BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Nov 27 3:06 PM, 2011
Marsh Harrier over field beside new road, being harassed by flock of loft pigeons and flying off towards Hindley Green. A first for me so in excitement forgot to look at time but would guess around 12-30. H.H flash 3 swan, 3 great crested grebe, 26 coot, 1 moorhen, 40+ black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 6 mallard, 8 tufted duck. Fir Tree flash 2 swan, 1 great crested grebe, 13 coot, 18 mallard 1 white farmyard type. didn't see any tufted duck or the single pochard that has been with them all this week. only saw small flocks of fieldfare, 7, 9, 10 and two of 12. golfinch flocks 40+, 14, 12. long tailed tit 30+ 2 great tit 1 kestrel 1 meadow pipit 1 bullfinch (m) 1 wren 1 robin 9 blackbird 1 woodpigeon numerous magpie and crow.
Gordon Newman said
Sat Nov 26 4:14 PM, 2011
11.45- 2.30 very windy with light showers
wind keeping small birds grounded because was pretty quiet other than plenty of Fieldfare about,
Grey Partridge 3 Marsh Harrier 1 female first seen 1.15 flying over Bickershaw rucks, then over road to proposed golf course. spent more time on ground than in air last saw it about 2pm when landing on ground again.
Marsh Harrier female 1.15 over road to proposed to new golf course
Gordon Newman said
Sat Nov 26 2:05 PM, 2011
Marsh Harrier female 1.15 over road to proposed to new golf course
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Nov 23 9:36 PM, 2011
3-00pm--5-30pm
Only got out late today so much of walk done in darkness
higher hall flash 3 swan 2 great crested grebe 20+ coot 6 mallard 1 lesser black backed gull 3 black headed gull ( my lowest ever count on this flash, ) 4 moorhen 7 tufted duck 1 cormorant flew over and landed on flash 1 fieldfare 3 blackbird, small flock of long tailed tit in trees around stock pond.
2 kestrel 1 Pheasant 2 blue tit several blackbird a steady procession of fieldfare heading in direction of Abram possibly to roost flocks of 7,9, 15, 28,37, 59. fir tree flash 16 Mallard including 1 white farmyard type 14 coot 1 swan 3 tufted duck 3 moorhen
at 4-43pm a skein of approx 25 geese flew over heading in a north easterly direction it was too dark for my limited id skills to be sure what they were overall they were quiet in flight ( 1 sounded like a small terrier yelping) and they weren't as organised in flight as geese usually are.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Nov 22 5:51 PM, 2011
10-15am - 1-30pm
much better today after being very quiet for past week
wren plenty of fieldfare today not seen any for previous 6days, flocks of 6, 9, 28, 34, 38, 61,63, 68 and one of over 100. kestrel buzzard 2 redwing 21 blackbird quite a few decent flocks of long tailed tit and goldfinch with great tit, 4 linnet, 3 siskin, 1 lesser redpoll and 1 blue tit. 5 skylark 1 dunnock magpie and crow in good numbers fir tree flash 1 pochard mixed in with 9 tufted duck and coots 20 mallard including 1 white farmyard type ( very vocal larger and louder than normal mallard) 2 swan 16 coot 4 moorhen 2 black headed gull 1 cormorant over higher hall flash 3 swan 2 great crested grebe 68 black headed gull 26 coot 2 tufted duck 6 mallard 2 moorhen
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Nov 17 5:29 PM, 2011
1-15-4-50pm pretty quiet nice walking weather, but chilly wind when stopped especially on top of rucks.
2 small flocks long tailed tit blackbird robin great tit covey of 11 grey partridge flushed from very top of rucks 12 skylark magpie crow wood pigeon higher hall flash 3 swan 20+ coot mallard moorhen tufted duck 1 lesser black backed gull black headed gulls
Keith Mills said
Tue Nov 15 2:03 PM, 2011
First visit here with John Parkinson. Sitings very little different than Bernard's. However:
FIR TREE FLASH:- Kestrel seen hunting ,feeding and in a tree by Fir Tree Flash. Tufted Duck ...8 Mute swans ...2 Cormorants ...3 departing FTF Coots...6 Moorhen (juv ) 2 Mallards ..few. Long Tail Tit .. small flock c8 Blue Tit ..2 Redpoll (lesser) 2 Goldfinch 2 GC Grebe 1 BH Gulls...2 No luck with Jack Snipe but we did get a Common Snipe at Pickley Green. Nice to meet Bernard and Charlie.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 15th of November 2011 03:05:11 PM
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Nov 15 1:34 PM, 2011
10-05am- 1-10pm
initially very quiet in the trees and shrubs from around higher hall flash down to the scrapyards only 1 blackbird and 7 fieldfare. much better on the way back with a good tit flock of mainly blue tit with great tit, long tailed tit and 2 coal tit, 7 blackbird and 1 robin. fir tree flash 20+ coot 8 tufted duck 1 great crested grebe 2 swan 12 mallard 1 common snipe 1 cormorant over Kestrel perched in trees around flash and hunting in surrounding fields in copse of trees and long grass on very top of rucks crow and magpie 2 pheasant 1 skylark 5 grey partridge 8 goldfinch 1 common snipe. Nice to speak to Keith Mills who was searching for jack snipe hope you found some Keith i spotted 2 common snipe but no jacks.
Gordon Newman said
Sat Nov 12 2:12 PM, 2011
9.30 - 12.15 pretty quiet this morning birds noted:
Mute Swan 2 fir tree flash Mallard f t flash Grey Partridge Buzzard 2 Water Rail 1 calling on flash by football field Black-headed Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 f t flash Meadow Pipit Dunnock Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Magpie Carrion Crow Chaffinch Linnet Canada Goose 30 f t flash Tufted Duck 4 f t flash Pheasant Kestrel 2 Coot Woodpigeon Skylark Wren Blackbird Blue Tit Jay 2 Jackdaw Starling Goldfinch Reed Bunting 1
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Nov 10 5:12 PM, 2011
9-30am--1-00pm blackbird siskin great tit blue tit long tailed tit goldfinch jay magpie crow great spotted woodpecker reed bunting buzzard skylark bullfinch ( male + female) covey of 5 grey partridge small flock fieldfare wren robin cormorant and 15 lapwing over new plank lane marina all same water fowl present at both fir tree and higher hall flashes swan mallard tufted duck coot moorhen black headed gull
Gordon Newman said
Mon Nov 7 6:34 PM, 2011
11.00 - 12.30 cold and misty birds noted:
Mallard Cormorant 3 Coot Black-headed Gull Woodpigeon Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Wren Blackbird Mistle Thrush 3 Blue Tit Magpie Starling 2 Chaffinch Linnet Grey Partridge 5 Sparrowhawk 1 Snipe 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull Collared Dove Meadow Pipit Robin Fieldfare 70 Long-tailed Tit Jay 2 Carrion Crow House Sparrow Goldfinch Reed Bunting 3
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Nov 1 1:12 PM, 2011
9-45 -- 12-45 warm and sunny
higher hall flash 3 swan 2 pochard 3 great crested grebe 2o+ coot 30+ black headed gull 1 lesser black backed gull 1 common gull 3 moorhen 12 tufted duck 2 mallard 1 cormorant.
tits and finches very active long tailed tit blue tit great tit 1 coal tit 2 chaffinch goldfinch robin wren blackbird magpie wood pigeon crow 5 rook 3 kestrel 3 grey partridge very brief glimpse of a yellowhammer, not seen one over here for a while, father in law of owner of Herons lodge farm used to put out loads of feeders and you could always see them around farm but he has now moved and feeders are not there anymore.
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Oct 31 7:01 PM, 2011
2-30 - 500pm windy with cloud and a couple of light showers
3 blackbird 1 robin 1 kestrel 1 jay flock of 18 goldfinch 2 small flocks long tailed tit 2 flocks fieldfare 14 and 29 higher hall flash 7mallard 8 moorhen 12 tufted duck. 20+ coot 3 great crested grebe 3 swan 40+ black headed gulls 1 lesser black backed gull 1 cormorant on stock pond fir tree flash 2 swan 12 coot 5 tufted duck 34 mallard including white farmyard type
Gordon Newman said
Sat Oct 29 7:48 PM, 2011
10.45 - 16.00
Mute Swan 2 fir tree flash Pheasant Marsh Harrier 1Juv huntig over Bickershaw side reaching fir tree flash twice and eventually losing site over bolton old road side after some 2 hours or so, light conditions not great but seemed quite a dark individual. Moorhen Lapwing Black-headed Gull Woodpigeon Meadow Pipit Dunnock Fieldfare 50+ on football field plus plenty others continually flying over Blue Tit Magpie Goldfinch Mallard Cormorant 1 flying away from fir tree flash Kestrel 1 mobbing Harrier Coot Snipe 1 bottom of top rucks Lesser Black-backed Gull Skylark Wren Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Jay Carrion Crow Linnet
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Oct 28 10:37 PM, 2011
14-00 till 17-40 warm and sunny
higher hall flash 3 swan 2adult 1 juv 3 great crested grebe 2 adult 1 juv 25 coot 8 tufted duck 30+ black headed gull 1 lesser black backed 3 moorhen 7 mallard flock of long tailed tit with 1 siskin tagging along 3 jay 5 blackbird only saw 1 flock of 50+ fieldfare 3 reed bunting 1 tree sparrow ( behind scrapyards off bolton house road) 1 cormorant flew over and landed on new marina at plank lane. numerous tit flocks mainly long tailed and great tit with a few blue tit and 3 linnet 3 skylark 2 jackdaw 1 snipe fir tree flash 1 cormorant 2 swan 30+ mallard including white farmyard type 2 great crested grebe coot, moorhen and tufted duck plenty magpie, wood pigeon and crow had a female sparrow hawk kill a collared dove in my back garden on bickershaw lane 11-30ish this morning.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Oct 27 5:51 PM, 2011
10-!0am till 12-30pm warm with constant drizzle
fieldfare flocks of 9, 2of 12, 15, 19,23,35. 6 blackbird 1 robin 1 wren 1 mistle thrush 4 jay 20+ long tailed tit fir tree flash 2 swan 1 cormorant 6 tufted duck 2 moorhen plenty coot and mallard including 1 white farmyard type 1 little grebe ( made up to see this i haven't seen many this year, they keep avoiding me) higher hall flash swan family 2 adult 1juv 2 great crested grebe 1 adult 1 juv tufted duck mallard coot moorhen black headed gulls magpie crow wood pigeon collared dove 1 kestrel
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Oct 24 5:31 PM, 2011
14-40pm- 17-10pm windy but dry 3 blackbird 1 jay 1 kestrel magpie wood pigeon collared dove skylark long tailed tit fir tree flash 2 swan mallard coot tufted duck 1 cormorant black headed gull good views of buzzard over fields soaring and riding thermals came quite close at times anyone with a good camera could have got some great shots. plenty fieldfare flocks of 30+, 40+,27,24,70+, 9 and 15 while walking fields but at bottom corner of fir tree flash in trees,shrubbery and field heading back towards Bickershaw in excess of 200 then in field behind higher hall flash amongst copse of small trees and shrubs c150. only managed to pick out 4 redwing
Gordon Newman said
Mon Oct 24 1:52 PM, 2011
10.15 - 11.45 sunny periods , pleasantly warm with stiff breeze fairly quiet, birds noted:
Mallard Pheasant Snipe 1 flying along ditch on Bickershaw side below top rucks then flushed by dogs on waters edge on Leigh side later on. Lesser Black-backed Gull Skylark Wren Blackbird Redwing c12 Long-tailed Tit Jay 1 Jackdaw Starling Goldfinch Grey Partridge 7 Lapwing 11 Black-headed Gull Woodpigeon Meadow Pipit Robin Fieldfare 40+ Mistle Thrush Blue Tit Magpie Carrion Crow Chaffinch Linnet plenty more thrush about but to distant to possitivly identify
james hall said
Sun Oct 23 2:19 PM, 2011
1 hour spent around fir tree:
6 flocks of fieldfare and redwing all containing 70 - 150 4 linnets 1 little grebe 6 tuffted (1 male) 8 jays 1 sparrowhawk 1 kestrel
plenty mallard plus white farmyard type
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Oct 21 10:24 PM, 2011
set out quite late today 5-45pm so most of my walk was done in the dark but i did get a superb view of a barn owl at 6-51pm glided across the new road built to service the proposed golf course only about 10 foot in front of me and at eye level magic. other birds seen before i lost the light were 8 blackbird 2 great tit 4 long tailed tit 2 robin 1 wren 6 woodpigeon 1 crow 4 magpie
Gordon Newman said
Thu Oct 20 9:13 PM, 2011
walking dogs when almost dark disturbed 15 Snipe roosting in tusucky grass around water edge below top ruck.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Oct 20 4:01 PM, 2011
11-15am till 2-55pm started sunny then dull with showers
6 blackbird 4 robin 3 wren 4 jay 2 skylark 1 snipe flock of long tailed tit 2 linnet goldfinch great tit blue tit 30+ lapwing overhead 15 fieldfare fir tree flash coot tufted duck mallard plus white farmyard type 2 swan 2 juv moorhen higher hall flash swan family 2 adult 1 juv coot tufted duck mallard moorhen black headed gull 1 lesser black backed gull
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Oct 19 8:37 PM, 2011
4-00pm till 7-00pm most of last hour in dark, cold but sunny for 1st 90 mins.
7 blackbirds wren 2 robin 4 skylark 1 kestrel 1 mistle thrush plenty long tailed tit, great tit, blue tit and goldfinch making the most of the late afternoon sunshine 3 redwing fieldfare flocks of 16,15,14, 10, 9, 4 and a single 1 seen in different areas but could of been the same birds moving around. higher hall flash swan family 2 adult 1 juv great crested grebe family 2 adult 1 juv tufted duck, coot, mallard and moorhen black headed gulls with 1 lesser black backed didn't walk around fir tree flash but from field above west side could see 1 swan plenty of mallard including white farmyard type, 2 moorhen and plenty coot with an heron hunting in reeds at bottm.
Gordon Newman said
Sun Oct 16 4:12 PM, 2011
10.30 - 11.45
Mute Swan 2 Teal 2 flying over football field towards Fir Tree Flash Kestrel 1 Woodpigeon Skylark Wren Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Jay 3 Jackdaw Goldfinch Pink-footed Goose 50+ flying towards Pennington Buzzard 1 Black-headed Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Meadow Pipit Dunnock Fieldfare 20+ Blue Tit Magpie Carrion Crow Linnet
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Oct 16 3:03 PM, 2011
11-30am till 2-40pm warm and dry
2 pheasant crossed path in what seems to be a regular spot seen them cross in same place 4 times now
7 jay robin blackbird numerous long tailed tit flocks with great tit 1 coal tit cormorant 3 over i heading towards pennington 2 heading away from pennington 40 strong flock of fieldfare heading towards crankwood 22 fieldfare heading towards eastleigh and 4 fieldfare behind scrapyards 1 wren 1 snipe 1 heron 2 swan tufted duck mallard including white farmyard type coot moorhen 1 reed bunting 5 skylark magpie, crow, wood pigeon and collared dove unusually didn't see any goldfinch
Gordon Newman said
Sat Oct 15 4:07 PM, 2011
10.00 - 12.30 pretty quiet, birds noted:
Mute Swan 2 Pheasant Lapwing 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull Collared Dove Meadow Pipit Wren Fieldfare 30+ flew east Long-tailed Tit Jay 5 Jackdaw Goldfinch Pink-footed Goose 75+ flying north- west over Crankwood Kestrel 2 Black-headed Gull Woodpigeon Skylark Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) Blackbird Mistle Thrush Blue Tit Magpie Carrion Crow Linnet
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Oct 14 11:10 PM, 2011
3-30pm till 6-40pm warm + dry
Higher hall flash 20+ coot 4 moorhen tufted duck mallard swan family 2 adult 1 juv great crested grebe family 2 adult 1 juv plenty black headed gull 1 lesser black backed gull Fir tree flash 2 swan 3 great crested gebe 5 moorhen plenty mallard with 1 white farmyard type tufted duck heron in trees around flash 9 blackbird flock long tailed and great tit 1 cormorant flying over 37 lapwing over new marina at plank lane 1 kestrel 1 jay 6 skylark 2 small flocks goldfinch 1 pheasant large flock of fieldfare i would estimate at least 80 possibly 100 only managed to pick out 1 redwing although there may well have been more, birds tried to settle in trees but seemed to be being harassed by a number of crows. these are the first fieldfare i have seen over here this autumn but we usually do get good numbers over winter around the rucks. usual magpie and wood pigeon did also see a large flock over westleigh area but too distant for positive idea i would think either fieldfare or starling.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Oct 13 5:09 PM, 2011
11-50am till 1-20pm warm and dry for a change
4 blackbird 3 jay 1 snipe 1 buzzard 8 lapwing flock of around 20 golfinch plus a couple of small flocks of 5 and 6 2 decent tit flocks mainly great and long tailed tit with a few blue tit and 2 robin close by 4 skylark 3 pheasant crow, magpie and wood pigeon fir tree flash coot mallard didn't see white farmyard type 2 swan 3 great crested grebe 1 heron 1 cormorant flew over and circled flash before landing on water higher hall flash swan family great crested grebe family coot mallard tufted duck moorhen black headed gulls no sign either yesterday or today of 3 pochard that were on flash on teusday
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Oct 11 6:09 PM, 2011
1-50pm till 4-45pm breezy with drizzle and some heavy showers poor visibility
higher hall flash 3 pochard 20+ coot 4 moorhen 30+ black headed gull several mallard swan family on stock pond. 2great crested grebe
2 large tit flocks, long tailed and great tit with a few blue tit 1 mistle thrush singing in competition with a nearby robin also singing at top note 20+ blackbird 1 pheasant Charlie flushed a covey of 9 partridge (right on top of ruck) 1 kestrel 12 skylark 7 goldfinch magpie, wood pigeon, crow and collared dove fir tree flash 3 great crested grebe 20+ mallard including 1 white farmyard type 14 coot 3 moorhen 2 swan
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Oct 9 4:37 PM, 2011
1-00pm till 4-00pm windy with drizzle and frequent heavy showers poor visibility 2 kestrel 1 pheasant numerous small flocks goldfinch 2 small flocks long tailed tit 7 great tit fir tree flash 2 swan 1 moorhen 20+ coot 2 tufted duck 15 mallard including 1 white farmyard type 3 great crested grebe 1 adult 2 juv hh flash swan family 2 adult 1 juv 3 great crested grebe 2 adult 1 juv 30+ tufted duck 20+ coot 9 mallard 2 moorhen plenty black headed gull flock of 60+ lapwing down near crankwood usual wood pigeon, magpie and crow
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Oct 7 6:52 PM, 2011
2-00pm till 4-10pm very windy with sunshine and showers
3 pheasant walked across path right in front of me good job Charlie was on lead, 1 Buzzard and 1 kestrel hunting close together until kestrel had a couple of dives at buzzard which moved further on, whilst watching buzzard i saw a large skein of geese in the distance. i would say at least 80 they were too far distant for a proper id but at this time of year i would think pink footed is likely. 16 skylark 2 small flocks of goldfinch 3 great tit for first time in ages didn't see any long tailed tit although i did hear them in 3 different spots fir tree flash plenty coot and mallard including white farmyard type 2 swan 3 great crested grebe 1 adult 2 juv, there were 2 adult and 3 juv but not seen male and 1 juv for a while 1 moorhen 3 tufted duck 9 black headed gull hh flash swan family 2 adult 1 juv loads of tufted duck and coot numerous mallard 4 moorhen great crested grebe family 2 adult 1 juv plenty black headed gull
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Friday 7th of October 2011 06:52:59 PM
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Oct 6 5:38 PM, 2011
11-30pm till 2-20pm very windy, changeable sunshine and heavy showers,
long tailed tit numerous small flocks 1 blackbird Charlie flushed a covey of 12 grey partridge 7 skylark 2 skeins of geese overhead each with about 10 first were too distant to id but second were definitely canada geese 1 kestrel some really good views of this i was atop the rucks with kestrel hovering over field at eye level for me and for a short while i was actually above it looking down on it. not as many magpie and crow as usual but plenty of wood pigeon fir tree flash
plenty of mallard with white farmyard type still showing coot 1 female great crested grebe and 2 juv plenty of black headed gulls with 1 lesser black backed
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Oct 5 7:18 PM, 2011
late afternoon walk dry but very windy not much bird activity
1 cormorant flew over small flock long tailed tit 2 small flocks goldfinch 1 blackbird 2 kestrel 1 being harassed by 2 magpie it eventually had enough and turned on one sending it packing plenty black headed gull knocking about magpie, wood pigeon but surprisingly didn't see any crow.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Oct 4 4:21 PM, 2011
11-50am till 3-25pm dry but quite windy
Buzzard again over Leigh side at 12-37 pm and then near higher hall flash at 15-04 pm not seen in 2 months then 3 times in successive days, 1 kestrel 6 lapwing overhead 1 heron overhead 11 skylark 5 goldfinch, i saw 5 goldies 4 times in a pretty small area some presume they were the same ones flitting about long tailed tits although nowhere near as many as usual 2 jay fir tree flash coot mallard including 1 white farmyard type 2 swan 1 adult great crested grebe + 1 juvenile but could hear at least 1 more calling moorhen 2 adult 1 juv 3-4 great tit in trees around didn't walk round hh flash but could see from road swan family 2 adult 1 juv plenty coot and tufted duck and plenty black headed gulls usual crow, magpie and wood pigeon + 4 collared dove
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Tuesday 4th of October 2011 04:22:04 PM
Gordon Newman said
Tue Oct 4 10:15 AM, 2011
4/10/11 8.15 - 9.15 Quick walk up and around top rucks from Plank Lane with dogs before work. pretty quiet , birds noted:
Grey Partridge 7 Kestrel 1 Black-headed Gull Woodpigeon Skylark Wren Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Jay 2 Carrion Crow Goldfinch Grey Heron Lapwing 4 Herring Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Meadow Pipit Robin Mistle Thrush Blue Tit Magpie Starling
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Oct 3 8:31 PM, 2011
3-30pm till 5-40pm
warm but cloudy and very windy especially atop the rucks.
not many small birds showing small flock of long tailed tits and i did spot a coal tit mixed in with them, 1 buzzard over Leigh side first i have seen over here for about 2 months, 1 kestrel numerous magpies, crows and wood pigeon 2 blackbird fir tree flash 2 swan plenty of mallard with 1 white farmyard type amongst them plenty of coot 2 tufted duck higher hall flash plenty tufted duck and coot loads of black headed gulls 2 lesser black backed gulls swan family 2 adults 1 juv great crested grebe family 2 adults 1 juv 3 moorhen 7 mallard 1 pheasant in field beside flash. falconer flying a peregrine on top of rucks, seemed to be having trouble getting it to return. I have seen numerous falconers over here with peregrine and saker falcons plus quite a few with harris hawks, i have known at least 3 harris hawks escape the longest i seen one over here after escape is 6-7 days what would be their chances of survival?
Gordon Newman said
Sat Oct 1 1:56 PM, 2011
1/10/2011 9.15 - 11.30
Mallard Moorhen Black-headed Gull Skylark Meadow Pipit Dunnock Long-tailed Tit Jay 8 Jackdaw Goldfinch Linnet Grey Heron Coot Woodpigeon Swallow 4 Wren Chiffchaff 1 singing on path to Plank Lane Blue Tit Magpie Carrion Crow Siskin
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Sep 30 2:17 PM, 2011
7-45 am - 9-40am 4 jay 1 song thrush drinking from a rain puddle down near plank lane end first songy i have seen for ages, numerous long tailed and great tits 5 blackbird 4 robin 2 dunnock loads of magpie and wood pigeon plus crows higher hall flash 3 swan 2 adult 1 juv 3 great crested grebe 2 adult 1 juv 37 black headed gull 1 lesser black backed gull plenty of coot and tufted duck 3 moorhen 7 mallard
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Sep 29 2:33 PM, 2011
11-00am till 1-00pm 1 great spotted woodpecker 2 kestrel numerous long tailed tit and great tit 7 skylark 1 jay plus normal wood pigeon, magpie, crow and 3 collared dove. fir tree flash 2 juv great crested grebe 3 moorhen 2 swan 5 black headed gull plenty of coot and mallard.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Sep 27 9:01 PM, 2011
set out at 11-10am a few long tailed tit with 2 great tit, 1 robin, 3 blackbird and a few goldfinch in bushes and trees behind bickershaw school field, Charlie flushed 2 female pheasant at 12-15, and then flushed 7 or 8 grey partridge from Leigh side of rucks at 12-58, was watching a kestrel hovering at 1-10pm when a cock pheasant came bursting out of the undergrowth with charlie in hot pursuit( nearly gave me a heart attack) walked around fir tree flash, female great crested grebe with 2 young ( didn't see the male or the other young un) plenty coot , 2 moorhen, 2 swans and a few mallard, small flock of goldfinch in trees beside flash, tried the reedbed that was so lively yesterday but only caught a fleeting glimpse of a single reed bunting, a few skylark overhead and another kestrel hunting over field close to bickershaw lane, usual magpie, crow and wood pigeon.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 26 10:00 PM, 2011
Originally posted by Gordon Newman today:
Date: Mon 26 Sep 2011 Time: 10:30 - 12:10
Grey Partridge 1 - flushed by dogs Great Crested Grebe Coot Black-headed Gull Herring Gull Woodpigeon Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Skylark Meadow Pipit Wren Blackbird Willow Warbler 1 Long-tailed Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Jay 3 Magpie Goldfinch Siskin 5 Linnet
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Sep 26 7:34 PM, 2011
A nice stroll setting out just before 4pm plenty of long tailed tits saw numerous small flocks, in field just off old farm track a green woodpecker was rooting for food with 4 mistle thrush in trees beside track. numerous skylark over field, in reeds in run off from fir tree flash 7 reed bunting the first i have seen for 6-7 weeks saw plenty during spring/early summer, in trees beside reeds saw what i think was a corn bunting ( looking through field guide it looks right) a flock of about 50 goldfinch feeding on thistles in field took to the air and were joined by another 20 flying in to trees behind Bickershaw school playing field, plenty of usual corvids and wood pigeon. Very little bird activity saturday morning but did spot a roe deer,. Again sunday afternoon not much bird activity but did have a bit of drama with air ambulance helicopter landing in fields to tend to a young lad who came off his off road motorbike. Did see a kestrel hunting not seen many over here last few weeks usually plenty of them all year round, also not seen a buzzard over here for about 8 weeks again usually visible all year round.
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Monday 26th of September 2011 07:37:05 PM
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Sep 23 6:39 PM, 2011
72 Lapwing flew over HH flash at 6-17pm headed in general direction of Pennington Flash
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Sep 23 4:07 PM, 2011
Set out at 7-30 am, usual long tailed and great tit behind scrap yards, 3 jay ( saw 4 together yesterday near flash) Green Woodpecker at 8-21 am just off concrete road where shale road branches off good day for woodpecker also saw a great spotted in trees near stock pond at 9-25 am, 1 snipe flew out of long grass as we passed, 29 canada geese landed on flash at 9-07 am all usual on flash, still not managed to see the little grebe and its youngster.
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Friday 23rd of September 2011 06:40:41 PM
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Sep 20 9:37 PM, 2011
set out about 16-00pm, usual long tailed tit,great tit and blue tit in copse of trees behind scrap yards, just a single swallow in field, 3 skylark 1 meadow pipit. in bushes and thistles just off farm track a flock of around 60 goldfinch, i have been seeing a few smaller flocks they may have joined up, at 16-50pm 18 geese flew overhead in general direction of pennington flash, i think they were pink footed geese but not 100% sure be interesting to know if any else saw them with a positive id, plenty of blackbirds knocking about near concrete path saw at least 8 with 1 wren tagging along behind.
Bernard McGurrin said
Tue Sep 20 11:02 AM, 2011
Set out at 7-20 am in the rain, plenty of blackbird and dunnock foraging under the trees and bushes, long tailed tit and great tit showing in good numbers, 2 robins giving their version of singing in the rain, jay kept flitting across but only saw 2 magpies and no crow a record low for me on this walk must all have been sheltering from the rain didn't seem to bother the wood pigeon, yesterday morning saw much the same with a couple of flocks of goldfinch and at 7-45am 3 swan flying overhead towards Abram and 50mins later another 5 swan heading in the same direction.
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Sep 18 9:22 PM, 2011
Afternoon stroll with Charlie, plenty of great tit and long tailed tit in trees beside concrete road, 2 dunnock just off the road, 1 jay,5 blackbird a small flock of about 12 goldfinch and a mixed flock of about 15 swallow with 3-4 house martin overhead, headed over the rucks ( grandkids know as black hills) where Charlie disturbed a covey of at least 7 grey partridge, another small flock of goldfinch, a couple of 4x4 off roaders sent me heading back down in to the fields where we flushed 4 pheasant and 6 skylark,headed back to the road seeing jay in same place as earlier along with blue and great tits, 1 mistlethrush + usual wood pigeon, magpie, crow and collared dove a pleasant walk with Charlie on best behaviour even ignoring a rabbit.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Sep 15 12:27 PM, 2011
Set out just before 7-30 this morning disturbed a jay at 7-41 feeding on path it flew into the trees complaining loudly, plenty mist especially over the flash but morning sun soon burned it off, plenty of activity in trees around flash saw blue tits, great tits, long tailed tits, 2 willow warbler, 4 dunnock, 1 whitethroat on brambles near steps leading down to flash and at least 7 blackbirds, usual moorhen, coot, tufted duck, mallard, swans and great crested grebe on higher hall flash.
Bernard McGurrin said
Wed Sep 14 9:15 PM, 2011
18 - 40pm Barn Owl being mobbed by 15-20 magpie over fields to side of new road to service proposed golf course flew in direction of fir tree flash so headed that way but didn't see it again, 19-00 pm great spotted woodpecker in dead tree at Bickershaw end of flash, 3 young great crested grebe with 2 adults on flash, 19-20pm about 50-60 lapwing heading in direction of pennington flash i saw similar sized flock yesterday morning 9-10am heading towards Hindley Green so presuming they are coming from Pennington spending the day elsewhere and heading back to roost.
H.H flash
3 swan, 3 great crested grebe, 26 coot, 1 moorhen, 40+ black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 6 mallard, 8 tufted duck.
Fir Tree flash
2 swan, 1 great crested grebe, 13 coot, 18 mallard 1 white farmyard type.
didn't see any tufted duck or the single pochard that has been with them all this week.
only saw small flocks of fieldfare, 7, 9, 10 and two of 12.
golfinch flocks 40+, 14, 12.
long tailed tit 30+
2 great tit
1 kestrel
1 meadow pipit
1 bullfinch (m)
1 wren
1 robin
9 blackbird
1 woodpigeon
numerous magpie and crow.
very windy with light showers
wind keeping small birds grounded because was pretty quiet other than plenty of Fieldfare about,
Grey Partridge 3
Marsh Harrier 1 female first seen 1.15 flying over Bickershaw rucks, then over road to proposed golf course. spent more time on ground than in air last saw it about 2pm when landing on ground again.
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Jackdaw
Goldfinch
Cormorant 1
Kestrel 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Meadow Pipit
Fieldfare
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Siskin 1
Only got out late today so much of walk done in darkness
higher hall flash
3 swan
2 great crested grebe
20+ coot
6 mallard
1 lesser black backed gull
3 black headed gull ( my lowest ever count on this flash, )
4 moorhen
7 tufted duck
1 cormorant flew over and landed on flash
1 fieldfare 3 blackbird, small flock of long tailed tit in trees around stock pond.
2 kestrel
1 Pheasant
2 blue tit
several blackbird
a steady procession of fieldfare heading in direction of Abram possibly to roost flocks of 7,9, 15, 28,37, 59.
fir tree flash
16 Mallard including 1 white farmyard type
14 coot
1 swan
3 tufted duck
3 moorhen
at 4-43pm a skein of approx 25 geese flew over heading in a north easterly direction it was too dark for my limited id skills to be sure what they were overall they were quiet in flight ( 1 sounded like a small terrier yelping) and they weren't as organised in flight as geese usually are.
much better today after being very quiet for past week
wren
plenty of fieldfare today not seen any for previous 6days, flocks of 6, 9, 28, 34, 38, 61,63, 68 and one of over 100.
kestrel
buzzard
2 redwing
21 blackbird
quite a few decent flocks of long tailed tit and goldfinch with great tit, 4 linnet,
3 siskin, 1 lesser redpoll and 1 blue tit.
5 skylark
1 dunnock
magpie and crow in good numbers
fir tree flash
1 pochard mixed in with 9 tufted duck and coots
20 mallard including 1 white farmyard type ( very vocal larger and louder than normal mallard)
2 swan
16 coot
4 moorhen
2 black headed gull
1 cormorant over
higher hall flash
3 swan
2 great crested grebe
68 black headed gull
26 coot
2 tufted duck
6 mallard
2 moorhen
pretty quiet nice walking weather, but chilly wind when stopped especially on top of rucks.
2 small flocks long tailed tit
blackbird
robin
great tit
covey of 11 grey partridge flushed from very top of rucks
12 skylark
magpie
crow
wood pigeon
higher hall flash
3 swan
20+ coot
mallard
moorhen
tufted duck
1 lesser black backed gull
black headed gulls
Sitings very little different than Bernard's.
However:
FIR TREE FLASH:-
Kestrel seen hunting ,feeding and in a tree by Fir Tree Flash.
Tufted Duck ...8
Mute swans ...2
Cormorants ...3 departing FTF
Coots...6
Moorhen (juv ) 2
Mallards ..few.
Long Tail Tit .. small flock c8
Blue Tit ..2
Redpoll (lesser) 2
Goldfinch 2
GC Grebe 1
BH Gulls...2
No luck with Jack Snipe but we did get a Common Snipe at Pickley Green.
Nice to meet Bernard and Charlie.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 15th of November 2011 03:05:11 PM
initially very quiet in the trees and shrubs from around higher hall flash down to the scrapyards only 1 blackbird and 7 fieldfare. much better on the way back with a good tit flock of mainly blue tit with great tit, long tailed tit and 2 coal tit, 7 blackbird and 1 robin.
fir tree flash
20+ coot
8 tufted duck
1 great crested grebe
2 swan
12 mallard
1 common snipe
1 cormorant over
Kestrel perched in trees around flash and hunting in surrounding fields
in copse of trees and long grass on very top of rucks
crow and magpie
2 pheasant
1 skylark
5 grey partridge
8 goldfinch
1 common snipe.
Nice to speak to Keith Mills who was searching for jack snipe hope you found some Keith i spotted 2 common snipe but no jacks.
pretty quiet this morning
birds noted:
Mute Swan 2 fir tree flash
Mallard f t flash
Grey Partridge
Buzzard 2
Water Rail 1 calling on flash by football field
Black-headed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 f t flash
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Canada Goose 30 f t flash
Tufted Duck 4 f t flash
Pheasant
Kestrel 2
Coot
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Wren
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Jay 2
Jackdaw
Starling
Goldfinch
Reed Bunting 1
blackbird
siskin
great tit
blue tit
long tailed tit
goldfinch
jay
magpie
crow
great spotted woodpecker
reed bunting
buzzard
skylark
bullfinch ( male + female)
covey of 5 grey partridge
small flock fieldfare
wren
robin
cormorant and 15 lapwing over new plank lane marina
all same water fowl present at both fir tree and higher hall flashes
swan
mallard
tufted duck
coot
moorhen
black headed gull
cold and misty
birds noted:
Mallard
Cormorant 3
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Wren
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush 3
Blue Tit
Magpie
Starling 2
Chaffinch
Linnet
Grey Partridge 5
Sparrowhawk 1
Snipe 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Collared Dove
Meadow Pipit
Robin
Fieldfare 70
Long-tailed Tit
Jay 2
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Goldfinch
Reed Bunting 3
higher hall flash
3 swan
2 pochard
3 great crested grebe
2o+ coot
30+ black headed gull
1 lesser black backed gull
1 common gull
3 moorhen
12 tufted duck
2 mallard
1 cormorant.
tits and finches very active
long tailed tit
blue tit
great tit
1 coal tit
2 chaffinch
goldfinch
robin
wren
blackbird
magpie
wood pigeon
crow
5 rook
3 kestrel
3 grey partridge
very brief glimpse of a yellowhammer, not seen one over here for a while, father in law of owner of Herons lodge farm used to put out loads of feeders and you could always see them around farm but he has now moved and feeders are not there anymore.
3 blackbird
1 robin
1 kestrel
1 jay
flock of 18 goldfinch
2 small flocks long tailed tit
2 flocks fieldfare 14 and 29
higher hall flash
7mallard
8 moorhen
12 tufted duck.
20+ coot
3 great crested grebe
3 swan
40+ black headed gulls
1 lesser black backed gull
1 cormorant on stock pond
fir tree flash
2 swan
12 coot
5 tufted duck
34 mallard including white farmyard type
Mute Swan 2 fir tree flash
Pheasant
Marsh Harrier 1Juv huntig over Bickershaw side reaching fir tree flash twice and eventually losing site over bolton old road side after some 2 hours or so, light conditions not great but seemed quite a dark individual.
Moorhen
Lapwing
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Fieldfare 50+ on football field plus plenty others continually flying over
Blue Tit
Magpie
Goldfinch
Mallard
Cormorant 1 flying away from fir tree flash
Kestrel 1 mobbing Harrier
Coot
Snipe 1 bottom of top rucks
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Skylark
Wren
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Jay
Carrion Crow
Linnet
higher hall flash
3 swan 2adult 1 juv
3 great crested grebe 2 adult 1 juv
25 coot
8 tufted duck
30+ black headed gull
1 lesser black backed
3 moorhen
7 mallard
flock of long tailed tit with 1 siskin tagging along
3 jay
5 blackbird
only saw 1 flock of 50+ fieldfare
3 reed bunting
1 tree sparrow ( behind scrapyards off bolton house road)
1 cormorant flew over and landed on new marina at plank lane.
numerous tit flocks mainly long tailed and great tit with a few blue tit and 3 linnet
3 skylark
2 jackdaw
1 snipe
fir tree flash
1 cormorant
2 swan
30+ mallard including white farmyard type
2 great crested grebe
coot, moorhen and tufted duck
plenty magpie, wood pigeon and crow
had a female sparrow hawk kill a collared dove in my back garden on bickershaw lane 11-30ish this morning.
fieldfare flocks of 9, 2of 12, 15, 19,23,35.
6 blackbird
1 robin
1 wren
1 mistle thrush
4 jay
20+ long tailed tit
fir tree flash
2 swan
1 cormorant
6 tufted duck
2 moorhen
plenty coot and mallard including 1 white farmyard type
1 little grebe ( made up to see this i haven't seen many this year, they keep avoiding me)
higher hall flash
swan family 2 adult 1juv
2 great crested grebe 1 adult 1 juv
tufted duck
mallard
coot
moorhen
black headed gulls
magpie
crow
wood pigeon
collared dove
1 kestrel
3 blackbird
1 jay
1 kestrel
magpie
wood pigeon
collared dove
skylark
long tailed tit
fir tree flash
2 swan
mallard
coot
tufted duck
1 cormorant
black headed gull
good views of buzzard over fields soaring and riding thermals came quite close at times anyone with a good camera could have got some great shots.
plenty fieldfare flocks of 30+, 40+,27,24,70+, 9 and 15 while walking fields but at bottom corner of fir tree flash in trees,shrubbery and field heading back towards Bickershaw in excess of 200 then in field behind higher hall flash amongst copse of small trees and shrubs c150. only managed to pick out 4 redwing
sunny periods , pleasantly warm with stiff breeze
fairly quiet, birds noted:
Mallard
Pheasant
Snipe 1 flying along ditch on Bickershaw side below top rucks then flushed by dogs on waters edge on Leigh side later on.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Skylark
Wren
Blackbird
Redwing c12
Long-tailed Tit
Jay 1
Jackdaw
Starling
Goldfinch
Grey Partridge 7
Lapwing 11
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Meadow Pipit
Robin
Fieldfare 40+
Mistle Thrush
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Linnet
plenty more thrush about but to distant to possitivly identify
6 flocks of fieldfare and redwing all containing 70 - 150
4 linnets
1 little grebe
6 tuffted (1 male)
8 jays
1 sparrowhawk
1 kestrel
plenty mallard plus white farmyard type
other birds seen before i lost the light were
8 blackbird
2 great tit
4 long tailed tit
2 robin
1 wren
6 woodpigeon
1 crow
4 magpie
6 blackbird
4 robin
3 wren
4 jay
2 skylark
1 snipe
flock of long tailed tit
2 linnet
goldfinch
great tit
blue tit
30+ lapwing overhead
15 fieldfare
fir tree flash
coot
tufted duck
mallard plus white farmyard type
2 swan
2 juv moorhen
higher hall flash
swan family 2 adult 1 juv
coot
tufted duck
mallard
moorhen
black headed gull
1 lesser black backed gull
7 blackbirds
wren
2 robin
4 skylark
1 kestrel
1 mistle thrush
plenty long tailed tit, great tit, blue tit and goldfinch making the most of the late afternoon sunshine
3 redwing
fieldfare flocks of 16,15,14, 10, 9, 4 and a single 1 seen in different areas but could of been the same birds moving around.
higher hall flash
swan family 2 adult 1 juv
great crested grebe family 2 adult 1 juv
tufted duck, coot, mallard and moorhen
black headed gulls with 1 lesser black backed
didn't walk around fir tree flash but from field above west side could see 1 swan plenty of mallard including white farmyard type, 2 moorhen and plenty coot with an heron hunting in reeds at bottm.
Mute Swan 2
Teal 2 flying over football field towards Fir Tree Flash
Kestrel 1
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Wren
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Jay 3
Jackdaw
Goldfinch
Pink-footed Goose 50+ flying towards Pennington
Buzzard 1
Black-headed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Fieldfare 20+
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Linnet
2 pheasant crossed path in what seems to be a regular spot seen them cross in same place 4 times now
7 jay
robin
blackbird
numerous long tailed tit flocks with great tit
1 coal tit
cormorant 3 over i heading towards pennington 2 heading away from pennington
40 strong flock of fieldfare heading towards crankwood
22 fieldfare heading towards eastleigh and 4 fieldfare behind scrapyards
1 wren
1 snipe
1 heron
2 swan
tufted duck
mallard including white farmyard type
coot
moorhen
1 reed bunting
5 skylark
magpie, crow, wood pigeon and collared dove
unusually didn't see any goldfinch
pretty quiet, birds noted:
Mute Swan 2
Pheasant
Lapwing 7
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Collared Dove
Meadow Pipit
Wren
Fieldfare 30+ flew east
Long-tailed Tit
Jay 5
Jackdaw
Goldfinch
Pink-footed Goose 75+ flying north- west over Crankwood
Kestrel 2
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii)
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Linnet
Higher hall flash
20+ coot
4 moorhen
tufted duck
mallard
swan family 2 adult 1 juv
great crested grebe family 2 adult 1 juv
plenty black headed gull
1 lesser black backed gull
Fir tree flash
2 swan
3 great crested gebe
5 moorhen
plenty mallard with 1 white farmyard type
tufted duck
heron
in trees around flash
9 blackbird
flock long tailed and great tit
1 cormorant flying over
37 lapwing over new marina at plank lane
1 kestrel
1 jay
6 skylark
2 small flocks goldfinch
1 pheasant
large flock of fieldfare i would estimate at least 80 possibly 100 only managed to pick out 1 redwing although there may well have been more, birds tried to settle in trees but seemed to be being harassed by a number of crows.
these are the first fieldfare i have seen over here this autumn but we usually do get good numbers over winter around the rucks.
usual magpie and wood pigeon
did also see a large flock over westleigh area but too distant for positive idea i would think either fieldfare or starling.
4 blackbird
3 jay
1 snipe
1 buzzard
8 lapwing
flock of around 20 golfinch plus a couple of small flocks of 5 and 6
2 decent tit flocks mainly great and long tailed tit with a few blue tit and 2 robin close by
4 skylark
3 pheasant
crow, magpie and wood pigeon
fir tree flash
coot
mallard didn't see white farmyard type
2 swan
3 great crested grebe
1 heron
1 cormorant flew over and circled flash before landing on water
higher hall flash
swan family
great crested grebe family
coot
mallard
tufted duck
moorhen
black headed gulls
no sign either yesterday or today of 3 pochard that were on flash on teusday
higher hall flash
3 pochard
20+ coot
4 moorhen
30+ black headed gull
several mallard
swan family on stock pond.
2great crested grebe
2 large tit flocks, long tailed and great tit with a few blue tit
1 mistle thrush singing in competition with a nearby robin also singing at top note
20+ blackbird
1 pheasant
Charlie flushed a covey of 9 partridge (right on top of ruck)
1 kestrel
12 skylark
7 goldfinch
magpie, wood pigeon, crow and collared dove
fir tree flash
3 great crested grebe
20+ mallard including 1 white farmyard type
14 coot
3 moorhen
2 swan
2 kestrel
1 pheasant
numerous small flocks goldfinch
2 small flocks long tailed tit
7 great tit
fir tree flash
2 swan
1 moorhen
20+ coot
2 tufted duck
15 mallard including 1 white farmyard type
3 great crested grebe 1 adult 2 juv
hh flash
swan family 2 adult 1 juv
3 great crested grebe 2 adult 1 juv
30+ tufted duck
20+ coot
9 mallard
2 moorhen
plenty black headed gull
flock of 60+ lapwing down near crankwood
usual wood pigeon, magpie and crow
3 pheasant walked across path right in front of me good job Charlie was on lead,
1 Buzzard and 1 kestrel hunting close together until kestrel had a couple of dives at buzzard which moved further on, whilst watching buzzard i saw a large skein of geese in the distance. i would say at least 80 they were too far distant for a proper id but at this time of year i would think pink footed is likely.
16 skylark
2 small flocks of goldfinch
3 great tit
for first time in ages didn't see any long tailed tit although i did hear them in 3 different spots
fir tree flash
plenty coot and mallard including white farmyard type
2 swan
3 great crested grebe 1 adult 2 juv, there were 2 adult and 3 juv but not seen male and 1 juv for a while
1 moorhen
3 tufted duck
9 black headed gull
hh flash
swan family 2 adult 1 juv
loads of tufted duck and coot
numerous mallard
4 moorhen
great crested grebe family 2 adult 1 juv
plenty black headed gull
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Friday 7th of October 2011 06:52:59 PM
long tailed tit numerous small flocks
1 blackbird
Charlie flushed a covey of 12 grey partridge
7 skylark
2 skeins of geese overhead each with about 10 first were too distant to id but second were definitely canada geese
1 kestrel some really good views of this i was atop the rucks with kestrel hovering over field at eye level for me and for a short while i was actually above it looking down on it.
not as many magpie and crow as usual but plenty of wood pigeon
fir tree flash
plenty of mallard with white farmyard type still showing
coot
1 female great crested grebe and 2 juv
plenty of black headed gulls with 1 lesser black backed
1 cormorant flew over
small flock long tailed tit
2 small flocks goldfinch
1 blackbird
2 kestrel 1 being harassed by 2 magpie it eventually had enough and turned on one sending it packing
plenty black headed gull knocking about
magpie, wood pigeon but surprisingly didn't see any crow.
Buzzard again over Leigh side at 12-37 pm and then near higher hall flash at 15-04 pm
not seen in 2 months then 3 times in successive days,
1 kestrel
6 lapwing overhead
1 heron overhead
11 skylark
5 goldfinch, i saw 5 goldies 4 times in a pretty small area some presume they were the same ones flitting about
long tailed tits although nowhere near as many as usual
2 jay
fir tree flash
coot
mallard including 1 white farmyard type
2 swan
1 adult great crested grebe + 1 juvenile but could hear at least 1 more calling
moorhen 2 adult 1 juv
3-4 great tit in trees around
didn't walk round hh flash but could see from road swan family 2 adult 1 juv
plenty coot and tufted duck and plenty black headed gulls
usual crow, magpie and wood pigeon + 4 collared dove
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Tuesday 4th of October 2011 04:22:04 PM
Quick walk up and around top rucks from Plank Lane with dogs before work.
pretty quiet , birds noted:
Grey Partridge 7
Kestrel 1
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Wren
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Jay 2
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Grey Heron
Lapwing 4
Herring Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Meadow Pipit
Robin
Mistle Thrush
Blue Tit
Magpie
Starling
warm but cloudy and very windy especially atop the rucks.
not many small birds showing small flock of long tailed tits and i did spot a coal tit mixed in with them,
1 buzzard over Leigh side first i have seen over here for about 2 months,
1 kestrel
numerous magpies, crows and wood pigeon
2 blackbird
fir tree flash
2 swan
plenty of mallard with 1 white farmyard type amongst them
plenty of coot
2 tufted duck
higher hall flash
plenty tufted duck and coot
loads of black headed gulls
2 lesser black backed gulls
swan family 2 adults 1 juv
great crested grebe family 2 adults 1 juv
3 moorhen
7 mallard
1 pheasant in field beside flash.
falconer flying a peregrine on top of rucks, seemed to be having trouble getting it to return. I have seen numerous falconers over here with peregrine and saker falcons plus quite a few with harris hawks, i have known at least 3 harris hawks escape the longest i seen one over here after escape is 6-7 days what would be their chances of survival?
Mallard
Moorhen
Black-headed Gull
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Long-tailed Tit
Jay 8
Jackdaw
Goldfinch
Linnet
Grey Heron
Coot
Woodpigeon
Swallow 4
Wren
Chiffchaff 1 singing on path to Plank Lane
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Siskin
4 jay
1 song thrush drinking from a rain puddle down near plank lane end first songy i have seen for ages,
numerous long tailed and great tits
5 blackbird
4 robin
2 dunnock
loads of magpie and wood pigeon plus crows
higher hall flash
3 swan 2 adult 1 juv
3 great crested grebe 2 adult 1 juv
37 black headed gull
1 lesser black backed gull
plenty of coot and tufted duck
3 moorhen
7 mallard
1 great spotted woodpecker
2 kestrel
numerous long tailed tit and great tit
7 skylark
1 jay
plus normal wood pigeon, magpie, crow and 3 collared dove.
fir tree flash
2 juv great crested grebe
3 moorhen
2 swan
5 black headed gull
plenty of coot and mallard.
Date: Mon 26 Sep 2011 Time: 10:30 - 12:10
Grey Partridge 1 - flushed by dogs
Great Crested Grebe
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Woodpigeon
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Wren
Blackbird
Willow Warbler 1
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Jay 3
Magpie
Goldfinch
Siskin 5
Linnet
Very little bird activity saturday morning but did spot a roe deer,.
Again sunday afternoon not much bird activity but did have a bit of drama with air ambulance helicopter landing in fields to tend to a young lad who came off his off road motorbike. Did see a kestrel hunting not seen many over here last few weeks usually plenty of them all year round, also not seen a buzzard over here for about 8 weeks again usually visible all year round.
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Monday 26th of September 2011 07:37:05 PM
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Friday 23rd of September 2011 06:40:41 PM