Good views of Whinchat in the scrub adjacent to the building surrounded by railings in centre of lower section (Well spotted Chris!)
Greenfinch
Reed Bunting
Whitethroat
Pheasant
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Apr 30 1:21 AM, 2021
Originally posted by yesterday Nick Isherwood:
Out on a work visit this morning and was pleasantly surprised to see a male Redstart in the small trees by Hatter Avenue. I watched it for about ten minutes before it moved on.
Tony Koziol said
Sun Jan 10 2:27 PM, 2021
Visit between 10.30/12.00 very light drizzle, walked in by Jewsons yard.
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Blue tit
Great tit
Long tailed tit
Blackbird
Magpie
Black headed Gull
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
John Rayner said
Fri Oct 30 2:00 PM, 2020
27th Oct
Snipe 17 Mixed Finch flock of 25 Gold, 4 Green and 6 Bullfinches Long-tailed Tit 11 Pheasant Redwing 19
Also recent sighting of 1 Stonechat and 3 Teal (per Nigel Troup)
Cheers, John
Simon Gough said
Mon May 18 4:28 PM, 2020
Late post for Sunday 17/05
07.00-09.30
Nice to have a look around here in Spring, it was considerably drier underfoot than my last visit splashing around with a load of Snipe.
Not a lot in the way of sightings, primary small birds on territory were Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Song Thrush. I didn't see anything that I hadn't already found on lockdown nearer to home, even though various bits of habitat looked superb for birds like Garden, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers, none of which i have seen this year. Also missed any Meadow Pipit, maybe they all disappear for the summer anyway, also no Teal about, presume the same applies to them.
Swift, Swallow and Sand Martin all seen, the Swifts and Swallows in particular were breathtaking in low flight over the bio-mass area.
John Rayner said
Wed Feb 5 1:46 PM, 2020
Snipe 46 Jack Snipe 4 Woodcock 1 Raven 2 Buzzard 1 Reed Bunting 7 Meadow Pipit 2 only Greenfinch 6 and a single Redwing
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Thu Jan 16 3:09 PM, 2020
Best of today:
Snipe 4 Jack Snipe 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Grey Heron 2 Kestrel 1 Meadow Pipit 2
Surprisingly low numbers of Larks, Pipits, Buntings and Finches after last year's super-flocks.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Fri Apr 19 1:01 PM, 2019
First Whitethroats of the year - 2 Blackcaps - 4 Chiffchaffs - 2 Jays - 3
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Sat Mar 23 1:23 PM, 2019
Chiffchaff - 4 singing Buzzard - a kettle of 6 spiralling Little Grebe 2-3 Skylark 1 Pheasant 2 Meadow Pipits 16
No sign of any Teal, Finchesor Snipe
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Wed Mar 6 1:13 PM, 2019
Enjoy this site whilst it is still wild. I talked to a chap at the methane extraction plant who said it will be levelled and planted for bio-mass as soon as clearance is received from the Environment Agency.
Finch flock of c150 contained all the common finches (except Redpoll and Siskin). Predominantly Chaffinches. Brambling 1 Raven 2 (sat watching the Heron nests) Stonechat still Teal 36 Snipe 4 Skylark 5 Reed Bunting 7 Woodcock 1 Redwing 1 Stock Dove 5
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Wed Feb 13 2:42 PM, 2019
Snipe 19 Teal c40 Skylark 2 Finch flock c100 contained at least 1 Brambling At least 2 Grey Herons attending 5 nests at the heronry Green Woodpecker heard in the vicinity of the heronry
Cheers, John
John Rayner said
Tue Feb 5 1:47 PM, 2019
The finch flock is back. 150-200 mix of finches, buntings and pipits.
Teal 46 (from photo) Brambling 4 (some poor photos taken at great distance) Woodcock 1 Flock of Chaffinches/Goldfinches/Linnets/Reed Buntings/Meadow Pipits well scattered and hard to count (c200) Snipe 6 only Buzzard 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Grey Heron 2 Pheasant 2
If a rare pipit is to be found then you'll probably find it :)
John Rayner said
Tue Jan 8 4:35 PM, 2019
6th Jan. 11.00 - 12.45:
Huge numbers of birds around the cleared, weedy area. The best being a Stonechat and a finch flock of c300 birds. The whole area has great potential at the moment. If a rare bunting/pipit/lark etc is to be found then here is as good as anywhere.
Woodpigeons 200-250 Meadow Pipits 15-20 Reed Buntings 6 Teal 12 Singles of Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Kestrel
8th Jan. 11.30 - 12.40:
No Stonechat seen - then as above, plus:
Green Woodpecker 1 Skylark 2
Cheers, John
Simon Gough said
Sun Dec 16 3:05 PM, 2018
9.00-12.00 with Colin Rushmer
My first visit for a while, and first ever for Colin. The 'bio-mass area' had abundant small birds as John Rayner noted in November, but there looked to be dozens of Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits as well as plenty of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and a couple of Bullfinch. We didn't see any Brambling, Linnet or Greenfinch or migrant winter thrushes.
Plenty of Snipe on the various boggy areas, probably over 20 across the site but hard to tell if it was different birds or we were chasing the same ones around somewhat. I suspect the former.
Notable were a single Raven that hung around despite being unpopular with the crows and also a few Teal that were up on the bio-mass area in the various puddles. We also saw Sparrowhawk and Buzzards being mobbed, the Buzzards in particular were being absolutely hounded.
Such an enigma as a site; in pure habitat terms it ought to be holding some great stuff but the next load of major disturbance is probably just around the corner and it is pretty urban as well. Having said that we got 33 species and also intriguingly we heard a Green Woodpecker over by Tenement Lane, which would presumably be a good bird for the area. It was a nice walk round all in all.
John Rayner said
Tue Nov 27 11:52 AM, 2018
The cleared area is full of tall weeds and held a decent sized finch flock of c200. Mostly Chaffinches but difficult to assess properly until they flew up into trees along Tenement Lane. Best estimates were:
No sign of the Stonechat seen by Nigel Troup earlier this week. Didn't do the uncleaed area or Jewsons corner.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Sat Oct 20 1:09 PM, 2018
Snipe 7 Jack Snipe 1 Mistle Thrush 7 Bullfinch 5 Reed Bunting 2 Jay 2 and singles of Buzzard, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Fri May 18 6:02 PM, 2018
No Sedge Warbler and little other activity in the heat of the morning. Whitethroats, however, were abundant.
Whitethroat 7 singing Greenfinch 2 pairs Little Grebe 1 Robin juvenile Pheasant heard Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs
I spoke with people involved with the Biomass Development. The muddy wilderness is to be planted (Autumn?) with approx 50,000 Willows. The first harvest is expected 3 years later. Paths are to be cut through the Willows and also a perimeter path. Not sure what this means for woldlife but it has to be better that the bare sub-soil expanse at the moment (see attached).
Persimmon's planning permission for scrub area of the tip has apparently lapsed but they are likely to be back with a new application. This area is quite promising at the moment and holds the Whitethroats and other warblers (see attached).
A Sedge Warbler singing was a local scarcity (Seen single birds in 9 out of last 12 years - so not even annual) Swift 5 Swallow 1 Whitethroat 5 Little Grebe 1 Pheasant 2 Reed Bunting 2 Buzzard 2 Goldcrest 1 Usual Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Fri May 4 10:14 AM, 2018
Whitethroat 3 Willow Warbler 3 Blackcap 1 Little Grebe 1
A heronry on Tenement Lane was new to me and held 5 nests. A bit of drama as 2 Carrion Crows tried to knock a displaced, fledged youngster out of the tree (possibly its first flight). Luckily it managed to fend them off and eventually made it back to a nest, where it got a hostile reception at first but eventualy all was calm.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Wed Apr 11 10:04 AM, 2018
2 Little Grebes on Sunken Car Pool was a decent record 1 Willow Warbler singing (they seem to be quite slow to arrive locally) 4 Chiffchaffs 3 Linnets 5 Meadow Pipits
Not much today reflecting the relentless degradation of habitat at this site. Today there was continuous dumping and spreading of what appeared to be whiffy effluent-treatment sludge over the cleared area to a depth of 2-3 feet. Not much grass left now but enough for single skylark and linnet. Towards Jewson's corner 2 pumps were being set up to further drain snipe habitat (where there were 30-40 last year). The recent years of 8 reeling Grasshopper Warblers are gone and the days of finding the likes of Little Bunting, Shorelark, Richard's Pipit, Spotted Crake etc (birds of the Geoff Lightfoot era) are only a distant memory.
There is a small, narrow, 2 foot gap at Midland Road for the fit and agile.
Nigel, Even more sub-soil dumped since my last visit and only a little exposed grass is left. There is such a depth of soil dumped now that the 'lower' level stands higher than the 'upper' level, so I will stick with your descriptors. Of note today:
I note that John and I have different approaches to naming this site: the area that I used to call 'upper', because I have to climb a muddy bank to get there, is 'lower' on John's map.
That is my mistake Nigel. The cleared area is indeed the 'lower' and, as the 'upper' area is also now partially cleared towards 'Jewson's Corner', it may be better to stick with upper and lower.
Cheers John
Nigel Troup said
Wed Feb 7 8:38 PM, 2018
It was -6C in my back garden this morning, but the temperature had risen well above freezing by the time I visited the tip, late afternoon. I only carried out a short circuit, but it was a profitable visit.
I note that John and I have different approaches to naming this site: the area that I used to call 'upper', because I have to climb a muddy bank to get there, is 'lower' on John's map. I will reference them from now on as 'cleared' and 'uncleared': this allows no ambiguity.
The uncleared area held a small flock of winter thrushes: c30 Redwing and 5 Fieldfare, not far from the Midland Road entrance. In the same general area were a male Reed Bunting, a few Goldfinch and Greenfinch and a Kestrel. I also flushed a Woodcock: my first here since Feb 2013. Three female / immature Reed Bunting were at the foot of the slope, near the fence line. A Siskin was an uncommon sighting here.
The cleared area was less productive: a Pheasant, many Carrion Crows and a flock of six Skylark.
Just when the upper level was greening up more extensive tipping of sub-soil to a depth of 2-3 feet.
Grey Heron 5 (loafing on upper level) Ring-necked Parakeets 2 (calling and over at speed) Snipe 2 (best areas have been destroyed) Siskin c15 Nuthatch (in garden on perimeter of tip) Only singles of Greenfinch and Bullfinch
I found my first Fieldfare (four of them) of the autumn here yesterday afternoon.
Other notables were four Snipe, two Reed Bunting and a grounded Skylark. A young Greenfinch is worthy of mention: they have become scarce in the area. Once again, Bullfinch was the most abundant member of the finch family.
Nigel Troup said
Sat Oct 14 11:29 AM, 2017
There was a good variety of species this morning, which included six species of crow. Two Ravens feeding on the ground was a surprise - only my third record here. Thrushes are returning in number: at least 10 Blackbirds and six Song Thrushes. A Chiffchaff was with Long-tailed Tits, in a flock that was spooked by a Sparrowhawk. A Skylark flew over.
Four Skylarks feeding on the scraped area near Tenement Lane entrance this evening were the first I have seen here for over five years.
Other highlights were a Kestrel, c30 Goldfinches, two Chiffchaff, eight Pied Wagtails, a Bullfinch and three Jays.
John Rayner said
Mon Sep 25 2:00 PM, 2017
The upper section is indeed greening up a bit, and held a wheatear plus a decent linnet flock, but a big swathe of the lower section (towards Dewsons) has been stripped of all vegetation and some sub-soil tipping has started. This has wiped out the boggy areas where large numbers of Snipe and a few Jack Snipe were recorded last winter period.
The section cleared for biomass now has some light grass cover, so things have picked up a bit. There are also some promising areas of shallow standing water.
At least one Sedge Warbler was still present yesterday evening in the area around the 'pond' - I heard two on Saturday. As per Saturday, I heard a short burst of Lesser Whitethroat song, but couldn't locate the source visually. Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap added to the warbler selection.
A rabbit was an unexpected first. I am no authority on rabbit health, but this one did not look well, a diagnosis shared by the accompanying group of Magpies.
Nigel Troup said
Fri May 12 7:26 PM, 2017
A Sedge Warbler added to the variety of species at Adswood Tip this evening. It sang twice, fairly briefly, from near the pond. Other warbler numbers are fairly low: three Whitethroat, two Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap.
There was plenty of action overhead, with 30+ Swifts joined by Swallows and two House Martins (my first in Stockport this year).
John Rayner said
Sat Apr 22 5:14 PM, 2017
First Whitethroat of the year (info thanks to Nigel Troup)
No birds at all down on the bare earth area but a Buzzard and 2 displaying Sparrowhawks overhead.
Cheers John
Nigel Troup said
Thu Apr 13 8:17 PM, 2017
It was quite a pleasant evening once the sun came out and the ground here is unusually dry, which made for easy going; however, a cool wind kept birds quiet. I had picked up three Willow Warblers and a Blackcap on Tuesday evening, but tonight Chiffchaff was the only summer visitor.
I have started to cover the cleared area more carefully since the Little Ringed Plovers were found, but these have definitely moved on. A Lapwing, two Canada Geese, twelve Linnets, two Stock Doves, a Pied Wagtail and many crows were the only visitors, along with a male Reed Bunting - my first of the year, at the tenth attempt.
The top, uncleared, section was quiet: just the usuals - Bullfinch, Jay etc.
Justin Garner said
Sat Apr 1 10:07 AM, 2017
Not been to this site for a while.
On the land with rubble and soil 2 Lapwings 3 Ringed Plovers
On the Tip
5 Bullfinches 3 Reed buntings 14 Snipe A flock of 40 Redwings flying north.
Nigel Troup said
Fri Mar 31 7:14 PM, 2017
18:10 to 18:50
Chiffchaff 5 Snipe 9 Pheasant 2 Jay 2
Nigel Troup said
Wed Mar 29 7:56 PM, 2017
18:20 to 19:00. Dull and damp.
Chiffchaff 5 Fieldfare 4 Snipe 3
Still no sign of Reed Bunting here this year. I hope that we haven't lost them.
There had been a hard overnight frost at Adswood Tip, but there were areas of ground still soft enough to provide feeding opportunities for Common Snipe. I flushed 45 from the boggy area near Jewson's and closer inspection put up two Jack Snipe. There were a further four Common Snipe flushed from other areas, with flying groups almost constantly overhead: presumably birds that had been disturbed earlier.
There wasn't a lot else to get excited about on a 45-minute circuit: a couple of Pheasant, one Meadow Pipit, a Greenfinch (not easy to find in the area now).
I trudged forlornly over the barren area prepared for biomass. It seems fit for nothing but crows and pigeons.
Nigel Troup said
Mon Dec 26 1:25 PM, 2016
There were 24 Snipe and a Jack Snipe in the boggy area by Jewson's yard this morning. Apart from these, and a hen Pheasant, it was almost deserted.
John Rayner said
Tue Oct 11 12:42 PM, 2016
No-one seems to have reported from here since May - and there are changes aplenty. The upper, cleared area is currently being levelled presumably for the planting of 'biomass'. Many of the tradtional dog walking tracks are now heavily overgrown, which is probably a benefit.
The changes seemed to suit Magpies (41) with 18 mobbing a single Buzzard 5 Linnets 3 Skylarks over 2 Meadow Pipits 5 Snipe 13 Blackbirds 2 Bullfinches
08:30 wander this morning.
Good views of Whinchat in the scrub adjacent to the building surrounded by railings in centre of lower section (Well spotted Chris!)
Greenfinch
Reed Bunting
Whitethroat
Pheasant
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Originally posted by yesterday Nick Isherwood:
Out on a work visit this morning and was pleasantly surprised to see a male Redstart in the small trees by Hatter Avenue. I watched it for about ten minutes before it moved on.
Visit between 10.30/12.00 very light drizzle, walked in by Jewsons yard.
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Blue tit
Great tit
Long tailed tit
Blackbird
Magpie
Black headed Gull
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Snipe 17
Mixed Finch flock of 25 Gold, 4 Green and 6 Bullfinches
Long-tailed Tit 11
Pheasant
Redwing 19
Also recent sighting of 1 Stonechat and 3 Teal (per Nigel Troup)
Cheers, John
07.00-09.30
Nice to have a look around here in Spring, it was considerably drier underfoot than my last visit splashing around with a load of Snipe.
Not a lot in the way of sightings, primary small birds on territory were Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Song Thrush. I didn't see anything that I hadn't already found on lockdown nearer to home, even though various bits of habitat looked superb for birds like Garden, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers, none of which i have seen this year. Also missed any Meadow Pipit, maybe they all disappear for the summer anyway, also no Teal about, presume the same applies to them.
Swift, Swallow and Sand Martin all seen, the Swifts and Swallows in particular were breathtaking in low flight over the bio-mass area.
Jack Snipe 4
Woodcock 1
Raven 2
Buzzard 1
Reed Bunting 7
Meadow Pipit 2 only
Greenfinch 6
and a single Redwing
Cheers John
Snipe 4
Jack Snipe 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Grey Heron 2
Kestrel 1
Meadow Pipit 2
Surprisingly low numbers of Larks, Pipits, Buntings and Finches after last year's super-flocks.
Cheers John
First Whitethroats of the year - 2
Blackcaps - 4
Chiffchaffs - 2
Jays - 3
Cheers John
Buzzard - a kettle of 6 spiralling
Little Grebe 2-3
Skylark 1
Pheasant 2
Meadow Pipits 16
No sign of any Teal, Finchesor Snipe
Cheers John
Finch flock of c150 contained all the common finches (except Redpoll and Siskin). Predominantly Chaffinches.
Brambling 1
Raven 2 (sat watching the Heron nests)
Stonechat still
Teal 36
Snipe 4
Skylark 5
Reed Bunting 7
Woodcock 1
Redwing 1
Stock Dove 5
Cheers John
Teal c40
Skylark 2
Finch flock c100 contained at least 1 Brambling
At least 2 Grey Herons attending 5 nests at the heronry
Green Woodpecker heard in the vicinity of the heronry
Cheers, John
Teal 46 (from photo)
Brambling 4 (some poor photos taken at great distance)
Woodcock 1
Flock of Chaffinches/Goldfinches/Linnets/Reed Buntings/Meadow Pipits well scattered and hard to count (c200)
Snipe 6 only
Buzzard 1
Grey Wagtail 2
Grey Heron 2
Pheasant 2
Cheers John
Reed Bunting 42
Chiffchaff 1-2
Snipe 17
Jack Snipe 2
Teal 41
Skylark 2
Meadow Pipit 25
Pheasant 1
Herring Gull 1 over
Common Gull 1 over
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 2
Brambling 1
Cheers, John
Edit: Stonechat reported by Nigel Troup
-- Edited by John Rayner on Thursday 31st of January 2019 02:47:49 PM
Brambling 3
Chaffinch c80
Greenfinch 3
Linnet 33
Snipe 24
Jack Snipe 2
Reed Bunting 19
Meadow Pipit 8
Teal 14
Mallard 10
Wood Pigeon c120
Raven 2
Pheasant 2
Green Woodpecker (H)
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Grey Heron 1
Cheers John
If a rare pipit is to be found then you'll probably find it :)
Huge numbers of birds around the cleared, weedy area. The best being a Stonechat and a finch flock of c300 birds. The whole area has great potential at the moment. If a rare bunting/pipit/lark etc is to be found then here is as good as anywhere.
Stonechat 1m
Chaffinch c260
Linnets c20
Goldfinch c20
Brambling 7 (including some nice plumaged males)
Next best were the Snipe (54)
Woodpigeons 200-250
Meadow Pipits 15-20
Reed Buntings 6
Teal 12
Singles of Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Kestrel
8th Jan. 11.30 - 12.40:
No Stonechat seen - then as above, plus:
Green Woodpecker 1
Skylark 2
Cheers, John
My first visit for a while, and first ever for Colin. The 'bio-mass area' had abundant small birds as John Rayner noted in November, but there looked to be dozens of Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits as well as plenty of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and a couple of Bullfinch. We didn't see any Brambling, Linnet or Greenfinch or migrant winter thrushes.
Plenty of Snipe on the various boggy areas, probably over 20 across the site but hard to tell if it was different birds or we were chasing the same ones around somewhat. I suspect the former.
Notable were a single Raven that hung around despite being unpopular with the crows and also a few Teal that were up on the bio-mass area in the various puddles. We also saw Sparrowhawk and Buzzards being mobbed, the Buzzards in particular were being absolutely hounded.
Such an enigma as a site; in pure habitat terms it ought to be holding some great stuff but the next load of major disturbance is probably just around the corner and it is pretty urban as well. Having said that we got 33 species and also intriguingly we heard a Green Woodpecker over by Tenement Lane, which would presumably be a good bird for the area. It was a nice walk round all in all.
Chaffinch 150
Linnet 25
Goldfinch 15
Greenfinch 1
Brambling 2
Also:
Meadow Pipit 20
Teal 17
Mallard 10
Snipe 3
Pheasant 2
No sign of the Stonechat seen by Nigel Troup earlier this week. Didn't do the uncleaed area or Jewsons corner.
Cheers John
Jack Snipe 1
Mistle Thrush 7
Bullfinch 5
Reed Bunting 2
Jay 2
and singles of Buzzard, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker
Cheers John
Whitethroat 7 singing
Greenfinch 2 pairs
Little Grebe 1
Robin juvenile
Pheasant heard
Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs
I spoke with people involved with the Biomass Development. The muddy wilderness is to be planted (Autumn?) with approx 50,000 Willows. The first harvest is expected 3 years later. Paths are to be cut through the Willows and also a perimeter path.
Not sure what this means for woldlife but it has to be better that the bare sub-soil expanse at the moment (see attached).
Persimmon's planning permission for scrub area of the tip has apparently lapsed but they are likely to be back with a new application. This area is quite promising at the moment and holds the Whitethroats and other warblers (see attached).
Cheers John
Swift 5
Swallow 1
Whitethroat 5
Little Grebe 1
Pheasant 2
Reed Bunting 2
Buzzard 2
Goldcrest 1
Usual Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.
Cheers John
Willow Warbler 3
Blackcap 1
Little Grebe 1
A heronry on Tenement Lane was new to me and held 5 nests. A bit of drama as 2 Carrion Crows tried to knock a displaced, fledged youngster out of the tree (possibly its first flight). Luckily it managed to fend them off and eventually made it back to a nest, where it got a hostile reception at first but eventualy all was calm.
Cheers John
1 Willow Warbler singing (they seem to be quite slow to arrive locally)
4 Chiffchaffs
3 Linnets
5 Meadow Pipits
Cheers John
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Fieldfares
2 Buzzards
2 Jays
2 Bullfinches
2 Linnets
2 Greenfinches
Where's an ark when you need one.
Cheers John
The recent years of 8 reeling Grasshopper Warblers are gone and the days of finding the likes of Little Bunting, Shorelark, Richard's Pipit, Spotted Crake etc (birds of the Geoff Lightfoot era) are only a distant memory.
Chiffchaff singing
Redwing 3
Singles of Skylark, Linnet, Jay, Reed Bunting, Buzzard
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 26th of March 2018 07:54:05 PM
Skylark 23 (grounded flock)
Meadow Pipit 14
Lesser Back-backed Gull 18 (grounded flock)
Herring Gull 4
Raven 1
Snipe 1
Buzzard 1
Greenfinch 2
Cheers John
I only saw 15 species in a 50-minute tour from 16:00 today, but where quantity was lacking, quality compensated:
1 Woodcock
2 Snipe
1 Kestrel
2 Pheasant
9 Fieldfare
1 Common Gull
Nigel,
Even more sub-soil dumped since my last visit and only a little exposed grass is left. There is such a depth of soil dumped now that the 'lower' level stands higher than the 'upper' level, so I will stick with your descriptors.
Of note today:
Cleared area:
12 Meadow Pipits
18 Magpies
Uncleared area:
1 Woodcock
2 Reed Buntings
5 Bullfinches
2 Fieldfares
1 Redwing
Cheers John
is there an entrance from Midland rd
That is my mistake Nigel. The cleared area is indeed the 'lower' and, as the 'upper' area is also now partially cleared towards 'Jewson's Corner', it may be better to stick with upper and lower.
Cheers John
I note that John and I have different approaches to naming this site: the area that I used to call 'upper', because I have to climb a muddy bank to get there, is 'lower' on John's map. I will reference them from now on as 'cleared' and 'uncleared': this allows no ambiguity.
The uncleared area held a small flock of winter thrushes: c30 Redwing and 5 Fieldfare, not far from the Midland Road entrance. In the same general area were a male Reed Bunting, a few Goldfinch and Greenfinch and a Kestrel. I also flushed a Woodcock: my first here since Feb 2013. Three female / immature Reed Bunting were at the foot of the slope, near the fence line. A Siskin was an uncommon sighting here.
The cleared area was less productive: a Pheasant, many Carrion Crows and a flock of six Skylark.
Pheasant 1
Grey Heron 1
Woodcock 1
Black-headed Gull 8
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
Woodpigeon
Kestrel 1
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Skylark 6
Wren
Blackbird
Fieldfare 5
Song Thrush 2
Redwing c30
Robin
Dunnock 3
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin 1
Reed Bunting 4
Grey Heron 5 (loafing on upper level)
Ring-necked Parakeets 2 (calling and over at speed)
Snipe 2 (best areas have been destroyed)
Siskin c15
Nuthatch (in garden on perimeter of tip)
Only singles of Greenfinch and Bullfinch
Cheers, John
2 Skylark
15 Meadow Pipit
16 Chaffinch
1 Snipe
1 Kestrel.
Other notables were four Snipe, two Reed Bunting and a grounded Skylark. A young Greenfinch is worthy of mention: they have become scarce in the area. Once again, Bullfinch was the most abundant member of the finch family.
Canada Goose 2
Pheasant 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Snipe 1
Black-headed Gull 9
Feral Pigeon
Woodpigeon
Magpie
Jay 4
Jackdaw
Rook 1
Carrion Crow
Raven 2
Blue Tit 4
Skylark 1
Long-tailed Tit 6
Chiffchaff 1
Wren
Starling 10
Blackbird 10+
Song Thrush 6
Robin
Dunnock 2
Pied Wagtail 5
Meadow Pipit 2
Bullfinch 6
Linnet 2
Goldfinch 2
Reed Bunting 1
Other highlights were a Kestrel, c30 Goldfinches, two Chiffchaff, eight Pied Wagtails, a Bullfinch and three Jays.
Wheatear 1
Meadow Pipit 6
Linnet 38 (inc flock of 30)
Chiffchaff 2
Jay 2
Snipe 2
Sparrowhawk 2
Reed Bunting 2
Goldfinch c35
Woodpigeon 60
Freal Pigeon 18
Cheers John
Highlights:
Pied Wagtail 6
Grey Wagtail 1
Snipe 3
Meadow Pipit 10
Linnet 4
Stock Dove 2
Buzzard 3
Swallow 6+
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
A rabbit was an unexpected first. I am no authority on rabbit health, but this one did not look well, a diagnosis shared by the accompanying group of Magpies.
There was plenty of action overhead, with 30+ Swifts joined by Swallows and two House Martins (my first in Stockport this year).
I have started to cover the cleared area more carefully since the Little Ringed Plovers were found, but these have definitely moved on. A Lapwing, two Canada Geese, twelve Linnets, two Stock Doves, a Pied Wagtail and many crows were the only visitors, along with a male Reed Bunting - my first of the year, at the tenth attempt.
The top, uncleared, section was quiet: just the usuals - Bullfinch, Jay etc.
Not been to this site for a while.
On the land with rubble and soil 2 Lapwings 3 Ringed Plovers
On the Tip
5 Bullfinches 3 Reed buntings 14 Snipe A flock of 40 Redwings flying north.
Chiffchaff 5
Snipe 9
Pheasant 2
Jay 2
Chiffchaff 5
Fieldfare 4
Snipe 3
Still no sign of Reed Bunting here this year. I hope that we haven't lost them.
Snipe 19
Greenfinch 2
Bullfinch 1
Pheasant 1
Buzzard 1
Mallard 2
Cheers John
There wasn't a lot else to get excited about on a 45-minute circuit: a couple of Pheasant, one Meadow Pipit, a Greenfinch (not easy to find in the area now).
I trudged forlornly over the barren area prepared for biomass. It seems fit for nothing but crows and pigeons.
The changes seemed to suit Magpies (41) with 18 mobbing a single Buzzard
5 Linnets
3 Skylarks over
2 Meadow Pipits
5 Snipe
13 Blackbirds
2 Bullfinches
So, the phylloscopus hunt fails yet again.
Cheers John