Full day on Winter Hill with Andy Makin up to 4pm. A superb day, with an all day pipit movement, from the off and on a broad front, some very high and difficult to see especially in the early murk. We re-positioned after lunch, from our normal watchpoint to the mast compounds and Meadow Pipits steady all afternoon through here as well. Highlights -

3 Redwings over south and west (5 days earlier than last year)
1 Peregrine
13 Buzzard south
1 female Marsh Harrier through south at 13.10 right past us
3 Raven south
5493 Meadow Pipits south
63 Pied Wagtails south
8 Song Thrush south
150 Swallow south
93 Siskin south
96 Linnet south
70 Goldfinch south

Birds present included 4 Wheatear, 6 Stonechat, 1 Black Redstart border wall by main mast compound, 5 Chiffchaff, and a very late Spotted Flycatcher in the southern most cable compound. One dead Grasshopper Warbler by main mast building. Record shots by Andy Makin.



-- Edited by Simon Warford on Tuesday 26th of September 2017 08:32:16 PM

Just over 2hrs this morning around Mast Road to Holden's Farm produced virtually no noticeable movement, 5 Siskin and 1 Redpoll NW being the highlight. At least 120 Meadow Pipit were down, but only single figures noted moving overhead. Other birds included a flock of 11 Jay moving through Holden's Plantation, 2 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechat, 90 Goldfinch and a Nuthatch at Holden's Farm

This mornings Vis Mig watch with Andy Makin was fairly unproductive, other than continued early movement of Pink-Footed Geese-

1037 Pink-footed Geese SE in 19 skiens and 373 NW in 4 skiens. Smallest group just 7 birds.
257 Swallow south
133 House Martin south
20 Meadow Pipit south

Also 1 Whinchat and 3 Wheatear Georges Lane and 1 Wheatear Fleet Moor (Andy Pinches & Phil Rhodes).

Good Vis Mig watch this morning, before departing to White Holme Reservoir with Andy Makin, produced-

16 Golden Plover (1 north and 15 SW)
30 Pink-footed Geese NW
1 male Merlin south
2 Tree Pipit south
1 cracking male Ring Ouzel which flew in from the north and landed by Scout Road quarry briefly.
319 Meadow Pipit south
3 Raven south
961 Swallow south
700 House Martin south
Siskin 5 south

Originally posted today by Jack Danson:

Everyday this week on pheasant feeder in the garden at Holden Farm, a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Brilliant.

This mornings sightings between Andy Makin, myself, Simon Johnson and Phil Rhodes;

Decent morning, with first Meadow Pipits moving, but highlight was a notable movement of Buzzards, a fine kettle of 16 birds spirraling high and then further birds very high over heading south east (wonder whether this annual movement consists of dispersing juveniles?), some were only picked up due to us watching our first Merlin of the autumn having an aerial disagreement with a Kestrel.

George's Lane - juv Sedge Warbler, 4 Whinchat and 9 Wheatear.

Holden's Farm - 3 Whinchat still present, a Sand Martin on overhead wires with Swallows and a Merlin high up over Smithill's Moor, later seen hunting.

Burnt Edge - 2 Wheatear.

Fleet Moor - 2 Whinchat, 11 Wheatear and fantastic spiral of 16+ Buzzards.

Mast Road - 27 Wheatear.

Other birds moving through included 27 Buzzards, 30 Meadow Pipits, 10 Sand Martin and 8 Siskin.

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 2nd of September 2017 08:15:37 PM

This morning's highlights, accompanied by Andy Makin:

Higher Meadows:

1 Spotted Flycatcher

4 Whinchat

1 Tree Pipit

2 Wheatear

Holden's Farm:

3 Whinchat

2 Spotted Flycatcher

1 Tree Pipit

1 Redstart

 

 

Other sightings from the moors today included:

Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and 21 Willow Warbler in the most compounds on Winter Hill with 24 Wheatear and a Whinchat along Mast Road.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail in the sheep field below the northern end of Georges Lane at 11:25 for 5 minutes today, also a Hobby south at 11:45. 

 

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

This morning 8am to 1pm, highlights between Andy Makin and myself;

Scout Road Area- 1 juv Whinchat by Gale Brook Plantation with 1 Stonechat, also 3 Spotted Flycatcher along fence here. 2 Tree Pipit over south.

Walker Fold to Burnt Edge- 2 Spotted Flycatcher Newfields, also Whitethroat and 6 Willow Warbler. 4 Wheatear Burnt Edge, 2 Wheatear Montcliffe and 40 Swallows on wires.

Brownstones- 2 Spotted Flycatcher

Georges Lane- 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 White Wagtail.

Late news yesterday when an Osprey was photographed sat on a telegraph pole on Burnt Edge up to 6.38pm, when it flew off south.

Info thanks to Jon Bradshaw (via Dan Brown).

Only birds of note to add to Sundays report are:-

 

2 C Whitethroat Walker Fold Wood

1 Redstart (f) sugar loaf Plantation

8 Kestrels in the air at the same time seen from Georges Lane

1 oystercatcher in fields bottom of Mast Road

1 Stonechat along Burnt edge

1 Sparrowhawk, Wilderswood area

2 Jays over Burnt Edge

 

Bob & Joyce C

-- Edited by Bob and Joyce Calder on Monday 21st of August 2017 01:57:51 PM

3 cormorant south over Georges Lane this morning at around 8am.

16.00-20.45

Georges Lane

1m Whinchat and 1 juv Stonechat both sat on fenceposts below the kennels.

2 Buzzards calling and doing an aerial display. A family of 3 Kestrels, one of which was mobbing a Buzzard.

Burnt Edge

3 Spotted Flycatchers showing very well on the the edge of the wood, near the old brick building. Many thanks to the birder who pointed these birds out to me.

A group of 12 Meadow Pipits and 4 Reed Buntings were near the plantation.

Walker Fold

6 Willow Warblers and a single Chiffchaff moving through the conifers beside the track.

Holdens Farm

1 Tree Pipit sat on the wires along with 18 Swallows.

Late news for yesterday afternoon:

9 Wheatear in the pony field off the bottom of Mast Road

Spotted Flycatcher along the Walker Fold to Burnt Edge path

2 Tree Pipit at Edge Lane

 

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Record shot of a Tree Pipit in Wilderswood, Friday 11th, 1 other heard only over George's Lane

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 12th of August 2017 09:59:00 AM

Today's sightings combined between Andy Makin, Simon Warford and Andy Pinches:

 

15 Tree pipit with 7 at Higher Meadows, 4 east at Burnt Edge, 2 feeding at the northern end of Burnt Edge, 1 at Walker Fold and 1 at Holden's Farm.

20 Spotted flycatcher with 1 at Brownstones, 1 in the dell at Higher Meadows, 12 together Gale Brook, 2 at Walker Fold and 4 at Wilderswood.

Juvenile Marsh Harrier flew west over Gale Brook just after 4pm (photo below by Andy Makin).

6 Wheatear

35 Willow Warbler

3 Siskin

80 Swift NE

1000 Swallow and 237 House Martin SW late afternoon.

 

 

An additional Tree Pipit was also seen fly over southwards from the northern end of Georges Lane this morning (just over the border in Lancs).

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Other sightings from the moors today include:

2 Wheatear on Mast Road wall

From 10:05-10:45am, 556 Swift 556, 300 Swallow and 150 House Martin

 

Info (and image of today's Osprey) thanks to Andy Makin

 

 

11.00-16.00

Georges Lane :

1 Hobby, 2 Kestrels, 2 Jays and 260+ Goldfinches.

The Hobby was having a tussle with a Kestrel over plantation near the Lancs border, with the former appearing to be aggressor, although they appeared equally matched.

The Kestrel then carried on hunting over the sheep pasture, whilst the Hobby disappeared, but was seen shortly afterwards soaring high above the lane.

There was a cloud of Goldfinches moving through the thistles below the kennels, 200+ here, another smaller charm of around 60 was near the Lancs border, sheltering in the conifers

and bathing in the stream that crosses the lane. Even more were around Wilderswood.

Burnt Edge :

4 Stonechats (Family Group), 2 Goldcrests (Perched on bracken), 1 Kestrel, a charm of 30+ Goldfinches, a flock of 12 Meadow Pipits and 3 Reed Buntings.

Walker Fold :

6 Goldcrests and 2 Coal Tits were flitting around the lower branches of a conifer and 6 Willow Warblers were in a mixes tit flock.

A pair of Chaffinches were in the same small tree with the warblers, and the female finch in particular was very aggressive towards the little migrants, she gave them no peace.

Holdens Farm :

A manure pile by the path was attracting pipits, and they were drawn by the same stuff in the horse paddock below the farm.

A dozen Meadow Pipits were here, plus 6 Linnets and 5 Reed Buntings, although the Linnets appeared to be feeding on Sorrel seeds.

Just 1 Swift passed through heading West.

This morning on the moors included:

 

6 Wheatear

Single Yellow Wagtail along the very northern end of Georges Lane (In Lancashire)

589 Swift sw between 10.45 - 11.45

4 Red Grouse chicks on Smithills Moor

 

Info and grouse images thanks to Andy Makin

Late news for yesterday:

1 female Redstart in the big hedge at Higher Meadows

12 Siskin south

250+ House Martin north on the edge of a  thunder storm over the moors

1 Wheatear on Mast Road by the barriers

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Fairly brief visit to Higher Meadows area this morning in pretty poor weather, bumping into Andy Makin along the way, produced:

1 Whinchat

Family party of Stonechat

Snipe

2 Whitehtroat

5 Willow Warbler

3 Lesser Redpoll

Nice flock of Goldfinch (Andy had had c300)

Late news for yesterday morning:

3 drake Common Scoter west at 07:20am

1 Crossbill s

1 adult Mediterranean Gull s

1 Willow Tit along Coal Pit Lane

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 

Earlier today a juvenile Wheatear was by Holdens Farm.

 

Info thanks to Brian Fogg