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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Post Info TOPIC: BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Scott robinson


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RE: BICKERSHAW RUCKS
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Mooch this afternoon, C3,4,5,6 and 8

3 Grasshopper Warbler, cracking views of one of them.
2 Whitethroat
1 Reed Warbler
11 Willow Warbler
13 Chiffchaff
3 Blackcap
5 Linnet
4 Reed Bunting
6 Skylark
10+ Meadow Pipit
1 Water Rail
1 Kestrel
1 Willow Tit

Grey Wagtail flew over and Kingfisher heard only.

Plus all usuals.

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Scott robinson
colin davies


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An amazing spectacle of well over 4000 sand martins at Tinker Joe's yesterday evening. There were a few coming and going up to 8pm, but it really got going at about 8:10pm when thousands came in. I've attached a photo with a crude grid in an attempt to count them.

In the field we'd estimated 3 - 5000 birds, and I just wondered how accurate we had been. I haven't counted every bird in every square on this image, but I have counted birds in every other square, and for the rest estimated the number based on counted squares if you see what I mean. If you add up the totals for each square it comes to 4005 birds. Bearing in mind that not every bird is on this photo because there were smaller flocks on the periphery of the main swarm, an estimate of 5 - 7000 birds might have beeen more accurate. Even so, not a bad attempt in the field and what an amazing number of sand martins!



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Dave Wilson


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Between one and two thousand Sand Martins roosting at Tinker Joe's Flash last night - with occasional murmurations. No build-up : several hundred appeared overhead in oval ball formation at 2208 hrs. - and they and many others down in the reeds within ten minutes!

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Gordon Newman


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A Treecreeper was either nest building or visiting existing nest in C3, the latter the more likely, as I didn't notice it carrying any nesting material, although it was constantly popping in and out of the hole. Will keep a close eye on it when passing.


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Scott robinson


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I can add a extra Grasshopper Warbler and a Reed Warbler to Gordon's sightings.

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Scott robinson
Gordon Newman


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07.25 - 10.15
1 Grasshopper Warbler - reeling from Blackthorn on edge of path between C8 & C10 (I was ready with camera 10ft away but I didn't even manage to see it never mind photograph it)
1 Whitethroat - C4
1 Grey Wagtail - C3
2 Lesser Redpoll
Pair of Buzzard copulating rather precariously on a thin branch in C8 with the male still displaying later on
Mute Swan on nest - FTF
3 pairs of Linnet - 2 C4 + 1 C8
2 pairs of Little Grebe - C10
plenty of Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler
a few Sand Martin over and 5 Blackcap

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Sunday 9th of April 2017 10:56:27 AM

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Gordon Newman


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08.15 - 11.15
1 Whitethroat
6 Blackcap
25+Chiffchaff
30+ Willow Warbler
constant flow of Sand Martin over North early on
5 Buzzard
1 Raven
3 Willow Tit
1 Bulfinch
30+ Tufted Duck - DF

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Bernard McGurrin


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6 sand martin + 2 swallow over diggle flash this am, 11 chiffchaff

wednesday morning a nice clean yellow + white cockatiel around stock pond.
Tuesday morning 2 whooper swans over north-north east @06-50

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Gordon Newman


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10.00 - 13.00
C2,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 10

8 Willow Warbler
12 Chiffchaff
100+ Sand Martin
2 Swallow
6 Buzzard together over C3 with 4 of them displaying
2 Sparrowhawk displaying over C8
3 Little Grebe - C10
1 Pink-footed Goose - feeding and looked healthy on Fir Tree Flash (not really associating with Canada Geese so probably dropped in on migration?)


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Bernard McGurrin


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7 chiffchaff,1 willow tit, 3 reed bunting, 3 pheasant, great tit, blue tit, 5 jackdaw, dunnock,wren,blackbird, robin, carrion crow, magpie, wood pigeon, 1 kestrel,
diggle flash- 3 goldeneye 1m 2f, 4 mallard, 2 little grebe, ( 5 yesterday am) , 1 great crested grebe, 4 lesser black backed gull, 16 black headed gull, 2 mute swan, tufted duck, coot, 2 moorhen, 2 canada geese, 1 cormorant,

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Bernard McGurrin


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1 drake goldeneye on diggle flash, 2 little grebe,
5 singing chiffchaff, 3 singing skylark, 1 sparrowhawk, several reed bunting, 1 cock pheasant,



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 28th of March 2017 03:46:56 PM

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Gordon Newman


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08.15 - 10.00
C3 only
2 Raven
1 Blackcap singing
6 Chiffchaff
3 Water Rail calling
2 Snipe
2 Linnet

Late news for yesterday evening
8 Goosander flew West over C3

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Scott robinson


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First light, Stunning morning.

Highlights,

2 Stonechat, Male and Female C8
8 Reed Bunting C6 and C8
5 Skylark C6 and C8
4 Meadow Pipit C6 and C8
3 Linnet C8
1 Kestrel C8
4 Chiffchaff C6 and C8
2 Snipe C10
1 Water Rail, Nevisons Flash
c25 Goldfinch C8
1 Goldcrest C6
1 Kingfisher, Fir Tree Flash. Same place as yesterday probably same bird.

Good numbers of the usuals about and lots of singing.








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Scott robinson
Scott robinson


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11:00 till 13:00.

3 Chiffchaff C6 and C8
6 Skylark C5,C6 and C8
3 Meadow Pipit C6
3 Linnet C8
6 Reed Bunting C8
2 Buzzard C4
1 Male Stonechat C10
1 Kingfisher, Fir Tree Flash.
2 Jay C6
1 Nuthatch, Rare on this site.
3 Greenfinch, don't see many Greenfinch either.


Plus all usuals.



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Scott robinson
Gordon Newman


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08.00-10.30
9 Chiffchaff - 4 C3, 4 C6 & 1 C4
at least 3 Little Grebe very vocal in C10
2 Gadwall - C10
1 Snipe - C2
2 Grey Partridge - C5

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Bernard McGurrin


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2 willow tit in trees around stock pond, 3 singing chiffchaff, a single pink footed goose over heading east. 5 long tailed tit,

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Bernard McGurrin


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4 singing chiffchaff this morning one in particular giving excellent views first of the season for me, 3 goldeneye on diggle flash 1m 2 f

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Bernard McGurrin


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diggle flash- 3 goldeneye 1m 2 f, 2 canada geese, 2 mute swan, 5 mallard, 2 moorhen, 2 grey heron, 1 cormorant, 2 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 4 lesser black backed gull, black headed gulls, coot, tufted duck, kingfisher flew across stock pond,
great tit, blue tit, 4 reed bunting, 3 mistle thrush, 2 bullfinch, goldfinch, blackbird, robin, 1 kestrel, 1 cock pheasant,dunnock, wren, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, wood pigeon.

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
19 goldfinch, great tit, blue tit, 2 bullfinch, robin and blackbird both into double figures, 1 jay, dunnock,wren, 2 mistle thrush, 3 reed bunting, 2 skylark, 3 pheasant,
diggle flash- 2 goldeneye 1m 1f, mallard, coot, tufted duck, moorhen, 1 common gull amongst black headed gulls,2 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe seen 3 more heard only,

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
2 bullfinch with several goldfinch, decent numbers great tit, 4 blue tit, 1 jay, c30 jackdaw over, 9 canada geese over, 2 cormorant over, mixed finch flock in trees around old anglers car park included 8 greenfinch, 4 goldfinch and 3 chaffinch, 2 collared dove, robin and blackbird into double figures, 3 dunnock, 1 wren, 3 reed bunting, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- 1 canada goose, 1 cormorant, 1 drake goldeneye, 2 gadwall, 3 malard, 2 little grebe, 2 great crested grebe, tufted duck, coot, 2 moorhen, black headed gulls,

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Scott robinson


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This morning,

4 Skylark, two singing a welcome sound. smile
3 Meadow Pipit
6 Reed Bunting
2 Water Rail
1 Chiffchaff
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Jay
30+ Goldfinch
1 Female Stonechat
3 Mistle Thrush
2 Linnet
1 Snipe

Plus all usuals.


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Scott robinson
Gordon Newman


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07.30-09.30
2 Chiffchaff C3 & C6
1 Kingfisher FTF
Water Rail very vocal again

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Gordon Newman


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09.00-12.30
1 Chiffchaf singing
1 Raven
1 Kingfisher
1 drake Goldeneye
5 Water Rail heard only
3 Siskin heard only
plenty of Skylark and Reed Bunting singing throughout whole area
1 Greenfinch (not seen here very often)
1 pair of Great crested Grebe
4 Snipe


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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
2 skylark singing @06-50 this morning, 5 reed bunting, great tit, blue tit, 1 kestrel, 3 mistle thrush, 3 pheasant, blackbird,robin,dunnock, wren, goldfinch, 2 collared dove, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon, 2 cormorant over, 5 lesser black backed gull over,
diggle flash- 2 goldeneye 1m 1f, 4 mallard, tufted duck, coot, 3 moorhen, 2 great crested grebe. 2 little grebe seen 2 more heard only, 1 mute swan, black headed gulls, 2 canada geese,

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Gordon Newman


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Half hour mid morning, C3 only, male and female Siskin, also single Lesser Redpoll.

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Bernard McGurrin


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3 goldeneye on diggle flash 1m 2 f,

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Bernard McGurrin


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early morning dog walk managed to beat the bad weather that came in laterbiggrin
pair stonechat, 16 very noisy canada geese over,2 meadow pipit, 4 reed bunting, 3 chaffinch in with a small goldfinch flock, great tit, blackbird, blue tit, dunnock, at least 8 robin, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- @06-35 a 1st winter iceland gull spent 5mins circling low over the water before flying off in a north easterly direction ( possibly came from the pennington gull roost), 7 black headed gull. 2 lesser black backed gull, 5 gadwall, 2 mallard, c30 tufted duck, c20 coot, 1 mute swan, 5 little grebe seen on main flash with 1 more heard on stock pond, 1 cormorant over, 2 moorhen,

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Scott robinson


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Couple of hours this afternoon,

Small number of Thrushes, Mistle, Song and Redwing seen.
13 Long Tailed Tits
1 Goldcrest
2 Jay
1 Female Stonechat
1 Chiffchaff
4 Reed Bunting
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Skylark
1 Kestrel
1 Little Grebe
1 Goldeneye
c25 Tufted Duck
5 Gadwall

Water Rail and Kingfisher heard only.

Plus all usual suspects.

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Scott robinson
Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
pair stonechat nr top of new road, 2 collared dove, 2 chaffinch, 1 house sparrow, 14 goldfinch, 6 blackbird, 5 robin, 3 dunnock, 2 wren, 2 reed bunting, great tit, blue tit, 1 kestrel, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- 1 m goldeneye, 3 gadwall, 5 mallard, 1 cormorant, 1 great crested grebe, 2 little grebe, 1 canada goose, c50 tufted duck, c30 coot, 2 moorhen, 8 black headed gull,

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Gordon Newman


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Female Stonechat in C5 midday

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Gordon Newman


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late news for yesterday 25/02/2017
mid afternoon

2 Whooper Swan flew north
1 Curlew (heard only)
1 Water Rail
1 Buzzard

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
3 redpoll feeding with 11 goldfinch, 1 house sparrow with 3 chaffinch, great tit, blue tit, robin, blackbird, dunnock, wren, 2 reed bunting, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon, 4 lesser black backed gull over,
diggle flash- stock pond busy today with 1 cormorant, 1 grey heron, 2 mallard, 2 m pochard, 2 gadwall and small numbers of coot, tufted duck and black headed gull, larger numbers coot, tufted duck and black headed gull on main flash with 2 canada geese, 2 little grebe seen 1 more heard only, 3 mallard, 4 moorhen, 2 mute swan,

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
pair stonechat, 3 skylark, 4 reed bunting, 12 canada geese over, 5 mallard over, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch, blackbird, wren, robin, dunnock, 4 mistle thrush, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- c25 each of tufted duck and coot, 16 black headed gull, 4 moorhen, 1 little grebe, 1 cormorant, 1 grey heron, 2 gadwall, 2 mallard,

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
pair stonechat, 3 reed bunting, 3 mistle thrush, several blackbird and robin, 3 wren, 2 dunnock, 23 goldfinch in flocks of 14, 5 and 4, great tit, blue tit, 6 long tailed tit, magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon, c 40 jackdaw over,
diggle flash- tufted duck, coot, black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 2 mallard, 2 gadwal, 2 canada geese, 1 cormorant, 1 m pochard, 3 moorhen,

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dave broome


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Birds alongside the top of the access road off Smiths Lane this morning included 2 Stonechat, Snipe, Willow Tit and a Reed Bunting in partial song 



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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
1m stonechat, 8 long tailed tit, decent numbers great tit wiyh a few blue tit, dunnock,robin, wren, blackbird, 2 collared dove, 2 reed bunting, 4 goldfinch. magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon
diggle flash- 1 cormorant, 1m pochard, 2 mallard, 2 moorhen, c20 each coot and black headed gull, c30 tufted duck, 2 lesser black backed gull, could only see 1 mute swan this morning but the male does tend to have a day out somewhere every now and then

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Scott robinson


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Mooch this afternoon,

28 Tufted Duck
2 Pochard
1 Little Grebe
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Mistle Thrush
4 Redwing
2 Linnet
3 Reed Bunting
5 Meadow Pipit
1 Stonechat
1 Jay
Brilliant views of a Goldcrest, literally down to 3 foot it didn't seem bothered at all, flitting about tirelessly.
12 Long Tailed Tits
Had a nice mixed flock of Finches in around C11, Redpoll, Siskin, Goldfinch and Chaffinch.

Plus all usuals.

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Scott robinson
Bernard McGurrin


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pair of stonechat nr top of new road this morning.

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
pair stonechat, 2 long tailed tit, 2 blue tit, decent numbers great tit, 2 mistle thrush, 5 chaffinch, blackbird,dunnock,wren, robin,magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- 3 gadewall, 1m shoveler, 1m pochard, 2 mute swan, black headed gull, coot, tufted duck, 3 moorhen, 1 cormorant,1 great crested grebe.

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
7 reed bunting all in a hawthorn bush, 17 goldfinch, 5 long tailed tit, brief glimpse of male stonechat, great tit, blue tit, wren, robin, blackbird, 2 mistle thrush, 2 pheasant, 1 jay, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- 2 gadwall, 1m pochard, 1m shoveler, 1m goldeneye, 2 mallard, 1 great crested grebe, 2 little grebe, 2 mute swan, 2 cormorant,1 lesser black backed gull, 2 moorhen, c20 black headed gull, c40 each tufted duck and coot.

-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Wednesday 8th of February 2017 03:48:46 PM

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Bernard McGurrin


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early morning walk in darkness but still plenty of singing birds 2 mistle thrush singing loudly from 06-10, plenty of robin and blackbird singing but these tended to be close to the road with street lights. canada geese heard but not seen. at least 4 little grebe calling,

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Bernard McGurrin


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small numbers of winter thrushes this morning, 1 mistle thrush singing from a tree top, 1 song thrush grubbing around with blackbirds, 4 redwing over, 2 cormorant over, small numbers great tit, 1 reed bunting, 3 robin, 1 wren,carrion crow,magpie, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- 1 grey heron, 2 mute swan, 2 moorhen, 2 little grebe, coot, tufted duck, black headed gull,

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Bernard McGurrin


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early morning walk still dark and raining so not much seen

12 jackdaw over,7 canada geese over, 1 mistle thrush singing in the dark and rain, several blackbird and robin heard singing,

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
1 kestrel, 4 long tailed tit, several great tit, blackbird and robin, 2 wren, wood pigeon, magpie, carrion crow,
diggle flash- 1 cormorant, 2 m pochard, 3 gadwall, 2 goldeneye 1 m 1 f, 2 mute swan, 1 little grebe, 1 grey heron, 2 moorhen, c40 each coot and tufted duck, 8 black headed gull.

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Bernard McGurrin


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pair of stonechat nr top of new road, pair goldeneye on diggle flash.

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Bernard McGurrin


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Morning dog walk
C170 pink footed geese over SE followed 10mins later by 6 stragglers, also heard a skein but couldn't see them but Gordon saw a skein of 50 @ the southern end of the site at approx the same time so probably same birds,
2 stonechat male and female just off new road, plenty of great tit with a few blue tit and long tailed tit mixed in, 5 goldfinch, blackbird, robin, wren, 1 collared dove, 1 mistle thrush, 2 greenfinch, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- 1f wigeon, 1 mallard, 2 gadwall, c40 each coot and tufted duck, 21 black headed gull, 2 mute swan,3 moorhen, 2 little grebe heard only,

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
2 goldeneye 1m 1f, 4 gadwall, 6 mallard, 11 canada geese, 2 mute swan, 4 moorhen, tufted duck, coot, black headed gulls, 2 lesser black backed gulls,
robin, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, blackbird, reed bunting, wren, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,

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Bernard McGurrin


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3 goldeneye 1m 2f on diggle flash this morning

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk very windy
mixed flock of long tailed tit and goldfinch with approx 10 of each very flighty, 2 flocks of great tit 6 and 9, 5 blackbird, 2 robin and 2 dunnock foraging in undergrowth, 2 blue tit, 1 reed bunting, magpie,carrion crow, wood pigeon.
diggle flash- 2 pochard 1m 1f, 6 gadwall, 3 mallard, 3 moorhen, 1 grey heron, 2 mute swan, 19 black headed gull, 1 little grebe, tufted duck, coot,

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Bernard McGurrin


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morning dog walk
2 siskin, 5 redwing, 1 mistle thrush, 3 blackbird, 2 reed bunting, 7 long tailed tit seen but more could be heard in deeper cover, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- 1 drake goldeneye first i've seen here this Autumn/winter later than usual, 3 wigeon 1m 2f, 3 pochard 2m 1f., 5 gadwall, 2 mute swan, 2 moorhen, 31 black headed gull, 2 lesser blackbacked gull, 2 common gull, coot, tufted duck, 3 mallard,

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