SUNDAY MARCH 15TH.

SCHOOL LANE/LAFFORD LANE.

Wood pigeon 3 (singing).
Blackbird m-2 (singing).
Mistle thrush 1 (singing).
Song thrush 1 (singing).
Robin 2 (singing).
Starling 5
Rook 3
C Buzzard 3 (display).

GARDEN

Wood pigeon 4
Collared dove 2
Blue tit 14
Great tit 8
Coal tit 4
Blackbird m-4,f-2.
Robin 5
Dunnock 5
House sparrow m-11,f-13.
Chaffinch m-7,f-3.
Starling 2.
Greenfinch m-1,f-2.
Willow tit 2
Sparrow hawk 1.
Goldfinch 1 (singing).

KNOWLES FARM/GOLF COURSE.

Lesser black b g 72 (s).
Herring g 19 (s).
Dunnock 2 (singing).
Chaffinch m-5,f-1.
C Crow 6
Blackheaded gull 2 (e).
C Buzzard 2.
Goldfinch 2.
Jay 5.
Bullfinch m-1,f-1.
Siskin m-1 (singing).
Linnet m-1 (singing).
C pheasant m-1,f-1.
C Kestrel m-1,f-1.
Canada g 4 (w).
Mallard m-3,f-2.
Wood pigeon 23.
Jackdaw 30 (s).
Magpie 4
Blue tit 1.
Great tit 2 (singing).
Blackbird m-10 ((singing).
Song thrush 2 (singing).
Wren 3 (singing).
Robin 9 (singing).
WOODCOCK 1 (5:40 AM,display like flight with call).

Hi Phil , I buy hi energy mix from bamfords wild bird food at Leyland.
They are taking the sunflower hearts mostly but also take the peanut granules and occasionally on a fat square.

Fingers crossed they stay and breed, they like the over grown field at the side of Knowles farm and if they are the
same birds , the field between the cemetery and golf course.

MARCH 13TH.

GARDEN

robin-4-m
dunnock 2-m (singing).
blue tit 14
great tit 10
coal tit 4
willow tit 1
magpie 6
house sparrow m-11,f-12
chaffinch m-5,f-4
goldfinch m-1(singing).
wood pigeon 7
collared dove 2 (mated).
sparrow hawk 1
nuthatch 1
blackbird m-4,f-3.
GOLF COURSE.

Canada goose 2(west).
Mallard m-1,f-1.
Wren 5 (singing).
Robin 6(singing).
Dunnock 2(singing).
Blackbird m-14(singing),f-1
Song thrush 4(singing),/1
Blue tit 8
Jackdaw 34(south).
Chaffinch m-4(singing).
Wood pigeon 4
C pheasant m-2,f-2.
Jay 1

Cheers Lee,

I've got it!

- bought it last year - yes really good book

Very interesting about the Willow Tits isn't it, I've been seeing them regularly on the patch since August and, like you, in the garden.

There's a garden in Alma Hill, Upholland, - about a mile from us, which has been having a regular visitor as well - looks like we've now got small resident population

Phil

p.s what do you feed them? They like your garden best, I often see them on the way to yours!




Hi Phil I noticed in one of your previous posts that you will be concentrating on breeding birds this summer, a good book is
the BTO A FIELD GUIDE TO MONITORING NESTS BY james ferguson-lees,richard castell and dave leech £24.99. I use it when I do
the bto nest record scheme. Hope that is of some help!. Really detailed on behaviour when nest building,incubating,calls around
the nest,sight of nest etc....Good birding!.






-- Edited by Phil Barnett on Thursday 12th of March 2015 10:42:30 AM

KNOWLES FARM/GOLF COURSE/CEMETERY

mistle thrush 6-north.
song thrush 3,singing.
blackbird 13.singing.
c pheasant m-1,f-1..display.
blue tit 7.
great tit 2,singing.
coal tit 2,1-singing.
chaffinch m-11,f-3.
jackdaw 81-south.
c crow 8.
magpie 4
robin 10 singing
dunnock 3 singing
goldfinch 13
linnet 1
lesser blackbacked gull 24,south.
jay 3
skylark 1,west
herring gull 2 ,south.
wren 3,singing.
reed bunting m-1.
greenfinch m-3,f-1.
blackheaded gull 9,south.
c kestrel m-1,f-1.
c buzzard 1.
meadow pipit 4,nw.


school lane/lafford lane

mistle thrush 1,singing.
song thrush 1,singing.
blackbird m-4,singing.
wood pigeon 64
magpie 4
robin 4,singing
redwing 400.
collared dove 1
Canada goose 7,sw
yellowhammer 13
lapwing 1,mobbed passing lbbgull.
rook 2
Garden

house sparrow m-13,f-15.
blackbird m-4,f-2
wood pigeon 5
coal tit 3
blue tit 17
great tit 10
chaffinch m-8(2 singing),f-6
starling 3
robin 4
dunnock 3
greenfinch m-1,f-1
collared dove 2
bullfinch m-1,f-1
nuthatch 2
great spotted woodpecker m-2
long tailed tit 2
willow tit 2

MARCH 10TH,(5am-9:30am).

KNOWLES FARM/GOLF COURSE/ST TERESAS CEM.

C PHEASANT M-6.
JACKDAW 86(SOUTH).
CANADA GOOSE 2(SOUTH WEST).
C CROW 7.
MAGPIE 7.
C KESTREL M-1,F-1.(display).
LESSER BB GULL 48(SOUTH).
BLACKBIRD M-(singing-24).
SONG THRUSH 4(singing).
ROBIN 9(singing).
DUNNOCK 3(singing).
CHAFFINCH M-5(singing),f-1.
BLUE TIT 5
GREAT TIT 3 (2 singing).
WOOD PIGEON 27.
GOLDFINCH 2
MALLARD 2
REED BUNTING M-1
STONECHAT F-1
G HERON 1(east).
WREN 4(singing).
HERRING GULL 9(south).
C BUZZARD 1.
JAY 1.
LAPWING 1(south).
BULLFINCH M-2,F-2.
YELLOWHAMMER F-2.
SPARROW HAWK F-1
GREAT SP WOODPECKER 1

SCHOOL LANE/LAFFORD LANE.
C CROW 1
BLACKBIRD M-11(singing),F-1.
ROBIN 7(singing).
CHAFFINCH M-3(singing).
WOOD PIGEON 4
PIEDWAG TAIL 2
ROOK 9
GREENFINCH 2
MISTLE THRUSH 1(singing).
RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE 2.
GREATBLACK BACKED GULL 2(west).

GARDEN.
BLACKBIRD M-6,F-3.
ROBIN 3
DUNNOCK 5
HOUSE SPARROW M-12,F-15.
CHAFFINCH M-4,F-2.
BLUE TIT 11
GREAT TIT 7
COAL TIT 1
WILLOW TIT 2..(M-singing,both birds flew over the house towards Knowles farm).
COLLARED DOVE 2
GOLDFINCH M-1(singing).
NUTHATCH 2.
WREN 1

MARCH 9TH,
IN THE GARDEN TODAY.
CHAFFINCH M-8,F-3.
ROBIN 3 SINGING/2-FEEDING.
DUNNOCK M-3,F-1..some display.
BLACKBIRD M-8,F-6..fields,gardens rear of the house.
BLUE TIT 16.
GREAT TIT 13.
COAL TIT 4.
WILLOW TIT 2..IN AND AROUND GARDEN EVERYDAY SINCE NOV 9TH 2014.
HOUSE SPARROW M-11,F-13.
COLLARED DOVE 3.
GOLDFINCH 5.
NUTHATCH 2.
LONG TAILED TIT 3.


ON AND AROUND KNOWLES FARM/GOLF COURSE/ST TERESAS CEM.
C CROW 5.
WOOD PIGEON 51.
CHAFFINCH 5
ROBIN 9 SINGING
DUNNOCK 2 SINGING
BLACKBIRD 17 M-singing,1-f
SONG THRUSH 3 singing.
MISTLE THRUSH 3,1 singing.
BLUE TIT 12
GREAT TIT 2 singing
COAL TIT 2
C PHEASANT 3-M,1-F.
MALLARD 2
CANADA GOOSE 1
MAGPIE 6
SPARROW HAWK 1-M,1-F
HERRING GULL 9-SOUTH
LBBGULL 60-SOUTH
BULLFINCH 1-M
GREENFINCH-5
C BUZZARD 2
BH GULL 9-SOUH WEST
GREAT SPOTTEDWOODPECKER 1
STONECHAT F-1...also seen yday.

SCHOOL LANE/LAFFORD LANE
JACKDAW 68
WOOD PIGEON 11
STARLING 157
REDWING 19
ROOK 36
LAPWING 1 some display.
FIELD FARE 130
YELLOWHAMMER 8
MEADOW PIPIT 3
STOCK DOVE 2
CHAFFINCH 30

also a sighting of a STOAT....ERMINE.

6.05 Stoney Brow - College Farm- lake - Rough park wood - Stoney Brow

Buzzard 1
Kestrel 2
Mallard 8
Canada Goose 10
Tawny Owl 1

Yellowhammer 1 (s)
Reed Bunting 1 (first since autumn)
Goldcrest 1
Song Thrush 14 (s)
Blackbird 7 (s)
Dunnock 11 (s)
Robin 14 (s)
Wren 13 (s)
Great Tit 3 (s)
Coal tit 8 (s)
Blue Tit 3 (s)
Chaffinch 8 (s)
Wood Pigeon 4 (s)
Goldfinch 5

Pied Wagtail 2 over

I went out a bit earlier - just before first light to see how many blackbirds were singing - even so they largely stopped singing about half way through my walk- so I probably recorded about half of them

I think that at the beginning of the blackbird`s song period - Feb /March, they spend less time singing in the morning than later on - April / May

6.45 - Stoney Brow - College Farm - Stoney Brow --- windy, snow
S-singing - song much suppressed by the weather

Brambling 1 (first since autumn)
Siskin 1 over
Bullfinch 1
Willow tit 1

Song Thrush 5 (s)
Dunnock 4 (s)
Robin 1 (s)
Great Tit 1 (s)
Chaffinch 1(s)
Wren 1 (s)

6.45 - Beacon Country Park - Farley Lane Beacon Country Park via Golf Course ---- drizzly , still
S - singing

Woodcock 1 flushed
Buzzard 1
Redpoll - I over my first since autumn
Goldcrest 1
Yellow Hammer 2 (s)
Skylark 1 (s)
Song Thrush 12 (s) - a notable number -conversely no Blackbirds or Mistle thrushes heard singing
Dunnock 10 (s)
Robin 6 (s)
Great Tit 4 (s)
Coal tit 1 (s)
Blue Tit 3 (s)
Chaffinch 4 (s)
Wren 4 (s)
Nuthatch 1
Stock Dove 2
Wood Pigeon 2 (s)

Willow tit in garden

Very nice to hear my first Yellowhammer and Skylark two of my favourite signs of spring

7.15 am
College Farm to Rough Park Wood
Buzzard 1
Sparrow Hawk 1
Kestrel 1
Barn Owl 1 hunting
Tawny Owl 1 calling
Great tit 6 singing
Treecreeper 1
Grey Heron 1

In the garden the disabled blackbird with more than half its top mandible missing seems to be doing well which is a bit surprising as its severely hampered in feeding itself.

Willow Tit in the garden yesterday and also one calling from the former golf course

11.00 in / from the garden
Pink footed Goose c 200 - NW
Fieldfare c50
Willow Tit - still being seen, on occasion, in the garden, though not as often as before Christmas

It's a bit like animal hospital in the garden at the moment

A Blackbird with a badly injured upper mandible and one-legged Blue tit a been regular visitors for the last both seem surprisingly well fed and preened.

I've just been watching the Blue tit at the window feeder - with just the one leg it's very adept at picking up a sun flower seed, hold it between its toes while balancing, and eating the seed.

Of all the garden birds here Chaffinches seem the most prone to disease / deformity - specifically growths / scales on the legs and feet. Over the last 3 year I've seen 5 individuals with this problem.



-- Edited by Phil Barnett on Tuesday 20th of January 2015 02:52:11 PM

College Farm / Rough Park Wood 7.20am

Woodcock - 2 flushed
Snipe - 1 flushed
Tawny Owl - 1 mobbed by a jay
Song thrush - singing full song
Heron - 1
Kestrel 1
Siskin 1 over
Bullfinch 1
Goldcrest - 3
No Fieldfare or Redwings

Willow tit - 2 still coming very regularly to feeders in the garden - interesting to see where it fits in the tit pecking order
- firmly below Blue Tit, but above Coal tit

Originally posted today by Lee Bailey:

WEDNESDAY 19TH NOV. On st josephs college golf course and around Knowles farm (AM). Tawny owl 2, c kestrel 2(displaying), Fieldfare 80 (east),Bullfinch 5 male/female 2,Goldfinch 20,Siskin 3, (edge of Knowles farm Lesser redpoll 2,and in pines on golf course 2 female c Crossbill). Managed to get more photos of the two willow tits feeding throughout the day in the garden amongst the Blue tits 22,Great tits 16,Coal tit 10 and long tailed tits 6. Also in the garden robin 5,dunnock 4,house sparrow 42,male gswoodpecker. First Woodcock of the season tonight,two flew off the golf course towards lafford lane at 5pm. Good numbers of Chaffinch 22 and Yellowhammer 31 on fileds along Lafford lane.

yesterday 6/11
Fieldfares on the move all day
Flocks flying low down into stiff head wind
C900 -> South

7.30am Beacon Country Park to the Small Lake near College Farm + Rough Park Wood

Stonechat - 1, 1st winter - a patch first - perched on a wire fence - every time I walk past this fence i think 'why isn't there a chat perched on there - this morning there was!

Mistle Thrush - 63 a tight flock quite high, south was noteworthy
Meadow Pipit - 16 in several small parties south - migration seemed to have stopped during the last couple of weeks
Wood Pigeon c300 south
Fieldfare, Redwing, Song thrush - a few grounded

Goldcrest 2
Mallard 16 - males displaying and giving the high pitched whistle
Buzzard 1

update...

Wood Pigeon movement continued till about 11.00 with some very big flocks
- at least 2000 south



-- Edited by Phil Barnett on Tuesday 4th of November 2014 01:10:00 PM

7.45am
Wood Pigeon 1,220 south in 1 hour
Pink Footed Goose 30 south
Redwing 45

7.20am Beacon Country Park to the Small Lake near College Farm + Rough Park Wood

Redwing c260 mainly south, some east
Mistle Thrush 5 S
Meadow pipit 30 S
Yellowhammer 2 N
Skylark 1 N
Goldfinch 1 S

also
Goldcrest 15
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1
Grey Wagtail 2
Song Thrush 3

Mallard 21
Kingfisher 1

Yesterday
Fieldfare 25 S



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 15th of October 2014 12:16:44 PM

In / from the Garden this morning

Redwing 1 overhead
Swallow 1 South
Chiffchaff 1


Buzzard 1
Sparrow Hawk 1
Kestrel 1
Song thrush 2
Grey Wagtail 2 South
Pied Wagtail 5 South
Skylark 1 West
Meadow Pipit c 30 South
Goldfinch c 20

Yesterday 31 House Sparrows in the garden



-- Edited by Phil Barnett on Friday 10th of October 2014 01:21:58 PM

7.20am Beacon Country Park to the Small Lake near College Farm + Rough Park Wood

Sand Martin a party of 6 > South
a very late date for this species

lake
Teal 6 - a patch first for me
Kingfisher 1
Grey Wagtail 1

Again good numbers of Meadow Pipits on the move
c100 in a 1 1/2 hours, mostly S
Skylark 12 south in 3 parties
Pied Wagtail 21 south
Chaffinch 18 South
Reed Bunting 1 East
Yellowhammer 3
Wood Pigeon c100
Also Linnet, Goldfinch, Song Thrush overhead

Chiffchaff 2
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 1
Sparrow Hawk
Goldcrest 3

Also seen/heard : Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, Dunnock, Wren, House Sparrow, Starling, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Coal tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit

- 40 Species

6.45am Stoney Brow to the Small Lake near College Farm + former golfcourse

Song Thrush 11 contact calling probably migrants
Goldcrest 8
Chiffchaff 5 (1 singing)
Bullfinch 3
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1

At the lake
Kingfisher 1
Heron 1
Grey Wagtail 3
Mallard 32

Little moving overhead
Meadow Pipit 6
Skylark 1
Linnet 5

6.45am Beacon Country Park to the Small Lake near College Farm + Rough Park Wood

At the lake
Kingfisher 1
Snipe 2
Heron 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Siskin - over my first of the autumn

Also
Buzzard 2
Meadow Pipit - just a handful overhead, plus one grounded
Chiffchaff 2

7.00am - 8.30am Beacon Country Park
I 1/2 hours vis mig

Meadow Pipit - 190 -
nearly all south

Grey Wagtail 4
Pied Wagtail 8
Chaffinch 5
Greenfinch 1
Linnet 2
Swallow 5
Jay 11 (including one flock of 9 going south)
Kestrel 1 going purposefully south

Also 5 Buzzards over the garden


p.s. yesterday evening Meadow Pipit movement started up again with quite a few going over the garden at 7.30, including one flock of C 30

6.20am Beacon Country Park to the Small Lake near College Farm + Rough Park Wood

A large dark raptor seen briefly near the lake in poor light, was probably a Marsh Harrier

Overhead
Meadow Pipits 14 > S
Swallow 10 > S
Grey wagtail 1

Similar time of day and conditions to Tuesday but far fewer warblers
Chiffchaff 5 (2 singing)
Blackcap 2

Stock Dove 3
Reed Bunting 1
Heron 1
Kestrel 3
Jays suddenly much more in evidence

Yesterday fledgling Goldfinch in the garden maybe a third brood
also c 30 house martins over the house ~ easily the most I've seen here all year

-- Edited by Phil Barnett on Thursday 4th of September 2014 08:49:22 AM

6.30 Beacon Country Park
Short spell of 'viz migging' produced:

Tree Pipit 1 > S
Swallow 5 > E 5 > N
House Martin 1 > S
Lesser Black Backed Gull 2 > N