After the devastation of Boxing Day birding seems rather irrelevant but I suppose life goes on and thankfully no one was injured.
We have some weak sunshine and a pleasant 9 degrees this morning, for anyone walking this way be careful, the footpath system has been severely damaged, the path between Stubbins and Strongstry has been washed away, the footbridge between Strongstry and Chatterton has collapsed and the riverbank in many places is unstable.
Chaffinch.....larger numbers than ever recorded
Goldfinch.....again high numbers
Bullfinch......three males and four females
Greenfinch......nice to see small flock of five in Irwell vale
Siskin......four feeding on Alder
Blue, Great and Coal Tit.....good numbers all round
Long-tailed Tit......only one flock of 9 seen
Robin, Dunnock and Wren......in good numbers
Blackbirds.......all round
Nuthatch.......at least seven individual birds seen
Great Spotted Woodpecker......several male and female around
Green Woodpecker......a male was very visible and vocal along the railway line
Treecreeper.....one pair feeding in Lumb vale.
Jay....four birds taking peanuts from woodland feeding station
Pheasant....two males
Jackdaw.....a conservative count would be around 200, flying over and feeding in flooded fields, this new habitat has also attracted flocks of Black headed Gulls and Starlings, both of which are unusual here.
Dipper....only one bird seen, hopefully the others will return to a now normal level river.
Grey Heron....one flying over
Goosander.....three females and one male on the river
Mallard.....only a couple seen
No Thrushes or raptors of any species seen, a fact worth recoriding is the amount of bird song, including a Wren in full territorial song and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.
For the people who know this area the owl box on the cycle track that housed a wintering Tawny has been relocated due to the original tree being felled after damage to power lines, I have also put up a new box in private woodland at Alderbottom.
Thanks Anthony, we will plod on and hope the next storm is not to bad. We are being told they are trying to get a crane and low loader in tomorrow to remove the collapsed bridge.
For anyone who knows the hamlet of Lumb at the back of Irwell vale, the old pack horse bridge has been closed as they suspect it may collapse, so the village is isolated.
Happy new year to all.
Regards Brian.
-- Edited by brian on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 07:13:25 PM
-- Edited by brian on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 07:14:52 PM
