This should cover from 1st of January to 30th June 2021
January 1st 184 Pink Footed Geese heading west in 2 skeins of 138 and 46.
Grane Visit 08/01/21
Holden Wood Reservoir:-
Carrion Crow 8
Bullfinch 1
Common Gull min 4
Raven 2
Wren 5
Great Tit 2
Black-headed Gull min 60
Coot 1
Blue Tit 4
Meadow Pipit 4
Goldfinch 5
Snipe 1
Robin 1
Blackbird 3
Jackdaw 4
Magpie 4
Teal 2
Stonechat 3
Kestrel 1
Starling - 7
Ogden Reservoir:-
Great Crested Grebe 1
Dipper 1
Wren 2
Carrion Crow 6
Grey Heron 1
Blackbird 1
Calf Hey Reservoir:-
Carrion Crow min 10
Mistle Thrush 1
Wren 7
Robin min 15 min 10 around car park
Coal Tit min 15- most around car park
Long Tailed Tit min 2
Goldcrest 2
Blackbird min 15 most around the feeders
Meadow Pipit 1 in the channel
Kestrel 1
Redwing 1
Magpie 6
Bullfinch 2 males
Great Tit min 10
Blue Tit min 10
Nuthatch min 2
Goldfinch min 10
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Dunnock 3
Song Thrush 1
Brambling 1
Woodpigeon 2
Jay 1
Chaffinch- min 20
Grane Road to Holcombe Road
Long Tailed Tit min 10 with some Blue Tits
Buzzard 1
Blackbird min 10
Mistle Thrush min 2
Fieldfare min 40
Redwing min 10
Kestrel 1
No large Gulls, Cormorants, Wagtails today - 08/01/21
The Buzzard in the photos fledged from Grane in summer 2020. It was the bird that was constantly calling and now hangs around either side of Grane above Holden Wood Reservoir. It twice got knocked off that wall by a Kestrel.
The Stonechat on the floor was feeding in the outflow of Holden Wood Reservoir and it was constantly chased by a Robin. I was surprised how it outsmarted and outflew the Robin.
Lots of Scandinavian Blackbirds around - many seem to be first winter males even in the parks of Haslingden. I know there was an early December influx on the east coast.
Sadly the male Bullfinch photos did not come out as good as the could have done - all those lesser feathered mortals photo jumping. I can't use that other word in case I am forced to start a Guantanamo Bay List. I would like to think that one on the right was keeping it's feet warm but sadly it ain't.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 9th of January 2021 12:10:21 AM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 9th of January 2021 01:05:31 AM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 9th of January 2021 10:01:58 PM
Strangely enough most the species we needed for the bird race showed over the next couple of days - 5 Stock Doves at Jamestone's 2 - 12/01/21, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch seen easily, Snipe too at Holden Wood res.
13/01/21 - 3 Greenfinch near top of Tor End Road
15/01/21 - visibility very poor so only Holden Wood could be seen fully. Most of Ogden could not be seen. Highlights - 26 Blackbirds in field where path runs through between Holden Wood Res but Grane Road - 19in the field with other thrushes and 7 in the hedges, min 20 Redwing , 4 Fieldfare and 4 Song Thrush
My first wheezing Greenfinch of the year!
I have started a number of feeding stations around Grane - they all consist of food scattered on the walls or floor
1. Mixed seeds scattered on the semi circle shaped wall just before the reservoir car park.
2. Mixed seeds scattered on the walls where the hedge meets it at the far side of the reservoir
3. Mixed seeds scattered on tarmac ground above the reservoir as you walk uphill - it is the track that carries on from Ogden reservoir car park and meets the metal fence and carries onto the farm
4. Mixed seed scattered neat the scrubber chimney. As you walk along the path just above Ogden from the tram track, just before the ruins there is the path that turns up hill to the left and leads to the chimney - it is just before the chimney on the mossy ground and rocks.
5. Mixed seed scattered above Crow Trees. As you leave the car par from Calf Hey reservoir and follow the lane to Grane Road, you turin right and after Crow Trees Cottage you cross the road and go through the gate. Walk up to the pat and turn left and then to the bench. At the bench look back on yourself eastwards and you will see a grassy section between the small wall and the fence, just above the rocky area full of gorse.
Feeding stations 3-5 are hoped to attract Snow Bunting and Lapland Bunting but if they make a Reed Buntings day then I won't be disappointed! Feel free to keep an eye on those areas or even add seed.
Nothing major to report really:-
22 January 2021 - approx 400 Black-headed Gulls at the Grane Reservoirs - the bulk at Holden Wood
31 January - 26-27 Cormorants in the roost.
1 February - 1-2 Oystercatcher at Ogden Res - my earliest ever! 4 species of duck on Holden Wood Res - Mallard, 3 Teal, 2 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, approx 150 Jackdaws feeding in fields around Holden Wood, 2 Lapwing there too, Lots of birds in song, 4 Song Thrush at Calf Hey
4 February - 2 Skylark - heard over Holden Wood Reservoir and Ogden res, Oystercatcher at Ogden res, 1 Meadow Pipit near scrubber
5 February - Walk around Grane and Quarries - a few wheezing Greenfinch around, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Wren in song - pretty quiet except the Gulls and Corvids
7 February - Holden Wood, Musbury Heights,
saw Paul Burke there.
Holden Wood:- 1 Bullfinch called, 1 Greenfinch wheezed, 1 Meadow Pipit, min 5 Robins, 1 Dipper in outflow, 1-2 Kestrels, 100 plus Jackdaws, 2 Ravens over, 1 Dunnock, Some Tits, min2 Blackbirds, min 4 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Lesser Black Backed Gulls - they are beginning to reappear
Musbury Heights - 2-3 Kestrels, 2 Golden Plover, few Crows, distant Buzzard, 3 Common Gulls and a Herring Gull coming from the south towards the reservoirs, 1 call which was heard twice and could have been a Snow Bunting , 2 Meadow Pipits
5 February - I forgot to add a couple of Skylarks heard over Jamestone's with one even going into slight song
The last week has seen changes at Grane. No Stonechats sighted since the 5th of February. The same applies to Pied and Grey Wagtails. There have been 1-2 Meadow Pipits until the 9th but not since then. No Reed Buntings seen or heard since then either except one heard at Jamestone's 2 on Friday. Small numbers of Wren - maximum of 5 on each visit. No Goldcrest since Tuesday.
Smaller number of Chaffinch and Goldfinch than usual. A few Bullfinch and Greenfinch. Dunnock similar numbers as usual. Robin - 10 at Calf hey feeders on Friday with small numbers in the usual spots. Thrush numbers were okay but looks like Fieldfare and redwing had left by Tuesday. Small numbers of Song Thrush - none singing since Tuesday. Small numbers of Mistle Thrush around - none singing over the last 7 days but a couple of pairs seen. There seems to be less Blackbirds than usual - mostly around the Calf Hey feeders - maybe about 6? 3 Blackbirds were visiting where I scattered seed on the wall where it meets the hedge at top end of Holden Wood. I scattered some seed on the floor too. Tits have been visiting that too. Approx 30 Great Tits seen around Grane Tuesday - also min 10 Blue Tit and Coal Tit. Coal Tits seem less common at the Calf Hey feeders now as compared to before. A flock of about 8 Long tailed Tits seen on Tuesday at Calf hey but none since. 2 Treecreepers seen at Calf Hey Feeders too on Tuesday.
Small numbers of Starling seen. The number of Jackdaws feeding in the fields around the reservoir has plummeted. Ravens cronking and seen over Calf Hey Woods too. Buzzards, Kestrel in small numbers seen. 2 Buzzards talon locked briefly over Clough Head but it seemed more aggressive than courtship.
On some days 20-30 Mallard present, 7 Goldeneye at Ogden on 11th February - most of Ogden was frozen. 2 Teal at Holden Wood on Wednesday and 7 Teal at Calf Hey on Thursday 11th. Grey Heron occasionally flying over. The Coot was last seen Tuesday 9th february. A couple of Moorhens seen regularly.
7 Lapwings were over Holden Wood on Wednesday. 2 Snipe were present too. Gulls all 5 present - 4 Lesser Black Backed Gulls on Friday is the highest yet. Maximum of 4 Great Black Backed and Common Gulls and a maximum of 10 Herring Gulls
The Oystercatcher and Skylarks did not show.
9th February - scan of Clough Bottom Reservoir from road and nothing could be seen on it.
10th February - Blackbird in Victoria Park, Haslingden warming up its vocal chords.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Sunday 14th of February 2021 01:48:21 PM
Red Grouse - min 2 calling males - one above Alden Ratchers and other heading there from Bull Hill
Grey Herons - 3 - In Irwell Vale but visible from Moorbottom Road
Buzzard - 1 - Musbury
Kestrel - min 4 - 3 in Musbury and 1 in Alden on way bank
Merlin - 1 in Musbury
Golden Plover - heard over Bull Hill and Musbury
Great Black Backed Gull - 2 - 1 heading west over Musden Head Moor, other heading south
Black-headed Gulls - approx 500 - heading from south so I assume these birds were leaving a roost somewhere in Greater Manchester and feeding in Alden and Musbury, EBSW etc
Woodpigeons - min 50 throughout the day
Great Spotted Woodpecker- 1 - Musbury
Skylark - min 80 - 90% of these over Bull Hill and Alden. Approx 30 were calling and heading in a North/North Westerly direction and not in song. Lots in song
Meadow Pipit - approx 2 - both in Musbury
Grey Wagtail - 1 - in Musbury
Dipper - 1 - in Musbury
Dunnock - 6 - 3 off Moorbottom Road, 2 in Mubsury and 1 in a garden on Holcombe Road - all in song
Robin - approx 30 - throughout the course of the day, most in song
Stonechat - 2 - pair below Alden Ratchers
Song Thrush - 8 - throughout the day, all in song
Mistle Thrush - min 5 - 1 in song right at top of Musbury Valley in highest bushes
Blackbird - approx 8 - scattered throughout
Goldcrest - 1 - singing in Musbury
Great Tit - min 15 - many singing and seen throughout day in appropriate habitat.
Blue Tit - min 15
Coal Tit - 1 - in Musbury
Long Tailed Tit - min 2 - Musbury
Treecreeper - 1 - Musbury
Magpie - min 20
Jay - 2 - Musbury
Jackdaw - min 50 around
Carrion Crow - min 30
Rook - 8 - moving North/North West in groups of 6 and 2 over Beetle Hill
Raven - 2
Starling - min 70 - 2 flocks of approx 50 and 20 off Moorbottom road
House Sparrow - min 10 - at bottom of Musbury Valley with one inspecting tree holes
Chaffinch - min 10 - lots in song
Goldfinch - min 2 - Musbury Valley
Greenfinch - 4
Reed Bunting - 1 - on Rossendale Way on way from Alden to Musbury
February 20 8 Dunnock between Holcombe Road and the car park at Holden Wood Res
February 21 egg shell found up in Musbury Valley
23 February 3 Pairs Stonechat Ogden Res, Calf Hey and behind Troy Quarry Ogden Res bird in song, 9 Oystercatchers at Ogden, First Reed Bunting of year in song, 28 Fieldfare heading towards Heap Clough
25 February- 75 Pink Footed Geese over Grane heading West, 15 Oystercatchers at Ogden
February 28 3 Coot at Holden Wood Reservoir, 4 Herons 3 flying south over tram track into Musbury and 1 landing in plantation at Ogden Kings Hillock Wood?, 50 plus hoverflies in the Crocuses at Victoria Park
March 1st 3 Redwings, 4 Curlews and 2 Tufted Duck at Holden Wood Res
March 2 1 Great Crested Grebe at Holden Wood Res
March 4 5 species of Gulls at Holden Wood Reservoir 8 Lesser Black Backed Gulls highest count of the year so far. They seem so much scarcer this year compared to previous years in winter.
Holden Wood Reservoir
Blue Tit 6
Dunnock 3
Carrion Crow min 20
Robin 6
Magpie 4
Chaffinch 5
Great Tit 5
Jackdaw approx. 60
Goldfinch 4
Moorhen 3
Coot 4 - From 28th Feb 3 present but an increase to 4 today
Mallard 13
Lesser Black Backed Gull - 1
Teal 2
Great Crested Grebe 1 flying over Holden Wood - east/south
Greenfinch 2 wheezers
Blackbird 3
Black Headed Gull approx. 60
Reed Bunting 2
Mistle Thrush 1 singing
Lapwing 14
Pied Wagtail 1
Wren 3
Woodpigeon min 10
Great Black Backed Gull 2 - adults
Meadow Pipit 1 only seen on return
Starling 1
Long Tailed Tit 2
Ogden Reservoir
Oystercatcher 16 highest I have ever seen, beating previous peak of 15 from last week
Wren - 2
Great Black Backed Gull 2 incl 1 immature
Great Crested Grebe 1
Mallard 6
Reed Bunting 1
Goldeneye 3
Calf Hey Reservoir
Mallard 15
Pied Wagtail - 1
Stonechat 1 pair
Chaffinch min 25
Robin min 12
Long Tailed Tit 5
Goldfinch min 10
Wren 4
Coal Tit min 15
Great Tit min 10
Goldcrest 2
Blue Tit min 10
Grey Wagtail 1
Kestrel 1
Greenfinch 1#
Nuthatch 1
Song Thrush 1
Blackbird 2
Heap Clough
Long Tailed Tit 6
Song Thrush 1
Chaffinch approx. 10
Robin min 5
Goldfinch min 5
Blue Tit approx. 10
Coal Tit approx. 6
Mallard 2
Stock Dove 1
Stonechat 1 Deep Clough
Buzzard 2
Goldeneye 1
Wren 1
Dunnock -2
Woodpigeon min 49
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Magpie 6
Blackbird 1
Jackdaw 4
Starling 1
Numbers of Wrens at Grane seem less than usual.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 6th of March 2021 10:36:14 PM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 6th of March 2021 10:39:20 PM
28 February - 30 Cormorants in roost at Holden Wood reservoir
7 March - min 30 Lesser Black Backed Gulls at Holden Wood and 6 Goosander - 5 females and a drake!
09/03/21 - 20 Redwing at Holden Wood Res, 16 Oystercatcher at Ogden - 4 at Holden Wood later could have been different birds but could not be proven, Great Crested Grebe and 7 Siskin at Calf Hey Reservoir
13/03/21 - The best the storm could bring to Grane over the last few days is a Greylag Goose!
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 13th of March 2021 10:24:57 PM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Sunday 14th of March 2021 08:35:15 PM
27 March - 2 male Wheatears spotted by Paul at Jamestone East. Lots of Meadow Pipits going through - maybe 100 - some sort of passage. Been like that since a week prior to that date. First Linnet of the year at Jamestone East too for us. They seemed to be some sort of Pied Wagtail movement too - in excess of 20 seen.
29th March - Peacock Butterfly at Victoria Park, Haslingden
30 March - Chiffchaff singing at bottom of tram tracks at Holden Wood, 6 Great Black Back Gulls heading east, 2 Little Ringed Plovers at Jamestone West, 3 Sand Martins over Holden Wood heading West and 1 over Jamestone East, Comma Butterfly Holden Wood res, 5 Fieldfare in the Fields around Duke of Wellington area.
Been to EBSW on 29th and 30th and no Hirundines there.
Greenfinch numbers on the up!
-- Edited by sarfraz on Tuesday 30th of March 2021 11:46:06 PM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Wednesday 31st of March 2021 12:58:53 AM
Osprey reported on ELOC at Clowbridge on 30/03/21 which was seen to fly towards Clough Bottom.
31/03/21
At Grane:-
Willow Warbler at Troy Quarry - first of the year for me and my first ever March record.
Redshank and Green Sandpiper at Jamestone's
25 Sand Martin over Jamestone's with 17 moving North
1 slightly larger Martin present too which appeared to have a white rump. Seen briefly.
1 female Wheatear at Jamestone's
Min 10 Buzzards
Min linnet at Heap Clough
Osprey at EBSW - not noted flying over but noticed flying low and most likely disturbed by Crows as it roosted. Flew in the direction of the Golf Club.
Butterflies:-
min 10 Peacock and 10 Tortoiseshells around Grane
4 Tortoiseshells at Victoria Park
-- Edited by sarfraz on Thursday 1st of April 2021 12:03:02 AM
Around the 19th of March Paul Jackman had 24 Oystercatchers in the field by Ogden Reservoir. It is a Rossendale record I am guessing!
01/04/21 - 4 Swallow over Rossendale Golf Club and Redpolls too.
01/04/21 - 5 Wheatear in Lapwing field at Holden Wood Reservoir, min 10 Sand Martins and min 10 Swallows over Holden Wood.
02/04/21 - A Blackbird carrying many grubs at Victoria Park and Robin doing likewise at a garden in Helmshore.
05/04/21 - 2 Wheatear at Jamestones
09/04/21 - Greenshank at Holden Wood Reservoir flew North, 1 singing Wheatear at Jamestone East, Andy Young had 4 Wheatear in fields behind Troy
Not many Swallows, Sand Martins, a few Willow Warbler, no Blackcap yet
2 records of Greenshank at Grane this year and the wader passage has not even started. This year has already become the best spring for waders at Grane in the last 10 years if not longer. Uusually the best we get is Dunlin and Ringed Plover IF lucky!
-- Edited by sarfraz on Friday 9th of April 2021 07:06:46 PM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Friday 9th of April 2021 11:23:08 PM
Monday 12 April - 6 Teal on Holden Wood Reservoir. A Harrier species on the Rossendale/Calderdale border
Wednesday 14 April - 7 Wheatear and 2 Ring Ouzel at Heap Clough
Thursday 15 April - 5 Goosander consisting of 2 pairs and a female at Holden Wood Reservoir.
Friday 16 April - 1 Snipe chipping in Musbury Valley, quite warm so numbers of Skylark and Meadow Pipits singing was very low. No Wren in song too. 4 Wheatears too.
Saturday 17 April - I heard a call 5 times - 2 X, 2 X then 1 more time. The first time I heard it I thought part of a Song Thrush song but then after that it just called. It sounded exactly like a Yellow Browed Warbler. I could not see it at all. It was coming from the long hedgerow at top end that goes up to Grane Road. Where could a Song Thrush picked that up if it was responsible for it? Missing bird from my spring list is Blackcap. Not heard one yet. It's sad to see so few Wheatears. Have we missed the main passage or is it late? There were 100 plus at Portland Bill in Dorset the other day so I am hoping they are late. We don't get to see much of any thing passing through Rossendale as a spring migrant so it would be sad to lose Wheatears or see them in dribs and drabs. By now I would have expected double figures in some places.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 17th of April 2021 11:38:40 PM
From being out and about this last week theres more Wheatears on territory everywhere Ive been than there's been for a long time.. must just be Grane..
18/04/21 - 2 Ring Ouzel reported behind Clough head Visitor centre car park
21/04/21 - 3 Wheatear at Calf Hey on the reservoir walls
22/04/21 - 4 Dunlin on Holden Wood Reservoir shoreline
23/04/21 - first double digit Wheatear count of the year with 1 at Calf Hey Reservoir and a min of 9 behind the quarries! Portland Bill Bird Blog reported 300 a few days back so maybe they are late? min 3 Ring Ouzel behind Jamestone East in trees. Male Tufted Duck at Holden Wood reservoir. 3 Common Sandpipers at Holden Wood Reservoir. A Raven carrying something off from Lapwing field with the latter pursuing it!
24/04/21 - a day of 3 year ticks for me. My first Orange Tip of the year at Victoria Park, Green Hairstreak and Yellow Wagtail at Ashworth Moor Reservoir. 21, Goosander, 2 Wheatear, 4 Common sandpiper and 1 Dunlin at Ashowrth Moor too.
At Holden Wood min of 3 male Reed Buntings feeding on the shore
12 April - 2 House Martins over Holden Wood Reservoir - not sure if I added this.
28 April - immature Great Black Backed Gull over Holden Wood Reservoir. An adult was seen on occasion until mid-April.
29 April - 2 Green Sandpiper amongst the 7 wader species present on Holden Wood Reservoir - finally photographed too! Mallard with 12 ducklings seen at Holden Wood Reservoir - first of the year for me!
30 April - 19 Wheatear mainly in Deep Clough and above Jamestone East. Herring Gull visiting Holden Wood been around a few times over last week.
30 April - over 100 Hirundines over Ewood Bridge Sewage Works - min 20 House Martins - none seen over Haslingden yet. First sighting of House Martins since 12 April!
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 1st of May 2021 12:51:20 PM
