thats all folks, gave up on the day to catch up with paperwork etc.
Simon and Simon et al, (Follow up to notes on Fieldfare passage:Simon Warford at Winter Hill & Simon Johnson at Holcombe Hill)
Really great to read your notes on the movement directions through Winter Hill, and yes I guessed they where coming through from Heap Bridge (Bury/Heywood) areas, because I have seen them on many occasions crossing over the M65 whilst travelling to Manchester and they have given me the impression they were Winter Hill bound. I am sure your absolutely right with regards their exit from you and having visited also Rivington Pike, would like yourself probably favour the "White Coppice"/Chorley directions rather than the Darwen side. Many years ago Chris Darbyshire over at Billinge used to pick these birds up at the WC- Chorley end, but dont know whether these days he is still as interested because he plays a big part with the Moths these days. But I will when I get the chance contact him to try and get some follow on information. Its also a great pity I cant contact Alan (Porter) anymore, he also spent years checking out at Winter Hill. I have many a pleasing note from Alan, and he would always tell me to look for the "Little Auks" amongst parties of Starling heading West. He said he picked them up quite regular from the "TV/Radio Mast areas at Ripponden (M62 Yorkshire side) and at Sharneyford (Top of Bacup Moors before dropping down to Todmorden) and alas "Winter Hill" his regular watchpoint.
It was so pleasing to read your report Simon has they always are, but especially for it to be from Holcombe Hill was great, a area I have spent a lot of time at in the past. Of possible interest is from the following book by (M.B. Horan "The Birds and Mammals of Bury c1949 Bury Times) who spent a lot of time at Holcombe (I believe) when he quotes about the Fieldfare "It arrives in our district about the third week in October, when little flocks of ...... By the end of November, when the main arrivals appear". This seems rather late to me!! my latest peak date for any great push of Fieldfare was at Haslingden Grane on November 2nd, I think it was 1986.
Yes I would agree also that some of these birds which you get at Holcombe Hill will go in the direction of perhaps Edgeworth, and Darwen, but also I have noted in the past that some branch straight across the "Holcombe Moor" into the Helmshore Musbury, and onward into Haslingden Grane before continuing with a NW exit.
(Talking about Haslingden Musbury (follow on to Holcombe Hill) it maybe of interest to you: but in the mid 80s I had a party of 4 Fieldfare in July and 6 in September of the same year in Haslingden Musbury, in typical habitat (grazing sheep open fields with hawthorn trees interspersed at the boundaries similar to the one in Derbyshire where breeding was proved the previous year or so. It was never proved in Haslingden and I went up to the same area for many years after but could not establish any birds present at the same time of year, let alone breeding!!.
