Tough going today both walk wise and bird wise.
From home to Pule Hill (via Holdsworth and Crooked Lane) was a bit of a pull in the heat.
(Pylon maintenance on the hillside includes a new track from Crooked Lane to a pylon and , yippee, they have shifted some rubbish off the road...under the trees).
A nosy around up here, then I caught the Queensbury bus to Station Road. Great bus service the 576 - every 10 mins at this time.
A walk home down Station Road and along the track up through Scholes and home, followed.
Birds:-
Crossing the fields to Holdsworth, a low flying Raptor came over the wall in front of me chasing a small bird - probably a Mipit.
It missed the bird and me by an inch or so!
I was thinking Merlin / Hobby but it's probably a Sparrowhawk!
It's difficult to know which to go for, bins or camera, in this situation.I always plump for camera and I actually got it.
Other birds - Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail (on the small stream at the bottom of Windy Bank Lane).
Coal Tit making a nest in a hole in a house wall.
Pule Hill:
Hot and pongy.
2 Lapwing, - Lots of Magpies and Crows.
2 Linnet, 1 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit.
2 Herring Gull types.
4 Swallow.
A Whitethroat rose, singing, from the very edge of the big 'bikers' field and shot back down into brambles when it saw me.
Station Road to home:
Lots of Warblers singing but very well hidden.
Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff was realistically all I could definitely ID.
A fox was on a wall.
Long Tailed Tit, 2 Swallow.
Nearer home:
Lapwing with one chick.
Pied Wagtail.
4 Swallow.
Little Owl.
Going along Lowe Lane I heard a calling 'chip' 'chip' 'chip' 'chip' ....
from a Pipit on a telegraph pole before it flew high and parachuted down to high wall.
All the characteristics of a Tree Pipit (hopefully)!
It looks good for Tree Pipit for me.
I don't know what anyone else thinks?
Some Sparrowhawk? Photos:-
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Soil Hill in the distance
Another Tree Pipit Moment:-
'Tree Pipit Video'
I could heard the bird - but can't hear it on the video.
Sparrowhawk John but what is that other 'big' raptor ??
ReplyDeleteI would have to go for Meadow Pipit - slender pointed bill and long curved hind claws clearly visible. Not easy.
I'll bail Tree Pipit yet Dave.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Sparrowhawk was being mobbed by Corvids.
It all happened so fast and the birds were gone.
All my photos are on the blog.
Strange shape to the other Raptor?
I 've no idea what it is!!
Thanks for the interest.
John
Nail not bail (predictive text on my blog/kindle).
ReplyDeleteCan't turn it off!!
John