Whilst birds were few & far between decided to spend half hour on invertebrates around the small pond on Higher Meadows off Georges Lane.
A bramble patch held good numbers of Comma Butterfly along with 2 Red Admiral & a Speckled Brown all feasting on the ripe blackberries whilst in some nearby grass were 2 Small Copper butterflies.
A Southern Hawker dragonfly patrolled the perimeter of the pond where a female Black Darter had attached itself to the tail of a Male Black Darter.
In the pine trees at the end of Georges lane I found what I think was a Common Puffball fungus.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Wednesday 14th of September 2022 12:13:20 AM
The only butterflies seen were 1 Comma and 1 Speckled Wood.
The only dragonflies seen were a couple of Migrant Hawkers by the parking area on Burnt Edge.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 13 9:37 PM, 2019
11 Red Admiral south over Smithills Moor today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 29 8:07 PM, 2019
229 Painted Ladies through SW in two hours today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
John Williams said
Wed Jul 24 10:16 PM, 2019
10.00-15.00
Burnt Edge/Walker Fold/Holdens Farm area.
Small Skipper butterflies in abundance, Meadow Browns and Ringlets plentiful too.
Also 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Heath and 10 Small Tortoiseshells.
No Painted Ladies or Red Admirals.
The only dragonfly seen was a single Brown Hawker in the plantation on Burnt Edge.
A Common Green Shield Bug was by Holdens Plantation.
Jeff Gorse said
Sun May 6 4:39 PM, 2018
Overnight Skinner moth trap from gardens on edge of Rivington - 1 x spectacle, 1 x lesser swallow prominent, 1 x common quaker, 1 x Hebrew character
Simon Warford said
Thu Sep 28 10:06 PM, 2017
359 Red Admirals were counted heading south in an all day migration watch on Winter Hill today.
John Williams said
Fri Aug 25 9:23 PM, 2017
11.00-17.00
Georges Lane : 1 Wall Brown and 1 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Burnt Edge and Walker Fold : 4 Peacock, 1 Green Veined White and 8 Speckled Wood butterflies.
1 Migrant Hawker dragonfly patrolled Sugar Loaf Plantation, whilst 1 Southern Hawker was seen by Walker Fold.
Craig Higson said
Thu Aug 17 9:16 PM, 2017
A single Nicrophorus Investigator beetle was at the north western end of Burnt Edge. Not normally a beetle fanatic but this was fairly impressive. Sadly not the best image.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Thursday 17th of August 2017 09:19:33 PM
Butterflies: Just 2 Gatekeepers were seen, both around the clumps of heather, and 4 Meadow Browns were alongside the paths.
Also seen were 6 Peacocks and 6 Small Tortoiseshells, plus a couple of Small Whites.
Dragonflies : 1 male Southern Hawker patrolled the path at Walker Fold, whilst a single male Common Darter was by a pool near Holdens Farm.
Other insects noted were a Violet Ground Beetle on Burnt Edge, whilst a Meadow Grasshopper jumped onto my arm near the Lancs border on Georges Lane.
The St. Marks Flies, or very similar summer flying equivalent, are still flying in abundance.
John Williams said
Mon Aug 7 9:43 PM, 2017
11.00-16.00
Few butterflies were about as it was breezy and quite cool most of the time, however the following were seen.
Burnt Edge : 1 Red Admiral. 3 Gatekeepers, which here seem to be attracted to the heather flowers rather than brambles.
Walker Fold : 2 Green Veined White. Also 5 Red Admirals were seen together on Angelica flowers.
In the bushy areas and along the woodland edges there were lots of large black flies, similar to St Marks Flies, which I thought only appeared in spring?.
The Willow Warblers were seen catching and relishing a few of these insects.
A couple of large hawker dragonflies with blue bodies were seen, but they were too quick to be identified.
John Williams said
Fri Jul 21 10:19 PM, 2017
11.00-16.00
With light rain and a strong SE wind blowing most of the time there were few insects about.
The plantation on Burnt Edge held 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Common Carpet and 1 Garden Pebble moths.
The only butterflies seen were a couple of Green Veined Whites and a single Gatekeeper at Walker Fold.
Also at Walker Fold a Weasel ran across the track.
John Williams said
Mon Aug 8 8:25 PM, 2016
10.30-15.00
Gatekeeper butterflies abundant throughout, several Meadow Browns seen, mainly along the path at Walker Fold or on Burnt Edge.
1 Speckled Wood butterfly in Wilderswood.
1 male hawker dragonfly patrolling the footpath near Holdens Farm. I'm pretty sure it was a Migrant Hawker, but he did'nt settle, hence I can't be 100% sure of ID.
There were numerous Gatekeeper butterflies on a clump of heather nearby, and he flew within inches of them but left them alone.
He just kept patrolling the same area where the path crosses the stream from Holdens Plantation.
John Williams said
Sat Apr 23 3:38 PM, 2016
Walk covered Georges Lane, Burnt Edge, Walker Fold and Holdens Farm.
The only butterflies seen were 3 Small Tortoiseshells along Burnt Edge.
steven burke said
Sat Oct 10 9:11 PM, 2015
a stoat ran across georges lane & into the horse paddocks this afternoon.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jul 9 10:39 PM, 2015
If you are interested, Alan, you can add your Painted Lady sighting to this years survey data. It is done by Butterfly Conservation every year and this year there has been a massive influx of this species, with females ovipositing across the UK. The link to the recording form is at:
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 9th of July 2015 10:41:57 PM
Alan Warford said
Thu Jul 9 8:49 PM, 2015
Walk up George's Lane to Rivington Pike
3 Small Heath Painted Lady Small Tortoiseshell
Jon Bowen said
Sat Mar 21 1:35 PM, 2015
John Williams wrote:
The small pools around Holdens Farm & Plantation appear to hold masses of frogspawn. The only frog I found though was an half eaten dead one on Burnt Edge.
Stumbled across the same dead/half eaten frog this morning. The red admiral butterfly nearby was more of an attraction
John Williams said
Sun Mar 15 6:04 PM, 2015
The small pools around Holdens Farm & Plantation appear to hold masses of frogspawn. The only frog I found though was an half eaten dead one on Burnt Edge.
steven burke said
Sun Oct 5 9:05 PM, 2014
a weasel was running along the wall that holds the alpacas in.
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Sep 21 7:42 PM, 2014
10.30-13.30
Red Admiral 5 including one which flew up into the clouds south clearly migrating Small Copper 1 Comma 1 Tortoiseshell 4 Speckeld Wood 3 seen on way up Walker Fold and on the way back too. Probably a great amny
John Williams said
Wed Sep 17 9:55 PM, 2014
A large ichneumon wasp, fitting the description of "Pimpla Instigator", landed on my car window whilst parked at Burnt Edge.
Speckled Wood butterflies still abundant at Walker Fold. 1 Small Heath butterfly near Holdens Farm.
John Williams said
Sun Sep 7 5:21 PM, 2014
Burnt Edge/Walkerfold/Holdens Farm, then along Georges Lane from Wilderswood to kissing gate & steps.
8 Small Copper butterflies seen throughout, Speckled Woods numerous around Walker Fold.
1 Red Admiral and 2 Peacock butterflies on Burnt Edge.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Sep 4 6:02 PM, 2014
Dog fox at top of horse field near Holdens farm
John Williams said
Sun Jul 13 11:45 PM, 2014
Burnt Edge
Lots of Small Skipper butterflies, including one that had a lucky escape when it settled near a Nursery Web Spider.
The spider had her silken nursery in tall grass and was guarding it, but she made a dash for the butterfly, that fluttered off just in time.
Lots of Meadow Browns around the grassy areas and heather moor, they were really struggling to fly, battered by the strong Westerly breeze.
A single Knot Moth was resting on a thistle flower.
Craig Higson said
Sat Jun 14 5:41 PM, 2014
Cheers Dave. That confirms my suspicions. Managed to find my butterfly book (eventually) and was edging towards that species.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Saturday 14th of June 2014 05:42:35 PM
David Walsh said
Sat Jun 14 3:38 PM, 2014
Sounds like a Small Heath butterfly. They're emerging over the past couple of weeks, and the habitat sounds right. I've seen a dozen or so along Brushes Valley today.
Craig Higson said
Sat Jun 14 3:27 PM, 2014
Lots of Common Heath moths in the heather off mast road. Also what I'm guessing was a moth, but could easily have been a butterfly. Looked orangey in flight but when I saw one land it sat in the 'wings up' position so couldn't see it's upper wing. Underwing did have orangey cast towards the upper/outer edge with a small 'eye' but that's all I could get on it. Any ideas?
David Lumb said
Mon Apr 28 7:45 PM, 2014
Pair of Roe Deer in Lomax Wifes Plantation and a Rabbit further up Coal Pit Road this morning
Dave Tennant said
Thu Apr 24 8:33 PM, 2014
Late post for yesterday, 3 Roe deer [ does ] , spooked by dog walker, making their way to walkers fold.
John Williams said
Sat Mar 15 3:38 PM, 2014
AM
Nearly all the moorland pools contain masses of frogspawn.
3 large frogs were still having fun in a pool alongside Mast Road.
They need to be wary, a Grey Heron flew low over.
John Williams said
Mon Sep 9 10:33 PM, 2013
09.00-12.30
1 Roe Deer, with an unusually orange back, similar to that of Fallows/Reds, was feeding near Holdens Farm.
1 large Violet Ground Beetle on Burnt Edge, several Small Tortoiseshell butterflies around here too.
John Williams said
Fri Jun 7 11:36 PM, 2013
09.30-13.00
Orange Tip butterflies in profusion, especially around Wilderswood and Holdens Farm.
1 Speckled Wood at Wilderswood, 4 Peacock butterflies on the moor together with just 2 Small Tortoiseshell.
Common Pond Skaters on the pools, and 1 medium sized Brown Trout in the brook.
David Lumb said
Sun May 26 2:15 AM, 2013
Went in search of Green Hairstreaks around Burnt Edge area this morning. I had a really good much around the Bilberry but could not find any.
Most butterflies seen were along Coal Pit Road :- Green-veined Whites Large Whites Orange Tips Peacocks Small Tortoiseshells
Paul Richardson said
Thu May 23 5:51 AM, 2013
3 Roe deer seen in the woods north of Barrow Bridge this am around 0930. Nice view of a doe who eyeballed me for a bit before disappearing uphill.
I put this here as Barrow Bridge doesn't seem to have its own "other wildlife" section.
John Williams said
Sun Apr 21 2:14 AM, 2013
A.M
3 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies on Burnt Edge.
No other butterflies about, despite it being sunny and warmish, but lots of bumblebees and a few Lacewings too.
Jon Bowen said
Sun Apr 14 12:30 AM, 2013
2 Roe Deer seen at the junction of Matchmoor Lane and lane to Burnt Edge also Brown Hare ran across the road on the way up to Winter Hill
Tues 18th October - Pine Plantation on left side at very end of Burnt Edge Lane.
Very good numbers of a variety of fungi both under conifers & in grassed areas in between the trees.
Copper Brittlegill
Dark Honey Fungus
Ochre Brittlegill
Scurfy Twiglet
The Sickener - at least 50 under virtually every conifer varying in colour from pink to dark red
Oak Bolete - not too sure about this one, it was hand size & its pores were sponge-like rather than gills.
Butterflies : 1 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 3 Speckled Woods.
Dragonflies : Just a single male Common Darter.
Whilst birds were few & far between decided to spend half hour on invertebrates around the small pond on Higher Meadows off Georges Lane.
A bramble patch held good numbers of Comma Butterfly along with 2 Red Admiral & a Speckled Brown all feasting on the ripe blackberries whilst in some nearby grass were 2 Small Copper butterflies.
A Southern Hawker dragonfly patrolled the perimeter of the pond where a female Black Darter had attached itself to the tail of a Male Black Darter.
In the pine trees at the end of Georges lane I found what I think was a Common Puffball fungus.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Wednesday 14th of September 2022 12:13:20 AM
Brownstones Quarry 31/8/2022 - my first sighting of a 'Wall Brown' butterfly.
20th July Burnt Edge & Holden's Farm - Butterflies
Plenty of Gatekeepers, Meadow browns & Small Heaths plus a single Ringlet & Small Skipper.
Butterflies : Several Speckled Woods seen in Wilderswood and Burnt Edge Plantation, Small Heaths were quite numerous
around the open areas. 2 Large Skippers were on Burnt Edge, where a couple of Small Tortoiseshells were also seen.
A single hawker dragonfly was seen flying across Georges Lane, pausing briefly on a telegraph pole before heading off across
the moor.
With a cool breeze blowing just 1 butterfly was found, a Small Heath.
2 Red Admiral butterflies seen along Georges Lane, with another noted on Burnt Edge.
Small copper noted on 6/9/2021
Burnt Edge area :
4 Wall Brown and 2 Small Copper butterflies.
1m Black Darter dragonfly.
Along with the usual butterflies 2 Holly Blues feeding on heather, a few Gatekeepers, Green Veined Whites, Tortoiseshell
& a Pale Straw Pearl moth.
Also caught a very brief glance of what I'm certain was a stoat on rocks near Holden's Farm.
Butterflies : Gatekeepers galore, lots of Meadow Browns too, 2 Large Skippers, 7 Small Skippers, 3 Green veined Whites,
and 3 Small Tortoiseshells. Also singles of Antler plus Hart and Dart moths.
Just 1 dragonfly was seen, a single Southern Hawker along Georges Lane.
1 "leucozona lucorum" type hoverfly was noted on Ragwort along Georges Lane.
Large Skipper - Higher Meadows this afternoon
46 Red Admiral south today
Info thanks to Andy Makin
The only butterflies seen were 1 Comma and 1 Speckled Wood.
The only dragonflies seen were a couple of Migrant Hawkers by the parking area on Burnt Edge.
11 Red Admiral south over Smithills Moor today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
229 Painted Ladies through SW in two hours today.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Burnt Edge/Walker Fold/Holdens Farm area.
Small Skipper butterflies in abundance, Meadow Browns and Ringlets plentiful too.
Also 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Heath and 10 Small Tortoiseshells.
No Painted Ladies or Red Admirals.
The only dragonfly seen was a single Brown Hawker in the plantation on Burnt Edge.
A Common Green Shield Bug was by Holdens Plantation.
Overnight Skinner moth trap from gardens on edge of Rivington - 1 x spectacle, 1 x lesser swallow prominent, 1 x common quaker, 1 x Hebrew character
Georges Lane : 1 Wall Brown and 1 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Burnt Edge and Walker Fold : 4 Peacock, 1 Green Veined White and 8 Speckled Wood butterflies.
1 Migrant Hawker dragonfly patrolled Sugar Loaf Plantation, whilst 1 Southern Hawker was seen by Walker Fold.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Thursday 17th of August 2017 09:19:33 PM
Butterflies: Just 2 Gatekeepers were seen, both around the clumps of heather, and 4 Meadow Browns were alongside the paths.
Also seen were 6 Peacocks and 6 Small Tortoiseshells, plus a couple of Small Whites.
Dragonflies : 1 male Southern Hawker patrolled the path at Walker Fold, whilst a single male Common Darter was by a pool near Holdens Farm.
Other insects noted were a Violet Ground Beetle on Burnt Edge, whilst a Meadow Grasshopper jumped onto my arm near the Lancs border on Georges Lane.
The St. Marks Flies, or very similar summer flying equivalent, are still flying in abundance.
Few butterflies were about as it was breezy and quite cool most of the time, however the following were seen.
Burnt Edge : 1 Red Admiral. 3 Gatekeepers, which here seem to be attracted to the heather flowers rather than brambles.
Walker Fold : 2 Green Veined White. Also 5 Red Admirals were seen together on Angelica flowers.
In the bushy areas and along the woodland edges there were lots of large black flies, similar to St Marks Flies, which I thought only appeared in spring?.
The Willow Warblers were seen catching and relishing a few of these insects.
A couple of large hawker dragonflies with blue bodies were seen, but they were too quick to be identified.
With light rain and a strong SE wind blowing most of the time there were few insects about.
The plantation on Burnt Edge held 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Common Carpet and 1 Garden Pebble moths.
The only butterflies seen were a couple of Green Veined Whites and a single Gatekeeper at Walker Fold.
Also at Walker Fold a Weasel ran across the track.
Gatekeeper butterflies abundant throughout, several Meadow Browns seen, mainly along the path at Walker Fold or on Burnt Edge.
1 Speckled Wood butterfly in Wilderswood.
1 male hawker dragonfly patrolling the footpath near Holdens Farm. I'm pretty sure it was a Migrant Hawker, but he did'nt settle, hence I can't be 100% sure of ID.
There were numerous Gatekeeper butterflies on a clump of heather nearby, and he flew within inches of them but left them alone.
He just kept patrolling the same area where the path crosses the stream from Holdens Plantation.
The only butterflies seen were 3 Small Tortoiseshells along Burnt Edge.
The link to the recording form is at:
Painted Lady Sightings
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 9th of July 2015 10:41:57 PM
3 Small Heath
Painted Lady
Small Tortoiseshell
Stumbled across the same dead/half eaten frog this morning. The red admiral butterfly nearby was more of an attraction
The only frog I found though was an half eaten dead one on Burnt Edge.
Red Admiral 5 including one which flew up into the clouds south clearly migrating
Small Copper 1
Comma 1
Tortoiseshell 4
Speckeld Wood 3 seen on way up Walker Fold and on the way back too. Probably a great amny
Speckled Wood butterflies still abundant at Walker Fold. 1 Small Heath butterfly near Holdens Farm.
8 Small Copper butterflies seen throughout, Speckled Woods numerous around Walker Fold.
1 Red Admiral and 2 Peacock butterflies on Burnt Edge.
Burnt Edge
Lots of Small Skipper butterflies, including one that had a lucky escape when it settled near a Nursery Web Spider.
The spider had her silken nursery in tall grass and was guarding it, but she made a dash for the butterfly, that fluttered off just in time.
Lots of Meadow Browns around the grassy areas and heather moor, they were really struggling to fly, battered by the strong Westerly breeze.
A single Knot Moth was resting on a thistle flower.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Saturday 14th of June 2014 05:42:35 PM
Nearly all the moorland pools contain masses of frogspawn.
3 large frogs were still having fun in a pool alongside Mast Road.
They need to be wary, a Grey Heron flew low over.
1 Roe Deer, with an unusually orange back, similar to that of Fallows/Reds, was feeding near Holdens Farm.
1 large Violet Ground Beetle on Burnt Edge, several Small Tortoiseshell butterflies around here too.
Orange Tip butterflies in profusion, especially around Wilderswood and Holdens Farm.
1 Speckled Wood at Wilderswood, 4 Peacock butterflies on the moor together with just 2 Small Tortoiseshell.
Common Pond Skaters on the pools, and 1 medium sized Brown Trout in the brook.
Most butterflies seen were along Coal Pit Road :-
Green-veined Whites
Large Whites
Orange Tips
Peacocks
Small Tortoiseshells
I put this here as Barrow Bridge doesn't seem to have its own "other wildlife" section.
3 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies on Burnt Edge.
No other butterflies about, despite it being sunny and warmish, but lots of bumblebees and a few Lacewings too.
also Brown Hare ran across the road on the way up to Winter Hill