HORWICH MOORS

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

RE: HORWICH MOORS

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Todays Vis Mig highlights (with Andy Makin, Rick Else, Dennis Atherton, Alan Warford & Dave Sherrington) -

Affected by intermittent mist.

1 drake Goosander SW
116 Woodpigeon south
288 Redwings south or NW
28 Fieldfare SW, 14 NW
A remarkable 504 Chaffinches of which 297 went south and 204 north, some very high
46 Siskin north!
12 Brambling
15 Crossbill south and further birds heard calling in Gale Brook Plantation

1 Ring Ouzel Georges Lane (Andy).

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

Reports of full sightings from this morning coming later but here is a nice shot of the 15 Crossbills that flew over this morning,

I only managed to get 14 in the shot :(

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

Record shots from today of the two Hawfinch flyby from this morning

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Tuesday 31st of October 2017 11:51:30 PM

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Todays Vis Mig highlights (with Andy Makin, Rick Else, Dennis Atherton, Brian Fielding and Ian Campbell) -

2 Hawfinch north 08:15 - the memorable run of records continues, and finally we managed some photos, although mine only an average record shot compared to Dennis?
5 Tree Sparrow high north - superby photographed by Dennis
40 Pink-footed Geese NW including 2 wandering birds, also 33 SE
109 Fieldfare SW
500 Redwing south or east and 104 north
174 Chaffinch north and 94 south
2 Brambling south
407 Starling NW or SW
22 Rook south

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Delayed highlights from yesterdays (30th October) Vis Mig watching (between Andy Makin, myself, Dan Brown, John Raynor, Dennis Atherton and Brian Fielding) -

21+ Hawfinch north over Scout Road, also 16 over Georges Lane.
3 Whooper Swan south
751 Pink-footed Geese ESE
1269 Woodpigeon south
1224 Fieldfare NW
640 Redwing NW
25 Brambling
3 Crossbill south over Scout Road, and 4 along Georges Lane/Wilderswood.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

2 Hawfinch NE over Scout Road at 08:15 this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

Flyby Crossbill from this morning< No luck With Hawfinch yet but I will keep trying

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Monday 30th of October 2017 02:49:27 PM

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

A further 11 Hawfinch west over Higher Meadows at 08:40.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

So far this morning over Georges Lane/Higher Meadows, a single Hawfinch SE at 07:22 and another 4 NE heading towards Burnt Edge at 07:47.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

brian fielding wrote:
Go to the end of georges Lane and turn left, then turn left at the pub, I think it's the bob smithes, the one that had the glossy ibis a few years ago, towards the end of this road you will see a pull in next to the quarrys, this is where the vismig spot is.

Thanks Brian. I guess I should have asked beforehand. Maybe next year!

brian fielding · Status: Offline

Go to the end of georges Lane and turn left, then turn left at the pub, I think it's the bob smithes, the one that had the glossy ibis a few years ago, towards the end of this road you will see a pull in next to the quarrys, this is where the vismig spot is.

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Simon Warford wrote:
Todays Vis Mig highlights (mostly for those that remained at Scout Road for the duration; Phil Rhodes, Simon Johnson, Rick Else, Gary Crowder and Paul Cliff) up to lunchtime-

Hi,
Where is Scout Rd? I spent an almost entirely fruitless 3 and a half hours in the area this morning walking up Mast Rd and then back through the quarries. I couldn't see anything migrating anywhere apart from one small fieldfare flock. I also missed the hawfinches although I parked at Wilderswood about 7.15 a.m. I guess you have to know the area better.
Cheers,
Andy Bissitt

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

Thank you. Could easily be two. Very skulky. I only found one myself at about 3.30 ish just past the Dog Kennels

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Todays Vis Mig highlights (mostly for those that remained at Scout Road for the duration; Phil Rhodes, Simon Johnson, Rick Else, Gary Crowder and Paul Cliff) up to lunchtime-

1 Hawfinch, picked up superbly by Phil, flew fast and low right past us heading north giving us 1 brief tick call, seem to drop down in Longworth Clough at 09:04.
19 Crossbills, groups of 10 and then 9 heading north as most finches were today.
2 Greylag Geese NW
1 Peregrine NW
896 Woodpigeon south
218 Fieldfare NW
155 Redwing NW
143 Chaffinch north and 33 south
5 Brambling north
16 Siskin north and 36 south

Nice Ring Ouzel photo's Dennis! I was told that 2 males were present there today (Andy Makin).

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

Very Handsome Ring Ouzel from near Georges lane today

brian fielding · Status: Offline

Along georges Lane this morning, 1 male ring ouzel and 4 crossbill over

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

15 Hawfinch NW over Wilderswood just after 8am this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Todays Vis Mig highlights (with Andy Makin and 10 others - its suddenly seems to be becoming popular up here!) -

1 Swallow south
270 Pink-footed Geese SE
1729 Woodpigeon
373 Fieldfare NW
408 Redwings west or NW
15 Brambling
23 Bullfinch
17 Crossbill flew west out of Gale Brook Plantation (Phil)
66 Siskin south
33 Meadow Pipit south

2 Ring Ouzels along George's Lane (Andy). Also a second hand report of 1 Hawfinch over Georges Lane 11.15am and 10 Crossbills in Wilderswood.

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Simon Warford wrote:
Andy Bissitt wrote:

Simon Warford wrote:
Todays Vis Mig highlights (with Andy Makin, Phil Rhodes, Alan Warford, Rick Else and later Dave Broome) up to 12.30pm -

1 Hawfinch - superbly picked up on call by Rick Else as it flew high north right over us and then it veered and flew east towards Holcombe at 09:28.

Hi,
Which call was it please. The single 'tic' or something else? I am interested because of my own experience the other day (under 'Romiley' thread).
Thanks,
Andy Bissitt

Hi Andy, it was the single high pitched Tick call, though I didn't hear it myself, so we would have missed it if it wasn't for Rick's amazing hearing. I have heard other sites have been hearing the "Tzik" call as well which you did..

Cheers, Simon

Thanks Simon. I hope to hear another soon!

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Andy Bissitt wrote:

Simon Warford wrote:
Todays Vis Mig highlights (with Andy Makin, Phil Rhodes, Alan Warford, Rick Else and later Dave Broome) up to 12.30pm -

1 Hawfinch - superbly picked up on call by Rick Else as it flew high north right over us and then it veered and flew east towards Holcombe at 09:28.

Hi,
Which call was it please. The single 'tic' or something else? I am interested because of my own experience the other day (under 'Romiley' thread).
Thanks,
Andy Bissitt

Hi Andy, it was the single high pitched Tick call, though I didn't hear it myself, so we would have missed it if it wasn't for Rick's amazing hearing. I have heard other sites have been hearing the "Tzik" call as well which you did..

Cheers, Simon

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Simon Warford wrote:
Todays Vis Mig highlights (with Andy Makin, Phil Rhodes, Alan Warford, Rick Else and later Dave Broome) up to 12.30pm -

1 Hawfinch - superbly picked up on call by Rick Else as it flew high north right over us and then it veered and flew east towards Holcombe at 09:28.

Hi,
Which call was it please. The single 'tic' or something else? I am interested because of my own experience the other day (under 'Romiley' thread).
Thanks,
Andy Bissitt

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Todays Vis Mig highlights (with Andy Makin, Phil Rhodes, Alan Warford, Rick Else and later Dave Broome) up to 12.30pm -

1 Hawfinch - superbly picked up on call by Rick Else as it flew high north right over us and then it veered and flew east towards Holcombe at 09:28.
1 male Yellowhammer flew over calling and landed briefly (record shot from Phil)
212 Pink-footed Geese NW and 385 ESE
2901 Woodpigeon south
132 Fieldfare south
285 Redwing south
131 Meadow Pipit south
305 Chaffinch south
12 Brambling south
19 Siskin south

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Thursday 26th of October 2017 09:22:48 PM

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Hawfinch SE over Scout Road heading towards Egerton at 09:38 this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Todays Vis Mig highlights (with Andy Makin, Phil Rhodes, Rick Else and later joined by Gary Crowder and Dave Broome) up to 1pm -

4 Hawfinch, within 30 feet past us heading north at 08:50. Failed miserably in attempt to photograph them.
24 Whooper Swans (20 ESE and later 4 that flew low and were picked up by Simon Johnson at Elton)
984 Pink-footed Geese NW and 285 ESE
3614 Woodpigeon south
859 Black-headed Gull south
1 Swallow south
68 Fieldfare south
184 Redwing south
43 Mistle Thrush south - record count
178 Meadow Pipit south
272 Chaffinch south
29 Brambling south
21 Bullfinch south
260 Goldfinch south
51 Siskin south

1 Chiffchaff on Scout Road quarry.

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Wednesday 25th of October 2017 07:17:51 PM

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

4 multi-observed Hawfinch flew North over Scout Road quarry at 08:50 this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

2 Hawfinch south over Scout Road, Horwich Moors at 11:10

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights, with Andy Makin, up to 11:15am-

Blustery and deteriorating conditions as the morning progressed, but birds on the move today. Redwings and finches especially, hugging the valley side and often coming within a few feet of us giving great close fly-bys though some would just appear right in front of us which made counting sometimes difficult as birds were behind us within seconds!

1 Hawfinch south, picked up over Gale Brook Plantation at 09:28, it ended up flying right past us within 50 feet, local birding just doen't get any better than this!
1 Merlin south
1024 Redwings south
7 Fieldfare south
1 male Ring Ouzel south
8 Brambling south
69 Goldfinch south
41 Siskin south
294 Starlings SW or NW

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 21st of October 2017 03:18:55 PM

Steve Judge · Status: Offline

Friday, 20th October 2017

Big Hedge:
Fieldfare x 20 (first of year for me)
Redwing x 2
Mistle Thrush x 1
Kestrel x 1
Goldfinch x 4
Blackbird x 3

Horrock's Wood (off Scout Road) full circuit - new area for me and thoroughly enjoyable with fantastic view over Bolton from car park:
Redwing x 30
Kestrel x 3 sightings
Buzzard x 1
Collared Dove x 50
Bullfinch x 1
Reed Bunting x 7
Greenfinch x 3
Linnet x 1
Mistle Thrush x 2
Goldfinch x 7
Chaffinch x 5
Blue Tit x 1
Great Tit x 1
Long-Tailed Tit x 3
Wren x 1
Blackbird x 3
Carrion Crow x 40
Jackdaw x 3
Magpie x 10
Jay x 4
Moorhen x 1
Mallard x 2

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights, just myself, up to 12:30-

A classic arrival of Redwings here, all indicative of birds fresh in and coming in from Scotland. A total of 48 parties (largest party 250) coming down the Belmont valley out of the gloom and mist and then veering to the SW after Winter Hill. That magic time of year when we get hirrundines and winter thrushes together biggrin

2090 Redwings south or SW
5 Fieldfare SW
1 chacking Ring Ouzel SW with a Redwing flock
8 Swallow south
29 Pied Wagtails south
101 Meadow Pipit south
1082 Woodpigeon
78 Chaffinch south
9 Brambling south
123 Goldfinch south
69 Siskin south

Also 3 Ring Ouzels along Georges Lane at 11.45am.

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights, with Andy Makin, up to 11:30-

367 Pink-footed Geese NW
1 Hawfinch strongly SW at 08:00, allowing good views
1 Diver species, very high SW about 500 feet above the mast at 10:35, going in and out of clouds, couldn't ID to species unfortunately, but first for the moors.
4 Gadwall south
3 Goosander south
4,034 Woodpigeons south
68 Jackdaws south
145 Redwings SW or NW
4 Mistle Thrush south
205 Meadow Pipit south
21 Brambling south
30 Linnet south
40 Redpoll south
94 Goldfinch south
34 Siskin south

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Single Hawfinch south over Scout Road at 8am.

Info thanks to Andy Makin and Simon Warford

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights, in surreal conditions with the approach of Storm Ophelia with Saharan dust leading to a red sun. With Andy Makin and Chris Marston up to11.30-

10 Greylag Goose NW (highest site count)
1 Hawfinch low NE at 09:15 at fairly close range
123 Redwing south
49 Meadow Pipit south
1 Brambling south
13 Siskin south

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights in misty conditions, with Andy Makin, up to 11.00-

121 Redwing south
2 Fieldfare south
64 Siskin
1 Brambling south

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

6 Stonechat at Heather Hall this afternoon.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights, with Andy Makin, up to 11.00-

395 Pink-footed Geese SE and 153 NW
4 Goosander NW
3 Common Gull south
34 Pied Wagtail
201 Meadow Pipit
1 Swallow south
7 Redwing west
1 Brambling south
41 Siskin south
39 Linnet south

Also 6 Stonechat along George's Lane.

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This morning with Andy Makin-

Female Marsh Harrier
10 Wigeon NW
398 Redwings
32 Siskin south
2 Crossbill Walker Fold Wood

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights up to 12.30pm -

46 Barnacle Geese NW at 12.15pm - thanks to Simon Johnson for the phonecall and tip off, fantastic to see a high flying flock in v formation in the same airspace as several skiens of Pink-feet, given the large movement of Svalbard birds across the east coast, they were probably birds redirecting to the Solway.
190 Pink-footed Geese NW and 35 SE.
6 Bramblings in Gale Brook plantation before flying west.
56 Redwings NW
9 Snipe NW
6 Swallow south
190 Meadow Pipit south

Present were 2 male Ring Ouzels in the Big Hedge at Georges Lane, where Dan Brown later had 3 there. 6 Goldcrests Brownstones Quarry.

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 8th of October 2017 06:30:03 PM

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights with Andy Makin up to 11am were-

8 Crossbills NW right over our heads (first of Autumn)
401 Pink-footed Geese east and 15 NW
2 Golden Plover N (with 1 down in the field by Scout Road early morning)
445 Woodpigeon south
823 Meadow Pipits south
58 Swallow south
77 Linnet south
73 Siskin south

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Visible migration totals from yesterday morning, 3rd October:

6 skins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 319

2 male Merlin squabbling with a female

1 Swallow S

18 Skylark S

471 Meadow Pipit S

54 Pied Wagtail S

68 Linnet

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Full days Vis Mig with Andy Makin and Simon Johnson produced the following highlights-

1 Redwing north
1 Swift NW
1 Marsh Harrier NW
1 Merlin south
8 Raven high south
199 Pink-footed Geese (160 east & 39 NW)
435 Swallow south
111 House Martin south
1801 Meadow Pipits south
155 Siskin south

Present were 4 Chiffchaff, 5 Wheatear and 200+ Meadow Pipits across the moor.

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This morning with Andy Makin and Simon Johnson produced highlights-

1 Redwing west
1,000 Meadow Pipits south
118 Swallow south
10 Grey Wagtails south
40 Pied Wagtails south
41 Siskin south

2 Wheatear near the mast and 2 Song Thrush inside the main mast compound.
An exciting encounter by Brownstones, when a female Sparrowhawk was seen chasing a Mistle Thrush which it very nearly caught, the poor Mistle Thrush was then immediately chased by a Peregrine and somehow escaped again!

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Full day on Winter Hill with Andy Makin up to 4pm. A superb day, with an all day pipit movement, from the off and on a broad front, some very high and difficult to see especially in the early murk. We re-positioned after lunch, from our normal watchpoint to the mast compounds and Meadow Pipits steady all afternoon through here as well. Highlights -

3 Redwings over south and west (5 days earlier than last year)
1 Peregrine
13 Buzzard south
1 female Marsh Harrier through south at 13.10 right past us
3 Raven south
5493 Meadow Pipits south
63 Pied Wagtails south
8 Song Thrush south
150 Swallow south
93 Siskin south
96 Linnet south
70 Goldfinch south

Birds present included 4 Wheatear, 6 Stonechat, 1 Black Redstart border wall by main mast compound, 5 Chiffchaff, and a very late Spotted Flycatcher in the southern most cable compound. One dead Grasshopper Warbler by main mast building. Record shots by Andy Makin.

smile

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Tuesday 26th of September 2017 08:32:16 PM

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig watch with Andy Makin and Rick Else -

1257 Meadow Pipit south
5 Jay (4 south, 1 NW)
94 House Martin south
7 Mistle Thrush south
24 Pied Wagtails south
39 Linnet south
75 Goldfinch south
33 Siskin south

Also 3 Wheatear (Phil Rhodes) and 7 Stonechat across the moors.

dave broome · Status: Offline

Just over 2hrs this morning around Mast Road to Holden's Farm produced virtually no noticeable movement, 5 Siskin and 1 Redpoll NW being the highlight. At least 120 Meadow Pipit were down, but only single figures noted moving overhead. Other birds included a flock of 11 Jay moving through Holden's Plantation, 2 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechat, 90 Goldfinch and a Nuthatch at Holden's Farm

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Whinchat on Edge Lane and 4 Wheatear at Heather Hall this afternoon.

Info and image thanks to Phil Rhodes

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig watch with Andy Makin was fairly unproductive, other than continued early movement of Pink-Footed Geese-

1037 Pink-footed Geese SE in 19 skiens and 373 NW in 4 skiens. Smallest group just 7 birds.
257 Swallow south
133 House Martin south
20 Meadow Pipit south

Also 1 Whinchat and 3 Wheatear Georges Lane and 1 Wheatear Fleet Moor (Andy Pinches & Phil Rhodes).

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Another good mornings Vis Mig watch with Andy Makin, highlights only-

163 Pink-footed Geese SE and 155 NW, a total of 9 skiens
2 Golden Plover NW
ringtail Hen Harrier through west
277 Meadow Pipit south
1 Swift south (latest ever over Horwich Moors I think)
1 Sand Martin south
2615 Swallows south
3516 House Martins south

2 Tree Pipit by Gale Brook Plantation.

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

Good Vis Mig watch this morning, before departing to White Holme Reservoir with Andy Makin, produced-

16 Golden Plover (1 north and 15 SW)
30 Pink-footed Geese NW
1 male Merlin south
2 Tree Pipit south
1 cracking male Ring Ouzel which flew in from the north and landed by Scout Road quarry briefly.
319 Meadow Pipit south
3 Raven south
961 Swallow south
700 House Martin south
Siskin 5 south

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

This mornings Vis Mig highlights with Andy Makin were-

1 female Merlin south
2 Golden Plover north
3 Swift south
107 House Martin south
11 Grey Wagtails south
1272 Meadow Pipits south
27 Siskin south

6 Wheatear present, mostly Matchmoor Lane and Mast Road.