9:45-2:15 following Moorbottom Road. Highlights:

4+ Whinchat, Green Woodpecker, 5 Wheatear, 18+ Stonechat, 5 Raven, 3 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzard, 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet, 5 Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, 100+ Swallow, 20+ House Martin, 12 Meadow Pipit. Spotted Flycatcher seen by 2 others. 

This evening....2 x Whinchat remain nr flagpole. Also 2 x Green Woodpecker, 20+ Stonechat, 1 x Wheatear, 1 x Garden Warbler, 2 x Buzzard, 4 x Kestrel, 1 x Raven, 60+ Swallow and 38+ House Martin

Moorbottom Rd this am:

x2 Green Woodpecker,

x3 Raven,

x3 buzzard,

x5,  Kestrel,

x6 Wheatear

X2 Linnet 

X5 Willow warbler 

X3 Stock Dove

X2 Linnet 

X25+ Stonechats around the bracken at the waterfall.

Lots of Hurindine flocks moving through, mainly Swallows and house Martins.

X2 Whinchat, very briefly, as they were passing through.

Green Woodpecker in 3 widely spaced locations this morning so probably 3 birds and possibly a dispersing family party? 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

1 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.

3 Swift and 30+ Swallow.

1 Stonechat.

Plenty of Redpoll activity with at least 4 birds in different locations.

1 Treecreeper.

Green Woodpecker this morning and a bigger movement of Swift(20+),  Swallow and House Martin.

A few bits of interest this morning:

4 Kestrel.

4 Stock Dove.

Small movement of Swift and Swallow with c15 of each.

10 Stonechat, presumed to be 3 family parties.

1 Redpoll, 1 Bullfinch, 4 Linnet.

Best from a short visit this morning:

1 Green Woodpecker seen well.

2 Grasshopper Warbler.

1 Lesser Redpoll.

7am - 9am

Moorbottom Rd:

X4 Male Ring Ouzel around the Flagpole area

x8 Wheatear

X4 Stonechat

X3 Curlew

X1 Buzzard

Highlights from the last 2 days:

1 Curlew, 2 Lapwing.

Singles of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

Lots of displaying Skylark and Meadow Pipit on the highest ground.

2 Stonechat.

1 Treecreeper.

Pair of Grey Wagtail.

Excitable group of 4 Lesser Redpoll. 

Signs of spring on the Moor this morning with the following highlights:

1 Teal.

My first returning Lapwing and Curlew.

My first Green Woodpecker since my last post, so hopefully a better year for them. 1 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.

An odd mixed flock of 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 8 Buzzard that appeared to be drifting north.

1 Raven.

2 Stock Dove.

Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Nuthatch in the woodland.

2 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush.

5 Lesser Redpoll, my first anywhere this year. 

Quick circuit this afternoon. 2pm - 3pm

Lots of Stonechats, Goldfinch and a handful of wheatear passing through Moorbottom Rd area. 

Had one male ring Ouzel briefly along the top of Moorbottom Rd.

Star bird of the afternoon was a stunning female Merlin, near Pilgrims cross that landed briefly enough for me to grab a record shot. Before it flew off towards Red brook. 

This morning some movement again evident, with the star bird being a northbound Golden Plover. It was my first record in the Red Brook valley, with the only previous records being in the Bull Hill area. Also 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Swallow, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Chiffchaff and 13 Stonechat. The Stonechat record included a single flock of at least 7 birds.

Generally a quiet morning but still some interest:

1 Green Woodpecker again in a different location.

c50 Swallow and 10+ House Martin.

4 Stonechat.

1 Dipper.

1 possibly 2 Lesser Redpoll.

Highlights from this morning:

1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 2 Raven.

An impressive movement of House Martin, with the Red Brook valley being filled with birds. At least 100 were present, but could easily be double that! My highest count here by a long way. 10+ Swallow also.

Meadow Pipits also moving with 30+ birds and a single Skylark.

10 Stonechat and the star bird a Whinchat, my first of the year here.

Highlights from a morning circuit:

Green Woodpecker in the Red Brook Valley, my first anywhere this year! It seemed to be moving down the valley, so presumed to be moving through. Also Great Spotted Woodpecker.

3 Buzzard and 3 Kestrel.

Small movement of birds south with 25 Swift, 40 Swallow, 8 House Martin and 2 Sand Martin.

4 Stonechat.

1 Lesser Redpoll. 

Highlights from a longer circuit embracing, Holcombe Moor, Bull Hill and Black Moss:

Singing Curlew in 4 locations, singing Snipe(probably just in Lancashire), pair Lapwing and 2 Golden Plover.

3 Kestrel.

3 Swift over the highest ground.

3 Stock Dove. 

At least 14 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear.

5 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler.

Still loads of singing Skylark and displaying Meadow Pipit.

8am - 1pm 

Very meticulous slow walk around the full valley along Moorbottom Road with Gary Taylor. 

Not much bird life on the Tower side yet soon redeemed itself the further we walked! 

lots of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks singing

x3 Bullfinch

x5 Curlew 

x2 Stock Dove

X5 stonechat 

X10 Wheatear

X7 Ring Ouzel (Red Brook waterfall area) 

And the star bird of the day!  

X1 Female Cuckoo that flew out of the waterfall area and then along Moorbottom Road making its way slowly towards Edgworth. 

15 Ring Ouzel at Red Brook, between the MoD white flag pole and the stream

Several Wheatear and Stonechat

-- Edited by Ian Latham on Saturday 13th of April 2024 09:19:30 AM

-- Edited by Ian Latham on Saturday 13th of April 2024 10:09:09 AM

-- Edited by Ian Latham on Saturday 13th of April 2024 11:05:56 AM

First post of the year, and the the main news is the first Skylarks of the year! At least 7 birds were singing on the higher ground.  Also 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Mistle Thrush  and 2 Stonechat.

Highlights from my first visit since the school half term:

1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel.

100 Fieldfare SW in 2 flocks.

4 Stonechat.

Decent sized mixed flock that included 4 Tit species, 2 Goldcrest and 2 Treecreeper.

Highlights from a morning circuit:

2 Canada Geese- unusual at this time of year.

2 Kestrel.

2 Stock Dove.

4 Ring Ouzel on the ground briefly, but flew off west.

1 Stonechat.

Flock of 15 Meadow Pipit, 12 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting and 2 Pied Wagtail on the east side of the moor.

My first morning circuit for a while and not without interest, with the highlights being:

1 Buzzard and 2 Kestrel.

1 Green Woodpecker.

12+ Swallow, 1 House Martin south.

Still good numbers of Meadow Pipit and a few Skylark.

11 Stonechat, including a group of 7 together.

3, perhaps 4 Spotted Flycatcher, my first record this year.

1 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff.

1 linnet and 1 Reed Bunting.

Highlight from 3 visits this week on 20th, 21st and today:

1 Red Kite today circled for a few minutes over the Peel Tower area today, then headed steadily north. Only my 3rd record here. It had a missing central tail feather so the tail looked even more forked than usual! 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel on 21st.

2 Raven on 21st.

1 Stock Dove on 21st.

1 Curlew on 20th.

3 Wheatear including 2 just fledged juveniles (first breeding record this year) and 3 Stonechat on 21st.

1 Garden Warbler today singing from different bushes so presumably an unmated male, my first record this year. Lots of Willow Warbler including my first family party of 5/6 birds.

1 Dipper and 4 Grey Wagtail on 20th.