BIRD REPORT

• October
• November
• December

October

October is the month when the last of our summer visitors take their leave and the winter ones arrive in earnest.

Generally speaking it tends to be hirundines which hang on into October, and whilst these could well be birds from further north, passing through on their way south, we nevertheless often receive records of House Martin and Swallow still attending the nest towards the end of September. In fact, the last House Martin record was of 10 over Siddow Fold Anglezarke in the company of 9 Swallows on the 3^rd. A further three Swallows were seen over Withnell on the much later date of the 19^th. Of the other passerines a Chiffchaff was singing on Croston Moss on the 7^th. Ring Ouzels were noted on several dates at Belmont with three there on the 25^th. A Common Sandpiper was at Anglezarke reservoir on the 7^th & 14^th.

Very often, the first evidence of winter arrivals comes in the form of skeins of Pink-footed Geese flying over on their way to their wintering grounds. One of 65 birds was seen over Rivington moor on the 3^rd, then after that skeins of 200 over Hartwood (17^th), 150 over Eyes Lane, Bretherton (21^st), 270 in three groups over Belmont (28^th) and 11 over Croston Moss (28^th) were also noted.

The arrival of winter thrushes is also keenly anticipated, and the first Redwings were noted at Belmont with two being there on the 4^th. Main thrush passage, however took place between the 15^th & 19^th with three separate observers recording significant movement during those days:-

Reports of Fieldfare and Redwing flocks were also received from Croston Moss, Heapey, Hoghton and Whittle.

Wintering wildfowl were rather more reticent at putting in an appearance. Goosander were represented by a female on Anglezarke reservoir (22^nd) and two males there on the 24^th. Goldeneye records were limited to one on Anglezarke on the 21^st with three there the following day and one on High Bullough on the 26^th. Two Wigeon were at Belmont on the 13^th. Other wildfowl records of interest included the addition of a stray juvenile to the Mute Swan family at Birkacre. Records of Little Grebe included birds at Heapey Lodges (7^th), three at Belmont (22^nd) and one at Cuerden (29^th).

Raptor interest was provided by a Merlin on Croston Moss (28^th), a ring-tailed Hen Harrier over the mast road, Rivington also on the 28^th, whilst a male Hen Harrier arrived at Belmont on the 17^th and remained to the end of the month.

The 41 Grey Partridge on Croston Moss on the 7^th were no doubt birds released for sporting purposes, and continuing on the same theme, 135 Red Grouse were apparently driven over guns on Anglezarke moor on the 3^rd.

October is also the time when resident birds gather into flocks in the search for food. Significant flocks repoprted included 80 Skylark on Croston Moss (3^rd), 50 Linnet at the same site (28^th), and over 1000 Woodpigeon in three groups at White Coppice also on the 28^th. A massive flock of several thousand (mainly Black-headed) gulls were feeding in fields off Eyes Lane, Bretherton on the 21^st. The 500 Starling and 300 Jackdaws with them stood out in sharp relief against the white cloud of gulls whenever they took to the air.

Stonechats were recorded at Eyes Lane (21^st), Lower House car park, Rivington (24^th) & White Coppice (27^th). An interesting record was one of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Leicester Mill Quarry on the 12^th.

November

A skein of approximately 130 Pink-footed Geese was seen flying south over the moorland edge at White Coppice on the 4^th. Numbers of wintering wildfowl continued to be uninspiring with best counts of Goosander being 6 at Anglezarke (21^st)and 7 at Belmont (22^nd), where there were 30 Teal on the 18^th. A single Wigeon was on Anglezarke reservoir on the 22^nd. Seven Whooper Swans were seen flying along the River Douglas at Great Hanging Bridge on the 11^th, where 10 Cormorants on the cable across the river represented the largest number recorded for some considerable time. A Water Rail was noted at Belmont on the 16^th.

Kingfishers were conspicuous with records received from Heapey Lodges (4^th), Anglezarke reservoir (6^th), Kem Mill, Whittle (10^th), Leeds Liverpool canal, Cowling (23^rd) and Withnell Fold nature reserve (24^th)

A Peregrine knocked a Woodpigeon out of the air in front of three observers by the side of Anglezarke reservoir (4^th). Their presence probably saved the pigeon's skin, as the falcon disappeared from view, whilst the pigeon itself stood in a 'what hit me?' type daze on the roadway for several minutes, before crawling to the roadside and flying limply to the nearest tree. Other noteworthy raptor records included Buzzards over Mawdesley Moss (11^th) and Bolton Road, Chorley (20^th). The male Hen Harrier remained in the Belmont area throughout.

A Ring Ouzel was at Belmont on the 3^rd and the first Brambling of the winter was there on the 11^th. Two more were noted in Dean Wood, Rivington (18^th). A Stonechat was on Mawdesley Moss (4^th).

Redwing flocks included 15 at Kem Mill (12^th), 300 at Belmont (19^th) and 40 by Yarrow reservoir (20^th). Fieldfares included 20 at Heapey Lodges (4^th), 50 at Belmont (9^th), and 94 on Croston Moss (11^th). Other noteworthy flocks included 69 Grey Partridge at Croston Moss (4^th), where there were 150 Linnet (11^th), 677 Jackdaw (25^th), and 49 Skylark (25^th). 14 Grey Partridge were on Anglezarke moor (28^th), whilst at Leicester Mill quarry, 1200 and 1600 Woodpigeon were noted on the 20^th and 21^st respectively.

December

Most Pink-footed Goose records relate to skeins flying over, such as the 150 at Cuerden on the 2^nd, but on the 19^th, 51 were grazing at Belmont reservoir. On the 9^th, 18 Grey Lag Geese flew over Birkacre, where, on the 20^th, two families of two adult and three juvenile Mute Swans were present. The visiting family could well have been HDC, partner and offspring, which were on the canal at Whittle a few days later. 114 Teal were counted in the Millstone corner of Lower Rivington reservoir (16^th).

A Jack Snipe was at Belmont on the 1^st, where 50 Woodcock were flushed on the 12^th, and 20 Snipe were noted on the 10^th. 28 Lapwing were there on the same day, 34 were at Lisieux Hall (12^th), and 12 by Jepson's Gate (23^rd).

A Short-eared Owl was noted on Anglezarke moor, plus a Peregrine being mobbed by Ravens (14^th). A Peregrine had been observed attending on the male Hen Harrier at Belmont (1^st), and another was seen on Mawdesley Moss (29^th). Two Ravens were also noted over Stronstrey Bank (28^th).

Interesting passerine records included a dozen Siskin at Kem Mill (2^nd) and 6 in Dean Wood (24^th). A small flock of around 10 Redpoll was feeding on the alders at Anglezarke car park (16^th). Brambling were recorded in gardens at Whittle (16^th), Belmont (23^rd) and Chorley (27^th). Blackcaps were recorded in gardens at Croston (15^th & 16^th), and Chorley (24^th). A Willow Tit was at Birkacre (16^th). Stonechats were noted on Anglezarke moor (11^th) and Belmont (30^th). Most enigmatic record was of a Snow Bunting heard calling over Two Lads, near Winter Hill (23^rd). Most heartening flock was one of 53 Corn Bunting on Croston Moss (8^th). 1000 each of Jackdaw (8^th) and Woodpigeon (29^th) were on Mawdesley Moss. Best Redwing count was of 100 at Withnell Fold (29^th) and best Fieldfare count was of 300 flying north over Heapey (18^th).

Thanks to the following for submitting records without which the compilation of this report would not be possible:-

D.Ashcroft, D.Beattie, J.Burgoine, T.Darbyshire, B.Derbyshire, D.Downing, R.Hoyle, C.Johnson, S.Martin, A.Porter, C.Rae, J.Riley, P.Ross, J.Sharples, N.Southworth, C.Smith, A.Stott, D.Tucker, N.West and to Jean Southworth for her original drawings.

Please continue to submit your records to the editor, preferably on a monthly basis.

Neil Southworth (Editor)

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