Cheers Steve. Sorted the Grouse a few weeks ago but ta anyway.

That's the one Craig. Don't take the first right (signposted Dove Stone) but carry on up the hill and it's the next turn on the right that isn't a private road. Don't worry you can't miss it.

If you didn't get Red Grouse up on Horwich Moors you'll get plenty up here

Never been to Binn Green. Presume that's the Car Park on Holmfirth Road?

JamieDunning wrote:

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They're almost annual over the moor there!

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Almost annual Jamie? 2011 was first record since the Uppermill bird in 1990.

As well as the two juv Rough-legged Buzzard also saw c20 Fieldfares flying low over and seeming to landed in the heather (as Mark said vis mig ), one Peregrine seen to mob one of the RLBuzzards, one Common Buzzard, four Ravens and plenty of Red Grouse

cheers mark, how far is it aprox from binn green car park, did you view the birds from the tarmac pull in, thanks, brian.

Incredibly, as I arrived I immedistley picked up the Rough-legged Buzzard hanging in the wind. I jumped out of the car when my son shouted "there's a Kestrel above it". Raising my bins in utter disbelief, another Rough-legged Buzzard was hovering about 50 meters above the first. Both juveniles, one with very clean underparts.

Knowing Gary Crowder was on Featherbed Moss and having no phone signal, I drove up to get him. We soon located a single bird and watched it until 1630hrs when light began to fade. I would think there is a good chance the birds will be present tomorrow.

The parking will be very tricky. Best bet is to park in Binn Green car park and walk up the road and view from there. Higher up the road there is no footpath and the road is very busy. There is a small red Tarmac pull in for a couple of cars on the right hand side.

Parking suggestions would be good too please!

could someone please post directions, best place to look etc, will have a look asap tomorrow, thanks, brian.

Rough-legged Buzzard on Featherbed Moss at 15:20 today.

Info thanks to Gary Crowder via Mark Rigby

Nice one Steve, They're almost annual over the moor there!

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD

Walking along Moor Edge Road from Mossley to Greenfield this morning I was descending the path to Warlow Brook when a large bird of prey flew down from the moor. As it passed in front of me I said to myself "Buzzard" but as it flew below me and banked over I could see the tail was white with a dark tip. It was only a five second view before it disappeared behind the shoulder of the hill, but surely it was a Rough-legged? I retraced my steps to get a better view down the valley but it had gone.

Continued the walk and above Tanners Mill another Buzzard appeared high in the sky. I got my bins on it but it was just a silhouette and then a Peregrine cruised into view and the Buzzard disappeared quickly.

I returned along the same route, and as I was approaching White Lee Farm along Intake Lane, the first Buzzard reappeared descending from the moor again right in front of me. This time I had a longer view and got the bird in my bins. The tail was very white and the tip black. Upper body and wings were mainly dark brown with some feathers looking silvery grey in the bright sunshine. The bird rose briefly to give a view of the underwing pattern. Apart from the dark primary tips it seemed very pale apart from the carpal patches which were very dark - much more contrasting than any Common Buzzard.

The bird continued to fly down low over Greenfield village where I lost sight of it.

Checking my field guides, the tail pattern would suggest it was a juvenile.

Liz Headon wrote:

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I'm surprised at the numbers on Royal George Lodge. On Thursday morning (before 8.00 am) it was totally deserted, as was Manns. There were a few geese and gulls in the field near Manns, but nothing on the water in either location.

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The "Royal George Lodge" site includes the Manns pond and adjacent field for the purposes of the WeBS counts. However, all the Canadas were actually on the lodge yesterday, as were the swans, the Coot and half the Mallards. I've been doing counts here at the same time of day, for the best part of 20 years and there seems no obvious reason why one day the geese are feeding in the field and another day they're mooching around on the water. The increasing numbers of folk on the campsite might be an influence?

As for Tanner's Lodge, I wasn't blaming the anglers - though there's usually a Heron and quite often a Cormorant when the human fishing folk aren't there.

I'm surprised at the numbers on Royal George Lodge. On Thursday morning (before 8.00 am) it was totally deserted, as was Manns. There were a few geese and gulls in the field near Manns, but nothing on the water in either location.

First WeBS counts of the "winter"

Tanner's Lodge: absolutely no waterbirds (probably as a result of the large number of anglers) though Chiffchaffs singing and Red Grouse very vocal on the nearby moor.

Royal George Lodge:

49 Canada Geese
24 Mallard
1 Coot
6 Moorhen
2 Mute Swan
8 Black-headed Gulls

+ Dipper (unringed) on river

Hi Liz, It sounds like you'd be better looking at photos of birds taken in the hand. If you 'google' the species you're interested in followed by 'ibercajalav' it should take you to a fantastic Spanish website with PDFs of most of the common birds in Europe. Hope this helps.

Mon 25th Aug. 15.30 hrs.

4 Swallows flying around Dysarts.

Roger.

Further to my previous report - almost as soon as I'd posted it, I heard a chaffinch singing, went to the window and had superb and lengthy views of a pair !

However, my main reason for posting today is a question, which I hope nobody minds. Can anyone recommend a website with good pictures of birds in flight - diagrams would be fine, it doesn't have to be dramatic/arty in-flight photos, which is what I am getting when I do a Google search. I need clear images of pattern on back and upper wings.

Greenbridge Lane, around lunchtime. Pair of grey wagtails feeding by stream

Friezland Lane, afternoon/evening.
Family party of long tailed tits - young recently fledged, judging by behaviour.
Swifts, swallows, house martins.
Finches - if I hear a finch and see it, it is almost always a goldfinch. I'm hearing lots of chaffinches at the moment, and the occasional greenfinch, but I rarely see either. They must be singing from the trees - in heavy leaf, of course - whereas the goldfinches seem to perch on the wires and poles to sing.
Garden warbler.
The usual wood pigeons and jackdaws, of course...

The local Dippers seem to stay on territory all year long. They don't need to move downstream to find food in Saddleworth.
Most of the Grey Wagtails leave in winter but Dippers are made of sterner stuff!

Yesterday... dipper in the stream at Greenbridge Lane. I thought they went higher up in summer ?

This morning: climbed up Alphin as far as the quarry - abandoned summit attempt as back and knees were giving out

On route back 2 recently-fledged Stonechats on Intake Lane were a nice surprise - haven't seen them there for quite a few years.
In the adjacent field 6 Lapwings were present, 3 of which repeatedly dive-bombed a cock Pheasant which was just sitting there minding its own business.

Morning - Springfield Farm area (bottom of Friezland Lane) - goldfinch, pied wagtail, swallows.

Afternoon - another unsuccessful ring ouzel spotting expedition....

18th April, 2.30 - 6.30 pm. Circular route: Greenfield to Uppermill on bridleway, Shaws, Pots and Pans, back to Greenfield via Dick Clough.

House sparrow, blue tit, dunnock, curlew, meadow pipit, blackbird, song thrush, jackdaw, raven, skylark, wheatear, pheasant, buzzard, kestrel, chaffinch, grey wagtail.

Frustratingly, no ring ouzel, though they had been seen shortly before I was there: a couple who were strangers to the area asked me if I knew whether it was possible that that was what they had seen.

5 Ring Ouzel above the farmhouse on walls below Pots and Pans at 0615hrs

4 Wheatear, looks to have been a clear out overnight.
3 Pied Wagtail
Curlew
Kestrel
2 Mallard

3 Ring Ouzels mid morning below Pots and Pans (B Stanley and A Platt) but no sign between 2-3pm but lots of disturbance.

30+ Wheatear
Little Owl
2 Mistle Thrush
Skylark
Loads of Meadow Pipit
3 Willow Warbler singing in plantation below

15th April, 5.30 - 7.30 pm. "Circular" route: Friezland Lane, Intake Lane, Hey Top, Waterside, Manchester Road.

Red grouse, curlew (heard), meadow pipit, skylark, wren, lapwing, pheasant, crow, jackdaw, wood pigeon, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, robin, starling, chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, jay, great spotted woodpecker (heard), dunnock.

Originally posted today by Dave Agnew:

Ring ouzels at Pots and Pans below the ruined farm. A flock of 7 on the dry stone wall then amongst the sheep and jackdaws. Male wheatear in the same field. Pair of ravens and buzzard on patrol. Curlews calling, must be breeding nearby. Skylark singing at the top of the hill. Great birding walk and we saw the crossbill at Binn Green!!

Two Jays together in gardens opposite Clarence pub today, 4pm

First swallows at the Royal George briefly at 3-30pm today.

First willow warbler behind greenfield bowling club this morning also heron over

walk from Mossley to Greenfield and back (mainly on old railway bridleway):

6 singing Chiffchaffs (no Willow Warblers yet )
female Gt. Spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch

at the old station house:
pair Brambling
half a dozen Lesser Redpoll
about two dozen Siskin

This morning's WeBS counts at Royal George Lodge:

47 Canada Geese
12 Mallard
7 Tufted Duck (5 males)
6 Coot
5 Moorhen
2 Mute Swan

informed by a local walking his dog that the Swans were introduced by the property developer (Wiggett) as a present for his wife

Spring most definitely in the air.

CHIFFCHAFF singing at the sewage works. Long-tailed Tit and Robin carrying nest material nearby. Coots nest-building. 7 Heron nests occupied.

Pair of Dippers near sewage works - one colour-ringed (red over orange) so must be getting on a bit by now. Grey Wagtail pair nearby.

Royal George Lodge:
8 Tufted Duck (5m, 3 f) is a good count for here these days.
2 Mute Swan
1 Little Grebe
4 Coot

Morning walk.

Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tt
Long Tailed Tit
Goldcrest
Dunnock
Blackbird
Robin Never seen so many, looks promising for the forth coming breeding season
Wren
Nuthatch Heard only
Moorhen
1 Coot on Royal George
2 Tufted Duck
Mallard
2 Mute Swan
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
1 Siskin
Jackdaw
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jay
Heron
Dipper
1 Little Grebe
4 Pairs Grey Wagtail

Steve Suttill wrote:

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Liz Headon wrote:

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Lower part of Friezland Lane, above Robert Scott's mill.

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Thanks Liz - you learn something new every day!

These local names can be confusing. Friezland for instance. On the map Friezland is the area on the other side of Manchester Road to Bockin, but Friezland Church is near Royal George Mill, quite some distance away. And Boarshurst Band Club is in Friezland not Boarshurst!

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I presume that at some time in the past, Friezland Lane was "the lane to Friezland" and went all the way through to where Friezland church is now. I didn't knowthe name Bockin either till I moved here a couple of years ago, although I knew Greenfield and Saddleworth in general to some extent, being originally from Oldham, but two friends who had lived in the area all their lives said "Oh, you mean Bockin !" when I described where the house I was buying was situated.

Liz Headon wrote:

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Lower part of Friezland Lane, above Robert Scott's mill.

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Thanks Liz - you learn something new every day!

These local names can be confusing. Friezland for instance. On the map Friezland is the area on the other side of Manchester Road to Bockin, but Friezland Church is near Royal George Mill, quite some distance away. And Boarshurst Band Club is in Friezland not Boarshurst!

Lower part of Friezland Lane, above Robert Scott's mill.

Hi Liz

where is Bockin? Don't know the name.

Cheers

Steve Suttill, that's probably why the last time I saw dippers they were (unusually) feeding upstream of that point.

Small group of lapwings in flight passing Bockin during the recent storm.

Having noted earlier in the week that there were occupied nests in the heronry, thought I'd go and see how they had fared after the recent gales.

As I strolled up to Greenfield I passed several uprooted trees but the herons' nests seem to have survived almost untouched, despite their exposed position, and four pairs seem well established. A young Cormorant was also present.

There were 10 Goosanders (3 adult males) and an unringed Dipper on the river by the sewage works. One Brambling with a small Chaffinch flock at the Old Station House, along with one male Siskin, one Goldcrest and a pair of Bullfinch along with the usuals.

At the confluence of the Tame and Chew Brook it was obvious that a lot of sediment was being washed down Chew Brook, presumably from the adjacent house building site. I can't see Dippers being able to feed in such murky water...

Royal George Lodge had 2 Mute Swans, 4 Coot and 1 Little Grebe.

-- Edited by Steve Suttill on Friday 14th of February 2014 01:22:51 PM

Royal George lodge 14.00 - nice and sunny for a change!

2 Mute Swans, 4 Coot and just one Little Grebe. Grey Wagtail on river. Nuthatch.

Pair Gt. Spotted Woodpecker in trees by canal.

Tipped off about a flock of 370 Fieldfares that Dave Sanderson had found on his Winter Thrush Survey, I headed off to Mt. Pleasant Farm, between Manchester Rd. and Intake Lane.

There were still over 250 Fieldfare present with around 100 Starlings in the field. Several Red Grouse were calling from the slopes of Alphin to the south. Also Brown Hare.

Then, after a few snow flakes - it started to rain

On the Royal George lodge, 2 mute swan, 3 little grebe and a dipper singing on the river.

Weds 22nd Jan. 14.30 hrs.

Royal George Lodge.

2 Mute Swan.
2 Coot.
Goosander (red-head).

The Manns.

4 Moorhen.
2 Coot.
c 134 Canada Geese in the field.
c 300+ Black-headed Gulls in the field over towards Boarhurst.

The short "Church Length" of canal had 23 Mallard drakes and 2 ducks.

Roger.

4.00 pm today, by the Greenbridge Lane/Oakview Road bridge.

2 dippers (a pair ?) - both unringed
2 separate pairs of mallard, as opposed to the mixed groups of 6 - 9 which were there all last week.

This morning's WeBS count at Royal George lodge:

2 Mute Swans, 7 Goosander (3 drakes), 2 Little Grebe, 5 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 1 Heron, 19 Mallard and 19 Black-headed Gulls - but only 11 Canada Geese.

Dipper singing on river.

Royal George lodge, 2 mute swans, 5 goosander including 4 drakes and a buzzard circling overhead.

Dipper - 3 sightings - bird with BTO ring on rt leg (river by sewage works -Friezeland) 2 unringed birds 1 on the river between Chew Valley Road & sewage works, the other on the feeder stream to the fishing pond between Archer's and Tanners' Mills
Grey Heron - 1 adult on the river at Friezeland, sightings of (the same?) juvenile on the river between Chew Yalley Road & sewage works, over St. Mary's School playing fields & fishing the weir below Tanner Bros' Mill
Goosander - 2m on the river at Friezeland.

Good numbers of commoner woodland birds around - plus House Sparrow.

Lots of Jelly ear at Water Edge carpark & Blushing Bracket on willows now in Chew Brook at Tanner Bros.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Tuesday 14th of January 2014 07:45:55 PM