Turnstone, Seaforth
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Seaforth. I climbed the mound to get a good view whereupon the gull moved behind a LBBG. It appeared briefly like this then the whole flock spooked.
Teal, Seaforth
Pied Wagtail, Seaforth
Med Gull 4, Seaforth
Med Gull 3, Seaforth
Med Gull 2, Seaforth
Med Gull 1, Seaforth
Argentatus Herring Gull, Seaforth
Cormorant, Seaforth
Common Sandpiper, HGFXXXXX
27th September – 1st October.
xxxx
Monday while working away and driving home I managed a quick side trip to Belvide Reservoir in the Midlands. The light was poor and the weather awful so good birding was not on the cards really. Belvide is an interesting place though and I will definitely re-visit. A calling Willow Tit was the best bird. I also decided this evening to start putting seed down again at my feeding station. This is the fourth year I have fed the area – I wonder what will turn up this winter?
Xxxxx
After work on the Tuesday I headed up Winter Hill to have a look for the Lapland Bunting that had been seen for a few days. I met Paul Risley there and spent an enjoyable half hour with him while we watched for the bird. Paul had earlier grabbed some record shots the bunting. We briefly saw it scurry across the path – it was then flushed when Simon Warford approached from the opposite end of the path. We were later joined by Phil Rhodes and Andy Makin – the Lapland Bunting finally appeared and we followed it slowly up the path! Quite a confiding bird though the light was bloody poor by now.
Xxxxx
Ian McKerchar then rang me (I had contacted him for directions earlier) to say that a juvenile Gannet had been spotted on Crompton Lodges at Moses Gate CP. Quite a bird for Greater Manchester. Simon shot off back down the path while Andy and Phil debated whether to go or not and whether or not there would be enough light to see it. They eventually decided to go so I followed. By the time we arrived there was probably no more than 4-5 minutes of any light left – the Gannet was difficult to see in the gloom but was observed.
Xxxxx
Wednesday’s visit to HGF didn’t produce anything much of interest aside from a covey of 7 Grey Partridges. In the evening I drove past my feeding station – four Yellowhammers and a couple of Tree Sparrows were present. I wonder how long it will take to build up the numbers this year? Three Swallows were feeding in Waterworks Lane.
Xxxxxx
Thursday after work I nipped over to Seaforth while in the area. The first thing I noticed was the number of ticking Robins – every bush seemed to have a few. The pick of the gulls were five adult Meds and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was also still present – a single Golden Plover was with the usual mix of waders (Dunlin, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit). HGF today was slightly more interesting. A second Wigeon had arrived back, 24 Meadow Pipits flew over south and in the field opposite the kennels (freshly ploughed and harrowed) were 68 Pied Wagtails (or I should say alba wagtails as many were good candidates for White Wagtail). A male Sparrowhawk was mobbed by corvids in Waterworks Lane.
Monday while working away and driving home I managed a quick side trip to Belvide Reservoir in the Midlands. The light was poor and the weather awful so good birding was not on the cards really. Belvide is an interesting place though and I will definitely re-visit. A calling Willow Tit was the best bird. I also decided this evening to start putting seed down again at my feeding station. This is the fourth year I have fed the area – I wonder what will turn up this winter?
Xxxxx
After work on the Tuesday I headed up Winter Hill to have a look for the Lapland Bunting that had been seen for a few days. I met Paul Risley there and spent an enjoyable half hour with him while we watched for the bird. Paul had earlier grabbed some record shots the bunting. We briefly saw it scurry across the path – it was then flushed when Simon Warford approached from the opposite end of the path. We were later joined by Phil Rhodes and Andy Makin – the Lapland Bunting finally appeared and we followed it slowly up the path! Quite a confiding bird though the light was bloody poor by now.
Xxxxx
Ian McKerchar then rang me (I had contacted him for directions earlier) to say that a juvenile Gannet had been spotted on Crompton Lodges at Moses Gate CP. Quite a bird for Greater Manchester. Simon shot off back down the path while Andy and Phil debated whether to go or not and whether or not there would be enough light to see it. They eventually decided to go so I followed. By the time we arrived there was probably no more than 4-5 minutes of any light left – the Gannet was difficult to see in the gloom but was observed.
Xxxxx
Wednesday’s visit to HGF didn’t produce anything much of interest aside from a covey of 7 Grey Partridges. In the evening I drove past my feeding station – four Yellowhammers and a couple of Tree Sparrows were present. I wonder how long it will take to build up the numbers this year? Three Swallows were feeding in Waterworks Lane.
Xxxxxx
Thursday after work I nipped over to Seaforth while in the area. The first thing I noticed was the number of ticking Robins – every bush seemed to have a few. The pick of the gulls were five adult Meds and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was also still present – a single Golden Plover was with the usual mix of waders (Dunlin, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit). HGF today was slightly more interesting. A second Wigeon had arrived back, 24 Meadow Pipits flew over south and in the field opposite the kennels (freshly ploughed and harrowed) were 68 Pied Wagtails (or I should say alba wagtails as many were good candidates for White Wagtail). A male Sparrowhawk was mobbed by corvids in Waterworks Lane.
Xxxxxx
Friday I set off for work in pouring rain and a very blustery wind. On the way there as I drove along Waterworks Lane I saw a bird flying down the lane towards me. Somewhat bizarrely I realised it was a Common Tern!!! I can only guess it had been at HGF earlier and had decided to move on – certainly the first one I have recorded in Winwick! A Common Sandpiper was present on HGF this morning. In the afternoon (pouring rain) I had a drive past with friend and colleague Tom Jones. Around 700 Starlings and 40+ Linnets were feeding near Midhops – a return in the evening produced 2 coveys of Grey Partridges here (7+5).
No comments:
Post a Comment