Hundreds of wood pigeon flying in the fields just south of the A580 between the Atherleigh Way and Newton Road junctions as I drove past about 20 minutes ago - I would hazard a guess at 300+ from my brief view, the flock was immense! (some of this area is out of Greater Manchester according to Google Maps)
Hi Craig. They flew across the path after the dip heading away from Slag Lane, away from the field. I wandered into the grass and flushed one of them. No calls heard.
Sid is correct. It is a large area of semi-derelict land left over from the former coal mine, now it is mainly used by drug takers, rogue dog walkers (often the type who don't clean up the dog mess by the look of it), fly-tipping and other anti-social behaviour. It spent a large part of late July/early August on fire at the hands of local youths so I didn't go there for a while myself but in the past just on casual walks (I have never taken my binoculars due to mugging risk!!) I have seen Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, Siskin, LT, Blue, Great and Coal mixed Tit flocks including a highlight of Willow Tits Heard Tawny Owls and Chiffchaffs. It is is a very under-watched area (indeed i would only consider going there myself if early morning before the ASB people have got up) but i often think it would be great to keep some patch notes on the place as eventually it might be possible to get an area within The Bonk designated as a nature reserve or suchlike if good records are kept. Of course, they would need a non-flammable hide :D but it could be nice as I am sure more birds would come with the right management. This latest report has inspired me to go and have another look at it sometime, it would be nice to see a Hobby there, thanks.
-- Edited by Rene Griffiths on Sunday 19th of August 2018 11:16:32 AM
Google tells me that the location of the former colliery is known locally as the 'Bonk' which originated in the migration of Welsh miners to North West coal mines.
I had a slightly surreal moment this morning while walking the dog in the early dawn light by the east lancs road. I was staring up into the sky watching a satellite passing by when a Jack Snipe fluttered across my field of vision and landed in the nearby field.
Whilst driving up Lime Grove this morning at 7.45 a large swift type bird flew over the road and across the roof tops. I only got a few seconds look at it and it was flying away from me all the time but it looked just like a large Swift. Worth keeping a look out as it was heading in the rough direction of Pennington flash.
Viewed from Highfield Moss. A Red Kite was circling near to the Travellers Rest pub this morning at 10.00am. It was loosely associating with a couple Buzzards and hung around for about twenty minutes before drifting off west. It looked to have a tag on its left wing.
Will be interesting to see how the numbers build up in the next few weeks compared to last year (see posts below). Seems to be the best site in the county for this species in winter.
1 Golden Plover among a flock of c70 Lapwing this afternoon, on farmland south of the A580 East Lancashire Road, opposite Park Road, Golborne. Best viewed from Park Rd nr the junction with Barn Lane, as there's plenty of easy parking and it avoids flushing the birds.
Quick visit this pm but couldn't locate golden plover, Stubble field beside racecourse road was most productive with c200 fieldfare, c30 chaffinch, magpie and carrion crow plus a single pied wagtail, decent numbers of blue and great tit in trees and bushes,
229 Golden Plover on the south side of the A580, in field east of Newton Lane. Parking and viewing best from near bench on Park Road near the racecourse entrance.
Approx 150 Golden Plover this morning on fields south of the A580 between Warrington Road and Newton Lane, but flushed by a Sparrowhawk before I could count them properly
Approx 60 Golden Plover in the field just west of Golborne island alongside the east lancs road today. They've been there on and off over the last few weeks.
An adult Mediterranean Gull flew over Newton Road in Lowton St Marys, heading towards Pennington Flash, as I drove past what used to be The Jolly Carter around 11.00am yesterday morning.
Not the most earth-shattering post, but of some interest in a local context, 30 Mallard were on a small pond today on public open space between Springmount and Durrell Way, Lowton. Only go past there occasionally, but if I've ever seen Mallard there it's only been one or two. There's been recent work opening up the pond a bit and it's next to a footpath to a primary school, so there's presumably lots of supplementary feeding going on. The open spaces in this housing development are great examples of inter-linked green areas. There always seems to be plenty of wildlife through there, especially at Braithwaite Rd. There's a network of waterbodies through the site and some old trees from the former farmland. It looks like a great area for wintering Chiffchaff or a Firecrest.
-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 2nd of October 2014 09:29:40 PM