06:00-10:30

Grey Heron, 1 flew south over Snig Hole,

Mallard, 2 in Alden,

Buzzard, 1 hovering and later soaring over the moors,

Sparrowhawk, female soaring over Stubbins,

Red Grouse, 1 on the moors,

Pheasant, c8 in Alden & 2 near Buckden,

Lapwing, 2 pairs near Bull Hill,

Golden Plover, 4 pairs on the moors,

Curlew, 2 pairs,

Snipe, 1 "chipping" on the moors and 1 drumming on the lower slopes of Bull Hill; first drummer for ages!

B.H.Gull, steady movement west over the moors,

Wood Pigeon, c20,

Stock Dove, pair in Alden,

Little Owl, 1 in Alden,

Swift, c20 between Alderbottom & Lumb viaducts,

G.S.Woodpecker, 1 in Alden & 3 along The Irwell Valley,

Green Woodpecker, 1 yaffled near Buckden Clough / Cliffe Lodge,

Skylark, almost continual presence on the tops and especially Bull Hill with c40 birds,

Swallow, c30,

House Martin, 2 at Stubbins & 2 at Lumb,

Sand Martin, c20 along The Irwell,

Pied Wagtail, pair in Alden,

Meadow Pipit, c20,

Wheatear, 2 in Alden,

Song Thrush, 1 feeding on the path in Buckden Clough and c5 along The Irwell,

Blackcap, 3 at Woodbank, 12 in Buckden Clough and 5 along The Irwell,

Willow Warbler, c6 along The Irwell, 2 in Buckden Clough,

Chiffchaff, 1 in Bucken Clough and 2 along The Irwell,

Spotted Flycatcher, 1 at Woodbank,

Coal Tit, 2 at Woodbank,

L.T.Tit, at Torsdie Woods and along The Irwell,

Treecreeper, 1 at Torside Woods,

Nuthatch, 1 at Sunnybank & 2 along The Irwell,

Raven, 1 north over The Moors,

Jackdaw, c12 at the head of Alden,

Jay, 1 at Sunnybank,

Rook, feeding fledged young at Irwell Vale,

Starling, c50 including many juvs in Alden,

House Sparrow, c8 near Snig Hole,

Goldfinch, c8,

Chaffinch, c20,

Linnet, 2 in Alden,

Reed Bunting, 2 singing on the lower slopes of Bull Hill.

Regards,

David Nuttall.