Possible Yellow Wagtail this morning on the Eastern bank of Higher Swineshaw with Meadow Pipits. Also Curlew, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Tufted Duck on Lower Swineshaw, 2 Mistle Thrush.
David Walsh said
Thu Apr 23 9:37 PM, 2020
Thursday 23rd April 2020, 9.00 - 11.00am.
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw, then back across Harridge Moor, to the smell of burning heather drifting over from the east. Still very windy at the top end
At least 4 Common Sandpiper on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir 6+ Reed Bunting 2 Linnet Several Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut Pair of Stonechat on Harridge Moor 1 Lapwing north over Harridge Moor 1 Raven Plenty of singing in the woods, particularly Nuthatch and Blackcap. Common Sandpiper calling at Walkerwood Reservoir
Chris Harper said
Sun Apr 19 11:45 AM, 2020
2 Common Sandpiper still. 6 Sand Martin and 9 Swallow strongly North. 4 Stonechat, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtail, Raven, Sparrowhawk
David Walsh said
Sat Apr 18 11:29 AM, 2020
Saturday 18th April 2020, 9.00 - 10.30am.
Stalybridge Country Park, both upper and lower sections.
19 singing Chiffchaff 14 singing Willow Warblers 8 singing Blackcap 7 singing Chaffinch 10 Dunnock (5 singing) 3 singing Nuthatch 4 Mistle Thrush (3 singing) 10 Wren (5 singing) 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Jays Female Blackbird seen with a beakful of worms
David Walsh said
Tue Apr 14 7:19 PM, 2020
Isaac Heath wrote:
Walk up to swineshaw early afternoon Cormorant on Walkerwood 2 jays Pair of Buzzards up on higher swineShaw 4 blackcaps Sparrowhawk over swineshaw First Siskin sighting this year near the scout hut Thought I saw yellow wagtail too?
Isaac,
Yellow Wagtail would be an unusual (but not impossible) sighting for the valley, but there is currently a pair of Grey Wagtails on all four reservoirs, and the males in particular are stunning at present in their breeding plumage.
Keep posting,
David
Isaac Heath said
Tue Apr 14 4:33 PM, 2020
Walk up to swineshaw early afternoon
Cormorant on Walkerwood
2 jays
Pair of Buzzards up on higher swineShaw
4 blackcaps
Sparrowhawk over swineshaw
First Siskin sighting this year near the scout hut
Thought I saw yellow wagtail too?
Chris Harper said
Tue Apr 14 1:06 PM, 2020
2 Common Sandpiper around Higher Swineshaw reservoir this morning.
Also Curlew displaying over Lower Swineshaw, Common Snipe heard, Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 10 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, 2 Willow Warbler.
Possible distant Redshank heard too.
Chris Harper said
Thu Apr 9 12:55 PM, 2020
6 Lesser Redpoll, Red Grouse, Sparrowhawk, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 14 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, Kestrel all between Wild Bank and Higher Swineshaw.
David Walsh said
Tue Apr 7 7:54 AM, 2020
Tuesday 7th April 2020, 6.30am - 7.15am.
Stalybridge Country Park, primarily counting singing males on a reasonably brisk walk, around the top half of the area only, adjacent to Brushes Road.
Singing males.
1 Willow Warbler, my first of the year 12 Chiffchaff 5 Blackcap 5 Chaffinch 5 Wren 4 Dunnock 1 Song Thrush 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, plus a female calling from a nearby treetop
David Walsh said
Mon Apr 6 7:55 AM, 2020
Monday 6th April 2020, 6.30am.
Blackcap singing in the Country Park. My first singing bird of the year, half expected after the change of wind direction over the weekend.
David Walsh said
Sat Apr 4 11:27 PM, 2020
Saturday 4th April 2020, 7.15 - 10.30am.
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw.
4 Pink-footed Geese on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir were a real surprise. One pair of Curlew displaying over Swineshaw Moor, and another bird flying west over the same moor. 2 Stonechat singing Several Reed Bunting Pair of Grey Wagtail in the Higher Swineshaw bywash 6 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut 1 Moorhen on Brushes Reservoir Female Kestrel at a traditional nest site
Chris Harper said
Wed Apr 1 7:09 PM, 2020
6 Lesser Redpoll this morning in 3 distinct pairings, 3 Red Grouse, 5 Meadow Pipit, Common Buzzard, 3 Pied Wagtail, 7 Chiffchaff.
David Walsh said
Sat Mar 28 10:41 PM, 2020
Saturday 28th March 2020, 6.15 - 9.00am.
Huddersfield Road, up Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw, then back via Harridge Moor. Very windy and cold at the top end.
On an exercise walk, so felt uneasy at tarrying for any length of time, therefore most records either heard, or easily seen species.
Which at Higher Swineshaw means Stonechat and Reed Bunting.
Three pairs of Stonechat, plus another at Harridge Moor. 6+ Reed Bunting Pair of Grey Wagtail Pair of Pied Wagtail 26 Canada Geese, a very high count for this reservoir at this time of year. Just four pairs were present on Thursday 1 redhead Goosander Curlew calling from Boar Flat 5 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
Lower down.
Blackcap heard ticking from the country park on the way up Pair of Grey Wagtail in the Walkerwood bywash
David Walsh said
Fri Mar 27 11:35 PM, 2020
Friday 27th March 2020, 6.15 - 7.15am.
Stalybridge Country Park, all counts are singing males.
12 Chiffchaff 5 Chaffinch 3 Wren 3 Robin 1 Song Thrush 1 Mistle Thrush, plus another pair
Plus a Moorhen in the Walkerwood bywash
Yesterday, c35 Redwing flew SW out of the Country Park, over Brushes Road, at first light.
Chris Harper said
Tue Mar 24 12:19 PM, 2020
Walkerwood reservoir to Higher Swineshaw. Hope I can use this as a regular exercise regime.
Kestrel pair including display and mating, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail.
David Walsh said
Mon Mar 23 6:48 AM, 2020
Monday 23rd March 2020, 5.30 - 6.15am.
Walkerwood area.
Female Sparrowhawk hunting 1 Buzzard 1 drake Mandarin Pair of Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
Chris Harper said
Sun Mar 22 11:30 AM, 2020
Walkerwood reservoir to Higher Swineshaw and back from 08.45-10.25
Stonechat pair, 6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Red Legged Partridge, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, singing Treecreeper.
David Walsh said
Sat Mar 21 11:47 PM, 2020
Saturday 21st March 2020, 6.30pm
Walkerwood area.
3 Goosander flying in circles above the valley 1 Cormorant doing the same
David Walsh said
Sat Mar 21 10:48 AM, 2020
Saturday 21st March 2020, 6.45 - 10.00am.
Mainly around Higher Swineshaw, in a strong, biting wind, which kept everything down.
Highlights, such as they were:
2 Stonechat, a male singing towards Irontongue, and a female below Higher Swineshaw Dam Curlew calling from the moor 8+ Reed Bunting 20+ Meadow Pipits Pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
1 pair of Stonechat, the male singing 25+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying 3 Jays in the woods
Walkerwood Reservoir, 1.00pm.
Pair of Goosander
David Walsh said
Wed Mar 18 3:18 PM, 2020
Wednesday 18th March 2020, 11.00am.
Wheatear on the moor edge above the Gamekeepers cottage
David Walsh said
Mon Mar 16 12:39 PM, 2020
Monday 16th March, 9.00 - 11.30am.
Flaxfield.
A female Stonechat was feeding from fence wires near to Flaxfield farmyard 2 Linnet on wires near Range House was an early record for here 5 singing Dunnock 4 singing Chaffinch Pair of Bullfinch 4 Long-tailed Tits. One pair gathering nest material
1 male Stonechat, singing 3 Curlew, calling around Pack Saddle, and Lees Hill 10+ Reed Bunting, 4 males singing Pair of Buzzard displaying over Harridge, another over Swineshaw Moor 1 Kestrel 2 Raven 15+ Meadow Pipits Skylark singing from Turf Pits, and Boar Flat Pair of Grey Wagtail in Higher Swineshaw overflow
5 Jays seen along Brushes Valley
David Walsh said
Sun Mar 8 1:47 PM, 2020
Sunday 8th March 2020, 9.00 - 11.00am.
Wild Bank Hill.
1 female Stonechat 1 Little Owl Skylark singing over the top of the moor 2 Lesser Redpoll in the birch growth 1 Meadow Pipit
The sight and sound of my first returning Curlew, along with a mildness to the drizzle, made it feel like springtime at Brushes. Two were calling from Boar Flat and Lees Hill, and one called briefly from Lower Swineshaw Reservoir. The gamekeeper reported one flying straight over Swineshaw Moor on the 18th February, but none since.
Other highlights:
Higher Swineshaw area.
8 Reed Bunting, including three singing males. Another pair present at the bottom of Irontongue. 1 pair of Grey Wagtail, male singing 1 Pied Wagtail 1 redhead Goosander 14 Canada Geese, making a right old din 22 Mallard 2 Skylark singing over Boar Flat 2 Raven over
Lower down
6 Lesser Redpoll Several Goldfinch around the scout hut 1 pair of Mistle Thrush at the scout hut 3 singing Song Thrush Nuthatch singing (one near one of our boxes) 1 Cormorant over
David Walsh said
Wed Mar 4 8:02 AM, 2020
Wednesday 4th March 2020, 6.15 - 7.15am.
Walkerwood Dam and a circuit of the Country Park, counting singing thrushes.
15 singing Song Thrush, including 10 in the Country Park 3 Mistle Thrush - 2 singing males, one with a female in close attendance 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming 8 singing Dunnock 7 singing Wren 1 Grey Heron on a pond adjacent to Brushes Housing Estate 3 Chaffinch 8 Bullfinch 1 Lesser Redpoll 2 singing Greenfinch
Walkerwood Reservoir
There has been a pair of Grey Wagtail around the dam all week, the male singing 1 Cormorant
There has also been a Buzzard around this week with what appears to be maybe a foot long piece of line trailing from one of its legs?
David Walsh said
Wed Feb 26 7:47 AM, 2020
Wednesday 26th February 2020, 6.15 - 7.15am.
Brushes Cottages to Lower Swineshaw.
1 Woodcock at Brushes Quarry
1 Cormorant roosting in trees on the southern side of Walkerwood Reservoir
David Walsh said
Tue Feb 25 9:00 PM, 2020
Tuesday 25th February 2020, evening.
Tawny Owl singing through the snow, from the trees above the Gamekeepers cottage, at 7.15pm.
David Walsh said
Sun Feb 23 12:15 PM, 2020
Sunday 23rd February 2010, 10.30 - 11.30am.
The Walkerwood bywash was a raging torrent this morning, so the Dipper pair were found on the northern shore of Brushes Reservoir, engaged in a courtship display. Plenty of wing quivering and neck stretching going on.
I have high hopes of this pair breeding this year, and if they do, it will a first for me personally, in Brushes Valley, although one of the UU managers said he thought a pair bred a few years ago. I wondered whether anyone else has any evidence of historical breeding records for Dipper at Brushes?
David Walsh said
Thu Feb 20 11:52 AM, 2020
Thursday 20th February 2020, 10.00 - 11.00am, in torrential rain.
Pair of Dipper in the Walkerwood bywash, one singing.
David Walsh said
Tue Feb 18 7:52 AM, 2020
Tuesday 18th February 2020, 6.45 - 7.30am.
Dipper in the overflow channel between Brushes and Walkerwood Reservoirs Cormorant on Walkerwood 2 Mistle Thrush singing. Numbers of singing males in the area seem lower than most years. Song Thrush numbers seem up?
David Walsh said
Sat Feb 15 2:01 PM, 2020
Saturday 15th February 2020, 7.30 - 9.30am.
Brushes Cottages to Higher Swineshaw Dam. Morning aborted at 9.00am with the onset of driving rain.
7 Song Thrush singing between Brushes Cottages and the scout hut 2 Kestrels 1 Raven around Harridge 1 Skylark heard calling briefly at Higher Swineshaw 2 Treecreeper having a sing off in the woods, a first for me. I have never actually watched them singing before.
David Walsh said
Sun Feb 9 3:33 PM, 2020
Sunday 9th February 2020, 10.00 - 11.00am.
Pair of Dipper in the overflow channel between Walkerwood and Brushes Reservoirs
David Walsh said
Sat Feb 1 1:45 PM, 2020
Saturday 1st February 2020, 10.00 -11.30am.
Around Brushes Rifle Ranges and Flaxfield.
1 Skylark east, over the Ranges and Wild Bank. First of the year for me. 2 Fieldfare and 4 Redwing at Flaxfield 3 Mistle Thrush, one singing 1 Kestrel
2 Buzzard visible to the west, soaring between Stalybridge and Dukinfield, being harried by corvids, and a probable Sparrowhawk.
David Walsh said
Sat Jan 25 11:22 PM, 2020
Saturday 25th January 2020, 10.00 - 11.30am.
Pair of Goosander on Walkerwood Reservoir Dipper feeding in the overflow channel at the eastern end of Walkerwood Reservoir Grey Wagtail at Brushes Reservoir
David Walsh said
Thu Jan 2 6:26 PM, 2020
Thursday 2nd January 2020, 9.00 - 11.30am.
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir and around Lees Hill.
Deathly quiet at the top end, with just one Kestrel drifting from Lees Hil, out over Boar Flat. Other than that, just Robins and Wren calling, and three Red Grouse.
2 Reed Bunting and 2 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut.
Brushes Valley
5 Jays 2 Nuthatch 11 Blue Tits 7 Great Tits 2 Coal Tits 10 Long-tailed Tits
A Peregrine was circling high over Harridge
1 Redhead Goosander fishing successfully on Walkerwood Reservoir
David Walsh said
Thu Dec 19 12:48 PM, 2019
Thursday 19th December 2019, 10.00 - 11.30am.
Around Brushes Reservoir.
3 Ravens escorting firstly a Sparrowhawk, then a Buzzard out of the area Good numbers of Coal Tits around Brushes Cottages and the Walkerwood feeders, stashing away seeds
David Walsh said
Tue Dec 17 9:39 PM, 2019
Tuesday 17th December 2019, 8.30 - 10.30am.
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. Very quiet.
3 Ravens, tumbling over Swineshaw Moor, heading towards Tintwistle 6 Reed Bunting 6 Red Grouse 12 Long-tailed Tits around the scout hut
Brushes Valley
Another Raven heading north over Brushes Reservoir 1 Lesser Redpoll Several Nuthatch Goldcrest around Brushes Cottages
David Walsh said
Sat Dec 7 3:37 PM, 2019
Saturday 7th December 2019, 9.30 - 11.00am.
Around Brushes Rifle Ranges and Flaxfield Farm.
Good numbers of winter thrush moving around the hedgerows and trees, particularly to the south of Flaxfield Farm. A reasonable estimate would be 200 each of Redwing and Fieldfare. 4 Mistle Thrush 15 Blackbirds 1 Reed Bunting called from behind Range House Kestrel over Wild Bank
David Walsh said
Sun Nov 24 9:13 PM, 2019
Sunday 24th November 2019, 9.30 - 11.15am.
Brushes Rifle Ranges, and the slopes of Wild Bank, above Cock Wood.
c150 Fieldfare south in two flocks c60 Redwing south
c30 Fieldfare around the hawthorn bushes c20 Redwing with the Fieldfare 4 Song Thrush 12 Blackbirds 1 Mistle Thrush 9 Meadow Pipits 1 Greenfinch 1 Grey Wagtail
David Walsh said
Sat Nov 23 2:12 PM, 2019
Saturday 23rd November 2019, 9.30 - 11.00am.
Around Cote Farm, and the Brushes end of the Pennine Bridleway, in very windy conditions.
There has been a decent sized flock of Fieldfare and Redwing around Cote Farm for a couple of weeks now, but an accurate count is difficult because of their movement, and the undulating nature of the fields. Some very good views this morning, as a lot were feeding on the ground, and a wide variation in plumage of the Fieldfare.
c100 Fieldfare c 50 Redwing 15+ Blackbirds 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush
A very noisy mixed group around Brushes Cottages included:
Nuthatch Treecreeper Long-tailed Tits Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Goldcrest Lesser Redpoll also heard
Other highlights from this week, around dawn, and at night.
Dipper in the Walkerwood overflow most mornings Tawny Owls hooting or calling from both sides of Walkerwood Reservoir, and in the Country Park Up to a dozen Red-legged Partridge around the Bridleway Bullfinch still the most numerous finch, particularly higher up the valley, around the woods
David Walsh said
Mon Nov 18 7:40 AM, 2019
Monday 18th November 2019, 6.45 - 7.30am.
Walkerwood Dam.
2 Woodcock flew over the dam and dropped into the woods in the valley bottom at 6.55. 1 Cormorant perched in a tree overlooking the reservoir 1 Dipper around the overflow
David Walsh said
Sun Nov 17 2:35 PM, 2019
Sunday 17th November 2019, 10.00 - 11.00am.
Walkerwood Reservoir.
1 Greylag goose on the reservoir was an unusual record 28 Mallard 1 Moorhen 10 Black-headed Gulls
Around Cote Farm.
c25 Fieldfare c10 Redwing 1 Mistle Thrush 8 Blackbirds A flock of c60 Starlings moving between the fields and the pylons 7 Goldfinch 4 Chaffinch 1 Lesser Redpoll
Flaxfield.
A flock of c45 Redwing moving between the fields and hawthorn hedges around Flaxfield Farm 2 Fieldfare 3 Blackbirds A flock of c30 Starlings moving between the fields and pylons at Copley 2 Goldfinch
David Walsh said
Sat Nov 16 10:19 PM, 2019
Saturday 16th November 2019, 8.00 - 11.00am.
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.
On a very quiet morning, the only thing of note was a loose flock of at least 12 Reed Bunting at Lower Swineshaw. A solitary Meadow Pipit flew up at Higher Swineshaw. Plenty of Bullfinch calling along the valley, with a flock of seven moving around Lower Swineshaw.
Evening walk yesterday.
4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1+ Cuckoo, 6 Curlew, Lapwing, 3 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler, Kestrel, Tawny Owl, 8 Red Grouse, 7 Mistle Thrush and young, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Swallow, 2 Reed Bunting, Common Snipe.
-- Edited by Chris Harper on Monday 25th of May 2020 06:46:05 AM
08.40-11.15
Common Snipe, 4 Common Sandpiper, 4 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, 2 Common Whitethroat, 4 Stonechat and young, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Lesser Redpoll, Kestrel, 2 Red Grouse, Teal on Higher Swineshaw, 9 Blackcap, 7 Linnet, 16 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Swift, 4 Bullfinch, 25 Meadow Pipit, 6 Mistle Thrush, 4 Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch.
Possible distant Cuckoo calling
Cuckoo, Common Whitethroat, Stonechat, 2 Red Grouse, 2 Common Sandpiper, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, 5 Meadow Pipit, 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 6 Mistle Thrush between 18.30 and 20.15
Thought i saw the yellow wagtail again on walkerwood
2 mistle thrush
1 kestrel
1 cormorant
2 jays
6 siskin
3 pied wagtail
-- Edited by Isaac Heath on Monday 11th of May 2020 09:28:07 PM
At Higher Swineshaw 3 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Grey Wagtail, Lapwing, 2 Stonechat, 8 Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Raven
Evening walk. 2+ Common Sandpiper, Common Whitethroat, 7 Willow Warbler, 1+ Curlew, 4 Stonechat, 8 Meadow Pipit, 1+ Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 Blackcap, 4 Mistle Thrush, 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Reed Bunting.
Possible Yellow Wagtail this morning on the Eastern bank of Higher Swineshaw with Meadow Pipits. Also Curlew, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Tufted Duck on Lower Swineshaw, 2 Mistle Thrush.
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw, then back across Harridge Moor, to the smell of burning heather drifting over from the east. Still very windy at the top end
At least 4 Common Sandpiper on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
6+ Reed Bunting
2 Linnet
Several Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
Pair of Stonechat on Harridge Moor
1 Lapwing north over Harridge Moor
1 Raven
Plenty of singing in the woods, particularly Nuthatch and Blackcap.
Common Sandpiper calling at Walkerwood Reservoir
2 Common Sandpiper still. 6 Sand Martin and 9 Swallow strongly North. 4 Stonechat, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtail, Raven, Sparrowhawk
Stalybridge Country Park, both upper and lower sections.
19 singing Chiffchaff
14 singing Willow Warblers
8 singing Blackcap
7 singing Chaffinch
10 Dunnock (5 singing)
3 singing Nuthatch
4 Mistle Thrush (3 singing)
10 Wren (5 singing)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Jays
Female Blackbird seen with a beakful of worms
Isaac,
Yellow Wagtail would be an unusual (but not impossible) sighting for the valley, but there is currently a pair of Grey Wagtails on all four reservoirs, and the males in particular are stunning at present in their breeding plumage.
Keep posting,
David
2 Common Sandpiper around Higher Swineshaw reservoir this morning.
Also Curlew displaying over Lower Swineshaw, Common Snipe heard, Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 10 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, 2 Willow Warbler.
Possible distant Redshank heard too.
6 Lesser Redpoll, Red Grouse, Sparrowhawk, Linnet, Reed Bunting, 14 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, Kestrel all between Wild Bank and Higher Swineshaw.
Stalybridge Country Park, primarily counting singing males on a reasonably brisk walk, around the top half of the area only, adjacent to Brushes Road.
Singing males.
1 Willow Warbler, my first of the year
12 Chiffchaff
5 Blackcap
5 Chaffinch
5 Wren
4 Dunnock
1 Song Thrush
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, plus a female calling from a nearby treetop
Blackcap singing in the Country Park. My first singing bird of the year, half expected after the change of wind direction over the weekend.
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw.
4 Pink-footed Geese on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir were a real surprise.
One pair of Curlew displaying over Swineshaw Moor, and another bird flying west over the same moor.
2 Stonechat singing
Several Reed Bunting
Pair of Grey Wagtail in the Higher Swineshaw bywash
6 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
1 Moorhen on Brushes Reservoir
Female Kestrel at a traditional nest site
6 Lesser Redpoll this morning in 3 distinct pairings, 3 Red Grouse, 5 Meadow Pipit, Common Buzzard, 3 Pied Wagtail, 7 Chiffchaff.
Huddersfield Road, up Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw, then back via Harridge Moor. Very windy and cold at the top end.
On an exercise walk, so felt uneasy at tarrying for any length of time, therefore most records either heard, or easily seen species.
Which at Higher Swineshaw means Stonechat and Reed Bunting.
Three pairs of Stonechat, plus another at Harridge Moor.
6+ Reed Bunting
Pair of Grey Wagtail
Pair of Pied Wagtail
26 Canada Geese, a very high count for this reservoir at this time of year. Just four pairs were present on Thursday
1 redhead Goosander
Curlew calling from Boar Flat
5 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
Lower down.
Blackcap heard ticking from the country park on the way up
Pair of Grey Wagtail in the Walkerwood bywash
Stalybridge Country Park, all counts are singing males.
12 Chiffchaff
5 Chaffinch
3 Wren
3 Robin
1 Song Thrush
1 Mistle Thrush, plus another pair
Plus a Moorhen in the Walkerwood bywash
Yesterday, c35 Redwing flew SW out of the Country Park, over Brushes Road, at first light.
Walkerwood reservoir to Higher Swineshaw. Hope I can use this as a regular exercise regime.
Kestrel pair including display and mating, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail.
Walkerwood area.
Female Sparrowhawk hunting
1 Buzzard
1 drake Mandarin
Pair of Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
Walkerwood reservoir to Higher Swineshaw and back from 08.45-10.25
Stonechat pair, 6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Red Legged Partridge, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, singing Treecreeper.
Walkerwood area.
3 Goosander flying in circles above the valley
1 Cormorant doing the same
Mainly around Higher Swineshaw, in a strong, biting wind, which kept everything down.
Highlights, such as they were:
2 Stonechat, a male singing towards Irontongue, and a female below Higher Swineshaw Dam
Curlew calling from the moor
8+ Reed Bunting
20+ Meadow Pipits
Pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Cormorant on Walkerwood Reservoir
Stalybridge Country Park, 10.00 - 11.30am.
4 singing Chiffchaff
9 singing Chaffinch
5 singing Wren
3 Lesser Redpoll
1 singing Mistle Thrush
2 Long-tailed Tits
Harridge Moor, 1.00 - 2.00pm.
1 pair of Stonechat, the male singing
25+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying
3 Jays in the woods
Walkerwood Reservoir, 1.00pm.
Pair of Goosander
Wheatear on the moor edge above the Gamekeepers cottage
Flaxfield.
A female Stonechat was feeding from fence wires near to Flaxfield farmyard
2 Linnet on wires near Range House was an early record for here
5 singing Dunnock
4 singing Chaffinch
Pair of Bullfinch
4 Long-tailed Tits. One pair gathering nest material
Wild Bank Hill.
c25 Meadow Pipits
4 singing Skylark
4 Lesser Redpoll
4 singing Dunnock
Pair of Buzzard displaying noisily overhead
1 Little Owl
Brushes Valley and around Higher Swineshaw.
1 male Stonechat, singing
3 Curlew, calling around Pack Saddle, and Lees Hill
10+ Reed Bunting, 4 males singing
Pair of Buzzard displaying over Harridge, another over Swineshaw Moor
1 Kestrel
2 Raven
15+ Meadow Pipits
Skylark singing from Turf Pits, and Boar Flat
Pair of Grey Wagtail in Higher Swineshaw overflow
5 Jays seen along Brushes Valley
Wild Bank Hill.
1 female Stonechat
1 Little Owl
Skylark singing over the top of the moor
2 Lesser Redpoll in the birch growth
1 Meadow Pipit
Flaxfield.
6 singing Dunnock
5 Chaffinch, 3 singing
1 singing Mistle Thrush
3 Pied Wagtail around Flaxfield farmyard
Brushes Valley, as far as Irontongue Hill.
The sight and sound of my first returning Curlew, along with a mildness to the drizzle, made it feel like springtime at Brushes. Two were calling from Boar Flat and Lees Hill, and one called briefly from Lower Swineshaw Reservoir. The gamekeeper reported one flying straight over Swineshaw Moor on the 18th February, but none since.
Other highlights:
Higher Swineshaw area.
8 Reed Bunting, including three singing males. Another pair present at the bottom of Irontongue.
1 pair of Grey Wagtail, male singing
1 Pied Wagtail
1 redhead Goosander
14 Canada Geese, making a right old din
22 Mallard
2 Skylark singing over Boar Flat
2 Raven over
Lower down
6 Lesser Redpoll
Several Goldfinch around the scout hut
1 pair of Mistle Thrush at the scout hut
3 singing Song Thrush
Nuthatch singing (one near one of our boxes)
1 Cormorant over
Walkerwood Dam and a circuit of the Country Park, counting singing thrushes.
15 singing Song Thrush, including 10 in the Country Park
3 Mistle Thrush - 2 singing males, one with a female in close attendance
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
8 singing Dunnock
7 singing Wren
1 Grey Heron on a pond adjacent to Brushes Housing Estate
3 Chaffinch
8 Bullfinch
1 Lesser Redpoll
2 singing Greenfinch
Walkerwood Reservoir
There has been a pair of Grey Wagtail around the dam all week, the male singing
1 Cormorant
There has also been a Buzzard around this week with what appears to be maybe a foot long piece of line trailing from one of its legs?
Brushes Cottages to Lower Swineshaw.
1 Woodcock at Brushes Quarry
1 Cormorant roosting in trees on the southern side of Walkerwood Reservoir
Tawny Owl singing through the snow, from the trees above the Gamekeepers cottage, at 7.15pm.
The Walkerwood bywash was a raging torrent this morning, so the Dipper pair were found on the northern shore of Brushes Reservoir, engaged in a courtship display. Plenty of wing quivering and neck stretching going on.
I have high hopes of this pair breeding this year, and if they do, it will a first for me personally, in Brushes Valley, although one of the UU managers said he thought a pair bred a few years ago. I wondered whether anyone else has any evidence of historical breeding records for Dipper at Brushes?
Pair of Dipper in the Walkerwood bywash, one singing.
Dipper in the overflow channel between Brushes and Walkerwood Reservoirs
Cormorant on Walkerwood
2 Mistle Thrush singing. Numbers of singing males in the area seem lower than most years. Song Thrush numbers seem up?
Brushes Cottages to Higher Swineshaw Dam. Morning aborted at 9.00am with the onset of driving rain.
7 Song Thrush singing between Brushes Cottages and the scout hut
2 Kestrels
1 Raven around Harridge
1 Skylark heard calling briefly at Higher Swineshaw
2 Treecreeper having a sing off in the woods, a first for me. I have never actually watched them singing before.
Pair of Dipper in the overflow channel between Walkerwood and Brushes Reservoirs
Around Brushes Rifle Ranges and Flaxfield.
1 Skylark east, over the Ranges and Wild Bank. First of the year for me.
2 Fieldfare and 4 Redwing at Flaxfield
3 Mistle Thrush, one singing
1 Kestrel
2 Buzzard visible to the west, soaring between Stalybridge and Dukinfield, being harried by corvids, and a probable Sparrowhawk.
Pair of Goosander on Walkerwood Reservoir
Dipper feeding in the overflow channel at the eastern end of Walkerwood Reservoir
Grey Wagtail at Brushes Reservoir
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir and around Lees Hill.
Deathly quiet at the top end, with just one Kestrel drifting from Lees Hil, out over Boar Flat. Other than that, just Robins and Wren calling, and three Red Grouse.
2 Reed Bunting and 2 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut.
Brushes Valley
5 Jays
2 Nuthatch
11 Blue Tits
7 Great Tits
2 Coal Tits
10 Long-tailed Tits
A Peregrine was circling high over Harridge
1 Redhead Goosander fishing successfully on Walkerwood Reservoir
Around Brushes Reservoir.
3 Ravens escorting firstly a Sparrowhawk, then a Buzzard out of the area
Good numbers of Coal Tits around Brushes Cottages and the Walkerwood feeders, stashing away seeds
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. Very quiet.
3 Ravens, tumbling over Swineshaw Moor, heading towards Tintwistle
6 Reed Bunting
6 Red Grouse
12 Long-tailed Tits around the scout hut
Brushes Valley
Another Raven heading north over Brushes Reservoir
1 Lesser Redpoll
Several Nuthatch
Goldcrest around Brushes Cottages
Around Brushes Rifle Ranges and Flaxfield Farm.
Good numbers of winter thrush moving around the hedgerows and trees, particularly to the south of Flaxfield Farm.
A reasonable estimate would be 200 each of Redwing and Fieldfare.
4 Mistle Thrush
15 Blackbirds
1 Reed Bunting called from behind Range House
Kestrel over Wild Bank
Brushes Rifle Ranges, and the slopes of Wild Bank, above Cock Wood.
c150 Fieldfare south in two flocks
c60 Redwing south
c30 Fieldfare around the hawthorn bushes
c20 Redwing with the Fieldfare
4 Song Thrush
12 Blackbirds
1 Mistle Thrush
9 Meadow Pipits
1 Greenfinch
1 Grey Wagtail
Around Cote Farm, and the Brushes end of the Pennine Bridleway, in very windy conditions.
There has been a decent sized flock of Fieldfare and Redwing around Cote Farm for a couple of weeks now, but an accurate count is difficult because of their movement, and the undulating nature of the fields. Some very good views this morning, as a lot were feeding on the ground, and a wide variation in plumage of the Fieldfare.
c100 Fieldfare
c 50 Redwing
15+ Blackbirds
2 Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush
A very noisy mixed group around Brushes Cottages included:
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Long-tailed Tits
Great Tits
Blue Tits
Coal Tits
Goldcrest
Lesser Redpoll also heard
Other highlights from this week, around dawn, and at night.
Dipper in the Walkerwood overflow most mornings
Tawny Owls hooting or calling from both sides of Walkerwood Reservoir, and in the Country Park
Up to a dozen Red-legged Partridge around the Bridleway
Bullfinch still the most numerous finch, particularly higher up the valley, around the woods
Walkerwood Dam.
2 Woodcock flew over the dam and dropped into the woods in the valley bottom at 6.55.
1 Cormorant perched in a tree overlooking the reservoir
1 Dipper around the overflow
Walkerwood Reservoir.
1 Greylag goose on the reservoir was an unusual record
28 Mallard
1 Moorhen
10 Black-headed Gulls
Around Cote Farm.
c25 Fieldfare
c10 Redwing
1 Mistle Thrush
8 Blackbirds
A flock of c60 Starlings moving between the fields and the pylons
7 Goldfinch
4 Chaffinch
1 Lesser Redpoll
Flaxfield.
A flock of c45 Redwing moving between the fields and hawthorn hedges around Flaxfield Farm
2 Fieldfare
3 Blackbirds
A flock of c30 Starlings moving between the fields and pylons at Copley
2 Goldfinch
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.
On a very quiet morning, the only thing of note was a loose flock of at least 12 Reed Bunting at Lower Swineshaw.
A solitary Meadow Pipit flew up at Higher Swineshaw.
Plenty of Bullfinch calling along the valley, with a flock of seven moving around Lower Swineshaw.