A Sparrowhawk passed over today, pursued by a vocal Pied Wagtail. A Goldcrest was audible, in song by the brook at the end of the street. A handful of Meadow Pipit moved north this morning. In the garden a queen Red-Tailed Bumblebee made an appearance in the afternoon.

A Greenfinch was in song over the estate on Tuesday. For the past couple of days a Wren has been in song occasionally in the hedge at the end of the garden, feeding occasionally in the borders and on the surface of the fence. Yesterday morning a pair of Robin and a pair of Blue Tit were simultaneously searching a Hazel, Maple and Roses in containers on the patio, presumably an increase in invertebrates (spiders?) on them. In the afternoon yesterday a pair of Buzzard were soaring not far from the house, back and forth over the top of the Tyldesley Banks, where there is often an updraft. Gaining height they then went in to a slow dive, departing to the west. A Kestrel was also soaring high over the same area. Moorhens were vocal about 40m from the house, but out of sight in the channel of the brook.

On Sunday in the hedge at the end of the garden there was what I took to be courtship display between Robins, for the second weekend running (though had presumably occurred in the week when I have been at work). One bird, which I took to be a male, had the breast feathers plumped out and thrust forward, while the head was held up and backwards. While in this posture the bird swayed slowly and rhythmically from side to side.
Last weekend one bird performed this towards a second Robin perched a short distance away. On Sunday while the same thing happened, there was also a third Robin perched about a metre to one side, which eventually departed.

A smart-looking Starling on the fat balls yesterday was the first Ive seen in the garden this year. I presume its a local breeder returned to its patch.
A Song Thrush was in good voice this morning. An immature Cormorant flew SW early morning, as did a Lapwing in a rapid manic-looking flight. Two Lapwing went south later in a more typically leisurely-looking flap.

Stepping outside to obtain a mobile signal this morning, a singing Skylark drifted over the street, after I had briefly heard one calling earlier. Three small skeins of Pink-Footed Geese went SE this morning. Two Robins were very vociferous this morning, ticking from opposing sides of the garden along the Hawthorn hedge. A third bird was feeding silently in the garden as this went on. Small numbers of Long-Tailed Tit continue to visit the feeders on and off. Jackdaws to and fro around the churchyard are becoming more vocal.

The first soaring Buzzard of the year from here appeared yesterday in the sun at lunchtime, as another low-flying bird passed over the houses pursued by a Black-Headed Gull. A Kestrel went over, possibly the same bird was calling over here at the weekend.
On Tuesday morning in the frost 17 Meadow Pipit were moving around low over the gardens early morning, several landing on an adjacent roof. I see ones and twos on the open space down the street but have never seen such a number down before.
Actually in the garden numbers have been modest in the brief spells available to watch out there - 20 or so House Sparrow and up to 3 Long-Tailed Tit on the feeders.

A Skylark called overhead early yesterday morning, in the half-light, presumably on the move after the overnight snow. Birds in the garden pretty much the same as recently, though a male Sparrowhawk landed briefly on Saturday following a couple of sweeps of the hedge. Dont know if it was related, but House Sparrow numbers had dropped to around 15 max over the weekend, but now seem to have risen to more usual 30+ again.

-- Edited by dave broome on Wednesday 3rd of February 2021 07:02:49 AM

Not much change actually in the garden over the past week from what I have seen. Up to 14 Long-Tailed Tit feeding on the fat balls, 2 Robins having a stand-off over the weekend. Fly-over records have included a Greenfinch, a species I have yet to see down in the garden, 17 Lapwing north, 2 Stock Dove over, Sparrowhawk and early mornings there is a definite movement, though only a trickle, of large gull movement roughly NNE. Always quite high up, I presume they are most likely going from the Mersey Estuary to feed in East Lancashire. Small groups, with a few Great Black-Backed Gull included.

-- Edited by dave broome on Monday 25th of January 2021 08:07:28 PM

House Sparrow numbers still around the 35 mark. A Wren appeared in the garden at lunchtime, searching the borders, probably one which has been searching a Salvia bush on a few occasions this month. Six Blackbirds were also in the garden and hedgerow at lunchtime, five first-winter males and a female.
While filling up the feeders early morning I was gutted to find that something has had a right meal out of a Yew which was doing well among the Hawthorn. It had put a lot of growth out on the leading stem last summer, which had all been eaten, along with most of the side branches. Deer perhaps? I dont know whether Grey Squirrels would eat a small Yew tree?

-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 14th of January 2021 07:37:57 PM

A Woodpigeon was in song for a prolonged period this morning, joining the regular singing Robins, seemingly one either side of the garden along the hedge. Single Robins enter the garden and on occasion two will arrive at once and have a skirmish. House Sparrow numbers in the garden seem to be up to a maximum of about 35 at any one time. Two or three Blackbirds are in at any one time, feeding on Apples and in the lawn and borders. Single Dunnock, two or three Blue and Great Tits and six Long-Tailed Tits make up the largest numbers of the other species entering the garden in the past few days. A Grey Wagtail has been on surrounding roofs over the weekend and a Rook was vocal around the churchyard this morning.