3 teams participated in the ROC summer bird race today, with a total of 80 species seen on what proved to be a very enjoyable day. Results & highlights below

team A Dave, Phil & Kevin - 77 species

team B Nigel & Bob - 58 species

team C John & Peter - 55 species

• great crested grebe - 3 at Clough Bottom & 2 on Ogden
• cormorant - 1 at Ogden
• goosander - 4 at Clough Bottom
• sparrowhawk - 1 carrying prey over Waterfoot & 1 at Holden Wood
• buzzard - birds at Grane, Holmes Terrace & Limy Valley
• kestrel - birds at Clough Bottom, Grane & Lee Quarry
• coot - 1pr at Holmes Terrace Lodge
• oystercatcher - 1pr with young at Clough Bottom, c6 at Grane & 2 at Whitworth Quarry
• little ringed plover
• lapwing - c6 south of Windy Bank, 6 over Edenfield & at least 3 young birds at Holden Wood
• common sandpiper - calling bird at Calf Hey & 2 at Clough Bottom
• redshank - 1 at Holden Wood
• curlew - 2 or 3 at Clough Bottom
• little owl - 1 at Jack Lodge
• tawny owl - juvenile calling in Trickett's Memorial Ground
• long-eared owl
• barn owl
• kingfisher - at two sites along the Irwell Valley
• great spotted woodpecker - 1 at Ewood Bridge was the only woodpecker seen all day
• sa & a single over Calf Hey
• nd martin - birds entering nest holes at 3 sites
• wheatear - juvenile at Lee Quarry
• garden warbler - singing bird at Clough Bottom
• whitethroat - singing birds at Clough Bottom & Holden Wood
• spotted flycatcher - 1pr at Calf Hey
• treecreeper - family party at Clough Bottom & 1 at Calf Hey
• jay - calling bird at The Holme & 1 at Cowm
• rook - c35 feeding at Swallow Shore & together a single over Calf Hey
• raven - 4 together
• starling - several flocks in the Clough Bottom area & c80 at Holden Wood
• siskin - calling birds at Clough Bottom & Calf Hey
• redpoll - several at Clough Bottom 7 a calling bird at Lee Clough
• bullfinch - 1 male at Clough Bottom

cheers Kevin