2nd January - 42 Pink Feet over Grane heading West, then another 4 some minutes later
18 January - a number of Blackbirds feeding on the receding shoreline of Holden Wood Res in the cold spell
Number of Meadow Pipits quite low since the cold spells, 2 Stonechat - male and female at Deep Clough on 05/02/23. Pied Wagtails maybe up to 10 knocking around. Quite a few Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Tit also in good numbers especially Coal Tits which seem really active around Grane recently. 18 Teal on 07/02/23 and approx 40 Lapwing around. Quite a few pairs of Raven flying over - a bit of chasing each other too. Crossbills at Troy Wood on 27 and 29 January. 13 Stock Dove on 05/02/23. 5 Mistle Thrush arounf Holden Wood - 3 feeding in a field together with one singing from near the dam wall and another Mary's Wood.
10/02/23 visit around Grane highlights:-
at least 1 Oystercatcher in the morning - my first spring migrant of the year
at least 8 Song Thrush around Holden Wood - 1 singing near car park and 5 feeing in field at top end, with 8 Redwing and min 8 Blackbird - some Scandinavian ones present too.
At least 10 Bullfinch feeding in the field at top end with Thrushes too and another min 2 in hedge further down - first time I have seen a double figure flock of Bullfinches in Rossendale.
14 March - 1 Pink Footed Goose at Holden Wood, looking a bit lost flying around looking for an escape route but conditions forced it to land 2 times
17 March - min 30 Great Black Backed Gulls at Holden Wood and Ogden Reservoir of various ages, then 2 adults flew in from North west over Calf Hey were separate birds, Lapwings and Meadow Pipits displaying vigorously
20 March - first Chiffchaff and 2 Linnet at Holden Wood, Redwings still present,
24 March - 2 Greylag at Holden Wood
26 March - 2 Greylag at Holden Wood Reservoir
27 March - My first 2 Wheatear of the year at Heap Clough and 2 Sand Martins at Jamestone West, 6 Mediterranean Gulls at Holden Wood - a mix of ages
30 March - 1 Swallow and 1 female Wheatear at Holden Wood Reservoir - probably my first March Wheatear at Holden Wood
31 March - Approx 100 Meadow Pipits around the reservoirs and the quarries including 30 moving North which came down in the drizzle above Crow Trees Cottage, with approx 50 Fieldfare and 6 Sand Martin
03/04/23 - A couple of Willow Warbler at Holden Wood Reservoir and Clough Head, 2 Little Ringed Plover back on territory, 1 Blackcap at Acre - all 3 firsts of the year. 4 Linnet at Holden Wood and a couple at Heap Clough, 2 Curlew displaying over Tennement's Farm - the first 2 I have seen together and bubbling they seem very scarce so far, lots of Buzzards displaying, 2 Sand Martin over Jamestone West and 2 Wheatear in the vicinity.
4 Peacock and 4 Small Tortoiseshell around Grane too
-- Edited by sarfraz on Monday 3rd of April 2023 09:26:53 PM
3 April - forgot to add the 1 Comma Butterfly seen
6 April - 2 Swallows over Holden Wood and 9 Sand Martins of which 8 were passing West, not seen at Calf Hey later
7th April trip around reservoirs and quarries
Goldfinch 20 min
Mistle Thrush 5
Wren 31
Chaffinch 18
Great Tit 12
Starling 5
House Sparrow min 5
Willow Warbler 11
Black Headed Gull 28 min
Crow 25 min
Song Thrush 4
Blackbird 6
Dunnock 13
Magpie min 15
Robin 16
Woodpigeon min 25
Common Sandpiper 1 at Holden Wood, earliest I have ever had
Mallard 8
Cormorant 6
Lapwing 20
Oystercatcher - 14
Grey Heron 1
Meadow Pipit min 48 possibly some on the move
Reed Bunting 11
Pied Wagtail 14
Linnet 7
Buzzard 7
Stonechat 4
Kestrel 2
Raven 2
Coal Tit 9
Grey Wagtail 1
Nuthatch 2
Chiffchaff -2
Long Tailed Tit 2
Brambling 1 on Calf Hey car park feeders
Greenfinch 2
Jay 3
Swallow 5
Siskin 10
Curlew 1
Stock Dove 12
Blue Tit 8
Great Black Backed Gull 1
Pheasant 1
Canada Goose lots
Redpoll 1
Sand Martin 16 - some inspecting holes at Jamestone West
Skylark 2
Wheatear 10 including 2 singing males
Bullfinch 1
Jackdaw 3
Little Ringed Plover - 1
Peacock - 2
Comma 1
White Butterfly species 1
Tortoiseshell 2
11/04/23 - 1 Green Sandpiper calling from Ogden reservoir and 4 different Great Black Backed Gulls noted over last few days - 2 adult types and 2 immatures
24 March - Melanistic Marsh Harrier seen from Broadhead Road heading North-Eastish at first light then seen in the area again an hour before sunset by an OOA birder.
4 and 6 April - 2 Greylag Geese at Holden Wood Res
14 April - 1 Ringed Plover flew east from Holden Wood Reservoir calling, min 3 Wheatear behind Jamestone East - seems to be much preferred over Jamestone West, at least 5 different Great Black Backed Gulls present.
Trip around Grane Reservoirs and Quarries today supposed to have a count of the migrants but the strong easterly winds must have made them hunker down. Sadly no Ring Ouzel or even Little Gull which have appeared around Greater Manchester in the dozens.
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Woodpigeon
Long Tailed Tit
Wren
Willow Warbler - 10
Meadow Pipit
Mallard
Canada Goose
Curlew
Goldfinch
Black Headed Gull
Reed Bunting
Mistle Thrush
Chaffinch
Lapwing
Swallow - 6
Magpie
Raven
Starling
Pied Wagtail
Starling
Sparrowhawk - 2
Little Ringed Plover
Blackbird
Oystercatcher
Kestrel - 2
Cormorant - 7
Linnet - 8
Stonechat - 6 - 3 territories around Reservoirs and 1 bird behind Troy
25 April - first Blackcap of year for me at Grane and the first since 3rd April
26 April - 2 Whitethroats and 1 Blackcap at Irwell Vale - first of year for me
27 April - 4 Mute Swans over Haslingden flying very low over the town about 7.30am, 3 Immature Great Black Backed Gulls at Holden woods of 3 different ages , also 1 Grasshopper Warbler too there which was a first of year for me.
28 April - 4 hour Walk around Grane Reservoirs and Quarries took the path through the woods but not around Troy
Goldfinch - min 10
Wren - min 31 - doing well with 3 singing males and 1 non-singing birds at the bottom of the tram track alone
Chaffinch - 34
Blackbird - 15
Song Thrush - 4
Dunnock - 7
Mistle Thrush - 9
Bullfinch - 4
Blue Tit - 15 - quite a few pairs active probably looking for nest sites
Willow Warbler - 27
Jackdaw- min 20
Carrion Crow - lots
Canada Geese - too many
Greenfinch - 3
Lesser Black Backed Gulls - min 20 - been difficult to get on my previous counts
Woodpigeon - min 30
Blackcap - 5
Pied Wagtail - 19
Great Tit - 11
Mallard - min 12 adults and 1 female with 4 ducklings which could have been a week old at Ogden Reservoir
Black Headed Gulls - min 30
Lapwing - 17 - including a pair displaying at Jamestone East
Robin - 22
Swallow - 39
Starling - 4
Grasshopper Warbler - 5? - 1 at Holden Wood, 1 at Ogden, 2 at Calf Hey and 1 at Jamestone East
Great Black Backed Gulls - 3
Wheatear - 15
Meadow Pipit - min 45
Oystercatcher - min 6
Long Tailed Tit - 3
Common Sandpiper - 1 - at Holden Wood Res
Reed Bunting - 6
Grey Wagtail - 5
Sand Martin - 50 min - approx 10 over Ogden and approx 40 over Jamestone West
House Martin - min 2
Linnet - 3
Stonechat - 5 - including 4 singing males
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 2
Grey Heron - 2
Whinchat - 1 - singing at Ogden but could not be seen
Skylark - min 10
Redpoll - approx 15 with at least 10 around Calf Hey Reservoir
Goldcrest - 8 - singing males
Coal Tit - 19
Siskin - 16 min - min 10 around Calf hey
Treecreeper - 1
Curlew - 3
Herring Gull - min 4
Nuthatch - 1
Magpie - min 6
Chiffchaff - 5
Cormorant - 3
Whitethroat - 1 - at Calf Hey Reservoir
Little Ringed Plover
Stock Dove - 4
Raven - 1
Ring Ouzel - 1 - flying up Deep Clough and maybe 2 in the gorse behind Troy Wood
House Sparrow - 4
Collared Dove - min 2 - around cemetery and Further up Grane Road
-- Edited by sarfraz on Friday 28th of April 2023 11:22:24 PM
29 April - 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Whitethroat in scurb near dam wall at Holden Wood Reservoir, min 6 male Orange Tips at Holden Wood too.....they have finally started appearing......
30 April - approx 10 Swifts and 300 Hirundines over Ewood Bridge Sewage Works - possibly 100 Sand Martins, 100 House Martins, 100 Swallows ..birds seem to be dropping in and moving on and also completing a circuit of the sewage works ..with Andy Young
05 May - 2 Little Egrets in Cormorant roost at Holden Wood Reservoir and 1 Sedge Warbler on return singing from hedge.....1 Grasshopper Warbler in Deep Clough,
29 April - first Starling seen carrying food.....from Holden Wood Res to Helmshore?
4 May - 34 Rooks over Acre in the air together over their colony
5 May - min 10 Swifts over Haslingden,
5 May - brief stop at 2 Rookeries - approx 14 - 16 nests at Farmers Glory and 14 at Acre
Seems to be a very poor spring for migration in Rossendale and I have been one of the luckier ones having seen Sedge Warbler, Little Egrets, Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Mute Swans
11/05/23 - Cuckoo calling very distantly at Holden Wood Res
12/05/23 - very distant Cuckoo heard from Holden Wood Res and behind Clough Head Info Centre, at least 40 Canada Geese goslings at Holden Wood, Sedge Warbler in brief song again
I was going to do a count of spring migrants but numbers were lower due to the cloudy weather. So far 0 Lapwing chicks seen. Maybe 4 Whitethroats singing around Holden Wood - 1 pair in scrub near car park, 1 male singing from hedgerow along lane and 2 singing from land behind Holden Arms and Holcombe Road
Common Sandpiper - 3 at Holden Wood Res maybe 2 pairs, 1 pair at Ogden?
House Martins - still very minimal over Haslingden barely seen any.....heard 1-2 today....there are more Swifts in the air
-- Edited by sarfraz on Friday 12th of May 2023 11:57:20 PM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 13th of May 2023 10:24:44 PM
12 May lots of Long Tailed Tit calls possible fledging
18 May 2 male and 2 female Tufted Duck on Holden Woodand 1 Sedge Warbler singing along lane
BB2 Survey Stonefold 19/05-23
Skylark 19
Meadow Pipit 13
Lapwing 6
Great Black Backed Gull 1
Carrion Crow 11
Goldfinch 8
Jackdaw 49
Wren 4
Blackbird- 4
Chaffinch 3
Little Owl 1
Woodpigeon 6
Curlew 2
Buzzard 1
Black Headed Gull 3
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Linnet 1
Grey Heron 1
Pied Wagtail 3
Magpie - 2
Willow Warbler 3
Pheasant 1
Swallow 4
23 May 1 Sedge Warbler singing vigorously at the farm side of Holden Wood Reservoir
26 May- at least 1 fledged Pied Wagtail following parents at Holden Wood Res
29 May 2 pairs of Stonechat in the Musbury Valley and 2 pairs above Calf hey 1 of which has fledged 4 fully feathered young.Afew pairs of Lapwing on Musbury Heights.
1 June 1 fully fledged Grey Heron following an adult bird around Holden Wood Res
2 June 3 family parties of Pied Wagtail including family from 26 May which has fledged maybe up to 4 young, another from Ogden and another on southside of Jamestone West.2 family parties of Long Tailed Tits at Holden Wood res making a lot of noise.Wllow Warbler collecting food near boardwalk at Holden Wood Res- looks like nesting very close
The White Throated Blackbird seen on St Peter's avenue Haslingden back in April has been seen 2 times this week in Victoria Park by myself. Is it travelling far to find food or has it moved?
It has been a poor year for passage waders with 0 Dunlin recorded sadly.I am not sure if someone is walking their dog along the shoreline of Holden Wood res early morning as not many birds seem to use it.Numbers of Black Headed Gulls visiting are low probably because of bird flu.
House Martin numbers have increased since 3rd week of May but still less than usual in the skies above Haslingden.
08 June - 2 family parties of Swallows over Holden Wood Reservoir - didn't expect to see any fledging so soon when House Martins have just added new mud to many nests around Haslingden
13 June - min 7 lapwing chicks all less than few days in the 2
14 June - 1 Dunlin, 1 Crossbill over Holden Wood Res and 4 Meadow Brown ..first of year
15 June - 3 families of Long Tailed Tits around Holden Wood Reservoir,
16 June - fully fledged family of Stonechat behind Troy Wood
Been a while since last posted but nothing out of the ordinary to add. Water levels have risen last 2 weeks but before they were low previously. Sadly people walking with dogs constantly on the shoreline of Holden Wood Reservoir probably led to the desertion of Little Ringed Plover. Common Sandpiper and Curlew were around until mid-July but no knowing if they nested successfully. Lapwings probably fledged a minimum of 8 chicks from Holden Wood Res fields. 81 Canada Goslings were counted at one time in mid-June at Holden Wood Res! A record.
Black Headed Gull numbers have been very low and and only 3 days have juveniles been recorded, or should I say a juvenile. One was recorded on 23rd June at Holden Wood Res - almost 3 weeks later than usual. Another one July 11 and 12 again at Holden Wood Res - probably the same one.
First juvenile Lesser Black Backed Gulls recorded from 17th July but sadly 4 of them seen in total anywhere.
Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Linnet families all noted and very good numbers of Meadow Pipits 2 weeks ago!
A Barnacle Goose spent s couple of weeks at Holden Wood Res in July, almost certainly plastic.
11 July - 9 Crossbill at Calf Hey - including 7 in a flock together
23 July - 1 Teal at Holden Wood Reservoir
27 July - approx 40 Swifts over Holden Wood
28 July - approx 40 Swifts over Rawtenstall cemetery
Grane Reservoirs and Quarries 04/08/23:-
Kestrel family of 4 min hunting on border of Holden Wood Res and Ogden Hill side
Merlin over Calf Hey
Fledged Buzzard chick top end of Ogden Res
Sparrowhawk - male and female
Green Woodpecker - around Jamestone West
Great Black Backed Gull - 2
Wheatear min 3-4 - fledged young which was very nice to see
min 15 Mistle Thrush at Crow Trees
min 10 Greenfinch at Jamestone West
20-30 Mallard mainly males in eclipse
min 250 Swallows not sure where they all came from
min 40 House Martins
Min 30 Sand Martins
2 Common Gull over Victoria Park, Haslingden North West
min 12 Swift over Snig Holes 8pm
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 5th of August 2023 11:35:54 PM
11 August - 6 Wheatear at Heap lough, migrants and 2 fledged broods of Stonechat. Minimum of 5 fledged broods of Kestrel - a few hunting around the outskirts St Mary's Wood, 1 brood fledged from Holden Wood Res/Ogden Res border area, 1 family of 4 min at summit of Grane Road, 2-3 broods fledged along the quarries
13 August - 100 plus House Martins , Sand Martins and Swallows at Heap Clough of which many were juveniles - the arena was used as an open air creche
23/08/23 - approx 50 Sand Martins over Holden Wood which moved south, 2 Common Sandpiper at Holden Wood present since 22 of which 1 was unsuccessfully pursued by a Sparrowhawk
24/08/23 - 5 Common Scoter - 2 adult males and 3 female types at Holden Wood Reservoir
25/08/23 - Walk around Reservoirs and Quarries from 7am - 12 noon
Great Tit - min 25
Blue Tit - min 30
Willow Warbler - 3
Carrion Crow - approx 57
Cormorant - 9
Goldfinch - approx 50
Jackdaw - min 30
Woodpigeon - min 30
Wren - min 16
Kingfisher- 1
Blackbird - 12 - including 2 fledged family parties
Robin - 27
Coal Tit - 14
Meadow Pipit - 73
Mallard - 21
Whitethroat - 4 - 2 a car park in Holden Wood which were probably part of a locally raised family party and another 2 climbing up and down rushed at the top end of Holdenwood Res
Chiffchaff -3
Long Tailed - approx 5
Pied Wagtail - 12
Chaffinch - approx 20
Kestrel - min 12
House Martins, Swallows, Sand Martins - in total probably over 500 - mainly Swallows and 80-90% Swallows and Sand Martins
Swifts - 3 = over Holden Wood with migrating Sand Martins
Buzzard - 6
Magpie - approx 10
Goldcrest - approx 20
Lesser Black Backed Gull - 16
Stonechat - 11 - including 2 family parties
Reed Bunting - 5
Treecreeper - 2
Great Black Backed Gull - 3
Grey Wagtail - min 4 - including family party at Jamestone West
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Grey Heron - 2
Raven - 2
Stock Dove - 6
Tufted Duck - 1 - at Jamestone West
Little Grebe - 1 - at Jamestone West
Dunnock - 3
Nuthatch - 3 - including 1 at Jamestone West
Sparrowhawk - 2
Starlings - 3 - have been flock of about 200 some weeks back
Siskin - 2
Wheatear - 1
Redpoll - 2
Greenfinch - 3
Black Headed Gull - 4
Common Sandpiper - 1
Canada Geese - lots
Hobby - 1 - briefly
Collared Dove - 1 on Grane Road
Mistle Thrush - 6 over Grane Road parallel to Ogden
28 August - 1 fully fledged Great Black Backed Juvenile over the reservoirs, 1 Redstart and a family of at least 4 Spotted Flycatcher in Heap Clough
30 August - 2 flocks of 38 and 26 Sand Martin over Holden Wood Southwards and 1 Common sandpiper present
1 September - 1 Sand Martin visiting nest at Jamestone West but a juvenile was coming to the tunnel entrance so it won't be long before gone and no others seen there, a few Swallows and Sand Martins over Grane Reservoirs but numbers seem reduced compared to last week. A Grane and Rossendale first was a Holly Blue.
Monday 4 September - 3 Snipe flew from field near board walk towards Musbury/south-ish and 1 Sedge Warbler at Holdenwood Reservoir
Tuesday 5 September - 6 Teal female types at Holdenwod Reservoir
Wednesday 6 September - 4 Skylark over towards Musbury and approx 100 Swallows probably some locally fledged birds included as they kept sitting on wires and 50-80 House Martins over feeding - Holdenwood Res also 1 Blackcap and 2 Stoats running around and jumping on the Lapwings walls and both jumping off too
-- Edited by sarfraz on Thursday 7th of September 2023 09:44:50 PM
Forgot to add 2 big Rossendale level birds from Friday 8th September - Red Grouse calling from Musden Head Moor heard from Musbury and 1 Curlew flying over Ogden and Calf hey Res
12/09/23 - 82 Mallard, min 2 Teal, 2 Wigeon, handful of Swallows over Holdenwood Res, maybe at least 10 Bullfinch present too
13/09/23 - min 10 Skylark over south/east-ish, 10-15 Swallows and 2 Sand Martins over Holdenwood
15/09/23 - Little Grebe on Holdenwood Res and Little Grebe on Jamestone West again, Goosander over Holdenwood West, couple of families of Swallows, 5 Chiffchaff around Grane,
17/09/23 - min 8 Mistle Thrush, 6 Greenfinch, a family of 3 Swallows over, Maybe about 50 meadow Pipits, approx 12 Skylark and 1 Crossbill over Bull Hill southwards
Forgot to add about 3 Red Admiral on the slopes of Bull Hill including 1 powering speedily south and an elephant hawk moth caterpillar near Robin Hood Well from 17th
20/09/23 - approx 200 mallard and 5 Teal at Holden Wood Res, 0 Chiffchaf, 16 Pink Footed Geese moving North over Ramsbottom and into Rossendale,
22/09/23 - a few Skylark passing over, approx 100 Meadow Pipits around Grane Reservoirs and Quarries - grounded and some moving south, approx 80 Pink Footed Geese moving south, 4 Great Black backed Gulls - including 3 juveniles, min 60 Swallows over mainly coming down in showers and moving in a southerly direction , Kingfisher on Holdenwood Res too
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 23rd of September 2023 10:01:18 PM
-- Edited by sarfraz on Saturday 23rd of September 2023 10:42:08 PM
29/09/23 - 50 Pink Footed Geese heading west over Grane
04/10/23 - approx 60 Swallows over Holdenwood Res- descending then moving south in a shower,
06/10/23 - 4 House Martins over Haslingden of which 1 was visiting a nest
07/10/23 - 1 Redwing at Holdenwood car park flying high with a Song Thrush both calling, suddenly descending, 5 Song Thrush jittery, 10 Blackbirds, 1 Pink Footed Goose flying low and west, 1 Chiffchaff too
08/10/23 - trip around Grane - 1 Redwing again with Song Thrush in Holdenwood Res car park, approx 7 Song Thrush very active and jittery, min 11 Mistle Thrush min, around, 10 Blackbird in Holden Wood Res car park, 1 Wheatear in Deep Clough, 1 Goldeneye at Jamestone West, approx 15 Linnet round, Crossbills calling loud from Troy Wood - not sure how many there were but a bit of a racket being made, 1 Black Darter, 1 Comma, min 10 red Admirals all heading south and in pristine condition. ome movements of Siskin possibly over 40 and Woodpigeon over 50 in a southerly direction too.
-- Edited by sarfraz on Sunday 8th of October 2023 11:36:10 PM
10/10/23 - approx 960 Redwing over Holdenwood - approx 100 south and the others south-west and west between 7.30am - 9am, 4 Swallows south, approx 40 Siskin heading south, approx 30 finches probably Greenfinch but Chaffinches coudn't be ruled out at a distance roosting in trees near Ogden
12/10/23 - 24 Pink Footed Geese west over Grane, 1 Common Darter, min 15 Red Admirals, some Redwing max 20, 5-10 Skylark heading South,
18/10/23 - 12 Fieldfare over Holdenwood Reservoir which were the first of the year for me
22/10/23 - single Crossbill over Calf Hey Reservoir calling and minimum of 3 over Jamestone West - both flying West. About 100 redwing and 150 Fieldfare - with the latter there seemed to be a slightly smaller Thrush species which could have been Ring Ouzel but couldn't rule other species out.
