Monday 13th July provided a new species, when a Common Tern went over. I would have been oblivious to it, but for being alerted to it as it was so vocal. That was species number 70 here since the start of lockdown, so I can close the book on that, safe in the knowledge that I reached that neat round figure! Does not matter in the grand scheme of things...but trivia like that can be a good escape

The garden itself was added to early in lockdown, with the addition of borders, which have been appreciated by birds including a Blackbird pair collecting food and Robins that nested in the hedge. While typing this there are adult and juvenile House Sparrows finding plenty of something in there, presumably some sort of critters emerging in the wet conditions. Spending time creating the borders, along with fence painting, was interrupted by many a break to grab binoculars left on the bench, but it got finished eventually.

The extra time spent in the garden during full lockdown gave a much fuller picture of what was around than I would have ever realised otherwise from the usual casual observations. I had never spent a great deal of time looking at the old protected Sycamore at the end of the gardens towards the brook. I now realise that there is always something going on in the canopy of it. Great Tits nested there, but there has also been a constant flow of birds using it to collect food, especially during the long period when it had flowers, with their associated insect life. Fleeting visits would almost certainly have been missed under normal circumstances, such as a passage Whitethroat which dropped in to the tree, sang briefly and headed off northwards, or fleeting visits by Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on post-breeding dispersal.

The Garden Bird Race on 16th May was a good bit of fun and another challenge I could not resist. With updates through the day on Twitter from others around the country as well as a few GM birders it was a great event. I felt like a lightweight when I saw the number of hours put in by Rob Thorpe, who lived outside that day like a local version of Ray Mears, presumably foraging on aphids and earthworms. Or Simon Warford, who must have worked as an apprentice to Fred Dibnah at some point, putting his steeplejack expertise to good use to scale his roof with tripod and scope. I gather the evidence is printed for posterity in the current issue of Birdwatching magazine, along with the superb Mediterranean Gull photo from the day, to help put GM birding on the map.

Looking forward to a bit of vis-migging here through late summer in to autumn. Crossbills have already been over a couple of times and hopefully a Tree Pipit or two will do the same in the next few weeks. Beyond that, the Rowan planted last year has fruited for the first time. The bumper crop, a single bunch of berries, ought to get the Waxwings flooding in this winter

Keep safe and keep birding


-- Edited by dave broome on Wednesday 15th of July 2020 08:13:19 AM

So 2020 is a year that did not turn out as planned. Lockdown took a lot of getting used to and daily life will still be different to what used to be the norm. The COVID-19 lockdown blog was a great idea, adding a dimension to the strangeness of not being able to get out and about during spring. It gave a way of documenting the enforced extra time watching in and from the garden instead. Reading all of the contributions provided a picture of what was going on out there and gave a bit of context to sightings. This included in a wider context beyond our area when it came to the nocturnal passage of Common Scoter, reported literally as it happened on Twitter.

I found that starting the lockdown blog triggered a pleasantly addictive personal challenge as to what I could record from the garden. I have ended up recording sixty nine species since the start of lockdown. It is so tempting to carry on until that extra one, just to end it on a round figure . Other aspects of it included getting gripped off by other folk seeing Ospreys, a couple of probable species not quite clinched, not to mention being amazed by the amount of helium-filled litter floating through the airspace over Ashton-in-Makerfield, where it was dutifully recorded by Rob Thorpe .

Oystercatcher calling overnight. A Sparrowhawk went over carrying prey this morning. Juvenile Robin, Blackbird and min 15 House Sparrow in the garden. Blackcap and Wren singing. A couple of hoverfly species on the Roses including a large one photographed. Is that Scaeva pyrastri, Pied Hoverfly?

3 Linnet over early morning, Bullfinch calling by the brook, a Moorhen called on the brook and Blackcap singing

Monday 29th June - a juvenile Grey Wagtail was feeding on the driveway. The first time I have seen a Grey Wagtail down in the garden, though they are regularly over and in the vicinity and two juveniles were feeding further along the street at the weekend. A Sparrowhawk drifted over the garden in the evening. A Mistle Thrush also went over.

This morning a Wren has been feeding in the border, the first I have seen in the garden for a good while and the Blackcap continues to sing.

A fair bit of birdsong this evening. A Chaffinch was in song somewhere over near the churchyard/Parr Bridge, the first time for a while now. Other species in song were Wren, Song Thrush, Blackcap and Goldfinch, plus House Sparrows being vocal on the roofs. Two Swift were feeding. Three male Blackbird were in close proximity in the Sycamore. Two of them seemed to be having some kind of stand-off. One was following the other, the latter then perched facing the pursuer, with both wings hanging low, while shaking both wings and tail.

Decided I will continue this thread for one more week until further easing of lockdown on 4th July. Will be free then to drive to County Durham and have a socially-distanced meeting with government advisors, outside a pub, to compare notes on lockdown garden sightings...
A flock of 12 Crossbill went south this morning at 07:43. That was the first time Ive seen any here and is the sixty-ninth species from the garden since the start of lockdown.
An adult Cornorant had gone south-east earlier, a Kestrel went over and at least 12 Swift were feeding. A Blackcap continued singing and this evening a Goldfinch is singing in the Sycamore.

This morning a female Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in to the Sycamore from along the brook. It was only there for less than ten seconds before it was spooked by something (a Woodpigeon passing close by it I think) and dropped down back towards Hawthorns along the brook. This is the first one I have seen here, but was anticipated with habitat for them not far away.

A Grey Wagtail mobbed a passing Kestrel this morning over the garden. A Mistle Thrush could be heard mobbing something near the church not long afterwards. A Stock Dove flew north, the first in a while, but as with some other sightings probably down to my reduction in watching from the garden as much as anything. A Chiffchaff appeared in the Sycamore at the end of the gardens, silently chasing insects through the canopy. A Blackcap is still singing, also spending time in the Sycamore, with some gleaning of insects from the undersides of leaves between bouts of song. A Wren was singing along the brook and a Greenfinch went over.

-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 23rd of June 2020 07:40:24 AM

A Sparrowhawk went over this morning, mobbed by a Mistle Thrush. An Oystercatcher flew by calling and a Blackcap was in song still. A juvenile Robin was feeding in the garden and a family party of Long-tailed Tit went along the hedgerow. The usual pair of Blackbird were in the garden and the female collected a dead leaf and stem.
This evening a Song Thrush has been in song. A Dunnock was feeding in one of borders a few times and sang briefly.

Have spent much less time watching in and from the garden as when we were in full lockdown. However, until Boris gives the nod in a government daily briefing for UK birders to end garden lockdown watching it feels only right to carry on. A Buzzard passed through yesterday, mobbed by a Carrion Crow, the first I have seen for a while, though probably down to less time looking. House Sparrows numbers are increasing as more juveniles appear. Family parties have been scouring the lawn for emerging craneflies during the wet weather, juveniles hopping around with eight legs and a couple of wings dangling from their bills. Great Tit juveniles and adults are at the feeders regularly through the day and a flock of Long-tailed Tits passed along the hedge yesterday. A pair of Blackbird are collecting food for a nest somewhere close by in the Hawthorn hedge.
This morning a Moorhen called close by on the brook. Blackcap, Song Thrush, Goldfinch and Wren have all been in song so far today.

Oystercatcher over this evening. A family of fledged House Sparrow were in the garden with adults earlier, possibly catching craneflies, as I saw at least one emerging from the lawn today, where they had been searching. A pair of Blackbird are regularly gathering food from the borders. Song Thrush and Blackcap in song today.

On Saturday 13th June a male Kestrel was circling over the churchyard and then directly over the garden. A male Sparrowhawk passed over later. At least 20 Swift were around in the evening. A Song Thrush was back in song.

Today a Nuthatch appeared in the Sycamore near the brook, calling for a short while, before showing itself as it flew out of the tree and over our garden. This is the first time I have seen one here. Fortunate that they seem quite vocal in post-breeding dispersal, or I wouldnt have realised it was there.

A Blackcap has been continuing frequent sessions of song through the weekend. A Moorhen called this morning on the brook.

5 juvenile Great Tit were being fed by parents in the hedge early morning. What were presumably the same birds could then be heard on and off through the day as I worked, also a singing Blackcap. Other birds early morning included 7 Long-Tailed Tit which flew from the Sycamore and off over gardens at rooftop height. A Mallard and a Stock Dove went over and an adult male Greenfinch was feeding or collecting food in the very top of the Sycamore canopy. A juvenile Woodpigeon was sat lower down in the same tree and at least 15 House Sparrow were along the Hawthorn hedgerow.
This evening 2 Oystercatcher flew over and 4 Swift were feeding.

Approx 45 Canada Geese went low west a short distance south of here this evening, approaching loudly, but with only a short window of viewing to count them accurately in what was a dense flock.
25 House Martin were feeding. A Blackcap has been in song well in to this evening and adult Great Tits have been feeding fledged juveniles in the hedgerow.

Havent spent as much time watching from the garden this week. On Tuesday 2nd June a noisy flock of 25 Jackdaw came up from the churchyard - more birds than regularly there earlier in lockdown so maybe adults and fledged juvs? On the same day adult and juvenile Great Tits were in our hedgerow.

A Blackcap has been continuing to sing in the latter half of the week and still heard tonight.

This evening 2 Mistle Thrush were in the Sycamore near our garden. Plenty of activity in general in the tree, including a family party of Long-Tailed Tits that moved along the hedgerow through the garden and ended up lingering noisily around the Sycamore. Great views of crisp juveniles being fed by the adult birds. Adult and juvenile Great Tits were also around the canopy. A singing Goldfinch was in the same tree, as was a newly-fledged Woodpigeon. A few House Sparrows were gleaning insects from the uppermost, sunlit canopy. I briefly saw a Phylloscopus warbler low down in the tree. Neither Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler have been around lately, but Chiffchaff is by far the more regular here of the two species.
A stunning Lapwing, lit by the evening sun, flew low north towards nearby farmland.

Oystercatchers were calling this evening, prob 2 or 3 birds but not visible from the garden. A Linnet went south. 9 Swift and min 15 House Martin were feeding. Also some high speed chases in tight groups among the Swifts, at a low level through the estate over the brook.

A Whitethroat sang several times this morning not far away along the brook and a Linnet went over.
This evening at least two Oystercatcher were calling, though I couldnt see them from the garden, also a party of 27 House Martin were in a fairly tight group feeding quite high over the house. A Lesser Black-Backed Gull closely shadowed a drone which passed through the airspace over our house. The drone passed back over in the other direction not long afterwards without the Gull. A Song Thrush and a Wren were in song this evening.

38 Canada Geese flew west mid-morning yesterday, approaching noisily towards the house as I worked. 16 flew SE a short while later, several of them moulting secondary feathers. A male Sparrowhawk circling in the evening looked like the same bird seen a few days ago, missing an inner primary on one wing.
Blackcap still singing nearby this morning, a Dunnock also in song in the hedge and a Linnet over

-- Edited by dave broome on Friday 29th of May 2020 06:58:02 AM

A Blackcap has been in song for long periods the past couple of days and this morning, along the corridor of the brook and occasionally in the Sycamore at the end of the gardens. Who knows whether this has resumed singing from earlier in lockdown or whether it is new in? Either way it is a fantastic soundtrack to working from home.
A Stock Dove went south yesterday evening. Plenty of fledged House Sparrows around now.

-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 28th of May 2020 07:51:13 AM

Sunday 26th May in the evening a tight flock of approx 65 Starling came up off the estate south of us, presumably flushed by a male Sparrowhawk which then drifted over (moulting either the outer secondaries or inner primaries, would it be the latter?). The Starling flock broke up and of birds which came over our estate many were juvenile, including one group of about 20 which were entirely that.
Around a dozen House Martin were actively feeding low up and down over Honksford Brook, some species of critter presumably present in numbers. Maybe a Mayfly species, one of which was on one of our windows a few days ago.
3 Mallard went over noisily from the brook and 2 Grey Heron went south.
I was genuinely fooled in to thinking I had heard a Cuckoo for a second, while outside at the car. Before realising it was our old Swiss cuckoo clock inside

-- Edited by dave broome on Monday 25th of May 2020 07:32:11 AM

Not as much watching from the garden lately, but still staying alert, in phase two of lockdown.
Two Bullfinch flew low over the garden today, only my 4th record here in just over a year. Great Tits chicks are very loud in a nestbox on the nearby Sycamore (I mistakenly thought they had fledged recently when I didnt hear them one day).
Birds in song today included Greenfinch, Blackcap, Wren and Song Thrush. Three Swift were overhead this morning. Grey Wagtail was calling near the brook and Canada Geese were calling in flight nearby this morning.

Tawny Mining Bee and Red-Tailed Bumblebee in the garden this morning

A juvenile Robin was feeding in the garden today. The female Blackbird picked up the same clump of material again and seemed to take it this time. Constant sound from juvenile Starlings while I was inside working. Lots of racket from them at one point and as I looked out the window a Sparrowhawk was passing over nearby houses.

A Song Thrush down in the garden this evening was an all too infrequent occurrence.
Earlier a female Blackbird picked up a large clump of nest material, but for reasons known only to her decided to abandon it. At least one fledged Great Tit was in the hedge in the morning with parents, presumably from the nearby nestbox.

Saturday 16th May

Decided to join in the #GardenBirdRace as a bit of light relief and a personal challenge. Managed 37 species, with extended spells in the garden in the morning and late afternoon-early evening. Two species were new from the garden since the start of lockdown, taking that total to 66. One was the highlight of the day, great scope views of a Hobby soaring to the south of here before dropping down through an area where House Martins tend to feed. The other new species was an adult Common Gull which went through with 2 Black-Headed.

A Whitethroat singing in Hawthorns by the brook for a short while in the morning was only the second of the spring here. Great Tit young can now be heard in the nestbox on the Sycamore at the end of the gardens. Rooks continue to be vocal at the churchyard. One landed in the Sycamore, holding what appeared to be a full fat ball. It flew off as another Rook landed next to it.

There are plenty more fledged Starling accompanying adults, with others still flying over with leatherjackets dangling from their bills. All nesting on the older estate to the south rather than on the new housing.

Single Linnet went south twice in the morning and in the evening a very vocal group of four went over east, veering south. A Stock Dove went over in the evening towards the mosses. A total of 33 Lesser Black-Backed Gull were logged going west or north-west. One Herring Gull went over.

Main species not recorded yesterday were Wren (one singing for a short while this morning but havent heard them much lately), Moorhen which calls sometimes on the brook, Oystercatcher, which I havent heard as much lately and Grey Heron, which havent been going over as regularly.

-- Edited by dave broome on Sunday 17th of May 2020 09:11:53 AM

A Moorhen called close by on the brook this morning. House Sparrows were alarm calling en masse as a Magpie arrived, roving around the roof tiles and gutters where there are nests. A feeding flock of 45-50 House Martin were concentrated over fields visible from the front of the house around lunchtime and min 13 Swift. A Buzzard was soaring and diving to the south of us. Two Small White patrolled along the Hawthorn hedge.

Entered phase 2 of lockdown garden birding yesterday, may as well keep it going. A Pied Wagtail over was the first I had seen for some weeks. It returned the other way a short while later carrying food. A Buzzard circled to the south over the edge of the mosses. House Martin and Swift numbers lower, a max count of 7 House Martin and 4 Swift. House Sparrows were dust-bathing en masse in the border.

-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 14th of May 2020 10:04:26 PM

A small number of fledged Starling were mixed in with roving flocks of adults moving around the estate today. A flock of 20 or so were in the hedge and on lawns including ours at one point.
A male Kestrel was circling behind the house tonight and over the brook corridor.
A pair of Blackbird have been regular in the garden, after collecting nest material on Sunday.
House Sparrows were having a mass shout at a Magpie roaming the roofs, where several Sparrow pairs are nesting.

A fledged House Sparrow was in the garden today, accompanying an adult and soliciting food. I have seen no fledged Starlings yet, with a group of about 25 on our lawn and that next door taking plenty of leatherjackets still.
This evening 2 Grey Heron flew south together. 2 Mallard dropped in to a small fenced-off wetland bowl on open space across Honksford Brook from us. Presumably a flood storage or mitigation for the development taking place, I didnt know it was there until a few weeks ago, not being visible from our side.
Rooks were vocal in the churchyard. One with a bulging pouch flew towards the Tyldesley Cemetery rookery.

A wall plug has been cemented up by a Red Mason Bee. The photo is of the same plug as in a photo I posted on 19th April.

At least 15 House Martin were feeding yesterday evening and 6 Swift. A Grey Heron was low over the street near the brook, mobbed by a Carrion Crow.
A Rook landed in the Sycamore, I dont remember seeing one land in it before. It was carrying a large snack which it had found, some kind of bread or pastry, which it set about devouring, clasping it to a branch with one foot. It had a massively bulging gular pouch by the time it had finished it. It really was like watching a Wiganer outside Pound Bakery
A Jackdaw came in and landed near the Rook, it must have spotted it as I only see any Jackdaw in that tree occasionally. Both left, but a short while later there were 5 Jackdaw in the tree, sitting quietly, dreaming of pies I presume.

2 Stock Dove went over this morning

A Common Sandpiper went over last night at around 23:20.
6 Canada Geese had earlier gone south before sunset, not long before a torrential downpour.

Not much to add to yesterday. Robins still feeding unseen young in the hedge. A Blackcap was singing on and off all day.
A pair of Kestrel were about at lunchtime. One of the Honksford Brook Moorhens called and at least 8 Swift were over the estate.

This morning during a pre-work brew birds in song were Robin, Dunnock, Wren and Chaffinch. At least 4 Swift were over the estate to the south. A family party of Long-Tailed Tit, mostly just heard, were around the Hawthorns by the brook and in the Sycamore, where one of the juveniles was soliciting food from a parent as it searched the leaves.

Didnt watch as much yesterday, but fairly quiet when I did.
Robins still collecting food, but I have never actually seen the juveniles which I could hear in the hedge a few days ago. 2 Robin singing in the evening.
Starlings collecting leather jackets and worms from the lawn. One had a white primary feather.
1 Cormorant south and 5 Swift were among other birds seen. A Small White was patrolling the length of the Hawthorn hedge behind the gardens

Mistle Thrush in song this morning

-- Edited by dave broome on Wednesday 6th of May 2020 08:05:35 AM

Mistle Thrush singing for a short while this morning, Song Thrush also in song, a Collared Dove singing on a roof and displaying to a seemingly unimpressed mate, Woodpigeon also doing their best version of a song in the Sycamore and 2 Swift over the estate to the south of us

A calling Coot just went N/NE while I was in the back garden with the dog at about 9:48pm

A Lesser Whitethroat was singing this afternoon in Hawthorns by Honksford Brook not far from the front of the house.
Other birds recorded (out of 34 species today) were 4 Swift, 13 House Martin, Oystercatcher, Moorhen, female Sparrowhawk, Linnet - 2 south in morning, 1 north later, Blackcap.
Several House Sparrow and a Starling were collecting insects around the flowers in the uppermost canopy of the Sycamore this afternoon. What looked like a species of fly could be seen getting disturbed by the Starling. The House Sparrows were picking items from underneath the leaves and flowers, maybe taking aphids?

A recently-fledged Woodpigeon was sat on a timber frame behind the hedge for a while today. It was interesting then to read that Nick Hilton had also seen one today.

Other birds today have included:

Male and female Kestrel in the air at the same time

A Buzzard circling early afternoon

A female Sparrowhawk which was drifting high over the gardens, it drifted off and shortly afterwards went in to a dramatic stoop. What looked like the same bird was high over the gardens again later, hanging on the wind. The amount of House Sparrow and Starling activity is clearly an attraction

A Carrion Crow went over the gardens at low level, presumably in a speculative sweep for potential prey/nests

Blackcap singing occasionally but only ever very briefly

Robins feeding juveniles still in the hedge

A max count of 8 House Martin feeding

1 Linnet south early afternoon, 1 north in evening

A Moorhen called on Honksford Brook

A silver balloon went east, but disappointingly not in the shape of a number like those logged by Rob Thorpe from his garden..

Other sightings today included 1 Swift, 3 House Martin, a female Kestrel, a Linnet over and a Blackcap singing occasionally, including near the garden in the Sycamore

A female Sparrowhawk drifting in circles low over the houses this morning caused much consternation among the Starlings, some of them closely following it.
A Chaffinch was singing over near the church, first time for a while now.
Just one House Martin seen feeding.

Robins are feeding young in the hedgerow. Four calling Greenfinch flew over this evening towards the site which held a singing bird earlier in the month.
A Moorhen called on Honksford Brook and 26 Black-Headed Gull flew north

A House Martin this morning was the first for a couple of days. A pair of Mallard went over and a Grey Heron flew low over the house. A Collared Dove landed on the lawn. The constant stream of Starlings still only included adult birds, ones flying south back to the estate where they breed having leatherjackets dangling from their bills. As far as I can tell none nest on our newer estate. There are House Sparrows in roofs here but maybe the design doesnt provide anything that Starlings can exploit?

Adult Starlings still constantly moving around and over the estate, sometimes in loose flocks of up to about 20. Several were feeding on our lawn and I saw one taking a leatherjacket. A Song Thrush was sat silently in the Sycamore early morning, while one was singing further away.
Late afternoon when it became sunny at least 6 House Sparrow were foraging around the Sycamore flowers in the uppermost canopy, where it must have warmed up quickest.
1 Lapwing flew north this evening.
I have noticed no activity at the Magpie nest by the brook since a pair were rearranging it, so not sure whether it has been abandoned.

A Mistle Thrush was singing close by very early morning and again somewhere just off the estate for a short while late morning.
A Blackcap was feeding in the Sycamore at the end of the gardens early morning, busily seeking out insects from on and around the numerous flowers in the canopy, with occasional short fly-catching flights. It also made a couple of brief song phrases during this time. What was presumably the same bird could be heard in occasional longer spells of song, slightly further away, during the morning. A Song Thrush sang for about ten minutes early morning in the same Sycamore. This morning there wasnt the same stream of Starlings carrying food over the garden. They were presumably exploiting a different source of food, as there have still been plenty around. I still havent seen or heard any juveniles. With todays weather it was no surprise that I saw no Swifts on short watches early morning, lunchtime or evening. No House Martins either, with just a single Swallow heading west ahead of approaching rain. Ive attached photos (taken with phone and edited) of a halo early morning on Thursday 23rd April. I didnt know that the small rainbow-like band to the right of the sun is called a Sun Dog. There was probably one to the left of the sun too, but that would have been hidden behind houses.

Other bits seen today included a pair of displaying Sparrowhawk at lunchtime, single Buzzard and Kestrel, 5 House Martin, a Grey Heron South and 2 Swift late afternoon

On this cool morning there was little song while having a pre-work brew at the back of the house. A Goldfinch sang in the Sycamore and a Blackbird briefly from beyond the estate. A pair of Woodpigeon were displaying on a rooftop, at least the male was, but the female didnt seem overly impressed by his moves. One Swift was drifting around. The main attraction was an impressive stream of Starlings back and forth between the estate to the south of us and fields to the north, leatherjackets dangling from the bills of those heading back to the houses.

A vocal Sand Martin flew north this morning. Two Swifts (species #60) were feeding mid-morning and what may have been one of the same two was gliding around later, seemed to preen and gave a brief scream. Great to hear that again
A Willow Warbler was singing, calling and flycatching in the Sycamore for most of the morning. Lots of flowers on the canopy of the tree seem to be attracting attention, presumably plenty of insect prey to be gleaned from on and around them. House Sparrows were visiting them as did a Chiffchaff briefly. A Long-Tailed Tit collected some wool from a feeder in the hedge. A Moorhen called close by on Honksford Brook.
To the south a single Buzzard could be seen soaring over the moss.
So far early afternoon the churchyard Jackdaws and Rooks have given no early warning of passing raptors while garden jobs are done...

Adult Starlings still very active all day around the estate, with roving birds, in groups of up to about 15, though I still havent seen any fledged juveniles.

Little of note on short watches on Thursday 23rd, a Sparrowhawk south in the morning, 2 Canada Geese over, 4 House Martin feeding, 4 Goldfinch in the Sycamore and more Starlings visiting the garden, probing the lawn.

This morning a Whitethroat sang briefly in the Sycamore by the brook, before flying off north through the gardens at rooftop height. A female Blackbird was collecting grasses in the garden and a Dunnock was in song. A Great Tit was in song for long periods in the Sycamore above the nestbox.