Sunday 3rd November 2013, 7.15 - 9.00am

From Walkerwood Dam, up past the rifle ranges, to Flaxfield. Cold and very windy, but mainly dry.

2 buzzards and 1 sparrowhawk hunting over Harridge
1 kestrel over Wild Bank Moor
1 sparrowhawk over Shaw Moor end of Wild Bank Moor
1 male stonechat on wall of Flaxfield Farm
c100 pink-footed geese east over Harridge, 8.45am
5 meadow pipits
12 goldfinch
4 blackbirds
1 song thrush
6+ robins
8 great tits
4 blue tits
2 dunnock
1 wren
1 pair pheasant at Flaxfield Farm
1 red grouse on Wild Bank Moor
a number of groups of woodpigeons moving south-east

Saturday 2nd November 2013, 7.15 - 9.30am

Up past the riifle ranges, to the southern end of Flaxfield, and back. Dry, bright, and breezy.

Around Flaxfield:
1 redwing
6 song thrushes, flying around the bushes at the southern end
4 bullfinches
4 chaffinches

10+ meadow pipits around heather
1 male reed bunting calling and flying around the gorse low down Wild Bank Moor. Not seen on the moor before. In new, dull, autumn plumage.
20+ blackbirds, mainly on hawthorn, but some on holly, including one group of 6 defending a holly tree from a redwing and 2 song thrushes
20+ robins - singing everwhere
6 jays - very active, plus more making a racket in country park
2 ravens flying down Brushes Valley, SW
6+ great tits
6+ blue tits
4 goldfinches over
1 dunnock
1 wren

Friday 1st November 2013, 6.45 -7.15am, first dog walk of the day.

Walkerwood Dam, at first light - raptors up and about early.

1 buzzard very low over the bottom of Harridge, almost at tree height, swooped over the corner of the reservoir where the Canada Geese were still at roost, then alighted on electricity pylon. It sat next to 2 carrion crows, which tried to disturb it, then the crow numbers increased to 14, before the buzzard flew off further up Harridge Pike

1 sparrowhawk circling, also low down Harridge, at one point seemingly in tandem with the above buzzard - neither seemed bothered by the others presence.

10+ blackbirds already on hawthorn
c20 fieldfares over east towards Country Park / Huddersfield Road direction

Thursday 31st October 2013, 8.30 - 10.00am

Up past the Ranges to Flaxfield, and back, on a dry, bright, autumn morning.

1 buzzard flying around the fence posts of the fields low down on Harridge
1 sparrowhawk over Harridge
1 green woodpecker flew from the manure heap at Flaxfield Farm over towards Heyrod
10+ meadow pipits around the heather
12+ blackbirds, mainly on hawthorn
2 song thrushes
2 fieldfares feeding on hawthorn next to Brushes Road
6 chaffinches
1 bullfinch heard, not seen
12+ robins
6+ great tits
2 blue tits
1 wren
several groups of 10+ woodpigeons flying southwards
I was also fairly sure I heard a chiffchaff call, but it's a little late in the year? Perhaps a blackbird doing impressions.

Sunday 27th October 2013, 7.45 - 9.30am

Past the Rifle Ranges to Flaxfield and back

A pleasant morning, windy but sunny, after yesterday morning's washout, walking in the clouds! A reminder of how hard birdwatching in the Pennines can be when summer has passed!

Still quiet today, bird-wise

1 female stonechat flying between Wild Bank Moor and the fence posts of Flaxfield Farm, dropping into the field for food
8 blackbirds, mostly feeding on hawthorn
1 song thrush
1 pied wagtail struggling against the wind over the moor
2m, 4f pheasant on the manure heap at the farm
2 great tits
goldfinch over
6+ robins
10+ meadow pipits
10+ lesser black-backed gulls over

Thursday 24th October 2013, 6.45pm

Along Walkerwood Dam

2 very vocal tawny owls calling, one from area of Cock Wood, the other from the woods opposite, on the Harridge side of the reservoir

Thursday 24th October 2013, 8.45 - 10.15am

Up past the rifle ranges to Flaxfield and back.

1 male, 2 female stonechat on the fence posts near ranges. First of this species for over 6 weeks. Stunning male in fresh plumage
1 juv kestrel at Flaxfield / Sidebottom Fold
1 solitary fieldfare on hawthorn by Brushes Road
7 blackbirds
c100 pink-footed geese over east
40+ meadow pipits out of heather - very active and vocal this morning
6 jay
10+ robins
3 blue tits
3 goldfinch
3 house sparrows
1 dunnock

Saturday 19th October 2013, 8.15 - 10.00am

A mild, dry morning, but very quiet, notable only on a personal note for my first fieldfare of autumn in the area. A flock of c25 were moving around the hawthorns of Flaxfield Farm and the rear of Range House. No redwing today, though.

Other sightings, such as they were:

15 meadow pipits
8 blackbirds
10+ robins
1 wren
1 male red grouse on Wild Bank Moor
2 male pheasant squabbling at Flaxfield Farm
2 jays
2 goldfinch over
4 long-tailed tits
4 great tits
2 blue tits
1 willow warbler still singing in country park

-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 19th of October 2013 12:18:08 PM

Thursday 17th October 2013

6.30pm - 1 little owl calling at southern end of Flaxfield Farm

7.00pm - 1 tawny owl calling in country park, down from Walkerwood Dam

Wednesday 16th October 2013, 6.45pm

Tawny owl calling from woods on south side of Walkerwood Reservoir, near dam

Ashley Edwards wrote:

---

David,

we have Green Woodpeckers in Heyrod most of the year so maybe they just hop across the valley?

Ashley

---

Green Woodpeckers also regular at Cowbury Dale, Millbrook, just up the Tame Valley - so maybe they also hop down the valley

David, we have Green Woodpeckers in Heyrod most of the year so maybe they just hop across the valley? Ashley

Sunday 13th October 2013, 8.30 - 10.00 am

Usual walk up past rifle ranges, to Flaxfield and back. Very windy morning, but mainly dry.

1 green woodpecker flew over from back of Range House at Flaxfield, across the country park to the low fields at Harridge. It had a real struggle against the wind, especially between wing beats - almost one step forward, two steps back. This species seems to become visible in this area away from the summer months. I see them very rarely in summer, but they appear from autumn onwards, and this is my third sighting in just over a week. As far as I am aware, they have small ranges, so presumably they nest in areas I don't walk, as I tend to be a creature of habit, with my routes governed in the main by the needs of three dogs?

1 little owl huddled deep in the hawthorn at Flaxfield
1 male kestrel being harried by three carrion crows over the ranges
2 jays
5 meadow pipit
2 redwing south over Wild Bank, another flock of c15 circling over Walkerwood Dam area
6 robin
2 blackbirds
1 wren
1 dunnock
2 blue tits
1 great tit
1 lesser black-backed gull in field at Flaxfield Farm

mixed flock of c20 in hawthorn consisting of:
goldfinch
chaffinch
blue tit
great tit
coal tit


-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 13th of October 2013 11:33:12 AM

Saturday 12th October 2013, 7.45 - 8.45am

To Flaxfield and back past the rifle ranges - starting in drizzle, before being forced off the moor by heavy rain and wind.

48 redwing moving through Flaxfield Farm, feeding on hawthorn and holly, before heading west, in three groups of 8, 15, and 25. Just seen another group of c25 heading north west over Huddersfield Road whilst writing up this post!
6 blackbirds
1 great tit
1 blue tit
6 robins
2 meadow pipits

Also one raptor being blown quickly south from Walkerwood direction towards Flaxfield, low over moor. It was smaller than a kestrel with a shorter tail, and wings bent in the breeze. The view wasn't great, as it flashed past on the wind in poor light, and by the time I fixed with my binoculars, it was past. It didn't beat its wings at all, but it was very windy, and the initial impression from the size was a merlin, but I couldn't be 100 per cent, and I have never seen any record of one in this area, so it goes down as a possible/ maybe.

-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 12th of October 2013 01:12:04 PM

Friday 11th October 2013, 8.30pm

Walkerwood Dam

Steady movement of redwing down Brushes Valley westward, calling overhead

David Walsh wrote:

---

First walk for the Winter Thrush Survey, through Brushes Road fringe of country park, down southern side of Walkerwood Reservoir to Cock Wood, then up past rifle ranges to Flaxfield.

It was looking like a write off as far as thrushes were concerned, with a count of 1 song thrush and 6 blackbirds, until a flock of c45 redwing flew over west from Lees Hill and dropped over Harridge Pike. Unfortunately the birds didn't fly over my chosen "square" for the survey, but over two adjacent ones. Can anyone tell me whether or not birds viewed on the walk, but in another OS square can be entered onto the survey?

---

A good question, David, and a tricky one as not all surveys have the same "rules" on this.

I presume you are going to enter your results online and have mapped your route on the survey website. If the birds were just flyovers and were not seen to land, I would put a marker at the point from which you saw them and enter the count number and record them as birds in flight. If the birds were seen to land, and the point at which they landed is off your map, I would not record them. When the survey results are analysed, flyover counts will be very useful but feeding behaviour will be much more important and will need to be related to habitat. Hope this makes sense!

Of course, whether or not these birds can be recorded as part of the Winter Thrush Survey, your sightings are still of value and can be submitted to the Greater Manchester Bird Recording Group in a variety of ways which are detailed elsewhere on this website.

Had hoped to do my first Thrush Survey today, just up the valley from you, but the weather's not looking ideal

Steve

Thursday 10th October 2013, 8.30 - 10.30am

First walk for the Winter Thrush Survey, through Brushes Road fringe of country park, down southern side of Walkerwood Reservoir to Cock Wood, then up past rifle ranges to Flaxfield.

It was looking like a write off as far as thrushes were concerned, with a count of 1 song thrush and 6 blackbirds, until a flock of c45 redwing flew over west from Lees Hill and dropped over Harridge Pike. Unfortunately the birds didn't fly over my chosen "square" for the survey, but over two adjacent ones. Can anyone tell me whether or not birds viewed on the walk, but in another OS square can be entered onto the survey?

Other non-thrush sightings:

Country Park -

1 willow warbler
2 great tits
1 blue tit
3 robins
1 great-spotted woodpecker
2 jay

Cock Wood to Flaxfield-

1 sparrowhawk
1 raven
2 jay
4 meadow pipits
6 robins
1 female kestrel
1 great tit
1 wren
1 dunnock
1 lesser black-backed gull over

Wednesday 9th October 2013 - Owls again - not much else to do on a walk after 6.30pm these days!

Late posting for last night:

Flaxfield area, south of Flaxfield Farm, 6.45 - 8.00pm

1 little owl calling at dusk from usual area of hawthorn, then flew across field and onto Wild Bank Moor.
1 tawny owl calling after dark in the distance to the north of Flaxfield, back towards Range House/Rifle Ranges direction.


This morning, 6.45am, first dogwalk along Walkerwood Dam just before daylight:

1 tawny owl calling from Harridge side of the valley towards Brushes Reservoir
85 Canada Geese on Walkerwood Reservoir

Monday 7th October 2013, 6.40 - 8.00pm

Up past rifle ranges to Flaxfield and back, mostly in the dark

2 little owls again calling at Flaxfield, one in the usual area of hawthorn, the second sounded as though it was flying around Wild Bank Moor.

Possible snipe flying south over moor, but the light was very poor.

Sunday 6th Oct. 15.00 - 16.00 hrs.

With Lee Griffiths ..... an hour on Walkerwood dam-head.
In glorious sunshine, certainly brought the raptors out to play.

5 possibly 6 Buzzard were riding the thermals over Th'Harridge for virtually the full hour.
One of the Buzzard was harrassed by a pair of Raven for a while until a Peregrine put in an appearance chasing the Raven off.

Sparrowhawk.
Kestrel.


Roger.

Sunday 6th October 2013, 8.00 - 10.00am

Past Brushes Rifle Ranges to Flaxfield and back.

1 grey heron flying from Brushes Road towards Wild Bank
1 green woodpecker flying over the country park towards Walkerwood
17 meadow pipits plus two small groups of 6-8 over south
4 blackbirds
30+ woodpigeons together in treetops at southern end of Flaxfield
12+ robins, calling everywhere
4 greenfinch
3 goldfinch
1 wren
1 great tit
1 blue tit
1 willow warbler singing

Saturday 5th October 2013, 7.20 - 8.15am

Quick walk for a weekend, past Rifle Ranges to the near edge of Flaxfield.

1 buzzard over Harridge
1 female kestrel hunting over Wild Bank
2 jays
50+ woodpigeon, including a flock of c20 flying south
1 song thrush in hawthorn tree
1 female blackbird
2 great tits
3 blue tits
2 willow warblers
1 greenfinch
1 chaffinch
3 goldfinch
6 robins
6 meadow pipits - lowest count for a while
1 f pheasant
c50 Canada Geese on Walkerwood Reservoir

-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 5th of October 2013 10:43:40 AM

Friday 4th October 2013, 8.15pm

Last dog walk along Walkerwood Dam

2 Tawny owls calling from below, in country park

Thursday 3rd October 2013, 8.30 - 10.00am

To Flaxfield and back past the Rifle Ranges, a bright, warm morning.

1 female kestrel patrolling around Flaxfield from telegraph pole
22 meadow pipits, flying up from rough grass and heather
8 meadow pipits flying south
1 green woodpecker at southern end of Flaxfield, hopping around field towards Gallowsclough
2 blue tits
3 long-tailed tits
2 willow warblers
1 chiffchaff singing in country park
2 linnet over
6 robins
mix of jackdaws, woodpigeon, carrion crows, magpies, and black-headed gulls in ploughed field

Tuesday 1st October 2013, 6.45 - 8.00pm

Walk beginning at dusk and ending in the dark to Flaxfield and back past ranges

2 little owls at Flaxfield - one calling from usual area of hawthorn, and one responding from trees further along footpath towards Gallowsclough. Only ever seen/heard solitary bird in this area before.

-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 1st of October 2013 10:50:50 PM

I was going to suggest that maybe the corpses had been left there baited with poison and maybe the predators had clocked that fact. But coming across that youngster dispels that theory. Unless theres poison put down for them I really dont know what it could be. Seems an unusual way to die for a wild animal unless they had eaten something poisonous. I dont even know if ragwort once eaten would be harmful. Maybe a more enlightened forum member could shed some light onto this subject.

The heads and faces of the corpses I've seen haven't shown any obvious signs, but what is odd to me is the fact that they can be lying in the open for days and nothing seems to feed on them. There are buzzards, foxes, and plenty of other species which you would think would be glad of a bit of carrion, but they remain more or less intact.

I came across a youngster in its death throes two weeks ago, twitching and squeaking, and assumed that I must have disturbed a predator that had just attacked it, because it wasn't there on the outward leg of my journey, but the corpse was in the same position, intact, the following morning. There are hundreds of rabbits around Wild Bank and Flaxfield at present - they also seem to have had a bumper year - so I suppose you would expect more deaths with a larger population, if the death rate is the same?

It just seems to have been more noticable in the last couple of weeks.

Do the rabbits look like they have had myxomatosis? When I lived across the valley in Heyrod we had an outbreak (more likely an introduction) and lost most the rabbits locally. Hell of alot of gamekeeper activity goes on around here undetected that I hear about through certain sources but noone willing to speak up.

Sunday 29th September 2013, 7.45 - 9.15am

Brushes Rifle Ranges and Flaxfield - blustery and cool. Nothing out of the ordinary today.

23 meadow pipits flying out of heather and grass
10 pied wagtail over
30 Canada geese over east
30+ black-headed gulls in ploughed field behind Mottram Old Road
30+ jackdaws and a few carrion crows in same field
10+ robins
1 wren
2 blue tits feeding on elderberries, being chased by:- 1 willow warbler
1 chiffchaff singing behind Range House
2 great tits
1 male blackbird feeding on rowan
1 red grouse on Wild Bank Moor

No raptors seen for a couple of weeks now, but a worrying number of rabbits lying around, with no apparent cause of death.

Thursday 26th September 2013, 6.15 - 7.30pm

Up past rifle ranges to Flaxfield. In darkness on way back down.

Another quiet evening with not a lot about. Been a quiet fortnight, in fact.

1 little owl in a hawthorn tree at Flaxfield. First sighting for over 2 weeks, but always perches in hawthorn trees, and within a 100 yard radius. Never seen it in any other tree, only the odd time on a fence post or on top of a drystone wall. Started moving around from tree to tree as dusk fell, preening itself.

Also:

6 meadow pipits
2 jays
4 robins
2 great tits
2 blue tits
1 blackbird
1 willow warbler

Monday 16th September 2013, 8.00 - 9.15am

Brushes Road, Wild Bank, and Flaxfield area.

1 buzzard higher up valley over Harridge Woods
1 kestrel over Wild Bank
1 male stonechat at Flaxfield Farm
1 juv/female stonechat at Wild Bank
2 willow warbler singing
1 chiffchaff singing
3 robins
6 meadow pipit
4 swallows hawking around Brushes Road
2 dunnock

Heavy rain quietened everything down

-- Edited by David Walsh on Monday 16th of September 2013 03:25:24 PM

Saturday 14th September 2013, 8.00 - 9.30am

Brushes Road, Flaxfield, and Wild Bank area

2 buzzards high up on Wild Bank Moor
1 peregrine flying from the south, skirting Wild Bank and continued up towards the Swineshaws
1 female kestrel hunting from a hawthorn next to Brushes Road
12+ robins - stopped counting - they seemed to be everywhere! I never tire of watching and listening to them, though.
2 wrens
1 pair of stonechat at Flaxfield. No sign of young today, but they were a long way off, almost at the farm itself.
7 goldfinch
1 male whitethroat at Flaxfield
2 willow warblers singing
16 meadow pipit
3 juv house sparrows
4 juv pheasants at Flaxfield Farm

No swallows today

Tuesday 10th September 2013, 7.15 - 8.00pm

Quick dogwalk before dusk, to Flaxfield and back past the Rifle Ranges

1 female kestrel hunting over Brushes Road
1 little owl in hawthorn at Flaxfield
12 swallows feeding over Brushes Road
12+ meadow pipit
50+ jackdaws to roost over Flaxfield

robin, wren, willow warbler, blue and great tits calling

Sunday 8th September, 8.45 - 11.00am

Up past the Rifle Ranges, to Wild Bank and Flaxfield

Plenty of meadow pipits on the move in the sunshine:
30+ on Wild Bank Moor
15 around the fields at Flaxfield Farm

3 swallows hawking around the moor, another 10 flying south over Flaxfield
4 house martins over south
6 willow warblers
1 chiffchaff singing
1 male whitethroat singing on top of bramble
6 greenfinch, including juveniles
6 robins
1 dunnock
1 little owl in usual spot
2 jays
2 ravens, over from the south, across valley, and over Carrbrook
2 buzzards hunting together, low over Harridge Pike
2 black-headed gull in field at Flaxfield Farm

Saturday 7th September 2013, 6.45 - 8.00pm

Evening wander around Flaxfield area

1 tawny owl at dusk over from Flaxfield towards Mottram Rise
2 wheatear in field at Flaxfield Farm

Willow warbler, wren, robin, and blackbird calling towards dusk

No sign of any of this morning's chats

Saturday 7th September 2013, 7.15 - 9.15am.

Around Wild Bank and Flaxfield.

A cold, grey morning, but thankfully dry following yesterday's deluge.

1 pair of stonechat with one young juvenile seen, at the Ranges end of Flaxfield Farm, on the way home, around 8.45.

1 male whinchat in autumn plumage, on the fence posts at Flaxfield Farm, receiving a lot of attention from the male stonechat, but not budging far from perch, other than down to the grass and back up.

1 other very young stonechat seen crouched in the gorse on the outward journey, around 8.00am. Could hear a faint adult call from higher up the gorse, so this could have been the same family group as above, making their way down the hill.

30+ meadow pipits, some moving through in small groups
3 adult swallows, plus 3 very young looking juveniles perched on fence awaiting food
5 willow warblers
bullfinch heard, not seen
3 great tits
3 blue tits
1 dunnock
5 robin

Oddly enough, no birds of prey this morning, but a lot of the time was spent following the chats.

Late post for this morning.

Thursday 5th September 2013, 8.00 -9.45am

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges

30+ meadow pipits, mainly on Wild Bank Moor
2 swallows over the country park, 3 over the moor
1 male reed bunting in field adjacent to Brushes Road, being chased from tree to tree by a robin
16 robins - singing, calling, and showing everywhere!
1 willow warbler
1 chiffchaff
1 dunnock
3 blue tits
1 greenfinch

4 swallows flying around Cote Farm at 1.00pm

Last dog walk - 7.45pm:

1 female kestrel hunting over Brushes Road

1 buzzard hanging in the wind over Harridge Pike

Tuesday 3rd September 2013, 7.15 - 8.15pm

To Flaxfield and back past Rifle Ranges

A little late setting out, and light fading fast at far end of Flaxfield, so not much about

1 female kestrel over fields by Brushes Road
1 little owl overlooking Sidebottom Fold direction, hopping around hawthorn at dusk
6+ robins
2 willow warbler
6+ meadow pipits
2 swallows only

Interesting to read Karen's earlier Mistle Thrush posts. At dusk, around 20 birds flew from a distant pylon with thrush-like flight, but they were too far off and silhouetted against the western sky, so couldn't positively identify them.

-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 3rd of September 2013 11:53:07 PM

Monday 2nd September 2013, 7.00 - 8.00pm

Quick walk past Rifle Ranges to Flaxfield and back.

1 buzzard over top of Brushes Valley
2 kestrel over from Lees Hill direction
20+ swallows feeding at eastern end of Flaxfield towards Mottram Rise
6 meadow pipit
1 juv dunnock
2 robin
1 wren
1 stonechat heard but not seen

Sunday 1st September 2013, 8.00am - 10.00am

Onto Wild Bank Moor then down, past Flaxfield and the Rifle Ranges.

A cold, blustery morning, getting colder and windier as the walk went on. Other than the odd bumble bee, few insects flying. Not much noise coming from the country park either, so I decided, armed with a springer spaniel and a stout pair of walking shoes, to do a tour of the moor counting meadow pipits, seeing as there was very little else to see!!

6 in the grassy field next to Brushes Road
50+ in an area of rocky outcrop with a mix of heather and rough grass, overlooking Walkerwood reservoir
20+ on the moor in an area of regrowth, with short heather (6-9 inches tall) following the fires of 2006
3 at the same altitude in a much greater area of older and taller heather interspersed with thick sphagnum cover
There were none in any of fields of Flaxfield Farm, where they have gathered of late

Believe it or not, that was the highlight of the morning, other than the following kestrel activity:
1 female kestrel over Flaxfield and Brushes Road
1 single bird over from Hobson Moor then back again
2 birds low over Wild Bank "practice hunting" in similar fashion to yesterday's buzzards, landing frequently in the heather. Quite distant so couldn't age or sex, but would guess at either one adult and juvenile, or two juveniles, from the behaviour.

Only 1 swallow flying briefly around Flaxfield Farm buildings
2 goldfinch
1 willow warbler
2 robin
1 wren
2 great tit

Quite a refreshing walk, though, and kestrels are always good to watch. Look on the bright side!

Saturday 31st August 2013, 7.30 - 10.00am

Around Flaxfield and Wild Bank Moor

20+ swallows feeding together from the country park, around the low moor, and over Flaxfield.
Also, a dozen or so swallows still resident around the farm buildings, with 5 juveniles sitting on the wires awaiting food from the foraging adults.

A lot of kestrel activity this morning - 1 female patrolling Brushes Road and Flaxfield areas all morning from a perch on a pylon near the farm.

Another pair of kestrels drifted over from Hollingworth direction plus one other bird about a quarter of a mile or so away towards Gallowsclough. May have been a group of 3, but they all drifted over and out of sight towards Hobson Moor. 2 sighted again later in the morning.

A family group of 4 buzzards over Cock Knarr from Lees Hill, appearing to be playing rather than hunting, flying around each other and landing regularly high up on the moor. After 20 minutes of this they drifted down towards Flaxfield before turning and soaring back over towards Lees Hill.


Also:

1 little owl in its regular spot at Flaxfield, watching the world go by
40+ meadow pipit, especially around the low moor near Flaxfield Farm
2 m , 1 f pheasant
9 robin
6 great tit
5 willow warbler
3 jay
1 wren

a small mixed flock of juvenile tits consisting of:
4 blue tit
4 great tit
1 coal tit - not seen any adults in the area for months

Strangely no finches seen or heard today

Monday 26th August 2013, 8.00 - 9.00am

Quick dogwalk this morning through country park to Walkerwood Dam, then back along Brushes Road

Very quiet, only items of note being:

8 sand martins feeding over the reservoir. Headed off south after 20 minutes

30+ swallows feeding throughout route. A lot of juveniles mixed in, including 7 perched on telephone wires opposite houses, waiting patiently (but noisily) for the regular return with food of adults. Seemed very young, and were very dependent. A lot of food being brought back.

Saturday 24th August 2013, 7.15 - 9.30am

Around the Rifle Ranges and Flaxfield

The overnight rain had cleared leaving things soggy but warm - perfect for midges! Other than swallows and meadow pipits, a very quiet morning.

Large numbers of meadow pipit on the move - counted over 50 on Wild Bank Moor and one field at the farm alone.
30+ swallows around the trees next to Faxfield Farm - others around the low moor
1 male stonechat and 1 juvenile
3 whitethroat
8 willow warbler
1 m chaffinch
4 robin
1 wren
1 jay
1 m, 2 f pheasant
4 goldfinch
1 grey heron on pumping station at Walkerwood dam
1 female kestrel patrolling the fence posts and low trees around the ranges

Thursday 22nd August 2013, 7.15 - 10am

Around Flaxfield and Wild Bank

Thankfully, a change of wind direction has diverted the Stockport stink of yesterday, to leave a stunning morning over Tameside. A lot of species seem to be preparing to be on the move today.

40+ meadow pipits, including over 30 flying around fields and hedges of the farm. Not an area they are usually seen.
30+ swallows, including 23 perched on telegraph wire at the farm
2 wheatear, again in low fields, not seen this far down the hill since May
1 whitethroat
1 pair of stonechat
7 great tit
6 blue tit
1 little owl, roosting in hawthorn - great views. Didn't budge all morning
1 tawny owl calling from country park at 7.15
3 dunnock
3 robin plus 2 juvenile
1 wren
1 song thrush
3 willow warbler
No sign of the redstart since Tuesday - presumably moved through.

Back along Brushes Road, edge of country park

1 long-tailed tit plus 3 juveniles
3 willow warbler
2 blue tit plus 5 juvenile
4 great tit
2 juv chaffinch
15 goldfinch
3 robin plus 1 juvenile
3 blackbirds

Last night there was a lot of gull activity all over Stalybridge, from Brushes Valley to the town, and over Ashton too. Over 150, mainly lesser black-backed. I wondered whether it was linked to the fire at Bredbury??? Quiet again this morning.

-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 22nd of August 2013 11:26:27 AM

-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 22nd of August 2013 01:56:24 PM

Tuesday 20th August 2013, 7.30 - 8.45pm

Around Flaxfield Farm

1 female and 1 juvenile redstart, flycatching again
male stonechat on fence near farmyard
2 jay
1 kestrel
5 robin
1 little owl in same tree as Sunday, then saw it twice more within 100 yard area, approaching dusk.
1 swallow
1 willow warbler
2 great tit

You've come up with a good 'un here David.

I've been wracking my brains (??), checking my diaries and previous posts.

Think I can honestly say the only hirundine I have ever seen in the area have been Swallows.

I could also make the same statement for Greenfield except for my post Aug 18/8/2011 (as Karen mentions passing through) when I counted over 120 House Martins going over Tanners Mill yard in 30 minutes, still going strong when I had to leave.

I've never seen another up there since !

Roger.

PS. My last sighting of Sand Martin round Stalybridge was 11th Aug and I have been looking (a pleasant alternative to doing any work ).

Monday 19th August 2013, 6.45 - 8.45pm

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges

A great evening's entertainment. Today and yesterday have been as good as Saturday was bad. Once again, the pick of the action was in the hedges of Flaxfield Farm. In fact, the same hedge as yesterday!!

1 female and 1 juvenile redstart. A fantastic sight catching flies, with their tails glowing in the evening sunshine.
1 pair of stonechat, 2 juveniles seen tonight. The male has started making a noise again, after a quiet couple of weeks
1 m whitethroat
1 willow warbler
1 robin
10 swallows
1 m pheasant

All of the above (apart from the swallows, obviously) in the same hedge

Also,

2 kestrel hunting over Flaxfield and Wild Bank
3 meadow pipit
3 kestrel at dusk over the field next to Brushes Road, probably including the 2 from earlier on the moor. One caught a rodent and fed in a willow tree

Roger,

I had a regular couple of pairs of house martins along Brushes Road earlier this year, but the last time I saw them was the morning before the trees were cleared for the new housing at the top of Brushes Road last month. Strange that??

As you will have noticed from the posts from the last couple of days, the action has shifted 100 yards down from the gorse into the field at Flaxfield Farm.

The redstart tonight were a big bonus. Like you said to Ashley, these are the days you remember, and make the miserable mornings like Saturday worthwhile. Are you due a visit to Flaxfield soon?

David

-- Edited by David Walsh on Monday 19th of August 2013 10:34:35 PM

David Walsh wrote:

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Monday 19th August 2013, 6.45 - 7.15am, early morning dogwalk

On the walk up Brushes Road, there were about a dozen or so birds flying around the trees over Harridge Avenue in the Copley direction. My first instinct was Sand Martin, but unfortunately, it being a work day, and this being an "on the lead all the way" dogwalk, I didn't have my binoculars with me to confirm. The nearest I've seen sand martin to here is at Stalybridge railway station, from the Bayley Street colony, a mile away.

Has anyone else (Roger) seen any around this area?

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I have seen Sand Martins on a couple of occasions over Walkerwood Res this year, but only two birds. I have not noticed any in previous years here. It is quite possible that they are passing through this area and it is also feasible that birds will travel here to feed. I have also noticed birds in the Tameside area are using less traditional nest sites!

Monday 19th August 2013, 6.45 - 7.15am, early morning dogwalk

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker picking insects off a telegraph pole on Huddersfield Road

On the walk up Brushes Road, there were about a dozen or so birds flying around the trees over Harridge Avenue in the Copley direction. My first instinct was Sand Martin, but unfortunately, it being a work day, and this being an "on the lead all the way" dogwalk, I didn't have my binoculars with me to confirm. The nearest I've seen sand martin to here is at Stalybridge railway station, from the Bayley Street colony, a mile away.

Has anyone else (Roger) seen any around this area?

The reason the woodpecker sighting isn't sexed or aged is also due my failing eyesight. In the garden at the time sorting out poultry, and only had silhouette view about 30 yards away, again without binoculars.