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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> Holcombe Moor and environs
Post Info TOPIC: Holcombe Moor and environs
Roger Halsey


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RE: Holcombe Moor and environs
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Highlights from a longer morning circuit:

1 Kestrel- the only raptor.

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker .

5 Mistle Thrush.

Dipper, Grey Wagtail and 2 Goldcrest in Redisher Wood.

2 Greenfinch and 1 Reed Bunting, both first site records for the year.



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Roger Halsey


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Limited highlights during an afternoon circuit, after the rain/snow had cleared:

1 Green Woodpecker, my first of the year.

1 Kestrel.

Group of 7 Bullfinch together.



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Simon Johnson


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Woodcock flushed off the slopes of Holcombe Hill this afternoon

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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl.

1 Green Woodpecker.

30+ Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush.

1 Treecreeper, 4 Bullfinch.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit largely before the rain:

Kingfisher and Grey Heron in Redisher Wood.

What I thought initially to be a Merlin and a Crow turned out the be a Peregrine and a Raven! Watched them for a good while in prolonged aerial combat covering a wide area over the end of the moor and Redisher Wood. Great show!



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Roger Halsey


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Best from a damp morning circuit:

1 Green Woodpecker.

1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel and 1 Raven.

5 Goldcrest and 2 Treecreeper.

2 Fieldfare near the stables, 1 Mistle Thrush and 3 Song Thrush- 2 near the top of the Moor and 1 singing!



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Roger Halsey


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1 Green Woodpecker calling loudly above Moorbottom Road during a late afternoon walk to Peel Tower.  Also 1 Kestrel.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a damp morning circuit:

2 Kestrel and 2 Raven.

25 Redwing in 2 flocks and 3 Mistle Thrush.

2 Stonechat.

1 Treecreeper and 1 Goldcrest.

3 Bullfinch.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Green Woodpecker calling but not seen.

1 Kestrel and 1 Raven.

c20 Redwing and 1 Mistle Thrush.

1 Dipper.

2 Treecreeper, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Bullfinch.

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a late morning circuit through Redisher Wood only:

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Stock Dove in field with Woodpigeon.

Lone Redwing with lone Mistle Thrush!

1 Raven and 1 Siskin over.

 



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Roger Halsey


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Some interesting thrush movement this morning. Initially 30 Fieldfare flew NE over the southern end of the moor ( my first autumn record), then a second larger flock was located in a Hawthorn in the middle of Red Brook valley. There was a lot of coming and going, but at least 60 Fieldfare with 5+ Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush.

Jackdaw and Woodpigeons also appeared to be moving south with flocks of 40 and 30/40 respectively.

Also 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat and 2 Skylark. 



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Doc Brewster


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Closest thread I could find.

A report on a grapevine group I'm on has a picture from a non-birder of a Red-breasted Goose near Holcombe Tennis Club, which I assume is the one off Hazel Hall Lane. Does anyone local know of an escaped bird that is frequenting the area?



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Roger Halsey


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A quiet morning circuit after the school run, but still a bit of interest:

1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel.

2 Raven.

5 Swallow that looked like a family party.

5 Skylark and at least 1 Lesser Redpoll over. 3 Bullfinch.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from longer circuit this morning:
2 Grey Heron.

1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrel.

3 Mistle and 2 Song Thrush.

26 Swallow South in 2 flocks.

1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest and 3 Chiffchaff including 1 singing bird.

2 Stonechat.



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Martin Loftus


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3 hour Mtbike ride around the moors this afternoon. With no bins, just my eyes evileye

Moorbottom rd:

X2 kestrel 

X2 jay 

X1 juvenile female wheatear

Red brook

X2 stonechat (male) 

X3 Willow Warbler



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Roger Halsey


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Another interesting morning on the east side of the moor.  Spent a couple of hours there after the school run and, although there was nothing scarce, there was plenty of evidence of southward movement.

65+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail.

2 Skylark.

8 Swallow.

18 Mistle and 3 Song Thrush.

At least 8 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler and 2  Chiffchaff.

6 Stonechat.

40+ Goldfinch, 8 Chaffinch.

 



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Roger Halsey


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I was going to report a quiet morning circuit, but found a lot more activity on the sunny south/ east side of the moor than on the west. Probable migrants:

c20 Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark, 40+ House Martin, 20+ Swallow, 40+ Goldfinch, 1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat and (surprisingly) my first site record of Whinchat. The Hirundines did me a favour when their alarm calls drew my attention to a passing Hobby, and then a Sparrowhawk that put on a good display.

Also 1 Stock Dove and 4 Grey Wagtail.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Little Grebe.

1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl.

Probable migrants in the form of c30 Swallow, c30 House Martin, flocks of 15 and 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Skylark, c20 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Linnet, 2 Chaffinch, and 1 Reed Bunting.
Still 2 family parties of Stonechat with 8 birds present.

1 Treecreeper and 8 Nuthatch.

 

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit through Redisher Wood and along Moorbottom Road:

1 Stock Dove.

At least 4 Kestrel and 2 Raven.

1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Big mixed flock at the top of Redisher Wood that included the 4 common tits, Nuthatch, Goldcrest and Willow Warbler, but I didnt identify at least half of the birds!

Presumed migrants in the form of c20 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 10+ Meadow Pipit and 3 Wheatear.

9 Stonechat which looked like 3 family parties.

2 Dipper.

 

 



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Roger Halsey


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Best from a generally quiet shorter morning circuit:

3 Sparrowhawk in the air together playing on the updraught at the top of Redisher Wood. They then moved up to the end of the Moor where a Kestrel made the mistake of flying by the group. A period of aerial combat ensued before the Kestrel moved off north.

1 Green Woodpecker.

2 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear.

1 Dipper.



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Roger Halsey


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Plenty of interest during a longer morning circuit:

1 or 2 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk sat on an open sunny branch in an unusual pose. It had its tail fanned and wings partly spread, presumably to dry off? 1 Little Owl.

1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Stock Dove and 3 Mistle Thrush, including one carrying food.

3 Wheatear, but no Stonechat.

Some visible migration on the east side of the moor, with the undoubted highlight 5 Crossbill that flew south at eye level. Also 2 Swift, c30 House Martin and a few Swallow. Small fall of what seemed to be entirely Willow Warbler, with maybe 10 birds present.



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rob archer


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Another great year for Kestrels in the valley with at least 8 juveniles in the air above Moorbottom Rd this afternoon  . A Sparrowhawk was also amongst them briefly, as was a Hobby which flew directly up Red Brook    . 



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Roger Halsey


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Modest highlights of a shortish morning circuit:

1 Buzzard and at least 4 Kestrel, possibly up to 7.

1 Swift.

2 Stonechat.

Dipper and Grey Wagtail in Redisher Wood.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a longer morning circuit:

Patch tick in the form of a Little Grebe! It was on the pond by Hollingrove Farm.

3 Kestrel an 1 Little Owl, my first sighting for a while.

4 Stock Dove in 3 locations, with 2 birds singing.

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Kingfisher and Dipper in Redisher Wood.

2 Stonechat and 7 Wheatear.

Excellent views of male Lesser Redpoll at the top of the assault course, 2 Linnet and 4 Bullfinch.

 

 



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Roger Halsey


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Dipper and Treecreeper best from a morning circuit truncated due to the rain!



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a longer morning circuit:

1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Stock Dove.

7 Stonechat, with 1 pair looking like they were rearing a second brood, and 1 Wheatear.

1 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 3 Bullfinch.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a short afternoon circuit after the murk had cleared:

At least 3 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and 5 Raven playing on the updraught to the west of the moor.

5 Stonechat and 3 Wheatear with juveniles of both species.

Good number of Meadow Pipit on the high ground, but all of the Skylark seem to have gone.

 



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit after the school run:

2 Buzzard and 2 Kestrel.

1 Green Woodpecker.

1 Kingfisher and 1 Dipper In Redisher Wood.

Family party of Whitethroat in an area where I have not seen them this year.

Adult and juvenile Wheatear.

1 Lesser Redpoll just up the valley from Simons Lodge. 



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Roger Halsey


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Did a short circuit over the higher ground this afternoon, with the highlight being a Hobby which zoomed north over the stables. However, potentially more interesting was 4 birds that flew north west when I was just north of Peel Tower. I am pretty sure they were Crossbill based on their flight calls but I couldnt be absolutely sure. 



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Roger Halsey


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Best from a short morning circuit after the school run:

1 Kestrel.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

My first fledged Wheatear of the year with 4 young birds present.

Flock of c90 Starling which perched up long enough to establish no pink ones were present!



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Roger Halsey


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51 species during a longer morning circuit from home, with the highlights being:

Green and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Only 1 Curlew calling.

1 Grasshopper Warbler still reeling.

Party of 8 Mistle Thrush.

Dipper and 3 Grey Wagtail.

10+ Stonechat and 8 Wheatear.

3 Raven.



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Mike Horwood


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Cuckoo around 1500, Saplan wood below Moorbottom Road



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G.M.Horwood
Martin Loftus


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4,30pm till 6pm 

Cuckoo present around Paddy's pond area. Very mobile & vocal. Its been around since yesterday morning, so Ive been informed. 



-- Edited by Martin Loftus on Monday 1st of June 2020 08:41:22 PM

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Richard Thew


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...... Continued from Elton post, totalling 61 species and 3 or 4 additional ones heard (65)

By this time I realised since I twisted my knee last year I'm going to need to keep a support on everytime I ride my bike in future...

Highlights include:

Nuthatch
Jay
Kestrel
Buzzard
Meadow pipit
Skylarks
Linnet
Stonechat
Lesser redpoll
Garden warbler
Green woodpecker flew past
Stock doves x3
Song thrush
Mistle thrush

Ta!


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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a longer morning circuit:

1 Red Kite on the west side of Holcombe Moor. It seemed to head over the moor towards Ramsbottom. Also 2 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.

4 Lapwing and 1 Curlew.

6 Stock Dove, possibly 4 pairs in different locations.

5 pairs of Stonechat, and at least 3 pairs had newly fledged young. 5 Wheatear.

1 Lesser Redpoll.



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Richard Thew


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I wanted to ride up here 3 weeks ago but had to postpone until lockdown was eased!

Highlights include:

Garden warbler
Stonechat
Wheatear
Skylark
Meadow pipit
Linnet
Dipper
Raven
Jay
Buzzard (and was being mobbed by a kestrel)

Ta!

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Thursday 14th of May 2020 03:03:40 PM

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Roger Halsey


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Cuckoo seen this morning. It did a circuit of the firing range and then disappeared. Also Buzzard, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, 6+ Stock Dove, 2 Grasshopper Warbler 3 Grey Wagtail and a Dipper . 1 Swift over the high ground.



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Roger Halsey


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Excellent views of singing Garden Warbler at the top of Redisher Wood this morning. Also my first record of Swift here this year, with 3 birds flying around, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Lesser Redpoll.



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Roger Halsey


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Highlights from a morning circuit though Redisher Wood and along Moorbottom Road:

Cuckoo calling incessantly from the north side of Redisher Wood.

2 Buzzard and a Kestrel.

Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

First patch record of House Martin this year.

1 Dipper.

2 Lesser Redpoll. For Malcolms information, they were in the same locations I described yesterday!



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Roger Halsey


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Best from a morning circuit:

2 Oystercatcher- a patch tick! 8+ Lapwing and a singing Snipe.

1 Stock Dove.

2 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the valley floor and another from Moorbottom Road.

6 Wheatear.

2 Lesser Redpoll.



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Roger Halsey


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13 Wheatear at the head of the Red Brook Valley this morning. Also Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove and Lesser Redpoll in the same general area.



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rob archer


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3 Ring Ouzel ( 2 male) in the regular sheep fields this evening .

Info V Irving 



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rob archer


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Early walk over ..

Ring Ouzel calling somewhere in the valley but didn't find it .

Mediterranean Gull in with feeding Black-headed Gulls below Lark Hill flew off towards Red Earth Farm and 2 Grasshopper Warblers below the old Maggot Farm ( Lancs)



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Roger Halsey


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5 Lesser Redpoll around Redisher Wood this morning, 2 below Bank Top Farm an 3 together by Simons Farm. Also Green Woodpecker. 



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rob archer


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4 Ring Ouzel in the sheep fields and a Grasshopper Warbler near Lark Hill on this morning's early yomp



-- Edited by rob archer on Sunday 12th of April 2020 08:43:11 AM

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rob archer


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6 Ring Ouzel amongst the sheep below Moorbotto Rd this evening .

Info from V. Irving 



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rob archer


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Tabbed over first light to avoid the crowds ..

Plenty of Wheatear arrived overnight with  c20 birds around the valley and another new pair of Stonechat found  to make it 9 pairs in GM ..

Single male Ring Ouzel in the valley floor near The Glen and c30 Fieldfare flew over east ..



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rob archer


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Walked over this morning to continue the Stonechat search . Found and photographed another 2 pairs making it at least 8 in total within GM. 

Green Woodpecker also seen high on Lark Hill. 



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rob archer


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Completed my 2 Holcombe BBS squares this morning as I normally do them on foot from home anyway..

6 pairs of Stonechat within GM this year . Taken photos of all the males and probably more still within GM on The Ranges.

2 Fieldfare, 8 Wheatear and 3 Ring Ouzel ( 2 males) also present this morning  

 



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Roger Halsey


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6 Wheatear this morning, 2 on the east side of Red Brook and 4 together on the west side. 3 Curlew, and 1 Snipe singing below Lark Hill. Also 1 Raven, 4 Stock Dove together and Lesser Redpoll. 



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