90+ Redwings in two flocks and 20+ Fieldfares feeding on Hawthorns along the southern edge of the area (just NW of St. Mary's RC High School) this mid-afternoon, also at least one Ring-necked Parakeet heard flying overhead while I was in tree cover.

Also 6 Goldcrests and two Bullfinches along a section of the southern edge of the site

Mid afternoon visit 3pm to 4:30pm - Queensway, Higher Folds entrance to rear of Leigh Cemetery & back.

2 Jay; Kestrel hunting; Chaffinch; 2 small flocks of Goldfinch; 4 Long-Tailed Tits; 4 flushed Meadow Pipits;

30 Jackdaws heading to roost; a few singing Song Thrush & gangs of up to a dozen Magpies everywhere on the grassy areas - at

least 50 in total. 

This early afternoon:

Singing Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting in the southern marsh

Calling Willow Tit

Circling Sparrowhawk

Several Bullfinches heard but not seen

A few singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap

Early afternoon today, a Grasshopper Warbler was singing from the southern marsh as was a Sedge Warbler too.

Willow Tit singing again today, also a single Reed Bunting back on territory and a flock of 34 Goldfinch feeding high in what were probably hybrid Black Poplars on their very attractive red catkins (and I have very little idea about trees though).

Totally unexpected Kingfisher today, along a ditch in the centre of the site and allowing fairly close views!

Also around the site:

1 Lesser Redpoll over low north

8 Bullfinch around the area just north of Hadbutt Lane

Early afternoon today:

1 Snipe 

11 Redwing

61 Magpie in a single field

2 Bullfinch

3 Buzzard

Flock of 7 Bullfinch feeding on weeds protruding through the snow along the south side of the site close to St. Mary’s High School just after midday.

A skein of Pink-footed Geese heard over west but no seen due to cloud cover.

4 Bullfinch and 16 Long-tailed Tit (in a single flock) on a very short walk this early afternoon.

This early afternoon around the site, fairly quiet but 6 Bullfinch, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Coal Tit were highlights.

A walk through Collier's Wood this late morning/early afternoon was alive with birds, the highlights being:

An adult Mediterranean Gull flew low north over the western end of the area by Leigh Cemetery, beautifully backlit against the clear blue sky. It circled briefly over the Higher Folds area, then drifted off towards Atherton. Very unexpected!!

Now 2 singing Reed and Sedge Warbler in the marsh along the southern edge.

Three pairs of Bullfinch

Willow Tit calling

Still several Blackcap and a few Chiffchaff but no Willow Warblers.

The Moorhen now have at least two young on the small marsh along the southern edge.

Unfortunately I always seem to neglect to post for this site, despite taking in even a 20 minute walk through it each day.

Still plenty of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap singing away but a Sedge Warbler there yesterday was fresh in and quite approachable too.

At least one Willow Tit seems to be on territory and there's always good numbers of Long-tailed Tits about too.

At least one pair of Bullfinch about and two male Reed Buntings proclaiming territory.

Also heard singing Treecreeper and Goldcrest from a couple of locations each.

I'm definitely missing lots due to not extending the walk to a wider area of the site, though that may change now so we'll see what comes of it.

 

Just under an hour's walk this very early morning over this area which is only a three minute walk from my house. Highlights on such a beautiful morning were:

16 Chiffchaff

3 Blackcap

2 singing Reed Bunting

2 Meadow Pipits in habitat

A pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker

Several Redwing

A single Sparrowhawk

2 singing Goldcrest

The total species seen was 32 but many commoner species I'd usually expect to see over there we avoiding me today.

3 Siskin south over Higher Folds late morning, 2 Goldcrest and 3 Grey Wagtail in gardens there

Single Swift lingering over cricket pitch with c. 30 House Martin's this am. Also 4 Grey Wagtail and several Meadow Pipit.

this morning:

2 Jay
1 Goldcrest
5 Skylark
2 Great Tit
3 Blue Tit
Several Robins & Wrens around
2 Magpie
2 Singing Chiffchaff

Otherwise pretty quiet.

Also the paths are virtually impassable in places ( really hard work to get through without loosing your wellies!) due to the massive quagmires created by off road bikes!! They certainly know how to ruin a peaceful site.

-- Edited by David Gornall on Saturday 18th of March 2017 09:50:39 AM

Late post from yesterday, 2 Raven low north over football pitches in thick fog, 14 Meadow pipit also north and Chiffchaff calling in trees along western side.

2 flocks of Redwing north over football pitches late morning 28 and c. 90. Also 2 single fieldfare north.

Late post for last night,

1 Woodcock, seen while running after work.

1 Willow Tit, seen on Tuesday by my friend Billy Armstrong.

Cheers Ian.

Singles of Kestrel and Buzzard while out Sprint Training around teatime, the only birds of note.
Been out a couple of times after work since Sunday but no luck with the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

17:00-17:45. 15 minutes running then 30 minutes sprint training.

1 Sparrowhawk, unsure of sex, went through too quick to tell.
2 Kestrel, both hovering and hunting, 1 chased off by two Magpies.
Meadow Pipits quite active especially when I was sprint training quite a few singles flying about then I seen a flock of about 20 when running home.
Small numbers of Redwing over in twos and threes, some calling.
7 Jay, possibly duplicates though.
2 Bullfinch
3 Redpoll, over.

Plenty usuals seen and heard.

09:00- 9:45. 45 minutes sprint training,

4 possibly 5 Jay
10+ Meadow Pipit
1 Skylark
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Raven
c20 Goldfinch

Nothing much going over other then a group of about 20 Thrush type birds, to high to identify.

Half an hour running and half an hour sprint training.

7 Jay, that time of year again, see plenty of Jays the next few weeks.
19 Meadow Pipit, 11 heading South
3 Skylark, heading South
1 Kestrel
1 Reed Bunting
2 Song Thrush
c50 Goldfinch in Three flocks
3 Redpoll
1 Chiffchaff