Visible migration sightings from Scout Road all day today thanks to Andy Makin:
Merlin 1 SE Hen Harrier 8 sightings during the day involved at least 5 individuals Single Long-eared Owl seen coming from long distance south over the moor briefly landed on a dead tree and departed Ring Ouzel 1 east with Fieldfare and 1 adult male over NE Fieldfare 1741 in 31 flocks the largest of which was 450+, all heading S/SW Redwing 4272 W/SW in 100 flocks the largest of 500 Swallow 12 S Brambling 2 E Crossbill 3 S
Wheatear 2 feeding on the Moor
Dan Brown said
Wed Oct 12 8:49 PM, 2016
17:30 - 18:15 Holden's Farm and Sugarloaf Plantation area. 1 female Hen Harrier briefly in fading light. No Ring Ouzel this evening.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Oct 12 11:10 AM, 2016
Red Kite circling Smithills Moor slowly drifting south at 11am.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 11 10:40 PM, 2016
Highlights from a couple of hours this morning included:
82 Redwing SW 3 Ring Ouzel high N over Scout Road A single Swallow 20 Siskin south
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Chris brown said
Tue Oct 11 7:17 AM, 2016
Don't get hooked on the thought that they are only in sugar loaf plantation. On Sunday there were 6 in the trees on the left hand side as you approach sugar loaf plantation coming from burnt edge. They were feeding on berries.
Then they were also in the field opposite holdens farm. (Could have been the same birds, I only ever saw a group of 4 or 6 together)
Many thanks to Phil Rhodes for kindly letting me and my family have a look at them through his scope.
Chris
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 10 8:15 PM, 2016
Further sightings from today from Andy Makin and myself:
740 Redwing NW in 28 flocks 16 Fieldfare 21 Ring ouzel out of the dell at Higher Meadows were possibly roosting and flew SE at 08:30 Brambling 1 S at George's Lane 6 Wheatear (4 on top of Winter Hill, 1 on Two Lads Hill and 1 on Wildersmoor) 24 Stonechat, with 12 on the very top of Winter Hill, 7 at Higher Meadows and 5 at Holdens. 8 Chiffchaff, with 6 at Holdens Farm and 2 on the very top of Winter Hill
Sightings for yesterday thanks to Andy Makin:
1 juvenile Hen Harrier, probably the same bird as other recent sightings
59 Fieldfare 5 flocks
1600 Redwing mainly NW 61 flocks
8 Crossbill N
14 Wheatear down in the area
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 10th of October 2016 08:22:02 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 10 8:05 PM, 2016
Andy Voisey wrote:
Myself and the wife visited the moor from 1030 until 1300 primarily to see the ouzels.
We dipped out on the ouzels mainly because we didn't know where sugar loaf plantation was.
We visited the plantation at the top of burnt edge, holden's plantation, and the one with the beech trees and stream running through, just east of holden's farm.
The moor was very quiet, with just a few mippets and stonechats, but I was surprised to find a pair of reed buntings in the bracken below burnt edge. I suppose they were migrants passing through.
Can someone tell me where sugar loaf plantation is for future reference please?
Cheers.
Down the track from Holden's Farm towards Burnt Edge it's the plantation on the left as you get the where the stream goes under the path (there is a small sign denoting the plantation and it's name).
Dan Brown said
Mon Oct 10 7:43 PM, 2016
18:00 4 Ring Ouzel near Sugar Loaf Plantation. 5 Stonechat at Holden's Farm and a small flock of Thrushes containing at least 6 Fieldfare and 1 Redwing.
Andy Voisey said
Mon Oct 10 7:16 PM, 2016
Myself and the wife visited the moor from 1030 until 1300 primarily to see the ouzels.
We dipped out on the ouzels mainly because we didn't know where sugar loaf plantation was.
We visited the plantation at the top of burnt edge, holden's plantation, and the one with the beech trees and stream running through, just east of holden's farm.
The moor was very quiet, with just a few mippets and stonechats, but I was surprised to find a pair of reed buntings in the bracken below burnt edge. I suppose they were migrants passing through.
Can someone tell me where sugar loaf plantation is for future reference please?
Cheers.
Ian Campbell said
Mon Oct 10 12:27 PM, 2016
10.10 a.m. today viewed from bench on burnt edge a ringtail Hen Harrier came into view above what I think is green nook and landed by the side of one of the stone walls, a GM tick I've long been after. GM Year tick 167. Cheers Ian
Bob and Joyce Calder said
Sun Oct 9 4:32 PM, 2016
Thought I saw the Ringtail Hen Harrier yesterday afternoon around 12.45 along Coal Pit Lane but it was as we were putting the binoculars away after our walk and so only an extremely brief view before it disappeared over the hill.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Oct 9 4:21 PM, 2016
This afternoon:
2 Ring Ouzel at Sugar Loaf Plantation and 4 more feeding in a fields SW of Holdens Farm.
Ringtail Hen Harrier hunting Smithills Moor at 3:30 then drifted off towards Burnt Edge.
Saturday morning walk 8.45 to 12.30. Coal Pit Lane> Holdens>Mast Road>Georges Lane to just past kennels, return via Georges Lane> Mast Road>Burnt Edge> Sugar Loaf Plantation> Holdens>Coal Pit Lane.
Highlights include:-
Appx 15 Siskin, Coal Pit Lane
Mixed flock appx 20 birds Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings plus a couple of Bullfinch and Goldfinch (Coal Pit Lane) with a further flock of abt 20 Meadow Pipits nr Holdens and a small flock of Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings along Burnt Edge.
Noticeably a few Blackbirds around with min 7 at Holdens and flock of abt 15 birds at Sugar Loaf that contained probably 4 Ring Ouzels. The latter seen around noon but all flew quite strongly up and away.
Flock 20 - 30 Goldfinch at Holdens, also a loose flock of around 10 Chaffinch in same area.
Stonechat, just below kennels George's Lane.
Wheatear, 2 in fields bottom of Mast Road
2 small flocks of 15 - 20 Redwing over plus several Mistle Thrushes over.
Min of 4 Kestrel in the area plus 1 Common Buzzard.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 7 4:40 PM, 2016
Today's watch from early morning to midday produced:
1 immature type Ring Ouzel S 2 Swallow S 1376 Redwing SSW in 33 flocks 153 Siskin S with many still mixed into Redwing flocks 89 Linnet S also mixed in with Redwing 1 Crossbill S 2 Wheatear 'down'
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 6 10:48 PM, 2016
Highlights from another day's visible migration watch from Scout Road early morning to just after midday:
Hen Harrier 2 with one female SW at 09:17 and 1 juvenile SW at 10am Snipe 20 N Meadow Pipit 124 S Redwing 650 SW in 28 flocks Ring Ouzel 3 NE Swallow 21 S in ones and twos House Martin 3 S Goldfinch 121 S Siskin 232 S moving in small flocks all morning Crossbill 2 S Linnet 50 S
Info thanks to Andy Makin
dave broome said
Thu Oct 6 10:01 PM, 2016
juvenile Hen Harrier hunting on Smithills Moor 16:00-16:30 today, mobbed briefly by a juv Peregrine
3 Raven
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Oct 5 10:08 PM, 2016
Highlights from today thanks to Andy Makin and Rick Else:
Merlin 1 S Hobby 1 adult S Redwing 231 in 19 flocks House Martin 21 S Swallow 21 S Siskin 95 S Linnet 78 S Crossbill 6 S Meadow Pipit 138 S
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 4 10:50 PM, 2016
Highlights from today's visible migration highlights from Andy Makin and Rick Else with most heading south included:
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S House Martin 26 Swallow 46 Pied Wagtail 68 Meadow Pipit 109 Redwing 826 A single Fieldfare low N Chaffinch 54 Lesser Redpoll 10 Goldfinch 46 Siskin 130 Linnet 36 Crossbill 8
Birds down included 5 Stonechat and 3 Wheatear.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 3 11:19 PM, 2016
Today's visible migration totals with Rick Else and Andy Makin from Scout Road:
Common Buzzard 3 NE Sparrowhawk 1 S Marsh Harrier adult female E at 10:53am Greylag Goose 1 NE Golden Plover 1, Snipe 15 Woodpigeon 30 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S Swallow 39 House Martin 13 Sand Martin 3 Skylark 3 E Pied Wagtail 35 Meadow Pipit 374 Mistle Thrush 2 Song Thrush 12 N Redwing 708 with birds moving S then SW Dunnock 1 S Siskin 91 Chaffinch 29 Goldfinch 23 Linnet 34 Greenfinch 12 Redpoll 14 Crossbill 1 Bullfinch 2 N Reed Bunting 7
Birds down and feeding included 3 Wheatear and 5 Stonechat
Dan Brown said
Sun Oct 2 6:50 PM, 2016
George's Lane 16:30 - 18:30. Black Redstart. (Just in Lancs).
Simon Warford said
Sun Oct 2 3:16 PM, 2016
This mornings Vis Mig watch highlights with Andy Makin, Paul Wilson, Dan Brown and Rick Else -
ringtail Hen Harrier, quartering Smithill's Moor at 7.20am and again around 8.30am before disappearing, the same or a different Hen Harrier seen about an hour later beyond Deans Ditch in Lancs. 3 Ring Ouzels dropped out of the sky and landed in Gale Brook plantation. 173 Redwing 5 Crossbills dropped in to Gale Brook plantation. 53 Pink-footed Geese SE 48 Swallow south 39 House Martin south 152 Meadow Pipits south 41 Siskin 40 Jackdaw south
Also present across the moor were a single Merlin, 12 Wheatear and 15 Stonechat.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 2nd of October 2016 03:17:33 PM
Simon Warford said
Sat Oct 1 4:00 PM, 2016
This mornings Vis Mig watch highlights with Andy Makin, Paul Wilson, Dan Brown and later Phil Rhodes (after his lie in), produced -
34 Pink-footed Geese NW 6 Golden Plover west 1 Merlin 907 Swallow south 95 House Martin south 9 Redwing SW 78 Pied Wagtails 3,945 Meadow Pipits south 136 Chaffinch 197 Linnet south (highest ever site count) 104 Siskin
3 Wheatear and 8 Stonechat present.
Simon Warford said
Fri Sep 30 8:33 PM, 2016
All day Vis Mig session with Andy Makin and Rick Else, a very memorable day included -
dark phase Honey Buzzard south east at 4.15pm (Andy), the bird seemed to be just outside GM, but no doubt went through GM airspace. 1 Merlin south 10,096 Meadow Pipits in what was a remarkable broad front movement right over the whole moor and valley. Overwhelming and two of us with clickers could barely keep up with the amount of birds 4 Golden Plover south 50 Skylark south 51 Pied Wagtails south 8 Grey Wagtail south 1 Sand Martin south 87 House Martin south 374 Swallow south 15 Mistle Thrush south, 5 north 2 Song Thrush south 23 Redpoll south 132 Linnet south 117 Goldfinch south 245 Siskin south 141 Chaffinch south 15 Reed Bunting south
5 Wheatear.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 29 8:42 PM, 2016
Visible migration totals from Scout Road with Andy Makin and Rick Else, 07:15-11:15:
Marsh Harrier 1 juvenile at 8am hunting for short while on the top of Horrocks Moor Plantation then headed SE circling low mobbed by Crows
All the following heading south:
Goosander 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S Meadow Pipit 760 Chaffinch 22 Siskin 12 Goldfinch 26 Greenfinch 76 Bullfinch 1 House Martin 5 Swallow 81 Pied Wagtail 61 Reed Bunting 10
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 28 9:44 PM, 2016
Visible migration watch today from Scout Road courtesy of Andy Makin and Simon Warford, with all birds moving south from 07:10-10:10
A green woodpecker near the kennels today was, I think, the first I have seen in the area.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 23 11:19 PM, 2016
Highlights from today's visible migration watch by Andy Makin:
1753 Meadow Pipit south 629 Swallow and 1424 House Martin south 116 Chaffinch, 64 Siskin and 65 Goldfinch mainly south
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 21 12:04 AM, 2016
Yesterday's (20th) visible migration highlights early morning to midday:
4 Golden Plover NE Pink-footed Geese: 30 SE at 9.15, 67 E at 10.25 561 Meadow Pipit south 3091 Swallow south 3618 House Martin south 3 Sand Martin south 3 Wheatear grounded
All info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 20 9:31 AM, 2016
Late news for yesterday with just 1 Wheatear and a total of 52 Snipe north in 8 small flocks.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 17 5:04 PM, 2016
Merlin hunting county boundary wall on the top Winter Hill at 8:50am.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Simon Warford said
Sat Sep 17 4:35 PM, 2016
Vis Mig watch with Andy Makin this morning produced,
1 Osprey flew north-west over Belmont Resr at 07:45 (in Lancs). 1 Merlin south 55 Pink-footed Geese SE 577 Meadow Pipits south 1 Wheatear straight through south and 25 present across the area 4 Grey Wagtail south
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 16 1:59 PM, 2016
Some sightings from this morning:
Marsh Harrier at 07:15 over Horrocks Moor until 07:22 when it drifted off SW 10 Dunlin over (flocks of 7 and 3) 46 Swallow and 24 House Martin through south 2 Twite over north 5 Chiffchaff at Higher Meadows 1 Wheatear on Wildersmoor Skein of Pink-footed Geese over Higher Meadows early am but unable to see them due to low cloud Info thanks to Andy Makin, Dan Brown and myself
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 15 11:27 PM, 2016
Sightings from the moors today when the very top of Winter Hill around the mast buildings had received a decent fall of migrants:
Vismig from Scout Road early am saw:
543 Meadow Pipit 41 Swallow 15 House Martin 8 Grey Wagtail south
Birds around cable and mast compounds mid morning:
2 Whinchat and 1 male Redstart Georges Lane 44 Wheatear across whole area 237 Swallow south 2 Sand Martin south 171 House Martin south 86 Meadow Pipit south 4 Stonechat 45 Mistle Thrush Burnt Edge
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 14 9:35 AM, 2016
Female or immature Red-breasted Merganser at 07:30 SSE over Scout Road.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 13 9:43 PM, 2016
A few sightings from the moors today:
227 Meadow Pipits S 811 Swallow and 415 House Martin S 3 Grey Wagtail S 6 Wheatear down
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 10 11:00 PM, 2016
This morning's sightings, including a sudden rush of hirrundines around midday:
882 Swallow and 560 House Martin south 59 Meadow Pipit south A single Garden Warbler in sub song from brambles and weeds by Scout Road quarry 1 Whitethroat on Edge Lane 35 Wheatear
Info thank to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 9 10:47 PM, 2016
Only 12 Wheatear the birds of note today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 7 10:39 PM, 2016
Sightings from a full day today:
149 Meadow Pipits moving south First winter Redstart around the compounds on the top of Winter Hill 17 Wheatear 1 Whinchat pony field off Mast Road 924 Swallow and 463 House Martin south Possibly as many 6 Hobby moved through south Female Marsh Harrier south just after midday 39 Buzzard through south
Info thanks to Andy Makin and Andy Pinches; images by Andy Makin.
Moors totals this morning 7am-12pm, with a passage of hirundines south:
91 House Martin 189 Swallow 2 Wigeon NW 2 Tree Pipit S 1 Crossbill S 55 Goldfinch S 11 Wheatear 1 Whinchat in the horse paddock at Edge Lane along with a single Whitethroat.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 5 10:10 PM, 2016
Totals late afternoon and evening today with Andy Makin and Andy Pinches:
560 Swallow moving thtough 750 House Martin moving through 18 Wheatear 1 Chiffchaff along Mast Road 1 male Redstart at Higher Meadows
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 2 2:24 PM, 2016
This morning's moors totals from Andy Makin and Andy Pinches:
1 Redstart and 2 Spotted Flycatchers in the dell off Georges Lane 1 Merlin sat for 5 minutes on the wall on Wildersmoor before flying off SE 7 Wheatear along Mast Road 2 Chiffchaff in Wilderswood
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 1 11:06 PM, 2016
Highlights from this morning:
1 Whinchat in the pony fields along Mast Rd 3 Spotted Flycatcher in the big hedge at Higher Meadows 1 Tree Pipit south 10 Wheatear 141 Swallow and 90 House Martin south
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 31 11:40 PM, 2016
Sightings this afternoon between Andy Makin and myself:
2 Whinchat in the pony fields off Mast Road 16+ Wheatear 300 House Martin south down Scout Road 8 Chiffchaff
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 30 9:42 PM, 2016
Rather quiet on the moors this morning, but highlights were:
1 Spotted Flycatcher in the Dell off Georges Lane 5 Tree Pipit over south, with a group of 4 and a single 1 Whinchat in the pony field off Mast Road 12 Wheatear 4 Whitethroat 6 Chiffchaff
Info thanks to Andy Makin
John Watson said
Tue Aug 30 7:45 PM, 2016
Walk from N end CP to Rivington Pike ~16:00
~200 Swallow ~100 House Martin
All feeding on abundant insects
Also 1 Oystercatcher (h) 1 probable (90% sure) Green Sandpiper (h, very briefly) above the Pike
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 28 7:48 PM, 2016
Mid-morning to early afternoon today:
7 Wheatear on Winter Hill 3 Spotted Flycatcher at Brownstones Quarry
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 28 3:24 PM, 2016
Originally posted today by Bob and Joyce Calder:
A walk Coal Pit Lane - Holdens - Mast - Holdens - Sugar Loaf Plantation - Brownstones Quarry - Coal Pit Lane 9.00 - 12.30
Holdens:-
Small flock around trees below farm included 4 Redpoll. 1 or 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Long Tailed Tits, 1 or 2 Dunnocks, several Meadow Pipits, Goldfinch, Linnets and at least 40 Swallows in the area.
Mast:-
Very quiet with only 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Crow and 1 Kestrel seen.
Sugar Loaf Plantation:-
Mixed flock of 4 Tit species included 1 or 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Spotted Flycatchers.
Brownstones Quarry:-
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 or 2 Willow Warblers, small flock of Goldfinch, 15/20 Swallows in the area.
Elsewhere remarkably quiet with very little seen.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Aug 27 10:36 PM, 2016
Today's highlights thanks to Andy Makin and other observers:
12+ Spotted Flycatcher spread over the whole area 2 Tree Pipits south over Georges Lane and 1 down at Brownstones Quarry 2 Redstart with a male Lomax Wife's Plantation and a female Holdens Farm 1 Whinchat at Holdens Farm 10 Wheatear 7+ Willow Warbler 2 Chiffchaff
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Aug 26 9:44 PM, 2016
Highlights this morning included:
Female Marsh Harrier NE over Sugar Loaf Hill briefly landing about 11am 3 Spotted Flycatcher with singles at Wilderswood, Walker Fold and Higher Meadows 1 Tree Pipit E 8 Chiffchaff 14 Wheatear
Merlin 1 SE
Hen Harrier 8 sightings during the day involved at least 5 individuals
Single Long-eared Owl seen coming from long distance south over the moor briefly landed on a dead tree and departed
Ring Ouzel 1 east with Fieldfare and 1 adult male over NE
Fieldfare 1741 in 31 flocks the largest of which was 450+, all heading S/SW
Redwing 4272 W/SW in 100 flocks the largest of 500
Swallow 12 S
Brambling 2 E
Crossbill 3 S
Wheatear 2 feeding on the Moor
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
82 Redwing SW
3 Ring Ouzel high N over Scout Road
A single Swallow
20 Siskin south
Info thanks to Andy Makin
740 Redwing NW in 28 flocks
16 Fieldfare
21 Ring ouzel out of the dell at Higher Meadows were possibly roosting and flew SE at 08:30
Brambling 1 S at George's Lane
6 Wheatear (4 on top of Winter Hill, 1 on Two Lads Hill and 1 on Wildersmoor)
24 Stonechat, with 12 on the very top of Winter Hill, 7 at Higher Meadows and 5 at Holdens.
8 Chiffchaff, with 6 at Holdens Farm and 2 on the very top of Winter Hill
Sightings for yesterday thanks to Andy Makin:
1 juvenile Hen Harrier, probably the same bird as other recent sightings 59 Fieldfare 5 flocks 1600 Redwing mainly NW 61 flocks 8 Crossbill N 14 Wheatear down in the area
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 10th of October 2016 08:22:02 PM
Down the track from Holden's Farm towards Burnt Edge it's the plantation on the left as you get the where the stream goes under the path (there is a small sign denoting the plantation and it's name).
We dipped out on the ouzels mainly because we didn't know where sugar loaf plantation was.
We visited the plantation at the top of burnt edge, holden's plantation, and the one with the beech trees and stream running through, just east of holden's farm.
The moor was very quiet, with just a few mippets and stonechats, but I was surprised to find a pair of reed buntings in the bracken below burnt edge. I suppose they were migrants passing through.
Can someone tell me where sugar loaf plantation is for future reference please?
Cheers.
Cheers Ian
Thought I saw the Ringtail Hen Harrier yesterday afternoon around 12.45 along Coal Pit Lane but it was as we were putting the binoculars away after our walk and so only an extremely brief view before it disappeared over the hill.
2 Ring Ouzel at Sugar Loaf Plantation and 4 more feeding in a fields SW of Holdens Farm.
Ringtail Hen Harrier hunting Smithills Moor at 3:30 then drifted off towards Burnt Edge.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Saturday morning walk 8.45 to 12.30. Coal Pit Lane> Holdens>Mast Road>Georges Lane to just past kennels, return via Georges Lane> Mast Road>Burnt Edge> Sugar Loaf Plantation> Holdens>Coal Pit Lane.
Highlights include:-
Appx 15 Siskin, Coal Pit Lane
Mixed flock appx 20 birds Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings plus a couple of Bullfinch and Goldfinch (Coal Pit Lane) with a further flock of abt 20 Meadow Pipits nr Holdens and a small flock of Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings along Burnt Edge.
Noticeably a few Blackbirds around with min 7 at Holdens and flock of abt 15 birds at Sugar Loaf that contained probably 4 Ring Ouzels. The latter seen around noon but all flew quite strongly up and away.
Flock 20 - 30 Goldfinch at Holdens, also a loose flock of around 10 Chaffinch in same area.
Stonechat, just below kennels George's Lane.
Wheatear, 2 in fields bottom of Mast Road
2 small flocks of 15 - 20 Redwing over plus several Mistle Thrushes over.
Min of 4 Kestrel in the area plus 1 Common Buzzard.
1 immature type Ring Ouzel S
2 Swallow S
1376 Redwing SSW in 33 flocks
153 Siskin S with many still mixed into Redwing flocks
89 Linnet S also mixed in with Redwing
1 Crossbill S
2 Wheatear 'down'
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Hen Harrier 2 with one female SW at 09:17 and 1 juvenile SW at 10am
Snipe 20 N
Meadow Pipit 124 S
Redwing 650 SW in 28 flocks
Ring Ouzel 3 NE
Swallow 21 S in ones and twos
House Martin 3 S
Goldfinch 121 S
Siskin 232 S moving in small flocks all morning
Crossbill 2 S
Linnet 50 S
Info thanks to Andy Makin
juvenile Hen Harrier hunting on Smithills Moor 16:00-16:30 today, mobbed briefly by a juv Peregrine
3 Raven
Merlin 1 S
Hobby 1 adult S
Redwing 231 in 19 flocks
House Martin 21 S
Swallow 21 S
Siskin 95 S
Linnet 78 S
Crossbill 6 S
Meadow Pipit 138 S
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S
House Martin 26
Swallow 46
Pied Wagtail 68
Meadow Pipit 109
Redwing 826
A single Fieldfare low N
Chaffinch 54
Lesser Redpoll 10
Goldfinch 46
Siskin 130
Linnet 36
Crossbill 8
Birds down included 5 Stonechat and 3 Wheatear.
Common Buzzard 3 NE
Sparrowhawk 1 S
Marsh Harrier adult female E at 10:53am
Greylag Goose 1 NE
Golden Plover 1,
Snipe 15
Woodpigeon 30
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S
Swallow 39
House Martin 13
Sand Martin 3
Skylark 3 E
Pied Wagtail 35
Meadow Pipit 374
Mistle Thrush 2
Song Thrush 12 N
Redwing 708 with birds moving S then SW
Dunnock 1 S
Siskin 91
Chaffinch 29
Goldfinch 23
Linnet 34
Greenfinch 12
Redpoll 14
Crossbill 1
Bullfinch 2 N
Reed Bunting 7
Birds down and feeding included 3 Wheatear and 5 Stonechat
ringtail Hen Harrier, quartering Smithill's Moor at 7.20am and again around 8.30am before disappearing, the same or a different Hen Harrier seen about an hour later beyond Deans Ditch in Lancs.
3 Ring Ouzels dropped out of the sky and landed in Gale Brook plantation.
173 Redwing
5 Crossbills dropped in to Gale Brook plantation.
53 Pink-footed Geese SE
48 Swallow south
39 House Martin south
152 Meadow Pipits south
41 Siskin
40 Jackdaw south
Also present across the moor were a single Merlin, 12 Wheatear and 15 Stonechat.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 2nd of October 2016 03:17:33 PM
34 Pink-footed Geese NW
6 Golden Plover west
1 Merlin
907 Swallow south
95 House Martin south
9 Redwing SW
78 Pied Wagtails
3,945 Meadow Pipits south
136 Chaffinch
197 Linnet south (highest ever site count)
104 Siskin
3 Wheatear and 8 Stonechat present.
dark phase Honey Buzzard south east at 4.15pm (Andy), the bird seemed to be just outside GM, but no doubt went through GM airspace.
1 Merlin south
10,096 Meadow Pipits in what was a remarkable broad front movement right over the whole moor and valley. Overwhelming and two of us with clickers could barely keep up with the amount of birds
4 Golden Plover south
50 Skylark south
51 Pied Wagtails south
8 Grey Wagtail south
1 Sand Martin south
87 House Martin south
374 Swallow south
15 Mistle Thrush south, 5 north
2 Song Thrush south
23 Redpoll south
132 Linnet south
117 Goldfinch south
245 Siskin south
141 Chaffinch south
15 Reed Bunting south
5 Wheatear.
Marsh Harrier 1 juvenile at 8am hunting for short while on the top of Horrocks Moor Plantation then headed SE circling low mobbed by Crows
All the following heading south:
Goosander 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S
Meadow Pipit 760
Chaffinch 22
Siskin 12
Goldfinch 26
Greenfinch 76
Bullfinch 1
House Martin 5
Swallow 81
Pied Wagtail 61
Reed Bunting 10
Siskin 13
Goldfinch 14
House Martin 46
Snipe 9
Reed Bunting 10
Bullfinch 5
Lesser Redpoll 13
Swallow 132
Chaffinch 45
Pied Wagtail 50
Meadow Pipit 2259
A green woodpecker near the kennels today was, I think, the first I have seen in the area.
1753 Meadow Pipit south
629 Swallow and 1424 House Martin south
116 Chaffinch, 64 Siskin and 65 Goldfinch mainly south
4 Golden Plover NE
Pink-footed Geese: 30 SE at 9.15, 67 E at 10.25
561 Meadow Pipit south
3091 Swallow south
3618 House Martin south
3 Sand Martin south
3 Wheatear grounded
All info thanks to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
1 Osprey flew north-west over Belmont Resr at 07:45 (in Lancs).
1 Merlin south
55 Pink-footed Geese SE
577 Meadow Pipits south
1 Wheatear straight through south and 25 present across the area
4 Grey Wagtail south
Marsh Harrier at 07:15 over Horrocks Moor until 07:22 when it drifted off SW
10 Dunlin over (flocks of 7 and 3)
46 Swallow and 24 House Martin through south
2 Twite over north
5 Chiffchaff at Higher Meadows
1 Wheatear on Wildersmoor
Skein of Pink-footed Geese over Higher Meadows early am but unable to see them due to low cloud
Info thanks to Andy Makin, Dan Brown and myself
Vismig from Scout Road early am saw:
543 Meadow Pipit
41 Swallow
15 House Martin
8 Grey Wagtail south
Birds around cable and mast compounds mid morning:
34+ Chiffchaff
3+ Willow Warbler
2 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Whinchat
1 Robin
19 Wren
2 Goldcrest
30 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
2 Whinchat and 1 male Redstart Georges Lane
44 Wheatear across whole area
237 Swallow south
2 Sand Martin south
171 House Martin south
86 Meadow Pipit south
4 Stonechat
45 Mistle Thrush Burnt Edge
Info thanks to Andy Makin
227 Meadow Pipits S
811 Swallow and 415 House Martin S
3 Grey Wagtail S
6 Wheatear down
Info thanks to Andy Makin
882 Swallow and 560 House Martin south
59 Meadow Pipit south
A single Garden Warbler in sub song from brambles and weeds by Scout Road quarry
1 Whitethroat on Edge Lane
35 Wheatear
Info thank to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Andy Makin
149 Meadow Pipits moving south
First winter Redstart around the compounds on the top of Winter Hill
17 Wheatear
1 Whinchat pony field off Mast Road
924 Swallow and 463 House Martin south
Possibly as many 6 Hobby moved through south
Female Marsh Harrier south just after midday
39 Buzzard through south
Info thanks to Andy Makin and Andy Pinches; images by Andy Makin.
91 House Martin
189 Swallow
2 Wigeon NW
2 Tree Pipit S
1 Crossbill S
55 Goldfinch S
11 Wheatear
1 Whinchat in the horse paddock at Edge Lane along with a single Whitethroat.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
560 Swallow moving thtough
750 House Martin moving through
18 Wheatear
1 Chiffchaff along Mast Road
1 male Redstart at Higher Meadows
1 Redstart and 2 Spotted Flycatchers in the dell off Georges Lane
1 Merlin sat for 5 minutes on the wall on Wildersmoor before flying off SE
7 Wheatear along Mast Road
2 Chiffchaff in Wilderswood
1 Whinchat in the pony fields along Mast Rd
3 Spotted Flycatcher in the big hedge at Higher Meadows
1 Tree Pipit south
10 Wheatear
141 Swallow and 90 House Martin south
Info thanks to Andy Makin
2 Whinchat in the pony fields off Mast Road
16+ Wheatear
300 House Martin south down Scout Road
8 Chiffchaff
1 Spotted Flycatcher in the Dell off Georges Lane
5 Tree Pipit over south, with a group of 4 and a single
1 Whinchat in the pony field off Mast Road
12 Wheatear
4 Whitethroat
6 Chiffchaff
Info thanks to Andy Makin
~200 Swallow
~100 House Martin
All feeding on abundant insects
Also
1 Oystercatcher (h)
1 probable (90% sure) Green Sandpiper (h, very briefly) above the Pike
7 Wheatear on Winter Hill
3 Spotted Flycatcher at Brownstones Quarry
Info thanks to Andy Makin
A walk Coal Pit Lane - Holdens - Mast - Holdens - Sugar Loaf Plantation - Brownstones Quarry - Coal Pit Lane 9.00 - 12.30
Holdens:-
Small flock around trees below farm included 4 Redpoll. 1 or 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Long Tailed Tits, 1 or 2 Dunnocks, several Meadow Pipits, Goldfinch, Linnets and at least 40 Swallows in the area.
Mast:-
Very quiet with only 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Crow and 1 Kestrel seen.
Sugar Loaf Plantation:-
Mixed flock of 4 Tit species included 1 or 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Spotted Flycatchers.
Brownstones Quarry:-
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 or 2 Willow Warblers, small flock of Goldfinch, 15/20 Swallows in the area.
Elsewhere remarkably quiet with very little seen.
12+ Spotted Flycatcher spread over the whole area
2 Tree Pipits south over Georges Lane and 1 down at Brownstones Quarry
2 Redstart with a male Lomax Wife's Plantation and a female Holdens Farm
1 Whinchat at Holdens Farm
10 Wheatear
7+ Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
Female Marsh Harrier NE over Sugar Loaf Hill briefly landing about 11am
3 Spotted Flycatcher with singles at Wilderswood, Walker Fold and Higher Meadows
1 Tree Pipit E
8 Chiffchaff
14 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin