2 Reed Buntings + a flock of 20+ Meadow Pipits on Turton Golf Course this morning

7.30am to 9.20am around Turton Golf Course :-
3 Mallards, 5 Moorhens, 1 Kestrel, 8 Pheasants, 4 Snipe, 15 Black-headed Gulls,
4 Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Meadow Pipits, 40 Pied Wagtails (38 near club house + 2 flying in towards there),
6 Wrens, 10 Robins, 5 Blackbirds, 3 Redwings, 8 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Coal Tits, 6 Great Tits, 5 Blue Tits, 3 Nuthatches,
2 Jays, 12 Magpies, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Rook, 15 Carrion Crows,
15 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, 8 Goldfinches, 2 Siskins, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Bullfinches.

Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road included :-
1 Green Woodpecker, 38 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Jays, 7 Chaffinches, 1 Siskin, 2 Bullfinches.

Hardly any birds at Holts Fold so did a full tour of Turton Golf Course from 7.15am to 8.45am.
2 Kestrels, 2 Pheasants, 5 Moorhens, 12 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Feral Pigeons, 12 Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 29 Meadow Pipits, 19 Pied Wagtails, 8 Wrens, 6 Robins, 3 Blackbirds, 17 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tits, 2 Great Tits, 8 Blue Tits, 4 Nuthatches, 2 Jays, 16 Magpies, 4 Jackdaws, 3 Rooks, 23 Carrion Crows, 16 Chaffinches, 10 Goldfinches, 1 Siskin, 6 Bullfinches.

Other Turton sightings this morning included :-
A flock of 30+ Linnets flying over The Bungalow area heading south over the golf course
4 Snipe along the side of Cheetham Close + numerous Meadow Pipits
A flock of 17 Siskins & a Skylark near Three Lowes

10.55am to 11.55am. Turton Golf Course, including the birds at Holts Fold area from 7.15am to 7.45am.

1 Buzzard
1 Pheasant
4 Moorhens
10 Black-headed Gulls
11 Woodpigeons
77 Swallows
17 Meadow Pipits
21 Pied Wagtails
6 Wrens
1 Dunnock
8 Robins
4 Blackbirds
12 Mistle Thrushes
A few Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue TIts
2 Nuthatches
2 Jays
6 Magpies
4 Jackdaws
15 Carrion Crows
31 Starlings
17 Chaffinches
20+ Greenfinches
100+ Goldfinches
4 Siskins
3 Bullfinches

10am to 12.10pm around Turton Golf Course.

1 Buzzard
2 Kestrels
2 Black-headed Gulls
7 Woodpigeons
30+ Swallows. Holts Fold flock
Flock of 40+ Meadow Pipits at Egerton end of course by Little Stanrose Farm. Spent some time in a tree on the county boundary but most of the time spent in farm fields amongst thistles, occasionally flying onto course. Also 1 near Holts Fold.
20+ Pied Wagtails. A group of golfers on the 18th fairway flushed them up to the 18th green but I was unable to get an exact count before the golfers got to the green and flushed them again.
3 Wrens
1 Dunnock
9 Robins
2 Blackbirds
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Chiffchaff
4 Coal Tits
2 Great Tits
6 Blue Tits
2 Nuthatches
1 Jay
7 Magpies
3 Jackdaws
17 Carrion Crows
1 Raven flying over
150+ Starlings
3 Chaffinches
20+ Greenfinches flying onto the course from Holts Fold. The first time for ages that they have separated from the Goldfinches.
3 flocks of Goldfinches, 20+, 30+, 70+.
Single Siskin heard a few times. Same bird or different ones ?
4 Bullfinches

7.10am to 11.10am.

Turton Golf Course :-
1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 2 Pheasants, 8 Black-headed Gulls, 24 Woodpigeons, 23 Pied Wagtails around the 18th green + 1 other, 4 Meadow Pipits, 3 Wrens, 6 Robins, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrests, a few Great Tits & Blue Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Jays, 12 Magpies, 6 Jackdaws, 15 Carrion Crows, 4 Chaffinches, numerous Greenfinches and Goldfinches from the Hoots Fold flock, a flock of 17 Siskins plus a couple of others flying around, 6 Bullfinches.

The Bungalow area - Cheetham Close/Turton Heights - track from Greens Arms Road to Clough House Farm :-
1 Grey Heron, 1 Hobby, 2 Kestrels, 16 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Skylarks, 11 Meadow Pipits, 1 Wren, 2 Robins, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Jay, 7 Magpies, 10 Jackdaws, 6 Carrion Crows, 1 Goldfinch.

Only area I did not cover yesterday was the barn area & the copse near The Bungalow as a large group of ramblers was there.

I was going to check for Reed Buntings and this morning I found 3 there including juveniles.

An interesting mix this morning also included :-
1 Kestrel
1 Green Woodpecker
10+ Swallows
1 Robin
1 Willow Warbler
2 Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
2 Chaffinches
4 Goldfinches

Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Nuthatches, & Bullfinches amongst the birds at Turton Tower this morning.

A few House Martins still going in and out of nests on High Street and Tower Street in Chapeltown. Moved on along High Street and heard a Swift somewhere behind the terraced houses.
When I got to the farm entrance I saw loads of House Martins and Swallows around the farmyard. They flew from there across the fields to the railway line giving me a chance to count them. 50+ House Martins & 20+ Swallows.
Called at Chetham for a couple of pints after Wayoh trip when the House Martins outside were back to just the usual breeding birds.

A female Wheatear near Clough House Farm this morning.

A Kestrel and numerous Swallows between here and Greens Arms Road.

15 Pied Wagtails on Turton Golf Course 18th green at 7.20am. 12 Greenfinches & a Meadow Pipit between there & Holts Fold Farm.

Green Woodpecker as usual at Turton Tower end of the golf course, after passing another Pied Wagtail.

9.15 to 13.00

Green Woodpecker seen or heard on Turton Golf Course, at Turton Tower, and near Clough House Farm.

Turton Golf Course :-
1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull passing over, 8 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 20+ Swallows, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Blackbirds, 4 Willow Warblers, a few Coal Tits, Great Tits, & Blue Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Jay, 2 Magpies, 8 Carrion Crows, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, 20+Goldfinches, 1 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Bullfinches.

Other species away from the golf course :-
House Martins in Chapeltown.

Pheasant & 12 Feral Pigeons near Clough House Farm.

Green Woodpecker on Turton Golf Course at lunchtime

9.25am to 10.45am.

Turton Tower :-
Buzzard high above as I approached
1 Kestrel
Dozens of Redwings flying around the tops of the trees, with Fieldfare also heard
Mistle Thrushes at Tower + birds heard singing at Chapeltown
2 Stock Doves + the usual species
3 Meadow Pipits on adjacent field

3 Snipe flushed from the boggy area by the golf course

Raven flying over this area had 3 Buzzards for company

Very windy so not many birds showing.

Raven with 8 Magpies on field between golf course and Turton Tower this morning.
50+ Redwings, a Fieldfare, and 20+ Starlings in same area this afternoon.

Buzzard in a tree between Clough House Farm and Greens Arms Road.
Frogspawn in a ditch.

8am to 10am. Turton Golf Course - Turton Tower - Clough House Farm - Greens Arms Road.

Full circuit of Golf Course :-
Female Goosander flying over from Jumbles, heading towards Delph Reservoir
1 Kestrel, 2 Pheasants, 7 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Feral Pigeons, 5 Woodpigeons, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Wrens, 3 Dunnocks, 5 Robins, 3 Blackbirds, 3 Fieldfares, 20+ Redwings, 1 Mistle Thrush, a few Great Tits & Blue Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Magpies, 2 Jackdaws, 10 Carrion Crows, 5 Starlings, 10+ Chaffinches, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Bullfinches.

Turton Tower :-
2 Stock Doves, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redwing, and the usual birds.

4 Canada Geese at The Bungalow pond.

1 Nuthatch & 2 Jays between Clough House Farm & Greens Arms Road.

10am to 10.45am.

2 Peregrines flew in off the moors, skimmed the tops of the trees, and headed towards the top end of Jumbles.
After a few minutes I watched and heard one of them veer off over the fields towards Chapeltown.
1 Buzzard soaring around
1 Pheasant
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Woodpigeons
1 Collared Dove
1 Wren
3 Dunnocks
8 Robins
6 Blackbirds
2 flocks of Redwings (30+ & 20+)
1 Fieldfare with the Redwings
Numerous Blue Tits, Great Tits, & Coal Tits
4 Nuthatches
1 Magpie
2 Jackdaws
10+ Chaffinches
1 Goldfinch

9am to 11.15am.

Turton Golf Course.
11 Meadow Pipits on path from Last Drop Village.
40+ Goldfinches, 3 Lesser Redpolls, & lots of Chaffinches spread around the course.
1 Kestrel.

Turton Tower :-
c70 Redwings

Turton Tower late morning.

Mixed flock of Chaffinches & Bramblings. Very mobile so could not get a decent count but seemed to be a few dozen of each.
c20 Fieldfares

7.45am to 10.20am around Turton Golf Course and then past Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road. Lunchtime around Chapeltown and Turton Tower after a fruitless search around Wayoh for anything different.

1 Grey Heron, 3 Canada Geese, 2 Mallards
Moorhens. Two young Juveniles on the golf course now a few weeks old, 5 very young birds with mother on the pond at Clough House.
2 Lapwings, 4 Curlews, numerous Pheasants.
Black-headed Gulls on the golf course & Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over
Woodpigeons, Stock Doves, & Collared Doves
1m Cuckoo this afternoon. A friend who had done the same route, but the other way round, said she followed it all the way from Greens Arms Road to the golf course, where I heard it calling
Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, & Pied Wagtails
Swallows nesting in a few places & House Martins have been back in Chapeltown for a few days
Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, & Mistle Thrushes
No Grasshoppers Warblers heard on the golf course but 2 reeling near The Bungalow
Garden Warbler singing along the railway embankment between Hazelhurst Wood & Turton Tower
10 Whitethroats on the golf course
Blackcaps at Turton Tower
Chiffchaff in Hazelhurst Wood
Willow Warblers everywhere
Goldcrests on the golf course
Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, & Nuthatches
Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, & Carrion Crows
50+ Starlings on the golf course & House Sparrows in Chapeltown
Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, Linnets, & Bullfinches
Reed Buntings on the golf course, near The Bungalow, & at Greens Arms Road
1 Roe Deer & 2 Rabbits on the golf course

7.15am to 10.00am.

Turton Golf Course :-
1 Grey Heron flying over, 3 Mallards, 5 Pheasants, 50+ Black-headed Gulls, a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over, 9 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Skylarks, 3 Meadow Pipits, 6 Pied Wagtails, 7 Wrens, 6 Dunnocks, 7 Robins, 3f Wheatears (the Last Drop one moved onto the course, and two together on the top of the course), 3 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 3 Mistle Thrushes, Grasshopper Warblers reeling in three different places on the course and one reeling in the shooting area between the course and Turton Tower, pair of Whitethroats, 11 Willow Warblers, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, 2 Nuthatches, 4 Magpies, 2 Jackdaws, c25 Carrion Crows, 2 Ravens, 12 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Siskin, 10+ Lesser Redpolls, 1 Linnet, 3 Bullfinches. 1 Rabbit.

The Bungalow area :-
3 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 1 Swallow, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1m Wheatear, 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling, 1 Willow Warbler, 12 Jackdaws, 1 Reed Bunting.

Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road :-
1 Canada Goose, 1 Kestrel, 5 Pheasants, 1 Moorhen, 2 Curlews, 5 Woodpigeons, 3 Skylarks, 5 Meadow Pipits, 1 Tree Pipit (Greens Arms Road, my only reliable area locally these days), 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Wrens, pair of Wheatears, 4 Blackbirds, 9 Willow Warblers, 2 Magpies, 3 Carrion Crows, 6 Chaffinches, 2 Goldfinches, 10+ Lesser Redpolls, 3 Reed Buntings.

My first Orange Tip of the year as I crossed Turton Golf Course this afternoon, spotted as I was watching a Green Woodpecker perched on a rock behind the club house.

8.00am to 10.25am around Turton Golf Course and past Clough House Farm to Greens Arms Road. Lunchtime at Chapeltown & Turton Tower.
Light winds to start with but the wind gradually strengthened. Became very windy.

Golf Course :-
1 Grey Heron flying over, 4 Mallards, 6 Pheasants, 2 Lapwings seen over fields above the course, 20+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over, 8 Woodpigeons, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Skylarks, 4 Meadow Pipits, 4 Pied Wagtails, 10 Wrens, 10 Dunnocks, 9 Robins, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Coal Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits, 3 Nuthatches, 1 Jay, 5 Magpies, 9 Jackdaws, 10 Carrion Crows, 7 Chaffinches, 3 Greenfinches, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Siskin, 20+ Lesser Redpolls.
1 buck Roe Deer, 1 Rabbit, 1 Grey Squirrel.

Clough House to Greens Arms Road :-
Pair of Canada Geese, 2 Mallards, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 5 Pheasants, 2 Lapwings, 3 Curlews, 2 Skylarks, 15 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 3 Reed Buntings.

Chetham pub car park whilst waiting for the pub to open :-
Mixture of finches, a few of each species. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, & Bullfinches.

Turton Tower :-
Very windy around the tree tops so no Bramblings up there this time but I did manage to find four in bushes near the ground.

30+ Bramblings and a pair of Stock Doves at Turton Tower this morning.

Late morning wander along the track from Greens Arms Road to Clough House Farm.

1 Peregrine flying over
1 Moorhen
4 Curlews
2 Skylarks
15 Meadow Pipits
2 Pied Wagtails
1f Wheatear
Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, & a Linnet.

1 Fieldfare between Turton Tower & the Golf Course.