2 Buzzard perched close together in the lower fields. 1 Kestrel, 7 Lapwing Mixed thrush flock of 30+ Fieldfare, 6+ Mistle Thrush, 4 or 5 Redwing and a few Blackbirds. A few Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Bullfinch around the area.
Looking east from the pike, heather burning was in progress above Mossley and Greenfield, 1 man and his Banana Splits vehicle could be seen attending the fires. A Fire Engine parked below the moor was presumably there just in case and I suppose paid for by the tax payer.
In the lower fields to the north of Lily Lanes 1 Buzzard, first one for quite some time 2 Kestrel Roving flock of about 50 mostly young Goldfinch 1 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel C20 Meadow Pipit around the pike Mixed flick of c20 Goldfinch and c30 Linnet in fields to the east of the pike. 8 House Martin moving south, lingered for a short while. Large flock of Goldfinch probably over 150 mainly young birds feeding on the masses of thistles lower down on the west side, a few Siskins associating with these. 4 Jays. 100s Woodpigeons all around the area. 2 Willow Warbler.
Also a hunter with a Harris's Hawk at the pike which when released was quickly on to a rabbit that was then dispatched by the hunter.
9th Sept Went up to the Pike this evening to view the Super Moon, it was OK. What was good, A Common Buzzard was perched up on the bushes in the lower fields, Tawny Owl calling from the garden of the houses below the Pike and 3 Little Owls, close views of one on the wall next to the Pike, one in the fields to the east and one fly past lower down to the west.
2 Common Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Woodcock leaving roost c1000 Jackdaw gathering below the pike then eventually went to roost in Knott Hill Nature Reserve. Tawny Owl heard in the reserve.
200+ Woodpigeon in the lower fields and bushes to the west of the Pike c40 Goldfinch moving around as one flock 150+ Meadow Pipit in the higher fields all around the Pike 1 Wheatear 2 Little Owl down from the east of the Pike 1 Sparrowhawk flew around the Pike and put up many of the Meadow Pipits 10 Linnet 1 Kestrel 1 Chiffchaff flock of c20 Long-tailed Tit 3 Skylark flew over high west
Early morning visit with Simon Ghilks in very windy conditions
Common Buzzard soaring Sparrowhawk 3 Jay 15+ Swallow heading south east 10+ Meadow Pipit moving through 100+ Woodpigeon - mainly in the surrounding fields, but some appeared to be on the move
1 Common Buzzard 2 Wheatear c30 Meadow Pipit 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Chiffchaff 1 Goldcrest Goldfinch flocks seem to have moved off, less than 10 seen today. c50 Swallow 5 House Martin
Didn't see any Little Owls today or on my last visit. A bit of pot luck with these birds.
Juvenile Swallow being fed by parents on Lily Lanes 1 House Martin Little Owl visible from the Pike 5+ Meadow Pipit through 2 Linnet 2 Kestrel Sparrowhawk Goldfinch numbers lower than in previous visits with only a handful present Grey Heron Still a couple of Willow Warblers present
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 31st of August 2013 08:47:07 PM
Simon, I thought you and Karen were looking for a good visual migration site?
Aye Steve, maybe all those sharp talons and hooked beaks are the reason that only 2 Redstart have been seen up there so far. Especially when you take into account the fabulous numbers of the scarcer migrants that have been seen in the north of our county, although that reported Mossley Wryneck is only a short hop away.
Steven Burke wrote:
Hi simon, the Manchester peregrines have red rings on the right leg, so possibly one of them.
Thanks Steven, a good chance that it was a Manchester bird as it's not far as the Peregrine flies to the centre of Town.
No Little Owls seen this time but an immature Peregrine made up for that. The Peregrine practiced a few shallow stoops and then perched on a pylon for a while. It was ringed with what looked to be a red ring on its right leg but it was a bit distant for any other details to be made out. Also 2 Kestrel 1 Common Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk Still plenty of weeds around with attendant Goldfinch.
Hi simon, the Manchester peregrines have red rings on the right leg, so possibly one of them.
No Little Owls seen this time but an immature Peregrine made up for that. The Peregrine practiced a few shallow stoops and then perched on a pylon for a while. It was ringed with what looked to be a red ring on its right leg but it was a bit distant for any other details to be made out. Also 2 Kestrel 1 Common Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk Still plenty of weeds around with attendant Goldfinch.
Goldfinch with a few Linnets mixed in, many small flocks feeding on the abundant weeds. 1 Common Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk spooking the finch flocks 2 Kestrel 4 Little Owl, 1 down from the west side of the pike, 3 including a juvenile on the east side. 4 Willow Warblers seen 1 Common Whitethroat heard 30-40 Meadow Pipit c30 Swallow 2 House Martin Flock of c50 Starling
Goldfinch flock was in this area today and now numbers approximately 100 birds, again mostly juveniles. More birds seemed to arrive whilst I was there 4 Chaffinch 4 Willow Warbler 1 Whitethroat 1 Chiffchaff singing
I saw two men with a Harris Hawk with jesses which probably accounted for the lack of birds in the area on my way up to the Pike.
From the Pike
Lots of Swallows on the move again today. Since Friday I have seen in excess of 1,000 birds moving through the area. Undoubtedly many more birds will have passed through! Also c60 Meadow Pipit, moving through in dribs and drabs Pied Wagtail also moving through 3 Kestrel 20+ Linnet 40+ Swallow, including juveniles 4 House Martin
1 Common Buzzard Tawny Owl hooting Pheasant, one with at least two fairly small young and six or seven larger young Mixed tit flock with Blue, Long-tailed and Great. This flock also contained around four Willow Warblers, Chaffinch and both Robins and Blackbirds were also in the area. Also present around Hartshead Pike was a large flock of finches. This flock contained around 70 Goldfinch, 30 Linnet and at least two Greenfinch. Also around 10 Meadow Pipit mixed in. As yesterday, lots of juvenile Goldfinch and juvenile Linnet 100+ Starling, lots of juvenile birds here Good numbers of Swallow again, most of which appeared to be moving through. Also at least five House Martin.
1 Wheatear on wall on east side of the Pike 2 Little Owls, similar area to yesterday's sightings 2 Kestrel 2 Buzzard 70+ Meadow Pipit c70 Goldfinch, mainly juvenile 50+ Swallow following the line of Lees Road, south 2 Linnet 100+ Woodpigeon moving through 3 Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff singing 2 Common Whitethroat
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 23rd of August 2013 09:19:26 AM
2 Redstart, 1 male and 1 female or this years young. c50 Meadow Pipit 2 Little Owls, one down from the east side of the Pike and the other on the west. 2 Kestrel Flock of c70 Goldfinch
3 Brown Hawker dragonflies Lots of butterflies on the wing, mainly Whites, Peacocks, Meadow Browns and Speckled Wood
1 Common Snipe in flight. 7 Mistle Thrush 3 Meadow Pipit 41 Lapwing flew around the pike then headed north. 600+ Jackdaw feeding as a flock and moving noisily from field to field. 1 Kestrel 1 Little Owl
As I could not find a thread dedicated specifically to this area, I decided to create one!
0640-1030 with Simon Ghilks
We decided to have a look at this area this morning as with the heavy rain of the previous 24 hours, we hoped something might have dropped in.
Little Owl in Lily Lanes area, disturbed initially and then seen perched on post.
2 Willow Warbler 20 Wheatear including 2 males, most of the rest appeared to be juv birds, a lot in the fields around the Pike. 40+ Meadow Pipit moving through 100+ Swallow, obviously breed up here, but appeared to be a good passage 100+ Goldfinch, mainly juv birds
Highlight though was a male Redstart in hedge near Hartshead Green Boarding Kennels, perched briefly on a post and then flew back into the hedge.
Plenty of other birds to look at including: Grey Heron Jackdaw Pheasant Linnet Kestrel Sparrowhawk Magpie Jay House Martin
