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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> Holcombe Moor and environs
Post Info TOPIC: Holcombe Moor and environs
Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit, mainly at the higher elevations:

1 Buzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk, the latter with 2 central tail feathers missing that made it look like it had a forked tail.

1 Green Woodpecker.

3 Stock Dove.

1 Curlew.

3 pairs Mistle Thrush, with 1 pair feeding young.

Single Grasshopper Warbler and Whitethroat singing.

Pair of Stonechat and 10 Wheatear, probably 5 pairs.

1 Bullfinch. 

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Kestrel.

3 Lapwing and 3 Curlew.

3 Stock Dove.

2 reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 1 in a new location, and my first here for the year.

3 Stonechat plus my first fledged juvenile of the year. 4 Wheatear. 

 



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Roger Halsey


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A quiet morning circuit, but still some interest:

Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

3 Stock Dove.

Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Treecreeper and Goldcrest in Redisher Wood.

3 Wheatear.

3 Lesser Redpoll and 1 Bullfinch.



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Martin Loftus


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Belated sighting from Friday evening when Gary Taylor photographed a female cuckoo from near Paddy's pond (photo attached) 

This morning 9am - 12pm

Me an Gary did an extensive search of the Holcombe valley including Reddisher woods . 

No sign of any Cuckoos apart from a very distant spot of what was a either a male sparrowhawk or a cuckoo..(Im leaning towards sparrowhawk now no) 

Other birds of note.

Kestrel

Buzzard

Tawny owl

Wheatear 

Stonechat

Grasshopper warbler

Chiffchaff

Willow warbler

Little Owl

Green Woodpecker (after at least a thousand visits, one finally landed close enough for a photo!biggrin)



-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Sunday 9th of May 2021 04:04:58 PM

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dave broome


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5 Ring Ouzel in sheep field among rushes, on east side of Red Brook just downstream of white flag pole 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Whitethroat
2 Stonechat
1 Buzzard

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 24th of April 2021 11:07:51 AM

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Roger Halsey


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44 species on a morning circuit with the following highlights:

Green Woodpecker calling from 2 locations and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Buzzard.

1 Stock Dove.

Small flock of 5 Wheatear, with at least 3 other birds. 

Dipper and pair Grey Wagtail.

2 Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.

Displaying Lesser Redpoll, my first for a while.



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Ian Campbell


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This a.m. female Ring Ouzel amongst sheep pens after last house on Moorbottam Rd and Green Woodpecker in field with Alpcacs.
Cheers Ian

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Roger Halsey


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Couldnt find any Ring Ouzel on a quick morning visit, but:

1 Curlew.

1 vocal Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 displaying Stock Dove.

6 Wheatear.



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Craig Bell


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Stroll along Moorbottom rd on Sunday produced 5 R Ouzels (3M), our first Common Whitethroat singing, 3 Fieldfare high towards Red Brook.



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Roger Halsey


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4 Ring Ouzel (3m, 1f) still present this evening at 19.15. Also 1 Curlew, 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven and 5 Wheatear.



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Martin Loftus


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X4 Ring Ouzels at Red brook, Moorbottom Rd 

Info courtesy of Gary Taylor. 

 

 

 



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Martin Loftus


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4pm 

X2 male ring Ouzels half way up Moorbottom rd. Foraging in the fields adjacent to the trees.

Info courtesy of Gary Taylor 



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Roger Halsey


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41 species on a longer morning circuit, with the highlights being:

2 pairs Curlew including the bubbling display, and probably 4 pairs Lapwing.

2 Buzzard and 1 Tawny Owl calling from a holly bush, but not seen.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker ( getting harder to see now)

2 pairs Stock Dove.

1 Swallow.

1 Willow Warbler and 6 Chiffchaff.

5 Wheatear.

1 Dipper and 3 Grey Wagtail.

1 Treecreeper.

 



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Roger Halsey


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A respectable 40 species on a morning circuit, with the highlights being:

1 Curlew and 4 Lapwing.

1 Green and at least 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

3 singing Stock Dove.

Displaying Skylark and Meadow Pipit giving a spring like feel.

3 Stonechat.

1 Dipper and pair of Grey Wagtail.

My first returning Lesser Redpoll.



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Ian Whittaker


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Monday 15 March

Red Kite - drifting over Turton Rd Tottington heading northwards towards Hollymount and Holcombe mobbed by local jackdaws

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Curlew and 7 Lapwing again.

My first Green Woodpecker for a while, but only 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

First pairs of Stonechat and Pied Wagtail back on territory.

1 Treecreeper and 2 Goldcrest.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a short morning circuit:

My first returning Curlew of the year and at least 7 Lapwing.

Plenty of Great Spotted Woodpecker activity again with 5 birds seen, including 1 in a different area.

2 Pairs Stock Dove.

1 Treecreeper.

1 Dipper and 1 Grey Wagtail.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from the familiar morning circuit:

Lapwing up to 8.

Amazing sight of 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker together with much commotion- presumably a territorial dispute between 2 pairs. Also Green Woodpecker calling in 2 different places, but possibly the same bird.

3 Stock Dove including 2 singing birds in new locations.

2 Raven, and an excitable flock of 70+ Jackdaw.

1 Dipper.

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from another morning circuit:

6 Lapwing again.

Another flock of Black-headed Gull heading north, this time about 70 birds.

2 Raven.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, rather loudly I thought. On closer inspection I found the bird on a timber power pole but, rather than drumming on the timber, it craned its neck off to one side and drummed on a plastic junction box! The sound was quite unusual!


My first record of the year of Skylark on the highest ground. 2 birds were singing while the third was hunkered down in the wind.

1 Treecreeper singing

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.

6 Lapwing.

Compact flock of 50+ Black-headed Gull heading north.

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

15 Redwing.

1 Dipper.

3 Goldcrest, including a singing bird.



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Mike Horwood


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Moor Road again ! 1430.Sparrowhawk and  Buzzard giving some great sparring views.

Foolhardy single meadow pipit on a very frozen moor 



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G.M.Horwood
Mike Horwood


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Moor Road near Higher Tops, 1300  Buzzard and in the field 12 Rooks



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Roger Halsey


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Best from another morning circuit:

1 Kestrel.

Pair of Stock Dove in different location from last visit.

Pair of Goosander, my first record this year.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Raven over.

At least 9 Bullfinch including a flock of 5.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit, with the main interest being in Redisher Wood:

The first returning Lapwing of the year.

Drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.

3 Stock Dove, including 1 singing bird.

3 Fieldfare.



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Roger Halsey


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Limited highlights from a morning circuit:

Record count of 46 Mallard on Simons Lodge!

1 Dipper, 1 Treecreeper and 2 Bullfinch.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from morning circuits over the last 2 Days:

1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Kestrel.

1 Raven,

Dipper, Goldcrest and Treecreeper in Redisher Wood.

15 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a longer morning circuit:

1 Kestrel- the only raptor.

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker .

5 Mistle Thrush.

Dipper, Grey Wagtail and 2 Goldcrest in Redisher Wood.

2 Greenfinch and 1 Reed Bunting, both first site records for the year.



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Roger Halsey


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Limited highlights during an afternoon circuit, after the rain/snow had cleared:

1 Green Woodpecker, my first of the year.

1 Kestrel.

Group of 7 Bullfinch together.



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Simon Johnson


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Woodcock flushed off the slopes of Holcombe Hill this afternoon

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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl.

1 Green Woodpecker.

30+ Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush.

1 Treecreeper, 4 Bullfinch.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit largely before the rain:

Kingfisher and Grey Heron in Redisher Wood.

What I thought initially to be a Merlin and a Crow turned out the be a Peregrine and a Raven! Watched them for a good while in prolonged aerial combat covering a wide area over the end of the moor and Redisher Wood. Great show!



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Roger Halsey


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Best from a damp morning circuit:

1 Green Woodpecker.

1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel and 1 Raven.

5 Goldcrest and 2 Treecreeper.

2 Fieldfare near the stables, 1 Mistle Thrush and 3 Song Thrush- 2 near the top of the Moor and 1 singing!



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Roger Halsey


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1 Green Woodpecker calling loudly above Moorbottom Road during a late afternoon walk to Peel Tower.  Also 1 Kestrel.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a damp morning circuit:

2 Kestrel and 2 Raven.

25 Redwing in 2 flocks and 3 Mistle Thrush.

2 Stonechat.

1 Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.

3 Bullfinch.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Green Woodpecker calling but not seen.

1 Kestrel and 1 Raven.

c20 Redwing and 1 Mistle Thrush.

1 Dipper.

2 Treecreeper, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Bullfinch.

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a late morning circuit through Redisher Wood only:

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Stock Dove in field with Woodpigeon.

Lone Redwing with lone Mistle Thrush!

1 Raven and 1 Siskin over.

 



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Roger Halsey


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Some interesting thrush movement this morning. Initially 30 Fieldfare flew NE over the southern end of the moor ( my first autumn record), then a second larger flock was located in a Hawthorn in the middle of Red Brook valley. There was a lot of coming and going, but at least 60 Fieldfare with 5+ Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush.

Jackdaw and Woodpigeons also appeared to be moving south with flocks of 40 and 30/40 respectively.

Also 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat and 2 Skylark. 



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Doc Brewster


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Closest thread I could find.

A report on a grapevine group I'm on has a picture from a non-birder of a Red-breasted Goose near Holcombe Tennis Club, which I assume is the one off Hazel Hall Lane. Does anyone local know of an escaped bird that is frequenting the area?



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Roger Halsey


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A quiet morning circuit after the school run, but still a bit of interest:

1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.

2 Raven.

5 Swallow that looked like a family party.

5 Skylark and at least 1 Lesser Redpoll over. 3 Bullfinch.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from longer circuit this morning:
2 Grey Heron.

1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrel.

3 Mistle and 2 Song Thrush.

26 Swallow South in 2 flocks.

1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest and 3 Chiffchaff including 1 singing bird.

2 Stonechat.



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Martin Loftus


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3 hour Mtbike ride around the moors this afternoon. With no bins, just my eyes evileye

Moorbottom rd:

X2 kestrel 

X2 jay 

X1 juvenile female wheatear

Red brook

X2 stonechat (male) 

X3 Willow Warbler



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Roger Halsey


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Another interesting morning on the east side of the moor.  Spent a couple of hours there after the school run and, although there was nothing scarce, there was plenty of evidence of southward movement.

65+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail.

2 Skylark.

8 Swallow.

18 Mistle and 3 Song Thrush.

At least 8 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler and 2  Chiffchaff.

6 Stonechat.

40+ Goldfinch, 8 Chaffinch.

 



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Roger Halsey


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I was going to report a quiet morning circuit, but found a lot more activity on the sunny south/ east side of the moor than on the west. Probable migrants:

c20 Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark, 40+ House Martin, 20+ Swallow, 40+ Goldfinch, 1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat and (surprisingly) my first site record of Whinchat. The Hirundines did me a favour when their alarm calls drew my attention to a passing Hobby, and then a Sparrowhawk that put on a good display.

Also 1 Stock Dove and 4 Grey Wagtail.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Little Grebe.

1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl.

Probable migrants in the form of c30 Swallow, c30 House Martin, flocks of 15 and 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Skylark, c20 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Linnet, 2 Chaffinch, and 1 Reed Bunting.
Still 2 family parties of Stonechat with 8 birds present.

1 Treecreeper and 8 Nuthatch.

 

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit through Redisher Wood and along Moorbottom Road:

1 Stock Dove.

At least 4 Kestrel and 2 Raven.

1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Big mixed flock at the top of Redisher Wood that included the 4 common tits, Nuthatch, Goldcrest and Willow Warbler, but I didnt identify at least half of the birds!

Presumed migrants in the form of c20 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 10+ Meadow Pipit and 3 Wheatear.

9 Stonechat which looked like 3 family parties.

2 Dipper.

 

 



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Roger Halsey


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Best from a generally quiet shorter morning circuit:

3 Sparrowhawk in the air together playing on the updraught at the top of Redisher Wood. They then moved up to the end of the Moor where a Kestrel made the mistake of flying by the group. A period of aerial combat ensued before the Kestrel moved off north.

1 Green Woodpecker.

2 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear.

1 Dipper.



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Roger Halsey


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Plenty of interest during a longer morning circuit:

1 or 2 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk sat on an open sunny branch in an unusual pose. It had its tail fanned and wings partly spread, presumably to dry off? 1 Little Owl.

1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Stock Dove and 3 Mistle Thrush, including one carrying food.

3 Wheatear, but no Stonechat.

Some visible migration on the east side of the moor, with the undoubted highlight 5 Crossbill that flew south at eye level. Also 2 Swift, c30 House Martin and a few Swallow. Small fall of what seemed to be entirely Willow Warbler, with maybe 10 birds present.



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rob archer


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Another great year for Kestrels in the valley with at least 8 juveniles in the air above Moorbottom Rd this afternoon  . A Sparrowhawk was also amongst them briefly, as was a Hobby which flew directly up Red Brook    . 



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Roger Halsey


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Modest highlights of a shortish morning circuit:

1 Buzzard and at least 4 Kestrel, possibly up to 7.

1 Swift.

2 Stonechat.

Dipper and Grey Wagtail in Redisher Wood.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a longer morning circuit:

Patch tick in the form of a Little Grebe! It was on the pond by Hollingrove Farm.

3 Kestrel an 1 Little Owl, my first sighting for a while.

4 Stock Dove in 3 locations, with 2 birds singing.

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Kingfisher and Dipper in Redisher Wood.

2 Stonechat and 7 Wheatear.

Excellent views of male Lesser Redpoll at the top of the assault course, 2 Linnet and 4 Bullfinch.

 

 



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