C9 Diggle flash and surrounds
2 mute swan + 3 cygnets, 2 great crested grebe + 3 young, 4 little grebe seen whilst 2 more could be heard trilling in reeds, c30 black headed gull, 9 mallard, 1 moorhen, c30 coot, c20 tufted duck, 1 grey heron, 1 lesser black backed gull, robin, wren, blackbird, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon, collared dove, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, goldfinch. kestrel,

2 raven over C9 flew over school towards Barlows Wood
C9 Diggle Flash + surrounds
2 mute swan + 3 cygnets, 2 great crested grebe + juvenile, 2 moorhen, 30+ black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 2 lapwing did 3 circuits of the flash before heading off s/easterly, 20+ coot, 20+ tufted duck, 7 mallard, 1 snipe in drainage/overflow ditch,
1 goldfinch, small flock blue + long tailed tits
C8 kestrel
C6 Fir Tree flash
2 mute swan, 16 coot, 11 mallard, 2 moorhen

morning stroll 8-30-- 10-15
C9 Diggle Flash + surrounds
2 mute swan with 3 cygnets, 2 great crested grebe with 3 young, 2 little grebe, 30+ coot, 20+ tufted duck, 1 moorhen, 2 lesser black backed gull, c30 blac headed gull, 1 willow tit seen but i could hear more ( possibly young) flock of c20 long tailed tit, 12 goldfinch.
C8 2 kestrel, 3 blackbird and 1 mistlethrush feeding on rowan berries,15 swallow, 1 wheatear.
C10 buzzard

14.00-15.45
1 Hobby - stunning views over C6 fly catching for 15 mins @15.00 surviving a physical attack from the local Kestrel before drifting off SSE
200 + mixed Lesser Black-backed Gull / Black-headed Gull drifting on the thermals over C5 for an hour flying on when it became more cloudier
200 + Swallow mainly drifting SW

08.30-10.00
1 Garden Warbler C3 feeding on berries
1 Green Sandpiper C3

07.30-10.15
(Fir Tree Flash and Diggle Flash not visited)
Canada Goose 108
Grey Heron 1
Moorhen
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Jay 3
Blue Tit
Swallow 30+
Willow Warbler 12+
Whitethroat 4
Wren
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Reed Bunting
Cormorant 3
Kestrel 1
Coot
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Blackcap 1
Reed Warbler 4
Blackbird
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) 1
Linnet 3
+
2 Hare

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Saturday 24th of August 2013 01:10:39 PM

afternoon stroll pretty quiet

C9 Diggle flash + surrounds
2 mute swan + 3 cygnets, 1 little grebe, 2 great crested grebe + 3 juveniles, 40+ black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull, 20+ tufted duck, 7 mallard, 1 moorhen, c20 coot, 2 golfinch, 2 kestrel, 1 wren, 3 blackbird.
C8 7 swallow, 2 stock dove,

8-15-- 10-05
a single common scoter on stock pond at 8-45 walked round this afternoon but no further sighting.
2 mute swan + 3 cygnets, 2 great crested grebe + 3 juvenile saw both parents feeding young this morning, 1 little grebe seemed to be calling to young that were calling back from the reed bed but didn't see the youngsters, 2 lesser black backed gulls, 40+ black headed gull, 30+ coot, 20+ tufted duck, 9 mallard, 1 moorhen, 2 willow tit around stock pond.numerous long tailed tit,20ish swallow over C8, 1 mute swan over C8 seemed to be heading for Fir Tree flash.

9.45 -11.15
1 Common Tern circled stock pond 4 times before flying off
3 Linet - C8
2 Stock Dove - C6
Pus usuals

11th August.

A female Tufted Duck with 3 small ducklings on the smaller of the 2 flashes at Diggle Flash this morning.

Cheers,

Bill.

pretty quiet morning stroll
Kestrel over C8 and a flock of 20ish goldfinch the highlights.

morning stroll 7-50am -- 10-15 am.

female marsh harrier over C8 and C9 before heading off across Bickershaw lane towards Barlows farm approx 9-50 am.
C9 Diggle flash + surrounds, 2 mute swan with 5 cygnets ( 2 of the Cygnets were full length of flash away from parents, ) 2 great crested grebe with 3 young on main flash + 1 adult on stock pond, 2 adult little grebe + 3 juveniles, 70+ black headed gull, 3 lesser black backed gull, c30 coot many of them juvenile, c20 tufted duck, 16 mallard. dunnock, robin, goldfinch, long tailed tit, blue tit,reed warbler, 2 adult whitethroat with at least 3 young, blackbird,magpie, wood pigeon, collared dove, carrion crow.swallow.
C8 kestrel, meadow pipit, reed bunting, swallow,

early afternoon stroll
C9 Diggle Flash + surrounds, 1 parent mute swan with 5 cygnets ( didn't spot the other parent although it may have been in the reeds and i didn't hang about as it was raining quite heavily) 2 great crested grebe, with 3 young 2 on water 1 on dads back first time i have seen the youngsters although i didn't walk round the flash yesterday. 20+coot, 20+ tufted duck, 14 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull on water with 3 more over the field, 12 mallard, robin, blackbird, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon.
C8 reed bunting, meadow pipit and skylark all seen on the tarmac road presumably picking up grit, 2 kestrel hunting together over C8 field.
C6 Fir Tree flash + surrounds, 2 mute sawn, definitely 2 juvenile great crested grebe i am pretty sure there was 1 more in the reed bed but not 100%, 18 canada geese, small numbers coot and mallard, wren, robin, great tit and blue tit.

8.15-10.15
generally very quiet as expected although there was notably more Lesser-black backed Gulls flying over than normal, also Goldfinch now grouping together with one flock of 30+ (C6), 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling (C10) and unfortunately 1 Mink on path ahead of me heading towards Plank Lane just beyond Nevisons Flash 10.10a.m

cockatiel flying around Diggle flash this evening 2mute swans with 6 cygnets c40 black headed gulls, c20 tufted duck, c20 coot, 1 great crested grebe, willow warbler, small numbers swallow, swift and house martin.

evening stroll around Diggle flash
common tern, 2 mute swan with 6 cygnets, 20+ tufted duck, 20+mallard, 2 great crested grebe, coot, black headed gull, small numbers swift and swallow, reed bunting, reed warbler, goldfinch, blackbird.

Common Tern perched on post in stock pond ( yellow ring on it's right leg)

morning stroll 8-15-- 10-00

C9 greenfinch, willow warbler, chaffinch, mistle thrush, blackbird, dunnock, coot at least 3 broods of young, tufted duck, mallard, 2 mute swan with 6 cygnets, moorhen with 3 young. reed bunting, reed warbler.
C8 plenty of meadow pipit with a small flock of 12 sticking together plus plenty of 1s and 2s, 20ish Skylark, reed bunting, reed warbler, grasshopper warbler, pheasant, magpie, wood pigeon, carrion crow,

morning stroll 9-10am---11-15am

C8 100+ swift over fields, 5 skylark, 8 meadow pipit, 2 reed warbler, 4 reed bunting, 2 goldfinch.
C9 1 lesser whitethroat, robin, wren, dunnock, blackbird, 6 young long tailed tit, willow warbler. reed bunting, 2 mute swan with 6 cygnets, coot at least 3 broods of young, tufted duck, 1 great crested grebe.

well didn't expect them to stay but still 18 present at 19.30 , Cuckoo calling from C9 also 2 Sand Martin

18 drake Common Scoter still showing well Diggle Flash at 5:10pm

18 Common Scoter still present 16-10, 3 adult + 3 young little grebe ( 2 of the adults in dispute) Moorhen with 3 young, at least 4 broods of coot, tufted duck, mallard, 2 mute swan with 6 cygnets, small numbers swallow + swift. reed warbler, reed bunting, whitethroat, 2 bullfinch.

c200 swift over C8 field yesterday by far the most i have seen here so far this year, i think my previous high count here this year is 15.

common scoter still present much more active than this morningr

Bet they don't hang around till after I get home from work

18 common scoter presently on Diggle flash

Evening stroll 18-50-- 21-35

C9 Diggle flash + surrounds
2 Mute Swan with 6 Cygnets, at least 3 broods of Coot of varying sizes, Little Grebe with at least 2young very close to reeds i could see 2 young but could also see movement in reeds close to, tufted duck, black headed gull, mallard at least 4 duckling.2 great crested grebe, 8 swift, 4 swallow, 4 house martin, willow warbler, blue tit, reed bunting, reed warbler.cuckoo, blackbird, mistle thrush.
C8 2 pheasant, good numbers of meadow pipit, skylark + reed bunting, 1 grasshopper warbler.jay
C4 bottom of rucks whitethroat, wren, robin, reed bunting, reed warbler.
C6 Fir Tree Flash + surrounds 4 canada geese + 5 gosling, 2 mute swan, coot, moorhen, 9 mallard on open water + 1 in reeds with ducklings saw 2 but could hear quite a few more, 2 great crested grebe with 3 young. chaffinch, blue tit, wren, robin.

19.00-20.30
1 Common Sandpiper - C4
1 Common Tern - C4
1 Song Thrush - C3
1 Mistle Thrush - C3
Long -tailed Tit with fledglings - C3
Great Tit with fledglings - C4

yesterday
20.30-22.30
6 Grasshopper Warbler - 2 C8, 2 C4, 2 C3
2 Grey Partridge
1 Oystercatcher - C4

evening stroll
C8 hobby flew towards rucks, cuckoo,reed bunting,grasshopper warbler, kestrel, 7 skylark,5 meadw pipit, linnet
C9 2swallow, 10 swift, 1 reed warbler, mute swan, tufted duck, coot, mallard, mistle thrush, 2 whitethroat,robin
C10 reed bunting, grasshopper warbler

9.30-12.15
just the usual's this morning but was pleasing to see first Whitethroat fledglings as well as a Willow Warbler with food visiting a nest and Moorhen with fledglings

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Monday 3rd of June 2013 01:39:38 PM

7.45pm Sat 1st June
1 Green Woodpecker called briefly whilst walking through C12 . Sounded like it was in trees on edge of C2 probably disturbed by 4x4 that was ripping the place up. Unfortunately was unable to locate it once 4x4 had moved on.

evening stroll

C9 tufted duck, coot, mallard, moorhen, 2 mute swan, 6 swift, 9 swallow, chaffinch, robin, blackbird,wren, willow warbler, blue tit.
C8 cuckoo first heard on border C8-C10 then seen flying over C8 to C7, at least 10 skylark and probably as many meadow pipit, 1 reed bunting.

C9 Diggle Flash + surrounds 8 tufted duck, 2 mallard with 5 ducklings, 3 coot, 2 mute swan, 8 swift, 1 house martin, 6 swallow, 2 reed bunting, reed warbler heard only, 2 chaffinch, blue tit, wren, 2 robin, numerous blackbird willow warbler.
C8 2 grasshopper warbler 1 very close giving excellent views alas no camera, at least 6 skylark, 1 whitethroat, numerous meadow pipit, reed bunting.
C10 reed bunting, reed warbler, 1 lesser whitethroat.
Today is the first time in about 5 weeks that i haven't heard a cuckoo.

9-45-- 12-10 most of walk in light drizzle last hour quite heavy

C9 12 swallow, 5 house martin, 4 swift, willow warbler, blue tit, blackbird, mistle thrush living up to storm cock nickname singing loudly from top of tree in heavy rain, whitethroat.
C8 cuckoo, Skylark x5, numerous meadow pipit, reed bunting,
C6 3 canada geese + 5 gosling, 7 mallard, 2 great crested grebe, 1 mute swan, blue tit, reed bunting, blackbird,
C5 3 skylark,
C4 new water 1 m gadwall, surrounding reed beds 2 reed warbler seen more heard, 3 reed bunting
C3 nevisons flash, 1 sedge warbler, 4 reed bunting, 3 reed warbler seen more heard. 2 swift. 1 mallard, 1 coot.

07.30-10.30
very pleasant walk with bird song ringing out from every corner with Whitethroat 25+ particularly showing well as were 4 Sedge Warbler,15+ Reed Warbler, male & female Cuckoo with 2 Grasshopper Warbler reeling being highlights.
NICE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE BIRDS FOR A CHANGE WITHOUT THE WIND RINGING IN YOUR EARS AND FINGERS DROPPING OFF WITH THE COLD

great views of Cuckoo first in C8 perched in a small Hawthorn being divebombed by 2 Reed Bunting, it then flew down into the grass in C10 and the Reed Bunting were replaced by 3 Reed Warbler who harassed the Cuckoo until it flew up and perched on a fence post.
C8 Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Cuckoo, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, 2 Swift,
C9 4 Swift, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 fledgling Chaffinch feeding in undergrowth, 1 Dunnock, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 7 Blackbird, 1 Kestrel, 4 Feral Pigeon, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 6 Mallard + 4 duckling, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Coot, 11 Black Headed Gull. 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Blue Tit. 6 Swallow
C6 11 Canada Geese, 8 Mallard, 9 Tufted Duck, 3 Moorhen, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Swift, 2 Swallow, Reed Bunting, 2 Robin, 1 Coot,
C5 Skylark,
C4 Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler.
usual Magpie, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon present throughout walk.

morning stroll 7-50 am---9-40 am

C9 chiffchaff, willow warbler, mistle thrush, blackbird, blackcap,dunnock,robin, approx 10 swallow over road, didn't actually walk round Diggle flash but more swallow could be seen over water with at least 2 house martin,
C8 pheasant, cuckoo another could be heard faintly seemed to come from CN1 direction, reed bunting, reed warbler, grasshopper warbler.
C4 new water 2 greylag geese, reed bunting, reed warbler, great tit, whitethroat.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 20th of May 2013 02:17:46 PM

evening stroll

cuckoo flew from C8 to C7, another male could be heard quite distant in direction of Heron Lodge farm, C8 skylark, reed bunting, meadow pipit, 1 whitethroat, grasshopper warbler heard.
C9 7 swallow, 2 swift, willow warbler, blackbird, mistle thrush, robin, 2 mute swan, 2 tufted duck, mallard, coot, moorhen, reed bunting.

evening stroll !8-00 -- 19-55

C9 1 great crested grebe, 2 tufted duck, 2 mute swan, 6 coot, 8 mallard, 2 reed bunting, 2 grey partridge, 1 whitethroat, 1 chiffchaff, 4 dunnock, 2 great tit, 4 blue tit, 1 wren, 1 robin, 2 mistlethrush, numerous blackbird. about 15 swallow with 2 swift + 3 house martin.
C8 cuckoo flew across C8 being divebombed by a small bird that i think was a meadow pipit, skylark 3, reed bunting 3, meadow pipit 7,Pheasant 1 seen 1 other heard, Buzzard high over C4

-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 08:18:30 PM

10-30 am-- 13-20 pm
C9 4 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, coot, mallard, tufted duck, 2 reed bunting, 1 reed warbler, 4 willow warbler, 1 whitethroat, 1 chiffchaff, robin, 4 blackbird, 2 blue tit, 2 goldfinch. 6 swallow.pheasant, 2 chaffinch.
C8 2 swift, 5 swallow, skylark, meadow pipit, 1 lesser whitethroat, 1 cuckoo trees at bottom of new road then flew over C4,
C6 1 great crested grebe, 1 mute swan, mallard 1 with at least 8 ducklings, coot, 2 tufted duck,
C5 skylark, meadow pipit
C4 buzzard over, 5 reed bunting, 3 reed warbler, 1 whitethroat.
C10 2 reed bunting, 2 reed warbler, 1 grasshopper warbler heard not seen.

10.30 am 13th may good close views of Male cuckoo three times
Also lesser whitethroat near the Tarmac road

late evning stroll
at least 3 cuckoo in the area watched and heard male and female for approx 20mins in C9 and C8 whilst another male could be heard calling from C10, lesser whitetroat on mounds beside tarmac road C9.reed warbler, reed bunting, grasshopper warbler all C10

7.15pm
1M + 1F Cuckoo flew from C4 over C10 together, with female landing on post and male calling from tree further back

good views of cuckoo in C8 this morning, 1 wheatear, 1 swallow, 1 kestrel, 2 whitethroat, skylark, meadow pipit, reed bunting all C8.
C9 whitethroat, reed bunting, reed warbler, willow warbler, mistle thrush, blackbird,robin,blue tit, great tit, greenfinch,2 mute swan, 1 little grebe, 3 great crested grebe,coot, moorhen, tufted duck,mallard.

7-8.30

1 Cuckoo - flew from C4 to C3 and away to C2
2 Wheatear - C1N
1 Grasshopper Warbler - C3
1 pair of Pochard - C4(new water)

Plus usuals

evening stroll 19-00 - 21-30
C9 Diggle Flash + surrounds
4 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, mallard, coot, tufted duck, moorhen, black headed gull.4 reed bunting, 2 reed warbler, 2 whitethroat, willow warbler, 9 swallow + 2 house martin over flash joined a flock of approx 40 swallow flying over heading NWesterly,skylark, meadow pipit,2 wheatear
C8 1 grasshopper warbler seen 1 more heard, skylark, meadow pipit, reed bunting, phesant.2 swallow.
C10, 1 grasshopper warbler seen 2 more heard, meadow pipit, reed bunting, reed warbler.

2 oystercatcher C4 new water, lesser black backed gull, 3 black headed gull. cuckoo calling from top of rucks and also from C8, reed bunting reed warbler, sedge warbler around reed beds.
skylark C8, C6, C5, C9, meadow pipit, C8,C9,C10
Reed Bunting C8,C9,C6,C10,C4. reed Warbler C4,C10,C9, Sedge Warbler C4,C9. 7 house sparrow
Kestrel C8,
C6 Fir Tree flash 6 canada geese, 1 mute swan, coot, mallard, moorhen.
C9 Diggle Flash 2 mute swan, 3 great crested grebe, coot, moorhen, mallard, tufted duck. willow warbler, chiffchaff, chaffinch, goldfinch, mistle thrush, blackbird, robin, wren,blackcap, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, heron over, carrion crow, wood pigeon, magpie.

7-8pm
1 Cuckoo - C4
4 Wheatear - C1N
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling back in its usual area after fire 2 days ago

7-8pm
only walked round Nevisons Flash (C3) and as far as railings to look over C 1N/1S due to amount of bikes over C4
1 Cuckoo - flew from C2 over Nevisons calling over football field towards C5, probably not impressed with fire going on by edge of football field , neither was the Grasshopper Warbler (x2) which had been shifted from its usual spot.
5 Reed Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
4 Willow Warbler
3 Blackcap
1 Whitethroat
5 Wheatear -(3M + 2F) C1N
30+ Swallow milling around C 1N
1 Kestrel
plus usuals

08-30--11-30
C9 diggle flash + surrounds

6 willow warbler, 2 chiffchaff, 1 whitethroat, 2 reed bunting, 2 sedge warbler, 1 reed warbler, 3 goldfinch, 2 chaffinch,2 dunnock, 1 wren,1 kestrel,2 collared dove, numerous blue tit, robin, great tit,blackbird, 2 mute swan, 4 great crested grebe, 1 cormorant, 3 moorhen, mallard, tufted duck, coot, black headed gulls.2 canada geese
C11 sparrowhawk, blackcap,jay.
walk from diggles flash down to crankwood through wooded area and back along concrete road at least 25 willow warbler seen more heard 4 chiffchaff, plenty of blue and great tit, 1 long tailed tit, numerous blackbird and robin. 3 pheasant heard.3 mute swan over.

19.15-21.00
only covered C3 & C4 (new water)
9 Reed Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Cuckoo
3 Whitethroat
5 Willow Warbler
1 Sand Martin
3 Stock Dove
15+ Reed Bunting