Brockholes Quarry - 29th March 2008

2 Rock pipits were present on the eastern edge of No1 by 15.15. There was certainly a single bird present the whole time I was there, and maybe the 2nd bird arrived within the period of driving rain and South Westerly winds. Also present were at least 4 LRPs, and a White wagtail which was a first for the year.

Ringing at Moor Piece, Bashall Eaves - 24th March 2008

For a while now, it has been a goal of mine to attend a ringing session. I spent 8 hours with Mark Breaks at a Private Cottage in Moor Piece Wood, and at his Home in Newton.
From the Whole day we managed to catch 81 Birds(however we didn't count a few of the same birds we caught at the start of the session.

Coal Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
RobinDunnock
Treecreeper
Treecreeper coverts (just making sure it wasn't a shortie ;] )
Mark Ages another Coal Tit
male Lesser Redpoll
Best bird of the day for me!
male Lesser Redpoll

The Two star birds were Treecreeper and Lesser Redpoll(both of which were reacting to a tape). I managed to ring 3 Blue tits at the site with 29 ringed in total. We had a good haul here with 8 species (chaffinch not on photos as they wouldn't stop flapping when the shutter opened!)

Female adult Greenfinch
Adult male Blackbird
Adult Blue Tit
Comparing last years bird with an older bird
Adult Male Greenfinch

We went back to the Breaks' farm and caught another 50 birds! most of which were Coal tit and Blue tit, but with a few extra to add the list. Here I Ringed several Blue Tit, singles of Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great tit and Coal tit.
An absolutely fabulous day, and one that I will remeber for a long time to come!

Warm Brockholes Quarry - 23rd March 2008

Despite te cold start to the morning and Snow on the surrounding Hill tops, It was a very warm visit to the Quarry.
My first Chiffchaffs of the year were in the form of 3 at the South of the site with Tree Sparrow and a pair of Bullfinch.
Up to 5 Buzzard were up at one point, 3 of which cam right over head whilst I was searching for the singing Chiffchaff out of the 3 birds.

127 now for the year - Not bad!

Kittiwake - Brockholes Quarry - 22nd March 2008

Personally I can't think of anything much more satisfying than finding your own Kittiwake at your own patch! This is what happened after being on Kittiwake duty down at the Quarry afte Bill Aspins trio at Fishmoor and single this morning.

I arrived at 10.00 and met Roy Lambert on Main pool where we observed the same two redshank present yesterday. I light heartidly mentioned how I was on Kittiwake duty, and rushed off to no1 when I was satisfied there was nothing much on Main pool. I set up my scope on No1 and the first bird I saw was a Kittiwake! Fantastic

The Bird spent 1 hour 40 resting and bathing which was viewed by myself and Roy Lambert, shortly followed by the 'Kittiwaked out' Bill Aspin (5 birds in less than 24 hours on local waters!)

Me and Bill watched it before it headed SW at 11.45. According to Bill it was not seen by 12.00 after this flight.

I left so that I could get to Blackpool to see the Grandparents, where we ventured to see River dance...our local celebrity!

Here I managed to get a Little Gull flying North, 2 Kittiwake blogging and 4 Eider flying North. Also I enjoyed watching a rather entertaining pair of 'crazy eyed' Dogs.

Brockholes Quarry - 21st March 2008

Not a Great Deal seen this afternoon but it was nice to see an increase to 2 Redshank. Maybe these are two different birds to the bird that has been present in the last couple of Days.

'Damp' Squib? - 20th March 2008

What can be described as equipment ruining weather, I spent the morning walking the edges of no1 pit with Bill Aspin, envious of his water proof trousers and camera cover... Because the wind was coming in off the sea, it was very cold and till powerful as it followed the river inland towards the quarry. It was so bad, I had an extremely tense 2 hours afterwards desperately trying methods to get the assembled water out of my virtually brand new lens...Lukily, with help from my brother we did it, and have now fashioned a camera cover out of a surpless Raincoat sleeve until further notice XD

Birds seen were not as exiting as hoped, with previous weather like this bringing in Short Eared Owl, Little Gull, Kittiwake, Rock Pipit, Knot, and even Common Scoter.

We managed a Dunlin flying in from the west as I was leaving the site.

LRP on No1.

39 Sand Martin

Redshank

93 Canada Geese.

And it was incredible that even in weather such as this 2+ Skylarks were singing!

LRP and Sand Martin - Brockholes Quarry visit 2 - 15th March 2008

Little Ringed Plover - Brockholes Quarry (pic. Bill Aspin)

Sand Martin Montage

Little Ringed Plover on No1 pit Island from 14.15. I saw it at c1730-1800

Green Sandpiper towards the back of the pits near to Boilton wood.

Jack Snipe Flushed near north side of No1

21 Sand Martins by 1800

29 Curlew by 1800

3 Goosander over