My first visit here, cuckoo at black brook area, grey wagtail, raven,kestrel ,buzzard, peregrine pair,willow warbler,dipper ,robin ,mistle thrush, carrion crow, magpie, great tit,blackbird, black headed gull,curlew and curiously ,what i thought was a barn owl at distance with naked eyes,turned out to be carrion crow,funny kind of mucky cream colour,seen 3 times today near cricket ground
Lez Fairclough said
Tue Dec 15 11:38 PM, 2020
1:30pm to 3:30pm in decent weather for a change!
Mistle Thrush
Heron
Coal Tits
Long-Tailed Tits
Goldcrest
Treecreeper
Nuthatches
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinches
Goldfinch
Pheasant
& about 50 Redwings
John Williams said
Mon Aug 10 5:39 PM, 2020
09.00-15.00
Followed the path along Black Brook to Calf Hey Brook, then across Great Hill, before taking the track to Wheelton Plantations,
and returning via the route along the edge of the moor back to White Coppice.
Highlight was a female Marsh Harrier flying across the moor North of Great Hill, with 3 crows in pursuit.
Also seen on and around the moor were : 1m+1f Kestrels, 7 Stonechats, 7 Willow Warblers (Most seen on bracken and well away from any trees),
and 1f Linnet (Near the beech copse along Black Brook). 30+ Meadow Pipits, including a flock of 18 seen close to Great Hill.
Jeff Gorse said
Thu Jun 11 5:18 PM, 2020
Following on from Lez's report earlier this week - two male cuckoos on the moor edge this morning
Lez Fairclough said
Mon Jun 8 10:50 PM, 2020
First visit here & what a beautiful afternoon in this idyllic location.
3 male Cuckoos together to & from edge of Heatherlea Woods & moors edge - one of them could only 'cuck' repetitively but not 'koo'!
Perched on a tree on the moors edge one was constantly harassed by 2 Meadow Pipit's.
Other highlights :-
Stonechat's with juveniles
Nuthatch with juveniles
2 Peacock's near a farm
Willow Warbler's in abundance especially in ferns on moor's edge
After checking out Lead Mines Clough and the Northern end of Angelzarke Reservoir I arrived at White Coppice around 10.00am.
A Cuckoo was seen flying above the Goit towards Heatherlea woods, with a couple of Meadow Pipits in pursuit.
A Garden Warbler was noticed collecting insects off a tree by the Goit.
A single Tree Pipit called from an isolated rowan on the edge of the moor, where a couple of pairs of Stonechats held territories.
4 Ravens, 1 Buzzard and a single Mistle Thrush were also seen above the moor.
Mark Jarrett said
Wed May 20 5:26 PM, 2020
Cuckoo calling near to Well Lane, east of the duck pond in Brinscall. Opposite end of The Goit from White Coppice.
John Williams said
Sun May 19 4:30 PM, 2019
07.30-13.00
White Coppice to Heatherlea Woods along the edge of the moor : 1 Cuckoo, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Buzzards and 2 Ravens.
A Hobby appeared above Heatherlea Woods then headed South across the moor, flushing several crows as it passed.
Another Cuckoo was calling along the Northern edge of Wheelton Plantation.
I spent a couple of hours searching for Wood Warbler in the Heatherlea/Wheelton woodland, but to no avail.
4 Willow Warblers and 2 Blackcaps were in full song in the woods, as were Wrens, Blackbirds and a couple of Song Thrushes.
Also here were 2 Treecreepers and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (1 was seen collecting large green caterpillars from an oak).
Several Nuthatches were also in the wood, and a very scruffy newly fledged Robin emerged from a tree hole.
A highly vocal Raven flew over the wood.
Blackbirds seemed unusually plentiful along the moorland edge, and Willow Warblers appeared to be numerous here too.
John Williams said
Sat May 7 11:52 PM, 2016
11.00-16.00
Walk from White Coppice to Heatherlea woods & back.
A single Pied Wagtail on the cricket pitch at White Coppice.
The moorland edge walking to Heatherlea, produced just a couple of Meadow Pipits, with no sign of Tree Pipit or Redstart, which I've had little difficulty in finding here in previous springs.
The small copse just before Heatherlea held about 4 Willow Warblers which seemed quite tame, I got to within a few feet of them, 2 Treecreepers were also here.
I covered most of Heatherlea woods in search of Wood Warbler, but the nearest I got was a brief burst of song at the Trigg Lane end of the wood.
I know I really needed to be there much earlier in the morning, although several Willow Warblers were still in song, together with Wren, Great Tit, Robin etc.
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Buzzard and a couple of Blackcaps were in the woodland, whilst a single Green Woodpecker was on he moorland edge.
A single Grey Wagtail was by the Goit.
Mike Berry said
Sat Jan 9 11:39 PM, 2016
Barn Owl frequenting the lower moors
Mike Berry said
Tue Aug 18 10:14 AM, 2015
Red Kite heading from White Coppice towards Great Hill early afternoon yesterday.
-- Edited by Mike Berry on Tuesday 18th of August 2015 10:14:39 AM
Chris brown said
Sun May 10 9:31 PM, 2015
Had a walk up from white coppice to drink waters at the base of great hill. I was hoping to see a cuckoo. I have seen them up here many times over previous years. Sadly no sign. It was quite windy up there today though.
I did see the following;
Dipper,
Grey wagtail,
Lots of wrens,
Meadow pipit,
Willow warbler,
Curlew,
Kestrel,
The highlight was a stoat seen as I was going back to the van. The best prolonged views I have ever had.
John Williams said
Sun May 10 2:16 PM, 2015
08.30-12.00
2 Mistle Thrushes & 3 Meadow Pipits on the cricket pitch.
2 Dippers & 2 Grey Wagtails on Black Brook.
Along the moorland edge between White Coppice & Hodgkinson Wood were:
4 Linnets, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Tawny Owl (Tucked into a tree hole, asleep) and 4 Skylarks.
As expected there were plenty of Meadow Pipits along the moor. Willow Warblers seem plentiful too, singing in the small copse or isolated bushes.
In previous years I've easily found the odd Tree Pipit singing around here, but none were found today, Redstart and Cuckoo were missing too.
I had a good scan through Hodgkinson Wood for Wood Warbler, but neither myself, nor another birder I met there found any.
All the common "garden" birds were still in song mid-morning, including Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, but nothing rarer.
4 Treecreepers were having a territorial squabble.
Walk from Brinscall to White Coppice and back along The Goyt around midday today:
Cuckoo - first heard calling then seen at 200 metres range at the top of a bush on the slopes above the Goyt. Grasshopper Warbler - reeling in the undergrowth of the drained reservoir near the cricket ground. Sparrowhawk.
The whole walk from start to finish was accompanied by a cacophony of Willow Warbler song, mixed in with Robin, Chaffinch, Nuthatch and Wren.
Karl Bishop said
Tue Apr 7 9:41 PM, 2015
Osprey over @ 18.20 Also Peregrine Kestrel x2 Common Buzzard x4 Sparrowhawk
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 09:42:02 PM
Karl Bishop said
Thu Jul 17 10:03 PM, 2014
Evening visit 17.30 - 20.45
Red Kite - over Sparrowhawk Kestrel Little Owl Redstart - juv Stonechat -juv Whinchat Jay
Plus usuals
Cheers Karl
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Thursday 17th of July 2014 10:09:30 PM
Karl Bishop said
Sat May 17 8:59 AM, 2014
Walk to anglezarke Fri 16th 17.30 - 20.00
Dipper Grey Wagtail x 2 Cuckoo Lesser Redpoll Spotted Flycatcher x 2 (watermans cottage) Peregrine
Cheers Karl
Karl Bishop said
Tue May 13 10:30 PM, 2014
Tuesday 13th May 17.30 - 20.00
Of note Cuckoo x 2 - initially up Black Brook then in the area towards Anglezarke Common Buzzard Kestrel
Cheers
Karl
John Williams said
Sun May 11 6:04 PM, 2014
Lunchtime
Walked from White Coppice to Trigg Lane along the moorland edge & back.
1 Tree Pipit (favouring the same bush as last year), 1 Linnet (singing male), 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron & a pair of Ravens.
John Williams said
Sat Apr 19 7:37 PM, 2014
(AM)
4 Meadow Pipits, a pair of Song Thrushes and a single Pied Wagtail on the cricket pitch.
Walked North along the edge of the moor to Trigg Lane and back.
No sign of Tree Pipits in their usual haunt yet, although there where lots of Meadow Pipits around, including some arboreal ones, just to confuse things.
4 Mistle Thrushes.
A pair of Linnets where chasing each other around, and there were plenty of Willow Warblers.
Wrens were popping out of the low vegetation every few yards, especially in areas of dead bracken.
Apart from the odd corvid, no other birds were around the old quarry.
I know rain is unwanted by many at this time of year, not least becouse it covers the wader scrapes, but the moor could do with some, the dead bracken is tinder dry, and a repetition of the
dreadful fire that occured a few years ago, in the middle of the breeding season, would be a nightmare.
Peacock butterflies in abundance along the moorland edge.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed May 29 10:51 PM, 2013
Originally posted by Paul Risley today: -
Anglezarke to white coppice via Lead mines clough.
2 Cuckoos, 1 seen the other heard from different locations 2 separate pairs of Curlews Male Grey Wagtail with food Pair of Treecreepers feeding young in nest 2 Goldcrests singing in different locations Single Tawny Owl.
Roe Buck, nice view of him rubbing his Antlers. Hare ran past me as I was sat down against a tree seemingly completely oblivious to me, 6 feet away at the closest point. Stoat scat on a rock, I was hoping to find a den but drew a blank this time
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of May 2013 10:52:40 PM
Rick Hall said
Wed May 22 4:41 AM, 2013
Late post for yesterday evening. 7-8.30pm Cuckoo x 2 at least, flying up and down near the stream. A single peregrine. 1 raven. Went looking for flycatchers but was there a bit late I think.
John Williams said
Mon May 13 11:38 PM, 2013
09.30-13.30
Walk from Yarrow Reservoir to White Coppice and Heatherlea Woods.
A strong westerly meant most birds were staying hidden.
A resplendant male Pied Flycatcher was showing really well near one of their former hotspots, but I will not give precise details as there are still those who wish them harm.
At White Coppice 2 Dippers were on Black Brook, 1 Kestrel hovered over the moors, but the wind kept most small birds out of site, only a few Meadow Pipits showed.
Even the Tree Pipit was hiding, and no sign of Redstarts or Cuckoo anywhere either.
Yarrow Reservoir held a pair of Oystercatchers, Anglesarke a single Grey Heron.
John Carter said
Tue May 7 1:59 AM, 2013
A Cuckoo was calling on the slopes above The Goit about a quarter of a mile towards Brinscall from White Coppice this afternoon.
John Williams said
Sun May 5 9:11 PM, 2013
A.M
Watermans Cottage Area
1 Nuthatch and 1 Treecreeper amongst the usual woodland birds.
The only noticeable summer migrants were a few Willow Warblers.
Wood Sorrel showing well though.
Close to an area used in previous years by Pied Flycatchers somone as set up a swing, this does not bode well for the 2013 season.
White Coppice
The small copse below the old quarry, held a pair of Willow Warblers, but little else.
White Coppice-Trigg Lane
1 Tree Pipit singing in their usual spot. It simply carried on singing even when a Peregrine flew low over.
3+ pairs of Willow Warblers, they seemed to be almost everywhere, often on the ground or dead bracken.
3 pairs of Linnets. Lots of Meadow Pipits chasing each other about on the moor.
John Williams said
Sun Jan 13 1:28 AM, 2013
12.00-14.30
No sign of Dippers on Black Brook, instead there were 2 Robins behaving like dippers, flitting from rock to rock and picking up titbits from the waters edge.
Angelzarke Moor
3 Red Grouse, 1 female Merlin, 1 Snipe and 2 Meadow Pipits.
The moor is still suffering the effects of the huge fire that ravaged the area a couple of years ago, new heather growth is only now beginning to show.
John Williams said
Wed Oct 17 11:52 PM, 2012
10.00-13.00
Circular walk from Watermans Cottage, along the edge of Anglezarke Moor to White Coppice, then back along the Goit.
Just 5 Meadow Pipits and 1 Snipe on the moor above Joan Meadow Wood.
White Coppice
5 Jays, 1 male Kestrel plus lots of crows, including some carrying acorns.
John Williams said
Tue Oct 2 2:30 AM, 2012
15.00-18.00
Joan Meadow Wood/ Edge of Anglezarke Moor
1 female Sparrowhawk plus 1 male Kestrel which was chased by the hawk and made a quick exit over moor.
6 Meadow Pipits
1 Green Woodpecker
Lots of Jays carrying acorns.
Old Quarry
1 immature Peregrine.
Also 1 Brown Hare on pasture by Anglezarke reservoir.
John Williams said
Sat Aug 25 1:20 AM, 2012
10.00-14.30
7 Wheatears above the old quarry.
Wheelton Moor
2 Kestrels, 1 Raven, 5 Meadow Pipits, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 m Reed Bunting,1 high flying Cormorant and a male Pheasant.
On the bracken covered slopes Gatekeeper butterflies are numerous. Peacock butterflies abound on the heather which is in full flower at the moment.
The bracken/sedge covered slopes of the valley that runs eastwards towards Great Hill are teeming with grasshoppers, not sure which species though.
Looking towards Rivington over Angelsarke Moor it's very apparent the damage done by the huge fire that engulfed the area last year, in the breeding season too.
The heather on Wheelton looks fine, no sign of any grouse though.
A pair of Black Darter dragonflies were mating on a small moorland pool, with a second male trying to get in on the action.
2 Emperor Dragonflies were zooming up and down the path. At one point an Emperor seemed to attack the mating darters over the pool, but veered away almost at the point of contact.
John Williams said
Mon May 28 11:16 PM, 2012
09.15-11.30
Pair of Spotted Flycatchers in the small oakwood, 2 Grey Wagtails on the
stream. 1 Mistle Thrush on the cricket pitch.
Wheelton Moor
Lots of Meadow pipit and Skylark. 1 Kestrel,a pair of Mallard on a small
pool, 2 Linnet m&f and several Common Heath moths.
Hodgkinson Wood - White Coppice (Moorland Edge)
1 Cuckoo showing really well, 2 Tree Pipits and a pair of Treecreepers.
1 Light Arches moth.
No sign of Stonechat, Green Hairstreak butterflies or Wood Warbler.
Nick Isherwood said
Mon May 21 2:04 AM, 2012
Had a stroll here for a couple of hours this afternoon with the family. Considering the amount of dog walkers, horse riders and cyclists around it didn't turn out too bad. A singing Garden Warbler was a nice find as well as a singing Tree Pipit heard somewhere beyond the trees on the edge of the moor. The star bird though was undoubtedly the Spotted Flycatcher that called and then perched up 20 yards behind me as I was enjoying an ice cream at the Cricket club cafe.
As well as this there were also several over flying Redpolls, quite a few Willow Warblers, Whitethroats and Chiffchaff and a Nuthatch.
2 Reed Bunting, Cuckoo heard, Raven & lots of M.Pipits.
Pied Wagtail feeding a fledged youngster on the cricket pitch, Dunnock also
seen feeding fledged young.
Anglezarke Reservoir ( North End)
1 Oystercatcher 1pr G.C Grebe
3 Orange Tip Butterflies.
Jon Bowen said
Thu Jun 9 10:29 PM, 2011
Thanks to Jimmy's directions turned up at the right spot at 9.35, and at 9.40 the show began with first sight of a Woodcock flying the length of the escarpment and back, initially in the company of a swift. Over the next 25 minutes saw 10 separate flights but couldn't say how many birds involved. Great views and sounds. First time I ever seen thier display flight having only ever come across them by day
On the way back toward Anglezarke came across a deer in the road, a tawny owl sitting on a telegraph pole within 6 foot of he road and a brown hare and 7 curlew in the fields just as you cross the res.
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Friday 10th of June 2011 07:44:21 AM
Jimmy Meadows said
Wed Jun 8 9:41 PM, 2011
Hi Jon Just sent you a PM to help you
Jimmy
Jon Bowen said
Wed Jun 8 9:23 PM, 2011
Jimmy,
I know white coppice and was hoping to get up there to see the woodcock, so would be grateful if you could let me know whereabouts to go to get the best sightings.
thanks
Jon
Jimmy Meadows said
Tue Jun 7 11:31 PM, 2011
Woodcock Mooching
With Tom Morton Waiting for the Woodcocks roding birds seen 1m Redstart giving cracking views 1 Peregrine being chased off by a Kestrel
then at 9:44 the first Woodcock came outand for 30mins the show went on 15 sightings of Woodcock we think and some we only heard possibly btw 4+6 birds seen but how do count these birds nigh impossible to me but who cares just a great sight to watch these birds roding in the twilight.
Cheers Jimmy
Nick Isherwood said
Thu May 26 6:44 PM, 2011
Late report from yesterday morning from 9.30 to 12.00pm with John Barber. Walked from the cricket pitch up into Wheelton plantation and back. Highlights were:
Great views of a male GSW bringing food to the female on the nest. Also loads of other activity with Willow warblers, Chaffinch and Great tits, etc.
Nick Isherwood said
Tue May 24 6:56 PM, 2011
After a fruitless look for the Osprey at Worthington Lakes I decided to have a couple of hours down at White Coppice. Turned out to be good decision!!
Walked from the cricket pitch up the Goit to Wheelton Plantation and back.
2 Spotted Flycatchers - gave really good views down to 20 yards and a lifer for me. 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 Nuthatch 2 Pheasant (1m, 1f) - the male was either leucistic or one of the pale ones used for shooting. Loads of Jay, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Blackbirds, Chaffinch, Great Tits, Blue Tits, etc. All busy finding food to feed young mouthes.
Also really close views of a deer in the marshy area half way along the track just beyond the dried up lake.
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 07:00:05 PM
Nick Isherwood said
Thu Apr 28 7:43 PM, 2011
After our excursion up Pendle Hill earlier some less strenuous walking was called for so we dropped in here for a couple of hours and walked from the Cricket club down to Anglezarke and back.
Loads of Willow warbler seen along with good numbers of Linnets too and we did hear a Redstart singing in the trees too but unfortunately couldn't locate it. We was hoping for a Pied Flycatcher or even a Spotted but it may still be a bit early yet.
A lovely spot though and will definately come here again.
Phil Cunliffe said
Sat Apr 23 9:26 PM, 2011
Saturday 23 April 11:30 - 2:30pm
Walk from the cricket ground along the river Goit to the north end of Anglezarke reservoir and back.
More willow warblers than you can shake a stick of willow at - lost count after about 10. 2 blue tits 3 black birds 1 grasshopper warbler (heard only) 2 chaffinches 1 chiffchaff 1 curlew (heard only) 2 pheasants 1 dipper
And a bucket load of other birds that I couldn't identify by call only.
Ian Woosey said
Sat Apr 23 1:59 PM, 2011
23/4/11
Watermans Cottage to Wheelton Plantations. Sightings with J. Meadows & T. Morton:
2 Raven (over Stronstrey Bank) 1 Little Owl (quarry) 3 Stonechat - all juvs (on wires along the Goit) 2 Oystercatcher over 1 Curlew over 1 Kestrel 1 Kingfisher (Goit) 2 Grey Wagtail 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Stock Dove 1 Cormorant over Lesser Redpolls & Linnets buzzing about...
Ian Woosey said
Thu Jun 17 10:00 PM, 2010
17/6/10 (18:40-21:10)
A beautiful peaceful walk this evening - there was even a cricket match in progress
2 grasshopper warblers green woodpecker 1 great spotted woodpecker 3 linnets 1 stonechat 1 dipper 2 raven 2 treecreeper 1 nuthatch several green chaf and gold finch several willow warblers 4 great crested grebe 1 curlew heard 2 mistle and one song thrush plus all the usual tits and swallows
no flycatchers and no redpol
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Nov 29 2:59 PM, 2009
Hen Harrier m hunting over Black Coppice yesterday afternoon
Cheers Jimmy
Gary Gorner said
Sun Jun 28 3:24 PM, 2009
A bit of a redpol day today well over 40+ rattling away filling the air with their calls.Stonechat,linnet,bull,green,gold and chaffinch.mippits, skylark,spotted flycatcher,song ,mistle thrush and family parties of tits,nuthatch and treecreepers. swallows,swift and housemartin all in arial combat with the many thousands of midges which were about today. Best of all was 2 redstarts one female and one juv, first sighting of these beautiful birds in the area for me this year
Cuckoo calling here today!
My first visit here, cuckoo at black brook area, grey wagtail, raven,kestrel ,buzzard, peregrine pair,willow warbler,dipper ,robin ,mistle thrush, carrion crow, magpie, great tit,blackbird, black headed gull,curlew and curiously ,what i thought was a barn owl at distance with naked eyes,turned out to be carrion crow,funny kind of mucky cream colour,seen 3 times today near cricket ground
1:30pm to 3:30pm in decent weather for a change!
Mistle Thrush
Heron
Coal Tits
Long-Tailed Tits
Goldcrest
Treecreeper
Nuthatches
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinches
Goldfinch
Pheasant
& about 50 Redwings
Followed the path along Black Brook to Calf Hey Brook, then across Great Hill, before taking the track to Wheelton Plantations,
and returning via the route along the edge of the moor back to White Coppice.
Highlight was a female Marsh Harrier flying across the moor North of Great Hill, with 3 crows in pursuit.
Also seen on and around the moor were : 1m+1f Kestrels, 7 Stonechats, 7 Willow Warblers (Most seen on bracken and well away from any trees),
and 1f Linnet (Near the beech copse along Black Brook). 30+ Meadow Pipits, including a flock of 18 seen close to Great Hill.
Following on from Lez's report earlier this week - two male cuckoos on the moor edge this morning
First visit here & what a beautiful afternoon in this idyllic location.
3 male Cuckoos together to & from edge of Heatherlea Woods & moors edge - one of them could only 'cuck' repetitively but not 'koo'!
Perched on a tree on the moors edge one was constantly harassed by 2 Meadow Pipit's.
Other highlights :-
Stonechat's with juveniles
Nuthatch with juveniles
2 Peacock's near a farm
Willow Warbler's in abundance especially in ferns on moor's edge
Reed Buntings
Meadow Pipit's
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
A few Jay's
Raven
Buzzard
After checking out Lead Mines Clough and the Northern end of Angelzarke Reservoir I arrived at White Coppice around 10.00am.
A Cuckoo was seen flying above the Goit towards Heatherlea woods, with a couple of Meadow Pipits in pursuit.
A Garden Warbler was noticed collecting insects off a tree by the Goit.
A single Tree Pipit called from an isolated rowan on the edge of the moor, where a couple of pairs of Stonechats held territories.
4 Ravens, 1 Buzzard and a single Mistle Thrush were also seen above the moor.
White Coppice to Heatherlea Woods along the edge of the moor : 1 Cuckoo, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Buzzards and 2 Ravens.
A Hobby appeared above Heatherlea Woods then headed South across the moor, flushing several crows as it passed.
Another Cuckoo was calling along the Northern edge of Wheelton Plantation.
I spent a couple of hours searching for Wood Warbler in the Heatherlea/Wheelton woodland, but to no avail.
4 Willow Warblers and 2 Blackcaps were in full song in the woods, as were Wrens, Blackbirds and a couple of Song Thrushes.
Also here were 2 Treecreepers and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (1 was seen collecting large green caterpillars from an oak).
Several Nuthatches were also in the wood, and a very scruffy newly fledged Robin emerged from a tree hole.
A highly vocal Raven flew over the wood.
Blackbirds seemed unusually plentiful along the moorland edge, and Willow Warblers appeared to be numerous here too.
Walk from White Coppice to Heatherlea woods & back.
A single Pied Wagtail on the cricket pitch at White Coppice.
The moorland edge walking to Heatherlea, produced just a couple of Meadow Pipits, with no sign of Tree Pipit or Redstart, which I've had little difficulty in finding here in previous springs.
The small copse just before Heatherlea held about 4 Willow Warblers which seemed quite tame, I got to within a few feet of them, 2 Treecreepers were also here.
I covered most of Heatherlea woods in search of Wood Warbler, but the nearest I got was a brief burst of song at the Trigg Lane end of the wood.
I know I really needed to be there much earlier in the morning, although several Willow Warblers were still in song, together with Wren, Great Tit, Robin etc.
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Buzzard and a couple of Blackcaps were in the woodland, whilst a single Green Woodpecker was on he moorland edge.
A single Grey Wagtail was by the Goit.
-- Edited by Mike Berry on Tuesday 18th of August 2015 10:14:39 AM
2 Mistle Thrushes & 3 Meadow Pipits on the cricket pitch.
2 Dippers & 2 Grey Wagtails on Black Brook.
Along the moorland edge between White Coppice & Hodgkinson Wood were:
4 Linnets, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Tawny Owl (Tucked into a tree hole, asleep) and 4 Skylarks.
As expected there were plenty of Meadow Pipits along the moor. Willow Warblers seem plentiful too, singing in the small copse or isolated bushes.
In previous years I've easily found the odd Tree Pipit singing around here, but none were found today, Redstart and Cuckoo were missing too.
I had a good scan through Hodgkinson Wood for Wood Warbler, but neither myself, nor another birder I met there found any.
All the common "garden" birds were still in song mid-morning, including Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, but nothing rarer.
4 Treecreepers were having a territorial squabble.
Cuckoo - first heard calling then seen at 200 metres range at the top of a bush on the slopes above the Goyt.
Grasshopper Warbler - reeling in the undergrowth of the drained reservoir near the cricket ground.
Sparrowhawk.
The whole walk from start to finish was accompanied by a cacophony of Willow Warbler song, mixed in with Robin, Chaffinch, Nuthatch and Wren.
Also Peregrine
Kestrel x2
Common Buzzard x4
Sparrowhawk
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 09:42:02 PM
Red Kite - over
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Little Owl
Redstart - juv
Stonechat -juv
Whinchat
Jay
Plus usuals
Cheers
Karl
-- Edited by Karl Bishop on Thursday 17th of July 2014 10:09:30 PM
Fri 16th 17.30 - 20.00
Dipper
Grey Wagtail x 2
Cuckoo
Lesser Redpoll
Spotted Flycatcher x 2 (watermans cottage)
Peregrine
Cheers
Karl
Of note
Cuckoo x 2 - initially up Black Brook then in the area towards Anglezarke
Common Buzzard
Kestrel
Cheers
Karl
Walked from White Coppice to Trigg Lane along the moorland edge & back.
1 Tree Pipit (favouring the same bush as last year), 1 Linnet (singing male), 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Heron & a pair of Ravens.
4 Meadow Pipits, a pair of Song Thrushes and a single Pied Wagtail on the cricket pitch.
Walked North along the edge of the moor to Trigg Lane and back.
No sign of Tree Pipits in their usual haunt yet, although there where lots of Meadow Pipits around, including some arboreal ones, just to confuse things.
4 Mistle Thrushes.
A pair of Linnets where chasing each other around, and there were plenty of Willow Warblers.
Wrens were popping out of the low vegetation every few yards, especially in areas of dead bracken.
Apart from the odd corvid, no other birds were around the old quarry.
I know rain is unwanted by many at this time of year, not least becouse it covers the wader scrapes, but the moor could do with some, the dead bracken is tinder dry, and a repetition of the
dreadful fire that occured a few years ago, in the middle of the breeding season, would be a nightmare.
Peacock butterflies in abundance along the moorland edge.
Anglezarke to white coppice via Lead mines clough.
2 Cuckoos, 1 seen the other heard from different locations
2 separate pairs of Curlews
Male Grey Wagtail with food
Pair of Treecreepers feeding young in nest
2 Goldcrests singing in different locations
Single Tawny Owl.
Roe Buck, nice view of him rubbing his Antlers.
Hare ran past me as I was sat down against a tree seemingly completely oblivious to me, 6 feet away at the closest point.
Stoat scat on a rock, I was hoping to find a den but drew a blank this time
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of May 2013 10:52:40 PM
Cuckoo x 2 at least, flying up and down near the stream.
A single peregrine.
1 raven.
Went looking for flycatchers but was there a bit late I think.
Walk from Yarrow Reservoir to White Coppice and Heatherlea Woods.
A strong westerly meant most birds were staying hidden.
A resplendant male Pied Flycatcher was showing really well near one of their former hotspots, but I will not give precise details as there are still those who wish them harm.
At White Coppice 2 Dippers were on Black Brook, 1 Kestrel hovered over the moors, but the wind kept most small birds out of site, only a few Meadow Pipits showed.
Even the Tree Pipit was hiding, and no sign of Redstarts or Cuckoo anywhere either.
Yarrow Reservoir held a pair of Oystercatchers, Anglesarke a single Grey Heron.
Watermans Cottage Area
1 Nuthatch and 1 Treecreeper amongst the usual woodland birds.
The only noticeable summer migrants were a few Willow Warblers.
Wood Sorrel showing well though.
Close to an area used in previous years by Pied Flycatchers somone as set up a swing, this does not bode well for the 2013 season.
White Coppice
The small copse below the old quarry, held a pair of Willow Warblers, but little else.
White Coppice-Trigg Lane
1 Tree Pipit singing in their usual spot. It simply carried on singing even when a Peregrine flew low over.
3+ pairs of Willow Warblers, they seemed to be almost everywhere, often on the ground or dead bracken.
3 pairs of Linnets. Lots of Meadow Pipits chasing each other about on the moor.
No sign of Dippers on Black Brook, instead there were 2 Robins behaving like dippers, flitting from rock to rock and picking up titbits from the waters edge.
Angelzarke Moor
3 Red Grouse, 1 female Merlin, 1 Snipe and 2 Meadow Pipits.
The moor is still suffering the effects of the huge fire that ravaged the area a couple of years ago, new heather growth is only now beginning to show.
Circular walk from Watermans Cottage, along the edge of Anglezarke Moor to White Coppice, then back along the Goit.
Just 5 Meadow Pipits and 1 Snipe on the moor above Joan Meadow Wood.
White Coppice
5 Jays, 1 male Kestrel plus lots of crows, including some carrying acorns.
Joan Meadow Wood/ Edge of Anglezarke Moor
1 female Sparrowhawk plus 1 male Kestrel which was chased by the hawk and made a quick exit over moor.
6 Meadow Pipits
1 Green Woodpecker
Lots of Jays carrying acorns.
Old Quarry
1 immature Peregrine.
Also 1 Brown Hare on pasture by Anglezarke reservoir.
7 Wheatears above the old quarry.
Wheelton Moor
2 Kestrels, 1 Raven, 5 Meadow Pipits, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 m Reed Bunting,1 high flying Cormorant and a male Pheasant.
On the bracken covered slopes Gatekeeper butterflies are numerous. Peacock butterflies abound on the heather which is in full flower at the moment.
The bracken/sedge covered slopes of the valley that runs eastwards towards Great Hill are teeming with grasshoppers, not sure which species though.
Looking towards Rivington over Angelsarke Moor it's very apparent the damage done by the huge fire that engulfed the area last year, in the breeding season too.
The heather on Wheelton looks fine, no sign of any grouse though.
A pair of Black Darter dragonflies were mating on a small moorland pool, with a second male trying to get in on the action.
2 Emperor Dragonflies were zooming up and down the path. At one point an Emperor seemed to attack the mating darters over the pool, but veered away almost at the point of contact.
Pair of Spotted Flycatchers in the small oakwood, 2 Grey Wagtails on the
stream. 1 Mistle Thrush on the cricket pitch.
Wheelton Moor
Lots of Meadow pipit and Skylark. 1 Kestrel,a pair of Mallard on a small
pool, 2 Linnet m&f and several Common Heath moths.
Hodgkinson Wood - White Coppice (Moorland Edge)
1 Cuckoo showing really well, 2 Tree Pipits and a pair of Treecreepers.
1 Light Arches moth.
No sign of Stonechat, Green Hairstreak butterflies or Wood Warbler.
As well as this there were also several over flying Redpolls, quite a few Willow Warblers, Whitethroats and Chiffchaff and a Nuthatch.
2 L.Redpoll, 10 Linnet, 1 Buzzard, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Mistle Thrush,
2 Reed Bunting, Cuckoo heard, Raven & lots of M.Pipits.
Pied Wagtail feeding a fledged youngster on the cricket pitch, Dunnock also
seen feeding fledged young.
Anglezarke Reservoir ( North End)
1 Oystercatcher 1pr G.C Grebe
3 Orange Tip Butterflies.
On the way back toward Anglezarke came across a deer in the road, a tawny owl sitting on a telegraph pole within 6 foot of he road and a brown hare and 7 curlew in the fields just as you cross the res.
-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Friday 10th of June 2011 07:44:21 AM
Just sent you a PM to help you
Jimmy
I know white coppice and was hoping to get up there to see the woodcock, so would be grateful if you could let me know whereabouts to go to get the best sightings.
thanks
Jon
With Tom Morton
Waiting for the Woodcocks roding birds seen
1m Redstart giving cracking views
1 Peregrine being chased off by a Kestrel
then at 9:44
the first Woodcock came out
15 sightings of Woodcock we think and some we only heard possibly btw 4+6 birds seen but how do count these birds
Cheers Jimmy
4 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Tree Pipit
1 Cuckoo heard
3 Treecreeper
Great views of a male GSW bringing food to the female on the nest. Also loads of other activity with Willow warblers, Chaffinch and Great tits, etc.
Walked from the cricket pitch up the Goit to Wheelton Plantation and back.
2 Spotted Flycatchers - gave really good views down to 20 yards and a lifer for me.
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Nuthatch
2 Pheasant (1m, 1f) - the male was either leucistic or one of the pale ones used for shooting.
Loads of Jay, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Blackbirds, Chaffinch, Great Tits, Blue Tits, etc. All busy finding food to feed young mouthes.
Also really close views of a deer in the marshy area half way along the track just beyond the dried up lake.
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 07:00:05 PM
Loads of Willow warbler seen along with good numbers of Linnets too and we did hear a Redstart singing in the trees too but unfortunately couldn't locate it. We was hoping for a Pied Flycatcher or even a Spotted but it may still be a bit early yet.
A lovely spot though and will definately come here again.
Walk from the cricket ground along the river Goit to the north end of Anglezarke reservoir and back.
More willow warblers than you can shake a stick of willow at - lost count after about 10.
2 blue tits
3 black birds
1 grasshopper warbler (heard only)
2 chaffinches
1 chiffchaff
1 curlew (heard only)
2 pheasants
1 dipper
And a bucket load of other birds that I couldn't identify by call only.
Watermans Cottage to Wheelton Plantations. Sightings with J. Meadows & T. Morton:
1 Tree Pipit (singing)
3 Redstart (1 seen, 2 more heard)
1 Peregrine (over Stronstrey Bank)
1 Grasshopper Warbler (heard only)
1 Wheatear
3 Curlew
1 Dipper
1 Treecreeper
3 Greylag Geese (over)
2 Raven (over Stronstrey Bank)
1 Little Owl (quarry)
3 Stonechat - all juvs (on wires along the Goit)
2 Oystercatcher over
1 Curlew over
1 Kestrel
1 Kingfisher (Goit)
2 Grey Wagtail
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Stock Dove
1 Cormorant over
Lesser Redpolls & Linnets buzzing about...
A beautiful peaceful walk this evening - there was even a cricket match in progress
1 Peregrine (over Stronstrey Bank)
1 Spotted Flycatcher (cricket pavilion)
1 Cuckoo (sluice)
1 Buzzard
1 Dipper
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Green Woodpecker (heard only)
1 Redstart (m)
1 Wheatear
1 Stonechat
3 Garden Warbler
2 Raven
3 Curlew
2 Dipper
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Green Woodpecker (heard)
A five-hour mooch, from the Watermans Cottage to Wheelton Plantations, and back round over the tops:
1 Wood Warbler
2 Tree Pipit
1 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Peregrine
1 Raven
1 Buzzard
3 Wheatear
1 Curlew
2 Dipper
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Kestrel
1 Treecreeper
4+ Linnet
2 Lesser Redpoll
7+ Willow Warbler
1 Coal Tit
1 Nuthatch
12+ Meadow Pipit
4+ Skylark
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
green woodpecker
1 great spotted woodpecker
3 linnets
1 stonechat
1 dipper
2 raven
2 treecreeper
1 nuthatch
several green chaf and gold finch
several willow warblers
4 great crested grebe
1 curlew heard
2 mistle and one song thrush
plus all the usual tits and swallows
no flycatchers and no redpol
Cheers Jimmy