Thursday 28 April - forgot to add 4 Rooks over Holden Wood towards Musbury
May 1 - 1 Swift over Holden Wood Reservoir and 1 House Martin over Haslingden
May 3 - increases in numbers of Swallows min 20 and Sand Martins min 15 over Grane, 4 Wheatear at Heap Clough, Paul had 8 Lapwing chicks in field with dip - 3 were recorded there Saturday ..so in total a min of 12 chicks - a good figure so early in the year, Mallard with 8-9 young at Holden Wood which seem to have dropped to 6 on May 4, Common Sandpiper at Jamestone West
May 4 - approx 50 Swallows over Holden Wood and Calf Hey - 30-ish dropping over Calf Hey in the rain, Whitethroat at Calf Hey - first of the year for me, no sign on Bar Tailed Godwit
Visit to Mitchells House too - 1 Whitethroat, min 12 Pied/White Wagtails - min 5 White Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, min 8 Wheatear, 1 male Whinchat - another first of year- and possibly a female, female Stonechat too, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Moorhen, min 3 Reed Bunting.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Wednesday 4th of May 2022 10:13:58 PM
Thursday 5 May - 1 House Martin over Haslingden and 3 Greylag heading west over Calf Hey
Friday 6 May - 2 Whitethroat - 1 at Holcombe Road and 1 Calf Hey, 1 Grasshopper Warbler on Calf hey/Ogden border and 1 at Calf Hey
Sunday 8 May BBS Square visit at Stonefold:-
Wheatear - 2
Meadow Pipit - 20
Swallow - 16
Carrion Crow - 11
Skylark - 19
Jackdaw - 12
Wren - 3
Chaffinch - 7
Blackbird - 3
Lapwing - 4
Stock Dove - 2
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Pied Wagtails - 9
Reed Bunting - 2
Pheasant - 1
Goldfinch - 6
Magpie - 3
Willow Warbler - 2
Woodpigeon - 8
Great Tit - 1
Robin - 3
Lesser Black Backed Gulls - barely scraping double figures
Curlew - 1
Starling - 1
Stonefold village - a few Goldfinch, approx 10 House Sparrows, Dunnock, Wren, some Starlings and Swallows
Trip to Mitchells House later - 1 White Wagtail, 1 Swift moved North, 2 Wheatears, Canada Geese with 2 young, min 6 Herring Gull immatures around the reservoirs. Song Thrush, Blackcap and maybe 2 Whitethroat around the scrub, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit
Visit to Holden Wood on the 8th and min 13 Lapwing chicks - some just over 2 weeks old
Monday 9 November - 4 Swifts over Haslingden
Tuesday 10 November - 8 Swifts over Haslingden
-- Edited by sarfraz on Wednesday 11th of May 2022 12:40:47 AM
19 May - 4 fully fledged Pied Wagtails probably from some brood as the one seen on 14th of May which already looks fledged by 2 weeks and family of Long Tailed Tits at Holden Wood Reservoir.
20 May - 130 Swifts min at Grane. Min 100 observed moving West slowly, circling around in pairs then departing West like some sort of Swift Prom. 1 fully fledged Woodpigeon. 3 families of fledged Stonechats at Ogden, Calf Hey and Jamestone West.
24 May - min of 4 newly fledged Pied Wagtails and a Cuckoo flying North over Holden Wood Res in the direction of St Mary's Wood pursued by 3 small birds, not calling. I have not heard one call this Spring yet anywhere so a nice surprise indeed
20 May - forgot to add Crossbill calling in conifers near Jamestone West
27 May - 3 broods of Pied Wagtails have fledged - 2 around Holden Wood Res and 1 at Jamestone West, Treecreeper family at Calf Hey calling, some Lapwing chicks ready to fledge at Holden Wood ...some new chicks hatched over the last week or so.
27 May - 1 Great Blacked Gull 2nd summer heading west over Grane
31 May - 1 1st summer Great Black Backed Gull, Family of 5 Grey Wagtails, family of 5 Stonechat, Long Tailed Tit Family, Great Tit family, min 2 fledged Lapwings on the reservoir shore line,
1 June - min 20 Starlings Mercer Crescent, Helmshore - mainly juveniles
3 June - 1 Redshank at Holden Wood, fledged Lapwings on shoreline, min 1 juvenile Nuthatch and family of Blackbirds at Calf Hey,
8 June - 22 Lapwing in the fields of Tennements Farm - some fledged young in there too. First post breeding flock and an early one.
8 June - 2 Red Breasted Merganser become a Rossendale tick for me at Clowbridge. Painted Lady butterfly around the North Bay too.
10 June - min 20 Sand Martins over Jamestone West - parties of 3,4,5's......I am guessing some fledging but seems early considering how late the Swallows seem to be. Family party of Crows at Holden Wood. Bullfinch pair at Holden Wood - they must e nesting in scrubs near car park. 2 Great Crested Grebe at Calf Hey. Wheatear singing around Deep Clough - apparently may only be 1 nesting in that area this year. 3 Small Heath butterflies around too, 1 Red Admiral.
12 June - 4 Great Black Backed Gulls at Holden Wood - 1 feeing on a dead fish on the shoreline and 3 others seemed to have been somehow passing over at the right time, all up in the air together at one point, calling and chasing each other around. I must say very large few birds exude such power and strength in flight as do Great Black Backed Gulls. There is something remarkable about them. Mallard with 4 large grown young - this is the same female who had 8-9 ducklings when the Bar Tailed Godwit was present. The first 2 juvenile Black Headed Gulls at Holden Wood also! At least a week later than usual. Approximately 10 Oystercatcher around the reservoir shoreline which is still receding, eating freshwater mussels. Herring Gull near adult over too. Still some unfledged Lapwing chicks - some a week old.
1 young Crow fed by adult at Victoria Park and a juvenile male fledged Blackbird too. The second time in a month I heard a Ring Necked Parakeet at Victoria Park but they could be actual kept pets.
Quite a few Drinker Moth caterpillars out and about - seeing more than usual.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Monday 13th of June 2022 11:34:23 AM
Monday 13 June - 2 Great Black Backed Gulls on Holden Wood Res
Tuesday 14 June - min 10 Blackbirds including some immatures and 6 Song Thrush in Victoria Park which all appeared to be adults. Painted Lady Butterfly at Holden Wood also 1 different Great Black Backed Gull - 5 separate individuals on since Sunday 12
Wednesday 15 June - a peak of 12 Oystercatchers all demolishing the mussels and quite often swimming out a little bit to find more
Friday 17 June - walk around Grane reservoirs and quarries from 8.45am - 1pm
Holden Wood:-
Blue Tit - family party calling form hedge
Willow Warbler - 5
Wren - 7
Goldfinch - 3
Magpie - - 3
Woodpigeon - 4
Black headed Gulls - min 13
Great Tit - family party calling form hedge
Dunnock - 1
Grey Heron - 2
Stock Dove 2
Oystercatcher - 8
Lapwing - 4
Starling - 2
Mistle Thrush - 1
Swift - 4
Song Thrush - 1
Swallow - min 8
Pied Wagtail - 3
Chaffinch - 2
Moorhen - 1
Common Sandpiper - 1
Meadow pipit - 4
Chiffchaff - 1
Great Black Backed Gull - 1 - on later
Blackbird- 1
Carrion Crow - min 8 - at least 1 family party of min 5
Common Blue Butterfly - 2
Ogden:-
Black Headed Gull - 3
meadow Pipit - 10
Linnet - 4
Pied Wagtail - 2
Stonechat - 6 - 3 pairs - one nest had calling young in
Wren - 9
Goldfinch - min 5
Reed Bunting - 3
Sand Martin - 2
Whinchat - singing bird, could not be located, near ruin on Rossendale Way
Cormorant - 3
Mallard - 3
Chaffinch - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Small Heath Butterfly - 3
White Butterfly - 1
Calf Hey Reservoir :-
Meadow Pipit - 5
Wren - 13 - all of todays Wrens were singing or calling
Reed Bunting - 1
Carrion Crow - min 5 - movement up and down the reservoirs as usual
Jackdaw - 2
Stonechat 3 - a pair and a single male
Siskin -1
Willow Warbler - 6
Grey Wagtail - 3 min
Goldfinch - min 10
Blue Tits - 3 family parties including one of 5
Goldcrest - a family party of min 4 and 6 singles singing
Chaffinch - 10
Great Tit - 2 family parties including one of 7
Nuthatch 4 - 1 calling juvenile
Robin - 3
Woodpigeon - 8
Coal Tit -7
Blackcap - 3
Blackbird - 3
Lesser Black Backed Gull - min 3 over
Mallard - 6 - 1 duck and 5 drakes
Black Headed Gull - min 10
Pied Wagtail - 2
Dunnock - 1
Bullfinch - 2
Red Damselfly species -1
Meadow Brown - 1
Small Heath Butterfly - 8
White Butterfly - 1
Heap Clough:-
Dunnock - 1
Chaffinch - 6
Wren - 7 -
Willow Warbler - 4
Sand Martin - min 20
Meadow Pipit - 10
Robin - 2
Oystercatcher -4
Black headed Gull - min 10
Skylark - 3 - heard singing
Woodpigeon - 5
Stock Dove - min 14 - at Jamestone West
Pied Wagtail - 7
Mallard - 1
Kestrel - 2
Carrion Crow - min 10
Magpie - 4
Goldcrest - 3
Linnet - 1
Stonechat - min 4 - adults and 2 fledged young
Lapwing min 60 - maximum of 8 in fields behind Troy - including possible breeding bird
Mistle Thrush - 1
Blackcap - 1
Small Copper butterfly - 2
Wall Brown Butterfly - 1
Red Admiral Butterfly - 4
Small Heath Butterfly - 2
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 18th of June 2022 12:46:45 AM
Forgot to add small numbers of Cinnabar moths in fact maximum of 5 showing since last week around Haslingden and Grane. Not to forget a duck with 7 ducklings which appeared to be a few days old on Holden Wood on 13th
Alden and Wet Moss today 8am-11.30a :-
Visit to Holden Wood - highlight seemed to be the sound of young Blackcap or Whitethroat - most likely former species in scrub near car park.
Woodpigeon - 17
House Sparrow - heard from scrub around Anacapri but not seen
Carrion Crow - approx 5
Long Tailed Tit - heard from scrub but not seen - min of 2
Wren - 8
Nuthatch - 1 min
Chaffinch - 6
Song Thrush - 3
Blackcap - 1
Robin - 4
Blackbird - 4
Goldfinch - min 8
Dunnock - 1
Magpie - min 4
Willow Warbler -3
Linnet - 2
Redpoll - 3
Skylark - min 80
Meadow Pipits - min 100
Raven - 3
Black Headed Gull - approx 6
Curlew - 1
Lapwing - 5 min
Red Grouse - female with 5 chicks that could fly 20 metres away
Swift - 1 - over Bull Hill
Reed Bunting - 1
Swallow - 4 - at end of the trip near Aancapri
Starling - 1
Victoria Park, Haslingden today - fledged Nuthatches - 1 adult with at least 2 young.
June 29 - a John Williams had a Tree Pipit on a Rowan calling and the 2 Great Crested Grebes displaying.
July 1st highlights around Grane - 1 female Common Scoter at the dam end side of Holden Wood Res spotted by new birder Phillip who it was a lifer for - nothing like finding your own lifers, min 33 Meadow Pipits surrounding a male Kestrel just above the reservoir near the farm, 2 newly Fledged broods of Stonechat at Calf Hey Reservoir, a family party of 6 Mistle Thrush at Crow Trees, 2 fledged Kestrels at Jamestone West, family party of Pied Wagtails at Heap Clough,
July 6 - a minimum of 25 Oystercatchers at Holden Wood - in fact 4 just flew over and 5 then flew off and joined them
July 7 - 1 fledged juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew west over Holden Wood and on towards Ogden - first sighting at Grane this year. No adults recorded this year at all except at Ashworth Moor Res which is not in Rossendale. Family party of Pied Wagtails at Calf Hey and an alarming Common Sandpiper on Musbury side on a fence post. min 20 Lapwings at Holden Wood Reservoir
July 8 a few species still in song - 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, lots of Meadow Pipits displaying, 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler at Calf Hey - poor year for them at Grane, Linnet, 2 Whitethroat in song, Wrens quiet today. A family party of 4 min Linnet at Holden Wood Reservoir, 2 Stonechat territories - one above the res and the other near the old tram tracks. Curlews heard at Calf Hey and above Jamestone East. Swallows - 4 family parties around Grane - they seem late and less than Sand Martins especially when feeding above the reservoirs. Mistle Thrush nesting at antique shop near Holden Wood. Probably 2 singing Whitethroat at Holden Wood Res and 1 at Calf Hey singing - I feel there maybe 2 at Calf Hey too. Another murdered Black Headed Gull juvenile at Holden Wood - culprit must be Crows.
Butterflies - min 10 Meadow Pipits, a few Ringlets, a few White butterflies, 1 of Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Peacock and 3 Tortoiseshells.
12 July - minimum 30 juvenile Swallows on wires at Holden Wood - looked like first "mass" fledglings of Swallows so far at Grane
18 July - no Whimbrel present for me but juvenile Curlew which flew to field behind the board walk - I belive it fledged from there as adult was calling and sitting in fence post there some days back
First Lesser Black Backed Gull juveniles appeared just under 2 weeks ago but very few and far betwee22
27 July - Whitethroat still in song at Holden Wood. Blackbird and Song Thrush still singing until very recently.
22 July - family of 8 Linnet flying over side of Ogden
29 July - family of 5 min Reed Bunting at Holden Wood, 18 min Oystercatcher still present. Willow Warbler in subsong - first I have heard singing in last 2 weeks. Min 40 Meadow Pipits at Grane
Friday 5th August around Grane Reservoirs and Quarries:-
Willow Warbler - 5
House Sparrow - 1
Great Tit - 9
Carrion Crow min 75 but could have been double counts, however min 40-45 above Calf hey in one whinberry freezing frenzy
Swallow - min 44 - some family parties
Wren - 10
Goldfinch - min 30
Blue Tit - 3
Black Headed Gulls - min 100, 80 at Holden Wood alone
Robin - 4
Woodpigeon - min 65
Grey Heron - 2
Reed Bunting - 4
Cormorant - min 8
Sand Martins min 63 - approx 45 heading south in a group over Holden Wood and 18 feeding above Grane generally
House Martins - min 50 - feeding with Swallows - a few family parties over Holden Wood
Great Black Backed Gull - 3
Green Sandpiper - 1 - but 2 present on off until 9th August
Lesser Black Backed Gull - min 10
Stock Dove - 1 feeding at Holden Wood shoreline
Oystercatcher - 3 - numbers decreased but 4 present on 9th
Jackdaw - 1
Pied Wagtail - 5
Meadow Pipit - min 86 - approx 60 at Holden Wood
Stonechat - 3
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Nuthatch - 1
Grey Wagtail - 1
Mallard - 5
Lapwing - 2
Goldcrest - min 9 - including a family party of min 5
Magpie- 3
Greenfinch - 3
Coal Tit - 4
Siskin - 2
Treecreeper - 1
Kestrel - 1
Green Woodpecker - 2
Linnet
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Blackbird - 1
Common Gull - 1
Song Thrush - 1
Sparrowhawk -2
Buzzard - 1
Friday 12 August visit around Grane and Quarries highlights :-
1 Coot and 1 Yellow Wagtail at Holden Wood Reservoir - first time I have had Coot on "autumn" passage here. Min 26 Stock Doves flying up from JameStone West ...spooked by 3 Oystercatchers which were mobile around Grane, 4 Kestrels around, min 10 Stonechats, min 50 Lapwing at Calf Hey
Last Little Ringed Plover seen 2nd August and Common Sandpiper 08 August.
Last Swifts seen week ending 7th August around Haslingden but one seen on 17th over Facit.
House Martins some nights over 30 above Haslingden - seems decent numbers after a slow start in spring.
Highlights at Grane today:-
min 14 Cormorants
2 Teal at Holden Wood Res
4 Green Sandpiper - 1 heading over Holden Wood Res and 3 at Calf Hey Res
1 Whitethroat immature looking very fresh just under tram tracks in Hawthorns flew off towards inlet at Holden Wood - 1 alarm called at Calf Hey on 12th August from small pine trees when a Kestrel flew over low on south side of the res.
Min 25 Linnet - te bulk at Holden Wood and Ogden incl a few family parties
Min 40 Meadow Pipits - many looking fresh and some recently fledged birds
5 Great Black Backed Gulls - 3 adult type. on 17th a juvenile was following an adult calling. Not sure how likely we would get an Osprey stopping for at least a few days with these powerful beasts around.
0 Oystercatchers
Min 10 Long Tailed Tits - been a bit quite lately
min 15 Willow Warbler - approx 10 at Holden Wood
1 Juvenile Common Gull
Lots of Sand Martins and Swallows - possibly 40 of the former, seems to be doing well with many nests occupied still.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 20th of August 2022 12:00:21 AM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 20th of August 2022 12:02:52 AM
Reed Bunting - min 11 - approx 2 family parties and some singles
Wren - 5 - including 1 carrying food
Large Unidentified Gulls - - 2 flying West probably Herring
Goldfinch - approx 100 in a large flock
Willow Warbler - 9 - at least 2 freshly plumaged juveniles and 2 tatty adults
Woodpigeon - approx 15
Black Headed Gulls - min 25
Mallard - 14
Wagtail - 9 - incl family parties of 5 and 3
Robin - 4
Common Sandpiper - 1
Dunnock - 1
Magpie - 4
Swallow - 13 heading directly south - mix of juveniles and adults, approx 50 visible from Holden Wood res just north of Grane Road feeding above farm, min 22 over Tennements Farm
Pied Wagtail - 4
Meadow Pipit - approx 35
Jackdaw - 18
Starling - approx 20 flying west
Blackbird - 3
Jay - 3
Great Tit - 4
Goldcrest - 1
Song Thrush - 2
Long Tailed Tit - approx 15
Blackcap - 4 - including male carrying food
Blue Tit - 2
Chaffinch - 1
Stock Dove - 5
Stonechat - 2
House Martin - min 2 - maybe many more - with Swallows, moved West
Sand Martin - min 3 - with Swallows and House Martins moving West, may have been more
Lesser Black Backed Gull - 2
what sounded like a Tree Pipit calling twice towards Holcombe Road on way back
Ogden:-
Grey Heron - 3
Buzzard - 1
Meadow Pipit - approx 5
Reed Bunting - 1
Cormorant - min 12
Mallard - 6
Linnet - 1
Great Black Backed Gull - 1
Lesser Black Backed Gull - 2
Lapwing - min 18 on far shore
Stonechat - approx - 7 - incl a family party of fledged young
Wren - 3
Mixed group of Swallows and Martins - approx 50 - could have been those seen at Holden Wood
Calf Hey Reservoir:-
Green Sandpiper - 3-4
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Crow - min 30
Dunnock - 1
Stonechat - min 2
Woodpigeon - min 50
Willow Warbler - approx 4
Blue Tit - approx 3
Song Thrush - 2
Coal Tit - 10-15
Jay - 2
Goldcrest - min 20 - incl 2-3 family parties
Treecreeper - 2
Chaffinch - min 5
Robin - min 3
Great Tit - 2
Bullfinch - 3
Sparrowhawk - 1
Goldfinch - min 20
Siskin - 1
Long Tailed Tit - 1
Lapwing - 2
Great Black Backed Gull - 2 - adult and juvenile
Pied Wagtails - min 10 visible from Rossendale Way but 0 when nearer
Teal - 3
Blackbird - 2
Mallard - 3
Heap Clough:-
Magpie - 4
Pied Wagtails - approx 4
Sparrowhawk - 1
Sand Martins min 20 - still many active nests
Meadow Pipits - approx 15
Coal Tit - approx 5
Willow Warbler - approx 4
Redstart - 1 - Phillip saw the red tail briefly
Mixed tit flock
Stock Dove - min 5
Magpie - min 4
Carrion Crow - min 10
Grey Wagtail - 1
Green Woodpecker - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Linnet - 2
Swallows - approx 40 - a few family parties
Robin - 2
40-50 House Martins over Haslingden as well
-- Edited by sarfraz on Friday 26th of August 2022 11:34:09 PM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 27th of August 2022 09:38:15 PM
28 August - 1 Common Sandpiper at Holden Wood Res, 1 fledgling Dunnock in the ferns under the old train line between Ogden/Holden Wood and a Whitethroat alarming at Calf Hey
31 August - 12 Teal at Calf Hey including some in partial drake plumage, 1 Little Egret at Holden Wood and a Marsh Harrier - juv/female flying North over Holden Wood towards Hutch Bank. This is my 5th Rossendale record and all 5 at Grane - 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022. To put it into perspective I have only seen 2 Hen Harriers at Grane or elsewhere in Rossendale. It was seen at about 6pm - all others were seen between 10am -1pm. Only the 1 in 2020 was seen in late summer/autumn - all others were spring records. I believe this bird will be resident for sometime - roaming around Bull Hill, Wet Moss, Musbury Heights, Haslingden Moor. Just a hunch I guess.
