Corn Bunting, Waterworks Lane
Corn Buntings in the hedge near the feeding station
Brambling, Moore NR
Lesser Redpoll, Moore
Goldeneyes, HGF
The main pool at Rixton Clay Pits
Pochard and Tufted Duck, Rixton Clay Pits
Pochard - it was hard trying to digiscope this duck as it kept hiding behind a small island
Wigeon, HGFXXXX
Monday 8th Feb – Sunday 14th Feb
Xxxx
Been driving all over the place recently and consequently had not much chance to update the blog. Last week I drove over 1400 miles and spent 23 hours driving on top of my normal working week – this includes a 5.5 hour slog back from Slough on Thursday in a blizzard. To make matters worse – due to someone running into my car on the M6, all of the travelling was done in a Pope Mobile aka a Citroen C4. I got to the point where I never wanted to set foot in a car again! Anyway – some catching up to do.
Xxxx
The beginning of the week before last started off with the usual morning trip to HGF. Nothing much to report really – Wigeon flock up to 70 birds and around 90 Lapwings in the field opposite the kennels. A drive through Culcheth on the way to work yielded a large mixed flock of corvids right by the roadside which didn’t flush when I stopped the car to watch them. Moat Lane pool was busy and had 98 Tufties and around 30 Gadwall with various other water fowl. However when I went back the following day I found some scrotes fishing from a dinghy on the pool. A few aythya ducks had gone over to the clay pits, however everything else had scarpered.
Xxxx
The day after the fishing guys had been present, the birds had returned though in lower numbers. Three Wigeon had turned up and four Mute Swans were engaged in fisticuffs – territorial disputes! Earlier that morning while visiting HGF I caught up with the Linnet flock near Midhops – 53 birds were present on the wires. As the flock at the start of the winter was more than double this size I wonder whether the birds have dispersed or this is the mortality rate in the harsh conditions.
Xxx
On the Thursday I was working in Droitwich and discovered I was only a mile or so from Upton Warren NNR a place I had only visited once before. I decided to rectify that on my way home! It probably wasn’t the best time for a mooch as the flashes were all frozen, however I thoroughly enjoyed my late afternoon diversion. A feeding station has been set up around the first hide which is elevated. Because there is a largish open space, the feeding area didn’t have the gloomy atmosphere many feeding stations like PF have – you can also see the birds approaching in the hedges. Part of the flashes are also viewable from this hide too – what a cracker! There were plenty of tits, finches etc with 10 Reed Buntings and 8 Bullfinches joining in. A Water Rail climbed into one of the feeding cages and various other common birds were seen. From the second hide a large flock of Lapwings could be seen in the fields opposite and a Green Woodpecker flew over the hide. A Little Egret was also roosting on the main lake. I only had a little time to spare, however I will be going back to this lovely little place.
Xxxx
Friday morning and the Linnet flock at HGF had increased slightly to 56 birds. At the feeding station the Tree Sparrow numbers have dropped off somewhat with 43 birds present this morning, however Yellowhammer numbers were up to around 35 birds. I haven’t had much chance to view the feeding station over the last week – also the farmer is now using the viewing spot to move manure through into the field. This has resulted in a loss of obscuring vegetation which has resulted in the birds spooking more. Also the tractor tyres grind the seed into the ground. Consequently I have been feeding further down the hedge which makes the birds harder to spot. Interesting visitors this week included a Weasel and a domestic hen.
Xxxx
While driving along Golbourne Road I saw a Merlin chasing something towards the feeding station. Later while driving through Culcheth I spotted a flock of 23 Fieldfares in a field near Kenyon Wood. Finally to round the day off I spent 20 minutes at dusk watching both Little Owls in their usual tree off Lady Lane.
Xxxx
On the Saturday morning (13th) I decided to have a wander round Moore. It turned out to be a fruitless day for gulls with none seen at all on Birchwood Pool. I later did walk round to Pumphouse Pool where 500 or so gulls had been present – they flushed shortly after I and a chap called Harry arrived. They didn’t return. There was no sign of the LSW, however I did latch onto a small group of Lesser Redpolls and spent half an hour or so watching them feeding. A single Siskin flew over calling. At the feeding station I found a female Brambling – other birds seen this morning included Redwings, Jays, Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Not a sensational day for birds but an enjoyable wander round nonetheless.
Xxxx
Around 20 Fieldfares landed in the garden today and stayed for a while. A Stock Dove was also present and 9 Goldfinches were busy on the feeders. A couple of Reed Buntings were also flitting around and best of all today, two Coal Tits were present most of the day. At HGF late afternoon three Goldeneyes were present with the two drakes engaged in courtship displays whilst the lone female slept and completely ignored them!
Xxxx
Sunday morning I paid a visit to Pennington – my first of 2010. I was interested in the Long-eared Owl for reasons which will become apparent – having turned up at the hide I couldn’t make head nor tail of the directions posted on the Manchester birding website. To come back to the reason for being there – I had found a Long-eared Owl here in early Nov 2008. I had made specific notes that the bird was well to the right of its usual location, was in the back of a bush and could only be seen from one specific window. To my knowledge the LEO was not reported here again until a few days ago. I found it almost exactly where I had last seen it over 15 months ago and, after talking to John Tymon, it was where he and Charlie Owen saw it yesterday. I wonder of the bird has been here all along and no one has really looked for it? I certainly never bothered. One other thing - no Little Grebes seen at PF today or at Moore yesterday - both places that usually have quite a few. I have barely seen any in the last 2 months or so - where have they all gone?
Xxxx
I didn’t stay long at PF. At HGF a Great Crested Grebe was a welcome visitor while the garden and the feeding station were busy today. The Coal Tits were back again, a couple of Jackdaws were thieving peanuts and various tits, finches and buntings flitted in and out of the garden. At the feeding station around 40 Tree Sparrows were chattering away with 14 Corn Buntings perched up in the nearby hedge. They were quite confiding and stayed around for a while. A couple of Skylarks buzzed around calling – I wonder if these are local birds back on territory as I haven’t seen the wintering flock for a few weeks now. JT turned up and we watched over 500 Herring Gulls coming off the Mersey and circling high to the north of Winwick. And then I had to drive down to Somerset where I was working the next day!
Monday 8th Feb – Sunday 14th Feb
Xxxx
Been driving all over the place recently and consequently had not much chance to update the blog. Last week I drove over 1400 miles and spent 23 hours driving on top of my normal working week – this includes a 5.5 hour slog back from Slough on Thursday in a blizzard. To make matters worse – due to someone running into my car on the M6, all of the travelling was done in a Pope Mobile aka a Citroen C4. I got to the point where I never wanted to set foot in a car again! Anyway – some catching up to do.
Xxxx
The beginning of the week before last started off with the usual morning trip to HGF. Nothing much to report really – Wigeon flock up to 70 birds and around 90 Lapwings in the field opposite the kennels. A drive through Culcheth on the way to work yielded a large mixed flock of corvids right by the roadside which didn’t flush when I stopped the car to watch them. Moat Lane pool was busy and had 98 Tufties and around 30 Gadwall with various other water fowl. However when I went back the following day I found some scrotes fishing from a dinghy on the pool. A few aythya ducks had gone over to the clay pits, however everything else had scarpered.
Xxxx
The day after the fishing guys had been present, the birds had returned though in lower numbers. Three Wigeon had turned up and four Mute Swans were engaged in fisticuffs – territorial disputes! Earlier that morning while visiting HGF I caught up with the Linnet flock near Midhops – 53 birds were present on the wires. As the flock at the start of the winter was more than double this size I wonder whether the birds have dispersed or this is the mortality rate in the harsh conditions.
Xxx
On the Thursday I was working in Droitwich and discovered I was only a mile or so from Upton Warren NNR a place I had only visited once before. I decided to rectify that on my way home! It probably wasn’t the best time for a mooch as the flashes were all frozen, however I thoroughly enjoyed my late afternoon diversion. A feeding station has been set up around the first hide which is elevated. Because there is a largish open space, the feeding area didn’t have the gloomy atmosphere many feeding stations like PF have – you can also see the birds approaching in the hedges. Part of the flashes are also viewable from this hide too – what a cracker! There were plenty of tits, finches etc with 10 Reed Buntings and 8 Bullfinches joining in. A Water Rail climbed into one of the feeding cages and various other common birds were seen. From the second hide a large flock of Lapwings could be seen in the fields opposite and a Green Woodpecker flew over the hide. A Little Egret was also roosting on the main lake. I only had a little time to spare, however I will be going back to this lovely little place.
Xxxx
Friday morning and the Linnet flock at HGF had increased slightly to 56 birds. At the feeding station the Tree Sparrow numbers have dropped off somewhat with 43 birds present this morning, however Yellowhammer numbers were up to around 35 birds. I haven’t had much chance to view the feeding station over the last week – also the farmer is now using the viewing spot to move manure through into the field. This has resulted in a loss of obscuring vegetation which has resulted in the birds spooking more. Also the tractor tyres grind the seed into the ground. Consequently I have been feeding further down the hedge which makes the birds harder to spot. Interesting visitors this week included a Weasel and a domestic hen.
Xxxx
While driving along Golbourne Road I saw a Merlin chasing something towards the feeding station. Later while driving through Culcheth I spotted a flock of 23 Fieldfares in a field near Kenyon Wood. Finally to round the day off I spent 20 minutes at dusk watching both Little Owls in their usual tree off Lady Lane.
Xxxx
On the Saturday morning (13th) I decided to have a wander round Moore. It turned out to be a fruitless day for gulls with none seen at all on Birchwood Pool. I later did walk round to Pumphouse Pool where 500 or so gulls had been present – they flushed shortly after I and a chap called Harry arrived. They didn’t return. There was no sign of the LSW, however I did latch onto a small group of Lesser Redpolls and spent half an hour or so watching them feeding. A single Siskin flew over calling. At the feeding station I found a female Brambling – other birds seen this morning included Redwings, Jays, Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Not a sensational day for birds but an enjoyable wander round nonetheless.
Xxxx
Around 20 Fieldfares landed in the garden today and stayed for a while. A Stock Dove was also present and 9 Goldfinches were busy on the feeders. A couple of Reed Buntings were also flitting around and best of all today, two Coal Tits were present most of the day. At HGF late afternoon three Goldeneyes were present with the two drakes engaged in courtship displays whilst the lone female slept and completely ignored them!
Xxxx
Sunday morning I paid a visit to Pennington – my first of 2010. I was interested in the Long-eared Owl for reasons which will become apparent – having turned up at the hide I couldn’t make head nor tail of the directions posted on the Manchester birding website. To come back to the reason for being there – I had found a Long-eared Owl here in early Nov 2008. I had made specific notes that the bird was well to the right of its usual location, was in the back of a bush and could only be seen from one specific window. To my knowledge the LEO was not reported here again until a few days ago. I found it almost exactly where I had last seen it over 15 months ago and, after talking to John Tymon, it was where he and Charlie Owen saw it yesterday. I wonder of the bird has been here all along and no one has really looked for it? I certainly never bothered. One other thing - no Little Grebes seen at PF today or at Moore yesterday - both places that usually have quite a few. I have barely seen any in the last 2 months or so - where have they all gone?
Xxxx
I didn’t stay long at PF. At HGF a Great Crested Grebe was a welcome visitor while the garden and the feeding station were busy today. The Coal Tits were back again, a couple of Jackdaws were thieving peanuts and various tits, finches and buntings flitted in and out of the garden. At the feeding station around 40 Tree Sparrows were chattering away with 14 Corn Buntings perched up in the nearby hedge. They were quite confiding and stayed around for a while. A couple of Skylarks buzzed around calling – I wonder if these are local birds back on territory as I haven’t seen the wintering flock for a few weeks now. JT turned up and we watched over 500 Herring Gulls coming off the Mersey and circling high to the north of Winwick. And then I had to drive down to Somerset where I was working the next day!
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