I thought I'd check out the area where I had a singing Lesser Whitethroat during lockdown and found a singing bird there again. Obviously the right habo for them,also in the general area Blackcap,Whitethroat and Willow Warbler.
Plenty of common warblers around the area including a couple of Whitethroat,several Reed Warblers ,Blackcaps and a singing Cettis Warbler.
A Marsh Harrier hunting over the private pool,which drifted off south,at least 20 Tufted Duck and 3 pair of Little Grebe as well. A nesting Mute Swan on the island sending off the Canada Geese.
A Sparrowhawk and Buzzard seen hunting over the area and the very vocal resident Ravens heard constantly.
Now 5 Swallows on territory at Peel Farm,and a single House Martin feeding with them. On the small pool the resident Moorhen have 2 half grown young already.
On the large pool still Gadwall,Tufted Duck,Mallard and a sitting Mute Swan.
A Buzzard was hunting over the rough field and the resident Ravens were being very vocal at its presence.
The first Swallow of the year for me back on territory at Peel Farm.
On the pool a few each of Gadwall,Mallard and Tufted Duck and a pair of Mute Swans on territory.
The local Raven mobbing 2 Buzzards again today. A pair of Lapwings on territory in the horse field and plenty of singing Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps plus a brief burst of song from a Cettis Warbler near the fishing pond.
Good numbers of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler plus 2 Blackcap singing this morning.
An hunting Marsh Harrier nearby over the private land and the pool on there had 2 singing Cettis Warblers,12 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe,2 Greylag Geese, plus Coot etc.
A Reed Warbler singing from the phragmites reed bed this morning and the Cettis Warbler again round the fishing pond. No sign of the Garden Warbler today,but still good numbers of common warblers including a Whitethroat. Couple of Buzzards over and a Jay seen briefly.
A Garden Warbler singing this morning near the canal. Cettis Warbler still singing round the fishing pond,and plenty of Willow Warbler,Chiffchaff and Blackcsps still singing in good numbers.
3 Swallows over the horse fields and a Raven around the colliery. The Cettis Warbler again around the fishing pond,plenty of singing Blackcap,Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff in the general area and a singing Goldcrest near the entrance to the Meadows.
The Cettis Warbler again round the fishing pond. Good numbers of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps in the area,and 3 Buzzards thermalling around .
3 singing Blackcaps this morning, plus a singing Willow Warbler were new birds in. The Cettis Warbler again round the perimeter of the fishing pond and at least 6 singing Chiffchaff again A single Redwing was feeding on the horse paddocks and a singing Nuthatch in trees opposite my house. The 2 Ravens were still in the area,Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were both seen as well.
The Cettis Warbler still around the fishing pond. At least 8 Chiffchaff singing but still no Willow Warblers yet.Raven was in one of the horse fields behind the colliery and a Nuthatch was singing from trees round the village green
-- Edited by pete berry on Tuesday 2nd of April 2024 12:04:11 PM
A singing Cettis Warbler by the fishing pond ,also in the general area of the Meadows south of the canal 2 Chiffchaff Willow Tit Couple of Bullfinch Plus all the usuals
A wander round local patch this morning. Plenty of singing Warblers inc Reed, Sedge,Blackcap,Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Also 4 Cettis Warblers in the general area of the fishing pond and 6 Tufted Duck,2 Little Grebe on the private pond.
A wander round my local patch turned up trumps with at least 3 CETTIS WARBLERS singing at more or less the same time from totally different areas. Also 3 singing Willow Warbler 4 Sand Martins At least a dozen Chiffchaff Sparrowhawk 2 Grey Heron 8 Tufted Duck,6 Coot,and 2 pairs of Little Grebe Plus all the usual suspects
And just as I got back Ring Necked Parakeet in the back garden,still a rare bird round here
-- Edited by pete berry on Sunday 2nd of April 2023 11:17:41 AM
Walk on canal this time, no bike. 10.00am - 11.45am WhiteHead Hall Meadow Astley to Vicars Hall canal bridge and back on opposite side.
Went in search of Willow Tit and my first Mistle Thrush sighting of the year! Only heard overhead to date while riding. Dipped on the Thrush but happy with the following highlights;
A walk round local patch produced at least 7 singing Chiffchaff, A singing Goldcrest ,Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming a couple of Bullfinch,and a Grey Wagtail on the roof of one of houses on the way back were the main highlights.
Thought I'd have a wander round my old lockdown route this am. Chiffchaffs everywhere ,at least 4 singing Willow Warblers and a single Blackcap were the only summer migrants. A singing Cettis Warbler was still present after over wintering,hopefully it'll find a mate. Brief views of a Willow Tit were pleasing as it's the first one I've seen locally all winter. At least 6 Buzzards seen include thermal of 4 together,a female Kestrel and a massive female Goshawk which is almost certainly a falconers escape,although no jesses were seen. On the pool 18 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebe, 2 Coot,43 Black Headed Gulls and a pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls.
The Cettis Warbler still present today by the fishing pond, calling occasionally. Also 3 Buzzards up together, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel,several Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the general area.
A calling Cettis Warbler at the rear of the fishing pond on The Meadows on Lower Green. Also at least 150 Jackdaws on the fields by Vicars Hall Bridge but no sign of any winter thrushes yet.
A wander round local area today was interesting with the highlight being a calling Water Rail from a phragmites reed bed. Other birds seen were 3 Buzzards up together on the thermals A female Sparrowhawk joined them in the same thermal On the small lake 4 Little Grebe,10 Tufted Duck,4 Gadwall, 6 Teal,2 Mallard,2 drake Goosander, a Comorant,54 Black Headed Gulls and 2 singing Reed Buntings in the nearby reedbed.
Popped down to my friends garden/allotment where she has a lot of feeders ,20+ Tree Sparrows were visiting her feeders this morning,also plenty of Goldfinch, a few Greenfinch, 3 Collared Doves ,Blue and Great Tits,and a few House Sparrows.
The Green Sandpiper again on the same flood on a flooded area just off the East Lancs diagonally opposite the One Stop Car Shop this morning presume it must be a potential overwintering bird.