Stags Lodge - 5/6th May 2012

With the sun being out I decided to take my camera out on both of the early morning dog walks at the local patch. There was nothing like the patch tick of my last post but a year patch tick of a Swallow (though only passing through) was nice and the male Whitethroat that I’d heard back earlier in the week finally made an appearance on Saturday and a female and a second male were around on the Sunday. I’m pleased to see them back as they have bred successfully that I know over the past 2 years and hopefully that success will continue this year.

ABOVE MALE WHITETHROAT BELOW SONG THRUSH

Other species around on both days was a singing Song Thrush, one of several on the patch, at least 5 Chiffchaff and 2 Willow Warbler. Magpie and Blackbirds could be seen regularly feeding on the meadows as well as Chaffinch  and Greenfinch calling throughout the woodland. On the pond 4 Coot chicks as well as two adults, a single Moorhen and 3 Mallards which had bred with 8 chicks seen several weeks ago but those numbers dwindled down over a week or so and now I haven’t seen any for a while. As I was leaving the patch via the tunnel under the A6 a Jay flew out of the woods at speed swiftly followed by a female Sparrowhawk, the Jay managed to escape as the Sparrowhawk alighted briefly in one of the trees.

*An update for Sunday evenings visit included 2 Greater-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Male & 1 Female Blackcap, Wren, Robin, Dunnock and an Oystercatcher over the patch.

Cuerden Valley Park - 12th February 2011

I've covered pretty much all of CVP today at some point starting this morning with a 4 mile walk with the dogs, a few hours this afternoon in search of a Dipper at Kem Mill and then to the local patch of Stags Lodge this evening before sun down.
The morning walk brought the usual woodland birds in the form of Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Robin, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, mixed Tit flocks, Blackbird, Jay, Magpie, Goldfinch, and Chaffinch. The usual Mallard were on the lake though I didn't walk around to see if anything else was about plus c15 Canada Geese in front of the Sue Ryder home. A Buzzard and Bullfinch were a good adition to the Stags Lodge list as I walked to and from the park.

 ABOVE TREECREEPER BELOW MISTLE THRUSH 

I've heard Dipper are present along the Kem Mill section of the river Lostock so I took a walk up this afternoon with the hope of getting some photos. No such look on this occasion though the azure flash of a Kingfisher as it flew downstream more than made up for the lack of Dipper. A Treecreeper obliged for the camera as did a Mistle Thrush that was calling from the top of a tree. Again a mix of Tits plus c12 Redwing, Chaffinch and most of the Corvid species could be seen at this end of the park.

ABOVE SONG THRUSH

Several Song Thrush were calling this evening at Stags Lodge as were Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock and Blue & Great Tit.

Out In The Snow - 19th December 2010

JACOB SHEEP @ STAGS LODGE, CUERDEN VALLEY PARK

I remembered the camera this morning but didn't have any of the oppertunities as I did walking the dogs yesterday. The feeders have been like a motorway service station today with constant visits from Dunock, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Starling, Blue & Great Tit.

An hour down at Brockholes Nature Reserve before sundown just to stretch the legs and get a little fresh air brought several species of Thrush at the top end of the reserve. On the feeders were Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Robbin, Wren, Blackbird, Blue & Great Tit and Reed Bunting. The pools were frozen over appart from a small section of number 1 where a mix of Gulls, Mallard and a few Coot took advantage of the open water.

ABOVE FIELDFARE BELOW MISTLE THRUSH

ABOVE MALE REED BUNTING BELOW OUR WINTER FAVOURITE THE ROBIN

ABOVE AND BELOW SONG THRUSH