9 skiens of Pink-footed Geese with a total of 1320 se and 289 wsw Woodpigeon- 670 nw and 2101 ssw Ring Ouzel- 3 s Twite- two flocks of 9 and 6 s over Scout Road Siskin- 31 Chaffinch- 114 Redpoll- 23 Greenfinch- 34 Bullfinch- 11s
Great White Egret briefly across Georges Lane by the kennels just after 10am today; then seen minutes later from Scout Road and departed north(ish), possibly back to Wayoh Reservoir area.
Info thanks to Ken Haydock, Jill Mills, Andy Makin
2pm til 4pm along George's Lane yesterday. Dipped on the Ring Ouzel's but one guy leaving had photograhed one but not seen any for 2 hours. Stonechat Wheatear Mistle Thrush Kestrel Buzzard Wren Great tit Raven Jay Magpie Carrion Crow Blackbird (at first glance deep in a hawthorn got me a little excited )
13 Ring Ouzels in the area in total today, ranging from Higher Meadows to Coal Pit Lane. 12 Fieldfare 123 Redwing South 3 Wheatear along Georges Lane Male Merlin
At least 7 Ring Ouzels still along Georges Lane (2 in GM side, 5 just into Lancs).
1 Grey Plover heard only in the very misty conditions this morning, as the mist lifted 690 Redwings through SW, flocks of Pink-feet heard calling above mist this morning and c400 SE once mist had lifted.
Probably about 9 Ring Ouzel in the area today, all but one (around the mast cable compounds) along Georges Lane, some of which were over the border in Lancs.
Also present were 2 Wheatear and 9 Stonechat around the mast cable compounds.
Todays highlights between myself, Ian McKerchar, Andy Makin & Dan Brown up to 14:00,
2,434 Redwings mostly SE with some south and also 369 NW. 28 RING OUZELS (17 either through or present along Georges Lane, 5 Holdens Farm, 2 over Scout Road and 4 around the Mast Compounds). 6 Fieldfare through Georges Lane 110 Pink-footed Geese NW 11:50 21 Stonechat. 2 Siskin south 71 Goldfinch south 74 Chaffinch south
A male Ring Ouzel was at Higher Meadows, Georges Lane this morning, also on the move were 1,189 Woodpigeon south, 320 Pink-feet SE & 55 NW & 42 Redwing NW.
During partialy misty conditions, 1783 Meadow Pipits seen moving along with many finches,wagtails and Skylark 3 single Merlins moving south chasing pipits 50+ Pink-footed Geese SE at 07:50 4 Wheatear An amazing sight of 2 Black Redstarts sheltering from rain under the observers car for 5 minutes before the mast; a possible third bird on top of Mast Road just over in Lancashire. 30 Golden Plover
2 black redstarts in the mast compound, later flew into the fenced off area that hold the cables in lancs. 1 wheatear 2 reed bunting along mast rd at least 6 kestrel 2 buzzard 5 mistle thrush 2 stonechat just before the kennels. 2 chiffchaff, 1 singing along georges lane.
wilderswood
2 great spotted woodpecker 2 nuthatch 3 siskin over
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 5th of October 2014 09:01:10 PM
Very low numbers of grounded birds again, however there was a flock of 70 Pink Footed Geese over heading east.
Birds seen/heard: 2 Wheatear, 1 Kestrel, 2 Carrion Crow, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark, 1 Red Grouse, and the highlight was a female/immature Black Redstart on the main mast compound.
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Len Poxon https://www.flickr.com/photos/69575632@N02/with/20879853990/
Whinchat, Coal Tit, Goldcrest and 16 Wheatear all around the summit of Winter Hill 3 Black Redstart around the rocket mast mid morning 23 Pink-footed Geese SE over Scout Road at 7:30 and a flock call in mist at 7:37 13 Cormorant SE at over 2000ft 40 Pied Wagtail S in half hour before the mist descended
10.30ish till 1pm A few hours around the quarries, Adams hill and Holdens farm area, no sightings on the migration front but the resident birds werent half kicking off,
Several Kestrels in the area constantly Pair of Buzzards hunting over the old Quarry joined by a pair of Ravens started several minutes of aerial conflict, as that broke off one of the Ravens spotted a crow with white wing feathers and chased that very aggressively for some distance. One of the kestrels then put several stoops in at one of the Buzzards over the quarry with the buzzard rolling over each time trying to grab the Kestrel After that had finished had not walked much further when a male Peregrine appeared and put some more stoops in at the Buzzard. Green Woodpecker heard Holdens wood 2 Snipe Juvenile Buzzard making racket at the back of Holdens wood as were several Jays, as I got to the other side of the valley spotted a fox slinking off 2 sightings of Sparrowhawks hunting rounded off a decent Raptor fest although my targets were the Harrier and the Merlin, nice morning after the initial shock of the bacon butty van not being across from the Jolly Crofters
Much quieter than expected this morning along the path from Walker Fold to Holdens plantation. Nothing unexpected and the highlight was probably the 4 Sparrowhawks circling and 'squabbling'.
Georges Lane wasn't much more thrilling 5 Common Buzzards together over Wilderswood and a single Wheatear in the field opposite the car park were the best birds.
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3 Black Redstarts on rocket mast around mid-day but couldn't find them anywhere an hour later despite a good search 1 Whinchat behind main compound and a second Whinchat reported up near furthest mast 1 Robin in main compound 2 Kestrels
Todays main highlights, from an all day Migration Watch up to 16:00 -
2,543 Meadow Pipits 1 Fieldfare low overhead calling 64 Pied Wagtails south 55 Pink-footed Geese NW 9 Stock Dove south 1 Golden Plover 21 Swallow & 35 House Martin south 70 Goldfinch south
Also present were,
1 imm/fem Black Redstart in mast compound 1 Ring Ouzel briefly near Rocket Shaped mast 1 Whinchat still near main mast building 1 Merlin 10 Chiffchaff around the various mast compounds including 3 that flew off very high also 1 Goldcrest in compounds.
(with Andy Makin, Alan Warford, Phil Rhodes, Karen Foulkes & Simon Ghilks)
Todays main highlights from a wonderful all day Migration Watch with Andy Makin produced;
6,691 Meadow Pipits south 125 Pied Wagtails south 2 Goosander south 1 Redwing west 33 Mistle Thrush south 64 Linnet south 168 Goldfinch south 230 Swallow south 8 Snipe east 14 Golden Plover south 15 Jay south 47 Jackdaw south 117 Pink-footed Geese (46 and 49 SE; 22 NW)
Birds present included ringtail Hen Harrier, Merlin, Whinchat (main mast building), 3 Wheatear & a superb Jack Snipe near the Masts.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 27th of September 2014 09:15:19 PM
Very low bird count of grounded birds compared to the last 2 weeks. Birds seen/heard: 1 m Sparrowhawk with distinctive large white patch on back of head working its way along the boundary wall between Lancs & Greater Manchester. 2 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, a thrush heard, 1 Kestrel, Red Grouse heard, a further 15 Meadow Pipit & 2 Kestrel seen on GM side.
-- Edited by Len Poxon on Saturday 27th of September 2014 11:02:02 PM
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This mornings highlights between myself, Andy Makin and Dan Brown;
Ringtail Hen Harrier on Smithill's Moor 2 Whinchats still by the main Mast building 1 Chiffchaff Rocket Mast compound 11 Wheatear 17 Snipe all over high west
Also movement of Pink-footed Geese all heading NW, 90 at 11:55, 160 at 12:00, 52 at 12:40 and 35 at 13:45. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker high south over moor and kept going 71 Swallow south 113 Meadow Pipits south
This mornings highlights (or lack of them!) with Alan Warford & Andy Makin were 2 Whinchats still by the main mast building, along with 3 Stonechat and 1 Robin and elsewhere 3 Green Woodpeckers and a male Merlin. Everything else present in yesterdays fall had departed.
Good to have Dave Bowman and David Spencer join us today.
Another good fall of migrants in the various Mast Compounds in this mornings misty conditions which were thoroughly checked by myself, Andy Makin, Ken Haydock and Dan Brown produced:
2 Redstart (main mast building) 2 Whinchat behind main mast building with 8 Stonechat 19 Chiffchaff, including 5 which landed half way up one of the smaller towers and then flew off high west into the distance! 2 Goldcrest (one of the smaller enclosures) 3 Robins in the small enclosures 1 Reed Bunting main mast building 4 Linnets and 13 Goldfinch feeding inside the compounds were probably also migrants.
Other birds elsewhere included-
1 Ringtail Hen Harrier over mid afternoon - David Humphreys 3 Redwing 3 Spotted Flycatchers 22 Wheatear 16 Chiffchaff 17 Swallow south 249 Meadow Pipit south.
10.30-13.30 with Tony Darby. Circular walk from below Walker Fold Wood up Burnt Edge to Mast Road and back via Holden's Farm
Kestrel 7 Buzzard 4 Raven 4 Wheatear 2 + 4 in horsefileld at Holden's Farm where also a flock of Linnets and Goldfinch over 200 Reed Bunting 4 near Holden's plantation Meadow Pipits 100s No Whinchat or Stonechat for us. What time were you there Bernard? Hi Tim i got there approx 14-20 and stayed till 17-30ish, Surprising numbers of buttterflies
And fantastically just before noon the Red Arrows flew over Mast Road and did a red, blue and white smoke trail roughly over the Reebok. It may have been further off as they were due over Southport at noon. By 4 pm they were in France doing displays!
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 21st of September 2014 07:45:17 PM
Todays full list of highlights between myself, Alan Warford and Andy Makin covering 06:45 to 16:00:
1 Red Kite 29 Buzzard 1 Hobby south 1 Merlin 22 Pink-footed Geese SE 3 Golden Plover 44 Skylark NW 2763 Meadow Pipit south also hundreds all over moors still 1 Tree Pipit south 59 Wheatear 3 Spotted Flycatcher 6 Chiffchaff Only migrants around the Mast Compounds today were a single Ring Ouzel and Robin! Yesterdays dead Chiffchaff was actually a juvenile Willow Warbler and was killed by a dog.
Family party of at least 4 Stonechat on Manchester side of George's Lane just along from the kennels. Also Kestrel being harassed by Magpie, and good numbers of Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit.
No sign of Red Kite from George's Lane, but a tight flock of Big Red Birds flew fast west towards Southport over Wilderswood at midday!
Myself and Tim Wilcox also watched the Big Red Birds and the flock was very tight. We lost sight of them as they headed towards Southport. They'll be going south to France tomorrow.
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Sunday 21st of September 2014 08:05:16 PM
10.30-13.30 with Tony Darby. Circular walk from below Walker Fold Wood up Burnt Edge to Mast Road and back via Holden's Farm
Kestrel 7 Buzzard 4 Raven 4 Wheatear 2 + 4 in horsefileld at Holden's Farm where also a flock of Linnets and Goldfinch over 200 Reed Bunting 4 near Holden's plantation Meadow Pipits 100s No Whinchat or Stonechat for us. What time were you there Bernard? Surprising numbers of buttterflies
And fantastically just before noon the Red Arrows flew over Mast Road and did a red, blue and white smoke trail roughly over the Reebok. It may have been further off as they were due over Southport at noon. By 4 pm they were in France doing displays!
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 21st of September 2014 07:45:17 PM
Burnt edge 7 whinchat, 2 stonechat plus 2 more stonechat higher up the moor, 1 buzzard,at least 3 kestrel,2 raven,20ish house martin,plenty meadow pipit.
Family party of at least 4 Stonechat on Manchester side of George's Lane just along from the kennels. Also Kestrel being harassed by Magpie, and good numbers of Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit.
No sign of Red Kite from George's Lane, but a tight flock of Big Red Birds flew fast west towards Southport over Wilderswood at midday!
Stonechat F Meadow Pipits 10+ in mast area and some migrating over south. Wheatears 20 + Kestrels 10+ Red Kite Buzzard 6 Peregrine 1 Ring Ouzel 1
Ring Ouzel seen in flight near masts then came down on moor. Red Kite circling over Smithills moor with 4 Buzzards then drifted back into Lancs Lost to view flying towards Rivington Pike.
This morning with Andy Makin, the misty conditions with recent easterlies brought in a good number of migrants in to the Mast Compounds with a few site records broken along the way!
Totals in the Mast area as follows; 2 Ring Ouzels, 18 Chiffchaff incl. one picked up dead, 11 Goldcrest with several feeding in the juncus patches and half way up the Rocket mast!, 42 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat (1 Rocket Mast & 1 main mast building), 2 Stonechat, 3 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 14 Wrens, 4 Chaffinch (Rocket Mast), 5 Goldfinch main mast building, 1 Snipe in main mast compound and a approx.. 100 grounded Meadow Pipits.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 20th of September 2014 02:46:22 PM
Sightings from today between Andy Makin and myself:
1 Merlin SW over Scout Road 1 Spotted Flycatcher along Georges Road past the kennels 1 Whinchat behind Holden's Farm 36 Wheatear 1 Tree Pipit at Walker Fold
1160 Meadow Pipit, which included 807 between 6:55am - 7:55am from Scout Road 670 Swallow 76 House Martin Grasshopper Warbler flushed from brambles along Georges Lane 47 Wheatear 1 Spotted Flycatcher 6 Grey Wagtail south
Totals from today thanks to Andy Pinches, Dan Brown and Simon Warford:
60 Wheatears 2 Whinchat along Georges Lane, 2 behind Holdens Farm, 1 on Fleet Moor 940 Swallow, 560 House Martin through south 527 Meadow Pipit south 2 Siskin south 1 Tree Pipit south over Georges Lane On the moor tops around the mast, 1 Magpie, 3 Jay, Chaffinch, Wren, 2 Goldcrest Immature Black Redstart around the rocket shaped mast in Lancashire
Around 1pm today: 2 Buzzards circling lowish, over the fields below Walker Fold Rd.... also a Wheatear flying near the Summit of Sheephouse Lane(lancs). Seen while cycling.
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