at least 150 probably closer to 200 pink footed geese over at 16-00 7 grey partridge, numerous redwing but not seen any fielfare here as yet. 30+ chaffinch behind Bickershaw school no brambling amongst them, 5 linnet on top of rucks, plenty of long tailed and great tit, goldfinch, 1 great spotted woodpecker, heron and cormorant over.
55 WHOOPER SWANS(FLYING SOUTH OVER NEW ROAD NEAR FLASH WITH A BOUT 15-20 JUV CALLING A BOUT 4PM FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER SEEN THIS MANY IN A FLOCK, BRILLIANT. 25 PINK-FOOTED GEESE OVER GREY WAGTAIL ON NEW FISHING PEGS 2 REDWING ON BERRIES NEAR CAR PARK FLOCK OF FIELDFARE 1 KINGFISHER ON FIR TREE FLASH LOADS OF TITS ECT 20+ TUFFTED DUCK 3 GREAT CRESTED GREBE ON HIGHER HALL FLASH AND 1 ON FIR TREE FLASH KESTREL, CORMORANT, MEADOW PIPIT
ON A WHOLE BRILLIANT DAY WITH 31 SPECIES SEEN.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 12th of November 2012 08:52:17 PM
60+ pink footed geese flying in a westerly direction at 08-35 am, male stonechat just off new road where it leads to Higher Hall flash. 15 redwing, 8 blackbird, plenty of long tailed tit, 9 meadow pipit, two charms of goldfinch 8 + 11, buzzard perched in trees, Kestrel hunting. Higher Hall Flash 2 goldeneye, 2 little grebe, 4 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, 8 mallard, 6 moorhen, approx 25 coot, approx 40 tufted duck, 1 lesser black backed gull, 16 black headed gull.
7.40-9.45 1 Short-eared Owl - seen over top rucks at 7.50 then again at 9.15 1 Water Rail 30 Redwing 1 Chiffchaff 10+ Siskin 3 Lesser Redpoll 100+ Woodpigeon 80+ Pink-footed Geese - 2 skeins 30+ SE at 8.45 and 50+ W at 9.45 plus usuals
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Friday 26th of October 2012 10:24:32 AM
15.30-18.00 1 Water Rail - went for a pee in bushes at edge of ditch at the end of road for propossed golf course when noticed a small bird in thickets to the side of me but was not forthcoming in showing itself to i.d, so in true Bill Oddie style thought I would try pishing to attract its attention and nearly fell over when instantly a Water Rail started squealing at me. 100+ Pink-footed Geese over top rucks at 17.50 SE
9 - 10 Top Rucks only 1 Marsh Harrier flew over and disappeared over trees in direction of Crankwood 1 Greenshank 20+ Mistle Thrush 1 Chiffchaff singing
yesterday 3 hour walk
1 probable Hobby didn't see well enough to be sure. 1 male Pochard on Higher Hall Flash 25 + Mistle Thrush 5 Chiffchaff - all singing Wllow Warbler singing 2 Great - Spotted Woodpecker plus usuals
Green Woodpecker at bottom of new road this morning ( 1st i've seen over here for approx 9months)
c100 goldfinch feeding on thistles etc in field, about 20 feeding and whilst i was watching these another 40 or so joined them and within 30seconds of those another similar sized flock flew in. 2 grey partridge and 3 pheasant in fields, 6 swallow over field,
yesterday evening a flock of around 20 mistlethrush and 3 blackbird feeding on berries.
morning visit 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing well. 1 Water Rail calling for about 15 minutes on Tinker Joe's Flash, wasn't able to locate it amongst thick vegetation.
Kingfisher on Higher Hall Flash 6-30pm this evening, not seen a Kingfisher on here since last September, that doesn't of course mean they haven't been here just that i haven't seen them.
bit of a surprise this evening for late season, a pair of Sparrowhawk with the male displaying with typical climb and sudden stoop and rising again, both birds calling to each other all the time.
late evening stroll highlights 1 whinchat a patch 1st for me 2 wheatear 1 cuckoo c30 swift with 6 swallow and 2 house martin, 3 grasshopper warbler heard but not seen.
all the village idiots out tonight! quick walk round top rucks 1 cuckoo and heard Green Woodpecker yaffling in the distance somewhere close to srapyard. Not heard or seen one for over a year here.
Todays highlights: 1 Whinchat, 1 Hobby, 2 Wheatear, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, one which was reeling from top of twig no more than 10ft away from me. Wish I had a camera sometimes!!
10.30 - 12.30 highlights this morning was 2 male + 1 female Cuckoo showing fantastically well around Tinker Joe's Flash with 1 pair in flight together flying over Plank Lane by the Firsway garage at one point, 1 Hobby , 1 male Wheatear and 1 pair of Pochard again on T J Flash which I've not seen hear before.
2 Common Tern over Tinker Joe's flash then flew off towards For Tree flash this morning. Yesterday p.m 12 Reed Warbler , 6 Sedge Warbler , 7 Whitethroat ,1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, plus the usuals. Nice to bump into Bernard yesterday .
19.30 - 20.30 path by Tinker Joe's Flash and below top rucks only 5 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler , 1 Cuckoo, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler . 1 Canada Goose lying on its side in water close to reeds which looked as though it has been shot rather than dying of natural courses.
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Tuesday 8th of May 2012 10:26:58 PM
3 year firsts house martin, lesser whitethroat and grasshopper warbler
2 cuckoo squabbling before 1 flew off in the direction of the old turner bros factory whitetroat, blackcap, 3 wheatear plenty robin and wren, blackbird, mistle thrush, song thrush, starling house sparrow, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, chiffchaff, willow warbler, swallow meadow pipit, skylark, reed bunting, reed warbler magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon, collared dove. 3 mute swan, mallard with 1 young, tufted duck, moorhen, coot with 4 young,great crested grebe.black headed gulls, 2 lesser black backed gulls.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 08:00:14 PM
1 cuckoo some good views until it was disturbed by motor bikes 4 swift 3 reed warbler 2 at tinker joes 1 at hh flash 2 wheatear good numbers of chiffchaff and willow warbler blue, great and long tailed tits chaffinch good numbers of swallow 1 pheasant seen plenty heard robin and wren ( seemed to have been far more than usual of both this year) 2 grey partridge 1 kestrel light coloured muscovy duck at fir tree flash ( first seen 3 weeks ago) mute swan tufted duck, mallard,coot, moorhen, great crested grebe all present at both hh flash and ft flash 5 canada geese at f t flash crow, 1 with very white wingtips, magpie, jay, wood pigeon and collared dove. mistle thrush, blackbird. plenty skylark and meadow pipit, 5 reed bunting.
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Saturday 28th of April 2012 06:21:25 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 28th of April 2012 06:36:55 PM
9 - 10 quick fire hour before work round top rucks and path to and from Common Lane.
3 Reed Warbler - 2 on Tinker Joe's Flash the other in ditch near top rucks 1 Cuckoo heard calling in distance from Crankwood direction Willow Warbler numbers up again from my last post plus the usuals
Mallard Pheasant 1 Water Rail 1 heard in ditch between Fir Tree Flash and top rucks Lapwing 2 Woodpigeon Skylark Wren Blackbird Blackcap 1 path by Tinker Joe's Flash Willow Warbler 1 close to Shuttle Hillock Road at it's closest point to top rucks Great Tit Magpie Chaffinch Lesser Redpoll 4 Grey Partridge 2 Cormorant 1 Coot Black-headed Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 top rucks Meadow Pipit Robin Mistle Thrush 1 Chiffchaff 6 3 by TJ Flash, 1 top rucks, 2 S H Road Blue Tit Jay Carrion Crow Goldfinch Reed Bunting
Mallard Cormorant 1 Kestrel 2 Moorhen Woodcock 1 flushed by dogs just of path overlooking Crankwood Woodpigeon Skylark Wren Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Magpie Chaffinch Linnet Grey Partridge 2 Buzzard 1 Water Rail 1 heard on two occasions over 20 min period on Tinker Joe's Flash Coot 3 Black-headed Gull Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Meadow Pipit Robin Chiffchaff 2 heard one singing from bush on brow of rucks overlooking Plank Lane bridge but when I located it I was surprised to see 2 together.
Blue Tit Jay 1 Carrion Crow Goldfinch Reed Bunting 12 (7 in and around the area of Tinker Joe's Flash)
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Saturday 17th of March 2012 01:16:46 PM
7.30 - 8.45 walk round top rucks and path to and from Plank Lane only,very pleasant in the sun, very chilly under the cloud cover.
Mallard Grey Heron 1 Lapwing 2 Woodpigeon Meadow Pipit Dunnock Blackbird Blue Tit Willow Tit 1 singing for 15 mins on top rucks, from top of tree until cloud descended
Magpie Carrion Crow seemed a lot about this morning Goldfinch Reed Bunting 4 1 pair possibly 2 on territory on Tinker Joe's Flash Tufted Duck 2 Coot 2 Black-headed Gull Skylark Wren Robin Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Jay 1 Jackdaw Chaffinch Linnet
plenty of nest building activity this morning Magpies seemed to be squabbling about construction one placed a twig on partly built nest it's mate moved it so first bird moved it back before loud vocal fall out, long tailed tit, robin, wren and chaffinch all seen carrying nesting material 2 small goldfinch flocks blackbird wood pigeon, carrion crow, collared dove, starling and house sparrows all in good numbers close to road. plenty of meadow pipit, skylark and reed bunting in old corn fields with 2 lapwing overhead. Fir Tree Flash 2 canada geese, 2 pochard,4 moorhen, mallard, tufted duck, coot 4 great crested grebe. Higher Hall Flash 3 Mute swan, great crested grebe,coot, moorhen,mallard, black headed gulls, 1 common gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, tufted ducks, 2 gadwall present yesterday but no sign today. no sign of fieldfare last two days may have moved on.
plenty of blackbird, robin and wren throughout walk 2 coal tit amongst flock of great tit blue tit, long tailed tit, chaffinch starling, house sparrow and collared dove all close to main road ( Bickershaw Lane) 2 jay, plenty of magpie, crow and wood pigeon 2 Great spotted woodpecker 1m 1f about 500yds apart mistle thrush Pheasant Buzzard kestrel plenty of skylark and meadow pipit, 3 reed bunting dunnock Higher Hall Flash 3 mute swan, 2 canada geese, 1 lesser black backed gull, great crested grebe, plenty of coot and tufted duck, moorhen and mallard, black headed gull 5 fieldfare, a flock of around 20 has been knocking around all week.
plenty wren and robin throughout walk 4 mistlethrush 2 jay plenty chaffinch 8 goldfinch plenty long tailed tit 7 dunnock flock of about 20 fieldfare seen 3 times during course of walk presumably same flock each time plenty blackbird 2 great spotted woodpecker loads of meadow pipit and skylark all over course of walk but especially in old corn fields on Bickershaw side plenty of Reed bunting in this field also. lots of crow, magpie and wood pigeon collared dove blue and great tit 6 pink footed geese over East Leigh at 13-40pm 3 canada geese on fir tree flash with mallard, coot, moorhen, tufted duck and great crested grebe. 2 cormorant over hh flash swans, coot, mallard, moorhen,black headed gull, coot, tufted duck with great crested grebe doing courtship dance. 2 kestrel
10.45 - 14.00 very pleasant walk in the sunshine , very quiet ,birds noted:
Mute Swan 3 H H F Tufted Duck 20+ H H F
Water Rail 1 stood at bottom of top rucks by ditch where road ends for 10 mins when a sudden scream gave away its exsistence without showing itself,I was there for another 15 mins but didn't hear it again.
Coot Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 H H F Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Wren Fieldfare 3 Blue Tit Magpie Carrion Crow Goldfinch Mallard Cormorant 1 Moorhen 1 Black-headed Gull 150+ H H F Woodpigeon
Meadow Pipit 20+ in grass by H H F at bottom of steps from car park, all together.
Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Jackdaw Chaffinch Linnet
Buzzard kestrel 3 jay. plenty crow, magpie and wood pigeon collared dove 1 redwing in trees around fir tree flash, 8 goldfinch, 5 bullfinch 3m, 2f, 6 chaffinch, 2 greenfinch + numerous great tit and 2 blue tit Fir Tree flash 2 swan, 23 mallard including 1 white farmyard type, 6 coot, 2 tufted duck Higher Hall flash c40 tufted duck, c30 coot, 8 mallard, 6 moorhen, c 60 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed, 2 cormorant over. trees behind scrap yards plenty blackbird, chaffinch + great tit. 2 foxes
12.45 - 15.00 windy, sunny, one heavy shower to begin with, good visabillity. a couple of surprises this afternoon but not to be unexpected,firstly the dogs flushed a Woodcock just of the path on top rucks which flew off in the direction of Crankwood. A Goldcrest on path back to Common Lane had me checking it closley in case of it being a Firecrest. Other birds noted were: Mute Swan 2 Cormorant 3 Kestrel 1 Woodcock 1 Woodpigeon Meadow Pipit Blackbird Redwing 1 Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Magpie Chaffinch Linnet Grey Partridge 8 Buzzard 1 Coot Black-headed Gull Robin Fieldfare 18 Goldcrest 1 Blue Tit Jay 3 Carrion Crow Goldfinch
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 23rd of January 2012 11:26:35 PM
plenty of activity in trees behind scrap yards mainly great and long tailed tit plenty blackbird,also bullfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, blue tit, robin, wren, dunnock, magpie, crow,collared dove and wood pigeon. 21 lapwing over 1 cormorant over 1 kestrel 2 snipe 4 skylark 4 grey partridge c20 linnet higher hall flash 5 pochard been here since monday 40+ coot 30+ tufted duck 6 moorhen c20 mallard c60 black headed gull + 1 lesser black backed gull 3 swan 1 great crested grebe gadwall seem to have moved on, 20+ overwintered last year but most i have seen this time is 4 none since 10/1/12 fir tree flash pretty quiet 2 swan with 2 more flying over threatening to land then flying off towards pennington 6 coot, 20+ mallard, 1 moorhen plenty of great and long tailed tit in trees around flash and also in trees at bottom of new road.
Higher Hall Flash 2 wigeon 1m+1f, coot, tufted duck, mallard, great crested grebe, 1 lesser black backed gull, black headed gulls, moorhen, swans, 1 cormorant over.
wren robin blackbird house sparrow starling great tit blue tit covey 7 grey partridge 2 kestrel 1m, 1 f plenty of linnet feeding in fieds 1 snipe 2 song thrush collared dove + wood pigeon crow + magpie
plenty of robins (11) most seemed to be paired up 14 blackbird 2 chaffinch amongst 7 bullfinch dunnock flock of 30+ linnet in fields at bottom of new road plenty of great, blue and long tailed tit throughout walk goldfinch flocks of 8 and 23 a Raven flew over at 11-14am heading in general direction of Pennington flash flock of c80 starling in trees to side of Edna Road club along with sparrows and tits magpie, crow, collared dove and wood pigeon all in good numbers 1 heron 3 cormorant reed bunting skylark kestrel 2 jay 2 common snipe fieldfare flock of 40+ fir tree flash 2 pochard, 2 swan, great crested grebe, mallard, coot, tufted duck, moorhen, black headed gull Higher Hall flash all same birds as fir tree -pochard but with gadwall and lesser black backed gull