At least 64 Wheatears in the Grane area today. Mostly along the hillside from Clough Head to Picker Hill. Looked to be a few Greenland birds amongst them.
The following also noted today
Canada goose - 1pr in conflict with a ewe and a lamb at a nest at Holden Wood. 5 goslings at Holden Wood & 6 at Hutch Bank
goldeneye - 2 on Calf Hey
Oystercatcher - pr mating at Holden Wood. Birds also noted at Ogden, Calf Hey, Jamestones & Hutch Bank
lapwing - 6 near Hutch Bank
lesser black-backed gull - 1 chased a carrion crow carrying a fish & successfully robbed it at Ogden
little owl - 1 near Hutch Bank
sand martin - c20 in Jamestone Quarry
stonechat - birds at at least 6 sites, including a pair feeding fledged young on Picker Hill
siskin - min 3 calling in the woods at Calf Hey & at least 6 at the feeders
bullfinch - 1pr at Holden Wood
other sightings similar to recent posts, although I managed to avoid reed bunting, common sandpiper, dunlin and the apparently still present (Paul & Sarfraz) whinchat at Holden Wood
I was also round Grane yesterday morning. As well as vast numbers of wheatears along the northern slopes (too numerous for me to count properly) there were four at Holden Wood, two on Calf Hey dam and two in Troy Quarry which you doubtless have included in your totals.
Also of interest 4 swifts over Ogden, 2 common sandpipers and one coot Holden Wood.
I had no wheatears at Holden Wood, indeed the only ones I had on that side of the road were 1 at the dam wall at Ogden & 3 in a field between Calf Hey & Clough Head. I also didn't go into Troy Quarry, so yours may have been additional to my count.
