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A few records from Billinge Hill

A few forwarded sightings from C Darbyshire

 

March 19th … first Chiffchaff of the year singing on SW corner of Billinge Hill landfill.

March 30th … Psychoides filicivora moth larvae on Hart's Tongue Fern by SW landfill path.

April 8th … pr Bullfinches in regular breeding territory by SW of landfill.

April 10th … first 2 singing Willow Warblers on Billinge Hill.

April 10th … Raven, pair with suspected fledged juv flying west over SW corner of landfill 10.25 hrs.

April 14th … 9 singing Willow Warblers + 2 Chiffchaffs on Holiday Moss, and 2 prs Teal on pools by NE corner.

April 14th … a distant large raptor seen from Kings Moss village, probably circling over Higher Lane, Rainford, at 1805 hrs, by myself and Arthur Whittle : views suggested an Osprey (definitely NOT a Buzzard), but mentioned just in case there was any Osprey seen about that time in your area.

April 17th … Brambling sat calling in canopy of mid Billinge Plants 0740 hrs, then in flight eastwards.

April 19th … 2 Ravens circling over top of Shaley Brow 0820 hrs, calling repeatedly, then drifting W or NW; first Swallow back at Beacon Farm on Billinge Hill; female Wheatear on W side of Billinge Plants; Tree Pipit flew high N calling over Billinge Hill at 0904 hrs; 6+ singing Willow Warblers around the Hill.

April 21st … Raven high SE, with rolling display, over N end Billinge Plants 11.10 hrs.

April 23rd … Endothenia marginana moth emerged from Teasel heads collected in Billinge Hill landfill on 3rd March.

April 28th … best and most prolonged views I've ever had, of stunning male Redstart below the beacon on Billinge Hill, between 0740 and 0945 hrs; spent much time foraging on the ground like a chat!!; 2 Grasshopper Warblers together, flushed at a couple of feet range in an area of rank herbage and Raspberry scrub, etc, just SW of Billinge Hill, 0840 hrs; they were right by a pathway, and flew only a couple of yards into a separate stand of Raspberry.  No song, and not seen again in over an hour; only my second record on the Hill.

April 29th … Raven(s) calling repeatedly for about 30-35 mins somewhere in mid Billinge Plants mid pm; not seen.

May 1st … Sedge Warbler in same Raspberry scrub as the groppers.  I'd been stood on the same pathway for about 10 mins, when it popped up in front of me.  A sustained bout of pishing only produced one more quick appearance in about 30 mins.  A first for me on the Hill.  Tenanted case of Coleophora luscinaeapennella moth on Sallow at SW corner of Billinge Plants.

 

Best regards,

Chris Darbyshire.


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4 comments :

  1. Andrew4 May 2014 at 10:59

    Hi Chris, are any of Grasshopper/Sedge Warbler and Redstart likely to hang around? Can you be more specific of the whereabouts- anywhere near the midden pile or towards Houghwood golf perimeter?cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous4 May 2014 at 16:26

    Hi Andrew, I think Chris's sighting of the warblers are from early in the morning in the scrub area beneath the beacon as you walk toward the bench. This area certainly looks like a good migrant trap too as I've had spotted flycatcher there before as well a few unidentified warblers!

    Paul B

    ReplyDelete
  3. Andrew5 May 2014 at 10:04

    Hi Paul is that the bench at the top of the rd going towards bottom of Billinge? If it is I agree, it looks a prime location!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous6 May 2014 at 11:03

    You are correct Andrew, though the technique is to stay still for hours at a time and hope that a dog walker or mountain biker goes past!

    Paul B

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