Explored some of the public footpaths south of the village, in the wedge between Bolton Rd and Turton Rd - plans to have a walk on to Holcombe Moor abandoned due to weather. 30 species, though this included 4 Greylag Geese on the lake at Two Brooks Lane, which I suspect had been released on there. Other species included a Buzzard (with matching white pairs of greater covert on each wing), male Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 47 Redwing, male Stonechat near the pond at Torrington Manor Farm, Nuthatch and Treecreeper along Two Brooks Lane.
-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 28th of December 2023 03:22:29 PM
9.25am to 12.30pm. Not exactly typical late April weather. Hail shower as I crossed Jumbles on my way, snow covered cars passing me on the roads, and to top it all off a snowman in a garden at the top of Hawkshaw Lane ! Only a light wind though so good for birding.
Two Brooks Lane :- 6 Canada Geese, 5 Mallards, 5 Moorhens included a group of 4 being very aggressive with each other, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Redwing, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, & Bullfinches.
Two Brooks Lane :- 6 Canada Geese, 10 Mallards, pair of Tufted Ducks, 4 Moorhens. Not much about in the woodland.
A walk up the fields past Hawkshaw Wood & then down Hawkshaw Lane (lots of snow falling when I got to the top of Hawkshaw Lane) :- 1 Grey Heron, 1 Pheasant, 4 Lapwings, 1 Curlew, 1 Woodpigeon, a few Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins, 5 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 2 Jays, 11 Magpies, 8 Carrion Crows, 1 Raven flew over from the top of Holcombe Moor, 7 Starlings, 1 Reed Bunting. Finches made up of Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Lesser Redpolls, & Bullfinches.
2 Grey Herons on fields at the top of Hawkshaw Lane. Hardly any birds along the lane but as I was going into the village a Raven flew over very low being pursued by a Carrion Crow.
Only Mallards with the exotic ducks & the Whooper Swan on the lodge by Two Brooks Lane. Seemed to be nothing at all on the lodge further down until a Dipper flew across and landed on a branch over the lodge. Birds around the lodges included a Mistle Thrush, a Nuthatch, a Treecreeper, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, and a flock of 4 Bullfinches (2m & 2f).
1 Grey Heron on the brook by Hawkshaw Wood. 2 Jays in the wood. Numerous Bullfinches with Chaffinches at the top end of the wood.
Hawkshaw Lane :- 3 Pheasants, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail, 14 Blackbirds, 1 Fieldfare, 35 Redwings (30 of them in one flock), 1 Mistle Thrush, a few Chaffinches & Goldfinches.
Just the usual garden birds in the village, a flock of 5 Greenfinches the best sighting.
Two Brooks Lane :- 1 Little Grebe, numerous Mallards, 5 Moorhens, 1 Coot.
9.15am to 12.45pm. Not much about, more interesting sightings :-
Walk up the fields past Hawkshaw Wood. A strong wind blowing straight down the fields from the top of Holcombe Moor did not help. 2 Meadow Pipits 1 Pied Wagtail
4 Chiffchaffs in a small area of conifers.
I scanned the side of Holcombe Moor but could only see a few House Martins & Swallows.
1 Pied Wagtail and a few Siskins along Hawkshaw Lane.
Two Brooks Lane :- 3 Moorhens on the lodge with all the exotic birds. 1 Kingfisher on a lodge further down the lane.
2 Chiffchaffs by the main road between village & Walves Reservoir.
3 Moorhens including 2 juveniles on the ponds by Walves Reservoir. Dozens of Mallards on the ponds suggest introduced birds. Only Great Spotted Woodpecker of the day near the crossroads at Walves.
Not much around farmland in Edgworth so I worked my way across to Hawkshaw farmland, following the brook down the hill past Hawkshaw Wood. 4 Lapwings 1 Curlew 6 Black-headed Gulls 1 Skylark A couple of Reed Buntings 1 Dipper. Flew over me from up the fields, and then over trees, heading towards The Red Lion.
Only Moorhens (7) and Mallards on Two Brooks Lane lodges
Walves Reservoir :- 1 Grey Heron, Pair of Canada Geese, 1 Moorhen, 3 Black-headed Gulls, pair of Collared Doves, Goldcrest, & a pair of Reed Buntings.
Farmland off Hawkshaw Wood & Hawkshaw Lane :- 1 Grey Heron, pair of Canada Geese, Pheasants, 2 Lapwings, 2 Curlews, 2 Black-headed Gulls, Woodpigeons, Green Woodpecker, Skylarks, Swallows, Meadow Pipits, pair of Tree Pipits where I saw one carrying nesting material on my last visit, Pied Wagtail, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Goldcrests, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Jay, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Lesser Redpolls, Bullfinches, & Reed Buntings.
Village & Two Brooks Lane :- 2 Moorhens, Pheasants, Woodpigeons, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martins, Swallows, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Garden Warbler showing well for a change, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Rooks, Carrion Crows, Starlings, House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, & Bullfinches.
1 Grey Heron & 2 Black-headed Gulls on Walves Reservoir. A Skylark was singing high up above the reservoir.
1 Little Grebe, a pair of Mallards, & 3 Moorhens on Two Brooks Lane Lodge. A Buzzard flew low over the lodge.
Probably the same pair of Buzzards that I saw earlier on Jumbles (I normally see them heading in this direction once they get going) were seen numerous times, quite often being mobbed by Crows. A Kestrel flew out of a bush as I headed up the fields from opposite the Red Lion, from where I heard a Curlew in the vicinity of the Army Centre. Two Treecreepers in Hawkshaw Wood & a Redwing on Hawkshaw Lane were amongst the more common species.
11.15 to 14.00. Nothing on Walves Reservoir, not much on farmland, but not too bad around the village.
Two Brooks Lane :- 1 Little Grebe, pair of Canada Geese, 8 Mallards, & 3 Moorhens, mixed with all the feral species, including the Whooper Swan, Greylag Geese, Muscovy Ducks, and lots of species I do not know. I think the Canada Geese have flown in and are not introduced.
1 Pheasant at the top of Hawkshaw Lane, Woodpigeons & Collared Doves around the village. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, & Mistle Thrushes 20+ Redwings with some Starlings up Hawkshaw Lane. Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, & Nuthatches Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, & a Raven passing over 200+ Starlings on pylons House Sparrows in the village Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, & a Siskin
10.45 to 13.20. Walves Reservoir-path from opposite Red Lion up the fields past Hawkshaw Wood- Hawkshaw Lane-Hawkshaw Village including Two Brooks Lane.
Grey Heron (the only bird on Walves Reservoir, probably the same bird seen earlier heading that way down the valley past Lower House) 7 Mallards on Two Brooks Lodge with all the ornamental species 1 Moorhen with the Mallards 2 Buzzards 1 Kestrel Woodpigeons, Collared Doves Great Spotted Woodpecker Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins A few Blackbirds 100+ Fieldfares in Hawkshaw Wood 3 flocks of Redwings (12, 3, & 35). Maybe more with the Fieldfare flock but could not be sure. 2 Mistle Thrushes Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, & a Treecreeper Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows House Sparrows at Walves & around the village Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches
10.25 to 13.30. Walves Reservoir - Hawkshaw Village - walk up the fields past Hawkshaw Wood and down Hawkshaw Lane.
1 Grey Heron at Walves The captive Whooper Swan Numerous Mallards 3 Buzzards 1 Kestrel Pheasants 2 Moorhens at Walves + 4 down Two Brooks Lane including one sat on a nest. 2 Coots at Walves + one at Two Brooks Lane 3 Curlews 1 Black-headed Gull at Walves 1 Stock Dove 20+ Woodpigeons 1 Skylark 4 Swallows 3 Meadow Pipits 2 Pied Wagtails Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins 3 Wheatears 9 Blackbirds 4 Song Thrushes 1 Lesser Whitethroat. Less than annual sightings for me locally so this was a bonus bird today. Top end of Hawkshaw Lane. 2 Blackcaps 1 Chiffchaff 15 Willow Warblers Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits 2 Jays 6 Magpies 20+ Jackdaws 20+ Carrion Crows House Sparrows 14 Chaffinches 6 Greenfinches 9 Goldfinches 1 Lesser Redpoll 3 Linnets Pairs of Reed Buntings at Walves & along Hawkshaw Lane
I managed to attract the attention of the chap with the allotments at Two Brooks Lane Lodge as I was dubious about the Whooper Swan which was here again. It was good to meet Fred for the first time as he told me that Betsy (I think that he was the name he gave me) has been with him for about 10 years, bought as a captive bird. She started on this lodge before he moved her elsewhere. She is now back but he is still worried about returning her, worrying that a fox might take her. Even last week I thought she might be a captive due to the location, and as he has Muscovys and various geese, and the date. Good lad is Fred. He gave me permission, without asking, to wander onto his land to get a better view of the lodge.
Not much else to report due to the weather. Grey Wagtail on the brook near the lodge, with a Chiffchaff nearby. Sparrowhawk & Kestrel on farmland with a few Meadow Pipits, and a Curlew.
10.10am to 12.40am. Walves Reservoir - up the fields from opposite the Red Lion - down Hawkshaw Lane - Two Brooks Lane lodge. Lots of migrants, winter ones of course !
1 Grey Heron at Walves 1 Whooper Swan on Lodge at two Brooks Lane. Certainly did not expect that. 4 Mallards at the lodge & a pair on the fields 1 Moorhen at the lodge & 1 at Walves 1 Kestrel at Walves 8 Pheasants 3 Curlews 1 Black-headed Gull at Walves A steady stream of Lesser Black-backed Gulls passing over in ones & twos 10 Woodpigeons 2 Collared Doves 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 5 Skylarks 17 Meadow Pipits 2 Pied Wagtails 4 Wrens 4 Dunnocks 6 Robins 6 Blackbirds 50+ Fieldfares with 20+ Starlings at the top of Hawkshaw Lane 60+ Redwings with 10+ Starlings at the bottom of Hawkshaw Lane 2 Mistle Thrushes 2 Long-tailed Tits 1 Coal Tit Numerous Blue Tits & Great Tits 1 Nuthatch 4 Jays 15 Magpies 15 Jackdaws 11 Carrion Crows House Sparrows in the village 20+ Chaffinches 10+ Greenfinches 13 Goldfinches 3 Siskins 1 Reed Bunting at Walves
12.05 to 13.35. Numerous wintry showers, including a big one in the centre of Hawshaw. Luckily I was able to shelter in The Red Lion while it blew through.
Hawkshaw Lane :- 2 Curlews feeding together. At least a dozen Redwings with a Mistle Thrush & 20+ Starlings
Two Brooks Lane lodge :- 2 Canada Geese 12 Mallards 3 Moorhens
Walves Reservoir. Only one of the smaller pools is actually in Hawkshaw (Bury). The reservoir is split down the middle by the Bolton/Blackburn with Darwen boundary. A Coot was the only bird on the reservoir.
Walves Reservoir was mostly frozen but 2 Grey Herons & 5 Goosanders were at the Hawkshaw end. Birds are not entertained by the fishermen with ropes put across most of the reservoir many years ago.
Hawkshaw Village birds (no moorland birds back on the fields yet on a venture across the lower fields towards Holcombe Moor, and the birds I did see were flying up from the village) 1 Little Grebe 1 Grey Heron 2 Canada Geese 7 Mallards 4 Moorhens Woodpigeons & Collared Doves 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins 8 Blackbirds 2 Mistle Thrushes Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits 2 Nuthatches Magpies, 20+ Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Starlings, & House Sparrows Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, & Lesser Redpolls
