Vis Mig watch from top of Edge Lane with Simon Johnson, Andy Makin & later Phil Rhodes, 7am-2pm ish.

Lots happening today compared to the last few days. Conditions exactly the same as the 7th October with fog covering the whole of Greater Manchester and into Lancashire with the Pennines nicely visible to the east. At times the fog / mist reached as close to 100 metres from our watchpoint but kept retreating making the watch much more interesting. Picking birds up was again made much easier against the fog with many birds very high today. Redwings dominant right from the onset coming from the usual direction (Rochdale) and on a fairly narrow front, with some birds slightly more distant to the south of us and over Bolton (c100 parties mostly small with maximum group of 300). Occasional parties dropping down but most continuing on and through into Cheshire / Lancashire, some birds were at a fair height above the fog with others skirting around the edge of the fog banks. Excellent Pink-footed Geese today with 9 skeins all south-east between 8.10 & 10.40am, with some having to re-orientate themselves over the very expansive fogged area! Three Whooper Swans coming from Lancs into Greater Manchester were on view for about 15 minutes before disappearing over south Manchester and onwards above the fog was a lovely sight. Excellent Swallow count for time of year with 24 birds south, included some flying south-west with Redwing flocks which was unusual. An early morning Ring Ouzel chacking away from near our watchpoint soon flew off north-west and was shortly followed by another 4 birds flying north-west and further birds were located with passing Redwings. Other birds of interest included 4 Grey Herons very high south, second day running a single Coal Tit high south-west but most unusual for here was a bizzare flock of 87 juvenile Common Gulls flying south-east again very high. First Bramblings with two singles over us and decent Meadow Pipits still moving included one flock of 35. First notable Starling groups this morning taking the usual north-west route over the moor by the mast. However Reed Buntings remain few and far between with just a single. A probable Lapland Bunting flew right over us with Chaffinches but only a tiny snatch of the call heard but don't think it could of been anything else. All in all a great morning:-

Highlights;

2,964 Redwings, most SW, some west and NW
3 Whooper Swan south and right across Manchester
592 Pink-footed Goose (26 NE 8.10am, all rest SE, 80@8.15am, 34@8.37am, 70+56@9.08am, 61@9.16am, 65@9.54am, 80@10.24am & 120@10.40am)
8 Ring Ouzels, 1 by Edge Lane which flew NW, nice flock of 4 NW & further singles west
144 Jackdaw SW
2 Brambling west
248 Chaffinch west
13 Jay south or SW, some at it again flying high above the fog
10 Siskin west
33 Greenfinch west
160 Meadow Pipit SW
598 Woodpigeon SW
3 Grey Wagtails NW
21 Alba Wagtails
42 Herring Gull NW
108 Common Gull SE
1 Fieldfare NW
24 Swallow south
3 Goosander west
10 Skylark north
10 Mistle Thrush NW

1 Wheatear and 2 Stonechat on Winter Hill.

Liking the new watchpoint


-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 14th of October 2012 09:05:49 PM

Further sightings from this morning/early afternoon include:

3 Wheatear by mast buildings
4 Stonechat
5 Crossbill N over Edge Lane
28 Redwing
1 Fieldfare

Infi thanks to Andy Makin and Phil Rhodes

First light this morning to 10.30am. All the eastern and southern sides of the area shrouded in a wall of fog but Georges Lane and the very top of Winter Hill lovely and clear.

3 Fieldfare south over Higher Meadows at 07.40

A flock of 5 Ring Ouzel in the big hedge at Higher Meadows departed low south over Wilderswood at 07.45

Merlin hunting over Smithills Moor

Golcrest and Coal Tit around the main mast building on Winter Hill, the latter eventually flying off east at great height!!!

When I was at the bottom of Winter hill, the top was clear; by the time I got up there, there was a thick fog. It didn't stay long however, so after 20 minutes it was clearing already. Lots of birders and dog-walkers about. Very muddy! Some good birds today:

Winter hill 9:20-12:10

1 Merlin (female/immature)--a lifer!
2 Pheasants (both male)-- one with the lamas at the bottom of mast road, the other at the first cattlegrid.
2 Chaffinches (at least 2)--Heard through the fog near Widerswood.
5 Magpies
1 Kestrel (ad. male)
4 Meadow pipits
10 Crows--a group of seven flew over towards Horwich.
2 Pied Wagtails (migration)
3 Wren--near the mast in the long grass!
1 Raven
1 Buzzard
3 Stonechats--2 under the mast and one male on Adam hill.
2 skylarks (at least)--2 flyovers and another one arriving from the opposite direction comes and lands.
1 Goldfinch (Probable, heard overhead)

It was the first time I had birds migrating and calling over my head and I have to say I'm not that good!



-- Edited by Paul Hurst on Saturday 13th of October 2012 03:05:21 PM

A second male Hen Harrier appeared at 9.55, soaring high above Smithills Moor before dissapearing SW, probably behind Newfields. This bird had a broken primary and Andy was also of the opinion, after consulting literature, that the earlier male was probably a second calendar year bird.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Adult male Hen Harrier flew in from the east at 8.50am this morning, flying NW along Burnt Edge and headed off W below Two Lads Hill.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 12th of October 2012 09:43:32 AM

Other sightings for the 10th, from Burnt Edge at first light:

238 Redwing in 14 small flocks most going north
1 Crossbill S
1 Grey Wagtail S
10 Siskin
15 Greenfinch
55 Chaffinch
14 Redpoll
8 Goldfinch S
1 Golden Plover S

Also 1 female type Merlin east at Georges Lane and 1 Stonechat, + 1 Wheatear on the very top of Winter Hill.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

A slow walk along Scout road and up onto Burnt edge yesterday between 11-4pm revealed the following birds

1 Treecreeper
8 Long tailed tits
3 Goldcrests
2 Coal tits
10 Jays
8 Jackdaws
1 Mistlethrush
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Ravens
1 Peregrine falcon
2 Kestrels
1 Grey Heron
5 Stonechat (4 females and 1 stunning male)
22 Meadow pipits

Heard several Bullfinches but never saw them.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 11th of October 2012 12:31:42 AM

Winter hill from 9:30 to 12:00
First true birding expedition in Greater Manchester (I don't have a driving licence, so its buses, trains, and bikes for me). It was cold, damp, and windy and there was hardly any birds: I saw more people than all the birds put together!

1 adult male red grouse (I stumbled across it and it showed really well in flight- first proper sighting of a grouse )
1 grey heron (landing near 2 lads hill!)
1 adult male kestrel (Really good views of it flying low over the moor scattering pipits)
1 Stonechat
2 Crows
4 Magpies
10c Meadow pipits (including 1 small flock going over- didn't see were it went)
1 probable Wheatear (I let my guard down 1 second...and a smallish bird with a light brown back and a white rump goes wizzing past (two lads hill))
1 unidentified Pigeon (To be honest it looked like a stock dove-flying over)

-- Edited by Paul Hurst on Wednesday 10th of October 2012 02:25:22 PM

-- Edited by Paul Hurst on Wednesday 10th of October 2012 03:28:53 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 10th of October 2012 03:58:24 PM

Usual circuit this morning. Burnt Edge, Newfield Plantation, Holdens Farm, Mast Road ,Montcliffe Quarry.
( Wigan RSPB mid week group.)
Sightings very thin.......

Kestrel...3
Grey Heron...1
Rook...1
Redwing... c20 SW
Raven....4
Carrion Crows....8
Wren...1
Reed Bunting....3
Long-tailed Tit...2
Blue Tit...1
Linnet....1
Coal Tit...2
Chaffinch...4
Robin...2

Additional sightings by group members:
Goldcrest...2
Meadow Pipits..2 or 3
Lesser Redpoll.....1
I Red Grouse and 1 Crossbill heard.




-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 10th of October 2012 02:25:02 PM

Sightings from today:

1 male Ring Ouzel W
1 Fieldfare S
15 Redwing SW
1 Brambling S
25 Jay S
Crossbill 1 S
51 chaffinch S

Info thanks to Andy Makin

A quick walk round Burnt Edge area this afternoon 3.00 till 4.30. Very quiet really.

2/3 Goldcrest seen in the little trees at the start of Walker Fold Wood.

Mixed flock of tits moving along the brook area near Holdens Farm. Wren and Robin also around this area.

Several Kestrels seen on the walk round. Very few Meadow Pipits in the area (Less Than 10) compared to recent visits.

The highlight of the walk was a pair of Stonechat on the bottom path in front of Burnt Edge. I managed to get within 5 metres of the male. He was a very impressive looking individual who just wasnt phased by me!!

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 9th of October 2012 09:22:44 PM

Further sighting from today:

Pink-footed Goose in 3 flocks W over Winter Hill and Burnt Edge 280+ and 80+ at 10.45 then 75 at 11.07
Mallard 3 SW
Cormorant 2 SW
Kestrel 2 singles high S
1 Sparrowhawk
Grey Heron 4 singles high S
Black-headed Gull 5 SW
Lesser Black-backed Gull 15 SW
Commin Gull 1 E
Lapwing 13
Golden plover 3 singles NW and S
60 Woodpigeon SW
Wheatear 2
Skylark 2
Meadow Pipit 61
Pied Wagtail 5
Song Thrush 4 SW
Redwing 2 flocks numbering 16 S
Jackdaw 54 SW
Crow 30
Rook 109
Jay 5 SE
Starling 8 W
Chaffinch 18
Siskin 1
Goldfinch 13
Redpoll 16
Bullfinch 3 SE
Greenfinch 11
Linnet 9
Canada Goose 1
Great Tit flew high S off the moor!

Info thanks to Andy Makin, via Simon Warford

9.40 to 13.50. Circular walk from Wilton Quarries. Horrocks Moor, Dean Ditch, Masts area, down to Burnt Edge, Coal Pit Lane, Scout Road.

1 Grey Heron, on field by Scout Road
3 skeins of Pink-footed Geese seen from Dean Ditch, all picked up flying from Egerton.
10.40am approx 500 headed NW, closely followed by 200+ which veered off over Belmont Reservoir heading N, and within 10 minutes another group of up to 200 birds followed the course of the first skein.
1 female Merlin perched on the wall along Dean Ditch. It flew off towards Coal Pit Lane
4 Kestrels
4 Pheasants
2 Moorhens on Bryan Hey Reservoir
1 Golden Plover whistling from the ground on GM side of Dean Ditch
5 Snipe. 3 on Horrocks Moor + 2 on Lancashire side of Dean Ditch
8 Woodpigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in Walker Fold Woods
81 Meadow Pipits
3 Pied Wagtails
10 Wrens
11 Robins
4 Stonechats. Pair on path from Wilton Arms to Scout Road + pair on Adam Hill
1 Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff on Scout Road
Long-tailed Tits + other tits at Bryan Hey Reservoir
1 Nuthatch
2 Jays
15 Magpies
30 Carrion Crows
8 Chaffinches
2 Greenfinches
5 Goldfinches
12 Siskins at Wilton Quarries
3 Bullfinches

1.00pm - 4.00pm

A quiet afternoon birdwise on the moors for me today.

5 Snipe flushed off Smithills Moor
pair of Kestrels on the rocket shaped mask disputing ownership of a vole
single female Stonechat near Holdens which was doing quite a bit of hovering for insects.
also found an old Short Eared Owl roost site, several large pellets and a moulted primary


http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulrisley/


-- Edited by Paul Risley on Monday 8th of October 2012 07:16:54 PM

-- Edited by Paul Risley on Monday 8th of October 2012 07:25:21 PM

This morning Vis Mig watch from Newfields / Edge Lane, 7am-11.30am with Andy Makin, Karen Foulkes and Simon Ghilks.

We were treated to stunning views looking south across Manchester watching birds migrating above the blanket of fog. First significant Redwing, Woodpigeon and Chaffinch movement and numbers of Jackdaws and Jays like never seen before from here, with most of the Jays flying high south-west above the fog! Main highlights included -

100 Pink-footed Geese SE in two skiens at 9.20am
3 Goosander - 2 south-west and 1 east
1 Golden Plover
2 Snipe west
2 Ring Ouzel 1 male in field half way up Edge Lane and another flew south-east over WFW.
8 Crossbill, all NW other than 1 female that perched up in small conifers by Edge Lane.
228 Redwing either SW or NW in 19 small parties
4 Song Thrush south
3 Mistle Thrush west
1,135 Woodpigeon south
356 Chaffinch
55 Siskin SW
9 Greenfinch west
29 Goldfinch SW
23 Linnet west
2,107 Meadow Pipit all south or SW
24 Alba Wagtail SW
1 Grey Wagtail
133 Swallow south
4 House Martin, south
23 Skylark mainly NW
81 Starling
360 Jackdaw SW
21 Jay SW

Lapland Bunting heard only, heading south over Dean Ditch at 12 midday today.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Simon Warford wrote:

---

2 Jay west and a further 9 along Scout Road, (seems like an invasion of continental birds into the UK currently)

---

I should say so! 94 through Titchwell and a ridiculous 668 through Hunstanton, Norfolk today!

Further combined sightings from myself, Riggers, Karen Foulkes, Dan Brown and Simon Ghilks, 7am up to 3pm and Andy Makin and Phil Rhodes seemingly doing a full tour of the moors up to 5pm! -

Fem/imm Black Redstart flew in from high east with a single Meadow Pipit and dropped into a hawthorn bush right in front of us at Newfields at 8.30am, a most unusual sight seeing one drop out of the sky!
3 Whooper Swan SE at 7.05am
Merlin south over Burnt Edge (Karen, Riggers & Simon)
Single Redwing flew west
Pair of Twite Georges Lane (Andy & Phil)
74 Swallow south
17 Alba Wagtail south & 30 down
466 Meadow Pipit, all south or SW
1 Grey Wagtail NW
1 Stock Dove NW
1 male Hen Harrier seen just on the Lancs side of Deans Ditch - info Gary Lilley.
27 Skylark all NW
2 Song Thrush
Riggers picked up a bird coming high over the moors towards Burnt Edge, Blue Tit! Which carried on high SW.
66 Lesser Black-backed Gull
9 Common Gull south
1 Duck sp west
7 Siskin west
141 Woodpigeon SW
45 Chaffinch SW
8 Crossbill including 2 over Georges Lane and a male perched up by Newfields.
6 Linnet SW
5 Bullfinch NW
Single Redpoll
2 Jay west and a further 9 along Scout Road, (seems like an invasion of continental birds into the UK currently)
19 Starling NW
1 Reed Bunting heard
7 Stonechat - 4 Winter Hill and 3 Coal Pit Road.
Single Chiffchaff
7 Wheatear Deans Ditch
10 Goldcrest WFW
3 Sparrowhawk WFW

Had a few hours along the Burnt Edge area this afternoon.
Most of the species I have seen recently were seen but the highlight was a bird I have never seen before.
As I came down the path in front of Burnt Edge 4 birds flew of one of the 2 trees on the left hand side of the path. I followed them with binoculars thinking the were Ring Ouzel. It was only when they landed in the trees next to Holdens Farm that I was able to 100% confirm that they were Ring Ouzel. I could clearly see their white bib and took a distant picture which shows the same. Fantastic sighting for me!

Single Lapland Bunting (seen/heard by Andy Makin and Phil Rhodes) with a flock of 6 Skylark flew NE over Edge Lane at 1.20pm today. Not seen to land.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Juvenile Marsh Harrier east over the moor tops after brief shower at 11.20am today.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Had just over an hours walk along walker fold wood, burnt edge and holdens farm straight after work at 4.45 today Thursday 4th October.
Straight away on the path up to walker fold wood saw a Jay, a kestrel and a wren. Once I got to the wood there were several up to 4/5 Goldcrest around. Also an unidentified warbler was feeding along side one of the Goldcrest. There was not much light but attemted to get photos of the Goldcrests with flash on my camera. Not brilliant on a bird that just doesnt stop moving but have some photos for my efforts. They didnt seemed phased by the flash.
Next passing along Burnt edge many Meadow Pipits were around but not up to the numbers I have seen on my recent visits. Approx 30-40 compared to 100s!! At the top of the path in front of Burnt Edge a Kestrel flew past quite close with largeish prey clearly in its talons. Excellent to see!! On my way back down past Holdens Farm I saw a large mixed flock which included: Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit and more Goldcrest. At this point I heard 3 very loud "growls" coming from near by on the edge of Walker fold wood. I assume they were Deer but not 100% sure.
On my way back to the car in front of Walker Fold Wood I saw 2 more Goldcrest.
A great hours walk around this unpredictable area!!

Additional sightings from today: -

1 female type Ring Ouzel south over Burnt Edge
503 Meadow Pipit, moving SW, mainly early afternoon
25 Pink-footed Geese west at 2pm
5 Crossbill NW
63 Goldfinch S
22 Chaffinch S
8 Skylark SW
5 Coal Tit at Higher Meadows then flew off NW over the moor!
14 Wheatear on Winter Hill

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Remarkably this morning, in a period of clear weather, 10 Sandwich Terns flew west just over Burnt Edge, all calling and in almost V formation, coming from distance over the moors!

A male Black Redstart was also present along the county boundary wall just before the cattle grid by the mast buildings on Winter Hill. Five Wheatears were also present.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Other than the two Snow Buntings today:

Pink-footed Geese sightings of 50+ at 8.18, 90+ at 8.52, 120+ at 8.55; all heading SE.
2 Crossbill south.
A single Twite NW just over in Lancs.
230 Meadow Pipit SW.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

2 Snow Bunting SSE over Burnt Edge at about 7.55am this morning, one appeared to be an adult male.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

A quick hours watch this morning from 7.45 -8.45 in very poor visability due to mist and drizzle from Edge Lane as the Newfields watchpoint was shrouded in mist.

Birds still moving including a Golden Plover and a small flock of Dunlin heard calling in the mist.
2 Song Thrush S
190 Meadow Pipit SW
13 Chaffinch

Info thanks to Andy Makin

A brief spell on the moors this morning yielded the first Fieldfare of year which landed in hawthorns by Holden's Farm.

Another brief mid afternoon spell had a (the?) ring tail Hen Harrier east at 2.50pm.

Info thanks to Andy Makin and Phil Rhodes

Had a couple of hours along burnt edge and surrounding area 3.45. (gutted missed harrier!!!)
species seen;
linnet
meadow pipit
kestrel
red grouse (first seen in ages)
goldcrest
chaffinch
blue tit
wren
pheasant

when the rain stopped and the sun came out lots of meadow pipits just appeared all along burnt edge.


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 1st of October 2012 09:38:11 PM

2 male type Ring Ouzels south through Burnt Edge this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 30th of September 2012 07:37:25 PM

Poor Andy nearly had a heart attack running to tell us about the Kite as he couldn't contact Simon on his mobile!

The sight of Riggers sprinting to get a better panoramic view was a sight for sore eyes though!

Red Kite flew SE down Burnt Edge this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Also today the ringtail Hen Harrier showed several times during the morning, at one point flying right in front of us all over Walker Fold Wood.

Other birds moving south, unless stated were,

555 Meadow Pipit
5 Chaffinch
11 Alba Wagtails
37 Swallow
16 Goldfinch
26 Linnet
10 Snipe NW
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
77 Starling
1 Reed Bunting
9 House Martin
3 Mistle thrush
Shame me, Karen and Riggers were back at the cars when Andy and Dan saw the Red Kite but great to have them Vis Migging with us.



-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 29th of September 2012 06:01:25 PM

Had a walk up past walker fold wood, down to holdens farm and back down the front of burnt edge. Walker fold: meadow pipit, kestrel holdens farm: wren, siskin, goldfinch, linnet, buzzard, magpie, meadow pipit. Burnt edge: meadow pipits galore!!!! (I have no idea how you guys would go about counting them all!!)

A couple of hours from Burnt Edge today.

As soon as the rain stopped at 12.05 a rush of birds came through with an imm/fem Merlin S over the watchpoint at 12.10 followed by an adult male S at 12.21 direct over tops of Winter Hill and then S along Walker Fold Road.
227 Meadow Pipit SW and SE
8 jay SE

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Todays totals:

Ringtail Hen Harrier NW at 7.40, along with a Merlin NW and Sparrowhawk S at the same time.
16 Wigeon NW over tops disappearing in to cloud at 7.23
Pink-footed Geese: 4 E at 8.03, 60+ NE and 100+ NE at 8.07
1 Twite calling over NE at Mast Road.
13 Wheatear 13
372 Meadow Pipit SW early and later SE. c
7 Crossbill NW
45 Swallow S
15 Linnet S
3 siskin S

Info thanks to Andy Makin

This morning, VisMig watching from Burnt Edge 1.20 - 4.10pm, a few pipits were moving in the rain but not a lot else, then at around 3:25pm a bright spell appeared over the moors, contrasting against a huge front which was right on the edge, covering all of Manchester just east of Walker Fold Road. At this point a huge number of Meadow Pipits 700+ and flock of 400+ Swallow appeared from nowhere following the edge of front heading SW with 2 Sparrowhawk in persuit. Total Swallows for the day were 422+, Meadow Pipit 830 flying through plus 300+ down on the moors and 70 Lapwing NE.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

This morning's totals, 6.30 -11.15am. A big rush in the first hour then a sudden abrupt stop with the approaching weather front.

630 Meadow Pipit (with 500 in first hour)
1 Ring Ouzel south at first light
100 + Pink-footed Geese nw
Male Yellowhammer s over the tops
3 single Golden Plover
Only 20 Swallow south and just 3 House Martin!
30 Chaffinch 20 south
female/immature Merlin at Dean Ditch

Info thanks to Andy Makin

The weather wasn't conducive to great VisMig today I'm afraid Andy, although I believe there was some movement early morning. Yesterday's bright sunny weather was always going to be the incentive for a major push of migrants for us.

The best locations for watching migration are from either Georges Lane, usually from the road either a couple of hundred yards south of the kennels (by the telegraph pole alongside the road) or just north of the kennels immediately by the border with Lancs; right on the top of Winter Hill by following the stone wall for a few hundred yards which runs south (and is Dean Ditch) and is the border of the county once again; or along the track (best nearer the top) down from Newfields Farm to Burnt Edge. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages!

Obviously yesterday was the day to be up here (or was I just in the wrong area for three hours?). Extremely quiet, I think best describes it. The only notable birds were in Lancs I'm afraid to say. A male black redstart flew from the moor to the west and into the mast compound area, and a couple of wheatears were also in the general area. Where exactly is the best place to witness some (any) migration, or was it that the conditions were wrong today?

Sounds like an excellent day up on the moors.
I could clearly see the winter hill from the far south of the county this morning on my walk, and was thinking whilst a steady trickle of mipits went over that I was on the wrong side of the county, your list proves it!
The large number of migrating Buzzards filtered through southwards though.

An organised visible migration watch today over a broad front basically covering pretty much the entire moors area for the best part of 10 hours 6:30am to 4.30pm. Thanks to all the counters Phil Rhodes, Simon Warford, Andy Makin, Mark Rigby, Karen Foulkes (and myself).

An excellent day with Meadow Pipit and Swallow, as expected, featuring significantly to say the least!

6 Snipe

Pink-footed Geese – 5 NW over Mast Road 3.30pm

Hen Harrier – adult female flew in from east Smithills moor at 8.35am then flew across behind Holden’s Farm and then over to Wildersmoor then north. Toured the area long enough for all three teams to catch up with it.

Merlin – 2 fem/imm around Deans Ditch, one west 11 am and one on the wall then flew off south(ish) at 2.30pm
19 Buzzard

Upto 12 Sparrowhawk (some local birds in these totals though)

8 Cormorant

23 Lesser Black-backed Gull

36 Woodpigeon

Stock Dove – 1 west over Wildersmoor

1 Jay –south over Deans Ditch

2 Rook

17 Jackdaw

Great Spotted Woodpecker – 1 south over Smithills moor

51 Starling

Mistle Thrush

11,651 Swallow

3,555 House Martin

13 Sand Martin – 12 South over Deans Ditch 7.30am, 1 SW over Burnt Edge.

3,481 Meadow Pipit

68 Skylark

110 Chaffinch

59 Goldfinch

Crossbill – 4 flew out of Walker Fold Wood and off to the SW at 8am

31 Linnet

6 Siskin

18 Redpoll

9 Greenfinch

16 alba wagtail

3 Grey Wagtail

2 Reed Bunting

Birds Down -

Spotted Flycatcher – 1 Burnt Edge (small conifer plantation on top near track)

Redstart – 1 Newfields

Upto 22 Wheatear

2 Stonechat

A walk today taking in Georges Lane, Moors up to the mast, Holden's Plantation and Farm, Walker Fold Woods, Burnt Edge and Mast Road 9.00 am to 2.30 pm

A large number of Hirundines on the move, both Swallows and House Martins
Good numbers of Meadow Pipits throughout plus a few Skylarks
4/5 C Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Kestrels
2 Raven
1 Stonechat (Juv abt 400 yds past the Kennels)
Goldcrest (4 in conifers abt 400 yds past the Kennels plus sev in Walker Fold Woods)
3 Willow Warbler (1 nr Holden's Plantation, 2 nr Holden's Farm)
Linnet (sev nr Holden's Farm)
2 (min) Redpoll (nr Holden's Farm)
5 Wheatear (1 abt 400 yds past the Kennels, the others along Mast Lane and nr the mast)
1 Pied Wagtail (nr the mast)
1 Jay
30(appx) Goldfinch nr the Kennels

10.40 to 12.50

Coal Pit Lane/Scout Road.
8 Pheasants, including juveniles
7 Woodpigeons
15 Swallows
80+ Meadow Pipits
2 Pied Wagtails
1 Wren
3 Robins
1 juvenile Stonechat (Gilligant's Farm)
1 Wheatear (Scout Road)
2 Goldcrests (Bryan Hey Reservoir) with Coal/Blue/Great Tits
1 Magpie
10 Carrion Crows
6 Chaffinches
1 Goldfinch

This morning's totals courtesy of Andy Makin and Simon Warford: -

13 Wheatear
60+ Pink-footed Geese NE at 07.35am and 6 W at 11.33am
430 Meadow Pipit SW
76 Swallow S
12 Skylark W

09.30-13.00

Matchmoor Lane

2 flocks of Meadow Pipits (around 60 in total), 1 flock of 21 Starlings.

Burnt Edge

3 Wheatears

Walker Fold

1 Sparrowhawk (male) sat in a conifer and being vigorously mobbed by a crow.


12 Swallows and 1 House Martin moving through Westwards.

Holdens Farm

42 Linnets, 32 Meadow Pipits plus 2 Grey Herons flying over


Georges Lane

1 Redstart (female), 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Ravens and 2 Kestrels

Swallows constantly swooping across the lane, but could'nt determine how many in total.

9 Wheatear and a Whinchat in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Road this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

Regarding the 8 Buzzards yesterday morning, I had five over Edgworth about 10am, flying over from Holcombe Moor heading west over Wayoh/Turton Heights. They were heading in that direction so could have been some of the same birds, although Belmont/Longworth Clough birds could be resonsible.

I am just catching up after losing the internet for three days.

Late news for yesterday (14th): -

6 Stonechat and 2 Whinchat at Holdens Farm
2 Wheatear and 2 Whinchat off Georges Lane

Info thanks to Andy Little