First Chiffchaff of the year for me yesterday opposite the co-op. Definitely one, possibly two.

A walk from Lees Road to Ferranti turned up a Kingfisher being pursued along the river by a Sparrowhawk!

A walk along the Medlock in Lees this lunchtime.

3 Blackcap
8 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
Pair Moorhen with young in the nest.

Bank Top pond (dipping pond) 2. 45 p.m.

Water Rail 1
Mallard 2 (pair)
Moorhen 3

An hours walk this morning turned up a Water Rail, two unringed Dippers, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, LT Tit, Moorhen, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Wren, Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Bullfinch, Dunnock, Coal Tit and Herring Gull making it sound like the seaside when I was a nipper. Spring was definitely in the air for most of the birds I saw - pairing up, chasing females etc...

Search function didn't work for me either, John. I dug it out of the depths and added a new post so it should be near the top of the pile now.

Steve

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The thread is "Dipper Sightings" in "County Bird Sightings"

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Hi Steve,

I've just tried to use the Search facility and typed in 'Dipper Sightings'. But this only brought up 4 threads (Dukinfield, Ashton and Stalybridge/ Castleshaw/ Haigh Country Park/ Leighton Moss).

I remember the 'Dipper Sightings' thread so what am I doing wrong?

When I was looking for the Little Egret at Chadkirk recently I met Anthony Dixon and he was photographing Dippers. He invited me to look at his website www.ajdixonphotography.co.uk and the Dipper he photographed in the snow carries a ring on its right leg. If Anthony is reading this perhaps he has other photographs and may be able to read the ring.

Cheers, John

Hi Tim.

Having seen birds go to & fro through the tunnel under the embankment it's always difficult to tell exactly how many there are.
There were possibly 4 Dippers along the stretch from Greenacres Road to the embankment when I walked that section last month. Riggers & I saw 2 birds together down by the ford as we left yesterday, as well as the two I saw higher up so probably 4 birds in total, but whether they're paired up I wouldn't like to say. Certainly last month 2 were having a quite vocal bust-up at treetop height by the little metal bridge below the weir, with a lot of chasing about. Winter territorial disputes or vigorous courtship ? Who knows?

As Steve explained, always a good idea to check them for rings, in case a bird wanders up the river system from elsewhere. Cracking birds, just wish they weren't so good at knowing when I've reached for my camera

Tim Crossley wrote:

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Hi Mike
I usually see the dippers (on the top section of the river) close together (a few feet apart ) does that mean they are a "couple" And you say they were unringed, would you have expected them to be ringed?

-- Edited by Tim Crossley on Sunday 17th of January 2010 06:10:12 PM

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South Manchester Ringing Group have been running a project colour-ringing Dippers for the last two years. Ringing is done on the Tame, Goyt and Etherow as well as a few other areas further into the Peak District. Given the Dipper movements that have been discovered so far, it would be no surprise at all if ringed birds were found on the Medlock. Pulli (chicks ringed in the nest) are only given a standard BTO metal ring so it's worth looking out for them as well.

If you see any ringed Dippers, please post on this forum - there's an old thread somewhere

Cheers, Steve

Snipe and Water Rail together at the dipping pond at 1230pm.

Hi Mike
I usually see the dippers (on the top section of the river) close together (a few feet apart ) does that mean they are a "couple" And you say they were unringed, would you have expected them to be ringed?
How many pairs do you think there might be all the way down to Lees. I saw 1 near the fox sculpture near the road at Lees a few weeks ago. Might there be a pair on the lower section of the river (after the railway embankment) do you think? I love em, smashin bird, with them white eyelids blinkin away at me.

-- Edited by Tim Crossley on Sunday 17th of January 2010 06:10:12 PM

1 poss 2 Dippers ( unringed) on the stretch between Greenacres Road and the old railway embankment

Also Jay & usual woodland passerines. No Siskin or Redwing

Probable sighting of Water Rail ( 15.20 p.m.) seen earlier by Mr. Rigby at dipping pond (Cheers Riggers)

Saturday 16th Jan
The Water Rail was feeding in the open with two Moorhens for about 10 minutes before disappearing into the undergrowth.
The Medlock was in full spate but a Dipper didn't seem to be bothered!
A single Redwing and two Siskins seen as well as the usual Tits, Robins etc..

Weds 14 th Jan 2010 9am to 10.30 am
Snipe
redwing on berries
the 2 dippers
heron
Doing well consolidating sightings that were just glimpses in the past.
Finally got a close kingfisher sighting, well 2 actually, diving into the river and flying to branch with tiddlers just like on a nature programme! Brill
And all the usual suspects.

You're right Mark, you never know what will turn up. And as a lifelong novice a redstart would be a life tick for me! Im chuffed just seeing a woodpecker.
Im hoping for merlin, waxwing, green woodpecker and crossbill this year as lifers.

And I was expecting kingfisher all the way down to Lees, Steve, but missed it. I saw one at Strinesdale last week tho.

also look out for kingfishers between greenacres road and lees often seen in the quieter and calmer stretch

Don't get too excited Tim, I have been watching this area since moving here in 1996 and in that time best I have managed is a female Redstart.

Dippers are guaranteed on the stretch between Lees and the old railway line and always nice to see.

But that's the beauty of birding.......you just never know what may turn up

9am to 11am 11 Jan 2010 Just walking down the wooded valley alongside the River Medlock from Waterhead to Lees. A pair of dippers side by side in the water really close (always knockin about together there) And a snipe kept gettin' up and flying ahead of me down stream. Last week had 2 greater spotteds. And all the usual suspects. This place is heaving with potential, cant wait for spring!