Billinge Bits

Just a few photos from the last week or so .... a few migrants including blackcap, chiffchaff, whinchat whilst the curlew were on Old Coach Road

 

 

 

Blackcap (m) - as those elder berries ripen sylvia warblers become very protective, listen out for harsh "tacking" noises and a blackcap, garden warbler or something rarer may pop into view.

 

 

d Coach Rd but a regular tweeter @neilg had many more

 

 

Whinchat - Apparently used to once breed in St Helens but now sadly only occur as passage migrants.  This one was on the fences of the pony paddocks at Crookhurst Farm where I've had them in previous years.  Red Barn Lane, fields around Carr Mill Dam and Billinge Hill Summit are other locations to look in late August - early Sept.

   

 

 

Sparrowhawks also migrate  (following the passerine migrants)  and I've been noting one around a lot more often recently.

 

 

 

Lesser redpoll have begun moving, some people expect BIG numbers this winter so fill those nyger feeders up!

 

 

Painted Lady hopefully a migrant and not one bred as part of a school project!

 

Long-tailed tit - these are beginning to move around in large flocks, they often carry other birds with them including blue tit, great tit but the ones I've been seeing are with goldcrest, treecreeper and coal tit.  If you're gonna find a firecrest or yellow-browed warbler then keep your ears alert and eyes peeled as flocks of mixed tits fly through.

 

Chiffchaff - Keep a close eye on any warblers you see, you never know when or where a Bonelli's or Siberian Chiffchaff may pop up!

Cheers

Paul B