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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
Paul Coupe


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RE: Holcombe Moor and environs
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Had a quick look for the cuckoos on Friday evening but was told that they were live firing on the ranges on Thursday afternoon and will be all weekend so perhaps not much prospect of any further sightings.



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rob archer


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2 Cuckoo this evening on The Ranges..

info fm Miss V.J.Irving 



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Ian Campbell


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This morning with Malcolm, 1 male Ring Ouzelsmile, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, 2 Buzzard the other birds of note.
Cheers Ian

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Ian Boote


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2 Raven, Buzzard, Kestrel, 4 Curlew, 2 Green Woodpecker or one very mobile, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, 8 Wheatear, Pheasant, Mallard, Canada , Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipits and 5 singing Skylarks. 



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Ian Boote


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4 Stonechat-1 pair and two singing males, Buzzard mobbed by a pair of Ravens,  Green woodpecker, two mating Kestrels, Linnet, 6 singing Skylarks, flock of Goldfinches, Goldcrest, Reed Bunting Male, Tawny Owl, Coal Tit, quite a few Meadow Pipits, Song Thrush in full song and two Fieldfare.



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rob archer


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Short-eared Owl still present in the same area on Holcombe Moor at last light tonight..



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rob archer


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Short-eared Owl performing well in the gusty, wind blown top of Holcombe Moor tonight ..

Info fm Miss Victoria Irving...



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Steven Higginbottom


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06:30-08:30am in the hope of seeing Short Eared Owl at first light but failed to see it. 3 Fieldfare 17+ Meadow Pipit heard a lot more than seen 1 Pheasant 1 Kestrel 2 Ravens Cheers Steven

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rob archer


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Brief view of the Short-eared Owl at last light..

2 Raven and a Kestrel over Moorbottom Rd



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Simon Johnson


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very lucky to see the Short-eared Owl tonight - last light in a break in the fog in the area mentioned below

something small and dark also flitted of the dry stone wall near the kissing gate in the same area the black redstart was seen but couldn't re-find

Woodcock flew out of saplin wood 70 Fieldfare on the moor



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rob archer


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Short-eared Owl out again tonight at last light in same area of the moor..

2 Red Grouse and a Woodcock over Moor Road ..



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rob archer


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No trace of the Short-eared Owl or Black Redstart last night..

On Saturday 31st Oct a local chap took a good photograph of a Great Grey Shrike on the path up to Holcombe Tower..There are plenty of suitable areas around the Ranges and over towards Quarlton where it could still be if anybody is in the area..



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rob archer


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Glorious evening above the cloud ..

Short-eared Owl hunting at last light around the heather on Holcombe Moor..

Black Redstart on the wall close to the kissing gate that leads down to the Green Bench above Saplin Wood.. Still in the area at last light..

4 Red Grouse and 7 Grey Partridge..



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rob archer


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Short-eared Owl tonight hunting around the heather edges above Moorbottom Rd and around towards the heather on Holcombe Moor ... Great views in evening sun ..

info fm V. Irving 



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Simon Johnson


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a few hours spent up here this morning

Highlights -

12 Twite flew west over the moor with a couple of redwing between Peel Tower and harcles hill
2 Brambling flew over west
Swallow - late bird sw

other birds noted -
600+ Fieldfare NW
200+ Redwing sw
11 Buzzard moved south
2 Sparrowhawk
4 Kestrel
7+ Raven
80+ meadow pipit sw plus 100+ still on the moor

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Monday 19th of October 2015 08:15:55 PM

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Simon Johnson


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6.50am - 11.30 am

Watched from the valley bottom near saplin wood due to the mist and cold wind on the tops

16 Crossbill flew south in parties of 7 (male and 6 female/imm) 8 (all female/imm) and then one heard over
Redwing flew sw
700+ meadow pipit flew south/se
29 Skylark in a single party came over the top and sw
270+ Goldfinch
2 Peregrine
Raven
20 + Lesser Redpoll
Green Woodpecker
4 Nutchatch
5 Chiffchaff

lots of goldcrest and coal tit calling from the woods

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Simon Johnson


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7.45 - 10 am watch from the east side just under peel tower

1+ Ring Ouzel - 1 was in trees along moor bottom road by the stables then this or another was in the garden at the house at the top of the hill by peel tower and flew sw over moor
Little Grebe - one on the pond below the hill
100 Swallow south
500 Meadow Pipit south
27 Skylark se
70+ Chaffinch south

Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtail and Chaffinch were also seen attempting to land on the top of peel tower whilst passing over which have never seen before

-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Monday 28th of September 2015 08:43:46 PM

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David Lumb


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10.05am to 12.50pm.

Crowthorn Delf to Bull Hill :-
2 Lapwings, 5 Meadow Pipits.

Bull Hill :-
9 Carrion Crows.

Pilgrims Cross to Peel Tower :-
1 Kestrel, 34 Skylarks, 33 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail.

Holcombe & Peel Tower hillside :-
2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Nuthatch, 5 Jackdaws, 5 Carrion Crows.

Track across the army range past Red Brook to Lark Hill :-
1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, Pair of Stonechats on a fence + another one calling not too far away, 1 Skylark, 15 Meadow Pipits, regular sightings of Wrens, 1 Jay, 5 Carrion Crows, 1 Raven, 120+ Goldfinches.

Lark Hill to Longshaw Head :-
70+ Meadow Pipits, 2 Skylarks, 100+ Goldfinches.


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Simon Johnson


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early morning

47 Pink-footed Geese se and 45 NW
7 Wigeon NW
2 Merlin (1 sw and 1 NW)
Peregrine
13 Common Buzzard
7 Raven
992 Meadow pipit sw
59 Skylark sw
235 House Martin feeding over moor then south
6 Snipe se

300+ Goldfinch feeding on moor

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Simon Johnson


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7-12

15 Pink-footed Geese flew east late morning
1600+ Meadow pipit sw
Green Woodpecker
2+ Crossbill heard over
8 Buzzard
Peregrine
24 Skylark sw plus 16 on the moor
2 Snipe
3 Raven
7 Kestrel
15 Goldcrest near the miniature pony stables

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Ian Whittaker


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Sunday 6 Sep - Holcombe Moor Edge overlooking Moor Bottom Road and Saplin Wood. 2 ravens doing acrobatics avoiding annoying sparrowhawk. At least 4 Kestrels hunting, peregrine over flying south and buzzard circling. Hundreds of swallows and house martins hawking in a large (hatch?) of large black insects with offset tails (??) Large numbers of meadow pipits but no wheatears. Half a dozen mistle thrush including juveniles feeding in fields below Moor Bottom Rd. Still no little owl. Not seen on Moorbottom Rd now for last 3 or so years - almost always guaranteed before.

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Andrew Swift


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spotted flycatcher in trees near assault course this morning.on way up to moors via moorbottom rd 6 kestrel hovering all in a line.male and female wheatear 2 raven and a buzzard over.in the bracken at head of valley 1 whinchat and at least 6 stonechat inc 1 juv.strangely didn't see any meadow pipit.cheers andrew

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rob archer


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Great advert for all Peter's hard work..13 Kestrel hanging in the wind above Moorbottom Rd last night..

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Ian Boote


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skylark, meadow pipit, juv stonechat, 6 Wheatear (1 Juv) 4 Kestrel, Redpoll, Grasshopper Warbler Chiffchaff, 3 Curlew on range, Jay, and a Green Woodpecker

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Simon Johnson


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This evening with Simon Warford

40 swift
7 kestrel
2 curlew
Redshank heard calling east at 23.10 over moor bottom road


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Steve Judge


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Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May 2015 10:30 - 15:00 hrs.

Walk from Peel Tower Car Park - Holcombe Village - over Holcombe Moor (via Chatterton Close, Buckden Clough, Beetle Hill, Pilgrims Cross, Peel Tower) - 'Shoulder of Mutton' pub (light refreshment!) - back to Peel Tower Car Park.

Greenfinch adult with at least three fledglings
Curlew x 1 (spoke to chap doing bird survey with NT guy who had spotted 2 pairs of Curlew on Holcombe Moor)
Kestrel x 1
Meadow Pipits x lots
Skylarks x lots
Jay (Buckden Clough)
Pied Wagtail
Jackdaws x 7
Carrion Crows
Magpies
Blackbirds
Great Tit
Chaffinch
Robin
Swallows
Swifts

-- Edited by Steve Judge on Monday 25th of May 2015 04:01:06 PM

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Ian Boote


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4 Stonechat, 7 Wheatear, 7 Singing Skylarks, 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, Kestrel, Mixed Group of Linnet and Lesser Redpoll, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipits, Heron, Swallow Curlew Pheasant Mallard, Canada Geese, and Green Woodpecker.

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Simon Warford


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Five Ring Ouzels were a pleasant surprise early this morning while doing my BBS squares in the Bull Hill area, also 18 Wheatear.

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Mark Burgess


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7.00 till 9.00am Along Moorbottom Rd, Highlights

Willow Warbler 20+ singing from almost every tree and shrub
Chiffchaff
Common Whitethroat 3
Skylark 3
Wheatear 2
Ring Ouzel 7, 3M & 4F, and a fly over flock of 12
Stonechat
Curlew 3
Kestrel 2
Pied Wagtail
Young Tawny Owl heard only

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Ian Boote


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Early AM 1 Grasshopper Warbler 7 Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff Buzzard, 1 Curlew, Moorhen 2 Canada Geese, 2 Stonechat, 11 Wheatear, 1 Green Woodpecker, two flocks of Linnets (6 & 4) 11 Ring Ouzel lots of meadow Pipits and 6 Singing Skylarks, Pied Wagtail,Pheasant 4 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Reed Bunting, Goldcrest Blackheaded Gull, 2 Swallow and usuals and Bagpipes.

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Wednesday 22nd of April 2015 09:41:09 AM

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Ian Boote


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Early AM 2 Grasshopper Warbler 9 Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 2 Kestrel, 3 Curlew, Moorhen 4 Canada Geese, Male Stonechat, 20+ Wheatear, 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, two flocks of Linnets (6 & 4) 8 Ring Ouzel (3m 5f) lots of meadow Pipits and Singing Skylarks, Pied Wagtail, Long Tailed Tits flocks of Goldfinches Pheasant and usuals.

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rob archer


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Excellent morning for 2 BBS Squares around the moors and Ranges..
12 Ring Ouzel
26 Wheatear
Stonechat in a new area for me.
2 Golden Plover
Grasshopper Warbler
2 Stock Dove
2 Green Woodpecker

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Chris brown


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Had a great walk along moor bottom road with my 2 children. We saw wheatear, excellent views of a male stonechat, green woodpecker, skylark, meadow pipit, linnet, willow warbler, swallow. Sadly we failed to see the ring ouzels!!!

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Zoe Barrett


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In trees along road: 4 Willow warblers singing Nuthatch 3 Chaffinches singing 3 Ring Ouzel including a pair at the far end of moorbottom road on top of slope 5 Wheatears 1 Stonechat 1 Green Woodpecker 1 Peregrine flew over Grey heron flew over numerous singing skylarks and Meadow Pipits

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Z Barrett
Neil Collier


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Late morning visit was rewarded by great views of Ring Ouzel, 4 in total along the right hand side of the hill on Moorland Road walking towards the firing range. Other highlights:
Wheatear
Stonechat
Kestrel
Willow Warbler
Meadow Pipit



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Neil Collier
Simon Warford


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Late morning visit (after an early morning at Elton) with Simon Johnson produced the follow highlights;

17+ Ring Ouzels along Moorbottom Road, both on the slopes right of the path and some below in the valley bottom, slightly more males than females.
19 Wheatear
3 Stonechat
2 Green Woodpecker
14 Willow Warblers
few Lesser Redpolls.

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Simon Johnson


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this morning with Simon Warford

glorious sunshine looking out over a blanket of fog

Good passage of meadow pipits with approx 900 north
3 Wheatear and male Stonechat on moor bottom road
60+ Skylark on moor with at least 30 singing birds
Red Grouse displaying
4 Curlew
2 Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
2 Raven
5 Greylag Geese sw
Green Woodpecker
15 Golden Plover

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Ian Boote


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walk through Redisher woods and across rifile range gave Treecreeper, Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Fieldfares, Meadow Pipits and 4 Reed Bunting.

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rob archer


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Ringtail Hen Harrier is still in Holcomve Area at the mo.. Currently hunting by the Tower mobbed by 2 Raven and a Merlin..
Rob..

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rob archer


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Ringtail Hen Harrier tonight below Harcles Hill.. Flew north below White Hill into Lancs..

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Simon Johnson


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2 Raven
Merlin west
67 Golden Plover in several flocks either sw or east
1100+ Meadow pipit south with several hundred still on the moor
3 juv Stonechat
2 Green Woodpecker
3 Sparrowhawk
2 Greylag Geese north

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rob archer


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A pair of Raven had set up in Harcles Quarry for the first time this year. . 5 young hatched c10days ago. On checking this morning the nest has been destroyed and all 5 young killed. . .Photos taken and police to be informed. . I doubt anybody will know anything but if they do can info me and will liase with Police.

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Ian Whittaker


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A short walk along Moorbottom Road up to red flag post on 25th November in glorious sunshine - 100+ fieldfares with a solitary redwing feeding on berry bushes between Moorbottom Road and northern edge of Saplin Wood; two ravens circling over Holcombe Moor edge; kestrel hunting; and 5 stonechats (3 male/2 female) showing well on walls and heather/gorse on hillside above Moorbottom Road.

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Simon Johnson


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no sign of any snow buntings on the moor this morning

watching from fields just below peel tower

12 Twite came over from the north east when the hit the other valley (which runs to to red brook) they turned back on themselves and headed back and up over the moor towards peel tower
8 Greylag Geese also came over here South
600+ Pinkfeet headed east across south Manchester
393 Starling NW

Chiffchaff, several Goldcrest Nuthatch and Great spotted woodpecker in the garden of the house near by

2 Snipe and 2 Raven on the moor



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Mike Passant


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The coordinates given for yesterday's Snow Bunting sighting place it by some hundreds of metres in Lancashire.

Interestingly, some 13 years ago, Barbara and I watched two birds at close range for a couple of minutes on the broad summit of Harcles Hill; these were about one and a half kilometres south south east of the latest sighting (and so were comfortably in Greater Manchester). This was a purely chance encounter (we weren't even there birding and were without binoculars) in an area we hadn't walked over for some 20 years, and we assumed at the time that the birds were a regular winter feature (indeed this may well be the case) and so thought little of it.

I suspect that Snow Buntings would generally not be difficult to find here along the summit ridge paths during the winter months (especially after spells of windy/stormy weather), should birders put in the time searching on a regular basis, and after all, the area is relatively easy to access.

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Why not?
Ian McKerchar


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A single Snow Bunting was on the moor behind Peel Tower today and was fortuitously photographed by the observer. The bird was on the path between the trig point at the top of Bull Hill and the standing stone on the way to Peel Tower. Approx bearing 768184.

Info thanks to David Whitney

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 4th of November 2013 04:44:54 PM

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Ian McKerchar (forum administrator and owner)
Simon Johnson


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few hours this afternoon - ended up getting caught in the thunderstorm

lots of migration this afternoon mainly thrushes starlings and woodpigeons

2,719 Fieldfare sw in several large flocks
245 Starling west
23 Redwing sw
206 Woodpigeon south
35 Golden Plover circling the moor above red brook before departing sw
54 Lapwing south
21 Snipe sw
Merlin south
2 Buzzard south

Stonechat, Peregrine, 2 Raven, Green Woodpecker & 3 Kestrel present on the moor

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Simon Johnson


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3 Ring Ouzel (1 calling from the bushes on the slope to peel tower early doors and a further 2 flew SW)

lots of meadow pipit and finches on migration 43 Siskin and a Brambling the best amongst

395 Pink-footed geese flew east in 5 skeins, Merlin, Peregrine and 6 Raven also on the move

21 Swallow flew south

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Ian Boote


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Nuthatch bottom of Moor Bottom Rd, quite a few Meadow Pipits, 1 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat 2 Whinchat around wall below Red Brook Kestrel, at least three Green Woodpeckers 2 flying onto Holcombe Hill and lots of Wrens.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 23rd of September 2013 10:20:54 PM

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rob archer


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Weds 18th Sept

Still 4 Whinchat in Red Brook
4 Stonechat
3 Kestrel
c40 Pink- footed Geese over Holcombe Moor

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