Called up midday and stayed through the afternoon as the weather had improved somewhat. Covered a fairly large area of Ludworth including the SBI area south east of the quarry, joined partway by Mr Rayner.

Highlight was 3 male Wheatear, all very smart individuals.

36 Lapwing with a number displaying over towards Charlesworth as well.
18 Meadow Pipit
12 Greenfinch (all at Larkhill/Brownlow)
10 Skylark
8 Pied Wagtail (No white and sadly no Yellow for me)
6 Snipe
5 Chaffinch
4 Curlew
4 Mistle Thrush
4 Jay
4 Buzzard
3 Chiffchaff
3 Goldfinch
2 Fieldfare
2 Oystercatcher
2 Swallow
Singles of Kestrel, Tree Sparrow, Linnet

Cheers

Mark
Also 2 Reed Bunting

-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Saturday 7th of April 2018 05:36:21 PM

09.30-12.45. Full circuit with Paul Greenall: Gird Lane - Larkhill - Cloughend - Quarry - Picking Rods - Gun Lane - Kennels - Hillside Farm - Cloughend - Smithy Farm - Gird Lane.

Brambling 2 (Larkhill feeders)
Greenfinch 11
Tree Sparrow 9 (7 Larkhill, 2 Smithy Farm)
Chiffchaff 4
Tawny Owl 2 heard
Bullfinch 4
Jay 2
Buzzard 2
Kestrel 1
Oystercatcher 2
Curlew 1
Fieldfare c40
Skylark 4
Lapwing 18
Sparrowhawk 2
Meadow Pipits c45

Cheers John

p.m.

Saw most of what Mark saw only lesser numbers (apart from 2 buzzards). Additionals were c35 fieldfare, 4 redwings, 2 stock doves, 2 kestrels, 2 rooks, 1 raven.

Late afternoon:

Curlew 13 (including a flock of 10)
Lapwing 24
Golden Plover 1
Starling 290
Fieldfare 12
Raven 4
Buzzard 3
Stock Dove 2

Cheers John

Mark,

I was on the path behind Clough End farm when I saw you on Sandhill Ln.

Didn't see all that you did, but can add 1 further buzzard (landed in Brown Low, one was also out on the moor), a few more meadow pipits (15+ in all), 4 rooks, and a snipe which I flushed from the brook that runs into the farm garden. Should also add that if you didn't go that far there was an 8-foot snowdrift blocking the quarry path. Amazing.

-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Sunday 4th of March 2018 09:37:39 PM

8 Tree Sparrows (5 Larkhill, 3 April Cottage)
2 Ravens
4 Buzzards (looked like 2 pairs, 1 pair displaying)
2 Ravens
2 Tawny Owls
1 Kestrel
1 Snipe

Cheers John

Mark Walsh wrote:

---

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

As well as those mentioned by Mark, also 12 rooks, 3 snipe and a mixed flock of starlings and fieldfare of about 71 birds split 50/50 inc. one redwing making the odd bird! Viewing was difficult what with the wind, and friendly sheep scaring off the snipe!

Cheers,

Andy.

 

---

 

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

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

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

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

Cheers John

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Cheers, John

7:30 - 9:30 spent in the same spot as last time, wrapped up well but still forgot to pack gloves and a hat

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

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