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Post Info TOPIC: Atherton Area (including B & M)
Paul Richardson


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RE: Atherton Area.
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Yesterday and today - two very different days - productive around the Atherton South area.

Yesterday:
Flooded fields around Old Hall Mill Lane and Long Causeway held
Shoveler 13
Teal 18
Canada Geese 49
Mallard 10
Gadwall 8

Bee Fold Lodge - 3 Cormorant one in nice breeding plumage, flew off at my approach

Field almost opposite the Lodge with flood and Juncus held 7 Common Snipe (flushed)

Pink Footed Geese 49 over
Raven 2 over, alighting briefly on "their" pylon

Miller's Lane

Reed Bunting 10 in a small flock
Yellowhammer 1m 1f in ash trees by manure heaps (first sighting this year)


Today:

Redwing 92 in trees, edge Atherton Wood
Fieldfare 7 - over adjacent field
Mistle Thrush 7 incl 3 singing in trees adjacent Atherton and Lilford Woods

Yellowhammer pair still in same ash trees.
Reed Bunting flock still about - 12 seen in same group of trees.







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Paul
Paul Richardson


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Complete round shower-dodging from Miller's Lane across Ladies' Walk to Bee Fold Lane and along Long Causeway

Redwing 51
Fieldfare 3 in field beyond Atherton Wood
Starling 45
Mistle Thrush 13 (10 of those in the above field)
Reed Bunting 14 (13 were mostly males in a tree along Miller's Lane - searched for Yellowhammer among them but not seen)
Jackdaw 110 - big noisy flock taking off and landing in various fields
Raven 2 over and touched down briefly on usual pylon
Wren 3
Bullfinch 1m3f Ladies Walk
Great Black Backed Gull 4
Black Headed Gull 100
Herring Gull 12 (all gulls at flood on Ladies Walk - soon to be housing!)


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Paul
Kristian Wade


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Late post from yesterday where there were 2 Grey Heron, 6 Shoveler, 10 Redwing, 1 Reed Bunting and 56! Teal along the Long Causeway.

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Ian McKerchar


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David Shallcross wrote:

it is technically Atherton Phil, the boundary is Hindsford Brook which runs alongside the store.

 Phil only works on the most ancient of boundaries David (think Mesozoic era) and considers it all to be within Bolton (Greater) anyway biggrin



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David Shallcross


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it is technically Atherton Phil, the boundary is Hindsford Brook which runs alongside the store.



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Ian McKerchar


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Second winter Iceland Gull once again present on Poundstretchers roof at midday (note this, along with many other sightings of this bird on this thread is actually in Tyldesley).

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes



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Andy Isherwood


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The Iceland Gull still present this afternoon giving very good views sat on one of the lampposts next to the viridor site at c. 1.30-1.45 then flew and appeared to land on one of the nearby roofs.

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pete berry


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The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was again around the Viridor waste transfer station this am along with a couple hundred large gulls

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Andy Isherwood


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Raven over Tesco in Atherton this am.

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Jeff Gorse


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Morning walk in bright and breezy conditions. Most sightings of note were in the stretch of Miller's Lane to the busway and included:- 6x reed bunting Female sparrowhawk in unsuccessful pursuit of blackbird 11x rook in the field next to Lilford, I can't remember last time I saw rook on this patch. Elsewhere small numbers of goldfinch, chaffinch and long-tailed tit and a grey heron on Bee Fold fishery

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Jeff Gorse


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Afternoon walk in wintry conditions. Sightings included :-

Grey heron and cormorant on Bee Fold Fishery, a further grey heron later seen flying north over the busway at Coolin Lane.

Small flocks of redwing along Langley Platt and the flood embankment edge of Lilford Wood, three fieldfare along Langley Platt also

Female sparrowhawk flying low over the field Bee Fold Lane / Langley Platt towards Atherton Wood

At least 40 goldfinch with a couple of greenfinch in trees along the busway. 3 x bullfinch along old train lines (Millers Lane - Bee Fold Lane stretch)

35 Canada geese in fields near Clough House Farm



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Simon Johnson


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Seen doing that on telephone wires at Elton several occasions

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pete berry


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I popped in at about 10am and no sign of Iceland ,very few gulls about ,probably as the Viridor recycling Centre had its gates shut and no fresh food coming in.Of interest was approx 200 Black Headed Gulls roosting on the pylon wires, It only seemed to be Black Headed Gulls .I've never seen this behaviour anywhere else with gulls,it only seemed to be the B.H.Gulls ,all the larger gulls were on the warehouse roofs.I was wondering if anyone else has noted this behaviour anywhere else?Picture attached

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Andy Isherwood


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2nd Winter Iceland Gull again at Viridor recycling plant at c. 8.30 this am in with c.200 large gulls mainly herrings.

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colin davies


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2nd winter Iceland gull still at Viridor Recycling Centre this afternoon. I wonder where it's roosting. I've seen it twice in the Pennington Flash roost but where is it the rest of the time?



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Jeff Gorse


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A very tame / bold redwing in the grounds of Howe Bridge leisure centre this lunchtime, so tame I thought it might be sickly but it was foraging quite energetically. Made me wonder that whenever I see redwings or particularly fieldfare in the summer on the continent they can be approached quite closely but the flocks here in winter are very flighty. Probably an obvious answer but I does intrigue me.

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pete berry


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The 2nd winter Iceland Gull again around the Viridor Recycling Centre this morning.

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pete berry


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2nd.winter Iceland Gull at Viridor Recycling Centre,Chanters Ind. Estate with approx 200 large gulls.Almost undoubtedly the bird seen at Pennington last week.

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Paul Richardson


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4 Mistle Thrush and a Redwing, and a small flock of Linnet, with 6 or so Pied Wagtails all feeding on the newly ploughed fields at Miller's Lane, two Buzzards over Atherton Wood - around lunchtime today.

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Paul
Paul Richardson


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Yesterday afternoon (Sunday 15th) at 2pm - a pair of Raven calling and seen mobbing a Buzzard - then all 3 alighted at different levels for a few minutes on the first pylon east of Bee Fold pond.

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Jeff Gorse


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5 x redwing over Atherton Cemetery / Gadbury estate this morning. Also 2 x raven over Hamilton Street

Afternoon walk Bee Fold Lane - Langley Platt - Millers Lane and Lilford. Highlights :-

4 x jay along Langley Platt and edge of Lilford

Buzzard being mobbed by a crow over Langley Platt

Bullfinch seen and heard throughout, including Bee Fold Lane old orchard and edge of Lilford

2 x reed bunting Langley Platt

1 x great crested grebe on Bee Fold Fishery

 

 



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Jeff Gorse


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Afternoon walk around Bee Fold Lane - Langley Platt - Millers Lane - Lilford and back. Windy but dry conditions. Sightings included :-

Great crested grebe on Bee Fold Fishery, been pretty much resident since start of the summer. Grey wagtail at the end field on Bee Fold Lane where there is also a return of the usual fly tipping unfortunately.

Jays plentiful throughout. Great spotted woodpecker on the dead tree near Lilford embankment.

Over 150 black-headed gulls on fields behind Atherton 6th Form School - a smattering of lesser black back and herring gull amongst them also. Mistle thrush in hawthorns here as well.



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Jeff Gorse


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Evening walk along train lines - Millers Lane - Lilford. Highlights were :-

Very good views of a grasshopper warbler from the embankment in Lilford. Also 1 x nuthatch on the dead tree next to the embankment

1 x buzzard over Millers Lane, also good numbers of yellowhammer and 2x singing blackcap



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Jeff Gorse


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Early evening - old train lines to Squires Lane, back along the bus route and Millers Lane. Highlights were :-

2 x blackcap singing in the woods behind Fred Longworth school

1 x grasshopper warbler reeling from Higher Folds Wood along the bus route

1 x kestrel hunting over Bee Fold Lane



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Jeff Gorse


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Early evening

Single great crested grebe and common tern on / over the Bee Fold Fishery

Buzzard being mobbed by crow flying south over Langley Platt



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Jeff Gorse


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Very pleasant evening walk along the old train lines - Millers Lane - Lilford and back. Lots of birdsong along Millers Lane in particular, 2 x yellowhammer, 1 x whitethroat, 4 x chiffchaff plus the usual robins, blackbirds, song thrush, wren, chaffinches. Two treecreepers foraging in the trees along Millers Lane, where they have been all week.

Great spotted woodpeckers calling in Lilford, also a nuthatch in the prominent dead tree near the embankment. Very few hirundines this evening but a handful of swallows over the embankment area.

Tawny owl being mobbed by blackbirds in the old orchard on Bee Fold Lane.



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Jimmy Meadows


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11:30 today

2 Ravens over St Johns Church heading north

Jimmy



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Paul Richardson


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3 superb Wheatear today at Ladies' Walk from the field south of the Academy which used to be Hesketh Fletcher School.
Also 2 Skylark in the area,
3 Lapwing on flooded field.
7 Chiffchaff across the Bee Fold/Miller's Lane/Lilford patch.
2 Mistle Thrush
1 female Sparrowhawk
1 Blackcap edge of Atherton Wood

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Paul
pete berry


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A juvenile Iceland Gull and adult Yellow Legged Gull at Viridor Recycling depot on Arley Way at Chanters Ind. Estate this morning perched on top of spoil heap.

-- Edited by pete berry on Friday 3rd of March 2017 12:36:33 PM

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Paul Richardson


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Had a brief walk from Lilford via Miller's Lane and Langley Platt to the Long Causeway. Sadly the early part of the walk was marred by some big bits of Fly Tipping - worst I've ever seen.

On a more positive note:

Miller's Lane -
Redwing - about 70 in trees and feeding on stubble field, with a smattering of Starlings.
Reed Bunting - 1 nice male in among the Redwing


Long Causeway flooded field - was TEEMING with birds - quite an amazing sight.
Gadwall - 17
Teal - 10
Mallard - 6
Lapwing - 3 (highly unusual here before spring!)
Stock Dove - 1
Woodpigeon - lots
Grey Heron - 2
Mistle Thrush - 2
Song Thrush - 1
Redwing - circa 20
Fieldfare - 2
Jay - 1




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Paul
Paul Richardson


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One of the most barren sessions around the Bee Fold/ Miller's Lane circuit.

Of note - very little!
17 Jackdaw
56 Black Headed Gulls in field, Ladies' Walk.
17 Mallard on marshy field bottom of Bee Fold Lane, 9 more on flood at Long Causeway.
6 Grey Herons in the field behind the houses on Old Hall Mill Lane.
A few Robins in song.
2 Goldfinch over.

Maybe it was too breezy!

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Paul
Paul Richardson


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Miller's Lane and Bee Fold this morning

2 Common Buzzard over Miller's lane being chased off by Carrion Crows
1 Chiffchaff calling
5 Jays
1 Nuthatch in the woods at the end of Long Causeway
1 Snipe flew into the rushes north of Bee Fold pond

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Paul
Dave Wilson


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I don't know how the mental aberration in the previous post came to be - perhaps the recent sightings of Peregrine on pylons elsewhere. The post should read - " .... and presumed juvenile Willow Tits calling from .... " Apologies.


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Dave Wilson


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Adult seen and presumed juvenile Peregrines calling from willow clump at Gibfield Park on morning of 23rd.

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Andy Isherwood


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Flock of c.60 mixed Herring and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls on roofs of Viridor Waste buildings off Arley way in Hindsford this morning very quickly increased to over 250 during a very heavy shower. Nearly all adults but nothing else scarcer, yet!

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Paul Richardson


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Now confirmed by Craig Bell that this is a female from this year's local brood. She is in great condition and seems to be thriving. Hope it lasts!

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Paul
Paul Richardson


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Superb juvenile Peregrine on a pylon at around 10am today just off Bee Fold Lane. Very vocal and had a bit of an altercation with 4 magpies. Lovely markings and a red ring on the right leg.

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Paul
Scott robinson


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Male Yellowhammer heard singing off Millers Lane whilst riding to work this morning.

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Paul Richardson


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A couple of trips round my local patch of Lilford/Miller's Lane/Bee Fold lane in the last few days produced some interesting birding.
Very striking how Robins and Great Tits are mostly no longer singing, meaning their recorded numbers are greatly reduced.
Wrens still keeping it up (presumably still breeding) and totalled 42 across the patch.
Good numbers of Common Whitethroat (13), Swallow, (30 approx) with a sprinkling of Swift and House Martin (6 and 15), one lone Yellowhammer heard only, a very nice Grey Wagtail at Bee Fold pond, and 5 Lapwing across the patch.
Juveniles were seen of Coot, Mallard, Moorhen, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Robin and Goldfinch... so plenty of breeding going on.
Small numbers of now less vocal Willow Warblers (3) Skylark (1) and Blackcap (4).
A smattering of Lesser Black Backed Gulls around and over, (approx 7 - hard to be sure not double counting) but no Black Headed.

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Paul
Paul Richardson


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Stunning morning and lots going on over the patch today.

Of note:

Common Whitethroat 11
Willow Warbler 10
Mistle Thrush 9
Lapwing 7
Yellowhammer 2 males seen
Swallow 17
House Martin 1
Grey Wagtail 1 (Hindsford Brook)
Chiffchaff 5 singing
Song Thrush 2
Blackcap 3 singing
Reed Bunting 2m (around Bee Fold pond)
Starling 18 inc juveniles
Long Tailed Tit - 1 family apparently approx 7 in all, Miller's Lane.

Plus 27 Robins, 21 Wrens and the other usuals.

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Paul
Dave Wilson


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Late afternoon (12th) flock of 100+ Starlings, predominantly juveniles, on grassland and in hedgerows at top end of Miller's Lane.

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Kristian Wade


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Running round Atherton South this evening though I'll admit I was slightly distracted by all the bird song!

11 Robin
3 Wren
5 Carrion Crow
1 Jackdaw
5 Mallard
1 Moorhen
10 Black-Headed Gulls
2 Chaffinch
2 Chiffchaff
4 Blackcap
5 Blackbird
1 Song Thrush
1 Female Reed Bunting with nesting material
1 Sand Martin
20+ Magpie
5 Woodpigeon
2 Collared Dove
4 Great Tit
2 Blue Tit
1 Starling

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Paul Richardson


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Atherton South (Miller's and Bee Fold Lanes, Long Causeway) 0830 - 10 today before the rain

Robin 18,
Wren 9,
Common Whitethroat 1,
Carrion Crow 48 (2 large groups in fields - bad news for nesting Lapwing!)
Grey Heron 1,
Yellowhammer 1 male
Swallow about 20,
Swift 2 (first of the year for me)
House Martin 2,
Common Buzzard 3,
Chiffchaff 3,
Long Tailed Tit 2,
Song Thrush 2,
Lapwing 3.

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Paul
Paul Richardson


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Atherton South today 4.30 - 6.30pm (Miller's Lane, Bee Fold Lane and Long Causeway)

Blackcap 1 singing
Robin 14
Yellowhammer 2 (m/f)
Carrion Crow 18
Willow Warbler 6 singing
Long Tailed Tit 2
Mistle Thrush 1
Song Thrush 1
Wren 3
Jay 2
Gadwall 2 (flooded field, Long Causeway)
Lapwing 5
Lesser Black Backed Gull 3
Swallow 1
Chaffinch 6
Chiffchaff 1




-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Tuesday 19th of April 2016 10:19:59 PM

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Paul
Paul Richardson


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Nice round of Lilford and Atherton South (Bee Fold/Miller's Lane) 3pm-5.30pm

Of note

1 Wheatear (f) same field as the male last week
9 Meadow Pipit
1 Skylark
6 Lesser Black Backed Gulls

all in same field

1 pair Reed Bunting
1 Pair Willow Tit
1 Willow Warbler

all at the Bee Fold pond

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Paul
Paul Richardson


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Miller's Lane and Bee Fold Lane today 4.30-6pm

9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Kestrel
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Wheatear (m) in field with footpaths east of Bee Fold Lane
2 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler at Long Causeway
1 Sparrowhawk over

plus Robin, Wren, Goldfinch, Song thrush, etc. and one Goldcrest on my way home near Lilford Park entrance.

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Paul
Kristian Wade


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They did look pretty plump Paul but the ducklings could have been hiding. I could hear the Lapwing when I was at Bee Fold but couldn't see it despite searching for it.

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Paul Richardson


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Similar mooch in reverse to Kristian's this afternoon. Very similar results with only the addition of:

Kestrel 1 (near football field at top of Bee Fold Lane - first time I have seen a Kestrel on the patch for several weeks)
Mistle Thrush 1
1 pair Gadwall on flood at Long Causeway
Single Lapwing seen on the field at corner of Long Causeway and Bee Fold Lane.

Only 7 Ducklings this afternoon - were the Lesser Black Backed Gulls looking well-fed perhaps?

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Kristian Wade


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Amble around Miller's and Bee Fold Lanes this morning and then along the Long Causeway, finishing off at Lilford Flood Basin. Species seen:

-16 Mallard (including 9 tiny juveniles on Bee Fold Pond)
-14 Teal
-3 Moorhen
-2 Coot
-4 Grey Heron
-Black-Headed Gulls
-Lesser Black-Backed Gulls
-5 Buzzards
-2 Pheasants (both male)
-5 Blue Tit
-4 Great Tit
-1 Long-Tailed Tit
-5 Chaffinch (4 singing)
-30+ Goldfinch
-2 Starling
-12 Blackbird (8 singing)
-14 Robin (11 singing)
-3 Dunnock (1 singing)
-2 Feral Pigeon
-40+ Woodpigeon
-2 Carrion Crow
-5 Jackdaw
-25+ Magpie
-2 Chiffchaff (singing)
-1 Pied Wagtail
-2 Grey Wagtail
-4 Fieldfare (overhead)
-1 Redwing
-3 House Sparrow

Lapwing, Wren heard and Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming from Lilford Woods.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 29th of March 2016 02:48:46 PM

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Dave Wilson


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Gibfield Park, late a.m. - posse of a dozen Jays at the southern end and 3 Ravens overhead. Reed Buntings and Skylarks in song and 20+ Lapwings on pasture field at Daisy Hill side.

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