I've been waiting for 9 years for an opportunity like this since my last encounter!

I received an alert that a Dotterel was seen (yesterday) at 10:45am. So I went straight away, catching the 12pm train to Clitheroe. Unfortunately, I took a wrong turning so parked up further from the spot than I was going to , but as it happens, maybe just aswell.

Garden warbler was a new year tick, and shortly after was a Stonechat and Red grouse, all seen thanks to the location.

After I arrived, I managed to find the Dotterel, along with a Golden plover too, (which I wasn't expecting). So I sat myself down and just enjoyed the moment and let nature direct the bird. Apparently, soon after I had left at 4:45pm, it eventually took off and wasn't seen since.

Other birds also included: Raven, Buzzard, Meadow pipit and Skylark.

I was shattered last night, which is why I hadn't posted this yesterday evening.

Ta!

There have been three single Dotterel through this Spring, a far cry from the double figure counts of thirty to forty years ago but still better than last Spring when, I think, there was just one single record. A lot of migrants seem to have been held back this year due to the adverse weather and winds, so heres hoping a few more will make it back to their breeding grounds, via Pendle.

Presume you mean female Dotterel Craig?

Stunning female approx 200m or so south of the Trig point this morning

Monday 22nd June 2020. 11:00 - 15:00 hrs.

Walked from Pendleton village (just to the south west of Pendle Hill) up into the surrounding countryside.

Highlight was a male Redstart.

Other birds seen included:
Buzzard x 5 sightings
Kestrel x 2 sightings
Linnet x 1
Skylark x 5
Curlew x 1
Long Tailed Tit x 1
Swallow x 10
Swift x 6
House Martin x 4
Meadow Pipit x 1
Pied Wagtail x 1
Grey Heron x 1
Jackdaw x 15
Carrion Crow x 7

Pendle Hill 200m south of the trig point

Single male Dotterel, Phonescoped images attached

Walked up Pendle Hill this a.m. with Malcolm looking for reported Snow Bunting with no luck, just managed 2 Red Grouse
Cheers Ian

Late report for Saturday 5th,

Golden Plover 6
Red Grouse 3
Wheatear 7


No sign of any Dotterel

Pendle Hill, Downham Moor 9.00 - 11.00am,

Snow Bunting 5, Unfortunatly no snow, but the right environment to appreciate just how tough this little bird is
Red Grouse 2, several more heard
Raven
And a possible Merlin flashed down the hill side low and at great speed on the decent

Early morning climb up Pendle hill in less than great conditions heavy mist, rain and wind, 7.30 - 9.30am

Wheatear 3, including 1 Greenland male
Meadow Pipit
Skylark
Golden Plover

No Dotterel for me, however viewing was compromised due to the heavy mist and rain, Had to use the compass on my phone to locate the southern route down,

Early morning jaunt before the masses ascend 7.30-10.00am, Highlights

Wheatear 11
Ring Ouzel 4m, 2f
Stonechat 2m, 3f
Golden Plover 1m, 1f
Curlew 2
Swift
Red Grouse 3

No Dotterel for me, However 3 reported on Birdguides early afternoon.

We had had this jaunt up Pendle arranged for a couple of weeks. We were in luck with the weather and also with the news at 8am that four Dotterel had been sited two hundred metres north of the summit cairn at 5.40am.

After a fleeting visit to Alston Wetlands, I picked my birding pal up in Great Harwood and we made our way to Pendle, half an hour away. We ascended via the diagonal path which arrives at the summit area south of the trig point. Whilst three of the birds appeared to have moved on, a male Dotterel was still showing well north of the cairn towards the far wall. Quite confiding, it was moving about a fair bit and at one point flew twenty yards or so but still staying roughly on the main pathway.

Also around were two Raven, several Meadow Pipit and Skylark, a few Wheatear here and there and two Ring Ouzel which another birder had managed to see (not us) near the top of the stepped route at Big End. Lapwing and Curlew had earlier been seen in farmland lower down and a dozen Green Hairstreak butterflies were noted by the steep paths. Nice to meet Sarfraz Hayat and Craig Bell at the summit.

-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Friday 6th of May 2016 10:13:57 PM

0900 - 10.30 this morning rather bleak conditions. Walked up via Ogden Clough (past the 2 reservoirs) which is a pleasant route.

Sadly, no Dotterel were to be found by me or another 2 birders after a good search.

6 Wheatear
Numerous Meadow Pipit and Skylark
4 Red Grouse heard only.
1 Curlew heard.

Bank Holiday Monday 4th May 2015.

Walk from Barley - Pendle Hill - Lower Ogden Reservoir - Upper Ogden Reservoir - Newchurch in Pendle - back to Barley.

No sign of Dotterel (felt sorry for guy from Sussex who had been there since 08:30 without any sightings! I will be back!)
Stonechats x 4 (3M and 1F)
Linnet
Kestrel
Red Grouse
Grey Wagtail
Meadow pipits x lots (alas no sign of any Red-throated Pipits - sorry John (Rayner)!)
Skylarks x lots
Swallows x 7
Jackdaws
Carrion Crows
Blue Tits
Great Tits
Chaffinch
Magpies
Mallard
Robin
Blackbirds
Wren
Starlings
Coal Tit
Greylag Geese
House Sparrows
Lapwings
Feral Pigeon
Woodpigeon
Jay
Goldfinch
Dunnock



-- Edited by Steve Judge on Monday 4th of May 2015 04:45:57 PM

-- Edited by Steve Judge on Monday 4th of May 2015 07:23:12 PM

We were up there yesterday Mark. It was awesome, felt great to be doing what must be one of the most traditional bits of birding in the North of England. I guess people have been slogging up that hill at the end of April since the year dot!

We had some brief flight views yesterday when the 3 birds were spooked by something, and I was actually surprised by how powerful the birds looked in the air, and they seemed to have pretty big wings, especially by the standard of other plovers like Ringed and Little Ringed. When I thought about it though, they looked a lot like Golden Plover in flight, and they must need to be decent strong flyers to cope with such windy habitats. At one point they blasted past the three of us guys at an altitude of about 10 feet and they were really travelling!

Great birds.

Great mid morning jaunt up Pendle for the Dotterel. Parked up in Barley at 10.20 and was at the summit just after 11.00. Four birds seen, two males and two females that at times gave very confiding views. They were spooked by a Kestrel at one point so got some superb flight views. As Rob says below, well worth the effort because the confiding nature of the birds makes for great photo opportunities. Also had a Golden Plover and a pair of Raven plus the usuals. Four Ring Ouzel had been seen earlier by an East Lancs birder in the quarry area. Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip and Green Hairstreak (3-4) seen whilst out.

We're you up there this morning Rob? There was a Manchester birder present but I have forgotten his name.

A trip up the hill after Leighton Moss with Steve and Simon was well worth every minute of the muscle burn to get my 2nd Lifer of the day (a Lifer for them also).

Dotterel - 3 (1m 2f) absolutely cracking birds with the slightly more slender male always playing catch up with the females who were obviously more brightly coloured than him too. We kept moving position to get good views and were always trying to keep low. Eventually we found ourselves in a channel where the grass was short and guess what, the Dotterel were even more obliging and came to within no more than a few feet. Lovely friendly birds and an experience I won't forget in a hurry.

Nice to meet John Tymon, Dennis Atherton and co were already up there, and also Ian Igglesden who I met at Lunt Meadows some weeks back. All of us had brilliant close up views.

Other birds of note...
Lots of Meadow Pipit
Lots of Skylark
Few Chaffinch
Few Goldfinch
1 Reed Bunting
1 Pied Wagtail on farmhouse roof
Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff heard everywhere
2 Wheatear (1m 1f)
1 Raven over the top
1 Kestrel
2 Curlew in field near Sabden village
Quite a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls in field nearby
...and a random sighting of a male Pied Flycatcher in a small tree at the side of the lane as we approached the hill. I reversed back a few yards but it flew off. Steve said he heard a call that sounded like a Pied Flycatcher too so that was good enough for me.


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 27th of April 2015 11:45:12 AM

Ring Ouzel on the scree slopes. Golden Plover on the tops too

Joel Tragen wrote:

---

Hi I have been up pendle hill before but that was before I was into birding. I was just wondering what would be there this time of year and where abouts I should be looking for them. Cheers joel.

---

Red Grouse anywhere in the last 50m of the tops, Dipper and Grey Wagtail in the streams, mixed woodland birds if you walk up from Barley via the reservoirs and Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Curlew I'd have thought. I expect the Snow Buntings may have moved north by now but wont be long before there's chance of Dotterel and I've always thought the turf at the top should be good for passage Ring Ouzel?

Hi I have been up pendle hill before but that was before I was into birding. I was just wondering what would be there this time of year and where abouts I should be looking for them. Cheers joel.

For info purposes, Snow Bunting (c.36) on Pendle yesterday. No records in yet from today so unsure if they're still around.

Hi John,

Sorry, I've just trawled back through my Twitter feed and the four were actually reported as at 17.00 last night. I misread that somehow, as being today.
I can see no reports so far today.

Phil Barnett wrote:

---

Hi Adam (or anyone who knows Pendle hill)

I've been planning a trip up here some time, but I'm a bit concerned due to my mobility issues.

I can manage a bit of moderate climbing but I'm not sure about Pendle.

I couldn't do Shuttlingslow from the Trentabank car park these days (for example), but I could just about do it from the Standing Stones car park.

---

Hi Phil, my apologies, only just clocked this. I parked in the visitor centre car park and followed the public footpath to the base of the hill. I would recommend following the path to the left also, rather than the steps to the right. More bird life this direction too.

I see 4 Dotterel have been reported this afternoon close to the trig point.

Dennis atherton wrote:

---

Agree. Barley lane nr pendleside farm is the closest route.Park in layby. Usually enough spaces. Cross the cattle grid. When route forks Travel up the left path is the easiest if you ask me. Flat hill rather than steps. Its worth it if the birds are there. Ring ouzel been seen in the quarry too

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Wednesday 14th of May 2014 11:01:57 AM

---

Not seen any reports today of dotterel on pendle ,as anyone else seen any as its ideal weather today for them to move on .:(

Agree. Barley lane nr pendleside farm is the closest route.Park in layby. Usually enough spaces. Cross the cattle grid. When route forks Travel up the left path is the easiest if you ask me. Flat hill rather than steps. Its worth it if the birds are there. Ring ouzel been seen in the quarry too

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Wednesday 14th of May 2014 11:01:57 AM

Brilliant- thanks a lot Pete, thats very helpful. I think the second of routes you mentioned is do-able. Can you usually park at the layby you mentioned or does it get full?

Pete Welch wrote:

---

Hello Phil. I don't know the routes you want to compare too but its a 5 miles loop from Barley up the side of the reservoirs to the top and then back down the slope which has been turned into steps to get from the top back down. Total climb is about 1600 feet that way. A shorter route would be to park in the limited layby on Barley Lane about a mile north of the village in the saddle between the two valleys and then strike out for just north of the trig point and follow the path south to the trig or beyond to where the birds have been. That route is about 230m height gain in about a 1.25 mile climb. Let me know if you want grid references but its not a flat route by any means - nearest I can think is the last third of the path up Ingleborough if that helps? Peter

---

Hello Phil. I don't know the routes you want to compare too but its a 5 miles loop from Barley up the side of the reservoirs to the top and then back down the slope which has been turned into steps to get from the top back down. Total climb is about 1600 feet that way. A shorter route would be to park in the limited layby on Barley Lane about a mile north of the village in the saddle between the two valleys and then strike out for just north of the trig point and follow the path south to the trig or beyond to where the birds have been. That route is about 230m height gain in about a 1.25 mile climb. Let me know if you want grid references but its not a flat route by any means - nearest I can think is the last third of the path up Ingleborough if that helps? Peter

Phil Barnett wrote:

---

Hi Adam (or anyone who knows Pendle hill)

I've been planning a trip up here some time, but I'm a bit concerned due to my mobility issues.

I can manage a bit of moderate climbing but I'm not sure about Pendle.

I couldn't do Shuttlingslow from the Trentabank car park these days (for example), but I could just about do it from the Standing Stones car park.

Does it compare to either of these (I think you probably know these routes, as I've seen postings of yours from Macclesfield Forest)

Cheers,

Phil

---

4 Dotterel (Lifer) - 2 male and 2 female (seen at side of path forking right about half a mile south of trig point (near four cairns one of which looked like upside cocktail glass). Thanks to Craig Bell for his help and advice and a walker for his tip-off). Stunning looking birds - especially the female. Between 12:00 and 12:30 hrs.
Also - wheatear, meadow pipit, willow warbler and cuckoo (seen and heard on posts and woods between Lower and Upper Ogden Reservoirs).
Got all this in before the heavens opened early afternoon!!!

Hi Adam (or anyone who knows Pendle hill)

I've been planning a trip up here some time, but I'm a bit concerned due to my mobility issues.

I can manage a bit of moderate climbing but I'm not sure about Pendle.

I couldn't do Shuttlingslow from the Trentabank car park these days (for example), but I could just about do it from the Standing Stones car park.

Does it compare to either of these (I think you probably know these routes, as I've seen postings of yours from Macclesfield Forest)

Cheers,

Phil

A pair of Dotterel still around the trig point this morning.
Also heard Golden Plover and Curlew.
Many Wheatears and Meadow Pipits and a Grey Wagtail on the walk up from the car park.

A great day though no find of dotterel. Close up of golden plover in full summer plumage on the peak top on west side of stone pile. Dotterel wasn't at their usual spot at this location. Male common kestrel hunting the slopes. .nice to see how easy it is to get great views of red grouse, a first for my mother. Best location I've come across. Will try next year for dotterel.

Superb write up - brilliant birds aren't they!

I had a fantastic day up Pendle Hill today, one I'll never forget. Not being the fit, slim(mer) or young bloke that I once was, I had severe issues thinking about the steep climb up Pendle carrying all my photographic gear in pretty hot weather. However, with reported Dotterel sightings yesterday and good weather, I decided to go for it, thinking I'd just take my time and set myself small targets to reach along the way with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery (no, not get my breath back). This worked for me and I made it to the trig point at the top in just less than 40 minutes, a time with which I was quite happy, in spite of meeting a couple of girls walking their dog who said they'd done it in 15 minutes and set themselves a new record!

At the top it was very windy and even quite cold at times and there was nothing much about except for the odd Curlew call and plenty of singing Skylarks. Three Swifts (my first of the year) did shoot through at one point and so I thought things were looking up, but apart from some crows and maybe a couple of tumbling Ravens, I didn't see much else in my search for the Dotterel. I spoke to a bloke from Chorley Naturalists (sorry, I've forgotten your name) who usually sees the Dotterel here every year but who hadn't seen them today and he gave me a few pointers about areas they've favoured in the past. Another local birder told me he had toured the whole area and not seen them today, so things weren't looking good.

I spent an hour or so in the area around the trig point with no luck, and a couple of birders who'd come up from the Sabden path in the opposite direction to me said they hadn't seen them on the way. Whilst I was talking to them, a small bird of prey flashed past flying low over the top of Pendle Hill, which we both agreed must have been a Merlin. With this news of no sightings I was beginning to think I'd be out of luck today, so I decided to try the path along to the Scout Hut cairn which I'd been told earlier was a favoured place. However, apart from some very low flying Skylarks, some Meadow Pipits and a lone Red Grouse flying over the path, there was very little else.

Feeling a bit fed up I decided to try the trig point area again before giving up and going home, as this seemed to be where all the event reports had been. Lucky I did because quite by chance I met another local birder on the plateau near the trig point, and he told me he had just seen two and possibly four Dotterel in this area, but they had flown down the path towards Sabden. When I told him I'd never seen a Dotterel, he very kindly said he'd take me to exact place he'd seen them, which was about half a mile or more down the Sabden path in the area of the fifth small cairn on this route. We walked down the path and after a few false alarms with Skylarks and Wheatears, I eventually spotted one and then two and eventually all four Dotterel about 30 metres to the right of the path. Bingo and lifer! There were two male and two beautifully marked female birds.

We were soon joined by four other birders who were all keen like me to get some photographs. So after everyone had had a good look by observing the birds through binoculars, we slowly approached them until we got down to a reasonable distance. Then we all snapped happily to our hearts' content with the birds down to three of four metres on average. At one point we all lay down in the grass along the path and the birds walked closer and closer and eventually walked past us to within one metre, so close I couldn't focus. I knew Dotterel were pretty confiding, but I was half expecting one to jump up on my lens.

This was a truly amazing birding experience and like I said earlier, one I'll never forget. Thanks must go to the original local birder who took me to the birds and who did tell me his name, but which now escapes me. It was also nice to meet the couple from Knaresborough and Gareth and his Dad, who helped guide the birds in our direction for photos. They are some of the best bird photos I've ever taken, true frame fillers, and some will be on the LeighOS Facebook page later tonight and my Flickr site and blog later this week.

Brilliant views of 2 pairs of Dotterel feeding around my feet - so close I could not focus the camera.
Amazing experience

-- Edited by Nigel Richards on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 07:40:54 PM

A hike from Barley to Pendle Hill and back yesterday saw us walking in constant rain and fog so I was grateful that my daughter spotted a few Wheatear, several Red Grouse and then three Dotterel - 2 females and 1 male - feeding alongside the path about half a mile from the trig point, at midday. I never tire of seeing Dotterel and it cheered up an otherwise damp walk.

1 Dotterel (F) south of Trig point today (Lifer!) Grateful to the birder whom I met as he surveyed the summit plateau from the stile - told me the bird had been seen. It took me a good 20 min or so to find it but was a cracking Female with pristine plumage.


On the walk -

Green Woodpecker 1 seen 2 more heard
Wheatear - males looking great
Swallows ++ hunting along the top of the escarpment
Meadow Pipits ++



-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Tuesday 29th of April 2014 08:33:22 PM

1 Dotterel near path north of trig point 09.30 today 14th April
2 Red Grouse also

Karl

-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Monday 14th of April 2014 01:50:14 PM

3 dotterel north of trig point on path at 8.45am

Decided to chance it today up Pendle Hill for a possible Dotterel or two with John Barber for company.

Having never been up there before, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had heard the walk up was a bit strenuous. That had to be the understatement of the year as the way up was a proper lung buster.

Anyway, as luck would have it we couldn't locate any Dotterel anywhere around the trig point or in the surrounding area. Another birder did tell us that some had been sighted up there on the 23rd though - which I believe is about a week earlier than usual.

We did however get reasonable views of two Red Grouse and also a female Ring Ouzel which must have got the surprise of its life when I appeared behind it on the ridge at a distance of only 12 feet. Needless to say it soon disappeared!!

Other birds seen where several Raven on the way up along with at least 6 Wheatear and Mipits everywhere.

Think I'll fetch the iron lung next time!!

4 Dotterel 400 yards from top of Big End, showing this afternoon. Not seen by me, info taken from East Lancs site.

Nothing doing yet, unfortunately. Reading the East Lancs site, a guy was up there twice yesterday, afternoon and evening without luck. Hoping the clag today will have grounded one or more, so tomorrow morning could be productive. Here's hoping.

For more details of last year's sightings and directions to and up Pendle Hill see last years info on the original thread "East Lancs Birding" started 2nd May 2008.

Mark is your route via the Pendle Way path less strenuous than the route from Pendleside Farm?

Sid

-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 27th of April 2009 08:24:05 PM

Last year's date range was 24 April to 4 May although numbers wise early May was better with a peak of seven seen on, I think 3 May. Early May is generally regarded as 'the time' and I have been lucky during the first week some years back. Stoney area just around the trig point. Park up on the large car park in Barley and head up to the top via the Pendle Way path and Big End.

Yeap Just get up there this weekend and loiter around the trig point, chance of snow bunting as well, if your early,

This been a Bank Holiday weekend I suggest an early trip up!

Keep birding.

Cheers Sid

For the last three years they have not been far from thr trig point.