Out and about
Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 2:00 pm
Winter Hill and Georges Lane 750 to 1030
Very quiet at the top of Winter Hill in terms of the number of birds with not even a Meadow Pipit !
However, star bird was a Ring Ouzel which flew close by and then returned over my head towards Belmont.
Wheatear - a female caught a caterpillar near the rocket mast.
A pair of Stonechat were behind the main mast compound.
A Merlin and a family of 5 Stonechat were near the road on the way down but both were on the Manchester side of the border.
George’s Lane was a bit more productive in terms of numbers of birds.
Redwing 14, Chaffinch 5, Reed Bunting 2, Goldcrest 5 and a Jay were the highlights.
Eyes Lane 11am to 1230pm
Bit more wader activity today.
Lapwing 6, Snipe 8
3 unidentified small waders could have been Dunlin but didn’t land.
Star wader was a Green Sandpiper in the far left corner of the flooding.
Ducks included 7 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 8-10 Teal and c50 Mallard.
Geese were Canada Goose c100 with a couple of Pink Footed Geese and the White Goose (no Barnacle though). 75 Pink Footed Geese circled but didn’t land.
2 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Coot, 2 Swallow, 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel incl Jessy and 10-15 Skylark plus c500 mixed gulls.
Meadow Lane contained two separate flocks of Lapwing of 75 and 90 with c500 mixed gulls.
Very quiet at the top of Winter Hill in terms of the number of birds with not even a Meadow Pipit !
However, star bird was a Ring Ouzel which flew close by and then returned over my head towards Belmont.
Wheatear - a female caught a caterpillar near the rocket mast.
A pair of Stonechat were behind the main mast compound.
A Merlin and a family of 5 Stonechat were near the road on the way down but both were on the Manchester side of the border.
George’s Lane was a bit more productive in terms of numbers of birds.
Redwing 14, Chaffinch 5, Reed Bunting 2, Goldcrest 5 and a Jay were the highlights.
Eyes Lane 11am to 1230pm
Bit more wader activity today.
Lapwing 6, Snipe 8
3 unidentified small waders could have been Dunlin but didn’t land.
Star wader was a Green Sandpiper in the far left corner of the flooding.
Ducks included 7 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 8-10 Teal and c50 Mallard.
Geese were Canada Goose c100 with a couple of Pink Footed Geese and the White Goose (no Barnacle though). 75 Pink Footed Geese circled but didn’t land.
2 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Coot, 2 Swallow, 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel incl Jessy and 10-15 Skylark plus c500 mixed gulls.
Meadow Lane contained two separate flocks of Lapwing of 75 and 90 with c500 mixed gulls.