MB

  All users of this forum, please ensure you familiarise yourselves with the sticky posts at the top of each forum; posts not conforming to these guidelines and requests will be deleted.

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> Holcombe Moor and environs
Post Info TOPIC: Holcombe Moor and environs
Ian Boote


Status: Offline
Posts: 1331
Date:
RE: Holcombe Moor and environs
Permalink  

Reddisher Woods
Two Chiffchaff, One Blackcap, Sparrowhawk, Several Great Spotted Woodpecker Nuthatch
Moor Bottom Road
Two Green Woodpecker, Pheasant, Wheatear, Skylarks - loads, Meadow Pipits, Curlew, Raven,
Bull Hill to Trig Point Down Red Brook then over to Lark View
Two Red Grouse, Skylarks - loads Curlew Low Flying Mallard

__________________
Simon Ladds


Status: Offline
Posts: 13
Date:
Permalink  

Lovely afternoon walk

2 Wheatear
Skylarks - lots
Meadow Pipits - lots
Kestrel
Buzzard - 1st one up here in a long time that I have seen
Green Woodpecker - first sighting this year despite so many calls!!
2 Stonechat
The mythical White pheasant made an appearance on Moor Bottom Road too!!

-- Edited by Simon Ladds on Thursday 29th of March 2012 05:00:18 PM

__________________
Keith Mills


Status: Offline
Posts: 1641
Date:
Permalink  

Noon today, until 2.30pm, with John Parkinson.
Moorbottom Road

Little OWL.....1...... Superb view.
Stonechat... a pair.... close views.
Chiffchaff....1
Male Wheatear ...1
Kestrel...pair
Skylark...2
Meadow Pipits....4

John had arrived earlier than me, when there had been more activity.
In addition to the above he had:

10 Wheatear
6 Stonechat
Green Woodpecker/Linnets

__________________
  
  

Rumworth List 2018, species to date: 93 Latest: Lesser Redpoll, Spotted Redshank, Yellow Wagtail, Dunlin, Kingfisher, Redstart, Little Egret.
Ian Boote


Status: Offline
Posts: 1331
Date:
Permalink  

Moor Bottom Rd round Bull Hill back along Moor Bottom Rd.
2 Male Wheatear, lots and lots of skylarks and scores of meadow pipits displaying, curlew, stonechat male, Peregrine falcon, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, pheasant, nuthatch, raven, kestrel, and pied wagtail.

and a burnt land cruiser dumped in the middle of the moor

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 25th of March 2012 08:56:59 PM

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 25th of March 2012 08:59:10 PM

__________________
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 776
Date:
Permalink  

Early morning ramble - mainly on the moor

3 male Wheatear
Male Stonechat
3 Green Woodpeckers
80+ Skylark - singing from all over
2 Curlew
Raven
Peregrine
2 Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
4 Reed Bunting

__________________
Ian Boote


Status: Offline
Posts: 1331
Date:
Permalink  

Moor Bottom Rd- Pilgrims Cross north across the moor and back to the tower
Green Woodpecker
2 male stonechat
curlew
kestrel
lots of skylarks and meadow pipits
flushed 2 Red Grouse

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Monday 19th of March 2012 04:12:53 PM

__________________
Ian Boote


Status: Offline
Posts: 1331
Date:
Permalink  

4 Greenwoodpecker, one at the bottom of the valley, two calling out to each other mid valley and one rifle range
Quite a few Curlew
lots of singing skylarks
two flocks of meadow pipits
one male stonechat
one nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker woods
pheasant

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 12th of March 2012 03:40:04 PM

__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Its on the MOD land but public footpaths run through it and its a great area for walking and birds.... As long as the flags are not flying !!
Rob

__________________
frank wood


Status: Offline
Posts: 21
Date:
Permalink  

Thanks Rob. You can't beat local knowledge. From looking at the map, it appears there's no problem getting to it - or is it private?

__________________
F Wood
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Hi Frank,
Re your post on Paddys Pond it is marked on the OS at 767171. (Pond Bay)
It was named after Colonel Panton OBE 1st Battalion Queens Regt who was once CO at the Ranges during his time in the Forces.. He was a top man and lover of all things green and outdoors and apparantly spent much of his time by the pond
Rob Archer

__________________
frank wood


Status: Offline
Posts: 21
Date:
Permalink  

I've seen it mentioned before, Rob, but where is Paddy's Pond? It's not marked on any OS map, so presumably it's a local name or somewhere where Val Doonican grazes his goat.

__________________
F Wood
Keith Holland


Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

Short eared owl hunting off Watling street, Affetside, at 4pm

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 12040
Date:
Permalink  

Originally posted today by Keith Holland:

Short eared owl hunting in fields off Turton Road 7.15am

__________________
Ian McKerchar (forum administrator and owner)
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Last light walk over to check the Stonechats were hanging on ok.. Pair still present in same loc .. Green Woodpecker near Paddys Pond..

Rob Archer

__________________
Simon Ladds


Status: Offline
Posts: 13
Date:
Permalink  

Evening walk as the sunset today, great view of the Little Owl at the small quarry. Alas did not get to see the Short Eared Owl. Heard yaffling of Green Woodpecker over Reddisher Woods.

-- Edited by Simon Ladds on Wednesday 18th of January 2012 05:45:54 PM

-- Edited by Simon Ladds on Wednesday 18th of January 2012 05:46:14 PM

__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Afternoon walk over saw the Red Brook Stonechats still in situ and a Short Eared Owl below Harcles Hill..

Rob Archer

__________________
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 776
Date:
Permalink  

2 Raven only birds of note in fact only birds seen!

__________________
Ian Boote


Status: Offline
Posts: 1331
Date:
Permalink  

very windy

Raven, 2 Stonechats, Heard Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch Reddisher wood

__________________
Keith Holland


Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

Over 100 fieldfare in various flocks of between 5 and 50 in the valley off Moorbottom road plus 4 kestrel.

__________________
Keith Holland


Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

10 - 11.30am. Flock of 70+ Feildfare foraging in hawthorn bushes and on the ground in the field between Moorbottom Road and Saplin wood. Plus a single Ring Ouzel seen twice in the group. 2 Stonechat in on the slopes above.

__________________
Keith Holland


Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

8am. Flock of 12 fieldfare in hawthorn bush off Ramsbottom road Hawkshaw plus a 2nd flock of around 30 flying towards Affetside.

4.30pm. Flock of 80+ lapwing flying from jumbles towards Affetside

__________________
Ian Whittaker


Status: Offline
Posts: 10
Date:
Permalink  

11.30 am - 2.00 pm

Walk along Moor Bottom Rd and up the valley.

3 Flocks of Fieldfare (30ish each) travelling up the valley from the rifle range (S to N)

5 buzzards in the air together over the ridge looking to the west. Trailed off one by one eastwards over Holcombe Moor.

Two pairs (m/f) of stonechats quite confident and close to Moor Bottom Road

At least 4 kestrels hunting (successfully) and two sparrowhawks. Spectacular aerial display at one point involving sparrowhawk, kestrel and mobbing crows

Several meadow pipits along the way


__________________
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 776
Date:
Permalink  

7.30 - 11.30am

Had a go at migration watching from peel tower

Picked up a large skein of distant ducks to my south they were heading west towards winter hill, managed to get the winter hill watchers onto them and they turned out to be Pintail and about 80 in total!!

also
Hen Harrier - ringtail picked up coming over the valley above Ramsbottom went SW and also picked up at winter hill

Ring Ouzel 2 (1 sw at 8.35 and a Male south 10.06)

Woodpigeon 960 sw
Stock Dove sw
Skylark 32 sw
Meadow Pipit 140 sw
Fieldfare 186 sw
Redwing 117 sw
Chaffinch 40 sw
Starling 100 nw
Jackdaw 121 sw


-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 15th of October 2011 03:17:38 PM

__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Fine afternoon for Birds of Prey over the ranges;
2 Juv Peregrine together
8 Buzzards in the air together across towards Quarlton
3 Sparrowhawk
4 Kestrel
2 Little Owl, Harcles Quarry
1 Raven

Rob Archer

__________________
Ian McKerchar


Status: Offline
Posts: 12040
Date:
Permalink  

Originally posted by Mike Horwood today:

inbetween showers 1100 1500 , 50+ mipits 2 stone chat, 6 wheatear, 2 whinchat on footpath below moor bottom road and just above army training ground, not seen anyhere for 15 yrs , green woody, many swallows,10+ house martins, crow with reddish ( !!!) bill

__________________
Ian McKerchar (forum administrator and owner)
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 776
Date:
Permalink  

A very early start on a day spent birding in the Bury Borough.

The moors were quiet to start but picked up as it got warmer

Fem/imm Merlin flew off the moor at peel tower SW
Kestrel 7
Sparrowhawk 3
Peregrine
Buzzard
Tawny owl - paddy's pond
Raven 3

2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel and a Raven were playing about by Peel tower when the Merlin came bombing over chase for a while by the Kestrels it circled round before powering off.

Redstart Male and Female in the minature pony field
Stonechat 3 ad male and 2 just fledged juv red brook
Wheatear 3
Siskin 3 - saplin wood
Goldrest 2 paddys pond
Skylark 2
Meadow Pipit 150+
Goldfinch 15
Green Woodpecker 2

Vis Mig included
Cormorant flock of 6 SE
House Martin 24 SE
Meadow Pipit 15 E
Swallow 211 mainly E SE

__________________
Ivan Ellison


Status: Offline
Posts: 154
Date:
Permalink  

rob archer wrote:

Ivan,
Stonechats have bred successfully this year in the Holcombe area up near Red Brook . There were at least 2 juv fledged about a month or so up there and the birds are still in the same area ( On a second brood I would imagine)
The same goes for Wheatear up there.. 3 pairs have bred that I know of, of which only one pair are still in the area feeding young (As of yesterday). Another 2 pairs have nested further along Moorbottom Road into Lancs.
The only other GM Stonechats I know of this year were up by Ashworth Moor Res and also in the Naden Valley. Both have nested successfully.

Rob Archer



Cheers Rob, thats good news. I didn't walk as far as that.



__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Ivan,
Stonechats have bred successfully this year in the Holcombe area up near Red Brook . There were at least 2 juv fledged about a month or so up there and the birds are still in the same area ( On a second brood I would imagine)
The same goes for Wheatear up there.. 3 pairs have bred that I know of, of which only one pair are still in the area feeding young (As of yesterday). Another 2 pairs have nested further along Moorbottom Road into Lancs.
The only other GM Stonechats I know of this year were up by Ashworth Moor Res and also in the Naden Valley. Both have nested successfully.

Rob Archer



__________________
Ivan Ellison


Status: Offline
Posts: 154
Date:
Permalink  

Steve Suttill wrote:

Following the last couple of winters, it seems to be bad for Stonechats, fullstop

Haven't seen one all year and I've visited about 10 former breeding sites over in the east of the county. I don't think I saw any last year either.

It's not just round here either. They've disappeared from the place I always go for a holiday on the west coast of Scotland and, being down at sea level, their winters haven't been as cold.

I'm afraid the Stonechat map on the new atlas won't give the full picture and will need some explanatory notes!

Steve



Thanks Steve for this

-- Edited by Ivan Ellison on Tuesday 12th of July 2011 11:08:13 PM

__________________
Steve Suttill


Status: Offline
Posts: 1567
Date:
Permalink  

Following the last couple of winters, it seems to be bad for Stonechats, fullstop

Haven't seen one all year and I've visited about 10 former breeding sites over in the east of the county. I don't think I saw any last year either.

It's not just round here either. They've disappeared from the place I always go for a holiday on the west coast of Scotland and, being down at sea level, their winters haven't been as cold.

I'm afraid the Stonechat map on the new atlas won't give the full picture and will need some explanatory notes!

Steve

__________________
Steve "Make your birdwatching count!"
Ivan Ellison


Status: Offline
Posts: 154
Date:
Permalink  

A couple of hours there this afternoon looking for Stonechats and Wheatears. Didn't see any Stonechats but got a couple of Juv Wheatears on one of the walls, Has it been a bad year for Stonechats breeding in the area.

__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Walked over..0530 till 1130..Saw the following of note;
c20 Blackcap through the day
many Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
4 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Whitethroat
1 Garden Warbler
2 Green Woodpecker
2 Curlew on the Ranges with 3 juv
f Sparrowhawk
Lesser Redpoll
m Stonechat
m f Wheatear
Dipper
Spotted Flycatcher on the way home in Lancs

Rob Archer



__________________
marco villa


Status: Offline
Posts: 1
Date:
Permalink  

went there yesterday afternoon from 4:00 pm till 6:30 pm
2 stone chat (J)
1 little owl near red brook gully
7 wheatear
10 meadow pippit
2 green woodpecker
1 curlew
3 skylarks heard more singing though
1 kesterel
and 1 linnet

__________________
my deviant art has my pictures http://imonkey8mav.deviantart.com/ ps. my camera only has 8 mega pixels some good pictures thoughmy deviant art
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Walked over..0500 till 0930..Saw the following;
Dipper high near Red Brook Gully.
2 Green Woodpecker
c20 Lesser Redpoll
6 Linnet
2 Whitethroat
2 Garden Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
Many Willow Warbler and Blackcap
Cuckoo flying between Ranges/Sapllin Wood.
2 Grey Heron

Rob Archer

__________________
Dennis atherton


Status: Offline
Posts: 790
Date:
Permalink  

a walk along down from the firing range today were 2 green woodpeckers and 1 little owl, lots of wheatears and meadow pipits, skylarks, 2 peregrines together, 1 calling golden plover, 1 curlew, 1 stonechat, male, though i agree with previous posts there are not many stonechats about recently, cry.gif

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


Status: Offline
Posts: 12040
Date:
Permalink  

Originally posted today for Holcombe village by Mike Horwood :

Garden Warbler at old road end of village very visable and a long song in the rain at 15- 30

__________________
Ian McKerchar (forum administrator and owner)
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 776
Date:
Holcombe Moor
Permalink  

Lunch time walk

Male Redstart in gardens off Holcombe Old road
Garden Warbler 2 - bottom Saplin wood
Blackcap - several
Chiffchaff 5
Jay 2
Starling - several squadrons flying up valley to feed - over 100 birds
Kestrel
Spahawk
Wheatear 6
Green Woodpecker 2
GSW 2
Linnet 15 - single flock flew over
Redpoll

No sign of any Kite

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Monday 2nd of May 2011 02:43:55 PM

__________________
Adrian Dancy


Status: Offline
Posts: 402
Date:
Permalink  

Another visit yesterday...sadly no ring ouzel. Plenty of Wheatear.

A song thrush taking food to the nest in the morning was seen feeding a chick in the evening on the slope of the hill.

__________________

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24940353@N03/
Adrian Dancy


Status: Offline
Posts: 402
Date:
Permalink  

Thanks for that Keith

I visited Holcombe Moor today...it's a two buses and tram trip for me plus a long walk lugging gear around.

I only stuck to the main path and got:-

4 Wheatear
4 Ring ouzel
1 Green woodpecker that flew over my head twice
Oddly a tawny owl calling from the wood below at about 1500hrs
1 Kestrel
Plenty of meadow pipits ..not counted
1 Sky lark
1 Curlew calling
Usual corvids
4 Mistle thrush
2 willow warbler

I heard the ring ouzel at the top of the hill and for me going straight up is a hard climb. I managed a shot so I will just have to see how it has turned out. Returned exhausted.



__________________

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24940353@N03/
Keith Mills


Status: Offline
Posts: 1641
Date:
Permalink  

Adrian Dancy wrote:

It seems from recent posts we are without stonechats.




I have not seen one this year and I know that I am not alone over this, as we have been discussing Stonechats in our group. Although a few have been posted they are just not at the usual places.
It was the same story in Norfolk when we visited in March.
Barn Owl deaths last winter have been in the news,but I think that the point you make is correct and Stonechats have been effected too.


-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 24th of April 2011 04:12:49 PM

__________________
  
  

Rumworth List 2018, species to date: 93 Latest: Lesser Redpoll, Spotted Redshank, Yellow Wagtail, Dunlin, Kingfisher, Redstart, Little Egret.
Mark Connaughton


Status: Offline
Posts: 19
Date:
Permalink  

Walk this evening 5-7pm quite windy

1 Ring Ouzel m
2 Kestrel
10+Wheatears
3 Linnet
2 Green woodpecker
Tons of Mipits
3 Swallow

Ouzel flew out of the area behind the sheep pens where they were last year and went up onto the side of the hill. No Stonechats tonight but there's at least a pair right at the bottom end of the valley in the firing range if not 2.

Thanks



__________________
Adrian Dancy


Status: Offline
Posts: 402
Date:
Permalink  

It seems from recent posts we are without stonechats.

__________________

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24940353@N03/
Keith Mills


Status: Offline
Posts: 1641
Date:
Permalink  

9 until 11.30 this am.
Walk along Moorbottom Road, with a dip into the woods on the way back.
smile.gifGreen Woodpecker 1 (4 others heard)
Willow Warbler 1 ( 4 others heard)
Swallows 7
Linnets...at least 9
Mistle Thrush 6
Wheatear 3
Pied Wagtail 1
Plenty Magpies , Jackdaws, Crows , Wood pigeons, Blue and Great Tit.
Few Pheasant and Blackbird.
Chaffinch 1 seen, several heard.
BH Gull 1

No luck with the Grey Partridgeblankstare.gif
Nice to meet David Wells.

-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 22nd of April 2011 02:03:38 PM

__________________
  
  

Rumworth List 2018, species to date: 93 Latest: Lesser Redpoll, Spotted Redshank, Yellow Wagtail, Dunlin, Kingfisher, Redstart, Little Egret.
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 776
Date:
Permalink  

Walk along moor bottom road this eve (still no Ouzels for me)

Grey Partridge 2
Pheasant 15 - all males
Linnet 10 +
Goldfinch 10+
Wheatear 9
Green Woodpecker 2
Willow Warbler 5
Stock Dove

__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Whilst doing my BBS Survey Squares this am around the Ranges/Redisher saw the following of note;
1 f Ring Ouzel north of Paddys Pond
Single Golden Plover by Lark Hill
Single Brown Hare.

Walking home through Saplin;
1 f Sparrowhawk
1 Grey Partridge
1 Lesser Redpoll

Rob Archer

__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Early start..0530 till 1530 over to Jumbles.. Best bits were;

6 Ring Ouzel (4m) just above the Ranges
6 Wheatear
2 Kestrel
Pair of Buzzards Moorbottom Road
Little Owl in a spot I have not seen them before just in Lancs
Many Willow Warblers and Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaff
c15 Fieldfare
2 Green Woodpecker
1 f Sparrowhawk, Affetside

2 Goosander (mf) Two Brooks Fishing Lodge

2 Common Tern and 5 f Goosander on Jumbles Res

Rob Archer



__________________
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 776
Date:
Permalink  

2 hours this evening - dead is the only word to describe it

Wheatear 3
Curlew 2

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 14th of April 2011 09:30:06 PM

__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Walk over early doors before work..0520..0810..
Grants Wood.
1 Blackcap (h)
4 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff

Moorbottom Road.
2 Goosander (mf) over Saplin Wood
1 m Stonechat below Red Brook gully
8 Wheatear (4 m)
1 Kestrel
2 f Ring Ouzel up the Glen near Cinder Hill Farm remains..
Poss 6 Green Woodpeckers heard throughout the local woodlands.
6 Linnet

Rob Archer


__________________
rob archer


Status: Offline
Posts: 387
Date:
Permalink  

Great day on`t moors. 0545 till 1630.. Saw the following;
5 Grey Partridge in usual spot.
4 Green Woodpeckers(2 h)
10 Linnet
2 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
6 Willow warblers.
7 Wheatear (3m)
3 Red Grouse top of Red Brook
21 Golden Plover on`t border near Black Moss
1 f Ring Ouzel Red Brook. flew north towards Wet Moss
2 Kestrel
1 Peregrine soaring so high into the sky I could hardly see it.. Superb
4 Little Owl in regular spots
4 Stock Dove
2 Raven carrying food
Skylarks, Curlews and Meadow Pipits galore
4 Swallow
1 Buzzard
2 Grey Heron high over Bull Hill.

A great day.. Rob Archer





__________________
Simon Johnson


Status: Offline
Posts: 776
Date:
Permalink  

Early morning walk up moorbottom road

Wheatear 14
Grey Partridge 2
Kestrel 2
Raven
Little Owl
Green Woodpecker 2
Lesser Redpoll 6 - 3 of whch went north
Pied wag 10 NE one of which looked like a White Wag
Linnet 6 singing males
Stock Dove 5

Reddisher Woods
Green Woodpecker 2
Nuthatch 3
Chiffchaff 6
Willow Warbler 10
Blackcap 3


-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 9th of April 2011 01:28:49 PM

__________________
«First  <  1 2 3 4 5 6  >  Last»  | Page of 6  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 -> Holcombe Moor and environs

RODIS

 

This forum is dedicated to the memory of Eva Janice McKerchar; rest in peace mum.