Now which side of the boundary would that be on Am I right that the Tameside boundary splits the site in two? Great list have book marked.
Will PM you re owls before we get sent to the forum.
Rae

Thanks I will keep looking see if it puts in an appearance.

Next time you go keep your eyes open for Dipper after the path through the pine trees at the end you turn right and cross a bridge (towards the pond, look up and down the stream there you can usually see one or two on there

My January bird list for the area.Here

Cheers


-- Edited by Mike Price on Monday 8th of February 2010 01:27:40 PM

Thats the right section but just a bit further back up the path (just before you go down to the sluice).
Thought there would be peckers- that was what we were looking for (I'd actually said we're not going home until I've seen a woodpecker!).

Hi Rachael,

It's a wonder you didn't run into any of the 'army' there are 6 or 7 of us around there every weekend.

Plus 1 or 2 of us around any morning.

Re Woodpeckers there are a number of great spotted 6-8 I know of but I am sure there are a few more and there are 1 or 2 green woodpeckers around as well.

You can usually spot 1-4 tawny owls roosting if you are lucky.

I've been up today trying to spot the firecrest but with no luck, will keep trying.

Just to confirm the area you saw it, if I have the spot right you walked down a hill to the bridge with the sluice on your left and you saw the firecrest around here?and then started to climb up a lot of steps up towards a gate on the lefthand side ? then there is a path cut through the pine trees all the way back towards the reservior?

Cheers

Mike

-- Edited by Mike Price on Monday 8th of February 2010 01:12:42 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 8th of February 2010 01:34:29 PM

Tom McKinney wrote:

---

Thanks Rachael, know exactly where you mean. The Arnfield Army are there at the moment. I'll post any updates.

---

Now you've got me puzzled 'The Arnfield Army'?
You have a beautiful reserve there, will definitely be back. Do you get woodpeckers as it seemed perfect for them- tall tree stumps. Loved the native trees too. Siskins were feeding on the small fircones (diddy ones) near edge of lake.
Good luck
Rae

Thanks Rachael, know exactly where you mean. The Arnfield Army are there at the moment. I'll post any updates.

We were on the path around nature reserve heading the opposite way & side to the Reservoir. We had gone passed a brick boarded up building and was quite a bit further up the path, before 'sluice'. I think it flew across to other side (more conifer forest) but didn't see it again.
It was marked 'sluice' on a 'walk map' but to me its more a bridge over a weir then the path heads up into the conjfer side and around to the reservoir.

Hi Rachael, great find.

I've just been talking to one of the regulars who will be looking first thing tomorrow for the Firecrest, but we can't quite work out what you mean by the sluice end. Any chance you could pin it down a bit more for us?

Cheers,

Tom

cheers Rachael, cracking find!

Dave

Firecrest was flitting up in the conifers actually in the nature reserve, nearer the sluice end, watched it for awhile, flitting between a couple of trees and then headed off I think towards the otherside.
Goldcrest we saw later was in the gorse bushes on edge of lake, only about a foot away at one point.
Suprisingly no woodpeckers.

Is that Firecrest i see hidden away in that list?

Where abouts was it Rachael, i may have a nosey and i am sure there are some GM birders desperte to see one.

Best wishes

Dave

Went for a very muddy stroll! 10.20-13.10 woodpigeon blackbird robin rooks blue tits great tits wren coal tits mallard tufted ducks firecrest goldcrest siskins treecreepers heard a Tawny owl collared doves goldfinch house sparrows Found easier access route from Arnfield Reservoir (though this is initially on wrong side of boundary for Tameside) Will definitely be back!