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A group of 12 set off from Brinscall Baths, stopping to check the large pond next to the car park where we saw the usual species like Canada Geese, Mallards, Black-Headed Gull and Moorhens. A Raven "cronking" overhead made for a promising start as did the Sparrowhawk flashing by.
Into the woods we went, walking down along The Goit, enjoying the signs of Spring appearing in the moss and lichen covered trees. Chiffchaffs were heard calling and eventually spotted, as was the Treecreeper that seemed determined to "creep" only on the opposite side of the trunks to us. We followed the Goit all the way down to a bridge, where we had splendid views down the valley to White Coppice. A Cuckoo had been heard there the previous day, but no such luck for us.
After a quick break we made our way up into Wheelton Plantation, enjoying the sounds of birds such as Blue and Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbirds and Robins. An eagle-eyed member spotted a Goldcrest moving amongst a group a Holly bushes, enjoying a feast of tiny insects. We had lunch sat at some of the ruins in the plantation, listening to the sounds of Spring as we ate.
Once we'd finished lunch we made our way up to the very windy moor where we had a nice view of a male Stonechat perched on the wire of a fence, not looking fazed by the breeze at all. We walked past the ruins of Ratten Clough and onto Millstone Edge, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks the highlights of the birds here.
From here we made our way back into Brinscall, where a tree full of Goldfinches and Greenfinch proved to be a very nice way to end the walk.
Canada Goose 10+
Mallard
Goosander (male)
Pheasant h
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Coot
Curlew 2
Black Headed Gull 10+
Wood Pigeon 5+
Carrion Crow 10+
Jackdaw 15+
Magpie 5+
Raven h
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit 2
Great Tit 1
Coal Tit h
Skylark 5+
Chiff Chaff 1
Nuthatch h
Tree Creeper 1+
Wren 1
Robin 2
Blackbird 1
Song Thrush h
Stonechat (male)
Dunnock h
House Sparrow 5+ h
Meadow Pipit 2
Chaffinch (male)
Greenfinch 2
Grey Squirrel
Weasel
Rabbit
h=heard only
Into the woods we went, walking down along The Goit, enjoying the signs of Spring appearing in the moss and lichen covered trees. Chiffchaffs were heard calling and eventually spotted, as was the Treecreeper that seemed determined to "creep" only on the opposite side of the trunks to us. We followed the Goit all the way down to a bridge, where we had splendid views down the valley to White Coppice. A Cuckoo had been heard there the previous day, but no such luck for us.
After a quick break we made our way up into Wheelton Plantation, enjoying the sounds of birds such as Blue and Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbirds and Robins. An eagle-eyed member spotted a Goldcrest moving amongst a group a Holly bushes, enjoying a feast of tiny insects. We had lunch sat at some of the ruins in the plantation, listening to the sounds of Spring as we ate.
Once we'd finished lunch we made our way up to the very windy moor where we had a nice view of a male Stonechat perched on the wire of a fence, not looking fazed by the breeze at all. We walked past the ruins of Ratten Clough and onto Millstone Edge, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks the highlights of the birds here.
From here we made our way back into Brinscall, where a tree full of Goldfinches and Greenfinch proved to be a very nice way to end the walk.
Canada Goose 10+
Mallard
Goosander (male)
Pheasant h
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Coot
Curlew 2
Black Headed Gull 10+
Wood Pigeon 5+
Carrion Crow 10+
Jackdaw 15+
Magpie 5+
Raven h
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit 2
Great Tit 1
Coal Tit h
Skylark 5+
Chiff Chaff 1
Nuthatch h
Tree Creeper 1+
Wren 1
Robin 2
Blackbird 1
Song Thrush h
Stonechat (male)
Dunnock h
House Sparrow 5+ h
Meadow Pipit 2
Chaffinch (male)
Greenfinch 2
Grey Squirrel
Weasel
Rabbit
h=heard only