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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> HORWICH MOORS
Post Info TOPIC: HORWICH MOORS
Ian McKerchar


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RE: HORWICH MOORS
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Other highlights for yesterday include:

 

433 Pink-footed Geese WNW/SW

5 Greylag Geese N

50 Fieldfares E

151 Redwings S/SW and 101 E

6 Blackbirds high S

10 Song Thrushes N and 1 NE

17 Crossbills S

21 Siskins S

14 Bullfinches S

338 Lapwings W/SW

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Dennis atherton


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Today's passage migrant male Hen Harrier from Scout rd 



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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
Ian McKerchar


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From Scout Road this morning:

 

Two skeins 250 Pink-footed Geese SE in 2 skeins

3 Greylag Geese S and 2 N

5 redhead Goosanders N

207 Woodpigeons S and 340 NW

123 Fieldfares N

131 Redwings S in 10 flocks and 376 N in 15 flocks

9 Song Thrushes N

3 Swallows S

44 Siskins S

3 Crossbills S

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Today’s moors totals included:

 

760 Woodpigeon SWW

Ring-necked Parakeet E

497 Fieldfares S/SW and 291 NNE 3 flocks

883 Redwings SSW and 1005 NNE 13 flocks

90 Linnets, 20 Siskins,15 redpolls, 19 Bullfinches S 

20 Crossbills S

Single Ring Ouzel SE

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Today’s highlights mainly from Scout Road included:

 

18 Whooper Swans SE

11 Pink-footed Geese W

773 Woodpigeons NW

6 Snipe

865 Redwings in 26 flocks WNW and WSW

117 Fieldfares

11 Coal Tits S

1 Goldcrest S

21 redpolls S

38 Linnets S

26 Siskins S

3 Bramblings S

21 Crossbills in 2 flocks S/SW

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Dennis atherton


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Tough morning in the mist with Andy and Phil. Difficult birding conditions.  We probably mist loads, Andy has totals later.  

Highlights was 18 Whooper Swans, Lots of Redwings plus Flyby Goldcrest and a pair of Brambling and our first Fieldfares. 



-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Monday 13th of October 2025 02:30:40 PM

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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
Ian McKerchar


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This morning from Scout Road:

360 Pink-footed Geese in 5 skeins

5 Whooper Swans low W/NW

11 Golden Plover NW

15 Swallows S

1 Redwing S

40 Chaffinches S

12 Bullfinches with 10 NW and 2 S

39 Siskins S

37 Linnets S

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning from Scout Road:

 

750 Pink-footed Geese  with 450 SE in 4 skeins and 300 W/SW in 5 skeins

3G high S

Merlin fast S

360 Woodpigeons S

445 Meadow Pipits S

20 Swallows S

22 Redwings with 10 SW, 10 N and 2 E

2 Fieldfares low SW

211 Chaffinches high S including large flocks of 50 and 35

168 Linnets S

9 redpolls S

17 Siskins S

24 Greenfinches S

22 Crossbills S

19 Reed Buntings S

13 Coal Tits in 2 flocks of 7 and 6, the latter also with a Goldcrest mixed in

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from the east side of Winter Hill this morning:

 

800 Pink-footed Geese in 9 skeins

8 Swallows S

165 Meadow Pipits S

406 Chaffinches S

181 Linnets S

34 redpolls S

57 Siskins S

30 Greenfinches S

A flock of 6 Coal Tits which flew straight through

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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From Scout Road this morning:

22 Pink-footed Geese low SW

481 Meadow Pipits S

146 Chaffinches S

75 Siskins S

32 Linnets S

8 Crossbills S

2 single Redwings S

2 Tree Sparrows low S

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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From Scout Road this morning:

 

196 Meadow Pipits

38 Pink-footed Geese SW

47 Lapwings SW

59 Chaffinch, 74 Linnet, 244 Siskin, 13 Redpoll, 14 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 4 Crossbill all S

3 Swallows S

Female Blackcap, 2 Goldcrests and 9 Stonechats moving through the hedges

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 

 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning from the east slope of Winter Hill, 1093 Meadow Pipits S, 10 Skylarks S, 71 Chaffinches S, 52 Goldfinches S, 246 Linnets S, 61 Siskins S, 33 Crossbills S in 4 flocks, 9 Swallows S and 1 calling Dunlin S. Also a flock of Goldfinches at the start of Coal Pit Lane around 400 strong.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning from Scout Roads in murky conditions:

 

74 Meadow Pipits S

4 Crossbills S

 

Along Mast Road towards the top of Winter Hill mid-morning:

 

25 Stonechats

28 Wheatears

300+ Meadow Pipits down

46 Skylarks getting up off the moor heading low S

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning’s highlights included:

 

90+ Pink-footed Geese W in one skein and 165 SE in two skeins

55 Swallows S

77 Meadow Pipits S

8 Redwings S

467 Linnets S

34 Siskins S

22 redpolls S

18 Crossbills over in a few directions

3 Yellowhammers S

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Yesterday morning’s highlights included:

 

1160 Pink-footed Geese SE in 13 skeins and another skein of 40 SW

10 Golden Plover S

134 Meadow Pipits S

17 Redwings over

29 Swallows S

17 House Martins S

50 Linnets S

18 Siskins S

3 Crossbills N

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday morning with highlights of:

1480 Pink-footed Geese in 18 skeins

205 Woodpigeons through

5 Stock Doves SE

3 Redwings circled the watchpoint

15 Golden Plover NW

18 Buzzards S

154 House Martins S

107 Swallows S

134 Meadow Pipits S

97 Linnets S

92 Siskins S

22 Crossbills S

36 Chaffinches S

 

 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning’s highlights:

 

2600 Pink-footed Geese over SE in 36 skeins and one skein of 80 SW

1 Merlin SW

1 Marsh Harrier SW

15 Buzzards S

1 Red kite S

940 Swallows S

1100 House Martins S

62 Meadow Pipits S

70 Linnets S

26 Siskins S

10 Crossbills 

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning:

2270 Pink-footed Geese, with 2170 in 28 skeins SE and 100 SW in a single skein.

28 Buzzards through S

1 juvenile Hen Harrier S

2+ Merlins

257 Meadow Pipits 

3 Collared Doves S

3337 Swallows S

2407 House Martins S

1 Sand Martin S

31 Skylarks S/SE

77 Linnets SSW

10 Siskins S

1 Wheatear

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday morning from Scout Road:

490 Pink-footed Geese SE in 8 skeins

Marsh Harrier SW

43 Buzzards S

Ringtail Hen Harrier SE

9 Raven N 

221 Swallows S

20 House Martins S

2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers high over

5 Siskin S

57 Meadow Pipits S

2 Wheatears on Horrocks Moor

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Other highlights today from Scout Road include:

A Grey Plover flying over calling and heading north

Common Sandpiper in the quarry

911 Swallows S

192 Meadow Pipits S

17 Siskins S

44 Linnets S

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Another Osprey this morning at 11:20, very high circling and drifting SSW towards Horrocks Moor.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Scout Road, 7am to 12:15pm:


Osprey SSW 8:45 am

Merlin briefly down on Horrock’s Moor before following pipits south

Female/immature Marsh Harrier S

16 Buzzards S

24 Greylag Geese SE

1140 Swallows S

33 House Martins and 2 Sand Martins

1064 Meadow Pipits S

39 Skylarks mainly SE

67 Linnets S

13 Crossbills S

5 redpolls S

281 SiskinS

209 Goldfinches S

141 Chaffinches S

1 Wheatear dropped in very early morning

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Dennis atherton


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Raptorfest this morning Scout Rd. Osprey,  Merlin and Marsh Harrier,  good numbers of stuff moving, Andy kept notes today, update totals later 



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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from Scout Road 1:45 to 3:30pm today:

1st-winter Kittiwake flew over NE towards Delph at 1:55pm

1 ringtail Hen Harrier SE

57 Swallows S

188 Meadow Pipits S

26 Siskins S

2 Crossbills SE

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Dennis atherton


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Hard to tell from that distance. Not sure 100%



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fredford


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Was that prey she was carrying ? 



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Dennis atherton


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Saturday morning Scout Rd

 

A lovely female Hen Harrier flew straight past the mast



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Colin Broadhurst


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Scout Rd this am

2 x Crossbill SW @ 10.00am

2 x Whinchat @ Horrocks Wood Car Park



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Dennis atherton


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Scout Rd this morning 7-11, Highlights, Strong SW

Siskin 38

Rook 1

Chaffinch 6

Meadow pipits 19

Pied Wagtail 2

Linnet 4

Swallows 47

Skylark 3

Stock dove 9

Raven 1

Stonechat 1

House Martin 16

Hobby 1 very close flyby

 

Pics of Hobby and Skylark 



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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
Dennis atherton


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Today's sightings. 7pm-11.45 Scout Rd. Strong SE not ideal. 

 

1 Wheatear

3 Stonechat 

3 Pied Wagtail 

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 

39 Meadow pipits 

46 Siskin 

3 Stock doves

15 Lesser Redpol 

7 Crossbills 

16 Chaffinch 

10 Goldfinch 

4 Coal tit

4 Skylark

1 Ring necked Parakeet 

37 House Martin 

9 Sand Martin 

147 Swallow



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Dennis atherton


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16 Cattle Egrets from last night flying around Belmont. Disappeared towards Bolton at 7.30pm

 

 



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Did you see it? It was small and brown and flew that way.........................
Dennis atherton


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Pics of today's highlights Simon has listed below, Osprey and a flock of 7 Crossbills 



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Simon Warford


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Vis Mig sightings from Scout Road this morning with Dennis, Dan, Keith and Phil, 6.20am till lunchtime-

1 Osprey south 11.05
1 Red Kite NE at 11:00
700 Swallow south
8 Swift
24 Sand Martin
75 House Martin
1 Wheatear
7 Grey Wagtail
157 Meadow Pipit
8 Crossbills
134 Siskin.


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Simon Warford


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Scout Road this morning up to 9am -

2 first winter Ring Ouzels feeding on rowan trees by the quarry for a while before flying off high south west.
1 Whimbrel south
7 Grey Wagtails south
60 Siskin
1 Grasshopper Warbler on quarry fence.

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Friday 5th of September 2025 03:00:45 PM



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Dennis atherton


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Scout Rd 6.45 till 12.30

 Later joined by Simon W and Phil 

 

Reed Bunting 4.

Whitethroat 2

Meadow pipits, lots hanging around. 15 going S

Chaffinch 6

Swallows 71

Raven 20

Stock dove 8

Lesser Redpoll 9

Crossbills 9

Siskin 22

11 Buzzard

House Martin 42

Sand Martin 18

Kestrel 5

Mistle Thrush 1

Lesser Black Backed Gull 4

Stonechat 3

Linnet 4

Grey Wagtail 2

Greenfinch 4

Osprey 1 floated over Belmont going South past the mast

 

Pics added of Flybys Siskin, Lesser Redpol,  male Crossbill and Long distance Osprey. 



-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 30th of August 2025 04:12:09 PM

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Ian McKerchar


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From the Scout Road watchpoint this morning the female/immature Marsh Harrier was briefly quartering the moor above Deans Ditch, a Merlin flew through NNW, Hobby low SE, 250 Swallows S, 45 Siskins S and 2 Tree Pipits E.  A further 2 Tree Pipits were in Burnt Edge along with 4 Spotted Flycatchers.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Around the Walker Fold/Burnt Edge Loop this morning:

3 singles of Snipe over W/SW

5 Tree Pipits down, including a flock of four together

7 Whitethroats

10 Willow Warblers

5 Chiffchaffs

4 Spotted Flycatchers with three together at the top of Walker Fold and one at Holdens Farm

1 Pied Flycatcher at the top of Walker Fold

15 Stonechats, including a group of 11+ at Holdens Farm

2 single Ravens

 

 



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Simon Warford


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Sightings from Scout Road this morning up to 1pm (Partly with Phil Rhodes)-

1 Hobby south 7.30am
6 Swift south
1 Snipe west
153 Swallow south and 500+ feeding over the moor around 1pm
76 House Martin south
1 Sand Martin south
4 Grey Wagtail south
11 Tree Pipit south
4 Crossbill south 9.18am
29 Siskin south

Immature female Marsh Harrier still on the moor.

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John Williams


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Walk along Georges Lane from Wilderswood car park to Lancs border and back 14.00-17.00

The largely heather covered field on the opposite side of the lane to Wilderswood was alive with small birds at
one point. Willow Warblers appeared to be in all the small bushes in the heather field, and on the tops
of the larger trees in Wilderswood. Lots of aerial flycatching sorties took place, and when some of Willow Warblers
began doing their flycatching sorties from the tops of the heather, some Stonechats also joined in. For a few minutes
the scene was almost magical, but then as quickly as they first came the Willow Warblers moved on and the
Stonechats carried on just chasing each other about.

Further along Georges Lane, just beyond the car parking spot and where the lane overlooks some mature woodland,
I found another flock of small birds frantically snatching insects off the leaves and in mid-air. Again these appeared to
to be largely Willow Warblers, but I also found a couple of Spotted Flycatchers amongst them.

Beyond that point, the Lancs border, and the point where the track to the tower breaks away appeared almost devoid
of birds, except for a few crows. A charm of 8 Goldfinches were near the cafe, as was a juvenile Robin.

On sifting through my Burnt Edge photos from last Wednesday 13th August, most of which were sadly duff, I found
a couple of snaps which appear to show a Tree Pipit. I think at time there was a small flock which took refuge
in a large sallow at the base of Burnt Edge, near where the path to what used to be Holdens Farm breaks away.

Please find one such photo below, plus a snap of one of the flycatchers.




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John Williams
Bob and Joyce Calder


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Besides previously mentioned Sunday morning, 2 Grey Partridge along Burnt Edge, 4 Common Buzzard and 4 Kestrel over car park, Goldcrest, plantation far end of Burnt Edge, 5 Linnet, Burnt Edge.

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Ian McKerchar


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First thing this morning to 10:30am:

Red-legged Partridge on the path through Walker Fold

3 Red Grouse in Burnt Edge

3 Tree Pipits with 1 in grass at the northern end of Walker Fold which flew off north and dropped into Burnt Edge and two west over Holden's Farm which landed on telephone wires

17 Stonechats

9 Wheatears, with 5 together by Adam Hill, 3 together in Burnt Edge and 1 on Wildersmoor, all moving through pretty rapidly

12 Whitethroats, with 10 along the Walker Fold/Burnt Edge loop and 2 in BrownstonesQuarry

39 Willow Warblers, with 29 along the Walker Fold/Burnt Edge loop, 6 in Brown Stones Quarry and 4 at Higher Meadows

14 Chiffchaffs along Walker Fold/Burnt Edge loop

10 Spotted Flycatchers, with 4 in the old pines at the northern end of Walker Fold and 6 in trees at the bottom of Burnt Edge

2 Raven

1 Nuthatch at Holden's Farm

30+ Goldfinches in Brownstones Quarry



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Ian McKerchar


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From the Scout Road watch point a Marsh Harrier was battling with a Sparrowhawk over the moor and gaining height eventually above the mast, then drifted off SE at 12:45pm. Also 33 Buzzard from 9:40am, 355 Swallows, 34 House Martins and a single Swift through. A juvenile Whinchat was above the quarry then chased off by Meadow Pipits.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes



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Pete Hines


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5 Spotted Flycatcher at Burnt Edge (4+1 between two plantations)

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John Williams


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Walk around Burnt Edge 14.00-17.30 approx.

2 Kestrels, 1 seen hovering near the quarry, and another perched on a pine tree in Walker Fold.

1 Hobby, circled over Walker Fold, then flew off Easterly.

4 Stonechats at the Western end of Burnt Edge, plus another 4 at the Eastern End.

Meadow Pipits seem to flush every few yards along Burnt Edge, East of the single Rowan tree.

1 Raven flew through heading West.

1 Whitethroat seen on the Sycamore at Western end of Burnt Edge.


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John Williams
Ian McKerchar


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Early this morning...

 

Walker Fold/Burnt Edge Loop:

3 Tree Pipits, with one SE over Holdens at 08:05, one heard around the top of Burnt Edge/Adam Hill area at 08:40 and one fairly high NW over the northern end of Walker Fold at 09:03

176 Meadow Pipits in Burnt Edge, fortuitously all perching on telephone wires any one point, another large uncounted flock was on the moor by Adam Hill

24 Stonechats, all in/around Burnt Edge in three flocks/family parties

2 Blackcaps

12 Whitethroats

1 juvenile Reed Warbler, initially chased onto a dry stone wall in Burnt Edge by a Wren before disappearing off into thick juncus

29 Willow Warblers

2 Chiffchaffs

4 Bullfinches

2 Ravens

 

Higher Meadows at George's Lane:

5 Stonechats

2 Blackcaps

2 Willow Warblers

1 Chiffchaff

2 Ravens

6 Bullfinches

140+ Goldfinches feeding opposite the cafe in one flock

 

 



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Simon Warford


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Scout Road this morning-

1 Crossbill south
6 Snipe west
500+ House Martins gathering around the quarries/moor feeding along the edge of the early morning mist below
100+Swallow
20 Swift
10 Siskin
Stonechat


Burnt Edge circuit -
2 Crossbill north
3 Spotted Flycatchers
40+ Willow Warblers
5+ Chiffchaff
100+ Meadow Pipit
10+ Stonechat
15+ Whitethroat
1 Nuthatch Holden's
2 Red Grouse
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
6 Buzzard


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Dennis atherton


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Spotted Flycatchers at Charters Moss today feeding young 



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Simon Warford


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Late news yesterday evening from Scout Road -

approx 102 Common Scoter NW at 8.40pm tracked from Holcombe Hill they seemed to want to drop into Wayoh or Delph but carried on west right past the Winter Hill mast.

1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Friday 1st of August 2025 12:46:56 PM

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Simon Warford


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Early morning from Scout Road-

5 Crossbills south 6am
Tree Pipit heard only south
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Curlew

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Simon Warford


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This evening with Andy Makin and Phil Rhodes from Scout Road-

16 Crossbill south at 8.20pm
60+ Common Scoter west at 8.45pm



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