A Garden Warbler this morning was by Cloughend Farm. 30 yards up the lane towards the kennels.

Cheers,

Steve.

A redstart was singing from Brown Low mid p.m. (but only while the sun was out). 4-5 whitethroats were scattered around my route (which did not go beyond Smithy Ln), redpoll, linnet, buzzard and 2 ravens were other birds worth looking at.

David Wilkinson wrote:

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Can anyone advise where Id have a chance of seeing crossbills in this vicinity? Thank you!

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These Crossbills were reported early March this year. See posts under Derbyshire/Rowarth and Surrounds for info. In the actual Ludworth area I have twice recorded them in the small stand of conifers at Hillside Farm but they are Ludworth rarities.

Cheers, John

David Wilkinson wrote:

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Thanks - there are some coniferous plantations and recent records of sightings but Im not sure which coniferous area specifically!

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I think we met you up at Intakes Farm and pointed out your first Ring Ouzel - we'd been up looking for crossbills ouselves. They were reported at the small stands of trees visible on the skyline up at the top of cown edge, but haven't now been seen there for several weeks now I understand

http://streetmap.co.uk/map?X=401815&Y=391732&A=Y&Z=120

In two visits, we had a flash of something that might have been a crossbill, and heard something that was probably a crossbill, but that's as good as it got for us - nothing definitive.

I think they were also later reported over near Crowden in the Longdendale valley

Thanks - there are some coniferous plantations and recent records of sightings but Im not sure which coniferous area specifically!

Can anyone advise where Id have a chance of seeing crossbills in this vicinity? Thank you!

Can anyone advise where Id have a chance of seeing crossbills in this vicinity? Thank you!

A nice sunny stroll around this morning 07:30 - 09:30am

Amongst the numerous Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Skylarks and Lapwings were also :

2 Redpoll
1 Tree Sparrow
4 Wheatear
3 Whitethroat
2 Reed Bunting
1 Jay
1 Swift (first of the year)
6 Swallow
3 Pheasant (1m, 2f)
Possible Garden Warbler heard by Cloughend Farm, but no sighting.

I bumped into Mr. Adderley in the quarry moments after he had seen the Osprey. Definitely a case of "should've been 'ere five minutes ago" !!

Cheers,

Steve.

p.m. 2.30-4.30 (met John Rayner). Sightings which were not recorded by Mark or Ray, or were of greater number.

1 garden warbler singing from opposite Clough End Farm (no grasshopper, though); 5 curlew (at same time), pr. stonechat, pr tree sparrow, 1 raven, 2 golden plover flew in from the East (raising the pulse for a few seconds), one of which was a blinding full breeding plumaged male. Watching the whitethroats was interesting as one flew at the other bird, which was hiding in a bush, a few times. Both looked like males, so I presume it was trying to drive it away.

-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Saturday 1st of May 2021 08:43:39 PM

-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Saturday 1st of May 2021 10:07:39 PM

Earlier visit this morning 8-10am

1 Reeling Grasshopper Warbler in-between Cloughend and April Cottage
5 Swallow
3 Wheatear
3 Curlew
Lots of Willow Warblers in song joined by a few Chiffchaff
Double figures of Skylark and Meadow Pipit
Linnet and Redpoll both heard

Cheers

Mark

Called up to Ludworth this morning hoping for a Grasshopper Warbler that had been present the last few days, sadly a no show while I was there.

Otherwise;

Several Curlew, Skylark and Meadow Pipit
Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers aplenty
2 Whitethroat around the quarry pool
Singles of Linnet, Tree Sparrow and Buzzard

Cheers

Mark

Late post for an early visit yesterday morning

Highlights were 2 Treesparrow and 2 Linnet.

9 Skylark
3 Curlew
1 Raven
9 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaff
4 Redpoll

made up the best of the rest.

Cheers

Mark

Just seen a large flock of Fieldfares off Ernocroft lane, largest I have seen all winter c100 possibly feeding up on passage . Could have been them.

Hello, Im wondering if anyone can help me out. Im not as experienced in bird watching as some of you (36 and have only started doing it seriously the past two or three years). Ive been following the ring ouzels and have had a sighting of both the males and females (see my earlier post below). Yesterday, I went up to the field opposite the kennels and observed a mystery flock of about 14 birds, which were roughly blackbird size and shape. They kept moving as one from a tree next to Intakes Farm to feed on the ground at the top of the ridge - then back to the tree. My binos werent strong enough to really see details of plumage but I dont think they were ouzels. Whata a good guess as to what they might have been - fieldfares? Thrushes? Thanks!

Rob Creek wrote:

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Can I just say - I had a lump in my throat reading that Tony. Top Man.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 19th of April 2021 11:03:52 PM

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 It was a fabulous morning for him Rob, we couldn't have planned it any better and he has told his carer all about it and his mate who is 97 next and still goes fishing in the summer, what a generation totally inspiring.

We have had some "magic moments" over the years, I may even post some!!!

Opposite Mountview Kennels (cattery)

2 female Ring Ouzels still
2 Wheatears
3 Buzzards and Redpoll overhead
Lots Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs in song.

Cheers John.

09.30/10.45 a very sunny morning.

After our visit on Saturday, Caths dad was keen to see the Ring Ouzel as he had not seen any for over forty years. We had to plan this visit carefully as he is 92 years young this year, hence the very late start!

We pulled up by the cattery at 09.30 and two female Ring Ouzel were easily seen by John immediately, job done or so he thought?

Five minutes later we were walking slowly along a track to find some Golden Plover a bird he had not seen in summer plumage for too long. Very soon he was looking through the scope at several obliging birds. On the way back to the car two Curlew noisely flew overhead he was a little pleased to say the least.

Finally we pulled over to find him a Skylark and as if to order one appeared directly over the top of us. A pair of Stonechat put in an appearance.  It was a great hour or so for all three of us.

It was fabulous to give him something back as he introduced me to birding in Mallorca, Ludworth Moor does remind me of Boquer minus the Blue Rock Thrush but the Ring Ouzel are easily on par.....

Hi Tony,

The Picking Rods also lie on the boundary. In fact they are an ancient boundary marker. Looking SW from the PR there is a drystone wall running SW, which forms the boundary. Derbyshire is on the left, GM on the right.

Cheers, John.

Tony Koziol wrote:

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6.30 to 9.30 am.  

Bright sunshine.  Little or no wind.  

Started off looking for Ring Ouzels with no success.  Walked up pathway to Robin Hoods Picking Rods.  Found circa 250 Golden Plover in the field on the right just past the Rods.  These birds clearly in Derbyshire.  Carried on walking back towards Gun Road via Pistol Farm then eventually found 7 Ring Ouzel (4 m) viewed from Gun Road toward the Cattery in a field off Sandhill Lane by the disused Intakes Farm.  These are our first Ring Ouzels in Greater Manchester - well worth the early start.

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Apologies for bringing disappointment Tony but these Ouzels (assuming they were is the usual field) are in Derbyshire. See Pete Hines map posted on 12th April.

Cheers, John.

Edit: They occasionally perch on the drystone wall opposite Hillside Farm entrance, which is the Derbyshire/GM boundary.



-- Edited by John Rayner on Saturday 17th of April 2021 11:56:59 AM

6.30 to 9.30 am.  

Bright sunshine.  Little or no wind.  

Started off looking for Ring Ouzels with no success.  Walked up pathway to Robin Hoods Picking Rods.  Found circa 250 Golden Plover in the field on the right just past the Rods.  These birds clearly in Derbyshire.  Carried on walking back towards Gun Road via Pistol Farm then eventually found 7 Ring Ouzel (4 m) viewed from Gun Road toward the Cattery in a field off Sandhill Lane by the disused Intakes Farm.  These are our first Ring Ouzels in Greater Manchester - well worth the early start.

We had a walk up to Coombes Edge yesterday evening.

As we approached the Picking Rods on our return, we were treated to the splendid site of 200 Golden Plovers, almost 'murmurating' like Starlings in a sunset sky.

They eventually landed in the field on the Derbyshire side of the Picking Rods path, but had spent some time displaying in GM airspace.

Cheers,

Steve.

Popped up on the tandem at lunch and stopped for a picnic (cold) to see the Ouzels - spotted two females and one male, bumped into Phil who said he'd seen three males and one female at the same time. Also a few wheatears around.

Raven overhead as we cycled from the kennels to picking rods track. Two curlew in the field next to Pistol farm

Good day today:

-3 ring ouzels (2 male, 1 female) where others have spotted them. Thanks to the couple who pointed out the exact spot.

-1 wheatear near the ring ouzels

-2 chiffchaffs around Hillside farm

-1 willow warbler, same location

-3 buzzards over Ludworth intake

-2 collared doves in a tree near Cloughend farm 

John Rayner wrote:

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Paul Whiting wrote:

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11.00 am

6 Ring Ouzel in valley north of layby just past Kennels 2 females 4 males, also 2 Northern Wheatear.

Golden Plover in field at rear of kennels

Just checked boundary of field with Ring Ouzels and Wheatear is on the GM boundary, Golden Plover just outside

-- Edited by Paul Whiting on Sunday 11th of April 2021 02:00:06 PM

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All these birds are in Derbyshire. The county boundary follows the drystone wall that runs past Hillside Farm, crosses Sandhill Lane, follows the drystone wall that skirts the end of the scrubby area in the small valley and then runs up (zig-zag fashion) towards Brownlow.

Cheers, John

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Screenshot from Google Earth, the green line depicting the County boundary