8.25am to 9.00am along the track from Stones Bank to Longworth Moor.
2 Pheasants 2 Lapwings 1 Snipe 1 Curlew 12 Black-headed Gulls on the ground with loads more passing over 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 3 Woodpigeons 2 Skylarks 1 Meadow Pipit only, a sign of how strong the wind was today 30+ Carrion Crows 1 Goldfinch 2 Siskins 1 Reed Bunting
At least 6 Reed Buntings still around Higher Whittaker. Nothing flushed across Stake Moss, probably because a couple with a dog had just walked over the same path.
Stones Bank Fields and the three ponds :- 4 Mallards 1 Grey Partridge 3 Lapwings 1 Snipe 1 Curlew 1 Woodpigeon 2 Skylarks 2 Meadow Pipits 1 Blackbird 3 Song Thrushes
9.15am to 9.55am. Stones Bank to Stake Moss and onto Longworth Road at Higher Whittaker.
Pair of Grey Partridges 3 Pheasants 5 Lapwings 3 Snipe 1 Curlew 4 Woodpigeons 2 Dunnocks 1 Magpie 16 Carrion Crows Numerous Chaffinches 2 Siskins Numerous Reed Buntings. One at the frozen ponds & at least 6 at Higher Whittaker, where they must be cutting/trimming the hedgerows right as they seem happy to stay here for the time being.
Surprised not to see any Skylarks or Meadow Pipits.
I started off at Stones Bank and worked my way across Longworth & Turton Moors, then walked down the Cadshaw Valley to Blackburn Road. The sightings below are from the Stones Bank/three ponds area unless stated otherwise.
3 Teal 1 Buzzard at Owshaw Clough 2 Kestrels. 1 between Turton Moor & Blackburn Road & 1 at Cadshaw Valley 1 Pheasant at Owshaw Clough 5 Golden Plovers on Turton Moor, today's target birds. 3 together gave really good views, and the other 2 flew off towards Darwen Moor 9 Lapwings at Stones Bank and 22 near Blackburn Road 1 Snipe 1 Curlew. At last a returning bird. 2 Woodpigeons Lots of Skylarks everywhere 1 Robin at Owshaw Clough 12 Song Thrushes. I saw 3 fly from one of the ponds into Stones Bank Plantation, and a short time later a dozen fly out heading towards Belmont 2 Mistle Thrushes 10 Fieldfares at Whewell's between Turton Moor and Blackburn Road 26 Carrion Crows 50+ Starlings 1 Chaffinch at Owshaw Clough 2 Goldfinches 1 Siskin 2 Linnets 3 Reed Buntings
Longworth Road on the way to Belmont and Stake Moss/Longworth Moor on the way back.
1 Buzzard 2 Grey Partridges flushed from the same place as last week 2 Pheasants 20+ Lapwings 5 Skylarks 2 Meadow Pipits 1 Wren 2 Dunnocks 3 Robins A few Blue Tits & Great Tits 6 Magpies 27 Carrion Crows 10+ Starlings 4 Chaffinches 1 Goldfinch 1 Siskin 2 Linnets at Higher Whittaker 14 Reed Buntings. A dozen at Higher Whittaker + 2 near the cross roads
Stones Bank Plantation :- I watched a Raven perched in a tree on Stones Bank Road. It was soon joined by a second bird.
Ponds at Whittles :- 5 Mallards 2 Teal (first here since February, and my first returning winter ducks anywhere locally) 3 Woodpigeons 10 Meadow Pipits 1 Skylark 14 Crows
Excellent view of Green Woodpecker near the top of Longworth Clough . First heard it calling in large tree. It then flew to nearby telegraph pole and stayed there for a good ten minutes allowing perfect views.
Thank's for the info. Simon. It's a fair pull up Longworth Rd and one of these day's I'll come a cropper watching out for birds instead of watching the road!
Pete, thats one of my favourite routes out of Bolton, should be able to join you soon hopefully, the county boundary is just on the Egerton side of Delph Res and then goes accross the top of dunscar golf course to the junction of scout rd/belmont rd, virtually all of Longworth Road is in Lancs unfortunately.
I cycle up Longworth Rd from Egerton up to Belmont reservoir twice a week, and although I have seen short eared owl and a hen harrier in the past couple of years I had seen nothing of note for months. However today there were two peregrine near Delph Sailing Club and two buzzard near to Belmont reservoir. Does anyone know where the county boundry lies in this area?
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 6th of January 2011 05:47:39 PM
