Bird Report
The traditional theme of the report for July relates to the coming out of the new season's debutantes. Sadly, it is not all good news. At Birkacre, the cygnets had reduced from three to two in number by the end of the month. Even worse, both Great Crested Grebe chicks had disappeared, and, in fact, the parent birds were back on the nest. Elsewhere, Great Crested Grebe managed to hold onto at least one chick at Cuerden and Anglezarke, and no less than four on Lower Rivington reservoir. In a quarrry at Whittle a pair of Dabchick had at least one young, and at the same site a Coot had three chicks (3rd). Coot and Moorhen were seen with young at several sites during the month. A pair of Mute Swans with six cygnets was noted on the River Yarrow at its confluence with the River Douglas near Croston (29th). Finally on the subject of wildfowl, a female and a juvenile Wood Duck appeared at Birkacre on 29th.
More heartening was the report from Anglezarke moor of two pairs of Red Grouse with young (18th). Amongst the waders, a pair of Common Sandpiper was seen with two young on Lower Rivington Reservoir (4th) and a Lapwing with a chick was seen at Rivington on the 3rd. Several Lapwings were seen with chicks at Withnell Fold scrapes on the 2nd and at the same site a Little Ringed Plover and juvenile were noted on the 15th.
A family group of Great Spotted Woodpeckers was at Rivington (9th), and a juvenile Green Woodpecker was seen near Clog Inn bay, Anglezarke (21st). A Pied Wagtail with young was at White Coppice (2nd), and Grey Wagtails with young were noted below the Yarrow embankment (6th), and at Heapey Lodges (23rd).
A family party of Blackcaps was at Rivington (6th), and a Garden Warbler was seen carrying food at Anglezarke (14th). Family groups of Spotted Flycatcher were seen at Brookhouse plantation and Waterman's cottage, Anglezarke (11th and 14th respectively). A Redstart with young was also noted at Anglezarke(14th), where a juvenile Dipper was seen (15th). Another juvenile Dipper was noted at Birkacre (30th). Family parties of Nuthatch were noted at Rivington (2nd) and at Anglezarke (14th). Juvenile Stonechats were noted at Rivington (3rd) and at Withnell Moor (15th). At least three family groups of Linnet were noted at Rivington on the 15th. Finally on the subject of young birds, large flocks of Starling at several locations contained good numbers of juveniles.
Other sightings of
interest during the month included Little Owl at Sheephouse Lane,
Rivington (8th), and at Withnell Fold nature reserve
(15th). At Croston Moss on the evening of the 19th
large numbers of Swift were noted, no doubt already starting
their return migration. A flock of over 20 Tree Sparrows near
Withnell Fold scrapes on the 23rd was a welcome sight.
At Birkacre on the 22nd a Grasshopper Warbler was
still reeling.
Juvenile birds and post breeding flocks were again the most noteworthy feature of the month. Juvenile Great Crested Grebes were still surviving on Anglezarke and Lower Rivington reservoirs. At Belmont, a female Tufted Duck and four young were noted on the 9th.
Other juvenile birds to be
recorded included Green Woodpecker at Lead Mines Clough (5th),
and Withnell Fold by the canal (6th). 
A family group of four Great Spotted Woodpeckers was
at Brookhouse plantation on the 1st, where there was
also a similar sized group of Spotted Flycatchers and a
Treecreeper with young. A male Kestrel was accompanied by at
least two juveniles near Morris's barn, Rivington (14th).
Up on the moors, a female Stonechat was seen carrying food (11th),
and two juvenile Wheatears were noted at Lead Mines Clough (11th).
Top bird, however, was a juvenile Black Redstart on the mast
buildings on Winter Hill (12th). A family group of
Bullfinches was at Leicester Mill quarry, Anglezarke (28th)
Post breeding flocks included over 100 Canada Geese at Withnell Fold scrapes (6th), where over 150 House Martins were hawking for prey. Flocks of between 20 and 50 Swallows were noted at various locations around Rivington in the last week of the month. Approximately 40 Lapwing were at Anglezarke reservoir (13th). Flocks of 40 each of both Chaffinch and Linnet were observed in the Rivington area (31st).
Other records of interest included two Buzzards over Bank Hall, Bretherton (8th). Amongst the many Nuthatch records, one seen twice in a Chorley garden on the 3rd was perhaps looking for its photograph to be taken. A glance through a bedroom window provided an Adlington resident with a first ever sighting of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (3rd), and the Society with a record from yet another part of the area for a species which evidently only occurs in the Chorley area in the whole of Lancashire. Latest Swift records were birds over Chorley and Brinscall on the 6th.
Towards the end of the month over-wintering wildfowl started to reappear with four Teal at Anglezarke and 12 at Withnell Fold scrapes, where there were also five Wigeon. Two Pintail were also at Anglezarke (all 27th).
The Teal flock at Withnell Fold scrapes (though after all the rain it is perhaps better referred to as Withnell Fold Flash!) peaked at 110 birds on the 22nd. Perhaps the high water level accounted for the disappointing wader passage, although up to 20 Snipe were seen (10th). Numbers of Lapwing were also usually around the 20 mark, but at Belmont a count of 133 was made on the 17th.
On passage on the 18th was a Black Tern at Lower Rivington reservoir, seen from the Millstone embankment, with the possibility that further birds passed through on the 19th.
Wheatears were on Great Hill and Withnell
moor (17th) and a female Ring Ouzel was at White
coppice on the 30th. There was a noticeable movement
of Siskin and Redpoll at the end of the month as follows:-
Summer visitors were still in evidence with Spotted Flycatcher at Withnell Fold Nature Reserve (3rd). Two or three hundred hirundines were hawking around the scrapes on the same day. These diminished in number throughout the month, until by the end of the month there were only ones and twos, and yet House Martins were still feeding young at a site in Coppull as were Swallow at a site in Whittle. Other summer visitors recorded during the month included Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and a Chiffcaff in song at Birkacre on the 30th.
Also singing in September was a Dipper at Birkacre on the 17th. The Wood Ducks, which first appeared at the site in July, remained present throughout the month.
Raptor records for the month included a pair of Buzzards displaying at Hoghton on the 28th, and a Peregrine flying low over Upper Rivington Reservoir towards Street House on the 14th. Ravens were noted over Anglezarke moor(17th) and Withnell moor (30th).
Kingfisher dispersal resulted in several sightings at Birkacre, Cuerden, Heapey Lodges, Lower Rivington Reservoir and Withnell Fold (nature reserve and canal). A flock of over 100 Goldfinch was seen to leave what was presumably a roost site, on the morning of the 17th at Birkacre.
A dozen Fieldfare seen flying over Southport Road on the 29th was a relatively early record for the species.
Thanks to the following for submitting records for possible inclusion in this report:-
D.Barker, D.Beattie, A.Blacklidge, D.Downing, R.Hoyle, C.Johnson, G.Leather, D.Lumb, C.Rae, J.Riley, P.Ross, D.Tucker, C.Smith, N.Southworth, A.Stott, N.West
And to Jean Southworth for her original drawings.
Please continue to submit your records to the editor, preferably on a monthly basis.