Possible common redpoll at George's lane near big hedge. Very pale with almost pure white/cream chest and only any red on top of it's head. Flew off towards wilder sword and could not relocate.
A couple of hours this morning between 8.30 - 10.30 firstly along Georges Land then a loop from Burnt Edge to Holden's Farm. Overall fairly quiet
Georges Lane 1 Wheater below kennels 3 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler, 7 Lesser Redpoll in the conifers Kestrel
Burnt Edge / Holden's Farm 6 Willow Warbler 14 Linnet 2 Swallows 2 Curlew 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Goldfinches in conifers at Burnt Edge 1 Red Grouse on raised edge of quarry as you walk down from Burnt Edge - then flew towards Burnt Edge
Holdens Farm. What a start to the day !! 8.30 a.m 2 swallows swooping over the farm and darting in and out of the buildings. Then at lunch time sat watching 2 Pied wagtails exploring stone wall and carrying in nesting material. Super day.
Andy - thanks for your company this morning good to get to know a bit more about places of interest around the moors by the way forgot Swallow over stables on George's Lane
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Sightings from this morning:
Crossbill 5 over NNW and 11 briefly down in Wilderswood before flying N Siskin 15 W Redpoll 20 N Linnet 3 N Chaffinch 14 S Wheatear 2 females at Holdens
Crossbill 5 over NNW and 11 briefly down in Wilderswood before flying N Siskin 15 W Redpoll 20 N Linnet 3 N Chaffinch 14 S Wheatear 2 females at Holdens
1 Reed Bunting, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Raven, 6 Meadow Pipits and a pair of Mistle Thrushes.
Georges Lane
On the rough pasture below the kennels.
26 Fieldfares mixed with 50+ Starlings in a single flock, 1 Kestrel, 1 male Stonechat, 1 Raven and 2 Lapwings.
Holdens Farm
Another mixed flock of Fieldfares & Starlings, on pasture behind the farm, a highly mobile group, impossible to count, but numbers seem similar to those near the kennels.
1 Pied Wagtail
-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 15th of March 2014 03:40:06 PM
Spent a wonderful 15 mins watching from the car, 2 Green Woodpeckers feeding in short heather at the side of Coal Pit rd near Holdens Farm. Before flying into trees at other side of road.
9.30am to 11.50am. Scout Road- Coal Pit Road- Burnt Edge- Walker Fold. Not too much about, the best sightings being :-
1f Goosander with 12 Mallards on Bryan Hey Reservoir. A Redwing with 8 Blackbirds at Green Nook 10 Meadow Pipits & 100+ Fieldfares on field between Gilligant's & Roscow's Tenement Farms A Kestrel at Holden's Farm A Reed Bunting was the only bird at Burnt Edge
Around 8.45 this morning, 4235 Woodpigeons flew over Scout Road, then a flock of at least 300 Skylark headed directly NW over the watch point. Other birds included 310 Starlings, 40 Reed Bunting and 6 Goosander south and 7 on Bryan Hey Reservoir.
Single snow bunting 8.00 am this morning bird took up off mast road and landed next to the second to last compound no sign of black redstart , heard several red grouse and had a great view of one bird next to the road ( all in lancashire ) 2 carrion crow were eating the bird seed left for the snow buntings , 1 female stonechat on manchester side several redwing flew over at head hight .
Had a walk round Burnt edge area 3-4.00. Didn't see much just 2 Buzzards and a fantastic Green Woodpecker. Had great views of them all though. I have never seen a Green Woodpecker up there before!
929 Fieldfare over SW with 40 Bramblings mixed in the flocks Bramblings throughout the Beech woodlands from Holden's Farm to Walker Fold with at least 200+ birds! A flock of 30 Lesser Redpoll and 25 Greenfinch at Holden's Farm 4 Red Grouse on Sugar Loaf Hill was very unusual A very vocal Water Rail was in juncas at Green Nook and was the first record for the moors recording area
Had a walk round Burnt Edge area today as part of my week off work 10.00 till 12.00. Species seen:
3 Stonechat Meadow Pipit Female Reed Bunting Buzzard being mobbed by a crow Greenfinch Pheasant
But the highlight was a massive flock of Brambling in Holdens Plantation. This had at least 100-150 birds may be more. They were constantly moving around the trees feeding on the beech mast but every now and then a smaller flock would fly up from the ground into the trees above. Brilliant to see! Thanks to Pete for the information.
The only highlight of this mornings Vis Mig. watch was a calling Snow Bunting that flew over us at Scout Road at 7.27am, also 156 Pink-footed Geese flew SE and 55 flew NW, 1,988 Woodpigeon SW and 590 Starling NW, otherwise fairly quiet. Good to have a few GM birders with us this morning including Karen Foulkes, Simon Ghilks, Holly Page and Dennis Atherton
Another visit this morning in search of Snow Buntings and Twite, but unfortunately no such luck. The whole area was very quiet. 23 Greenfinches in the alder plantation near Walker Fold Farm plus 6 Linnets. 1 Kestrel, 1Goldfinch, 20 Fieldfare, 4 Pheasant, plus the usual Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons etc was pretty much the sum total of 2 very wet hours.
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
This morning with Andy Makin, from above Scout Road;
Approx. 20 Twite just above Scout Road quarry feeding in rough area with patchy juncus till 9.30am at least. 6 Snow Bunting flew south just below a flock of Woodpigeons. 27,800 Woodpigeons between 07.00 & 08.40 then abruptly ceased. 5 Whooper Swan SE 1,485 Pink-footed Geese SE & 272 NW. 15 Golden Plover south 10 Brambling SW & several males around Newfields plantation still. 4 Crossbill west & 271 Fieldfare SW.
30 Whooper Swan SE 1565 Pink-footed Geese SE 7643 Woodpigeon south 1230 Fieldfare south 150 Redwing south 11 Brambling & 105 Chaffinch south 16 Siskin south 2 Yellowhammer south
Today:
330 Pink-footed Geese SE 152 Woodpigeon south 583 Fieldfare south 5 Brambling & 25 Crossbill SW
Had a walk round walker fold and burnt edge area this morning with annette cutts, 9.30-12.00. It was probably the best 2 hours of weather for today!!
Pretty quiet really but saw the following:
Goldcrest,
Kestrel,
Meadow pipit,
Jay,
Robin,
Wren,
Linnet,
The highlight was a single fieldfare on the way back to the van.
Was hoping to catch the crossbills seen yesterday but no joy.
2 Glossy Ibis circled Edge Lane at 8.10am before flying south towards Rumworth, they were then back in the field behind Bob Smithy around 9.10am 18 Whooper Swans east at 8.05am 1,756 Pink-footed Geese SE in 8 skiens, including a super flock of 1,000+ 1,118 Woodpigeon west
1 Wheatear present in field at top of Edge Lane.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 27th of October 2013 12:40:15 PM
Late to the party I know and I didn't have a camera with me.
Would I be able to get pictures with just a 300mm lens if I hung around long enough? I've seen some post where people have said they have ventured near to the fence.
C16 Common Crossbills at Walker Fold plantation this am. Also a large flock co approx 300 wood pigeons. 6 Goldcrests, 5 Fieldfare, 22 Long-tailed tits, plus usuals.
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk