With Emperor Dragonflies being reported I decided to head up to the dragonfly pond to see if they were flying locally. I counted 3 including a female oviposting, 20 four spotted chaser as well as blue tailed and azure damselfly. A singl…
Author: Derek Gallagher
Great Skua (Bonxie) – Preston Docks – 15th June 2014
About half 9 I read a Facebook post suggesting there was a Great Skua lingering about Preston Docks so with the decision made not to wash the car (my usual Sunday morning chore) I headed out. On first arrival in the car park near to Morr…
Buzzards – Cuerden Valley Park – May 2014
It wasn’t long ago these large raptors were scarce across Lancashire but are now seen regularly especially around the Stags Lodge area of Cuerden Valley Park. I have seen singles in recent years but recently I have seen up to 4 both over my home and at…
New patch tick at Stags Lodge, Cuerden Valley Park – May 2014
I was wandering back home through Stags Lodge after a few hours out with the camera last month when I stood on the bridge over the River Lostock and thought ‘what a great site for a Dipper’ but not having seen one on this stretch (I have seen a breedin…
Dragonfly Fest – Cuerden Valley Park – 31st May 2014
Its that time of year when a trip up to the Dragonfly pond at Cuerden Valley Park starts to produce results with my favourite and probably the most photogenic Dragonfly starts to fly.I have been up a few times of late when we’ve had a little sun but to…
A few sightings from the past week at Stags Lodge CVP
Buzzards can be seen quite frequently flying across the patch often being chased by a corvid or 3. A good place to see them is perched on the dead tree at the top of Stags Lodge. Warblers are a common visitor to the patch with up to 5 Chiffchaff&n…
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.
Stags Lodge (Cuerden Valley Park) & On The Feeders – 14th April 2012
The sun was out so I decided to grab the camera when heading out with the dogs with the hope of getting a few photos of the current warblers on the local patch. I heard a newly returned Willow Warbler on the edge of Church Walk Woods and managed a few shots as it intermittently called and preened amongst the top branches.
ABOVE AND BELLOW WILLOW WARBLER
Heading around Stags Lodge I heard up to 5 calling Chiffchaff and 2 Willow Warblers the first of which I’d heard on Wednesday evening. What I didn’t expect was this Northern Wheatear at the top of the meadows which was soon flushed by one of the many dog walkers making the most of the great weather. It was easily relocated and I kept my own 2 away as I photographed it feeding up before it moved on. For the hour I was there it relocated several times to the trees surrounding the meadows, a great patch tick and maybe a first for Cuerden Valley Park (David Beattie). For my up to date patch list for the year Click Here
ABOVE AND BELOW NORTHERN WHEATEAR
Back at home the feeders seem to be very busy at the moment with both Goldfinch and Greenfinch eating me out of house and home. Collard Dove and Woodpigeon are also regular visitors along with the local Blackbirds, Dunock, Robin, House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Coal Tit (the only place locally that I see Coal Tits!)
ABOVE MALE GREENFINCH BELOW FEMALE
ABOVE GOLDFINCH BELOW COLLARD DOVE
BELOW COAL TIT
Meresands Wood Bittern – 20th February 2012
I’ve taken quite a few visits up to Meresands Woods with the hope of photographing at least one of the 2 Bittern that are showing very well (at least for Bittern) from the Rufford Hide. Both were on show during my 2 hour visit though one only briefly and very hard to pick out in the reed bed. The second bird was very obliging throughout and I doubt I’ll ever get a chance to photograph a Bittern at such close quarters again.
Red Kites, Tetsworth, Oxon – 13th January 2012
The M40 corridor north between Beaconsfield and Oxford is renowned for its large population of Red Kites and I often marvel at their sight whenever I travel along the route. On several occasions I’ve pulled off the M40 and travelled up the A40 giving me chance to pull over and observe them at closer quarters.
After pulling in a layby on the way down from Aston Rowant NNR and observing 2 at distance as well as a small flock of travelling Long-tailed Tit I decided to continue north to Tetsworth, Oxon where I’ve watched small numbers of Red Kites over the village green and also gives good opportunities to photograph them.
After pulling up in a layby opposite the green I watched 10 Red Kite circling over the roof tops and 2 over the green. Numbers for the day must have been around the 100 mark with 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk adding to the raptor numbers along the stretch.
Above Red KIte below one of a small group of travelling Long-tailed Tit
