Decided to mooch round the eastern side for a change this evening. Pretty quiet overall but 175+ swallows in the area, most of which flew towards the flashes. Presume theres a decent roost there now. 19 Canada Geese and 8 Mallard flew over towards the flashes too. A single skylark and six Grey Partridge were the only other notables.

250-300 Lapwings and 200+ Starlings on the field bordering the north western edge. Quite difficult to count as both species were well spread out on a recently tilled field - so well camouflaged - and when they took to the air it was in small parties that intermixed and split off into further mixed sized groups.

5 Mallard flying North and a single buzzard were the only other birds of note.

48 Lapwings flew from the direction of Wigan Flashes towards Three Sisters Wetland area. 70+ Swallows were over the paddocks.

Goldfinch numbers back up again to over 100. One main flock of 100 plus smaller numbers knocking around.

Plenty Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs calling with a few fresh juveniles around, so either passage birds or a good breeding season.

Swallow numbers have also swelled over the last few weeks. At least 50 or so present around the stables yesterday.

A single Swift was over the field adjoining Three Sisters as was a huge female Sparrowhawk. Initially I only had a brief glimpse as I saw her go to ground being mobbed by a couple of crows (which she made look small) and assumed it was a Buzzard. When she took off again though, it was quite clearly a female Sparrowhawk, but definitely on the large side.

Bullfinch and Reed Bunting were the only other birds of note.

There was a good number of Goldfinches around yesterday evening - I'd put the number at easily over 100, but due to them being in numerous mobile smaller flocks it was difficult to know exactly. There is a huge crop of thistles on the site this year and they are making the most of this.


Single singing Yellowhammer was the only other bird of interest.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Friday 31st of July 2015 01:57:40 PM

A second Sedge Warbler appears to have taken up residence on the western side. Starlings are flocking with their young - at least 30 present on the paddocks. Goldcrest singing in Big Hedge. Nothing else of note.

Single Sedge Warbler tonight. Be interesting to see if it stays.

3 Common Terns over and Great Spotted Woodpecker the only birds of note this evening. Warblers of any species very quiet.

An afternoon where two was a common theme. Yellowhammer, 2; Willow Warbler, 2; Chiffchaff, 2; Bullfinch, 2; Goldcrest, 2; kestrel 2; Common Buzzard, 2. Other common species plentiful especially wood pigeons which still seem to be knocking about in flocks which just seems to be a bit late. 1 Grey Heron over.

Finally some spring migrants! At least two pairs of swallows over the stables plus a few more over the site. 20 plus house martins over the fields on the northern border and 1 possibly two Chiffchaffs. Still no willow warblers though.

Still really quiet on the site. I was expecting to see a few migrants this morning after the good weather this weekend but unfortunately not. Lots of resident species in song, and I'm pretty sure I heard a Raven, but no summer visitors yet.

First sizeable influx of Fieldfares and Redwings today. A mixed flock of approx 130+ birds were in the hedgerow that borders the agricultural fields to the north. Probably 80+ Fieldfares and 50+ Redwings. Hopefully the massive amount of fruit on the hawthorns this year will see these birds hanging around, and maybe joined by a few more.

The tit flocks are growing still, the best had a good mix of Long-tailed, Willow, Blue and Great ( no Coal today) plus three Goldcrests and a few Robins and Dunnocks ticking around in the same bit of hedgerow. Thought I heard a Chiffchaff but couldn't pick it up.

A flock of approx 100 Black-headed Gulls was in one of the adjacent paddocks behind Lily Lane Stables. Just too far away to check through them in case of anything unusual.

Tit flocks are gradually building, but the leaf cover is a pain. There was obviously a sizeable flock in 'big hedge' this evening containing Blue, Great, Long-tailed and at least 2 Willow tits. A few Dunnocks and Robins were in there as well but no sign of anything more interesting.

Other sightings of interest - 5 Mistle Thrushes on the western boundary, 2 song thrushes and a chiffchaff in the L shaped hedge, 6 pied wagtails over.

2 Kestrels, 1 Buzzard, flock of c 50 lapwing on adjacent fields, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Willow Tits.

Quick mooch with the hound this afternoon:

Chiffchaff at least 5
Bullfinch 2
Common Whitethroat 2
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 2
Buzzard 3
Jay 1

Loads of dragonflies which I've put on the other wildlife thread

Very quiet evening on both sides of the site. Most interesting thing was a flock of 25 blackbirds appearing to go to roost together. Never seen them do that so early in the year, and never all blackbirds.

Interesting hour this pm. Plenty of birds along the hedgerow bordering the fields to the north, and around Mortons Dairy. Nothing unusual but plenty of juvenile birds including reed buntings, Whitethroats, various tit spp. There was a large flock of over 50 goldfinches including loads of juveniles. Impossible to count them all but easily over 50.

This Morning
50+ House Sparrows
40+ Swallows lots of fledged young
3 Skylark
30+ Starling
3 family partys of Reed Bunting
Greenfinch with juvs
4 Linnets
1 Grey Partridge
15 Wood Pigeon
5 Swift
4 Goldfinch
1 Whitethroat

Jimmy

Sedge warbler new in this evening and a yellowhammer singing for the first time in what seems ages.

At least two, possibly 3 Grasshopper Warblers, one giving quite decent views for this species. Plenty hirundines around, Whitethroats numbers seem to have dropped a bit over the last week so presuming they've moved on. Half a dozen linnets plus the usual suspects.

First GrasshoppervWarbler was reeling yesterday evening.

quick hour late afternoon
1 kestrel, several great and blue tit, blackbird, robin, wren, 1 siskin, 1 treecreeper, at least 3 goldcrest in fir trees possibly more, plenty wood pigeon, several magpie and carrion crow.

I'm 99% sure there was a Long -eared Owl quartering the grassland in front of the Mortons Dairy building last night about 20:15. I was running at the time so didn't really get a great view but it certainly wasn't barn or short eared and it didn't look big or bulky enough for tawny.

Hobby flew south over the western side this evening.