Holcombe Moor and environs

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

RE: Holcombe Moor and environs

rob archer · Status: Offline

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

rob archer · Status: Offline

Walked over 1st light .

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

.

-- Edited by rob archer on Tuesday 24th of March 2020 01:33:34 PM

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

40 species noted during a morning circuit of Redisher Wood, making a total of 45 over the last 2 days. Highlights this morning:

1 Curlew and 4 Lapwing.

1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

2 singing Chiffchaff, my first record here this year.

2 Dipper and 3 Grey Wagtail.

Treecreeper and 2 Goldcrest.

Singing Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

42 species during a longer morning circuit with the highlights being:

Probably 2 pairs of Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 2 Little Owl.

1 Green Woodpecker.

Pair of Stock Dove.

A lone Redwing.

Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Treecreeper and Goldcrest.

3 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

31 species during a short circuit of Redisher Wood only with the highlights being:

1 bubbling Curlew and 5+ Lapwing.

1 Green Woodpecker.

2 Stock Dove.

Decent flock of winter thrushes with 70+ Fieldfare and 5+ Redwing.

2 Goldcrest and 1 Lesser Redpoll.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a longer morning circuit through Redisher Wood and over the Moor:

Single Curlew and 8 Lapwing.

1 Buzzard, 1 Little Owl and 1 Raven.

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker including a drumming bird.

4 Stock Dove.

1 Dipper.

2 Goldcrest and 1 Treecreeper.

Flock of c 40 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a longer morning circuit:

1 Curlew, my first returning bird of the spring, and 6 Lapwing.

2 Little Owl.

1 Green Woodpecker.

1 Stock Dove.

Small numbers of all 5 common Turdus species again.

10 singing Skylark on the highest ground.

Flighty flock of c20 Lesser Redpoll at the top of Redisher Wood.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a morning circuit today and a short one yesterday afternoon:

5 Lapwing braving the weather!

2 Kestrel.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Stock Dove.

1 Dipper and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Good mixed finch flock at the top of Redisher Wood that included at least 30 Lesser Redpoll and 1 Siskin.

1 Treecreeper.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Late report on 2 short visits yesterday:

4 Lapwing, being the first returning birds of the spring.

1 Little Owl.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a morning circuit through Redisher Wood and along Moorbottom Road:

Pair of Goosander.

1 Sparrowhawk.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Dipper and 3 Grey Wagtail together, with one of the Wagtails starting to get its summer plumage.

Flock of 10 Siskin.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a pleasant and calm(!) morning circuit including Moorbottom Road and the highest ground over the moor:

2 Little Owl and 1 Kestrel.

1 Green Woodpecker.

1 Stonechat and, best of all,

2 Skylark in full song on the highest ground!

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a morning circuit:

1 Sparrowhawk.

1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.

3 Stock Dove.

Flock of 7 Raven together soaring and playing in the updraught on the side of the moor. I wonder what the age composition of such a flock is at this time of year?

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Morning highlights from the same circuit as Monday:

2 Kestrel.

2 Green Woodpecker and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, with the first drumming of the year noted.

All 5 Turdus, with 45+ Redwing.

1 Dipper, my first of the year here.

1 Reed Bunting.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

A bit more activity this morning with 31 species noted in a 2 hour circuit through Redisher Wood and along Moorbottom Road, with the best being:

1 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.

1 Green Woodpecker and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker displaying.

All 5 Turdus species again.

1 Treecreeper.

2 Stonechat.

11 Bullfinch including a compact flock of at least 8 birds together.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Rather quiet on a longer morning circuit through Redisher Wood and over the Moor, with the best being:

1 Little Owl, 1 Buzzard, and 2 Kestrel.

Small numbers of all 5 common Turdus species.

1 Grey Wagtail

2 Stonechat and 2 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

A good morning for raptors with Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel and Little Owl all being noted. Also 1 Raven and 25 Fieldfare.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

1 Green Woodpecker, c30 Redwing and 1 Lesser Redpoll in Redisher Wood this morning.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Best from a short circuit through Redisher Wood only:

1 Goosander.

1 Green Woodpecker.

1 Dipper and 1 Grey Wagtail.

2 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Best from a brisk late afternoon circuit:

Poor views of 2 Partridge, presumably the Red-legged from earlier in the year.

1 Little Owl and 1 Kestrel.

Single flock of 32 Fieldfare heading SW.

1 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

1 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl this morning and 2 flocks of Fieldfare headed south, totalling 30 birds.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Best from a murky morning in Redisher Wood:

1 Teal and 1 Goosander- but no Mallard!

1 Kestrel.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

25+ Redwing.

1 Treecreeper and 1 Lesser Redpoll.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

A good sized mixed flock was in Redisher Wood this morning. Mainly Redwing and Blackbird, but also Goldcrest and Treecreeper among the Tits. There was an explosion of birds when a male Sparrowhawk came in and perched among them, but I think he went away empty handed ( or should it be taloned?) Also Dipper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Bullfinch and 4 Lesser Redpoll.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Best from a morning circuit through Redisher Wood and over the Moor:

2 male Goosander- my first of the season here.

1 Kestrel.

Dipper, 2 Goldcrest and a Treecreeper in Redisher Wood.

c 70 Redwing and 5 Fieldfare.

2 Lesser Redpoll and 5 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a murky morning circuit round Redisher Wood:

Single Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Dipper.

Mixed flock of c30 Redwing and Fieldfare.

2 Siskin in with a flock of 15 Goldfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Best from a morning circuit through Redisher Wood and over the Moor.

2 Green Woodpecker.

2 Raven, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Kestrel.

Dipper and 2 Grey Wagtail in Redisher Wood.

2 flocks of Fieldfare totalling 140+ birds with a few Redwing.

2 Stonechat.

Still c25 Meadow Pipit on the higher ground.

-- Edited by Roger Halsey on Monday 28th of October 2019 02:03:26 PM

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Best from a morning circuit through Redisher Wood, Saplin Wood and along Moorbottom Road:

1 Green Woodpecker.

1 Raven.

Dipper, Grey Wagtail and 3 Goldcrest in Redisher Wood.

Flock of c30 Fieldfare with a few Redwing and Blackbird.

Notable flock of 50-60 Lesser Redpoll at the top of Redisher Wood, with c20 Chaffinch and 3 Reed Bunting.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Still plenty of activity during a morning circuit, but mainly common birds. Of interest:

1 Sparrowhawk.

1 Green Woodpecker.

2 Raven.

1 Kingfisher, 2 Dipper, 1 Grey Wagtail in Redisher Wood.

12+ Redwing , 3 Song and 3 Mistle Thrush all appeared to be on the move.

2 Stonechat.

8 Bullfinch and 2 Lesser Redpoll.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

An interesting morning circuit after the school run, with the highlights being:

2 Ring Ouzel in the area north of Saplin Wood and west of Moorbottom Road. Initially a female type was seen briefly in flight, but after a bit of searching a male was found in a hawthorn tree - and it was joined by the first bird. The 2 birds were associating with a group of Blackbirds, Mistle Thrush and a single Song Thrush.

Also 2 Red-legged Partridge, presumably the same birds from earlier in the year, in the same area.

2 Green Woodpecker.

What looked like a small influx of Goldcrest, with at least 5 birds noted, 1 Treecreeper.

1 Lesser Redpoll and 5 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

A surprisingly productive short afternoon circuit through Redisher Wood, with the highlights being:

1 Buzzard.

Single Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

3 Raven over.

1 Dipper.

My first Redwing of the season, with 5 at the top of the Wood. 2 Mistle Thrush.

Flock of 22 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

A quiet long morning circuit through Redisher Wood, Red Brook Valley, Holcombe Moor and Peel Tower, but still some interest:

1 Little Owl.

2 Raven.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

3 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper and 2 Nuthatch.

Still 4 Meadow Pipit and 1 Skylark on the higher ground.

2 Bullfinch and 1 Lesser Redpoll.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Best from a short morning circuit through Redisher Wood only:

2 Dipper and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Mixed tit flock that included Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

Mixed finch flock that included 12 Lesser Redpoll, and 1/2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a morning circuit through Redisher Wood and along Moorbottom Road:

1 Merlin zipped through in a southerly direction at about 12.00, my first site record. Also presumed migrant flock of 5 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, and 2 Kestrel.

1 Green Woodpecker.

Flock of c60 Meadow Pipit , 4 Swallow and 6 Stonechat - all presumed migrants.

2 Raven.

2 Treecreeper and 10 Nuthatch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

They are rebuilding a section of the retaining wall bordering the brook below the Hare and Hounds pub and have some scaffolding in the water. Perched on top of the scaffold boards this morning was a Dipper! Also 2 Grey Wagtail in the area and a 1 Buzzard, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Nuthatch in the woods.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Limited highlights from a morning circuit including Redisher Wood and Moorbottom Road:

2 Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawk.

5 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Treecreeper and 7 Nuthatch.

3 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Highlights from a short morning circuit:

1 Spotted Flycatcher at the top of Redisher Wood.

1 Chiffchaff, 2 Jay and 2 Bullfinch.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

A quiet morning circuit round Moorbottom Road, with the limited highlights being:

Mixed flock including Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.

1 Snipe inadvertently flushed off the path back over the top.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Another interesting, longer, circuit this morning and some different birds. Highlights:

1 Peregrine, 3 Kestrel, 3 Sparrowhawk and 1 Little Owl.

2 Green Woodpecker.

Apparent small movement of Thrushes with at least 3 Mistle and 2 Song moving south or south west.

Dipper in Redisher Wood.

Compact flock of c50 House Martin on the east side of the Moor, with c20 Swallow in the same area.

Another good mixed flock on Moorbottom Road with Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest among 4 species of Tit.

c30 Goldfinch with at least 2 Lesser Redpoll.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

An interesting lower level circuit this morning through Redisher and Saplin Wood.

2 Red-legged Partridge again. One bird looked rather pale and washed out, so maybe mixed parentage.

Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Three mixed flocks encountered all containing some summer migrants, although nothing unusual. The totals include all 4 common tits, 15+ Goldfinch, 7 Chaffinch, 5 Bullfinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Linnet, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 2 Goldcrest.

Also 1 Treecreeper, 10 Nuthatch and an apparent influx of Robin with 30+ birds noted.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Walked a longer circuit this afternoon after the rain had cleared, more for the exercise than the birds! However, some interest in the form of:

1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl.

1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

2 Stock Dove.

Treecreeper and 3 Nuthatch in Redisher Wood.

A few Swallow, House Martin, Skylark and Meadow Pipit on the higher ground.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

2 Spotted Flycatcher this morning in the trees between Saplin Wood and Moorbottom Road. Also Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff with them. 2 Goldcrest in Redisher Wood.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Best from a longer circuit this morning:

Good raptor day with juvenile Peregrine, 3 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard and 1 Little Owl.

1 adult and 2 juvenile Green Woodpecker.

2 Swift.

4 Wheatear and 8 Stonechat, but couldnt find a Whinchat.

2 Lesser Redpoll.

rob archer · Status: Offline

An adult male Merlin was perched up on the cairn on White Hill this afternoon before flying off north towards Bull Hill ( Lancs).

rob archer · Status: Offline

Whinchat still in with c8 Stonechat below Red Brook . 6 Snipe in the flooded field by Three Acres Farm this evening

rob archer · Status: Offline

Nice couple of hours sat in the sun above the bracken by Red Brook . At least 8 Stonechat ( mostly juv) here and another family party of 6 by the ruin below Lark Hill .

Also in the bracket below Red Brook... 2 Whinchat , 4 Willow Warbler and a few Meadow Pipit with 4 Wheatear on the higher slopes .

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Star bird from a longer morning circuit was a flighty juvenile Cuckoo. I saw it in flight and perched briefly in the area around Holcombe Head Farm. Best of the rest:

4 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl.

Dipper and Goldcrest in Redisher Wood.

3 Stonechat and 4 Wheatear.

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

Very worn adult meadow Pipit

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

A few images from my last visit.

Roger Halsey · Status: Offline

Of note during a longer morning circuit today:

2 sightings of Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel and 1 Little Owl.

1 Green Woodpecker.

3 Stock Dove.

At least 4 Jay together, presumably a family party.

c35 Swift, c50 Swallow, 2 House Martin and 1 Sand Martin feeding on the windward side of the Moor, with the Sand Martin being my first site record.

1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, the only Warbler noted!

Lots of juvenile Wheatear, and 2 Stonechat.

2 Lesser Redpoll and flock of c120 Goldfinch.

No sign of Spotted Flycatcher in either of the previous locations.

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

Another trip to Holcombe Moor today. I stayed on Moorbottom Rd. In excess of 20 wheatears. The drab male with the missing tail was still present, nlt 3 females and the rest juveniles. 2 stonechat families with one seemingly being shadowed by Willow Warbler or possibly two on the open ground. 3 Kestrels and several pipits one of which I cannot properly identify. Many swallows not counted. Many Goldfinch not counted. Nuthatch calling from an isolated tree. More pictures to follow.