7 separate Merlin over Smithills Moor heading south
1 Golden Plover NW
343 Meadow Pipit S
24 Swallow S
19 Sand Martin S
6 Twite S
8 Wheatear
3 Red Grouse
Info thanks to Andy Makin
John Williams said
Sat Sep 14 9:54 PM, 2019
10.30-15.00
Georges Lane : 1 Osprey (Flew South from Rivington, circled a few times above high above the county border
then soared away towards Wilderswood). 1f Hen Harrier hunting low above the moor just North of the former
kennels, the bird was seen to dive and catch a small prey item, which may of been a Meadow Pipit as large
numbers of them were flying off the moor at that time. The harrier was then mobbed by a Raven, after which it flew
off in the direction of the main mast, whilst the corvid broke off the attack and joined it's mate.
Also seen along Georges Lane were 1 Tree Pipit (Being chased around an hawthorn by an angry male Chaffinch),
4 Whinchats, 6 Stonechats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 1 Wheatear. A group of 30 Swallows were
congregating around a small dead tree.
Burnt Edge : 2 Tree Pipits with a charm of 100+ Goldfinches around the ruins of the building by the path below
Burnt Edge. 2 Whinchats, an amazing 12 Stonechats and 3 Reed Buntings around the heather and bracken along
the bank, also 1 Kestrel. When I first arrived the bank seemed to be alive with Meadow Pipits, all of which slowly drifted
off towards Mast Road.
Holdens Farm : 9 Linnets and 1 Buzzard.
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Sep 14 9:02 PM, 2019
Simon Warford wrote:
Vis Mig watch from Scout Road, 7am to 1pm. (just myself).
1 Hobby chasing House Martins 1 Merlin Smithill's Moor 1 Tree Pipit came in from the north and joined the Meadow Pipits around the quarry (phonescoped pic). 3 Wheatear around the quarry 2 Chiffchaff landed on the fence then flew off south. 180 Meadow Pipit south 118 Swallow south 4 Grey Wagtail south 7 Siskin 10 Mistle Thrush south 2 Sand Martin south 650 House Martin south, but best of all was around 100 House Martins which spent a good hour feeding and landing on the rock face in the quarry, prividing me with a memorable encounter, until they all got up and flew off south
Hi Simon,
Don't know if you noticed but in picture 4 the house martin has a rather large louse on its back hitching a free ride to Africa!
Simon Warford said
Sat Sep 14 2:52 PM, 2019
Vis Mig watch from Scout Road, 7am to 1pm. (just myself).
1 Hobby chasing House Martins 1 Merlin Smithill's Moor 1 Tree Pipit came in from the north and joined the Meadow Pipits around the quarry (phonescoped pic). 3 Wheatear around the quarry 2 Chiffchaff landed on the fence then flew off south. 180 Meadow Pipit south 118 Swallow south 4 Grey Wagtail south 7 Siskin 10 Mistle Thrush south 2 Sand Martin south 650 House Martin south, but best of all was around 100 House Martins which spent a good hour feeding and landing on the rock face in the quarry, prividing me with a memorable encounter, until they all got up and flew off south
5 Pink-footed Geese west at 8:53am and another 3 at 9:32am
1 Peregrine high S
32 Buzzard south with a maximum spiral of 15
139 Swallow S
375 House Martin S
475 Meadow Pipit S
8 Siskin S
Birds down included:
3 Whitethroat
6 Chiffchaff
26 Stonechat
11 Whinchat
27 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 10 11:14 PM, 2019
Highlights today included:
195 Meadow Pipit S
Osprey SE at 11:15
3 Merlin S
7 Buzzard S
195 Swallow
9 Snipe SE
1 Raven high SW
13 Mistle Thrush E
7 Wheatear
1 Green Woodpecker
Whinchat at Higher Meadows (thanks to Andy Pinches)
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Simon Warford said
Sun Sep 8 9:08 PM, 2019
Combined sightings today from myself, Phil Rhodes & Dan Brown -
2 Hobby hunting over Smithill's Moor 5 Whinchat (4 Pony Field on Mast Road and 1 Georges Lane) 3 Spotted Flycatcher (2 Burnt Edge, 1 Mast Road) 1 Redstart Pony Field 21 Wheatear 1540 Swallow through south 277 House Martin through south 226 Meadow Pipits through south 3 Grey Wagtail south 15 Buzzards 6 Chiffchaff 4 Siskin
Simon Warford said
Sat Sep 7 8:39 PM, 2019
Combined sightings today from Andy Makin, myself, Dan Brown and Andy Pinches -
Scout Road- 1 Whinchat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher on fence by the quarry, also 3 Wheatear here.
Top of Winter Hill / Deans Ditch (Andy)- 10 Sandwich Tern very high over SW 3 Merlin 2 Hobby 4 Pink-footed Geese SW 1500 Swallow 1035 House Martin 37 Buzzard south
Over 1500 Meadow Pipits across the moor. 30 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat
Fleet Moor - 5 Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, 13 Buzzard south
Georges Lane- 4 Wheatear 1 Redstart 1 Spotted Flycatcher
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 7th of September 2019 08:44:27 PM
John Williams said
Fri Sep 6 11:21 PM, 2019
16.30-20.00
Georges Lane : 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Buzzards, 1 Raven and 4 Stonechats.
Burnt Edge : 1 Wheatear, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Kestrel and 3 Ravens.
12 Goldcrests were roaming through the conifer plantation on top of Burnt Edge.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 5 9:49 PM, 2019
This morning’s highlights included:
Three flocks of Pink-footed Geese over, with 10 SE and 11 NE at 07:25 and 11 NW at 07:36.
Breeding plumages Grey Plover SW over Winter Hill
48 Wheatear
1 Tree Pipit at Holdens
550 Swallow and 300 House Martin
1 male Merlin at Higher Meadows
Info thanks to Andy Makin and Andy Pinches
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 5 12:09 PM, 2019
Let news for Tuesday 3rd, thanks to Andy Makin and Andy Pinches:
Yellow wagtail and Green woodpecker at Higher Meadows
4 Whinchat
1 Tree Pipit over east at Burnt Edge
11 Wheatear
6 Chiffchaff
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Aug 30 9:21 AM, 2019
A few highlights from yesterday morning around the Holden's Farm/Burnt Edge circuit included Whinchat, female Redstart and a Tree Pipit.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 28 1:04 AM, 2019
Yesterday’s excellent highlights included:
1 Golden Plover over
2 Pied Flycatchers in Sugar Loaf Plantation
11 Spotted Flycatcher across the moors
8 Redstart, with 6 in bracken at Burnt Edge, 1 in Sugar Loaf Plantation and 1 dropped in during rain at Higher Meadows
15 Whinchat
53 (!) Stonechat across the entire moors
24 Wheatear
18 Chiffchaff
15 Willow Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
9 Whitethroat
3 Blackcap
4 Nuthatch
5 Tree Pipit
and the first Red Grouse on Smithills Moor this year!
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Aug 26 10:38 PM, 2019
Further sightings from across the area this afternoon include:
33 Stonechat
12 Whinchat
2 Spotted Flycatcher
Late news for yesterday included:
4 Tree Pipit
6 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Wheatear
4 Whinchat
12 Chiffchaff
8 Willow Warbler
6 Blackcap
All Info thanks to Andy Makin
Paul Richardson said
Mon Aug 26 5:05 PM, 2019
8am to 12.30 in fairly thick fog at first, humid, gradually but not fully clearing to cloudy with warm, sunny breaks.
Walked up the access path from Walker Fold, partway up under Burnt Edge, then back round to Holden's Farm, and finally down Roscoe's Tenement Clough and through the woods.
A very different experience to last Saturday with such limited visibility, at least at first. However, there was still quite a bit of bird activity, although "stonechat alley" directly beneath Burnt Edge was much quieter. That said, we also saw Stonechats elsewhere on the round, so the total actually surpassed Saturday.
Anyway, 36 species and here they are:
Robin 7 Common Whitethroat 1 Goldfinch 57 Wren 4 Tree Pipit 1 at Walker Fold (Thanks to Ian McK for confirmation, as I wasn't sure from the picture!) Bullfinch 6 Chiffchaff 7 Willow Warbler 4 Blackcap (juv) 1 Blackbird 1 Mistle Thrush 4 flew over in the fog! Blue Tit 10 Great Tit 2 Long Tailed Tit 4 Coal Tit 2 Spotted Flycatcher 1 at Walker Fold Chaffinch 2 Nuthatch 2 Stonechat 20 Whinchat 1 juvenile or female - seen briefly as it flew out of the wildflower meadow at Horton's Farm, then distantly 'scoped as it sat on a post. Wheatear 1 nice female (Burnt Edge) Sparrowhawk 1 female flew low across the moor below Burnt Edge Kestrel 1 Buzzard 1 Raven 1 heard Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and Magpie all present several of each Reed Bunting 5 Dunnock 3 Pheasant 5 Linnet 5 Swallow 20+ Jay 1 heard Starling c20 on distant wires Collared Dove 1
-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Monday 26th of August 2019 05:17:17 PM
A few hours here this morning, between George's Lane and Holden's Farm.
3 Stonechat below the kennels at the end of George's Lane 4 Wheatear just off Winter Hill 1 Common Redstart at Holden's Farm c15 Stonechat around Burnt Edge
Burnt Edge circuit today between Andy Makin and myself included:
2 Grasshopper Warbler
3 Tree Pipit
12 Blackcap (also 1 Walker Fold)
6 Whitethroat
16 Stonechat
11 Willow Warbler
9 Chiffchaff
17 Coal Tit
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 20 11:07 PM, 2019
80 Swift, 340 House and 55 Sand Martin, 190 Swallow over Fleet Moor this morning and the 1st summer Little gull seen over High Rid Reservoir at 11am, although only present for 10 minutrs.
Highlights on the moors themselves included 1 Tree Pipit at Holden's and 3 Wheatear off Scout Road.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 20 9:45 AM, 2019
Yesterday’s highlights from the Burnt Edge/Holden’s Farm circuit:
1 Hobby
3 Tree Pipit
57 Coal Tit
5 Chiffchaff
2 Grasshopper Warbler
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 14 2:26 PM, 2019
Late news for yesterday morning:
157 Swift, 176 House Martin and 86 Swallow south
1 Curlew, 1 Ringed Plover and 1 Snipe south
3 Tree Pipit over SE at Burnt Edge
1 juvenile Whinchat on Burnt Edge
4 Chiffchaff, 36 Willow Warbler, 9 Whitethroat
10 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Aug 12 10:00 PM, 2019
Holden’s Farm and Burnt Edge circuit this morning produced:
3 Tree Pipit
14 Chiffchaff
23 Willow Warbler
7 Blackcap
1 male Redstart
30 Coal Tit
10 Goldcrest
10 juvenile Siskin
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 8 8:59 PM, 2019
Holdens Farm and Burnt Edge circuit today produced:
Pied Flycatcher
5 male Redstart
8 Tree Pipit
23 Whitethroat
15 Blackcap
48 Willow Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler
Chiffchaff
Curlew over
10 Stonechat
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 8 9:23 AM, 2019
Late news for yesterday when 2 Redstarts were present, one in the plantation in front of Holdens Farm and the other off Coal Pit Road, plus 2 Tree Pipit in Burnt Edge.
Info thanks to Brian Fogg
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 6 3:21 PM, 2019
Highlights this morning were 5 Tree Pipit in hawthorns along the Walker Fold path and 2 over high East, also a Grasshopper Warbler flushed off the path at Burnt Edge.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Aug 5 6:12 PM, 2019
Highlights today between myself and Andy Makin:
Marsh Harrier hunting over Smithills Moor around midday
15 Tree Pipit around Burnt Edge and Holden's Farm areas (early morning, only one present early afternoon)
1 juvenile Grasshopper Warbler at Holden's Plantation
2 Redstart Holden's area (one around Sugar Loaf probably one of these)
1 Spotted Flycatcher Sugar Loaf Plantation and later possibly same bird at Burnt Edge
14 Lesser Redpoll Holden's Farm
7 Siskin
6 Wheatear
8 Whitethroat
14 Blackcap
38 Willow Warbler
8 Chiffchaff
Hobby at Burnt Edge
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 4 9:57 PM, 2019
This morning’s highlights:
Hobby perched on the wall along Mast Road first thing and then again mid morning hunting insects behind Holdens
Two Redstart at the bottom of Burnt EdgE and also 9 Blackcap flycatching in Burnt Edge
6 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 4 8:50 AM, 2019
Yesterday’s highlights between Andy Makin and Dan Brown included:
Black Redstart briefly at Holden’s
4 Tree Pipit
Sedge Warbler
3 Spotted Flycatcher
43 Willow Warbler
8 Blackcap
20 Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
6 Wheatear
303 Swift SE late morning
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 1 8:17 PM, 2019
A good day of migrants on the moors today produced:
Single Pied Flycatcher, male Redstart, two Tree Pipit, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Wheatear, 12 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 67 Willow Warbler, 10 Whitethroat and 10 Siskin all in the Sugar Loaf area.
Also 2 Crossbill at Gale Brook and just 14 Swift over.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jul 30 11:56 PM, 2019
Earlier today:
21 Wheatear along Mast Rd
93 House Martin
96 Swift
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 29 8:06 PM, 2019
Highlights on the moors today included:
196 Swift S
200 House Martin
20 Common Scoter over NW
1 Greenshank SW at Scout Road
4 Curlew over
6 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 26 10:16 PM, 2019
Highlights from this morning:
single Crossbill sp. SE over Scout Road
single Ringed Plover S
680 Swift with most passing SW over Two Lads Hill, also 176 House Martin, 153 Swallow and 1 Sand Martin .
Holdens Farm area : 1 juvenile Stonechat and around 15 Swallows.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jul 24 9:09 PM, 2019
Some movements on the moors today with 210 House Martin, 48 Swallow and 582 Swift over SW, also 5 common Tern SE, 4 Wheatear in the fields off Mast Road and 5 Siskin over. Also a Hobby feeding on insects along Dean Ditch.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jul 21 5:55 PM, 2019
A single Hobby was hunting pipits low NW along Coal Pit Lane this morning.
Gulls on the roof at Horrocks Fold cow sheds and dropping to the farm by Bryan Hey Reservoir and Horrocks Fold pig shed today included a 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull, adult Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 100+ Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls.
Info thank to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jul 17 11:06 PM, 2019
Single juvenile Redstart at Holden's Farm this morning.
Info thanks to Brian Fogg
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 11 10:14 PM, 2019
13 Mediterranean Gulls by Horrocks Fold cow sheds this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jun 18 3:29 PM, 2019
Red Kite flew north-west over Dean Ditch on Smithills Moor at 12:10 today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Neil Southworth said
Mon Jun 3 10:20 PM, 2019
Male Indian Peafowl along Chorley Old Road this evening not far from the rookery / Blundell Arms. Thought I'd better post it as there seems to be a move for it to be added to the British List!
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 28 10:06 PM, 2019
Female Greenland Wheatear along Dean Ditch this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Fri May 10 7:42 PM, 2019
3 Whinchat briefly dropped in at Higher Meadows along Georges Lane, before moving off north today. Also, 1 young male type Ring Ouzel, 12 Curlew over south and 15 Wheatear.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Fri May 3 11:13 AM, 2019
Late news for yesterday when a Whimbrel flew through north after heavy rain early in the morning and 12 Wheatears were Ron the summit of Winter Hill.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Apr 29 10:25 PM, 2019
Male Ring Ouzel below the old kennels at Higher Meadows off Georges Lane this morning and 2 Common Sandpiper flew NW.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 28 8:50 PM, 2019
An adult Little gull flew south past Scout Road with Black-headed Gulls at 12:45 today
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Apr 26 2:03 PM, 2019
This morning along Coal Pit Lane:
Cuckoo mobile and singing around Roscoe's Plantation
Male Ring Ouzel, 1 Wheatear and 7 Fieldfare in a field next to Roscoe's Farm
Info thanks to Brian Fogg
Jon Bowen said
Mon Apr 22 1:24 PM, 2019
Grasshoppers Warblers reeling between Holdens Farm and Plantation and Tree Pipit and male Wheatear the highlights of a walk around Burnt Edge area this morning
Andrew Mitchell said
Sun Apr 21 7:47 PM, 2019
Male Cuckoo calling and showing well below kennels on George's Lane between 10.45 and 11.30 when I left
Mike Jepson said
Sun Apr 21 11:42 AM, 2019
Walk around fields below Kennels 9am till 11am
2 Ring Ouzels very flighty and disappeared after 10 minutes. Started on right site near dip,flew left to tree then back to tree in valley where they were last seen.
Highlights from this morning included:
55 Pink-footed Geese SE
3 Merlin
3 Sparrowhawk S
1068 House Martin and 1248 Swallow S
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Other sightings from today included:
7 separate Merlin over Smithills Moor heading south
1 Golden Plover NW
343 Meadow Pipit S
24 Swallow S
19 Sand Martin S
6 Twite S
8 Wheatear
3 Red Grouse
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Georges Lane : 1 Osprey (Flew South from Rivington, circled a few times above high above the county border
then soared away towards Wilderswood). 1f Hen Harrier hunting low above the moor just North of the former
kennels, the bird was seen to dive and catch a small prey item, which may of been a Meadow Pipit as large
numbers of them were flying off the moor at that time. The harrier was then mobbed by a Raven, after which it flew
off in the direction of the main mast, whilst the corvid broke off the attack and joined it's mate.
Also seen along Georges Lane were 1 Tree Pipit (Being chased around an hawthorn by an angry male Chaffinch),
4 Whinchats, 6 Stonechats, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 1 Wheatear. A group of 30 Swallows were
congregating around a small dead tree.
Burnt Edge : 2 Tree Pipits with a charm of 100+ Goldfinches around the ruins of the building by the path below
Burnt Edge. 2 Whinchats, an amazing 12 Stonechats and 3 Reed Buntings around the heather and bracken along
the bank, also 1 Kestrel. When I first arrived the bank seemed to be alive with Meadow Pipits, all of which slowly drifted
off towards Mast Road.
Holdens Farm : 9 Linnets and 1 Buzzard.
Hi Simon,
Don't know if you noticed but in picture 4 the house martin has a rather large louse on its back hitching a free ride to Africa!
1 Hobby chasing House Martins
1 Merlin Smithill's Moor
1 Tree Pipit came in from the north and joined the Meadow Pipits around the quarry (phonescoped pic).
3 Wheatear around the quarry
2 Chiffchaff landed on the fence then flew off south.
180 Meadow Pipit south
118 Swallow south
4 Grey Wagtail south
7 Siskin
10 Mistle Thrush south
2 Sand Martin south
650 House Martin south, but best of all was around 100 House Martins which spent a good hour feeding and landing on the rock face in the quarry, prividing me with a memorable encounter, until they all got up and flew off south
Mid--morning to early afternoon today:
5 Pink-footed Geese west at 8:53am and another 3 at 9:32am
1 Peregrine high S
32 Buzzard south with a maximum spiral of 15
139 Swallow S
375 House Martin S
475 Meadow Pipit S
8 Siskin S
Birds down included:
3 Whitethroat
6 Chiffchaff
26 Stonechat
11 Whinchat
27 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Highlights today included:
195 Meadow Pipit S
Osprey SE at 11:15
3 Merlin S
7 Buzzard S
195 Swallow
9 Snipe SE
1 Raven high SW
13 Mistle Thrush E
7 Wheatear
1 Green Woodpecker
Whinchat at Higher Meadows (thanks to Andy Pinches)
Info thanks to Andy Makin
2 Hobby hunting over Smithill's Moor
5 Whinchat (4 Pony Field on Mast Road and 1 Georges Lane)
3 Spotted Flycatcher (2 Burnt Edge, 1 Mast Road)
1 Redstart Pony Field
21 Wheatear
1540 Swallow through south
277 House Martin through south
226 Meadow Pipits through south
3 Grey Wagtail south
15 Buzzards
6 Chiffchaff
4 Siskin
Scout Road-
1 Whinchat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher on fence by the quarry, also 3 Wheatear here.
Burnt Edge circuit-
12 Stonechat
2 Whinchat
2 Tree Pipit
1 Hobby
2 Wheatear
3 Willow Warbler
Brownstones-
1 Spotted Flycatcher
4 Lesser Redpoll
4 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
Top of Winter Hill / Deans Ditch (Andy)-
10 Sandwich Tern very high over SW
3 Merlin
2 Hobby
4 Pink-footed Geese SW
1500 Swallow
1035 House Martin
37 Buzzard south Over 1500 Meadow Pipits across the moor.
30 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat
Fleet Moor -
5 Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, 13 Buzzard south
Georges Lane-
4 Wheatear
1 Redstart
1 Spotted Flycatcher
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 7th of September 2019 08:44:27 PM
Georges Lane : 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Buzzards, 1 Raven and 4 Stonechats.
Burnt Edge : 1 Wheatear, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Kestrel and 3 Ravens.
12 Goldcrests were roaming through the conifer plantation on top of Burnt Edge.
This morning’s highlights included:
Three flocks of Pink-footed Geese over, with 10 SE and 11 NE at 07:25 and 11 NW at 07:36.
Breeding plumages Grey Plover SW over Winter Hill
48 Wheatear
1 Tree Pipit at Holdens
550 Swallow and 300 House Martin
1 male Merlin at Higher Meadows
Info thanks to Andy Makin and Andy Pinches
Let news for Tuesday 3rd, thanks to Andy Makin and Andy Pinches:
Yellow wagtail and Green woodpecker at Higher Meadows
4 Whinchat
1 Tree Pipit over east at Burnt Edge
11 Wheatear
6 Chiffchaff
A few highlights from yesterday morning around the Holden's Farm/Burnt Edge circuit included Whinchat, female Redstart and a Tree Pipit.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Yesterday’s excellent highlights included:
1 Golden Plover over
2 Pied Flycatchers in Sugar Loaf Plantation
11 Spotted Flycatcher across the moors
8 Redstart, with 6 in bracken at Burnt Edge, 1 in Sugar Loaf Plantation and 1 dropped in during rain at Higher Meadows
15 Whinchat
53 (!) Stonechat across the entire moors
24 Wheatear
18 Chiffchaff
15 Willow Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
9 Whitethroat
3 Blackcap
4 Nuthatch
5 Tree Pipit
and the first Red Grouse on Smithills Moor this year!
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Further sightings from across the area this afternoon include:
33 Stonechat
12 Whinchat
2 Spotted Flycatcher
Late news for yesterday included:
4 Tree Pipit
6 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Wheatear
4 Whinchat
12 Chiffchaff
8 Willow Warbler
6 Blackcap
All Info thanks to Andy Makin
Walked up the access path from Walker Fold, partway up under Burnt Edge, then back round to Holden's Farm, and finally down Roscoe's Tenement Clough and through the woods.
A very different experience to last Saturday with such limited visibility, at least at first. However, there was still quite a bit of bird activity, although "stonechat alley" directly beneath Burnt Edge was much quieter. That said, we also saw Stonechats elsewhere on the round, so the total actually surpassed Saturday.
Anyway, 36 species and here they are:
Robin 7
Common Whitethroat 1
Goldfinch 57
Wren 4
Tree Pipit 1 at Walker Fold (Thanks to Ian McK for confirmation, as I wasn't sure from the picture!)
Bullfinch 6
Chiffchaff 7
Willow Warbler 4
Blackcap (juv) 1
Blackbird 1
Mistle Thrush 4 flew over in the fog!
Blue Tit 10
Great Tit 2
Long Tailed Tit 4
Coal Tit 2
Spotted Flycatcher 1 at Walker Fold
Chaffinch 2
Nuthatch 2
Stonechat 20
Whinchat 1 juvenile or female - seen briefly as it flew out of the wildflower meadow at Horton's Farm, then distantly 'scoped as it sat on a post.
Wheatear 1 nice female (Burnt Edge)
Sparrowhawk 1 female flew low across the moor below Burnt Edge
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 1
Raven 1 heard
Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and Magpie all present several of each
Reed Bunting 5
Dunnock 3
Pheasant 5
Linnet 5
Swallow 20+
Jay 1 heard
Starling c20 on distant wires
Collared Dove 1
-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Monday 26th of August 2019 05:17:17 PM
Full counts today courtesy of Andy Makin:
5 Buzzard S
1 female Merlin
1 juvenile Marsh Harrier W over Smithills Moor at 08:13am
1 Tree Pipit at Walker Fold, plus 2 east and 2 more down by Brownstones (image on one attached)
9 Spotted Flycatcher, with 4 Walker Fold, 2 Holden's, 2 Sugar Loaf Plantation and 1 at the side of the road at Fleet Moor (image of one attached)
3 Whinchat with singles below Burnt Edge, along Coal Pit Lane and one down by the mast on Winter Hill
1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail by Scout Road Quarry
male Ring Ouzel by Sugar Loaf Plantation then flew of high North East
A Lesser Whitethroat (very rare bird up here) in ferns in Burnt Edge
20 Willow Warbler
6 Chiffchaff
5 Whitethroat
9 Blackcap
Nuthatch
5 Wheatear
2 Swift south
40 Swallow south
3 Stonechat below the kennels at the end of George's Lane
4 Wheatear just off Winter Hill
1 Common Redstart at Holden's Farm
c15 Stonechat around Burnt Edge
Burnt Edge circuit today between Andy Makin and myself included:
2 Grasshopper Warbler
3 Tree Pipit
12 Blackcap (also 1 Walker Fold)
6 Whitethroat
16 Stonechat
11 Willow Warbler
9 Chiffchaff
17 Coal Tit
80 Swift, 340 House and 55 Sand Martin, 190 Swallow over Fleet Moor this morning and the 1st summer Little gull seen over High Rid Reservoir at 11am, although only present for 10 minutrs.
Highlights on the moors themselves included 1 Tree Pipit at Holden's and 3 Wheatear off Scout Road.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Yesterday’s highlights from the Burnt Edge/Holden’s Farm circuit:
1 Hobby
3 Tree Pipit
57 Coal Tit
5 Chiffchaff
2 Grasshopper Warbler
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Late news for yesterday morning:
157 Swift, 176 House Martin and 86 Swallow south
1 Curlew, 1 Ringed Plover and 1 Snipe south
3 Tree Pipit over SE at Burnt Edge
1 juvenile Whinchat on Burnt Edge
4 Chiffchaff, 36 Willow Warbler, 9 Whitethroat
10 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Holden’s Farm and Burnt Edge circuit this morning produced:
3 Tree Pipit
14 Chiffchaff
23 Willow Warbler
7 Blackcap
1 male Redstart
30 Coal Tit
10 Goldcrest
10 juvenile Siskin
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Holdens Farm and Burnt Edge circuit today produced:
Pied Flycatcher
5 male Redstart
8 Tree Pipit
23 Whitethroat
15 Blackcap
48 Willow Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler
Chiffchaff
Curlew over
10 Stonechat
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Late news for yesterday when 2 Redstarts were present, one in the plantation in front of Holdens Farm and the other off Coal Pit Road, plus 2 Tree Pipit in Burnt Edge.
Info thanks to Brian Fogg
Highlights this morning were 5 Tree Pipit in hawthorns along the Walker Fold path and 2 over high East, also a Grasshopper Warbler flushed off the path at Burnt Edge.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Highlights today between myself and Andy Makin:
Marsh Harrier hunting over Smithills Moor around midday
15 Tree Pipit around Burnt Edge and Holden's Farm areas (early morning, only one present early afternoon)
1 juvenile Grasshopper Warbler at Holden's Plantation
2 Redstart Holden's area (one around Sugar Loaf probably one of these)
1 Spotted Flycatcher Sugar Loaf Plantation and later possibly same bird at Burnt Edge
14 Lesser Redpoll Holden's Farm
7 Siskin
6 Wheatear
8 Whitethroat
14 Blackcap
38 Willow Warbler
8 Chiffchaff
Hobby at Burnt Edge
This morning’s highlights:
Hobby perched on the wall along Mast Road first thing and then again mid morning hunting insects behind Holdens
Two Redstart at the bottom of Burnt EdgE and also 9 Blackcap flycatching in Burnt Edge
6 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Yesterday’s highlights between Andy Makin and Dan Brown included:
Black Redstart briefly at Holden’s
4 Tree Pipit
Sedge Warbler
3 Spotted Flycatcher
43 Willow Warbler
8 Blackcap
20 Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
6 Wheatear
303 Swift SE late morning
A good day of migrants on the moors today produced:
Single Pied Flycatcher, male Redstart, two Tree Pipit, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Wheatear, 12 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 67 Willow Warbler, 10 Whitethroat and 10 Siskin all in the Sugar Loaf area.
Also 2 Crossbill at Gale Brook and just 14 Swift over.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Earlier today:
21 Wheatear along Mast Rd
93 House Martin
96 Swift
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Highlights on the moors today included:
196 Swift S
200 House Martin
20 Common Scoter over NW
1 Greenshank SW at Scout Road
4 Curlew over
6 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Highlights from this morning:
single Crossbill sp. SE over Scout Road
single Ringed Plover S
680 Swift with most passing SW over Two Lads Hill, also 176 House Martin, 153 Swallow and 1 Sand Martin .
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Burnt Edge : 2 Kestrels, 10 Linnets, 3 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Reed Buntings.
5 Lesser Redpolls (Including a resplendent male) were chasing each other around the
conifers in the plantation. Also here were a group of 5 Willow Warblers (Some now looking like
they've been dunked in Lemon sherbet), 3 Goldcrests and 8 Goldfinches.
Walker Fold : 2 Goldcrests, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Jay, 1 Treecreeper and 1 Siskin.
Holdens Farm area : 1 juvenile Stonechat and around 15 Swallows.
Some movements on the moors today with 210 House Martin, 48 Swallow and 582 Swift over SW, also 5 common Tern SE, 4 Wheatear in the fields off Mast Road and 5 Siskin over. Also a Hobby feeding on insects along Dean Ditch.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
A single Hobby was hunting pipits low NW along Coal Pit Lane this morning.
Gulls on the roof at Horrocks Fold cow sheds and dropping to the farm by Bryan Hey Reservoir and Horrocks Fold pig shed today included a 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull, adult Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 100+ Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls.
Info thank to Andy Makin
Single juvenile Redstart at Holden's Farm this morning.
Info thanks to Brian Fogg
13 Mediterranean Gulls by Horrocks Fold cow sheds this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Red Kite flew north-west over Dean Ditch on Smithills Moor at 12:10 today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Male Indian Peafowl along Chorley Old Road this evening not far from the rookery / Blundell Arms. Thought I'd better post it as there seems to be a move for it to be added to the British List!
Female Greenland Wheatear along Dean Ditch this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
3 Whinchat briefly dropped in at Higher Meadows along Georges Lane, before moving off north today. Also, 1 young male type Ring Ouzel, 12 Curlew over south and 15 Wheatear.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Late news for yesterday when a Whimbrel flew through north after heavy rain early in the morning and 12 Wheatears were Ron the summit of Winter Hill.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Male Ring Ouzel below the old kennels at Higher Meadows off Georges Lane this morning and 2 Common Sandpiper flew NW.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
An adult Little gull flew south past Scout Road with Black-headed Gulls at 12:45 today
Info thanks to Andy Makin
This morning along Coal Pit Lane:
Cuckoo mobile and singing around Roscoe's Plantation
Male Ring Ouzel, 1 Wheatear and 7 Fieldfare in a field next to Roscoe's Farm
Info thanks to Brian Fogg
Walk around fields below Kennels 9am till 11am
2 Ring Ouzels very flighty and disappeared after 10 minutes. Started on right site near dip,flew left to tree then back to tree in valley where they were last seen.
1 Stonechat male
1 male Kestrel
3 Wheatear
1 Meadow Pipit
5 Magpie
3 Lapwing
Pheasant
Blackbird
Robin