2 Ring-necked Parakeets flew from Leverhulme Park towards Darcy Lever GP last week, also recently several Siskins over and 4 Willow Tits at the Gravel Pits.
Recently up to 160 Magpies and 450+ Jackdaws roosting at the Gravel Pits. Also up to 20 Teal, 14 Tufted Ducks, 4 Goosander, 100+ Redwing and 3 Woodcock.
On the way to Moses Gate at Hacken lane in Darcy Lever I saw a Mute Swan being escorted or shepherded from the works back to the lodges some distance away. One flapping Swan strutting down the pavement and six diligent staff in an expert surrounding posse making sure said swan had a safe return. Well done to all concerned.
2 Dipper Leverhilme Park, one singing. 1 Nuthatch 6 Swallow late on flying low south 3 of the highest flying Jays I have ever seen heading south. 450 Jackdaws at usual roost.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 13th of October 2012 08:26:37 PM
Judith, we thought they maybe of interest, particularly the Jackdaw roost, this is an area we used to watch very regular before my Elton days, but its only the last year or so we noticed large numbers of Jackdaws in the area and only this year we have seen Woodpigeons roosting there. Most of the birds were coming in from the direction of Bolton.
Me and Warfy senior checked out Darcy Lever Gravel Pits this afternoon to count the birds coming into roost, counting was awkward as it is difficult to get a suitable vantage point, but we noted the following-
Jackdaws - 798 (all coming in from the west and landing in adjacent fields before whirling around in one massive flock before roosting in the gravel pits) Woodpigeons - 520 (mainly in from the west but counting these was hard, could have easily have been triple this number) Stock Dove - at least 1 Magpie - 113 (actual number probably well over 200 as coming in from all directions) Collared Dove - approx 45 roosting nearby
No sign or sound of last weeks reported Ring Necked Parakeet in Leverhulme Park, dont know who reported it, i will keep an open mind even though i have had various escaped parrots in the park in previous years,
Did have -
4+ Dippers, 2 well grown juveniles feeding from Darcy Lever bridge on wier(very easy), and 2 adults in Leverhulme Park itself plus another juvenile which may well have been one of the earlier ones moved upstream. Grey Wagtail - 2 adults and 1 juvenile from Darcy Lever bridge Kingfisher Garden Warbler Sparrowhawk Jay Bullfinch family party Little Grebes - at least 3 on River Croal near Fogg Lane.
