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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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HORWICH MOORS
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This morning from Scout Road:

1254 House Martins S

930 Swallows S

2 Sand Martins S

317 Swifts S

1 Hobby S

Adult male Merlin S

4 Tree Pipits S in the first hour of light

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning over Scout Road, 955 House Martins, 900 Swallows and 786 Swifts E/SE and 19 Tree Pipits south in two hours. 4 Spotted Flycatchers in Burtn Edge and 2 at Higher Meadows. Whinchat and 4 Wheatears in the pony fields at the bottom of Mast Road.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 

 



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John Williams


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Afternoon visit

Pretty much the same as the previous reports, especially relating to the flycatchers.

I missed the Redstart in the plantation but found a female amongst the heather and young conifers on Burnt Edge bank itself,

alongside a few Stonechats and a couple of Meadow Pipits. In addition the plantation at the East end of Burnt Edge produced

a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff, whilst the one at the West end held a Goldcrest. Plus a single Raven flew over.

A couple of Wheatears were in the paddocks near the radio mast, and another one was on Burnt Edge bank.

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John Williams
Carl Moorhouse


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This evening, 4.30-8pm. At least 4 Spotted Flycatchers still in the left hand end conifers from the stand nearest the car park, along with 2 very brightly coloured Willow Warblers. Male Redstart present at the main conifer plantation on the turn towards the quarry. Red Kite over west around 5.30pm.

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Bob and Joyce Calder


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Sunday morning, 23rd Aug. Short walk from Walker Fold car park along Burnt Edge, Holdens and back to car park. 9.00 to 11.30.

 

Generally quiet.

Conifers car park end of Burnt Edge:-

Minimum 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Common Whitethroat, 5 or 6 Willow Warblers, 1 Nuthatch.

Plantation far end Burnt Edge:-

4 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Redstart, male.

Elsewhere several more Willow Warblers, small numbers Meadow Pipits, very few Swallows, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 1 Jay.

 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning, 5 Tree Pipits south over Scout Road prior to 07:30, a further 4 at Newfields and Burnt Edge, one at Fleet Moor and one Gale Brook Plantation along with a juvenile Whinchat and 3 Willow Warblers. 10 Chiffchaffs at Burnt Edge, Hobby SE over Coal Pit Road. 33 Wheatears along Mast Road and the top of Winter Hill.

Info thanks to Andy Makin and Phil Rhodes



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Ian McKerchar


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Combined totals across the moors from a few obervers today included:

Hobby East

7 Tree Pipits south over Scout Road and singles at Holdens and Coal Pit Lane

3 Whinchat around Higher Meadows and 3 also along Coal Pit Lane

3 Spotted Flycatchers around Higher Meadows

1 Redstart at Higher Meadows

Sedge Warbler at Walker Fold Plantation

Greenshank flew low south over Coal Pit Lane

Kingfisher flew west by Walker Fold Plantation

8 Buzzards over south

1 Merlin high south

1 Marsh Harrier low SE over Wilder’s Moor

15 Ravens together around the top of Winter Hill

12 Wheatears on the tops around Winter Hill and also 2 around Higher Meadows

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday morning:

Burnt Edge/Holdens circuit, 1 Tree Pipit SE and 1 at Holdens, 1 Spotted Flycatcher in Burnt Edge and 1 at Holdens, 1 Whinchat Burnt Edge, 25 Willow Warblers

Around the top on Winter Hill and along Mast Road were 7 Wheatears.

Info thanks to Andy Makin.



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning’s highlights included 1 Tree Pipit along Walker Fold, 1 Spotted Flycatcher by Sugar Loaf Plantation, 5 Tree Pipits at Holdens Farm along with a female Redstart, Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler and a Tree Pipit in the Big Hedge at Higher Meadows.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday on Winter Hill with a female Merlin west and 3 Wheatears.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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2-3 Tree Pipits in conifers in Burnt Edge this morning, also a Siskin. Around the mast compounds, 4 Wheatears and 90 Meadow Pipits.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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6 Spotted Flycatchers in Burnt Edge yesterday morning

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights over the moors today included:

5 Tree Pipits

1 Whinchat at Burnt Edge

62 Swifts

136 House Martins

1 Wheatear

 Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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This early morning from Scout Road, 4 single Tree Pipits S, 484 Swifts, 153 mainly adult Swallows, 437 House Martins and 2 Sand Martins S. Also 3 Wheatears on the moor tops.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Scout Road this morning, 4 Tree Pipits and 179 Swifts South.

At Charters Moss two families of Spotted Flycatchers numbering 10 birds.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning 8 breeding plumaged Knot flew NW over Scout Road around 07:50

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday morning includes a Whimbrel S, Tree Pipit over, 260 Swifts SW, 122 House Martins and 65 Swallows SW.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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John Williams


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Georges Lane (Wilderswood car park -The Lancs border).

Afternoon visit

Over the adjoining moorland:- 5 Ravens, 1 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.

On the wire fence below the lane:- 1 juv Stonechat.

Border Plantation:- A family group of 5 Coal Tits, 2 juv Robins, 1 Goldcrest, a flock of 5 Chaffinches and a couple of Meadow Pipits.

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John Williams
Ian McKerchar


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Today, 179 Swifts S, 1 Siskin S, Tree Pipit S over Scout Road.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning from Scout Road, 1137 Swifts moving SE, Marsh Harrier north and an adult Mediterranean Gull over.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning from Scout Road, 1605 Swifts south in 4 hours, 1 Siskin S, 5 Crossbill N, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls S and 1 N

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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37 Mediterranean Gulls South over Scout Road in ones and twos all morning yesterday. Also single Common Gull and Siskin.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Yesterday 5 Mediterranean Gulls S over Scout Road (4 adults and a 2CY), 10 Tree Sparrows by Newfields riding school area off Edge Lane, 1 juvenile Wheatear, 20+ juvenile Linnets and 30 juvenile and adult Goldfinches.


Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Visible migration over Smithills Moor today saw:

Whimbrel over SW early morning

Osprey NE at 08:50

499 Swifts SSE including a totally white looking leucistic bird

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Quail heard calling twice since just before 9am in a large patch of ferns at the top of Roscoes Tenement Clough. Take the wide track from coal pit lane that goes to the mast. After 400 mts above roscoes tenement clough take the track to dean mills reservoir, after 100mts view down on to the ferns in the narrow valley 

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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A two hour watch from Scout Road yesterday produced 328 Swifts moving S/SE, 5 single Curlews over south-ish, 1 Whimbrel high S, 1 Oystercatcher S, 1 Ringed Plover S, a Golden Plover S and a single Siskin S. 2  single Hobby over the moors and a flock of 9 Raven. Also a family of Grey Wagtails and a Cuckoo singing along Coal Pit Lane.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Birds along Coal Pit Lane yesterday morning included 3 Grasshopper Warblers, over 30 Willow Warblers, calling Cuckoo, 2 pairs of Stonechats with 7 young, 9 Tree Sparrows, 2 Nuthatches and a Curlew south.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Colin Broadhurst


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This lunchtime 2 x Cuckoo between Coal Pit Rd and plantation on Burnt Edge. Also 1 x Hobby at the end of Coal Pit Rd



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning, a pair of Cuckoos commuting between Coal Pit Lane and mainly Gale Brook, another pair at Georges Lane and a possible third male at Burnt Edge.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Cuckoo singing around Holdens Plantation this morning.

Info thanks to Brian Fogg



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Ian McKerchar


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A Spotted Flycatcher flying over north dropped in to the lower scout Road Quarry at 10am.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Dennis atherton


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Hobby from today up George's Lane 



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John Williams


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Georges Lane

Afternoon amble from Wilderswood to the Lancs Border.

From the Dell to the Kennels:-

1 huge (Presumed female) Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 1m Kestrel, 2prs of Ravens and 1 pair of Stonechats.

From the kennels to the Lancs border.:-

1 Grey Wagtail, 1 pair of Stonechats and 2 singing Willow Warblers.




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John Williams
Ian McKerchar


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Yesterday, 4 Siskin and 10 Linnet over north and a pair of Cuckoo around Gale Brook Plantation.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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8 Crossbills flew high NW over Montcliffe Quarry at 8:15 this evening.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes



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Keith Rowland


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A stunning Male Whinchat, 3 Wheatear and a Swallow made up for an otherwise very quiet migration watch on the western lower slopes.



-- Edited by Keith Rowland on Thursday 30th of April 2026 11:04:26 PM



-- Edited by Keith Rowland on Friday 1st of May 2026 06:24:54 AM

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Ian McKerchar


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Yesterday afternoon, 21 Wheatears around the top of Winter Hill

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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13 Wheatears over the west of the moors this morning, a Whinchat above Pilkington Quarry and a Golden Plover over north.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning, 43 Wheatears in total, Whinchat around Higher Meadows and a Greenshank flew over north.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday with 38 Wheatears on the western side of the moors alone and two Whinchats at Higher Meadows, George’s Lane below the cafe.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Second calendar year Red Kite over Wildersmoor just prior to 11am today, gliding up and down Two Lads Hill (photos on the website).

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Dennis atherton


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Yesterday's Red Kite With Andy



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning from 7am, a total of 52 Wheatears with 36 on the top of Winter Hill and 16 along Burnt Edge and Heather Hall. Cuckoo heard in Burnt Edge and a Red Kite drifted over SE.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Steve Judge


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Thursday 16th April 2026. 09:00 - 13:00 hrs.

Woodland Trust Walker Fold Car Park - Burnt Edge - Coal Pit Road - Gilligants Farm - Green Nook House - Winter Hill Summit - Twa Lads Hill - George's Lane - return via Burnt Edge

Sightings included:

Ring Ouzel (3)
Grasshopper Warbler (1)
Willow Warbler (10)
Chiffchaff (1)
Wheatear (7)
Stonechat (8)
Raven (1)
Buzzard (2)
Kestrel (2)
Lapwing (2)
Curlew (2)
Skylark (5)
Swallow (1)
Pheasant (4)


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pete berry


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At least 12 Ring Ouzels, probably more in the general area near Green Nook farm as previous reports. Most of birds we saw were males.

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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday when 18 Fieldfares were around Higher Meadows off Georges Lane (Andy Pinches)



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Ian McKerchar


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David Hughes wrote:

Can some please help me with the locations of sheep field , higher meadows, and any other locations up here, thanks

 Please refer to the detailed site guides on the website which show all such information.



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David Hughes


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Can some please help me with the locations of sheep field , higher meadows, and any other locations up here, thanks

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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday along Coal Pit Lane around Green Nook, with a single Fieldfare.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Colin Broadhurst


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From 9.15 this am....multiple observers.

13 x Ring Ouzel between memorial  and Green Nook. 1 x Grasshopper Warbler heard approx 200 yds further down the road. Also 1 x Red Grouse and 1 x Curlew



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