This evening at Quarry Bank Mill, birds included 5 Ring-Necked Parakeet, Grey Wagtail and Song Thrush carrying food
Andrew Jeffery said
Sat Mar 4 4:20 PM, 2023
Good numbers of the common woodland species plus a couple of Grey Wagtails, 3 Buzzards and 4 flyover Mandarin Ducks.
Andrew Jeffery said
Tue May 3 10:16 AM, 2022
Late one for yesterday - highlights of a wander around:
3 Goosander
2 Mandarin Duck
5 Grey Wagtail
2 Swallow
Chris Sutton said
Fri Sep 17 6:09 PM, 2021
Brief visit doing some nest box work at 1:30pm.
Hobby (1) over.
Apparently Parakeets being seen in numbers now. And resident Raven.
Chris
Graham Smith said
Sun Apr 15 8:38 PM, 2018
Pair of Goosander above the weir at the mill plenty of Grey wagtails knocking around
Mark Bellew said
Fri Mar 2 4:35 PM, 2018
Really nice walk through the woods, along the river and up the top field despite the ice and wind.
An hours walk and I saw:
30+ redwing
Fieldfare
Song & mistle thrush
Male bullfinch
Dipper
Goldcrest
Great, blue and long tailed tit
Robin
Blackbird
Mallard
Moorhen
Heron
Chaffinch
Treecreeper
Buzzard
Kestrel
Jackdaw
Carrion crow
It was great to see such a variety of species.
Lawrence Hindley said
Tue Feb 20 5:37 PM, 2018
3 female Redhead Goosander on river upstream from Quarry Bank Mill this morning. Also very close encounter with Buzzard that landed on a post just 6 foot away next to the mill and sat there watching me
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Jul 7 9:18 PM, 2017
The first house martin broods have taken to the wing this week at the prison, and as I stepped out into the sterile area this morning something had the birds panicking and coming together en masse, calling frantically. I didn't see what was causing it, but it did give me a chance to judge numbers properly, and I'd certainly say 60+ were on view. I don't think breeding numbers have been quite up to recent years (c10 pairs I'd guess) but, surprisingly given the weather at times, productivity seems to have been very good... so far.
Mark Bellew said
Tue May 30 9:43 AM, 2017
Pleasant walk around Styal woods and quarry Bank mill yesterday evenin, seeing a number of species.
Mallard
Swallow
House Martin
Swift
Robin
Blue tit
Coal tit
Grey Wagtail
Dipper
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Jackdaw
Magpie
Wren
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Andy Bissitt said
Thu May 11 8:56 PM, 2017
First proper showing by house martins today. Counted 15 in the air at once, but I'm sure there would be others out of view. You just don't see breeding numbers anywhere but here these days, certainly in Cheshire.
Mark Bellew said
Sun May 7 12:23 AM, 2017
The pair of Dipper were showing well near to the bridge across Quarry Bank Mill. Typically, I didn't have my camera and they were showing off in front of the crowds. Great to see them so close.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Apr 27 9:02 PM, 2017
Whitethroat singing in prison grounds at 7.35 this morning.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Apr 20 9:02 PM, 2017
House Martin back at the prison today much later than last year.
Mike Duckham said
Tue Mar 28 10:42 PM, 2017
Was delighted to see a pair of Dipper on the Bollin by Quarry Bank Mill - a very pleasant surprise, though scrolling down through the thread i see they have been noted in the Styal area. I don't recall from the Cheshire Bird Reports this being within their range in the '80's though i may well be wrong?...
One Buzzard was perched among the huge beech trees on the steep bank opposite the mill.
Mark Bellew said
Sun Mar 5 7:53 PM, 2017
A pleasant dog walk in awful conditions which was even too wet for the ducks. No sign of the usual Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker or Kingfisher but plenty of Great, Blue and Long Tailed Tits. Saw my first Yellowhammer of the year on the top fields walking towards Quarry Bank Mill and a Grey Wagtail by the waterfall close to the mill.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Jul 7 9:06 PM, 2016
House martin numbers are high just now, but figure could include some early young (heads of young seen poking from nests on Monday this week). Even so, 15 pairs is probably a conservative estimate. Naturally, all of this action attracts attention, and a hobby was seen hunting them over the prison on Monday morning.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri May 6 8:54 PM, 2016
First appearance of the house martins in any number today, certainly at least 12, maybe up to 20 at one time but hard to count. Also first juvenile starlings on the wing giving their tell-tale calls. It's funny that however bad the winter/spring, their young are always on time (first week of May).
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Apr 8 8:19 PM, 2016
Two house martins back at the prison today. Near certain these are the earliest ever. Hopefully many more to follow.
Nick Hilton said
Tue Apr 5 10:06 PM, 2016
Had a nice male Ring Ouzel on Styal Golf Course earlier this evening and a Raven over the Bulls Head in nearby Handforth.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Apr 5 9:39 PM, 2016
Birds seen from office window today included swallow, lapwing and buzzard. A chiffchaff heard as I walked from the prison car park in the morning was the first incoming migrant of the year.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Nov 24 8:59 PM, 2015
A raven was cruising low around the 'Clink' restuarant (within the prison grounds) as I left work at 3.45 this evening.
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Oct 19 2:53 PM, 2015
Dipper singing on the Bollin in Styal Woods this morning accompanied by calling Goldcrests
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Oct 3 10:07 PM, 2015
3 or 4 house martins were still around on Thursday 1st, but could not be seen when I arrived at a frosty Styal yesterday morning. That's probably it for this year sadly.
Neil McCall said
Sun May 17 8:54 PM, 2015
Pair of Goosander at Quarry Bank Mill
gillian notheis said
Sat Dec 20 9:10 PM, 2014
Andy Bissitt
Thank you so much for your post of 11th Oct 2012. I was almost certain that I saw a lesser spotted woodpecker today at Styal woods and your post has given me the confidence to claim it. It was with a flock of long-tailed tits and a treecreeper
-- Edited by gillian notheis on Saturday 20th of December 2014 09:14:40 PM
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Oct 3 9:49 PM, 2014
Looking back at last year, I see that the martins were still at the prison on 5th Oct. When I returned to Styal after a three week break on 29th Sept., they had already gone. If last year I thought it a sign of a mild winter to come (and it was), what does it mean for this year? Actually I think they went because the number of insects at the back end of the summer was worryingly small (moths, butterflies, dragonflies, even wasps seem to have crashed in places due to the earlier lack of rain then a poor August). Many birders are a bit blase about insects, but when they reach a certain low level, many bird species will crash in the UK even more so.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Aug 28 9:01 PM, 2014
They say that the current younger generation are losing or have lost their connection to the 'wild' world. I returned to work today after a day off to find a notice attached to a door into the inner courtyard warning of swallows nesting above the door (with obvious results for the unwary!). Needless to say, they are house martins. It seems that the human 'connection' to nature was probably never there if 'grown-ups' can't tell a house martin from a swallow at point-blank range.
Incidently, the nest has been used previously, with success, and is pretty unusual for only being about 3.5 meters off the ground, the heads of the young being easy to see with the naked eye. I guess it's a preferred site as it has people passing through the door every few seconds which must deter possible predation by the numerous jackdaws and magpies. It's a good year for the birds by the looks of it, with 40+ visible in flight this morning, for example. I think that's more than I've seen everywhere else combined this year.
Graham Smith said
Wed May 28 7:28 PM, 2014
As Quarry bank mill is in Styal news reaches meet that a Goosander has breed just above the wier and produced 5 chicks belived to be the 1st time this has happened here
Andy Bissitt said
Tue May 20 9:51 PM, 2014
A minimum count of 15 house martins over the prison this morning. It certainly appears to be the largest number 'on site' that there has been for a few years which is uplifting.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Apr 25 8:23 PM, 2014
8 house martins flying above the prison today until the rain set in. I hope a few more return as that is not a very encouraging number so far.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Apr 17 8:55 PM, 2014
Late note: 1 house martin back on Tuesday, 15th and seen again yesterday. So an identical return date to last year: how do they do it?
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Apr 3 9:04 PM, 2014
My first migrant non-chiffchaff was over the prison yesterday morning - a sand martin, which hung around for about a minute. Makes a change from 'house' types, and not often seen at Styal.
By the way, please see my previous message which I had forgotten about. Who needs the Met Office? A new career beckons.
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Oct 5 8:48 PM, 2013
Update: A pair are still visiting a nest with food as of yesterday. I predict a mild winter (Okay, a bit of a leap of faith, but who knows?)
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Oct 4 4:40 AM, 2013
Remarkably three house martins were back around the prison today having last been seen seven days ago. Just shows you what can stick around in mild conditions. Anyone else seen any recently?
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Jul 5 4:48 AM, 2013
At long last. A local hobby! They must have an inbuilt sense of timing because I'm fairly confident that some (the first) house martins fledged this morning, and lo and behold, there's suddenly a hobby hanging in the wind over the prison checking out the 'form'. Martins are doing well, and with the weather to come, more broods likely.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Apr 16 4:09 AM, 2013
2 house martins back at the prison today. Outrageously, they are earlier by four days than last year despite what this spring has shaped up like so far! Here's hoping for good numbers, and attendant hobbies!
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Oct 31 4:48 AM, 2012
c80 fieldfares flew low past the office window and over Styal Rd towards the airport this morning.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Oct 12 4:20 AM, 2012
Yesterday, a Lesser spotted woodpecker flew from trees inside the prison and over the 'sterile' area and out towards freedom!!!
David Lumb said
Thu Oct 4 12:45 AM, 2012
Last Friday on the Moray Coast I was watching up to half a dozen House Martins flying around the car park and harbour at Hopeman. By chance the couple parked next to our van were from the house where they were still visiting nests. Good luck to all these late leavers. I also wondered if they would make it back to Africa.
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Oct 3 4:37 AM, 2012
Still a single house martin hanging round the prison about 3.50 p.m. First I'd seen since last Thursday when there was still one in a nest being fed. Maybe this was the bird. Don't rate it's chances of reaching Africa now.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Jun 15 4:28 AM, 2012
One nice sunny day and suddenly the view from the office window is brought to life. First a hobby came to look over the house martins nesting around the prison in good numbers. Next, something even better as had never seen a dragonfly at Styal before. A female demoiselle (almost certainly banded) landed on the security fence just outside the window for about 30 seconds. Whether it got out without drawing the attention of all the resident birds, I don't know. Great twenty minute period though.
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Apr 22 4:23 AM, 2012
Just something to indicate how far things are running behind this spring, first house martins (3) turned up on Thursday - a whole week later than last year. At least there's no shortage of mud to rebuild with this year!!
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Mar 22 4:51 AM, 2012
First chiffchaff of 2012 in song at the prison today.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Apr 15 8:19 PM, 2011
First House Martin was back last Tuesday (12th) just having a quick look to make sure the prison was still in one piece! Then there was one again briefly on the 13th before three were together making their familiar trilling calls yesterday. Won't be long I hope before it's a daily sound of the summer.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Sep 30 8:43 PM, 2010
What must be the last house martins in the area continue to hang around the prison. I can't check too closely, but I think some young are still in the nest.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Jul 29 9:13 PM, 2010
A nice bit of office window birding at the famous HMP establishment today. I heard the nesting house martins giving alarm calls. This is usually because a magpie or jackdaw is nearby, but I always check just in case. This time I saw a 'swift' shaped bird over the prison, but in a long glide which swifts don't do. It then began to flap in a familiar fashion and I knew it was a hobby. It had just gone out of sight then so I craned to look round the side of the window just in time to see it doing a couple of loop the loops with a house martin about three feet in front of it trying to evade the inevitable. They both then dropped below a fence so I'll never know what the outcome was.
Not bad getting a year tick from your desk, and following on from lesser spotted woodpecker earlier in the spring. Who is it who has a quote at the bottom of their messages about no one ever wished they'd spent more time at work? You're wrong mate!! (at least at Styal).
Cheers,
Andy B
Andy Bissitt said
Mon May 4 9:08 PM, 2009
Brandon,
I wish I had seen that; they are very twitchy about that sort of thing for good reason but sometimes miss the obvious loop-holes. They are used to me now, but when I first started and went out exploring the grounds at lunch time around the perimeter fence, I soon had an OSG bearing down on me to ask what I was up to. Now I don't get a second glance. I don't have bins, of course, which can be a drawback, but I have had good stuff like lesser spotwood, spotted fly, lesser whitethroat, hobby, raven, and the mega, rough-legged buzzard. It's good for butterflies too.
Cheets,
Andy B
brandon mulhern said
Sun May 3 6:11 PM, 2009
Andy i posted my bins incident in the buzzard section under county sightings, i was sat outside the gate waiting for Gary from stores to escort me in (as it happened we exchanged stock outside) i was watching the 2 buzzards getting lower and lower so naturally i got the bins out and stood by the van to watch them, big mistake!! The gate officers both told me in no uncertain terms to stop what i was doing, anyway they ended up doing nothing more than saying i am not coming in with bins in the van, which would never happen anyway, they with my mobile always go in the lockers! As Gary and me were loading up the buzzards or 1 at least came low right over our head and pounced on something in the area behind the works dept!
Andy Bissitt said
Sun May 3 2:13 PM, 2009
Brandon,
Don't know how often you visit the prison, but I work there permanently and know how decent it is for birds (my list is about 60 off the top of my head). If you want to know more, let me know.
You must tell me about the binocular incident. I can imagine that would not have gone down too well.
Andy
brandon mulhern said
Fri May 1 6:32 PM, 2009
not too far out of county but thought it worth posting Was working at styal prison again today (never got the bins out after last months episode!) 2 buzzards hunting very low around prison ( i did notice quite a few small rabbits in the layby's so maybe thats why they are there ) 7 or 8 house martins, they are a summer regular apparently and have been building nests already. 2 swallow 1 raven 6 or 7 carrion 2 jackdaw 2 goldfinch 1 dunnock several starlings and blackbirds
-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Friday 1st of May 2009 06:39:21 PM
Late one for yesterday - highlights of a wander around:
3 Goosander
2 Mandarin Duck
5 Grey Wagtail
2 Swallow
Hobby (1) over.
Apparently Parakeets being seen in numbers now. And resident Raven.
Chris
Pair of Goosander above the weir at the mill plenty of Grey wagtails knocking around
Also very close encounter with Buzzard that landed on a post just 6 foot away next to the mill and sat there watching me
The first house martin broods have taken to the wing this week at the prison, and as I stepped out into the sterile area this morning something had the birds panicking and coming together en masse, calling frantically. I didn't see what was causing it, but it did give me a chance to judge numbers properly, and I'd certainly say 60+ were on view. I don't think breeding numbers have been quite up to recent years (c10 pairs I'd guess) but, surprisingly given the weather at times, productivity seems to have been very good... so far.
Pleasant walk around Styal woods and quarry Bank mill yesterday evenin, seeing a number of species.
Mallard
Swallow
House Martin
Swift
Robin
Blue tit
Coal tit
Grey Wagtail
Dipper
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Jackdaw
Magpie
Wren
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
First proper showing by house martins today. Counted 15 in the air at once, but I'm sure there would be others out of view. You just don't see breeding numbers anywhere but here these days, certainly in Cheshire.
The pair of Dipper were showing well near to the bridge across Quarry Bank Mill. Typically, I didn't have my camera and they were showing off in front of the crowds. Great to see them so close.
Whitethroat singing in prison grounds at 7.35 this morning.
House Martin back at the prison today much later than last year.
Was delighted to see a pair of Dipper on the Bollin by Quarry Bank Mill - a very pleasant surprise, though scrolling down through the thread i see they have been noted in the Styal area. I don't recall from the Cheshire Bird Reports this being within their range in the '80's though i may well be wrong?...
One Buzzard was perched among the huge beech trees on the steep bank opposite the mill.
A pleasant dog walk in awful conditions which was even too wet for the ducks. No sign of the usual Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker or Kingfisher but plenty of Great, Blue and Long Tailed Tits. Saw my first Yellowhammer of the year on the top fields walking towards Quarry Bank Mill and a Grey Wagtail by the waterfall close to the mill.
House martin numbers are high just now, but figure could include some early young (heads of young seen poking from nests on Monday this week). Even so, 15 pairs is probably a conservative estimate. Naturally, all of this action attracts attention, and a hobby was seen hunting them over the prison on Monday morning.
First appearance of the house martins in any number today, certainly at least 12, maybe up to 20 at one time but hard to count. Also first juvenile starlings on the wing giving their tell-tale calls. It's funny that however bad the winter/spring, their young are always on time (first week of May).
Two house martins back at the prison today. Near certain these are the earliest ever. Hopefully many more to follow.
Birds seen from office window today included swallow, lapwing and buzzard. A chiffchaff heard as I walked from the prison car park in the morning was the first incoming migrant of the year.
A raven was cruising low around the 'Clink' restuarant (within the prison grounds) as I left work at 3.45 this evening.
Thank you so much for your post of 11th Oct 2012. I was almost certain that I saw a lesser spotted woodpecker today at Styal woods and your post has given me the confidence to claim it. It was with a flock of long-tailed tits and a treecreeper
-- Edited by gillian notheis on Saturday 20th of December 2014 09:14:40 PM
Incidently, the nest has been used previously, with success, and is pretty unusual for only being about 3.5 meters off the ground, the heads of the young being easy to see with the naked eye. I guess it's a preferred site as it has people passing through the door every few seconds which must deter possible predation by the numerous jackdaws and magpies. It's a good year for the birds by the looks of it, with 40+ visible in flight this morning, for example. I think that's more than I've seen everywhere else combined this year.
By the way, please see my previous message which I had forgotten about. Who needs the Met Office? A new career beckons.
Not bad getting a year tick from your desk, and following on from lesser spotted woodpecker earlier in the spring. Who is it who has a quote at the bottom of their messages about no one ever wished they'd spent more time at work? You're wrong mate!! (at least at Styal).
Cheers,
Andy B
I wish I had seen that; they are very twitchy about that sort of thing for good reason but sometimes miss the obvious loop-holes. They are used to me now, but when I first started and went out exploring the grounds at lunch time around the perimeter fence, I soon had an OSG bearing down on me to ask what I was up to. Now I don't get a second glance. I don't have bins, of course, which can be a drawback, but I have had good stuff like lesser spotwood, spotted fly, lesser whitethroat, hobby, raven, and the mega, rough-legged buzzard. It's good for butterflies too.
Cheets,
Andy B
Don't know how often you visit the prison, but I work there permanently and know how decent it is for birds (my list is about 60 off the top of my head). If you want to know more, let me know.
You must tell me about the binocular incident. I can imagine that would not have gone down too well.
Andy
Was working at styal prison again today (never got the bins out after last months episode!)
2 buzzards hunting very low around prison ( i did notice quite a few small rabbits in the layby's so maybe thats why they are there )
7 or 8 house martins, they are a summer regular apparently and have been building nests already.
2 swallow
1 raven
6 or 7 carrion
2 jackdaw
2 goldfinch
1 dunnock
several starlings and blackbirds
-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Friday 1st of May 2009 06:39:21 PM