I saw one last year in the car park behind the main road through mossley. It was mid Jan and he was on his own. My only waxwing sighting ever!
Steve Suttill said
Fri Feb 15 8:36 PM, 2013
Ashley Edwards wrote:
Where did you see the waxwings Steve?
28 Waxwings perched in ash trees on Manchester Road, Mossley at 0945 this morning. Made occasional forays to feed on rose hips in my nextdoor neighbour's garden (no. 96) then flew off down the valley.
Never thought I'd see Waxwings from my living room window
(copied from Waxwing thread - should have put it here as well)
Ashley Edwards said
Fri Feb 15 8:31 PM, 2013
Where did you see the waxwings Steve?
Steve Suttill said
Fri Feb 15 7:49 PM, 2013
No luck in relocating this morning's Waxwing flock, but;
Pair of Dippers defying high water levels and renovating their nest in an old mill on the riverside. Colour rings show this to be the usual female.
Also, lone male Goosander on the canal.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Feb 8 8:17 PM, 2013
This month's Winter Thrush Survey visit.
4 Mistle Thrush & just one Blackbird, so it was a bit galling to get home and find 2 Blackbirds feasting on raisins outside my back door
Perhaps it wouldn't be very scientific to scatter raisins around my survey route
Steve Suttill said
Wed Jan 23 5:47 PM, 2013
Cracking views of Tawny Owl last night. Walking past the site of the demolished Carrhill Mill, I saw something fly up and land in a tree six feet from me - it had just caught a small rodent which it proceeded to devour oblivious to my presence
Steve Suttill said
Fri Nov 23 11:06 PM, 2012
This month's Winter Thrush Survey visit.
Great weather but few birds - one Mistle Thrush & two Blackbirds
Also: Buzzard and two Guineafowl (escaped from their enclosure at the farm)
Steve Suttill said
Sat Nov 17 7:01 AM, 2012
Short afternoon break from DIY!
Heron Lane: Buzzard still present in trees by railway line. 2 Dippers on river - one a colour-ringed local bird.
Mark Deakin said
Thu Nov 15 10:00 PM, 2012
Didn't see the waxwing post till mid-morning but went for a stroll anyway down through Mossley Park past Mossley Hall above the station: Long-tailed Tit 4, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit, Jackdaw 17 (later saw 100+ circling above the park), Magpie, Wren 2. Couldn't find any berry bearing trees in the area to attract waxwing long term - some cherry trees further up Stamford Rd on path up to Hanover St but they're berryless. In the meantime stuck an apple on my garden feeder! longshot.
tom willis said
Thu Nov 15 3:21 PM, 2012
Lone waxwing just now, high over stamford rd as I dashed to the station. Heard again while on the platform but couldn't spot it.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Nov 10 5:11 PM, 2012
Early morning walk through trees by canal produced Nuthatch (still quite a rarity in these parts), Treecreeper and Goldcrest as well as the usuals.
Also (unringed) Dipper on river at Roaches bridge.
Steve Suttill said
Sun Nov 4 6:14 PM, 2012
Heron Lane & Midge Hill:
Buzzard present again - seems to have taken up residence
20 Fieldfare being harrassed by Blackbirds (thought it should be the other way round?) and 2 Redwing sharing a tree with a Mistle Thrush. Should have done the Winter Thrush Survey today!
Steve Suttill said
Fri Oct 26 8:47 PM, 2012
Second visit for the Winter Thrush Survey this morning. I chose my route because of a splendid Hawthorn hedge which attracts Redwing & Fieldfare every winter. Arrived this morning to find that the farmer has cut down all the Hawthorns
Count was 2 Mistle Thrushes and 5 Blackbirds (all male) - exactly the same as last month!
Also seen: Buzzard and Sparrowhawk
Steve Suttill said
Sat Sep 22 5:09 PM, 2012
Over 70 Swallows this morning on wires and hawking over the bottom fields of Higher Quick Farm/Stockport Road.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Sep 14 11:33 PM, 2012
Heron Lane, this morning, 8.00 - 9.00
Two singing Chiffchaffs, one male Blackcap and several Willow Warblers mixed in with the roving flock of Blue, Coal & Long-tailed Tits. Plenty of Bullfinch as usual here - most of them juveniles.
Steve Suttill said
Wed Aug 29 4:03 AM, 2012
Buzzard hanging on the wind over Noonsun Hill this evening.
Steve Suttill said
Mon Aug 20 4:18 AM, 2012
Heron Lane, this morning, 8.00 - 9.00
Trees between river and railway line were alive with birds this morning
Willow Warbler (some still singing full song), Blackcap, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Bullfinch and Goldfinch - all with juveniles. Star bird though was Spotted Flycatcher in Rowan tree having a good preen between feeding flights.
Yzf_ian said
Thu May 31 3:58 AM, 2012
We're in bottom mossley, close to new bridge in. Had a buzzard on our path feasting on a wood pigeon a few weeks back. Quite surprised as i've not seen or heard them (buzzards) since i moved here last summer.
Steve Suttill said
Sat May 12 6:50 PM, 2012
11.30 Sat 12 May:
Oystercatcher flew low past living room window, heading up valley towards Saddleworth. Don't see many of those in Mossley
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Wed Apr 18 10:17 PM, 2012
Early visit to Breeding Bird Survey square this morning (in admittedly not ideal conditions):
Plenty of singing Willow Warblers but otherwise you wouldn't know it was spring. Only one Meadow Pipit and no Swallows at any of the farms
Six Wheatear at Hartshead Pike had me puzzled. One had very dark flanks and breast surrounding the white belly. I was near the end of the survey route so I thought I'd finish my counts and go back for a closer look. This I duly did to find all the Wheatear had flown That'll teach me!
Steve
Roger Baker 3 said
Sat Apr 14 1:27 PM, 2012
Late post for Fri 13th April. 18.30 hrs.
Green Woodpecker.
Heyheads. Bang on the Stalybridge/Mossley border. In the back garden of one of the stone terrace facing the "Stamford" on Huddersfield Road.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Saturday 14th of April 2012 03:25:40 PM
Steve Suttill said
Sat Apr 7 4:14 PM, 2012
Heron Lane this morning: my first Willow Warbler of the year
and, just over the border in Greenfield, another Willow Warbler and a Blackcap.
Pretty sure I heard a Buzzard - just one "mew" and that was it
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Fri Mar 23 4:29 PM, 2012
My first Chiffchaff of the year, heard on my walk up to the railway station
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Wed Mar 21 4:37 PM, 2012
Peregrine over Manchester Road at 7.00 this morning, heading speedily SW.
A nice sight to greet you when you crawl out of bed
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Fri Mar 16 8:07 PM, 2012
Short walk this morning:
2 Snipe flushed from pool below the new school Only 2 Lapwing in adjacent field where half a dozen pairs used to nest. Long-tailed Tit nest-building but struggling with a pigeon feather almost as big as itself! Pair Goosander on river. Dipper near a regular nest site with metal ring on right leg.
Steve
tom willis said
Tue Mar 13 5:39 AM, 2012
Bit late with this but we had a walk from Lydgate along Quickedge Road on Tuesday afternoon. Highlight were 3 Lapwing displaying and making some fantastic sounds.
Roger Baker 3 said
Mon Mar 12 1:12 AM, 2012
Sunday 11th March. 17-15 hrs.
R. Tame. Egmont St.
Dipper feeding 25 yds downstream of bridge.
Roger.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Feb 9 12:19 AM, 2012
Raven flew over early this morning heading towards the moors.
Later a Dipper (with metal ring) was singing away on the river near to a traditional nest site.
Steve
tom willis said
Wed Jan 4 9:58 AM, 2012
1.1.2012
Nice start to the year: Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden and 15 lapwing overhead (Stockport Road).
-- Edited by tom willis on Wednesday 4th of January 2012 09:59:02 AM
Steve Suttill said
Sun Nov 13 9:59 AM, 2011
13.11.11 - 0900
Woodcock flushed from Heron Lane on walk back from Royal George.
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Sat Nov 5 9:39 AM, 2011
5.11.2011
c80 Pink-footed Geese heading SE at 09.30
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Sat Oct 29 10:54 AM, 2011
Very autumnal feel to this morning's stroll along Heron Lane:
one Heron (naturally) and 3 redhead Goosanders on the river. Mixed flock of tits; Great, Blue, Coal and Longtailed with a couple of Goldcrests. Thrushes; mainly Blackbirds with one Song Thrush and a couple of Fieldfares. Gaggle of c100 Canada Geese included one Embden and one Canada/Greylag hybrid.
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Sun Sep 18 11:13 AM, 2011
Back to the local patch after a wet and windy week on the West coast of Scotland. No skirmishing between Buzzards and Golden Eagles this morning
All the local Swallows seem to have gone. Up in Scotland, I watched 2 young leave the nest just 2 days ago.
Steve
John Everett said
Tue Sep 6 9:53 PM, 2011
Chiffchaff seen and heard in my garden this morning - first time I have seen one on a seed feeder.
Steve Suttill said
Tue Aug 30 10:55 PM, 2011
Think it must have flown down the hill, Tom Chiffchaff singing (though not very well) in my back garden this morning.
Steve
tom willis said
Tue Aug 30 9:21 PM, 2011
Lovely view of a chiffchaff in our back garden this morning. Was a bit surprised to hear one singing nearby on Sunday and then it was in full-view (but quiet) today.
Steve Suttill said
Wed Jun 8 9:30 PM, 2011
Closer encounter than I would have liked this morning
Fluttering noises from the fireplace and an adult Jackdaw calling down the chimney could only mean one thing - me getting very dirty!
Thankfully managed to (eventually!) catch and release an only just-fledged youngster into the back garden . Found enough sticks at the bottom of the chimney to make an eagle nest never mind a Jackdaw's.
Wouldn't have minded all the hard and messy work but the silly thing didn't seem at all grateful - and I've already got confirmed breeding for Jackdaws in this atlas tetrad...
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Tue May 10 8:18 PM, 2011
As I type this I can see through my window that Buckton Moor is blazing away again!
Fire-fighters are bravely tackling the fire, putting their own safety at risk, whilst dozens of Meadow Pipit eggs and chicks are fried
Hope they manage to put out the flames before the Lapwings, Curlew and Grouse get the same treatment.
Steve
Roger Baker 3 said
Sun May 8 8:35 AM, 2011
Sun 8th May. 07.15 hrs
River Tame. Roaches Lock.
Pair Grey Wagtail feeding fully fledged young (1) on small island just downstream of bridge. Adults very agitated and vocal when a pair of Magpies put in an appearance, youngster flattened itself to pebbles until they moved on.
Jay flew across canal.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Sunday 8th of May 2011 04:49:00 PM
John Everett said
Sun May 1 1:23 PM, 2011
Saw my first swift of the year in Mossley yesterday -7.15pm. Seen flying over bottom Mossley near raiway station.
Steve Suttill said
Wed Apr 20 4:36 PM, 2011
Thanks Tom,
found them nearby whilst doing my Breeding Bird Survey this morning.
I seem to have to motivate myself to do the BBS after so many years - sometimes it feels like a bit of a chore. There were other places I would have preferred to go this morning. Day off work and bright sunshine? Surely something wrong! So I just reminded myself of the good birds I'd found in Top Mossley whilst doing the survey - star turn being a Black Redstart - and off I went...
... and what did I find but a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER reeling away in a most unpromising spot!
Found Tom's Swallows, and another pair, but normally I'd count on twice that number. Lapwings also down to less than half the usual
Steve
tom willis said
Wed Apr 20 11:48 AM, 2011
Hi Steve,
Fairly certain that I saw 2 swallows over the fields by the Hartshead pub on Sunday (was in the car and unable to stop & check as it wasn't me driving!).
Tom
Steve Suttill said
Wed Apr 20 9:34 AM, 2011
First Whitethroat of the year (for me) singing near to the Greenfield border. Seem to be more Willow Warblers and Blackcaps than ever, but some may still be on passage. Still not seen any hirundines in Mossley
Steve
Jenny de Boer said
Thu Apr 7 5:38 PM, 2011
And I've been here only 2 months! Must have got lucky to see them on passage
Steve Suttill said
Thu Apr 7 1:16 PM, 2011
That's a good record, Jenny. Have lived in Mossley for nearly 30 years and never seen a Sand Martin!
Steve
Jenny de Boer said
Thu Apr 7 10:29 AM, 2011
In the fields off Luzley Road early evening yesterday 2 willow warblers, 2 swallows and a small group of sand martins (roughly 6)
stuartherring said
Sat Apr 2 6:44 PM, 2011
I was out hoping for a willow warbler this morning but only got 2 nice nuthatch and the usuals
Steve Suttill said
Sat Apr 2 10:55 AM, 2011
First Willow Warblers - 3 males singing along a 50 yard stretch of Heron Lane this morning...
... and April showers
At least 4 Brambling still present
Steve
Steve Suttill said
Fri Mar 18 9:21 AM, 2011
Don't think trips to Mossley will help you with any of those, Karen but if they do turn up you'll be the first to know!
Steve
Karen Foulkes said
Thu Mar 17 7:02 PM, 2011
Steve Suttill wrote:
Anything else you need for your Tameside list, Karen?
28 Waxwings perched in ash trees on Manchester Road, Mossley at 0945 this morning.
Made occasional forays to feed on rose hips in my nextdoor neighbour's garden (no. 96) then flew off down the valley.
Never thought I'd see Waxwings from my living room window
(copied from Waxwing thread - should have put it here as well)
Pair of Dippers defying high water levels and renovating their nest in an old mill on the riverside. Colour rings show this to be the usual female.
Also, lone male Goosander on the canal.
4 Mistle Thrush & just one Blackbird, so it was a bit galling to get home and find 2 Blackbirds feasting on raisins outside my back door
Perhaps it wouldn't be very scientific to scatter raisins around my survey route
Great weather but few birds - one Mistle Thrush & two Blackbirds
Also: Buzzard and two Guineafowl (escaped from their enclosure at the farm)
Heron Lane:
Buzzard still present in trees by railway line.
2 Dippers on river - one a colour-ringed local bird.
Also (unringed) Dipper on river at Roaches bridge.
Buzzard present again - seems to have taken up residence
20 Fieldfare being harrassed by Blackbirds (thought it should be the other way round?) and 2 Redwing sharing a tree with a Mistle Thrush. Should have done the Winter Thrush Survey today!
Count was 2 Mistle Thrushes and 5 Blackbirds (all male) - exactly the same as last month!
Also seen: Buzzard and Sparrowhawk
Two singing Chiffchaffs, one male Blackcap and several Willow Warblers mixed in with the roving flock of Blue, Coal & Long-tailed Tits. Plenty of Bullfinch as usual here - most of them juveniles.
Trees between river and railway line were alive with birds this morning
Willow Warbler (some still singing full song), Blackcap, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Bullfinch and Goldfinch - all with juveniles.
Star bird though was Spotted Flycatcher in Rowan tree having a good preen between feeding flights.
Quite surprised as i've not seen or heard them (buzzards) since i moved here last summer.
Oystercatcher flew low past living room window, heading up valley towards Saddleworth. Don't see many of those in Mossley
Steve
Plenty of singing Willow Warblers but otherwise you wouldn't know it was spring. Only one Meadow Pipit and no Swallows at any of the farms
Six Wheatear at Hartshead Pike had me puzzled. One had very dark flanks and breast surrounding the white belly. I was near the end of the survey route so I thought I'd finish my counts and go back for a closer look. This I duly did to find all the Wheatear had flown That'll teach me!
Steve
Green Woodpecker.
Heyheads. Bang on the Stalybridge/Mossley border. In the back garden of one of the stone terrace facing the "Stamford" on Huddersfield Road.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Saturday 14th of April 2012 03:25:40 PM
and, just over the border in Greenfield, another Willow Warbler and a Blackcap.
Pretty sure I heard a Buzzard - just one "mew" and that was it
Steve
Steve
A nice sight to greet you when you crawl out of bed
Steve
2 Snipe flushed from pool below the new school
Only 2 Lapwing in adjacent field where half a dozen pairs used to nest.
Long-tailed Tit nest-building but struggling with a pigeon feather almost as big as itself!
Pair Goosander on river.
Dipper near a regular nest site with metal ring on right leg.
Steve
R. Tame. Egmont St.
Dipper feeding 25 yds downstream of bridge.
Roger.
Later a Dipper (with metal ring) was singing away on the river near to a traditional nest site.
Steve
Nice start to the year: Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden and 15 lapwing overhead (Stockport Road).
-- Edited by tom willis on Wednesday 4th of January 2012 09:59:02 AM
Woodcock flushed from Heron Lane on walk back from Royal George.
Steve
c80 Pink-footed Geese heading SE at 09.30
Steve
one Heron (naturally) and 3 redhead Goosanders on the river. Mixed flock of tits; Great, Blue, Coal and Longtailed with a couple of Goldcrests. Thrushes; mainly Blackbirds with one Song Thrush and a couple of Fieldfares. Gaggle of c100 Canada Geese included one Embden and one Canada/Greylag hybrid.
Steve
Heron Lane: SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, Blackcap, 14 Mistle Thrush.
All the local Swallows seem to have gone. Up in Scotland, I watched 2 young leave the nest just 2 days ago.
Steve
Chiffchaff singing (though not very well) in my back garden this morning.
Steve
Fluttering noises from the fireplace and an adult Jackdaw calling down the chimney could only mean one thing - me getting very dirty!
Thankfully managed to (eventually!) catch and release an only just-fledged youngster into the back garden . Found enough sticks at the bottom of the chimney to make an eagle nest never mind a Jackdaw's.
Wouldn't have minded all the hard and messy work but the silly thing didn't seem at all grateful - and I've already got confirmed breeding for Jackdaws in this atlas tetrad...
Steve
Fire-fighters are bravely tackling the fire, putting their own safety at risk, whilst dozens of Meadow Pipit eggs and chicks are fried
Hope they manage to put out the flames before the Lapwings, Curlew and Grouse get the same treatment.
Steve
River Tame. Roaches Lock.
Pair Grey Wagtail feeding fully fledged young (1) on small island just downstream of bridge.
Adults very agitated and vocal when a pair of Magpies put in an appearance, youngster flattened itself to pebbles until they moved on.
Jay flew across canal.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Sunday 8th of May 2011 04:49:00 PM
found them nearby whilst doing my Breeding Bird Survey this morning.
I seem to have to motivate myself to do the BBS after so many years - sometimes it feels like a bit of a chore. There were other places I would have preferred to go this morning. Day off work and bright sunshine? Surely something wrong! So I just reminded myself of the good birds I'd found in Top Mossley whilst doing the survey - star turn being a Black Redstart - and off I went...
... and what did I find but a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER reeling away in a most unpromising spot!
Found Tom's Swallows, and another pair, but normally I'd count on twice that number. Lapwings also down to less than half the usual
Steve
Fairly certain that I saw 2 swallows over the fields by the Hartshead pub on Sunday (was in the car and unable to stop & check as it wasn't me driving!).
Tom
Steve
Steve
... and April showers
At least 4 Brambling still present
Steve
but if they do turn up you'll be the first to know!
Steve
How about Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Willow Tit?