Afternoon - at least 27 Yellowhammers and 7 Reed Buntings in ploughed field by railway line along with Linnets and an immaculately plumaged White Wagtail; perhaps 40 Yellowhammers in the area. Also Lapwing (4 pairs); Gadwall (1 pair); Tree Sparrow, Skylark; Willow Warbler; Chiffchaff; Grey Heron and Mute Swan.
In near Arctic conditions from 15.30 until 16.45, 19 Yellowhammers, 12 Linnets, 2 Reed Buntings , 1 Wheatear and 10 Stock Doves feeding on recently tilled field near railway bridge; also in flooded field pair Gadwall and several Mallard; two distinct areas for Lapwings with 12 in one and 14 in the other; Kingfisher (new species for me here) on a flooded but flowing ditch; singing Grasshopper Warbler and Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat; at least 4 singing Skylarks; others birds included Curlew, Buzzard, Swallow, House Martin, Goldcrest and Tree Sparrow (2)
Very large mixed flocks of rooks and jackdaws. 2 buzzards,1 kestrel,little grebe calling,8 snipe,1 jacksnipe,14 yellowhammers,8 reed bunting,3 skylarks, around 20 lapwings some displaying.no sign of pintails.
3 drake Pintail still present; at least 12 pairs of displaying Lapwings on surrounding farmland; 2 Buzzards; Kestrel.12 Yellowhammers. 2 Reed Buntings; 3 singing Skylarks; c.100 Black headed Gulls following ploughing tractor
After the rain! 15.30 - 16.40 3 drake Pintails; 1 drake Teal; 1 drake Gadwall; 5 drake and 1 duck Mallards; Little Grebe; 5 Stock Doves; 12+ Yellowhammers; 2 Grey Herons; 1 Snipe plus supporting cast of Reed Bunting; singing Skylark; 6 Lapwings on territory; Pied Wagtail; Tree Sparrow; Goldcrest; Buzzard; Kestrel; several Jays; 100+ Rooks and a similar no, of Black Headed Gulls feeding on the fields, 2 Lesser Blacked Back Gulls; and 2 pairs of Coot.
Bradley Hall to Hib Bibi today; originally posted by Mike Berry:
An excellent morning walk with the highlight being 30+ yellowhammers in one flock feeding on ground Skylarks numerous and singing Two buzzards Three Kestrels Small flock [12] Fieldfare Male pintail on large pond near railway
13 snipe 1 of which i think was a jacksnipe.it looked smaller and got down quite close around 40 yellowhammers.difficult to count accurately but at least they were in manchester side of the brook. 150 ish redwings 143 lapwings.they were static in the field so easy to count. 13 reed buntings 3 chaffinch 3 wrens 1 kestrel 1 buzzard 100 + rooks and jackdaws no tree sparrows which is a concern
-- Edited by fred fouracre on Tuesday 27th of January 2015 05:34:38 PM
10 reed buntig 100 plus rooks 2 buzzard 3 wrens 1 kestrel large flock of lapwings around 100 birds 3 grey partridge Large flock of redwing 150 ish at least 60 yellowhammer. the redwings and yellowhammers were on the far bank of hic bibi brook.so i think this puts them in lancs.but so near the border i think they are worth a mention.
pm walk 3 buzzard 1 kestrel 1 snipe 4 yellowhammer 60 + flock of skylarks 100s of corvids mainly rooks and jackdaws 2 jays covey of 14 grey partridge.most ive seen at once for yonks
an afternoon stroll swans have 3 cygnets.they have moved them from the marshy pond onto the bigger fishing pond.these cygnets cant be more than 3 days old so how they got maybe 200 yards uphill through kneehigh lush grass I don't know.also there appears to be at least 3 eggs still in the nest. also 3 linnets 1 tree sparrow 7 yellowhammer 4 reed bunting 4 skylarks 2 sedge warbler 3 willow warber 1 curlew over 1 oyster catcher over 1 kestrel
pm walk today 2 mute swan (female sitting on the nest) 30+yellowhammer 10reed bunting 1curlew 7 skylarks 2grey partridge 1kestrel 8 lapwings 2 wheatear very big flock of rooks and jackdaws 1 brown hare
lunchtime walk 2 mute swan 12 snipe 4 grey partridge 2 pheasant 12 yellowhammers 6 reed bunting 11 lapwing huge flock of rooks and jackdaws feeding on freshly ploughed field lots of woodpigeon with the corvids 3 skylarks 2 brown hares
an afternoon visit produced big flock 200+ fieldfare.they were very restless despite the area being very quiet.and eventually flew off calling loudly. 11 lapwings 2 kestrel 1 buzzard 30+ yellowhammers 7 reed bunting 1 pheasant 4 grey partridge 3 skylarks 5 meadow pipit 12 snipe 2 mute swans 2 curlew over
-- Edited by fred fouracre on Monday 17th of March 2014 06:25:45 PM
Afternoon stroll to look for the Yellowhammers and came across circa. 50 birds near the entrance to the clay pigeon shoot.
Got a few nice photographs, cheers Fred.
afternoon stroll 40+flock of lapwings near main road 7 lapwings in second field over the railway.calling and displaying 20+yellowhammers 2 reed buntings 1 kestrel 11 snipe in the pond margins
Fred, Could I also have a few details re the Bradley Hall area regarding bird spotting as per Stuart Mackay's post today. Re : "Can someone tell me where `the pool` is,and the feeding station. Im well aware of Bradley Hall trading estate but am unsure where is the best place to go to find all these yellowhammers" etc. I read your posts and it certainly seems a very good area for bird watching. Much appreciated. look forward to visiting. Regards Les Walton
a pm walk today. 42 lapwings in field near the main road 20+yellowhammers 9reed bunting 12fieldfare 2grey partridge 1snipe 10meadow pipits 7goldfinch lots of mixed flock rooks and jackdaws
Can someone tell me where `the pool` is,and the feeding station. Im well aware of Bradley Hall trading estate but am unsure where is the best place to go to find all these yellowhammers etc.
pm walk around the pond area 5 oystercatchers 1 green sandpiper 1 lapwing swans nest deserted and no swans.i was informed by tom Morton the eggs were infertile. 3 reed bunting 7 yellowhammer
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 25th of July 2013 03:35:11 PM
9 Whimbrel this morning by the pool at 08.00, later flying off to the NW. Also singing 4 Skylarks, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Yelowhammers. Two pairs of Grey Partridge and a pair of Mute Swans nest building.There were also at least 3 pairs of Lapwings displaying in the windy conditions.
a pm walk yesterday 2 grey partridge 4 wheatears large flock of meadow pipits lapwings in most fields including 3 incubating lots of yellowhammers scattered throught the area 4 reed buntings quite a few singing skylarks too many rooks to count they were mostly in the fields on the main road opposite the rookery 2 buzzard 1 kestrel 1 sparrow hawk. but the best was a flock of 30+curlew.they landed in the field below hic bibi.when i tried to get closer they took off and vanished towards winter hill. no tree sparrows(this is worringly third visit without seeing any) all in all it cant be a bad day when you hear the singing of skylarks,yellowhammers and the plaintive curlew call
large flock 40plus mixture of yellowhammers and reed bunting.buzzard and a great spottrd woodpecker over.large flock of woodpigeon on the stubble.no sign of treesparrows though.