Around 3pm this afternoon, 2 noisy Ring-necked Parakeets were seen chasing each other around trees in the linear

park near Gullivers World Theme Park. The first I've ever recorded in the area.

This morning I checked to see if the male Bullfinch, which has been seen enjoying the berries on my garden Rowan tree for

a couple of weeks now was present today. There was no sign of him, just a couple of sparrow sized birds were present.

When viewed through bins though they turned out to be a couple of female Bramblings, a garden first for me, and proof

that these winter visitors have Rowan berries in their diet too. The birds were still present at 4.00pm, although were seen taking fallen berries off the lawn by then. They took shelter in the Rowan tree when a Sparrowhawk flew over, after which they both started to consume berries from the garage roof.

-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 22nd of October 2021 09:39:06 PM

-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 22nd of October 2021 09:40:35 PM

A record 40 House Sparrows on and around my garden feeder this morning, they absolutely relish sunflower seed hearts.

My two garden Rowan trees held 22 Blackbirds, 3 Redwings and a Song Thrush at one point this afternoon.

The resident male Blackbird initially tried to intimidate them, but in the end he was just overwhelmed.

Brief walk this morning along Sankey Brook from Callands to Whitecross Tennis Courts and back.

Highlights were 4 singing Willow Warblers around the former tip site at Bewsey, plus 4 Blackcaps and 6+ Chiffchaffs.

2m + 1f Bullfinches were also on the old tip site, whilst a single female Goldeneye was a surprise find on Sankey Brook.

A female Sparrowhawk took a sparrow from an area close to my garden feeder this morning.

I first seen her clinging to a cotoneaster, with her talons firmly gripping something inside the bush.

She soon flew onto the lawn clutching the unlucky greyish blob in her talons, and started to pluck the still twitching sparrow.

Most human beings would rapidly dash out and try to save the little bird when confronted with a vicious drama like this.

I just watched the drama with a stunned fascination, it's never pleasant to witness such dramas, but no matter how tempted

I was to try and save the little victim, I would never have forgiven myself if I'd of interfered.

Thankfully the hawk dragged her lunch to the bottom of a nearby hedge and out of view, and now all that remains are a few grey feathers.

My one regret is that I had not quickly grabbed my camera as a great photo could of been achieved.

Also fascinating this morning was the sight of a couple of Goldfinches clinging to a vertical brick wall, I've seen Blue Tits, Great Tits and sparrows

do this and assumed they would catching spiders and insects that were hiding amongst the brickwork, but what would the finches be after there?.

This lunchtime I witnessed a drama in my garden.

A Large Yellow Underwing moth appears to have been disturbed from it's daytime hideout.

It fluttered across my lawn looking for another safe haven, however a male House Sparrow

gave pursuit. The pair twisted and turned in an aerial dogfight that would put a Peregrine's

pursuit of a pigeon to shame. The moth however managed to escape to the shelter of a thick conifer.

Looking really irritated the sparrow returned to the feeder, and the remainder of his flock.

Moments later a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly appeared over the lawn, again the sparrow

promptly attacked, and another breathtaking aerial battle commenced. This time though the

sparrow got his prize and snapped the butterfly from the air, before flying off to eat it on the garden wall.

1 male Blackcap in the garden at 1pm.

I've seen this flock regularly fly north over the canal at Bewsey just after day break. I assume it is some of the birds that roost at Moore NR

Every afternoon, at the moment about 3.00pm but variable depending on the time of year, there is a huge movement of mixed Jackdaws and Rooks flying South over Gullivers World Theme park.

I have also seen hundreds of corvids flying North just after dawn. I know there is a Rook/Jackdaw roost at Moore, so I assume they are commuting to there for the night.

I'd love to know where this huge flock spends the day though?. It could be the farmland around Burtonwood or Winwick, or perhaps a landfill somewhere to the North?.

As anyone any ideas on this?.

John Williams wrote:

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Callands Estate

yesterday (Late Posting) 20.00

5 Swifts flying South high over Sankey Brook. Unsure whether to post this, but it's getting quite late for Swift reports, most birds left weeks ago.

1 Buzzard mewing consistently flying at about 20 feet over Callands day nursery, it made several passes at the same height. Puzzling behaviour?.

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There are still swift about John,quite a few over pennington at the weekend,and they do get seen in September most years,and even occasionally in Oct.