Conditions relented a little, so I did a quick round this afternoon. It was very wet underfoot, as is to be expected. Highlights included nine Fieldfare, near the recycling compound, with two Greenfinch nearby, plus a total of three Snipe and eleven Meadow Pipits flushed from various points on the way round.

A flock of c40 Black-headed Gulls on the chimneyless compond contained a single Common Gull. About 30 Carrion Crows lurked around looking up to no good, for all the world like the local teenies waiting for Bargain Booze to open up for New Year's Eve supplies.

What a depressing place this is in the rain. I gave up and admitted defeat after 11 species in 1.5 hours.

Having said that not bad for raptors with one each of Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.
15 House Martins over.
2 Stock Doves.
1 Whitethroat.
Pheasant, Bullfinch and Jay heard.

Cheers, John


P.S. It's a while since I last visited, when did they demolish the tall brick chimney?


-- Edited by John Rayner on Thursday 8th of September 2011 04:23:23 PM

cheers for the advice Steve

Most of the Grasshopper Warblers I've heard and seen are on the "bottom" part of the tip that's closest to eco-centre/Brickworks There's a large, low hill in the middle of this section and there's nearly always one to be heard on here. Good Luck, they are reasonably easy to hear, but a b*gger to see.

SS

cheers Henry, better set my alarm clock!

Hi Anthony. For Grasshopper Warbler views you are best off trying very early morning at this site (bit dodgy late evening). Listen for the noise which usually comes from bramble patches and then it's a case of scanning and maybe you will get a view. A real challenge but it's good fun. Good luck.
Henry.

visiting this site this weekend for first time. Would appreciate any advice on where to go once inside entering from Tenement lane Bramhall entrance. Especailly want to target grasshopper warbler!

Saturday 11th June 5.15-6.00am

My first visit to the tip and it turned up the following:

2 Grasshopper Warblers (reeling only briefly and only one seen for an even briefer moment, but still a county first for me.)
2 Bullfinch
4 Greenfinch
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
1 Common Buzzard on chimney stack
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Jays
4 Whitethroat

Quick look round the lower part of the tip this morning.

Rough circuit between Tenement lane, the vent stacks and the brickworks.

Lots (and lots) of Whitethroats (in pairs mostly) churring away - they were everywhere.
Willow Warblers in trees by vent stacks.
4x Male Reed Buntings on centre hill having a sing-off
2x Grasshopper Warbler.
Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, mostly along the lane
Nuthatch and Greater Spotted also along lane
Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Bullfinch
One Buzzard over the Eco-centre

Still no Lesser Whitethroats on my list for this site, maybe next time.

SS

Thanks, I've got a good idea where that is - I'll give it a go tomorrow.

SS

Steve,

It's never easy to give exact directions in the Adswood wilderness, but here goes.

If you enter from the top (Bramhall) end of Tenement Lane, you should turn right and follow the path. It soons joins a line of old wire fence with fairly heavy vegetation growing alongside. There is a break in the fence with a path leading up to the top section: ignore this and carry on until you reach the next break in the path, just beyond a small section of loose stone, with a brick chimney 50 yards to your left. The LW was singing from the bushes in this area. If you don't hear it here, try immediately above this point: it was in that area last week.

Good luck.

Nigel, where about was the Lesser Whitethroat?

SS

Lesser Whitethroat still present this afternoon. Also 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat (i/c one fully fledged young), Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting.

A Buzzard was using the stiff wind to pretend to hover, while harassed by a Crow.

I searched there too (Sunday 22nd 16:00- 17:00).

A couple of false alarms from the Nuthatch fledglings that were squeaking away. Also a family of Long Tailed Tits and Squirrels, but not Flycatcher.

The usual suspects, including Chiffchaffs with young.

SS

I searched the general area where the Spotted Flycatcher was last seen for a further 1.5 hours, but no more sightings. The nearby, large gardens off Tenement Lane look ideal habitat for a pair to take up residence.

Cheers, John

09:00 to 10:15. A strong blustery wind didn't help birding prospects. There were signs of life in the more sheltered areas, but it seemd to be a day of brief opportunities.

The most exciting find was a Spotted Flycatcher, my first ever here, in the wooded area just inside the perimeter fence, alongside the big house on Tenement Lane. It was seen only for about ten seconds, but I left John Rayner on the case, so if it is still around I'm pretty sure that he'll find it.

At the opposite end of the site, on the reedy corner by the old brickyard, a Sedge Warbler sang for about 5 seconds. A Lesser Whitethroat on the top section was much more obliging, 'singing' regularly.

Also:

Kestrel 1
Pheasant (heard only)
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Woodpigeon 10+
Collared Dove 2
Swift 5
Swallow 2
House Martin 2
Willow Warbler 3
Chiffchaff 1
Blackcap 1
Whitethroat 4
Greenfinch 2
Long-tailed Tit c10
Blue Tit 1
Dunnock 4
Blackbird 6
Wren 4
Carrion Crow 2
Magpie 6

21/05/2011 - 6.00-7.45am, cloudy, breezy and cold, sightings of note:

3 Canada Geese (over)
2 Sparrowhawks
1 Kestrel
3 Lapwings (over)
1 Stock Dove
3 Swallows
2 Swifts
1 House Martin
1 Meadow Pipit (over)
1 Garden Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Treecreeper (along Tenement Lane, carrying food)
5 Bullfinches
2 Reed Buntings

7:30 pm.

Kestrel, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Song Thrushes in good voice, Grasshopper Warblers (at least 2), Pheasants, Blackcaps.

SS

8 May 07.15 - 08 15

All the usuals (no groppers)
Swift (a party of 18)
Swallow (14 in steady passage south)
Kestrel 1

Cheers, John

Late news 6th May (08.00 - 09.30)

No Groppers reeling
Whitethroat 8 singing
Garden Warbler 1
Chiffchaff 1
Willow Warbler 2
Blackcap 2
Reed Bunting 1
,Pheasant 1H
A couple of Swallows over.

Cheers, John

Its a sad state of affairs when you have to check your personal safety & think twice about going on to a site, but in this case, its a definate requirement at certain times of the day.

I know the site well Adam and where you're coming from now

Ian, if you knew the sort of undesirable people that frequent this place you may not want to go there either (birders excepted). I am purely asking from a personal point of view, it has nothing to with the birds.

Adam Jones wrote:

---

Were there many other people around?

---

I can't help wondering what relevance this has Adam?

What time and whereabouts was this John? Might pop down later to see if I can find it.
Were there many other people around?

Cheers
Adam

Rick Donkin wrote:

---

Hi John,

Tree Pipit seen by the trees and shrubs along fence running by side/back of Jewsons. It flew high up from tree singing and then parachuted back down and out of sight down the slope on the far side of the trees towards the fence and into the shrubs and undergrowth. I tried to get to see where it landed but, as you know, the ground is pretty rough round there and by the time I got to the edge of the slope there was no sign of the bird again.

Rick.

---

I went back this afternoon to try and find it and was glad I did.

Female Stonechat roughly in the middle of the lower level (where the gropper was reeling this morning)

Cheers, John

Hi John,

Tree Pipit seen by the trees and shrubs along fence running by side/back of Jewsons. It flew high up from tree singing and then parachuted back down and out of sight down the slope on the far side of the trees towards the fence and into the shrubs and undergrowth. I tried to get to see where it landed but, as you know, the ground is pretty rough round there and by the time I got to the edge of the slope there was no sign of the bird again.

Rick.

Hi Rick,

I was on the tip myself this morning (so was Nigel Troup) and we were leaving about 08.00. I also only had 1 Grasshopper Warbler but loads of Whitethroats and heard a Garden Warbler. Where abouts was your Tree Pipit please?

Cheers, John

This morning 08:00 to 09:30 - sunny but cool and windy.

Only 1 Grasshopper Warbler seen and heard reeling towards centre of tip.
4 Whitethroats
1 Blackcap - female
3 Reed Buntings
Many singing Willow Warblers
1 Chiffchaff
1 Pheasant heard calling
3 Stock Doves
1 Kestrel
1 Tree Pipit
Loads of Crows, Magpies and Blackbirds
1 Swallow and 1 Sand Martin
1 Tree Pipit
A few Wrens, Dunnocks, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Robins mainly in trees round the perimeter
Rick.

April 29th 11:00

Good viewing of Grasshopper Warblers on the mound near the eco-centre.

Whitethroats everywhere, usual stuff inc Reed Bunting and Heron.

SS

April 28th 07.30 - 08.30

Grey Heron 2
Jay 3
Willow Warbler 2
Chiffchaff 2
Kestrel 1
Whitethroat 9
Grasshopper Warbler 3

Cheers, John

20th April 07.30 - 09.45

Grasshopper Warblers were almost the commonest warbler with a count of 9. Three reeled out in the open with 1 show-off allowing me to approach to 6 metres.
10 Whitethroats
Both these outnumbered Willows and Chiffs
3 Blackcaps
1 Wheatear
1 Swallow flew east
2 Ravens
2 Reed Buntings
Pheasant heard

Cheers, John

Late post for yesterday, 19th ..
Brief opportunistic visit ,yesterday ,about 11am ..
Only had time for a quick look round lower section of site , birds seen included...
3 very vocal jays over ,
At least 3 grasshopper warblers still reeling from brambles ,
6 goldfinch ,
1 blackcap
3 linnets
buzzard
GSW heard drumming from over towards Tenement Lane.
Several chiffchaff heard .
Large plume of accrid black smoke ,( I can only assume that the fine selection of discarded tyres, on Tenement Lane ,had been ignited , by some of the local junior nature lovers !!! )
What seemed like thousands , of small tortoise shell butterflies !! I spent most of my time , trying to avoid standing on them , on the paths !

Cheers Chris

Really nice to have met up with you too Nigel,

Met up with Geoff Lightfoot (who I hadn't seen for 10+ years) and Barry Shaw and spent a good morning on the tip, including a trip down to the Ladybrook Valley.

List similar to Nigels, except for Kestrel, Redpoll and Tree Pipit.
Buzzard heard in trees along the side of Tenement Lane.
The 3 Sparrowhawks appeared to be 2 female and 1 very much smaller male flying around quite happily together.

Rick.

Adswood Tip was in fine form this beautiful sunny morning.

Warbler numbers seem to be gradually increasing, with at least five (probably more) Grasshopper Warblers on site. The Whitethroat seen earlier in the week has settled in nicely, and has started the characteistic little parachute leaps from the top of brambles; another has appeared on the upper section.

A Tree Pipit was a good find. It was settled in the top of a shrub for five minutes or so, before heading strongly northward.

At least three, possibly four Sparrowhawks were circling in the clear skies, and a male Kestrel was on the western side of the site.

One Redpoll, one Sand Martin and one Swallow passed overhead.

Best find of all, three gentlemen birders: Messers Lightfoot, Donkin and Shaw.

Full list:

Canada Goose 4
Mallard 1
Grey Heron 1
Sparrowhawk 3
Kestrel 1
Stock Dove 1
Woodpigeon 18
Sand Martin 1
Swallow 1
Tree Pipit 1
Wren 8
Dunnock 4
Robin 1
Blackbird 4
Song Thrush 1
Grasshopper Warbler 4
Blackcap 2
Whitethroat 2
Chiffchaff 2
Willow Warbler 4
Long-tailed Tit 1
Blue Tit 2
Jay 2
Magpie 8
Carrion Crow 4
Reed Bunting 2

Nigel Troup wrote:

---

It does seem peaceful at the moment, but is not always so.

---

The Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling, and the Whitethroat still singing, at 3pm.

Further sightings I can add are 3 Buzzards and 1 lad mooning. It really can be an unsavoury place at times.

Cheers, John

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit, Steve. If you see another birder there in the future, there's a fair chance that it's me. It is, as you say, quite a large site, though with not much habitat variety. It has turned up a fair few interesting birds for me over the years, and is worth covering in all seasons. Now is probably the most rewarding part of the year.

It does seem peaceful at the moment, but is not always so. This time last year it was home to an array of unruly youths with off road vehicles, and a liking for fire raising. Happily, access seems to have been made more difficult from the Adswood side now, and this seems to have deterred them for the time being.

I was there briefly this morning, and can add a reeling Grasshopper Warbler at the Tenement Lane end to your list.

Saturday 16th 12pm.

First visit, can't believe how large this site is.

Chiffchaffs (lots)
Willow Warbler 6+
Blackcap near Tenement lane
Whitethroat near Brickworks
GSW on Tenement lane.
Pair of Reed Buntings
Pair of Buzzards overhead
Pheasants (heard, not seen)
Grasshopper Warbler reeling near Eccleston Rd railway bridge.

Surprisingly peaceful sight considering where it is - I'll be back.

Two Grasshopper Warblers were reeling again this morning, within 50 yards of each other, close to the Tenement Lane entrance.

Willow Warblers were the warbling chart toppers with four, followed by Chiffchaff (3). A single Blackcap was joined by a 2011 chart entry: Whitethroat. As with Grasshopper Warbler, this is my earliest ever sighting since I started recording arrivals here in 2001. I can't comment on whether this is a migration trend, or a feature of more optimistic birding on my part.

A Kestrel was present again, also one Swallow and a male Reed Bunting.

Better luck this morning at around 08:00. Two Grasshopper warblers were soon located reeeling from dense bramble at the Tenement Road end of the site. These are my earliest ever, at any site.

Other warblers were more noticeable too, with at least three Chiffchaffs, five Willow Warblers and a Blackcap singing from the line of shrubs along the central fence.

A Heron and a Lapwing flew over.

I managed about 20 minutes on the lower section of the site at about 19:00, on the way home from work. Three Chiffchaff, one Willow Warbler and one Blackcap were the only warblers that I found.

A Swallow passed over, as did two Sand Martins: the first that I have ever seen here in many visits. A female Kestrel was a welcome sighting, as this species seems to have become rather scarce this year at the patches that I cover. A Pheasant called a couple of times.

I will try the upper section on the way into work early tomorrow.

4 Grasshopper Warblers reeling early morning
6 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Blackcap
1 Lapwing
2 Mipits

Cheers, John

Quiet in the late afternoon sun 1 female Wheatear 13 Meadow Pipits 2 Buzzards 2 Chiffchaffs singing 12 House Sparrows in a noisy party Unfortunately more habitat destruction to report. Someone seems to have systematically cleared willow scrub in the area near the footbridge and there has been the first grass fire of the year on the lower level. Cheers, John

Followed up an interesting report of a large pipit (photographed this morning by Stu Burnet) but couldn't relocate it.

15.00 - 16.30

7 Meadow Pipits
2 Buzzards
1 Snipe
1 Chiffchaff
Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting heard

[Small Tortoishell]

Cheers, John





-- Edited by John Rayner on Friday 18th of March 2011 06:34:49 PM

A one hour tour of the site this afternoon produced few birds, though, as always, there were one or two quality sightings.

Highlight was a Woodcock, flushed from the Midland Road end.

A large female Sparrowhawk was near the only sizable body of water.

Two Meadow Pipits is a low count for this time of year, but welcome as they seem to be absent from many other regular sites.

Apart from these there were very few small birds: Greenfinch predominated, one Bullfinch; two Blackbirds; two Long-tailed Tits; a Wren.

Notable absentees were Snipe and Reed Bunting (all at garden feeders I guess from what I have seen of other people's observations). The days of wintering Stonechat seem distant.

6 Oct 10.45 - 12.30

Not the best time of day and only 16 species. Nothing unusual but a steady passage of Meadow Pipits in 2s and 3s gave a total of 26 all travelling south.

Unusual corvid behaviour at the top of the tall brick chimney (Jewsons) with 8 Magpies and 6 Carrion Crows hovering in a tight bunch right over the chimney top and occasionally landing briefly. Presumably some opportunistic feeding (insects?).

Cheers, John

Perhaps he? was thinking of Kathy Tyson, who played the tart in 'Mona Lisa'

Not a bad morning in the rain and drizzle with a total of 26 species including:

6 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Jays
1 Sparrowhawk
6 Bullfinches (1 flock)
4 Reed Buntings
c130 Starling
41 Black-headed Gulls
An influx of thrushes - mainly Blackbirds with a few Song Thrushes

Also: 1 Fox, 2 Speckled Woods and an enthusiastic dog named 'Tyson' who the owner said would only lick me. Why name it after someone who bites ears off then?

Cheers, John

There was neither sight nor sound of Sedge or Grasshopper Warblers last night, though the area was heavily disturbed by morons.

Numbers of the commoner warblers are now building: 3 Chiffchaff and 3 Common Whitethroats were found. There are still Stock Doves around (2 last night), which seem attracted to the recently burned areas. Also present: Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Buzzard, Kestrel and Reed Bunting.

Strangely, I have yet to see a Swift in this part of Stockport so far this year. There was one hawking briefly over the sports fields at Cheadle Hulme School in the late afternoon, where I also picked up a passing Tree Pipit. These bring the Stockport list to 77 - quite some way behind the champion elect, Mr. Raynor.

2 Sedge Warblers
2 Grasshopper Warblers
Plus good warbler representation from Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs

2 Snipe
1 Buzzard
3 Reed Bunting
12 Swifts

Disappointing to see a further 3 areas of freshly burnt out grass/bramble, one of which was where a Gropper was singing last time I visited.

Cheers, John