Thursday 06 September 2018 A Tree Pipit flew south, over Bryn Road South, at 08:55.

A Peregrine was being mobbed by a Lesser Black-Backed Gull over the town centre yesterday

4 vocal Oystercatcher went NE over the town centre just after 0840 this morning

Pair of Shoveler on Cromptons Lodge this morning. Hooded Crow still present at Ashton Heath by the Eagle and Child pub

-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 1st of March 2018 09:55:24 AM

Hooded Crow still present c. 2.15pm today, still seemingly paired with a Carrion crow.

Hooded Crow Ashton Heath at 9:15am opposite the Eagle & Child pub

Hooded crow still present this afternoon opposite the Eagle and Child. There was no sign of it when I got there so I went for a walk along the perimeter fence of the racecourse and eventually found the bird feeding with a Carrion Crow on the racecourse (and hence in Merseyside). No sign of any Brambling along the hedge there so I headed back to my car and found that the hoodie had returned to Ashton Heath and was showing well in good light quite close to the footpath which runs along the edge of the woodland. I took a few photos and then returned to my car and sat and waited for it to come closer. which it usually does. No chance of that though, a photographer with a big lens and no binoculars arrived and walked straight across the grass towards it, chasing it for a while before eventually the bird flew over the pub and disappeared. I took a few photos of the photographer for future reference and then left. A raven flew over calling while I was watching the photographer, but he didn't look up, probably doesn't know the call of a raven. Six species of corvid here today, I was only missing jay and chough.

-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 15th of February 2018 07:34:04 PM

Bit late updating this but I went to see the Hooded Crow last Friday. In usual place offering great views and although it had to keep flying from one side of the heath to the other due to walkers/dogs, it seems really tame. Lifer for me.

Late (and less interesting news) from late Friday night i.e. 23.50. Two Oystercatchers calling as they flew over heading east.

A grey day , so returned to watch the Hooded Crow showing very well 12.50.13.50.in the trees grooming feeding on the heath and flying around.  A perfect bird for a grey day.

Woodpecker drumming somewhere in the woods.

 

Keep Birding 

Hooded Crow showing well on grass opposite Eagle and Child pub on Heath Road at 12.30 today

 

Mike

Craig Higson wrote:

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sid ashton wrote:

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I had a walk down through the wood toward the racecourse car park, plenty of Long tailed, Blue and Great Tits down there but no advance on the small group of Brambling seen in the trees opposite the pub.

 

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Hi Sid - can you confirm your comment about the brambling being opposite the pub? I've only heard of sightings on the fields opposite the racecourse car park. When have they been seen on the heath? I may have been flogging a dead horse over the last few weekends looking in the wrong place

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 Craig there were 5 or 6 birds seen very briefly in the line of trees on the opposite side of the heath from the pub. They seemed to drop down into the field which heads down towards the racecourse stands. We had a look but viewing into the field is not of the best.

When I arrived at Ashton Heath this morning at 10.20 the Hooded Crow was on the edge of the heath at the North West end. As I parked the car and walked back a bit the bird crossed the road in my direction only to be scared off by the next car along!!! I then watched it for a good time back on the heath before it went into the trees. At that point the grey body plumage had looked quite dark. I had a walk down through the wood toward the racecourse car park, plenty of Long tailed, Blue and Great Tits down there but no advance on the small group of Brambling seen in the trees opposite the pub.

When I got back to car an hour later the Hooded Crow was back where I first saw it but this time the body plumage appeared a paler grey in the improved light, very much like previous Hooded Crows that I have seen.

Nice to meet and chat to Warrington birders  Dave and Kevin.

 

Hooded Crow opposite Eagle and Child pub at 10.00am feeding on the heath.

Hooded Crow still showing well 8.30 this morning on the heath opposite the Eagle and Child

Hooded Crow in the usual place taken at about 1.30pm today (see pictures). Good to see everyone there, had some great banter before it decided to show

The Hooded Crow was a first for me as with other birders, and I was suprised at the overall size of the bird ,especially it's beak. I watched it pull up tufts of grass (roots and all) with no problem.
Sadly I didn't hear it call, but could See it doing so from about 300m away (due to the wind).
Nice to meet Adam Jones from 250m away .
Ps. His proboscis was nomal size and I didn't hear him call either .
( Adam ,were you at Hollingworth lake on Sunday ?)

-- Edited by phillipskelly on Friday 2nd of February 2018 12:16:35 PM

That was me in the blue jacket. Interests of the bird must always come first. Pictures are a bonus. Was just so pleased to see my first Hooded Crow.

Adam Jones wrote:

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colin davies wrote:

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This morning I called in for another look at the hooded crow at Ashton-in-Makerfield. It was my first visit to the site since last Wednesday when I had a run in with a photographer which left me a bit disillusioned and depressed. I didn't even leave my car today, I simply pulled up at the side of the grass, with the sun behind me, put the window down and waited. After a few minutes the bird duly obliged and landed just a few metres from my car and I was able to take a few photos without chasing it or causing any disturbance. Eventually it was inevitably flushed by a photographer who decided to walk straight across the grass towards it, at which point the bird flew up into the trees and I left. No doubt this chap got some half silhouetted shots of a bird looking down from a tree, appearing harassed and afraid, which he's probably filed away under the heading wildlife photographs. Meanwhile, I'll have to content myself with these photos of the bird on the ground, looking relaxed and natural.

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When I arrived today, it had been flushed by a photographer into the allotments on the other side of the trees. Like you Colin, I waited patiently and it eventually came back of it's own accord. No need to chase it or harass it. A lifer for me.

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         You can imagine (if you have never experienced it) what it is like to be on an expensive overseas holiday, and some idiot with a camera behaves like this, because they do. Too much money, too little common sense.

-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Thursday 1st of February 2018 08:15:33 PM

colin davies wrote:

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didn't even leave my car today, I simply pulled up at the side of the grass, with the sun behind me, put the window down and waited. After a few minutes the bird duly obliged and landed just a few metres from my car and I was able to take a few photos without chasing it or causing any disturbance. Eventually it was inevitably flushed by a photographer who decided to walk straight across the grass towards it, at which point the bird flew up into the trees and I left.

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Hope its ok and my appologies but I just had to add a comment for a good pointer, because Why can't more people out there photograph birds like Colin, which is perfect example of how it needs to be done and why. It really bugs me how people think they can just walk upto a WILD bird and instantly get great pictures. well done to you Colin, Ta!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Thursday 1st of February 2018 02:15:30 PM

Hooded Crow still on Ashton Heath opposite the Eagle and Child at midday

Hooded Crow on hedgerow at Ashton Heath opposite Eagle And Child at 12:25

Hooded Crow still present in hedgerow opposite the pub at 15:40. I had a walk around the fields farther up the path to look for the Brambling flock. I did see a sizeable flock of finches in flight, maybe 50 or so. Quite distant and certainly too far away to pick out say, a female Brambling, however most of them appeared to be chaffinches from what I could see. The presence of half a dozen off road bikes on some rough ground nearby didn't help as the birds wouldn't settle. Definitely worth another look if anyone is up there for the crow. Walk to the end of the metalled road and continue up the track, through he stile and along the path adjacent to the racecourse car park. Alternatively turn left as you come through the stile walk along the old railway line which runs along the opposite edge of the field.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Sunday 28th of January 2018 04:38:05 PM

On arrival at 12.10 Hooded Crow seen from my vehicle.. just by the Eagle and Child.
Flew off at 12.15 probably due to a dog walker taking a phone camera shot too close.
County Life tick for me.