Low Moor and Oakenshaw Wildlife

An excellent watch today with a site first and two other good birds. Firstly a party of Crossbills came in low from the N and appeared to be landing at the watch point at Caldene fields before moving off S. Then a party of Redwings came in again from the N at a reasonable height followed by a Woodcock giving brilliant views !. It’s not uncommon to disturb Woodcock in the Raw Nook NR area in autumn. I have always thought these birds had move down from a local breeding site during the autumn/winter period.  However, to have a genuine migrant bird moving through I’m not too sure!. Then around 09.30 as the rain and low cloud increased a ‘ Blast from the past ‘ ( As Yellowerhammer used to regular at CFs ) a low flying calling Yellowhammer came in from the S and moved N. Three reasonable sized parties of Fieldfare also came in from the N.

Looking N/E from Caldene fields.

Even though it was misty today the colours of autumn are beautiful this year.

Saw two Grey Partridge today not within our recording area but on the outskirts.  This is very welcome news in that at the same location last spring a single bird was observed.  The species used to be fairly common in our recording area and it was not uncommon to see Grey partridge regularly at Caldene fields sadly those days have long gone….but maybe,  just maybe they may return..

There was a good movement of Fieldfare passing S/W through our area this morning a total of 2,144 flew S/W and 93 to the N.

During the last two days I have recorded 29 Brambling passing through or stopping off in our area.

The one above was one of a pair that stopped off at the watch point.  So keep an eye out in your gardens and bird feeders for these attractive finches that have come to spend the winter with us…

Yesterday I observed 32 Fieldfares flying towards the watch point at Caldene fields.  I thought the birds would carry on their migration and fly over but they didn’t they needed to refuel and the next minute the birds had landed and were feeding on Rowan berries.  The birds must have been very hungry as the trees were about 10 feet away!!! allowing some excellent photo opportunities.

Toady there was another Wood pigeon movement with a total count of 5,963 recorded moving south.  Also at least 28 Brambling were recorded moving to the S/W.

Two Small Copper butterflies were enjoying the sun at Caldene fields 0n the 25/10

Today like yesterday there was a large movement of Wood Pigeon, Jackdaws and finches particularly Chaffinch with a record count of 162 S/W and 42 N.  However, today was a bit special as I had a wary friend as company a migrating Chiffchaff which stayed resting and preening for about 30 minutes at the watch point before moving off.

It was an excellent morning at the watch point this morning with a mass arrival of Redwings, Fieldfare, Starlings, Geese and finches.

Linnets waiting for the fog to clear before moving.

Redwings came in first from the N and a total of 4,076 moved to the S.  Fieldfares came in 1,462 altogether around 10.00 and mainly from the S/E and moved to the S/W.  There was a good movement of Pink-footed geese 1,167 in total and all to the N.  A welcome surprise was a party of 73 Brambling that flew to the S/W.

To keep me company was a Small Copper butterfly and 2 Small Whites and just for good measure a Common Darter was seen moving slowly to the S

This morning was a stunning autumn morning for watching visible migration. And an early start in frosty conditions was rewarded with the first Thrush arrivals from the N/E involving Redwings and Fieldfares.

Fieldfares moving N/W

It was the Redwings that came in first with a total of 939 finally recorded. Fieldfares started to arrive about an hour later than the Redwings and a total of 386 was recorded.  Pink-footed geese also were noted again with 772 moving S/W

Common Buzzard a regular sight now in our recording area even on passage

There was an excellent passage of Pink-footed geese noted from the watch point today.  The main movement was observed to the east of Caldene fields with the majority moving to the S/W ( 964 in total) with 2 skeins (253 in total) moving to the N/W.

Other highlights included a Great black backed gull which flew to the S/W and Goldfinches were all so on the move with 131 to the S/W and around 70+ feeding birds noted.