From Carrbrook on the Pennine bridleway Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at 6.15 this evening.
In addition: 4 Lapwing 8 Swallow Red Grouse 1+ 2 Jay Meadow Pipit 3 Willow Warbler
-- Edited by Vicky Harper on Thursday 23rd of April 2020 07:59:06 PM
Chris Harper said
Wed Apr 22 10:18 AM, 2020
Common Swift over at 10.10 this morning. First of the year fir me.
Peregrine Falcon with prey near Bayley Street
Chris Harper said
Tue Apr 21 8:01 PM, 2020
Peregrine Falcon made a kill on Bayley Street at 5pm today. Also 8 Sand Martin around the Tame bridge.
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Apr 19 6:23 PM, 2020
#
As part of the Oldham Birders virtual trip, I visited Dukinfield Cemetery. It was the wrong time of day really, but there were plenty of birds singing
The most unexpected bird for me was a redhead Goosander flying up the River Tame. It's quite unusual to see these here this late into April.
The rest of the species were common birds that I would normally expect to see when I'm doing on my BBS.
Chiffchaff - one singing and flycatching just above the footpath Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in flight - my first lockdown sighting A Chaffinch was singing just outside the cemetery gates, I've not heard the one on my close today, maybe this is the same bird. Greenfinch - plenty of these around in song flight display
Other species: Magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch Great Tit, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Bullfinch, Sand Martin
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Apr 18 4:13 PM, 2020
A short walk in Dukinfield this afternoon.
A Chaffinch was singing across the road from the house, I've seen a lot of comments about there being low numbers of Chaffinch around. This was my first singing locally.
A Mistle Thrush and Herring Gull flew across Crescent Road and two Collared Dove were also present.
Greenfinch in display flight and the Great Spotted Woodpecker was again hiding out of sight.
House Martin not there today, nor any Sand Martin on the Tame near Bayley Street.
There were 2 Dippers, Grey Heron, 4 Grey Wagtail and hunting female Sparrowhawk.
Chris Harper said
Sat Apr 11 4:30 PM, 2020
3 House Martin investigating a traditional nesting spot on Cheetham Hill Road, Dukinfield this afternoon.
Chris Harper said
Mon Apr 6 8:11 PM, 2020
Bayley Street had at least 12 Sand Martin this evening around the River Tame. Also Dipper, 4 Grey Wagtail and 15 Goldfinch went to roost.
Karen Foulkes said
Mon Apr 6 3:43 PM, 2020
I went for my weekly visit to Asda this morning!
Chiffchaff singing by the river near Asda 4 Pied Wagtail flew over while I was waiting to go in 2 Dunnock singing close to the entrance Sand Martin over the car park 5 Mallard flying around
Other supermarkets are available!
Karen Foulkes said
Mon Apr 6 8:40 AM, 2020
River Tame, Dukinfield 05/04/20
A Dipper flew rapidly downstream whilst three Mallard and a single Canada Goose were the only birds on the water.
Two Bullfinch were in the vegetation on the opposite side.
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Apr 3 6:11 PM, 2020
Down by the river in Dukinfield late this afternoon
Fairly quiet
Four sightings of Grey Heron, unsure how many birds involved Three Mallard on the river A Chiffchaff was calling on the opposite side and was out in the open, but it quickly disappeared into cover A Rook flew across the road from near the bus depot
Roger Baker 3 said
Fri Apr 3 1:36 AM, 2020
Thurs 2nd April. Mottram Road. Stalybridge.
Flushed with the success of last nights operation I decided to try and gild the lily and give this night-mig thing another go.
21.45 - 23.00 hrs. A very distant Teal (?) plus the Tawny Owl again.
23.50 - 00.15 hrs. Common Scoter group over at 00.01 and another group at 00.11 hrs.
00.15. The more familiar sound of the police helicopter whizzing around allowed me to abandon (gratefully) the vigil. May have proved interesting if they had dragged me in for questioning as to my new found hobby of sitting out in the dark "I was listening for flying ducks, officer" has a certain quality about it !!
Roger.
David Walsh said
Thu Apr 2 10:48 PM, 2020
Thursday 2nd April 2020.
Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge.
Redwing over east at 8.00pm, and just now. No Common Scoter over in two brief visits to the garden this evening, but I did have one flock over last night.
Roger Baker 3 said
Thu Apr 2 2:11 AM, 2020
Weds 1st April. Mottram Road. Stalybridge.
Took a chair and a brew outside at 23.15 hrs for a crack at hearing these night migrating Common Scoters .... After 10 minutes heard my first night-mig call that was vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite nail it .... then heard a single C.Scoter call at 23.35 hrs and then had a flurry of activity around mid-night with 5 or 6 groups passing over .. occasional calls up to me throwing the towel in at 00.45 hrs when I retired for a drop of something medicinal ???
Whilst imbibing the said medicine I consulted Xeno-Canto for my mystery bird ... finally nailing it as a night flying (migrating ?) Moorhen call, something that I would not expect but thinking about it I have heard but not recognised before.
I also had the pleasure of the company of a calling male Tawny Owl for 20 mins.
Roger.
Chris Harper said
Tue Mar 31 7:56 PM, 2020
An exercise walk over Bayley Street bought a pair of Dipper actively feeding, a pair of Goosander, Grey Heron and 4 Grey Wagtail.
14 Goldfinch went to roost near Dale Street and over 150 Jackdaw flew over to roost somewhere.
David Walsh said
Sun Mar 29 10:56 PM, 2020
Sunday 29th March 2020, 10.00 - 11.30am.
From Huddersfield Road, up Besom Lane onto the Bridleway as far as Carrbrook, then back via Walkerwood Reservoir, and through the country park to Huddersfield Road.
Nuthatch singing from the Hartley Street entrance of the country park 5 Greenfinch singing along Besom Lane as far as Higher Hyde Green. Always a good area for this species Only 4 Lapwing seen in the lengthening grass at Carrbrook. Any sitting birds invisible now. 11 Fieldfare feeding in the fields below Winter Hill Farm A Lesser Black-backed Gull was a very unusual record on Walkerwood Reservoir
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Mar 28 6:13 PM, 2020
A short afternoon walk down by the river on the Dukinfield/Ashton border.
Quiet with only a small number of species
Male Grey Wagtail Male Bullfinch Mallard Grey Heron pair of Long-tailed Tit Great Tit singing 5 Black-headed Gull over 12 Woodpigeon
Chris Harper said
Fri Mar 27 4:11 PM, 2020
Circular exercise walk took in Matley, Hobson Moor and Cheetham's Park.
30 Meadow Pipit, including 20 together near Wrigley Fold Farm, 2 Red Legged Partridge, Common Buzzard, Kestrel with prey, 6 Chiffchaff, singing Skylark, 2 Lapwing, 5 Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch, 3 Rook.
Chris Harper said
Thu Mar 26 1:07 PM, 2020
Exercise walk took me across Bayley Street in Stalybridge at 12.30.
Some great birds: 7 Sand Martin, Dipper, Kingfisher, 4+ Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail
David Walsh said
Wed Mar 25 7:47 AM, 2020
Wednesday 25th March 2020, 5.45 - 7.00am.
Pennine Bridleway.
Similar to yesterday, except:
8 Fieldfare feeding in a field at the Carrbrook end An increase in the number of Linnet singing (four) At least 6 Lapwing sitting, but becoming difficult to see when theyre down, as the grass is growing (life DOES go on!)
David Walsh said
Tue Mar 24 10:11 PM, 2020
Tuesday 24th March 2020, 5.45 - 6.30am.
Pennine Bridleway, Millbrook to Carrbrook, exercise before work.
Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook to Millbrook, successfully avoiding the crowds. Brushes Valley was very busy by mid-morning yesterday.
A pair of Linnet, the male singing, was my first of the year here, and a very welcome sight and sound 9 Lapwing visible 10+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying
Otherwise quiet.
David Walsh said
Tue Mar 17 12:51 PM, 2020
Tuesday 17th March 2020, 9.00 - 11.30am.
Around the Pennine Bridleway at Carrbrook, then up to Turf Pits, as far as the watershed between Swineshaw And Cowbury.
Pennine Bridleway.
At least 14 Lapwing, with several sitting c30 Fieldfare and 30 Starlings in the fields below Winter Hill Farm 3 singing Dunnock 2 singing Greenfinch 1 singing Chaffinch 3 Red-legged Partridge 1 Mistle Thrush
Western side of Turf Pits, and the north western slopes of Harridge.
At least four Stonechat. Two males singing, and pursuing one female. Another female a hundred yards away was generally ignored. This species seems to be on the move over the past fortnight, following several months for me, of no records. I know Simon has had birds a few miles away at Ashton Moss, but none seem to have overwintered locally, despite the generally mild conditions. They are much in evidence this week.
Huddersfield Narrow Canal, between Mottram Road and Melbourne Street , Stalybridge.
35 Canada Geese. 56 were present at the same time last week
Chris Harper said
Sun Mar 1 2:06 PM, 2020
Windy walk on the Pennine Bridleway between Walkerwood reservoir and Carrbrook from 09.45-11.30
Didn't spot Little Owl, but 25 Fieldfare, 3 Raven, 3 Red Legged Partridge, Common Buzzard, 3 Mistle Thrush, Kestrel were a good 2nd best.
David Walsh said
Sat Feb 29 3:15 PM, 2020
Saturday 29th February 2020, 9.00 - 11.00am.
Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook to Millbrook.
Highlight was the sighting of a Little Owl, at what used to be a regular nest site. This is my first record here since 27th August 2017. 12 Lapwing 5 Skylark over 2 Raven 2 Buzzard, perched together, watching the Lapwing Female Sparrowhawk over towards Cowbury Dale 31 Fieldfare 3 Redwing 16 Pheasant 2 Red Grouse
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Feb 23 5:45 PM, 2020
A pair of Goosander was on the river Tame in Dukinfield as I passed late afternoon today.
David Walsh said
Sat Feb 22 11:57 AM, 2020
Saturday 22nd February 2020, 9.00 - 10.30.
Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook to Millbrook. Dry, but very windy.
7 Lapwing over two fields 1 Sparrowhawk chasing Woodpigeons 1 Buzzard 4 Dunnock singing 1 Song Thrush singing 1 Mistle Thrush singing c40 Fieldfare together in the trees. No Redwing today, but there have been up to 15 mixed in over the past couple of weeks. c50 Starling
River Tame, Grove Road.
1 Dipper seen, near a traditional nest site.
David Walsh said
Thu Feb 20 2:02 PM, 2020
Thursday 20th February 2020, 11.15am.
Printworks Road Pond.
1 redhead Goosander 1 pair of Coot 3 Cormorant on the pylons
Chris Harper said
Fri Feb 14 4:33 PM, 2020
Peregrine Falcon made 2 attempts to take the Feral pigeons near St James's church at 15:20 this afternoon. Failed on both.
David Walsh said
Thu Feb 13 1:22 PM, 2020
Thursday 13th February 2020, 9.30 - 11.00am.
Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook.
5 Lapwing back on territory, my earliest record for this site. Previous earliest was 17th February 2018. Pair of Raven 16 Redwing 2 Fieldfare 1 Mistle Thrush, singing 5 Blackbirds 2 singing Dunnock, plus a pair 5 singing Wren 1 singing Chaffinch 5 Goldfinch
David Walsh said
Sun Feb 2 12:14 AM, 2020
Saturday 1st February 2020, 11.30pm.
Tawny Owl heard hooting from Brushes Road, in the direction of Copley School.
David Walsh said
Thu Jan 23 5:36 PM, 2020
Thursday 23rd January 2020, 4.45pm.
70+ Magpies coming in to roost in trees between Tameside Hospital and Stamford Park Boating lake. Birds still flying in as we left.
David Walsh said
Sun Jan 19 10:13 PM, 2020
Sunday 19th January 2020, 8.30pm.
Pair of Tawny Owls calling from Grove Road Woods, Millbrook.
Last week.
Pair calling from the area between Stamford Park boating lake and Chadwick Dam, Ashton.
Male hooting from the woods to the west of Wakefield Road, opposite Souracre, Heyrod.
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Jan 18 8:43 PM, 2020
A Kingfisher showed well on the Tame in Dukinfield today.
Chris Harper said
Sat Jan 18 4:21 PM, 2020
Dipper on the Tame from Bayley Street in Stalybridge
David Walsh said
Thu Jan 16 2:29 PM, 2020
Thursday 16th January 2020, 10.00am - 12.00pm.
Harrop Edge in very blustery conditions.
25 Redwing in the fields between Whitegate Kennels and Hattersley roundabout was the only thing of any note whatsoever.
Hobson Moor Road.
A small mixed flock feeding in a beech copse contained a few Brambling
David Walsh said
Thu Jan 9 10:12 PM, 2020
Thursday 9th January 2020, 11.00am.
Printworks Road Pond, Heyrod.
1 pair of Goosander 1 Little Grebe 2 Coot 5 Mallard Nuthatch calling from the trees
4 Cormorant on the pylons
Glebe Street, Ashton centre.
2 Redwing have been moving around the rowan trees surrounding the car parks for most of the week
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 9th of January 2020 10:16:54 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Wed Jan 1 12:27 PM, 2020
Birds from around the garden and a walk around the local area produced a small number of species with the following highlights in Dukinfield this morning.
Treecreeper and Goldcrest loosely associating with a mixed Tit flock in a local garden
On the river, birds included a singing Dipper, two female Goosander, Moorhen and three Grey Heron flying over, whilst four Bullfinch in the bankside trees included two males.
Flyover birds included 15 Redwing and a Grey Wagtail.
An unseen Siskin was calling in a neighbour's garden when I returned home.
David Walsh said
Sat Dec 28 2:50 PM, 2019
Saturday 28th December 2019, 10.30am.
Printworks Road, Heyrod.
7 Cormorant perched on the pylons was my highest count of the winter.
Goosander sightings on the pond have been very poor this year, with just an occasional pair. Some winters we have up to 16 birds on the site. Not sure whether fish numbers are down, or Goosander numbers generally this year?
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Dec 27 10:10 PM, 2019
A Dipper was singing at lunchtime along Coopers Ride today. A female Grey Wagtail was also feeding in the same area. Two Moorhen up river feeding in the shallows. A Rook was on the roof of the nursery on Wharf Street, Dukinfield
David Walsh said
Thu Dec 26 12:33 AM, 2019
Wednesday 25th December, 2019, 10.30.
Tawny Owl hooting in Grove Road Woods, Millbrook. Another hooting from the bottom of the country park, near Huddersfield Road.
Male Sparrowhawk hunting the local House Sparrow and Starling roost on our row on Huddersfield Road at dusk.
David Walsh said
Tue Dec 24 7:28 PM, 2019
Tuesday 24th December 2019, 1.10 - 1.40pm.
From Alma Bridge, Dukinfield, west along the Tame as far as the back of ASDA, on the Cheshire side of the river.
6 Grey Herons on the roof at the very western end of the Tulip Foods abattoir 1 Kingfisher
A very decent number of species along this short stretch, during a quick break from the madness of Christmas Eve.
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Dec 14 7:59 PM, 2019
c60 Redwing feeding in the rowans on Astley Street in Dukinfield today
David Walsh said
Thu Dec 5 11:14 PM, 2019
Thursday 5th December 2019, 9.30 - 11.30am.
Around Harrop Edge.
A Green Woodpecker was a huge surprise, calling from a telegraph pole above one of the disused quarries. My first record in Stalybridge for almost seven years. Plenty of Redwing calling as they moved around the area. Probably 100+ 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush 12 Blackbirds 1 Kestrel 1 Buzzard, being mobbed by corvids over towards Matley 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail
Hobson Moor Road.
At least two Brambling feeding with a flock of 20+ Chaffinch in the trees opposite Hobson Moor Quarry. Another Buzzard being harassed by corvids
David Walsh said
Sat Nov 30 11:51 PM, 2019
Saturday 30th November 2019, 7.00pm.
At least 3 Tawny Owls in the woods at Grove Road, Millbrook. Two hooting males, and at least one female.
dave broome said
Sun Nov 24 1:24 PM, 2019
At Printworks Road, Heyrod today 1 Little Grebe and Kingfisher on the pond, 2 Dipper on the River Tame, Woodcock, 3 Cormorant on a pylon, 8 Bullfinch, 3 Redpoll flew over
David Walsh said
Thu Nov 14 1:25 PM, 2019
Thursday 14th November 2019, 11.00am.
Printworks Road, Heyrod.
2 Goosander on the pond, a female and an immature male, looking odd with its scruffy red head and white back and wings. 3 Cormorant on the pylon
A couple of sightings around work recently, central Ashton.
A single Rook seen on several occasions feeding on the pavements of Penny Meadow, amongst the pedestrians. 13 Long-tailed Tits moving around the trees lining the car parks at Glebe Street yesterday.
David Walsh said
Tue Nov 12 1:25 PM, 2019
Tuesday 12th November 2019, 1.10pm.
Printworks Road Pond, Heyrod.
One pair of Goosander were my first record at this site since spring.
In addition:
4 Lapwing
8 Swallow
Red Grouse 1+
2 Jay
Meadow Pipit
3 Willow Warbler
-- Edited by Vicky Harper on Thursday 23rd of April 2020 07:59:06 PM
Common Swift over at 10.10 this morning. First of the year fir me.
Peregrine Falcon with prey near Bayley Street
Peregrine Falcon made a kill on Bayley Street at 5pm today. Also 8 Sand Martin around the Tame bridge.
As part of the Oldham Birders virtual trip, I visited Dukinfield Cemetery. It was the wrong time of day really, but there were plenty of birds singing
The most unexpected bird for me was a redhead Goosander flying up the River Tame. It's quite unusual to see these here this late into April.
The rest of the species were common birds that I would normally expect to see when I'm doing on my BBS.
Chiffchaff - one singing and flycatching just above the footpath
Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in flight - my first lockdown sighting
A Chaffinch was singing just outside the cemetery gates, I've not heard the one on my close today, maybe this is the same bird.
Greenfinch - plenty of these around in song flight display
Other species: Magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch Great Tit, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Bullfinch, Sand Martin
A Chaffinch was singing across the road from the house, I've seen a lot of comments about there being low numbers of Chaffinch around. This was my first singing locally.
A Mistle Thrush and Herring Gull flew across Crescent Road and two Collared Dove were also present.
Greenfinch in display flight and the Great Spotted Woodpecker was again hiding out of sight.
Short walk around Harrop Edge this evening.
Lapwing, 2 Swallow, 6 Willow Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Grey Heron, 4 Jay, Kestrel.
House Martin not there today, nor any Sand Martin on the Tame near Bayley Street.
There were 2 Dippers, Grey Heron, 4 Grey Wagtail and hunting female Sparrowhawk.
3 House Martin investigating a traditional nesting spot on Cheetham Hill Road, Dukinfield this afternoon.
Bayley Street had at least 12 Sand Martin this evening around the River Tame. Also Dipper, 4 Grey Wagtail and 15 Goldfinch went to roost.
Chiffchaff singing by the river near Asda
4 Pied Wagtail flew over while I was waiting to go in
2 Dunnock singing close to the entrance
Sand Martin over the car park
5 Mallard flying around
Other supermarkets are available!
A Dipper flew rapidly downstream whilst three Mallard and a single Canada Goose were the only birds on the water.
Two Bullfinch were in the vegetation on the opposite side.
Fairly quiet
Four sightings of Grey Heron, unsure how many birds involved
Three Mallard on the river
A Chiffchaff was calling on the opposite side and was out in the open, but it quickly disappeared into cover
A Rook flew across the road from near the bus depot
Flushed with the success of last nights operation I decided to try and gild the lily and give this night-mig thing another go.
21.45 - 23.00 hrs. A very distant Teal (?) plus the Tawny Owl again.
23.50 - 00.15 hrs. Common Scoter group over at 00.01 and another group at 00.11 hrs.
00.15. The more familiar sound of the police helicopter whizzing around allowed me to abandon (gratefully) the vigil.
May have proved interesting if they had dragged me in for questioning as to my new found hobby of sitting out in the dark
"I was listening for flying ducks, officer" has a certain quality about it !!
Roger.
Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge.
Redwing over east at 8.00pm, and just now.
No Common Scoter over in two brief visits to the garden this evening, but I did have one flock over last night.
Took a chair and a brew outside at 23.15 hrs for a crack at hearing these night migrating Common Scoters .... After 10 minutes heard my first night-mig call that was vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite nail it .... then heard a single C.Scoter call at 23.35 hrs and then had a flurry of activity around mid-night with 5 or 6 groups passing over .. occasional calls up to me throwing the towel in at 00.45 hrs when I retired for a drop of something medicinal ???
Whilst imbibing the said medicine I consulted Xeno-Canto for my mystery bird ... finally nailing it as a night flying (migrating ?) Moorhen call, something that I would not expect but thinking about it I have heard but not recognised before.
I also had the pleasure of the company of a calling male Tawny Owl for 20 mins.
Roger.
An exercise walk over Bayley Street bought a pair of Dipper actively feeding, a pair of Goosander, Grey Heron and 4 Grey Wagtail.
14 Goldfinch went to roost near Dale Street and over 150 Jackdaw flew over to roost somewhere.
From Huddersfield Road, up Besom Lane onto the Bridleway as far as Carrbrook, then back via Walkerwood Reservoir, and through the country park to Huddersfield Road.
Nuthatch singing from the Hartley Street entrance of the country park
5 Greenfinch singing along Besom Lane as far as Higher Hyde Green. Always a good area for this species
Only 4 Lapwing seen in the lengthening grass at Carrbrook. Any sitting birds invisible now.
11 Fieldfare feeding in the fields below Winter Hill Farm
A Lesser Black-backed Gull was a very unusual record on Walkerwood Reservoir
Quiet with only a small number of species
Male Grey Wagtail
Male Bullfinch
Mallard
Grey Heron
pair of Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit singing
5 Black-headed Gull over
12 Woodpigeon
Circular exercise walk took in Matley, Hobson Moor and Cheetham's Park.
30 Meadow Pipit, including 20 together near Wrigley Fold Farm, 2 Red Legged Partridge, Common Buzzard, Kestrel with prey, 6 Chiffchaff, singing Skylark, 2 Lapwing, 5 Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch, 3 Rook.
Exercise walk took me across Bayley Street in Stalybridge at 12.30.
Some great birds: 7 Sand Martin, Dipper, Kingfisher, 4+ Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail
Pennine Bridleway.
Similar to yesterday, except:
8 Fieldfare feeding in a field at the Carrbrook end
An increase in the number of Linnet singing (four)
At least 6 Lapwing sitting, but becoming difficult to see when theyre down, as the grass is growing (life DOES go on!)
Pennine Bridleway, Millbrook to Carrbrook, exercise before work.
13 Lapwing
6 Linnet
2 Lesser Redpoll
4 Bullfinch
2 singing Mistle Thrush
11 Blackbirds (only one female)
6 singing Dunnock
2 Red-legged Partridge
2 Red Grouse
1 singing Chiffchaff
Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook to Millbrook, successfully avoiding the crowds. Brushes Valley was very busy by mid-morning yesterday.
A pair of Linnet, the male singing, was my first of the year here, and a very welcome sight and sound
9 Lapwing visible
10+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying
Otherwise quiet.
Around the Pennine Bridleway at Carrbrook, then up to Turf Pits, as far as the watershed between Swineshaw And Cowbury.
Pennine Bridleway.
At least 14 Lapwing, with several sitting
c30 Fieldfare and 30 Starlings in the fields below Winter Hill Farm
3 singing Dunnock
2 singing Greenfinch
1 singing Chaffinch
3 Red-legged Partridge
1 Mistle Thrush
Western side of Turf Pits, and the north western slopes of Harridge.
At least four Stonechat. Two males singing, and pursuing one female. Another female a hundred yards away was generally ignored. This species seems to be on the move over the past fortnight, following several months for me, of no records. I know Simon has had birds a few miles away at Ashton Moss, but none seem to have overwintered locally, despite the generally mild conditions. They are much in evidence this week.
6+ Skylark singing
1 Curlew heard
1 Golden Plover heard distantly
25+ Meadow Pipits
12 Red Grouse
5 Pheasant
1 Wren
1 Dunnock
Huddersfield Narrow Canal, between Mottram Road and Melbourne Street , Stalybridge.
35 Canada Geese. 56 were present at the same time last week
Windy walk on the Pennine Bridleway between Walkerwood reservoir and Carrbrook from 09.45-11.30
Didn't spot Little Owl, but 25 Fieldfare, 3 Raven, 3 Red Legged Partridge, Common Buzzard, 3 Mistle Thrush, Kestrel were a good 2nd best.
Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook to Millbrook.
Highlight was the sighting of a Little Owl, at what used to be a regular nest site. This is my first record here since 27th August 2017.
12 Lapwing
5 Skylark over
2 Raven
2 Buzzard, perched together, watching the Lapwing
Female Sparrowhawk over towards Cowbury Dale
31 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
16 Pheasant
2 Red Grouse
Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook to Millbrook. Dry, but very windy.
7 Lapwing over two fields
1 Sparrowhawk chasing Woodpigeons
1 Buzzard
4 Dunnock singing
1 Song Thrush singing
1 Mistle Thrush singing
c40 Fieldfare together in the trees. No Redwing today, but there have been up to 15 mixed in over the past couple of weeks.
c50 Starling
River Tame, Grove Road.
1 Dipper seen, near a traditional nest site.
Printworks Road Pond.
1 redhead Goosander
1 pair of Coot
3 Cormorant on the pylons
Peregrine Falcon made 2 attempts to take the Feral pigeons near St James's church at 15:20 this afternoon. Failed on both.
Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook.
5 Lapwing back on territory, my earliest record for this site. Previous earliest was 17th February 2018.
Pair of Raven
16 Redwing
2 Fieldfare
1 Mistle Thrush, singing
5 Blackbirds
2 singing Dunnock, plus a pair
5 singing Wren
1 singing Chaffinch
5 Goldfinch
Tawny Owl heard hooting from Brushes Road, in the direction of Copley School.
70+ Magpies coming in to roost in trees between Tameside Hospital and Stamford Park Boating lake. Birds still flying in as we left.
Pair of Tawny Owls calling from Grove Road Woods, Millbrook.
Last week.
Pair calling from the area between Stamford Park boating lake and Chadwick Dam, Ashton.
Male hooting from the woods to the west of Wakefield Road, opposite Souracre, Heyrod.
Dipper on the Tame from Bayley Street in Stalybridge
Harrop Edge in very blustery conditions.
25 Redwing in the fields between Whitegate Kennels and Hattersley roundabout was the only thing of any note whatsoever.
Hobson Moor Road.
A small mixed flock feeding in a beech copse contained a few Brambling
Printworks Road Pond, Heyrod.
1 pair of Goosander
1 Little Grebe
2 Coot
5 Mallard
Nuthatch calling from the trees
4 Cormorant on the pylons
Glebe Street, Ashton centre.
2 Redwing have been moving around the rowan trees surrounding the car parks for most of the week
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 9th of January 2020 10:16:54 PM
Treecreeper and Goldcrest loosely associating with a mixed Tit flock in a local garden
On the river, birds included a singing Dipper, two female Goosander, Moorhen and three Grey Heron flying over, whilst four Bullfinch in the bankside trees included two males.
Flyover birds included 15 Redwing and a Grey Wagtail.
An unseen Siskin was calling in a neighbour's garden when I returned home.
Printworks Road, Heyrod.
7 Cormorant perched on the pylons was my highest count of the winter.
Goosander sightings on the pond have been very poor this year, with just an occasional pair. Some winters we have up to 16 birds on the site. Not sure whether fish numbers are down, or Goosander numbers generally this year?
Two Moorhen up river feeding in the shallows.
A Rook was on the roof of the nursery on Wharf Street, Dukinfield
Tawny Owl hooting in Grove Road Woods, Millbrook. Another hooting from the bottom of the country park, near Huddersfield Road.
Male Sparrowhawk hunting the local House Sparrow and Starling roost on our row on Huddersfield Road at dusk.
From Alma Bridge, Dukinfield, west along the Tame as far as the back of ASDA, on the Cheshire side of the river.
6 Grey Herons on the roof at the very western end of the Tulip Foods abattoir
1 Kingfisher
A very decent number of species along this short stretch, during a quick break from the madness of Christmas Eve.
Around Harrop Edge.
A Green Woodpecker was a huge surprise, calling from a telegraph pole above one of the disused quarries. My first record in Stalybridge for almost seven years.
Plenty of Redwing calling as they moved around the area. Probably 100+
2 Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush
12 Blackbirds
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard, being mobbed by corvids over towards Matley
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
Hobson Moor Road.
At least two Brambling feeding with a flock of 20+ Chaffinch in the trees opposite Hobson Moor Quarry.
Another Buzzard being harassed by corvids
At least 3 Tawny Owls in the woods at Grove Road, Millbrook. Two hooting males, and at least one female.
1 Little Grebe and Kingfisher on the pond, 2 Dipper on the River Tame, Woodcock, 3 Cormorant on a pylon, 8 Bullfinch, 3 Redpoll flew over
Printworks Road, Heyrod.
2 Goosander on the pond, a female and an immature male, looking odd with its scruffy red head and white back and wings.
3 Cormorant on the pylon
A couple of sightings around work recently, central Ashton.
A single Rook seen on several occasions feeding on the pavements of Penny Meadow, amongst the pedestrians.
13 Long-tailed Tits moving around the trees lining the car parks at Glebe Street yesterday.
Printworks Road Pond, Heyrod.
One pair of Goosander were my first record at this site since spring.