Saturday 9th April 10.30-11.15

A pair of Dippers seen together today towards the arches. Managed to get a picture of both.
Just before seeing the Dippers was the highlight of the walk. A Kingfisher diving to catch a fish and obligingly flying towards and past me with said fish in it's beak. Totally awesome.

Others seen today and still just as interesting in my book were:

1 GSW
1 Nuthatch
3 Treecreeper
3 Mistle Thrush
2 Chiffchaff
1 Heron
1 Blackcap (heard but not found)

A very quick visit around 16:30 today. A pair of Ravens was the highlight, first seen over the large house with stables on the opposite site of the river, they headed slowly SE, calling. They are the first that I have seen here.

The only other birds worth noting were two singing Blackcaps, one Chiffchaff, GSW and a Mistle Thrush.

It has been a fine day for butterflies in the area. I have seen Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Comma and Speckled Wood.

A leisurely stroll 16:00 to 18:00

Sparrowhawk across valley going south
1 Jackdaw
4 Grey Herons
Carrion Crows mobing 1 of Herons as it flew across the valley
2 Grey Wagtails
3 Chiffchaff singing
Several Nuthatch calling
1 Dipper at 7 Arches
Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and all the usual stuff.
Rick.

It was a beautiful evening, so I took a different route on my way home from work, finishing with a ride along the river.

There was no sign of the Dipper, but I managed sightings of Heron, Grey Wagtail, Chaffinch and Treecreeper, and heard two Chiffchaffs, many Wrens and Robins and a Song Thrush: a lovely end to the day.

Sunday 3rd April 11.00-11.45am 1 Dipper towards 7 arches 1 Kingfisher 1 GSW 2 Heron 3 Mistle Thrush 2 Chiffchaff Lots of the usual stuff too.

This afternoons highlights:- 2 Nuthatch 2 Dipper sightings - once between small stone bridge and 7 Arches; and once along side of Bramhall Park Tennis Club. 5 Chiffchaff 1 female GS Woodpecker near 7 Arches, 1 other drumming away near small stone bridge. 3 Mistle Thrush 2 Grey Wagtail 3 Grey Heron flying along valley 1 Buzzard high overhead (met a nice couple earlier who had seen 3 Buzzards as well as the Dipper). Rick.

1.30-2.30PM Dipper seen, almost as I had given up hope and was close to the car. Screeching as she went racing towards Bramhall. 2 Chiff Chaff (my first of the year) 2 GSW 4 Grey Wagtail 1 Grey Heron 1 Buzzard 1 Treecreeper 3 Wren 7 Goldfinch No sign of the Kingfisher today.

16:15 to 18:45 - pleasant easy stroll up and down the Lady Brook. Nuthatch seen and several others heard calling. Pairs of Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, 2 pairs + single Mistle Thrush and many Robins, Goldfinch, Wrens, Blackbirds, LT, Blue and Great Tits. All the above seen in very suitable nesting habitats; and most singing their hearts out - the sounds were stunning. 3 separate sightings of Dipper - at 17:05 (up steam), 17:20 (down) and 17:45 (up again) - most probably the same bird. Kingfisher also up stream just before the first Dipper. 2 separate pairs of Grey Wagtails. 1 Chiffchaff seen and 4 others heard. 1 GS Woodpecker drumming in distance and 1 overhead. Grey Heron - 3 flyovers. 8 Mallard - 5m/3f 40 Woodpigeon and 2 Stock Doves feeding together in the meadow with at least another 50 - 60 Woodpigeon in trees throughout the valley. A terrific early evening walk. Rick.

This afternoon:-

Started very well with the sound of 2 mewing Buzzard which briefly landed in the tall trees on far bank. Soon flew off again after being constantly mobbed by Crows and Magpies. Smashing views of them circling over the valley for 5 mins before flying off high to the north east.

Several Nuthatch and Chiffchaff singing/calling.
At least 5 pairs of Carrion Crow around the area - with 1 pair collecting beak fulls of what looked like moulted horse hair and then flying off into a tall fir tree.
The usual hoards of Magpies and Woodpigeons.
1 singing Song Thrush
2 Mistle Thrush
Bullfinch, Chaffinch (incl 1 female collecting moss from the river bank and disappearing into thick undergrowth) and all the other usual suspects.
2 Grey Heron flew overhead.
2 Grey Wagtail
2 sightings of Dipper
1 Kingfisher
1 Wren hopping from root to root low down near the water feeding with many other calling in background.
And finally a single Buzzard seen over Adswood Tip way to the north.

A splendid afternoons stroll in the warm sunshine, which also brought out many butterflies, including a Brimstone.

Rick.

-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Wednesday 23rd of March 2011 07:13:46 PM

13.00 to 15.00

2 Grey Wagtails
3 Mistle Thrush
2 Song Thrush
2 Bullfinch 1m/1f
3 Mallard - all drakes
1 Buzzard overhead
2 Siskins
1 Redpoll
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 1m/1f
1 Nuthatch
1 Chiffchaff (my first for year)
Plenty of Robins, Blackbirds, Wrens, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Carrion Crows, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Great and Blue Tits.

Rick.

Nice to meet up with you too Adam - Dipper did not show up again, only 2 Grey Wagtails further up stream after we parted company.

In Bramhall Park drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and Great Tit exploring a hole in a tree, disappearing for a good 30 seconds in the hole. Nuthach heard throughout the Park.

On return journey Mistle Thrush still around.
2 Grey Heron.

-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Sunday 13th of March 2011 05:24:20 PM

Sunday 13th March 12.00-1.00pm

A short walk in the nice warm sun.
Highlight was seeing the Dipper fly past along the river. Only saw it go one way though. Nice sign of the Kingfisher for me today though
Nice to meet you Rick, hope you caught up with the Dipper along the river.
Other birds of note were:

2 Kestrel (circling)
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Nuthatch
2 Mistle Thrush
7 Goldfinch and lots of the usual stuff too.

Saturday 12th March 1.20-2.30pm

I went in search of the Dipper but drew a blank. Highlight of the walk though was seeing 2 Kingfishers fly down the river.(Possibly the same one on it's way back the second time)
Others seen this afternoon were:
3 Treecreeper
1 GSW
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
2 Heron
1 Grey Wagtail
3 Song Thrush
2 Wren
Plus lots of the usual tits and lots of Woodpigeons.

Chris henney wrote:

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Having read your postings I took a walk from Bramhall Park Lane to Ladybridge this morning. I didn't catch sight of the dipper but I did see a kingfisher, a nuthatch, a treecreeper and a pair of spotted woodpeckers not to mention the two buzzards flying over head. This more than made up for not seeing the dipper.
I have not been birdwatching on this path before, but I shall certainly go again.

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Hi Chris, welcome to the forum.

I hope you mean Great-spotted and not Lesser-spotted as I can imagine quite a few birders off the forum would be joining you when you go again!!

Having read your postings I took a walk from Bramhall Park Lane to Ladybridge this morning. I didn't catch sight of the dipper but I did see a kingfisher, a nuthatch, a treecreeper and a pair of spotted woodpeckers not to mention the two buzzards flying over head. This more than made up for not seeing the dipper.
I have not been birdwatching on this path before, but I shall certainly go again.

Nigel Troup wrote:

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Dipper: what a cracking find, Rick.

I grew up in this area, and in the course of many walks along this lovely short stretch of river, spread over a 45 year period, I can never recall having seen a Dipper. This was remedied tonight by a minor detour to my cycle ride home from work. The bird was close to the old stone footbridge that crosses the river between the big house and the Linney Road football pitches.

Also seen: a couple of noisy Herons around the tall conifers; one overflying Grey Wagtail near the tennis courts.

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Glad you ended your 45 year drought, Nigel. The last time I saw Dipper here was a mere 25 years ago!

My first view yesterday was just down river from the bridge as it flew low over the water, calling as it flashed by. The photo on the left was taken at the 7 Arches end - the only time I saw it stood still.

Rick

Dipper: what a cracking find, Rick.

I grew up in this area, and in the course of many walks along this lovely short stretch of river, spread over a 45 year period, I can never recall having seen a Dipper. This was remedied tonight by a minor detour to my cycle ride home from work. The bird was close to the old stone footbridge that crosses the river between the big house and the Linney Road football pitches.

Also seen: a couple of noisy Herons around the tall conifers; one overflying Grey Wagtail near the tennis courts.

Nice stroll up Lady Brook from 7 Arches to Bramhall Park this afternoon.

Not many birds around - mainly Woodpigeon (40ish), Carrion Crows (8) and Nuthatch calling in trees all along the brook. Some Great, Blue and LT Tits, Robin, Wren, Dunnock and Blackbird also dotted along the route.

The highlight of the walk, however, were 4 separate sightings of Dipper, most probably the same bird. The first two sightings were in tetrad SJ88Y half way between the viaduct and Bramhall Park, but the last two were in SJ88T on the north west side of the viaduct and Ladybridge Road, on return trip.

Also a Grey Wagtail under the bridge at Bramhall Park Road.

Rick.

-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Tuesday 8th of March 2011 04:30:02 PM

Stroll along Ladybrook this afternoon-60+ redwings in treetops, about 25 very acrobatic siskin,feeding on alders, 4 very noisy jays and at least 8 herons,causing a kerfuffle in the trees near the stables..Plus plenty of usuals including song thrush,blackbirds,blue,great and long tailed tits,woodpigeons and what seemed like millions of magpies!!!!