The drake North American Wood Duck and a drake Mandarin still present on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal (info thanks to Susan Davey), both these birds are pinioned on the right wing
James Walsh said
Wed May 12 4:34 PM, 2021
The drake North American Wood Duck and 2 drake Mandarins on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Isaac Heath said
Wed Apr 7 7:48 PM, 2021
walk along the canal from the royal george to stalybridge
mandarin and an american wood duck - who seem to be quite the pair
2 wrens
1 kingfisher
2 common buzzard
2 jays
JSPALDING said
Tue Aug 4 4:56 PM, 2020
A hobby flying low over Stamford Golf course this afternoon
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 4th of August 2020 05:53:56 PM
John Everett said
Mon May 25 7:53 AM, 2020
My first swift of 2020 - seen 8.55pm Sunday 24th May 2020. Solitary bird flying over Mossley Hollins School and Micklehurst.
John Everett said
Wed Apr 15 8:37 PM, 2020
My first Chiffchaff of 2020 in Mossley - on Hanover St.
James Walsh said
Mon Apr 6 9:21 AM, 2020
Sunday 5th April 2020
Drake North American Wood Duck still present in Mossley on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Walking the canal from roaches direction Mossley. Female Goosander in flight flying towards Mossley. Caught up with it behind Warmco where it was on the water. As I approached it took to the wing again and flew towards Mossley.
David Walsh said
Sat Dec 21 3:41 PM, 2019
Saturday 21st December 2019, 12.30pm.
Raven flying over the Tollemache pub, Manchester Road, towards Greenfield.
Garry Chesters said
Thu Dec 5 11:32 AM, 2019
1 female Goosander on canal near Warmco industrial estate.
David Walsh said
Sat Jul 6 11:05 PM, 2019
Steve Suttill wrote:
Some unusual sightings of redhead Goosanders on the river Tame in Mossley.
One was present on the 1st June which I thought odd and considered the possibility of a local breeding attempt. Presumably the same bird reappeared on the same spot yesterday and this morning there were two redheads! Has anyone else noticed them?
I had a female on Walkerwood Reservoir on 15th June, but no other sightings since spring, Steve. As weve said before, the valley does look good for breeding, so fingers crossed.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Jul 6 9:53 AM, 2019
Some unusual sightings of redhead Goosanders on the river Tame in Mossley.
One was present on the 1st June which I thought odd and considered the possibility of a local breeding attempt. Presumably the same bird reappeared on the same spot yesterday and this morning there were two redheads! Has anyone else noticed them?
Steve Suttill said
Mon Apr 22 9:38 AM, 2019
Puddle Cay Pits SBI this morning:
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - First for me at this endangered site. Pair of Lapwing nesting in the field above.
Steve Suttill said
Sun Apr 7 9:38 AM, 2019
Puddle Cay Pits SBI this morning:
First Blackcap for me this year (singing male). Two Snipe flushed from reedbed. Pair of Lapwing courting in the field above. Several pairs of Reed Bunting.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Apr 6 12:32 PM, 2019
David Walsh wrote:
Steve Suttill wrote: But there were another 2 Red-legged Partridges - where have they all come from?
Stalybridge estates have released them, Steve. Not sure why, because there are none on the moor. They are all around the farmland areas, low down, meaning it would be impossible to shoot them safely.
Well there was one "singing" just inside the estate fence this morning but, as you say, the vast majority are in the farm fields. The mentality of the game shooting fraternity never ceases to amaze.
David Walsh said
Fri Apr 5 9:41 PM, 2019
Steve Suttill wrote: But there were another 2 Red-legged Partridges - where have they all come from?
Stalybridge estates have released them, Steve. Not sure why, because there are none on the moor. They are all around the farmland areas, low down, meaning it would be impossible to shoot them safely.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Apr 5 9:06 PM, 2019
Apologies. Some of this should be in the Greenfield thread but it was a long walk which kept crossing the border!
Heronry count at Greenfield ETW was disappointing with only one nest. Compensation provided by a Kingfisher and several Dippers and Grey Wagtails.
The other aim of the day was to look for Ring Ouzels and Wheatears - a complete failure on both species!
Intake Lane had 2 Little Owls, a very smart male Stonechat and 2 Red-legged Partridges as well as ubiquitous Meadow Pipits. Not as many Lapwings as in previous years.
Up Warlow Clough, flushed 2 Snipe, and around the east side of Noonsun Hill. Depressing to see the desolation as a result of last year's fires. So much nesting habitat lost. Didn't hear a Curlew all day. Strange to see another pair of Red-legged Partridges strolling across the blackened wasteland.
Back on Moor Edge Road, Mistle Thrush and Blackbird were the only thrushes to be seen - this time last year it was Fieldfares and Ring Ouzels. Further on there were no Lapwings at all in a field which normally has half a dozen nesting pairs. But there were another 2 Red-legged Partridges - where have they all come from?
A visit to Puddle Clay Pits SBI produced 2 Snipe, 2 Lapwing, Heron and... another pair of Red-legged Partridges!
Garry Chesters said
Thu Mar 28 3:08 PM, 2019
Chiffchaff heard but not seen between River and canal.Estate opposite Tollemache pub.
-- Edited by Garry Chesters on Thursday 28th of March 2019 04:37:01 PM
Steve Suttill said
Sat Feb 23 12:01 PM, 2019
Walk around the moor edge yesterday, from Micklehurst Cricket Club to the Greenfield border.
2 Red-legged Partridges and 22 Fieldfare near the old quarry. 7 Lapwings in the top field at Hole House Farm.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Feb 15 12:53 PM, 2019
Third visit to BBS square (Top Mossley/Hartshead Pike) this morning for the BTO English Winter Bird Survey (beautiful spring weather).
Highlight had to be 6 Skylarks with at least two singing! Flock of 20 Lapwings was also impressive for this area.
2x Dippers flying down the river (didnt land, so couldnt get a picture with my new camera!)
Great and blue tits in the backside cover
Several jackdaws
Steve Suttill said
Sun Nov 4 9:16 PM, 2018
Hundreds of Fieldfare and Redwing around Heron Lane this weekend - and my first Brambling of the year this morning.
Steve Suttill said
Tue Jun 19 9:30 PM, 2018
Hobby hunting over Puddle Clay Pits SBI this evening - a site first for me.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Jun 1 10:24 PM, 2018
Late visit to BBS square (Top Mossley/Hartshead Pike) this morning (hot & humid):
Fewer Willow Warblers than on the early visit - maybe some of the April birds were just passing through? Only 2 Lapwing and no sign of successful breeding. Usual number of Swallows, but no House Martins or Swifts. No Skylarks singing either, Good news was 3 singing Whitethroats, all very close to the survey route.
Steve Suttill said
Sun Apr 22 10:32 AM, 2018
Sedge Warblers back at Puddle Clay Pits SBI this morning
Nuthatch pair have established territory by Roaches Lock. This species is becoming relatively common round here these days. Can remember when they were as rare as hens' teeth!
Steve Suttill said
Sat Apr 21 9:46 AM, 2018
Moor Edge road: 7.30 - 8.45
Sadly no Ring Ouzels this morning. However...
Micklehurst Clough: singing Willow Warblers; Swallow; 2 Little Owls in quarry.
Noonsun Hill: Red Grouse calling; 2 Curlew (one of which flew right down into the valley to the field above Puddle Clay Pits SBI which is threatened by a planned housing development).
Fields below moor edge: just 9 Lapwing seen today; female Wheatear.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Apr 20 5:13 PM, 2018
Early visit to BBS square (Top Mossley/Hartshead Pike) this morning (my 21st year!):
5 Willow Warblers singing but no Chiffchaffs. 5 Lapwing, still hanging on in here. 3 Skylarks and a couple of Swallows. Not so many Meadow Pipits this year.
Heading home, disappointed not to have found a Wheatear, and a splendid male popped up on a drystone wall.
David Walsh said
Sun Apr 15 2:34 PM, 2018
Steve Suttill wrote:
David Walsh wrote: An unsuccessful attempt to twitch Steve Suttill's Ring Ouzels had the consolation of providing my first Swallow of the year, performing aerobatics over Micklehurst Clough.
Hardly my Ring Ouzels, since you told me where they were
Still no Swallows for me
If they were the same birds? You did succeed in enticing them to a slightly more accessible area
Steve Suttill said
Sun Apr 15 12:11 PM, 2018
David Walsh wrote: An unsuccessful attempt to twitch Steve Suttill's Ring Ouzels had the consolation of providing my first Swallow of the year, performing aerobatics over Micklehurst Clough.
Hardly my Ring Ouzels, since you told me where they were
Still no Swallows for me
David Walsh said
Sat Apr 14 10:28 PM, 2018
Saturday 14th April 2018, 5.00 - 7.00pm.
Moor Edge Road, on a lovely spring evening.
An unsuccessful attempt to twitch Steve Suttill's Ring Ouzels had the consolation of providing my first Swallow of the year, performing aerobatics over Micklehurst Clough.
Also:
2 singing Willow Warblers 1 singing Chiffchaff 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 Song Thrush 1 Mistle Thrush 1 singing Chaffinch 3 Goldfinch 15+ Pheasant 3 Red Grouse The usual Lapwing in their field
Steve Suttill said
Sat Apr 14 9:31 AM, 2018
My first Willow Warblers (2) singing at Heron Lane this morning.
David Walsh said
Fri Apr 13 10:16 PM, 2018
Steve Suttill wrote: Still no Wheatear or Willow Warblers.
I was lurking around the woods in the clough around dusk on Monday, Steve, and heard a Willow Warbler singing in the rain.
Perhaps it was also upwardly mobile, and has moved on to richer pastures in Oldham
Steve Suttill said
Fri Apr 13 5:18 PM, 2018
More moor edge meanderings - 10.15 - 13.15:
3 Ring Ouzels again, probably the same birds as Sunday in pretty much the same places. The male by the Lapwing field was surrounded by a flock of c30 Fieldfares. The Fieldfares flew off but the Ouzel remained resolutely on its favourite fence-post.
6 pairs of Lapwing in the usual field. One pair, thinking themselves superior presumably, have moved over the border into Greenfield.
Still no Wheatear or Willow Warblers.
Steve Suttill said
Sun Apr 8 9:49 AM, 2018
Moor edge this morning: 7.30 - 8.45
Found two of David Walsh's Ring Ouzels in a tree below the old quarry on the slope down the Micklehurst Brook. Also two Mistle Thrush. Little Owl and Kestrel in the quarry itself. Buzzard calling nearby.
Further north along the moor edge, another Ring Ouzel, a splendid male, flitting from one tree to another above the Lapwing field. 5 pairs of Lapwing in the field - a couple sitting. Two Red Grouse calling from edge of moor.
My first Chiffchaff of the year on the walk from home to the station this morning
Steve Suttill said
Sat Mar 24 9:23 AM, 2018
Thanks, David, for keeping an eye on my patch during my enforced absence. Hopefully I'm back for the rest of the season.
Saturday 24th March, 7.40 - 8.40am
Moor Edge Road, from Howards Lane, as far as the Oldham border:
14 Lapwings still in their usual field - minor territorial squabbles and low-level display. 8 Starlings and 6 Wood Pigeons also in the field. 2 Red Grouse 15 Pheasants (3 males) a few Meadow Pipits Chaffinch, Blackbird and Dunnock (all singing) but no raptors this early in the morning.
David Walsh said
Thu Mar 22 12:15 PM, 2018
Thursday 22nd March 2018, 9.30 - 11.30am
Moor Edge Road, from Howards Lane, as far as the Oldham border.
14 Lapwing was my best count, with several displaying
A mixed flock moving around the Lapwing field, consisting of: 70 Fieldfare 30 Redwing 60 Starlings
1 Sparrowhawk shot through, putting up all of the above 1 Kestrel over the moor 3 Buzzard spiralling above Buckton Moor 2 Raven around Abraham's Chair 60 Carrion Crows harassing the Raven 1 Skylark 4 Meadow Pipits 1 Pied Wagtail Chaffinch singing Mistle Thrush singing
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 22nd of March 2018 01:13:49 PM
Alan Turner said
Mon Mar 5 8:36 PM, 2018
2 Buzzards over The Billy Goat this afternoon about 2.45.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Mar 1 6:00 PM, 2018
Heron Lane on a slightly nippy and rather breezy afternoon
9 Goosanders (4 males) on the river, with a few Mallards and Canada Geese. Snipe flushed from old Sugar Well.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Nov 25 9:38 AM, 2017
Heron Lane early this morning:
60+ Fieldfares heading south through the snow showers.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Nov 24 2:33 PM, 2017
Morning walk along moor edge from Millbrook to Greenfield.
Buzzard being pestered by a Crow. Female Kestrel. Little Owl in old quarry at Noonsun Hill. Couple of Redwings and a Mistle Thrush.
Steve Suttill said
Sat Nov 11 11:21 AM, 2017
Heron Lane: 8.00 - 8.45
A rather late Chiffchaff associating with small flock of Blue & Great Tits and a couple of Goldcrests.
Steve Suttill said
Fri Nov 10 3:13 PM, 2017
Mooch around Puddle Clay Pits area in between rain showers:
2 Snipe, Jay and a roving flock containing Blue, Great, Coal & Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch and Goldcrests.
Adjacent field had 115 Canada Geese, 22 Black-headed Gulls and 6 Pheasants.
JSPALDING said
Mon Aug 14 4:26 PM, 2017
A Green Woodpecker on Stamford Golf Course this morning, the first for a few years.
Steve Suttill said
Mon Aug 7 9:19 AM, 2017
Sunday -07.30 - 08.30
Fascinating to watch a female Sparrowhawk trying to catch a Magpie around the bottom of Midge Hill. The chase, from tree to tree, went on for about 15 minutes and the Sparrowhawk was persistent until 3 more Magpies joined in and eventually she had had enough of their mobbing.
Also, juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker and the usual collection of warblers (inc large numbers of juveniles).
JSPALDING said
Fri Jul 14 1:21 PM, 2017
A grasshopper warbler reeling in the field between the 8th tee on Stamford Golf Course and Mossley Cemetery.
A hobby flying low over Stamford Golf course this afternoon
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 4th of August 2020 05:53:56 PM
My first swift of 2020 - seen 8.55pm Sunday 24th May 2020. Solitary bird flying over Mossley Hollins School and Micklehurst.
My first Chiffchaff of 2020 in Mossley - on Hanover St.
Drake North American Wood Duck still present in Mossley on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Red Kite on Mossley/Greenfield border at 10:00am. Soaring and being mobbed by corvids
Drake wood duck still on canal from Egmont st bridge
Un-ringed but it looks heavily pinioned on the right wing and therefore very obviously deliberately introduced onto the canal from a collection!
Walking the canal from roaches direction Mossley.
Female Goosander in flight flying towards Mossley.
Caught up with it behind Warmco where it was on the water.
As I approached it took to the wing again and flew towards Mossley.
Raven flying over the Tollemache pub, Manchester Road, towards Greenfield.
1 female Goosander on canal near Warmco industrial estate.
I had a female on Walkerwood Reservoir on 15th June, but no other sightings since spring, Steve. As weve said before, the valley does look good for breeding, so fingers crossed.
One was present on the 1st June which I thought odd and considered the possibility of a local breeding attempt. Presumably the same bird reappeared on the same spot yesterday and this morning there were two redheads! Has anyone else noticed them?
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - First for me at this endangered site.
Pair of Lapwing nesting in the field above.
First Blackcap for me this year (singing male).
Two Snipe flushed from reedbed.
Pair of Lapwing courting in the field above.
Several pairs of Reed Bunting.
Well there was one "singing" just inside the estate fence this morning but, as you say, the vast majority are in the farm fields. The mentality of the game shooting fraternity never ceases to amaze.
Stalybridge estates have released them, Steve. Not sure why, because there are none on the moor. They are all around the farmland areas, low down, meaning it would be impossible to shoot them safely.
Heronry count at Greenfield ETW was disappointing with only one nest. Compensation provided by a Kingfisher and several Dippers and Grey Wagtails.
The other aim of the day was to look for Ring Ouzels and Wheatears - a complete failure on both species!
Intake Lane had 2 Little Owls, a very smart male Stonechat and 2 Red-legged Partridges as well as ubiquitous Meadow Pipits. Not as many Lapwings as in previous years.
Up Warlow Clough, flushed 2 Snipe, and around the east side of Noonsun Hill. Depressing to see the desolation as a result of last year's fires. So much nesting habitat lost. Didn't hear a Curlew all day. Strange to see another pair of Red-legged Partridges strolling across the blackened wasteland.
Back on Moor Edge Road, Mistle Thrush and Blackbird were the only thrushes to be seen - this time last year it was Fieldfares and Ring Ouzels. Further on there were no Lapwings at all in a field which normally has half a dozen nesting pairs. But there were another 2 Red-legged Partridges - where have they all come from?
A visit to Puddle Clay Pits SBI produced 2 Snipe, 2 Lapwing, Heron and... another pair of Red-legged Partridges!
Chiffchaff heard but not seen between River and canal.Estate opposite Tollemache pub.
-- Edited by Garry Chesters on Thursday 28th of March 2019 04:37:01 PM
2 Red-legged Partridges and 22 Fieldfare near the old quarry. 7 Lapwings in the top field at Hole House Farm.
Highlight had to be 6 Skylarks with at least two singing! Flock of 20 Lapwings was also impressive for this area.
River Tame this morning Waggon Road
1x Grey Heron
2x Dippers flying down the river (didnt land, so couldnt get a picture with my new camera!)
Great and blue tits in the backside cover
Several jackdaws
Fewer Willow Warblers than on the early visit - maybe some of the April birds were just passing through?
Only 2 Lapwing and no sign of successful breeding.
Usual number of Swallows, but no House Martins or Swifts. No Skylarks singing either,
Good news was 3 singing Whitethroats, all very close to the survey route.
Nuthatch pair have established territory by Roaches Lock. This species is becoming relatively common round here these days. Can remember when they were as rare as hens' teeth!
Sadly no Ring Ouzels this morning. However...
Micklehurst Clough: singing Willow Warblers; Swallow; 2 Little Owls in quarry.
Noonsun Hill: Red Grouse calling; 2 Curlew (one of which flew right down into the valley to the field above Puddle Clay Pits SBI which is threatened by a planned housing development).
Fields below moor edge: just 9 Lapwing seen today; female Wheatear.
5 Willow Warblers singing but no Chiffchaffs.
5 Lapwing, still hanging on in here.
3 Skylarks and a couple of Swallows. Not so many Meadow Pipits this year.
Heading home, disappointed not to have found a Wheatear, and a splendid male popped up on a drystone wall.
If they were the same birds? You did succeed in enticing them to a slightly more accessible area
Hardly my Ring Ouzels, since you told me where they were
Still no Swallows for me
Moor Edge Road, on a lovely spring evening.
An unsuccessful attempt to twitch Steve Suttill's Ring Ouzels had the consolation of providing my first Swallow of the year, performing aerobatics over Micklehurst Clough.
Also:
2 singing Willow Warblers
1 singing Chiffchaff
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Song Thrush
1 Mistle Thrush
1 singing Chaffinch
3 Goldfinch
15+ Pheasant
3 Red Grouse
The usual Lapwing in their field
I was lurking around the woods in the clough around dusk on Monday, Steve, and heard a Willow Warbler singing in the rain.
Perhaps it was also upwardly mobile, and has moved on to richer pastures in Oldham
3 Ring Ouzels again, probably the same birds as Sunday in pretty much the same places. The male by the Lapwing field was surrounded by a flock of c30 Fieldfares. The Fieldfares flew off but the Ouzel remained resolutely on its favourite fence-post.
6 pairs of Lapwing in the usual field. One pair, thinking themselves superior presumably, have moved over the border into Greenfield.
Still no Wheatear or Willow Warblers.
Found two of David Walsh's Ring Ouzels in a tree below the old quarry on the slope down the Micklehurst Brook. Also two Mistle Thrush.
Little Owl and Kestrel in the quarry itself. Buzzard calling nearby.
Further north along the moor edge, another Ring Ouzel, a splendid male, flitting from one tree to another above the Lapwing field.
5 pairs of Lapwing in the field - a couple sitting.
Two Red Grouse calling from edge of moor.
4 Ring Ouzel on the moor below Warlow Pike
My first Chiffchaff of the year on the walk from home to the station this morning
Saturday 24th March, 7.40 - 8.40am
Moor Edge Road, from Howards Lane, as far as the Oldham border:
14 Lapwings still in their usual field - minor territorial squabbles and low-level display.
8 Starlings and 6 Wood Pigeons also in the field.
2 Red Grouse
15 Pheasants (3 males)
a few Meadow Pipits
Chaffinch, Blackbird and Dunnock (all singing)
but no raptors this early in the morning.
Moor Edge Road, from Howards Lane, as far as the Oldham border.
14 Lapwing was my best count, with several displaying
A mixed flock moving around the Lapwing field, consisting of:
70 Fieldfare
30 Redwing
60 Starlings
1 Sparrowhawk shot through, putting up all of the above
1 Kestrel over the moor
3 Buzzard spiralling above Buckton Moor
2 Raven around Abraham's Chair
60 Carrion Crows harassing the Raven
1 Skylark
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Pied Wagtail
Chaffinch singing
Mistle Thrush singing
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 22nd of March 2018 01:13:49 PM
2 Buzzards over The Billy Goat this afternoon about 2.45.
9 Goosanders (4 males) on the river, with a few Mallards and Canada Geese.
Snipe flushed from old Sugar Well.
60+ Fieldfares heading south through the snow showers.
Buzzard being pestered by a Crow.
Female Kestrel.
Little Owl in old quarry at Noonsun Hill.
Couple of Redwings and a Mistle Thrush.
A rather late Chiffchaff associating with small flock of Blue & Great Tits and a couple of Goldcrests.
2 Snipe, Jay and a roving flock containing Blue, Great, Coal & Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch and Goldcrests.
Adjacent field had 115 Canada Geese, 22 Black-headed Gulls and 6 Pheasants.
A Green Woodpecker on Stamford Golf Course this morning, the first for a few years.
Fascinating to watch a female Sparrowhawk trying to catch a Magpie around the bottom of Midge Hill. The chase, from tree to tree, went on for about 15 minutes and the Sparrowhawk was persistent until 3 more Magpies joined in and eventually she had had enough of their mobbing.
Also, juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker and the usual collection of warblers (inc large numbers of juveniles).
A grasshopper warbler reeling in the field between the 8th tee on Stamford Golf Course and Mossley Cemetery.