Thanks Pete, I see what you mean as suggested I had a look via Google Earth, There are a number of different options, I shall have to have a mooch,

Can anyone suggest how to access the site, I recall going through a farm yard but last time I visited the route had been closed, This was before distribution hub was built. Any suggestions appreciated.

This morning with Simon Johnson produced;

Green Sandpiper still present
16 Snipe
Green Woodpecker
40+ Teal
4 Stonechat
50 Fieldfare
13 Song Thrush
1 Willow Tit
80 Herring Gull

This morning, one of those days that don't come around too often!

Juvenile Glaucous Gull bathing on one of the pools with a gathering of large gulls.
Green Sandpiper still present
45 Snipe
22 Waxwings briefly then flew towards Tyldesley
1 Shelduck
12 Teal
5 Stonechat
3 Siskin
6 Skylark, with 1 singing
23 Reed Bunting
82 Meadow Pipit
20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
60 Herring Gulls.

This morning,

1 Green Sandpiper
30 Snipe
Jack Snipe
8 Lapwing
1 Little Grebe
4 Teal
3 Peregrine in the air together, one caught and plucked a Lapwing.
2 Stonechat still present
2 Willow Tit
22 Reed Bunting.

Today,

1 Green Sandpiper
1 Woodcock
65 Snipe
1 Teal
2 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
95 Meadow Pipit
2 Stonechat
20 Lesser Redpoll
4 Grey Wagtail
200+ Redwing

Today, two site ticks in one visit!

2 Pintail
2 Shoveler
28 Wigeon
85 Mallard
2 Little Grebe
16 Snipe
250+ Herring Gull
45 Meadow Pipit
25 Skylark

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 6th of November 2016 07:34:59 PM

Today,

1 Green Sandpiper
10 Teal
6 Snipe
3 Little Grebe
4 Wheatear

Today,

2 Green Sandpiper
25 Mistle Thrush
40 Linnet

Today,

2 Green Sandpiper
4 Snipe
100+ Lapwing
55 Mistle Thrush

This morning:

1 green woodpecker

1 green sandpiper

brood of little grebe on southern pools

Today of note,

2 Green Sandpipers
1 Tree Pipit showing well on east side.

Today, 6 Dunlin present on the pools along with 1 Curlew, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank and 2 Shelduck. Also 6 Wheatear, 9 Chiffchaff, 1 Raven, 4 Tree Sparrow and 29 Linnets.

A remarkable flock of 130 Linnets contained a very nice leucistic bird, which for a few seconds had me thinking it could be a Snow Bunting before I got the scope on it. Then from nowhere a female Merlin dashed through the flock sending Linnets everywhere, before having a go at a Lapwing before flying off south-ish. Also a White Wagtail was with 5 Pied Wagtails, a single male Wheatear and also Tree Sparrows now totalling 7!

Today, 3 Mandarin, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 6 Teal, 2 Willow Tit, 9 singing Skylark, 35 Fieldfare and an impressive flock of 400+ Redwings, with many singing their hearts out!

Works slowly continuing for the new giant Aldi, with loads of hedgerows now being ripped up.

Huge Site Accessed it via Wharton Lane and concentrated on the area at the end that has changed considerably looks like a bomb has gone off with acres of bare grounds small pool and a few ditches and older mounds. Main sighting were skylark, lots of meadow pipit common sandpiper on the pool with 10 mallard and a few black headed gulls, Kestrel, Flocks of Goldfinches and a Bullfinch.

This evening, 5 Crossbill flew south-west and a single Green Sandpiper and Snipe were on the largest pool along with 6 Teal. Also 37 Linnets, 15 Skylark, 118 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 100+ Swallows & House Martins dropped in during tonights thunderstorm.

This morning, fairly quiet, though two site firsts for me were a female Tufted Duck and 5 Common Terns (2 adults & 3 Juvs) heading south at some speed, also 3 Curlews, 148 Lapwings, 273 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Stock Doves, 13 Skylarks, 15 Swifts, 17 Whitethroats, 12 Willow Warblers, 2 blackcaps, 2 Willow Tits, 35 House Sparrows, 90 Goldfinches, 24 Linnets and 6 Bullfinches.

Butterflies included 5 Small Skippers, 6 Peacocks, 2 Red Admirals, 7 Small Coppers, 20+ Meadow Brown, 10 Large Whites and 15+ Gatekeepers.

Yesterday early morning,

1 Grasshopper Warbler singing
1 Garden Warbler singing
1 Sedge Warbler singing
26 Whitethroat
21 Reed Bunting including a nest with 5 chicks in
4 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
14 Skylark singing
7 Bullfinch
15 Linnet
Little Owl (first sighting since 1st April 2012 when all the old barns got demolished)
female Mandarin with 6 ducklings

Some news regarding the development of the site following a Public Consultation last week, Aldi hope to start construction of their 50,000 square metre regional distribution centre in early 2014 followed by the construction (subject to planning application) of a 5,000 square metre office complex, car park for 500 spaces, access roads, loading bays and several massive warehouses on the old Cutacre tip. Interesting that Bolton Council initially indicated 15,000 jobs would be created but now thats been revised to c2,000 despite the size of the industrial estate actually increasing since the initial proposals. On the plus side (if indeed there is one!?) work will commence shortly on the brand new Cutacre Country Park which will surround the development and provide 558 acres of landscapes which will include nature reserves, as well as nature trails, viewpoints etc. How all this will shape up is anybodys guess at the moment and whether this will improve the biodiversity of the area remains to be seen. Anybody interested can see the emerging master plan here:-

http://www.logisticsnorth.co.uk/country-park/

There is a form to make your views known, it was good to see quite a large turnout at the Public Consultation and many locals actually voted in favour of more birdwatching areas. One thing a few suggested was larger pools and reedbeds which I understand will be considered with some kind of reedbed looking likely. One thing is for sure sacred sites never seem to last forever.


-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 9th of June 2013 10:00:30 PM

2 Wheatear still present! Also 65 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Whilst walking over Shorelark Summit this morning at approx. 6.20am I accidently flushed a male Hen Harrier, it slowly flew off north-west chased by several Lapwings until it was lost to view heading towards Winter Hill. An amazing record for this site which is mostly a barren landscape now. Also of note today single Whinchat, 2 female Wheatear and 2 singing Grasshopper Warblers.

Six Wheatear (all females) this evening on fields between Cutacre and the A6, also 2 Dunlin & 2 Shelduck present.

2 male Wheatears present today and 60 Redwing. Also unfortunately, some nice people have set fire to a large area of grassland on the site and loads of willow scrub, the fire brigade arrived quite quick to put it out though, nice one Ian.

09/01/13 - A flock of 60 Redwing were in the Cutacre area this pm