13/05/2010 - 1-2pm

2 (Greenland) Wheatears - in Davenport Green sheep fields, also present yesterday
1 Siskin (very late one over)
1 Black-headed Gull (over)
6 Lapwings
3 Goldcrests (singing)

That's OK Henry, the way you worded your posting of the Barn Owl, I thought you were trying to steal it off my self-found list for a minute!!!

I've let my niece Lydia have the Willow Tit tonight at Chorlton but this Barn Owl is definately one which is staying on my self-found list!!

Glad I found the Barn Owl yesterday Henry.

I searched the area after driving down the lane and catching a fleeting glimpse of an Owl species and managed to find it hunting nearby in the area where I initially thought it had headed towards.

I was amazed when it turned out to be a Barn Owl!!!



-- Edited by Phil Owen on Tuesday 11th of May 2010 09:02:20 AM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Tuesday 11th of May 2010 09:26:29 AM

I'd guess the Swifts/House Martins were probably House Martins Ian. Didn't know they nested around there though, will check it out.
Thanks.
Henry.

p.s. Fledged Song Thrushes, Robins and Dunnocks around the garden today.


-- Edited by Henry Cook on Sunday 9th of May 2010 03:36:47 PM

09/05/2010 - 4.30-6.30am:

1 Garden Warbler (first of the year here, probably just passing through)
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Buzzard
4 Lapwings
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Stock Doves

Phil Owen wrote:

---

7.30pm-8.30pm around the Davenport Green fields only including a good check of the hedgerows:

Just 1 Bullfinch (Male) amongst the usual species - no migrants tonight unfortunately

also:

1 Cormorant (over)
c20 Swallows (the resident 2 pairs were joined by a further passing flock which then flew north)
2 Swifts
2 Pheasants
8 Mallard
2 Moorhen

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 1st of May 2010 12:58:51 AM

---

Just a observation you mention the Cormorant flying over, I heard a report last year that it had taken up perching on Painswick Park Pond not that it will happen this year as they are working on it and there is very little water in it

Regards
Ian

07/05/2010 - 7.00-8.30am -

1 Whinchat - a sparkling male in the Newall Green fields, the 2nd local record, but very mobile around the hedgerows and bramble thickets.

2 Lesser Whitethroats
1 Reed Bunting
3 Cormorants - flew over
4 Stock Doves

A stroll around with Phil and Lydia Owen this evening was generally quiet but enlivened just before dark by a singing Grasshopper Warbler in the Newall Green fields. It was singing from a different territory from the first sighting nearly a week ago but could be the same bird. Also 9 Swifts over this afternoon.

Newall Green Fields 08.30 - 10.00, Sunny with cloud

Strangely quite on the fields this morning even the Lesser Whitethroat I found wasn't singing as I watched it perched in a small tree, just it's rather thin chi, chi call.

No sign of the patchers, Phil and Henry but the two Swifts that you reported yesterday Phil were still present.

30/04/2010 - 3 Lesser Whitethroats this morning. The new arrival seemed to be very mobile however, in the Davenport Green sheep fields. Otherwise a bit quiet but a winteresque flock of c40 Starlings glided around and haven't paired off yet.

So glad that the Female Redstart decided to hang around so I could get back on the patch this evening to see it !! (I had just left Henry this morning to get to work when it was located)

Good views of it tonight in the hedgerows and another cracking local bird!!!

Quite a day on the patch!!



-- Edited by Phil Owen on Wednesday 28th of April 2010 09:43:46 PM

28/04/2010 - Quite a morning locally. The miles covered are paying dividend and produced an emphatic first for the patch. A Grasshopper Warbler reeled in the Newall Green fields and showed well to me and Phil Owen a few times at about 7.30am. It's whole body shook in order to shout out it's mechanical song and proclaim territory. It was present in the northern hedge of the large field with the bike loop in it.
Over on the Davenport Green sheep fields a bird flashed up onto a fence that i've been hoping to see in the area all spring. A fiery red tail attached to an grey-brown body identified it instantly as a female Redstart. It was highly mobile and I lost it all too soon as it moved around the quickly greening hedgerows. Also about were:

2 Lesser Whitethroats
3 Moorhens
2 Canada Geese
12 Mallards (no sign of recent clutch of chicks though)
2 Sparrowhawks
5 Lapwings
5 Stock Doves
7 Swallows
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Goldcrests

Quick visit this evening to the Newall Green fields only, amongst the usuals were:

1 Lesser Whitethroat (heard calling distantly at 8.10pm in corner of field North of Bluebell Wood and eventually located on Crowland Hill)

Blackcaps
Chiffchaffs
Whitethroats
1 Jackdaw
3 Mallard
5 Swallows
1 Goldcrest
4 Song Thrushes
2 Great-Spotted Woodpecker
1 Lesser-Black Backed Gull

Also, lots of Greenfinches heading in the direction of the Airport at dusk.

Afternoon walk round the patch with Sid Ashton trying to locate the Lesser Whitethroats.

No luck on this occasion unfortunately, however the weather wasn't being particularly kind to us.

Amongst the usual stuff were:

Several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats (No Willow Warblers about again which I do find strange??)

2 Great-Spotted Woodpecker
1 Lapwing
2 Grey Heron
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
9 Mallard
2 Stock Dove
3 Swallow

We also had good 'scope views of a lone Male Northern Wheatear in the Sheep fields.

Great to meet you again Sid and really enjoyed your company.








-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 25th of April 2010 07:23:49 PM

A bit off-patch but near Hale Barns this afternoon were a couple of Muscovy Ducks stood by a marl pit just sw of junction 6 of the M56. Coming to a pond near you soon!

Lesser Whitethroat in the hawthorns in the Newall Green field showing very well 17.40

21/04/2010 - 7-9am and 12-1.30pm (with Sid Ashton):

2+ Tree Pipits (seen first thing but not confirmed till the afternoon, showed well in grassy field just west of Newall Green ridge - Grid Ref - SJ806868)
2 Lesser Whitethroats (males)
4 Canada Geese (paired off now it seems after weeks of fighting!)
Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroat (most of the Willow Warblers have cleared off)

Just to add to Henry's posting, 1 Lesser Whitethroat was still singing away as I crossed Newall Green fields at 10.45am.

An extensive search of the Newall Green fields 7.15am-9.15am

1 Sand Martin (over) A patch first, easily identified by close views overhead
2 Swallows
Common Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
Chffchaff
Blackcap
Bullfinch
Mallard
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk

No sign of RO later on but possibly still in area, a big thumbs up to Henry for the message.

Evening walk with the family 6.45pm-8.15pm

5 Lapwings
2 Stock Dove
3 Swallows
3 Mallard
1 Cormorant
10 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls (over)
Lots of Corvids (Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw) feeding on the Sheep fields
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Buzzard
amongst others.

No migrants for the next few days for you Henry. Clear skies are fine its the wind direction that's the problem. May have to wait until weekend and that's if your lucky.

cheers
jason

30 Mins stroll round the Newall Green fields 8.30am-9.00am

Plenty of Chiffchaff
3 Blackcap
1 Swallow
1 Fox

08/04/2010 - As expected the clear skies overnight meant that all the Wheatears departed with haste. The patch was left with:

2 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
3 Swallows (2 back on territory)
2 Kestrels
5 Canada Geese
1 Moorhen
1 Grey Heron (not a local bird but another bird flying over quite high up, possibly migrating a bit)
2 Lapwings
3 Meadow Pipits
6 Stock Doves
2 Redwings

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 8th of April 2010 09:05:06 AM