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Post Info TOPIC: LUDWORTH MOOR


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RE: LUDWORTH MOOR


A brief walk this afternoon from Larkhill to the PR path and back via the quarry.

Not much to report.

c80 Golden Plover
20 Meadow Pipits
12 Goldfinch
3 Green Finch
2 Raven
Single's of Kestrel , Sparrowhawk and Buzzard.

It was a bitterly cold wind though.

Bumped into Andy Bisset while up there as well.

Cheers

Mark

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Superb, crisp morning:

Highlights were:
Snipe 8
Jack Snipe 1
Raven 5

Not seen any Tree Sparrows at Larkhill on last few visits (albeit around midday)

Cheers, John


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Just so the place doesn't disappear from view! A visit this p.m. was largely lacking in drama, but did have (amongst others) 2 ravens, buzzard, 2 kestrels, sparrowhawk, 3 bullfinches, 5 rooks, 10 fieldfare, 1/2 redwings, 2 mistle thrushes. The feeders at Larkhill were deserted and it looked as if some tree work had been taking place. I saw no tree sparrows, which I pray is temporary.



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A brief call up midday, focussing on Larkhill to Cloughend;

Larkhill:

8 Tree Sparrow (at least)
2 Reed Bunting
6 Chaffinch

Elsewhere:

9 Greenfinch
1 Fieldfare
1 Raven
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel


Cheers

Mark

-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Saturday 20th of January 2018 03:31:36 PM

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Rather depressingly there was a trail bike event underway in the quarry, organised by 'Manchester 17 Motorcycle Club'. Over 100 people, 48 vehicles including a catering van and 50+ competitors. Nor surprisingly there were few birds around. This list a listed Grade A Site of Biological Importance but in reality that counts for nothing.

3 Greenfinch and 4 Tree Sparrows at Larkhill
Kestrel hunting
c80 Common Gulls

Cheers John

-- Edited by John Rayner on Tuesday 26th of December 2017 02:14:41 PM



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A late post for yesterday afternoon, started off at Larkhill and made my way to the Picking Rods and back down via the quarry;


153 Starling in several groups
C100 Lapwing (probably Andy's group but I only saw them briefly so no proper count)
35 Goldfinch all in one flock
26 Fieldfare
18 Snipe
8 Tree Sparrow
5 Chaffinch
5 Greenfinch
4 Bullfinch
Singles of Kestrel, Goldcrest and Treecreeper

Cheers

Mark



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19th December.

c125 lapwings was decent for up here. Also 50+ starlings , 2 ravens, reed bunting, small numbers of fieldfare (10) and redwing (less) in field at Smithy Lane, but I spotted a larger number of thrushes using the wood at Brown Low when I got back to the parking area. There was a constant passage of gulls in small groups (mostly common/herring) all but a few going south-east.



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Stonechat 1 (quarry)
Tree Sparrow 9 (Larkhill)
Bullfinch 4
Raven 1
Kestrel 1
Fieldfare 7
Redwing 2

Cheers John




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Did the walk I tend to do most in Winter: Glossop Rd lay-by (nr fishponds), up Sandhill Lane to April Cottage, back to Ernocroft Lane and down there to Glossop Rd - back to car along road (took in a little of Ernocroft Wood).

c50 lapwings, 40 - 50 redwings, 15 - 20 fieldfare, c90 starlings, 5 tree sparrows, 6+ bullfinches, grey wagtail (using Gird Lane as if it was a stream), 3 buzzards. Great Spotted woodpecker one of only three species in Ernocroft Wood. Nice morning though.



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A quick saunter round this afternoon while the rain held off.

107 Canada Geese in the fields opposite Larkhill
8 Tree Sparrow (probably more)
10 Greenfinch
2 Chaffinch
5 Redwing
2 Bullfinch
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard

Cheers

Mark

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Larkhill Area:
Canada Goose 176
Tree Sparrow 7
Chaffinch 9
Redwing 6
Sparrowhawk

Cloughend area:
Lapwing 2
Jay 2
Bullfinch 3
Common Gull 60
Buzzard
Kestrel

Cheers John


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19th Nov. 09.00 - 10.30

2 skiens of Pink-footed Geese SE (c140 and the other unseen)
Redwing c60
Fieldfare c10
Tree Sparrow 3
Bullfinch 6
Pheasant 3 under feeders at Larkhill
Grey Heron 1
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1

Cheers John



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 19th of November 2017 05:30:39 PM

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Thurs 16th November. 14.00 - 15.45

Apart from some uncounted Gulls/Magpies/Rooks/Crows and a few Woodpigeons these were just about the only birds seen on a slow afternoon.

Fieldfare 27
Redwing 15
Blackbird 9
Mistle Thrush 7
Starling 15
Siskin 15
Goldfinch 16
Bullfinch 2
Chaffinch 5
Goldcrest 1
Jay 2
Buzzard 1
Canada Goose 71
Jackdaw c350

The trail bike damage continues unabated.

Cheers John




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2 stonechats in quarry area too, and a further flock of 30 fieldfare.



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Wednesday 8th of November 2017 08:51:43 PM

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13.35 - 15.45: 2nd session this afternoon but far fewer birds around.

Holliwood End - Smithy Farm - Cloughend - Sandhill Lane - Gird Lane

Redwing c25
Goldcrest 4
Bullfinch 5
Greenfinch 4
Blackbird 6
Mistle Thrush 4
Song Thrush 2
Jackdaws c550 in pre-roost

The most unusual sighting was Mr Berry.

Cheers John

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08.30 - 11.45: With Mark Walsh and (in part) Andy Bissitt. Plenty of finches in the area but not the desired one.

Chaffinch 18
Greenfinch 6
Goldfinch 22
Bullfinch 8
Redwing 149 (scattered feeding flocks seemed to be drifting south)
Fieldfare 16
Blackbird 14
Mistle Thrush 5
Song Thrush 4
Meadow Pipit 13
Buzzard 3
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Raven 2

Cheers John



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John Rayner wrote:
Geoff Walton wrote:

 

Hi Andy and John,

What is causing that flood at the Picking Rods Path? Is it ok to drive through?

I stopped on the Mellor side yesterday, and began walking, but turned back as the two flooded  sections seemed a "no go" for walking.

 

Thanks

 

Geoff



 



Hi Geoff,

I have driven through it a few times, just keep going and don't stop smile. It's not as deep as it looks. Main problem is that the off road parking is also under water so I can't park up there.

Cheers John


 Thanks John



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Andy Bissitt wrote:

1 hawfinch at just before 13.55, flew in with flock of redwings. In the bright conditions, it was very obvious in flight even without using binoculars, and helped further when it landed with the flock in the tall tree to the left of the unnamed house opposite Clough End for about 20 seconds. They then all departed back towards the old trout lake (down Smithy Lane), but despite following them I could not relocate any redwings or hawfinches. I had seen Mark Walsh leaving (sorry you missed it) who had seen redwings, but I think this must have been a different flock.

Best of rest:-

33 fieldfare (which flew in just before the redwings), 29 lapwings, 2 ravens, 20+ goldfinch, and green woodpecker seen up path to the quarry.

 





Glad they are still around, I think Wednesday looks good weather wise so I should hopefully get another chance for a look.

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Geoff Walton wrote:

Hi Andy and John,

What is causing that flood at the Picking Rods Path? Is it ok to drive through?

I stopped on the Mellor side yesterday, and began walking, but turned back as the two flooded  sections seemed a "no go" for walking.

 

Thanks

 

Geoff





Hi Geoff,

I have driven through it a few times, just keep going and don't stop smile. It's not as deep as it looks. Main problem is that the off road parking is also under water so I can't park up there.

Cheers John

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Hi Andy and John,

What is causing that flood at the Picking Rods Path? Is it ok to drive through?

I stopped on the Mellor side yesterday, and began walking, but turned back as the two flooded  sections seemed a "no go" for walking.

 

Thanks

 

Geoff



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1 hawfinch at just before 13.55, flew in with flock of redwings. In the bright conditions, it was very obvious in flight even without using binoculars, and helped further when it landed with the flock in the tall tree to the left of the unnamed house opposite Clough End for about 20 seconds. They then all departed back towards the old trout lake (down Smithy Lane), but despite following them I could not relocate any redwings or hawfinches. I had seen Mark Walsh leaving (sorry you missed it) who had seen redwings, but I think this must have been a different flock.

Best of rest:-

33 fieldfare (which flew in just before the redwings), 29 lapwings, 2 ravens, 20+ goldfinch, and green woodpecker seen up path to the quarry.

 



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There are still hawfinches in the area!

~3pm went up v wet path North from junction involving Gird lane and Ernocroft lane. Plenty of finches in trees around nearest house (the one West of Larkhill), though only Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch that I saw. Having got past the house, my wife spotted a lone unfamiliar bird answering to the description flying in from the North (Brown low), which I then failed to relocate, where it had gone down near the other finches. However, a couple of minutes later it flew out (again alone, NW towards Ernocroft farm), revealing itself indeed to be a hawfinch.

We then saw rather few birds for the next hour or so, until coming back through Cloughend, where there seemed good numbers of both redwing and fieldfare going to roost. Walking back past April Cottage towards Larkhill in the gathering gloom a little after 4.30 I then heard a hawfinch flying over and calling, heading East along Sandhill Lane, back towards Cloughend, but never managed to pick it up in binoculars. Even more frustratingly, a second followed it, going the same way, a little further down the hill, and similarly not spotted, about a minute later.

Suffice to say that, while I didn't get great views, they might still be possible.



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09.30 - 11.00 same area (and birds) as yesterday, with one notable exception. There was a huge passage of Woodpigeons underway today all heading SE.

Woodpigeons 2,211 in 90 mins (SE) Quite spectacular!
Redwings 12 only (S)
Starlings c50 (S)
No finches to talk about

Cheers, John

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10.00-11.30. Only covering the Cloughend/April Cottage area. Reduced numbers of Fieldfare. Increase of Goldcrests.

Skein of Pink-footed Geese north - overhead but unseen in low cloud
Redwing c60
Fieldfare 10
Chaffinch 12
Bullfinch 7
Greenfinch 5
Goldcrest 6
Lesser Redpoll 2
Long-tailed Tit 9

Cheers John




-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 4th of November 2017 01:58:24 PM

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No Hawfinches for me this morning - looks like I left an hour too early. Still large flock of Fieldfares and Redwings in the Cloughend Farm/April Cottage area

Pink-footed Goose - single skein of 154 SE (photo)
Fieldfare 315
Redwing 57
Chaffinch 36 (N)
Bullfinch 6
Raven 2-4
Buzzard 2

Cheers, John



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Single Hawfinch in the same area as yesterday at 11:30 this morning with Redwing but only remained fairly briefly.

Info thanks to Roger Baker



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Got a fine view of a single Hawfinch at around 14.45 together with Pete Hines, Mark Rigby and Andy Bissett. The Fieldfare flock was also very impressive. Many thanks to John Rayner for getting the info out. A great find and a worthy reward for his regular patch work. Good one John.

 



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Echoing Mark's remark, thanks John. I would not have known about them until about now actually! They were still around at 3 o'clockish in the scrubby area opposite Clough End seen by myself and three others. Other than that the fieldfare flock was pretty impressive in the open area between the quarry and the plantation, certainly 200+. Also one raven flew over.

Forgot to add that the hawfinches were with a party of 6 or 7 bullfinches when refound.



-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Thursday 2nd of November 2017 08:38:22 PM

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Many thanks to John for the alert. Been hoping for a fly over one morning, but to get them feeding.....aww

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After a half-hearted attempt at Vis-migging (very slow) decided to check out the thrush flocks around Cloughend Farm. This paid off big time when at 10.28 I found 2 HAWFINCHES loosely associated with a small flock of Redwing and feeding on hawthorn berries. watched for a few minutes then back to the car for my scope but just as I returned they flew. Re-found one, this time with Fieldfares, at 12.15 and managed to get Mark Walsh onto it but again it flew before I could get photos. Worked out where might be the next place they might appear and set up. Up popped 2 in roughly the same area as originally found. This time I managed a few poor, long-range, phone-scoped record shots as they were on view from 12.25 - 13.04.

Best of the rest:

Snipe 10
Stock Dove 9
Siskin 2
Fieldfare c120
Redwing c30
Lapwing 8
Goldfinch c30

So, what next? Find one in the garden I suppose smile

Cheers, John

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Too late for any vis-migging. Feeding groups/Residents as follows:

Tree Sparrow 3
Fieldfare 212
Redwing 95
Lesser Redpoll 2
Buzzard 3

Cheers John

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7:30 - 9:30 spent in the same spot as last time, wrapped up well but still forgot to pack gloves and a hat no

Anyway;

885 Woodpigeon - South West
260 Pink-footed Geese - East (in 4 Skeins)
66 Fieldfare - 36 North and 30 South West
34 Starling - West
14 Redwing - South (only one group seen through the two hours)
13 Meadow Pipit - South West
11 Chaffinch - South West
8 Goldfinch - South
4 Siskin - South
3 Green Finch - South West

plus;

45 Fieldfare and 16 Redwing in the trees around Cloughend
21 Meadow Pipits in the fields next to the PR path
8 Chaffinch at Larkhill
3 Bullfinch at Cloughend
2 Green Finch at Brownlow
2 Raven
1 Golden Plover
1 Kestrel


Cheers

Mark

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07.30 - 10.45 Vis Mig from Picking Rods/Gunn Road junction (with Mark Walsh)

Hampered by low cloud and poor visibility till 08.00 but poor counts compared with an average Horwich Moor day (and, of course, no Hawfinches). Most birds moving through in the south to west quadrant.

Stonechat 3 (moved through W)
Pink-footed Geese 782 (skeins moving in many directions. 60E, 110NW, 230E, 40S, 250NW, 28W, 64S)
Redwing 84 (only double figure flocks 20,18,11)
Blackbird 2
Fieldfare 10 (3,2,5)
Meadow Pipit 77 (disappointing, no flock in double figures)
Starling 53 (plus feeding flock of c100)
Lapwing 24
Golden Plover 2
Snipe 2
Goldfinch 59
Siskin 25 (single flock)
Chaffinch 8
Woodpigeon 148
Raven 2
Skylark 2
Pied Wagtail 3
Sparrowhawk 1

Resident birds not included.

Cheers John












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Not much to add on to John's post other than 3 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Goldcrest and 5 Meadow Pipits.

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A p.m. potter, in part with Mark Walsh:

Brambling 2 (1 at Larkhill feeders and another in hawthorns opp. Cloughend)
Tree Sparrow 4 minimum
Raven 2
Redwing 47
Woodpigeon 91 (flocks of 70 & 13 south plus stragglers)
Canada Goose 69
Lapwing 3
Linnet 1

Cheers John


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Green Woodpecker 1 female
Pink-footed Goose 180 west
Redwing 11
Lapwing 12
Lesser Black-backed Gull 8
Bullfinch 2
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 2

Cheers John

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2 Stonechats still
1 Raven
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Redwing opp Cloughend

Cheers John

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Called in both Friday and today, similar birds on both days, including my first Redwing of the Autumn on Friday;

Friday;

25 Canada Geese
20 Greenfinch
6 Snipe
4 Redwing
2 Raven
2 Stonechat
Single's of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Bullfinch, Mallard, Skylark and 1 Swallow south.

Today saw 7 Canada geese as well as only one Stonechat, differences from Friday were;

22 Goldfinch
7 Lesser Black Backed Gull over the quarry
4 Reed Bunting
3 Meadow Pipit
and 1 Snipe

Cheers

Mark



-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Sunday 15th of October 2017 04:33:28 PM

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2 stonechats still in top field above the quarry. Seen distantly as I forgot my boots so had to stay on 'dry' ground! Also noted about half a dozen redwings, a chiffchaff, a small party of golden plover (less than 10), buzzards, kestrel, sparrowhawk, common gulls etc...



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After a message from Mr Rayner (thanks very much)I journeyed up for a quick look for the Stonechat which turned out to be very obliging. It's a shame were limited to birds passing through and not breeding.

Other birds of note were;

7 Snipe
5 Reed Bunting
20 Canada Geese

Cheers

Mark

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An hour or so around the Quarry and Picking Rods fields:

Highlight were 2 Stonechats (both males). I have been searching for these all year but drawn a blank until today. Also:

Raven 2
Snipe 13
Meadow Pipits 56 (mostly moving SSE)
Lapwing 48
Canada Goose 20
Kestrel 2

And a Great Spotted Woodpecker high over Picking Rods track and migrating W.

Cheers, John




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Up for a brief couple of hours this afternoon, Larkhill to the PR and back via the quarry.

16 Meadow Pipit in the area with a couple of single figure groups over South.
14 Swallow South
7 Reed Bunting in the field above the quarry
4 Mistle Thrush
3 Bullfinch
2 Jay
2 Goldcrest
Singletons of Snipe, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kestrel.
1 Largish flock of Tits at April Cottage mostly consisting of Long Tailed Tits with a few Blue and Coal thrown in for good measure.

Cheers

Mark

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A quick visit this afternoon for a couple of hours.

Around 200 Jackdaw
18 Meadow Pipits in the area with a few small groups of stragglers moving South.
15 Linnet
11 Starling
10 Snipe
5 Swallow over South
3 Goldcrest
2 Bullfinch
2 Raven
Then singles of Golden Plover, Kestrel, Buzzard, Chiffchaff and one lone Wheatear.

Cheers

Mark



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Could only get up for a short while this morning (half an hour) so concentrated around the PR path and Quarry;

A few small groups of Swallow moving south, 27 in total.
5 Meadow Pipits south
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Snipe

cheers

Mark

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A fairly quiet walk from Gird Lane to Picking Rods and back.

A steady stream of Meadow Pipits moving south but largely in single figure groups.

Meadow Pipit 117 south
Skylark 2 south
Pied Wagtail 5 south
Swallow 3 south
Snipe 6
Wheatear 2
Golden Plover 1
Lapwing 1
Long-tailed Tit 11
Chiffchaff 3

Cheers John



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Wheatear 3
Teal 2
Starling 170
Lapwing 2
Greenfinch 12
Mistle Thrush 4
Jay 2
Sparrowhawk 1

Cheers John



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Called up again for a couple of hours around midday.

Sizable number of Meadow Pipits for the area with a single flock of around 120 and subsequent smaller groups of between 10-20, in total around 180.
10 Swallow over in a single group SW
4 Skylark
3 Kestrel
2 Snipe
2 Jay
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 House Martin

Cheers

Mark


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3 white wagtail on the field to the left of the track up to picking rods. Pic later

EDIT - update now we're back. Lots of corvids and pipits as expected. 2 swallows, which were unexpected. 2 Kestrel. Goldcrest heard in the trees above the quarry. Flock of circa 20 thrush and a single wheatear around Rocks Farm on the eastern side of Cown Edge rocks

-- Edited by Julian Winstanley on Saturday 23rd of September 2017 02:25:17 PM

-- Edited by Julian Winstanley on Saturday 23rd of September 2017 02:26:33 PM

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The tracks through the quarry and above field are a recent addition as they weren't there last Friday when I was up, so most likely from the weekend's session.

Managed a couple of hours this afternoon before the rain came.

Small numbers of Swallow moving through South West with a few House Martins.
38 Meadow Pipit, one small flock of 17 and the rest in smaller groups.
21 Black Headed Gull
4 Mistle Thrush
3 Buzzard
2 Raven
1 Jay
1 Kestrel
1 Chiffchaff
1 Reed Bunting
1 Bullfinch

Cheers

Mark

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Much damage to the areas above and below the quarry since my last visit. Wide tracks created through the rushes by trail bikers.

Birding was quiet:
Ravens 2
Buzzards 3
Kestrel 2
Meadow Pipits 81 (in 2 large flocks of 23 and 58)
Black-headed Gull 72
Greenfinch 9 (single flock)
Chiffchaff 2

Cheers John

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