Sunday 19 December 11.30-2pm @ Holden Wood - threw 3 loaves off brown bread onto the frozen reservoir and attracted BH Gulls, Carrion Crows, some Magpies and a daring Blackbird which was chased by a Crow but got a way and then at the end some Pigeons/Doves.
A flock of Goldfinch, Chaffinch and a Wren at the far side. A flock of at least 50 Fieldfare in the hedges on Grane Road from Holden Wood to Troy Quarry. They were accompanied by Blackbird and Redwing.
A Raven flew from Musbury direction and headed towards Hutch Bank side and then back again. it was with another Raven some time later. Not to forget a female Kestrel hovering above. Tuesday 21 December 2.30pm @ Holden Wood - threw bread onto the frozen reservoir and attracted the Crows and BH Gulls. A Grey Heron flew in attracted by the commotion. Also the usual Thrushes mentionned the other day.
Friday 24 December 3.15-4.15pm @ Holden Wood - more brown bread on the still frozen reservoir and this time the BH Gulls passing northwards came down to it. Also the Crows. Had greater number of both species than the other day. The Crows appear to come from all directions but many from Ogden side - birds on the way to roost must see, hear or sense some other way that food is around. Some Common Gulls flew over but did not land. 2 Herring Gulls and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying northwards at a greater height but not interested at all in the commotion caused by the BH Gulls and Crows below. 3 Lapwing flew over in towards the farm on the western side of the res. Also a male Sprawk heading north.
Min of 20 Redwings around, more Fieldfare and some Blackbirds. Redwings might roost with Blackbird and Fieldfare on a tree around Holden Wood. Female Sprawk disturbed with partially eaten prey in talons from around the tree - the Thrushes were not bothered by it. They flew off because of me. 1 lapwing flew eastwards towards the road around 4pm. Not sure if part of the 3 seen earlier.
Bits and Bobs :-
1. seen more than usual Blackbirds over last few weeks - every bush on Grane Road, Holcombe Road, Hud hey Road and Haslingden Road into R'stall has a Blackbird in it. There are much more than what i would normally see.
2. Quite a few Rooks have been hanging around the round-a-bout near Winfields.
3. A male Blackbird came to my house for food. A couple of Pied Wagtails hang aroud my house.
4. Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Great Tits use the 3 feeders I have put up at Holden Wood. I put up a coconut fat feeder at one of the bushes in o the bank of the reservoir in the hope something might feed on it.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 25th of December 2010 12:47:59 AM
