A local mega today in the form of a singing Lesser Whitethroat about 100 metres behind our house.
Simon Warford said
Thu Mar 16 8:54 PM, 2017
Green Woodpecker present today at Darcy Lever GPs.
Simon Warford said
Tue May 17 12:36 PM, 2016
Today, mid-morning a male Cuckoo flew over Smith's Road near Smith's Lodge, heading in the direction of Crompton Lodges.
Simon Warford said
Sat Feb 20 1:03 PM, 2016
2 Oystercatcher back around Smith's Lodge this morning also 40 Tufted Duck.
Nearby 1 Jack Snipe and 2 Willow Tit.
Recently 500+ Jackdaws still roosting at the Gravel Pits.
Simon Warford said
Wed Jul 22 10:14 PM, 2015
2 Ring-necked Parakeets flew from Leverhulme Park towards Darcy Lever GP last week, also recently several Siskins over and 4 Willow Tits at the Gravel Pits.
Dragonfly sightings on other wildlife.
Simon Warford said
Thu Feb 26 6:09 PM, 2015
Curlew heard over the house at 01:10 this morning.
Up to 168 Magpies in the Gravel Pit roost this last week.
Chris brown said
Sat Feb 7 11:07 PM, 2015
Hi Simon, I have been down to the gravel pits regularly. I was just wondering where abouts I might be able to see the woodcock.
Thanks
Chris
Simon Warford said
Sat Feb 7 9:39 PM, 2015
Recently up to 160 Magpies and 450+ Jackdaws roosting at the Gravel Pits. Also up to 20 Teal, 14 Tufted Ducks, 4 Goosander, 100+ Redwing and 3 Woodcock.
Simon Warford said
Fri Nov 1 4:29 AM, 2013
Some excellent southerly Vis Mig yesterday 30/10/2013, between 6.30am & 7.15am -
c30 Whooper Swan east at 6.55am 700 Woodpigeon 120 Redwing 220 Fieldfare 25 Jackdaw 2 Goosander.
Simon Warford said
Mon Mar 18 1:52 AM, 2013
Single Chiffchaff singing this afternoon.
Also recently up to 15 Teal on Darcy Lever Gravel pits, 2 Willow Tits and the roost has held up to 500 Jackdaw & 220 Magpie.
Ian Boote said
Tue Nov 13 8:10 AM, 2012
On the way to Moses Gate at Hacken lane in Darcy Lever I saw a Mute Swan being escorted or shepherded from the works back to the lodges some distance away. One flapping Swan strutting down the pavement and six diligent staff in an expert surrounding posse making sure said swan had a safe return. Well done to all concerned.
Simon Warford said
Sat Oct 13 8:26 PM, 2012
This afterrnoon,
2 Dipper Leverhilme Park, one singing. 1 Nuthatch 6 Swallow late on flying low south 3 of the highest flying Jays I have ever seen heading south. 450 Jackdaws at usual roost.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 13th of October 2012 08:26:37 PM
Simon Warford said
Sun Dec 13 4:49 PM, 2009
3.00-4.15PM Darcy Lever GP roost:
Jackdaw - 895 Woodpigeon - 300 Magpie - 175
Plus, GS Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest, 20 Redwings.
Tony Hill said
Wed Dec 9 11:58 AM, 2009
500+ Jackdaw, mainly in trees near Radcliffe rd. At Darcy Lever Gravel pits, 900 Woodpigeon, 55 Magpie.
Simon Warford said
Mon Dec 7 8:15 AM, 2009
Judith, we thought they maybe of interest, particularly the Jackdaw roost, this is an area we used to watch very regular before my Elton days, but its only the last year or so we noticed large numbers of Jackdaws in the area and only this year we have seen Woodpigeons roosting there. Most of the birds were coming in from the direction of Bolton.
Judith Smith said
Sun Dec 6 11:11 PM, 2009
Those ar ereally useful records from a rarely-visited area - thanks Simon and Alan.
Simon Warford said
Sun Dec 6 5:00 PM, 2009
6/12/09
Me and Warfy senior checked out Darcy Lever Gravel Pits this afternoon to count the birds coming into roost, counting was awkward as it is difficult to get a suitable vantage point, but we noted the following-
Jackdaws - 798 (all coming in from the west and landing in adjacent fields before whirling around in one massive flock before roosting in the gravel pits) Woodpigeons - 520 (mainly in from the west but counting these was hard, could have easily have been triple this number) Stock Dove - at least 1 Magpie - 113 (actual number probably well over 200 as coming in from all directions) Collared Dove - approx 45 roosting nearby
Will visit again soon..
Simon Warford said
Sun Dec 21 2:24 PM, 2008
male Blackcap in my garden feeding on block of fat, 2.15pm
Simon Warford said
Mon Dec 3 6:12 PM, 2007
3/12/2007 Mid Afternoon
31 Snipe at one site and 5 at another.
10 Goosander,3 Little Grebes and several Teal on River Croal near hacken bridge.
Dipper Lever bridge.
73 Lapwings on fields south of Radcliffe Road and not on roofs.
and one leaky welly
-- Edited by warfy at 18:15, 2007-12-03
Simon Warford said
Sat Nov 24 1:45 PM, 2007
24/11/2007 Mid am
No sign of R N Parakeets in Leverhulme Park but I will keep looking, my friend Chris Marston had one last weekend in nearby G Lever.
2 Jack Snipe have returned to favoured areas. Shame one of the best sites now has houses on it.
Alan Warford said
Fri Oct 5 2:06 PM, 2007
A rarity for Darcy Lever today a Buzzard over Smiths Lodge/Raikes Lane area 1pm from the car!
Simon Warford said
Fri Aug 3 7:34 PM, 2007
3/8/2007 Late Afternoon
2 Juv Dippers & 3 Juv Grey Wags from Lever Bridge still.
3 Common Tern - Smiths Lodge.
Simon Warford said
Sat Jul 28 4:31 PM, 2007
28/07/2007 - Mid Afternoon
No sign or sound of last weeks reported Ring Necked Parakeet in Leverhulme Park, dont know who reported it, i will keep an open mind even though i have had various escaped parrots in the park in previous years,
Did have -
4+ Dippers, 2 well grown juveniles feeding from Darcy Lever bridge on wier(very easy), and 2 adults in Leverhulme Park itself plus another juvenile which may well have been one of the earlier ones moved upstream.
Grey Wagtail - 2 adults and 1 juvenile from Darcy Lever bridge
Kingfisher
Garden Warbler
Sparrowhawk
Jay
Bullfinch family party
Little Grebes - at least 3 on River Croal near Fogg Lane.
Smiths Lodge
0930hrs 29/02/24
10 species
2 x Goldeneye
5 x Tufted Duck
16 x Coot
4 x Mute Swan
4 x Canada Goose
2 x Mallard (pair, flew off towards Moses Gate)
8 x Goldfinch
5 x Magpie
2 x Black-headed Gull
-- Edited by Bryan Deighton on Thursday 29th of February 2024 02:58:54 PM
-- Edited by Bryan Deighton on Thursday 29th of February 2024 02:59:16 PM
Smiths Lodge
1500hrs 23/02/24
8 species
2 x Goldeneye
11 x Tufted Duck
15 x Coot
2 x Moorhen
1 x Great Crested Grebe
1 x Cormorant
5 x Mute Swan
3 x Canada Goose
Smiths Lodge
1400hrs 15/02/24
12 species
2 x Goldeneye
2 x Gadwall
19 x Tufted Duck
12 x Coot
2 x Moorhen
1 x Great Crested Grebe
1 x Cormorant
2 x Black-headed Gull
1 x Wood Pigeon
1 x Robin
1 x Blue Tit
4 x Mute Swan
0945hrs 01/02/24 - 10 minute look on way to Moses Gate
13 species
1 x Goldeneye (immature)
10 x Gadwall
16 x Tufted Duck (M&F pair)
21 x Coot
1 x Great Crested Grebe
17 x Black-headed Gull
1 x Wood Pigeon
1 x Robin
6 x Magpie
2 x Goosander (M & F)
3 x Greenfinch (in trees in track to farm opposite side of road)
14 x Canada Goose
4 x Mute Swan
Quick look on Smith's Lodge as I was passing at Lunchtime.
16 species
1 x Goldeneye (immature)
5 x Gadwall
2 x Tufted Duck (M&F pair)
22 x Coot
2 x Moorhen
1 x Great Crested Grebe
1 x Cormorant
1 x Black-headed Gull
2 x Wood Pigeon
3 x Feral Pigeon
1 x Blue Tit
1 x Robin
1 x Goldfinch
1 x Magpie
2 x Carrion Crow
Song thrush heard in woods at back but not seen
Quick 15 minute look on Smith's Lodge on the way to Moses Gate.
9 species
2 x Goldeneye (1 x female 1 x immature)
7 x Gadwall
13 x Tufted Duck
3 x Mute Swan
15 x Coot
1 x Moorhen
1 x Mallard
1 x Great Crested Grebe
1 x Cormorant
-- Edited by Bryan Deighton on Thursday 25th of January 2024 11:54:11 AM
This morning, 2 groups of Whooper Swans east over, approx 20 followed by a group of 9. Also well over 1000 Pink-footed Geese over east before 8.30am.
Nearby 1 Jack Snipe and 2 Willow Tit.
Recently 500+ Jackdaws still roosting at the Gravel Pits.
Dragonfly sightings on other wildlife.
Up to 168 Magpies in the Gravel Pit roost this last week.
c30 Whooper Swan east at 6.55am
700 Woodpigeon
120 Redwing
220 Fieldfare
25 Jackdaw
2 Goosander.
Also recently up to 15 Teal on Darcy Lever Gravel pits, 2 Willow Tits and the roost has held up to 500 Jackdaw & 220 Magpie.
2 Dipper Leverhilme Park, one singing.
1 Nuthatch
6 Swallow late on flying low south
3 of the highest flying Jays I have ever seen heading south.
450 Jackdaws at usual roost.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 13th of October 2012 08:26:37 PM
Darcy Lever GP roost:
Jackdaw - 895
Woodpigeon - 300
Magpie - 175
Plus, GS Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest, 20 Redwings.
Me and Warfy senior checked out Darcy Lever Gravel Pits this afternoon to count the birds coming into roost, counting was awkward as it is difficult to get a suitable vantage point, but we noted the following-
Jackdaws - 798 (all coming in from the west and landing in adjacent fields before whirling around in one massive flock before roosting in the gravel pits)
Woodpigeons - 520 (mainly in from the west but counting these was hard, could have easily have been triple this number)
Stock Dove - at least 1
Magpie - 113 (actual number probably well over 200 as coming in from all directions)
Collared Dove - approx 45 roosting nearby
Will visit again soon..
31 Snipe at one site and 5 at another.
10 Goosander,3 Little Grebes and several Teal on River Croal near hacken bridge.
Dipper Lever bridge.
73 Lapwings on fields south of Radcliffe Road and not on roofs.
and one leaky welly
-- Edited by warfy at 18:15, 2007-12-03
No sign of R N Parakeets in Leverhulme Park but I will keep looking, my friend Chris Marston had one last weekend in nearby G Lever.
2 Jack Snipe have returned to favoured areas. Shame one of the best sites now has houses on it.
2 Juv Dippers & 3 Juv Grey Wags from Lever Bridge still.
3 Common Tern - Smiths Lodge.