Dove Stone RSPB (including Binn Green and environs)
Nick Hilton said
Thu Aug 27 5:32 PM, 2015
A walk around Yeoman Hey at lunch produced 4 Kestrel, 4 Coal Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit and plenty of swallows and house martins passing through.
Gary Edwards said
Wed Jul 29 6:55 PM, 2015
Very quiet between 11.00 and 13.00
Binn Green
1x Whitethroat several Chaffinch Great Spotted Woodpecker 1x large flock of Goldfinch Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit
No Crossbill today.
Bradley Nixon said
Tue Jul 28 10:54 AM, 2015
Snow Bunting was 50 meters from the summit of Chew Res
Rob Creek said
Tue Jul 28 10:05 AM, 2015
Bradley Nixon wrote:
Friday 24th July
Meadow Pipit Merlin Snow Bunting Buzzard
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 28th of July 2015 09:50:43 AM
Hi Bradley, What area was the Snow Bunting? Cheers
Bradley Nixon said
Tue Jul 28 8:30 AM, 2015
Friday 24th July
Meadow Pipit Merlin Snow Bunting Buzzard
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 28th of July 2015 09:50:43 AM
Robert Adderley said
Wed Jul 15 7:09 PM, 2015
2 Juv Crossbills showing very well by the car park viewing point at 6.40pm.
John Watson said
Sun Jul 12 8:06 PM, 2015
3 Crossbill this pm: m,f,juv - adjacent to viewpoint
Also ~3 redpoll over, 1+ Siskin calling, Treecreeper, Peregrine screaming
MARK HULSE said
Sat Jul 11 7:48 PM, 2015
sat 11 july, 13.00-14.30pm
Binn Green
At least 20+crossbills[3 stunning males bright orange/red colours showing well], got to see them at last after 3 or 4 previous visits,very pleased indeed. 2 lesser redpoll, 3 siskin, 1 coal tit, 2 chaffinch, 4 juvenile goldfinch,
yeoman hey / dove stone and surrounds, 2 common sandpiper, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, willow warbler, plus a very busy kestrel over ashway gap...
lovely day all in all ....
Geoff Walton said
Sat Jul 11 1:45 PM, 2015
Hello Jim, I am sure Jim and I passed you all yesterday, as we were around from about 10.30 -2pm. We only managed two sightings of a female Crossbill. One in the middle of the tree, and the other very good, as it was on the top branch of the tree to the left. Also we saw one Lesser Redpoll.
Jim Caulfield said
Sat Jul 11 6:39 AM, 2015
Binn Green
Fri 10 July approx. 11:55am
With Tom Jones, and meeting Bill Beckwith and friends, and Alan RSPB Volunteer.
Glorious weather on arrival, with car park half full, but seemingly not many birders about. Those above helped tremendously.
Within twenty minutes of our arrival, Crossbills came the murmur from the pathway east of the bench in the viewing area. About 20 quick strides gave us views of 1 male, 1 female and approx. 5 juveniles. At last, and what lovely birds they were ! Well worth the wait !
Others seen included : Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Lesser Redpoll, Chafffinch and Blackbird
David Walsh said
Tue Jul 7 6:40 PM, 2015
Tuesday 7th July 2015, 8.30am
Binn Green
c30 Crossbills. At least 4 males, the majority juveniles Mixed group of juvenile finches, consisting of Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, and Chaffinch Blackcap singing Juvenile Coal Tits
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 7th of July 2015 06:40:37 PM
Rob Creek said
Mon Jul 6 1:47 AM, 2015
Sunday 5th July From Dovestones car park up Chew Valley to Chew Res.
2 Kestrel 2 Ring Ouzel Lots of Meadow Pipit 2 Willow Warbler seen, lots heard 1 male Reed Bunting 2 Raven cronking as they flew over Chew Res Few Black-headed Gulls over Few Goldfinch over Few Pied Wagtail 3 Grey Wagtail Lots of Canada Geese at side of Chew Res
Binn Green. A group of around 10-15 Lesser Redpoll over 1 Coal Tit 1 pair of Bullfinch 1 Blackbird 1 Blackcap flycatching near car park Great Spotted Woodpecker heard only
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 6th of July 2015 06:56:00 PM
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri Jul 3 11:06 PM, 2015
Spent the day here today.
Binn Green:
4 blackcap 2 swallow 1 very recently fledged robin 4 coal tit 10+ siskin 2 lesser redpoll 2 crossbill (juvenile and a female) blackbird, blue tit, goldfinch, chaffinch, woodpigeon
Yeoman Hey / Dove Stone and surrounds
2 willow warbler 3 grey wagtail 2 pied wagtail 10+ meadow pipit 2 siskin 6 goldfinch 3 or more common sandpiper 3 black-headed gull (including one juvenile)
Chew Valley path:
1 willow warbler 15+ meadow pipit 5 grey wagtail 2 dipper 4 stonechat (including juveniles) 1 ring ouzel 1 little owl (suffering the ire of grey wagtails)
2 pied wagtail (including a juvenile) at the very top, along with c50 Canada geese, and the usual numbers of meadow pipits.
JSPALDING said
Wed Jul 1 2:47 PM, 2015
Just one lone Common Crossbill present at around 1pm today.
Mark Burgess said
Mon Jun 29 8:31 PM, 2015
Glad you saw them Rob, I suspected there was at least 2 groups of Crossbills present, As I viewed the group in the Larches I heard the Glipp Glipp Glipp of anther fly over group but didn't see or locate them.
Rob Creek said
Mon Jun 29 1:55 PM, 2015
Sunday 28th June with Steve Burke
As soon as we arrived, another birder informed us that the Crossbills had been seen minutes ago (was that you Mark? Many thanks if it was) and sure enough within a minute we were on them. Firstly a gorgeous female showed then bright orangey male appeared just above her feeding. I think they were spooked by a walker and 3 birds actually flew out of the tree. About 5 minutes later a group of around 7 or 8 birds flew over and landed just beyond the feeders. We could see at least 4 birds including juveniles but then they flew off again.
Other birds of note... -Lots of Lesser Redpoll -Goldfinch -couple of juvenile Siskin -2 Peregrine circling near Ashby Gap -1 Kestrel -few Willow Warbler -few Meadow Pipit -Common Sandpiper heard only Also forgot to mention 2 male Blackcap heard and seen yesterday.
A great day with some special species seen.
Mark Burgess said
Sun Jun 28 5:34 PM, 2015
3.45-4.45pm Binn Green,
Crossbill 5, 1 adult male, 1 female and 3 juvinile birds present In the Larch trees to the right of the viewing platform.
Also 8 Lesser Redpoll Treecreeper Goldcrest Blackcap a singing male in the small copse in front of the car park
-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Sunday 28th of June 2015 05:35:07 PM
Ian McCabe said
Sun Jun 28 4:35 PM, 2015
Nice to see you rob
Ian Boote said
Sun Jun 28 2:46 PM, 2015
8 flew past at dinner at Binn Green look out on to the larches on the right.
C Brown said
Sun Jun 28 1:03 PM, 2015
Six rather nice crossbills from the viewing area late this morning (with Mark Rigby).
Regards, Chris J - B
Rob Creek said
Sat Jun 27 7:26 PM, 2015
Ian it must've been you I spoke to approx 3.50pm near the viewing area.
-A late showing of a female Crossbill at 5.29pm then a juvenile at 5.48pm but that was it for me as far as Crossbills go! -Lesser Redpoll - didn't count, lots of them including a group of around 10 birds -Siskin - lots of juveniles around, not a single adult -few Goldfinch -2 Great Spotted Woodpecker -2 Chiffchaff seen, 1 really close up near the viewing screen, more heard calling -1 Coal Tit -few Blue Tits -2 Mallard over -Red Grouse heard opposite viewing area
Ian McCabe said
Sat Jun 27 5:09 PM, 2015
Good views of Male and female crossbills feeding on pine cones. In the trees on right hand side off viewing area around 3.45pm.
Paul Dewey said
Fri Jun 26 5:33 PM, 2015
Had an hour at viewing area (11 - 12 ish) in hope of seeing crossbill and was lucky. Initially had a small flock in flight, approx 15+, only seen briefly but did pick out a male. A short time later also picked up some in larches to left and down the slope from viewing area. Not able to estimate numbers as often on opposite side of trees to me, but again had a male and several females and juveniles.
Tim Wilcox said
Tue Jun 16 3:07 PM, 2015
Ludicrously busy up here and very few birds. A group of youths have set up shop at the viewing area ready with pots and pans and a huge bag of charcoal. The RSPB Warden has been informed but unless and until they are cleared off there's little chance of any Crossbills coming to the Larches
steven burke said
Mon Jun 15 10:34 PM, 2015
5.30-7.30pm
5 crossbills, 2 males, 2 females & 1 juvenile showing well in the larches just to the right of the viewing area at binn green, then the views got even better when they all decided to drop further down into the open branches of the trees in full view at about 10 yards away, lots of pics taken & then they decided to drop onto the ground after they left I went to see where they had been dropping down & there was a small pool of water, so obviously having a drink. other birds around... redpoll siskin great spotted woodpecker nuthatch treecreeper goldcrest jay bullfinch goldfinch chaffinch peregrine falcon kestrel willow warbler blackcap coal tit mistle thrush a pleasant couple of hours
Roger Baker 3 said
Mon Jun 15 2:35 PM, 2015
15th June. 12.15 - 13.45 hrs.
Binn Green.
Crossbill (juvenile) flew in to feed in the Larches at 13.15 hrs ...... had seen another fly over calling, 30 minutes earlier.
Quite a few Siskin and Lesser Redpoll zipping around, singing and calling.
Roger.
Simon Gough said
Sun Jun 14 7:58 PM, 2015
It was a good karma day today clearly, after great views of Black Redstart in Manchester City Centre first thing, I made it up to Binn Green by about 11. I met Stuart Rothery and had a chat, hello! We thought we heard a Crossbill calling and Stuart headed off. Within 2 minutes of me wandering through to the viewpoint, 10-11 Crossbills flew over my head and dropped into the trees out of sight! I had a quick look from the road and then realized that all I really had to do was wait by the fence by the feeders. Right enough the birds appeared within a few minutes and then I watched them for about 45 minutes feeding like machines in the Larch trees. It was a classic mixed group, with at least a couple of streaked juveniles, a rich orange male, a couple of yellow younger birds (males too?) and a rich greeny-yellow bird that I took for an adult female. Absolutely awesome, I hadn't been online so I was pretty gobsmacked when they dropped in, I had been hoping as I walked up the hill but how often does it go that well?
Also seen a Siskin and several Lesser Redpoll and a busy couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers
I walked round the reserve and to be honest the far side by the Sailing Club was pretty quiet, seems less busy than last year to me. I did have good views of some busy Stonechats up Chew Valley, plus a Dipper on one of the weirs, I've not seen one there before.
Another Dipper seen by the roundabout at the bottom of the hill as I headed home, plus at least 8 Grey Wagtails on the brook at different spots.
Yet another brilliant session at Dove Stones, one of my absolute favourite places to go birding
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 14th of June 2015 09:24:51 PM
JSPALDING said
Sun Jun 14 10:04 AM, 2015
A flock of 15 to 20 Crossbills in Binn Green Car Park up until at least 9-30 this morning. Nice to meet Richard who was asking when the last time I had seen Crossbills here, about 10 seconds later they flew in. What timing!
JSPALDING said
Sun May 10 8:07 AM, 2015
Two cuckoos calling at 7am both heard from the main car park, only one seen.
Rob Creek said
Sat Apr 25 7:43 PM, 2015
Quick visit following on from the Greenfield Ring Ouzels.
Very busy birdwise... 8 Lesser Redpoll (some mating) Lots of Chaffinch Lots of Goldfinch 1 m Greenfinch 1 m Bullfinch 2 m Reed Bunting 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Jay 1 Robin 1 Dunnock Few Meadow Pipit 1 Song Thrush doing a fantastic repertoire of songs including a belting imitation of a Curlew Lots of Blue Tit, Great Tit and Coal Tit 1 Kestrel Plenty of Pheasant
Also I had a quick drive over the Saddleworth tops to Kirklees and back which produced at least 19 Red Grouse (some giving excellent roadside views)
Shannon Llewellyn said
Thu Apr 23 9:30 PM, 2015
Spent the day here after visiting the abandoned cottage area to see the ring ouzels. Highlights:
Binn Green:
1 bullfinch 1 willow warbler Coal tit and chaffinch the most numerous, but also great tit (with nesting material), blue tit, goldfinch, robin, blackbird, woodpigeon.
Yeoman Hey:
2 dipper (on the overflow) 4 pied wagtail 5 or so redpoll (including the pinkest one I've ever seen) 3 common sandpiper
A couple more redpoll in the conifers next to Dove Stone itself, and one common sandpiper at the far end (which could have been one of the three noted above), 4 displaying dunnocks at Ashway gap woods, and plenty of willow warbler to be heard all around.
Path up to Chew Reservoir:
1 willow warbler (in the trees by the pond, singing as I went up, and as I came back down :) ) 20+ meadow pipit c10 wheatear 3 red grouse
Chew Reservoir and surrounds:
10+ meadow pipit 1 pied wagtail 3 wheatear 2 ring ouzel 2 skylark 1 swallow hawking over the reservoir 2 raven 5+ red grouse 3 common sandpiper 2 dunlin (giving absolutely wonderful views; birds of the day) 1 curlew 1 kestrel 35 Canada geese
2 mistle thrush and 1 singing song thrush as I left, so I saw all of our summer thrushes here today.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Thursday 23rd of April 2015 09:31:37 PM
Rob Bell said
Sun Apr 19 1:19 PM, 2015
Tuesday 14th
8 Bramblings in conifers on the reservoir side of the bird feeders. About even numbers of males and females. Still plenty about. 10 plus Lesser Redpolls in the same area and on the feeders.
Common Sandpiper at the far end of the first reservoir, some swallows and sand martins. Buzzards.
Rob
JSPALDING said
Tue Mar 31 6:07 PM, 2015
Binn Green feeders very busy, still 1 Brambling and about 6 Lesser Redpoll plus a Song Thrush which I don't see there very often.
gillian notheis said
Mon Mar 30 6:54 PM, 2015
best of a 2 1/2 hour dawdle in the woods and moor on south side of dove stone res 1 white wagtail (farmland across the track from the sailing club) 3 stonechat 2 yellowhammer 1 dipper
1 goldcrest and another singing coal tit in the Life for a Life wood
Path up to, and around, Chew Reservoir (where the vast majority of the day was spent):
40+ meadow pipit 4+ wren (2 seen, more heard) 1 dunnock 5 stonechat (including one male giving stunning views; very much the bird of the day) 1 pied wagtail 1 grey wagtail 1 dipper 4 skylark (2 seen, 2 others heard) 1 jay c20 red grouse 2 pheasant 5 teal 2 mallard 3 canada geese 2 kestrel 1 peregrine
Sheep fields leading up through to the quarry:
c15 meadow pipit 2 robin 2 goldfinch 1 jay 3 pheasant 1 red-legged partridge
Another (or the same?) peregrine seen perched on the quarry face.
John Watson said
Sun Mar 1 5:55 PM, 2015
Binn Green - nice little patch; have driven past many times but never stopped
3 Brambling, 1+ male 2+ Treecreeper sev Siskin sev Goldfinch many Chaffinch Blue+Great+Coal Tits 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pete Welch said
Sun Feb 8 3:09 PM, 2015
Set off early morning for a walk up to Chew and then along the edge and back down to the reservoir. Quite quiet bird wise but heard Raven, saw plenty of pairs of Red Grouse then a mixed tit flock at the feeders. It was a stunning walk in fantastic snowy conditions with a temperature inversion filling the valley below with cloud.
Sarfraz Hayat said
Thu Feb 5 10:03 PM, 2015
Hi Steve
Thanks for the tip and Yes plenty of snow there - I had a look today and was pleasantly surprised. A nice bit of winter wonderland up there. I wish I could go more often as it is a very dramatic place landscape wise. I walked up to Chew reservoir, in fact marched up as I had little time and now my legs feel it.
I did not go today to see birds specifically but managed to see Raven tumbling, a Buzzard, plenty of Grouse one flying very low over Chew Reservoir and I thought it was going to land on it. One Grouse was on a small lump of snow covered land with cloud in the background - would have made a nice photo but I was too slow. A Peregrine put in an appearance spooking a Woodcock on the moor. Fantastic bird - by far the bird of the day - they looks really strange in flight - like some one has chopped the back end.
In August 2013 I managed to video a bird which I mentioned at the time but forgot to do something about the video. For now I have taken some stills and uploaded them. I was convinced it was a Goshawk then and I am 100% sure now. The still is very grainy I doubt many people could confirm the identification from it unless they saw the bird there and then.
Sarfraz
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 5th of February 2015 10:24:26 PM
Steve Suttill said
Thu Feb 5 9:19 AM, 2015
Sarfraz Hayat wrote:
Just wondered how the snow cover is in this area? I am in Oldham tomorrow might just stop off up thee if still plenty of snow there. Where is the best place to get views of the water, woods and hills in this particularly area?
Still plenty of snow up on the hills, Sarfraz, with a few more flakes dropping this morning. Good views from the Binn Green site.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 4 10:21 PM, 2015
Sarfraz Hayat wrote:
How does one upload images onto here? There are no attachment icons.
One doesn't I'm afraid Sarfraz; intentionally never have been able to.
Sarfraz Hayat said
Wed Feb 4 6:53 PM, 2015
How does one upload images onto here? There are no attachment icons.
Sarfraz Hayat said
Wed Feb 4 6:51 PM, 2015
Just wondered how the snow cover is in this area? I am in Oldham tomorrow might just stop off up thee if still plenty of snow there. Where is the best place to get views of the water, woods and hills in this particularly area?
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 4 3:54 PM, 2015
Originally posted today by Dave Phillips:
Quick visit yesterday in glorious sunshine. Feeders very busy.
Brambling at least 3 males. Treecreeper (2) Grt. Spotted Woodpecker (2) Goldfinch loads. Greenfinch (2) Chaffinch loads.
Dovestones. Long Tailed Tits Coal Tit Raven Buzzard
Cheers Dave Phillips.
Steve Suttill said
Sun Feb 1 10:26 AM, 2015
With the Holmfirth ("Isle of Skye") road closed, had a brief mooch around Binn Green.
Most numerous small birds were Goldfinch with quite a few Lesser Redpoll. One male Brambling. Gt. Spotted Woodpecker drumming. Four rather noisy Mistle Thrush. One Jay. Pair of Reed Bunting looking very colourful perched on a snow-covered rock.
Dave Agnew said
Thu Jan 29 1:36 PM, 2015
Brambling at Higher Tunstead barn feeders, along with lots of other species, in heavy snow
Bill Beckwith said
Mon Jan 26 10:21 PM, 2015
I saw a pair of buzzards from above Binn Green on the Holmfirth road early Saturday afternoon.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Jan 25 6:38 PM, 2015
David Morris wrote:
Went for a guided walk there today looking for mountain hares up the path to Chew Reservoir.
I passed you coming down when I was walking up, then. :) Spoke to the gentleman who lead the walk (I believe he's the RSPB's warden for the site; I've spoken to him there before), and he said there may be another in March, which I'll look into going on. Never seen any hares up there myself, either, and certainly didn't today (it had turned pretty grotty by the time I reached the top), so I headed down pretty quickly.
Binn Green yielded multiple coal tit, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, goldfinch and blackbird, but other than that: 2 dunnock 1 great Spotted woodpecker 2 pheasants
Around the various reservoirs and walks between them: 1 dipper several coal tit c30 mallard 30+ black-headed gulls 2 kestrel (one making a kill; spectacular, but had to feel some sympathy for the poor furry that she got) 1 raven 7 red grouse (one giving beautiful views, and others heard calling)
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 25th of January 2015 06:41:34 PM
David Morris said
Sun Jan 25 4:13 PM, 2015
Went for a guided walk there today looking for mountain hares up the path to Chew Reservoir. Didn't see any hares, but did see:
1 Kestrel
3 Red Grouse
1 Wren (when we got back down)
JSPALDING said
Thu Jan 15 11:54 AM, 2015
Still a couple of Bramblings amongst the usual birds at the feeders at Binn Green. A quick look up on the moor above produced only Red Grouse before the cold took over.
Ian Boote said
Sun Jan 11 2:23 PM, 2015
Walk from Yeoman Hey Res to the county boundary past Chew Reservoir. 24 Red Grouse, The Merlin, 2 Kestrel, One Meadow Pipit being blown into Derbyshire, Couple of Singing Wens, around the sailing club Nuthatch Siskin and a Coal tit and possibly the highest Mole Hill in GM on the Dam several of them
Binn Green
1x Whitethroat
several Chaffinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
1x large flock of Goldfinch
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
No Crossbill today.
Hi Bradley,
What area was the Snow Bunting?
Cheers
Friday 24th July
Meadow Pipit
Merlin
Snow Bunting
Buzzard
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 28th of July 2015 09:50:43 AM
Also ~3 redpoll over, 1+ Siskin calling, Treecreeper, Peregrine screaming
sat 11 july, 13.00-14.30pm
Binn Green
At least 20+crossbills[3 stunning males bright orange/red colours showing well],
got to see them at last after 3 or 4 previous visits,very pleased indeed.
2 lesser redpoll,
3 siskin,
1 coal tit,
2 chaffinch,
4 juvenile goldfinch,
yeoman hey / dove stone and surrounds,
2 common sandpiper,
meadow pipit,
pied wagtail,
willow warbler,
plus a very busy kestrel over ashway gap...
lovely day all in all ....
I am sure Jim and I passed you all yesterday, as we were around from about 10.30 -2pm. We only managed two sightings of a female Crossbill. One in the middle of the tree, and the other very good, as it was on the top branch of the tree to the left.
Also we saw one Lesser Redpoll.
Binn Green
Fri 10 July approx. 11:55am
With Tom Jones, and meeting Bill Beckwith and friends, and Alan RSPB Volunteer.
Glorious weather on arrival, with car park half full, but seemingly not many birders about. Those above helped tremendously.
Within twenty minutes of our arrival, Crossbills came the murmur from the pathway east of the bench in the viewing area. About 20 quick strides gave us views of 1 male, 1 female and approx. 5 juveniles.
At last, and what lovely birds they were ! Well worth the wait !
Others seen included : Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Lesser Redpoll, Chafffinch and Blackbird
Binn Green
c30 Crossbills. At least 4 males, the majority juveniles
Mixed group of juvenile finches, consisting of Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, and Chaffinch
Blackcap singing
Juvenile Coal Tits
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 7th of July 2015 06:40:37 PM
From Dovestones car park up Chew Valley to Chew Res.
2 Kestrel
2 Ring Ouzel
Lots of Meadow Pipit
2 Willow Warbler seen, lots heard
1 male Reed Bunting
2 Raven cronking as they flew over Chew Res
Few Black-headed Gulls over
Few Goldfinch over
Few Pied Wagtail
3 Grey Wagtail
Lots of Canada Geese at side of Chew Res
Binn Green.
A group of around 10-15 Lesser Redpoll over
1 Coal Tit
1 pair of Bullfinch
1 Blackbird
1 Blackcap flycatching near car park
Great Spotted Woodpecker heard only
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 6th of July 2015 06:56:00 PM
Binn Green:
4 blackcap
2 swallow
1 very recently fledged robin
4 coal tit
10+ siskin
2 lesser redpoll
2 crossbill (juvenile and a female)
blackbird, blue tit, goldfinch, chaffinch, woodpigeon
Yeoman Hey / Dove Stone and surrounds
2 willow warbler
3 grey wagtail
2 pied wagtail
10+ meadow pipit
2 siskin
6 goldfinch
3 or more common sandpiper
3 black-headed gull (including one juvenile)
Chew Valley path:
1 willow warbler
15+ meadow pipit
5 grey wagtail
2 dipper
4 stonechat (including juveniles)
1 ring ouzel
1 little owl (suffering the ire of grey wagtails)
2 pied wagtail (including a juvenile) at the very top, along with c50 Canada geese, and the usual numbers of meadow pipits.
As soon as we arrived, another birder informed us that the Crossbills had been seen minutes ago (was that you Mark? Many thanks if it was) and sure enough within a minute we were on them. Firstly a gorgeous female showed then bright orangey male appeared just above her feeding.
I think they were spooked by a walker and 3 birds actually flew out of the tree.
About 5 minutes later a group of around 7 or 8 birds flew over and landed just beyond the feeders. We could see at least 4 birds including juveniles but then they flew off again.
Other birds of note...
-Lots of Lesser Redpoll
-Goldfinch
-couple of juvenile Siskin
-2 Peregrine circling near Ashby Gap
-1 Kestrel
-few Willow Warbler
-few Meadow Pipit
-Common Sandpiper heard only
Also forgot to mention 2 male Blackcap heard and seen yesterday.
A great day with some special species seen.
Crossbill 5, 1 adult male, 1 female and 3 juvinile birds present In the Larch trees to the right of the viewing platform.
Also
8 Lesser Redpoll
Treecreeper
Goldcrest
Blackcap a singing male in the small copse in front of the car park
-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Sunday 28th of June 2015 05:35:07 PM
Regards, Chris J - B
-A late showing of a female Crossbill at 5.29pm then a juvenile at 5.48pm but that was it for me as far as Crossbills go!
-Lesser Redpoll - didn't count, lots of them including a group of around 10 birds
-Siskin - lots of juveniles around, not a single adult
-few Goldfinch
-2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
-2 Chiffchaff seen, 1 really close up near the viewing screen, more heard calling
-1 Coal Tit
-few Blue Tits
-2 Mallard over
-Red Grouse heard opposite viewing area
Had an hour at viewing area (11 - 12 ish) in hope of seeing crossbill and was lucky. Initially had a small flock in flight, approx 15+, only seen briefly but did pick out a male. A short time later also picked up some in larches to left and down the slope from viewing area. Not able to estimate numbers as often on opposite side of trees to me, but again had a male and several females and juveniles.
5 crossbills, 2 males, 2 females & 1 juvenile showing well in the larches just to the right of the viewing area at binn green, then the views got even better when they all decided to drop further down into the open branches of the trees in full view at about 10 yards away, lots of pics taken & then they decided to drop onto the ground after they left I went to see where they had been dropping down & there was a small pool of water, so obviously having a drink.
other birds around...
redpoll
siskin
great spotted woodpecker
nuthatch
treecreeper
goldcrest
jay
bullfinch
goldfinch
chaffinch
peregrine falcon
kestrel
willow warbler
blackcap
coal tit
mistle thrush
a pleasant couple of hours
Binn Green.
Crossbill (juvenile) flew in to feed in the Larches at 13.15 hrs ...... had seen another fly over calling, 30 minutes earlier.
Quite a few Siskin and Lesser Redpoll zipping around, singing and calling.
Roger.
Also seen a Siskin and several Lesser Redpoll and a busy couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers
I walked round the reserve and to be honest the far side by the Sailing Club was pretty quiet, seems less busy than last year to me. I did have good views of some busy Stonechats up Chew Valley, plus a Dipper on one of the weirs, I've not seen one there before.
Another Dipper seen by the roundabout at the bottom of the hill as I headed home, plus at least 8 Grey Wagtails on the brook at different spots.
Yet another brilliant session at Dove Stones, one of my absolute favourite places to go birding
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 14th of June 2015 09:24:51 PM
Nice to meet Richard who was asking when the last time I had seen Crossbills here,
about 10 seconds later they flew in. What timing!
Very busy birdwise...
8 Lesser Redpoll (some mating)
Lots of Chaffinch
Lots of Goldfinch
1 m Greenfinch
1 m Bullfinch
2 m Reed Bunting
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Jay
1 Robin
1 Dunnock
Few Meadow Pipit
1 Song Thrush doing a fantastic repertoire of songs including a belting imitation of a Curlew
Lots of Blue Tit, Great Tit and Coal Tit
1 Kestrel
Plenty of Pheasant
Also I had a quick drive over the Saddleworth tops to Kirklees and back which produced at least 19 Red Grouse (some giving excellent roadside views)
Binn Green:
1 bullfinch
1 willow warbler
Coal tit and chaffinch the most numerous, but also great tit (with nesting material), blue tit, goldfinch, robin, blackbird, woodpigeon.
Yeoman Hey:
2 dipper (on the overflow)
4 pied wagtail
5 or so redpoll (including the pinkest one I've ever seen)
3 common sandpiper
A couple more redpoll in the conifers next to Dove Stone itself, and one common sandpiper at the far end (which could have been one of the three noted above), 4 displaying dunnocks at Ashway gap woods, and plenty of willow warbler to be heard all around.
Path up to Chew Reservoir:
1 willow warbler (in the trees by the pond, singing as I went up, and as I came back down :) )
20+ meadow pipit
c10 wheatear
3 red grouse
Chew Reservoir and surrounds:
10+ meadow pipit
1 pied wagtail
3 wheatear
2 ring ouzel
2 skylark
1 swallow hawking over the reservoir
2 raven
5+ red grouse
3 common sandpiper
2 dunlin (giving absolutely wonderful views; birds of the day)
1 curlew
1 kestrel
35 Canada geese
2 mistle thrush and 1 singing song thrush as I left, so I saw all of our summer thrushes here today.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Thursday 23rd of April 2015 09:31:37 PM
8 Bramblings in conifers on the reservoir side of the bird feeders. About even numbers of males and females. Still plenty about. 10 plus Lesser Redpolls in the same area and on the feeders.
Common Sandpiper at the far end of the first reservoir, some swallows and sand martins. Buzzards.
Rob
1 white wagtail (farmland across the track from the sailing club)
3 stonechat
2 yellowhammer
1 dipper
Gillian
Around sailing club:
2 oystercatcher
2 pied wagtail
1 treecreeper
several singing coal tit
1 goldcrest and another singing coal tit in the Life for a Life wood
Path up to, and around, Chew Reservoir (where the vast majority of the day was spent):
40+ meadow pipit
4+ wren (2 seen, more heard)
1 dunnock
5 stonechat (including one male giving stunning views; very much the bird of the day)
1 pied wagtail
1 grey wagtail
1 dipper
4 skylark (2 seen, 2 others heard)
1 jay
c20 red grouse
2 pheasant
5 teal
2 mallard
3 canada geese
2 kestrel
1 peregrine
Sheep fields leading up through to the quarry:
c15 meadow pipit
2 robin
2 goldfinch
1 jay
3 pheasant
1 red-legged partridge
Another (or the same?) peregrine seen perched on the quarry face.
3 Brambling, 1+ male
2+ Treecreeper
sev Siskin
sev Goldfinch
many Chaffinch
Blue+Great+Coal Tits
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Hi Steve
Thanks for the tip and Yes plenty of snow there - I had a look today and was pleasantly surprised. A nice bit of winter wonderland up there. I wish I could go more often as it is a very dramatic place landscape wise. I walked up to Chew reservoir, in fact marched up as I had little time and now my legs feel it.
I did not go today to see birds specifically but managed to see Raven tumbling, a Buzzard, plenty of Grouse one flying very low over Chew Reservoir and I thought it was going to land on it. One Grouse was on a small lump of snow covered land with cloud in the background - would have made a nice photo but I was too slow. A Peregrine put in an appearance spooking a Woodcock on the moor. Fantastic bird - by far the bird of the day - they looks really strange in flight - like some one has chopped the back end.
In August 2013 I managed to video a bird which I mentioned at the time but forgot to do something about the video. For now I have taken some stills and uploaded them. I was convinced it was a Goshawk then and I am 100% sure now. The still is very grainy I doubt many people could confirm the identification from it unless they saw the bird there and then.
Sarfraz
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 5th of February 2015 10:24:26 PM
Still plenty of snow up on the hills, Sarfraz, with a few more flakes dropping this morning. Good views from the Binn Green site.
One doesn't I'm afraid Sarfraz; intentionally never have been able to.
How does one upload images onto here? There are no attachment icons.
Just wondered how the snow cover is in this area? I am in Oldham tomorrow might just stop off up thee if still plenty of snow there. Where is the best place to get views of the water, woods and hills in this particularly area?
Quick visit yesterday in glorious sunshine. Feeders very busy.
Brambling at least 3 males.
Treecreeper (2)
Grt. Spotted Woodpecker (2)
Goldfinch loads.
Greenfinch (2)
Chaffinch loads.
Dovestones.
Long Tailed Tits
Coal Tit
Raven
Buzzard
Cheers Dave Phillips.
Most numerous small birds were Goldfinch with quite a few Lesser Redpoll.
One male Brambling.
Gt. Spotted Woodpecker drumming.
Four rather noisy Mistle Thrush.
One Jay.
Pair of Reed Bunting looking very colourful perched on a snow-covered rock.
I saw a pair of buzzards from above Binn Green on the Holmfirth road early Saturday afternoon.
I passed you coming down when I was walking up, then. :) Spoke to the gentleman who lead the walk (I believe he's the RSPB's warden for the site; I've spoken to him there before), and he said there may be another in March, which I'll look into going on. Never seen any hares up there myself, either, and certainly didn't today (it had turned pretty grotty by the time I reached the top), so I headed down pretty quickly.
Binn Green yielded multiple coal tit, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, goldfinch and blackbird, but other than that:
2 dunnock
1 great Spotted woodpecker
2 pheasants
Around the various reservoirs and walks between them:
1 dipper
several coal tit
c30 mallard
30+ black-headed gulls
2 kestrel (one making a kill; spectacular, but had to feel some sympathy for the poor furry that she got)
1 raven
7 red grouse (one giving beautiful views, and others heard calling)
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 25th of January 2015 06:41:34 PM
A quick look up on the moor above produced only Red Grouse before the cold took over.
24 Red Grouse, The Merlin, 2 Kestrel, One Meadow Pipit being blown into Derbyshire, Couple of Singing Wens, around the sailing club Nuthatch Siskin and a Coal tit and possibly the highest Mole Hill in GM on the Dam several of them