Another incredible day for the Horwich Moors and our little old inland north-west England county today with all locations comprehensively covered independantly (other than a brief 'get together' at Colliers Row Quarry) by myself and Andy Makin. Being there since 7am, Andy of course did the most damage!
Most staggering was a MINIMUM count of 28 Spotted Flycatchers over the area feeding on the incredible mass of midges and other flies that were everywhere, split into the following flocks:
6 off Georges Lane (4 am and then 6 after midday Andy/me) 3 Holdens Farm (Andy) 8 Colliers Row Quarry (Andy) 11 (minimum) New Fields Plantation (I suspected 10 and Andy duly came later and confirmed atleast 11!)
Virtually all the flycatchers were first winter birds with only one confirmed adult at Colliers Row Quarry, though several others went unaged.
Also:
3 Redstarts (Andy), with 2 along Georges Lane by the kennels (seemingly not present for long) and one by Holdens Farm
Single first winter Pied Flycatcher by the farm west of Georges Lane north (me)
2 Tree Pipits, one over Georges Lane and one in Colliers Row Quarry (me)
3 Whinchat with the usual 2 juv at Holdens Farm and an adult male above Montcliffe Quarry (Andy)
31 Willow Warbler, various locations (Andy/me)
28 Wheatear, various locations (Andy/me)
160 Meadow Pipit (Andy)
Merlin (immature?), on a stone wall at the bottom of Mast Road (perhaps the same bird as from Sunday?) (Andy)
Dennis atherton said
Mon Aug 23 12:22 PM, 2010
Behind colliers row up to farm. Large flock of greenfinch. Great woodie. Great tits. Blue tit. 3 willow warbler. 2 spotted flycatchers near farm up hill behind old colliers row. Also one whitethroat
Had a good walk round all morning also met with Tim Wilcox up there, I am glad you got the Winchats eventually,
Nothing much to add to the birds already seen except for two red grouse on the way to holdens farm from mast road and also on mast road was a single redpoll, great healthy amounts of wheatears today, some in super plumage
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Aug 22 5:12 PM, 2010
Thanks once again Simon and nice to meet the other Simon too.
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 22nd of August 2010 05:13:07 PM
Simon Warford said
Sun Aug 22 4:38 PM, 2010
This pm, with Simon Johnson
3 Spotted Flycatchers present in Colliers Row quarry early afternoon, ended up with all 3 perched on garden furniture just behind the row of cottages, also plenty of Willow Warblers flycatching with them.
2 juv Whinchat by Holdens farm & 4 Stonechat(ad male, female and 2 juvs) & 1 Tim Wilcox
1 Garden Warbler in Sugar loaf plantation.
Several Wheatear but quiet on the pipit front.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 22 11:46 AM, 2010
This morning from early am:
Wheatear- 26 (11 of which arrived in fields at the bottom of Mast Road after rain showers around 10:30) Whinchat- 3 (2 juvs with a first winter male Stonechat at Burnt Edge and a further juv arrived with 7 Wheatears before a rain shower) Tree Pipit- 9 (4 on Wildersmoor and 5 at the northern end of Burnt Edge) all showing well Crossbill- what was probably a small flock in Wilderswood (just further up from the car park) unfortunately refused to show themselves despite being particularly vocal and appeared to leave without me seeing them
Dennis atherton said
Sat Aug 21 10:17 PM, 2010
George road this evening, 7.30 ish
Large flock of mistle thrush, also 15 rooks in feilds, 3 kestrel, swallows feeding, Very quiet this time of night, last sight on way back to car was 4 bats
Simon Warford said
Sat Aug 21 6:49 PM, 2010
21/8/10 7am-1pm
Sightings between me, Andy Makin, Phil Rhodes, Warfy senior & very jnr warfy(my nephew Lewis!)..
Tree Pipits - minimum of 8 still present (2+ Georges Lane, 1 over mast road & 5 possibly 7 in the Burnt Edge area). Burnt Edge birds showing well with 100+ Meadow Pipit.
Whinchat - 2 along Burnt Edge with 2 Stonechats.
Swift - 1 south over mast
Sand Martin - 1 south over mast
Swallow - lots moving south & even more hanging around.
Wheatear - 25
Peregrine - 2
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 21st of August 2010 07:08:53 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Aug 20 6:14 PM, 2010
Poor weather up there today:
4 Tree Pipits flew east at Holdens Farm during a lull in the weather.
10 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Aug 20 7:59 AM, 2010
Rob Thorpe wrote:
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Think its just showing greater coverage of an area is bringing great rewards up ont moors,its seems to be a regular thing that suddenly everyone is up rivvy and loads of decent stuff being found,same with cutacre last year after the shore lark,or lightshaw after the ospray...
What exactly did the Osprey twitchers find at Lightshaw John?
No idea rob,I don't study what other people see,or keep lists of what has been seen at a particular time in all areas of GM.It was just a comment in my boredom at work,when i decided to have aquick look,and saw the horwich thread is bursting at the moment. Just go back and look at the forum around the time of the osprey and then look now-I think you will find many more postings from the time when the ospray was about than now-finding birds doasn't only mean rare birds,just general postings go up in an area after something is seen.Had anyone really heard of cutacre before the shorelark was found by simon?but for the following weeks ahead we had many postings,which have now dissapeared apart from simon,who is obviously still doing it. I really don't know why i raise to the bait,maybe its because im bored at work againand no time to go birding. But in the end I have nothing to prove to you Rob ,or anyone. I have been recording birds at Penny and elseware including Lightshaw since January 1976,have never missed a month since that date sending my records in to the LOS,and the county recorders and think I have enough experience to see when an area is getting more coverage than normal. come back in 2040 and we will compare notes My Last post on this subject from me now. I shouldn't be posting this on the sightings thread anyway.back to work
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 20th of August 2010 09:59:59 AM
Mark Rigby said
Thu Aug 19 10:33 PM, 2010
Rob Thorpe wrote:
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Think its just showing greater coverage of an area is bringing great rewards up ont moors,its seems to be a regular thing that suddenly everyone is up rivvy and loads of decent stuff being found,same with cutacre last year after the shore lark,or lightshaw after the ospray...
What exactly did the Osprey twitchers find at Lightshaw John?
You are very welcome to twitch the Teal at Castleshaw and see what you can turn up! Good luck
Rob Thorpe said
Thu Aug 19 10:16 PM, 2010
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Think its just showing greater coverage of an area is bringing great rewards up ont moors,its seems to be a regular thing that suddenly everyone is up rivvy and loads of decent stuff being found,same with cutacre last year after the shore lark,or lightshaw after the ospray...
What exactly did the Osprey twitchers find at Lightshaw John?
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Aug 19 6:48 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Right and wrong John. Four observers cover the moors, two have done for many years, one for the past few and one hammering it this year. Hope Carr is covered by three birders, two of which have gone regularly for many years. The Rindle Ouzel was also found by someone who has plugged away daily at times for absolute ages.
Back to the moors though and we are only scratching the surface, there is much much more up there. A big concerted effort by more birders should produce superb dividends. It is geographically well positioned and has superb migrant habitat. It's recent migrants have exceeded anywhere else in the west of the country and at times has had more migrants than anywhere in the UK!
Im on about birders see the sightings like the ouzal and the pec sand,and what others are picking up ont moors,then for the next 3 weeks everyone and his dog goas to the sights,where as you say only regulars normally venture to,and normally more records come from that area for a short spell,then its back to the normal few doing the patch again,so its not quite twiching,more a pack of birders going from one site to another ,following the good finds. This to me is a modern phenominon,that is linked to forums like this one.I bet many people who go birding now locally visit this site ,before making a decision on where to go birding,and I know for a fact there are some who don't go to a site unless there has been a report of something that in thier minds is worth seeing there,good or bad ,its a common thing that for days after decent birds in an area,there are many more posts for that area on here,from many other birders for a short while after.
off thread a little here,so good luck to everyone that ventures onto the moors this weekend,it is a beltin area,for birding and views
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 19th of August 2010 07:12:33 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 19 4:36 PM, 2010
Right and wrong John. Four observers cover the moors, two have done for many years, one for the past few and one hammering it this year. Hope Carr is covered by three birders, two of which have gone regularly for many years. The Rindle Ouzel was also found by someone who has plugged away daily at times for absolute ages.
Back to the moors though and we are only scratching the surface, there is much much more up there. A big concerted effort by more birders should produce superb dividends. It is geographically well positioned and has superb migrant habitat. It's recent migrants have exceeded anywhere else in the west of the country and at times has had more migrants than anywhere in the UK!
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Aug 19 3:59 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Big mooch most of today, migrants included:
13 Tree Pipits! All showing incredibly well mooching about lingering in the area and not just flying over! (flock of 6 off Georges Lane north, 5 by Holdens Farm and 2 at the southern end of Burnt Edge)
3 Whinchat. Heading south along Danes Dyke from Winter Hill, with Wheatears
Merlin over Wildersmoor early am
23 Wheatear
4 Spotted Flycatchers (3 off Georges Lane north and 1 by Holdens Farm, the latter eventually made it's way into the plantation)
Think its just showing greater coverage of an area is bringing great rewards up ont moors,its seems to be a regular thing that suddenly everyone is up rivvy and loads of decent stuff being found,same with cutacre last year after the shore lark,or lightshaw after the ospray,and the pec sand at hope car , ouzal ont mosses,suddenly all sorts get seen,its obviously more birders concentrated in an area produces more good birds. some crackin finds up there at the moment,better than my 1 kestrel,i had on my last visit in july
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 19 3:16 PM, 2010
Big mooch most of today, migrants included:
13 Tree Pipits! All showing incredibly well mooching about lingering in the area and not just flying over! (flock of 6 off Georges Lane north, 5 by Holdens Farm and 2 at the southern end of Burnt Edge)
3 Whinchat. Heading south along Danes Dyke from Winter Hill, with Wheatears
Merlin over Wildersmoor early am
23 Wheatear
4 Spotted Flycatchers (3 off Georges Lane north and 1 by Holdens Farm, the latter eventually made it's way into the plantation)
Dennis atherton said
Wed Aug 18 11:02 PM, 2010
tonight covered georges road
Started off with a nice large flock of around 60 goldfinches, mixed in were a few linnets too, also around 5 greenfinch, too many meadow pipits to count, all with large hind claws unfortunatley, no luck with the winchat tonight, a large flock of 30 ish rooks feeding in the feilds, 1 kestrel, 1 wheatear, 8 mistle thrush in a flock flying over,
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 18 4:21 PM, 2010
2 Spotted Flycatchers by Holdens Farm this afternoon.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 18 1:35 PM, 2010
Juvenile Dotterel early pm on moorland just off Mast Road. It eventually flew off east and has not been relocated.
Male Black Redstart by the cattle grid along Mast Lane at 1:30pm.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Dennis atherton said
Tue Aug 17 10:43 PM, 2010
Covered the area to then north and south of Wilderswood tonight on Georges lane, north side had 2 kestrel, 1 sparrowhawk, 12 mistle thrush in feild, 3 wheatear, 1 great spotted woodie, south had 3 greenfinch, 1 goldfinch, but the best site for the night was a stonechat on a branch sat next to a whitethroat together almost posing, lots of flys biting me but no flycatchers chasing them,
Good to see Simon W up there too, he got more good sightings than me, maybe i should just follow Simon around
Simon Warford said
Tue Aug 17 8:54 PM, 2010
This evening,
Whinchat, Stonechat & 10 Wheatear by the mast.
2 Whinchats Holdens Farm(also seen by Andy Makin this afternoon).
5 Wheatears on wall near the Cattle grid.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Aug 16 6:46 PM, 2010
Mid morning to early afternoon today:
Oystercatcher and Greenshank north over the mast. 3 Whinchat (2 by mast and 1 by Holdens Farm) Singles of Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch and Treecreeper off Georges Lane. Also 8 Raven, 80 Meadow Pipit and 32 Wheatear.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Also 2 Pied and 1 Spotted Flycatcher in New Fields Plantation. Single Cormorant heading west over Wildersmoor
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 16th of August 2010 07:26:52 PM
Simon Warford said
Sun Aug 15 7:58 PM, 2010
Glad you were not dissapointed Tim. County birding at its best again, imagine two birders perspiring ever so slightly in the heat of the day, then suddenly a huge swarm of flying ants appearing from nowhere, before we knew it, we had hundreds of flying ants crawling all over us, people along Georges Lane were literally running from the swarm and into there cars! Then as if by magic, the hedge just before the kennels, was full of Flycatchers feeding on the swarm, it was a terrific sight, at one point both Pied Flycatchers, 6 Spotted Flys and 2 male Redstart were all in one bush!
Also a single Crossbill flew over Burnt Edge. Stonechat also on Burnt Edge.
Also female/imm Redstart in willows immediately north of Walker Fold Wood with 2 Spotted Flycatchers here, but these were elusive.
Cracking day on the moors
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Aug 15 5:45 PM, 2010
Many thanks to Andy and Simon and to Ian for relaying the info which allowed me to add Redstart to my county list and Spotted and Pied Flycatchers to the GM and UK year list - all in the same small group of trees. Judith and I walked on later round Burnt Edge and Holdens looking for Whinchat but it was v quiet. Only pair Kestrel, 2 Buzzard and Mipits.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 15 2:09 PM, 2010
Another 'bit of a day' on the moors today for young Warford and Andy Makin, which I'm sure we'll rightly hear more of.
As of 2pm the area off Georges Lane north of Wilderswood held 10 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatcher and 3 Redstart.
Burnt Edge moor held 2 Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart.
Greater Manchester competing with the East Coast for day? I think so
Simon Warford said
Sat Aug 14 3:28 PM, 2010
7.30am- 2pm, another good mornings birding with Andy Makin.
Connected with the Redstart on Georges Lane, first of all. Then after walking all the way up to the mast(via Holdens Farm) all seemed fairly quiet then all of a sudden about 10 Wheatears appeared from nowhere all lined up on a fence including one really young juvenile that had not longed fledged. Then a juvenile Whinchat appeared on the fence, then it was joined by a second Whinchat, both together juv and adult. A minute later an immature Peregrine appeared overhead and tried to land on one of the smaller masts, but it couldnt land, then what we witnessed was a wonderful display of acrobatics and maneuvers as the Peregrine was being mobbed by 2 Kestrels. This went on for 10 minutes in the breeze, with the Peregrine at one point swooping at one of the Kestrels at great speed, we thought it may actually take one of the Kestrels but in the end it all seemed like just abit of fun.
On the way down a third Whinchat was on the wall near the road barrier with several more Wheatears.
Then the best was saved till last, just below Montcliffe Quarry around 12.30pm, while checking an area of gorse & heather, I noticed a brown bird flying low over the heather, I said " Sparrowhawk Andy, oh wait is it a Merlin?" The bird landed in a small rowen, so I grabbed my scope and got on it, and was very pleasantly suprised to see a juvenile Cuckoo, complete with patchy white head! The first local juvenile Cuckoo we had both ever seen. It sat there for a few mins and then flew low into some larger trees and not seen again.
Brilliant
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 14th of August 2010 03:35:18 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Aug 14 12:31 PM, 2010
From 6am this morning:
Redstart present all morning off Georges Lane north with 18 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, a single Lesser Whitethroat and also Tawny Owl all the the same area.
Wheatears numbered 39 in total between counts at various locations across the moor by myself and the duo of Junior Warford and Makin (who also did very well for Whinchats!).
Simon Warford said
Sat Aug 7 12:18 PM, 2010
7/8/10 8am-12pm, partly with Andy Makin & guest appearance from Melanie B.
3 Crossbills nw over Georges Lane early morning.
4 Crossbills briefly over Gale Brook Plantation late morning.
A group of 12 Raven was quite noteworthy.
Otherwise just a good soaking.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 5 4:50 PM, 2010
After a full morning's mooch:
A total of 51 Willow Warbler across the whole area 2 Chiffchaff 1 Grasshopper Warbler on the Walker Fold footpath 20 metres from the Scout Road car park. 1 Hobby 155 Meadow Pipit Single Cormorant flew over SE
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 5 11:37 AM, 2010
Adult Hobby low east along Coal Pit Lane this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 4 8:15 PM, 2010
Sightings from today:
1 Tree Pipit over 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling by Holdens Plantation and Burnt Edge 120 Meadow Pipits in a single flock on Edge Lane
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Judith Smith said
Wed Aug 4 7:49 PM, 2010
Late news for the Wilderswood area from Ken Haydock: 21 Crossbills 7th July, 12 Crossbills 21st July and 2 Redstarts 3rd August.
Simon Warford said
Sun Aug 1 9:38 PM, 2010
1/8/10 pm
2 Juvenile Stonechats on fence by Holdens Farm plus 2 Grasshopper Warbler
Wheatear - 3
5 Siskin in Gale Brook Plantation and one hugely impresseive tit flock with several Treecreepers, Willow Warblers and several juvenile Goldcrests thrown in.
Simon Warford said
Sat Jul 31 1:48 PM, 2010
31/7/10 7am-12pm circuit with Andy Makin.
Highlight was 14 Crossbills which flew strongly west between Two Lads & Georges Lane and then off into Lancs at 8.57am.
Stonechat - 3 Wheatear - 2
Tree Pipit - single bird near Gilligants Farm & showing well on muddy field. Meadow Pipit - 65+
Goldfinch - 70+ Bullfinch - 2 family parties both consisting of adults & 1 juv Siskin - 1 over
Willow Warbler - 49 Grasshopper Warbler - 2
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 30 2:29 PM, 2010
This morning:
Male Redstart, Tree Pipit and 40 Willow Warblers along the western edge of Wilderswood.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 26 2:57 PM, 2010
16 Goldcrest in Walker Fold Wood this afternoon.
Simon Warford said
Sun Jul 25 6:26 PM, 2010
25/7/10 couple of hours with Simon Johnson this afternoon.
Fantastic and prolonged views of a Grasshopper Warbler showing in a hawthorn within a few feet and another reeling nearby. We think it had young nearby given its agitated behaviour.
Coal Tit - one single flock of 50+ moving through Walker Fold Wood, must have been many family parties. Goldcrests also amongst them and a few Willow Warblers.
Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1 carrying food.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 25th of July 2010 08:27:36 PM
Simon Warford said
Sat Jul 24 4:44 PM, 2010
24/7/10 7.00-12.30, 5 mile circuit with Andy Makin. Autumn migration seems to have started.
Spotted Flycatcher 1 on fence along Georges Lane, adjacent to Wilderswood. Garden Warbler 4 (3 Georges lane incl at least 1 Juvenile sunning itself by Wilderswood, 1 in bushes just below Burnt edge. Willow Warbler 41 - mostly juveniles. Chiffchaff 2 Blackcap 8+ Siskin 1 Redpoll 5+ Coal Tit 15+
Wheatear 1 Juvenile near the mast.
Grasshopper Warbler 2 still reeling.
Peregrine 1
Roe Deer 4
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 24th of July 2010 04:49:53 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 17 11:54 AM, 2010
11 Crossbills flew west over the kennels on Georges Lane and off into Lancs this morning. 57 Mistle Thrush and 8 Willow Warbler also present long Georges Lane.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 15 2:57 PM, 2010
This afternoon:
49 Mistle Thrush in one flock off Georges Lane. Adult Hobby soaring for a good while off Goerges Lane. 65 Goldfinch in one flock in a field full of thistles just west of Walker Fold.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 2 12:55 PM, 2010
This early afternoon:
1 Whimbrel down on fields below Holdens Farm with 1 male Stonchat. Single juvenile Wheatear by the mast on Winter Hill.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Mark Rigby said
Sat May 15 8:03 PM, 2010
Whinchat still present at 1745 in heather just north of Coal Pit rd.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat May 15 3:55 PM, 2010
Female Whinchat on Coal Pit Lane mid-afternoon.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 10 9:44 PM, 2010
15 Wheatears today in the Winter Hill area.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Henry Cook said
Thu May 6 11:29 PM, 2010
You're not alone with the Groppers Simon. They are turning up all over the place and this is backed up by the reporting rate on birdtrack which suggests that right now (the peak period for reporting Groppers) 5% of all submitted sightings include Groppers, compared to just 3% of species lists this time last year and just under 3% in 2008. Seems they really are having a good year which is heartening for a representative of the struggling long-distance migrant group of birds. Henry.
Simon Warford said
Thu May 6 7:29 PM, 2010
6/5/10 8am-12pm
Wheatear 16 (mainly by mast road, mast area & Holdens farm) Stonechat 1 male Whitethroat 1 Garden Warbler 2(1 on north edge of Walker fold wood, due south of Giligants farm & another singing near where the road goes over the river south of wfw in small valley).
I cant seem to avoid Grasshopper Warblers at the moment, 3 heard, 2 along coal pit road and 1 near lower part of Walker fold wood
Red Grouse 2 riggers
Swallow - several flew north over moor through the gloom.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Thursday 6th of May 2010 07:31:21 PM
Simon Warford said
Sat May 1 6:51 PM, 2010
Up with my dad this afternoon, as soon as we stepped out of the car on Coal Pit road at 4.15pm a cracking adult Hobby was visible hunting over the side of Smithills moor, it put on a terrific show feeding around Roscows tennament area before eventually flying of south west over Burnt Edge at 4.45pm.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Apr 29 1:19 PM, 2010
Early morning to 12:30pm, from late am especially spent in driving drizzle and shockingly poor visibility!
Whimbrel- 1 off the northern end of Georges Lane Stonechat- 1 singing male Tree Pipit- 1 feeding in the grass horse fields at the bottom of Mast Road Wheatear- 24, including 13 around the mast atop Winter Hill itself in practically zero visibility at times Red Grouse- several
63 Wheatears
10 Whinchat
1 Redstart (Holdens Farm)
3 Spotted Flycatcher (1 Holdens, 2 Colliers Row)
1 Hobby (2nd calendar year bird)
6 Tree Pipit
All info thanks to Andy Makin
Most staggering was a MINIMUM count of 28 Spotted Flycatchers over the area feeding on the incredible mass of midges and other flies that were everywhere, split into the following flocks:
6 off Georges Lane (4 am and then 6 after midday Andy/me)
3 Holdens Farm (Andy)
8 Colliers Row Quarry (Andy)
11 (minimum) New Fields Plantation (I suspected 10 and Andy duly came later and confirmed atleast 11!)
Virtually all the flycatchers were first winter birds with only one confirmed adult at Colliers Row Quarry, though several others went unaged.
Also:
3 Redstarts (Andy), with 2 along Georges Lane by the kennels (seemingly not present for long) and one by Holdens Farm
Single first winter Pied Flycatcher by the farm west of Georges Lane north (me)
2 Tree Pipits, one over Georges Lane and one in Colliers Row Quarry (me)
3 Whinchat with the usual 2 juv at Holdens Farm and an adult male above Montcliffe Quarry (Andy)
31 Willow Warbler, various locations (Andy/me)
28 Wheatear, various locations (Andy/me)
160 Meadow Pipit (Andy)
Merlin (immature?), on a stone wall at the bottom of Mast Road (perhaps the same bird as from Sunday?) (Andy)
390 Meadow Pipit
7 Wheatear
1 Garden Warbler
2 Spotted Flycatcher (Colliers Row)
7 Lesser Redpoll
1 Tree Pipit (Georges Lane)
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Nothing much to add to the birds already seen except for two red grouse on the way to holdens farm from mast road and also on mast road was a single redpoll, great healthy amounts of wheatears today, some in super plumage
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 22nd of August 2010 05:13:07 PM
3 Spotted Flycatchers present in Colliers Row quarry early afternoon, ended up with all 3 perched on garden furniture just behind the row of cottages, also plenty of Willow Warblers flycatching with them.
2 juv Whinchat by Holdens farm & 4 Stonechat(ad male, female and 2 juvs) & 1 Tim Wilcox
1 Garden Warbler in Sugar loaf plantation.
Several Wheatear but quiet on the pipit front.
Wheatear- 26 (11 of which arrived in fields at the bottom of Mast Road after rain showers around 10:30)
Whinchat- 3 (2 juvs with a first winter male Stonechat at Burnt Edge and a further juv arrived with 7 Wheatears before a rain shower)
Tree Pipit- 9 (4 on Wildersmoor and 5 at the northern end of Burnt Edge) all showing well
Crossbill- what was probably a small flock in Wilderswood (just further up from the car park) unfortunately refused to show themselves despite being particularly vocal and appeared to leave without me seeing them
Large flock of mistle thrush, also 15 rooks in feilds, 3 kestrel, swallows feeding, Very quiet this time of night, last sight on way back to car was 4 bats
Sightings between me, Andy Makin, Phil Rhodes, Warfy senior & very jnr warfy(my nephew Lewis!)..
Tree Pipits - minimum of 8 still present (2+ Georges Lane, 1 over mast road & 5 possibly 7 in the Burnt Edge area). Burnt Edge birds showing well with 100+ Meadow Pipit.
Whinchat - 2 along Burnt Edge with 2 Stonechats.
Swift - 1 south over mast
Sand Martin - 1 south over mast
Swallow - lots moving south & even more hanging around.
Wheatear - 25
Peregrine - 2
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 21st of August 2010 07:08:53 PM
4 Tree Pipits flew east at Holdens Farm during a lull in the weather.
10 Wheatear
Info thanks to Andy Makin
No idea rob,I don't study what other people see,or keep lists of what has been seen at a particular time in all areas of GM.It was just a comment in my boredom at work,when i decided to have aquick look,and saw the horwich thread is bursting at the moment.
Just go back and look at the forum around the time of the osprey and then look now-I think you will find many more postings from the time when the ospray was about than now-finding birds doasn't only mean rare birds,just general postings go up in an area after something is seen.Had anyone really heard of cutacre before the shorelark was found by simon?but for the following weeks ahead we had many postings,which have now dissapeared apart from simon,who is obviously still doing it.
I really don't know why i raise to the bait,maybe its because im bored at work againand no time to go birding.
But in the end I have nothing to prove to you Rob ,or anyone. I have been recording birds at Penny and elseware including Lightshaw since January 1976,have never missed a month since that date sending my records in to the LOS,and the county recorders and think I have enough experience to see when an area is getting more coverage than normal.
come back in 2040 and we will compare notes
My Last post on this subject from me now.
I shouldn't be posting this on the sightings thread anyway.back to work
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 20th of August 2010 09:59:59 AM
You are very welcome to twitch the Teal at Castleshaw and see what you can turn up! Good luck
What exactly did the Osprey twitchers find at Lightshaw John?
Im on about birders see the sightings like the ouzal and the pec sand,and what others are picking up ont moors,then for the next 3 weeks everyone and his dog goas to the sights,where as you say only regulars normally venture to,and normally more records come from that area for a short spell,then its back to the normal few doing the patch again,so its not quite twiching,more a pack of birders going from one site to another ,following the good finds.
This to me is a modern phenominon,that is linked to forums like this one.I bet many people who go birding now locally visit this site ,before making a decision on where to go birding,and I know for a fact there are some who don't go to a site unless there has been a report of something that in thier minds is worth seeing there,good or bad ,its a common thing that for days after decent birds in an area,there are many more posts for that area on here,from many other birders for a short while after.
off thread a little here,so good luck to everyone that ventures onto the moors this weekend,it is a beltin area,for birding and views
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 19th of August 2010 07:12:33 PM
Back to the moors though and we are only scratching the surface, there is much much more up there. A big concerted effort by more birders should produce superb dividends. It is geographically well positioned and has superb migrant habitat. It's recent migrants have exceeded anywhere else in the west of the country and at times has had more migrants than anywhere in the UK!
Think its just showing greater coverage of an area is bringing great rewards up ont moors,its seems to be a regular thing that suddenly everyone is up rivvy and loads of decent stuff being found,same with cutacre last year after the shore lark,or lightshaw after the ospray,and the pec sand at hope car , ouzal ont mosses,suddenly all sorts get seen,its obviously more birders concentrated in an area produces more good birds.
some crackin finds up there at the moment,better than my 1 kestrel,i had on my last visit in july
13 Tree Pipits! All showing incredibly well mooching about lingering in the area and not just flying over! (flock of 6 off Georges Lane north, 5 by Holdens Farm and 2 at the southern end of Burnt Edge)
3 Whinchat. Heading south along Danes Dyke from Winter Hill, with Wheatears
Merlin over Wildersmoor early am
23 Wheatear
4 Spotted Flycatchers (3 off Georges Lane north and 1 by Holdens Farm, the latter eventually made it's way into the plantation)
Started off with a nice large flock of around 60 goldfinches, mixed in were a few linnets too, also around 5 greenfinch, too many meadow pipits to count, all with large hind claws unfortunatley, no luck with the winchat tonight, a large flock of 30 ish rooks feeding in the feilds, 1 kestrel, 1 wheatear, 8 mistle thrush in a flock flying over,
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Male Black Redstart by the cattle grid along Mast Lane at 1:30pm.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Good to see Simon W up there too, he got more good sightings than me, maybe i should just follow Simon around
Whinchat, Stonechat & 10 Wheatear by the mast.
2 Whinchats Holdens Farm(also seen by Andy Makin this afternoon).
5 Wheatears on wall near the Cattle grid.
Oystercatcher and Greenshank north over the mast.
3 Whinchat (2 by mast and 1 by Holdens Farm)
Singles of Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch and Treecreeper off Georges Lane.
Also 8 Raven, 80 Meadow Pipit and 32 Wheatear.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Also 2 Pied and 1 Spotted Flycatcher in New Fields Plantation.
Single Cormorant heading west over Wildersmoor
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 16th of August 2010 07:26:52 PM
County birding at its best again, imagine two birders perspiring ever so slightly in the heat of the day, then suddenly a huge swarm of flying ants appearing from nowhere, before we knew it, we had hundreds of flying ants crawling all over us, people along Georges Lane were literally running from the swarm and into there cars! Then as if by magic, the hedge just before the kennels, was full of Flycatchers feeding on the swarm, it was a terrific sight, at one point both Pied Flycatchers, 6 Spotted Flys and 2 male Redstart were all in one bush!
Also a single Crossbill flew over Burnt Edge.
Stonechat also on Burnt Edge.
Also female/imm Redstart in willows immediately north of Walker Fold Wood with 2 Spotted Flycatchers here, but these were elusive.
Cracking day on the moors
As of 2pm the area off Georges Lane north of Wilderswood held 10 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatcher and 3 Redstart.
Burnt Edge moor held 2 Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart.
Greater Manchester competing with the East Coast for day? I think so
Connected with the Redstart on Georges Lane, first of all.
Then after walking all the way up to the mast(via Holdens Farm) all seemed fairly quiet then all of a sudden about 10 Wheatears appeared from nowhere all lined up on a fence including one really young juvenile that had not longed fledged. Then a juvenile Whinchat appeared on the fence, then it was joined by a second Whinchat, both together juv and adult.
A minute later an immature Peregrine appeared overhead and tried to land on one of the smaller masts, but it couldnt land, then what we witnessed was a wonderful display of acrobatics and maneuvers as the Peregrine was being mobbed by 2 Kestrels. This went on for 10 minutes in the breeze, with the Peregrine at one point swooping at one of the Kestrels at great speed, we thought it may actually take one of the Kestrels but in the end it all seemed like just abit of fun.
On the way down a third Whinchat was on the wall near the road barrier with several more Wheatears.
Then the best was saved till last, just below Montcliffe Quarry around 12.30pm, while checking an area of gorse & heather, I noticed a brown bird flying low over the heather, I said " Sparrowhawk Andy, oh wait is it a Merlin?" The bird landed in a small rowen, so I grabbed my scope and got on it, and was very pleasantly suprised to see a juvenile Cuckoo, complete with patchy white head! The first local juvenile Cuckoo we had both ever seen. It sat there for a few mins and then flew low into some larger trees and not seen again.
Brilliant
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 14th of August 2010 03:35:18 PM
Redstart present all morning off Georges Lane north with 18 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, a single Lesser Whitethroat and also Tawny Owl all the the same area.
Wheatears numbered 39 in total between counts at various locations across the moor by myself and the duo of Junior Warford and Makin (who also did very well for Whinchats!).
3 Crossbills nw over Georges Lane early morning.
4 Crossbills briefly over Gale Brook Plantation late morning.
A group of 12 Raven was quite noteworthy.
Otherwise just a good soaking.
A total of 51 Willow Warbler across the whole area
2 Chiffchaff
1 Grasshopper Warbler on the Walker Fold footpath 20 metres from the Scout Road car park.
1 Hobby
155 Meadow Pipit
Single Cormorant flew over SE
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Andy Makin
1 Tree Pipit over
2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling by Holdens Plantation and Burnt Edge
120 Meadow Pipits in a single flock on Edge Lane
Info thanks to Andy Makin
2 Juvenile Stonechats on fence by Holdens Farm plus 2 Grasshopper Warbler
Wheatear - 3
5 Siskin in Gale Brook Plantation and one hugely impresseive tit flock with several Treecreepers, Willow Warblers and several juvenile Goldcrests thrown in.
Highlight was 14 Crossbills which flew strongly west between Two Lads & Georges Lane and then off into Lancs at 8.57am.
Stonechat - 3
Wheatear - 2
Tree Pipit - single bird near Gilligants Farm & showing well on muddy field.
Meadow Pipit - 65+
Goldfinch - 70+
Bullfinch - 2 family parties both consisting of adults & 1 juv
Siskin - 1 over
Willow Warbler - 49
Grasshopper Warbler - 2
Male Redstart, Tree Pipit and 40 Willow Warblers along the western edge of Wilderswood.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Fantastic and prolonged views of a Grasshopper Warbler showing in a hawthorn within a few feet and another reeling nearby. We think it had young nearby given its agitated behaviour.
Stonechat - 3, adult male feeding 2 fledged juveniles, breeding confirmed.
Coal Tit - one single flock of 50+ moving through Walker Fold Wood, must have been many family parties. Goldcrests also amongst them and a few Willow Warblers.
Buzzard 1
Sparrowhawk 1 carrying food.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 25th of July 2010 08:27:36 PM
Spotted Flycatcher 1 on fence along Georges Lane, adjacent to Wilderswood.
Garden Warbler 4 (3 Georges lane incl at least 1 Juvenile sunning itself by Wilderswood, 1 in bushes just below Burnt edge.
Willow Warbler 41 - mostly juveniles.
Chiffchaff 2
Blackcap 8+
Siskin 1
Redpoll 5+
Coal Tit 15+
Wheatear 1 Juvenile near the mast.
Grasshopper Warbler 2 still reeling.
Peregrine 1
Roe Deer 4
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 24th of July 2010 04:49:53 PM
57 Mistle Thrush and 8 Willow Warbler also present long Georges Lane.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
49 Mistle Thrush in one flock off Georges Lane.
Adult Hobby soaring for a good while off Goerges Lane.
65 Goldfinch in one flock in a field full of thistles just west of Walker Fold.
1 Whimbrel down on fields below Holdens Farm with 1 male Stonchat.
Single juvenile Wheatear by the mast on Winter Hill.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
They are turning up all over the place and this is backed up by the reporting rate on birdtrack which suggests that right now (the peak period for reporting Groppers) 5% of all submitted sightings include Groppers, compared to just 3% of species lists this time last year and just under 3% in 2008.
Seems they really are having a good year which is heartening for a representative of the struggling long-distance migrant group of birds.
Henry.
Wheatear 16 (mainly by mast road, mast area & Holdens farm)
Stonechat 1 male
Whitethroat 1
Garden Warbler 2(1 on north edge of Walker fold wood, due south of Giligants farm & another singing near where the road goes over the river south of wfw in small valley).
I cant seem to avoid Grasshopper Warblers at the moment, 3 heard, 2 along coal pit road and 1 near lower part of Walker fold wood
Red Grouse 2 riggers
Swallow - several flew north over moor through the gloom.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Thursday 6th of May 2010 07:31:21 PM
Whimbrel- 1 off the northern end of Georges Lane
Stonechat- 1 singing male
Tree Pipit- 1 feeding in the grass horse fields at the bottom of Mast Road
Wheatear- 24, including 13 around the mast atop Winter Hill itself in practically zero visibility at times
Red Grouse- several