Approx 70 Greenfinches at the Oak Hotel roost site. Good numbers of Pied Wagtails coming in to roost near the old smiths but impossible to count, Male Sparrowhawk actively hunting kept them on the move
Went past today and there was one on a lamp post at 13.15, great sight with it's wings parly open as if it was airing its feathers. Lots of Gulls hanging around too. There may be a concentration of fish in the canal or the Douggie at that location.???
Two Cormorants sat on a lamp post apeice on Chapel Lane near the Tote at 12.25.
3 on the light columns yesterday morning and one this morning. A bizarre sight.
Also, though well out of the town centre, a Kingfisher flew across the A49 by the Bulls Head at Goose Green today (where Smithy Brook passes underneath)
A Sparrowhawk attacked the Waxwing flock (50+) at the Harrogate St/Darlington St junction at 09:20. Also, a Mistle Thrush sat on railings atop Broccol House (Jobcentre) and a few Blackbirds knocking about.
Sunday am wandering around harrogate st and scholes area
8 waxwings 1 pied wagtail feral pigeons 4 mallard 3 coot 4 moorhens 5 blackbirds long tailed,great,blue tits 1 kestrel 2 goldcrest (in with the tit flock) just love em and Bithells 'junkyard' a gullers paradise,bh,common,lbb,herring all in a few minutes.
Nice record Geoff and a welcome addition to the year list - now is probably the best time to look out for this elusive species as the cold weather tends to force them to come out into the open a bit more.
No sign of waxwings this morning. male blackcap in bushes on pennyhurst lane near to junction with wilcock street.14 long tailed tits flying across road at soverign park scholes. ravens nest has disapeared think it came down in the strong winds last week
Hi Paul The Ravens nest as been down for a while i asked the Town Hall Keeper if it had been removed or if they had done some work on the chimney but he said no and could find no reason why it wasnt there. Probably as come down in autumn and the remains are possably still on the roof will ask him if he as more info next time i see him.
No sign of waxwings this morning. male blackcap in bushes on pennyhurst lane near to junction with wilcock street.14 long tailed tits flying across road at soverign park scholes. ravens nest has disapeared think it came down in the strong winds last week
Saw the first group but missed the second lot. Also, and quite bizarrely (spelling?) there was a bat flying around between 16.00 and 16.10. Must have been anticipating the good second half....
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Tremendous flock of starlings? over the DW stadium this evening, singing Victor Moses is running down the wing.
A great view of them from the South Stand as they approached from the Beech Hill/Douglas Valley direction and flew presumably to the Wigan Flashes. Approx 2000 at 16:05 then approx 10,000 at 16:15, with several smaller groups.
900+ Starlings came out of the Swinley area late afternoon today as a firework went off and flew in the direction of the Wigan Flashes (c300 a short while later flew towards the flashes from Lower Ince/Scholes)
1000+ Black-Headed Gulls were busily feeding in aerial groups just after 5pm today, presumably on flying ants. These were visible across 180 degrees, mainly concentrated in the Scholes/Whelley and the Wallgate areas.