Spent a couple of hours yesterday -Tuesday- walking a circuit from home in Myddleton Lane, over the fields at Arbury, past Peel Hall, round the Flash and back home. Some reasonable counts included: 2 Willow Tits (near Peel Hall and my third record this year), 15 Grey Partridge, 22 House Sparrows, 121 Collared Doves (half around Peel Hall and the other half feeding on the recently ploughed field next to the Flash), 18 G.C. Grebes, 6 Skylarks, 25 Meadow Pipits, 7 Stock Doves, 145 B. H. Gulls, 11 L.B-B. Gulls etc.
Cheers David
DavidBowman said
Sun Sep 25 6:44 PM, 2011
Last couple of hours before dusk - nothing exciting so did some counts of the regular birds: Swallow 29, Yellowhammer 5, Common Buzzard 6, Kestrel 1, Collared Dove 28, House Sparrow 10, Jackdaw 48, Rook 6, Starling 30, Mute Swan 4, G.C.Grebe 16, Wigeon 1, Mallard 65, Coot 51, Little Grebe 4.
On the stubble field adjacent to the Flash the Grey Partridge numbers were a little lower, with 37 present.
Cheers
David
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Sep 18 4:22 PM, 2011
LATE PM COMMON BUZZARD-5 WIGEON-1 ECLIPSE MALE-FIRST OF WINTER HERE FOR ME LITTLE GREBE-7 TUFTED-35 GREAT CRESTED GREBE-25 MALLARD-65 COOT-62 KESTREL-3
DavidBowman said
Thu Sep 15 6:02 PM, 2011
Another good Grey Partridge count at dusk last night, with c.57 counted, one large group of c.40 and another covey of 17.
Cheers
David
DavidBowman said
Tue Sep 13 3:53 PM, 2011
Two Black Terns present at 3.30pm today.
Cheers
David
DavidBowman said
Sun Sep 11 5:40 PM, 2011
Thanks for the info John/Ian - it was still showing well at 5.30 pm.
Cheers David Bowman
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Sep 11 4:25 PM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Single Black Tern at 3:15 today.
Info thanks to John Tymon
still present at 4.15
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Sep 11 3:25 PM, 2011
Single Black Tern at 3:15 today.
Info thanks to John Tymon
DavidBowman said
Sat Sep 10 10:42 PM, 2011
Quick stop on my way back from doing an HLS survey at Rixton (see Rixton thread for highlights). Waterbird numbers were similar to yesterday but it was nice to sit in the sunshine and watch raptors over the flash. A juvenile Hobby was soaring high overhead, while 5 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and 3 Sparrowhawks made up the numbers.
Cheers
David Bowman
DavidBowman said
Fri Sep 9 5:49 PM, 2011
Dashed down to HG Flash for an hour at 3.00pm. 3 Common Terns hawking the water, GC Grebes increased to 27 and Little Grebes now 7. Nice to meet John down there, too.
Cheers
David
DavidBowman said
Fri Sep 9 1:49 PM, 2011
Just been looking in BWP to see if I could shed any further light on the size of this Grey Partridge count. BWP says that typical winter covies number 10-15 birds, sometimes even getting as high as 20-25 birds. This accords with my field experience, where I would regard a covey of 20+ as exceptional. As Grey Partridge winter flocks are highly territorial it may be that (if there are no releases of birds for shooting) the feeding is particularly good in the spot where I saw them - or that food is being put out, though I didn't see any evidence of this.
Cheers David
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 9 12:55 PM, 2011
Yep, magnificent count and sight either way. Let's hope the GM mosses might produce some similar coveys this year then
DavidBowman said
Fri Sep 9 12:16 PM, 2011
Thanks for the replies. Im used to birding in other arable areas of Manchester and Cheshire and struggling to see more than one or two small covies in a morning. To walk the HG Flash area and see 67 and then another part of Winwick and see another 60 just seemed unreal. Within a couple of miles of my house there are at least 200 Grey Partridges!! Just seemed too good to be true - particularly as there seem to be no real areas of "set-aside" or Higher Level Stewardship farmland to mitigate against declining breeding. Whatever, its just good to see them thriving
Cheers
David
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Sep 9 11:24 AM, 2011
I agree with Mike, when grey partridge are disturbed (harvesting, shooting, etc.) coveys will sometimes 'pack' - several coveys making up one huge flock. Once the disturbance has subsided the birds disperse and resume their normal covey size. Greys seem to have done particularly well this year around Winwick Lane/Lowton area. If someone is releasing them I haven't seen any release pens anywhere - for greys one would expect to see small A-frame pens containing 10-15 birds in the middle of fields. There are no large shoots in the Winwick area as far as I know but it's possible someone (the falconer Mike mentioned in a previous post for instance) may be releasing birds on a small scale.
Mike Baron said
Fri Sep 9 8:38 AM, 2011
Ian
I have been picking up a covey of up to 40 birds there for several weeks. Having watched this covey and others though, this is a loose coalition of birds which constantly breaks up and reforms with the size continuously changing. I saw the covey of 35 or so at the time the fields opposite were cut and several other coveys were also present - eventually all flew together in the same field to give a flock of 53 birds - presumably the same lot.
I made a note of watching the Winwick coveys last autumn / winter and found that rarely were the numbers consistent and I regularly saw birds transferring from one covey to another. Also, usually in hard weather, the coveys would fragment more but earlier in the season there seems to be a greater tendency to form large flocks.
Curiously there are few birds at Waterworks Lane / Highfield Lane this year but loads at Barrow lane.
Cheers
Mike
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 8 11:38 PM, 2011
I can barely believe I missed that first time round. 54 in one flock (ok, covey) is enormous nowadays surely? I'm not sure what the state of play is in Cheshire but in GM this would be a county record. Our county is record is of 52 way back in Jaunary 1985 but bearing in mind they were considerably commoner back then this HGP count is surely highly significant?
Certainly worth some further enquiries with nearby farmers or gamekeepers, perhaps they've even had a tremendous natural breeding season?
DavidBowman said
Thu Sep 8 10:46 PM, 2011
Hi, re the large numbers of Grey Partridge - it just seems a bit odd to see a group of 54 allowing such a close approach without flying - not something I've seen before in 40 years of birding
Cheers
David Bowman
Rick Hall said
Thu Sep 8 10:40 PM, 2011
I saw some sort of partridge/pheasant up in Pilling the other day. It had a ring through it's bill so it couldn't close it's mouth. Seemed a bit barbaric really. What's it for?
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Sep 8 7:06 PM, 2011
Few shoots release grey partridge these days, indeed I think the Game Conservancy recommend not releasing greys in areas where they still exist, but rather put efforts into improving habitat and controlling predators. Greys can be difficult to rear, the best way to do it on a small scale is to use a broody bantam, which are in short supply these days! They're difficult to release too as they need to integrate quickly into a wild covey, or be adopted by a 'barren' (non-breeding) pair - those poults that remain unadopted will almost certainly die. Most shoots opt for the easy option of releasing redlegs, which are easy to rear, a doddle to release, and seem to thrive (although not necessarily breed) anywhere!
Mike Baron said
Thu Sep 8 6:28 PM, 2011
Hi David
I have not known the local farmers to release GP's here. They do breed regularly and well here and I have seen quite a few juvs this autumn. One of the farmers feeds the birds - or more accurately allows a local falconer to feed them and this is where the "sport" is.
Mike
DavidBowman said
Thu Sep 8 11:32 AM, 2011
Hi everyone, did my usual walk from home in Myddleton Lane, early this morning (6.00am!). Crossed the fields at Arbury, past Peel Hall, round the Flash and back to the house. Nothing too unusual but good counts of commoner stuff: Hobby 1 (hunting hirundines over the Flash), Grey Partridge 67 (from their behaviour, I'd guess a lot had been released for shooting?), Canada Geese 2, Pochard 1m, Common Buzzard 13 (feeding on ploughed field at Arbury), Wren 4, Robin 7, Blackbird 6, Blackcap 10, Chiffchaff 2, House Sparrow 60 (leaving two roosts in Radley Lane), Starling 10, Pied Wagtail 1, Collared Dove 29, Kestrel3, Jackdaw 79 and Rook 36 (feeding on field by Midhops Farm), House Martin 45, Swallow 10, G.C. Grebe 22, Little Grebe 5, Grey Heron 2, Mallard 65 and Coot 51.
Cheers
David Bowman
DavidBowman said
Wed Sep 7 10:04 PM, 2011
Hi Alan. How's life these days? It would be good to catch up with you again. We're down at Woolston every Saturday if you ever want to come over.
Cheers
David
DavidBowman said
Wed Sep 7 10:02 PM, 2011
Thanks Mike, I'll keep an eye out for you. I've obviously been a bit lucky, as I've now had two Greenshank sightings at HG Flash, both in the past couple of weeks. Just pot luck, given the level of disturbance, particularly when the weather's nice
Cheers
David
Mike Baron said
Wed Sep 7 9:26 PM, 2011
Hello David
Welcome to Winwick (where I live) and HGF. John is spot on about the Greenshank - in nearly 6 years of watching this place I have only seen one before. Most waders in truth are flushed quite quickly by dog walkers. Hopefully see you around HGF sometime.
Mike
Alan Warford said
Wed Sep 7 8:08 PM, 2011
Hi Dave
Welcome to the forum, long time no see, not been to the Eyes for a while. Will try to get there or HG some time soon to visit Dave S and yourself. Then maybe drag you up Winter Hill. cheers.
DavidBowman said
Wed Sep 7 5:39 PM, 2011
Will do, John and no doubt our paths will cross at some point!
Cheers
David
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Sep 7 4:58 PM, 2011
DavidBowman wrote:
Hi everyone. I moved to Winwick in February of this year and have been birding HG Flash regularly (plus surrounding area). Only just learned about his forum, so will try and post regularly. Starting with today! 1 Greenshank, 5 Little Grebes, 2 Kestrels, 66 Mallard, 2 Teal, 4 Stock Doves, 250 Wood Pigeons, 14 Collared Doves, 36 Tufted, 4 Lesser Black-backs, 1 Comon Gull, 12 BH Gull, 63 Coot, 23 GC Grebes, 5 Sand Martins, 30 Swallows and c.140 House Martins. The hirundines dropped in for an hour before, mainly, moving on. The Greenshank was eventually flushed by the inevitable dog-walker!
Cheers David Bowman
Welcome to the forum And as a houghton green regular,I can say that the greenshank is a beltin record as Greenshank are very rare at the pool,more or less the same this aft with plenty hurrundines,but 6 little grebe and 3 common Buzzard. Keep PostingJohn
DavidBowman said
Wed Sep 7 2:55 PM, 2011
Hi everyone. I moved to Winwick in February of this year and have been birding HG Flash regularly (plus surrounding area). Only just learned about his forum, so will try and post regularly. Starting with today! 1 Greenshank, 5 Little Grebes, 2 Kestrels, 66 Mallard, 2 Teal, 4 Stock Doves, 250 Wood Pigeons, 14 Collared Doves, 36 Tufted, 4 Lesser Black-backs, 1 Comon Gull, 12 BH Gull, 63 Coot, 23 GC Grebes, 5 Sand Martins, 30 Swallows and c.140 House Martins. The hirundines dropped in for an hour before, mainly, moving on. The Greenshank was eventually flushed by the inevitable dog-walker!
Cheers David Bowman
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Sep 6 12:43 PM, 2011
late am/early pm dabchick-6 common buzzard-3 kestrel-3 teal-1f plus the usuals
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Sep 5 5:00 PM, 2011
late pm sparrowhawk-1 Common Buzzard-2 lots of sand martin and house martin through little grebe-6 great crested grebe -c20 Kestrel-1 Teal-1f plus the usuals
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Sep 4 5:36 PM, 2011
late pm dabchick-6 common buzzard-8 in the air at once black headed gull-125 great crested grebe-23 tufted duck-c30 coot-c50 kestrel-2 sand martin -30+ through south swallow -50+ through south plenty mallard
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Sep 3 5:04 PM, 2011
late pm lesser black backed gulls-interesting passage of over 300 birds in half an hour,in from the north,landing ,bathing and then off south,no daupt to richmond bank. at one point there were 136 on the water ,which is the highest number I can remember on the pool dabchick-4 buzzard-1 plus the usuals
Mike Baron said
Fri Sep 2 8:41 PM, 2011
2 Ruff flew in at dusk - still present when I left
Mike Baron said
Mon Aug 29 11:20 AM, 2011
This morning
Juvenile Little Ringed Plover 4 Little Grebes 25 Great Crested Grebes 62 Coot 45 Tufted Duck 40+ Swallow 8 House Martin 7 Sand Martin 56 Collared Doves
Yesterday
Wheatear (male) 53 Grey Partridges (coveys of 35, 5, 7 and 6) 2 Buzzards (one pale bird with pristine white rump - one to be careful of in a couple of months) 2 Kestrels
A flock of 200+ House Sparrows has been present for several weeks
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Aug 28 4:04 PM, 2011
5 LITTLE GREBE 20 GREAT CRESTED GREBE TEAL-2 TUFTED DUCK CORMORANT SAND MARTIN WOOD PIGEON APPROX 500 ON FIELDS NEAR THE FARM SHOP.
Mike Baron said
Mon Jul 11 10:56 AM, 2011
Black-necked Grebe present this morning plus juvenile Little Grebe
Mike Baron said
Sat Jul 9 8:43 AM, 2011
6 Common Sandpipers this morning plus 3 Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover and 32 Tufted Ducks
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Jul 8 8:56 PM, 2011
Mike Baron wrote:
This morning:
Ringed Plover Little Ringed Plover Common Sandpiper 24 Great Crested Grebes 20 Coots 2 Pochards 2 Canada Geese 25 Tufted Ducks local family of Kestrels - pair plus 4 juveniles
plus this aft 1 little grebe 4 pochard
Mike Baron said
Fri Jul 8 12:11 PM, 2011
This morning:
Ringed Plover Little Ringed Plover Common Sandpiper 24 Great Crested Grebes 20 Coots 2 Pochards 2 Canada Geese 25 Tufted Ducks local family of Kestrels - pair plus 4 juveniles
Mike Baron said
Mon Jul 4 9:06 PM, 2011
This evening
Grey Partridge - large covey of at least 40 birds flew up in south field Yellow Wagtail Common Sandpiper 21 Great Crested Grebes 20 Coot 17 Tufted Duck 3 Pochard 5 Grey Herons (4 juveniles) plus usual stuff
6 BNG's this morning plus Common Sandpiper and White Wagtail
Joey Eccles said
Sat Apr 2 9:39 PM, 2011
Part of a bumper Cheshire day
meadow pipit over 5 black necked grebe 3 kestrel round a nestbox on the way
apart from that sightings were exactly the same as Rory's including 3 pairs of grey partridge
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Saturday 2nd of April 2011 09:47:43 PM
Rory Newton said
Sat Apr 2 6:44 PM, 2011
There were four Black Necked Grebes today along with a Skylark and Sand martins. There was also a flock of about twenty Linnets on the bank feeding alongside Pied Wagtails. There was a Wheatear just down the road along with some Yellowhammers and Grey Partridges. Did not have any luck on seeing a Corn Bunting though. :http://www.sparkimg.com/emoticons/disbelief.gif
Happy Birding!
Tony Coatsworth said
Fri Apr 1 7:33 PM, 2011
2 BN Grebes and about 6 GC Grebes - 1pm today
Patrick Earith said
Wed Mar 30 7:54 AM, 2011
Called in around 6pm yesterday. Could only see 3 of the Black Necked Grebes, but, they were in close to shore and would have made great photos - had I remembered the camera that is!
Also 5 GC Grebes, 20 or so Wigeon and Tufteds
Mike Baron said
Sun Mar 27 8:17 PM, 2011
6 Little Ringed Plovers this evening plus 5 Black-necked Grebes
26 Sand Martins yesterday morning
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Mar 27 4:48 PM, 2011
30 whooper swan flying west over pool at 4pm
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 27th of March 2011 08:43:32 PM
Cheers
David
On the stubble field adjacent to the Flash the Grey Partridge numbers were a little lower, with 37 present.
Cheers
David
COMMON BUZZARD-5
WIGEON-1 ECLIPSE MALE-FIRST OF WINTER HERE FOR ME
LITTLE GREBE-7
TUFTED-35
GREAT CRESTED GREBE-25
MALLARD-65
COOT-62
KESTREL-3
Cheers
David
Cheers
David
Cheers
David Bowman
still present at 4.15
Info thanks to John Tymon
Cheers
David Bowman
Cheers
David
Cheers David
Cheers
David
I have been picking up a covey of up to 40 birds there for several weeks. Having watched this covey and others though, this is a loose coalition of birds which constantly breaks up and reforms with the size continuously changing. I saw the covey of 35 or so at the time the fields opposite were cut and several other coveys were also present - eventually all flew together in the same field to give a flock of 53 birds - presumably the same lot.
I made a note of watching the Winwick coveys last autumn / winter and found that rarely were the numbers consistent and I regularly saw birds transferring from one covey to another. Also, usually in hard weather, the coveys would fragment more but earlier in the season there seems to be a greater tendency to form large flocks.
Curiously there are few birds at Waterworks Lane / Highfield Lane this year but loads at Barrow lane.
Cheers
Mike
Certainly worth some further enquiries with nearby farmers or gamekeepers, perhaps they've even had a tremendous natural breeding season?
Cheers
David Bowman
I have not known the local farmers to release GP's here. They do breed regularly and well here and I have seen quite a few juvs this autumn. One of the farmers feeds the birds - or more accurately allows a local falconer to feed them and this is where the "sport" is.
Mike
Nothing too unusual but good counts of commoner stuff:
Hobby 1 (hunting hirundines over the Flash), Grey Partridge 67 (from their behaviour, I'd guess a lot had been released for shooting?), Canada Geese 2, Pochard 1m, Common Buzzard 13 (feeding on ploughed field at Arbury), Wren 4, Robin 7, Blackbird 6, Blackcap 10, Chiffchaff 2, House Sparrow 60 (leaving two roosts in Radley Lane), Starling 10, Pied Wagtail 1, Collared Dove 29, Kestrel3, Jackdaw 79 and Rook 36 (feeding on field by Midhops Farm), House Martin 45, Swallow 10, G.C. Grebe 22, Little Grebe 5, Grey Heron 2, Mallard 65 and Coot 51.
Cheers
David Bowman
Cheers
David
Cheers
David
Welcome to Winwick (where I live) and HGF. John is spot on about the Greenshank - in nearly 6 years of watching this place I have only seen one before. Most waders in truth are flushed quite quickly by dog walkers. Hopefully see you around HGF sometime.
Mike
Welcome to the forum, long time no see, not been to the Eyes for a while.
Will try to get there or HG some time soon to visit Dave S and yourself.
Then maybe drag you up Winter Hill. cheers.
Cheers
David
Welcome to the forum
And as a houghton green regular,I can say that the greenshank is a beltin record as Greenshank are very rare at the pool,more or less the same this aft with plenty hurrundines,but 6 little grebe and 3 common Buzzard.
Keep PostingJohn
Cheers
David Bowman
dabchick-6
common buzzard-3
kestrel-3
teal-1f
plus the usuals
sparrowhawk-1
Common Buzzard-2
lots of sand martin and house martin through
little grebe-6
great crested grebe -c20
Kestrel-1
Teal-1f
plus the usuals
dabchick-6
common buzzard-8 in the air at once
black headed gull-125
great crested grebe-23
tufted duck-c30
coot-c50
kestrel-2
sand martin -30+ through south
swallow -50+ through south
plenty mallard
lesser black backed gulls-interesting passage of over 300 birds in half an hour,in from the north,landing ,bathing and then off south,no daupt to richmond bank. at one point there were 136 on the water ,which is the highest number I can remember on the pool
dabchick-4
buzzard-1
plus the usuals
Juvenile Little Ringed Plover
4 Little Grebes
25 Great Crested Grebes
62 Coot
45 Tufted Duck
40+ Swallow
8 House Martin
7 Sand Martin
56 Collared Doves
Yesterday
Wheatear (male)
53 Grey Partridges (coveys of 35, 5, 7 and 6)
2 Buzzards (one pale bird with pristine white rump - one to be careful of in a couple of months)
2 Kestrels
A flock of 200+ House Sparrows has been present for several weeks
20 GREAT CRESTED GREBE
TEAL-2
TUFTED DUCK
CORMORANT
SAND MARTIN
WOOD PIGEON APPROX 500 ON FIELDS NEAR THE FARM SHOP.
plus this aft
1 little grebe
4 pochard
Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
24 Great Crested Grebes
20 Coots
2 Pochards
2 Canada Geese
25 Tufted Ducks
local family of Kestrels - pair plus 4 juveniles
Grey Partridge - large covey of at least 40 birds flew up in south field
Yellow Wagtail
Common Sandpiper
21 Great Crested Grebes
20 Coot
17 Tufted Duck
3 Pochard
5 Grey Herons (4 juveniles)
plus usual stuff
20 Great Crested Grebes
19 Tufted Ducks
9 Pochards
10 Coots
2 Canada Geese
6 Black-necked Grebes
2 Little Ringed Plover
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This evening 2 Swallows with 90+ Sand Martins
2 Swallows also yesterday evening
meadow pipit over
5 black necked grebe
3 kestrel round a nestbox on the way
apart from that sightings were exactly the same as Rory's including 3 pairs of grey partridge
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Saturday 2nd of April 2011 09:47:43 PM
26 Sand Martins yesterday morning
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 27th of March 2011 08:43:32 PM