Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Bury Fold - Lords Hall - Cartridge Hill - John Smiths Farm - Stepback - Wenshead - Home. Out 8.30 to 11.10, cool and blustery. Fairly quiet, amongst others :-

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (c.8)
Red Grouse (2)
Wheatear (4)
Curlew
Lapwing
Lesser Redpoll
Jay (2)

Wheatear (12) tonight along with Sonechat (Pr) in field to east of Higher Wenshead Farm. Half a dozen Willow Warbler about, first one on 3rd, Chiffchaff 5th, Raven sightings 5th and 7th, small flocks of Lesser Redpoll & Linnet and the odd Reed Bunting.

A few Osprey sightings in East Lancs this week, the skies tonight were immense and well worth an hour or so looking upwards.

Male Stonechat last night above Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir.

Wheatear (3m) this dinner time in field adjacent to Turn Lane.

Teal (16) on Sunnyhurst Hey Res this evening, a rarety here to say the least, Red Grouse (4) above Stepback and another Stonechat (1m) near the top of the diagonal path. A few Skylark up and singing.

-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 07:33:19 PM

Ring Ouzel (1m, 2f) just up from Turn Lane Quarry, first field left hand side. Seen later at 10.30 in same spot although the birds became flighty and flew off north eastwards. At their last point they were around 200 yards from our front door!

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Bury Fold - Lions Den - Stepback - Wenshead - Home 8.50 to 11.00 - Pleasant sunshine. Amongst others :-

Wheatear (1)
Red Grouse (2)
Meadow Pipit (35+)
Skylark (5)
Oystercatcher (2)
Lapwing
Curlew
Grey Wagtail (2)
Redwing (4)

Nothing of note seen this morning. One and a half hours out in wet and extremely windy conditions. Raven yesterday above the town centre being mobbed by a Kestrel. In flight call of Barn Owl heard on a couple of occasions whilst dog walking on the moors, early evening and pitch black.

Nothing much about this morning. Out for one hour in steady rain. Little Owl heard last night at 1810 hrs, moorland edge just above Sunnyhurst.

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Tower - Lion's Den - Stepback - Wenshead - Home. Cold & sunny, icy underfoot in places. Out 8.30 to 10.30. Amongst others :-

Raven (1)
Red Grouse (c.5)
Meadow Pipit (c.50)
Sparrowhawk (1f)
Nuthatch (c.5)
Jay

Small numbers of Goosander have been roosting on Sunnyhurst Hey Res. Tawny Owl heard each night from the plantation next to the res. Redwing & Fieldfare seem to have dispersed following recent high movements. Occasional sightings of Barn Owl.

Nice views this morning of Whernside, white over, as were the fells north east of Pen Y Ghent.

Around 50 Pink-footed Geese over south east this morning 7.30

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 30th of October 2013 05:51:42 PM

Same walk as last time out in lovely warm weather, 7.30 to 11.30. A bit on the quiet side, amongst others :-

Skylark (c.8)
Wheatear (5)
Stonechat (3)
Cuckoo (2)
Common Sandpiper (1)
Lapwing
Curlew
Whitethroat
Lesser Redpoll
Reed Bunting (2)
Linnet

One Cuckoo in the valley below Stepback, the other beyond Bury Fold. Possibly the same bird but both locations a fair distance apart. Talking to a local birder who had a fall of nine Ring Ouzel in the fields, north east of the Tower, last month.

Sunnyhurst Hey Res - Wenshead - John Smith's Farm - Roddlesworth Woods - Higher Pasture - Conyries Plantation - Bury Fold - Darwen Tower - Home. Sunny & warm after a cool start. Out 7.25 to 11.10. Amongst others :-

Goosander (1)
Common Sandpiper (1)
Redshank (2)
Whitethroat (2)
Reed Bunting
Linnet
Lesser Redpoll
Lapwing (c.25)
Curlew (c.15)
Wheatear (12)
Red Grouse (3)
Skylark (c.10)
Raven (2)
Jay
Nuthatch
Tree Pipit (1)
Cuckoo (1)
Buzzard (1)
Kestrel (1)

First returning Whitethroat this morning on northern edge above Sunnyhurst. Lesser Redpoll out in good numbers. Wheatear continue to pass through the Higher Wenshead area, another 8 tonight, Oystercatcher here also, Common Sandpiper at Sunnyhurst Hey Res.

Same walk as last Saturday producing a similar cast. Out 7.50 to 10.20. Cool & blustery but fine. Amongst others :-

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (5)
Red Grouse (2)
Curlew (3)
Stonechat (2)
Wheatear (14)
Lapwing
Swallow
Willow Warbler
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Mistle Thrush (2)
Lesser Redpoll (c.25)

Surprisingly no Wheatear around Wenshead. Went to two Grasshopper Warbler sites but, as yet, nothing doing.

11.15am to 12.30pm. A walk up from Belmont Reservoir and then down the Cadshaw Valley.

4 Wheatears, a Skylark, and a few Meadow Pipits around Higher Pasture Barn Farm.

2 more Wheatears, a few more Meadow Pipits, and a Kestrel at the top of the valley.

Not much showing in the strong wind as I headed down the valley, just a few Meadow Pipits and a couple of Curlews. No Skylarks though.

Towards the bottom of the valley, 4 Lapwings, a Curlew, and 2 Wheatears.

Swallows (6), and House Martins (2), back at Cadshaw Farm for breeding. Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Pied Wagtail, a Mistle Thrush, and 2 Goldfinches.

A walk up the diagonal path and back via Stepback and Wenshead produced another 5 Wheatear tonight.

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Lions Den - John Smith's - Stepback - Wenshead - Home. Sunny and pleasant, out 7.45 to 10.20. Amongst others :-

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (7)
Red Grouse (2)
Ring Ouzel (1m)
Wheatear (12)
Lapwing (c.15)
Oystercatcher (3)
Curlew (6)
Swallow (c.8)
Willow Warbler (25+)
Kestrel (1)
Lesser Redpoll

Male Ring Ouzel flew through northeast above Bold Venture, calling as it went. Wheatear in five separate spots. First Willow Warbler above Sunnyhurst yesterday.

Spent an hour or so in the Higher Wenshead Farm area this morning trying to relocate the earlier Ring Ouzel sighting. The bird may have moved on or perhaps was well hidden but I didn't see it. May go for another look this evening assuming the rain stops.

Nothing doing early evening either although male Wheatear seen in field to east of farm.

-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Sunday 14th of April 2013 08:39:58 PM

Higher Wenshead - Stepback - Top Aggie's Staircase - Diagonal Path - Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir - Home. Sunny and pleasant. Out 9.45 to 11.45. Amongst others :-

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (1)
Curlew (2)
Red Grouse (1pr)
Stonechat (1pr)
Oystercatcher (1)
Lapwing (c.10)
Reed Bunting (1pr)
Goosander (1f)
Shoveler (2pr)
Bullfinch
Coal Tit
Long tailed Tit

Shoveler a site first at the reservoir. (For me that is)





-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Saturday 13th of April 2013 12:11:39 PM

Same walk as last week. Cool and fine. Similar birds seen with additions of Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail and Oystercatcher. Two male Wheatear were seen by a friend of mine last Tuesday at Higher Wenshead but none around today.

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Lion's Den - Stepback - John Smith's - Higher Wenshead - Home. Pleasant in the sunshine but bitter out of it. Plenty of snow still around. 07.50 to 10.00

Amongst others :-

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (1)
Curlew
Lapwing
Red Grouse (1)
Raven (2)
Jay (3)
Nuthatch (2)
Lesser Redpoll
Stonechat (pr)
G S Woodpecker (1)

Checked three different spots for Wheatear but nothing through as yet. Plenty of birds displaying.

Walk around Sunnyhurst Hey Res this morning and on up to Wenshead. A walk round the res again at dusk. Amongst others :-

Goosander (17)
Canada Goose
Cormorant (1)
Reed Bunting (2)
Lapwing
Curlew
Bullfinsh
Lesser Redpoll
Nuthatch
Raven (2)

Two hour walk around the northern edge in cold, clear, sunny weather. Home - Bold Venture - Old Aggie's - Higher Wenshead - Home

Barn Owl (2)
Red Grouse (1)
Raven (1)
Great spotted Woodpecker (2)
Jay
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Goldfinch
Mistle Thrush

A flock of around 40 winter thrushes on Saturday morning above Bold Venture, mostly Redwing. Red Grouse heard nearby. On Sunday, two Barn Owl noted in rough pasture below Waterman's House, before flying off towards Wenshead. Otherwise fairly quiet.

Thanks Mark. Very kind of you and will be in touch soon

Out for one and a half hours this morning along the northern edge. Visibility down to 50 yards and rained for the most part. Just one, possibly two Red Grouse heard above Bold Venture.

Hi Stu

If you go on Google Maps and key in Sunnyhurst Hotel (it's a pub) that will give you an idea of where to head for. Post code is BB3 1JX. There's a car park 200 yards past the pub on the right. Directly opposite the pub, there is the path that takes you onto the moors and up to Darwen Tower.

Last weekend I had three Red Grouse 100 yards north east of the tower but they can turn up anywhere on the moors. Once you reach the tower, carry straight on for another quarter of a mile on the plateau like section which can be good for them. Therefter it's just a case of wandering around if you haven't seen any. The farther south you go, the fewer people you will see as most folk just seem to walk to the tower and back.

I think a fair few Red Grouse must have been blasted to smithereens on the (not so) Glorious 12th. Definitely become harder to see them.

Another quieter area of the moors is to walk up Cadshaw Valley from the Cadshaw Farm area on the A666 approaching Darwen from Bolton. It's a long slog but quite scenic and there are definitely a few grouse towards the top. Finally, parking at the Royal Arms in Tockholes and again heading for the tower is a nice walk.

The weather for Saturday is showing heavy rain but Sunday looks quite good. I live opposite the Sunnyhurst Pub so could show you around if you wish and then just leave you to it.

Mark

Thanks David. Will give it a go without the photo gear first!

cheers.
Stu.

Hi Stu,

There are lots of footpaths up around Darwen Moor. I find it just a matter of walking these paths doing normal birding and getting lucky with the grouse.
They can be anywhere on Darwen & Turton Moors.

Hi, just wondered if anyone could help me with finding some Red Grouse around Darwen. It's a lot closer to me than the peak district (I'm in Warrington)?

Kind regards.
Stu.

Saturday and Sunday like chalk and cheese weatherwise. Yesterday rain, sleet and snow with today being cold, clear and sunny.

Birdwise fairly quiet with only Little Owl and Buzzard of note, both below Higher Wenshead Farm.

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Bury Fold - Fingerpost - Conyries Plantation - Lions Den - Stepback - Home. Out 9.00 - 12.15. Sunny, clear & very cold.

Amongst other stuff :-

Red Grouse (1)
Peregrine (2)
Kestrel (1)
Crossbill (4)
Lesser Redpoll (20)

Very quiet generally. Second half of the walk things improved with 4 Crossbill at Conyries Plantation and a couple of squabbling Peregrine near Sunnyhurst Hey Res.

Short-eared Owl tonight in the murk approaching Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. Tawny Owls calling in nearby Sunnyhurst Woods.

Recent northern edge sightings, Bury Fold - Bold Venture - Sunnyhurst - Wenshead - Stepback, amongst other stuff :-

Red Grouse
Meadow Pipit
Stonechat
Raven
Goosander
Wigeon
Cormorant
Kestrel
Nuthatch
Lesser Redpoll
Tawny Owl
Little Owl
Barn Owl
Long eared Owl

10.45am to 12.20pm. Cadshaw Valley. Walk up one side of the valley and down the other side to Cadshaw Farm.

7 Mallards
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Red Grouse
3 Black-headed Gulls flying over
3 Woodpigeons
3 Skylarks
34 Meadow Pipits
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Wren
1 Robin
1 Wheatear
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Magpie
2 Jackdaws
21 Carrion Crows
24 Starlings
2 Chaffinches

Two hour walk tonight in pleasant sunshine before the rain came down. Pretty quiet although six Wheatear were noted in three separate moorland edge locations and good views of a calling Little Owl were had at a known spot. No Stonechat tonight but the good news is that there has been some recovery this Spring/Summer with juveniles being seen in the Bold Venture, Sunnyhurst and Stepback areas which are all on the northern edge.

Two parties of Crossbill (7 and 9) flew ESE this morning.

Originally posted by Mavis Smith on the 6th June:

min 3 prs Stonechat with fledged young.

Sunnyhurst Hey Res - Stepback - Lions Den - Above Bold Venture, Bury Fold and Whitehall - Whitehall Plantation - Mid Cadshaw Valley - Fingerpost - Lords Hall - Bold Venture - Home.

5.30 - 9.45am Cool and grey, warmed up a bit by 8.30.

Amongst other stuff :-

Meadow Pipit (50+)
Skylark (10+)
Curlew (10+)
Lapwing (15+)
Red Grouse (2)
Buzzard (1)
Kestrel (1)
Cuckoo (2)
Stonechat (1m)
Lesser Redpoll (c.20)
Bullfinch (1)
Common Sandpiper (1)
Swallow
Swift
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap (3)
Whitethroat (c.8)

Cuckoo heard again last Saturday 19th at Bury Fold which is adjacent to Whitehall, so could have been previous weekend's bird.

Cuckoo heard Friday night 25th behind our cottage at Sunnyhurst, moving up towards the moors.

Stonechat (2) seen today, both males, one on former territory near Sunnyhurst Hey Res with the other being near Old Aggie's above Stepback. Great news as these are the first sightings on the main part of Darwen Moors since before the severe winters of 09/10 and 10/11.

All the usuals been about, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Curlew, Lapwing, Red Grouse, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler etc.

Cuckoo (1) heard this morning on moorland edge above Whitehall.

Wheatear (4) in fields around Higher Wenshead Farm.

All other usuals around.

Wheatear (7) at Higher Wenshead on Saturday morning.

Wheatear (3) on the moorland edge near Higher Sunnyhurst Res today along with Grasshopper Warbler (1).

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Lions Den - Stepback - Wenshead - Home. Cool and overcast, out just over two hours. Best of birds being :-

Wheatear (6)
Meadow Pipit
Skylark (9)
Red Grouse (3)
Lapwing (20+)
Curlew (2)
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail (2)
Reed Bunting (1)
Lesser Redpoll
Willow Warbler (1)
Chiffchaff (1)

Wheatear (3) in one of fields below Higher Wenshead farm tonight. Otherwise fairly quiet.

Same walk as on 17 March but adding in the area above Bury Fold. Same cast of birds, best being :-

Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Red Grouse, Wheatear (1f), Curlew, Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, Nuthatch, Jay, Goldfinch.

Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Bury Fold - Whitehall - Mid Cadshaw Valley - Fingerpost - John Smith's - Stepback - Wenshead - Home.

Weather warm with hazy sunshine, out 8.20 to 12.50. Amongst other stuff :-

Wheatear (1)
Meadow Pipit (35+)
Skylark (c.15)
Red Grouse (3)
Lapwing (30+)
Curlew (15-20)
Oystercatcher (1)
Lesser Redpoll (c.10)
Siskin (5)
Fieldfare (1)
Redwing (1)

A couple of Reed Bunting mid week at Higher Sunnyhurst Res along with 2 female Goosander. Another sighting of Raven also.

Spoke to a local retired birder first thing today who told me he had a male Ring Ouzel at Higher Wenshead farm a couple of days ago.

Same walk as yesterday. Sunnyish & pleasant, out 8.50 to 11.10, similar cast bird wise, amongst other stuff :-

Wheatear (2)
Meadow Pipit
Skylark (3)
Red Grouse (1)
Lapwing (c.20)
Curlew (6)
Raven (4)

Two male Wheatears in field above Bold Venture now. A pair of Raven and two singles. Great views of the pair in display flight and part tumbling near Higher Wenshead.

Same walk as last week but added in John Smiths Farm area instead of walking down through Stepback. Weather mild and sunnyish. Out 9.30 to 11.50. Amongst other stuff :-

Wheatear (1)
Meadow Pipit
Skylark (8)
Red Grouse (1)
Lapwing (c.15)
Curlew (3)
Lesser Redpoll (1)
Nuthatch (3)

First Wheatear of 2012, a male in big field above Bold Venture. Two separate sightings of Raven mid week along with a pair of Goosander on Higher Sunnyhurst Res.

Home -Turn Lane - Bold Venture - Lions Den - Stepback - Wenshead - Home
Cool, misty on tops, out 1.5 hours. Amongst other stuff :-

Meadow Pipit
Skylark (1)
Lapwing (c.15)
Curlew (2)
Red Grouse (2)
Kestrel (1)
Lesser Redpoll (1)
Nuthatch

Goosander (2f) on Sunnyhurst Hey Res on Thursday.