Hi Jay, sorry I cant really help with Kingfisher sightings its just pure luck, but one tip I would give is to listen for a short sharp piercing call, usually repeated. Sure signs of one flying low over the water. Also look for branches overhanging still water, a good fishing spot.
Try waiting at the pelican crossing adjacent to the river, these's bound to be one past within the half hour. Good hunting Ken.

Late post for yesterday afternoon ( 01/01/11 ) ,,,, following visit to North Place, ( nice to meet you John , Scott and Andrew ) , we went for a quick mooch around Chadkirk....
8 blue tits
12 great tits
1 coal tit
40 + long tailed tits ( around car park )
20 + magpies
4 crows
2 rooks over
30+ wood pigeons
14 mallard
2 snipe (mill pond )
2 moorhen (on driveway to big house )
No sign of anything on either stream or main river!!!
All the best for 2011 everybody !! Cheers Chris

Hi ken i am new to this site and relativley new to bird watching, i am amazed as to how much you saw at chadkirk on thursday,esp the kingfisher , amazing. I live in stalybridge but my family come from bredbury so i know chadkirk, well i thought i did i had'nt realised it went up so far. anyway i called today bins and camera in hand but not as much as luck as you. i saw the usual great tits,blue tits, nuthatch robin and i think a cormorant but not sure it dos'nt help when you take your dogs with you. anyway any advise or tips you could throw my way would be brilliant esp the kingfisher next to the blackbird thats one of my favorites. thank you very much.

Steve.

I then went to look for the Mandarin of which I saw about 20.
coming back from the bridge at wryvale I stopped at the new pelican crossing watching some Longtailed tits, when on the river I saw a Cormorant fishing, Goosander fishing, a Kingfisher with a fish and a Dipper just "dipping", what a day!!!

Was nice to meet you too Geoff. I went off into chadkirk wood and was stood in an area opposite the canal, with:
6 Nuthatch, 2 Jays, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Fiedfare
Several Great tits and Blue tits, a Coal tit, 3 Longtailed tits
a greaterspotted woodpecker a wren and to top it a Goldcrest!
All within 50 yards of where I was stood for about 20 minutes.
Absolutely brilliant.

Nice to meet you today Ken. As I said, I ventured into the field and saw the Mandarin.

Not much else about. Two moorhen in the first field next to the House, and loads of Mallard in the Scape field.

Not yest Ken, I tend to stay on "the Chadkirk patch" but might drive down to the Kennels tomorrow and have a look.

Have you seen all the mandarin ducks near the kennels, I would guess up to 100.
Also several Goosander.

Two Fieldfare between the Scape and the fence this morning, along with the Snipe.

John, will do. Next visit at weekend, weather permitting. Cheers Phil

Hi Phil,

Glad you have found Chadkirk lets hope you enjoy your visits. Give me a shout and introduce yourself if you see me working somewhere its always nice to put a face to people who contrbute to Chadkirk records.

Cheers,

JR

Great news about the Lapwings, lets hope they enjoy their stay!!

Christmas Eve was quite busy with 6 Goosander on the river along with 4 Heron.

About a dozen Redwing milling about around the picnic area and by the car park. Grey Wagtail and Dipper on the brook but the best of all was getting to within 30 foot of a Kingfisher just upstream from the bridge, Fantastic.

I think things are beginning to suffer now as a Tawney Owl has been seen sitting in the hedge by the roadside at the back of the farm. I saw it today sat in the big barn oposite the farm and then it flew into the 'topped' Horse Chestnut tree before being chased off by a group of Jays. Not i think you will agree the behaviour of either a Kingfisher or Tawneym, so bring on the thaw.

Well all the best for what is left of Christmas.

JR

A pair of lapwings today on the grass the other side of the Scape.at 2.45pm.

Jolly good

-- Edited by Geoff Walton on Monday 27th of December 2010 04:06:05 PM

A lone lapwing on the scape today about 12.15 on the way back with the other two, having walked from Bredbury(Let's hope that is a good sign for things to come.

We parted company at Otterspool, but I know they saw quite a few lapwing on the river field, just before the Kennels, and 20or so mandarin on the river by the Kennels/farm. As it's Christmas we will class that as Chadkirk, as it was before the Poise-Brook LNR

Off out of County tomorrow, so A Happy Christmas to you all.

Geoff

Didn't get a toe count on the dipper I'm afraid John I only saw its back as it zipped past me down towards the river.

Had my first walk, and not the last one, around Chadkirk today, amazing when I only live 3 miles away! Not too much around, few tits and winter thrushes, nothing on the river aside from some amazing ice formations.

Nice One Geoff.

It always pleases me when you see something worth while.

Hope to catch up with you soon.

JR

Followings the comments by Chris, I took my scope down at 2.30pm Only managed one bird, from the "gate" and also the path by the stream, but it was a great view as it was walking around on the edge of the scape. Another birder turned up and had a view as well.

Hi Chris,

Did the Dipper have any toes missing? The one I saw the other day had two front toes missing on it's right leg.

JR

At least ten snipe this morning (quite possibly more, couldn't hang around for a good count) near the small remaining bit of open water on the new scrape in the pylon field (I could only see them from the path beside the brook).

Also dipper and a very smart sparrowhawk having a protracted spat with a rather less smart crow.

Chris

Nice One John.

Thanks for the update I'll keep my eyes peeled.

JR

Hi Geoff,

No I have a couple of new volunteers who are actually buying the food as well as the feeders to put it in for the feeding station. They come on a regular basis and keep them topped up.

I have only been able to but Peanuts and Black Sunflowwer seed this year due to the cuts so this new input is really great.

JR

There is a report on 9th December of a Little Egret in the field by Glastonbury Drive opposite Poynton Pool.

Earlier this year what was probably the Chadkirk bird apparently commuted to this same area and also around Poynton Pool. It might be worth keeping an eye for it out at Chadkirk.

Cheers, John

Think I will have to go out with Tonyalthough I did manage the L.T.Tits on Thurs pm. and Jim logged a couple of Tree Creepers the day before.

Only just seen the new feeders - did you put them up John?

Perhaps I should rephrase that, the Kingfishers were squabbling over the best fishing perches. There are plenty of perches its just if one Kingfisher has one the other seems to think its better so wants it, just that territorial thing going on.
Just a note for anyone going they seem to prefer perches below the path height only inches from the water.

Hi Tony,

You had a GOOD DAY out here with some good sightings. i was wondering if you could send me some of the shots of the Kingfishers that you got on the brook.

I do intend to put some artificial perches up above the deeper pools along the brook so hopefully as well as aiding the Kingfishers it will allow photographers to get some great shots.

cheers,

JR

Called back today with the camera to get some pics of Dipper on the brook but can confirm that there are 2 Kingfishers squabbling over the best perches there, got some good shots as they were distracted.

10.30am to 2.30pm
Sightings from along the brook, the estate and the river.

Blackbird
Black-headed Gull
Blue Tit
Bullfinch
Carrion Crow
Coal Tit
Cormorant
Dipper
Dunnock
Goosander
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Jackdaw
Jay
Kestrel
Kingfisher - On the brook being disturbed every few minutes by dogwalkers.
Lapwing
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Nuthatch
Robin
Rook
Snipe
Song Thrush
Starling
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Wren


-- Edited by Tony Mario on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 04:46:13 PM

Following on from Chris' theme of Chadkirk being busy at the moment what a fantastic morning i had today.

Little Wood was absolutly buzzing with huge Tit flocks which included Goldcrest, tree creeper, nuthatch and with Kestrel, sparrow hawk and GS woodpecker putting in an appearance fantastic!

By contrast there was not much on the river but there was bullfinch and chaffinch in the picnic area.

It really was a great morning to be out and about even if it was still a bit chilly at -7 degrees.

Cheers,

JR

Late post for yesterday afternoon (06/12/10 @14:00 ) , quick visit ,still plenty of magpies,jackdaw ,wood pigeon and stock doves on muck strip.... Chaffinch,blue and great tits ,robins and wren in and around hedgerows...Mallards on broadheys and two dippers and a grey wagtail showing well on the stream near the picnic benches ... Cheers Chris

Two nice sightings of Woodcock in Little Wood an Saturday afternoon, and a pair of Raven flying west over Broadheys.

Lots of Jackdaw, Stock Dove and Woodies feeding on the muck spreading.

JR

Hi Guys,

Not sure about the mince pies and Coffee!!

Hi John,

That is the Million Dollar question and one that i can only scatch the surface of here.

The bridge is still on the cards (just) but time scales and budget cuts are against us at present but for now i'm affraid it's just a case of watch this space. I'll try to update you if I get to hear anything concrete.

Cheers,

JR

Hi John.
I waved back, but did not realize that coffee,mince pies and brandy were on offer

Geoff

Hi John,

Did the plan to build a bridge over the Goyt get scrapped or is it still ongoing? If so, what's the time scale?

Cheers, John

Hi Geoff,

Well it sounds like you did better than usual! I did actually see you and waved you in to the mess room for a cuppa but i don't think you saw me. i was having a cath up meeting with Alan.

Saw my first two snipe near the scrape in Broadheys yesterday, i just hope numbers start to increase now. Other things of note:-

5 Cormorants on river
2 Goosander on river
1 Moorhen on river
3 Herons on river
absolutely loads of Black birds, large tit flocks and about a dozen Stockdove with the Wood pigeons and about 50 Jackdaws in Ford Field.

Today i saw 4 Gold Finch, 2 Cormorants, 6 Goosander, 3 Herons, 1 Kestrel, 4 Jays, 1 Grt Sotted W/Pecker and the usual tit flocks and Black birds etc.

Cheers,

JR

Well John, I froze at 9am - beautiful though.

Kestrel on lamp midway down the road.
Robin
Songthrush
Chaffinch
Blue
Tits
Grat Tits
+ crows,W.P's and millions of magpies

Thanks Fellas,

Your comments and support is very welcome and as always encouraging.

No Geoff no sightings of Fieldfare yet. I have heard large numbers of thrushes flying over the farm at night when I'm out last thing with Meeka though, so they are still moving/passing through. I'm waiting for the first local sighting of Waxwings in Stockport and to see if anyone reports the Hawfinch in New Mills again this year, I've gotta go and see that.

Cheers,

JR

John,

Rome wasn't built in a day & when you consider the great strides that have been made over the last couple of years at the site, i wouldn't be too concerned.

Hi John, sorry about the news, but thanks for your efforts.

Have you seen any Fieldfare this year?

Hi All,

Sorry I've not been on for a while but things have been a bit hectic in the past few weeks.

Geoff, Sorry to hear your still not doing much at Chaddy, I really think that at this time of year you may just be coming down a little bit late and I think you would do better if you came in the mornings or maybe start your afternoon walk a bit earlier, as there is a lot of the commoner species around at the moment and I was fortunate enough this morning to see a Pied Wagtail (which I don't see too many of) on the road near Roselea.

I also have some good news and some bad news! The good news is as some of you have already noticed the ponds and scrape are filling up nicely and holding water (which isnt supprising considering the amount of rain we've had!) and starting to get bits of aquatic wildlife in them. Not too much on the wader front though but I live in hope.

The bad news is a bit of a double whamy really as English Nature has both turned down my attempts to introduce wild bird seed crops into two of the wildlife strips and worse than that have put the whole project on hold due to the Government cuts.

There's still a slight chance that the HLS could be reinstated but the EN Officer I was working with was not overly optermistic about this.

Sorry for the bad news but I will keep on trying to develop the site to be as diverse as possible and as attractive to wildlife as possible, which will in turn bring in the birds.

Keep up the good work,

Regards,

JR

1 Heron
Blue Tits
Great Tits
Buzzard mobbed by a Crow

A little better today.

3 Jay
2 Robin
1 Nuthatch
2 or so Great Tits
1 Grey Wagtail)seen by a chap 5 mins before I met up with him)


See what you missed Chris!

2pm. Not a lot, must be me, I hardly ever see much in the afternoons these days. I used to see Dunnock on the road, but not anymore. Not seen a Robin for ages.

There was a Buzzard being mobbed by 3 Crows high over the fields and then Little Wood. Also loads of Mallard on the scrape and two of the other new ponds.

Visited yesterday 3-4 pm ... looked for snipe on overgrown mill pond,to no avail ,however I did flush out a heron,which flew over to the big field .3 jays amongst the wood-pigeons ,crows and magpies on ford field ... Buzzard being harassed by crows and magpies,high over Kirk Wood. Observed the aforementioned heron,stalking along the hedgerow for about 15 mins , ( possibly after frogs,worms ??) Also 7F and 7M mallards on Big Field scrape .. Goldfinches heard, but not seen, a few blue and great tits and wren near car park.. Fleeting glimpse of a probable dipper, heading down the stream, towards the road bridge ... Cheers Chris.

Broadheys Pool:

1 Grey Heron
7 Mallard

Wander down through Marple Dale, along the Goyt & around to the Chadkirk Estate this afternoon.

Very quiet everywhere,
Buzzard over Manchester canoe club
Female Goosander flying upstream
Heron just before the weir
4 Longtailed Tits & a couple of vocal Jays.

Heron in the Broadheys Pool at Chadkirk
3 Nuthatches in the woods by the chapel & another couple of Jays.

With all this rain Broadheys Scrape is filling nicely. No waders yet but 12 Mallard and a Heron were making use of it.

Cheers, John

The only birds at the new pools were 8 Mallard in Big Field.

2 Snipe on the overgrown mill pool were likely candidates. I now think this 'pool' has been dredged then laid with drainage to deliberately allow in to grow over

Cheers, John

Hi Andy,

There are no plans to open access to the ponds as the primary reason for the introduction is to benefit wildlife. I would however consider allowing organised (well semi organised) visits to the ponds by arrangement with myself. Andy Harmer has offered his time free of charge to undertake monitoring all the pond particularly the new ones, as he wants to how they develop over the coming years.

Andy is one of the organisers of C.A.N, Cheshire Amateur Naturalist group (which have put on some fantastic training days this year) and is a very knowledgeable chap in a wide rage of subjects but particularly ponds. The C.A.N group will no doubt have a couple of visits over the summer period as well.

So don't despair I'm sure I can organise something for you, as I too am hoping for a vast increase in Dragon and Damsel Fly numbers. I just hope the ponds hold water!

Got some nice views of a male Black Cap in the picnic area this morning and a Raven flew over heading south east around 4pm.

Cheers,

JR

Hi John,

The thing is, as you'll appreciate, ponds left to their own devices will turn into woodland. I presume no further action will ensue on the Mill pond? If water is to come back in any great amount, it will need a lot of clearing. Still, as you say, it's better than bricks and mortar.

As for the new ponds, what will the access situation be? It would be very frustrating to see dragonflies using them and not be able to get near to get a certain i.d. (or photo's). I realise they could not be open access or they would become dog baths in no time. A tricky situation?