Out and about

[John Frankland]

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.