Nightjar still present last night (Thursday 15th) briefly churring in some irritating wind and heavy cloud. Not seen so no GM tick, bah!

Further to Karen's post, although there is room for two cars near to the gate, there is a sign saying do not park there. There needs to be access for emergency vehicles, and in this area at this time of year, this means fire engines, so please park on Walkerwood Dam, and take the short walk. Two cottages sit almost on the dam, so please also respect this, and do not walk up the track behind them.

Yesterday evening I was fortunate to find a Nightjar in the Brushes Valley.

Directions to the area the bird was are as follows:-

Take the B6175 Huddersfield Road in Stalybridge towards Carrbrook. Go past Copley Recreation Centre and take Brushes Road which is on the right hand side. Follow the road down and you will reach Walkerwood dam. You can either park along the dam or on the small car park at the top as parking. Walk up the concrete road and there is a cottage on the right hand side, Close to here is another dam between Walkerwood and Brushes reservoir. For the avoidance of doubt, Brushes is the second reservoir. The hillside at the end of the dam is where the Nightjar was churring from and flying around on last night.

Please park considerately and do not block any gates and do not walk through the cottage garden.

If you visit, take your insect repellent or be prepared to be eaten alive!

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Wednesday 14th of June 2017 06:52:28 PM

Monday 5th June 2017

8.00am, around Higher Swineshaw in the rain

Several Reed Bunting
Whitethroat singing
Several Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut

10.00pm, also in the rain, around Lower Swineshaw

Unsurprisingly quiet, given the wind, cold, and rain.
Grasshopper Warbler reeling, as it was this morning. A lot easier to hear at dusk, with the removal of all the background noise.
Curlew alarm calling.

Sunday 4th June 2017, 9.00 - 11.00am

Brushes Valley, and around Higher Swineshaw.

A Cuckoo was calling from the rough grass towards Boar Flat. It then flew into a tree at North Britain, being mobbed by up to a dozen Meadow Pipits the whole time, before flying off in the direction of Lower Swineshaw dam.

A group of around 25 Swift had been feeding over the moor for an hour or so, then a Hobby appeared in the area of Higher Swineshaw dam, chasing a couple of Swift, before heading off down the valley.

1 Raven over Irontongue Hill
1 Buzzard towards Hoarstone Edge
1 Whitethroat singing below Higher Swineshaw dam
1 pair of Common Sandpiper on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, another pair on Walkerwood Reservoir
Curlew calling
Several Skylark singing
5 Reed Bunting singing
1 pair of Linnet
Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Brushes Valley
1 Buzzard in Brushes Valley
1 pair of Kestrel
Another Kestrel over Boar Flat

Friday 2nd June 2017, 9.30 - 10.30pm

Brushes Valley

Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the valley bottom, between Brushes and Lower Swineshaw Reservoir, around dusk.
Young Tawny Owl hunger calling
2 Curlew alarm calling at the presence of a Little Owl.

A Whitethroat was singing in the willows at the foot of Higher Swineshaw dam at 8.00 am on Friday.

Saturday 27th May 2017, mid-morning.

2 Cuckoos singing from the woods around the gamekeeper's cottage
1 female Buzzard over Walkerwood Reservoir

Thursday 25th May 2017, mid-morning.

My first Cuckoo of the year, singing from the trees above the gamekeeper's cottage. The gamekeeper himself reported hearing one at the weekend, but I have been unable to wander far for the past week.

10 House Martins feeding over Walkerwood Reservoir, and around the same number (possibly the same birds) an hour later around the Besom Lane area of Cote Farm.

Saturday 20th May 2017, 7.00pm.

Higher Swineshaw.

1 Curlew on the shoreline
1 female Wheatear
1 pair of Pied Wagtails

Monday 15th May 2017

Higher Swineshaw, 6.00 - 7.00am, in torrential rain.

1 female Wheatear
2 agitated Curlew
2 Reed Bunting singing a two note song, instead of the usual three. Not a rare bird, but one I never tire of seeing and hearing.

7.00 - 8.00pm, in torrential rain.

Lower Swineshaw area

2 Curlew
1 Blackcap singing
3 Willow Warblers
2 Chaffinch singing
1 Song Thrush
1 Common Sandpiper on Lower Swineshaw Reservoir

Despite the weather, quite lively around Walkerwood.

1 pair of Common Sandpiper
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Moorhen
Blackcap and Whitethroat singing next to the dam

Sunday 14th May 2017, mid-morning

Irontongue Hill

1 Reed Bunting singing
2 Willow Warblers singing
1 pair of Stonechat
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
4 Meadow Pipits
4 Swift feeding over Boar Flat
2 Skylark singing over Boar Flat
1 Curlew on Boar Flat

Around Higher Swineshaw

The Buzzard drifted across Swineshaw Moor towards Turf Pits, causing a Curlew on the moor to sound a couple of notes of an alarm call. It may have been a coincidence, but another bird started calling from across the valley around Pack Saddle, then flew low and fast, calling the whole time, to join the first bird, and both began mobbing the Buzzard. It was as if the second bird responded to the call of the first? It's interesting stuff, this local birding.
1 Lapwing also joined the two Curlew, then a third Curlew appeared.
2 Wheatear
Another pair of Stonechat
Several Linnet

Saturday 13th May 2017, 9.00 - 11.00am

Range House, around the rifle ranges, and up onto Wild Bank Hill. Cold, with intermittent drizzle.

Around Flaxfield and the rifle ranges.

1 pair of Linnet
2 Goldfinch
2 Whitethroat singing
2 Willow Warblers
1 Reed Bunting, picked up on song, was a welcome sighting. Used to be a regular, but I didn't record any last year.
1 Bullfinch

Higher up, as far as 1,000 feet.

1 male Wheatear
6 Linnet, a couple singing
4 Lesser Redpoll, minimum. Difficult to count in all the birch growth
1 Chaffinch
15 Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff

Friday 12th May 2017, 6.30 - 7.30am

For the second Friday running, access to the top half of Brushes Valley was blocked by fire crews, having worked overnight, extinguishing another moorland fire, bang in the middle of the nesting season. For the second Friday running I decided on a circular tour of the country park, predominantly to count singing warblers. Last week's figures in parentheses.

10 Willow Warblers (11)
5 Chiffchaff (8)
6 Blackcap (4)
1 Whitethroat (1)

3 Chaffinch
1 pair of Lesser Redpoll
1 Greenfinch
3 Mistle Thrush
3 Song Thrush
4 Long-tailed Tits

Wednesday 10th May 2017, 6.30 - 8.15am

Mainly around Higher Swineshaw

8 Common Sandpiper : 4 on Higher Swineshaw, 2 on Lower Swineshaw, and 2 on Walkerwood
1 female Wheatear at Higher Swineshaw
10 Linnet (3 singing males)
10 Reed Bunting. 9 singing males, plus a female flycatching over the reservoir
1 drake Tufted Duck on Lower Swineshaw was a strange one
1 pair of Lesser Redpoll at Walkerwood Dam
Pair of Pied Wagtails on both Higher and Lower Swineshaw

Tuesday 9th May 2017, 8.00pm

2 Common Sandpiper on Lower Swineshaw Reservoir

A few bits from my weekend's wanderings.

Flaxfield, Brushes Rifle Ranges, and Wild Bank Hill

1 Lapwing in the fields below Shaw Farm
5 Wheatear in the fields above Shaw Farm
18 Linnet, including two pairs, and 4 singing males
2 Lesser Redpoll
30+ singing Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff
5 singing Skylark
Blackbirds, Robin, Mistle, and Song Thrush carrying food
1 male Stonechat, one of the targets for this visit, as another pair further up the valley hatched young last week. After a frustrating and fruitless search, I located this male on my way back, having given up. The pair have relocated 400 yards from last year's site, so presumably the last brood was predated.
1 Little Owl

2 pairs of Common Sandpiper displaying on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
1 pair of Common Sandpiper on Walkerwood Reservoir
1 Kestrel at Lower Swineshaw

Higher Swineshaw, this morning, 6.00 - 7.15am

1 Buzzard, perched on the moor, causing alarm in 2 Curlew, a Raven, and a pair of Canada Geese
3 Linnet, including a female carrying nesting material
3 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Wheatear on the dam
2 pairs of Common Sandpiper

6 Reed Bunting singing, at dusk, along the overflow.

Thursday 27th April 2017, 8.30 - 11.00am, cold, wet, miserable.

5 Common Sandpiper, 3 on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, 2 on Walkerwood Reservoir.
1 Curlew on the shore of Higher Swineshaw
1 pair of Linnet on Higher Swineshaw dam

And that was about it.

Tuesday 25th April 2017, 6.15 - 7.15am

Despite the thermometer reading minus 2, another lively start to the day, truncated by having to go to work.

Higher Swineshaw

3 Common Sandpiper
4 Wheatear dropped onto the dam
4 Linnet
Stonechat singing
Pair of Pied Wagtail

Monday 24th April 2017

3 Common Sandpipers moving noisily along the shoreline of Walkerwood Dam at dusk.
1 Moorhen in the overflow

Sunday 23rd April 2017, 7.30 - 10.00am

BBS for SJ9899, which takes in the Pennine Bridleway from Brushes to Harridge Hall, then from Lower Hyde Green, down Besom Lane, and into the valley bottom, via Millbrook Dam.

The highlight was a Grasshopper Warbler reeling alongside the Bridleway, the first time I have seen (or rather heard) this species in this area.

Other highlights:

1 female Wheatear, not completely unexpected, given the bumper numbers in the general area this week.
23 Willow Warblers, all singing males
4 Chiffchaff
1 Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
17 Greenfinch, a surprisingly high count. Singing and calling everywhere today
10 Chaffinch
6 Linnet
3 Lesser Redpoll
10 Goldfinch
23 House Sparrows
40 Blackbirds
2 Song Thrush
1 Mistle Thrush
4 Swallows
3 Pied Wagtails

Also 1 Common Sandpiper calling from Walkerwood Reservoir after dark tonight.

Saturday 22nd April 2017, 6.00 - 10.30am

4 Common Sandpiper; 3 chasing around Higher Swineshaw Reservoir at 6.30, and one on Walkerwood at 10.30
2 pairs of Stonechat around Higher Swineshaw
1 Willow Tit at Walkerwood

Friday 21st April 2017

Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, 7.00pm

A Shelduck flew around the reservoir a few times, before flying off southeast towards Arnfield.
2 Curlew noisily overhead

7.00am today

1 Common Sandpiper at Higher Swineshaw
10+ Linnet, several males singing
6 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut

Yesterday I had my first Swallow of the year in the valley, quickly over Higher Swineshaw, plus a female Wheatear

Tuesday 18th April 2017, 6.20 - 7.20am

Higher Swineshaw

More life than we've had up here for weeks heralded my first day back at work for almost a week!

7 Wheatear dropped onto Higher Swineshaw dam, just as the ice melted around 7 o'clock, following 4 birds at dusk last night on Lower Swineshaw dam.
Pair of Stonechat
Several Linnet
Several Reed Bunting
At least 6 singing Willow Warblers
Curlew calling

Also at dusk yesterday, both of the top two reservoirs had a Common Sandpiper each.

Friday 14th April 2017, 8.30 - 10.30am

Brushes Valley, following an early morning bank holiday excursion to Mossley, in worsening conditions, the highlight of which was a conversation with a soggy Steve Suttill on Moor Edge Road.

The only things visible at Higher Swineshaw were a pair of Pied Wagtails on the dam wall, and a Curlew flying through the gloom.

The biggest surprise of the morning was a drake Wigeon on Lower Swineshaw Reservoir, swimming with a couple of Mallard.
One Common Sandpiper was picking along the shoreline.

Around Walkerwood:

First sighting of the Willow Tit for several weeks, but the feeder has been neglected of late.
Linnet singing low down on the Harridge side was unusual
Several Coal Tits
3 Jays
Several Bullfinch and Chaffinch
3 Lesser Redpoll
2 Moorhen
Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff singing

Tuesday 11th April 2017, dusk.

Common Sandpiper on the shoreline of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.

Tuesday 11th April 2017, 8.30 - 11.00am

Windy and very cold, with not a lot of life, but the sight of the first Common Sandpiper of the year in the valley, at Walkerwood Reservoir, is always a big event. It means that summer is officially here, despite the winter clothes. It equals my earliest sighting of 2014.

The only other item of note was another pair of Stonechat at Lees Hill, a duller male and brighter female than the other pairs. Once again, the male was singing.

Monday 10th April 2017, 6.30 - 7.20am

A circular walk around the Country Park, counting warblers.

All warblers are singing males.

6 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warblers
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
Lesser Redpoll heard

Saturday 8th April 2017, 6.30 - 10.30am

Higher Swineshaw, and a wander around the moors and bogs of Irontongue Hill

50+ Meadow Pipits
1 Little Grebe on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
10+ Reed Bunting, mainly males calling, with a few pairs. There hasn't been much singing this year, they seem to have gone straight from flocking together to breeding?
2 pairs of Stonechat, with both males singing. That, and the sight of Hollingworthall Moor ablaze last night, gives you a real feeling that spring has arrived!
1 Linnet singing at Higher Swineshaw
3 Willow Warblers singing
1 pair of Pied Wagtails

Friday 7th April 2017, 6.30 - 7.30am

Lower Swineshaw

7 Linnet, some starting to sing
3 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
1 Chaffinch singing
2 Willow Warblers singing
Curlew
1 Kestrel

Thursday 6th April 2017, 9.45 - 11.45am

Higher Swineshaw and Irontongue Hill.

4 Stonechat - one pair, the male singing, the female nestbuilding, plus another male singing. I could hear, but not see, the fourth bird, presumably the female of the second singing male.
6 Reed Bunting, including a pair at an established nest site
1 Buzzard
1 Willow Warbler singing (beyond Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, up on the moor, Steve)
1 pair of Pied Wagtails
Linnet heard
All to the fantastic backdrop of Curlew calling.

Wednesday 5th April 2017, 2.15 - 4.15pm - venturing onto Mr Walsh's patch...

Higher Swineshaw:
Buzzard forced to drop prey after being mobbed by two Crows.
Pair Pied Wagtails, male Blackbird and at least 8 Meadow Pipits on the dam banking.
2 pairs Curlew flying around, calling.
Pair Stonechats.
2 Red Grouse.
No Wheatears for me... ...or Willow Warblers.

Pretty quiet lower down the valley: Kestrel, male Bullfinch and singing Chiffchaff.

Tuesday 4th April 2017, 6.15 - 7.30am

Higher Swineshaw, in a shroud of mist.

1 Wheatear on Higher Swineshaw dam, my first female of the year
3 Pied Wagtails
Willow Warblers singing
1 Linnet
The drake Mandarin and two Mallard are now in the fields below the gamekeeper's cottage

Sunday 2nd April 2017, 5.00pm

A pair of Curlew copulating in the cotton grass high on the moor above Higher Swineshaw Reservoir was a pleasing sight.
Pair of Pied Wagtails on the dam wall
Linnet heard calling, but not seen

Sunday 2nd April 2017, late morning

Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

28 Canada Geese were an unusually high count up here. Appeared to be 4 of the usual pairs, plus birds moving through.
6 Mallard
1 drake Goosander
3 Stonechat. One female, and 2 males on the opposite side of the reservoir, having a dig at each other. The migrant population have started to arrive back to the area this week, joining the pair that overwintered. There has been a lot of activity in the past few days, including males singing.
1 pair of Curlew in an area of cotton grass, high up on the moor. The estate has done a lot of work transplanting to cover the eroded areas of bare peat around Turf Pits and Swineshaw Moor.
1 Pied Wagtail on the dam wall
2 Mistle Thrush on the dam banking

Approximately 70 Redwing flew northwest at 7.00pm last night.

Friday 31st March 2017, 6.15 - 7.15am

Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

An Oystercatcher was on Higher Swineshaw dam, then flew down noisily to Lower Swineshaw Reservoir at 6.50, before departing west, down the valley at 7.00am.
1 drake Goosander
1 pair of Stonechat, in a different area to those of yesterday, the male singing from a wall
4 Curlew
6+ Reed Bunting

-- Edited by David Walsh on Friday 31st of March 2017 10:50:27 AM

Thursday 30th March 2017, 9.30 -11.00am

Around Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

Goosander - down to one male only today
1 pair of Stonechat, newly arrived birds near to a successful territory from last year around Irontongue Hill.
3 Greylag Geese
6 Canada Geese, one pair harassing the Greylags
1 Peregrine
2 Curlew landed on Higher Swineshaw dam banking
6 Reed Bunting, some handsome males

On Wednesday evening, just before dusk, a herd of 12 Curlews flew around Higher Swineshaw Reservoir for a good ten minutes before alighting in the area of the overflow, in addition to the birds on territory around the area. I've never seen so many in the air together in the breeding season, and wondered whether they may be late birds moving through?

Tuesday 28th March 2017, 6.30 - 7.30am

5 Goosander. The trio that have been present on Higher Swineshaw since last Wednesday were down to a pair, but Lower Swineshaw Reservoir held two males and a female, and the three flew off down the valley at 6.45am
2 Curlew flew off the moor, and over towards Higher Bank.
Several male Reed Bunting marking territory. A few others calling.

Sunday 26th March 2017, 8.00 - 10.00am

Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

Higher Swineshaw:

The usual 3 Goosander
2 male Wheatear on the dam
1 Pied Wagtail

Walkerwood area:

1 pair of Treecreepers
1 Goldcrest
3 singing Chiffchaff

Saturday 25th March 2017, 8.30am - 12.00pm

Brushes Valley, past Higher Swineshaw, and an hour around the moor above Irontongue Hill.

5 male Wheatear arrived at Higher Swineshaw dam late morning
c 50 Meadow Pipits displaying everywhere, particularly around the top of the moor
2 Snipe flying together around the moor at Boar Flat were a nice sight
1 Buzzard over the moor between Irontongue Hill and Hoarstone Edge
1 pair of Reed Bunting, on territory by Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. More males singing.
3 Goosander (1 male, 2 redheads) on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Chiffchaff singing at Walkerwood Dam
1 pair of Grey Wagtails in Walkerwood overflow

Friday 24th March 2017, 5.50 - 7.20am

Higher Swineshaw. Very windy and very cold.

1 drake Wigeon on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. Possibly accompanied by a female, but too distant, and the water too choppy to be sure.
1 redhead Goosander
12 Mallard
3 pairs of Canada Geese displaying
1 pair of Stonechat
1 Buzzard over Swineshaw Moor
2 Curlew over Boar Flat

Thursday 23rd March 2017, 9.00 - 11.00am

Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

Dry, bright conditions, but a wander around the moor was aborted due to the biting wind rendering it difficult to stand upright.

3 Goosander (1 male, 2 redheads) on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
12 Meadow Pipits
3 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
1 male Kestrel at Lower Swineshaw
1 Buzzard over Hollingworthall Moor
4 Curlew, in the air together, over Lower Swineshaw
1 Chiffchaff singing near Brushes Cottages

Wednesday 22nd March 2017, 6.00 - 7.15am

Higher Swineshaw and Turf Pits

4 Curlew flying around the top two reservoirs
3 Goosander (1 male, 2 redhead) on Higher Swineshaw
9 Mallard
6 Canada Geese
Several Meadow Pipits displaying in driving sleet

Thursday 16th March 2017, 8.00 - 11.00am

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw and Turf Pits

Higher Swineshaw and Turf Pits

1 pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
12+ Reed Bunting, with a couple of males singing on territory. Still a lot of small flocks flying around the moor, though.
1 pair of Stonechat
Curlew displaying over Boar Flat, and above Lower Swineshaw. Fantastic to see and hear.
15+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying
20+ Red Grouse, the gamekeeper doing a good job on the moor.
1 Lesser Redpoll over Turf Pits
Several Skylark singing around Lees Hill, and a single at Turf Pits

Lower down

1 Nuthatch at Brushes Cottages
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
1 pair of Grey Wagtails in the overflow at Walkerwood

Sunday 12th March 2017, 8.30 - 11.00am

The length of the valley, including one of my infrequent forays into the wet woodland SBI below Walkerwood Dam.

1 pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

Lower Swineshaw

1 Curlew calling, being harassed by two Carrion Crows
1 pair of Kestrel
10 Reed Bunting
5 Lesser Redpoll
A flock of 100+ Jackdaws and c 40 Carrion Crows around Pack Saddle
1 Meadow Pipit

In the valley bottom

1 Chiffchaff singing near Millbrook Dam
2 Goldcrest
1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 pair of Coal Tits

Saturday 11th March 2017, 6.30 - 10.00am

From Walkerwood Dam, up to Wild Bank Hill, past the trig point, and onto Hollingworth Hall Moor, in bright conditions, in contrast to the murk enveloping Manchester to the west.

A full tour of Wild Bank, with three species in mind, and satisfyingly, all seen.

1 pair of Little Owls
1 pair of Stonechat
At least 8 Lapwing, some displaying, in fields to the north of Moorside Farm.
15+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying
6 singing Skylark
4 Lesser Redpoll
1 Coal Tit on the moor
5 Dunnock singing around the rifle ranges

Walkerwood Reservoir

1 pair of Grey Wagtails
1 Grey Heron

Surprisingly, no raptors seen today.

Friday 10th March 2017, 6.15 - 7.00pm

Around Lower Swineshaw

4 Woodcock
2 pairs of Tawny Owls
Little Owl

Friday 10th March 2017, 6.00 - 7.15am

3 Curlew in the same area as Roger had them last night
Pair of Goosander on Lower Swineshaw Reservoir
Reed Bunting starting to sing
Several Lesser Redpoll at the scout hut