lol - we should have manchester birding badges, ian! (one for ian mc to think about! )
i remember a tall guy with dark hair and glasses and a guy with really short fair hair...
we managed to gently send them back towards the wall before the merlin landed on it spooking them all off and in turn a guy called rodger spooking it past me. rodger was gutted, missing the dotties and the merlin but was rewarded for his patience when they returned shortly after.
Paul Was watching the Dotteral about 9.00a.m next to the stone wall with 2/3 others. It must have been you and David that went around the far side of them. Glad you had good views, I would have liked to see the Merlin but hey, I'm just being greedy. Cheers Ian
This a.m. Fabulous views of 9 Dotteral North of summit of Pendle hill plus lots of Stonechat, Wheatear,Meadow Pipet,Curlew and Skylark. Sid, didn't have time to get to Cross of Greet but thanks for the info anyway. Cheers Ian
I was on top of Pendle this morning for stunning views of 7 Dotterels. At one point sat on a tussock and watched them walk right up to me - had one or two photos. Also had a good time watching a female Pied Flycatcher building a nest (pitstop on way home).
Pendle Hill is near the end of the M65 take junction 13 the A682 and head for Roughlee and Barley. Park on the roadside of Barley Lane 0.8 mile NE of Barley village (SD815416) near to the entrance to Pendleside Farm. Go over the cattle grid and walk along the private road towards the farm. After passing a barn on the right hand side take the the footpath through the wooden gate on the right and walkup the field to and iron gate. The best way up now is to the left , less strenuous and more productive for birding. Just keeping heading upwards its a bit steep in places you will eventually reach the trig point at 1831 feet. If you are going looking for Doterrel they are often in the area of the trig point during the last week of April and first two weeks of May.
Hi Sid Your birding at Pendle Hill sounds brilliant and l'd love to go but l can't seem to find it,please can you direct me? l do know The East Lancs....thankyou from Melanie
Awesome day there Sid. I will tred your footsteps one day most probably for the Dotterel. They seem to hang out on Pendle longer than say Great Orme, North Wales where i've dipped them several times following reports. Thanks for sharing the highlights of your trip. Henry.
Had the most fantastic day's birding starting up Pendle Hill (0800 hours) with 4 Dotterel, Red Grouse, Golden Plover, Wheatear, Sparrowhawk, Mipits, Skylark etc etc . Then on to Cross of Greet near Slaidburn for breeding Ring Ousel ( in true forum style I am not going to give location but pukka members are welcome to come back on mail message). Hen Harrier, Raven, Peregrine (in the wild not on a supermarket sign!!!), Short earred Owl, Raven, Tree Pipit, Curlew, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow - finnish19.00 - long day but good.
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