A walk starting at the car park at the far end of Georges Lane - Rivington Pike - Across the moors to the mast area - around the mast compounds - round the back of the mast down to Coal Pit Lane - Holdens - Mast Road - Georges Lane back to the car. Inevitably some sightings relating to birds out of the Gtr Manchester area into Lancashire.
Kestrel, min 6 birds C Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Whinchat, 2 from Georges Lane but opp the Pike so into Lancs. Raven, 2 (same area as Whinchat) Wheatear 5, 1 in the vicinity of the mast and 4 in the horse field bottom of Mast Road Meadow Pipit, estimated min of 300 birds throughout the walk Swallows several parties of 30 - 40 birds so estimated min of 200 birds Reed Bunting, 2, Holdens Goldcrest, 1 Georges Lane in Lancashire Blue Tit, min 10 in one party (as above) Skylark, less than 20 over the moor tops Low numbers (less than 5) of Great Tit, Goldfinch, Robins, Wren, Long Tail Tit, Linnet, Black Headed Gull, Magpie etc.
a nice afternoon on the moors up by the mast, followed by a slow decent of the road viewing both sides, i noted 35 Wheatears, 16 Meadow Pipits, other birds were 2 Skylarks, 3 Kestrels 27 Swallows, 2 Whinchat and 1 Stonechat, 1 Curlew
Goshawk flew directly SW over Dean Ditch at 7:14 am 6 Grey Wagtails south 8 Whinchat in total over the area 4 Redstart: 1 big hedge, 2 male and a female past the kennels at Georges Lane 19 + Buzzard 44 Wheatear 1 Tree Pipit south over Edge Lane 1 Willow Tit at Matchmoor Lane and a Golden Plover over
1 Kestrel, 2 Magpie, several Carrion Crow, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Lesser Redpoll, several Meadow Pipit, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, juvenile Common Whitethroat, juvenile Wheatear, heard Red Grouse.
Georges Lane, Manchester section: Magpie, Carrion Crow, 8 Goldfinch, Robin, several Meadow Pipit.
Winter Hill, on the walk up Mast Road I noted plenty Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark and a single Wheatear on a wall. At the top on the wall that lies next to the boundary between Lancashire & Manchester, there were at least 12 Wheatear and several Meadow Pipit. At the top of Mast Road, whilst talking to Andy Makin (Manchester Birding) he pointed out to me that there were three Red Grouse sat on the same wall but about 100yds to the south. Around the masts (on the LCC side) there were several more Meadow Pipits, a single Swallow, 3 Kestrel and 2 Carrion Crows. On the walk back down Mast Road I noted most of the Wheatear from the wall had dispersed, but there were at least 8 more by the empty compound on the hill with 6 Meadow Pipit and 1 Reed Bunting (all on Manchester side). Further down on the walls to the east of the road where there had been 1 Wheatear on the way up there were at least 50 Wheatear and a dozen or so Meadow Pipit. Farther down still was a single Kestrel being mobbed by at least a dozen Meadow Pipit. 1 Brown Hawker Dragonfly also seen.
__________________
Len Poxon https://www.flickr.com/photos/69575632@N02/with/20879853990/
1 Redstart in the sallows just past, and on the opposite side from Wilderswood car park
2 Tree Pipits over going south
1 Wheatear mast rd
4 Red Grouse mast Road
6+ Goldcrests in the pines at the end of Wilderswood
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Sparrowhawks
4 Ravens
__________________
No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
1 Spotted Flycatcher at Marklands Road. 8 Chiffchaff 3 Hobby through 1 Osprey at 4:50pm about 500ft SSE at the start of Georges Lane 1 Redstart past the kennels on Georges Lane and also 2 juvenile Green Woodpeckers 10 Wheatear
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
Pm walk from walkerfold past Holdens farm and back, Great tit,blue tit,robin, blackbird,chaffinch,5 linnet, 2 whinchat,7 swallow,masses of meadow pipit, at least 2 kestrel possibly 4, 2 pheasant, 2 raven over, magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, 1 jay.
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.
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
9 Tree Pipit over south 1 Greenshank and 1 Oystetcatcher over south 1 curlew over west 106 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin over south Male Black Redstart moved rapidly down Mast road wall by the edge of Smithills Moor mid afternoon 1 Whinchat 1 Spotted Flycatcher at Brownstones 1 Yellow Wagtail at Higher Meadow 5 Wheatear 5 Chiffchaff 23 Meadow Pipit over north
7 Whinchat: 1 along Georges Lane past the kennels; 3 in the pony field at Mast Road; and 3 at Burnt Edge. 1 Redstart Georges Lane and 1 at Adams Hill Plantation. 2 Tree pipit heading south over Wilderswood and 1 south over Burnt Edge. 45 Wheatear. 3 Yellow Wagtails. 3 Willow Warbler. 7 Buzzard.
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
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.
__________________
No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
This morning from 7am with Andy Makin, me till 12.30, Andy till late afternoon;
Black Redstart still present below Georges Lane, just in Lancs past the Kennels. 15 Whinchat (4 Fleet Moor, 3 Burnt Edge, 1 Deans Ditch, 3 Georges Lane & 4 along Mast Road) 6 Stonechat Grasshopper Warbler showing well along the lower path in Burnt Edge, chasing a Whinchat at one point. 5 Tree Pipit (3 seen and heard flying south and two heard only near Hampsons Farm). 5 Spotted Flycatchers (1 Newfields, 1 Brownstones, 3 Wilderswood/Georges area). 35 Swift 128 Wheatear 4 Redstart at the Big Hedge, Georges Lane (Ken & Jill).
Nice to meet Craig Higson for the first time, who also saw some stuff we didn't.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 24th of August 2014 07:13:03 PM
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.
In addition to Andrew's sightings, there were two singing Chiffchaff in The Dell, plus several more 'Willowchiffs', a Wheatear in field below the Kennels, a flock of c50 Goldfinch in the same field, and another different flock in Big Hedge.
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!
13 Spotted Flycatcher- 5 Brownstones, 2 Wilderswood, 6 Sheep Cote Gully. 4 Redstart with singles at Sheep Cote Gully, the big hedge, Georges Lane past the kennels and Gilligants Farm. 4 Whinchat with on 2 Fleet Moor and singles at Burnt Edge and Coal Pit Lane by Holdens Wood. 1 Tree pipit over Holdens Wood 103 Wheatear 9 Chiffchaff 10 Willow Warbler
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
3 Redstart with one along Georges Lane past the kennels, one in the big hedge at Higher Meadows and one which came off the moor and flew in to the dell at Georges Lane. 2 Tree Pipit 16 Spotted Flycatchers with 5 at Wilderswood; 3 the big hedge; 8 at Brownstones 46 Wheatear 6 Chiffchaff 25 Willow Warbler 1 Curlew
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
5 Wheatears 9+ Tree Pipit with 5+on wires and bushes at the start of Walker Fold path; 2 at Burnt Edge; and 2 at Holden's Farm 5 Spotted Flycatchers at Wilderswood and 1 at Walker Fold 1 Redstart in the big hedge at Higher Meadows
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
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
Sightings from today, between Andy Makin, Dan Brown and myself.
2 Spotted Flycatcherby Wilderswood car park. 2 Tree Pipit; one low over Wilderswood and one by Walker Fold. 3 Whinchat; 1 Georges Lane, 1 Heather Hall and a juvenile at Hampsons Farm. 31 Wheatear 1 Yellow Wagtail by Holdens Farm 2 Redstart; one along Georges Lane in Lancashire and one in the big hedge at Higher Headows. Juvenile Black Redstart again along Georges Lane just inside Lancashire. 2 Swift Juvenile Green Woodpecker by the kennels on Georges Lane Probably 40+ Willow Warbler
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