MB

 

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> HORWICH MOORS
Post Info TOPIC: HORWICH MOORS
Rob Thorpe


Status: Offline
Posts: 1678
Date:
RE: HORWICH MOORS
Permalink  

A male Merlin over Burnt Edge yesterday (15 August) afternoon, just before the heavens opened.

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

Today, 12:20pm

3 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Pied Flycatchers together in Willows at the start of the path on the east side of Burnt Edge to Holdens Farm,

6 Wheatear and c14 Red Grouse along Mast Road.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Rob Thorpe


Status: Offline
Posts: 1678
Date:
Permalink  

Sunday 09 August 2009
afternoon
Burnt Edge/Holden's Farm/Walker Fold area:

1 Merlin attacking a large Goldfinch flock.
1 Peregrine
2 Kestrel
1 Raven
3 Curlew
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Willow Warbler
lots of Swallows
and the Red Arrows flew over heading west.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 9th of August 2009 05:55:07 PM

__________________
Rob Thorpe


Status: Offline
Posts: 1678
Date:
Permalink  

Geoff Hargreaves wrote:

Rob, did the sat nav go wrongconfuse.gifwhat were you doing up therewink.gif

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif




All was quiet on the Wigan Flashes, so I went looking for some sneaky tournament points, no such luck though no.gif

__________________
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

Rob, did the sat nav go wrongconfuse.gifwhat were you doing up therewink.gif

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Rob Thorpe


Status: Offline
Posts: 1678
Date:
Permalink  

Holdens Farm area:
4 Curlew
3 Stonechat
3 Willow Warbler
3 Kestrel
lots of Goldfinches
also a Red Grouse on Burnt Edge.

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

7th May

3 Whimbrel and 8 Wheatear by Holdens Farm this evening.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Jim Nisbet


Status: Offline
Posts: 19
Date:
Permalink  

Wednesday the 22nd 09 Rear of Pilkington quarry male and female Wheatear, a pair of Skylark, Meadow pipit and six red grouse.Wind had dropped and a very pleasant hour watching also had a pair of snipe drumming over the fields on Scout road and two Ravens over the Hanson Quarry on Georges Lane

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

Tree Pipit north over Mast Road at 10:30 this morning plus a single Wheatear.

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Gary Gorner


Status: Offline
Posts: 428
Date:
Permalink  

1.00-3.00pm
Finally at long last dropped on the ring ouzles biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif2 of them male and female they flew from the wood end up the valley and settled in the tree behind the one with the ribbons on were they stayed for 5 mins then got desturbed by walkers and flew back into the woods.
also had a hunting female sparrow hawk,2 ravens,4 curlew,6 stonechat and loads of meadow pipits.
Also worth a mention approx 100+ wood pigeon in field opposite hindley hall golf club.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 10th of April 2009 03:17:38 PM

__________________
THE GREAT THING ABOUT BIRDING ISNT JUST THE BIRDS
Mark Jarrett


Status: Offline
Posts: 1193
Date:
Permalink  

Went up there tonight 18.30 to 19.30 but unfortunately didn't see the Ouzel. Spent 10 mins overlooking the tree with the ribbons, then walked up just past Holden's Plantation before heading back to the ribbons tree where I spent another 10 or 15 minutes. Did have a Raven though.smile.gif

__________________
https://flickr.com/photos/44931335@N06
fred fouracre


Status: Offline
Posts: 211
Date:
Permalink  

one of the two i saw most certainly had an unusually large bib

__________________
Paul Cliff


Status: Offline
Posts: 449
Date:
Permalink  

i have only seen 3 ring ouzels at a distance last year, but i remember thinking whilst watching one of the birds that the bib was bigger than i had imagined it would be, also that the wings were lighter grey.

but like i said i have almost no previous first hand close-up sightings to compare them with...

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

it was face on for me and largely obscured by branches so I only really noticed its unusually large cresent. I'm not suggesting an eastern origin, certainly not just off a large cresent I saw but was interested to hear if anyone noticed anything else, as you have.

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Mark Rigby


Status: Offline
Posts: 1850
Date:
Permalink  

yep-I will go along with that. One of the two males I saw on 02/04 was very 'well' marked and the the white on the breast seemed much more extensive than the other as did the white in the wing.

Are you suggesting that it could a race other than the nominate?

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

I happened to be speaking to Ian Woosey tonight and mentioned that the male ouzel I saw today had a very large white breast cresent, nothing too unusual but large by ouzel standards. Ian had heard several county birders mention this feature of one of the recent Burnt Edge males so it seems atleast one of them is still around. Anyone else notice this particular feature on this bird?

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

Single male Ring Ouzel (atleast) still present at 3:00pm at the northern most end of the dry stone wall that runs up Burnt Edge valley. The bird was in small trees and on the ground around the small tree with coloured ribbands in it but was amazingly elusive at times.

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Gary Gorner


Status: Offline
Posts: 428
Date:
Permalink  

saturday 04-04-09

8.00-11.00am
no signs of any rings or wheatears but 100+ meadow pipits and skylarks singing
also nice to see a total of 4 curlew and 3 pheasant.
a flock of 6 rook also worth a mention.biggrin.gif

__________________
THE GREAT THING ABOUT BIRDING ISNT JUST THE BIRDS
Paul Cliff


Status: Offline
Posts: 449
Date:
Permalink  

both birds cracking views at 5.15 - 5.25 flew into the scrubby grass over the wall...



__________________
Jimmy Meadows


Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:
Permalink  

Walk round Burnt Edge today with Tom Morton 1.00 till 3.00

2 Ring Ousels smile.gif
2 Wheatear
1 Buzzard
2 Peregrine

And a Bitterly Cold Wind

Cheers Jimmy





-- Edited by j meadows on Saturday 4th of April 2009 06:57:57 PM

__________________
Alan Prosser


Status: Offline
Posts: 41
Date:
Permalink  

D--n & B---t !!! Quick visit from 11am to 12am today with no sign of the Ring Ouzels. Good views though of two Wheatear, a pair of Stonechats collecting nesting material and a half dozen Meadow Pipits.

__________________
Simon Warford


Status: Offline
Posts: 2227
Date:
Permalink  

2 male Ring Ouzels still present Burnt Edge 1pm.

Info thanks to Simon Johnson.

__________________
Paul Cliff


Status: Offline
Posts: 449
Date:
Permalink  

myself and paul wilson nipped up there last night for an hour or so until 7.30, no sign of them then.

__________________
fred fouracre


Status: Offline
Posts: 211
Date:
Permalink  

both ouzels still at burnt edge 1300. more or less between the telephone wires and the single tree.

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

Both Ouzels still present at approx 10am on Burnt Edge, by the trig point.

Info thanks to Ian Woosey

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Mark Rigby


Status: Offline
Posts: 1850
Date:
Permalink  

2 male Ring Ousels still present at 0800 this morning feeding on the track in the bottom of the valley near to the isolated tree.

__________________
Simon Warford


Status: Offline
Posts: 2227
Date:
Permalink  

2 male Ring Ouzels still present 6.30pm Burnt Edge in valley, busy feeding in the area the large flock were a couple of years ago, couldnt find any near the mast road though.

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

This morning:

Pair of Ring Ouzel near Montcliffe Quarry just east of the Mast Rd car park

Two males also present at Burnt Edge and showing well.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
fred fouracre


Status: Offline
Posts: 211
Date:
Permalink  

3 red grouse on smithills
2 ravens
meadow pipits everywhere
1 wheatear
curlew calling across the valley
but no ring ouzells

-- Edited by fred fouracre on Monday 30th of March 2009 07:04:35 PM

__________________
Ian Woosey


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:
Permalink  

29/3/09 pm

4 Wheatear (3 males) along the walls and near the trig point at Burnt Edge,

2 Red Grouse on Smithills Moor. Also 18 Meadow Pipits heading N.

Raven over Makinson Moor.

Sparrowhawk displaying,
Kestrel,
2 Lapwing,
3 Pied Wagtail.

__________________
Paul Cliff


Status: Offline
Posts: 449
Date:
Permalink  

quick 30 minute mooch up the mast road this morning not much about and very cold but 3 red grouse.

__________________
Craig Higson


Status: Offline
Posts: 1274
Date:
Permalink  

Late I know, but two Raven's over Rivington Pike on the 12th. They were ranging far and wide over the pike/mast/moors and almost certainly passed into GM.

__________________
No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Judith Smith


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:
Permalink  

A wing-tagged Red Kite flew over Rivington and the terraced gardens at 1620 hrs today and then almost certainly into Gtr Manchester heading towards Wilderswood. The left wingtag was white, indicating Rutland Water. The colour of the right wigtag couldn't be obtained. This bird may be a wanderer rather than a migrant so could still be in the area.(Thanks to Chris and Tony Johnson)
Also on the slopes of Winter Hill this morning, 16 Wheatears (per Andy Makin).

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 400
Date:
Permalink  

Late Morning with Warfy and Andy Makin.

Had a few hours looking for raptors, to be told by Andy that it was the worse morning of the Autmun so far - never mind as I got a long over due county tick!

Buzzard 4
Kestrel 7
Peregrine heard
Raven 3 - one attacking a carrion crow and pulling half its tail out - also county tick for me!
Wheatear 3
Mpipit 100+ on moor
Skylark 10+ over
Linnet 7

__________________
Bury year list - 136 latest - Whooper Swan
Judith Smith


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:
Permalink  

Yesterday, Andy Makin had 6 Whinchats - 5 near the pools at Holden's Farm on a fence, and 1 on Coal PIt Lane, also 120 Meadow Pipits flying W. Today, 5 Golden Plover flying W.
Andy had an Osprey over Hindley Green today being mobbed by gulls, about 1045.
NB Hindley Green is due S of Rivington Resrs which run N-S and must be a big attraction for migrating Ospreys?

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Dean Macdonald


Status: Offline
Posts: 679
Date:
Permalink  


A lovely afternoon spent on the moors today. No sign of the Hen Harrier. Loads of Meadow Pipits, 6 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 1 Peregrine circling the mast, up to 4 Kestrels, Red Grouse heard but not seen.
Spent a very pleasant couple of hours on Two Lads chatting with Paul Cliff, nice to see you again Paulsmile.gif

Cheers Dean.

__________________
Judith Smith


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:
Permalink  

Andy Makin had 2 Whinchats, 5 Wheatears, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher near the masts this morning. If you think that's a bit of a funny place for some of these species, you are right. But apparently the cables of the masts are anchored in small, fenced off areas, and within those areas, which the sheep can't get at, there is long vegetation and even little bushes. Worth a look for those who walk right up the hill. Andy assures me these areas are in GM (you have to watch the boundary with Lancs up there!)

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Paul Heaton


Status: Offline
Posts: 1528
Date:
Permalink  

The two lads on the moors tonight were me and warfy, no sign of the harriercry.gif

1 grouse
24 pipits
1 kestrel
3 magpies.

and the world put to rights.

Keep birdingsmile.gif

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

Male Hen Harrier (same as last weeks bird?) again on Two Lads Hill at 1pm, being mobbed by a female Peregrine.

At Holdens Clough up to 2:45pm,

4 Whinchat
7 Wheatear
6 Stonechat

All info thanks to Phil Rhodes

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Geoff Hargreaves


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
Permalink  

Burnt edge at dawn,
6 magpie 2 mistle thrush
1 cormorant 1 robin
2 raven 1 kestrel
6 swallows 7 crows
1 pheasant 4 wheatears
meadow pipits all over ,and frustratingly red grouse calling but not seen(despite an extended effort) then the mist came down,heard a banjo and headed back to the flashes.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm
Rob Thorpe


Status: Offline
Posts: 1678
Date:
Permalink  

Friday 12 September

13:00 - 16:00

Spotted Flycatcher - 1 off Georges Lane near Wilderswood
Wheatear - 6 along Matchmoor Lane
Green Woodpecker - 1 near Holden's Farm
Stonechat - 2 (pair) off Mast Road, 4 at Holden's Farm

yawn.gif





__________________
Gary Gorner


Status: Offline
Posts: 428
Date:
Permalink  

11.09.08 1pm-3pm
First visit to this sight and thanks to previous posts I managed to get my target bird, red grouse, 3 infact.lifer for mebiggrin.gif
3 wheatears,20+ meadow pipits,1 kestrel


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 16:44, 2008-09-11

__________________
THE GREAT THING ABOUT BIRDING ISNT JUST THE BIRDS
dave broome


Status: Offline
Posts: 2844
Date:
Permalink  

Along Mast Road this morning:80-100 Meadow Pipits 'down' in the area, though very few actually moving overhead
30+ Swallow
7 Red Grouse in area on RHS near to the first 2 cattle grids
2 Raven
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
1 Siskin over
13 Goldfinch flew south
2 Nuthatch - 1 in small roadside trees opposite horse pasture above houses and at the same time 1 calling in gardens of houses at bottom of Mast Road
just 2 Wheatears

__________________
Paul Heaton


Status: Offline
Posts: 1528
Date:
Permalink  

I would say you were in the right place I tried yesterday morning but no luck, the bird has been in the area before, Mr Woosey has had it over the moors some time ago so perhaps different areas to be searched over the next few weeks.

ITS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE!

Keep Birding.

__________________
Iain Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 383
Date:
Permalink  

had a look last night but didn't see anything although wasn't entirely sure where mast road was. Had a look on an OS map and went first to the minor road (edge lane) below a small mast, then tried the lane leading up to the huge mast which has a no entry sign after about 200 metres or so.

__________________
Paul Heaton


Status: Offline
Posts: 1528
Date:
Permalink  

Been one of the small gathering tonight i will never forget what a wonderful thing birding isbiggrin.gif

In the dark thunder clouds as flashes of lighting lit up the heavens A lone birder braved all the elements to find the Harrier, and how we laughed as we all got very very wet,
excellent way to spend an evening.

Keep up the fieldcraft buddy and as always

keep birding.biggrin.gif

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

Monday 1st September, 7:00pm

Knackered knee or not, got up to Mast Road tonight (chauffeur driven by the missus of course) for a bit of 'from the car' birding, with the following (rather marvellous results):

Wheatear- 1 1st winter in the short grass fields off the bottom half of mast road
Peregrine- atleast one calling loudly
Raven- atleast one which was the cause of the noisy Peregrine
HEN HARRIER- a male seen flying lazily down 2 lads hill at 7:07-7-15pm, not 150 yards off Mast Road, first seen by my son who exclaimed "what's that white bird Dad?" (but he thought it was a gull, so of course I had to put him right ), it continued down the moor and we watched it drop into the juncus and longer grass off Mast Road roughly in between the cattle grid up Mast Road and the very bottom of the hill and approximately half way in between the road and path in the middle of the moor. The bird never appeared from the moor again despite a small gathering of observers remaining on site (one of the very small group also supplying some wonderful entertainment in the diabolical weather that closed in, which at one point included near zero visability ) and had obviously gone to roost, hopefully it may hang around and perhaps even use the same spot for roosting again?

Incidently, although I only used my bins at the time I felt sure that the bird may have been tagged on both wings (there seemed to be a single dark patch on the secondaries on each wing), either that or it was missing a few secondaries on each wing

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 21:55, 2008-09-01

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
Paul Cliff


Status: Offline
Posts: 449
Date:
Permalink  

yesterday 12 - 3

1 pheasant
2 kestrel
a dozen or so wheatear
the scraggiest stonechat i've ever seen, poor sod didn't even have a tail.
90% certain there was a whinchat moving with the wheatear - only had my bins with me and it was just too far to clearly id it. might be worth checking again if anyone is up there.

they were one the wall off the mast road opposite a piece of armco on the left as the mast is behind you. the kissing gate has a no 44 next to it.

__________________
Paul Cliff


Status: Offline
Posts: 449
Date:
Permalink  

just short of a couple of hours off the mast road with david winnard this afternoon...

at least 9 wheatear
good close but brief views of a grasshopper warbler
2 kestrel
1 peregrine
7 meadow pipit
wren
red grouse heard.




__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 15437
Date:
Permalink  

Late afternoon off Mast Road in the short grass fields there.

Wheatear- 1
Grey Partrdge- 1
Raven- 2

All in all, pretty quiet...

__________________

Forum administrator and owner
« First  <  Page 41  >   Last »  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> HORWICH MOORS

RODIS

 

This forum is dedicated to the memory of Eva Janice McKerchar.