Rossendale Wildlife Thread 2020 Part 1

sarfraz · Status: Offline

Rossendale Wildlife Thread 2020 Part 1

sarfraz · Status: Offline

January 19 - Immature Iceland Gull at Mitchell's House Reservoir along with a minimum of 24 Great Black-Backed Gulls and minimum of 20 Common Gulls, 2 Reed Buntings

January 24 - 1 Crossbill at Heap Clough, minimum of 60 Lapwings at Holden Wood Reservoir and 1 Greenfinch highlights

February 7 at Grane

Holden Wood:-

3 Duck species on Holden Wood - 1 Goosander, 6 Mallard and 4 teal

3 Moorhen

1 Reed Bunting

2 Wren

3 Common Gulls

min 20 Meadow Pipits especially around farm

2 Bullfinches min - 1 near car park and one in hedge at top end

2 Long Tailed Tits and 1 Great Tit , 6 more Great Tits and 4 Blue Tits around

Song Thrush in song

3 Robins in song

1 Reed Bunting

2 Redwing

min 200 Black-headed Gulls scattered around

something had killed a woodpigeon there and plucked it and moved the body

Ogden:-

1 Great Crested Grebe

3 Oystercatchers

min 2 Skylark over

4 Great Black Backed Gulls min

Calf Hey:-

min 20 Goldfinches

min 5 Chaffinch

a few Great Tit and Blue Tit

5 Pied Wagtails

1 Grey Wagtail

1 Stonechat

min 5 Fieldfare

Quarries:-

3 Mistle Thrush - including 1 pair

mi n 6 Great Tit - species very active today around Grane

5 Buzzards - one looking a bit paler and more brown bodied

1 Kestrel

3 Siskin

3 Jays

sarfraz · Status: Offline

Grane Visit Friday 14th February highlights:-

5 Goldeneye Holden Wood of which 3 were drakes

1 Coot at Holden Wood - the MEGA has returned!!!!!

4 Goosander over flying east-ish over Holden Wood

30 Lapwings over Holden Wood

maybe 150 Black-headed Gulls everywhere - birds coming and going.

min 2 Greenfinch Calf hey feeders

1 male Stonechat at Holden Wood

2 Skylark over Ogden including 1 in song

120 Pink Footed Geese 80 flying east to west and once at Calf Hey they turned around headed south - could be same birds seen over Ashworth Moor too and Swillington Ings/St Aidans in Yorkshire - where 120 were seen heading west over there.

2 Oystercatcher at Ogden

-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 22nd of February 2020 10:07:05 AM

sarfraz · Status: Offline

Holden Wood today morning:-

4 Goosander

2 female Goldeneye

min 10 Mallard

1 Coot

4 Moorhen

min 50 Lapwing

2 Oystercatcher

min 300 Starling - min 100 feeding with Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch

min 50 Fieldfare

min 10 Redwing

6 Blackbird

min 20 Meadow Pipits

7 Chaffinch

1 stonechat

1 Reed Bunting

2 Common Gull

1 Great Black Backed Gull

8 Cormorants

min 20 Jackdaw

1 skylark over

1 Wren

Redwing pic form last year, Fieldfare pic from today

sarfraz · Status: Offline

Beautiful day today with many highlights the main one being 2 Bumblebees one above Ogden and one at Crow Trees cottage/farm area!

Great day for photos!

First Blackbird heard singing this week in Haslingden Wednesday. Big spike in Lesser Black Backed Gulls over last 2 weeks.

Grane Trip today:-

Minimum of 30 Robin singing today around reservoirs and quarries - out in force today!

Holden Wood:-

1 Collared Dove on Holden Arms

3 Goldeneye 2 drakes, lots of displaying going on

1 Goosander

Min 8 Mallard

1 Kestrel male

5 Curlew over

Min 20 Lapwing some displaying too

Min 50 Black-headed Gulls

Min 10 Woodpigeons

1 Stock Dove over

1 Skylark calling over 0 singing today surprisingly

Min 12 Meadow Pipits

3 Pied Wagtails

2 Dunnock

2 Stonechat

2 Blackbird

Min 3 Redwing

1 Mistle Thrush singing

1 Song Thrush singing

4 Wren

Min 6 Blue Tit - including one looking for nest sites in the walls of Holden Arms Car Park

Min 6 Great Tit

3 Long Tailed Tit

Min 6 Magpies

Min 14 Jackdaws

Min 10 Carrion Crows

Min 50 Starlings

Min 15 Chaffinch

Min 20 Goldfinch

6 Reed Buntings

Ogden:-

1 Great Crested Grebe

2 Goldeneye - pair

7 Mallard

8 Oystercatcher min

Min 20 Black-headed Gulls

3 Wren

Min 2 Blue Tit

Min 2 Great Tit

Calf Hey:-

6 Mallard

2 Sparrowhawks male and a female female displaying over plantation, male sat in tree and landed on grassy hill side where it waited for a few minutes and then sat in a tree again

Min 50 Woodpigeons

3 Meadow Pipits

1 Grey Wagtail

1 Mistle Thrush in song

1 Song Thrush in song

2 Blackbird

4 Coal Tit

Min 10 Great Tit

Min 10 Blue Tit

Min 6 Wren

Min 6 Magpies

13 Starling

Min 16 Chaffinch

3 Greenfinch

Min 20 Goldfinch

3 Nuthatch

2 Reed Buntings

Heap Clough:-

1 Goldeneye female

3 Mallard

3 Buzzard

12 Lapwing

1 Green Woodpecker

1 Stock Dove

1 Pied Wagtail

4 Meadow Pipits

2 Dunnock at Crow Trees singing

2 Stonechat

Min 10 Great Tits

Min 6 Blue Tits

2 Coal Tits

Min 4 Wren

1-2 Ravens

8 Magpies

19 Starling

Min 10 Carrion Crows

1 Greenfinch in song

Min 20 Goldfinch

Min 10 Chaffinch

1 Reed Bunting

No Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming have barely heard them over Grane last few years.

sarfraz · Status: Offline

Grane today

Highlight - Four Duck Day - Two Teal, Mallard and Two Goldeneye on Holden Wood......female Goosander flying onto Ogden
12 Cormorant
3 Moorhen
min 20 Mallard around
lots of displaying Meadow Pipits
Skylarks singing Musbury Heights, Hasingden Moor and passing over Holden Wood
13 Oystercatcher minimum
Curlews at Holden Wood and above Jamestone's
Lots of singing Robins
approx 10 Wren
Stonechats - pair above Holden Wood with male singing, another male singing above Ogden and a pair at jamestone's
min 10 Coal Tit at Calf Hey
4 singing Goldcrest
4 Mistle Thrush - singing birds at Holden Wood, Calf Hey and a pair at Jamestone's
2 Song Thrush - singing birds at Holden Wood and Calf hey
min 1 Brambling at Calf Hey
1 male Bullfinch at Calf Hey
3 Greenfinch - singing/wheezing birds at Heap Clough and Holden Wood
a few Siskin around
7 Blackbirds

2 Peacock butterflies - one near Crow Trees and one at Holden Wood.

sarfraz · Status: Offline

Walk around Grane and Quarries today:-

2 duck Smew reported yesterday at Jamestones but 0 today

Holden Wood:-

3 Goldeneye - pair and a female

4 Teal - 2 pairs

2 Moorhen

2 Oystercatcher

4 Cormorants

female pheasant or red legged partridge just under farm - moved quite quickly but looked bigger than Grey

Stonechat pair

4 Reed Buntings

1 Wren

min 15 Meadow Pipits

min 10 Pied Wagtails

less than 6 Lapwing

1 Curlew

min 8 Mallard

1 Skylark over

min 2 Sand Martins but could have been 4

min 10 Blue Tits with many feeding on pollen?

min 6 Great Tits

1 Long Tailed tit

2 Dunnock - 1 singing at farm above res

2 Great Black Backed Gulls on return

1 Bullfinch

2 Blackbirds

2 Redwing

4 Robin

min 6 Goldfinch

Ogden:-

6 different Buzzards over

min 6 Meadow Pipits

1 Reed Bunting

1 kestrel

Calf Hey

1 Kestrel

2 Tufted Duck - pair - 4 duck day again today but if I had seen Goosander I would have seen 5!!!

Goldeneye - pair

min 6 Mallard

min 4 Meadow Pipit

1 Wren

min 2 Brambling - 1

min 2 Greenfinch

min 1 Bullfinch

min 10 Chaffinch

min 10 Coal Tit

min 5 Robin

min 2 Long Tailed Tit

2 Reed Bunting

quite a few blue tits and great tits

min 10 Goldfinch

1 Sparrowhawk

Quarries:-

min 10 Pied Wagtails around

min 10 meadow Pipits

1 Brambling spotted by Andy Y

min 4 Redpoll

min 10 Goldfinch

2 Stonechat

2 Reed Bunting

3 Starling

Usual Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jackdaws, and smaller number of Black headed Gulls than usual

-- Edited by sarfraz on Friday 20th of March 2020 11:58:06 PM

sarfraz · Status: Offline

Monday 23 March - trip to Grane - no particular highlights but Teal pair on Holden Wood, Moorhen in channel at Calf Hey and a big female Sparrowhawk turning on a mobbing Crow and sending it packing, 4 Goldeneye on Calf Hey with 3 on Holden Wood

Mitchells House Reservoir Thursday 26 March:-

Teal pair, 6 Reed Buntings, 12 Skylark, 1 female Sparrowhawk,

Grane Friday 27 March:-

Holden Wood:-

2 Wren

min 10 Meadow Pipits

1 Skylark over

3 Pied Wagtails

smaller numbers of Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Chaffinches

12 Cormorant

3 Moorhen

2 Curlew over

2 Oystercatcher

less than 5 Lapwings

50-60 Jackdaws

min 8 Woodpigeons

3 Reed Buntings

1 Mistle Thrush

1 Song Thrush

2 Redwing

3 Goldeneye - 2 drakes and a female

1 Willow/Chiff - did not call and flew out of view

2 Redpoll over

min 12 Goldcrest

6 Robin

Ogden:-

Stonechat pair on slopes

min 10 Meadow Pipits

Calf Hey:-

2 Goldeneye

6 Mallard

2 Oystercatcher

min 1 Lapwing

1 Song Thrush

1 Mistle Thrush

1 Chiffchaff

min 6 Goldcrest

2 Treecreeper

2 Nuthatch

min 10 Chaffinch

min 4 Siskin

min 4 Coal Tit

4 Long Tailed Tit - 2 pairs?

a min of 10 Blue and Great Tit each

31 Fieldfare in field across Grane Road opposite Crow Trees

min 5 Wren

min 20 Goldfinch

8 Robin min

1 Skylark

2 Grey Wagtail

7 Meadow Pipits

Quarries:-

1 female Wheatear

3 Oystercatcher

1 Lapwing

3 Starling

3 Robin min

2 Grey Wagtail

4 Pied Wagtail

min 20 Meadow Pipits#

3 Skylark

-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 28th of March 2020 12:30:56 AM

sarfraz · Status: Offline

23^rd March to 13 April 2020 Sightings in and around Haslingden:-

Minimum of 100 House Sparrows noted around Haslingden and Helmshore -small colonies dotted over

Min 14 Greenfinch singing/wheezing St Peters Avenue, Helmshore Road, behind Sports Centre, Broadway including 2 singing in small trees from Haslingden High School Grounds and around Tesco definitely an increase as noted in some areas I have not heard them before.

Min 6 singing Dunnocks in Haslingden

3 singing Song Thrush

2 singing Mistle Thrush

1 Willow Warbler heard at back of house 11 April

Victoria Park, Haslingden

6 - 9 April - 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, 1-2 Nuthatch, 2 Wrens singing, 2 Dunnocks singing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, min 10 Woodpigeon, small numbers of Great and Blue Tits, min 6 Chaffinch, 2 Robins, 4 Magpies, 8 Grey Squirrels, min 6 Peacock Butterflies and 3 Small Tortoiseshells, photographed the bee which can be seen in photos but not sure if i have seen this species before,

Some highlights of the last 2 weeks

28 March large bird seen at distance over Holden Wood Reservoir area which could only have been an Osprey flying, flapping, soaring mobbed by other birds could have been bird sighted on 27^th?

29 March 2 Linnet (pair) at undisclosed location

30 March 1 Ring Ouzel seen at Alden by another observer

31 March 2 Ring Ouzel seen at Alden by same observer from 30^th March

5 April 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Swallows, 1 Greylag Goose, 3 pairs of Teal, 2 Redwing at undisclosed location

6 April last date Goldeneyes observed at Grane and Quarries from another observer.

10 April 1 Sedge Warbler (2^nd earliest record for ROC earliest was at 08 April 1997 at Folly Tip sourced from Bird of Lancashire and North Merseyside, 1 Common Sandpiper, min 12 Ring Ouzel, approx. 12 Wheatear, approx. 10 Swallows, less than 4 Sand Martins at an undisclosed location, min 12 Willow Warblers.

Blackcap heard in trees on St Peters Avenue, Haslingden

11 April woke up early morning to go bathroom and Cuckoo calling from about 3.50am and onwards. 1 House Martin over Haslingden 6^th spring migrant over a 2 day period!

12 April Grasshopper Warbler at undisclosed location heard by another observer and Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming at nearby location

13 April Grasshopper Warbler at another undisclosed location heard by me very briefly. Possible Whitethroat heard today

Bugs

28 March - a moth entered our house which can be seen in photos - a very early Yellow Underwing?

10 and 12 April - min 30 Peacock and 20 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in undisclosed area

Some photographs added from the last few months taken in Rossendale:-

sarfraz · Status: Offline

8 April 2020

Upper Musbury

Wrens 7 min, Stonechat 2 pairs, Meadow Pipit min 20, Reed Bunting 2, Skylark min 5

13 April 2020

Holden Wood

Pheasant 1 , Blackbird 4, Blue Tit 3, Great Tit 5, Wren 5 , Black-headed Gull 14, Willow Warbler 5, Chaffinch 3, Swallow 26, Meadow Pipit 11, Cormorant 4, Reed Bunting 3, Woodpigeon 6, Mallard 7, Moorhen 3, Goldfinch 7, Carrion crow min 5, Lapwing 4

Pied Wagtail 4, Sand Martin 12 min, Teal 4, Oystercatcher 2, Curlew 2, Dunnock 2, Robin 3, Coal Tit 1, Magpie 3, Blackcap - 1, Goldcrest 1, Jackdaw 54 min

Ogden

Carrion crows 6, Wren 2,Black-headed Gulls 24, Stonechat 1, Mallard 1, Cormorant 4

Meadow Pipit 4, Robin 1, Swallow 2, Goldfinch 1, Coal Tit 2, Chaffinch - 2

Calf Hey Reservoir

Black-headed Gull 6, Meadow Pipits 18,Wren 14, Carrion crow min 12, Great Tit 12, Grey Wagtail 1, Long Tailed Tit 1, Willow Warbler 4, Chaffinch 26

Nuthatch 5, Goldfinch -19, Goldcrest 2, Coal Tit 9, Woodpigeon 7, Blue Tit 4, Robin 6

Magpie 4, Blackbird 7, Grey Heron 1, Pied Wagtail -1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Mallard 1

Greenfinch 1, Treecreeper -1, Song Thrush -1, Dunnock 1, Jay 1

Heap Clough

Wren 4, Black-headed Gull 4, Willow Warbler 4, Sand Martin 1, Kestrel 3, Chaffinch 12, Robin 4, Mallard 2, Carrion Crow 8 min, Meadow Pipit -22, Buzzard 1, Pied Wagtail 7, Wheatear 4, Oystercatcher -2, Goldfinch -5, Redpoll - 2, Magpie 2, Coal Tit 1, Siskin 1, Woodpigeon 4, Bullfinch 1, Great Tit 1,

15 April 2020

First Orange Tips seen at Grane

Musbury

4 Green Hairstreak, 2 Large White Butterflies, 2-3 white species

2 Wheatears Musbury Heights, 3 Chaffinches

23 April 2020

Holden Wood Reservoir:-

Chaffinch - 5

Jackdaw 60 min, Willow Warbler 8 including singing birds from Holcombe Road,

Great Tit 3, Magpie 4, Wren 7, Dunnock 4, Woodpigeon 3, Goldfinch 2, Robin 4, Cormorant 3, Blue Tit 2, Great Black Backed Gull 1, Long Tailed Tit 1, Carrion Crow 6

Goldeneye 1 Reed Bunting 2, Lapwing 2, Blackbird 2, Meadow Pipit 13, Oystercatcher 1

Pied Wagtail 2, Mallard 6 and also 1 female with 8 young, Grasshopper Warbler 1

Swallow 6, Curlew -2, Black-headed Gulls 1, Pheasant 1, Goldcrest 1, Coal Tit -1

Ogden:-

Buzzard 1, Meadow Pipit 16, Wren 7, Willow Warblers 3, Goldfinch 1, Linnet 2, Reed Bunting 2, Great Crested Grebe 2, Black-headed Gulls 80 min, Great Tit 1 Stonechat 1, Great Black Backed Gull 5, Oystercatcher 3

Calf Hey reservoir

Goldcrest 1, Willow Warbler 11, Meadow Pipit 9, Swallow 1, Chaffinch 11, Song Thrush -2, Nuthatch 3, Kestrel 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Wren 10, Goldfinch 6, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Coal Tit 9, Blue Tit 6, Robin 7, Blackbird 4, Treecreeper -2, Mistle Thrush 1, Pied Wagtail 2, Greenfinch 2, Woodpigeon 4, Blackcap 2, Stonechat - 1

Butterflies 23 April 2020

Holden Wood:-

Orange Tip 6, Peacock 3 Small Tortoiseshell 5, Large White 1, White type Butterflies 2

Ogden:-

Small Tortoiseshells 2

Calf hey Reservoir

4 Small Tortoisehells, Peacock 2, White type 2

12 May 2020

Holden Wood Reservoir:-

Blue Tit 3, Dunnock 2, Willow Warbler 7, Great Tit 2, Magpie 3, Carrion crow 2, Woodpigeon 22, Goldfinch 2, Wren 2, Moorhen 4, Mallard 9, Black-headed Gull - 4, Stock Dove 2, Dunlin 5, Swallow 3, Starling 46, Lapwing 5, Reed Bunting 2, Swift 9, Meadow Pipit 7, Curlew -1, Kestrel 1, Song Thrush 1, Chaffinch 4, Pied Wagtail 3, Little Ringed Plover 4, Oystercatcher 2, Robin 2, Blackbird 4, Blackcap 2, Coal Tit - 1

Ogden Res

Woodpigeon 9, Mallard 6, Blackbird 2, Pied Wagtail 2, Swift approx. 60, Meadow Pipit 18, Swallow 1, Wren 4, Grey Wagtail 1, Willow Warbler -2, Cormorant min 3, Carrion Crow 7, Reed Bunting 1, Black-headed Gull 9, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Linnet 1, Great Crested Grebe 2, Dunlin min 1, Oystercatcher 2

Calf Hey Res

Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed Bunting 2, Wren 13, Kestrel 2, Carrion Crow 8, Meadow Pipit 9, Stonechat 2, Buzzard 2, Blue Tit 4, Great Tit 4, Jay 2, Swift 5, Black-headed Gull -2, Curlew 2, Carrion Crow min 10, Dunnock - 2, Woodpigeon 3, Nuthatch 1, Robin 9, Blackbird 6, Song Thrush 5, Coal Tit 7, Long Tailed Tit 3, Magpie 7, Willow Warbler 19, Goldfinch -13, Redpoll 3, Siskin 3, Goldcrest 3, Little Ringed Plover -2, Lapwing 4, Pied Wagtail 4, Moorhen 1, Oystercatcher 2, Mallard 6, Black-headed Gull 1, Mistle Thrush 3, Blackcap 3, Chaffinch 13, Greenfinch 1, Swallow 4, Jackdaw 9, Chiffchaff 1, Treecreeper 1, Sand Martin 1, Mediterranean Gull 1, Mallard 4,

Heap Cough and Quarries 14^th May

Chaffinch 8, Jay 2, Woodpigeon 12, Magpie 3, Jackdaw 44 + 76 = 120 approx, Great Tit 1, Carrion Crow 8, Kestrel - 3, Blackbird 3, Willow Warbler 8, Black-headed Gull 4, Robin 7, Little Ringed Plover 2, Sand Martin 9, Mistle Thrush 1, Goldfinch 15, Stock Dove 1, Goldcrest 3, Blackcap 1, Meadow Pipit 18, Skylark 1, Linnet 2, Common Sandpiper 1, Pied Wagtail 2, Swift 3, Great Black Backed Gull -1, Oystercatcher 2, Wren 6, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1, Song Thrush 3, Blue Tit 3, Reed Bunting 1, Long Tailed Tit 2, Coal Tit 1, Greenfinch 1

Stonefold BBS Square 22 May

Chaffinch 9, Robin 6, Blackbird 3, Wren 1, Black-headed Gull 5, Willow Warbler 2, Woodpigeon 5, Goldfinch 8, Jackdaw 4, Curlew- 2, Linnet 4, Skylark 11, Curlew 1, Meadow Pipit 13, Starling 4, Carrion Crow 6, Magpie -1, Buzzard 1, Mallard 2, Pied Wagtail 1, Mistle Thrush 1, Dunnock 1,

Pale Buzzard which was seen in 2017 still in area.

Miscellaneous Sightings

7 April white type butterfly seen in Rawtenstall but not sure of species Orange Tip not ruled out

9 April Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming at Victoria Park,

23 April fledged Robins sighted at Victoria Park, min 10 House Martins over Haslingden

24 April fledged Blackbirds sighted and pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker observed copulating in Victoria Park, first Chiffchaff heard by me in Haslingden, at St Peters Avenue

25 April Chiffchaff heard on Holcombe Road not far from Holden Arms

25 April min 10 House Martins over Haslingden

27 April Whitethroat at Calf Hey Reservoir

27 April min 1 Wheatear at Grane

29 April 3 Wheatear at Holden Wood Res

30 April Whitethroat at Holden Wood Res

30 April min 14 Swifts at Ogden Res which dropped in and then just as suddenly vanished

30 April 24 Starlings feeding at St Peters Field, Haslingden

2 May 3 Swift over Holden Wood Reservoir, 6 Rooks flying from Musbury to Hutch Bank

3 May - Redstart singing near Mitchell House Res via Steven Hollinrake,

3 May 1 Whitethroat near Mitchell House Res, 2 Common Sandpiper at Mitchell House Res

3 May 1 Swift over Haslingden

4 May Willow Warbler singing at Victoria Park

6 May Holden Wood Res - 3 Wheatear, 44 Starlings, 61 Jackdaws

10 May Cuckoo calling from above my house morning again

14 May Cuckoo calling from above Holden Wood not heard elsewhere by me but heard in Musbury and at Calf Hey earlier. Mass emergence of White Butterflies mainly Green Veined Whites mainly at Calf Hey Reservoir.

18 May 4 Treecreeper fledged family

19 May Cuckoo calling very close to my house at 4.20am!!!!!

21 May 2 separate Cuckoos Calf Hey Reservoir and Ogden Reservoir, min 15 Lapwings on hill tops above Troy Quarry looks reduced since 5^th May visit, 2 Curlew, 2 Wall Brown butterflies Holden Wood and Jamestones

24 May Around Halo 1 Blackcap, Some Robins, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinches. Another Blackcap at St James Church

26 May Calf Hey - no Cuckoos heard, juvenile Robin, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Small Heath Butterfly seen.

26 May Chiffchaff singing at Victoria Park present 27 and 28^th but not heard on 29^th. Not heard after this. Swifts have started screaming more today.

27 May Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding young Victoria Park

28 May min 200 Starlings Deep Clough, min 150 Jackdaws Heap Clough area, Grasshopper Warbler at Jamestone 2, no Cuckoos Grane and Heap Clough, 1 Rook at Heap Clough, 1 Mediterranean Gull flying west over Ogden onto Calf Hey. Lots of Small Heath butterflies around Grane and one Small Copper seen.

28 May Cinnabar Moth in Haslingden.

29 May 3 individual juvenile Woodpigeons and fledged family of Blue Tits at Victoria Park

30 May Cuckoo heard in Musbury. 3 female Stonechats and 2 males sighted in Musbury by me.

1 June 2 Red Damselflies, female Broad Bodied Chaser and fully fledged immature Pied Wagtail at Calf Hey Reservoir. Redshank and Mediterranean Gull at Jamestone 2. Common Blue Damselfly, min 8 Broad Bodied Chasers both male and female at pond just under Troy Quarry. 4 Blackcaps in hedgerows at top end of Holden Wood where path leads to Grane Road. Mallard with 4 quite large young - probably same I recorded with 8 some time back.

1 June - male Ring Ouzel sighted in an area but could be out of ROC area - not sure - I have grid reference if anyone known to me is interested.

2 June 2 Common Whitethroat and a Cinnabar Moth at Top O Slate. 1 Red Admiral in Victoria Park, Haslingden

Numbers of Greenfinches is a lot higher than usual around Haslingden and Helsmhore. Numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackcap seem lower in Haslingden and Helmshore. Lapwings have failed in the fields around Holden Wood - most seem to have moved.

-- Edited by sarfraz on Wednesday 3rd of June 2020 06:13:43 PM

sarfraz · Status: Offline

Walk around Grane and Quarries today and highlights were :-

1. 18 Crossbills flying over track in forest at Calf Hey..possibly same birds

2. 8 Mediterranean Gulls over Deep Clough - in flocks of 3 and 5 picked up by their distinct call. They appeared from over the hill, soaring and calling - the first 3 headed towards Musbury and the next 5 towards Calf Hey - both at good height. All adults. Highest count in Rossendale so far. Previous high count 4 over Clowbridge by Craig in 2018. I have never seen more than 2 and this year just singles. To see 8 was a huge surprise.

3. First fully fledged juvenile Black-headed Gull with parents at Holden Wood Res.

June 8th - Song Thrush carrying worms in Victoria Park and Woodpeckers still in there nest hole. Recently hatched Great Tit nest in a hole in the bandstand. Parents carrying food too. No noise heard here previously. Crow juvenile on ground too which I put on a branch - look like just fledged. Quite cute.

-- Edited by sarfraz on Tuesday 9th of June 2020 07:22:05 PM

-- Edited by sarfraz on Tuesday 9th of June 2020 10:40:53 PM

-- Edited by sarfraz on Wednesday 10th of June 2020 05:52:36 PM

sarfraz · Status: Offline

11 June family of fledged Blackbirds in a small green spot in Haslingden

11 June Fledged Goldfinches at Calf Hey Reservoir and Victoria Park, Haslingden

13 June 1 Mediterranean Gull, my first Emperor Dragonfly and first Large Skipper of the year at Holden Wood Reservoir.

14 June fledged family of Magpies in scrub by car park, Whitethroat singing in car park on way back but not way down, first Meadow Brown butterfly of the year seen Holden Wood reservoir with Paul Burke and Brian Kirkwood

Alden Valley a few Redpoll being very vocal and flighty, Linnet, 1-2 Buzzard, a few Ravens, 2 Blackcap, Treecreepers, min 2 Nuthatch 1 large white Butterfly

15 June fledged family of Robins Victoria Park, Haslingden, Chiffchaff singing at St Peters a avenue, Haslingden and trees near old Rossendale Hospital

16 June Grane trip Chiffchaff at Clough Head, 2 family parties of fully fledged Stonechats each at Ogden Res and Jamestone 1, family of 7 Ravens Deep Clough allowing fairly close approach, female Wheatear with 3 young at Jamestone 1. 4 Crow families fledged around Grane 2 at Holden Wood Res, 1 at Calf Hey and 1 at Heap Clough.

Quite a few Meadow Brown around looking smart. Some really fresh looking Small Tortoisehells too. 3 Red Admiral and black caterpillars on nettles which are Peacock?

16 June Narrow Bordered 5 Spot Burnet Moth at Top O Slate, Haslingden

19 June walk around Grane and Quarries. Shoveler on Holden Wood which flew onto Calf Hey and then back on Holden Wood again later. Saw light blue spectrum patch and did not notice large bill in flight and hopes were raised. Still a mid-June Shoveler was still a surprise. Goldfinch with at least 1 young and Swallow with 6 fledged young at Holden Wood too.

19 June 16 Woodpigeons half of which which were immatures at St Peters Field a living Hedgehog in Victoria Park, Haslingden.

sarfraz · Status: Offline

19 June 5 individual Kestrels seen at Holden Wood and 1 at Calf Hey

20 June family of min 7 Great Tits at Stonefold and min 8 at Mitchells House Reservoir, recently fledged Meadow Pipits, min 5 Willow Warbler family and a Song Thrush carrying worms at Mitchells House

22 June family party of 4-5 Grey Wagtails at Holden Wood, Crossbills heard at Clough Head and Heap Clough. Family of 5-6 Pied Wagtails, family of 5 Mistle Thrush and 2 Song Thrush at Crow Trees. Curlew display calling at Holden Wood, Calf hey and above Heap Clough.

23 June evening visit to Grane 1 Mediterranean Gull flying around reservoirs and family of recently 5-6 fledged Nuthatch at Victoria Park Haslingden. Family of Chaffinches, Goldcrests and Great Tits at Calf hey Reservoir.

24 June 1 Emperor Dragonfly on the lane just before Holden Wood, possibly 3 Lapwings with chicks at Holden Wood Res. Mallard with 9 recently hatched ducklings at Calf Hey

25 1 Mediterranean Gull at Holden Wood. Crossbills a group of 9 and a 3 seen and some more heard at Calf Hey. A group of 7 seen at Troy with some heard at Clough Head and Kings Hillock Wood near Ogden. How many are involved remains to be seen! Min 2 Blue Tit at Holden Wood family party. Min of 5 Crow families fledged at Grane Reservoirs and Quarries. 1 Rook and Family of Magpies at Heap Clough min 5. Min 100 Swifts around the reservoirs and quarries.

100 + Small Tortoiseshells seen around the reservoir and quarries. Min 100 Meadow Browns seen too.

26 Great Tits at Calf Hey min 8 mainly juveniles but 2 adults. Quite a few large-ish looking broods seen over the last few weeks! First Ringlet Butterfly seen at Calf hey of the year a few there.

27 rain did not drop anything in at Grane!

sarfraz · Status: Offline

June 20 BBS Survey Stonefold

Carrion Crow - 5

Meadow Pipit - 14

Skylark - 6

Swift - 3

Chaffinch - 4

Swallow - 7

Magpie - 2

Goldfinch - 6

Linnet - 4

Willow Warbler - 1

Woodpigeon - 2

Dunnock -1

Wren - 2

Blackbird - 1

30 June walk around Grane and Heap Clough/Quarries with Ian Brady most at the latter.... highlights:-

Holden Wood highlights :- Great Tit family at Holden Wood in lone tree at wide bay. Whitethroat in song at car park. Great Spotted Woodpecker heard. 6 Mistle Thrush flying from Musbury to Heap Clough way.

Drake Common Scoter at Ogden - my 3rd ever record at Grane and 2nd self found one!

Crossbills at Clough head and 3 Curlew above Heap Clough. 2 Song Thrush in song and min 2 Mistle Thrush at Crow Trees cottage.

A usually very quiet Troy Quarry was alive with birds - 1 of Common Sandpiper, Kestrel, Moorhen, Grey Heron, an immature Great Spotted Woodpecker and 5 Oystercatcher. Also a Blackbird and a Song Thrush going to the same spot in the quarry face twice - nesting there? Spotted by Ian Brady. They were 2 individual areas not far apart though.

Should be the end of this Thread. Part 2 will appear soon!

-- Edited by sarfraz on Friday 3rd of July 2020 05:30:44 PM