Photos:
Yellow Wagtail in Barrow Lane, Newton-Le-Willows
Kestrel family at Houghton Green Flash
Corn Bunting, Rixton
1st July
There was an oddity at HGF this morning in the form of a Chiffchaff singing in the east hedge. They don’t breed here and normally the only birds I pick up are Spring and Autumn migrants which usually stop for a couple of days singing and then disappear. Three years ago a bird hung around in July for around 10 days or so – these are the only times I have recorded chiffers here between late April and early August. Four Mute Swans were new in – an adult pair with two 2cy type birds in tow. 27 Swifts were also feeding over the pool. At least three juvenile Kestrels were around plus mum and dad. I watched a couple of them flying down into the potato patch and running through this looking for food. Dad brought one a vole which the young bird mantled to prevent its siblings getting a look in.
On the way into work three Corn Buntings were perched on the wires on Holcroft Lane. After work I went to Rixton. Common Terns, Tufted Duck and youngster and Lesser Whitethroat were all present and correct. In the carrot field at the bottom of Holly Bush Lane there were 48 Lapwings including two pairs with 2 and 3 young which were busy arguing about the favoured spot in the field. A male Yellow Wagtail was also feeding at the field edge. After a few minutes he flew into the opposite field and began the zing-zing call (or that’s how it sounds to me!). Around 170 Swifts were feeding over the mosses.
2nd July
Spent all day gardening. While working a few visitors were noted including two juvenile Coal Tits, 12 Long-tailed Tits, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Swallows and 3 Swifts.
Late evening I went for another wander down Barrow Lane to look again for the Quail and again no sign. Yellowhammer was present as usual on the wires and immediately I picked up several Tree Sparrows which were feeding in the wheat field and then retreating to the conifers around Parkside Farm. By the bollards a pleasant surprise was a male Sedge Warbler singing his heart out. In the north running hedge were a few Corn Buntings and more Tree Sparrows and a male Yellow Wagtail was in the potato patch. Buzzard, Kestrel and 10 overflying Stock Doves were also seen, however the evening went to the Skylarks which seemed to be everywhere and filled the air with song! A couple of Grey Partridges lifted out of the oat field and then a covey of 13 birds lifted out of the field south of the lane. Another cracking walk!
Just a thought about the Sedge Warbler. I do pick the odd one up each year in some odd spot – a couple of years ago I had one singing for several weeks right next to the motorway slip road at HGF. However taking the Chiffer at HGF also into the equation, I wonder of these birds are failed breeders or males that have been kicked off their territory for some reason and are just generally wandering and hoping for a bit of luck somewhere else?
3rd July
Visited HGF first thing this morning. The Kestrel family were all still present with one juvenile in particularly being showy and trying to catch food on a compost heap near the bungalow. A Yellow Wagtail flew across the road and dropped in to the usual nesting area for this species. This is only my second sighting of this species here with the first being in mid-April. Have they been here all along and I have missed them or have they moved back here for a second clutch? The Chiffchaff was singing near the Kestrels nest today. Around 70 Swifts and a Sand Martin were feeding over the pool, four juvenile Grey Herons were lined up like statues and a wandering juvenile Great Crested Grebe had joined the flock.
Next I wandered over to Rixton. The Common Terns, Tufted Ducks and Lesser Whitethroat were again all present. As I walked around towards pool 2 I spotted a chap with 2 Rottweilers on leads coming towards me. I took hold of Bill’s collar and pulled him well off the path until they passed. Suddenly both Rottweilers lunged at Bill, dragging their owner behind and one attacked my dog. I completely lost it at this point and kicked ten bells out of the Rottweiler to get it off. Fortunately Bill wasn’t hurt. I then told the owner exactly what I would do to him if he didn’t take his f***ing dogs home. The daft sod then blamed me, because I didn’t have Bill on a lead, completely ignoring the fact that Bill was under control and he had no control over his dogs even when they were on leads. He then threatened to set his dogs on me! I dared him to try and I won’t repeat what I told him I would do if he didn’t f*** off home and stay there. I cannot stand arrogant, ignorant tossers who blame everyone else when they have no control over their dogs. Quiet Sunday morning.
Went back to Barrow lane this evening with Bill, who by now had completely forgotten the event this morning with the Rottweilers. Unfortunately we met another kind of irresponsible dog owner, a chap who decided to exercise his dog by throwing balls, via a long stick, into the middle of the wheat and oat fields and then watching as the dog crashed through and flattened crops. I thought there was no chance of picking up the Quail, however rather bizarrely it decided to start singing literally seconds after the dog had gone past! It then shut up again and not a peep for the rest of the evening. There was no sign of the Sedge Warbler but the usual stuff in terms of Linnets, Corn Buntings and Skylarks. A pair of Yellow Wagtails were constantly going to different areas of the potato patch with food and one juvenile was seen begging for food. A large congregation of Swifts too with over 270 feeding over these fields.
I decided to check on the county boundary later as many people including myself have the Winwick border around here. In fact it is in Lancashire – Newton-le-Willows! The borders of Cheshire amd Greater Manchester are just a stone’s throw away!
There was an oddity at HGF this morning in the form of a Chiffchaff singing in the east hedge. They don’t breed here and normally the only birds I pick up are Spring and Autumn migrants which usually stop for a couple of days singing and then disappear. Three years ago a bird hung around in July for around 10 days or so – these are the only times I have recorded chiffers here between late April and early August. Four Mute Swans were new in – an adult pair with two 2cy type birds in tow. 27 Swifts were also feeding over the pool. At least three juvenile Kestrels were around plus mum and dad. I watched a couple of them flying down into the potato patch and running through this looking for food. Dad brought one a vole which the young bird mantled to prevent its siblings getting a look in.
On the way into work three Corn Buntings were perched on the wires on Holcroft Lane. After work I went to Rixton. Common Terns, Tufted Duck and youngster and Lesser Whitethroat were all present and correct. In the carrot field at the bottom of Holly Bush Lane there were 48 Lapwings including two pairs with 2 and 3 young which were busy arguing about the favoured spot in the field. A male Yellow Wagtail was also feeding at the field edge. After a few minutes he flew into the opposite field and began the zing-zing call (or that’s how it sounds to me!). Around 170 Swifts were feeding over the mosses.
2nd July
Spent all day gardening. While working a few visitors were noted including two juvenile Coal Tits, 12 Long-tailed Tits, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Swallows and 3 Swifts.
Late evening I went for another wander down Barrow Lane to look again for the Quail and again no sign. Yellowhammer was present as usual on the wires and immediately I picked up several Tree Sparrows which were feeding in the wheat field and then retreating to the conifers around Parkside Farm. By the bollards a pleasant surprise was a male Sedge Warbler singing his heart out. In the north running hedge were a few Corn Buntings and more Tree Sparrows and a male Yellow Wagtail was in the potato patch. Buzzard, Kestrel and 10 overflying Stock Doves were also seen, however the evening went to the Skylarks which seemed to be everywhere and filled the air with song! A couple of Grey Partridges lifted out of the oat field and then a covey of 13 birds lifted out of the field south of the lane. Another cracking walk!
Just a thought about the Sedge Warbler. I do pick the odd one up each year in some odd spot – a couple of years ago I had one singing for several weeks right next to the motorway slip road at HGF. However taking the Chiffer at HGF also into the equation, I wonder of these birds are failed breeders or males that have been kicked off their territory for some reason and are just generally wandering and hoping for a bit of luck somewhere else?
3rd July
Visited HGF first thing this morning. The Kestrel family were all still present with one juvenile in particularly being showy and trying to catch food on a compost heap near the bungalow. A Yellow Wagtail flew across the road and dropped in to the usual nesting area for this species. This is only my second sighting of this species here with the first being in mid-April. Have they been here all along and I have missed them or have they moved back here for a second clutch? The Chiffchaff was singing near the Kestrels nest today. Around 70 Swifts and a Sand Martin were feeding over the pool, four juvenile Grey Herons were lined up like statues and a wandering juvenile Great Crested Grebe had joined the flock.
Next I wandered over to Rixton. The Common Terns, Tufted Ducks and Lesser Whitethroat were again all present. As I walked around towards pool 2 I spotted a chap with 2 Rottweilers on leads coming towards me. I took hold of Bill’s collar and pulled him well off the path until they passed. Suddenly both Rottweilers lunged at Bill, dragging their owner behind and one attacked my dog. I completely lost it at this point and kicked ten bells out of the Rottweiler to get it off. Fortunately Bill wasn’t hurt. I then told the owner exactly what I would do to him if he didn’t take his f***ing dogs home. The daft sod then blamed me, because I didn’t have Bill on a lead, completely ignoring the fact that Bill was under control and he had no control over his dogs even when they were on leads. He then threatened to set his dogs on me! I dared him to try and I won’t repeat what I told him I would do if he didn’t f*** off home and stay there. I cannot stand arrogant, ignorant tossers who blame everyone else when they have no control over their dogs. Quiet Sunday morning.
Went back to Barrow lane this evening with Bill, who by now had completely forgotten the event this morning with the Rottweilers. Unfortunately we met another kind of irresponsible dog owner, a chap who decided to exercise his dog by throwing balls, via a long stick, into the middle of the wheat and oat fields and then watching as the dog crashed through and flattened crops. I thought there was no chance of picking up the Quail, however rather bizarrely it decided to start singing literally seconds after the dog had gone past! It then shut up again and not a peep for the rest of the evening. There was no sign of the Sedge Warbler but the usual stuff in terms of Linnets, Corn Buntings and Skylarks. A pair of Yellow Wagtails were constantly going to different areas of the potato patch with food and one juvenile was seen begging for food. A large congregation of Swifts too with over 270 feeding over these fields.
I decided to check on the county boundary later as many people including myself have the Winwick border around here. In fact it is in Lancashire – Newton-le-Willows! The borders of Cheshire amd Greater Manchester are just a stone’s throw away!
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