Been running up the steps there this morning 9.45am - 10.40am.
Noted at least 2 Grey Wagtails on the river, possibly more but they were very active. 1 Dipper was "bobbing" in and out of the water on the river as well - GM TICK A few Blue Tits and Great Tits and also a brief view of a Nuthatch as it flew from one Oak tree to another Woodpigeons, Magpies and Blackbirds were around in decent numbers. There was probably a lot more around but didn't get the chance to take it all in, will be back with more time to spare in the near future.
found myself with some time to kill so nipped in from mill lane at Aspull/westhoughton end. tit flock of c70 mainly long tailed tit but at least 3 coal tit, 8 blue tit, 14 great tit, got my best ever view of a treecreeper near entrance the bird was 15 -20 ft up a tree but due to me being on an elevated path it was eye level and only 6ft away. 2 other treecreeper, 4 nuthatch, 2 robin, 1 wren, a flock of c80 wood pigeon, 4 carrion crow.
A couple of hours this afternoon from the Mill Lane entrance down to Pennington Green and back through the fields after visiting the nearby Glossy Ibis
6 partridge flushed from one of the fields, couldn't be sure if they were Greys or Red legs but still a nice find
3 Willow Tits
Large Finch flock, 200+ the majority were Chaffinch and Yellowhammers, easily 30+ Yellowhammers but no chance of precise numbers as the flock was flighty and split up in several trees, singles of Greenfinch and Reed Bunting seen too
small numbers of Redwings, plus the remains of one from a Sparrowhawk kill
Single Buzzard and single Male Kestrel
Great spotted Woodpecker
Coal Tit
Tufted Duck on large pond behind Gidlow house
-- Edited by Paul Risley on Saturday 4th of January 2014 05:52:11 PM
great to get my first sighting of a dipper by the waterfall along danes avenue Hindley end . im told they used to breed in the woods along time ago. Ive been birding these woods for 27 yrs and this is the first dipper ive viewed. Kingfisher a regular and 3 pair of grey wagtails with fledglings. The treecreepers and nuthatch are increasing in numbers every year .Two pair of sparowhawks and 3 pair of jays maybe the regular feeding is helping ive been trying to get the local wildlife authorities to try and set up some sort of feeding station ala pennington and three sisters. I believe there is money available but its hard getting them to spend it.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 21st of June 2013 06:31:05 AM
Juvenile Buzzard Fledged, remains of Rabbit and Wood Pigeon under nest whitethroat with fledged young Willow Tit and Yellowhammer heard singles of Willow warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff
small flock of 17 Linnets Grey Wagtail on Brook Buzzard near last years nest site several Chiffchaffs single Song Thrush Carrion Crow on nest pair of Willow Tits single Tree Creeper 5 Swallows pair of Lapwings chasing gulls passing over remains of a Stock Dove on plucking post near last years Sparrowhawk nest, no sightings of the Hawks tonight but a possible nest noted single Kestrel
Started feeding the birds again today just put food on the wall by the two benches where the steps are, this is about a mile into the woods from Hindley end.Sit down on the bench and enjoy.Its great for photography all the usual stuff ie blue great coal tits and several nuthatch which are very tame.Noted quite a few treecreepers at least 4 different pairs and the nuthatches can be visious very protective of the food.2 grey wagtails also seen by the brook.
Sparrowhawks in nest area with food,no signs of young on nest yet pair of Bullfinches pair of Pied Wagtails Nuthatch Skylark Heron 90+ Lapwings pair of Oystercatchers Tree Creeper Wilow Warbler Blackcap, several locations Moorhen with single youngster 2 pairs of Yellowhammers, still no sign of any young yet Goldfinch with young "finally" good views of a cracking juvenile Kestrel Willow Tit Chiffchaff with young Tree Sparrows feeding young in nest Greenfinch with young pair of Linnets also nice views of a Roe Buck, enjoyable few hours apart from the drenching
Fledged Juv Buzzard, perched up calling in tree on opposite side of field, then went down for bath before flying back up to origional perch. found nest and cant believe I walked past trees it was in last week dismissing them as to small for Buzzards. Willow Tit with young Male Kestrel with food Song Thrush with food Juvenile Chaffinches, despite there being good populations of Gold and Chaffinches in and around Borsdane I have struggled to confirm breeding of these so these were finally a welcome sighting, hopefully get the Goldies soon Robin with newly fledged young and another carrying food in a different location Female Sparrowhawk in nesting area pair of Mistle Thrushes Yellowhammer, male singing Skylark, at least 2 singing 50+ Lapwing pair of Oystercaters 2 Grey Herons 1 Little Grebe pair of Bullfinches Great Spotted Woodpecker
Fledged Swallows on telephone wires being fed by parents, Fledged Wrens Family party of Jays making plenty of noise Female Blackbird sat on nest Juvenile Coal Tit 2 Pairs of Yellowhammers House Sparrows feeding young Tree Sparrows nest building pairs of Bullfinches, Blackcap, Goldfinches, Goldcrests and Oystercatchers singles of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard and Heron large flock of Swifts over
50+ Lapwings in field with resident birds, still no sign of any juveniles A second pair of Oystercatchers has now joined the resident pair, as with the Lapwings, no sign of any young Buzzard flying down valley carrying medium size unidentified bird Whitethroat feeding young in nest nice male Yellowhammer in song Sparrowhawk still sitting on nest fledged Magpies
frustrating couple of hours looking for proof of breeding but it was one of those evenings were nothing was giving clues. pairs of Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Swallows. Juveniles of G.S. Woodpeckers and Tree Creepers calling from several locations and very good numbers of young Great Tits, Blue Tits and Blackbirds.
Female Sparrowhawk on nest, tail could be seen over edge of nest, Male flew over later on carrying food Buzzard Juvenile Wrens, Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers pair of Oystercatchers Lapwings, usual squadron of eight, buzzing a Grey Heron today feeding at waters edge single Cormarant Tree Creeper feeding young in nest
An enjoyable couple of hours doing Atlas work this lunchtime.
Chiffchaff feeding young in nest. 2 seperate pairs of Blue Tits feeding young. Tree Creeper feeding young in nest plus another pair nest building, watched one trying to pull a 6 inch twig into a half inch hole for a couple of mins dropping it several times before finally getting successful. 3 seperate pairs of Great Tits feeding young. Robin feeding fledged young. 8 Lapwings chasing Crows away Juv Grey Wagtail single Oystercatcher pair Bullfinches good numbers of Swallows Swifts and House Martins over fields single G.S. Woodpecker and Jay.
Wood Warbler singing in a wooded dell this morning. At the end of the path from the second bridge starting from Aspull end of the wood. Approximately 100 metres in wooded valley on the east side of stream on Bolton side of the wood.
late posting for sat 2nd April, 2pm to 5pm northern end of woods,
3 pairs Wood Pigeon, 1 pair ON 2 pairs B
3 pairs Tree Creepers, 1 pair B
1 pair Long Tailed Tits B
1 pair of Magpies B
3 Lapwings D
Skylark singing
single Goldcrest singing but no sign of a mate
pair of Oystercatchers at the large pond, single Cormorant here too
pair of Grey Wagtails
Single Buzzard over
single Linnet
pair of Pheasant
pair of Mute Swans over
swallows and martins over
2 pairs of Nuthatches
G.S. Woodpecker heard
good numbers of Robin, Blackbird, Great and Blue Tits. 30 species in total
pretty quiet today only the usal tits,goldcrests, robins ,blackbirds,magpies,wood pigeons but two very colourful jays giving excellent views and coughing like they had smoked twenty woodbines
Usual dog walk this afternoon worth mentioning a flock of about 50 redwings feeding on berry trees and a flock of 30+tits including 2 willow,long tailed ,blue,great and coal tits,2 nuthatch and several gold crest.
CANT SEE THE BIRDS FOR THE LEAVES BUT MANAGED YELLOWHAMMER,REEDBUNTING,CHIFFCHAFF,REEDWARBLER,SKYLARK,LINNET,SWALLOW ALL THESE SEEN AROUND TOP FARM AREA AFTER HOUSE AT TOP OF 69 STEPS .IN THE WOODS GREAT TIT,BLUE TIT AND LONG TAILED TIT,CHAFFINCH SITTING ON NEST AND SEVERAL ROBIN.
along danes avenue Hindley end . im told they used to breed in the woods along time ago. Ive been birding these woods for 27 yrs and this is the first dipper ive viewed. Kingfisher a regular and 3 pair of grey wagtails with fledglings. The treecreepers and nuthatch are increasing in numbers every year .Two pair of sparowhawks and 3 pair of jays maybe the regular feeding is helping ive been trying to get the local wildlife authorities to try and set up some sort of feeding station ala pennington and three sisters. I believe there is money available but its hard getting them to spend it.
