Lancashire Birding (1 Viewer)

[COLG]

Take a look here (and for all other sightings in Greater Manchester):

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=96752&p=3&topicID=13956419

Hi Ian , Thanks for the link....I was unaware of this !

 

[Ian Woosey]

Welcome to the surreal world of "Manchester Birding", of which Wigan, sadly, is now part of...........:-C

There is also an "Out-of-County" page which contains quite a few Lancashire sites

 

[gradders52]

GREAT but where the ... is Bradley Hall feeding station? Often pass Standish and wouldn't mind popping in sometime.
Thanks

even if it is Gtr Manchester (my Ricki)

 

[Ian Woosey]

GREAT but where the ... is Bradley Hall feeding station? Often pass Standish and wouldn't mind popping in sometime.
Thanks

even if it is Gtr Manchester (my Ricki)

"Bradley Hall feeding station" is in fact at Black Lawyers Farm, up a dirt track off Platt Lane, which is off the A5106 Chorley Road (NE of Standish). Park at The Crown public house, and as mentioned take the track up to the railway bridge (signposted for Talbot House Kennels), but bear off right at the fork, to a group of derelict farm buildings. NOTE it is not a "feeding station" in the classical sense, but merely a place where seed is put out (by Wigan RSPB) for the benefit of the local Tree Sparrow population.......

 

[gradders52]

Thanks

"Bradley Hall feeding station" is in fact at Black Lawyers Farm, up a dirt track off Platt Lane, which is off the A5106 Chorley Road (NE of Standish). Park at The Crown public house, and as mentioned take the track up to the railway bridge (signposted for Talbot House Kennels), but bear off right at the fork, to a group of derelict farm buildings. NOTE it is not a "feeding station" in the classical sense, but merely a place where seed is put out (by Wigan RSPB) for the benefit of the local Tree Sparrow population.......

MANY THANKS. I was close, Wondered if it was near Ainscough Crane Hire off Bradley Lane, so not far away... and a pint too! Excellent. Thanks again.
g

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Bittern circling Marton Mere at dusk. Always a pleasure to see them as well as this on sunny spring evenings before they depart.

Stephen

 

[WyreWader]

may have to head down straight from work... what time was this?

Neil - I was photoing from about 5.20 'till 5.40pm, but obviously it will be getting later each evening, there were thousands doing their aerobatic display again this evening when I drove past at about 5.40pm.

Gradders - love the swan photos, there's a serious dispute going on there.

A couple of sightings from the last 2 days whilst driving home from work.

Thurs 04/03 - Gulf Lane Cockerham, 1 x Little Owl, 2 x Kestrel, Backsands Lane Pilling, 50+ Curlew

Friday 05/03 - Jeremy Lane Glasson, poss a couple of Bewicks amongst half a dozen Whoopers (see photo of the poss Bewicks??), 1 x Little Egret, 1 x Kestrel, then Gulf Lane again 1 x Little Owl, Backsands Lane Pilling, 1 x Fieldfare & 10+ Curlew.

cheers

Cliff

 

[Pitvar]

First visit to Marton Mere today [having stopped en route to watch the Great Grey Shrike - which was distant but fascinating!] spent an hour searching low down in the 300m of trees along the northern edge and was about to give up when I looked up and saw this - 15 foot up! Lovely looking reserve shame I didn't have the time to walk right round...met some friendly locals as well, one of whom pointed out a second LEO which was much better hidden.

 

[WyreWader]

Sightings of note from a morning spent at Stanley Park, Blackpool today included: -

2 x Great crested Grebes, 5 x Pochard, 4 x Shoveler, 10+ Tufted Ducks, 2+ Treecreepers, 1 x GS Woodpecker (male), 1 x Nuthatch (heard but not seen), 1 x Sparrowhawk(male), 2 x Coal Tit & 3 x Long tailed tits.

** just a quick edit to add - 2 x Pied Wagtails on the forecourt of the Shell garage @ Talbot Rd yesterday morning.

I've attached a few photos

Cliff

 

[Jonny721]

Judging by your excellent treecreeper shots cliff I'm assuming it was you I was talking to at the park yesterday near to where the 2 were going into a hollow tree?

 

[derekg]

Didn't have much time today but spent an hour down Brockholes this afternoon. I only looked across the Main Pit where the new visitors centre foundations are just being layed.

Sightings:- Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Shellduck, Little Grebe, BH Gull, LBB Gull, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Lapwing, Redshank, Cormorant, Pied Wagtail, Coot.

More on the blog later.

SOme great photos Cliff as usual, especially the Treecreeper and the Little Owl which I've only ever seen once and at great distance.

Derek

 

[WyreWader]

Judging by your excellent treecreeper shots cliff I'm assuming it was you I was talking to at the park yesterday near to where the 2 were going into a hollow tree?

'twas indeed I, nice to meet you Jonny albeit briefly & thank you for pointing me in the direction of said Treecreepers :t: .

Cliff

 

[gradders52]

Over Wyre

As it's a bit quiet, I don't normally 'post', not great pics, for reference; but something different, as I was passing Over Wyre...

Look in the foreground of the ditch and you might just see a male merlin!

Starlings at Gulf Lane

Male and female Goldeneye at the pond at Lane Ends Picnic Site (Pilling?) and about 1,000 Pink footed took to the sky on Backlane.

A fieldfare on Lancaster Road.
g

Oh, usual suspects at Bradshaw Lane, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Red Legged Partridge, Pheasant, Shelduck, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Robins, Blackbird, Starlings etc

 

[WyreWader]

Nice shots Gradders, I particularly like the Merlin, is that the ditch running adjacent to Bradshaw Lane feeding station? If so, I have witnessed the same thing there back in November, I'd just pulled up to see what I thought was a Sparrowhawk speeding along the ditch & then veering into the middle of the feeding sparrows etc, I didn't get a photo & am now wondering could it have been your Merlin, I suppose it could've been either though & guess I'll never know.

Cliff

 

[gradders52]

Nice shots Gradders, I particularly like the Merlin, is that the ditch running adjacent to Bradshaw Lane feeding station? If so, I have witnessed the same thing there back in November, I'd just pulled up to see what I thought was a Sparrowhawk speeding along the ditch & then veering into the middle of the feeding sparrows etc, I didn't get a photo & am now wondering could it have been your Merlin, I suppose it could've been either though & guess I'll never know.

Cliff

YEP that's the one, adjacent to Bradshaw Lane feeding Station... you have to keep your eyes open! (What I mean is, it is too easy to focus on the feeding birds and miss all sorts going on around the place, hence the photo... just a tip for anyone out that way... look in the weirdest of places). Does sound as if this is a trick a local merlin has adopted and uses, so chances are it is the same bird.

Not great but if you look to the right of the pic on the side of the bank, just below ''middle', you can just see it sat below 'ground level'. Worth looking out for... but like anything right place right time. (Of course it's as fast as... so getting a pic could take all day!)

(I couldn't see an Orlotan Bunting tho! Maybe when the weather deteriorates!)

Oh, three red-legged on the track.

 

[derekg]

Male & Female Peregrine showing well in a local quarry as well as 2 Raven.
Little Grebe the only other bird of interest on show but was very distracted by the Peregrine for the 3 hours I was there so even if something else did show up I probably wouldn't have seen it.

Derek

 

[WyreWader]

A few hours at Stanley park this morning produced sightings of note of 3 x GC Grebes, 1 x GS Woodpecker, 1 x Sparrowhawk, 3 x Coal Tit, 5 x Long tailed tits, and a number of Nuthatch sightings but never more than one at anyone time.

Cheers

Cliff

 

[derekg]

A few hours at Stanley park this morning produced sightings of note of 3 x GC Grebes, 1 x GS Woodpecker, 1 x Sparrowhawk, 3 x Coal Tit, 5 x Long tailed tits, and a number of Nuthatch sightings but never more than one at anyone time.

Cheers

Cliff

Cracking Nuthatch photo's Cliff :t:

Derek

 

[derekg]

Managed 3 site visits today with some very intresting birds.

Martin Mere - Ron Barker Hide

A merlin sat on the fence for 5 minutes, my son took the photo. Also 4 Buzzard and eventually saw the American Wigeon though at distance.
Also saw Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank and the usual mix of ducks.

Brockholes

Gadwall, Shoveler, Redsahnk, Buzzard, M&F Goldeneye, Green Woodpecker.

Local Quarry

M&F Peregrine & Raven

Derek

 

[seedyrom]

The Ron Barker hide is at Martin Mere. This is the WWt place near Rufford. Marton Mere is near Blackpool.