Stalybridge country park- Brushes (other wildlife)
David Walsh said
Tue Sep 27 11:37 PM, 2016
Tuesday 27th September 2016, after dark
At least 4 Noctule bats hunting on the moor between Higher Swineshaw Reservoir and Turf Pits Pipistrelle species the length of the valley Also bats hunting just above the surface of Walkerwood Reservoir, which could well be Daubenton, but impossible to verify without a detector
David Walsh said
Tue Aug 30 10:36 PM, 2016
Tuesday 30th August 2016
Noctule bat hunting over the moor above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir at dusk
David Walsh said
Mon Aug 29 9:44 PM, 2016
Monday 29th August 2016
A few Odonata sightings around Higher Swineshaw Reservoir over the past two days.
Common Hawker Brown Hawker Black Darter
Couple of Peacock butterflies over the moor
David Walsh said
Tue Aug 23 10:37 PM, 2016
Tuesday 23rd August 2016
Noctule bat hunting over the moor above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir after dark Cowberry plants now bearing fruit on the moor
David Walsh said
Fri Aug 12 10:38 PM, 2016
Friday 12th August 2016, 9.30pm
Noctule bat hunting over the moor above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir
David Walsh said
Sun Jul 24 4:18 PM, 2016
A few sightings from this week around the Swineshaws and Lees Hill
Butterflies:
Small Heath, abundant, which is not surprising, given the habitat Meadow Brown Gatekeeper, just emerged this week Large Skipper Small Skipper, mainly around Lower Swineshaw quarry Green-veined White Large White
Moths:
Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet at Lower Swineshaw quarry Cinnabar Common and Map-winged Swift mainly around Higher Swineshaw Antler moth this morning at Higher Swineshaw, a species that caused devastation to the Cumbrian fells a couple of decades ago Northern Spinach on Irontongue Hill
David Walsh said
Thu Jun 30 11:53 PM, 2016
Thursday 30th June 2016, 10.00 - 11.30am
Millbrook Dam
6 Ringlet 1 Large Skipper 1 Large Brown rat swimming across the dam
Brushes Rangers football pitch
4 Ringlet 4 Large Skippers 4 Meadow Brown 15+ Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths
David Walsh said
Sat Jun 4 11:43 PM, 2016
Saturday 4th June 2016
My first Small Heath butterfly of the year, on Boar Flat this morning
David Walsh said
Thu May 12 10:41 PM, 2016
A few sightings from the past few days around the area.
Weasel high up on Wild Bank
Butterflies: Speckled Wood in Brushes Valley Green-veined White Large White Small White Peacock, including one on Boar Flat on Saturday Small Tortoiseshell
Several Sexton beetles burying a Mallard corpse last night at dusk on Boar Flat was a fascinating sight. My best stab at a species ID from my photos is Nicrophorus vespilloides. I came across this intriguing article on the role of dopamine in parenting behaviour of these insects
Noctule bat hunting over the moor above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir, quite an entertaining sight.
Couple of Pipistrelle spp further down the valley
David Walsh said
Fri Oct 2 10:43 PM, 2015
Friday 2nd October 2015, 7.00 - 8.00pm
Harridge Moor, up around the Swineshaws
I don't usually post bat sightings because: a) they are likely to be one of the Pipistrelle species, and b) I would require a bat detector to confirm it.
However, tonight just after dark I am reasonably confident that I watched a Noctule catching insects over the moor for over half an hour. It's size and flight reminded me of a Snipe, fast and direct, with regular dramatic dives down into the heather, presumably for moths.
Also many presumed Pipistrelles on the walk back down to Walkerwood
David Walsh said
Sat Sep 19 11:55 AM, 2015
Saturday 19th September 2015
1 Red Admiral at the pump house beyond Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. I cannot remember a year when I recorded more of this species than Peacocks. I haven't seen a single Peacock in GM this year 1 Brown Hawker in Higher Swineshaw overflow
Must be something that has rubbed off on you since your move to Gtr Manchester !
Roger.
I have in fact lived for longer in Stalybridge than in Sunderland, but did feel an affinity for a fellow economic migrant
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 16th of August 2015 09:52:35 PM
Roger Baker 3 said
Sun Aug 16 7:24 PM, 2015
David Walsh wrote:
I pointed out the numerous Birch Bolete mushrooms, and he started on those, too. ...................................................................................................................................................................
David, your generosity know no bounds !
Must be something that has rubbed off on you since your move to Gtr Manchester !
Roger.
David Walsh said
Sun Aug 16 2:37 PM, 2015
Sunday 16th August 2015
Flaxfield and Wild Bank, Butterflies
20+ Gatekeeper 25+ Meadow Brown 2 Large Skippers 6 Small Skippers 10 Small Heath 2 Ringlet 1 Speckled Wood, in the heather at 1000ft, not its usual habitat 6 Green-veined White 1 Large White
1 Large Romanian, hiding in a Birch tree, with a carrier bag full of bilberries, until I explained that it was OK to pick them. I pointed out the numerous Birch Bolete mushrooms, and he started on those, too.
Also good to see my honeybees joining me on the moor, working the heather.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 16th of August 2015 02:42:14 PM
David Walsh said
Sat Aug 8 1:04 PM, 2015
Saturday 8th August 2015
Higher Swineshaw
Butterflies
15+ Small Heath 15+ Meadow Brown 10+ Large Skippers 6 Gatekeeper 6 Small Tortoiseshell 1 Large White
20+ Black Darters Many Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort
Lower Swineshaw
4 Gatekeeper 3 Large Skippers 1 Small Skipper 4 Meadow Brown 1 Small Tortoiseshell
David Walsh said
Sat Jul 25 3:15 PM, 2015
Saturday 25th July 2015
A good morning for butterflies, when things had warmed up, after 8.30
Higher Swineshaw
40+ Large Skippers - there seemed to be one on every thistle flower 20+ Meadow Brown 15 Small Heath 1 female Large White 1 Small Tortoiseshell 2 Cinnabar moths 1 Brown Hawker Dragonfly
Lower Swineshaw
9 Small Skippers 6 Meadow Brown 5 Small Heath 1 Gatekeeper 1 Small Tortoiseshell 2 Speckled Wood 2 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths
David Walsh said
Sun Jul 19 12:16 AM, 2015
Saturday 18th July 2015, 6.00pm
Butterflies
Range House and the rifle ranges
10+ Meadow Brown 3 Small Skippers 2 Small Heath 2 Ringlet
Brushes Rangers football pitch
50+ Meadow Brown 25+ Large Skippers 20+ Ringlet 20+ Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths 1 Gatekeeper
David Walsh said
Fri Jul 17 12:38 AM, 2015
Thursday 16th July 2015
Butterflies around Flaxfield and Wild Bank
20+ Ringlet, between Range House and the rifle ranges. My third sighting at separate sites in Stalybridge since Sunday, having never previously recorded them here 25+ Meadow Brown 3 Small Heath 4 Small Skippers 1 Large Skipper 2 Small Tortoiseshell
David Walsh said
Thu Jul 16 5:09 PM, 2015
David Walsh wrote:
Tuesday 14th July 2015
Higher Swineshaw
6 Map-winged Swift moths
There's probably only me interested in this, but on further inspection, I think there is a mix of Map-winged and Common Swift moths on the moor. They are difficult to ID as they very rarely land, spending most of the time buzzing around the bracken. As I say, probably only me interested
David Walsh said
Tue Jul 14 11:49 PM, 2015
Tuesday 14th July 2015
Higher Swineshaw
6 Map-winged Swift moths 1 Cinnabar moth 1 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moth at Lower Swineshaw
David Walsh said
Thu Jul 9 12:25 PM, 2015
Thursday 9th July, 2015
Brushes Valley
6+ Small Heath butterflies 2 Meadow Brown 1 Speckled Wood 2 Five-spot Burnet moths 1 Silver-Y moth
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 9th of July 2015 12:43:34 PM
David Walsh said
Tue Jul 7 10:25 PM, 2015
Tuesday 7th July 2015
141 Five-spot Burnet moths behind Brushes Rangers football pitch, the vast majority on thistles, with a few on Lesser Trefoil. I'm sure that I missed a few!
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 7th of July 2015 10:34:21 PM
David Walsh said
Fri Jul 3 12:42 PM, 2015
Friday 3rd July 2015
Flaxfield and Wild Bank
Butterflies: 10 Small Heath 8 Speckled Wood 2 Meadow Brown 2 Small Skippers
Moths: Chimney Sweeper Common Carpet Common Heath Full-grown Oak/Northern Eggar caterpillar
David Walsh said
Sat Jun 27 12:25 PM, 2015
Saturday 27th June 2015
Brushes Valley
15+ Small Heath butterflies A surprising find was a dead, desiccated newt, in the old quarry near Lower Swineshaw Reservoir. I assume it was a Smooth Newt, but acid bog is also right for Palmate, and it was too dried out to ID. The lack of any standing water anywhere near, other than the reservoir, has me puzzled. Another possibility is that it was dropped by a bird carrying food
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 27th of June 2015 12:28:11 PM
David Walsh said
Sat Nov 1 6:04 PM, 2014
Saturday 1st November 2014, 9.00am
Weasel / Stoat (didn't see its tail) in and out of the stonework of Higher Swineshaw Dam
David Walsh said
Fri Apr 4 10:30 PM, 2014
Friday 4th April 2014, 8.15pm - Dusk
1 stag Roe Deer almost in Flaxfield Farmyard
Butterbur and Russian Comfrey flowering near Walkerwood Dam
Karen Foulkes said
Sun May 26 6:21 AM, 2013
25/5/13 High numbers of white butterflies
Peacock Speckled Wood Large White Small White Orange Tip
Roger Baker 3 said
Fri Apr 26 4:44 PM, 2013
Friday April 26th.
Wild Bank.
3 Roe Deer. A buck and his doe plus one single doe. I wouldn't have seen them if the buck hadn't started barking.
Roger.
Steve Suttill said
Mon Jan 28 5:24 PM, 2013
Sun 27th Jan - 15.30:
at least 5 Roe Deer in trees by Brushes Resr. Highlight of a (virtually) birdless walk!
At least 4 Noctule bats hunting on the moor between Higher Swineshaw Reservoir and Turf Pits
Pipistrelle species the length of the valley
Also bats hunting just above the surface of Walkerwood Reservoir, which could well be Daubenton, but impossible to verify without a detector
Noctule bat hunting over the moor above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir at dusk
A few Odonata sightings around Higher Swineshaw Reservoir over the past two days.
Common Hawker
Brown Hawker
Black Darter
Couple of Peacock butterflies over the moor
Noctule bat hunting over the moor above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir after dark
Cowberry plants now bearing fruit on the moor
Noctule bat hunting over the moor above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir
Butterflies:
Small Heath, abundant, which is not surprising, given the habitat
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper, just emerged this week
Large Skipper
Small Skipper, mainly around Lower Swineshaw quarry
Green-veined White
Large White
Moths:
Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet at Lower Swineshaw quarry
Cinnabar
Common and Map-winged Swift mainly around Higher Swineshaw
Antler moth this morning at Higher Swineshaw, a species that caused devastation to the Cumbrian fells a couple of decades ago
Northern Spinach on Irontongue Hill
Millbrook Dam
6 Ringlet
1 Large Skipper
1 Large Brown rat swimming across the dam
Brushes Rangers football pitch
4 Ringlet
4 Large Skippers
4 Meadow Brown
15+ Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths
My first Small Heath butterfly of the year, on Boar Flat this morning
Weasel high up on Wild Bank
Butterflies:
Speckled Wood in Brushes Valley
Green-veined White
Large White
Small White
Peacock, including one on Boar Flat on Saturday
Small Tortoiseshell
Several Sexton beetles burying a Mallard corpse last night at dusk on Boar Flat was a fascinating sight. My best stab at a species ID from my photos is Nicrophorus vespilloides. I came across this intriguing article on the role of dopamine in parenting behaviour of these insects
http://m.cz.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/03/28/cz.zow032
Well, I found it intriguing
Noctule bat hunting over the moor above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir, quite an entertaining sight.
Couple of Pipistrelle spp further down the valley
Harridge Moor, up around the Swineshaws
I don't usually post bat sightings because: a) they are likely to be one of the Pipistrelle species, and b) I would require a bat detector to confirm it.
However, tonight just after dark I am reasonably confident that I watched a Noctule catching insects over the moor for over half an hour. It's size and flight reminded me of a Snipe, fast and direct, with regular dramatic dives down into the heather, presumably for moths.
Also many presumed Pipistrelles on the walk back down to Walkerwood
1 Red Admiral at the pump house beyond Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. I cannot remember a year when I recorded more of this species than Peacocks. I haven't seen a single Peacock in GM this year
1 Brown Hawker in Higher Swineshaw overflow
I have in fact lived for longer in Stalybridge than in Sunderland, but did feel an affinity for a fellow economic migrant
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 16th of August 2015 09:52:35 PM
Flaxfield and Wild Bank, Butterflies
20+ Gatekeeper
25+ Meadow Brown
2 Large Skippers
6 Small Skippers
10 Small Heath
2 Ringlet
1 Speckled Wood, in the heather at 1000ft, not its usual habitat
6 Green-veined White
1 Large White
1 Large Romanian, hiding in a Birch tree, with a carrier bag full of bilberries, until I explained that it was OK to pick them. I pointed out the numerous Birch Bolete mushrooms, and he started on those, too.
Also good to see my honeybees joining me on the moor, working the heather.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 16th of August 2015 02:42:14 PM
Higher Swineshaw
Butterflies
15+ Small Heath
15+ Meadow Brown
10+ Large Skippers
6 Gatekeeper
6 Small Tortoiseshell
1 Large White
20+ Black Darters
Many Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort
Lower Swineshaw
4 Gatekeeper
3 Large Skippers
1 Small Skipper
4 Meadow Brown
1 Small Tortoiseshell
A good morning for butterflies, when things had warmed up, after 8.30
Higher Swineshaw
40+ Large Skippers - there seemed to be one on every thistle flower
20+ Meadow Brown
15 Small Heath
1 female Large White
1 Small Tortoiseshell
2 Cinnabar moths
1 Brown Hawker Dragonfly
Lower Swineshaw
9 Small Skippers
6 Meadow Brown
5 Small Heath
1 Gatekeeper
1 Small Tortoiseshell
2 Speckled Wood
2 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths
Butterflies
Range House and the rifle ranges
10+ Meadow Brown
3 Small Skippers
2 Small Heath
2 Ringlet
Brushes Rangers football pitch
50+ Meadow Brown
25+ Large Skippers
20+ Ringlet
20+ Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths
1 Gatekeeper
Butterflies around Flaxfield and Wild Bank
20+ Ringlet, between Range House and the rifle ranges. My third sighting at separate sites in Stalybridge since Sunday, having never previously recorded them here
25+ Meadow Brown
3 Small Heath
4 Small Skippers
1 Large Skipper
2 Small Tortoiseshell
Higher Swineshaw
6 Map-winged Swift moths
1 Cinnabar moth
1 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moth at Lower Swineshaw
Brushes Valley
6+ Small Heath butterflies
2 Meadow Brown
1 Speckled Wood
2 Five-spot Burnet moths
1 Silver-Y moth
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 9th of July 2015 12:43:34 PM
141 Five-spot Burnet moths behind Brushes Rangers football pitch, the vast majority on thistles, with a few on Lesser Trefoil. I'm sure that I missed a few!
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 7th of July 2015 10:34:21 PM
Flaxfield and Wild Bank
Butterflies:
10 Small Heath
8 Speckled Wood
2 Meadow Brown
2 Small Skippers
Moths:
Chimney Sweeper
Common Carpet
Common Heath
Full-grown Oak/Northern Eggar caterpillar
Brushes Valley
15+ Small Heath butterflies
A surprising find was a dead, desiccated newt, in the old quarry near Lower Swineshaw Reservoir. I assume it was a Smooth Newt, but acid bog is also right for Palmate, and it was too dried out to ID. The lack of any standing water anywhere near, other than the reservoir, has me puzzled. Another possibility is that it was dropped by a bird carrying food
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 27th of June 2015 12:28:11 PM
Weasel / Stoat (didn't see its tail) in and out of the stonework of Higher Swineshaw Dam
1 stag Roe Deer almost in Flaxfield Farmyard
Butterbur and Russian Comfrey flowering near Walkerwood Dam
Peacock
Speckled Wood
Large White
Small White
Orange Tip
Wild Bank.
3 Roe Deer. A buck and his doe plus one single doe.
I wouldn't have seen them if the buck hadn't started barking.
Roger.
at least 5 Roe Deer in trees by Brushes Resr. Highlight of a (virtually) birdless walk!