Yesterday 24/3/2021. near the car park Barrow Bridge. Goldcrests in the bushes and garden feeders
Paul Thompson said
Tue Sep 25 4:22 PM, 2018
Late Post Monday (24/9/2018) 5.00pm to 6.00pm 3 species of rapter observed:
Buzzard (glimpsed through the trees being mobbed by carrion crows at the lower end of Longshawford Road)
Sparrowhawk ( over the fields at the upper end of Longshawford Road)
Peregrine (on the usual ledge on Barrow Bridge Chimney seen from the path that runs through Pendleburys Farm & Smithills Dean Road)
Paul Thompson said
Mon Sep 3 8:48 PM, 2018
Late afternoon walk, no Peregrine on Barrow Bridge Chimney, 2 Grey Wagtails in the stream, but no Dippers. Female/Juvenile Redstart, Blackcap and Kestrel all near Longshawford Road. Large numbers of Swallows massing on the power-lines near Sheephouse Farm. Goldcrest & Long-tailed tits.
Paul Thompson said
Thu Aug 16 9:22 PM, 2018
Walked from home through Barrow Bridge late this afternoon, I passed Barrow Bridge Chimney no sign of the Peregrines, the stream at Barrow Bridge looked polluted which ruled out any hope of seeing a Kingfisher. I also failed to see any Dippers only a couple of Grey Wagtails in the stream. I walked up Longshawford Road and the footpath towards Pendlebury's Farm in a hedge on my left running up towards Collier's Row I observed a Spotted Flycatcher. I went through the Farm and south towards Sheephouse Farm there were large numbers of Starlings (200+) perched on the powerlines, also seen 15+ Swallows. As I reach Smithills Dean Rd I had a brief glimpse of a Buzzard skimming the treetops towards Horrock's Wood.
Surveyed the SBI here yesterday for the GMEU, highlights from over 250 records were Tawny Owl, Cuckoo, 4 Garden Warblers and immature Peregrine on the chimney.
David Lumb said
Fri May 16 7:35 PM, 2014
Mid-morning mooch.
Treecreeper near the bottom of 63 steps, and a Nuthatch getting as many nuts as possible into it's mouth on a bird table at the cottages.
Along the brook past the cottages down to the bus terminus :- Pair of Dippers, Grey Wagtail with a juvenile, Wren taking food into the brook wall, Chiffchaff, & Willow Warbler.
Saturday morning walk by Bolton RSPB Members, to ''Horwich Moors'', starting at Barrow Bridge car park,
Sightings between car park at Barrow Bridge and Walker Fold.
Great Spotted Woodpecker...1 Dippers....2 Grey Wagtail....2 A male seen high in a tree! Greenfinch...2 Coal Tits...2 Blue Tits 4 Great Tits...5 Common Whitethroat ...1 Blackcap, male...1 Lapwing...2 Grey Heron...1 Mallards...2 Mistle Thrush...1 Swifts...4 Swallows....5 House Martins...2 Wheatear....5 Willow Warbler....2 Black headed Gull....5
Little Owls not present.
Alan Warford said
Wed Jul 6 3:52 PM, 2011
pm walk to Walker Fold
Coal Tits family party Grasshopper Warbler singing on and off 2 Stock Dove in with Wood Pigeons Little Owl in its usual area. Nuthatch
quick hike back to car as heavens opened
-- Edited by Alan Warford on Wednesday 6th of July 2011 04:03:16 PM
Ian Woosey said
Fri Jun 10 1:37 PM, 2011
10/6/11
1 Garden Warbler 1 Common Tern (over the golf course) 2 Curlew 2 Lapwing
Recently fledged Wrens and Blue Tits...
Phil Cunliffe said
Tue Apr 12 12:51 PM, 2011
Late report for Sunday 10 April 14:00 - 15:00
Heard a couple of willow warblers in the vicinity of the 63 steps but couldn't see them.
Saw 3 swallows over the top field heading in the general direction of the "ice cream farm" on Scout Road
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Aug 16 6:47 PM, 2010
Single Whinchat and 4 Wheatear in the fields with the tumbled down wall along the top path early afternoon.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Aug 9 4:08 PM, 2010
Early afternoon today:
Male Redstart around two thirds the way up the valley was the highlight (where the area to the right opens up considerably).
Lots of the usual species also and then a good drenching walking back along the top as the heavens opened!
Simon Warford said
Sun Jun 20 8:55 PM, 2010
Walk with my father this morning from Barrow Bridge to Walker Fold Wood and back.
2 Garden Warblers singing Blackcap Several Willow Warblers, 1 carrying food. Green Woodpecker heard only GS Woodpecker Dipper Grey Wagtail 2 Curlew 2 Nice to see family parties of Nuthatch, Coal Tits, Blue & Great Tits.
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Jun 14 7:46 AM, 2010
sunday-13th-late am-pm up to the end of walker fold wood and back. fairly quiet raven-1 kestrel-2 garden warbler-1 coal tit-1 pair with 8 young in tow possible redstart singing at the west end of walker fold wood
Ian McKerchar said
Sat May 22 4:32 PM, 2010
Late morning/early afternoon today:
3 Garden Warblers- one down the small valley by the 63 steps and two by the very top of the valley, one of which could be heard singing beautifully from the top path through the fields by the two trailers there.
Also a large male Peacock in the trees near to the conifers.
Simon Warford said
Wed Apr 14 9:06 PM, 2010
Although difficult to say with any certainty, this female is quite possibly the same individual we found less than half a mile away on the other side of Walker fold road on Saturday. Although this bird does seem slightly duller
Dean Macdonald said
Wed Apr 14 8:41 PM, 2010
Male Ring Ouzel and female Black Redstart still showing really well up to 8pm
A couple of people there reckoned the black redstart was a male bird but the one i was looking at was a female.
Also Tawny Owl calling.
Cheers Dean.
Alan Prosser said
Wed Apr 14 2:15 PM, 2010
11am today - 1 Dipper, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Mistle Thrush between car park and start of 63 steps.
Ring Ouzel and Black Redstart near conifer plantation 350m beyond summit of 63 steps.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 14 11:03 AM, 2010
Male Ring Ouzel still present. Both Ouzel and Black Redstart only yards from each other at times!
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 14 10:10 AM, 2010
Female Black Redstart present in the same field as the Ouzel has been, just west of the path 400 yards beyond the 63 steps.
Info thanks to Andy Makin and Phil Rhodes
mark cain said
Tue Apr 13 7:25 PM, 2010
This lunchtime dipper, coal tit and grey wagtail showing in front of cottages; male ring ousel showing well again beside the row of conifers beyond the steps.
Holly Page said
Mon Apr 12 6:27 PM, 2010
Still showing 17.30-17.45 in exactly the same place as we found it yesterday morning. I'd hoped it would be a bit closer so I could get some better photos but no joy! Still, a nice bird to see and lovely weather to enjoy it in!!!
Dennis atherton said
Sun Apr 11 5:18 PM, 2010
Showing again at around three thirty ish at the same spot, as you keep looking left the long row of fir type (Conifer) trees and it is roosting in there and comes out on the left and right of the fir trees now and again and feeds in the fields either side, nice to see Alun, Simon and Jon Tav today on the nice weather for a change, still a bit windy up ont moors though
also further up the hill towards burnt edge area nice male and female wheatear
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Sunday 11th of April 2010 08:19:58 PM
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Sunday 11th of April 2010 08:42:39 PM
Alan Warford said
Sun Apr 11 2:00 PM, 2010
Adult Male Ring Ouzel still present 11-30 am up 63 steps at Barrow Bridge then approx 300 yards towards Walker Fold to view field to left with row of conifers. Showing very well.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 11 10:25 AM, 2010
A Ring Ouzel present this morning (10:15 atleast) and may have been present a couple of days apparently. Climb the 63 steps to the top of the valley and the bird was in a field to the left.
Info thanks to Simon Warford and Dennis Atherton
Originally posted today by Roy Hodkinso:
Yesterday 24/3/2021. near the car park Barrow Bridge. Goldcrests in the bushes and garden feeders
Late Post Monday (24/9/2018) 5.00pm to 6.00pm 3 species of rapter observed:
Late afternoon walk, no Peregrine on Barrow Bridge Chimney, 2 Grey Wagtails in the stream, but no Dippers. Female/Juvenile Redstart, Blackcap and Kestrel all near Longshawford Road. Large numbers of Swallows massing on the power-lines near Sheephouse Farm. Goldcrest & Long-tailed tits.
Walked from home through Barrow Bridge late this afternoon, I passed Barrow Bridge Chimney no sign of the Peregrines, the stream at Barrow Bridge looked polluted which ruled out any hope of seeing a Kingfisher. I also failed to see any Dippers only a couple of Grey Wagtails in the stream. I walked up Longshawford Road and the footpath towards Pendlebury's Farm in a hedge on my left running up towards Collier's Row I observed a Spotted Flycatcher. I went through the Farm and south towards Sheephouse Farm there were large numbers of Starlings (200+) perched on the powerlines, also seen 15+ Swallows. As I reach Smithills Dean Rd I had a brief glimpse of a Buzzard skimming the treetops towards Horrock's Wood.
Treecreeper near the bottom of 63 steps, and a Nuthatch getting as many nuts as possible into it's mouth on a bird table at the cottages.
Along the brook past the cottages down to the bus terminus :-
Pair of Dippers, Grey Wagtail with a juvenile, Wren taking food into the brook wall, Chiffchaff, & Willow Warbler.
BB Stream above 63 Steps - Grey Wagtail (pair), Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Willow Warbler.
Burnt Edge - Cuckoo heard, Linnet, Whitethroat.
Wheatear on the way down from Walker Fold Farm
Dipper on the brook by the cottages in Barrow Bridge (another one much further downstream between Forest Road & Smithills Dean Road)
Other birds seen :-
Pheasants, Woodpigeons, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Jays, Magpies, Carrion Crows, & Chaffinches.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in Higher Shores Clough
1 Grey Wagtail on the brook in Barrow Bridge
A flock of about 20 Bramblings by the car park
1 Dipper
100+ Woodpigeons
Wrens, Robins, & Blackbirds
Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
1 Jay, Magpies, & Carrion Crows
Dipper x1
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Long tailed Tit
Nuthatch x2
Robin
Blackbird
Wren
Magpie
Whitethroat x1 in gorse along the trail through Old Links Golf Course
Dipper pair + 1 chick
Black headed Gull
Lapwing x5
Common Pheasant x4
Kestrel x1
Buzzard x1
Wood Pigeon
Collard Dove
Great spotted Woodpecker x1
Starling +50
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Jackdaw
Blackbird +10
Mistle Thrush x2
Song Thrush x2
Robin +15 (adults with young)
Willow Warbler x7
Chiffchaff x1
Common Whitethroat x5
Blackcap x3
Goldcrest x1
Treecreeper x1
Nuthatch x8 (adults with young)
Blue Tit x6
Great Tit x3
Willow Tit x1 (second individual heard)
Coat Tit (heard)
Reed Bunting x2
Meadow Pipit x4
Pied Wagtail x2
Skylark x3
Redpoll x1
Greenfinch x4
Chaffinch +12
Goldfinch x2
Dunnock x4
Wren x3
Swallow +10
Swift +25
House Martin x2
Yesterday morning around Barrow Bridge and neighbouring farmland/golf course:
Mallard x2
Grey Heron x1
Lapwing x5
Common Pheasant x3
Great Spotted Woodpeker x2
Willow Warbler x4
Chiffchaff x2
Common Whitethroat x4
Linnet x2
Goldfinch +6
Greenfinch x4
Chaffinch x4
Nuthatch x1
Treecreeper x1
Redpoll x2
Skylark x4
Meadow Pipit x1
Song Thrush x2
Blackbird
Robin
Wren x4
Dunnock x2
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Coal Tit x3
Wood Pigeon
Collard Dove
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Jay x1
Black headed Gull
Herring Gull
No Dippers (but lots of people paddling in the river...)
Very windy and everything seemed to be "hunkered down" - not much showing.
1 Dipper (nice photo ops)
2 Willow Warbler seen and many heard
Blackcaps heard
1 Jay
Plenty of woodpigeons.
Walk through Old Links Golf Course, Barrow Bridge, to Horrocks Fold.
Not much about apart from a skein of 145 Pink-footed Geese at 14.55 flying SW along Colliers Row Road.
Old Links :-
1 Kestrel, 9 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Rook.
Barrow Bridge :-
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jays, 1 Siskin.
Sheep House Farm :-
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Horrocks Wood :-
1 Kestrel
Sightings between car park at Barrow Bridge and Walker Fold.
Great Spotted Woodpecker...1
Dippers....2
Grey Wagtail....2 A male seen high in a tree!
Greenfinch...2
Coal Tits...2
Blue Tits 4
Great Tits...5
Common Whitethroat ...1
Blackcap, male...1
Lapwing...2
Grey Heron...1
Mallards...2
Mistle Thrush...1
Swifts...4
Swallows....5
House Martins...2
Wheatear....5
Willow Warbler....2
Black headed Gull....5
Little Owls not present.
Coal Tits family party
Grasshopper Warbler singing on and off
2 Stock Dove in with Wood Pigeons
Little Owl in its usual area.
Nuthatch
quick hike back to car as heavens opened
-- Edited by Alan Warford on Wednesday 6th of July 2011 04:03:16 PM
1 Garden Warbler
1 Common Tern (over the golf course)
2 Curlew
2 Lapwing
Recently fledged Wrens and Blue Tits...
Heard a couple of willow warblers in the vicinity of the 63 steps but couldn't see them.
Saw 3 swallows over the top field heading in the general direction of the "ice cream farm" on Scout Road
Male Redstart around two thirds the way up the valley was the highlight (where the area to the right opens up considerably).
Lots of the usual species also and then a good drenching walking back along the top as the heavens opened!
2 Garden Warblers singing
Blackcap
Several Willow Warblers, 1 carrying food.
Green Woodpecker heard only
GS Woodpecker
Dipper
Grey Wagtail 2
Curlew 2
Nice to see family parties of Nuthatch, Coal Tits, Blue & Great Tits.
up to the end of walker fold wood and back.
fairly quiet
raven-1
kestrel-2
garden warbler-1
coal tit-1 pair with 8 young in tow
possible redstart singing at the west end of walker fold wood
3 Garden Warblers- one down the small valley by the 63 steps and two by the very top of the valley, one of which could be heard singing beautifully from the top path through the fields by the two trailers there.
Dippers
3 Grey Wagtail
2 Garden Warbler
1 Blackcap
12 Willow Warbler
3 Nuthatch
3 Coal Tit
2 Mistle Thrush
2 Chaffinch
2 Robin
1 Wren
1 Willow Warbler
Also a large male Peacock in the trees near to the conifers.
Male Ring Ouzel and female Black Redstart still showing really well up to 8pm
A couple of people there reckoned the black redstart was a male bird but the one i was looking at was a female.
Also Tawny Owl calling.
Cheers Dean.
Ring Ouzel
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Info thanks to Andy Makin and Phil Rhodes
also further up the hill towards burnt edge area nice male and female wheatear
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Sunday 11th of April 2010 08:19:58 PM
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Sunday 11th of April 2010 08:42:39 PM