BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Gordon Newman said
Fri May 18 4:47 AM, 2012
all the village idiots out tonight! quick walk round top rucks 1 cuckoo and heard Green Woodpecker yaffling in the distance somewhere close to srapyard. Not heard or seen one for over a year here.
dave broome said
Fri May 18 4:26 AM, 2012
Cuckoo calling near Fir Tree Flash this afternoon
Gordon Newman said
Tue May 15 6:12 AM, 2012
Todays highlights: 1 Whinchat, 1 Hobby, 2 Wheatear, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, one which was reeling from top of twig no more than 10ft away from me. Wish I had a camera sometimes!!
Gordon Newman said
Mon May 14 3:59 AM, 2012
10.30 - 12.30 highlights this morning was 2 male + 1 female Cuckoo showing fantastically well around Tinker Joe's Flash with 1 pair in flight together flying over Plank Lane by the Firsway garage at one point, 1 Hobby , 1 male Wheatear and 1 pair of Pochard again on T J Flash which I've not seen hear before.
Gordon Newman said
Sat May 12 12:13 AM, 2012
2 Common Tern over Tinker Joe's flash then flew off towards For Tree flash this morning. Yesterday p.m 12 Reed Warbler , 6 Sedge Warbler , 7 Whitethroat ,1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, plus the usuals. Nice to bump into Bernard yesterday .
Gordon Newman said
Tue May 8 10:25 PM, 2012
19.30 - 20.30 path by Tinker Joe's Flash and below top rucks only 5 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler , 1 Cuckoo, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler . 1 Canada Goose lying on its side in water close to reeds which looked as though it has been shot rather than dying of natural courses.
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Tuesday 8th of May 2012 10:26:58 PM
Gordon Newman said
Thu May 3 4:02 AM, 2012
1 Hobby shot across top rucks in direction of Crankwood chasing a Swift of which there were 20+ at 19.10
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed May 2 6:22 PM, 2012
7-30am-- 10-00am
3 year firsts house martin, lesser whitethroat and grasshopper warbler
2 cuckoo squabbling before 1 flew off in the direction of the old turner bros factory whitetroat, blackcap, 3 wheatear plenty robin and wren, blackbird, mistle thrush, song thrush, starling house sparrow, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, chiffchaff, willow warbler, swallow meadow pipit, skylark, reed bunting, reed warbler magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon, collared dove. 3 mute swan, mallard with 1 young, tufted duck, moorhen, coot with 4 young,great crested grebe.black headed gulls, 2 lesser black backed gulls.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 08:00:14 PM
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Apr 28 6:19 PM, 2012
14-20--17-55 windy
1 cuckoo some good views until it was disturbed by motor bikes 4 swift 3 reed warbler 2 at tinker joes 1 at hh flash 2 wheatear good numbers of chiffchaff and willow warbler blue, great and long tailed tits chaffinch good numbers of swallow 1 pheasant seen plenty heard robin and wren ( seemed to have been far more than usual of both this year) 2 grey partridge 1 kestrel light coloured muscovy duck at fir tree flash ( first seen 3 weeks ago) mute swan tufted duck, mallard,coot, moorhen, great crested grebe all present at both hh flash and ft flash 5 canada geese at f t flash crow, 1 with very white wingtips, magpie, jay, wood pigeon and collared dove. mistle thrush, blackbird. plenty skylark and meadow pipit, 5 reed bunting.
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Saturday 28th of April 2012 06:21:25 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 28th of April 2012 06:36:55 PM
Gordon Newman said
Fri Apr 27 7:11 PM, 2012
1 Cuckoo , 4 Whitethroat, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Swift , 4 Reed Warbler + the usuals 8.15 - 9 - 45. Top Rucks
Gordon Newman said
Tue Apr 24 3:40 AM, 2012
13.00 - 16.00 1 Whitethroat , 3 Reed Warbler , Willow Warbler numbers well down on Friday's visit. Little Grebe and Greylag Goose were 2 new species for my site list. full list: Mute Swan 4 Mallard Pheasant 2 Great Crested Grebe 3 Kestrel 2 Coot Lesser Black-backed Gull 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Swallow 5 Dunnock Blackbird Blackcap 4 Chiffchaff 6 Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Carrion Crow Goldfinch Greylag Goose 3 Tufted Duck 15 Little Grebe 1 Buzzard 1 Moorhen 1 Black-headed Gull Woodpigeon Skylark Wren Robin Reed Warbler 3 Whitethroat 1 Willow Warbler Blue Tit Magpie Starling 2 Reed Bunting
Gordon Newman said
Fri Apr 20 5:13 PM, 2012
9 - 10 quick fire hour before work round top rucks and path to and from Common Lane.
3 Reed Warbler - 2 on Tinker Joe's Flash the other in ditch near top rucks 1 Cuckoo heard calling in distance from Crankwood direction Willow Warbler numbers up again from my last post plus the usuals
Mallard Pheasant 1 Water Rail 1 heard in ditch between Fir Tree Flash and top rucks Lapwing 2 Woodpigeon Skylark Wren Blackbird Blackcap 1 path by Tinker Joe's Flash Willow Warbler 1 close to Shuttle Hillock Road at it's closest point to top rucks Great Tit Magpie Chaffinch Lesser Redpoll 4 Grey Partridge 2 Cormorant 1 Coot Black-headed Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 top rucks Meadow Pipit Robin Mistle Thrush 1 Chiffchaff 6 3 by TJ Flash, 1 top rucks, 2 S H Road Blue Tit Jay Carrion Crow Goldfinch Reed Bunting
Gordon Newman said
Mon Mar 26 7:33 PM, 2012
10.30 - 11.30 glorious weather.
3 Chiffchaff - singing + 1 male Blackcap - singing on path by Tinker Joe's Flash plus the usuals
Gordon Newman said
Sat Mar 17 1:14 PM, 2012
10 - 12 good 2 hours this morning :
Mallard Cormorant 1 Kestrel 2 Moorhen Woodcock 1 flushed by dogs just of path overlooking Crankwood Woodpigeon Skylark Wren Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Magpie Chaffinch Linnet Grey Partridge 2 Buzzard 1 Water Rail 1 heard on two occasions over 20 min period on Tinker Joe's Flash Coot 3 Black-headed Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Meadow Pipit Robin Chiffchaff 2 heard one singing from bush on brow of rucks overlooking Plank Lane bridge but when I located it I was surprised to see 2 together.
Blue Tit Jay 1 Carrion Crow Goldfinch Reed Bunting 12 (7 in and around the area of Tinker Joe's Flash)
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Saturday 17th of March 2012 01:16:46 PM
Gordon Newman said
Sat Mar 17 4:49 AM, 2012
7.30 - 8.45 walk round top rucks and path to and from Plank Lane only,very pleasant in the sun, very chilly under the cloud cover.
Mallard Grey Heron 1 Lapwing 2 Woodpigeon Meadow Pipit Dunnock Blackbird Blue Tit Willow Tit 1 singing for 15 mins on top rucks, from top of tree until cloud descended
Magpie Carrion Crow seemed a lot about this morning Goldfinch Reed Bunting 4 1 pair possibly 2 on territory on Tinker Joe's Flash Tufted Duck 2 Coot 2 Black-headed Gull Skylark Wren Robin Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Jay 1 Jackdaw Chaffinch Linnet
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Mar 14 12:01 AM, 2012
9-20-- 12-50
plenty of nest building activity this morning Magpies seemed to be squabbling about construction one placed a twig on partly built nest it's mate moved it so first bird moved it back before loud vocal fall out, long tailed tit, robin, wren and chaffinch all seen carrying nesting material 2 small goldfinch flocks blackbird wood pigeon, carrion crow, collared dove, starling and house sparrows all in good numbers close to road. plenty of meadow pipit, skylark and reed bunting in old corn fields with 2 lapwing overhead. Fir Tree Flash 2 canada geese, 2 pochard,4 moorhen, mallard, tufted duck, coot 4 great crested grebe. Higher Hall Flash 3 Mute swan, great crested grebe,coot, moorhen,mallard, black headed gulls, 1 common gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, tufted ducks, 2 gadwall present yesterday but no sign today. no sign of fieldfare last two days may have moved on.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Mar 11 11:00 PM, 2012
11-40 till 15-10
plenty of blackbird, robin and wren throughout walk 2 coal tit amongst flock of great tit blue tit, long tailed tit, chaffinch starling, house sparrow and collared dove all close to main road ( Bickershaw Lane) 2 jay, plenty of magpie, crow and wood pigeon 2 Great spotted woodpecker 1m 1f about 500yds apart mistle thrush Pheasant Buzzard kestrel plenty of skylark and meadow pipit, 3 reed bunting dunnock Higher Hall Flash 3 mute swan, 2 canada geese, 1 lesser black backed gull, great crested grebe, plenty of coot and tufted duck, moorhen and mallard, black headed gull 5 fieldfare, a flock of around 20 has been knocking around all week.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Mar 1 4:35 AM, 2012
10-55 til 14-35
plenty wren and robin throughout walk 4 mistlethrush 2 jay plenty chaffinch 8 goldfinch plenty long tailed tit 7 dunnock flock of about 20 fieldfare seen 3 times during course of walk presumably same flock each time plenty blackbird 2 great spotted woodpecker loads of meadow pipit and skylark all over course of walk but especially in old corn fields on Bickershaw side plenty of Reed bunting in this field also. lots of crow, magpie and wood pigeon collared dove blue and great tit 6 pink footed geese over East Leigh at 13-40pm 3 canada geese on fir tree flash with mallard, coot, moorhen, tufted duck and great crested grebe. 2 cormorant over hh flash swans, coot, mallard, moorhen,black headed gull, coot, tufted duck with great crested grebe doing courtship dance. 2 kestrel
Gordon Newman said
Tue Feb 28 3:03 AM, 2012
9.20 - 12.30 overcast, gentle breeze, Sylark everywhere today also plenty of Robin singing. full list as follows:
Canada Goose 4 Gadwall 4 2 pairs on tinker joe's flash Mallard Tufted Duck 3 1 male 2 female on tinker joe's flash Grey Partridge 1 Kestrel 1 Coot Redshank 1 heard calling only Black-headed Gull Herring Gull 1 Stock Dove 2 Woodpigeon Skylark ( far too many to count , constant sining over whole area) Meadow Pipit Robin Blackbird Mistle Thrush 1 Long-tailed Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Jay Magpie Jackdaw Carrion Crow Goldfinch Reed Bunting 3
Gordon Newman said
Fri Feb 3 11:28 PM, 2012
10.45 - 14.00 very pleasant walk in the sunshine , very quiet ,birds noted:
Mute Swan 3 H H F Tufted Duck 20+ H H F
Water Rail 1 stood at bottom of top rucks by ditch where road ends for 10 mins when a sudden scream gave away its exsistence without showing itself,I was there for another 15 mins but didn't hear it again.
Coot Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 H H F Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Wren Fieldfare 3 Blue Tit Magpie Carrion Crow Goldfinch Mallard Cormorant 1 Moorhen 1 Black-headed Gull 150+ H H F Woodpigeon
Meadow Pipit 20+ in grass by H H F at bottom of steps from car park, all together.
Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Jackdaw Chaffinch Linnet
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Feb 1 12:50 AM, 2012
11-50--15-40
Buzzard kestrel 3 jay. plenty crow, magpie and wood pigeon collared dove 1 redwing in trees around fir tree flash, 8 goldfinch, 5 bullfinch 3m, 2f, 6 chaffinch, 2 greenfinch + numerous great tit and 2 blue tit Fir Tree flash 2 swan, 23 mallard including 1 white farmyard type, 6 coot, 2 tufted duck Higher Hall flash c40 tufted duck, c30 coot, 8 mallard, 6 moorhen, c 60 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed, 2 cormorant over. trees behind scrap yards plenty blackbird, chaffinch + great tit. 2 foxes
Gordon Newman said
Mon Jan 23 11:15 PM, 2012
12.45 - 15.00 windy, sunny, one heavy shower to begin with, good visabillity. a couple of surprises this afternoon but not to be unexpected,firstly the dogs flushed a Woodcock just of the path on top rucks which flew off in the direction of Crankwood. A Goldcrest on path back to Common Lane had me checking it closley in case of it being a Firecrest. Other birds noted were: Mute Swan 2 Cormorant 3 Kestrel 1 Woodcock 1 Woodpigeon Meadow Pipit Blackbird Redwing 1 Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Magpie Chaffinch Linnet Grey Partridge 8 Buzzard 1 Coot Black-headed Gull Robin Fieldfare 18 Goldcrest 1 Blue Tit Jay 3 Carrion Crow Goldfinch
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 23rd of January 2012 11:26:35 PM
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Jan 19 1:53 AM, 2012
12-10--16-05
plenty of activity in trees behind scrap yards mainly great and long tailed tit plenty blackbird,also bullfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, blue tit, robin, wren, dunnock, magpie, crow,collared dove and wood pigeon. 21 lapwing over 1 cormorant over 1 kestrel 2 snipe 4 skylark 4 grey partridge c20 linnet higher hall flash 5 pochard been here since monday 40+ coot 30+ tufted duck 6 moorhen c20 mallard c60 black headed gull + 1 lesser black backed gull 3 swan 1 great crested grebe gadwall seem to have moved on, 20+ overwintered last year but most i have seen this time is 4 none since 10/1/12 fir tree flash pretty quiet 2 swan with 2 more flying over threatening to land then flying off towards pennington 6 coot, 20+ mallard, 1 moorhen plenty of great and long tailed tit in trees around flash and also in trees at bottom of new road.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Jan 15 3:55 PM, 2012
11-40-- 14-50
Higher Hall Flash 2 wigeon 1m+1f, coot, tufted duck, mallard, great crested grebe, 1 lesser black backed gull, black headed gulls, moorhen, swans, 1 cormorant over.
wren robin blackbird house sparrow starling great tit blue tit covey 7 grey partridge 2 kestrel 1m, 1 f plenty of linnet feeding in fieds 1 snipe 2 song thrush collared dove + wood pigeon crow + magpie
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Jan 10 5:04 PM, 2012
10-40am-- 3-50pm
plenty of robins (11) most seemed to be paired up 14 blackbird 2 chaffinch amongst 7 bullfinch dunnock flock of 30+ linnet in fields at bottom of new road plenty of great, blue and long tailed tit throughout walk goldfinch flocks of 8 and 23 a Raven flew over at 11-14am heading in general direction of Pennington flash flock of c80 starling in trees to side of Edna Road club along with sparrows and tits magpie, crow, collared dove and wood pigeon all in good numbers 1 heron 3 cormorant reed bunting skylark kestrel 2 jay 2 common snipe fieldfare flock of 40+ fir tree flash 2 pochard, 2 swan, great crested grebe, mallard, coot, tufted duck, moorhen, black headed gull Higher Hall flash all same birds as fir tree -pochard but with gadwall and lesser black backed gull
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Jan 9 10:44 PM, 2012
14-15--17-10
wren 6 robin 12 blackbird plenty of activity in trees behind scrapyards, flocks of long tailed tit, great tit, blue tit,single coal tit, 9 bullfinch, 6f 3 m, 8 goldfinch. trees at bottom of new road flock of long tailed tit 3 yellowhammer in trees behind weed choked pond. plenty of wood pigeon and magpie, 2 crow 4 collared dove 4 canada geese over heading in direction of pennington flash 2 swan over and landing on fir tree flash 1 kestrel 1 sparrowhawk higher hall flash mallard,3 swan, 3 great crested grebe, coot, tufted duck, black headed gull, 1 gadwall.
Gordon Newman said
Sun Jan 8 5:48 PM, 2012
13.45 - 17.00 all the usuals: Mute Swan Tufted Duck Cormorant Kestrel 1 Lapwing 50+ flying towards Penny Flash about 4ish Lesser Black-backed Gull Woodpigeon Blackbird Mistle Thrush Blue Tit Magpie Chaffinch Linnet Mallard Great Crested Grebe 3 Buzzard 1 Coot Black-headed Gull Great Black-backed Gull 1 Meadow Pipit Fieldfare Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Carrion Crow Goldfinch
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Jan 8 2:39 PM, 2012
10-10am--1-35pm constant drizzle 9 blackbird 3 robin small flock long tailed tit plenty of great and blue tit with a single coal tit dunnock wren 8 siskin in trees near Edna Road labour club playground goldfinch magpie, collared dove, wood pigeon, crow. kestrel 1 common gull in flooded area near bottom of rucks on leigh side. fir tree flash 4 pochard mixed in with tufted ducks mallard including 1 white farmyard type coot, moorhen, black headed gull, 2 swan, great crested grebe higher hall flash tufted duck,coot, moorhen, 3 swan, 2 great crested grebe,mallard, 1 heron, 1 cormorant, black headed gulls, 1 lesser black backed and 1 herring gull. 21 fieldfare in trees at bottom of new road c30 starling in trees at top of new road.
Gordon Newman said
Sat Jan 7 8:26 PM, 2012
8.30 - 10.45
Only other bird of note to add to Bernards list was 3 Shelduck on flash below top Rucks on Leigh side which if we have too much more rain will become part of fir tree flash
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Jan 7 7:39 PM, 2012
14-20-- 17-15 pretty quiet
1 kestrel 2 blackbird 1 wren small flock great tits with a single blue tit small flock long tailed tit 4 goldfinch wood pigeon, magpie, crow, collared dove 2 cormorant flying over a single pink footed goose over at 14-47 fir tree flash very little on open water 2 swan and a few mallard plenty of mallard + coot and a few moorhen in reeds beside path leading from Edna Road labour club towards Bickershaw Higher Hall flash was dark by the time i walked round flash so gulls had gone back to roost at pennington swans, coot, mallard, tufted duck, great crested grebe and moorhen were all identifiable but couldn't make out anything else. plenty of gulls overhead presumably making their way back to roost at pennington, mainly black headed but did see 2 herring gull a few lesser black backed and a single great black backed, 3rd time this week i have seen a single over presumably same bird, don't know where it's spending it's time. Thursday afternoon falconers flying a goshawk, my dog Charlie didn't know what to make of it when goshawk flew past quite low with bells jangling. monday different falconers flying a pair of Harris Hawks.
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Jan 6 8:31 PM, 2012
13-35--16-30 been very quiet all week
6 blackbird 3 robin small flock goldfinch c50 starling in trees near haulage yard on smiths lane small flock great tits with 3 blue tit 5 fieldfare first i have seen over here since boxing day 8 bullfinch feeding on floor near scrapyards 5m-3fm c60 pink footed geese over at 15-56 higher hall flash coot, tufted duck, mallard, gadwall, moorhen, swan,great crested grebe, lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, with a single great black backed gull over. magpie, crow, wood pigeon + collared dove.
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Friday 6th of January 2012 08:33:05 PM
Gordon Newman said
Fri Jan 6 4:07 PM, 2012
10.40 - 12.30 Been fairly quiet of late, nice to be wind free today, usual birds noted:
Cormorant 4 Buzzard 1 Coot Woodpigeon Wren Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Magpie Starling Linnet Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 2 Black-headed Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Blackbird Blue Tit Jay Carrion Crow Goldfinch
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Jan 1 9:45 PM, 2012
12-00 till 4-00pm first 2 hours in very heavy rain seeing only magpies, collared dove 2 blackbird and 3 wood pigeon, about 2ish weather picked up a bit 2 goldfinch flocks 6+ 15 robin great tit 2 flocks long tailed tit flock of c40 starling in trees near new road 1 mistle thrush 1 buzzard 2 crow fir tree flash 1 heron, 1 cormorant, 36 mallard including 1 white farmyard type, 8 coot, 6 tufted duck, 4 moorhen, 1 herring gull with black headed gulls.1 great crested grebe higher hall flash c40 coot, c40 tufted duck, 12 mallard, 6 moorhen, 3 swan, 2 great crested grebe, 2 gadwall, 1 heron, 1 lesser black backed gull with black headed gulls. 2 wigeon ( 1m+1f) on yesterday but no sign of them today. hundreds of gulls heading towards pennington flash mainly black headed but did see 5 lesser black backed and 1 massive greater black backed. did see coal tit and blue tit on my back garden feeders( didn't see on walk) + great tit, house sparrow, robin, starling, blackbird and collared dove that i did also see on walk. at 2-37 near bottom of new road also saw a stoat.
Gordon Newman said
Sat Dec 31 3:03 PM, 2011
10.30 - 13.45 very heavy drizzle brightened up with some sun, not for long though, and retuned cloudy an dull. usual birds seen with plenty of Goldfinch , Blue, Great and LT Tits. Full list as follows:
Pink-footed Goose 100+ flying towards Bickershaw Buzzard 1 Lapwing 12 Black-headed Gull Woodpigeon Meadow Pipit Wren Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Magpie Goldfinch Mallard 20+ Coot Snipe 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 close to scrap yard Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) Robin Fieldfare Blue Tit Jay 4 Carrion Crow
A strange incident happened when some ballons appeared from Penny Flash direction and a helecopter flying towards them landed in the long grass while balloons passed by, then took off again, must of thought they were a ufo
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Dec 29 5:55 PM, 2011
12-10 till 15-05 very windy with heavy showers
plenty of bullfinch spotted them in 4 different spots, pretty even mix of m+ f 14 birds in total. 5 blackbird 4 redwing 2 robin flock of c30 long tailed tit tit flock with 12 great tit, 2 blue tit and 2 siskin 2 cormorant flying over 7 goldfinch higher hall flash c40 coot c30 tufted duck 9 mallard 3 moorhen 3 swan 4 gadwall 1 lesser black backed gull c 80 black headed gull 3 great crested grebe, first time in about 6 weeks i have seen the male, the female and juvenile i have seen every day.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Dec 25 6:42 PM, 2011
Pleasant stroll 10-45-- 1-20
5 blackbird 1 wren plenty of great tit, with a few blue tit goldfinch 6 bullfinch plenty of long tailed tit 1 mistle thrush singing from top of crane jib in scrapyards wood pigeon, collared dove, crow and magpie. Higher Hall Flash c 200 gulls mainly black headed but did spot a couple of common gulls, 1 herring gull and at least 3 lesser black backed. 20+ tufted duck 40+ coot 1 heron several mallard 3 swan 2 great crested grebe 3 moorhen 1 cormorant 1 gadwall didn't see any sign of the 2 wigeon that were here yesterday and only saw 1 gadwall,
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Dec 24 8:19 PM, 2011
very quiet bird wise this afternoon
1 buzzard 5 goldfinch 3 great tit 6 blackbird 3 wren numerous magpie, wood pigeon and crow Higher Hall Flash 2 wigeon 1m, 1f 4 gadwall 1 heron 1 great crested grebe 3 moorhen 3 swan 20+ tufted duck 20+ coot c100 black headed gull 2 lesser black backed gull Fir Tree flash very little on open water 2 swan, 3 coot,4 mallard, 1 tufted duck. in reeds beside path heading from Edna Rd labour club towards Bickershaw about 20 mallard, 8 coot and 3 moorhen. Have a good Christmas everyone.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Dec 20 7:50 PM, 2011
11-30am-- 4-40pm
Higher Hall Flash 3 swan, 2 great crested grebe, 1 heron, 1 cormorant, 3 moorhen, 4 gadwall, 20+ tufted duck, 40+ coot, 30+ black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull,7 mallard. Fir Tree Flash 8 mallard, 1 tufted duck, 14 coot, 2 swan, 2 heron. 1 great crested grebe.
collared dove, wood pigeon, magpie, jay, crow, 1 buzzard, 1 kestrel. 20+ blackbird, 1 mistle thrush, 1 song thrush fieldfare flocks of 27,5,3, and a single 1 very few small birds a couple of tit flocks mainly great tit and blue tit a single long tailed tit, 3 goldfinch, 1 robin, 2 bullfinch 1 m 1 f,
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Dec 18 7:42 PM, 2011
pleasant walking weather cold but dry 1-30pm--- 4-30pm
Higher Hall Flash 3 swan. 1 shoveler 4 gadwall 4 lesser black backed gull 2 heron 3 moorhen 30+ coot 40+ black headed gull 20+ tufted duck 8 mallard very few small birds only saw 2 great tit and 1 wren plenty blackbirds 3 flocks of fieldfare 12, 14 and 20+ the flock of 14 fieldfare were feeding on berries along with 3 blackbird,2 redwing and 2 mistle thrush saw another 2 mistle thrush and 1 song thrush during walk 1 jay + magpies, crow and wood pigeon 1 buzzard 1 kestrel
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Dec 15 3:34 PM, 2011
nice walk 11-00am-- 2-00pm
at least 40 blackbird during the length of my walk, the rain had stopped just before i set out and the blackbirds were making the most of it with plenty of worms. plenty of activity in trees beside road from hh flash down to plank lane with long tailed tit, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, 3 female bullfinch, 4 lesser redpoll, linnet, goldfinch, robin, wren, dunnock and 2 reed bunting. 2 jay wood pigeon crow magpie buzzard kestrel Higher Hall Flash coot,mallard, 3 swan, great crested grebe, moorhen, heron,tufted duck, 1 lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, gadwall and i managed to see the little grebe that has successfully managed to avoid me for the best part of 12 months.
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Dec 12 10:20 PM, 2011
saw the owl again at 4-15pm still only got a brief sighting in poor light but i am leaning towards short eared. higher hall flash 3 swan, 25+coot, 30+ black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed, 2 moorhen, 6 mallard, 2 great crested grebe,12 tufted duck, 2 gadwall. 1 cormorant over fir tree flash 4 tufted duck, 6 mallard, 2 swan, 2 moorhen, 4 coot, 1 great crested grebe, c80 starling over Edna Road Labour Club. flock 29 fieldfare 2 robin 1 kestrel 14 blackbird seen with at least 6 more heard 1 kestrel 4 crow 1 wood pigeon c 50 magpie pre roost at bottom of new road 23 canada geese heading towards Abram at 4-30, seen them around same time all last week varying from minimum of 15 up to 23 today.
Gordon Newman said
Sun Dec 11 1:23 PM, 2011
9.00 - 11.15 calm, torrential rain,
Mute Swan Shoveler 2 H H flash Goldeneye 1 H H flash Grey Heron 1 Coot Black-headed Gull Herring Gull 1 Meadow Pipit Fieldfare 15 Blue Tit Mallard Tufted Duck Great Crested Grebe 2 Moorhen Snipe 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 4 Woodpigeon Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Magpie
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat Dec 10 8:28 PM, 2011
Managed a couple of hours before dark and reasonably dry just a couple of lightish showers. kestrel long tailed tit flock with 1 coal tit and great tits plenty blackbirds flock of 30+ fieldfare 2 goldfinch + dunnock feeding on side of path at 4-15 pm in dim light an owl flew low over the field, from the brief sighting i got i think either a short eared or long eared owl but with the sighting i got my id skills are not good enough to say which. higher hall flash 3 swan 2 great crested grebe 21 tufted duck 12 mallard 3 moorhen c30 coot c50 black headed gulls
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Dec 4 3:28 PM, 2011
11-37 - 14-50 walk with dogs in changeable weather, changed from raining hard to raining very hard to raining very, very hard
wren, robin,chaffinch, long tailed tit, 1 house sparrow ( don't usually see sparrows over fields here) numerous blackbird and magpie,flock of about 50 fieldfare near Herons lodge farm, 3 redwing feeding in pouring rain, crow,
higher hall flash,20+ coot, 3 swan, 2 great crested grebe, 1 mallard, 3moorhen, 1 lesser black backed gull, numerous black headed gulls, 1 cormorant over, 27 lapwing over, strangely didn't see any tufted duck and only a single mallard,
typical since i got home and dried off the rain has stopped.
dave broome said
Fri Dec 2 9:21 PM, 2011
12:00-12:30 today, from Smiths Lane a dark, clean brown Common Buzzard hunting the fields between the access road and Diggle Flash 17 Meadow Pipits mobbed a passing Sparrowhawk
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Dec 1 7:45 PM, 2011
11-30am-- 3-10pm
plenty of raptors started the day with a sparrowhawk in my back garden on Bickershaw Lane marsh harrier seen at 11-50 quartering field behind Bickershaw school with legs dangling, and at 14-21 over field before being dive bombed by kestrel and flying off towards Hindley Green. Buzzard kestrel peregrine falcon. 11 blackbird 5 jay wren robin chaffinch good flock of mixed tits, long tailed, great tit and blue tit cormorant flying over great spotted woodpecker mistlethrush numerous goldfinch 3 woodpigeon magpie, crow and collared dove skylark higher hall flash tufted duck coot 3 swan 2 great crested grebe 2 moorhen black headed gull fir tree flash all same as water fowl hh flash plus mallards
Darren carr said
Wed Nov 30 10:26 AM, 2011
Marsh harrier hovering close to the main road near beacon rd Bikky lane. Spotted whilst driving the #658 bus Thats what u call a brucie bonus Sighting at 10.20 am
Gordon Newman said
Mon Nov 28 12:04 PM, 2011
Marsh Harrier over Bolton Old Road being mobbed by Kestrel at 12.00
1 Whinchat, 1 Hobby, 2 Wheatear, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, one which was reeling from top of twig no more than 10ft away from me. Wish I had a camera sometimes!!
highlights this morning was 2 male + 1 female Cuckoo showing fantastically well around Tinker Joe's Flash with 1 pair in flight together flying over Plank Lane by the Firsway garage at one point, 1 Hobby , 1 male Wheatear and 1 pair of Pochard again on T J Flash which I've not seen hear before.
path by Tinker Joe's Flash and below top rucks only
5 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler , 1 Cuckoo, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler .
1 Canada Goose lying on its side in water close to reeds which looked as though it has been shot rather than dying of natural courses.
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Tuesday 8th of May 2012 10:26:58 PM
3 year firsts house martin, lesser whitethroat and grasshopper warbler
2 cuckoo squabbling before 1 flew off in the direction of the old turner bros factory
whitetroat, blackcap, 3 wheatear plenty robin and wren,
blackbird, mistle thrush, song thrush, starling
house sparrow, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit,
chiffchaff, willow warbler, swallow
meadow pipit, skylark, reed bunting, reed warbler
magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon, collared dove.
3 mute swan, mallard with 1 young, tufted duck, moorhen, coot with 4 young,great crested grebe.black headed gulls, 2 lesser black backed gulls.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 08:00:14 PM
1 cuckoo some good views until it was disturbed by motor bikes
4 swift
3 reed warbler 2 at tinker joes 1 at hh flash
2 wheatear
good numbers of chiffchaff and willow warbler
blue, great and long tailed tits
chaffinch
good numbers of swallow
1 pheasant seen plenty heard
robin and wren ( seemed to have been far more than usual of both this year)
2 grey partridge
1 kestrel
light coloured muscovy duck at fir tree flash ( first seen 3 weeks ago)
mute swan
tufted duck, mallard,coot, moorhen, great crested grebe all present at both hh flash and ft flash
5 canada geese at f t flash
crow, 1 with very white wingtips, magpie, jay, wood pigeon and collared dove.
mistle thrush, blackbird. plenty skylark and meadow pipit, 5 reed bunting.
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Saturday 28th of April 2012 06:21:25 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 28th of April 2012 06:36:55 PM
1 Whitethroat , 3 Reed Warbler , Willow Warbler numbers well down on Friday's visit.
Little Grebe and Greylag Goose were 2 new species for my site list.
full list:
Mute Swan 4
Mallard
Pheasant 2
Great Crested Grebe 3
Kestrel 2
Coot
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Swallow 5
Dunnock
Blackbird
Blackcap 4
Chiffchaff 6
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Greylag Goose 3
Tufted Duck 15
Little Grebe 1
Buzzard 1
Moorhen 1
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Wren
Robin
Reed Warbler 3
Whitethroat 1
Willow Warbler
Blue Tit
Magpie
Starling 2
Reed Bunting
quick fire hour before work round top rucks and path to and from Common Lane.
3 Reed Warbler - 2 on Tinker Joe's Flash the other in ditch near top rucks
1 Cuckoo heard calling in distance from Crankwood direction
Willow Warbler numbers up again from my last post
plus the usuals
plenty of Wilow Warbler 30+ otherwise fairly quiet:
Mallard
Pheasant 6
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Blackbird
Blackcap 2
Willow Warbler 30+
Blue Tit
Jay
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Reed Bunting
Grey Partridge 2
Coot
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Swallow 2
Wren
Robin
Mistle Thrush 1
Chiffchaff 4
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Chaffinch
Linnet
birds noted:
Mallard
Pheasant 1
Water Rail 1 heard in ditch between Fir Tree Flash and top rucks
Lapwing 2
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Wren
Blackbird
Blackcap 1 path by Tinker Joe's Flash
Willow Warbler 1 close to Shuttle Hillock Road at it's closest point to top rucks
Great Tit
Magpie
Chaffinch
Lesser Redpoll 4
Grey Partridge 2
Cormorant 1
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 top rucks
Meadow Pipit
Robin
Mistle Thrush 1
Chiffchaff 6 3 by TJ Flash, 1 top rucks, 2 S H Road
Blue Tit
Jay
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Reed Bunting
glorious weather.
3 Chiffchaff - singing + 1 male Blackcap - singing on path by Tinker Joe's Flash plus the usuals
good 2 hours this morning :
Mallard
Cormorant 1
Kestrel 2
Moorhen
Woodcock 1 flushed by dogs just of path overlooking Crankwood
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Wren
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Chaffinch
Linnet
Grey Partridge 2
Buzzard 1
Water Rail 1 heard on two occasions over 20 min period on Tinker Joe's Flash
Coot 3
Black-headed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Meadow Pipit
Robin
Chiffchaff 2 heard one singing from bush on brow of rucks overlooking Plank Lane bridge but when I located it I was surprised to see 2 together.
Blue Tit
Jay 1
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Reed Bunting 12 (7 in and around the area of Tinker Joe's Flash)
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Saturday 17th of March 2012 01:16:46 PM
walk round top rucks and path to and from Plank Lane only,very pleasant in the sun, very chilly under the cloud cover.
Mallard
Grey Heron 1
Lapwing 2
Woodpigeon
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Willow Tit 1 singing for 15 mins on top rucks, from top of tree until cloud descended
Magpie
Carrion Crow seemed a lot about this morning
Goldfinch
Reed Bunting 4 1 pair possibly 2 on territory on Tinker Joe's Flash
Tufted Duck 2
Coot 2
Black-headed Gull
Skylark
Wren
Robin
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Jay 1
Jackdaw
Chaffinch
Linnet
plenty of nest building activity this morning Magpies seemed to be squabbling about construction one placed a twig on partly built nest it's mate moved it so first bird moved it back before loud vocal fall out,
long tailed tit, robin, wren and chaffinch all seen carrying nesting material
2 small goldfinch flocks
blackbird
wood pigeon, carrion crow, collared dove, starling and house sparrows all in good numbers close to road.
plenty of meadow pipit, skylark and reed bunting in old corn fields with 2 lapwing overhead.
Fir Tree Flash
2 canada geese, 2 pochard,4 moorhen, mallard, tufted duck, coot 4 great crested grebe.
Higher Hall Flash
3 Mute swan, great crested grebe,coot, moorhen,mallard, black headed gulls, 1 common gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, tufted ducks,
2 gadwall present yesterday but no sign today.
no sign of fieldfare last two days may have moved on.
plenty of blackbird, robin and wren throughout walk
2 coal tit amongst flock of great tit
blue tit, long tailed tit, chaffinch
starling, house sparrow and collared dove all close to main road ( Bickershaw Lane)
2 jay, plenty of magpie, crow and wood pigeon
2 Great spotted woodpecker 1m 1f about 500yds apart
mistle thrush
Pheasant
Buzzard
kestrel
plenty of skylark and meadow pipit, 3 reed bunting
dunnock
Higher Hall Flash
3 mute swan, 2 canada geese, 1 lesser black backed gull, great crested grebe, plenty of coot and tufted duck, moorhen and mallard, black headed gull
5 fieldfare, a flock of around 20 has been knocking around all week.
plenty wren and robin throughout walk
4 mistlethrush
2 jay
plenty chaffinch
8 goldfinch
plenty long tailed tit
7 dunnock
flock of about 20 fieldfare seen 3 times during course of walk presumably same flock each time
plenty blackbird
2 great spotted woodpecker
loads of meadow pipit and skylark all over course of walk but especially in old corn fields on Bickershaw side plenty of Reed bunting in this field also.
lots of crow, magpie and wood pigeon
collared dove
blue and great tit
6 pink footed geese over East Leigh at 13-40pm
3 canada geese on fir tree flash with mallard, coot, moorhen, tufted duck and great crested grebe. 2 cormorant over
hh flash
swans, coot, mallard, moorhen,black headed gull, coot, tufted duck with great crested grebe doing courtship dance.
2 kestrel
overcast, gentle breeze,
Sylark everywhere today also plenty of Robin singing.
full list as follows:
Canada Goose 4
Gadwall 4 2 pairs on tinker joe's flash
Mallard
Tufted Duck 3 1 male 2 female on tinker joe's flash
Grey Partridge 1
Kestrel 1
Coot
Redshank 1 heard calling only
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull 1
Stock Dove 2
Woodpigeon
Skylark ( far too many to count , constant sining over whole area)
Meadow Pipit
Robin
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush 1
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Reed Bunting 3
very pleasant walk in the sunshine , very quiet ,birds noted:
Mute Swan 3 H H F
Tufted Duck 20+ H H F
Water Rail 1 stood at bottom of top rucks by ditch where road ends for 10 mins when a sudden scream gave away its exsistence without showing itself,I was there for another 15 mins but didn't hear it again.
Coot
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 H H F
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Wren
Fieldfare 3
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Mallard
Cormorant 1
Moorhen 1
Black-headed Gull 150+ H H F
Woodpigeon
Meadow Pipit 20+ in grass by H H F at bottom of steps from car park, all together.
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Jackdaw
Chaffinch
Linnet
Buzzard
kestrel
3 jay. plenty crow, magpie and wood pigeon
collared dove
1 redwing
in trees around fir tree flash, 8 goldfinch, 5 bullfinch 3m, 2f, 6 chaffinch, 2 greenfinch + numerous great tit and 2 blue tit
Fir Tree flash 2 swan, 23 mallard including 1 white farmyard type, 6 coot, 2 tufted duck
Higher Hall flash
c40 tufted duck, c30 coot, 8 mallard, 6 moorhen, c 60 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed, 2 cormorant over.
trees behind scrap yards plenty blackbird, chaffinch + great tit.
2 foxes
windy, sunny, one heavy shower to begin with, good visabillity.
a couple of surprises this afternoon but not to be unexpected,firstly the dogs flushed a Woodcock just of the path on top rucks which flew off in the direction of Crankwood. A Goldcrest on path back to Common Lane had me checking it closley in case of it being a Firecrest.
Other birds noted were:
Mute Swan 2
Cormorant 3
Kestrel 1
Woodcock 1
Woodpigeon
Meadow Pipit
Blackbird
Redwing 1
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Chaffinch
Linnet
Grey Partridge 8
Buzzard 1
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Robin
Fieldfare 18
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit
Jay 3
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 23rd of January 2012 11:26:35 PM
plenty of activity in trees behind scrap yards mainly great and long tailed tit plenty blackbird,also bullfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, blue tit, robin, wren, dunnock, magpie, crow,collared dove and wood pigeon.
21 lapwing over
1 cormorant over
1 kestrel
2 snipe
4 skylark
4 grey partridge
c20 linnet
higher hall flash
5 pochard been here since monday
40+ coot
30+ tufted duck
6 moorhen
c20 mallard
c60 black headed gull + 1 lesser black backed gull
3 swan
1 great crested grebe
gadwall seem to have moved on, 20+ overwintered last year but most i have seen this time is 4 none since 10/1/12
fir tree flash pretty quiet
2 swan with 2 more flying over threatening to land then flying off towards pennington
6 coot, 20+ mallard, 1 moorhen
plenty of great and long tailed tit in trees around flash and also in trees at bottom of new road.
Higher Hall Flash
2 wigeon 1m+1f, coot, tufted duck, mallard, great crested grebe, 1 lesser black backed gull, black headed gulls, moorhen, swans, 1 cormorant over.
wren
robin
blackbird
house sparrow
starling
great tit
blue tit
covey 7 grey partridge
2 kestrel 1m, 1 f
plenty of linnet feeding in fieds
1 snipe
2 song thrush
collared dove + wood pigeon
crow + magpie
plenty of robins (11) most seemed to be paired up
14 blackbird
2 chaffinch amongst 7 bullfinch
dunnock
flock of 30+ linnet in fields at bottom of new road
plenty of great, blue and long tailed tit throughout walk
goldfinch flocks of 8 and 23
a Raven flew over at 11-14am heading in general direction of Pennington flash
flock of c80 starling in trees to side of Edna Road club along with sparrows and tits
magpie, crow, collared dove and wood pigeon all in good numbers
1 heron
3 cormorant
reed bunting
skylark
kestrel
2 jay
2 common snipe
fieldfare flock of 40+
fir tree flash
2 pochard, 2 swan, great crested grebe, mallard, coot, tufted duck, moorhen, black headed gull
Higher Hall flash
all same birds as fir tree -pochard but with gadwall and lesser black backed gull
wren
6 robin
12 blackbird
plenty of activity in trees behind scrapyards, flocks of long tailed tit, great tit, blue tit,single coal tit, 9 bullfinch, 6f 3 m, 8 goldfinch.
trees at bottom of new road flock of long tailed tit
3 yellowhammer in trees behind weed choked pond.
plenty of wood pigeon and magpie, 2 crow 4 collared dove
4 canada geese over heading in direction of pennington flash
2 swan over and landing on fir tree flash
1 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk
higher hall flash
mallard,3 swan, 3 great crested grebe, coot, tufted duck, black headed gull, 1 gadwall.
all the usuals:
Mute Swan
Tufted Duck
Cormorant
Kestrel 1
Lapwing 50+ flying towards Penny Flash about 4ish
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Woodpigeon
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush
Blue Tit
Magpie
Chaffinch
Linnet
Mallard
Great Crested Grebe 3
Buzzard 1
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Meadow Pipit
Fieldfare
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
9 blackbird
3 robin
small flock long tailed tit
plenty of great and blue tit with a single coal tit
dunnock
wren
8 siskin in trees near Edna Road labour club playground
goldfinch
magpie, collared dove, wood pigeon, crow.
kestrel
1 common gull in flooded area near bottom of rucks on leigh side.
fir tree flash
4 pochard mixed in with tufted ducks
mallard including 1 white farmyard type
coot, moorhen, black headed gull, 2 swan, great crested grebe
higher hall flash
tufted duck,coot, moorhen, 3 swan, 2 great crested grebe,mallard, 1 heron, 1 cormorant, black headed gulls, 1 lesser black backed and 1 herring gull.
21 fieldfare in trees at bottom of new road
c30 starling in trees at top of new road.
1 kestrel
2 blackbird
1 wren
small flock great tits with a single blue tit
small flock long tailed tit
4 goldfinch
wood pigeon, magpie, crow, collared dove
2 cormorant flying over
a single pink footed goose over at 14-47
fir tree flash
very little on open water 2 swan and a few mallard
plenty of mallard + coot and a few moorhen in reeds beside path leading from Edna Road labour club towards Bickershaw
Higher Hall flash
was dark by the time i walked round flash so gulls had gone back to roost at pennington
swans, coot, mallard, tufted duck, great crested grebe and moorhen were all identifiable but couldn't make out anything else.
plenty of gulls overhead presumably making their way back to roost at pennington, mainly black headed but did see 2 herring gull a few lesser black backed and a single great black backed, 3rd time this week i have seen a single over presumably same bird, don't know where it's spending it's time.
Thursday afternoon falconers flying a goshawk, my dog Charlie didn't know what to make of it when goshawk flew past quite low with bells jangling.
monday different falconers flying a pair of Harris Hawks.
been very quiet all week
6 blackbird
3 robin
small flock goldfinch
c50 starling in trees near haulage yard on smiths lane
small flock great tits with 3 blue tit
5 fieldfare first i have seen over here since boxing day
8 bullfinch feeding on floor near scrapyards 5m-3fm
c60 pink footed geese over at 15-56
higher hall flash
coot, tufted duck, mallard, gadwall, moorhen, swan,great crested grebe, lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, with a single great black backed gull over.
magpie, crow, wood pigeon + collared dove.
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Friday 6th of January 2012 08:33:05 PM
Been fairly quiet of late, nice to be wind free today, usual birds noted:
Cormorant 4
Buzzard 1
Coot
Woodpigeon
Wren
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Starling
Linnet
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 2
Black-headed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Jay
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
first 2 hours in very heavy rain seeing only magpies, collared dove 2 blackbird and 3 wood pigeon,
about 2ish weather picked up a bit
2 goldfinch flocks 6+ 15
robin
great tit
2 flocks long tailed tit
flock of c40 starling in trees near new road
1 mistle thrush
1 buzzard
2 crow
fir tree flash
1 heron, 1 cormorant, 36 mallard including 1 white farmyard type, 8 coot, 6 tufted duck, 4 moorhen, 1 herring gull with black headed gulls.1 great crested grebe
higher hall flash
c40 coot, c40 tufted duck, 12 mallard, 6 moorhen, 3 swan, 2 great crested grebe, 2 gadwall, 1 heron, 1 lesser black backed gull with black headed gulls.
2 wigeon ( 1m+1f) on yesterday but no sign of them today.
hundreds of gulls heading towards pennington flash mainly black headed but did see 5 lesser black backed and 1 massive greater black backed.
did see coal tit and blue tit on my back garden feeders( didn't see on walk)
+ great tit, house sparrow, robin, starling, blackbird and collared dove that i did also see on walk.
at 2-37 near bottom of new road also saw a stoat.
very heavy drizzle brightened up with some sun, not for long though, and retuned cloudy an dull.
usual birds seen with plenty of Goldfinch , Blue, Great and LT Tits.
Full list as follows:
Pink-footed Goose 100+ flying towards Bickershaw
Buzzard 1
Lapwing 12
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Meadow Pipit
Wren
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Goldfinch
Mallard 20+
Coot
Snipe 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 close to scrap yard
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii)
Robin
Fieldfare
Blue Tit
Jay 4
Carrion Crow
A strange incident happened when some ballons appeared from Penny Flash direction and a helecopter flying towards them landed in the long grass while balloons passed by, then took off again, must of thought they were a ufo
plenty of bullfinch spotted them in 4 different spots, pretty even mix of m+ f
14 birds in total.
5 blackbird
4 redwing
2 robin
flock of c30 long tailed tit
tit flock with 12 great tit, 2 blue tit and 2 siskin
2 cormorant flying over
7 goldfinch
higher hall flash
c40 coot
c30 tufted duck
9 mallard
3 moorhen
3 swan
4 gadwall
1 lesser black backed gull
c 80 black headed gull
3 great crested grebe, first time in about 6 weeks i have seen the male, the female and juvenile i have seen every day.
5 blackbird
1 wren
plenty of great tit, with a few blue tit
goldfinch
6 bullfinch
plenty of long tailed tit
1 mistle thrush singing from top of crane jib in scrapyards
wood pigeon, collared dove, crow and magpie.
Higher Hall Flash
c 200 gulls mainly black headed but did spot a couple of common gulls, 1 herring gull and at least 3 lesser black backed.
20+ tufted duck
40+ coot
1 heron
several mallard
3 swan
2 great crested grebe
3 moorhen
1 cormorant
1 gadwall
didn't see any sign of the 2 wigeon that were here yesterday and only saw 1 gadwall,
1 buzzard
5 goldfinch
3 great tit
6 blackbird
3 wren
numerous magpie, wood pigeon and crow
Higher Hall Flash
2 wigeon 1m, 1f
4 gadwall
1 heron
1 great crested grebe
3 moorhen
3 swan
20+ tufted duck
20+ coot
c100 black headed gull
2 lesser black backed gull
Fir Tree flash
very little on open water 2 swan, 3 coot,4 mallard, 1 tufted duck.
in reeds beside path heading from Edna Rd labour club towards Bickershaw
about 20 mallard, 8 coot and 3 moorhen.
Have a good Christmas everyone.
Higher Hall Flash
3 swan, 2 great crested grebe, 1 heron, 1 cormorant, 3 moorhen, 4 gadwall, 20+ tufted duck, 40+ coot, 30+ black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull,7 mallard.
Fir Tree Flash
8 mallard, 1 tufted duck, 14 coot, 2 swan, 2 heron. 1 great crested grebe.
collared dove, wood pigeon, magpie, jay, crow,
1 buzzard, 1 kestrel.
20+ blackbird, 1 mistle thrush, 1 song thrush
fieldfare flocks of 27,5,3, and a single 1
very few small birds a couple of tit flocks mainly great tit and blue tit a single long tailed tit, 3 goldfinch, 1 robin, 2 bullfinch 1 m 1 f,
Higher Hall Flash
3 swan.
1 shoveler
4 gadwall
4 lesser black backed gull
2 heron
3 moorhen
30+ coot
40+ black headed gull
20+ tufted duck
8 mallard
very few small birds only saw 2 great tit and 1 wren
plenty blackbirds 3 flocks of fieldfare 12, 14 and 20+
the flock of 14 fieldfare were feeding on berries along with 3 blackbird,2 redwing and 2 mistle thrush
saw another 2 mistle thrush and 1 song thrush during walk
1 jay + magpies, crow and wood pigeon
1 buzzard
1 kestrel
at least 40 blackbird during the length of my walk, the rain had stopped just before i set out and the blackbirds were making the most of it with plenty of worms.
plenty of activity in trees beside road from hh flash down to plank lane with
long tailed tit, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, 3 female bullfinch, 4 lesser redpoll, linnet, goldfinch, robin, wren, dunnock and 2 reed bunting.
2 jay
wood pigeon
crow
magpie
buzzard
kestrel
Higher Hall Flash
coot,mallard, 3 swan, great crested grebe, moorhen, heron,tufted duck, 1 lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, gadwall and i managed to see the little grebe that has successfully managed to avoid me for the best part of 12 months.
higher hall flash
3 swan, 25+coot, 30+ black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed, 2 moorhen, 6 mallard, 2 great crested grebe,12 tufted duck, 2 gadwall.
1 cormorant over
fir tree flash
4 tufted duck, 6 mallard, 2 swan, 2 moorhen, 4 coot, 1 great crested grebe,
c80 starling over Edna Road Labour Club.
flock 29 fieldfare
2 robin
1 kestrel
14 blackbird seen with at least 6 more heard
1 kestrel
4 crow
1 wood pigeon
c 50 magpie pre roost at bottom of new road
23 canada geese heading towards Abram at 4-30, seen them around same time all last week varying from minimum of 15 up to 23 today.
calm, torrential rain,
Mute Swan
Shoveler 2 H H flash
Goldeneye 1 H H flash
Grey Heron 1
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull 1
Meadow Pipit
Fieldfare 15
Blue Tit
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Great Crested Grebe 2
Moorhen
Snipe 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
Woodpigeon
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
kestrel
long tailed tit flock with 1 coal tit and great tits
plenty blackbirds
flock of 30+ fieldfare
2 goldfinch + dunnock feeding on side of path
at 4-15 pm in dim light an owl flew low over the field, from the brief sighting i got i think either a short eared or long eared owl but with the sighting i got my id skills are not good enough to say which.
higher hall flash
3 swan
2 great crested grebe
21 tufted duck
12 mallard
3 moorhen
c30 coot
c50 black headed gulls
11-37 - 14-50 walk with dogs in changeable weather, changed from raining hard to raining very hard to raining very, very hard
wren, robin,chaffinch, long tailed tit, 1 house sparrow ( don't usually see sparrows over fields here) numerous blackbird and magpie,flock of about 50 fieldfare near Herons lodge farm, 3 redwing feeding in pouring rain, crow,
higher hall flash,20+ coot, 3 swan, 2 great crested grebe, 1 mallard, 3moorhen, 1 lesser black backed gull, numerous black headed gulls, 1 cormorant over, 27 lapwing over, strangely didn't see any tufted duck and only a single mallard,
typical since i got home and dried off the rain has stopped.
a dark, clean brown Common Buzzard hunting the fields between the access road and Diggle Flash
17 Meadow Pipits mobbed a passing Sparrowhawk
plenty of raptors
started the day with a sparrowhawk in my back garden on Bickershaw Lane
marsh harrier seen at 11-50 quartering field behind Bickershaw school with legs dangling, and at 14-21 over field before being dive bombed by kestrel and flying off towards Hindley Green.
Buzzard
kestrel
peregrine falcon.
11 blackbird
5 jay
wren
robin
chaffinch
good flock of mixed tits, long tailed, great tit and blue tit
cormorant flying over
great spotted woodpecker
mistlethrush
numerous goldfinch
3 woodpigeon
magpie, crow and collared dove
skylark
higher hall flash
tufted duck
coot
3 swan
2 great crested grebe
2 moorhen
black headed gull
fir tree flash
all same as water fowl hh flash plus mallards
Bikky lane.
Spotted whilst driving the #658 bus
Thats what u call a brucie bonus
Sighting at 10.20 am