Brook by Temple Road :- 3 Mallards, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Dipper. At lunchtime another Dipper, or the same one, flew under the bridge at the bottom of Smithills Dean Road.
Woodland & the area around Smithills Hall :- 1 Grey Heron, evidence of a Sparrowhawk kill, Pheasants, Black-headed Gulls passing over, Woodpigeons, 1 Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wrens, Robins (including a juvenile), Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, family groups of Long-tailed Tits & Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Jays, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, & a Bullfinch.
I did try to go here the other day but couldn't find it. I have been before and saw lovely Great Spotted Woodpeckers and wanted to go back. This is the place in Bolton with the walk down through woods and stream running through? There is also Smithills Hall there? Please would you be so kind as to give me directions. I am heading North on M61 and come off at marked junction on motorway. Postcode even better.
Hi Vikki. The Phillips Greater Manchester Street atlas Page 24. Squares 5C, 5b and 4C cover Smithills Wood. My Phillips is just about Kindle size. Also a footpath leads through to a large newish wood at Horrocks Hill:well worth a visit. Take the Bolton Spur off the M61; then the A666 St Peters Way that skirts east of Bolton , continue on the A666;to the A58 junction ;turn left down the A58 and then right at the next major junction up Smithills Dean Road .The entrance to the Hall is on the right. (Postcode ,BL1 7NP)
-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 4th of May 2013 04:02:56 PM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
3 Mallards flying around 44 Black-headed Gulls on Barlow Park & 40+ at Smithills School 3 Common Gulls on Smithills School roof 1 male Sparrowhawk. Small individual doing a good impression of a Merlin as it flashed quickly through the trees 1 Kestrel at the top of the woods 9 Woodpigeons 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 11 Wrens 16 Robins 19 Blackbirds 1 Fieldfare on Barlow Park football pitch 1 Redwing in grounds of Thornleigh School 1 Song Thrush 2 Mistle Thrushes 1 Goldcrest Coal Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits 4 Nuthatches 1 Jay 10 Magpies 2 Jackdaws 6 Carrion Crows 4 Chaffinches 2 Goldfinches 1 Siskin 2 Bullfinches
Black-headed Gulls. 49 on Barlow Park when I started. 47 at Smithills School when I finished. Probably the same birds. 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull on school roof 1 Moorhen near Smithills Hall 7 Woodpigeons 1 Pied Wagtail at Smithills School 8 Wrens 1 Dunnock 15 Robins 9 Blackbirds 1 Mistle Thrush Blue Tits & Great Tits 2 Nuthatches 1 Jay 12 Magpies 1 Rook flying over 7 Jackdaws 14 Carrion Crows 2 Goldfinches 1 Siskin 1 Bullfinch
A Snowy Owl was a nice sight, even though it was in a cage at Smithills Open Farm
Last Monday I heard a Green Woodpecker calling from the top of Smithalls wood. I have only ever heard them calling, often in the trees on my street, during April, so was a nice surprise to hear one.
