07.30 - 13.00, a pleasantly warm and sunny morning for a change.
The morning visit to the Macc Forest area produced of note:-
Langley, Teggs lower woods - like previous years spent some time trying to pin down Redstart and although I heard one singing couldn't get a sighting. Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Blackcap all seen and singing.
Ridgegate reservoir - Two drake Mandarins.
Trentabank - The Cormorant and Heron colonies are flourishing.
Wildboarclough - Dipper near the road bridge.
Danebower area and moors - no Ring Ouzel but lots of Meadow Pipit, Wheatear and Red Grouse.
Dave Dalrymple said
Mon Jan 20 9:46 AM, 2014
Between 35-40 Ravens circling and performing display flights close to the footpath between the Crag Inn and Hanging Gate pubs to SE of Shutlingsloe. They flew around for a couple of minutes then dispersed in small groups and pairs in various directions.
This is the highest single count of Ravens I've ever seen in the Peak District.
-- Edited by Dave Dalrymple on Monday 20th of January 2014 09:46:37 AM
John Williams said
Fri Jan 17 6:53 PM, 2014
A.M
Bottoms Reservoir
6 Little Grebes, 2 Cormorants, 1 drake Goldeneye, plus a few Mallard & Black Headed Gulls.
Ridgegate Reservoir
6 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Pochard & a couple of Little Grebes. 6 Mistle Thrushes flew over, so did 8 Redwings.
The area of forest to the south of Ridgegate seemed devoid of small birds, apart from a pair of Great Tits.
A skein of 90+ Pink Footed Geese flew over heading East, and a single Dipper was by the feeder stream into Ridgegate.
Trentabank Reservoir
5 Goosanders, 6 Cormorants, 2 Buzzards, 4 Tufted Ducks and a pair of Little Grebes.
A small flock of mixed tits held a single Coal Tit and a Wren.
Standing Stone area
A huge flock of Starlings (400+) flew over heading South West.
No sign of any Ravens or Crossbills, and not a single Chaffinch.
Nigel Troup said
Sun Jan 12 1:41 PM, 2014
A flock of about 30 Crossbills was feeding in the tops of spruce alongside Trentabank car park this morning.
c6 Pochard, 2 Cormorant and a Tufted Duck on Ridgegate. Little Grebe on Trentabank.
John Williams said
Sat Nov 16 11:52 PM, 2013
10.00-13.00
Bottoms Reservoir
3 Little Grebes and 1 Tufted Duck.
Ridgegate Reservoir
3 Little Grebes, 20 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorants and 1 drake Pochard.
Surrounding scrub/forest
A flock of 5 Bullfinches and 1 Kestrel.
Trentabank Reservoir
1 Little Grebe, 7 Cormorants, 4 Tufted Duck, plus lots of Mallard that were pairing off and displaying.
Standing Stones
1 Buzzard, 3 Pheasant and a pair of very vocal Ravens.
Clough Brook
3 Ravens and 2 Buzzards doing an aerial display.
Very few small birds around the forest, just the odd Blue Tit, Chaffinch etc,.
Louis Hill said
Sun Aug 18 2:17 AM, 2013
Does anyone know a walk around Macc Forest and environs, that is good for birds?
Chris Harper said
Mon Aug 12 4:31 PM, 2013
I definately wouldn't advise kissing that pub:)
Phil Hampson said
Mon Aug 12 3:43 PM, 2013
Louis Coming from Macclesfield on the Cat & Fiddle road (A537) towards Buxton about 1/2 mile past the pub there is a small turning in the right, which links through to the A54, if you kiss it just go the the main A54 junction but it is a very sharp junction back on yourself.. Turn right and then right again at the end onto the A54. About 1/2 - 3/4 mile along the road bends and you will come to a long lay-by on the left. Park there and walk back 100mts and you will see the old chimney stack. That is the quarry area known as Danebower, the slopes and quarry area are where wheatear, ring ouzel meadow pipits are to be seen. If you PM me will send you a link to a map (not sure about including one on the forum). The whole area is good and one I watch regularly.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 11th of August 2013 10:12:46 PM
Phil Hampson said
Mon Jul 29 4:28 AM, 2013
I haven't seen one up there this year. Used to see them regularly up at top of the Goyt Valley on the moors around the Cat & Fiddle.
hil
Louis Hill said
Sun Jul 28 7:18 PM, 2013
Could I have seen a Merlin near Standing stone?
Phil Hampson said
Tue Jun 25 8:05 AM, 2013
In woods above Rainow.
Male redstart and juveniles, contact whistling much of time Goldfinch and juveniles Chaffinch and juveniles Countless hirundines, juveniles sitting on fence to be fed Kestrel and juvenile being fed prey.
Phil
-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 08:06:54 AM
Louis Hill said
Sat Jun 15 2:58 PM, 2013
Sunday 9th June 2013 6.30 - 8.00am
On Trentabank Reservoir:
2 Great Crested Grebes Flock of Canada Geese and Mallards Flock of Cormorants and nesting Grey Herons in trees 3 Coots 1 Common Sandpiper
Heard Cuckoo in woodland near moor
Track up to Shutlingsloe:
Mixed flock of Chaffinches And Siskins 3 Meadow Pipits Curlews heard
Louis.
Patrick Earith said
Fri May 31 8:05 PM, 2013
A quick afternoon dash across East Cheshire:
Standing Stones:
Gorgeous male Redstart, very showy, fly catching along the path down from the car park. Also male Blackcap and, heard only, Garden Warbler
Trentabank reservoir
Drake Mandarin. The Cormorant colony here seems to get bigger each year. Plenty of young about and still many on nests.
Wildboarclough
Dipper pair. Also present here was a lovely flock of about 10 Siskin, using the feeders in the cottage's garden. A huge Brown Hare casually crossed the road in front of me as I left here
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 31st of May 2013 11:47:41 PM
sid ashton said
Sat Apr 27 12:26 AM, 2013
07.30 - 13.00, Mostly cloudy with some hail showers, cold and breezy
The morning visit to the Macc Forest area produced of note:-
Langley, Bottoms reservoir woods - like previous years spent some time trying to pin down Redstart and although I heard one singing couldn't get a sighting. Willow Warbler and Blackcap seen. Also a fox trotted by.
Ridgegate reservoir - two drake Mandarins.
Trentabank - a pair of Goosander. The Cormorant and Heron colonies are flourishing - one of the Cormorant nests held 4 pleading chicks. Two Red Deer walked along the bank opposite to the viewing area.
Clough House and Wildboarclough - 1 Dipper at each place on the stream.
Danebower area and moors - no Ring Ouzel but many Meadow Pipit and Wheatear and several noisy Red Grouse. There were several dead sheep along the walls on the hills.
Phil Hampson said
Sat Apr 20 5:36 PM, 2013
Pied flycatcher in Teggs Nose, lower end Redstart Willow warblers widespread Chiffchaff also Siskin at Trentabank Heronry very active and noisy Hirundines also widespread
Phil
Phil Hampson said
Thu Apr 4 4:36 AM, 2013
Wildboarclough 4 dippers at 3 sites alongthe river
Standing stones Very quiet, just chaffinches.
Phil
James Walsh said
Thu Apr 4 2:08 AM, 2013
Toot Hill 1 male Ring Ouzel 5 Lapwing 3 Common Buzzard 3 Mistle Thrush
Trentabank Reservoir 2 Great Crested Grebe 1 Little Grebe 5 Tufted Duck 2 Nuthatch 5 Coal Tit 15 Siskin
Lamaload Reservoir 1 Great Crested Grebe 3 Curlew 2 Lapwing
John Williams said
Mon Mar 25 11:21 PM, 2013
10.00-12.30
Bottoms Reservoir
25 Canada Geese, 1 Little Grebe and a Moorhen
Ridgegate Reservoir
1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorants and an overflying Raven.
Trentabank Reservoir
20 Canada Geese, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Cormorant and an overflying Buzzard.
9 Red Deer on the North Bank, plus 2 rather depressed looking Grey Herons in the heronry.
A short walk in the forest produced just 1 bird, a perky little Wren flitting round a clump of brambles that were encrusted with snow, even in near Arctic conditions it gave a burst of song.
Elsewhere in the forest not even a Woodpigeon stirred.
The road to Standing Stones from Trentabank was closed due to snow and ice.
Phil Hampson said
Thu Feb 28 3:24 AM, 2013
Standing Stones
No crossbills at Standing Stones Plenty of birdsong, particularly chaffinches 3 very active mistle thrushes
Wildboarclough
Brown hare 2 dippers, 1 near Crag Inn, 1 at Clough Farm - both singing Buzzard Kestrel
Cat & Fiddle
Red grouse Buzzard
Phil
John Williams said
Thu Nov 15 12:38 AM, 2012
10.00-13.00
Bottoms Reservoir
10 female+ 3 male Goosanders, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Mute Swans plus Mallard, Coot etc.
Ridgegate Reservoir
2 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant and 2 Little Grebes.
Forest area on South side of Ridgegate
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Siskin plus several mixed tit flocks and Chaffinches.
In one tree 5 Chaffinches were feeding on Sycamore seeds, it's the first time I've seen any animal eat them.
Trentabank Reservoir
1 Cormorant, 2 Buzzards, 2 Ravens including one having an aerial fight with a Sparrowhawk. The Raven chased the hawk out of the sky, the corvid later flew off, but the hawk did'nt show again.
A couple of mixed tit flocks passed by the viewing area, and with them 1 Treecreeper and 1 Nuthatch.
Standing Stones
2 Ravens and a single flock of 7 Chaffinches.
It's the first time I visited this area without finding a single Mandarin, and there was no sign of Crossbills.
100+ Fieldfare 3 Song Thrush 1 Common Buzzard 1 Kestrel
John Williams said
Thu Sep 27 1:57 AM, 2012
12.00-15.00
Bottoms Reservoir
1 female Mandarin, 4 Tufted Ducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe,2 Grey Wagtails, 5 Coot, 2 Moorhen plus a male Kestrel flying over.
Ridgegate Reservoir
4 Swallows, 3 adult Little Grebes plus 1 juvenile still being fed Sticklebacks by a parent, also 4 Tufted Ducks and a single flock 12 Pied Wagtails.
The young Little Grebe dived several times, and each time a nearby Tufted Duck went in a panic. The little Dabchick was nibbling at the Tufties legs.
An adjacent pasture held another 7 Pied plus 3 "Alba" wagtails. The group of 12 were on the wall at the Western end of reservoir, 3 of them having very lemon coloured faces.
In the forest just South of Ridgegate a single mixed flock of passerines were feeding amongst the pines, impossible to count they were mainly male Chaffinch or Coal Tits.
I only found a single female Chaffinch in the group, but the flock also contained 4 Siskins and at least 6 Goldcrests plus 2 Wrens, 2 Robins and a few Great Tits.
Trentabank Reservoir
6 Cormorants (Roosting in conifers), 5 Mallards, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel plus a group of 5 Long Tailed Tits with a single Chiffchaff amongst them.
1 Red Deer hind on the North bank.
Standing Stones
5 Ravens soaring over. Also a large flock of mixed tits in the Sycamores by the car park, mostly Coal and Great.
3 Jays.
Adam Jones said
Sat Sep 15 9:07 PM, 2012
Saturday 15th September
Clough House: 1 Dipper 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Kestrel 25 Swallows lined up on the wires
Danebower: 2 Wheatear 2 Stonechat
Adam Jones said
Sun Sep 9 5:43 PM, 2012
Sunday 9th Septmber 7am
Standing Stone area: 2 Whinchat 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 2 Common Buzzards
Clough House: 2 Hobbies 1 Grey Heron
Danebower: 4 Stonechat 3 Ravens
Adam Jones said
Fri Aug 31 6:15 PM, 2012
Friday 31st August 6.30-10.00 am
Standing Stone area: 1 Spotted Flycatcher 2 Whinchat 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Treecreeper 7 Goldcrests 1 Chiffchaff singing 2 Little Owl 2 Common Buzzard 1 Dipper on the river below Standing Stone
Danebower: 3 Red Grouse 1 Wheatear
Adam Jones said
Tue Aug 28 11:22 AM, 2012
Tuesday 28th August
2 Whinchat along the wall and fence line on the road down from Standing Stone car park towards Wildboarclough this morning. 1 Common Buzzard 12 young Swallows preening on the overhead wires.
Nice to see the sun too.
-- Edited by Adam Jones on Tuesday 28th of August 2012 11:23:20 AM
Adam Jones said
Mon Aug 13 4:26 AM, 2012
Sunday 12th August 6am
Standing Stone area: 3 Common Buzzards 2 Jay Swallow numbers down on recent days.
Clough House: 1 Dipper 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Kestrel
chrisdorney said
Sun Aug 12 5:03 AM, 2012
Walk in a loop from trentabank res:
Very quiet really but birds seen: c20 cormorants in a tree(one in a nest presumably sitting as it was gullating) Little grebe G.c. grebe feeding near full grown juv 5 grey heron Buzzard Lots of parties of juv goldcrest No crossbills.
Adam Jones said
Sat Jul 28 5:13 PM, 2012
Saturday 28th July 6.30am
Not a great deal around this morning. Clough House: 1 Dipper 2 Grey Wagtails
Danebower: 2 Ravens 1 Curlew 3 Wheatear
Derbyshire Bridge: 3 Red Grouse 2 Kestrels
Adam Jones said
Sun Jul 22 6:43 PM, 2012
Sunday 22nd July
12 Crossbill over Standing Stone once again. Flying off towards Cat and Fiddle and the pine forest before that. 4 Kestrels hunting together (well close to each other) Family party of Willow Warblers with 3 juveniles.
Adam Jones said
Sat Jul 21 10:31 PM, 2012
Saturday 21st July 6.00-10.00am
At last, sunshine! A good morning wih lots around.
Teggs Nose Reservoir: 1 Common Sandpiper
Standing Stone car park area: 8 Crossbills over 1 juvenile Redstart 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 3 Goldcrest 2 Little Owl
Clough House: 1 Dipper 2 Grey Wagtails
Danebower:
3 Stonechat (2 adults 1 juv being fed)
Adam Jones said
Sat Jul 14 5:21 PM, 2012
Clough House this morning.
2 juvenile Dippers and 1 adult. 1 Grey Wagtail
Not a lot else anywhere between here and Derbyshire Bridge.
4 Red Deer and a dozen goats on the loose.
Adam Jones said
Sun Jul 1 6:02 PM, 2012
Sunday 1st July
Teggs Nose reservoir: 1 Common Sandpiper 1 Balckcap 1 Cormorant
Danebower: 2 Stonechat (a very nice male and female) 2 Wheatear 3 Meadow Pipits 1 Curlew Cuckoo heard in the direction of Three Shires Head
Wildboarclough: 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Spotted Flycatcher in the parking area
Phil Barnett said
Mon May 21 6:12 PM, 2012
7.30 Standing Stone Car Park to Shuttlingslow 8 Crossbills 5 Wheatears 2 Redstarts Cuckoo Golden Plover Red Grouse
Just a couple of years ago there were usually several Tree pipits, Wood Warbler Pied Flycatcher, Redstart in the Trentabank area - have these all disappeared?
Also the Woodland between Derbyshire Bridge and Errwood was a Wood Warbler stronghold have these gone too?
sid ashton said
Tue May 15 10:52 PM, 2012
Thanks to Adam Jones' excellent directions easily found the Pied Flycatcher in Teggs Nose wood yesterday late on. Also present were Blackcap and Willow Warbler. There were two Common Sandpipers on Ridgegate reservoir.
Ventured up to Derbyshire Bridge but too cold, wet and windy for anything much to be alive up there
Adam Jones said
Sat May 12 10:50 PM, 2012
Saturday 12th May 6.30am
Teggs Nose: 1 Pied Flycatcher 1 Common Sandpiper calling on the wall of Bottoms reservoir. (Not seen one do this before) 1 Grey Wagtail 3 Mandarins 4 Blackcaps Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler Green Woodpecker heard. Common Redstart heard too.
Teggs Nose Woods: Finally!! A male Pied Flycatcher located by song at first and then watched until I could tear myself away in the freezing cold. (There were snowflakes falling this morning) In the same area were a pair of Common Redstart and two Green Woodpeckers. Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler too.
Standing Stone Car Park: 12 Lesser Redpolls and plenty of Chaffinch, but generally quiet here.
In heavy rain this morning: Bottoms Reservoir 1 Common Sandpiper on the stoney bank 23 Swallows skimming over the water 1 Cormorant 1 Mandarin duck 1 Blackcap seen (others heard) Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers Green Woodpeckers also heard on the slopes of Teggs Nose
sid ashton said
Fri Apr 20 1:36 PM, 2012
06.45 - 11.30, Mostly cloudy with some heavy showers and cold.
A spur of the moment morning visit to the Macc Forest area produced of note:-
Langley, Bottoms reservoir woods - like last year spent some time trying to pin down Redstart and although I heard one singing couldn't get a sighting. Willow Warbler seen.
Trentabank - No sign yet of Pied Flycatcher but several Siskin seen.
Standing Stone car park - 2 Crossbill, 2 Goldcrest.
Wildboarclough - 1 Dipper and 1 grey Wagtail on the stream.
Danebower area and moors - Pair of Ring Ouzel (see Danebower report) Wheatear, and several noisy Red Grouse.
Lamaload Reservoir - singing male Redstart, 3 Willow Warblers and a pair of Goosander.
Not a bad morning eventually considering the conditions.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 20th of April 2012 03:51:35 PM
Adam Jones said
Mon Apr 16 4:53 AM, 2012
Teggs Nose/Bottoms Reservoir Still no Common Redstart or Pied Flycatchers at Teggs Nose/Bottoms Reservoir although I am 99% certain I heard a Pied Flycathcer singing this morning, but could not locate it before it went quiet. 2 Green Woodpeckers
Trentabank Reservoir: All the usuals and 2 Little Grebe that I'd not seen previously.
Standing Stone car park: Just a few Crossbill for me this morning, but it seemed the Siskins were more active than normal. No Lesser Redpoll or Bramblings. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Mistle Thrush 2 Willow Warblers chasing each other around.
Phil Hampson said
Sun Apr 15 6:00 PM, 2012
Standing Stones 30 crossbills, 10 in trees and 20 flyover Siskin Willow warbler Chiffchaff Great- spotted woodpecker
Wildboarclough Grey wagtail Dipper
Phil
Adam Jones said
Sat Apr 14 7:16 PM, 2012
Standing Stone Car Park:
Decent amount of Crossbills still with 11 seen this morning. 6 Siskin 4 Lesser Redpoll 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Tawny Owl 1 Curlew
The morning visit to the Macc Forest area produced of note:-
Langley, Teggs lower woods - like previous years spent some time trying to pin down Redstart and although I heard one singing couldn't get a sighting. Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Blackcap all seen and singing.
Ridgegate reservoir - Two drake Mandarins.
Trentabank - The Cormorant and Heron colonies are flourishing.
Wildboarclough - Dipper near the road bridge.
Danebower area and moors - no Ring Ouzel but lots of Meadow Pipit, Wheatear and Red Grouse.
This is the highest single count of Ravens I've ever seen in the Peak District.
-- Edited by Dave Dalrymple on Monday 20th of January 2014 09:46:37 AM
Bottoms Reservoir
6 Little Grebes, 2 Cormorants, 1 drake Goldeneye, plus a few Mallard & Black Headed Gulls.
Ridgegate Reservoir
6 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Pochard & a couple of Little Grebes. 6 Mistle Thrushes flew over, so did 8 Redwings.
The area of forest to the south of Ridgegate seemed devoid of small birds, apart from a pair of Great Tits.
A skein of 90+ Pink Footed Geese flew over heading East, and a single Dipper was by the feeder stream into Ridgegate.
Trentabank Reservoir
5 Goosanders, 6 Cormorants, 2 Buzzards, 4 Tufted Ducks and a pair of Little Grebes.
A small flock of mixed tits held a single Coal Tit and a Wren.
Standing Stone area
A huge flock of Starlings (400+) flew over heading South West.
No sign of any Ravens or Crossbills, and not a single Chaffinch.
A flock of about 30 Crossbills was feeding in the tops of spruce alongside Trentabank car park this morning.
c6 Pochard, 2 Cormorant and a Tufted Duck on Ridgegate. Little Grebe on Trentabank.
Bottoms Reservoir
3 Little Grebes and 1 Tufted Duck.
Ridgegate Reservoir
3 Little Grebes, 20 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorants and 1 drake Pochard.
Surrounding scrub/forest
A flock of 5 Bullfinches and 1 Kestrel.
Trentabank Reservoir
1 Little Grebe, 7 Cormorants, 4 Tufted Duck, plus lots of Mallard that were pairing off and displaying.
Standing Stones
1 Buzzard, 3 Pheasant and a pair of very vocal Ravens.
Clough Brook
3 Ravens and 2 Buzzards doing an aerial display.
Very few small birds around the forest, just the odd Blue Tit, Chaffinch etc,.
Coming from Macclesfield on the Cat & Fiddle road (A537) towards Buxton about 1/2 mile past the pub there is a small turning in the right, which links through to the A54, if you kiss it just go the the main A54 junction but it is a very sharp junction back on yourself.. Turn right and then right again at the end onto the A54. About 1/2 - 3/4 mile along the road bends and you will come to a long lay-by on the left. Park there and walk back 100mts and you will see the old chimney stack. That is the quarry area known as Danebower, the slopes and quarry area are where wheatear, ring ouzel meadow pipits are to be seen. If you PM me will send you a link to a map (not sure about including one on the forum). The whole area is good and one I watch regularly.
Phil
Standing Stone area:
2 juvenile Redstarts
2 Hobbys
6 Willow Warblers
25 Chaffinch
6 Goldfinch
1 juvenile Northern Wheatear
28 Meadow Pipits
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
Danebower:
1 Raven
1 Curlew
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 11th of August 2013 10:12:46 PM
hil
Male redstart and juveniles, contact whistling much of time
Goldfinch and juveniles
Chaffinch and juveniles
Countless hirundines, juveniles sitting on fence to be fed
Kestrel and juvenile being fed prey.
Phil
-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 08:06:54 AM
On Trentabank Reservoir:
2 Great Crested Grebes
Flock of Canada Geese and Mallards
Flock of Cormorants and nesting Grey Herons in trees
3 Coots
1 Common Sandpiper
Heard Cuckoo in woodland near moor
Track up to Shutlingsloe:
Mixed flock of Chaffinches And Siskins
3 Meadow Pipits
Curlews heard
Louis.
Standing Stones:
Gorgeous male Redstart, very showy, fly catching along the path down from the car park. Also male Blackcap and, heard only, Garden Warbler
Trentabank reservoir
Drake Mandarin. The Cormorant colony here seems to get bigger each year. Plenty of young about and still many on nests.
Wildboarclough
Dipper pair. Also present here was a lovely flock of about 10 Siskin, using the feeders in the cottage's garden. A huge Brown Hare casually crossed the road in front of me as I left here
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 31st of May 2013 11:47:41 PM
The morning visit to the Macc Forest area produced of note:-
Langley, Bottoms reservoir woods - like previous years spent some time trying to pin down Redstart and although I heard one singing couldn't get a sighting. Willow Warbler and Blackcap seen. Also a fox trotted by.
Ridgegate reservoir - two drake Mandarins.
Trentabank - a pair of Goosander. The Cormorant and Heron colonies are flourishing - one of the Cormorant nests held 4 pleading chicks. Two Red Deer walked along the bank opposite to the viewing area.
Clough House and Wildboarclough - 1 Dipper at each place on the stream.
Danebower area and moors - no Ring Ouzel but many Meadow Pipit and Wheatear and several noisy Red Grouse. There were several dead sheep along the walls on the hills.
Redstart
Willow warblers widespread
Chiffchaff also
Siskin at Trentabank
Heronry very active and noisy
Hirundines also widespread
Phil
4 dippers at 3 sites alongthe river
Standing stones
Very quiet, just chaffinches.
Phil
1 male Ring Ouzel
5 Lapwing
3 Common Buzzard
3 Mistle Thrush
Sutton Reservoir
6 Goosander
1 Greylag Goose
1 Great Crested Grebe
Bottoms Reservoir
3 Tufted Duck
2 Little Grebe
Ridgegate Reservoir
Drake Pochard
Female Goosander
Teggs Nose Reservoir
Drake Goosander
Trentabank Reservoir
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
5 Tufted Duck
2 Nuthatch
5 Coal Tit
15 Siskin
Lamaload Reservoir
1 Great Crested Grebe
3 Curlew
2 Lapwing
Bottoms Reservoir
25 Canada Geese, 1 Little Grebe and a Moorhen
Ridgegate Reservoir
1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorants and an overflying Raven.
Trentabank Reservoir
20 Canada Geese, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Cormorant and an overflying Buzzard.
9 Red Deer on the North Bank, plus 2 rather depressed looking Grey Herons in the heronry.
A short walk in the forest produced just 1 bird, a perky little Wren flitting round a clump of brambles that were encrusted with snow, even in near Arctic conditions it gave a burst of song.
Elsewhere in the forest not even a Woodpigeon stirred.
The road to Standing Stones from Trentabank was closed due to snow and ice.
No crossbills at Standing Stones
Plenty of birdsong, particularly chaffinches
3 very active mistle thrushes
Wildboarclough
Brown hare
2 dippers, 1 near Crag Inn, 1 at Clough Farm - both singing
Buzzard
Kestrel
Cat & Fiddle
Red grouse
Buzzard
Phil
Bottoms Reservoir
10 female+ 3 male Goosanders, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Mute Swans plus Mallard, Coot etc.
Ridgegate Reservoir
2 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant and 2 Little Grebes.
Forest area on South side of Ridgegate
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Siskin plus several mixed tit flocks and Chaffinches.
In one tree 5 Chaffinches were feeding on Sycamore seeds, it's the first time I've seen any animal eat them.
Trentabank Reservoir
1 Cormorant, 2 Buzzards, 2 Ravens including one having an aerial fight with a Sparrowhawk. The Raven chased the hawk out of the sky, the corvid later flew off, but the hawk did'nt show again.
A couple of mixed tit flocks passed by the viewing area, and with them 1 Treecreeper and 1 Nuthatch.
Standing Stones
2 Ravens and a single flock of 7 Chaffinches.
It's the first time I visited this area without finding a single Mandarin, and there was no sign of Crossbills.
Bottoms Reservoir
1 Pochard (male)
1 Kingfisher
1 Grey Heron
1 Little Grebe
4 Tufted Ducks
Fields below Standing Stone
100+ Fieldfare
3 Song Thrush
1 Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Bottoms Reservoir
1 female Mandarin, 4 Tufted Ducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe,2 Grey Wagtails, 5 Coot, 2 Moorhen plus a male Kestrel flying over.
Ridgegate Reservoir
4 Swallows, 3 adult Little Grebes plus 1 juvenile still being fed Sticklebacks by a parent, also 4 Tufted Ducks and a single flock 12 Pied Wagtails.
The young Little Grebe dived several times, and each time a nearby Tufted Duck went in a panic. The little Dabchick was nibbling at the Tufties legs.
An adjacent pasture held another 7 Pied plus 3 "Alba" wagtails. The group of 12 were on the wall at the Western end of reservoir, 3 of them having very lemon coloured faces.
In the forest just South of Ridgegate a single mixed flock of passerines were feeding amongst the pines, impossible to count they were mainly male Chaffinch or Coal Tits.
I only found a single female Chaffinch in the group, but the flock also contained 4 Siskins and at least 6 Goldcrests plus 2 Wrens, 2 Robins and a few Great Tits.
Trentabank Reservoir
6 Cormorants (Roosting in conifers), 5 Mallards, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel plus a group of 5 Long Tailed Tits with a single Chiffchaff amongst them.
1 Red Deer hind on the North bank.
Standing Stones
5 Ravens soaring over. Also a large flock of mixed tits in the Sycamores by the car park, mostly Coal and Great.
3 Jays.
Clough House:
1 Dipper
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Kestrel
25 Swallows lined up on the wires
Danebower:
2 Wheatear
2 Stonechat
Standing Stone area:
2 Whinchat
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
2 Common Buzzards
Clough House:
2 Hobbies
1 Grey Heron
Danebower:
4 Stonechat
3 Ravens
Standing Stone area:
1 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Whinchat
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Treecreeper
7 Goldcrests
1 Chiffchaff singing
2 Little Owl
2 Common Buzzard
1 Dipper on the river below Standing Stone
Danebower:
3 Red Grouse
1 Wheatear
2 Whinchat along the wall and fence line on the road down from Standing Stone car park towards Wildboarclough this morning.
1 Common Buzzard
12 young Swallows preening on the overhead wires.
Nice to see the sun too.
-- Edited by Adam Jones on Tuesday 28th of August 2012 11:23:20 AM
Standing Stone area:
3 Common Buzzards
2 Jay
Swallow numbers down on recent days.
Clough House:
1 Dipper
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Kestrel
Very quiet really but birds seen:
c20 cormorants in a tree(one in a nest presumably sitting as it was gullating)
Little grebe
G.c. grebe feeding near full grown juv
5 grey heron
Buzzard
Lots of parties of juv goldcrest
No crossbills.
Not a great deal around this morning.
Clough House:
1 Dipper
2 Grey Wagtails
Danebower:
2 Ravens
1 Curlew
3 Wheatear
Derbyshire Bridge:
3 Red Grouse
2 Kestrels
12 Crossbill over Standing Stone once again. Flying off towards Cat and Fiddle and the pine forest before that.
4 Kestrels hunting together (well close to each other)
Family party of Willow Warblers with 3 juveniles.
At last, sunshine!
A good morning wih lots around.
Teggs Nose Reservoir:
1 Common Sandpiper
Standing Stone car park area:
8 Crossbills over
1 juvenile Redstart
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
3 Goldcrest
2 Little Owl
Clough House:
1 Dipper
2 Grey Wagtails
Danebower:
3 Stonechat (2 adults 1 juv being fed)
2 juvenile Dippers and 1 adult.
1 Grey Wagtail
Not a lot else anywhere between here and Derbyshire Bridge.
4 Red Deer and a dozen goats on the loose.
Teggs Nose reservoir:
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Balckcap
1 Cormorant
Clough House:
2 Dippers (1 juvenile)
1 Kingfisher
6 Grey Wagtails (3 juvenile)
3 Nuthatch (1 juvenile)
Danebower:
2 Stonechat (a very nice male and female)
2 Wheatear
3 Meadow Pipits
1 Curlew
Cuckoo heard in the direction of Three Shires Head
Wildboarclough:
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Spotted Flycatcher in the parking area
8 Crossbills
5 Wheatears
2 Redstarts
Cuckoo
Golden Plover
Red Grouse
Just a couple of years ago there were usually several
Tree pipits, Wood Warbler Pied Flycatcher, Redstart
in the Trentabank area - have these all disappeared?
Also the Woodland between Derbyshire Bridge and Errwood
was a Wood Warbler stronghold have these gone too?
Ventured up to Derbyshire Bridge but too cold, wet and windy for anything much to be alive up there
Teggs Nose:
1 Pied Flycatcher
1 Common Sandpiper calling on the wall of Bottoms reservoir. (Not seen one do this before)
1 Grey Wagtail
3 Mandarins
4 Blackcaps
Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler
Green Woodpecker heard.
Common Redstart heard too.
Teggs Nose Woods:
1 Pied Flycatcher (male)
1 Common Redsart (male)
3 Willow Warbler
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
2 Green Woodpecker
1 Mandarin
8 Swallows
Teggs Nose Woods:
Finally!! A male Pied Flycatcher located by song at first and then watched until I could tear myself away in the freezing cold. (There were snowflakes falling this morning)
In the same area were a pair of Common Redstart and two Green Woodpeckers. Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler too.
Standing Stone Car Park:
12 Lesser Redpolls and plenty of Chaffinch, but generally quiet here.
Wildboarclough:
1 Dipper
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
In heavy rain this morning:
Bottoms Reservoir
1 Common Sandpiper on the stoney bank
23 Swallows skimming over the water
1 Cormorant
1 Mandarin duck
1 Blackcap seen (others heard)
Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers
Green Woodpeckers also heard on the slopes of Teggs Nose
A spur of the moment morning visit to the Macc Forest area produced of note:-
Langley, Bottoms reservoir woods - like last year spent some time trying to pin down Redstart and although I heard one singing couldn't get a sighting. Willow Warbler seen.
Trentabank - No sign yet of Pied Flycatcher but several Siskin seen.
Standing Stone car park - 2 Crossbill, 2 Goldcrest.
Wildboarclough - 1 Dipper and 1 grey Wagtail on the stream.
Danebower area and moors - Pair of Ring Ouzel (see Danebower report) Wheatear, and several noisy Red Grouse.
Lamaload Reservoir - singing male Redstart, 3 Willow Warblers and a pair of Goosander.
Not a bad morning eventually considering the conditions.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 20th of April 2012 03:51:35 PM
Still no Common Redstart or Pied Flycatchers at Teggs Nose/Bottoms Reservoir although I am 99% certain I heard a Pied Flycathcer singing this morning, but could not locate it before it went quiet.
2 Green Woodpeckers
Trentabank Reservoir:
All the usuals and 2 Little Grebe that I'd not seen previously.
Standing Stone car park:
Just a few Crossbill for me this morning, but it seemed the Siskins were more active than normal. No Lesser Redpoll or Bramblings.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Mistle Thrush
2 Willow Warblers chasing each other around.
30 crossbills, 10 in trees and 20 flyover
Siskin
Willow warbler
Chiffchaff
Great- spotted woodpecker
Wildboarclough
Grey wagtail
Dipper
Phil
Decent amount of Crossbills still with 11 seen this morning.
6 Siskin
4 Lesser Redpoll
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Tawny Owl
1 Curlew
Wildboarclough:
3 Dippers
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Goldcrest
3 crossbills, 1m, 2f
Numerous lesser redpoll
Siskin
Singing willow warbler and chiffchaff
Wildboarclough
Dipper
Phil
12 swallows and sand martins at Bottoms Reservoir.
Phil
Saw much the same as Phil, but no wagtails
However, did see 4 stonechat at Danebower
Stopped for pot of tea at Ice Cream Farm on the way home, and a swallow was perched on their TV aerial. My first of the year
Standing Stones Car Park
6 crossbills
Siskin - display flights very apparent
Redpoll
GSW
Chaffinch
Curlew
Danebower
6 wheatear
Numerous meadow pipits, plenty of parachute display
Pied wagtail
Curlew
Red grouse
Wildboarclough
No dippers at any location!
Grey wagtails in 2 places
Phil