Despite all the hoohah going on 5 minutes up the road, this is the best news of the weekend for me!!
I saw mine again this morning - all we need to do now is join the dots along the woods of the Tame Valley, and we'll have ourselves a breeding population
OK David. You start a trail of sunflower seeds at your end and I'll do the same here ... ... but they're probably both male or both female - any good Willow Tit sexers on the forum?
David Walsh said
Sun Nov 2 5:43 PM, 2014
Steve Suttill wrote:
Heron Lane:
WILLOW TIT refound after an absence of 6 weeks
-----------------------------------------
Despite all the hoohah going on 5 minutes up the road, this is the best news of the weekend for me!!
I saw mine again this morning - all we need to do now is join the dots along the woods of the Tame Valley, and we'll have ourselves a breeding population
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 2nd of November 2014 05:44:10 PM
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 2nd of November 2014 05:44:46 PM
Steve Suttill said
Sun Nov 2 10:20 AM, 2014
Heron Lane:
WILLOW TIT refound after an absence of 6 weeks . Located in flight as it descended from the Oldham border on Midge Hill. Followed it to a hawthorn by the railway bridge over the lane where it was feeding on the ripest berries. Good views as it flitted from one hawthorn to the next, only losing it when it descended into the brambles.
Also, c80 Pinkfeet over heading E/NE. Redwings and Fieldfares over in dribs and drabs heading SW and good numbers of Woodpigeon heading the same way.
Steve Suttill said
Wed Oct 29 9:37 AM, 2014
Roger Baker 3 wrote:
28th Oct. 14.45 - 16.00 hrs.
Heyheads (Kershaw Hey).
Not actually sure if I was in Mossley or Stalybridge, very borderline ?
Right on the border, Roger. Whichever, you were definitely in the Watsonian Vice-County of Cheshire
There's a great map feature on the Grey to Green website http://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/grey_to_green/index.php?map=1view4 where you can superimpose a variety of boundaries.
-- Edited by Steve Suttill on Wednesday 29th of October 2014 09:39:41 AM
Roger Baker 3 said
Tue Oct 28 6:04 PM, 2014
28th Oct. 14.45 - 16.00 hrs.
Heyheads (Kershaw Hey).
Not actually sure if I was in Mossley or Stalybridge, very borderline ?
Picked out a couple of Goldcrest mixed in with the roving tit flocks.
Roger.
Roger Baker 3 said
Fri Oct 17 4:24 PM, 2014
Proper birding Steve ...... none of that "sat in the hide" stuff for us !
Had a double dose of that hill ....... I had to get back up it ! My legs not been right since.
Roger (The Tameside Ninja)
Steve Suttill said
Fri Oct 17 1:26 PM, 2014
Following a suggestion by Roger Baker, tried out a new route this morning.
From Top Mossley over Luzley Road: 200+ Pinkfeet over heading SE and a Little Owl found while scanning a small clump of trees for thrushes
Then down an extremely steep, wet and muddy path (thanks Roger - will get even sometime!) along the Mossley boundary to the edge of the Cliffs SBI: Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, about 10 Redwing, Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, pair Bullfinch, wandering tit flock, etc.
Back along the canal (very quiet).
Steve Suttill said
Thu Oct 16 8:56 AM, 2014
40 Redwing flying SW down the Tame valley this morning at 07.30
Alan Turner said
Wed Oct 15 6:57 PM, 2014
Two Dippers on River Tame behind Woodend Mill at 16:30.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Oct 10 12:37 PM, 2014
On the river by the old Queen St. Mill this morning:
5 redhead Goosander 3 Dipper (at least two were unringed) Grey Wagtail Heron
A little later on Heron Lane:
Heron (naturally!) Kingfisher 2 Swallows over heading South
David Walsh said
Sun Sep 28 12:32 AM, 2014
Ashley Edwards wrote:
Where abouts is Heron Lane? I can't seem to find it on any maps?
--------------------------------------
If you head out of Bottom Mossley along Manchester Road, towards Greenfield, Heron Lane is on the left, before the river, and Roaches Lock. Good luck
Ashley Edwards said
Sat Sep 27 11:16 PM, 2014
Where abouts is Heron Lane? I can't seem to find it on any maps?
Steve Suttill said
Sat Sep 27 9:45 AM, 2014
Heron Lane:
No sign of the Willow Tit since the 18th.
Chiffchaffs have been present on every visit for the past 3 weeks or so, though they don't actually breed at this site. This morning two were present - one singing and one just making contact calls.
A flock of 12 Swallows which has been present, hawking for insects, for the past few days had gone this morning. Presumably last night's frost has made them see sense...
Steve Suttill said
Fri Sep 19 2:04 PM, 2014
Thanks for the info on the Jack Snipe dates, Steve - seems I missed the earliest record for the 21st Century by one day!
With regard to Willow Tits, I've just had a look in Breeding Birds in Greater Manchester which has a probable breeding record for the tetrad adjacent to where I found "my" bird. BBGM gives an estimate of 300 breeding pairs in the county and expresses the hope that replanting of the Mersey Valley would lead to an expansion in the breeding range. Sadly, not the case.
It's good to get some reward for working these local patches for the last 20 years, though neither bird could be found this morning.
Steve Atkins said
Fri Sep 19 11:44 AM, 2014
Well done Steve on two excellent local patch finds. You are right,Sept 18th is an early date for Jack Snipe in GM. In fact there are only 20 September records in the database going back to 1993. Unfortunately, you can't claim the prize for the earliest ever, there are a few records that beat yours.
Hope Carr NR - 1st to 13th Sep 1999
Doffcocker Lodge - 8th Sep 1993
Worthington Lakes 14th and 16th Sep 1996
Castleshaw Resrs - 17th Sept 2005
The Willow Tit is intriguing and makes you wonder about the status of this species in the east of the county, given other sightings in Tameside and Oldham this year. In the early 1980's there was of course a significant population extending from Stockport north into Tameside and Oldham. We had assumed these birds had long since disappeared and none were recorded for Bird Atlas 2007-11 in the east, apart from a single at Hollingworth Lake in 2008 and 2009. However, perhaps there are still one or two pairs waiting to be discovered in the area.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Sep 18 3:29 PM, 2014
JACK SNIPE - second Mossley first of the week
With the intention of looking for dragonflies and butterflies, I decided to have a look at the SBI below the new school. Thought I'd check the pool first as I'd flushed a Common Snipe there last week. I could see a resting wader on the mud but it was too small for Common and didn't flush as I approached closer. In fact it sat there, occasionally bobbing like a Dipper, while I managed a rough sketch. Having checked a few recent county reports, this seems like a rather early record for the species.
Willow Tit was still present, though secretive, on Heron Lane this morning.
Steve Suttill said
Sun Sep 14 9:43 AM, 2014
WILLOW TIT - a Mossley first for me
Searching the trees along Heron Lane this morning in the hope of a migrant flycatcher or similar, I found very little of interest apart from a flyover Raven. Turning back, resigned to a count of the resident Bullfinches, there it was feeding on a bramble amongst the Rowans. After allowing a good, close up, view, it disappeared into the undergrowth and I could only follow it by its two note call. It re-emerged briefly at the top of a Rowan before once again hiding away.
Alan Turner said
Sun Jun 15 6:58 PM, 2014
Buzzard over Micklehurst Road at 6.0 pm.
Steve Suttill said
Tue May 27 2:41 PM, 2014
Late visit to BBS square (Top Mossley/Hartshead Pike) this morning:
Willow Warbler numbers have picked up and one was seen carrying food to a nest - Whitethroats also.
What few Lapwings there were on the early visit have all gone - surely any young can't have fledged by now, or can they?
Jackdaws still outnumbering all other species added together!
Little Owl seen on walk home.
Steve Suttill said
Wed May 7 9:45 AM, 2014
5 Swifts screaming around Woodend Mill (a regular breeding site) this morning.
Alan Turner said
Wed Apr 30 9:58 AM, 2014
Grey wagtail, Dipper along canal between New Bridge and Woodend Mill. Second sighting of Dipper on this stretch.
Steve Suttill said
Mon Apr 14 1:33 PM, 2014
Early visit to BBS square (Top Mossley/Hartshead Pike) this morning:
Just 1 singing Willow Warbler and my first Wheatear of the year.
Meadow Pipit numbers down this year and no sign of recovery for the Lapwings.
Jackdaws probably outnumbering all other species added together!
Steve Suttill said
Fri Apr 4 1:07 PM, 2014
along the Greenfield end of the old railway bridleway: my first Blackcap of the year + 2 singing Chiffchaffs.
Steve Suttill said
Mon Mar 24 8:54 PM, 2014
Forced out of my home today - couldn't stand the sight of my neighbour destroying the last vestiges of wildlife habitat - or the sound of his JCB
Old railway bridleway: 2 singing Chiffchaffs 1 pair of Brambling and one pair of Siskin in the same tree. 1 pair Bullfinch
Shadworth Lane and Noonsun Hill: 3 pairs Lapwing nesting 2 Skylarks surprisingly few Meadow Pipits, no Curlew and, amazingly, no Grouse.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Feb 7 1:01 PM, 2014
Slightly better results for this morning's Winter Thrush Survey:
7 Fieldfare perched on overhead wires. 4 Blackbirds (all male) 2 Mistle Thrush (male of the pair singing very loudly)
Also, 2 escaped Guineafowl in the dentist's car park on Stockport Road!
Steve Suttill said
Sun Jan 19 11:26 AM, 2014
Yesterday's Winter Thrush Survey:
2 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush perched in the same Birch tree - and that was it
How can you do an hour's walk and not see or hear a single Blackbird
Steve Suttill said
Sun Dec 29 1:30 PM, 2013
This morning's Winter Thrush Survey: 12 Fieldfare perched on overhead wires. 5 Blackbirds - most feeding on the few remaining Hawthorn berries.
Also seen: pair Bullfinch, Dipper and Kingfisher.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Dec 26 8:59 AM, 2013
Two Peregrines above my house at 08.50 this morning. A pair judging by the disparity in their sizes. Unusual to see a pair together outside the breeding season.
Seasons' Greetings!
David Walsh said
Fri Nov 22 4:31 AM, 2013
John,
I assume you are referring to Stamford Golf Course in Stalybridge? If so, I also flushed a woodcock, from our garden in Huddersfield Road, half a mile from the golf course, yesterday morning. Definitely a garden first!
JSPALDING said
Fri Nov 22 3:08 AM, 2013
A woodcock was flushed out by a stray golf ball this morning on Stamford Golf Course (not mine may I add). A first for me on the course. Sadly a tawny owl had managed to fly into a barbed wire fence and had not survived.
JSPALDING said
Thu Nov 14 9:17 PM, 2013
2 buzzards, 1 sparrowhawk, about 70 fieldfare and a green woodpecker heard for the first time this year on Stamford Golf course.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Nov 8 8:06 PM, 2013
This morning's Winter Thrush Survey around Mossley/Greenfieeld border:
7 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 3 Blackbird and 2 Mistle Thrush
also 6 Bullfinches - this year's young now almost completely in adult plumage.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Nov 7 5:30 PM, 2013
c 120 Pink-footed Geese over Mossley at 0820 this morning heading S/SE
Steve Suttill said
Fri Nov 1 4:28 PM, 2013
skein of c90 Pink-footed Geese over Mossley heading E/SE at 0825 this morning
Steve Suttill said
Tue Oct 1 4:38 PM, 2013
Gull noises above Mossley station this morning made me look up to see a Black-headed Gull doing battle with a medium-sized bird of prey. No bins but it was almost certainly a Hobby
Alan Turner said
Fri Sep 6 3:39 PM, 2013
One Dipper on river near Woodend Mill yesterday afternoon.
Ashley Edwards said
Fri Aug 30 3:25 PM, 2013
0805-0830 Two laps of Mossley cemetary produced no wryneck :(
Ashley Edwards said
Fri Aug 30 2:02 PM, 2013
Many thanks for the info, I will keep an eye out for your posts.
Cheers, Ashley
Steve Suttill said
Fri Aug 30 5:26 AM, 2013
The guy who found the bird had to go out to work and didn't find it on returning home. He will phone me if it is refound and I'll post here. The golf course might be worth checking.
In 2006 a Wryneck hung around Shell, Carrington, for five days and the previous year one spent three days in Horwich...
Ashley Edwards said
Fri Aug 30 5:18 AM, 2013
Is there any more information available with the wryneck sighting like whether it lingered or flew off? I only live in Carrbrook and between Queensway and us is the golf course so wondering if its likely to be in that area with all the short grass etc?
Steve Suttill said
Fri Aug 30 3:45 AM, 2013
WRYNECK reported from a BTO member's garden in Queensway, Mossley at 09.45 this morning.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Jun 8 5:23 AM, 2013
Late visit Breeding Bird Survey square (Top Mossley/Hartshead Pike) this morning:
Meadow Pipits and Whitethroats gathering lots of fat juicy caterpillars bodes well for a good breeding season.
The two small Lapwing colonies seem to have suffered mixed fortunes. One field has been completely abandoned but the other has good numbers with a couple of well-grown chicks present. One bird still sitting - presumably on a replacement clutch. Plenty of corvids hanging around looking for an easy meal though...
Steve Suttill said
Fri Apr 19 7:40 PM, 2013
At least 3 Willow Warblers singing on Heron Lane.
First Swallow of year for me.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Apr 13 1:47 AM, 2013
Early visit Breeding Bird Survey square this morning:
No Willow (or any other) Warblers this year, nor any hirundines. Lapwing numbers down this year. 3 Wheatears - first of the year for me
After the survey continued my walk round the back of Hartshead Pike and found a pair of Little Owls sitting cosily together in their favourite tree.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Apr 11 4:18 PM, 2013
3 Waxwings in ash tree on Manchester Road (nr Warmco) this morning at 8.00
Steve Suttill said
Fri Mar 29 6:00 PM, 2013
Pleasant stroll around my BBS square at Hartshead Pike with Tom Willis. Sun shining, blue sky, icy cold!
Meadow Pipits everywhere. In the heather they all seemed to be paired up and/or displaying. Elsewhere in the fields there were small flocks, presumably having retreated from the higher moors. Skylark heard singing briefly. Half a dozen Lapwing on territory. Two male Pheasants having a good scrap. Kestrel in combat with a Crow. Pretty quiet otherwise - no Wheatears yet.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Mar 15 6:41 PM, 2013
This month's Winter Thrush Survey visit:
Just 4 Blackbirds and 1 singing Mistle Thrush.
The Buzzard is back It was being harassed by a Crow by Midge Hill and flew off over Royal George Mill.
Dipper activity suggests that they may be on eggs.
Ashley Edwards said
Thu Feb 21 4:39 AM, 2013
Tawny owl on telegraph pole just after you go under railway bridge between Heyrod and Mossley. Heron hunting on the river just next to Egerton Park, always nice to see them at night.
Steve Suttill said
Tue Feb 19 2:07 AM, 2013
That's a great spot for Dippers, Roger.
I used to do a Waterways survey there every year and the cascade under the bridge seems to mark the boundary of two Dipper territories, so fights are regular.
Also a cracking spot for Grey Wagtails in the breeding season.
Have replied to your message about the colour ring - if it is blue it's a well-travelled bird!
Roger Baker 3 said
Tue Feb 19 1:32 AM, 2013
18th Feb. 16.00 hrs.
Scout Green.
Heard a singing male Dipper in the fast water just upsream of the metal bridge, by the time I had scrambled down there were 3 ........ one chasing another up and down the river while her ladyship just sat fluttering her eyelashes.
Think the singing male had blue and white rings on right leg but the light was awkward so could be wrong.
OK David. You start a trail of sunflower seeds at your end and I'll do the same here ...
... but they're probably both male or both female - any good Willow Tit sexers on the forum?
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 2nd of November 2014 05:44:10 PM
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 2nd of November 2014 05:44:46 PM
WILLOW TIT refound after an absence of 6 weeks . Located in flight as it descended from the Oldham border on Midge Hill. Followed it to a hawthorn by the railway bridge over the lane where it was feeding on the ripest berries. Good views as it flitted from one hawthorn to the next, only losing it when it descended into the brambles.
Also, c80 Pinkfeet over heading E/NE. Redwings and Fieldfares over in dribs and drabs heading SW and good numbers of Woodpigeon heading the same way.
Right on the border, Roger. Whichever, you were definitely in the Watsonian Vice-County of Cheshire
There's a great map feature on the Grey to Green website
http://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/grey_to_green/index.php?map=1view4
where you can superimpose a variety of boundaries.
-- Edited by Steve Suttill on Wednesday 29th of October 2014 09:39:41 AM
Heyheads (Kershaw Hey).
Not actually sure if I was in Mossley or Stalybridge, very borderline ?
Picked out a couple of Goldcrest mixed in with the roving tit flocks.
Roger.
Had a double dose of that hill ....... I had to get back up it !
My legs not been right since.
Roger (The Tameside Ninja)
From Top Mossley over Luzley Road: 200+ Pinkfeet over heading SE and a Little Owl found while scanning a small clump of trees for thrushes
Then down an extremely steep, wet and muddy path (thanks Roger - will get even sometime!) along the Mossley boundary to the edge of the Cliffs SBI:
Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, about 10 Redwing, Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, pair Bullfinch, wandering tit flock, etc.
Back along the canal (very quiet).
5 redhead Goosander
3 Dipper (at least two were unringed)
Grey Wagtail
Heron
A little later on Heron Lane:
Heron (naturally!)
Kingfisher
2 Swallows over heading South
--------------------------------------
If you head out of Bottom Mossley along Manchester Road, towards Greenfield, Heron Lane is on the left, before the river, and Roaches Lock. Good luck
No sign of the Willow Tit since the 18th.
Chiffchaffs have been present on every visit for the past 3 weeks or so, though they don't actually breed at this site. This morning two were present - one singing and one just making contact calls.
A flock of 12 Swallows which has been present, hawking for insects, for the past few days had gone this morning. Presumably last night's frost has made them see sense...
With regard to Willow Tits, I've just had a look in Breeding Birds in Greater Manchester which has a probable breeding record for the tetrad adjacent to where I found "my" bird. BBGM gives an estimate of 300 breeding pairs in the county and expresses the hope that replanting of the Mersey Valley would lead to an expansion in the breeding range. Sadly, not the case.
It's good to get some reward for working these local patches for the last 20 years, though neither bird could be found this morning.
The Willow Tit is intriguing and makes you wonder about the status of this species in the east of the county, given other sightings in Tameside and Oldham this year. In the early 1980's there was of course a significant population extending from Stockport north into Tameside and Oldham. We had assumed these birds had long since disappeared and none were recorded for Bird Atlas 2007-11 in the east, apart from a single at Hollingworth Lake in 2008 and 2009. However, perhaps there are still one or two pairs waiting to be discovered in the area.
With the intention of looking for dragonflies and butterflies, I decided to have a look at the SBI below the new school. Thought I'd check the pool first as I'd flushed a Common Snipe there last week. I could see a resting wader on the mud but it was too small for Common and didn't flush as I approached closer. In fact it sat there, occasionally bobbing like a Dipper, while I managed a rough sketch. Having checked a few recent county reports, this seems like a rather early record for the species.
Willow Tit was still present, though secretive, on Heron Lane this morning.
Searching the trees along Heron Lane this morning in the hope of a migrant flycatcher or similar, I found very little of interest apart from a flyover Raven. Turning back, resigned to a count of the resident Bullfinches, there it was feeding on a bramble amongst the Rowans. After allowing a good, close up, view, it disappeared into the undergrowth and I could only follow it by its two note call. It re-emerged briefly at the top of a Rowan before once again hiding away.
Willow Warbler numbers have picked up and one was seen carrying food to a nest - Whitethroats also.
What few Lapwings there were on the early visit have all gone - surely any young can't have fledged by now, or can they?
Jackdaws still outnumbering all other species added together!
Little Owl seen on walk home.
Just 1 singing Willow Warbler and my first Wheatear of the year.
Meadow Pipit numbers down this year and no sign of recovery for the Lapwings.
Jackdaws probably outnumbering all other species added together!
Old railway bridleway:
2 singing Chiffchaffs
1 pair of Brambling and one pair of Siskin in the same tree.
1 pair Bullfinch
Shadworth Lane and Noonsun Hill:
3 pairs Lapwing nesting
2 Skylarks
surprisingly few Meadow Pipits, no Curlew and, amazingly, no Grouse.
7 Fieldfare perched on overhead wires.
4 Blackbirds (all male)
2 Mistle Thrush (male of the pair singing very loudly)
Also, 2 escaped Guineafowl in the dentist's car park on Stockport Road!
2 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush perched in the same Birch tree - and that was it
How can you do an hour's walk and not see or hear a single Blackbird
Also seen: pair Bullfinch, Dipper and Kingfisher.
Seasons' Greetings!
I assume you are referring to Stamford Golf Course in Stalybridge? If so, I also flushed a woodcock, from our garden in Huddersfield Road, half a mile from the golf course, yesterday morning. Definitely a garden first!
Sadly a tawny owl had managed to fly into a barbed wire fence and had not survived.
7 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 3 Blackbird and 2 Mistle Thrush
also 6 Bullfinches - this year's young now almost completely in adult plumage.
Cheers,
Ashley
In 2006 a Wryneck hung around Shell, Carrington, for five days and the previous year one spent three days in Horwich...
Meadow Pipits and Whitethroats gathering lots of fat juicy caterpillars bodes well for a good breeding season.
The two small Lapwing colonies seem to have suffered mixed fortunes. One field has been completely abandoned but the other has good numbers with a couple of well-grown chicks present. One bird still sitting - presumably on a replacement clutch. Plenty of corvids hanging around looking for an easy meal though...
First Swallow of year for me.
No Willow (or any other) Warblers this year, nor any hirundines. Lapwing numbers down this year.
3 Wheatears - first of the year for me
After the survey continued my walk round the back of Hartshead Pike and found a pair of Little Owls sitting cosily together in their favourite tree.
Meadow Pipits everywhere. In the heather they all seemed to be paired up and/or displaying. Elsewhere in the fields there were small flocks, presumably having retreated from the higher moors.
Skylark heard singing briefly.
Half a dozen Lapwing on territory.
Two male Pheasants having a good scrap.
Kestrel in combat with a Crow.
Pretty quiet otherwise - no Wheatears yet.
Just 4 Blackbirds and 1 singing Mistle Thrush.
The Buzzard is back It was being harassed by a Crow by Midge Hill and flew off over Royal George Mill.
Dipper activity suggests that they may be on eggs.
I used to do a Waterways survey there every year and the cascade under the bridge seems to mark the boundary of two Dipper territories, so fights are regular.
Also a cracking spot for Grey Wagtails in the breeding season.
Have replied to your message about the colour ring - if it is blue it's a well-travelled bird!
Scout Green.
Heard a singing male Dipper in the fast water just upsream of the metal bridge, by the time I had scrambled down there were 3 ........ one chasing another up and down the river while her ladyship just sat fluttering her eyelashes.
Think the singing male had blue and white rings on right leg but the light was awkward so could be wrong.
Roger.