Temperature on arrival at 09.05 was a welcome 0C on departure at 10.30 a more welcome 1C.

Black Swan on Main pond in just a small area of open water other birds of note single male Eurasian Wigeon and one female Bullfinch, lots of the expected usuals.

09.00/11.00 this morning lots of the usuals all four main tit species at least three Nuthatch, one Song Thrush and at around twenty five Siskin.

On the ponds the best we had were eleven Mandarin, one Gadwall and three lovely Little Grebe.

Lunch time walk, first time at this park:

Highlights:

12 Mandarin Ducks (my first time ever seeing them! :D)
1 Buzzard
2 Goosanders (A male and a female)
2 Cormorants
3 Ring-necked Parakeets
1 European Goldfinch
1 Treecreeper
1 Heron

Plenty of robins and blue tits

A pair of Wigeon on the upper lake at 2pm today.

Sat 6th May.
A very productive afternoon adventure with Lucas after his football class.

Of note..
- 1 Cormorant over
- 1 pr Little Grebe
- few Mandarin around
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Stock Dove near visitor centre
- 1 pr Goldcrest up close
- 2 Ring-necked Parakeets
- 1 Grey Wagtail
- 1 Willow Warbler
- 3 or 4 Chiffchaff
- 3 or 4 Blackcap
- lots of Swift, Sand Martin, and a few Swallow over the lodges

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 8th of May 2023 05:40:48 PM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 8th of May 2023 05:54:30 PM

This morning between 09.15/12.15, temp was 0C on arrival and 4C on departure, two of the ponds were still frozen over but the main pond was 20% clear. We walked from Reddish Vale school down to the Visitor Centre and over to the motorway bridge near Denton and then back again.

38 species recorded with the highlights being Greenfinch (not often seen here by us) Redwing 13, Fieldfare 1, Song and Mistle Thrush 2 of each, all seen opposite the farm. Two Nuthatch seen on feed tray by Sunnyside Wood.

Happy New Year Evening,

Quick walk around Reddish Vale Country Park this morning 02/01/2023

Highlight2

2 x Mandarin Ducks, ( 1 x Male & 1 x Female)

2 x Robins

1 x Nuthatch

2 x Great Tits

2 x Cormorants

John

Happy New Year everyone.

This morning 10.30/12.30 we had a lovely walk around and found 31 species with the highlights being four Bullfinch, one smart looking male in particular, one Grey Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk on the hunt.

This morning 08.30/10.30 temperature on arrival -7C on departure -5C only small piece of water available for the waterfowl.

Walked over towards Denton as far as the motorway bridge at least four Common Snipe along the River Tame around 30 plus Lapwings over going west.

Three Little Grebe found around the motorway the bridge making it 50 species since Sunday for the site.  

Bumped into a young lady who reported two Common Sandpiper and a Common Redshank earlier in the week.

Finally from 19th December until 3rd January inclusive the Visitor Centre will be closed.

Today 10.00 /12.00 on arrival temperature was -5C on departure -2C with only a small piece of open water on the bigger pond.

Just upstream of the viaduct on the River Tame the Little Egret was stood on the exposed gravel run catching some sun.

A new tick for the week was a single Goldfinch then some twenty minutes later a small charm flew over.

As I walked further up towards Denton three Lapwing flew over towards Stockport another tick for the week after a short stop at the visitor centre for a brew six Collared Doves were located at the Community Garden huddled together. Finally the  last notable of the morning was a Peregrine being escorted off the reserve by six Jackdaw.

Today 11.30/14.00, temp was 0C on arrival and had gone up to 1C on departure, mainly a fishing visit on the Tame but had a quick walk around the ponds which were nearly all frozen over.

Managed another new species in the form of  a very vocal Jay then around 13.00ish about 100 Canada Geese dropped in on the larger pond. I scanned through them before departing but could find no other species of goose.

A chap told me he had photographed a Goldcrest near the visitor centre earlier in the day, he had also seen a singe Fieldfare and he had heard told of a Common Sandpiper.

Several Robins visited me whilst I fished this was because I was feeding them maggots for a few hours.

Water temp in the river was 4C      

This morning 09.15/11.30, temperature 0C on arrival and a tropical 2C on departure !

Song Thrush was added to the growing list along with the usuals. A Sparrowhawk pursued a Blackbird across the river but missed its target and sulked in a tree for fifteen minutes.

The Visitor Centre is normally open from Wednesday until Sunday 12.00/15.30 warm drinks and snacks can usually be purchased.

This morning 09.30/11.30 temperature on arrival -2C on departure it had risen to -1C

Managed to catch up with the delightful Little Egret on the River Tame and then add another 7 species with the most notable being a Common Snipe flyover, 1 x Sparrowhawk and x 1 Common Gull in amongst the Black-headed Gulls c100.

I think that is 45 species in 24 hours for the Vale.

Forgot to add  a lovely Drake Teal too. 

10.15/11.55

We had 31 species this morning most notable being Goldcrest and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Managed to miss six from the list Chris had, so at least 37 species around the Vale this morning, great stuff.

9-10 am

Little Egret, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 1+Kingfisher, Dipper, Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 4 Mandarin Duck, 25 Siskin, 5 Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, 4 Ring Necked Parakeet, 3 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 20 Tufted Duck, Nuthatch.

A couple of hours wander this afternoon 13:00 - 15:00, among the usual suspects were:-

Gadwall 5 (3m, 2f)
Wigeon 2 (1 juv)
Little Grebe 3
Grey Heron
And a few Ring Necked Parakeets about.

Cheers,

Steve.

Quick visit from 11:00- 12:00 today only around lakes and visitor centre. 

2 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 5 Mute Swan, 10 Ring Necked Parakeet, Grey Heron, 2 Nuthatch, 30 Tufted Duck 

Sat 9th July.
A nice walk round with Lucas after his football class.

- Mute Swans 4DND & 4DNF + 3 well grown cygnets
- handful of Mandarin Ducks
- 4 Grey Wagtail (1 ad, 3 juvs)
- 3 Sand Martin
- 1 House Martin
- 2 Swift
- 2 Blackcap
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 3 Ring-necked Parakeet

Sat 11th June.
Lunchtime visit after Lucass football class.

Of note..
- 4 Sand Martin
- 3 Grey Wagtail (2 young)
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
- few Mandarin around
- Mute Swan pair 4DND + 4DNF + 3 cygnets
Very aggressive behaviour (to be expected I suppose) from Cob 4DND. He took 2 Canada Geese under and tried to drown them, and battered and nipped numerous others if they were too close to his cygnets.

Report of a Marsh harrier flying over Reddish Vale this mornng at 08.40 phopto have been sent to Ian .

The report came to me via third party , but the  photos look good .

Keep looking up and birding 

The trouble is Rob, these drugged up morons are likely to be carrying weapons, far too many incidents these days regarding stabbings so I'm not ready to be a statistic just yet !! as I have six species left to get on my British List........

Too many professional "dog walkers" these days who just let the six dogs they have off the lead to run around disturbing the wildlife, seen it on the river so many times. Down the Vale they seem to think its a game to let the dogs run around chasing the wildfowl, I avoid it down there now.

Good night from Victor Meldrew MK Two........

Youve got to consider your own personal safety and well-being Tony, assess first before doing anything. I know if it was me chances are I wouldve challenged them, I hate things like that.

Pardon the pun but one of my biggest PET hates is dogs running at or after wildlife, especially mammals and birds. It makes my blood boil. Its even worse if the animals have young with them.

On the River Tame fishing yesterday as it was the last day of the Coarse River fishing season, two Dippers were up and down the river then two Grey Wagtail delighted me and finally a Kingfisher put in an appearance. 

Sadly around 19.00 two dope smoking morons decided to light a fire at a point along the footpath where a Poplar hade been blown over by the recent gales. This poor Poplar had been set on fire a few years ago by other morons and was eventually weakened hence it been snapped at its weakest point. I would guess the Poplars along the river must be fifty years old at least, I have fished the river for 22 years and they were huge then.

I asked myself do I challenge these morons or turn a blind eye.....sadly I turned chicken and packed up at 20.00 and went home. Should I have rang 999  and wasted tax payers money on such a call?

This year seems to be worse than others for bad behaviour, dog bags in trees and bushes, dogs let free to run in newly sown arable fields and scrambler bikes wherever they wish to go .  

Sorry folks rant over and out of my Victor Meldrew persona.

Whilst fishing on the Tame today: a smashing Kingfisher landed in a Ash tree 10 yards away...bliss then to top that a fantastic female Peregrine kited overhead.

Our normal New Years day walk around delayed until yesterday, 26 species with the highlights being a Song Thrush in full voice, four Siskin, Bullfinch (f), Shoveler (m), three Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail and twenty one Mandarin.

Whilst fishing on the River Tame yesterday, one Little Grebe ( rare on the Tame)

One Robin whom I indulged with maggots. 

Finally a Merry  Christmas and Happy New Year to all for 2022

A single Woodcock flew over the  River Tame yesterday at around 16.15 heading towards Portwood.

Saturday morning toddlers football cancelled so called in with Lucas whilst in the area.

Of note
- 6 Mute Swan (4DND, 4DNF, 4 Cyg)
- Little Grebe family (on hidden lake)
- c15 f Mandarin
- 1 Swan Goose
- 1 Muscovy Duck
- c10-15 Sand Martin
- 3 House Martin
- 2 Common Swift
- 3 singing Common Whitethroat (near arches)
- 2 Blackcap
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 1 Greenfinch
- 1 Sparrowhawk with tailing Sand Martins
- 1 Common Buzzard low over the lodges

Noted a number of Sand Martins approx 10 quite possibly more noticed in the area of the river close to the ponds

Will do a better count when im not with the kids! 

Cheers

Seen today on a very busy walk around Reddish Vale (1420-1530) 27th Feb

1x Dunnock (Lifer)

2x Robins

6x Cormorants

6x Carrion Crows

9x Magpies

30+ Canada Goose

25+ Mallards

6x Mute Swans

1x Chaffinch

14x House Sparrow

15x Coots (One of which was sat on nest)

1x Moorhen

4x Blackbirds

3x Great Tits

Seen yesterday 13/02 

Swan Goose x1

Mute Swan x2

Mallard x35

Common Woodpigeon x7 

Common Moorhen x5

Eurasian Coot x6

Ring-necked Parakeet x5

Common Magpie x6

Eurasian Blue Tit x5

Long-tailed Tit x4

Eurasian Nuthatchx1

Eurasian Wren x1

White-throated Dipper x2

Eurasian Blackbird x27

European Robin x21

House Sparrow x8

Common Chaffinch x10

And usual amount of who knows how many Canada Goose

Cheers Jonathan

9-11 2 Common Snipe, 14 Mandarin Duck, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, 4 Teal, 5 Goosander, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Ring Necked Parakeet, 5 Jay, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Grey Heron, Mistle Thrush, Stock Dove 

Just the 3 Kestrels zipping about the Vale this morning!

A pleasant surprise in the form of a Pochard on the smaller of the two ponds...First one I've seen here for a number of years.

Other highlights were a male Kingfisher on the larger pond again and a Grey Wagtail on the river.

Several times in the last few weeks I've seen a pair of Kestrels darting about in different areas of the Vale.

Yesterday morning however, I witnessed a first for me as no less than a group of 5 Kestrels passed over the main pond from the farmers field heading towards the river! (Last years brood I'm guessing)

The frustrating thing for me is that I had my camera with me, but was too taken aback and a photograph was sadly a afterthought!

Other highlight was a male Kingfisher showing well early doors on the main pond.

Interesting first visit here. Started off pretty quiet but still always nice to spot..

Long-tailed tit

Jay

Carrion crow flying over

Then, as we went off track somewhat into the field at the back I spotted my first kestrel (not from the car). He was at the top of a tree and then swooped for a tasty treat but came away empty beaked. But an absolute joy.

Then on the pond I saw my first mandarin duck!

A majestic looking male and female goosander

And an Egyptian Goose!!

First time visiting here this morning - just a quick stroll by the river and ponds before going to see my girlfriends family.

08.40 - 09.20

Easily 100 House Sparrows around houses and hedgerows on Reddish Vale Rd

Robin 4

Wren

Starling 13

Several small flocks of Goldfinch about 20 in total

4 Grey Wagtails

1 Male Tufted Duck

5 Black-headed Gulls - 1 juv

Coot 15+

Moorhen 6

Swallows 10

1 Sand Martin with Swallows

8 Swift

Mandarin Duck - 2 M 6 F

Blue Tit

2 Grey Heron

7 Blackbirds

Was only a whirlwind visit but will definitely be back for a longer mooch soon.