The fourth Glossy Ibis has now just flown in too!

Info thanks to Gary Crowder

Black Redstart still present in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Road at 10:30 this morning.

Info thanks to Karen Foulkes

3 Glossy Ibis still present in the field at the rear of the Bob Smithy pub at 10:15 this morning.

Info thanks to Gary Crowder.

Now 3 Glossy Ibis present at the rear of the Bob Smithy pub.

They had come back to yesterday's feeding area right by the road but were once again spooked by a passing horse and have moved further out into the middle if the field.

At least one Glossy Ibis back in the same field at the rear of the Bob Smithy pub again at 08:35 this morning.

Info thanks to Ken Haydock

Amazing close views of 3 Glossy Ibis feeding right by Walker Fold Road. 9.15 to 10 this am.
Crowd of birders present including, and with thanks to, the finder Ken Haydock.

-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 28th of September 2013 11:03:10 AM

No It's odd I was by the old quarry on Mast Road around 3-4pm but saw no other birders and certainly no Corncrake. Doesn't mean one wasn't there but would've been a massive mega to mix the adjsctives

Anyone know anything about the Corncrake reported on Birdguides ?

The lads here at old links thought there was something wrong when I jumped in the car after getting a message whilst on my lunchbreak. From receiving the text alert to seeing the birds must have been 2 minutes. Nice one Ken and nice to see you after a good few years. Nice to meet Andy Makin too.

I noticed there was an Unconfirmed sighting in Cornwall at the weekend of 4 together, could be the same birds, wished id fired up from penny when I got the message, but never mind, great that some pics have been taken as well-well done Den :)

Black Redstart pony field with
Wheatear 3 - one male 2 female
Goldfinch charm 12
Linnets 12 Holdens Farm
North of Holdens 4 Kestrels at the same time in my bins was an unusual view
Buzzard 2 Two Lads - low and local
No Glossy Ibis for me but at least I didn't just miss them by minutes. Realistically I had no chance: 15 mins by foot back to work; by bike home 20 minutes and an hour drive out. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and if it was all guaranteed there'd be no excitement and ultimately no sense of achievement.

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Friday 27th of September 2013 11:00:50 PM

No further sign of the Glossy Ibis' up to 2pm.

Hope the photos turn out well dennis, thanks to ken haydock for finding these and to ian mckerchar for getting the news out so quickly, releived to have connected with these after dipping the pennington one.

Superb birds. Very hungry. Non stop feeding as already mentioned. A dinnertime twitch for me and the lucky birders who also got to see them. Im not used to Glossy Ibis ageing as its not a bird we get to see but one of these 4 did seem darker. More glossy and had more defined markings round the base of the bill than the other 3. Just an interesting note.
Cheers Dennis

4 Glossy Ibis in fields behind the Bob Smithy pub (found by Ken Haydock) at the junction of Chorley Old Road and Walker Fold Road.

Very close to the road and showing to within 20 feet feeding constantly.

Black redstart still present in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Road up to 3.20 today.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 27th of September 2013 06:56:12 PM

4 Glossy Ibis flew off WNW at 13:02 after being disturbed by a passing horse which had a bell on it! Watched fly into the distance.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 27th of September 2013 01:13:35 PM

Today:

25 Buzzard through SW, not including around 5 obviously local birds
4 Sparrowhawk SW
3 Kestrel S
single Brambling S
349 Meadow Pipit
95 Swallow
65 House Martin
4 Crossbill NW
3 Siskin S
3 Goosander NE
Black Redstart still present in the pony fields off Mast Road along with 3 Wheatear.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Black Redstart still present in the pony fields off Mast Road today.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

There is a sight guide on the main site for the horwich Moors,directions are on that.

Hello

I have been following your reports with interest.However,I don't know the area.How do you get to Mast Road,by car,say from Horwich?

Thank you

Bill Beckwith

Burnt Edge 10.45 - 13.30 Ring Ouzel m feeding in isolated Rowan tree; 3 Red Grouse; 2 Ravens; Green Woodpecker; lesser movement of Skylarks and Linnets; also 6 Reed Buntings on the telegraph wires and a pair of Stonechats

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 04:30:15 PM

Bill,
In fact, there are 4 good site guides covering Horwich Moors on the Manchester Birding Website. All well worth printing off.

However from Horwich: take Chorley Old Road towards Bolton. Towards the top of the climb and just past
the Fishing Lodge,that is on the left at Wallsuches, take the second of two lanes on the left.
This is Georges Lane. Proceed down Georges Lane and the second road on the right is Mast Road. The turn into it,
between cottages and trees/bushes, is only seen late.



-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 10:59:02 AM

Afternoon today along Scout Road: 18 Buzzard s/sw, Merlin sw, 2 Sparrowhawk, 224 Swallow, 131 House Martin and 8 Raven. Also in the morning: 1 Golden Plover, 1 Twite s, 6 Siskin, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 male Stonechat along Georges Lane, 2 Wheatear in the pony field off Mast Road and the usual Black Redstart still present.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Great views of the Black Redstart on Mast Road this afternoon from 2.30 to about 4pm. It was very active in the field around the fenced water storage area and on and off the walls, and at times perched on rocks close to the road - superb!

Also several Wheatear, 4 Ravens over, 5 pheasant and plenty of Meadow Pipit and Goldfinch.

Nice to meet several other birders too - made a change from solitary mooching!

-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Tuesday 24th of September 2013 05:48:38 PM

A bit of a misty morning yesterday with a watch during some brief visibility at Dean Ditch 07:00-09:15 producing:

2 Pink-footed Geese over east
5 Crossbill south south
3 Sand Martin
Red grouse very showy and vocal with 5 pairs noted.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Vis Mig watch, 6.45am to 2pm, initially Burnt Edge then Smithill's Moor, exactly a year on from last years spectacular passage, today didn't dissapoint either;

177 Pink-footed Geese all SE over Manchester, prior to 8.30am (Skeins of 36,11,65,23,15 & 27).
4 Goosander SW
3 Golden Plover NW
7 Snipe SW
75 Lapwing SE
5,281 Swallows SW mainly between 10.30am & 2pm, fast over Smithill's Moor and valley below to the east
80 House Martins SW
5 Sand Martins SW
1,621 Meadow Pipits SW, most before 9am
19 Pied Wagtails west
19 Mistle Thrush SW, first notable movement this autumn
9 Jackdaw SW, also first movement this autumn
Also 17 Buzzard seen throughout & 12 Raven, including 7 circling high over Manchester.

black redstart showing well from 12.50-3.10pm, moving along the wall 90 degrees to mast road, it was then showing fantastically well when I moved further up mast road and it was feeding on the boulders just away from the fence line, managed a few pics
other birds around..

100s of meadow pipits
at least 6 wheatears
a very nice flock of goldfinches & linnets
1 peregrine falcon
2 buzzards
3-4 kestrels
2 ravens
1 goldcrest
3 mistle thrushes in fields along georges lane
a couple of siskin flocks over wilderswood.

-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 22nd of September 2013 09:23:48 PM

Quite remarkable passage of Swallows, passing Smilthills moor at approx 250 every 5 mins, for the last 2 hours.

Black Redstart still showing at 1700, giving good close views.

Also at least 7 Wheatear.

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 22nd of September 2013 09:50:04 PM

This morning up to 10.30 :

Juvenile Black Redstart active on usual wall and adjacent walls. Showing very well.

Also on the walls:
Wheatear(f) 2 or 3
Reed Bunting(f)...1
Kestrel(m)
Meadow Pipits...c6

Charm of 60 Goldfinch,4 Pheasant and a Woodpigeon.

Good to see 5 birders present including Dan Brown and Pete from Kearsley.

This pm up to 3.0 at Holdens Farm:

Linnets: the ''resident'' flock constantly active; my best count was 33 on wire but there must be a lot more.Feeding on Dock.
Goldfinch...1 in with the Linnets
Stonechat...4 or 5. Regular sightings of family group and then Male with Juv.
Swallow...1
Raven...4
Meadow Pipit...2
Woodpigeon...4

I'll try again for the Whinchat!

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 22nd of September 2013 04:23:58 PM

A bit of drizzle up there today, with meadow pipits only in the 100s and a few other finches and hirundines!! Day saved by a couple of Merlin and the lovely black redstart on the now newly named Mast Toad!! with a Wheatear too.

Shame about the weather today, but good banter from the regulars of Phil, Andy and Simon, made my morning!!

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 21st of September 2013 08:56:43 PM

Black Redstart still present in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Toad this morning; along the small partially collapsed central stone wall which runs through the field.

Info thanks to Brian Fogg

An hour or so from first light this morning, disrupted by heavy showers:

Black Redstart still in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Lane along with 5 Wheatear.
1 Tree Pipit east over Mast Road.
34 Pink-footed Geese NNW at 07:35
5 Siskin south.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Juvenile Black Redstart still present this morning at 11.15 on wall that runs 90 degrees to mast road.

Today's other combined sightings thanks to Andy Makin, Simon Warford and myself:

Whinchat Dean Ditch, then flew south
Hobby south
6 Golden Plover NW
2 Snipe SW
315 Swallow south,
60 House Martin south
657 Meadow Pipits SW
11 Siskin NW
Tree Pipit Higher Meadows
18 Wheatear
13 Chiffchaff
2 Whitethroat

Black Redstart present upto 3.40 this afternoon on wall that runs at 90 degrees to the road nr the bottom of Mast Road. Also 1 Wheatear same field

The Black Redstart was still present in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Lane yesterday evening.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

09.00-12.30

Burnt Edge

1 male Kestrel, 1 Wheatear, 14 Linnets and 1 Reed Bunting. Lots of Swallows, including 20 resting together on power lines.

No sign of any Whinchats around the areas of bracken on Burnt Edge, the Linnets were frequently flying off the overhead wires and into the ferns though.

Walker Fold

3 Chiffchaffs mixed in with a flock of Long Tailed Tits, 1 female Bullfinch and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Holdens Farm

Found the Whinchats at last, 3 of them along with 4 Stonechats were feeding in the lower horse paddock. A large flock of Meadow Pipits and a charm of 6 Goldfinches here too.

The Whinchats spent a lot of time running around the rough grassy area Wheatear style, but also spent periods perching on clumps of dead sorrel, and on the wire fence.

The Stonechats spent much of time resting on the fence, only making very brief visits down onto the grass.

This morning with Andy Makin,

5 Whinchat (1 Winter Hill & 4 in the bracken on Burnt Edge)
10 Stonechat (3 Burnt Edge & 7 Holdens)
37 Siskin over in several small flocks
5 Wheatear
28 Meadow Pipits south
3 Grey Wagtail south
13 Linnet south & 80 around Holdens Farm
3 Sparrowhawks
10 Sand Martin south.

Sorry everyone, could we please not abbreviate birds names (as per the forum guidelines). I know it's common practise including on 'other forums or Internet type groups where it's absolutely fine but on here we believe the birds rightly deserve their fulls names

Highlights around mid-day today:

Holdens Farm:
Stonechat x8
All the other usual suspects (Linnet, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipits, Swallow etc)

Between Gilligants Farm and Green Nook Farm:
Kestrel (female) x1
Sparrowhawk x2

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 4th of September 2013 10:16:27 PM

Immature Black Redstart still along the middle wall in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Road.

Also an immature/female Marsh Harrier low NE over Georges Lane and single Ringed and Golden Plover S so far this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

To add to previous posting Black Redstart present 12.30 (thanks are due to Andy, we found it on our way back down Mast Road after seeing him earlier) similar place but can be a bit elusive at times and blends in well with the walls!

Same time 4 C Buzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk over Wilderswood. 1 Kestrel earlier.

3 Wheatear in field just a little further up Mast Road from the Black Redstart.

Loose flock of Linnets, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits around Holdens contained 1 Willow Warbler and what was most likely a C Whitethroat although only very briefly seen.

Chiffchaff singing! corner of Walker Fold nr end of Burnt Edge plus another Willow Warbler similar area amongst the Rowans.

Otherwise mainly Meadow Pipits, Swallows (with a couple of House Martins with them) seen in a full mornings walk around the area.

Bob & Joyce C

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 4th of September 2013 04:25:48 PM

Mid afternoon 12.30 - 2.30, very windy conditions,

No sign of Black Redstart in the pony fields

However numerous Wheatear
8 Stonechat in fields just before and to the right of Holdens farm
18 Meadow Pipit
2 Kestrel

This mornings sightings between myself, Andy Makin & Phil Rhodes in blustery conditions up to 11am;

Immature Black Redstart along the middle wall in the pony fields at the bottom of the Mast Road, found by Phil.

5 Whinchat (1 Georges Lane & 4 Holdens Farm)
9 Stonechat Holdens area, still two family parties.

11 Wheatear.
60 Linnet Holdens.
Green Woodpecker.

Black Redstart in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Lane from 09:40 onwards this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Mid-afternoon today:

A Golden Plover dropped onto the moor on Winter Hill before flying off SW and a Whinchat was down briefly by the mast compounds. 15 Wheatear were around the area.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

3.30-6.00pm

5 Whinchat along fence with 1 Stonechat south of Holdens Farm. At least 5 other Stonechat also in area.

Coal Tit, Treecreeper & Goldcrest also in Walker Fold Firs.