Saturday evening 1800/2200 hrs & Sunday morning 0700/1030 hrs same route both visits.

Change in weather, sunny cool 10 degrees, rain overnight, wind moved to the south 14 degrees Overcast.

I did not visit EBSW.

Pheasant.single male in Chatterton wood.

Canada Goose..several over pair on eggs in Lumb.

Mallard.lots of males on river, several female with ducklings.

Goosander..single male and two female on river at Alderbottom, possible nest site.

Stock Dove..two pair both using Tawny Owl boxes.

Woodpigeon..numerous everywhere.

Colled Dove..three in Edenfield, four in Irwell Vale.

Moorhen.two pair on nests East View and Lumb.

Coot.single seen on Lodge Farm Lodge.

Lapwing..six to eight in Helmshore road fields, two young seen.

Curlew..one calling Near East View,

Woodcock..one flushed in Private woodland.

Black-headed Gull..several over, two on the Irwell in Strongstry.

Herring Gull..three over Irwell Vale.

Lesser Black-backed Gull..Six over.

Cormorant..one on river at Irwell Vale.

Grey Heron.two on river at Strongstry and Ewood Bridge, four newly fledged young around Lumb.

Buzzard..pair over East View, single high over Edenfield, possible disturbance at historical nest site because of drainage work.

Tawny Owl..sitting birds at two natural sites, two singles at different sites.

Great Spotted Woodpecker..one pair at nest site in Strongstry woods, one single in Irwell Vale and Ewood Bridge woods, not a great year last year, would normally expect to see more.

Green Woodpecker..calling birds at Hodge Clough and Strongstry woods.

Kestrel.single hunting near Hodge Clough.

Jay.only two seen and heard, would have expected more.

Magpie..nests at Strongstry, Irwell Vale and Ewood Bridge, several birds all round.

Jackdaw..numerous, plenty nesting.

Carrion Crow.nesting pairs all round, lots feeding in fields.

Rook..seven feeding in fields of Helmshore road.

Coal Tit..after a good winter numbers not great, birds seen in Strongstry wood and Ewood Bridge.

Blue Tit..numerous, lots in boxes all round.

Great Tit..as above.

Sand Martin..two feeding flocks of around 12 at Alderbottom and Ewood Bridge, historical nest site at Strongstry has not been used yet, if it does get used it will be the latest start of nesting I have recorded.

Swallow.five hawking over Strongstry, three over Alderbottom and four around Ewood Bridge.

House Martin..7 over Edenfield, some in nest sites.

Long-tailed Tit.an excellent winter population has reflected the spring nesting, good numbers all round.

Willow Warbler.an excellent year up to now many singing bird especially in Strongstry and Irwell Vale

Chiffchaff.as expected song has diminished, nesting birds At Chatterton and two in song between Irwell Vale and Ewood Bridge.

Blackcap..after a seemingly slow start, pairs have now set up territory, two pair on railway embankment in Strongstry, pair near old picture frame, pair at Alderbottom, and more near Ewood Bridge 

Whitethroat...male in song on cycle track at Alderbottom, could not see or hear the one between Irwell Vale and Ewood Bridge.

Wren numerous and nesting.

Nuthatch.as above.

Treecreeper..only one pair seen in Strongstry woods, but usually difficult to find before nesting.

Starling.good numbers around Irwell Vale, Edenfield and along Helmshore road.

Blackbird..numerous and nesting everywhere.

Song Thrush..singing birds at Strongstry, Edenfield and Irwell vale, nesting activity along Railway enbankment.

Mistle Thrush..two breeding pair, one in Strongstry and one in East View, pair feeding in fields above Hodge Clough.

Robin.numerous and breeding everywhere.

Dipper.five pair breeding between Stubbins and Ewood Bridge, two of which are feeding young, it is possible another pair are at a nest site with no access, if so this would be my highest recorded numbers on this stretch.

House Sparrow..colonies at Chatterton, Edenfield and Lumb all with good numbers.

Dunnock..never great numbers here but always steady, several active nest sites including one in my back garden.

Grey Wagtail.three pair at nest sites, one in Strongstry, Irwell Vale and Ewood Bridge.

Pied Wagtail.only two pair seen one in Strongstry and the other in Ewood Bridge.

Meadow Pipit...several feeding in field along Helmshore road.

Chaffinch..several males in song.

Bullfinch..after excellent winter numbers not surprising to see and hear this species all round, especially East View and Strongstry woods.

Greenfinch..calling birds at East view and Lumb, it seems they are re-establishing these areas after many years of no activity.

Goldfinch.good paired off numbers in most areas probably the commonest finch here these days almost certainly down to the use of garden feeders.

Siskin.there has been a few around Alderbottom in the summer for a couple of years now again probably down to feeders.

Regards Brian.

-- Edited by brian on Sunday 1st of May 2022 01:26:11 PM

-- Edited by brian on Sunday 1st of May 2022 01:32:37 PM

-- Edited by brian on Sunday 1st of May 2022 01:35:27 PM