Wednesday 14 October 2009
13:45-14:20
Lily Lane Farm:

4 Redwing south
6 Mistle Thrush
7+ Blackbird
2+ Song Thrush
50+ Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Pied Wagtail
12 Grey Partridge
23 Lapwing over
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk

Tuesday 14 October 2009

2 Raven over the east side of Viridor at 14:00ish today. One circling fairly high and the other flying low while being mobbed by 4 Carrion Crow.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 13th of October 2009 02:43:16 PM

Wednesday 07 October 2009
Lily Lane Farm at 09:30ish:

3 Swallow S
1 Chiffchaff
c30 Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
Skylark heard
Coal Tit heard
3 Mistle Thrush
4 Grey Partridge

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 7th of October 2009 11:14:26 PM

Rob Thorpe wrote:

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Craig Higson wrote:

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Errrr - never mind the Hobby - whats this about a spotted fly?? When Where Why how etc etc

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Craig, see my post from 06 September. When you walk up the path through the horse paddocks from Bolton road (near the speed camera), when you first walk through the gate (on Bolton road) if you look to your left (south(ish)) there is a fence that runs almost parallel to the road up to a small wood at Lily Farm. The Spotfly was on this fence near the 5bar gate.

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That explains it then - dont go up that way. Mental note made to check web site more often

28/9/09 Midday

Lily Lane Farm area:

3 Buzzard (2 distant)
7 Grey Partridge
2 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
5 Pied Wagtail
6 Meadow Pipit
5 Mistle Thrush

14 Rooks, 4 Lapwing, 9 Canada Geese, 10+Jays, 20+ Goldfinch, and a steady stream of Lesser Black-backed Gulls over.

Craig Higson wrote:

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Errrr - never mind the Hobby - whats this about a spotted fly?? When Where Why how etc etc

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Craig, see my post from 06 September. When you walk up the path through the horse paddocks from Bolton road (near the speed camera), when you first walk through the gate (on Bolton road) if you look to your left (south(ish)) there is a fence that runs almost parallel to the road up to a small wood at Lily Farm. The Spotfly was on this fence near the 5bar gate.

Craig one dropped in a couple of weeks back found by Rob but didnt stay long

j meadows wrote:

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Hi Rob
Sorry about the Hobby looked as though it came from the over the east side only picked it up as it went past where the Sp Fly was then turned and headed south

Also Skylarks 3 Groups South 10,8,14
4 Swallows and a possible White Wagtail dropped in
Lots of of Sheep on the Hill and a Range Rover

Cheers Jimmy

-- Edited by j meadows on Sunday 27th of September 2009 08:31:59 PM

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Errrr - never mind the Hobby - whats this about a spotted fly?? When Where Why how etc etc

Hi Rob
Sorry about the Hobby looked as though it came from the over the east side only picked it up as it went past where the Sp Fly was then turned and headed south

Also Skylarks 3 Groups South 10,8,14
4 Swallows and a possible White Wagtail dropped in
Lots of of Sheep on the Hill and a Range Rover

Cheers Jimmy

-- Edited by j meadows on Sunday 27th of September 2009 08:31:59 PM

Sunday 27 September 2009
14:30-15:something
Lily Lane Farm:

7 Mistle Thrush
a few Mipit and Linnet
Pied Wagtail and Skylark heard
several Robin
3 Grey Partridge
3 Jay
2 Magpie
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel

I got a text from Mr Meadows this morning, he'd seen a Hobby fly south past Lily Lane Farm. I was at the other end of the M62 unfortunately, and there was no sign of it this afternoon. I haven't seen a single Hobby in GM all year!

Slammed on the brakes on the way home from work to check out 2 low flying common buzzard giving cracking views over the car park,also of note 10 (is this a flock) common
buzzard in the distance over abram flashes

cheers geoff

60 Meadow Pipits, 10+ Pied Wagtails, Snipe flushed, Buzzard, Lily Lane Farm horse fields this afternoon.

13 Meadow Pipits flew south in 20 minutes 0900-0920hrs today, plus others in the fields

-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 24th of September 2009 07:13:07 PM

Thursday 24 September 2009
07:40-08:40
Lily Lane Farm:

1 Whinchat
1 Willow Warbler
a group of 32 Swallows over south
10 Skylark over
plenty of Mipits
5 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail over
8+ Robin
3 Song Thrush
4 Grey Partridge
1 Kestrel

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 24th of September 2009 09:20:56 AM

Wednesday 23 September 2009

Lily Lane Farm @ 14:00ish:

1 juv Yellow Wagtail with c20 Pied Wagtail and about 10 Meadow Pipit. Also 3 Robin, a Song Thrush, a Greenfinch, a Kestrel, 3 Snipe(over) and a small flock of corvids including Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Rook and Magpie.

Phil Owen wrote:

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Wouldn't mind taking a look at the Whinchats so can anyone give me directions please??

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Phil, click this LINK for Google map showing exact location of Whinchat. Cheers. Rob

both Whinchat still present at 18:00

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 21st of September 2009 06:03:01 PM

21/9/09 Midday

Besides the 2 Whinchats, other sightings at Lily Lane Farm included:

1 Buzzard
1 Snipe over
3 Grey Partridge
18 Mistle Thrushes
10+ Pied Wagtails
6 Linnets
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Whitethroat
1 Kestrel
7 Robins
1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron and 5 Canada Geese over, heading for Three Sisters.

(Phil, A-Z page 105 G2)

Wouldn't mind taking a look at the Whinchats so can anyone give me directions please??

Monday 21 September 2009

2 Whinchat present at Lily Lane Farm at 12:10. Info thanks to Ian Woosey.

Sunday 20 September 2009

Lily Lane Farm at 18:00ish:
1 Whinchat
1 Whitethroat
18 Mistle Thrush
2 Song Thrush
a few Blackbird
several Robin
8+ Pied Wagtail
a Couple of Mipits
Greenfinches, Goldfinches and a lone Chaffinch

7 am 10.30ish, raptor watch total 3 buzzards 2 kestrel from the top of the hill that would give a commanding view in good weather,loads of birds seen but all run of the mill and not one single distant,vauge hint of an osprey

cheers geoff

Tuesday 15 September 2009
about 14:00 at Lily Lane Farm:
1 Wheatear
3 Linnet
6 Pied Wagtails
1 Song Thrush (on Saturday there were 7 Song Thrushes sat on a wire together)
and a large flock of 70+ House Martins and Swallows.

A Woodpigeon cull was taking place near Rose Farm. I understand that people justify the killing of these birds on the grounds that they are pests. But the murderer in question here was flying a woodpigeon lookalike kite to entice the birds to the field. How can they be a pest if you are willingly encouraging them to be on your land?!?!

Early morning walk from Lily Lane farm to the arse end of three sisters and back

crows,rooks,wood pigeons,gulls etc but very enjoyable,linnet,2 robins having a domestic
2 meadow pipits,2 jays,4 mistle thrush,some pied wagtails and mr thorpe on his travels.

cracking little walk

cheers geoff

Thursday 10 September 2009
14:00ish
Lily Lane Farm:

1 Wheatear
c20 Meadow Pipit (new in)
c20 Pied Wagtail
c15 Linnet
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
2 Jay
2 Jackdaw
9 Carrion Crow
a few Starlings
only one or two Swallows today.

Also 2 sparrowhawks
3 Buzzards
at least 4 Kestrels in the area

Rob Thanks for putting the postings on

Cheers Jimmy

Wednesday 09 September 2009

2 Hobbies to the east of the A58 at about 14:20 this afternoon. Also this morning: 3 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear and 7 Grey Partridge at Lilly Lane Farm. All info thanks to Jimmy Meadows.

Tuesday 08 September 2009

Early afternoon @ Lilly Lane Farm:
3 Yellow Wagtails (2ad, 1juv) along with twenty-odd Pied Wagtails in the large horse paddock just west of the orange fence.

Monday 07 September 2009

the Wheatear was still present at 14:00 today, along the orange fence. Also 2 Yellow Wagtails had been seen earlier in the day.

To late for the spotted fly and wheatear(or I,m just crap at birding) but did get the yellow wagtail although it,s hard to see and flighty a nice record for the area.Also a lesser pale winged Jimmy Meadows knocking around.

cheers geoff

Sunday 06 September 2009
late morning at Lilly Lane Farm:

a Spotted Flycatcher on fence that runs between Lilly Lane Farm and Lilly Farm (the one that the Swallows always perch on)
1 Wheatear
1 Yellow Wagtail (male) with the usual gang of Pied Wagtails
9 Grey Partridge

just realised I put yesterdays (and todays until I edited it) post as August, oops

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 6th of September 2009 05:09:22 PM

Saturday 05 August 2009

2 Yellow Wagtails (1fem, 1juv) dropped into the Lilly Lane Farm horse paddocks at 12:40, but flew high NW at 13:00ish. Also present c30 Pied Wagtail and a single Linnet.

Wednesday 02 September 2009

This evening, on the now rather waterlogged horse paddocks at Lilly Lane Farm:
35+ Pied Wagtail
4 Grey Partridge
1 Swift with c30 Swallows and a few House Martins
lots of rain.

Monday 31 August 2009

No sign of any Yellow Wags today, but there were at least 60 Pied Wagtails and a few Linnets and Goldfinch.

Yesterday (Sunday) 2 Grey Wagtails flew over heading north, completing a "wagtail hatrick", just waiting for the Citrine now

This morning 2 juv Yellow Wagtails in horse paddocks but blending in well
up to 6 Willow Tits
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Green Sandpiper mobbing the Buzzard then went off south
1 Kingfisher
met up with Judith + Rob Thorpe

Cheers Jimmy

-- Edited by j meadows on Sunday 30th of August 2009 06:31:53 PM

Saturday 29 August 2009

3 juv Yellow Wagtails with c30 Pied Wagtails at Lilly Lane Farm early afternoon.

Thursday 27 August 2009

this afternoon @ Lilly Lane Farm:

2 juv Yellow Wagtails with 40+ Pied Wagtails amongst the horses.
1 Wheatear
c50 Swallow
3 Linnet and lots of Gloldfinch.

Sunday 16 August 2009
early afternoon @ Lilly Lane Farm:

1 Wheatear
40+ Mistle Thrush
c30 Pied Wagtail
lots of Goldfinch and lots of Swallows.

Barn Owl seen again Mon evening 8pm hunting with success on the east side of the A58 at Viridor close to the railway lines.
sorry for late post.
Cheers Keith.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of July 2009 10:16:37 PM

Pair of Buzzards and a pair of Grey Partridge tonite

Long tailed tits seem to have done OK this year - a flock of c32 on the west side. Also 1 barn owl near the entrance and approx 25 swallows over looking like they were heading for a roost somewhere in the Abram area.

them flies are terrible on the east side. even when there isnt one stuck to me Im paranoid about them, so im constantly slapping my arms and head all the way around.

Thanks Mike

Only problem is I dont seem to be able to keep to my own motto.

A quick visit this morning produced ...not a lot except a couple of Sedge Warblers singing on the Eastern side, the usual Meadow Pipits, Willow Warblers etc AND HUNDREDS OF BL***Y CLEGGS. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS VISCIOUS LITTLE INSECT????

They laugh in the face of Jungle Formula repellent and seemingly brush off the firmest smack. I clobbered one on the missus leg - it flew off, she clobbered me back complaining the smack hurt more than the bite.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 5th of July 2009 09:22:15 PM

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 5th of July 2009 09:22:36 PM

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 5th of July 2009 09:23:15 PM

Viridor Wood; - sounds like a name derived from an epic fantasy adventure?

Craig, - I do like your slogan, "Nobody on their deathbed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work."
During my many idle moments recently, I've been pondering on whether the converse might be true; - "Nobody at work ever wished they'd spend more time on their deathbed."
It could conceivably be true latterly of a few individual bankers/politicians?

(How can you tell things are a bit quiet in Durham presently?)

Cheers,
Mike P

Brian - sorry. Should have thanked you for your earlier post with the locations. I was busy feeling sorry for myself.

saw it approx 10pm by the car park as i pulled up. then it flew further over the east side somewhere.

GS woodpecker earlier in the day on the west side.

Will you all please stop seeing the Barn Owl. Thankyou


-- Edited by Craig Higson on Thursday 2nd of July 2009 11:04:30 PM

Barn Owl hunting just to the west of A58 (across road from car park) at 21:45 tonight.
2 Grasshopper Warblers and 2 Whitethroat heard.
Lots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading over NW.

Craig, the little owl was just perched at the top of a tree when I was walking down the long straight path in the centre.

The tawny owl, when i saw it hunting was on the far right hand side in the open area, just after you take a sharp right and go under that big tree. I hid in those trees to watch it and got some great views. But the other times when I have seen it, it has just been flying over.

With the barn owl you just have to walk the full circuit and see if it turns up. Ive seen it in various places. It does seem to like the horse stable side though.

The loud noises were late on yes about 10.30 - 11pm. dont laugh at me if it turns out to be a chicken or something!

Brian Harding wrote:

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there was some pretty loud repetitive calling coming from lily lane farm/riding stables last night about 10.45pm, but I couldnt see what was making the noise. could have been an owl i guess.

i also heard it coming from that small pond oppposite the horse fields a few nights ago but couldnt see anything then either.

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Where abouts were the little and tawny owls Brian? I'm presuming the barn owl was over the horse paddocks, and I'd guess the Little owl must be sitting on a farm building (cliche)? Not sure about the Tawny though?

is it always so late when you are hearing this 'call'? Might have to put off the dog walk till very late.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Wednesday 1st of July 2009 09:07:41 PM

there was some pretty loud repetitive calling coming from lily lane farm/riding stables last night about 10.45pm, but I couldnt see what was making the noise. could have been an owl i guess.

i also heard it coming from that small pond oppposite the horse fields a few nights ago but couldnt see anything then either.