Plenty of activity in the small wood at the north end of Combermere Lane this lunchtime. 2 Treecreepers, Nuthatch, single Whitethroat, Blackcap, 3 Willow tits, several Goldcrest and Chiffchaff as well as 4 Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawk overhead.
A different immature Whinchat present along Combermere lane this lunchtime in the small horse field on the west side about halfway along. Also several Chiffchaff very vocal in the small woods at either end.
Whinchat with 3 Wheatear in the cow field east of Common lane this afternoon, favouring the fence between Common lane and the small mixed woodland to the east.
A Little Egret roosting with the gulls in fields of Common/Combermere lane today.
286 large gulls in the fields,mainly Lesser Black Backs with a few Herring Gulls mixed in.
At least 1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail in cow field at south end of Combermere Lane today also c.300 mixed Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls and c. 60 Swallow/House Martin in the same area
Several hundred Swift still feeding over the grass fields either side of Combermere Lane today also increasing number of Starlings frequenting the fields (only small numbers of juvenile birds so far) and Willow tits still actively feeding at least 2 fledged young.
Either side of midday today along Cumbermere Lane:
Lesser Whitethroat singing at the north end of Cumbermere Lane when I was walking up, not far from the railway line and when returning one (it?) was singing south of the farm around the field with the Llamas in.
Lesser Whitethroat still present this afternoon but now in the hedgerow to the west of the horse fields bordering Combermere Lane (where it was last year!)
White Wagtail and single Oystercatcher on the quickly disappearing flood just South of the railway line viewed from the Engine lane bridge this lunchtime, also 2 Raven over heading south east.
Birds along common/Combermere Lane today included Willow Tit and singing Whitethroat.The flooded horse field south of the railway from the Engine lane bridge held single Greenshank, Curlew, Common Sandpiper and Oystercatcher along with a pair of Teal and 6 Gadwall.
Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Great spotted Woodpecker all active in the small wood at the south end of Common Lane this lunchtime, also a Yellow wagtail in the Gull Fields, otherwise very quiet.
Single Curlew in flooded horse field just South of railway line this morning, Also 4 Teal here and 2 Male Blackcap and a singing Willow Warbler in the small wood at the north end of Combermere Lane.
6 Singing Chiffchaff along Common/Combermere lanes this afternoon, also 3 singing Goldcrest, a pair of Willow Tit and several Siskin still in the small wood near the allotments.
Two vocal Jays were around Honksford Brook near St Johns Church, Mosley Common this morning, one mimicking a Buzzard and one sounding very much like a Tawny Owl, before they both flew off high over Mosley Common. Rooks also very active at St. Johns this morning, wonderful watching them above the churchyard. This evening around 7:10pm a Coot was calling loudly in flight over the Bridgewater View estate just below the busway.
The female Garganey from Cutacre was with 14 Gadwall on the flooded horse field just South of the railway at the north end of Combermere Lane this lunchtime. Also 2 Oystercatcher, 38+Lapwing and about 200 mixed Herring and Lesser black backed Gulls. 12 Siskin in trees by the allotments at the south end of Common Lane.
Plenty of birds in the flooded horse paddock just south of the railway line at the north end of Combermere Lane this lunchtime.
c.300 mixed Herring and Lesser Black backed Gull with a similar number of Black Headed Gull.
4 Oystercatcher, 18 Lapwing, 15 Meadow pipit and several Pied Wagtail. Also 2 Raven over heading North.
A "whitewinger"briefly in the fields off Common Lane with about 25 large gulls before flying off. It was juvenile bird but unfortunately only saw it through my bins , it had flown off by the time I parked up and got my scope out. Hopefully might turn up at Pennington roost tonight.
2 Curlew were feeding in the Gull Fields at lunchtime, they then circled over Cutacre a little later before dropping onto the flooded horse field just South of the railway line. Also a small flock of Fieldfare in the Gull Fields and small numbers of Siskin over calling.
Lunchtime walk along Common and Combermere Lane. 7 Lapwing in the grass field with the gull roost. 5+ Siskin in trees at the southern end. Also a decent sized mixed tit flock containing all 4 of the more common species and a Treecreeper.
I see Common Terns feeding on the Bridgewater canal regularly, never more than two but usually single birds between the RHS and Worsley filtration lagoons and seem to head off towards Blackleach
Been having small numbers (up to 4) going over the garden for the last couple of summers heading either southwest or northeast usually. Quite a regular occurrence and usually heading northeast late afternoon evening. Always assumed they were commuting between Pennington and blackleach?
I've seen them flying over my house heading towards the canal which is only a couple 100 yds away. I've always assumed that they were from Blackleach as that's the direction they come from.
Today, early afternoon, at the east end of Tyldesley, a Common Tern carrying a fish went NE over the Hough Lane/Manchester Road junction. It was presumably headed for Blackleach Country Park. It may have been coming from the nearby New Hall Moat, but probably more likely had been fishing the Bridgewater Canal or one of the ponds on the mosses. Wigan Flashes terns would regularly fish at sites as far away as Worthington Lakes, Orrell Water Park and Carr Mill Dam
Evening walk along the guided busway taking in Astley street park and the Stour road estate produced 6 singing Goldcrest, 2 pairs of Sparrowhawk, and several screaming groups of Swift
3.45pm. Lesser Whitethroat still singing and seen very briefly from narrow path, near bridge over a stream to the west of horse paddocks along Combermere Lane. Seems to move along hedgerow as distant initially but moved towards path area before going back.
Willow tit calling and showing well at the bottom end of Common lane this lunchtime and a singing Lesser Whitethroat along Combermere lane in hedges west of the horse paddocks.
Friday 17th Feb, a calling Golden Plover went west over the Bodmin Rd estate, i.e. roughly following the line of the Tyldesley Banks escarpment and approx 20 Siskin went low south over the estate