This morning, 15 Common Scoters south over Winter Hill, 9 Redwings south with 8 & 1, 100+ Pink-footed Geese SE, 59 Siskins south, 2 immature type Crossbill briefly down then flew off south, 22 House Martins and 33 Swallows south.
Yesterday morning from Scout Road a juvenile Hobby flew low SE and was quickly followed by a female type Marsh Harrier which came in from the north and continued SE at 08:10
Yesterday saw a phenomenal movement of hirundines over the moors and almost 11 hours of constant movement saw 17,700 House Martins and 2660 Swallows go through.
Other birds included:
2 Whooper Swan south before flying back north
10 skeins of Pink-footed Geese SE totalling 1740+ birds
Yesterday morning saw 6 skeins of Pink-footed Geese over SE totalling 300+ birds, 2 Greylag Geese east, 1 Merlin high SW, 202 Meadows Pipits south plus another 250 down on the top of the moors and 1 Golden Plover down on the moor.
This morning 2 Tree Pipits south, 4 Wheatears and a Whinchat on a muck pile on Lower Matchmoor Lane, a further 4 Wheatears on Fleet Moor and just 3 Sand Martins east.
Some highlights from this morning included 7 Tree Pipit south over Scout Road and also 1 at Holdens Farm, 300 House Martins and 110 Swallow south, also 21 Wheatear mainly on Dean Ditch and Smithills Moor.
Highlights from first thing this morning up to 10am included:
Walker Fold:
2 Tree Pipits, both separate with one flying fairly high (calling) into Burnt Edge and the other high south
9 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
Burnt Edge Moor:
2 Red Grouse at the very southern end close to Walker Fold on the steep side of the moor, one chasing the other, calling loudly, and heading towards the northern end of Burnt Edge/Adam Hill. Can't recall the last time I saw them so far south down the valley
3+ Whitethroats
7 Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Blackcap
Holdens Farm:
3 Willow Warblers
31 Lapwings flying over east in a flock
22 Goldfinch
Matchmoor Lane:
144+ Meadow Pipits in two flocks, the larger of 110+ at the very eastern end of Matchmoor Lane (close to and just north of the junction with Edge Lane) and the other of 34 along roadside telephone wires closer to the western end of Matchmoor Lane
Wilderswood/Wildersmoor:
Single Whinchat on the moor
1 Chiffchaff
130+ Swallows feeding over the moor around Two Lads Hill
Higher Meadows (northern end of Georges Lane):
2+ Tree Pipits seen/heard a couple of times from the road in the area south of the Cafe
Late news for yesterday morning when 103 Whooper Swans flew over, with 73 east in 6 flocks and 30 flew west. Also, 3500 Pink-footed Geese SE, 80 NW and 246 Woodpigeon SW.
The eastern valley of Winter Hill this morning saw 5168 Fieldfares S/SW in 32 flocks, 6974 Woodpigeons S/SW, 4 Whooper Swans low W, 23 Brambling S some among Fieldfare flocks, 19 Crossbills S, 15 Siskin S, 90 Pink-footed Geese SW and 162 Redwings among the Fieldfares.