Thought I'd give the Lostock Arms area a try having heard so many reports of Dipper sightings and wasn't disappointed getting great views as soon as I'd walked down from Rumworth lodge this morning. Great views for a minute or so directionally opposite the closed pub before the bird flew upstream
This standing water is trapped as the valley side meets the railway. In the past I have had waders but none tonight. Scoping from a suitable vantage point :
Grey Heron...1 Bh Gull...1 Teal....4 Mallard...2 Moorhen...3 including 1 Juv. Plenty Wood Pigeon and Magpie.
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
1 Grey Heron 3 Moorhens 6 Black-headed Gulls Lots of Feral Pigeons on flats at Pocket 14 Woodpigeons 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Dipper seen from bridge leaving the river at Lostock 5 Wrens 1 Blackbird 1 Chiffchaff Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits & Great Tits 2 Jays 13 Magpies 1 Carrion Crow 3 Goldfinches 1 Bullfinch
There was so much balsam about I was unable to see some stretches of the river or the flooded section of the field acroos the railway, so I probably missed a few other birds.
Yesterday evening's dog walk, Ladybridge Lane to Lostock Junction: Juv. Mallard...10 Juv. Moorhen...4 Otherwise very little else .The brook is full of aquatic Plant/ weed. No sign of Dipper or Kingfisher on recent visits.
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Lostock: Dipper downstream at full throttle 10.30 this morning. Song Thrush and Great Tit singing by the Rumworth Mill Bridge. Pair Mallards. Wren. P.S Great new access path (Tarmac) onto the trail down the side of Heaton Bridge.
-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 25th of March 2012 12:09:53 PM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
yesterday a Dipper at the (Bolton end) very start of the cycleway between the railway bridge over the brook and the cyclepath bridge near the Blackshaw House Flats. Watched going underwater for food a number of times...... does the map below help? let me know.... [url=http://
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 10th of March 2012 08:54:07 PM
Hi Julian, please see the 'welcome to the forum' sticky which asks that no photos etc are attached to posts. I also got a load of spam sites after I'd clicked off the link too!
Hi Ian, sorry 'bout that.....you should not get spam from Servimg though, i use this on other forums and it is generally seen as a quality image hosting site. What would be the best way to explain to others where we have seen birds?
The Dipper was again present today underneath the railway bridge near Blackshaw flats (as seen by others previously). It dived (dove?) many times in the fast flowing water which was a great sight and then flew up under the bridge. I'm not entirely sure, but there might have been a second bird which flew low and fast over the stream and past me upstream. Lovely birds.
Hi Martyn, Hopefully there will be soon be young Dippers about.... :) btw "dived" is much better
The Dipper was again present today underneath the railway bridge near Blackshaw flats (as seen by others previously). It dived (dove?) many times in the fast flowing water which was a great sight and then flew up under the bridge. I'm not entirely sure, but there might have been a second bird which flew low and fast over the stream and past me upstream. Lovely birds.
yesterday a Dipper at the (Bolton end) very start of the cycleway between the railway bridge over the brook and the cyclepath bridge near the Blackshaw House Flats. Watched going underwater for food a number of times...... does the map below help? let me know.... [url=http://
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 10th of March 2012 08:54:07 PM
Hi Julian, please see the 'welcome to the forum' sticky which asks that no photos etc are attached to posts. I also got a load of spam sites after I'd clicked off the link too!
Hi Keith, we have suspicions of the Dippers perhaps nesting under the railway bridge? we have seen a pair here for a few years now.....and thanks, i will try to include more maps in future
yesterday a Dipper at the (Bolton end) very start of the cycleway between the railway bridge over the brook and the cyclepath bridge near the Blackshaw House Flats. Watched going underwater for food a number of times...... does the map below help? let me know.... [url=http://
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 10th of March 2012 08:54:07 PM
Yesterday on our morning constitutional, we saw, on the Bolton side of Ladybridge Lane bridge, a Dipper and my partner commented "it is just the right day for a Kingfisher too" and lo and behold on the Lostock side of the same bridge was.........a Kingfisher!! Good views and called twice before flying over the railway to the ditch on the opposite side. Also a Common Buzzard being mobbed near Deane Clough and a Reed Bunting singing away in the Golf Course "marsh". A very pleasant early Spring day!
Today, 1730 hours: Tawny Owl heard calling from the woods near Heaton Bridge. (Bolton side) This is often heard,across the valley, from the walkway on Ladybridge.
-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 30th of December 2011 05:51:17 PM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
A short walk down the Trail this morning to introduce our new pup to it's delights. Pair Mallards with chicks. Moorhen with chicks. Teal (drake)with damaged wing Bh gulls 2 Whitethroat (Immature) 1 Trains 3
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
I can hear the dipper singing from my driveway, and strangely it doesn't get any louder when I get closer, remarkable ventriloqual quality. Preferred singing spots seem to be the blue upturned sandpit (!) upstream of the bridge, or the lump in the water about 20 yds downstream.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 5th of April 2011 09:17:27 AM
After three unsuccessful attempts I've now seen my first ever dipper near the (boarded-up) Lostock Arms pub during a ten minute stop-off after work. I also saw 1 wren, 1 mallard, 2 goldfinches, 2 blackbirds and 6 house sparrows.
DAVID CRAVEN WROTE: ....''If we take this further towards Horwich......up to Lostock Hall''.......
On the Middlebrook Valley Trail,Opposite the Wanderers Academy entrance, is the entrance to a Restricted Byway that runs down in front of Lostock Hall. After the Hall there is a very nice deciduous wood 150 yards long and then a large pool surrounded by bull rushes and trees.The area is, I think, maintained as a conservation area.It is very tidy and Newt barriers abound. 1.0pm today. Wood: Jay ..5 Mistle thrush...2 GS Woodpecker... 1 male Lapwing 2 over Blue Tit 1 Goldfinch 1 ON the Pool: Canada Geese ..2 Coot 2 Mute Swans 2 BH Gulls 2 The byway continues as a footpath and a 'broad walk' down to a 'stand alone' Green Footbridge that crosses Middle Brook and the Railway. There are several other ponds around . Two of which may be connected to the adjacent Golf Course under construction.
-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 2nd of April 2011 02:07:36 PM
-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 2nd of April 2011 02:30:52 PM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.
Definite pair of Dippers there now, I've seen them with nesting material. Suspect I know where they are nesting, but I'll keep that quiet. Will try keep an eye on the site though (won't be up there as often from next week, so won't be so easy).
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My (beginner) bird photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davec1977
The Dipper is basically resident near the Lostock Arms, along the river there, and up that little tributary (if that manky stream merits such a description). It's pretty relaxed around people, I can stand on the bridge feet away and it will carry on regardless.
Siskin, Willow Tit, and Chiff-Chaff all been in the area too.
If we take this furthe rup towards Horwich, following the track across the golf course and to Lostock Hall, there are plenty of Reed Buntings to be seen (counted 12 the other day). The kestrel pair are quite accomodating too, when they are on telegraph poles near United Utilities you can get pretty close.
Plenty of buzzard activity too.
There was a Grasshopper Warbler last year, hoping that shows.
Saw Spotted Flycatcher when we first started exploring the area, but never seen again.
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My (beginner) bird photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davec1977
Yep, I saw the Dipper too! What a cracking bird shooting along just above the stream. You can hear it coming from quite a way off - too fast for a decent photo , even though it flew past me twice. There was also a single male Teal and a Grey Heron on this stretch of water, but I didn't see the Kingfisher. I'll definitely be back now I know where the Dippers are and what they do.
Was it you I met Steve? If so, nice talking to you.
yesterday on the brook just off ladybridge lane bridge, i saw a pair of dippers-hopefuly they will breed here.
i often run/walk/cycle beside the brook and it really is a super place in spring for warblers, especially whitethroat. i often see kingfisher here too. makes exercising good fun!
-- Edited by julian shimmin on Sunday 30th of January 2011 05:24:48 PM
Bolton's best cycle trail. Runs from near Town centre to Middlebrook Retail Park. Follows Middlebrook for most of its length. Walked 1.5 mile stretch trying for a Kingfisher that I saw when cycling in late 2010, (near the A58 bridge) but no sign here today. Three year ticks however: Dipper flew past 4 times along Middlebrook, Low flying Cormorants, adult and juvenile. Wren..pecking at a mossy trunk. Others: 3 Great Tits, Jay, 3 Moorhens, Pair Mallards,Chaffinch,2 Coal tits Usual Lt tit flock: Hawthorn hedge Beaumont Road.
-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 7th of January 2011 04:12:39 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of April 2011 02:55:01 PM
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Rumworth List 2019, species to date: 63 Latest: Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Redshank, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew.