Sightings from today:

1 Spotted Flycatcher in the cable compounds on Winter Hill along with 7 chiffchaff (day totals were 18) and 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Whinchat, while 3 Sparrowhawks hunted around compounds. A further 2 Spotted Flycatchers were along Georges Lane past the kennels, and a further 2 single Whinchat also there and another 3 at Burnt Edge.

33 Wheatear
1 Tree pipit Burnt Edge
1 Sedge Warbler briefly on the tops, which is a very rare bird here (first for 11 years).
2 Redstart with one in the plantation below Burnt Edge and one along Georges Lane

Info thanks to Andy Makin

This morning up to 11.45am, with Alan Warford & Andy Makin:

Merlin flew south and chased a few Meadow Pipits along the way.
4 Whinchats Burnt Edge
1 Grasshopper Warbler
17 Wheatear
90 House Martin flew south in 3 groups.

3 Whinchat at Holdens Farm this morning.

Info thanks to Brian Fogg

Today's main highlights for the (huge!) entire moors area for the whole day, with combined sightings mainly from Andy Makin but also a few extras from myself:

23 Whinchat
1 Cuckoo along Deans Ditch
4 Redstart
4 Tree Pipit
2 Hobby
89 Wheatear
19 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Ringed Plover over south

5 whinchats below burnt edge

1 spotted flycatcher at holdens farm

Today 4:20 to 6:40pm:

22 Wheatear
2 Spotted Flycatcher
Lesser Whitethroat
5 Willow Warbler
Chiffchaffs

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Spotted Flycatcher in Newfields Plantation at 12:30 today.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

From 0700 until midday Started misty, sun came out about 8 and rain started at midday.

Georges Lane:- The mast was obscured by mist and birds were just leaving their roosts.
7 wheatear, 2 kestrel, 1jay, 1 juv redstart, 1 willow warbler heard only

Wilderswood:- 2 great tit

Matchmoor Lane to Holdens Farm:- 7 Starling, 2 blue tit 2 Wren, 3 Kestrel

Holdens Farm:- 2 whitethroat, 1 robin, 2 great tit, 1 greenfinch about 15 linnet, about 20 goldfinch, 2 spotted flycatcher, 2 possible tree pipit (positive id from photos needed), about 12 swallows.

Holdens Farm to Burnt Edge:- Pheasant, Robin 2 Kestrel

Burnt Edge, past Quarry to Matchmoor Lane:- 5 kestrel playing tag in the wind over the cliff face, joined later by a buzzard, willow warbler heard in conifers.

Mast Road 3 wheatear, 10+ meadow pipits

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 28th of August 2014 07:52:38 PM

Three Whinchat and a Redstart currently at Holden's Farm

Info thanks to Brian Fogg

3.30 - 5.00pm Georges Lane - 2 Redstart - 1 Green Woodpecker Brownstones - 4 Spotted Flycatcher - 4 Willow Warbler

Seems like it was a popular place to be today! Good to meet you too Simon, and nice to catch up with Andy who I've not seen for a long time. I spoke to a couple of other birders who may be on here. Sorry didnt ask names. Anyway, in addition to all the above:

Walker Fold / Holdens Farm area - Great spotted woodpecker 1, Wheatear 1, Redstart 2 female/juvenile types, one in the hedge on the left just past Holdens Farm heading to Holdens Plantation one on the opposite side of the field, Stonechat 3, Willow Warbler 6, Sparrowhawk 2, Jay 4, Mistle Thrush 2, Buzzard 2. There was a sizeable tit flock (coal, blue, great, long tailed) at the end of Walker Fold Woods which had a couple of Phylloscs in but they were very mobile and impossible to nail down.

Coal Pit Road - Great spotted Woodpecker 1, Linnet 12, Grey Wagtail 1 and a possible flyover Tree Pipit - called once and was only half heard.

Nice to meet Andy Makin and from Andy's info managed to see a black redstart near the ruins on Georges lane, from the same area a green woodpecker was feeding in the field,several wheatear, willow warbler,goldfinch and meadow pipit, 2 spotted flycatcher 1 near wilderswood car park 1 just beyond kennels,
Mast road 1 raven, 6 pied wagtail, meadow pipit, wheatear,3 kestrel in different areas.
Thanks for the info Andy much appreciated.

A few hours this morning in lovely weather:

2 Spotted Flycatcher - One at the start of George's Lane and one at Big Hedge, in the same tree as...
2-3 Redstart - flycatching from one of the bigger trees near Big Hedge. One male and 1-2 female/juvenile type
1 Treecreeper - Wilderswood
1 Nuthatch - Wilderswood
1 Wheatear - Off Mast Road
6 Buzzard, all circling in the air at once. Great to watch and to observe the differences in plumage
5 or more Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Blackcap - Wilderswood
2 Raven

Plus loads of Swallow, Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit. One possible Tree Pipit on the wires at Higher Meadows, but it didn't stay still long enough or call, frustratingly!

Approx 12.30 - 5pm

Started at Wilderswood, I walked through the wood towards the stone wall with the gap, and within minutes I managed...
1 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Coal Tit
1 Willow Tit (within feet of the Coal Tit)
Long Tailed Tit family of 10+ moving through
Great Tit and Blue Tit
...then it sounded like branches coming down on top of me, an almighty crash as 2 Woodpigeon and a Sparrowhawk came falling from the canopy to the forest floor infront of me. One Woodpigeon flew off, and the Sparrowhawk looked startled to see me stood there. It flew off leaving the Woodpigeon on the floor. It was gasping for breath but within a minute or so it was dead, and when I examined it, it had a puncture wound near the breast and a slice wound on its rump. Chances are the Sparrowhawk would've gone back for it.

A walk up to the mast produced good numbers of certain species, they seemed to be everywhere including...

Wheatear approx 50-60
Meadow Pipit approx 40-50
Goldfinch approx 40-50
Linnet approx 30-40
Pied Wagtail (mainly juv) approx 15-20
5 Kestrel (could be repeats)
1 Raven circling the mast
Numerous Swallow all the way up to the mast and surprisingly some House Martin too.
No sign of the Black Redstart for me.

Nice to bump into Andy Makin again, on Matchmoor Road. As we were talking a Stoat ran across the road and then back again, and yet more Wheatear in the area.

And also nice to see Steve Burke again, multitasking on Georges Lane.
Sporting a new car and watching a Spotted Flycatcher at the edge of the paddock.

Oh yeah and an Alpaca in a garden, unringed but probably not of wild origin.

Cheers
Rob




-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 23rd of August 2014 07:42:42 PM

Black Redstart currently on Winter Hill; around the rocket shaped mast on the Lancashire side.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

I also had a walk in the area From Matchmoor Lane, along Burnt Edge, round the plantation to Holden's Farm and back up to Matchmoor Lane.

Burnt Edge:- 1 Stonechat

Plantation Area:- 2 Stonechats and flock of about 15 meadow pipits

Holdens Farm:- 20+ swallows, about 10 linnets, 2 wheatear, 1 whinchat, 1 whitethroat, 1 great tit, 1 robin, 1 greenfinch, 2 young stonechat.

The farm area seems to be a magnet for bird activity.

I have checked my OS maps and can't find "higher meadows" where the big hedge is, could someone pinpoint it for me please?

Many thanks

Andy V

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 23rd of August 2014 08:49:46 AM

Highlights of a 3 hour walk around the area this afternoon:-

Whinchat, 5 (1 in field below the Kennels, 2 in the horse field along Mast Road, 2 below Burnt Edge)
Stonechat, 6 (2 behind Holdens, family party of 2 adults and 2 juv along Burnt Edge)
Wheatear, min 7 in various parts of the area
Raven, 2 around Two Lads area
Kestrel, min 4 birds around the area
C Buzzard, 1
Long Tailed Tits, small party of around 7 birds in area around Big Hedge with a few Willow Warblers with them
Two small groups of Goldfinch, one group in area below the Kennels the others along Mast Road where they were mixed with around 30 Meadow Pipits
Few Pied Wagtails along Mast Road in horse field
A few Willow Warblers scattered around the area


Bob & Joyce C

Today's sightings:

1 Tree Pipit showing well on wires and in the clearing at Wilderswood, also 1 calling over Walker Fold
Black Redstart on the top of Winter Hill and 1 again along Georges Land just within Lancashire
Redstart along Georges Lane and 3 in the Big Hedge at Higher Meadows
Spotted Flycatcher along Georges Lane, 1 at Wilderswood, 1 at Sheep Cote Green pasture and 5 in Walker Fold Wood
Whinchat along Georges Lane past the kennels, 1 on Horwich moor and on 1 Fleet Moor
57 Wheatear
15 Goldcrest
29 Willow Warbler

Info thanks to Andy Makin and Dan Brown

Yesterday's sightings from all day:

151 Wheatear
Whinchats along Scout Road and at Holdens Farm
Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Pipit at Higher Meadows but moved into Lancashire.
Black Redstart still along Georges Lane in Lancashire

Info thanks to Andy Makin

This morning in windy conditions:

2 Tree Pipits over Georges Lane
1 Whinchat on wires by Wilderswood car park
3 Spotted Flycatcher- 2 Sheep Cote Green and one by Walker Fold Wood
2 Wheatear

Info thanks to Andy Makin and Dan Brown

Other sightings from today:

1 Redstart at Georges Lane
6 Spotted Flycatcher; 4 in the big hedge at Higher Meadows; 1 at Sheep Cote Pasture; 1 at Brownstones.
5 Tree Pipit
Merlin over Sheep Cote Pasture.
8 Wheatear
1 Golden Plover south
89 Willow Warbler
1 Whinchat at the top of Corn Edge Lane

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Today's sightings from practically all day, between Andy Makin, Dan Brown and myself:

10 Redstarts- 1 by the county border at Georges Lane; 3 in the big hedge at Higher Meadows; 2 at the bottom of Holdens Plantation; 2 different birds at Holdens Farm; 1 at Sheep Cote Green; and 1 at Green Nook Farm.

6 Spotted Flycatchers- 2 in the big hedge at Higher Meadows; 1 at Walker Fold; 1 at Holdens Farm; 1 at Green Nook Farm; 1+ at Lomax Wife's Plantation.

Cuckoo along Mast Road

Ring Ouzel flew from Newfields Plantation into the tops of the conifers at Walker Fold Wood.

Approximately 70 Willow Warblers.

15 Wheatear.

4 Tree Pipit- 3 in rough fields in between the main road and Newfields Plantation at Walker Fold; one by Green Nook Farm.

1 Ringed Plover- flew over west

9 Whitethroat

Sightings from this morning in very blustery conditions:

7 Wheatear along Mast Road
Merlin at Walker Fold
2 Tree Pipit down, with one showing well on a stone wall at the bottom of Burnt Edge and one on wires at Holdens Farm
11 Willow Warbler

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Sightings from this afternoon, 1 to 3pm at Burnt Edge:

3 Spotted Flycatcher
24 Willow Warbler
15 Coal Tit
2 Chiffchaff
3 Treecreeper
3 Nuthatch

Info thanks to Andy Makin