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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ColinD" data-source="post: 1303514" data-attributes="member: 55409">5th October - Stonechats and Pink-footed GeesePink-feet are back with avengance! A glorious, cloudless afternoon here in North West England, with hardly a breathe of wind. Quite remarkable in fact given the torrential rain last night. I saw the first Pink-feet, about 100 birds, in a barley field off Dairy Farm Road. At first I could only see their heads as they watched me nervously, but then they began to walk to higher ground, and they came fully into view. A strange sight I must say. I don't think I've ever seen them in a barley field before, at least not one where the crop has yet to be harvested.I could see geese flying in the distance over the Old Coach Road, and they appeared to be landing behind the trees. However, when I reached the Coach road, I realised that they had landed on Simonswood moss, which is largely out of view. The roost here has occasionally reached 10,000 birds in the past, but I doubt it's more than 1000 birds at present.Suddenly the flock went up, about 500 birds. They flew straight towards me an then veered away to the left. It was one of those wonderful moments - the air was filled with the sound of their calls, and the sunlight was right on them, and every detail was clear. I reckon I could confidently have picked out any unusual species which might have been with them, but today I had to be content with just Pink-feet.Apart from the geese, a pair of Stonechats were in Dairy Farm Road, and another male in the horse paddocks along the Old Coach Road. From the track to Old House Farm, there were 100 Swallows and 50 House Martins hawking for insects over one of the fields.Total birding miles by bike so far in 2008: 990 (60 bike rides)Number of miles since last puncture: 975 </blockquote>

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