grebes, Tufted duck 4 Snipe which i disturbed walking through a field, 2 skylark 10 reed bunting 4 jays, and a great spotted woodpecker down side of Heath playing fields other then that pretty quiet.
Gordon Newman said
Fri Jan 3 5:08 PM, 2014
3 hours from midday, generally quiet,
4 Common Snipe, 2 Gadwall, 2 Linnet, 40+ Redwing, 1 Kestrel, brief glimpse of a Goshawk (probably a falconers bird), Grey Partridge heard but not seen and the remains of a Juvenile Mute Swan in an area some 5-10minutes walk from Diggle Flash, and not near any other water ( would Mink carry it's prey that far? )
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Friday 3rd of January 2014 05:20:04 PM
Scott robinson said
Thu Jan 2 8:35 PM, 2014
Oh ok pal thanks for clearing that up
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Jan 2 8:28 PM, 2014
Hi Scott the C just stands for compartment, we broke the area down into compartments for a study it is not official it was just something done to help myself and Gordon,
Scott robinson said
Thu Jan 2 7:45 PM, 2014
Hi Bernard I'm from Wigan road I often go walking over the rucks and over to the flashes I just want it know what does c3 c6 c8 etc mean?
Gordon Newman said
Thu Jan 2 5:28 PM, 2014
11-12 only covered C3 & C4
Very quiet
1 Water Rail showing well on edge of reeds on Nevisons Flash
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Jan 2 4:50 PM, 2014
Morning stroll
c9 2 GoldenEye 1m,1f, 39 black headed gull, 16 coot, 26 tufted duck, 7 mallard, 3 great created grebe, 1 moorhen, kestrel, small numbers blue and great tits, 1 goldfinch, 1 buzzard,
c8 30+ meadow pipit, 2 pheasant, 2 stonechat, wren, robin,magpie,carrion crow,collared dove.
first soaking of the year and the first without any mute swans on either Diggle or Fir Tree Flashes.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Dec 31 2:06 PM, 2013
late morning/early afternoon C6 Fir tree flash + surrounds, pretty quiet on the water, 11 mallard, 9 coot, 5 tufted duck, 2 moorhen, 8 goldfinch in trees 5 more splashing around in shallow puddles, 1 grey wagtail, small numbers great and long tailed tit, 1 buzzard, 3 wren, 2 robin, 2 blackbird. C8 40+ meadow pipit, 30+ redwing over, 1 raven over flying in formation with 5 jackdaw 1 in front, 1 either side and 2 behind, 1 kestrel, 1 jay, 20+ carrion crow with similar number of magpie feeding in fields, C9 Diggle flash + surrounds, 1 coomon gull and 2 lesser black backed gulls with c30 black headed gulls, c20 each tufted duck and coot, 3 moorhen,5 gadwall, 4 great crested grebe, 9 mallard, 1 reed bunting, 1 song thrush, 1 wren, 3 robin, 4 blackbird.
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Dec 30 9:06 PM, 2013
morning stroll pretty much the same as the last few days, but did get some cracking views of a male kestrel perched in a tree at head height and less than 20ft away, alas no camera.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Dec 29 5:12 PM, 2013
morning stroll C9 6 gadwall, 1 shoveler, 1 little grebe, 3 great crested grebe,2 lesser black backed gull, c30 black headed gull with at least 1 common gull amongst them,2 moorhen, 7 mallard, 1 cormorant, 19 tufted duck, 22 coot. 4 blackbird, 1 robin, 1 wren, small numbers blue and great tit. C8 7 meadow pipit, 2 blackbird, 1 robin, 1 wren, 2 long tailed tit.
When i walked around Diggle flash late afternnon early evening an adult mute swan was on the water, i haven't seen the resident mute swan since Dec 20th, i think this is probably him but couldn't see if he had a darvic ring on or not.
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Dec 27 5:00 PM, 2013
quick blast round Diggle this morning, 18 goldfinch, 2 blackbird,1 song thrush, 1 f shoveler, c20 each coot and tufted duck, 14 black headed gull, 2 moorhen, 5 mallard.
more leisurely afternoon stroll 13-55- 16-10 C9 Diggle flash 94 mainly black headed gulls but 3 lesser black backed and at least 4 common gulls, 14 coot, 12 tufted duck, 4 mallard, 1 moorhen, plenty more birds sheltering in the reeds, 14 redwing over, 1 cormorant over, 4 jackdaw over, 7 goldfinch, 2 great tit, 4 blackbird. C8 21 meadow pipit mainly in 2s and 3s so may have counted some twice, 2 redwing, c230 starling over in 5 flocks( 80, 40,40,34,28,15,9) presumably heading to roost at pennington, 20+goldfinch, 3 long tailed tit, C6 fir tree flash + surrounds, covey of 9 grey partridge, 1 redwing, 1 jay, flock of 19 wood pigeon, 4 collared dove, 1 common snipe, 2 long tailed tit, 1 wren,3 meadow pipit, 1 fieldfare,5 mallard, 7 coot, 2 tufted duck, canada geese + mallard could be heard on the island but i couldn't see them.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Dec 26 4:08 PM, 2013
morning stroll C9 13 goldfinch, 9 blue tit, 1 song thrush, 3 blackbird, 2 great tit, 1 robin,1 dunnock, c25 each tufted duck and black headed gull, c20 coot, 3 great crested gebe, 4 gadwall, 1 moorhen, 5 mallard, 2 cormorant. 2 lesser black backed gull. C8 2 meadow pipit, 1 blackbird, 1 wren, C10 1 buzzard
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Dec 25 12:28 PM, 2013
morning stroll with Charlie my rotty,
C9 flock of mixed finches mainly goldfinch with 6 chaffinch, 1 greenfinch, 3-4 redpoll,small numbers great and blue tit, 1 robin, 7 blackbird, 3 wren, 2 reed bunting, just off site 1 fieldfare with c40 starling and 7 collared dove, 1m shoveler, 2 gadwall, c20 each black headed gull, coot and tufted duck, 3 great crested grebe, 1 moorhen, 1 lesser black backed gull, 7 mallard, 1 jay.no sign of any of the mute swans, hope they've moved on and not come to any harm, the male has a blue darvic ring AV6 the juvenile blue darvic 4ADT if anyone spots either of them anywhere i would appreciate it if they could post or send me a pm thanks. C8 70-80 meadow pipit seemed to be in two distinctly seperate flocks of 35+, 14 long tailed tit, 1 wren, 4 blackbird, 3 wood pigeon, usual magpie and carrion crow. Merry Christmas to one and all Bernard
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Dec 24 4:32 PM, 2013
morning stroll nice and bright but cold and very windy when i set out but got caught in rain and hailstone, typically 10mins after i got home the sun was out again. C8 brief views of stonechat much further round than i was seeing it previously and harder to see. 2 kestrel, 1 sparrowhawk, 14 meadow pipit, 3 blackbird, 1 wren,2 reed bunting, magpie and carrion crow in good numbers, 3 wood pigeon.1 grey heron over, 1 cormorant over. C9 7 mallard, 3 moorhen, c50 black headed gull, c25 each coot and tufted duck, 2 great crested grebe, 1 cormorant, 2 bullfinch, c15 goldfinch, 4 redwing, 3 blackbird, 3 dunnock, 1 robin, 2 wren, 3 blue tit, several great tit,
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Dec 23 2:47 PM, 2013
very quiet this morning wet and windy only small birds seen were 5 goldfinch, 2 meadow pipit, 2 blackbird, 1 reed bunting, even magpie count was only 5, 4 carrion crow. 1 juvenile mute swan still no sign of male adult, 27 black headed gull, 3 great crested grebe, 24 tufted duck, 19 coot, 5 mallard, 2 moorhen.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Dec 22 12:54 PM, 2013
morning stroll C8 brief sighting of stonechat, great view of a kestrel perched on a fence post devouring a vole/mouse, 2 reed bunting, 7 goldfinch, 1 common snipe, 9 meadow pipit, 1 blackbird, plenty of very vocal carrion crow in the trees at bottom of new road i did see a falconer with a goshawk at the bottom of the rucks probably the cause of their concern. C9 sparrowhawk being harassed by domestic pigeons, 6 blackbird, small numbers great, long tailed and blue tit, 2 dunnock, 1 robin, 2 gadwall, 4 great crested grebe, 1 common gull and 1 lesser black backed gull with 37 black headed gulls, 34 tufted duck, 19 coot, 1 moorhen, 7 mallard. 4 redwing.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Dec 21 5:36 PM, 2013
late afternoon early evening stroll Not much to add to this mornings sightings, C8 flock of 30-40 mainly redwing but with a few fieldfare over these were followed not long after by a flock of 80-100 starling presumably heading to roost, don't see many starling over the rucks plenty on the fringes and just off sight. still no sign of the adult mute swan on Diggle flash.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Dec 21 1:29 PM, 2013
C9 2 gadwall, 3 great crested grebe, 3 moorhen, 1 grey heron, 1 cormorant, c20 each of tufted duck, coot and black headed gull, 1 common gull, didn't see the adult mute swan this morning juvenile was feeding close in to the reeds. c30 goldfinch and c30 long tailed tit in the alders near entrance from Bickershaw lane, 4 robin 2 singing lustily, 5 blackbird and 3 dunnock rooting among the fallen leaves, decent numbers of great tit with a few blue tit, 1 kestrel, usual magpie and carrion crow, 4 wood pigeon.
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Dec 20 11:51 AM, 2013
C8 5 meadow pipit, 2 cormorant over, 1 grey heron over, 2 great tit, 2 blackbird, 1 kestrel, 1 common snipe. C9 2 gadwall, 1 shoveler, 2 moorhen, 5 mallard, c20 each tufted duck, coot and black headed gull, 1 cormorant on water 2 over, 1 adult + 1 cygnet on water + 1 adult mute swan over, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 5 blackbird, 1 collared dove, 2 long tailed tit, 6 goldfinch, 1 reed bunting, several great tit.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Dec 19 9:33 PM, 2013
C8 2 buzzards, 1 kestrel, 2 bullfinch, 1 wren, 3 blackbird, 30+ meadow pipit, small numbers blue and great tit. C9 c30 tufted duck, c25 coot, 12 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 9 mallard, 3 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, 1 jay, 7 blackbird, 3 dunnock, 1 robin, 2 wren, small numbers long tailed and great tits, 3 chaffinch.
morning stroll, C8 grey heron over, 3 jackdaw over, 1 cormorant over, 43 meadow pipit, 1 kestrel. 2 robin, 1 wren, 9 goldfinch, C9 3 gadwall, 2 shoveler, 4 moorhen, 5 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 2 mute swan, 1 common gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 16 black headed gull, 5 mallard, c20 each coot and tufted duck. 2 reed bunting, 3 redwing, 2 great tit, 2 robin, 2 wren,2 collared dove.4 blackbird, 1 chaffinch.
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Dec 16 10:45 AM, 2013
morning stroll wet and windy and again very quiet bird wise C8 1 common snipe, 8 wood pigeon over, 2 meadow pipit, 2 blackbird. C9 6 gadwall, 1 shoveler flying away from flash, 3 moorhen, 1 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, c15 each tufted duck and coot, 5 black headed gull, 3 mallard. 1 wren, 1 robin, 4 blackbird, 4 goldfinch, 2 chaffinch, 1 great tit, 1 collared dove.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Dec 15 4:56 PM, 2013
Morning stroll pretty quiet all round met up with Gordon and he was also finding it quiet
C8 1 kestrel, c30 goldfinch, 20+ wood pigeon over, 2 mute swan over, 1 grey heron over, 9 meadow pipit, C6 4 mallard, 8 coot, 6 tufted duck, small numbers blue + great tit, 2 blackbird C5 3 meadow pipit, 1 reed bunting, C9 3 shoveler 2m 1f, 2 gadwall, 2 mute swan, 4 moorhen, 37 black headed gull, 3 lesser black backed gull, c20 each coot and tufted duck, 9 mallard, 1 cormorant over, 6 redwing, 6 chaffinch, 5 goldfinch, 2 robin, 1 wren, small numbers long tailed, great and blue tit, 2 blackbird.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Dec 14 1:16 PM, 2013
morning stroll C8 very brief sighting of stonechat, 1 kestrel, 1 sparrowhawk, 24 meadow pipit, 1 pheasant, 11 carrion crow on tarmac road, 12 feral pigeon, 2 wood pigeon. 2 blackbird. C9 4 gadwall, 1f shoveler, 2 lesser black backed gull, 3 great crested grebe, 4 moorhen, 1 little grebe, 7 mallard, 2 mute swan, c25 each coot, tufted duck and black headed gull. 2 robin, 1 wren, 5 blackbird,4 chaffinch, small numbers long tailed, great and blue tits, 20+ goldfinch picking grit from path. apart from blackbirds no thrushes.
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Dec 13 11:40 AM, 2013
morning stroll 08-45--11-15 C8 stonechat at bottom of new road before being chased further up the field by a flock of 23 meadow pipit, i think i saw another stonechat further up the field but it was too distant to be sure it's behaviour was like a stonechat dropping from a perch and returning. 1 kestrel, 1 raven over @ 10-00 heading north, 1 jay, 1 buzzard, 1 reed bunting, 4 blackbird, 1 robin, 1 wren. C9 no sign of any goldeneye, 1m pochard, 3 gadwall 1m 2f, 1f shoveler, 3 great crested grebe, 26 coot, 21 tufted duck, 39 black headed gull, at least 1 common gull amongst them, 2 lesser black backed gull, 2 mute swan, 9 mallard,2 cormorant 1 on water 1 over, 9 redwing, 7 blackbird, 1 song thrush, 2 reed bunting, small flock long tailed tit( approx 8) 3 great tit, 2 blue tit, 1 dunnock, 8 carrion crow feeding in field.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Dec 12 6:25 PM, 2013
morning stroll in constant light rain C8 no sign of stonechat this morning but if he is keeping to a regular timetable i was later than normal, 20-25 meadow pipit, c40 long tailed tit with at least 2 blue tit and 6 great tit, 1 kestrel, 3 redwing. 2 cormorant over, 1 common snipe. C9 1f shoveler, 2 gadwall, 3 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 12 mallard, c20 each coot, tufted duck, c30 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 1 grey heron, no sign of female goldeneye but 1 male goldeneye present when i set out no sign of him when i returned approx 70mins later. 3 wren, 3 reed bunting, 7 blackbird.
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Dec 11 3:45 PM, 2013
C8 stonechat showing well again this morning near bottom of new road, 1 kestrel. 27 meadow pipit C9 6 gadwall, 1f shoveler, 9 mallard, 2 mute swan, 20+ coot, 19 tufted duck, 3 great crested grebe, 20+ black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 1 grey heron, 3 moorhen, 1 reed bunting, 2 robin, 2 wren, 8 redwing, 1 song thrush, 5 blackbird, 6 great tit, 9 long tailed tit, 2 jay.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Dec 10 1:42 PM, 2013
Morning stroll C8 1 stonechat near bottom of new road, 14 meadow pipit, 1 kestrel, 2 buzzard, 1 fieldfare, 6 redwing, 3 reed bunting. grey heron over. C9 stock pond 6 gadwall 3m,3f, 1f goldeneye, 1 great crested grebe, 4 mallard, main flash 14 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 18 tufted duck, 26 coot, 2 mute swan, 7 mallard, 2 moorhen, 2 shoveler 1m, 1f, 1 kestrel, 5 meadow pipit, 12 great tit, 1 song thrush, 2 redwing, when i set out 6 goldfinch picking grit from path when i returned approx 2 hrs later this had grown to 23 goldfinch, 2 dunnock, 2 robin, with 3 blackbird flitting about.
quick half hour before work this morning 1 Male Teal - new water (C4)- rare here 40+ Redwing , 3 Mistle Thrush, 5 Fieldfare - C3 /bordering Plank Lane, birds continually on the move and difficult to count, (possibly same group reported by David Gornall earlier in the week under bits, bobs & sods thread), also the usual numbers of Goldfinch
-- Edited by Scott robinson on Tuesday 14th of January 2014 04:24:57 PM
morning stroll 8-45--10-35 very cold and pretty quiet bird wise
C9 2 goldeneye 1m,1f, 3 gadwall 2f,1m, 1f shoveler, 26 tufted duck, 17 coot, 37 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 2 moorhen, 5 mallard, 2 wren, 12 long tailed tit, robin, dunnock, blackbird, 3 wood pigeon, usual magpie and carrion crow.
C8 20+meadow pipit, 15 goldfinch, 1 common snipe, kestrel.
nice to meet Scott yesterday, must have been following Gordon round out for a similar time and saw many of the same birds, missed the raven though, did get a stonechat not in the usual field this one was in C5 close to the corner near Fir tree flash,
Gordon the Mute swan on Fir tree is not AV6 i got a look at it's ring number yesterday it's a blue darvic ring IC 4, i'll send Steve a message and find it's origins.
late posting for yesterday Sat
13.30-17.00
C10
! Raven heading west
C9
3 Gadwall , 25 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye M+F, 1 Cormorant, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Great-crested Grebe,
C8
1 Woodcock - flew from C7, 1 Kestrel
Fir Tree Flash (including C6)
! Mute Swan, 23 Mallard, 2 Pochard M+F, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail (heard not seen), 2 groups of Starling totalling 145 flying over high and fast heading towards Pennington Flash
C3
1 Stock Dove, 1 Chaffinch, 5 Linnet, 3 Jay, 1 Reed Bunting
plus the usuals, 35 species put that together with Scott's sightings it was a busy afternoon on the Rucks
only additions this afternoon 13.00-14.15 were 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 20 Magpie together in C6 and 1 Mute Swan on Fir Tree Flash (AV6?)
late morning/early afternoon
c250 pink footed geese over @12-45 heading north/north west
a few larger flocks around today C9 c40 long tailed tit, C8 21 meadow pipit with a couple of smaller 5-6 flocks when i reached the far side of the field a flock of 60+ meadow pipit this could of course have contained the birds seen earlier, C10 c50 mixed flock of goldfinch, chaffinch, linnet, redpoll and 2 reed bunting,
C9 no sign of mute swan AV6 today, 40+ black headed gull, c20 each coot and tufted duck, 3 great crested grebe, 2 moorhen, 2 mallard. robin, dunnock, chaffinch, great tit, blue tit, wren, wood pigeon, carrion crow, collared dove, magpie, blackbird.
morning stroll
C9 1m goldeneye, 2 gadwall, 3 great crestedgrebe, 26 tufted duck, 18 coot, 16 black headed gull, an adult mute swan landed on the flash as i was walking round when i saw it's ring i was delighted to see it was AV6 the resident male i don't know if he will stick around on his own but at least i know he's still healthy
. goldfinch, chaffinch, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,robin, wren,
walked down the old concrete road to plank lane and back but saw very little 2 jay, a great spotted woodpecker and a pheasant strolling down the road being the highlights.
morning stroll
C6 fir tree flash + surrounds
21 mallard, 11 coot, 7 tufted duck,long tailed, great and blue tit, goldfinch, wren, robin, blackbird,
C8 1 stonechat, c30 meadow pipit, cormorant over, 4 wood pigeon, numerous magpie and carrion crow,
C9 34 tufted duck, 21 coot, 1 moorhen, 23 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 3 great crested grebe, 9 lapwing circling the flash, 1 redwing, small numbers blue and great tit, blackbird, robin and wren.
couple hours this morning covering C3 & C4 only
run of the mill stuff i.e Blue ,Great, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Linnet x 3, Kestrel x1, Common Snipe 1, Skylark x3 and star bird of the morning male Bulfinch x1 (which I don't see that often on rucks) + the usual Wren etc
morning stroll just beating the rain
C9 c20 each of tufted duck, coot and black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 1 moorhen, 1 male goldeneye, 4 robin, 2 dunnock, 1 wren, 1 reed bunting, 3 blue tit,
C8 30+ lapwing over, 1 cormorant over, 16 meadow pipit, 1 skylark, 1 kestrel,
10.30-13.00
Of note
1 Male Sparrowhawk on edge of path in C3, which I didn't realise was there until I heard a unfamiliar call then it flew from about 5ft away from me and landed in tree about 50ft away.
45 Pink-footed Geese west @12.45
Group of 25 Meadow Pipit C8.
Annoying how trials bikes & 4x4's are allowed to destroy public land , in one day compartment 2 is totally stripped of any grass and is a mud bath, which will not be good for Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Grey Partridge not to mention other wildlife dependant on all to rare habitat. Where is the Police presence particularly of a weekend?
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Sunday 5th of January 2014 03:50:19 PM
Hi Scott
I have generally seen them towards the bottom of the new tarmac road, sometimes it can be a matter of scanning the fields on either side of the road, but quite often they come pretty close to the edge, good luck Scott.
morning stroll
C9 Diggle Flash + surrounds
2 gadwall, 40+ black headed gull, 3 great crested grebe, 20+ each of coot and tufted duck, 7 mallard, 7 robin, 8 blackbird, small numbers blue and great tits, 5 wood pigeon,1 moorhen,
C8 7 meadow pipit, 33 lapwing over, 1 grey heron over very distinctive with a chunk of wing feathers missing i have noticed it numerous times,4 long tailed tit could be seen in alders but quite a few more could be heard, 3 carrion crow feeding in fields, kestrel,
C6 Fir Tree flash + surrounds
2 canada geese, 12 mallard, 10 coot,7 tufted duck, 1 moorhen, small numbers blue + great tit, 3 wren, 4 blackbird, buzzard, 5 robin. c30 magpie seen throughout walk,
late afternoon/early evening stroll added 2 common snipe and 60+ jackdaw over, 40+ starling over with plenty of robin and blackbird singing in the fading light.
3 hours from midday, generally quiet,
4 Common Snipe, 2 Gadwall, 2 Linnet, 40+ Redwing, 1 Kestrel, brief glimpse of a Goshawk (probably a falconers bird), Grey Partridge heard but not seen and the remains of a Juvenile Mute Swan in an area some 5-10minutes walk from Diggle Flash, and not near any other water ( would Mink carry it's prey that far? )
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Friday 3rd of January 2014 05:20:04 PM
Hi Scott the C just stands for compartment, we broke the area down into compartments for a study it is not official it was just something done to help myself and Gordon,
morning stroll,
C9 collared dove, 6 wood pigeon, 3 blackbird, 39 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 2 moorhen, 1 gadwall, 3 great crested grebe, 24 tufted duck, 1 mallard, 18 coot, 1 grey heron,
C8 2 meadow pipit, 1 kestrel, 6 magpie, 3 carrion crow,
C6 14 mallard, 7 tufted duck, 8 coot, 2 moorhen,3 wren, 2 great tit, 1 coal tit,
first soaking of the year and the first without any mute swans on either Diggle or Fir Tree Flashes.
C6 Fir tree flash + surrounds, pretty quiet on the water, 11 mallard, 9 coot, 5 tufted duck, 2 moorhen, 8 goldfinch in trees 5 more splashing around in shallow puddles, 1 grey wagtail, small numbers great and long tailed tit, 1 buzzard, 3 wren, 2 robin, 2 blackbird.
C8 40+ meadow pipit, 30+ redwing over, 1 raven over flying in formation with 5 jackdaw 1 in front, 1 either side and 2 behind, 1 kestrel, 1 jay, 20+ carrion crow with similar number of magpie feeding in fields,
C9 Diggle flash + surrounds, 1 coomon gull and 2 lesser black backed gulls with c30 black headed gulls, c20 each tufted duck and coot, 3 moorhen,5 gadwall, 4 great crested grebe, 9 mallard, 1 reed bunting, 1 song thrush, 1 wren, 3 robin, 4 blackbird.
pretty much the same as the last few days, but did get some cracking views of a male kestrel perched in a tree at head height and less than 20ft away, alas no camera.
C9 6 gadwall, 1 shoveler, 1 little grebe, 3 great crested grebe,2 lesser black backed gull, c30 black headed gull with at least 1 common gull amongst them,2 moorhen, 7 mallard, 1 cormorant, 19 tufted duck, 22 coot. 4 blackbird, 1 robin, 1 wren, small numbers blue and great tit.
C8 7 meadow pipit, 2 blackbird, 1 robin, 1 wren, 2 long tailed tit.
C9 3 bullfinch, 7 blackbird, 1 buzzard, 18 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 1 cormorant, 1 little grebe, 3 great crested grebe, 8 mallard, 2 moorhen, 21 tufted duck, 24 coot,
C8 1 kestrel, 5 reed bunting,9 meadow pipit, 2 robin, 3 wood pigeon.
When i walked around Diggle flash late afternnon early evening an adult mute swan was on the water, i haven't seen the resident mute swan since Dec 20th, i think this is probably him but couldn't see if he had a darvic ring on or not.
more leisurely afternoon stroll 13-55- 16-10
C9 Diggle flash 94 mainly black headed gulls but 3 lesser black backed and at least 4 common gulls, 14 coot, 12 tufted duck, 4 mallard, 1 moorhen, plenty more birds sheltering in the reeds, 14 redwing over, 1 cormorant over, 4 jackdaw over, 7 goldfinch, 2 great tit, 4 blackbird.
C8 21 meadow pipit mainly in 2s and 3s so may have counted some twice, 2 redwing, c230 starling over in 5 flocks( 80, 40,40,34,28,15,9) presumably heading to roost at pennington, 20+goldfinch, 3 long tailed tit,
C6 fir tree flash + surrounds, covey of 9 grey partridge, 1 redwing, 1 jay, flock of 19 wood pigeon, 4 collared dove, 1 common snipe, 2 long tailed tit, 1 wren,3 meadow pipit, 1 fieldfare,5 mallard, 7 coot, 2 tufted duck, canada geese + mallard could be heard on the island but i couldn't see them.
C9 13 goldfinch, 9 blue tit, 1 song thrush, 3 blackbird, 2 great tit, 1 robin,1 dunnock, c25 each tufted duck and black headed gull, c20 coot, 3 great crested gebe, 4 gadwall, 1 moorhen, 5 mallard, 2 cormorant. 2 lesser black backed gull.
C8 2 meadow pipit, 1 blackbird, 1 wren,
C10 1 buzzard
C9 flock of mixed finches mainly goldfinch with 6 chaffinch, 1 greenfinch, 3-4 redpoll,small numbers great and blue tit, 1 robin, 7 blackbird, 3 wren, 2 reed bunting, just off site 1 fieldfare with c40 starling and 7 collared dove, 1m shoveler, 2 gadwall, c20 each black headed gull, coot and tufted duck, 3 great crested grebe, 1 moorhen, 1 lesser black backed gull, 7 mallard, 1 jay.no sign of any of the mute swans, hope they've moved on and not come to any harm, the male has a blue darvic ring AV6 the juvenile blue darvic 4ADT if anyone spots either of them anywhere i would appreciate it if they could post or send me a pm thanks.
C8 70-80 meadow pipit seemed to be in two distinctly seperate flocks of 35+, 14 long tailed tit, 1 wren, 4 blackbird, 3 wood pigeon, usual magpie and carrion crow.
Merry Christmas to one and all
Bernard
C8 brief views of stonechat much further round than i was seeing it previously and harder to see. 2 kestrel, 1 sparrowhawk, 14 meadow pipit, 3 blackbird, 1 wren,2 reed bunting, magpie and carrion crow in good numbers, 3 wood pigeon.1 grey heron over, 1 cormorant over.
C9 7 mallard, 3 moorhen, c50 black headed gull, c25 each coot and tufted duck, 2 great crested grebe, 1 cormorant, 2 bullfinch, c15 goldfinch, 4 redwing, 3 blackbird, 3 dunnock, 1 robin, 2 wren, 3 blue tit, several great tit,
only small birds seen were 5 goldfinch, 2 meadow pipit, 2 blackbird, 1 reed bunting, even magpie count was only 5, 4 carrion crow.
1 juvenile mute swan still no sign of male adult, 27 black headed gull, 3 great crested grebe, 24 tufted duck, 19 coot, 5 mallard, 2 moorhen.
C8 brief sighting of stonechat, great view of a kestrel perched on a fence post devouring a vole/mouse, 2 reed bunting, 7 goldfinch, 1 common snipe, 9 meadow pipit, 1 blackbird, plenty of very vocal carrion crow in the trees at bottom of new road i did see a falconer with a goshawk at the bottom of the rucks probably the cause of their concern.
C9 sparrowhawk being harassed by domestic pigeons, 6 blackbird, small numbers great, long tailed and blue tit, 2 dunnock, 1 robin, 2 gadwall, 4 great crested grebe, 1 common gull and 1 lesser black backed gull with 37 black headed gulls, 34 tufted duck, 19 coot, 1 moorhen, 7 mallard. 4 redwing.
Not much to add to this mornings sightings, C8 flock of 30-40 mainly redwing but with a few fieldfare over these were followed not long after by a flock of 80-100 starling presumably heading to roost, don't see many starling over the rucks plenty on the fringes and just off sight.
still no sign of the adult mute swan on Diggle flash.
C9 2 gadwall, 1 shoveler, 2 moorhen, 5 mallard, c20 each tufted duck, coot and black headed gull, 1 cormorant on water 2 over, 1 adult + 1 cygnet on water + 1 adult mute swan over, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 5 blackbird, 1 collared dove, 2 long tailed tit, 6 goldfinch, 1 reed bunting, several great tit.
C9 c30 tufted duck, c25 coot, 12 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 9 mallard, 3 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, 1 jay, 7 blackbird, 3 dunnock, 1 robin, 2 wren, small numbers long tailed and great tits, 3 chaffinch.
C9 3 shoveler, 4 gadwall, 3 great crested grebe, 2 moorhen, 2 mute swan, 30+ tufted duck, 20+ coot, 18 black headed gull, 12 mallard, 1 meadow pipit, 1 reed bunting, 4 redwing, 1 jay,3 blackbird,2 common snipe, 1 grey heron.
C10 2 meadow pipit, 3 jay, 1 cormorant over, 1 buzzard.
C8 grey heron over, 3 jackdaw over, 1 cormorant over, 43 meadow pipit, 1 kestrel. 2 robin, 1 wren, 9 goldfinch,
C9 3 gadwall, 2 shoveler, 4 moorhen, 5 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 2 mute swan, 1 common gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 16 black headed gull, 5 mallard, c20 each coot and tufted duck. 2 reed bunting, 3 redwing, 2 great tit, 2 robin, 2 wren,2 collared dove.4 blackbird, 1 chaffinch.
C8 1 common snipe, 8 wood pigeon over, 2 meadow pipit, 2 blackbird.
C9 6 gadwall, 1 shoveler flying away from flash, 3 moorhen, 1 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, c15 each tufted duck and coot, 5 black headed gull, 3 mallard. 1 wren, 1 robin, 4 blackbird, 4 goldfinch, 2 chaffinch, 1 great tit, 1 collared dove.
C8 1 kestrel, c30 goldfinch, 20+ wood pigeon over, 2 mute swan over, 1 grey heron over, 9 meadow pipit,
C6 4 mallard, 8 coot, 6 tufted duck, small numbers blue + great tit, 2 blackbird
C5 3 meadow pipit, 1 reed bunting,
C9 3 shoveler 2m 1f, 2 gadwall, 2 mute swan, 4 moorhen, 37 black headed gull, 3 lesser black backed gull, c20 each coot and tufted duck, 9 mallard, 1 cormorant over, 6 redwing, 6 chaffinch, 5 goldfinch, 2 robin, 1 wren, small numbers long tailed, great and blue tit, 2 blackbird.
C8 very brief sighting of stonechat, 1 kestrel, 1 sparrowhawk, 24 meadow pipit, 1 pheasant, 11 carrion crow on tarmac road, 12 feral pigeon, 2 wood pigeon. 2 blackbird.
C9 4 gadwall, 1f shoveler, 2 lesser black backed gull, 3 great crested grebe, 4 moorhen, 1 little grebe, 7 mallard, 2 mute swan, c25 each coot, tufted duck and black headed gull. 2 robin, 1 wren, 5 blackbird,4 chaffinch, small numbers long tailed, great and blue tits, 20+ goldfinch picking grit from path. apart from blackbirds no thrushes.
C8 stonechat at bottom of new road before being chased further up the field by a flock of 23 meadow pipit, i think i saw another stonechat further up the field but it was too distant to be sure it's behaviour was like a stonechat dropping from a perch and returning.
1 kestrel, 1 raven over @ 10-00 heading north, 1 jay, 1 buzzard, 1 reed bunting, 4 blackbird, 1 robin, 1 wren.
C9 no sign of any goldeneye, 1m pochard, 3 gadwall 1m 2f, 1f shoveler, 3 great crested grebe, 26 coot, 21 tufted duck, 39 black headed gull, at least 1 common gull amongst them, 2 lesser black backed gull, 2 mute swan, 9 mallard,2 cormorant 1 on water 1 over, 9 redwing, 7 blackbird, 1 song thrush, 2 reed bunting, small flock long tailed tit( approx 8) 3 great tit, 2 blue tit, 1 dunnock, 8 carrion crow feeding in field.
C8 no sign of stonechat this morning but if he is keeping to a regular timetable i was later than normal, 20-25 meadow pipit, c40 long tailed tit with at least 2 blue tit and 6 great tit, 1 kestrel, 3 redwing. 2 cormorant over, 1 common snipe.
C9 1f shoveler, 2 gadwall, 3 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 12 mallard, c20 each coot, tufted duck, c30 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 1 grey heron, no sign of female goldeneye but 1 male goldeneye present when i set out no sign of him when i returned approx 70mins later.
3 wren, 3 reed bunting, 7 blackbird.
C9 6 gadwall, 1f shoveler, 9 mallard, 2 mute swan, 20+ coot, 19 tufted duck, 3 great crested grebe, 20+ black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 1 grey heron, 3 moorhen, 1 reed bunting, 2 robin, 2 wren, 8 redwing, 1 song thrush, 5 blackbird, 6 great tit, 9 long tailed tit, 2 jay.
C8 1 stonechat near bottom of new road, 14 meadow pipit, 1 kestrel, 2 buzzard, 1 fieldfare, 6 redwing, 3 reed bunting. grey heron over.
C9 stock pond 6 gadwall 3m,3f, 1f goldeneye, 1 great crested grebe, 4 mallard, main flash 14 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 18 tufted duck, 26 coot, 2 mute swan, 7 mallard, 2 moorhen, 2 shoveler 1m, 1f, 1 kestrel, 5 meadow pipit, 12 great tit, 1 song thrush, 2 redwing, when i set out 6 goldfinch picking grit from path when i returned approx 2 hrs later this had grown to 23 goldfinch, 2 dunnock, 2 robin, with 3 blackbird flitting about.
C9 stock pond 6 gadwall 3m,3f, 1m shoveler, 1f goldeneye, 1 great crested grebe, 5 mallard, 7 tufted duck, 4 coot, 1 moorhen, 1 grey heron.1 cormorant.
Diggle flash, 2f shoveler, 1f gadwall, 2 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan 1 adult, 1 cygnet, c40 each tufted duck and coot, 29 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gulls, 4 moorhen, 1 little grebe, 2 reed bunting, 5 redwing, 7 blackbird, 1 song thrush, 1 buzzard, 2 dunnock, 1 wren, 1 robin, 8 long tailed tit, 4 great tit.
C8 16 meadow pipit, 1 kestrel, 2 pheasant,
C6 1 mistle thrush, 1 fieldfare, 9 redwing, 3 blackbird, 2 meadow pipit.
1 Male Teal - new water (C4)- rare here
40+ Redwing , 3 Mistle Thrush, 5 Fieldfare - C3 /bordering Plank Lane, birds continually on the move and difficult to count, (possibly same group reported by David Gornall earlier in the week under bits, bobs & sods thread), also the usual numbers of Goldfinch