Bird survey carried out on Three Owls Reserve Tarleton Moss (SD436214)

 

 

 

The breeding bird survey was carried out at 6am to 7.30am on Sunday 17^th May 2020 in overcast but warm conditions. The main criterion for potential breeding was singing males in suitable habitat. The status of each species is for the moss and is based on the Lancashire Bird Report and local knowledge.

 

Observations

 

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)-Common breeding resident enhanced by commercial raised birds: 12 males found plus 2 females and  predated eggs also discovered.

 

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) – Common breeding resident: pair in adjacent field.

 

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) – Common Breeding resident: over 40 individuals found.

 

Grey Heron (Ardea cinereal) – Non breeding: feeding visitor to the reserve.

 

Eurasian Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus- Local breeder: single individual seen carrying prey no evidence of breeding.

 

Eurasian Buzzard (Buteo buteo)- Local breeder: recent colonisation visits the reserve and breeds in adjacent copse.

 

Dunnock (Prunella modularis)- Common Local breeder:  young being fed.

 

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)- Common breeder: one feeding young in nest box.

 

Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)- Uncommon breeder: three singing males heard.

 

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)- Common breeder: Several small flocks totalling 27 birds plus a minimum of 7 singing individuals.

 

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleusCommon)- Common breeder: one pair seen plus 3 others calling.

 

Great Tit (Parus major)- Common breeder: 5 individual sing males observed.

 

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)-Common breeder migrant: 15 individuals feeding over reserve.

 

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)- uncommon breeder migrant: one calling from adjacent copse.

 

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)-uncommon breeder migrant: 2 individuals calling.

 

Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)- Common breeder migrant: 7 males singing and alarming.

 

Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis)- common breeder migrant: 4 singing and displaying males plus a pair on territory.

 

Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)- common breeder: over 10 males singing.

 

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)- common breeder: birds feeding on reserve no evidence of breeding.

 

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)-Common breeder resident: 2 singing males.

 

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)- uncommon breeding resident: one seen feed in adjacent field and flying into reserve hedge,

 

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)- common breeding resident: two individual pairs seen.

 

Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)-common breeding resident: numerous males seen on reserve (maxima 20).

 

 

 

Proposed future surveys include one night time visit and a repeat full survey on mid-June.

 

 

 

Report compiled by Rob Yates 17/05/2020