9.30am to 11.20am

Turton Bottoms & Edgworth :-
Mallards, Feral Pigeons, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Pied Wagtails, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Rooks, Carrion Crows, Starlings, House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches.

Old Russia Lodge :-
1 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mallards, 1 Moorhen, 1 Black-headed Gull.

Barlow Park Woodland :-
1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Dipper. Both birds flew from the stream in the woodland towards the lodge.

Plantation Road area :-
1 Moorhen, 2 Coots, 20+ Black-headed Gulls, 1 Kestrel, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Redwing feeding with at least half a dozen Blackbirds.

School Lane :-
1 Skylark & a few Meadow Pipits.

A couple of hours late morning.

Nothing of note along the brook through Turton Bottoms.

Old Russia lodge :-
2 Moorhens, a few Swallows, 1 Grey Wagtail, a distant Buzzard.
Green-veined Whites, Speckled Woods, 1 Small Copper. 1 Brown Hawker.
A few Froglets. Masses of Fringed Water-lily.

Plantation Road ponds :-
1 Grey Heron, 4 Mallards, 2 Moorhens, 2 Coots, 1 Buzzard, 20+ Swallows, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Linnets.
Green-veined Whites, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Speckled Woods.
2 Brown Hawkers, 1 Common Hawker, 1 Black Darter. A few Azure damselflies.

9.30am to 12.15pm.

A mate saw a Kingfisher on the brook yesterday, but no sign of that or any Dippers today. Grey Wagtails only.
Old Russia had only 3 Mallards and a Moorhen. Two more Moorhens on the fishing pond heading up to Plantation Road.

All today's best sightings were around the larger pond at Wickenlow Hill Farm.
1 Little Grebe
1 Grey Heron
Two pairs of Canada Geese, one pair with four goslings
Pair of Mallards
4 Coots + juveniles
1 Curlew
1 Black-headed Gull
1 Skylark
1 House Martin
A few Swallows visiting from nearby nests at Sandy Bank
2 Pied Wagtails along Plantation Road
1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler. Ideal habitat but my first one here.
Blackcaps & Willow Warblers nearby
Linnets flying over
2 pairs of Reed Buntings
Large Red & Azure damselflies. Distant view of dragonflies suggested Four-spotted Chasers, the most likely at the moment.
Large Whites, Green-veined Whites & Orange Tips. Speckled Wood along Plantation Road.

Heading back into Edgworth I only saw one nesting pair of House Martins. Only one pair of Swifts flying around shows how the numbers of hirundines have dropped over the last few years up here.

13.30 to 14.40. WeBS counts.

Plantation Road ponds :-
1 Little Grebe
12 Canada Geese
Pair of Mallards
Pair of Tufted Ducks
1 Coot

Old Russia :-
1 Little Grebe
1 Grey Heron
3 Mallards
3 Moorhens
2 Coots

Plantation Road area late morning, and at last some interest after not much earlier.

Around Redearth Farm I saw about 75 Starlings in flight and 20+ Redwings nearby. I thought this was a decent flock of Starlings compared to recent sightings, but it was to get even better. As I approached Broadhead Road I saw the sky filling with birds over Crowthorn. A couple of hundred, then 500, and finally over a thousand Starlings swirling around. The last I saw of them they were heading towards Holcombe Moor.

Other birds :-
Pair of Canada Geese
Pair of Mallards
Pair of Coots
1 Oystercatcher flying over
1 Curlew
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull flying over
3 Pheasants
30+ Woodpigeons
2 Collared Doves
2 Skylarks
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
3 Wrens
8 Dunnocks
8 Robins
12 Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
1 Mistle Thrush
A few Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
1 Jay
2 Magpies
4 Carrion Crows
A few Rooks flying up from the rookery in Edgworth
20+ Chaffinches
8 Greenfinches
6 Goldfinches
1 Reed Bunting along School Lane

9.30am to 11.40am

Two Treecreepers along the brook between Jumbles and Turton Bottoms. Dipper, a single Redwing, and 20+ Siskins amongst others around Turton Bottoms.

Old Russia Lodge mostly frozen. A pair of Canada Geese on the fields and a couple of Moorhens on the banking the only birds present. Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatches, and a few Siskins in the woods behind Barlow Institute.

A walk around the Plantation Road area in steady light snow was noteable for a couple of calling Snipe, which made it sound like spring was on it's way. The weather suggested otherwise. Close up views of a Buzzard, firstly on a telegraph pole, and then on a fence post, was the other highlight. Distant views of thrushes suggested at least a dozen Fieldfares. A couple of Lesser Redpolls as well as numerous Greenfinches and Goldfinches, but not much else.

Old Russia Lodge :-
1 Grey Heron
2 Canada Geese
11 Mallards
Pair of Goosanders
3 Black-headed Gulls

Lots of Siskins around the village, and a few Lesser Redpolls. (I had to start at the post office to buy a pen. Not the best time to forget my pen & notebook, on WeBS counts day)

10.30am to noon.

Turton Bottoms :-
1 Grey Heron
1 Dipper
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Nuthatches
2 Song Thrushes
2 Bullfinches

Old Russia :-
2 Little Grebes
1 Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
2 Canada Geese
4m + 7f Goosanders

Plantation Road (icy wind kept birds quiet) :-
7 Mallards
1 Coot
2 Meadow Pipits
A few Goldfinches & Bullfinches

10.40am to noon, when I was forced to give up as I could not see anything through my glasses when the low cloud and heavy drizzle arrived. After a full day of this drizzle yesterday it seems we are still cursed in the BL7 postcode area, although according to the weather forecast this afternoon I am still imagining it !

Report for Turton Bottoms, Old Russia, and Barlow Institute area :-
1 Little Grebe
1 Grey Heron on the brook & a group of 4 flying over
2 Canada Geese
4 Mallards
6m & 6f Goosanders
1 Kestrel
12 Black-headed Gulls
12 Woodpigeons
4 Collared Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Pied Wagtails
1 Wren
7 Robins
6 Blackbirds
80+ Redwings in Turton Bottoms
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Goldcrest
Numerous Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits
2 Nuthatches
1 Treecreeper
3 Jays
6 Magpies
50+ Jackdaws
10 Carrion Crows
6 Starlings
6-10 House Sparrows
9 Chaffinches
5 Siskins

Old Russia Lodge :-
2 Canada Geese
6 Mallards
7m + 5f Goosanders
35 Goldfinches with a few Siskins

10.30am to 12.20pm

Old Russia Lodge :-
1f Goldeneye
1m + 4f Goosanders

Barlow Institute :-
Small flock of Redpolls

Plantation Road area :-
6 Canada Geese
5 Mallards
6 Black-headed Gulls
1 Buzzard
3 Pheasants
3 Woodpigeons
5 Meadow Pipits
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Wren
2 Dunnocks
5 Robins
8 Blackbirds
1 Redwing at the top of School Lane
1 flock of Long-tailed Tits
6 Blue Tits
8 Great Tits
1 Jay
4 Magpies
25+ Carrion Crows
1 Raven, perched on a pylon
14 Starlings
2 Greenfinches
1 Goldfinch
1 Bullfinch
4 Reed Buntings, 3 together along Plantation Road, and one along School Lane.

9am to 11.15am. Selected species only.

Turton Bottoms :-
2 Grey Herons
4 Mallards
1 Kingfisher
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Nuthatches
1 Siskin

Old Russia Lodge/Barlow Institute :-
4 Goosanders (1m + 3f)
1 Moorhen
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Pied Wagtails
Mixed flock of 75+ Rooks/Carrion Crows/Jackdaws

Plantation Road area :-
2 Moorhens
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrels
50+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Fieldfares
1 Mistle Thrush
150 Starlings

Yesterday morning 9.45am to 11.15am

Turton Bottoms :-
1 Dipper

Old Russia Lodge :-
1 Little Grebe
1 Moorhen
2 Pied Wagtails

Plantation Road area :-
6 Canada Geese
1 Kestrel
1 Collared Dove
1 Woodpigeon
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
3 Wrens
6 Dunnocks
8 Robins
1 male Stonechat
6 Blackbirds
Numerous Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Jay
5 Magpies
6 Jackdaws
14 Carrion Crows
4 Starlings
7 Chaffinches
2 Goldfinches
5 Siskins

9am to 9.30am. Brook from Jumbles to Turton Bottoms.
I met a friend at the top end of Jumbles and as we were both heading for Wayoh we wandered along the brook together. As usual Julie asked if I had seen anything unusual and I said that as usual a Kingfisher could be heard and not seen. My theory that they are nearly always heard first was soon blown to pieces. Julie saw a Kingfisher land nearby in silence. We watched it for a while before it flew a short distance, in silence again. It then flew along the brook towards Jumbles again in silence. After trying to explain earlier what one sounded like I was sure this bird would have confirmed it. My first ever mute Kingfisher !
In Turton Bottoms we saw a Grey Heron, a Grey Wagtail, and 3 Dippers together, one in full song.

10.05am to 12.05pm. Broadhead Valley. No morning sunshine = no Buzzards.
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
2 Pheasants
4 Woodpigeons
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Skylark
25 Meadow Pipits
2 Pied Wagtails
5 Wrens
2 Dunnocks
10 Robins
6 Blackbirds
1 Goldcrest
6 Blue Tits
2 Great Tits
2 Nuthatches
1 Jay
17 Magpies
28 Carrion Crows
6 Jackdaws
3 Ravens which appeared together from the nearby quarry
1 Starling
5 Chaffinches
1 Siskin
5 Bullfinches

10.15am to 11.50am

Turton Bottoms :-
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Nuthatches

Plantation Road area :-
2 Moorhens
1 Coot
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
2 Pheasants
2 Black-headed Gulls
1 Collared Dove
17 Woodpigeons
20+ Meadow Pipits
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Wren
2 Dunnocks
9 Robins
5 Blackbirds
8 Redwings
1 Mistle Thrush
3 Goldcrests
Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
7 Magpies
11 Jackdaws
17 Carrion Crows
64 Starlings
Numerous House Sparrows
4 Chaffinches
8 Goldfinches
1 Siskin
3 Lesser Redpolls

10.15am to 11.45am.

Old Russia :-
1 Grey Heron
2 Mallards
1 Moorhen
Common Marbled Carpet (nice to see any moth this year)

Plantation Road area. A lack of small birds due to them sheltering in strong winds. The Meadow Pipits only showed when a Kestrel disturbed them :-
14 Mallards
1 Moorhen
1 Kestrel
3 Pheasants
1 Collared Dove
33 Woodpigeons
80+ Meadow Pipits
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Wrens
1 Dunnock
3 Robins
1 Blackbird
7 Redwings
Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits
9 Magpies
8 Jackdaws
27 Carrion Crows
2 Starlings
7 Chaffinches
1 Greenfinch
13 Goldfinches
1 Bullfinch

11.25 to 13.10

Old Russia :-
1 Cormorant
3 Moorhens

Plantation Road area :-
1 Little Grebe
13 Mallards
1 Moorhen
1 Buzzard
1 Pheasant
3 Woodpigeons
2 Meadow Pipits along Plantation Road + a flock of 160+ along School Lane
2 Pied Wagtails
1 Wren
1 Dunnock
5 Robins
5 Blackbirds
3 Song Thrushes
1 Chiffchaff
1 Long-tailed Tit with the flock of Goldfinches, the first time I have ever seen one on it's own
A few Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Jay
8 Magpies
8 Jackdaws
15 Carrion Crows
1 Chaffinch
40+ Goldfinches
2 Bullfinches

10.50am to 12.50pm

Broadhead Valley (Wayoh Fold to Broadhead)
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Pheasant
41 Woodpigeons
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
2 House Martins
8 Swallows
3 Meadow Pipits
2 Wrens
1 Blackbird
1 Great Tit
1 Jay
6 Magpies
2 Jackdaws
17 Carrion Crows
1 Chaffinch
30 Goldfinches

I expected more birds species, but dragonflies took most of my attention anyway. I was happy to see one Black Darter to start with but I was not ready for what happened next. The track up from the Roman Road was full of them, on the track, on rocks, and on lots of discarded wood. I finished up with exactly 50, with numerous pairs mating. If I had gone off the track into the fields I would have had many more.
Other insects :-
9 Common Darters
1 Brown Hawker
7 Green-veined Whites
1 Small Copper
3 Small Tortoiseshells
2 Peacocks
1 Gatekeeper
3 Meadow Browns