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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> HORWICH MOORS
Post Info TOPIC: HORWICH MOORS
Bob and Joyce Calder


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RE: HORWICH MOORS
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Saturday morning walk 8.45 to 12.30. Coal Pit Lane> Holdens>Mast Road>Georges Lane to just past kennels, return via Georges Lane> Mast Road>Burnt Edge> Sugar Loaf Plantation> Holdens>Coal Pit Lane.

Highlights include:-

Appx 15 Siskin, Coal Pit Lane

Mixed flock appx 20 birds Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings plus a couple of Bullfinch and Goldfinch (Coal Pit Lane) with a further flock of abt 20 Meadow Pipits nr Holdens and a small flock of Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings along Burnt Edge.

Noticeably a few Blackbirds around with min 7 at Holdens and flock of abt 15 birds at Sugar Loaf that contained probably 4 Ring Ouzels. The latter seen around noon but all flew quite strongly up and away.

Flock 20 - 30 Goldfinch at Holdens, also a loose flock of around 10 Chaffinch in same area.

Stonechat, just below kennels George's Lane.

Wheatear, 2 in fields bottom of Mast Road

2 small flocks of 15 - 20 Redwing over plus several Mistle Thrushes over.

Min of 4 Kestrel in the area plus 1 Common Buzzard.



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Ian McKerchar


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Today's watch from early morning to midday produced:

1 immature type Ring Ouzel S
2 Swallow S
1376 Redwing SSW in 33 flocks
153 Siskin S with many still mixed into Redwing flocks
89 Linnet S also mixed in with Redwing
1 Crossbill S
2 Wheatear 'down'

Info thanks to Andy Makin


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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from another day's visible migration watch from Scout Road early morning to just after midday:

Hen Harrier 2 with one female SW at 09:17 and 1 juvenile SW at 10am
Snipe 20 N
Meadow Pipit 124 S
Redwing 650 SW in 28 flocks
Ring Ouzel 3 NE
Swallow 21 S in ones and twos
House Martin 3 S
Goldfinch 121 S
Siskin 232 S moving in small flocks all morning
Crossbill 2 S
Linnet 50 S

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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dave broome


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juvenile Hen Harrier hunting on Smithills Moor 16:00-16:30 today, mobbed briefly by a juv Peregrine

3 Raven



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from today thanks to Andy Makin and Rick Else:

Merlin 1 S
Hobby 1 adult S
Redwing 231 in 19 flocks
House Martin 21 S
Swallow 21 S
Siskin 95 S
Linnet 78 S
Crossbill 6 S
Meadow Pipit 138 S

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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from today's visible migration highlights from Andy Makin and Rick Else with most heading south included:

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S
House Martin 26
Swallow 46
Pied Wagtail 68
Meadow Pipit 109
Redwing 826
A single Fieldfare low N
Chaffinch 54
Lesser Redpoll 10
Goldfinch 46
Siskin 130
Linnet 36
Crossbill 8

Birds down included 5 Stonechat and 3 Wheatear.

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Ian McKerchar


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Today's visible migration totals with Rick Else and Andy Makin from Scout Road:

Common Buzzard 3 NE
Sparrowhawk 1 S
Marsh Harrier adult female E at 10:53am
Greylag Goose 1 NE
Golden Plover 1,
Snipe 15
Woodpigeon 30
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S
Swallow 39
House Martin 13
Sand Martin 3
Skylark 3 E
Pied Wagtail 35
Meadow Pipit 374
Mistle Thrush 2
Song Thrush 12 N
Redwing 708 with birds moving S then SW
Dunnock 1 S
Siskin 91
Chaffinch 29
Goldfinch 23
Linnet 34
Greenfinch 12
Redpoll 14
Crossbill 1
Bullfinch 2 N
Reed Bunting 7

Birds down and feeding included 3 Wheatear and 5 Stonechat

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Dan Brown


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George's Lane 16:30 - 18:30. Black Redstart. (Just in Lancs).

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Simon Warford


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This mornings Vis Mig watch highlights with Andy Makin, Paul Wilson, Dan Brown and Rick Else -

ringtail Hen Harrier, quartering Smithill's Moor at 7.20am and again around 8.30am before disappearing, the same or a different Hen Harrier seen about an hour later beyond Deans Ditch in Lancs.
3 Ring Ouzels dropped out of the sky and landed in Gale Brook plantation.
173 Redwing
5 Crossbills dropped in to Gale Brook plantation.
53 Pink-footed Geese SE
48 Swallow south
39 House Martin south
152 Meadow Pipits south
41 Siskin
40 Jackdaw south

Also present across the moor were a single Merlin, 12 Wheatear and 15 Stonechat.

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 2nd of October 2016 03:17:33 PM

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Simon Warford


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This mornings Vis Mig watch highlights with Andy Makin, Paul Wilson, Dan Brown and later Phil Rhodes (after his lie in), produced -

34 Pink-footed Geese NW
6 Golden Plover west
1 Merlin
907 Swallow south
95 House Martin south
9 Redwing SW
78 Pied Wagtails
3,945 Meadow Pipits south
136 Chaffinch
197 Linnet south (highest ever site count)
104 Siskin

3 Wheatear and 8 Stonechat present.

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Simon Warford


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All day Vis Mig session with Andy Makin and Rick Else, a very memorable day included -

dark phase Honey Buzzard south east at 4.15pm (Andy), the bird seemed to be just outside GM, but no doubt went through GM airspace.
1 Merlin south
10,096 Meadow Pipits in what was a remarkable broad front movement right over the whole moor and valley. Overwhelming and two of us with clickers could barely keep up with the amount of birds biggrin
4 Golden Plover south
50 Skylark south
51 Pied Wagtails south
8 Grey Wagtail south
1 Sand Martin south
87 House Martin south
374 Swallow south
15 Mistle Thrush south, 5 north
2 Song Thrush south
23 Redpoll south
132 Linnet south
117 Goldfinch south
245 Siskin south
141 Chaffinch south
15 Reed Bunting south

5 Wheatear.



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Ian McKerchar


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Visible migration totals from Scout Road with Andy Makin and Rick Else, 07:15-11:15:

Marsh Harrier 1 juvenile at 8am hunting for short while on the top of Horrocks Moor Plantation then headed SE circling low mobbed by Crows

All the following heading south:

Goosander 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 high S
Meadow Pipit 760
Chaffinch 22
Siskin 12
Goldfinch 26
Greenfinch 76
Bullfinch 1
House Martin 5
Swallow 81
Pied Wagtail 61
Reed Bunting 10

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Ian McKerchar


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Visible migration watch today from Scout Road courtesy of Andy Makin and Simon Warford, with all birds moving south from 07:10-10:10

Siskin 13
Goldfinch 14
House Martin 46
Snipe 9
Reed Bunting 10
Bullfinch 5
Lesser Redpoll 13
Swallow 132
Chaffinch 45
Pied Wagtail 50
Meadow Pipit 2259

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colin davies


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A green woodpecker near the kennels today was, I think, the first I have seen in the area.



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from today's visible migration watch by Andy Makin:

1753 Meadow Pipit south
629 Swallow and 1424 House Martin south
116 Chaffinch, 64 Siskin and 65 Goldfinch mainly south



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Ian McKerchar


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Yesterday's (20th) visible migration highlights early morning to midday:

4 Golden Plover NE
Pink-footed Geese: 30 SE at 9.15, 67 E at 10.25
561 Meadow Pipit south
3091 Swallow south
3618 House Martin south
3 Sand Martin south
3 Wheatear grounded

All info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday with just 1 Wheatear and a total of 52 Snipe north in 8 small flocks.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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Merlin hunting county boundary wall on the top Winter Hill at 8:50am.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

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Simon Warford


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Vis Mig watch with Andy Makin this morning produced,

1 Osprey flew north-west over Belmont Resr at 07:45 (in Lancs).
1 Merlin south
55 Pink-footed Geese SE
577 Meadow Pipits south
1 Wheatear straight through south and 25 present across the area
4 Grey Wagtail south

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Ian McKerchar


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Some sightings from this morning:

Marsh Harrier at 07:15 over Horrocks Moor until 07:22 when it drifted off SW
10 Dunlin over (flocks of 7 and 3)
46 Swallow and 24 House Martin through south
2 Twite over north
5 Chiffchaff at Higher Meadows
1 Wheatear on Wildersmoor
Skein of Pink-footed Geese over Higher Meadows early am but unable to see them due to low cloud
Info thanks to Andy Makin, Dan Brown and myself

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Ian McKerchar


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Sightings from the moors today when the very top of Winter Hill around the mast buildings had received a decent fall of migrants:

Vismig from Scout Road early am saw:

543 Meadow Pipit
41 Swallow
15 House Martin
8 Grey Wagtail south

Birds around cable and mast compounds mid morning:

34+ Chiffchaff
3+ Willow Warbler
2 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Whinchat
1 Robin
19 Wren
2 Goldcrest
30 Wheatear

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Simon Warford


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Also this morning with Andy Makin,

2 Whinchat and 1 male Redstart Georges Lane
44 Wheatear across whole area
237 Swallow south
2 Sand Martin south
171 House Martin south
86 Meadow Pipit south
4 Stonechat
45 Mistle Thrush Burnt Edge



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Ian McKerchar


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Female or immature Red-breasted Merganser at 07:30 SSE over Scout Road.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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A few sightings from the moors today:

227 Meadow Pipits S
811 Swallow and 415 House Martin S
3 Grey Wagtail S
6 Wheatear down

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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This morning's sightings, including a sudden rush of hirrundines around midday:

882 Swallow and 560 House Martin south
59 Meadow Pipit south
A single Garden Warbler in sub song from brambles and weeds by Scout Road quarry
1 Whitethroat on Edge Lane
35 Wheatear

Info thank to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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Only 12 Wheatear the birds of note today.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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Sightings from a full day today:

149 Meadow Pipits moving south
First winter Redstart around the compounds on the top of Winter Hill
17 Wheatear
1 Whinchat pony field off Mast Road
924 Swallow and 463 House Martin south
Possibly as many 6 Hobby moved through south
Female Marsh Harrier south just after midday
39 Buzzard through south

Info thanks to Andy Makin and Andy Pinches; images by Andy Makin.



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Ian McKerchar


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Moors totals this morning 7am-12pm, with a passage of hirundines south:

91 House Martin
189 Swallow
2 Wigeon NW
2 Tree Pipit S
1 Crossbill S
55 Goldfinch S
11 Wheatear
1 Whinchat in the horse paddock at Edge Lane along with a single Whitethroat.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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Totals late afternoon and evening today with Andy Makin and Andy Pinches:

560 Swallow moving thtough
750 House Martin moving through
18 Wheatear
1 Chiffchaff along Mast Road
1 male Redstart at Higher Meadows

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Ian McKerchar


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This morning's moors totals from Andy Makin and Andy Pinches:

1 Redstart and 2 Spotted Flycatchers in the dell off Georges Lane
1 Merlin sat for 5 minutes on the wall on Wildersmoor before flying off SE
7 Wheatear along Mast Road
2 Chiffchaff in Wilderswood

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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from this morning:

1 Whinchat in the pony fields along Mast Rd
3 Spotted Flycatcher in the big hedge at Higher Meadows
1 Tree Pipit south
10 Wheatear
141 Swallow and 90 House Martin south

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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Sightings this afternoon between Andy Makin and myself:

2 Whinchat in the pony fields off Mast Road
16+ Wheatear
300 House Martin south down Scout Road
8 Chiffchaff

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Ian McKerchar


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Rather quiet on the moors this morning, but highlights were:

1 Spotted Flycatcher in the Dell off Georges Lane
5 Tree Pipit over south, with a group of 4 and a single
1 Whinchat in the pony field off Mast Road
12 Wheatear
4 Whitethroat
6 Chiffchaff

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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John Watson


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Walk from N end CP to Rivington Pike ~16:00

~200 Swallow
~100 House Martin

All feeding on abundant insects

Also
1 Oystercatcher (h)
1 probable (90% sure) Green Sandpiper (h, very briefly) above the Pike

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Ian McKerchar


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Mid-morning to early afternoon today:

7 Wheatear on Winter Hill
3 Spotted Flycatcher at Brownstones Quarry

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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Originally posted today by Bob and Joyce Calder:

A walk Coal Pit Lane - Holdens - Mast - Holdens - Sugar Loaf Plantation - Brownstones Quarry - Coal Pit Lane 9.00 - 12.30

Holdens:-

Small flock around trees below farm included 4 Redpoll. 1 or 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Long Tailed Tits, 1 or 2 Dunnocks, several Meadow Pipits, Goldfinch, Linnets and at least 40 Swallows in the area.

Mast:-

Very quiet with only 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Crow and 1 Kestrel seen.

Sugar Loaf Plantation:-

Mixed flock of 4 Tit species included 1 or 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Spotted Flycatchers.

Brownstones Quarry:-

1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 or 2 Willow Warblers, small flock of Goldfinch, 15/20 Swallows in the area.


Elsewhere remarkably quiet with very little seen.

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Ian McKerchar


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Today's highlights thanks to Andy Makin and other observers:

12+ Spotted Flycatcher spread over the whole area
2 Tree Pipits south over Georges Lane and 1 down at Brownstones Quarry
2 Redstart with a male Lomax Wife's Plantation and a female Holdens Farm
1 Whinchat at Holdens Farm
10 Wheatear
7+ Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff

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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights this morning included:

Female Marsh Harrier NE over Sugar Loaf Hill briefly landing about 11am
3 Spotted Flycatcher with singles at Wilderswood, Walker Fold and Higher Meadows
1 Tree Pipit E
8 Chiffchaff
14 Wheatear

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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Todays totals:

Whimbrel 1 over south
71 Wheatear
2 WhinchaT
6 Spotted Flycatcher, including 1 in the cable compounds on Winter Hill
5 Redstart around mast buildings on Winter Hill
Grasshopper and Sedge Warbler around the mast building
49 Chiffchaff
21 Willow Warbler
1 Garden Warbler

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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This morning up to 9:30am:

Only 4 Wheatears
2 Tree Pipit; 1 over east and one down at Wilderswood
11 Spotted Flycatcher,
9 Chiffchaff
10 Willow Warbler
1 juvenile Green Woodpecker in the big hedge at Higher Meadows
7 Siskin over
Single Willow Tit in Wilderswood clearing

Info thanks to Andy Makin and Dave Broome

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Ian McKerchar


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Today's totals spread over the moors with combined counts between Andy Makin and myself:

173 Wheatear spread over the area, mainly on the top of Winter Hill (in GM) once the thick cloud had lifted early morning
9 Whinchat
15 Spotted Flycatcher
12 Tree Pipit
13 Willow Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
2 Merlin
1 Swift over south

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Ian McKerchar


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Single Tree Pipit south over Higher Meadows this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian Campbell


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11-12 this morning, parked at Burnt Edge Lane to look for Whinchat, 5 Stonechat in field immediately, then walked to Holden's Plantation and back with Meadow Pipits the only birds seen. On arriving back at car the Stonechats had gone but a single Whinchat was in the fieldsmile.
Cheers Ian

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Dan Brown


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Ruff still present at 18:15 this evening at the Lancs end of George's Lane as described yesterday. Otherwise very quiet.

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Len Poxon


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Yesterday 17:00 to 18:00

Single Ruff on Lancashire side viewed from Georges Lane at 17:30 with a flock of 70 Lapwing and 200 starling. The flocks were low down on the slope. Other birds seen included Black Headed Gulls, Carrion Crows and Woodpigeon, Wren and Robin heard.

On the GMC side of the border were two male Stonechat feasting on the masses of flying ants quite close to Georges Lane. There were two very large swarms close to the tree tops in the grounds of the Kennels with numbers that must have been in the hundreds. I can see why the Green Woodpecker must like this area!

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Dan Brown


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Burnt Edge 18:00 - 19:00. 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Redstart. Also 4 Wheatear at Heather Hall.

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Dan Brown


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Burnt Edge/Walker Fold 17:30 - 19:00. 2 Tree Pipit. 2 Spotted Flycatcher. 1 Whinchat. John Bradshaw had 1 Pied Flycatcher in the same area this morning.

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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday morning included:

A total of 30 Tree Pipits across the moors with most grounded birds
3 Spotted Flycatchers in Wilderswood
3 Whinchat on Burnt Edge

Info thanks to Andy Makin

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Ian McKerchar


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A further two Spotted Flycatchers were at Newfields Farm this evening, taking the day's tally to 8.

Info thanks to Dan Brown

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Ian McKerchar


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Additional sightings this morning courtesy of Andy Makin:

2 Whinchat on Burnt Edge
Single Ruff in the sheep fields along Georges Lane just over the border in Lancashire; flew off with 20 Lapwing and dropped down towards Rivington Reservoir
Single Golden Plover NW over Higher Meadows
4 additional Tree Pipits all SE over Georges Lane; taking the days tally to 12
29 Wheatear
Single Spotted Flycatcher at Higher Meadows; taking the days tally to 6

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