Merlin - female in pursuit of a Meadow Pipit, back and forth over the A635 Holmfirth Road, at times only 2-3 ft above the road, failed to catch prey and headed north over the moors Short-eared Owl 1 hunting at the south side of the road
__________________
Updated birding videos on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/PeteHinesbirding
I keep seeing Common Buzzards around in Ggreenfield, often in pairs, mewing and circling when the weathers sunny anyway. This one on 5th May being mobbed by a Jackdaw - I guess you cant mob on your ow, or can you??
Late BBS visit to Dobcross village from 06.45-08.15
Green Woodpecker was a site first. Also 8 House Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Swift, 2 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, Grey Heron, 2 Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, 3 Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Bullfinch.
Male Blackcap on my sunflower feeder today, also last week. Assume it is overwintering - a first for this Uppermill garden. Also a female Brambling last week, plus siskins.
Around a dozen rooks making nests in the Church Rd area.
Ah, excellent re the lapwing sighting near Intake Lane. I thought I saw some recently but didn't have binoculars with me and wasn't certain enough to post.
Flock of c 20 lapwings nr Slades Barn, Uppermill with a few sitting in the fields looking as if they are on territory. Likewise on fields below Intake Lane, Greenfield, but not the grey, shit covered one that used to be a nice grazing meadow. Skylarks singing and plenty of songthrush song today lower down.
A female Sparrowhawk caught and ate a Woodpigeon in the grounds of Gatehead Mill, Delph New Road, Delph. Id been collecting poultry feed in one of the units, and pulled the car to within six feet of the bird, wound the window down, and the Sparrowhawk continued feeding, completely ignoring my presence.
Me and Michelle were driving through Diggle en-route to Marsden when a Harris Hawk came flying down the side of the hill and swooped right over the road not far up ahead.
Probably the Romiley bird (I saw it duelling with a buzzard at the weekend) having a day out Rob.
Me and Michelle were driving through Diggle en-route to Marsden when a Harris Hawk came flying down the side of the hill and swooped right over the road not far up ahead.
Ring necked paraqueet over Wellmeadow Rd Uppermill at 10am this morning. Green, very long tail, flying fast and low; I'm familiar with these birds from my time in India. Saw one several years ago in Friezeland. I don't know of any colonies away from central Manchester so must assume they sometimes travel some distance prospecting for good places to be for whatever reason.
Couple of hours strolling on t'moor this afternoon.
Very quiet, with nothing but Meadow Pipits and a couple of singing Skylarks, until a pair of Ravens appeared over the hill from the Diggle direction. Their presence brought up a couple of pairs of Curlew which tried to chase them off or distract them from nest sites. Then a Buzzard appeared from the same direction and had an unsuccessful attempt to take a Red Grouse.
No sight, nor sound, of any Golden Plover.
Steve,
Then a Buzzard appeared from the same direction and had an unsuccessful attempt to take a Red Grouse.
Please don't give the hunting mob ammunition like this. They don't need much encouragement.
Couple of hours strolling on t'moor this afternoon.
Very quiet, with nothing but Meadow Pipits and a couple of singing Skylarks, until a pair of Ravens appeared over the hill from the Diggle direction. Their presence brought up a couple of pairs of Curlew which tried to chase them off or distract them from nest sites. Then a Buzzard appeared from the same direction and had an unsuccessful attempt to take a Red Grouse.
Nice and sunny up on Saddleworth Moor this lunchtime, but very few birds. Half a dozen Red Grouse and a couple of singing Skylarks - no Curlew or Golden Plover
yes, strange weather - sunshine for bees and hovers, then snow......... First Swallow, hurrah - just past the Junction at Denshaw, 10.30 today 10/4/16 - and a Raven further up that road before the mast car park, plus Crows there of course....
Two inches of snow up on t'moor this morning and a hard frost. Didn't seem to deter the birds - they're a tough lot round here...
Plenty of Red Grouse, two Curlew, half a dozen Golden Plover, Meadow Pipits and Skylark (a couple of the latter singing in a clear blue sky despite the sub-zero temperatures!).
Wonderful sighting. Would have been seen from Tesco I imagine ...............shame I wasn't shopping at the time......... Just outside GM today, if allowed, Skylark, Kestrel, Curlew, Golden Plover, Meadow Pipits and of course Red Grouse, just near Wessenden Head. On Sunday at Dovestone around 24 Lapwings wheeling away and going back up towards Isle of Skye rd - not surprising with a noisy regatta and loads of visitors!