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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> HORWICH MOORS
Post Info TOPIC: HORWICH MOORS
Simon Warford


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Todays sightings, by site regulars up to 4.30pm.

Unidentified juvenile Acro Warbler (Reed or Marsh) present all day 100 yards up the track from Walker Fold Road, showing on and off. Probably a Reed Warbler but a very interesting bird, with ID inconclusive in the end.

Also,

Walker Fold Wood to Burnt Edge area were 6+ Tree Pipit, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 3 Wheatear, 4 Grasshopper Warblers and 25 Willow Warbler.

Brownstones Quarry - 2 Spotted Flycatcher.

Georges Lane - 2 Whinchat, male Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher (Andy Pinches).

Fleet Moor - 1 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 150 Lapwing.

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Sunday 20th of August 2017 06:13:41 PM

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Steve Christmas


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3 cormorant south over Georges Lane this morning at around 8am.



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Craig Higson


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A couple of hours stroll from the Walker Fold end, past Holdens Farm and back down Burnt Edge this lunchtime didn't produce an awful lot unfortunately. Quite a few Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were around, along with a few Goldcrests. I didn't see any Wheatears, Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchats or Tree Pipits, although I thought I caught a Tree Pipit calling as I walked down the path from Newfields. Singles of Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were the only raptors seen.

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John Williams


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16.00-20.45

Georges Lane

1m Whinchat and 1 juv Stonechat both sat on fenceposts below the kennels.

2 Buzzards calling and doing an aerial display. A family of 3 Kestrels, one of which was mobbing a Buzzard.

Burnt Edge

3 Spotted Flycatchers showing very well on the the edge of the wood, near the old brick building. Many thanks to the birder who pointed these birds out to me.

A group of 12 Meadow Pipits and 4 Reed Buntings were near the plantation.

Walker Fold

6 Willow Warblers and a single Chiffchaff moving through the conifers beside the track.

Holdens Farm

1 Tree Pipit sat on the wires along with 18 Swallows.



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John Williams
dave broome


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1 Spotted Flycatcher today along George's Lane in The Dell, 3 Wheatear in the Mast Road pony fields



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday afternoon:

9 Wheatear in the pony field off the bottom of Mast Road

Spotted Flycatcher along the Walker Fold to Burnt Edge path

2 Tree Pipit at Edge Lane

 

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes



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Simon Warford


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This mornings highlights with Simon Johnson upto 11.30am;

Brownstones-

1 Spotted Flycatcher
1 poss 2 Tree Pipits
Garden Warbler
5 Willow Warbler
3 juv Bullfinch

Walker Fold Wood to Burnt Edge-

3 Grasshopper Warblers
4+ Tree Pipit
2 juv Bullfinch
4 Stonechat
2 juv Whinchat

Scout Road-

1 Tree Pipit
3 Stonechat

Also 5 Wheatear on Fleet Moor and Phil Rhodes had 3 on the mast Road. Dave Sherrington had a Redstart George's Lane.



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dave broome


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Record shot of a Tree Pipit in Wilderswood, Friday 11th, 1 other heard only over George's Lane



-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 12th of August 2017 09:59:00 AM

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Paul Richardson


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Pleasant mooch from Walker Fold up to Holden's Farm and round back via Burnt Edge. Most activity was early from 0730 through to 0900 - after that all was noticeably quieter.

No Spotted Flycatchers or Tree Pipits for me today. The one unusual find was a Willow Tit in the trees near Holden's Farm. It gave its "zee-zee" call so it wasn't a Marsh Tit. Not particularly a species I would expect on the moors? (Record shot attached)
One was seen a couple of hours later on the wire near the farm - possibly the same bird.

Otherwise

16 Mistle Thrush on wires by Walker Fold parking area flew off south.
Goldcrest 8 in a mixed Tit flock on the access track
Also Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit (6), Long Tailed Tit (about 10) and Chaffinch in same flock, with a single Willow Warbler.

Elsewhere
Willow Warbler 3
Reed Bunting approx 10
Wren 6
Bullfinch 4
Common Whitethroat 4 juv
Linnet 3 juv
Kestrel 6
Sparrowhawk 1
Raven 1

Meadow Pipits - approx 60 around Holden's Farm early on.



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Ian McKerchar


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Today's sightings combined between Andy Makin, Simon Warford and Andy Pinches:

 

15 Tree pipit with 7 at Higher Meadows, 4 east at Burnt Edge, 2 feeding at the northern end of Burnt Edge, 1 at Walker Fold and 1 at Holden's Farm.

20 Spotted flycatcher with 1 at Brownstones, 1 in the dell at Higher Meadows, 12 together Gale Brook, 2 at Walker Fold and 4 at Wilderswood.

Juvenile Marsh Harrier flew west over Gale Brook just after 4pm (photo below by Andy Makin).

6 Wheatear

35 Willow Warbler

3 Siskin

80 Swift NE

1000 Swallow and 237 House Martin SW late afternoon.

 

 



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John Williams


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11.00-15.30

Georges Lane : 3 Kestrels and 1 Raven.

Burnt Edge : 1 Spotted Flycatcher (On the the woodland edge near the "S" bend on the track) ,2 Kestrels and a flock of 8 Linnets.

Holdens Farm : 1 Kestrel, 6 Meadow Pipits, 2m Stonechats, 3 Reed Buntings, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker plus lots of Linnets.

It was difficult to count the total number of Linnets, around dozen were in the horse paddock by the path, but at one point 60+ erupted from the overgrown pasture opposite.

All the small birds, including Swallows, frequently rested in the hawthornes that line the path, thus giving nice clear views.



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John Williams
Ian McKerchar


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An additional Tree Pipit was also seen fly over southwards from the northern end of Georges Lane this morning (just over the border in Lancs).

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Some sightings from this morning:

8 Tree Pipit, with three individuals flying over south at Higher Meadows and others down on the ground with at least two at Walker Fold, one on the path by Sugar Loaf Plantation and at least two at Holden's Farm.

Single Spotted Flycatcher at Walker Fold

5 Wheatear in one group along Matchmoor Lane

10 Kestrel hunting over Burnt Edge Moor

16 Willow Warbler at Walker Fold with 3 Chiffchaff and another 3 Willow Warbler at Holden's Farm



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Ian McKerchar


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Other sightings from the moors today include:

2 Wheatear on Mast Road wall

From 10:05-10:45am, 556 Swift 556, 300 Swallow and 150 House Martin

 

Info (and image of today's Osprey) thanks to Andy Makin

 

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Osprey flew over Belmont Reservoir and then SE towards Bolton at 3pm today.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 

 



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John Williams


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11.00-16.00

Georges Lane :

1 Hobby, 2 Kestrels, 2 Jays and 260+ Goldfinches.

The Hobby was having a tussle with a Kestrel over plantation near the Lancs border, with the former appearing to be aggressor, although they appeared equally matched.

The Kestrel then carried on hunting over the sheep pasture, whilst the Hobby disappeared, but was seen shortly afterwards soaring high above the lane.

There was a cloud of Goldfinches moving through the thistles below the kennels, 200+ here, another smaller charm of around 60 was near the Lancs border, sheltering in the conifers

and bathing in the stream that crosses the lane. Even more were around Wilderswood.

Burnt Edge :

4 Stonechats (Family Group), 2 Goldcrests (Perched on bracken), 1 Kestrel, a charm of 30+ Goldfinches, a flock of 12 Meadow Pipits and 3 Reed Buntings.

Walker Fold :

6 Goldcrests and 2 Coal Tits were flitting around the lower branches of a conifer and 6 Willow Warblers were in a mixes tit flock.

A pair of Chaffinches were in the same small tree with the warblers, and the female finch in particular was very aggressive towards the little migrants, she gave them no peace.

Holdens Farm :

A manure pile by the path was attracting pipits, and they were drawn by the same stuff in the horse paddock below the farm.

A dozen Meadow Pipits were here, plus 6 Linnets and 5 Reed Buntings, although the Linnets appeared to be feeding on Sorrel seeds.

Just 1 Swift passed through heading West.

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John Williams
Ian McKerchar


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Red Kite low NW over Higher Meadows at 11:20 this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Pinches 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning on the moors included:

 

6 Wheatear

Single Yellow Wagtail along the very northern end of Georges Lane (In Lancashire)

589 Swift sw between 10.45 - 11.45

4 Red Grouse chicks on Smithills Moor

 

Info and grouse images thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday:

Juvenile Wheatear at Heather hall 

3416 Swift south/south-west between 1:10pm and 3:30pm

770 House Martin

1 Ringed Plover north

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday:

1 female Redstart in the big hedge at Higher Meadows

12 Siskin south

250+ House Martin north on the edge of a  thunder storm over the moors

1 Wheatear on Mast Road by the barriers

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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16 Willow Warblers (all but 2 being juveniles) along the path from Walker Fold to Holdens Farm, this afternoon.



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Ian McKerchar


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Fairly brief visit to Higher Meadows area this morning in pretty poor weather, bumping into Andy Makin along the way, produced:

1 Whinchat

Family party of Stonechat

Snipe

2 Whitehtroat

5 Willow Warbler

3 Lesser Redpoll

Nice flock of Goldfinch (Andy had had c300)



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John Williams


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11.00-16.00

Georges Lane :

2 Kestrels, 4 Meadow Pipits and 1 Willow Warbler.

Burnt Edge :

1m+2f Stonechats, 1m Linnet, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens and 4 Meadow Pipits.

Walker Fold :

1 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.

Holdens Farm :

5 Linnets, 4 Meadow Pipits and 2 Grey Herons.

(Despite the strong SE wind and occasional shower numerous Swallows were flycatching, swooping low along and below Georges Lane, as well as around Holdens Farm,
often flying almost close enough to touch.)

The Kestrels too put on a great show today, with the pair above Burnt Edge in display flight.

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John Williams
Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday morning:

3 drake Common Scoter west at 07:20am

1 Crossbill s

1 adult Mediterranean Gull s

1 Willow Tit along Coal Pit Lane

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 

Earlier today a juvenile Wheatear was by Holdens Farm.

 

Info thanks to Brian Fogg



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Ian McKerchar


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An adult and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew south over Scout Road this morning.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Some totals from Scout Road today, 7am-11am:

 

5 Black tailed Godwit low s

2 Siskin s  

5 single adult Mediterranean Gulls all south during the morning

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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A short watch from Scout Road this morning produced the following highlights:

10 Mediterranean Gulls flying across the airspace

1 Common Tern south

2 Black-tailed Godwits NW

7 Oystercatcher N

Single Siskin south

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Today at Scout Road:

700 Swift through SE

Aadult Mediterranean Gull soutg

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Steve Judge


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Late post for Saturday 3rd June 2017 12:00 - 16:00 hrs.

Burnt Edge - Holden Farm - Gilligant Farm - Winter Hill - Mast Road - via Holden Plantation and return

Linnet x 2
Stonechat x 2
Whitethroat x 1
Curlew x 1
Kestrel x 7 sightings
Meadow Pipit x 20
Skylark x 5
Grey Heron x 1
Swallow x 15
Swift x 7
House Martin x 1
Carrion Crow x 8
Magpie x 3
Goldfinch x 5
Great Tit x 3
Chaffinch x 1
Pied Wagtail x 2
Pheasant x 1



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Ian McKerchar


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Cuckoo showing very well at Burnt Edge this morning, feeding on caterpillars.

Info thanks to Brian Fogg



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Rick Hall


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5-6 this morning. Burnt Edge

2 Cuckoos

1 Grasshopper Warbler (Heard Only)

4 Linnets

Plenty of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Swallows etc

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Totals from the moors this morning:

 

Male Whinchat at Edge Lane and a female at Heather Hall

8 Wheatear

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 

 



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Ian McKerchar


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A female Black redstart was perched on the sign by the pull in near the bend on Mast Road at 9am this morning. It seemed to be moving along wall which eventually runs to the bottom of the pony field.

 

Also around today were a Yellow Wagtail over north and the 6 Fieldfare were still at Higher Meadows along with a male and female Cuckoo and six Wheatear around the moors.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Simon Warford


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Cuckoo still along George's Lane and now 6 Fieldfare!

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Ian McKerchar


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This morning's sightings:

 

4 Fieldfare remain, 1 Whinchat and 1 Cuckoo by the 'big hedge' off Georges Lane

10 Wheatear on the moors

A Grasshopper Warbler flew up just before the barriers on Mast Road

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Simon Warford


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Today, 4 Fieldfare in field along George's Lane where I saw 2 on the 29th April, with 12 Wheatear for company.

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Simon Warford


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Today's highlights, partly with Dan Brown;

1 Cuckoo
2 Fieldfare along George's Lane
22 Wheatear (16 Georges, 1 Mast Road and 5 Heather Hall).
2 Stonechat
2 Whitethroat
1 Garden Warbler
7 singing Grasshopper Warblers across the moor
adult Meditteranean Gull in newly ploughed field at Walker Fold.

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Ian McKerchar


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Only 29 Wheatear this morning, and a Cuckoo along Georges Lane.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Another good day for Wheatear on the moors with a total of 173 today!

 

Also a single Whinchat along Georges Lane by the kennels and a flock of 25 redpoll over north.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Excellent morning on the moors today with:

180 Wheatear, including 123 below Georges Lane

3 Whinchat (two along Georges Lane and one in a field by Scout Road

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Birds from a very good morning today included:

 

Single whimbrel N along with two single Tree Pipits and a Ring Ouzel dropped down just past the kennels along Georges Lane.

A total of 131 Wheatear across the whole moors area.

Male Whinchat in an Edge Lane horse paddock.

12 redpoll N.

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Earlier today, two Ring Ouzels flew north from Mast Lane and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from along Georges Lane.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Birds present today included:

3 Cuckoo

89 Wheatear moving quickly through

1 Ring Ouzel by the kennels on Georges Lane but early morning only

Info thanks to Andy Makin

 



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Ian McKerchar


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28 Wheatear today (mostly males).

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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gary lilley


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Summer plumage golden plover on the ground on top of winter hill , 2 wheatear , 1 swallow , 1 male reed bunting , several meadow pipits , 1 dislpaying curlew along georges lane great views of a male ring ouzel feeding near to the big hedge , 10+ willow warblers in song , great views of a cuckoo on the lancs side last seen flying towards the boundry with greater manchester , 4 stonechat , 2 whearear .



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning:

 

2 Crossbill north

23 Wheatear mainly along Mast Road pony fields and Heather Hall

Small groups of Swallow north

 

Info thanks got Andy Makin



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Simon Warford


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This morning up to 11am, with Simon Johnson;

12 Wheatears across the moor, also 30 Redpoll, several Swallows and Sand Martin north. Unfortunately couldn't connect with Phil's Osprey despite it heading for Winter Hill. cry

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Ian McKerchar


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Originally posted today by Jack Danson:



Well , Spring must be here beautiful morning and 4 swallows flying in and out of stables at Holdens Farm Smithills . 



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Simon Warford


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This morning from Scout Road with Andy Makin and Simon Johnson;

1 female Ring Ouzel flew north east over Smithill's Moor
1 Brambling over south
1 female Wheatear
2 Mediterranean Gulls over
173 Meadow Pipits north
11 Redpoll south
2 Sand Martin north
5 singing Willow Warblers.

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Ian McKerchar


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An hour from Scout Road 07:15 -08:15 this morning produced:

 

Male Ring Ouzel got up from a nearby field and flew east

1 Curlew N

12 Crossbill N

12 Siskin N

71 Meadow Pipit N

 

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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