A lot of singing this morning, mainly warblers and finches
1 Blackcap 2 Willow Warblers 1 Chiffchaff 1 Greenfinch Several Goldfinch Several Lesser Redpoll Bullfinches darting around
David Walsh said
Tue Jul 14 11:57 PM, 2015
Tuesday 14th July 2015
Brushes Valley - quiet and uneventful
The unusual sight of a female / juvenile Blackcap on the moor at the northern side of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir Several Willow Warblers at Higher Swineshaw Linnet singing plus juveniles at Higher Swineshaw Reed Bunting singing 2 Common Sandpiper at Lower Swineshaw c20 Swift Curlew calling
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 14th of July 2015 11:59:29 PM
David Walsh said
Thu Jul 9 12:16 PM, 2015
Thursday 9th July 2015, 9.30 - 11.30am
Brushes Valley, to Lower Swineshaw only, due to heavy contractors work at Higher Swineshaw
Disappointingly quiet, in good conditions, the main item of interest being good numbers of Lesser Redpoll all along the valley, with several juveniles begging food Also a reasonable number of noisy Goldfinch at Lower Swineshaw scout hut Linnet singing Reed Bunting singing
David Walsh said
Sun Jul 5 1:37 PM, 2015
Sunday 5th July 2015, 9.00 - 11.00am
Lower Swineshaw area
2 Common Sandpiper Curlew calling 10+ Linnet, mainly juveniles, but some stunning males 6+ Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch calling Some newly fledged Wrens buzzing around 1 Blackcap singing 2 Chiffchaff singing 1 Jay at Brushes Reservoir
David Walsh said
Sat Jul 4 1:31 PM, 2015
Saturday 4th July 2015, 7.30 - 10.30am
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw
4 Common Sandpiper 10+ Linnet 4 Lesser Redpoll 6 Goldfinch Several singing Reed Bunting Kestrel over Curlew calling Skylark singing Several Coal Tit calling 1 Pied Wagtail Chiffchaff singing Blackcap singing
David Walsh said
Fri Jul 3 12:19 PM, 2015
Friday 3rd July 2015, 7.30 - 10.30am
Flaxfield and a full circuit of Wild Bank
50+ Linnet - there must have been a big fledging this week. Family groups flying everywhere, and juveniles noisily following parents, begging for food 10+ Lesser Redpoll 5 Bullfinch 2 Goldfinch 10+ Willow Warblers 4 singing Whitethroat, my highest count for some time 40+ Meadow Pipits 7 Swift 2 Swallows, at Range House 2 singing Dunnock, and a couple of very young juveniles 3 Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush c100 Starlings - 60 at Flaxfield Farm, and 40 towards Shaw Moor 4 Skylark singing 6 Wrens Cormorant on Walkerwood Reservoir
David Walsh said
Tue Jun 30 12:01 AM, 2015
Monday 29th June 2015, 9.00pm
Reed Bunting singing in the field by Brushes Road. A regular breeder at this site until two years ago, this is my first sighting here this year Blackcap, Willow Warbler, and Chiffchaff singing in the country park
Steve Suttill said
Fri Jun 26 8:37 AM, 2015
David Walsh wrote:
1 Whitethroat singing - I don't know how other local observers have found it, but this year has been very poor for counts of this species. I usually have singing males into double figures. Blackcap has been my second commonest warbler.
Numbers just up the valley in Mossley and Greenfield seem to be about half those I'm used to seeing - back down to the levels of 10 years ago. Blackcaps are more numerous than ever though.
David Walsh said
Fri Jun 26 7:51 AM, 2015
Friday 26th June 2015, 6.30 - 7.15am
Walkerwood Reservoir
1 Common Sandpiper 2 Moorhen 3 Pied Wagtails, including one juvenile 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Blackcap 1 Chiffchaff 1 Whitethroat singing - I don't know how other local observers have found it, but this year has been very poor for counts of this species. I usually have singing males into double figures. Blackcap has been my second commonest warbler.
David Walsh said
Thu Jun 25 10:43 PM, 2015
Thursday 25th June 2015, 7.45 - 9.15pm
Flaxfield and Wild Bank
4 Linnet 8+ Lesser Redpoll Pair of Bullfinch 10 Willow Warblers singing 1 Chiffchaff singing at Flaxfield 4 Swallows hawking around the moor 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush singing 1 male Kestrel
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 25th of June 2015 10:44:13 PM
David Walsh said
Tue Jun 23 10:18 PM, 2015
Tuesday 23rd June 2015, 7.15 - 9.15pm
Around Higher Swineshaw
5 Common Sandpiper 2 Curlew 12+ Linnet, some juveniles 6+ Reed Bunting 1 Pied Wagtail 1 juvenile Grey Wagtail Skylark singing Buzzard Kestrel 20+ Swift Mistle Thrush carrying food from the dam banking 10+ Meadow Pipits, some with food
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 10:34:11 PM
David Walsh said
Mon Jun 22 7:43 AM, 2015
Monday 22nd June 2015, 6.30 - 7.00am
Another damp morning, but plenty of singing going on around Walkerwood
1 Common Sandpiper 1 Moorhen 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Grey Wagtail Buzzard over Cormorant down the valley 2 Blackcap singing 2 Chiffchaff singing Willow Warblers Linnet Lesser Redpoll Chaffinch Greenfinch Bullfinch Couple of Coal Tit calling Woodpigeon feeding two very hungry youngsters next to the overflow 15 Canada Geese in the grass
David Walsh said
Sat Jun 20 12:24 PM, 2015
Saturday 20th June 2015, 7.30 - 10.00am
From Brushes Cottages to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.
A mild morning, but the mist at the bottom of the valley increased in density with altitude, with visibility very poor at Higher Swineshaw. Difficult to get a positive ID on anything over 30 yards, without a song or call.
6 Common Sandpiper 8 Linnet 5 Lesser Redpoll 4 Bullfinch 3 Reed Bunting 26 Canada Geese, including 7 goslings 3 juvenile Swallows at Higher Swineshaw 1 Treecreeper 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Mistle Thrush 23 Willow Warblers singing 3 Blackcap 1 juvenile Black-headed Gull on Lower Swineshaw 3 Pied Wagtails A few Dunnock singing strongly around the Swineshaws
David Walsh said
Fri Jun 19 8:33 PM, 2015
Friday 19th June 2015, 7.00 - 8.00pm
Brushes Reservoir (after being forced off Walkerwood Dam by the Tour of Tameside) - cold and windy.
9 Canada Geese on Walkerwood 1 Common Sandpiper on Walkerwood 6 Pied Wagtails, including some juveniles Pair of Bullfinch, more calling Several Lesser Redpoll 2 Kestrel over Blackcap Willow Warblers Chiffchaff Great Spotted Woodpecker Party of Long-tailed Tits, some juveniles Single juvenile Black-headed Gull on Walkerwood
David Walsh said
Thu Jun 11 11:40 PM, 2015
Thursday 11th June 2015, 10.00pm
Lower Swineshaw area
3 Common Sandpiper 2 Curlew calling 8 Black-headed Gulls Tawny Owl hooting from the woods
David Walsh said
Thu Jun 11 11:33 AM, 2015
Thursday 11th June 2015, 7.45 - 10.30am
From Walkerwood Dam, to Higher Hyde Green, via Brushes Cottages
6 Linnet 5 Greenfinch, including juveniles 7 Goldfinch 8 Chaffinch 7 Willow Warblers 2 Chiffchaff 1 Blackcap Skylark singing on Harridge 12 Meadow Pipits 4 Dunnock, some carrying food Pair of Pied Wagtails picking through the fields 3 Swallows 8 House Sparrows 2 Buzzard over 2 Kestrel 2 Jays Great Spotted Woodpecker calling 6 Mistle Thrush
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 11th of June 2015 11:35:25 PM
-- Edited by David Walsh on Wednesday 10th of June 2015 09:45:55 AM
David Walsh said
Tue Jun 9 11:29 PM, 2015
Tuesday 9th June 2015, 7.00 - 9.30pm
Brushes Valley, and back above Harridge Woods
22 Willow Warblers singing 3 Blackcap 1 Chiffchaff 6 House Martins 3 Swallows 3 Swift 8 Red Grouse, including several juveniles
Around the Swineshaws
1 Common Sandpiper 1 Pied Wagtail 6 Linnet 3 Reed Bunting Curlew put up by the swarms of mountain bikes. It was like the tour de t'Bridge tonight, half a mile from the nearest bridleway.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 9th of June 2015 11:36:17 PM
David Walsh said
Sun Jun 7 11:51 PM, 2015
Sunday 7th June 2015, 9.00 - 10.30am
Wild Bank, above Cock Wood, and around Cock Knarr, including half an hour scanning the scree slopes
Despite a good half hour searching for an FF code, only one Skylark singing. So elusive are they in the heather. 5 Willow Warblers 6 Lesser Redpoll 25+ Meadow Pipits 2 Blackcap 2 Chiffchaff 4 Dunnock 3 Chaffinch 4 Wrens 1 Whitethroat singing 3 Swallows hawking around the moor
David Walsh said
Sat Jun 6 11:15 PM, 2015
Saturday 6th June 2015, 6.30 -11.00am
Brushes Valley, up to Higher Swineshaw. Cold, and extremely windy, keeping things very quiet.
Cuckoo calling from Harridge 5 Reed Bunting singing 5 Linnet singing 5 Chaffinch 3 Lesser Redpoll 5 Bullfinch 4 Mistle Thrush 15 Willow Warblers 2 Chiffchaff 6+ Blackcap, including a family group 1 Common Sandpiper Pair of Pied Wagtails Skylark singing 2 Swift 5 Swallows
David Walsh said
Thu Jun 4 10:10 PM, 2015
Thursday 4th June 2015, 9.30 - 11.45am
Around Wild Bank Hill
Cuckoo calling from Cock Wood Skylark singing 4 Swallows hawking around the moor 17 Linnet, many singing 12+ Lesser Redpoll 35+ Meadow Pipits 7 Willow Warblers 1 Whitethroat singing 3 Chaffinch 1 male Bullfinch calling from the gorse 2 Dunnock singing in the gorse
2 Swallows around Range House
Brushes Reservoir, 9.00pm
1 Common Sandpiper 1 Pied Wagtail 7 Black-headed Gulls Cuckoo calling from the woods on Harridge
David Walsh said
Sat May 30 2:11 PM, 2015
Saturday 30th May 2015, 7.00 - 11.45am
Brushes Valley, Higher Swineshaw, up Irontongue Hill, and over towards Bowerclough Head (and back)
Around the tops.
2 Cuckoos, one calling from Harridge Woods, and one male being chased around Higher Swineshaw Reservoir by a posse of Meadow Pipits 8+ Linnet, some stunning males singing around the Swineshaws 10 Reed Bunting singing 1 male Grey Wagtail carrying food from Higher Swineshaw, to a very remote nest site on Irontongue Hill Golden Plover calling from the direction of Hoarstone Edge. Buzzard hunting over Ormes Moor Pair of Common Sandpiper on Higher Swineshaw 4+ Wrens around Higher Swineshaw, carrying food 40+ Meadow Pipits, almost every bird seemed to be either juvenile, or an adult carrying food Skylarks singing 5 Black-headed Gulls on Higher Swineshaw
Brushes Valley and Walkerwood.
5 Lesser Redpoll 5 Chiffchaff 6 Willow Warblers 5 Blackcap 8 Chaffinch 4 Goldfinch 2 Bullfinch Juvenile Coal Tit 6 Mistle Thrush, including some juveniles Kestrel over Wild Bank
David Walsh said
Thu May 28 12:16 PM, 2015
Thursday 28th May 2015, 9.00 - 11.00am
Flaxfield and Wild Bank, very windy.
16 Linnet, many singing males 4+ Lesser Redpoll 8+ Willow Warbler 1 Whitethroat singing - it seems a quiet year for this species locally 15+ Meadow Pipits 5 Skylark 3 Song Thrush Bullfinch over Chaffinch singing at Flaxfield Chiffchaff singing at Flaxfield Single Swallow at Range House Red Grouse on the moor
David Walsh said
Sun May 24 10:02 PM, 2015
Sunday 24th May 2015
Range House, 7.00pm
c40 Starlings around the fields 1 Swallow 1 Swift
Brushes Reservoir, 9.00pm
8 Pied Wagtails, including one female
David Walsh said
Sat May 23 3:20 PM, 2015
Saturday 23rd May 2015, 7.00 - 11.00am
Brushes Valley up to Higher Swineshaw
Misty, mild, and midge-ridden, but a lot of singing going on. A good morning.
12+ Linnet, a few pairs, and several singing males 10 singing Reed Bunting Curlew feeding on the dam banking 2 Cuckoos calling, one at Harridge Woods, one around Higher Swineshaw Grasshopper Warbler reeling Lesser Redpoll at the scout hut and at Brushes Cottages Blackcap, Chiffchaff, and Willow Warbler singing along the valley Willow Warblers singing around Swineshaw Moor Skylark singing Grey Wagtail at Higher Swineshaw Pied Wagtails Pair of Common Sandpiper Pair of Canada Geese with 5 young 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over east, mainly immature 6 Swallows feeding over Higher Swineshaw 7 Black-headed Gulls on Higher Swineshaw Chaffinch Bullfinch Goldfinch Wrens leading the singing around the Swineshaws, making for an enjoyable few hours. The only thing missing was a bit of sunshine
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 23rd of May 2015 03:21:38 PM
David Walsh said
Thu May 21 9:40 PM, 2015
Thursday 21st May 2015, 8.00 - 9.15pm
Brushes Reservoir
7 Swifts, my first in Stalybridge this year 8 male Pied Wagtails Several Lesser Redpoll circling noisily Pair of Common Sandpiper c10 Black-headed Gulls down the valley 1 Treecreeper
David Walsh said
Wed May 20 8:04 AM, 2015
Wednesday 20th May 2015
A few sightings from Tuesday evening
Grey Heron at Walkerwood Treecreeper carrying food in Harridge Woods 8 Willow Warblers singing on Swineshaw Moor 1 Wheatear Cuckoo calling from Cock Wood (and again, briefly, this morning) 6+ Song Thrush singing at dusk, the length of the valley 6 Linnet, around the Swineshaws
David Walsh said
Sat May 16 12:02 PM, 2015
Saturday 16th May 2015, 7.15 - 10.30am
Brushes Valley, up to Swineshaw Moor. Windy and cold.
Higher Swineshaw
3 Wheatear 6 singing Reed Bunting Curlew heard Skylark singing 3 Common Sandpiper Pair of Pied Wagtails A single Swallow 4 Willow Warblers singing high up on Swineshaw Moor 20+ Canada Geese, including 5 goslings 2 Mistle Thrush Several juvenile Meadow Pipits
Lower down
Willow Warblers singing 3 Chiffchaff singing Blackcap at Brushes Cottages Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch Pair of Linnet at Lower Swineshaw Greenfinch singing Goldfinch Chaffinch singing
David Walsh said
Fri May 15 8:02 PM, 2015
Friday 15th May 2015, 7.30pm
Walkerwood Dam
3 Common Sandpiper - 2 (presumed) males having a right noisy old scrap along the length of the shoreline, locking bills and throwing one another around. At one point both birds were submerged. The (presumed) female just picked amongst the stones of the shoreline, in usual Sandpiper style, as if the other two weren't there.
Also 1 Mandarin drake swimming with a drake Mallard
Flaxfield and Wild Bank
6+ Willow Warblers 1 Chiffchaff 1 Whitethroat Greenfinch singing Lesser Redpoll around the gorse Chaffinch singing Song Thrush singing high up in the gorse Juvenile Mistle Thrush picking through the fields Solitary Swallow at Range House
David Walsh said
Thu May 14 9:25 PM, 2015
Thursday 14th May 2015, 8.00 - 8.45pm
Brushes Dam
5 Pied Wagtails already in the trees Pair of Common Sandpiper Pair of Greenfinch 6+ Lesser Redpoll 2 Blackcap singing Kestrel over
David Walsh said
Wed May 13 3:12 PM, 2015
Wednesday 13th May 2015, 7.15 - 8.00am
From Besom Lane, past Millbrook Dam, as far as the valley bottom.
7 Willow Warblers singing 2 Blackcap 1 Chiffchaff singing 3 House Sparrows 1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker carrying food 4 Chaffinch 2 Song Thrush 1 Moorhen 7 Canada Geese 7 Mallard 2 Swallows 3 Blue Tits 7 Great Tits 3 Wrens
David Walsh said
Mon May 11 10:11 PM, 2015
Monday 11th May 2015
Evening wander from the Country Park and around Cock Wood
5 Blackcap singing in the Country Park, 2 singing against each other at Brushes Cottages 6 Pied Wagtails early to roost at 8.30, all males 3 Common Sandpiper 10+ Lesser Redpoll at the usual places Agitated Moorhen on Walkerwood Several Mistle Thrush Several Jays Grey Wagtail carrying food
David Walsh said
Sun May 10 10:23 PM, 2015
Sunday 10th May 2015, 9.00pm
2 Common Sandpiper on both Walkerwood and Brushes Reservoirs
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 10th of May 2015 10:34:24 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Sun May 10 6:21 PM, 2015
Brushes pm
4 Willow Warbler (singing) 2 Blackcap (singing) 2 Chiffchaff (singing) Garden Warbler (singing), but deep in the thickest cover 3 Song Thrush (singing) Swallow over Walkerwood Dam Pair of Grey Wagtail Moorhen on reservoir bank
Spotted Flycatcher in the country park, which started flycatching, but I lost sight of it as I moved to relocate it
David Walsh said
Sat May 9 12:57 PM, 2015
Saturday 9th May 2015, 6.30 - 10.00am
Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, dry at first, wet and windy at the top
Walkerwood area
Grey Wagtail carrying food Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch Song Thrush carrying food Pair of Common Sandpiper
Further up
Great Tit carrying food into one of our nest boxes 2 Blackcap Several Willow Warbler singing Chiffchaff singing
Higher Swineshaw
Several Reed Bunting singing 4 Wheatear, one male singing 2 Common Sandpiper Pair of Curlew displaying Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Skylark singing over Lees Hill Pair of Linnet at Lower Swineshaw
David Walsh said
Thu May 7 1:10 PM, 2015
Thursday 7th May 2015, 10.00 - 11.30am
From Walkerwood, up past the ranges, and on to Wild Bank Hill
4+ Skylark singing Male Stonechat 10+ Linnet, some stunning males singing 6+ Lesser Redpoll 8+ Whitethroat 2 Blackcap singing Garden Warbler singing Willow Warblers everywhere, including up at 1000 feet 2 Ravens Kestrel hunting 2 Buzzard A single Swallow around Flaxfield Farm Pied Wagtail at Flaxfield Farm Grey Wagtail at Walkerwood Moorhen on the reservoir
David Walsh said
Tue May 5 10:19 PM, 2015
Tuesday 5th May 2015, evening
From Brushes Road, around Cock Wood, and back via Walkerwood Dam
Brushes Road fringe of country park
4 Blackcap 3 Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 2 Song Thrush 2 Wrens All singing lustily in the wind
Walkerwood area
Pair of Moorhen Pair of Grey Wagtails 4 Common Sandpiper Cuckoo calling from Cock Wood Several Lesser Redpoll around the birch above Cock Wood Greenfinch singing 2 Bullfinch over
1 Common Sandpiper on Brushes Reservoir
17 (at least) Pied Wagtails roosting in a tree
David Walsh said
Mon May 4 9:26 PM, 2015
Monday 5th May 2015
Range House, 6.45pm
2 Swallows 2 Greenfinch singing Whitethroat singing behind Range House A mixed flock feeding around the fields, consisting of: 6 Linnet 4 Goldfinch c20 Starlings
Walkerwood Dam, 7.30pm
3 Common Sandpiper 1 Moorhen in the overflow Pair of Grey Wagtails Buzzard over Harridge
David Walsh said
Mon May 4 11:48 AM, 2015
Monday 5th May 2015, 9.00 - 11.00am
Walkerwood Dam, up to Flaxfield and back
1 Garden Warbler singing in the country park, my first of the year 6+ Whitethroat singing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing 2 Swallows around Flaxfield Farm Grey Wagtail carrying food Pied Wagtail Lesser Redpoll Linnet Greenfinch Chaffinch Bullfinch Goldfinch, all the above finches singing Several Skylark over the moor 25 Starlings feeding in the fields at Flaxfield
David Walsh said
Sun May 3 12:38 PM, 2015
Sunday 3rd May 2015, 10.00 - 11.00am
Walkerwood Dam
Pair of Common Sandpiper Cormorant diving Pair of Grey Wagtails carrying food Pied Wagtail Moorhen Mallard with 9 ducklings Blackcap singing
2 House Martins at Cote Farm 2, possibly 3 Whitethroat singing at Brushes football pitch
David Walsh said
Sat May 2 11:47 AM, 2015
Saturday 2nd May 2015, 6.30 - 10.30am
From Walkerwood, to Higher Swineshaw and back, windy and cold.
2 Curlew on Higher Swineshaw dam banking 4 Common Sandpiper Several Reed Bunting 3 Wheatear, 2 on Higher Swineshaw dam, 1 at North Britain Farm Several Mistle Thrush Lesser Redpoll at the scout hut and Brushes Cottages Great Spotted Woodpecker Pied Wagtail at Lower Swineshaw Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff all the way up 2 Buzzard
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 2nd of May 2015 02:38:38 PM
David Walsh said
Thu Apr 30 9:44 PM, 2015
Thursday 30th April 2015, 8.00pm
Walkerwood Dam
Pair of Common Sandpiper Mandarin drake swimming with Mallard 1 Moorhen 1 Pied Wagtail 4 Black-headed Gulls on the reservoir Several Song Thrush singing Mistle Thrush alarm calling
David Walsh said
Sun Apr 26 12:42 PM, 2015
Sunday 26th April 2015, 8.00 - 10.30am
From Walkerwood up to Wild Bank, past the rifle ranges, and back.
A fantastic frosty morning, the hillside filled with birdsong.
12+ Linnet, 5 singing males 12+ Lesser Redpoll, males singing, but more difficult than Linnet to count 2 Whitethroat singing, my first of the year 2 Pied Wagtail 2 Red Grouse Pair of Long-tailed Tits
Plus the following, all singing: Willow Warbler Chiffchaff Chaffinch Greenfinch Goldfinch Skylark Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Blackbird Robin
The following carrying food: Dunnock Blackbird Meadow Pipits, with some practicing distraction
No sight nor sound of the Grasshopper Warbler that was reeling on Thursday and Friday
David Walsh said
Sat Apr 25 12:13 PM, 2015
Saturday 25th April 2015, 6.45 - 11.15am
From Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw
2 Common Sandpiper 7 Reed Bunting (6 males) around the Swineshaws Pair of Pied Wagtails at Higher Swineshaw Buzzard 2 Wheatear 6+ Red Grouse Lesser Redpoll at the Scout hut and at Brushes Cottages Greenfinch Bullfinch Chaffinch Great Spotted Woodpecker Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers singing all the way up 2 male Blackcap at Walkerwood
David Walsh said
Thu Apr 23 8:55 PM, 2015
Thursday 23rd April 2015, 8.00pm
Flaxfield
2 Swallows at Range House Grasshopper Warbler Pair of Pied Wagtails Willow Warblers Chiffchaff c6 Meadow Pipits
David Walsh said
Wed Apr 22 7:41 PM, 2015
Wednesday 22nd April 2015, 7.00pm
Walkerwood Dam
1 Pair of Common Sandpiper Lesser Redpoll 1 Moorhen
David Walsh said
Wed Apr 22 7:43 AM, 2015
Wednesday 22nd April 2015, 6.30am
Walkerwood Dam
Cuckoo calling from Cock Wood, my first of the year 1 Willow Tit Curlew bubbling at the top of Wild Bank Pied Wagtail Grey Wagtail 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming
David Walsh said
Fri Apr 17 9:07 PM, 2015
Friday 17th April 2015, 6.30 - 8.00pm
Wild Bank Hill
4 Wheatear, 2 male, 2 female 1 male Stonechat Several singing Skylark 7 Red Grouse Pair of Bullfinch in the gorse 6+ Lesser Redpoll 2 singing Linnet 1 Mistle Thrush 2 Song Thrush Meadow Pipits everywhere. Need to do a proper count again soon.
David Walsh said
Fri Apr 17 12:05 PM, 2015
Friday 17th April 2015, 6.30 - 11.00am
From Walkerwood to Lees Hill, then on to the Hobson Moor thread
3 Common Sandpiper 3 or 4 Reed Bunting singing Curlew bubbling below Pack Saddle Great Spotted Woodpecker at Brushes Cottages Lesser Redpoll at Brushes Cottages and the scout hut Pair of Greenfinch at Brushes Cottages Nuthatch whistling 2 Jays 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull on Higher Swineshaw reservoir 3 Pied Wagtails, one at each of Walkerwood, Lower, and Higher Swineshaw reservoirs 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Moorhen in the overflow at Walkerwood 1 Mandarin drake swimming with Mallard at Walkerwood
-- Edited by David Walsh on Friday 17th of April 2015 12:27:06 PM
David Walsh said
Thu Apr 16 9:16 PM, 2015
Thursday 16th April 2015, 8.30pm
To cap what has been, for me at least, a wader-laden day, having also spent half an hour on Saddleworth Moor on the way back from business in Wakefield watching Golden Plover, finally the one I have been looking out for, for the past fortnight.
Walkerwood Dam
A lot of singing this morning, mainly warblers and finches
1 Blackcap
2 Willow Warblers
1 Chiffchaff
1 Greenfinch
Several Goldfinch
Several Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinches darting around
Brushes Valley - quiet and uneventful
The unusual sight of a female / juvenile Blackcap on the moor at the northern side of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Several Willow Warblers at Higher Swineshaw
Linnet singing plus juveniles at Higher Swineshaw
Reed Bunting singing
2 Common Sandpiper at Lower Swineshaw
c20 Swift
Curlew calling
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 14th of July 2015 11:59:29 PM
Brushes Valley, to Lower Swineshaw only, due to heavy contractors work at Higher Swineshaw
Disappointingly quiet, in good conditions, the main item of interest being good numbers of Lesser Redpoll all along the valley, with several juveniles begging food
Also a reasonable number of noisy Goldfinch at Lower Swineshaw scout hut
Linnet singing
Reed Bunting singing
Lower Swineshaw area
2 Common Sandpiper
Curlew calling
10+ Linnet, mainly juveniles, but some stunning males
6+ Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch calling
Some newly fledged Wrens buzzing around
1 Blackcap singing
2 Chiffchaff singing
1 Jay at Brushes Reservoir
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw
4 Common Sandpiper
10+ Linnet
4 Lesser Redpoll
6 Goldfinch
Several singing Reed Bunting
Kestrel over
Curlew calling
Skylark singing
Several Coal Tit calling
1 Pied Wagtail
Chiffchaff singing
Blackcap singing
Flaxfield and a full circuit of Wild Bank
50+ Linnet - there must have been a big fledging this week. Family groups flying everywhere, and juveniles noisily following parents, begging for food
10+ Lesser Redpoll
5 Bullfinch
2 Goldfinch
10+ Willow Warblers
4 singing Whitethroat, my highest count for some time
40+ Meadow Pipits
7 Swift
2 Swallows, at Range House
2 singing Dunnock, and a couple of very young juveniles
3 Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush
c100 Starlings - 60 at Flaxfield Farm, and 40 towards Shaw Moor
4 Skylark singing
6 Wrens
Cormorant on Walkerwood Reservoir
Reed Bunting singing in the field by Brushes Road. A regular breeder at this site until two years ago, this is my first sighting here this year
Blackcap, Willow Warbler, and Chiffchaff singing in the country park
Numbers just up the valley in Mossley and Greenfield seem to be about half those I'm used to seeing - back down to the levels of 10 years ago. Blackcaps are more numerous than ever though.
Walkerwood Reservoir
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Moorhen
3 Pied Wagtails, including one juvenile
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
1 Whitethroat singing - I don't know how other local observers have found it, but this year has been very poor for counts of this species. I usually have singing males into double figures. Blackcap has been my second commonest warbler.
Flaxfield and Wild Bank
4 Linnet
8+ Lesser Redpoll
Pair of Bullfinch
10 Willow Warblers singing
1 Chiffchaff singing at Flaxfield
4 Swallows hawking around the moor
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush singing
1 male Kestrel
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 25th of June 2015 10:44:13 PM
Around Higher Swineshaw
5 Common Sandpiper
2 Curlew
12+ Linnet, some juveniles
6+ Reed Bunting
1 Pied Wagtail
1 juvenile Grey Wagtail
Skylark singing
Buzzard
Kestrel
20+ Swift
Mistle Thrush carrying food from the dam banking
10+ Meadow Pipits, some with food
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 10:34:11 PM
Another damp morning, but plenty of singing going on around Walkerwood
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Moorhen
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
Buzzard over
Cormorant down the valley
2 Blackcap singing
2 Chiffchaff singing
Willow Warblers
Linnet
Lesser Redpoll
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Couple of Coal Tit calling
Woodpigeon feeding two very hungry youngsters next to the overflow
15 Canada Geese in the grass
From Brushes Cottages to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.
A mild morning, but the mist at the bottom of the valley increased in density with altitude, with visibility very poor at Higher Swineshaw. Difficult to get a positive ID on anything over 30 yards, without a song or call.
6 Common Sandpiper
8 Linnet
5 Lesser Redpoll
4 Bullfinch
3 Reed Bunting
26 Canada Geese, including 7 goslings
3 juvenile Swallows at Higher Swineshaw
1 Treecreeper
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Mistle Thrush
23 Willow Warblers singing
3 Blackcap
1 juvenile Black-headed Gull on Lower Swineshaw
3 Pied Wagtails
A few Dunnock singing strongly around the Swineshaws
Brushes Reservoir (after being forced off Walkerwood Dam by the Tour of Tameside) - cold and windy.
9 Canada Geese on Walkerwood
1 Common Sandpiper on Walkerwood
6 Pied Wagtails, including some juveniles
Pair of Bullfinch, more calling
Several Lesser Redpoll
2 Kestrel over
Blackcap
Willow Warblers
Chiffchaff
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Party of Long-tailed Tits, some juveniles
Single juvenile Black-headed Gull on Walkerwood
Lower Swineshaw area
3 Common Sandpiper
2 Curlew calling
8 Black-headed Gulls
Tawny Owl hooting from the woods
From Walkerwood Dam, to Higher Hyde Green, via Brushes Cottages
6 Linnet
5 Greenfinch, including juveniles
7 Goldfinch
8 Chaffinch
7 Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap
Skylark singing on Harridge
12 Meadow Pipits
4 Dunnock, some carrying food
Pair of Pied Wagtails picking through the fields
3 Swallows
8 House Sparrows
2 Buzzard over
2 Kestrel
2 Jays
Great Spotted Woodpecker calling
6 Mistle Thrush
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 11th of June 2015 11:35:25 PM
Above Walkerwood Reservoir, Harridge side
1 Grey Heron on the reservoir
Pair of Pied Wagtails
17 Canada Geese
7 Black-headed Gulls
5 Willow Warblers
3 Blackcap
10 Chaffinch
2 Greenfinch
2 Goldfinch
4 Bullfinch
1 Linnet
1 Lesser Redpoll over
2 Mistle Thrush
13 Blackbirds
4 Wrens
2 Jays
-- Edited by David Walsh on Wednesday 10th of June 2015 09:45:55 AM
Brushes Valley, and back above Harridge Woods
22 Willow Warblers singing
3 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
6 House Martins
3 Swallows
3 Swift
8 Red Grouse, including several juveniles
Around the Swineshaws
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Pied Wagtail
6 Linnet
3 Reed Bunting
Curlew put up by the swarms of mountain bikes. It was like the tour de t'Bridge tonight, half a mile from the nearest bridleway.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 9th of June 2015 11:36:17 PM
Wild Bank, above Cock Wood, and around Cock Knarr, including half an hour scanning the scree slopes
Despite a good half hour searching for an FF code, only one Skylark singing. So elusive are they in the heather.
5 Willow Warblers
6 Lesser Redpoll
25+ Meadow Pipits
2 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff
4 Dunnock
3 Chaffinch
4 Wrens
1 Whitethroat singing
3 Swallows hawking around the moor
Brushes Valley, up to Higher Swineshaw. Cold, and extremely windy, keeping things very quiet.
Cuckoo calling from Harridge
5 Reed Bunting singing
5 Linnet singing
5 Chaffinch
3 Lesser Redpoll
5 Bullfinch
4 Mistle Thrush
15 Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff
6+ Blackcap, including a family group
1 Common Sandpiper
Pair of Pied Wagtails
Skylark singing
2 Swift
5 Swallows
Around Wild Bank Hill
Cuckoo calling from Cock Wood
Skylark singing
4 Swallows hawking around the moor
17 Linnet, many singing
12+ Lesser Redpoll
35+ Meadow Pipits
7 Willow Warblers
1 Whitethroat singing
3 Chaffinch
1 male Bullfinch calling from the gorse
2 Dunnock singing in the gorse
2 Swallows around Range House
Brushes Reservoir, 9.00pm
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Pied Wagtail
7 Black-headed Gulls
Cuckoo calling from the woods on Harridge
Brushes Valley, Higher Swineshaw, up Irontongue Hill, and over towards Bowerclough Head (and back)
Around the tops.
2 Cuckoos, one calling from Harridge Woods, and one male being chased around Higher Swineshaw Reservoir by a posse of Meadow Pipits
8+ Linnet, some stunning males singing around the Swineshaws
10 Reed Bunting singing
1 male Grey Wagtail carrying food from Higher Swineshaw, to a very remote nest site on Irontongue Hill
Golden Plover calling from the direction of Hoarstone Edge.
Buzzard hunting over Ormes Moor
Pair of Common Sandpiper on Higher Swineshaw
4+ Wrens around Higher Swineshaw, carrying food
40+ Meadow Pipits, almost every bird seemed to be either juvenile, or an adult carrying food
Skylarks singing
5 Black-headed Gulls on Higher Swineshaw
Brushes Valley and Walkerwood.
5 Lesser Redpoll
5 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warblers
5 Blackcap
8 Chaffinch
4 Goldfinch
2 Bullfinch
Juvenile Coal Tit
6 Mistle Thrush, including some juveniles
Kestrel over Wild Bank
Flaxfield and Wild Bank, very windy.
16 Linnet, many singing males
4+ Lesser Redpoll
8+ Willow Warbler
1 Whitethroat singing - it seems a quiet year for this species locally
15+ Meadow Pipits
5 Skylark
3 Song Thrush
Bullfinch over
Chaffinch singing at Flaxfield
Chiffchaff singing at Flaxfield
Single Swallow at Range House
Red Grouse on the moor
Range House, 7.00pm
c40 Starlings around the fields
1 Swallow
1 Swift
Brushes Reservoir, 9.00pm
8 Pied Wagtails, including one female
Brushes Valley up to Higher Swineshaw
Misty, mild, and midge-ridden, but a lot of singing going on. A good morning.
12+ Linnet, a few pairs, and several singing males
10 singing Reed Bunting
Curlew feeding on the dam banking
2 Cuckoos calling, one at Harridge Woods, one around Higher Swineshaw
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
Lesser Redpoll at the scout hut and at Brushes Cottages
Blackcap, Chiffchaff, and Willow Warbler singing along the valley
Willow Warblers singing around Swineshaw Moor
Skylark singing
Grey Wagtail at Higher Swineshaw
Pied Wagtails
Pair of Common Sandpiper
Pair of Canada Geese with 5 young
7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over east, mainly immature
6 Swallows feeding over Higher Swineshaw
7 Black-headed Gulls on Higher Swineshaw
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Goldfinch
Wrens leading the singing around the Swineshaws, making for an enjoyable few hours. The only thing missing was a bit of sunshine
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 23rd of May 2015 03:21:38 PM
Brushes Reservoir
7 Swifts, my first in Stalybridge this year
8 male Pied Wagtails
Several Lesser Redpoll circling noisily
Pair of Common Sandpiper
c10 Black-headed Gulls down the valley
1 Treecreeper
A few sightings from Tuesday evening
Grey Heron at Walkerwood
Treecreeper carrying food in Harridge Woods
8 Willow Warblers singing on Swineshaw Moor
1 Wheatear
Cuckoo calling from Cock Wood (and again, briefly, this morning)
6+ Song Thrush singing at dusk, the length of the valley
6 Linnet, around the Swineshaws
Brushes Valley, up to Swineshaw Moor. Windy and cold.
Higher Swineshaw
3 Wheatear
6 singing Reed Bunting
Curlew heard
Skylark singing
3 Common Sandpiper
Pair of Pied Wagtails
A single Swallow
4 Willow Warblers singing high up on Swineshaw Moor
20+ Canada Geese, including 5 goslings
2 Mistle Thrush
Several juvenile Meadow Pipits
Lower down
Willow Warblers singing
3 Chiffchaff singing
Blackcap at Brushes Cottages
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Pair of Linnet at Lower Swineshaw
Greenfinch singing
Goldfinch
Chaffinch singing
Walkerwood Dam
3 Common Sandpiper - 2 (presumed) males having a right noisy old scrap along the length of the shoreline, locking bills and throwing one another around. At one point both birds were submerged. The (presumed) female just picked amongst the stones of the shoreline, in usual Sandpiper style, as if the other two weren't there.
Also 1 Mandarin drake swimming with a drake Mallard
Flaxfield and Wild Bank
6+ Willow Warblers
1 Chiffchaff
1 Whitethroat
Greenfinch singing
Lesser Redpoll around the gorse
Chaffinch singing
Song Thrush singing high up in the gorse
Juvenile Mistle Thrush picking through the fields
Solitary Swallow at Range House
Brushes Dam
5 Pied Wagtails already in the trees
Pair of Common Sandpiper
Pair of Greenfinch
6+ Lesser Redpoll
2 Blackcap singing
Kestrel over
From Besom Lane, past Millbrook Dam, as far as the valley bottom.
7 Willow Warblers singing
2 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff singing
3 House Sparrows
1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker carrying food
4 Chaffinch
2 Song Thrush
1 Moorhen
7 Canada Geese
7 Mallard
2 Swallows
3 Blue Tits
7 Great Tits
3 Wrens
Evening wander from the Country Park and around Cock Wood
5 Blackcap singing in the Country Park, 2 singing against each other at Brushes Cottages
6 Pied Wagtails early to roost at 8.30, all males
3 Common Sandpiper
10+ Lesser Redpoll at the usual places
Agitated Moorhen on Walkerwood
Several Mistle Thrush
Several Jays
Grey Wagtail carrying food
2 Common Sandpiper on both Walkerwood and Brushes Reservoirs
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 10th of May 2015 10:34:24 PM
4 Willow Warbler (singing)
2 Blackcap (singing)
2 Chiffchaff (singing)
Garden Warbler (singing), but deep in the thickest cover
3 Song Thrush (singing)
Swallow over Walkerwood Dam
Pair of Grey Wagtail
Moorhen on reservoir bank
Spotted Flycatcher in the country park, which started flycatching, but I lost sight of it as I moved to relocate it
Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, dry at first, wet and windy at the top
Walkerwood area
Grey Wagtail carrying food
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Song Thrush carrying food
Pair of Common Sandpiper
Further up
Great Tit carrying food into one of our nest boxes
2 Blackcap
Several Willow Warbler singing
Chiffchaff singing
Higher Swineshaw
Several Reed Bunting singing
4 Wheatear, one male singing
2 Common Sandpiper
Pair of Curlew displaying
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Skylark singing over Lees Hill
Pair of Linnet at Lower Swineshaw
From Walkerwood, up past the ranges, and on to Wild Bank Hill
4+ Skylark singing
Male Stonechat
10+ Linnet, some stunning males singing
6+ Lesser Redpoll
8+ Whitethroat
2 Blackcap singing
Garden Warbler singing
Willow Warblers everywhere, including up at 1000 feet
2 Ravens
Kestrel hunting
2 Buzzard
A single Swallow around Flaxfield Farm
Pied Wagtail at Flaxfield Farm
Grey Wagtail at Walkerwood
Moorhen on the reservoir
From Brushes Road, around Cock Wood, and back via Walkerwood Dam
Brushes Road fringe of country park
4 Blackcap
3 Willow Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
2 Song Thrush
2 Wrens
All singing lustily in the wind
Walkerwood area
Pair of Moorhen
Pair of Grey Wagtails
4 Common Sandpiper
Cuckoo calling from Cock Wood
Several Lesser Redpoll around the birch above Cock Wood
Greenfinch singing
2 Bullfinch over
1 Common Sandpiper on Brushes Reservoir
17 (at least) Pied Wagtails roosting in a tree
Range House, 6.45pm
2 Swallows
2 Greenfinch singing
Whitethroat singing behind Range House
A mixed flock feeding around the fields, consisting of:
6 Linnet
4 Goldfinch
c20 Starlings
Walkerwood Dam, 7.30pm
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Moorhen in the overflow
Pair of Grey Wagtails
Buzzard over Harridge
Walkerwood Dam, up to Flaxfield and back
1 Garden Warbler singing in the country park, my first of the year
6+ Whitethroat singing
Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing
2 Swallows around Flaxfield Farm
Grey Wagtail carrying food
Pied Wagtail
Lesser Redpoll
Linnet
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Goldfinch, all the above finches singing
Several Skylark over the moor
25 Starlings feeding in the fields at Flaxfield
Walkerwood Dam
Pair of Common Sandpiper
Cormorant diving
Pair of Grey Wagtails carrying food
Pied Wagtail
Moorhen
Mallard with 9 ducklings
Blackcap singing
2 House Martins at Cote Farm
2, possibly 3 Whitethroat singing at Brushes football pitch
From Walkerwood, to Higher Swineshaw and back, windy and cold.
Walkerwood area
3 Blackcap singing
Bullfinch
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Moorhen
Common Sandpiper
Further up
2 Curlew on Higher Swineshaw dam banking
4 Common Sandpiper
Several Reed Bunting
3 Wheatear, 2 on Higher Swineshaw dam, 1 at North Britain Farm
Several Mistle Thrush
Lesser Redpoll at the scout hut and Brushes Cottages
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail at Lower Swineshaw
Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff all the way up
2 Buzzard
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 2nd of May 2015 02:38:38 PM
Walkerwood Dam
Pair of Common Sandpiper
Mandarin drake swimming with Mallard
1 Moorhen
1 Pied Wagtail
4 Black-headed Gulls on the reservoir
Several Song Thrush singing
Mistle Thrush alarm calling
From Walkerwood up to Wild Bank, past the rifle ranges, and back.
A fantastic frosty morning, the hillside filled with birdsong.
12+ Linnet, 5 singing males
12+ Lesser Redpoll, males singing, but more difficult than Linnet to count
2 Whitethroat singing, my first of the year
2 Pied Wagtail
2 Red Grouse
Pair of Long-tailed Tits
Plus the following, all singing:
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Skylark
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Robin
The following carrying food:
Dunnock
Blackbird
Meadow Pipits, with some practicing distraction
No sight nor sound of the Grasshopper Warbler that was reeling on Thursday and Friday
From Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw
2 Common Sandpiper
7 Reed Bunting (6 males) around the Swineshaws
Pair of Pied Wagtails at Higher Swineshaw
Buzzard
2 Wheatear
6+ Red Grouse
Lesser Redpoll at the Scout hut and at Brushes Cottages
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Chaffinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers singing all the way up
2 male Blackcap at Walkerwood
Flaxfield
2 Swallows at Range House
Grasshopper Warbler
Pair of Pied Wagtails
Willow Warblers
Chiffchaff
c6 Meadow Pipits
Walkerwood Dam
1 Pair of Common Sandpiper
Lesser Redpoll
1 Moorhen
Walkerwood Dam
Cuckoo calling from Cock Wood, my first of the year
1 Willow Tit
Curlew bubbling at the top of Wild Bank
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming
Wild Bank Hill
4 Wheatear, 2 male, 2 female
1 male Stonechat
Several singing Skylark
7 Red Grouse
Pair of Bullfinch in the gorse
6+ Lesser Redpoll
2 singing Linnet
1 Mistle Thrush
2 Song Thrush
Meadow Pipits everywhere. Need to do a proper count again soon.
From Walkerwood to Lees Hill, then on to the Hobson Moor thread
3 Common Sandpiper
3 or 4 Reed Bunting singing
Curlew bubbling below Pack Saddle
Great Spotted Woodpecker at Brushes Cottages
Lesser Redpoll at Brushes Cottages and the scout hut
Pair of Greenfinch at Brushes Cottages
Nuthatch whistling
2 Jays
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull on Higher Swineshaw reservoir
3 Pied Wagtails, one at each of Walkerwood, Lower, and Higher Swineshaw reservoirs
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Moorhen in the overflow at Walkerwood
1 Mandarin drake swimming with Mallard at Walkerwood
-- Edited by David Walsh on Friday 17th of April 2015 12:27:06 PM
To cap what has been, for me at least, a wader-laden day, having also spent half an hour on Saddleworth Moor on the way back from business in Wakefield watching Golden Plover, finally the one I have been looking out for, for the past fortnight.
1 Common Sandpiper on Walkerwood Dam