some Yorkshire birders had somehow managed to evade border control and even had the nerve to try and claim that the bird (and the area) might have been "theirs" - ruddy cheek!! Could have been the War of the Roses all over again!
Well done Bill, patch work pays off yet again!
Next time you find such a brilliant bird, can you not do it when I'm 400 miles away on the west coast of Scotland? I had to make do with Great Northern Divers and Golden Eagles...
Don't worry about a new War of the Roses (did the last one ever end?). The birds were in pre-1984 Yorkshire or post-1984 Greater Manchester. That bit of moorland was never in Lancashire
Keep up the good work promoting the atlas and other surveys!
Cheers, Steve
Andy Bissitt said
Fri May 1 9:41 PM, 2009
Thanks Bill; it just goes to show that place names nearly always hark back to something of significance from before our time. I would add that neither my OS map nor my AA Greater Manchester street guide relate to the place by name. I hope they are not trying to erase local history. Anyone for Dotterel Hummock?
Bill Myerscough said
Fri May 1 8:45 PM, 2009
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Has anyone checked that they did not return - the Pendle birds often "dissappear" for a while....
Rob,
Had a thirty minute look this evening in pretty chilly conditions up there and couldn't see any signs of any Dotterel. Plenty of Wheatears - at least double-figures - at least one of which (a male) might have been of the Greenland race - although I have never been convinced, that these are as easy to tell apart from our own race, as the field guides would have us believe!
Andy,
A little earlier in the thread you asked as to the origins of the name Axletree Edge. Local birder Chris Jepson-Brown, who also has a keen interest in local history, advised me of the following:- "Axletree Edge (and other areas nearby that still do) used to have bits of old trees in the peat (they are fairly common in many moorland areas of the South Pennines and are relicts from the original woods that developed after the last ice-age) and some were quite large. I suspect that some large pieces of wood were gathered from there in the 'olden days' to make axles for simple cart wheels. Also, very near is an area known as Millstone Moss. Perhaps the axles were used to turn the millstones? The name is an official one, appearing on OS maps. Upon checking some of my old maps, the name goes quite far back, even appearing on my map of the area from 1848."
Hope this is of some help.
Best wishes,
Bill.
Rob Smallwood said
Fri May 1 2:42 PM, 2009
Has anyone checked that they did not return - the Pendle birds often "dissappear" for a while....
Steve Scrimgeour said
Wed Apr 29 9:56 PM, 2009
No sign this evening me and our Callum got there at about 1800,a few birders about nice to meet Mike and Johnathon, the later had been there since approx 1730.
We left at 2000 hrs, still leaving a couple of birders there,but we had already mineswept the area to no avail...
So once again gone a day too late i feel,
Other birds around...
Meadow Pipit Skylarks Curlews and Whimbrel (heard) Wheatears.
Steve
Nev Wright said
Wed Apr 29 9:18 PM, 2009
Hi Dean There were quite a few guys taking photos while I was up there, me included! 3 ? pro photographers with big lens' and tripods (not me, can't afford one ), a guy with a camcorder and one of Mark Rigby's work colleagues I had a chat with (sorry can't remember his name, apologies). I left the site with him, leaving the photographers to it. You might have spoken to me in the car park while I was loading the boot? The birds must have left not long after that . Nev
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Apr 29 8:49 PM, 2009
I was up there at around 9am(could've been 9.15) and spoke to 2 photographers who had just been taking pics of the birds, may well have been you Nev? The birds flew off and weren't seen again all morning. I missed em by minutes
Wandered around till midday but no luck. There where about 30 birders up there at one point. The Dotterel probably got trodden on
Hope they are still around.
Also had Raven, Wheatear, Curlew, Meadow Pipit and loads of lovely Skylarks.
Cheers Dean.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of April 2009 09:07:41 PM
Ian Campbell said
Wed Apr 29 6:34 PM, 2009
Hope they are still around, I can't get 'till Friday eve, just hoping all week they would stay that long Such is life! Cheers Ian
Mark Rigby said
Wed Apr 29 6:00 PM, 2009
No sign of any Dotterel at 3pm
Nev Wright said
Wed Apr 29 3:30 PM, 2009
0830-0915 Great views of female and 2 males after 1st cairn on right
Mark Rigby said
Wed Apr 29 12:41 PM, 2009
Showing well at 0915hrs(2nd hand info but a reliable source)
Andrew Newall said
Wed Apr 29 10:19 AM, 2009
Was up there for 6am had a good look round but no luck, the fog kept drifting in and out so visibility was poor. plenty of skylarks and a few wheatears. Will have to try again .
Andrew
Steve Scrimgeour said
Wed Apr 29 10:01 AM, 2009
Heading up there approx 1630-1645ish his afternoon, if any of the other Flixton/Urmston Birders want a lift, leave me a PM, have room for at least 3 got a people carrier...
Steve
Pete Stevens said
Wed Apr 29 9:24 AM, 2009
All 3 birds still present this morning at 7.40am. Fantastic light and wonderful views down to 5m. Birds took a short flight when several photographers tried to get too close but they circled and landed about 25m away. Thanks to Bill for finding them and to the excellent directions posted by many others. Cheers Pete
Images now on my web site
-- Edited by Pete Stevens on Wednesday 29th of April 2009 12:50:32 PM
Adrian Dancy said
Wed Apr 29 8:05 AM, 2009
A superb day yesterday afternoon. Well worth 2 buses , train and a taxi to get there. Light was awful but the views were superb...such accommodating birds.
Big thanks to Bill for finding the birds and contacting me and big thanks to Pete Hines who got me back to Manchester.
Also clocked Raven and common buzzard.
AD
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 29 7:47 AM, 2009
All 3 Dotterel still present at 7:30am this morning
Info thanks to Sid Ashton
Gary Marland said
Tue Apr 28 11:02 PM, 2009
Andy Bissitt wrote:
Just a curious enquiry really, and one for the locals I guess. Where does the site name Axletree Edge come from? It's not on any maps I own (though it is literally on the Manchester birding map now) so I was wondering is it just a 'nickname' given by those that visit it on a regular basis. Not as exciting as discussing these wonderful birds I know, but hey, I like my records to be straight!!
Andy B
It's on OS Explorer map OL21 South Pennines or on Multimap if you zoom in. Don't know where the name comes from though.
Great to actually meet some of the birders I've been reading about for the last year. I was the tall one with the beard and glasses on Tuesday evening by the way and finally many thanks to Bill for posting news of this bird which was a lifer for me. It saved me a slog up Pendle Hill again this weekend.
Gary
Judith Smith said
Tue Apr 28 10:31 PM, 2009
It's also on the Greater Manchester A-Z stret atlas - an essential for any GM birder as it also has grid references. Page 34, E4.
sid ashton said
Tue Apr 28 10:07 PM, 2009
Andy Bissitt wrote:
Just a curious enquiry really, and one for the locals I guess. Where does the site name Axletree Edge come from? It's not on any maps I own (though it is literally on the Manchester birding map now) so I was wondering is it just a 'nickname' given by those that visit it on a regular basis. Not as exciting as discussing these wonderful birds I know, but hey, I like my records to be straight!!
Andy B
Andy
Out of interest it is shown on the OS "Get a Map" if you put in Denshaw and scan around and not the grid ref given on Bird Guides. I couldn't get that one to work.
Sue Fargher said
Tue Apr 28 10:03 PM, 2009
Very good views from about 6.45 to 7.20. Paul has some good pictures and his knee's have dried out now.
Nice to meet Jimmy, Ian, Paul and others (sorry didn't catch everyone's name). Nice county tick for us.
Jimmy Meadows said
Tue Apr 28 9:42 PM, 2009
Nice to see you Dean sorry you missed them but with the weather closing in they probably went to roost 3 cracking birds with the female in stonking fettle Plumage wise hope they stay a bit longer for ones that have not seen them Also saved Lancashire Air Rescue Helicopter a job this weekend having to air lift me from top of Pendle Hill Ian hope you have recovered from being a passenger with me
Cheers Jimmy
-- Edited by j meadows on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 08:47:27 PM
brandon mulhern said
Tue Apr 28 9:41 PM, 2009
i thought the name was weird too when i got there yesterday as theres not a tree in site! No idea where the name comes from but the pennine way IS older than anyone i know!
Andy Bissitt wrote:
Just a curious enquiry really, and one for the locals I guess. Where does the site name Axletree Edge come from? It's not on any maps I own (though it is literally on the Manchester birding map now) so I was wondering is it just a 'nickname' given by those that visit it on a regular basis. Not as exciting as discussing these wonderful birds I know, but hey, I like my records to be straight!!
Andy B
Dean Macdonald said
Tue Apr 28 9:21 PM, 2009
Just got back and we dipped Nice to see Jimmy and Ian, thanks for the info but the weather closed in and couldn't find em. Hope they stick around for another go.
Cheers Dean.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Apr 28 8:47 PM, 2009
Just a curious enquiry really, and one for the locals I guess. Where does the site name Axletree Edge come from? It's not on any maps I own (though it is literally on the Manchester birding map now) so I was wondering is it just a 'nickname' given by those that visit it on a regular basis. Not as exciting as discussing these wonderful birds I know, but hey, I like my records to be straight!!
Andy B
declan savage said
Tue Apr 28 8:09 PM, 2009
Wonderful views of these wonderful birds at 6.30 this evening. Thanks for all the helpful info.
Tim Wilcox said
Tue Apr 28 7:00 PM, 2009
Great to be out on my first Mcr twitch since my accident. 3 Superb birds and very confiding.
Early start this morning saw me on the hill and I found them after a search at 7.30am about 80m off the path to the right - for anyone that hasn't been yet, the spot where they were this am was just after two cairns - one obvious, one just a small pile of stones, as stated about 500m from the car park. As they were on the sheltered side of the ridge [west side] I guess they'll be anywhere from there to the summit of the small hill directly in front of you as you come up the path.
Really interesting birds but I only watched for ten minutes so as not to disturb them or the chap with the serious photographic gear - hope you got the shot if you are on here!
I'd like to express my thanks to everyone concerned it was the best bit of birding for me so far! Peter
-- Edited by Pete Welch on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 05:40:08 PM
Adrian Dancy said
Tue Apr 28 12:47 PM, 2009
I'm off out there in half an hour. If anyone sees me in Oldham looking lost and in need of a lift......
Mike hirst said
Tue Apr 28 12:20 PM, 2009
Just to echo the last posting, and I think its Bill Myerscough we are thanking.
Mike
Paul Bambroffe said
Tue Apr 28 12:12 PM, 2009
Thanks for whoever posted this one. Directions were spot on. Fantastic views of all 3 birds. Right at the side of the path.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Apr 28 8:26 AM, 2009
All 3 still present 08:15 this morning
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen/Sean Gray
brandon mulhern said
Mon Apr 27 10:35 PM, 2009
Declan tbh i was a little apprehensive about going up there as its not my turf and tonight it was getting late (it was after 7 when we left the house), but i must admit Ian's post at the bottom of the page is spot on. As to seeing them out in the open we walked up about 500yds and you could not miss them on the right side of the path 3 little beauties, they tend to move about a lot which actually helps as your eye will be drawn to them. We noted there are some piles of stones on either side of the path this area is where they were tonight. They were sticking close together too which helps, also the fact there were 6 or 7 birders with scopes helps too! I'm sure if they are still there tomorrow it won't take long to spot them. good luck.
i have uploaded a picture here https://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z302/agent-c/IMG_0004-1.jpg you can see how close to the path they like to get (its not a good photo of the female but it does show the path and the general area with a pile of stones top right )
-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Monday 27th of April 2009 09:46:03 PM
-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Monday 27th of April 2009 09:53:55 PM
Geoff Hargreaves said
Mon Apr 27 10:31 PM, 2009
Three dotterelWish i could get away with throwing a sickie to go back,obviously this throws up a question of 'were they there on sunday??.After a somwhat leisurely start to our dotterel hunt on Sunday myself a Rob Thorpe arrived and walked up the hill ,quite promisingly a group of birders inc the adderleys were watching the dotterel just a we got to the spot i looked down to plant my scope and rob said whoops it,s just flown off 'you got it yes' no I didn't was my polite reply.After an hour of mournful searching somtime,s in yorkshire(I think)we walked south somewhat fedup vowing never to twitch again,when I spotted a dotterel not 10ft from rob and 20ft from me,what a result lifer for me gm for rob ,the bird seemed quite relaxed but as other birders approached it started to move away and eventually dissapeared over a ridge just as mr rigby turned up.Cracking afternoon only possible because of the forum.
cheers geoff mega big it up for bill for going up there in the first place
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Monday 27th of April 2009 09:32:19 PM
declan savage said
Mon Apr 27 10:28 PM, 2009
brian fielding wrote:
follow m62 towards yorkshire and exit at junc 22, turn right and park in layby on the right after aprox half a mile, cross the road and follow penine way for aprox a third of a mile, birds on the right of the path.
Cheers for that Brian, I know the general area where they have been but was wondering if more specific directions were possible - e.g particular landscape features, but I guess it might be fairly featureless there. I'll give it a good go tomorrow anyway. Thanks
brian fielding said
Mon Apr 27 10:23 PM, 2009
follow m62 towards yorkshire and exit at junc 22, turn right and park in layby on the right after aprox half a mile, cross the road and follow penine way for aprox a third of a mile, birds on the right of the path.
declan savage said
Mon Apr 27 10:19 PM, 2009
Any clearer directions/ guidance as to where these birds have been seen? I know theres a grid reference below, and its somewhere along the pennine way, but its pretty open country, and not somewhere I know very well. I'd like to try to get up there tomorrow at some point but don't want to waste time looking in completely the wrong direction. Cheers
Simon Johnson said
Mon Apr 27 9:33 PM, 2009
Still there 8.50pm heads underwings and fast asleep!!
brandon mulhern said
Mon Apr 27 9:14 PM, 2009
All 3 of them still there at 8.15 they flew a little further up the pennine way as we were leaving but still on the manchester side. Also saw 1 wheatear land near them but on the yorkshire side and 2 meadow pipits flew over us on the way back to the car singing quite merrily in the dusk sunshine. Thanks for the time updates on here.
brian fielding said
Mon Apr 27 8:48 PM, 2009
3 still present, 1 female and 2 males, showing well at 8pm.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Apr 27 6:34 PM, 2009
3 Dotterel ( yes, three) now present, the male and now 2 females I think, if I was listening correctly.
Info thanks to Andy Isherwood
brian fielding said
Mon Apr 27 5:54 PM, 2009
still present 1500 according to birdguides
brandon mulhern said
Mon Apr 27 5:49 PM, 2009
anyone know if its still there this evening?
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Apr 27 1:17 PM, 2009
The little beauty is still present at 1pm today.
Info thanks to Bill Myerscough.
There are now many images on the galleries of this bird from various photographers and my thanks to them all. The more the merrier. Thanks also for the regular updates on it's presence.
will email them to Ian when I get my email back up and running...
Rob Thorpe said
Sun Apr 26 9:18 PM, 2009
Geoff Hargreaves wrote:
The dotterel,still present but closer to hill crest at 15.00,very good views for me even better for mr thorpe who almost stood on it. cheers geoff
I'd like to make it clear that this was accidental... I would never purposefully get so close to a bird, not when there's other twitchers around anyway
Simon Hitchen said
Sun Apr 26 8:56 PM, 2009
Thanks Bill for finding this one and getting the news out so fast - I owe you a pint - I'm afraid I have to own up to spreading the news over the border but I think you'll agree it was worth it if you check out Sean Gray's pictures on the Calderdale birding blog...absolutely stunning.
Bill Myerscough said
Sun Apr 26 8:06 PM, 2009
Really,really pleased so many local birders got to see (and photograph) this difficult to connect with species.
As you say Paul - it is great that we now appear to have our own GM Dotterel patch! - I certainly wouldn't have been looking here (succesfully!) for the last two years if it wasn't for your excellent find at this location in 2006.
Spent most of the day in Yorks and called on my way back again at around 4.30 for a second viewing and some Yorkshire birders had somehow managed to evade border control and even had the nerve to try and claim that the bird (and the area) might have been "theirs" - ruddy cheek!! Could have been the War of the Roses all over again!
Cheers,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Sunday 26th of April 2009 07:09:19 PM
Paul Heaton said
Sun Apr 26 6:59 PM, 2009
Who would have thought that when a Hiker, found an injured sheep, a few years ago, we would end up with Dotterel Hill.
Excellent field work put in by Bill again. Nice find and from now on we will all be up there at the end of April, as we now have are special site.
Looks like everyone got good photos this morning.
Keep birding
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Apr 26 4:51 PM, 2009
The dotterel,still present but closer to hill crest at 15.00,very good views for me even better for mr thorpe who almost stood on it.
cheers geoff
Rob Smallwood said
Sun Apr 26 3:05 PM, 2009
Still present when we left at 13:30, showing very well about 250m to the right of the Pennine Way from the original site back towards the road.
Rob,
Had a thirty minute look this evening in pretty chilly conditions up there and couldn't see any signs of any Dotterel. Plenty of Wheatears - at least double-figures - at least one of which (a male) might have been of the Greenland race - although I have never been convinced, that these are as easy to tell apart from our own race, as the field guides would have us believe!
Andy,
A little earlier in the thread you asked as to the origins of the name Axletree Edge. Local birder Chris Jepson-Brown, who also has a keen interest in local history, advised me of the following:- "Axletree Edge (and other areas nearby that still do) used to have bits of old trees in the peat (they are fairly common in many moorland areas of the South Pennines and are relicts from the original woods that developed after the last ice-age) and some were quite large. I suspect that some large pieces of wood were gathered from there in the 'olden days' to make axles for simple cart wheels. Also, very near is an area known as Millstone Moss. Perhaps the axles were used to turn the millstones? The name is an official one, appearing on OS maps. Upon checking some of my old maps, the name goes quite far back, even appearing on my map of the area from 1848."
Hope this is of some help.
Best wishes,
Bill.
No sign this evening me and our Callum got there at about 1800,a few birders about
nice to meet Mike and Johnathon, the later had been there since approx 1730.
We left at 2000 hrs, still leaving a couple of birders there,but we had already mineswept the area to no avail...
So once again gone a day too late i feel,
Other birds around...
Meadow Pipit
Skylarks
Curlews and Whimbrel (heard)
Wheatears.
Steve
There were quite a few guys taking photos while I was up there, me included! 3 ? pro photographers with big lens' and tripods (not me, can't afford one
Nev
Wandered around till midday but no luck. There where about 30 birders up there at one point. The Dotterel probably got trodden on
Hope they are still around.
Also had Raven, Wheatear, Curlew, Meadow Pipit and loads of lovely Skylarks.
Cheers Dean.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of April 2009 09:07:41 PM
Such is life!
Cheers Ian
Great views of female and 2 males after 1st cairn on right
Andrew
Heading up there approx 1630-1645ish his afternoon, if any of the other Flixton/Urmston Birders want a lift, leave me a PM, have room for at least 3 got a people carrier...
Steve
Fantastic light and wonderful views down to 5m.
Birds took a short flight when several photographers tried to get too close but they circled and landed about 25m away.
Thanks to Bill for finding them and to the excellent directions posted by many others.
Cheers
Pete
Images now on my web site
-- Edited by Pete Stevens on Wednesday 29th of April 2009 12:50:32 PM
Big thanks to Bill for finding the birds and contacting me and big thanks to Pete Hines who got me back to Manchester.
Also clocked Raven and common buzzard.
AD
Info thanks to Sid Ashton
It's on OS Explorer map OL21 South Pennines or on Multimap if you zoom in. Don't know where the name comes from though.
Great to actually meet some of the birders I've been reading about for the last year. I was the tall one with the beard and glasses on Tuesday evening by the way and finally many thanks to Bill for posting news of this bird which was a lifer for me. It saved me a slog up Pendle Hill again this weekend.
Gary
Andy
Out of interest it is shown on the OS "Get a Map" if you put in Denshaw and scan around and not the grid ref given on Bird Guides. I couldn't get that one to work.
Nice to meet Jimmy, Ian, Paul and others (sorry didn't catch everyone's name). Nice county tick for us.
3 cracking birds with the female in stonking fettle Plumage wise
Also saved Lancashire Air Rescue Helicopter a job this weekend having to air lift me from top of Pendle Hill
Ian hope you have recovered from being a passenger with me
Cheers Jimmy
-- Edited by j meadows on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 08:47:27 PM
Just got back and we dipped
Cheers Dean.
Andy B
also:
Wheatear
Skylark singing
Meadow Pipits 2
Buzzard heard (maybe in Yorkshire)
Really interesting birds but I only watched for ten minutes so as not to disturb them or the chap with the serious photographic gear - hope you got the shot if you are on here!
I'd like to express my thanks to everyone concerned it was the best bit of birding for me so far! Peter
-- Edited by Pete Welch on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 05:40:08 PM
Mike
Directions were spot on. Fantastic views
of all 3 birds. Right at the side of the path.
Info thanks to Simon Hitchen/Sean Gray
good luck.
i have uploaded a picture here
https://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z302/agent-c/IMG_0004-1.jpg
you can see how close to the path they like to get (its not a good photo of the female but it does show the path and the general area with a pile of stones top right )
-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Monday 27th of April 2009 09:46:03 PM
-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Monday 27th of April 2009 09:53:55 PM
cheers geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Monday 27th of April 2009 09:32:19 PM
Cheers for that Brian,
I know the general area where they have been but was wondering if more specific directions were possible - e.g particular landscape features, but I guess it might be fairly featureless there. I'll give it a good go tomorrow anyway. Thanks
Info thanks to Andy Isherwood
Info thanks to Bill Myerscough.
There are now many images on the galleries of this bird from various photographers and my thanks to them all. The more the merrier. Thanks also for the regular updates on it's presence.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1599291&l=fc39089b70&id=573584796
will email them to Ian when I get my email back up and running...
I'd like to make it clear that this was accidental... I would never purposefully get so close to a bird, not when there's other twitchers around anyway
As you say Paul - it is great that we now appear to have our own GM Dotterel patch! - I certainly wouldn't have been looking here (succesfully!) for the last two years if it wasn't for your excellent find at this location in 2006.
Spent most of the day in Yorks and called on my way back again at around 4.30 for a second viewing and some Yorkshire birders had somehow managed to evade border control and even had the nerve to try and claim that the bird (and the area) might have been "theirs" - ruddy cheek!!
Cheers,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Sunday 26th of April 2009 07:09:19 PM
Excellent field work put in by Bill again. Nice find and from now on we will all be up there at the end of April, as we now have are special site.
Looks like everyone got good photos this morning.
Keep birding
cheers geoff