A report on a grapevine group I'm on has a picture from a non-birder of a Red-breasted Goose near Holcombe Tennis Club, which I assume is the one off Hazel Hall Lane. Does anyone local know of an escaped bird that is frequenting the area?
Another interesting morning on the east side of the moor. Spent a couple of hours there after the school run and, although there was nothing scarce, there was plenty of evidence of southward movement.
65+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail.
2 Skylark.
8 Swallow.
18 Mistle and 3 Song Thrush.
At least 8 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff.
I was going to report a quiet morning circuit, but found a lot more activity on the sunny south/ east side of the moor than on the west. Probable migrants:
c20 Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark, 40+ House Martin, 20+ Swallow, 40+ Goldfinch, 1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat and (surprisingly) my first site record of Whinchat. The Hirundines did me a favour when their alarm calls drew my attention to a passing Hobby, and then a Sparrowhawk that put on a good display.
Probable migrants in the form of c30 Swallow, c30 House Martin, flocks of 15 and 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Skylark, c20 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Linnet, 2 Chaffinch, and 1 Reed Bunting. Still 2 family parties of Stonechat with 8 birds present.
Highlights from a morning circuit through Redisher Wood and along Moorbottom Road:
1 Stock Dove.
At least 4 Kestrel and 2 Raven.
1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Big mixed flock at the top of Redisher Wood that included the 4 common tits, Nuthatch, Goldcrest and Willow Warbler, but I didnt identify at least half of the birds!
Presumed migrants in the form of c20 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 10+ Meadow Pipit and 3 Wheatear.
Best from a generally quiet shorter morning circuit:
3 Sparrowhawk in the air together playing on the updraught at the top of Redisher Wood. They then moved up to the end of the Moor where a Kestrel made the mistake of flying by the group. A period of aerial combat ensued before the Kestrel moved off north.
Plenty of interest during a longer morning circuit:
1 or 2 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk sat on an open sunny branch in an unusual pose. It had its tail fanned and wings partly spread, presumably to dry off? 1 Little Owl.
1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
1 Stock Dove and 3 Mistle Thrush, including one carrying food.
3 Wheatear, but no Stonechat.
Some visible migration on the east side of the moor, with the undoubted highlight 5 Crossbill that flew south at eye level. Also 2 Swift, c30 House Martin and a few Swallow. Small fall of what seemed to be entirely Willow Warbler, with maybe 10 birds present.
Another great year for Kestrels in the valley with at least 8 juveniles in the air above Moorbottom Rd this afternoon . A Sparrowhawk was also amongst them briefly, as was a Hobby which flew directly up Red Brook .
Did a short circuit over the higher ground this afternoon, with the highlight being a Hobby which zoomed north over the stables. However, potentially more interesting was 4 birds that flew north west when I was just north of Peel Tower. I am pretty sure they were Crossbill based on their flight calls but I couldnt be absolutely sure.
Cuckoo seen this morning. It did a circuit of the firing range and then disappeared. Also Buzzard, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, 6+ Stock Dove, 2 Grasshopper Warbler 3 Grey Wagtail and a Dipper . 1 Swift over the high ground.
Excellent views of singing Garden Warbler at the top of Redisher Wood this morning. Also my first record of Swift here this year, with 3 birds flying around, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Lesser Redpoll.
Ring Ouzel calling somewhere in the valley but didn't find it .
Mediterranean Gull in with feeding Black-headed Gulls below Lark Hill flew off towards Red Earth Farm and 2 Grasshopper Warblers below the old Maggot Farm ( Lancs)
6 Wheatear this morning, 2 on the east side of Red Brook and 4 together on the west side. 3 Curlew, and 1 Snipe singing below Lark Hill. Also 1 Raven, 4 Stock Dove together and Lesser Redpoll.
2 female Ring Ouzel the undoubted highlight of my morning walk. They were hunkered down behind the stone wall next to Moorbottom Road west of Harcles Hill, but flew off north. Also 2 Wheatear in the same area, my first 2 Swallow around Hollingrove Farm and my first Willow Warbler near Simons Farm.
I did a similar keep fit circuit from Ramsbottom this morning with largely similar birds. Missed the Wheatear again, but also saw a flock of 10 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Raven, 2 Kestrel and 2 Little Owl.
2 Grey Partridge flushed off the eastern slopes above Moorbottom Rd was a surprise. Flew down onto the valley floor south of Paddys Pond .Not seen any here for many years.
Single Wheatear high amongst the boulders west side of Red Brook
2 Greylag Geese flew over high west at 0715 and a single Golden Plover seen at the top of Red Brook ..a few Linnet have returned to the gorse above Moorbottom Rd ..
Walked over from home 1st light . Another fine cold morning
Wheatear up near Red Brook and the same 2 pairs of Stonechat in the GM area .. A further 4 pairs found though on continuing round into Lancs towards Crowthorne.
2 Snipe singing this morning . One as per yesterday and another east of White Hill in the same area as last year.
A Golden Plover was calling over onto Wet Moss and then sitting on Lark Hill looking east to Walmersley and West towards Great Hill in Lancs counted 8 Buzzard in the air in a single sweep ..
-- Edited by rob archer on Wednesday 25th of March 2020 03:07:23 PM
4 pairs of Stonechat ( 2 in Lancs) along Moorbottom Rd and a pair of Stock Doves in Harcles Quarry .
A Snipe was singing on a wall by the rough ground near the conifers below Lark Hill and a pair of Oystercatchers here also .
2 Mediterranean Gulls flew over calling and joined a group of Black-headed Gulls feeding in fields below the old maggot farm before all departing towards Crowthorne
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-- Edited by rob archer on Tuesday 24th of March 2020 01:33:34 PM