28/01/2022 My Garden, Abram, Wigan

Willow Tit: Since the 1970s willow tits have declined by 94% and lost 50% of their breeding range, but Wigan remains a stronghold for this species.  During  the winter months willow tit can be regularly  be seen at Pennington Flash Country Park and Wigan Flashes, both have feeding stations are in place. 

But for me, every now and again I get a wintering bird visit my very own garden feeders. Not a common occurrence so always a special moment when I see one.

20/09/2016 My Garden, Abram, Wigan

Willow Tit: Over the past few weeks I have been treated to not one but two Willow Tit regularly visiting my garden feeders.

More than 10 per cent of the UK’s Willow Tit population live in the area around Wigan, St Helens, Warrington and Chorley.

Goldfinch: This is critical as nationally the UK population has fallen by 90 per cent in the past 30 years placing it on the red list of species of conservation concern!


I will make sure to keep the feeders topped up over the colder winter months to help these little beauties along.

Another welcome bird that brings a bit more colour are Goldfinch, I have good numbers visiting that swell in Winter.

I do really enjoy my garden and watching the visitors on the feeders - a real joy.

26/01/2014 Pennington Flash

Willow Tit: Yesterday I spent a very pleasant   morning dodging the dog walkers and Saturday morning runners down at penny.

I started the morning off at the Bunting Hide were I came across this little dude, who had a deformed claw. I first Thought it was Trichomosis but this is a respiratory disease - Mr Woollens thoughts are that it may have broken its leg and it has healed in a deformed way.

Bullfinch: The feeding station was busy with a flurry of different species. The highlights being a large flock of Bullfinches a male GS Woodie and a few Jay.

Jay: I was hoping to see or hear the Cetti's Warbler which has been frequenting the reeds around one of the hides and I was hoping to get lucky and pick up a white winger among the gulls, but after looking and looking I never turned up anything special.






Goldeneye: The best of the rest from around penny's pools where Goldeneye and several Goosander and a few Kingfisher calling and whizzing past Tom Eds.

16,17,18/03/2012 Coniston Lake District

Great Spotted Woodpecker: A three night stay at a beautiful cottage in Coniston with Dawn and friends turned out to be one of the best birding trips I have had in a very long time.

In the garden of the cottage there was one feeder and we where supplied with bird feed which turned out to be very productive. Almost as soon as it was topped up we had a visit from a GS Woodpecker and a vast array of garden birds who stripped the feeder in hours.

Nuthatch: Nuthatch where also very active on the feeders theses guys are very fast and I never really realised how big they are, compared to the other garden birds.

Coal Tit: A first for the year for me and great to see so close up. I was really impressed with the garden and feeder.

Dipper: on the second day we all took a trip to Coniston Lake and came across a fast flowing stream where there was two very active dipper possible a breeding  pair as I saw them collecting nesting material.


This bird was another lifer for me and what a star bird. Supurb.


Great Tit: Taken from the window. This was a gret place to drink tea in front of thetal haeting and set great close shots.

Willow Tit: After spending hours awaiting a glimpses  of one of theses guys at Martin Mere is was really pleasing to see so many so close up at the cottage.

At least 3 Willow Tits where regular visitors and where not shy as they fed off theround around my feet and off the bench right in front of me.

Willow Tit & Coal Tit: Another picture taken from the window with a nice cup of Yorkshire Tea while standing infront of the heating.

Siskin: This female was only seen once on the first day for only a few seconds and then on the last day as we were leaving so it was a quick dash for the camera.




The stunning yellow male was hanging around the bushes but did not go to the feeders. It was such a shame but still great to see the female at close quarters.

Tawny Owl: On the first night i got the whole house in to the garden to listen to two Tawny Owls calling which inspired me to get up at 5.30am on the last day.

And what a great decision, as I saw three Tawny Owls very close up perching and in flight and hared them making some hell of a noise, possibly a territorial or threat call.

Willow Tit: Other birds of intrest where 2 Kingfisher, 1 female Goosander, Golden Eye, Tuffted Duck and  GC Grebe on Coniston Water.


And thanks to Sam we spotted a Deer along the roadside we think it might of been a Roe Deer. Great find in s stunning place.

Snow Bunting: After a gruelling climb up The Old Man of Coniston I was delighted to see a flock of Snow Bunting at the summit.


Unfortunately the weather closed in just as I reached the top, behind Dawn I may add so they pic was a bit fuzzy but sill great record shot of a great bird in a great place.