Brief but reasonable views of a single Short Eared Owl at 4.15pm. Failing light. Just behind Walker Fold woods at the start of Burnt Edge.
Plus a mystery silent fly-by from a blackbird sized bird. Probably a blackbird.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Dec 9 2:29 PM, 2011
Snow Bunting still present today, in the next to last compound on the Lancs side of Mast Road.
Into thanks to Jill Mills and Ken Haydock (via Andy Makin)
Joe Wynn said
Wed Dec 7 9:24 PM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
How long is a piece of string Joe? I'm afraid it's one of those situations though the bird around the mast buildings appears to have taken a liking to them and certainly is finding food and shelter aplenty. How long it will actually stay though is anyone's guess and only the bird knows. Historically, they've never hung around too long anywhere in the county but that's not to say this male won't. Best to get up there ASAP either way
Better try and get up there soon then!
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Dec 7 8:33 PM, 2011
How long is a piece of string Joe? I'm afraid it's one of those situations though the bird around the mast buildings appears to have taken a liking to them and certainly is finding food and shelter aplenty. How long it will actually stay though is anyone's guess and only the bird knows. Historically, they've never hung around too long anywhere in the county but that's not to say this male won't. Best to get up there ASAP either way
Joe Wynn said
Wed Dec 7 7:44 PM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Male Snow Bunting still present by the mast building this morning. Also a further Snow Bunting on mast Road just up beyond the cattle grid by the parking area nearer the bottom of the road at 10:55. Flew off towards Smithills Moor.
Info thanks to Colin Moran
How long is this bird likely to stay? I'd be keen to get up to see it, but can't see myself getting up for a while. Cheers, Joe
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Dec 7 11:40 AM, 2011
Male Snow Bunting still present by the mast building this morning. Also a further Snow Bunting on mast Road just up beyond the cattle grid by the parking area nearer the bottom of the road at 10:55. Flew off towards Smithills Moor.
Info thanks to Colin Moran
John Carter said
Tue Dec 6 9:13 PM, 2011
Thanks for the geography lesson, Tim - I stand corrected. If the boundary is as you say then it was still in Lancashire. Actually it is quite lucky to be anywhere at all by now. It came so close when I first noticed it that I could easily have trodden on it by accident!
Tim Wilcox said
Tue Dec 6 8:24 PM, 2011
John Carter wrote:
Snow Bunting still giving superb close-up views outside the mast buildings around 1pm today. Like Tom Wilcox I was on my way back from the "space rocket" mast and had given it up. I was quietly reading the information notice on the side of the mast building when I heard a scurrying sound and looked down to see the bird running past me no more than a couple of yards away. It then settled down to feed about four yards away for several minutes (on the GM side of the road!) until frightened off by a dog . I last saw it feeding inside the mast compound.
No other sightings apart from a kestrel and a large gritting lorry on its side in the ditch next to the road.
Hi John
As I understand it the ramshackle dry stone wall and ditch that cross the road diagonally at the cattle grid is the county boundary. So the bird needs to fly south about 25yds down the road before it's in GM. It was quite at home close to the mast compound which presumably it has mistaken for a ski resort. I've ended up with a lousy cold after getting soaked Saturday. It needs someone to lay a load of seed just over the border. Seems to work a treat at Kinmel Bay beach!
John Carter said
Tue Dec 6 2:30 PM, 2011
Snow Bunting still giving superb close-up views outside the mast buildings around 1pm today. Like Tom Wilcox I was on my way back from the "space rocket" mast and had given it up. I was quietly reading the information notice on the side of the mast building when I heard a scurrying sound and looked down to see the bird running past me no more than a couple of yards away. It then settled down to feed about four yards away for several minutes until frightened off by a dog . I last saw it feeding inside the mast compound.
No other sightings apart from a kestrel and a large gritting lorry on its side in the ditch next to the road.
-- Edited by John Carter on Wednesday 7th of December 2011 09:08:52 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Dec 4 10:23 AM, 2011
The male Snow Bunting is still showing along Mast Road again this morning, down to a few feet in front of the mast buildings. Though the buildings are in Lancashire the bird is regularly flushed by joggers and walkers and flies back onto the road, working up and down it. There's always a fair chance you might catch it within GM boundaries!
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Tim Wilcox said
Sat Dec 3 5:27 PM, 2011
Went up there 2.30 - 4.00.
Kestrel Georges La as I arrived No sign of anything on the way up in the biting wind and hail. Walked on to the second station in Lancs - nothing. Then coming back down the Snow Bunting was on the road just outside the main station. I thought I was going to flush it into GM but it was so tame it just walked along about 10 foot in front of me and sauntered into the compound remaining in the WRONG county
Mark Rigby said
Sat Dec 3 2:33 PM, 2011
Snow Bunting still present present at 1315hrs in the mast compound just over the border in Lancs. (much to the disgust of a certain county year lister!)
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Dec 3 10:17 AM, 2011
Snow Bunting refound by Ken Haydock this morning and is currently in Greater Manchester on the southern side of Mast Road just before the mast on Winter Hill itself.
Stephen McCall said
Fri Dec 2 10:46 PM, 2011
Interesting reading about the short eared owls. Up until about ten/twelve years ago short eared owls could be seen practically every evening from the Belmont - Rivington road during summer. Unfortunately year after year of moorland fires put an end to this.
Rick Hall said
Fri Dec 2 7:45 PM, 2011
Simon Warford wrote:
Andy Makin had one of your short-eared owls around 3.30pm flying from two lads to burnt edge over the mast road.
Does a single species escape his lenses?
Simon Warford said
Fri Dec 2 6:19 PM, 2011
Terrific stuff Rick, they are scarce up there you've had a lucky streak probably part of the winter influx of birds from Scandinavia, where they must have had a great breeding season. They feed on anything from voles to mice rats etc,
Andy Makin had one of your short-eared owls around 3.30pm flying from two lads to burnt edge over the mast road.
Also today a male snow bunting showing to 10 feet in the 2nd most western compound on Winter hill (Lancs). Seen by Ken and Jill this morning it was still in the same spot at 3.15pm this afternoon (Andy).
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Friday 2nd of December 2011 10:37:07 PM
Rick Hall said
Fri Dec 2 5:01 PM, 2011
Walk from Burnt Edge to Mast Road via Holden's Plantation and round this afternoon 3.15pm to 4.15pm produced a nice flock of 13 Bullfinches feeding on the heather. As I was counting 8 males and 5 females, not one, but 2 Short Eared Owls appeared over the heather not 100 feet away. At first glance I though it was one being mobbed by a buzzard, but it was 2 indivuals (or a pair?). One headed in the direction of Two Lads and the other back down in the direction of burnt edge. I legged it to Mast Road to try and relocate one of them. I thought I'd lost it when it re-appeared on the Burnt Edge side of Mast Road... with the other one! They had a bit of what looked like argy bargy then one continued to quarter the moor at the bottom of Burnt Edge whilst the other disappeared from view in the long grass. Walking back up to Burnt Edge I watched one of them fly in towards the spot where I found one the other month and then saw the other engage in an aerial non-contact battle witha raven, directly over my head. As I watched this for at least 5 minutes, the other one started to hunt the little heather covered depression between Burnt Edge path and Motcliffe Quarry. I turned my attention to this one, as I did, my dog flushed 4 Grouse and a Snipe (probably common, lost it in the gloom), the owl didn't seem interested. Out of interest, what's a SEO's preffered diet? One of them perched on the footpath sign for a while, which is at the junction of paths at the bottom of Burnt Edge. When it flew off, went and looked and found 2 pellets, so I may be able to answer my question later. Looks like they may use this perch regularly.
All in all one of the best hour long walks I've ever had, if not THE best. Someone told me these birds were rare up there!!!!
Simon Warford said
Wed Nov 30 8:35 PM, 2011
Todays, mainly Vis Mig, sightings up to midday;
Single Waxwing west over Burnt Edge at 8.30 3 Grey Geese west 9.35 2,627 Woodpigeon mostly sw 1 male Crossbill sw 42 Siskin west 25 Fieldfare west 32 Skylark east over Georges Lane 1 Peregrine heading south
Pink-footed Geese moving as follows-
800+100 east over Burnt Edge 8.40 120 west 9.35 44 nw over Winter Hill 9.40
Info thanks to Andy Makin.
(Nice one with the Snow Bunting Rick.)
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 28 11:56 PM, 2011
Single Ring Ouzel flushed off the moor at Winter Hill today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Rick Hall said
Sun Nov 27 11:58 AM, 2011
single male snow bunting down to 10 feet on mast road this morning at 11.15. Stunning bird. Lifer for me. Absollutely chuffed to bits. Flew off after about 30 seconds in the direction of the mast.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Nov 25 5:29 PM, 2011
1663 Woodpigeon over NNW today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 24 9:24 PM, 2011
Todays highlights included:
5 Whooper Swan, 4 adults and 1 immature heading low east over Burnt Edge at 7:45.
101 Pink-footed Geese east at 8.50 and 6 se at 8.58
10 Crossbill
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Simon Warford said
Wed Nov 23 8:56 PM, 2011
Pete, correction I spoke to Andy earlier this evening and he couldnt actually ID the race, despite them being only a 100 feet above him, they headed towards Blackrod. I just assumed they'd be Eurasian given the current unprecedented influx into the UK of this race. Worth checking any geese flocks anywhere given the numbers of geese other counties are getting.
Also today single Crossbill over NW and 29 Pink feet flew SE at 8.10.
2nd hand report of a male Snow Bunting on the 13th November feeding on the path on top of Burnt Edge, showing to 10 feet apparently. (Geoff Leather and others).
pete berry said
Wed Nov 23 8:13 PM, 2011
Wow,they must have been low and very close to be able to i.d. what race they were.
Simon Warford said
Wed Nov 23 2:37 PM, 2011
9 White-fronted Geese just flown low south west over Burnt Edge, keep an eye out in Wigan.
Info thanks to Andy Makin.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Wednesday 23rd of November 2011 09:15:01 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 20 5:43 PM, 2011
Yesterday's sightings:
7775 Woodpigeon mainly heading north with an amazing 6000 between 8-8:40. Also 5990 starling west, 7 Crossbill sw and 6 down.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Steve Suttill said
Fri Nov 18 5:39 PM, 2011
Damn! Fell into your evil trap again
When will I ever learn?
Steve
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Nov 18 12:25 PM, 2011
Steve Suttill wrote:
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Other sighings include:
I thought sighings were what was heard at Richmond Bank when all the gulls took flight?
Sorry Ian - couldn't help it!
Steve
There's always one eagle eyed isn't there and that Steve my friend, is why you just volunteered yourself to proof read the report
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 18th of November 2011 12:25:57 PM
Steve Suttill said
Fri Nov 18 9:34 AM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Other sighings include:
I thought sighings were what was heard at Richmond Bank when all the gulls took flight?
Sorry Ian - couldn't help it!
Steve
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 17 9:08 PM, 2011
A single Snow Bunting flew high NW over the Mast Road parking area at 12:15 today.
Other sighings include:
1 Golden Plover 90 Pink-footed Geese SE at 8am 2166 Woodpigeon W/SW 9 Crossbill down in Walkerfold Wood and 13 stright through 3 Red Grouse along Mast Road
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 14 8:20 PM, 2011
8 Crossbills north today were the only highlight.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 13 5:35 PM, 2011
Quiet and windy up there today with the only birds of note:
Single Merlin east 1 Crossbill 1300+ Starling NW
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Nov 12 7:44 PM, 2011
No sign of pipit, nor Ouzel - spent an hour at the garden without so much as a glimpse mid-afternoon!
Mark Rigby said
Sat Nov 12 3:53 PM, 2011
No further sign of the Richards Pipit since it flew into Lancs by 1430hrs.
Ring Ouzel showing well occasionally in the garden adjacent to the kennels.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Nov 12 12:25 PM, 2011
Richards Pipit present along George's Lane this morning by the kennels at the northern end. By midday it had flown north slightly at dropped in just inside the Lancs boundary but is still in the area.
Info thanks to Andy Makin/Ken Haydock (via Simon Warford)
Pat Griffin said
Wed Nov 9 3:12 PM, 2011
A mixed thrush flock at big hedge and adjacent fields on Georges Lane mid morning consisted of one Ring Ouzel, several Blackbirds, several Redwing and the majority were Fieldfare. I would estimate approximately 60-70 birds in total.
12 Crossbills feeding in larches in Wilderswood late morning, then they flew off towards Mast Road. A second flock of 10 more Crossbills flew off in the same direction several minutes later.
Simon Warford said
Sun Nov 6 7:13 PM, 2011
Todays Vis Mig highlights mainly from Georges Lane with Andy Makin & Ken Haydock up to 1pm;
Todays major highlight was 2 SNOW BUNTING. The first a cracking male picked up on call flew right over us at 8.35am and then over Two lads. Full flight call heard 6 times then a female/imm bird flew over exactly the same route at 9.40am and also off over Two lads! A nice first for Ken on his patch.
Also,
1 Twite Georges Lane 2 Whooper Swan south 8am 995 Pink-footed Geese SE in 6 skiens prior to 9.10am 2,637 Woodpigeon south 539 Fieldfare 354 Starling nw Skylark 8 ne
Present were 1 Brambling, 1 male Stonechat, 5 Raven & 65+ Crossbills with at least 40 in Wilderswood and 12 were also watched flying off sw over the Reebok and off towards Cheshire.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 6th of November 2011 07:17:29 PM
Simon Warford said
Sat Nov 5 8:53 PM, 2011
Todays Vis Mig highlights from dawn up to 3pm, mostly from Georges Lane, with Andy Makin & Dan Brown. Started very slow but really picked up after lunch.
4,150 Pink-footed Geese (700 north west all others south east) 7 Whooper Swan south at 3.10pm over Horwich 1 Twite west Skylark 36 north Woodpigeon 3,891 heading south at some height! (new Winter hill day record). 3 unidentified Duck species high south 1 Ring Ouzel low south 185 Fieldfare north west
1 Brambling present, Many Crossbill flocks seen with usual likely overlap of birds, highest single flock was 25 that flew north west & up to 30 birds in Wilderswood. Im almost getting bored of them!
Best bird of the day was the most striking Greenland Wheatear we have ever seen along Deans ditch, with a really white long supercillium. It had a northern Wheatear for company, possibly last weeks bird still present.
2 Peregrine over 1 attacking a Woodpigeon flock.
Roll on tomorrow.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 5th of November 2011 09:36:58 PM
Simon Warford said
Thu Nov 3 10:53 PM, 2011
Yesterdays vis mig highlights,
849 Fieldfare nw 41 Chaffinch 1,612 Starling nw 2 Brambling 1,110 Woodpigeon 9 Crossbill over Burnt Edge and a further 8 feeding on thistles heads next to Walker fold wood.
Today, just 33 Crossbills present.
Info thanks to Andy Makin.
Simon Warford said
Sun Oct 30 7:32 PM, 2011
Further sightings from today.
Ring Ouzel in the Big Hedge at Higher Meadows this afternoon (A Warford)
15 Crossbill Holdens (P Rhodes).
Simon Warford said
Sun Oct 30 4:36 PM, 2011
This morning, from 6.30am with Andy Makin.
1 Wheatear still by the mast, also 7 Redpolls right on the top before flying high south. 30 Crossbill Walker fold wood. Single Brambling 81 Pink Footed Geese nw through the gloom (exact count thanks to Ken Haydocks camera). 4 Skylark sw Virtually no other vis mig at all
Yesterday Ken had 50 Crossbill in Walker fold wood including a flock of 30 coming to a small pool drinking. Andy and Ken said this has been the best year ever for Crossbill up there.
Simon Warford said
Sat Oct 29 1:38 PM, 2011
A Goshawk giving good views eating a blackbird at Wallsuches fishing lodges this morning, below Georges Lane (no time given).
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes(sighting Neil Hancock).
Meanwhile this morning me and Andy Makin had 25+ Crossbill at Walker fold wood and 30+ Brambling and the Wheatear is still up by the mast.
Who needs a Goshawk or Rubythroat anyway..
Paul Heaton said
Fri Oct 28 10:43 PM, 2011
Simon Warford wrote
Looks like we will be Vis Migging as usual tomorrow, as after serious consideration were not going to Shetland for the Holy Grail Rubythroat.
Knowing the hard work you mountain moors birders get up to, maybe with a bit of luck you will find one up on winter hill:big grin:
Got to say you are doing that patch proud, making us lowland birder jealous.
Have a good one
Simon Warford said
Fri Oct 28 9:05 PM, 2011
Further to Ian's post earlier, todays (mainly Vis Mig) highlights from the moors,
Ringtail Hen Harrier just on the Lancs side of the mast. 14 Brambling sw 141 Fieldfare nw 6 Crossbill wfw 876 Woodpigeon south 80 Pink Feet west at 9.25am 3 Stonechat 6 Skylark south 16 Mipits south 1 Wheatear still with us! 1 Woodcock west over Smithills moor
With regards the 3 Snow Buntings (1 male and possibly 2 fem/immature males) they were on the moor just in Lancs, 500 yards down Deans ditch, seen well on the ground then flew over the wall into Gtr. Man. then flew low north east back into Lancs and dropped down over the hill. So could still be around.
Info thanks to Phil and Andy.
Looks like we will be Vis Migging as usual tomorrow, as after serious consideration were not going to Shetland for the Holy Grail Rubythroat.
Ian Woosey said
Fri Oct 28 1:15 PM, 2011
28/10/11
3 Snow Buntings over Deans Ditch at 11:50, then flew towards Belmont (Lancs).
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Simon Warford said
Wed Oct 26 10:10 PM, 2011
Recent Vis Mig highlights from Andy Makin;
Sun 23rd Oct.
3 Tree sparrow south
Tues 25th Oct.
26 Brambling sw 30 Crossbill nw 450 fieldfare nw
Chris brown said
Sat Oct 22 8:44 PM, 2011
Had a good walk round walkers fold, burnt edge and holdens farm. Saw the following: 2 kestrals (one a good view on a wall on burnt edge) 2 female bullfinch several blue tits, great tits, coal tits, long tail tits 1 tree creeper ( great view) 1 stonechat 1 wren 2 jays heard 2 greater spotted woodpeckers
I was hoping to see the crossbills again but no such luck today!!
Finally saw about 4/5 birders with telescopes on the embankment above walkers fold wood. I am asuming it was the migration watch guys!!
Chris brown
Simon Warford said
Sat Oct 22 5:19 PM, 2011
Also Merlin, 5 Buzzard and 13 Crossbill Burnt Edge this morning, along with 4 Brambling at Newfields.
Paul Risley said
Sat Oct 22 5:11 PM, 2011
3 and a half hours yomping over the moors this afternoon, for the first couple of hours all I had seen was a Raven and 2 Kestrels, no sign of the Black Redstart. then a male Peregrine came over smithalls moor and circled for a couple of mins giving nice views before being lost from sight near to the mast. 3 Ravens then came over fighting, 2 of them coming together in mid air and falling towards the ground before splitting up, 2 carried on chasing the other one right across the moor and out of sight, returning slightly afterwards and heading back towards the quarries. more nice and close views of the Kestrels, a Buzzard over the quarries and a cracking view of a Female Sparrowhawk, flew past low about 25 feet from me hunting slowly, almost Harrier like with the sun on her, just before getting back to the car on Georges Lane
Keith Mills said
Sat Oct 22 3:57 PM, 2011
Bright and breezy morning walk with Wigan RSPB. From Burnt Edge Lane to the Mast and back via Holdens and the Viz Mig watchpoint. Along the Edge: Fieldfare ... 4 flocks totalling c160. Redwing ... one large flock and a mixed flock ... total 60 Woodpigeons.... one large flock ....60 All above flocks flying West or WNW Raven 1 Stonechat ...1 Kestrel.... several sitings Meadow Pipit....6 Carrion Crow ....6
Holden's Plantation was productive: Wren 1 Bullfinch .... 'flock' of 6 Longtail Tit ....flock of 9 with: Coal Tit... 2 Blue Tit... 2 Very windy at the Mast: Just a single late Wheatear behind a cable anchor. Nice to meet the regular Viz mig people including Karen and Simon from Tameside.
-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 07:49:52 PM
Plus a mystery silent fly-by from a blackbird sized bird. Probably a blackbird.
Into thanks to Jill Mills and Ken Haydock (via Andy Makin)
Better try and get up there soon then!
How long is this bird likely to stay? I'd be keen to get up to see it, but can't see myself getting up for a while.
Cheers,
Joe
Info thanks to Colin Moran
Hi John
As I understand it the ramshackle dry stone wall and ditch that cross the road diagonally at the cattle grid is the county boundary. So the bird needs to fly south about 25yds down the road before it's in GM. It was quite at home close to the mast compound which presumably it has mistaken for a ski resort. I've ended up with a lousy cold after getting soaked Saturday. It needs someone to lay a load of seed just over the border. Seems to work a treat at Kinmel Bay beach!
Snow Bunting still giving superb close-up views outside the mast buildings around 1pm today. Like Tom Wilcox I was on my way back from the "space rocket" mast and had given it up. I was quietly reading the information notice on the side of the mast building when I heard a scurrying sound and looked down to see the bird running past me no more than a couple of yards away. It then settled down to feed about four yards away for several minutes until frightened off by a dog . I last saw it feeding inside the mast compound.
No other sightings apart from a kestrel and a large gritting lorry on its side in the ditch next to the road.
-- Edited by John Carter on Wednesday 7th of December 2011 09:08:52 AM
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Kestrel Georges La as I arrived
No sign of anything on the way up in the biting wind and hail. Walked on to the second station in Lancs - nothing. Then coming back down the Snow Bunting was on the road just outside the main station. I thought I was going to flush it into GM but it was so tame it just walked along about 10 foot in front of me and sauntered into the compound remaining in the WRONG county
Does a single species escape his lenses?
Andy Makin had one of your short-eared owls around 3.30pm flying from two lads to burnt edge over the mast road.
Also today a male snow bunting showing to 10 feet in the 2nd most western compound on Winter hill (Lancs). Seen by Ken and Jill this morning it was still in the same spot at 3.15pm this afternoon (Andy).
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Friday 2nd of December 2011 10:37:07 PM
All in all one of the best hour long walks I've ever had, if not THE best.
Someone told me these birds were rare up there!!!!
Single Waxwing west over Burnt Edge at 8.30
3 Grey Geese west 9.35
2,627 Woodpigeon mostly sw
1 male Crossbill sw
42 Siskin west
25 Fieldfare west
32 Skylark east over Georges Lane
1 Peregrine heading south
Pink-footed Geese moving as follows-
800+100 east over Burnt Edge 8.40
120 west 9.35
44 nw over Winter Hill 9.40
Info thanks to Andy Makin.
(Nice one with the Snow Bunting Rick.)
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Andy Makin
5 Whooper Swan, 4 adults and 1 immature heading low east over Burnt Edge at 7:45.
101 Pink-footed Geese east at 8.50 and 6 se at 8.58
10 Crossbill
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Also today single Crossbill over NW and 29 Pink feet flew SE at 8.10.
2nd hand report of a male Snow Bunting on the 13th November feeding on the path on top of Burnt Edge, showing to 10 feet apparently. (Geoff Leather and others).
Info thanks to Andy Makin.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Wednesday 23rd of November 2011 09:15:01 PM
7775 Woodpigeon mainly heading north with an amazing 6000 between 8-8:40. Also 5990 starling west, 7 Crossbill sw and 6 down.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
When will I ever learn?
Steve
There's always one eagle eyed isn't there and that Steve my friend, is why you just volunteered yourself to proof read the report
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 18th of November 2011 12:25:57 PM
I thought sighings were what was heard at Richmond Bank when all the gulls took flight?
Sorry Ian - couldn't help it!
Steve
Other sighings include:
1 Golden Plover
90 Pink-footed Geese SE at 8am
2166 Woodpigeon W/SW
9 Crossbill down in Walkerfold Wood and 13 stright through
3 Red Grouse along Mast Road
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Single Merlin east
1 Crossbill
1300+ Starling NW
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ring Ouzel showing well occasionally in the garden adjacent to the kennels.
Info thanks to Andy Makin/Ken Haydock (via Simon Warford)
12 Crossbills feeding in larches in Wilderswood late morning, then they flew off towards Mast Road. A second flock of 10 more Crossbills flew off in the same direction several minutes later.
Todays major highlight was 2 SNOW BUNTING. The first a cracking male picked up on call flew right over us at 8.35am and then over Two lads. Full flight call heard 6 times then a female/imm bird flew over exactly the same route at 9.40am and also off over Two lads! A nice first for Ken on his patch.
Also,
1 Twite Georges Lane
2 Whooper Swan south 8am
995 Pink-footed Geese SE in 6 skiens prior to 9.10am
2,637 Woodpigeon south
539 Fieldfare
354 Starling nw
Skylark 8 ne
Present were 1 Brambling, 1 male Stonechat, 5 Raven & 65+ Crossbills with at least 40 in Wilderswood and 12 were also watched flying off sw over the Reebok and off towards Cheshire.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 6th of November 2011 07:17:29 PM
4,150 Pink-footed Geese (700 north west all others south east)
7 Whooper Swan south at 3.10pm over Horwich
1 Twite west
Skylark 36 north
Woodpigeon 3,891 heading south at some height! (new Winter hill day record).
3 unidentified Duck species high south
1 Ring Ouzel low south
185 Fieldfare north west
1 Brambling present,
Many Crossbill flocks seen with usual likely overlap of birds, highest single flock was 25 that flew north west & up to 30 birds in Wilderswood. Im almost getting bored of them!
Best bird of the day was the most striking Greenland Wheatear we have ever seen along Deans ditch, with a really white long supercillium. It had a northern Wheatear for company, possibly last weeks bird still present.
2 Peregrine over 1 attacking a Woodpigeon flock.
Roll on tomorrow.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 5th of November 2011 09:36:58 PM
849 Fieldfare nw
41 Chaffinch
1,612 Starling nw
2 Brambling
1,110 Woodpigeon
9 Crossbill over Burnt Edge and a further 8 feeding on thistles heads next to Walker fold wood.
Today, just 33 Crossbills present.
Info thanks to Andy Makin.
Ring Ouzel in the Big Hedge at Higher Meadows this afternoon (A Warford)
15 Crossbill Holdens (P Rhodes).
1 Wheatear still by the mast, also 7 Redpolls right on the top before flying high south.
30 Crossbill Walker fold wood.
Single Brambling
81 Pink Footed Geese nw through the gloom (exact count thanks to Ken Haydocks camera).
4 Skylark sw
Virtually no other vis mig at all
Yesterday Ken had 50 Crossbill in Walker fold wood including a flock of 30 coming to a small pool drinking. Andy and Ken said this has been the best year ever for Crossbill up there.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes(sighting Neil Hancock).
Meanwhile this morning me and Andy Makin had 25+ Crossbill at Walker fold wood and 30+ Brambling and the Wheatear is still up by the mast.
Who needs a Goshawk or Rubythroat anyway..
Ringtail Hen Harrier just on the Lancs side of the mast.
14 Brambling sw
141 Fieldfare nw
6 Crossbill wfw
876 Woodpigeon south
80 Pink Feet west at 9.25am
3 Stonechat
6 Skylark south
16 Mipits south
1 Wheatear still with us!
1 Woodcock west over Smithills moor
With regards the 3 Snow Buntings (1 male and possibly 2 fem/immature males) they were on the moor just in Lancs, 500 yards down Deans ditch, seen well on the ground then flew over the wall into Gtr. Man. then flew low north east back into Lancs and dropped down over the hill. So could still be around.
Info thanks to Phil and Andy.
Looks like we will be Vis Migging as usual tomorrow, as after serious consideration were not going to Shetland for the Holy Grail Rubythroat.
3 Snow Buntings over Deans Ditch at 11:50, then flew towards Belmont (Lancs).
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Sun 23rd Oct.
3 Tree sparrow south
Tues 25th Oct.
26 Brambling sw
30 Crossbill nw
450 fieldfare nw
2 kestrals (one a good view on a wall on burnt edge)
2 female bullfinch
several blue tits, great tits, coal tits, long tail tits
1 tree creeper ( great view)
1 stonechat
1 wren
2 jays
heard 2 greater spotted woodpeckers
I was hoping to see the crossbills again but no such luck today!!
Finally saw about 4/5 birders with telescopes on the embankment above walkers fold wood. I am asuming it was the migration watch guys!!
Chris brown
From Burnt Edge Lane to the Mast and back via Holdens and the Viz Mig watchpoint.
Along the Edge:
Fieldfare ... 4 flocks totalling c160.
Redwing ... one large flock and a mixed flock ... total 60
Woodpigeons.... one large flock ....60
All above flocks flying West or WNW
Raven 1
Stonechat ...1
Kestrel.... several sitings
Meadow Pipit....6
Carrion Crow ....6
Holden's Plantation was productive:
Wren 1
Bullfinch .... 'flock' of 6
Longtail Tit ....flock of 9 with:
Coal Tit... 2
Blue Tit... 2
Very windy at the Mast: Just a single late Wheatear behind a cable anchor.
Nice to meet the regular Viz mig people including Karen and Simon from Tameside.
-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 07:49:52 PM