Actually moved on the day of the Cuckoo Festival, although a local birder told me this morning he hadn't seen a Cuckoo locally for five years (perhaps he's not been to Deer Hill of late... thanks for the tip, Andy, will take a cycle over there soon).


-- Edited by Ollie Wright on Sunday 5th of May 2013 09:38:28 PM

Oops! Yeah, thankfully not going too far east... Thanks Steve!

Ollie Wright wrote:

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I'll be bidding a fond farewell to south Manchester in a few weeks and heading over to the wrong side of the Pennines, relocating to Marsden.

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Don't say "wrong side of the Pennines" in Marsden, Ollie

If you're going in a few weeks, you should be there for Marsden Cuckoo day

Deer Hill near Marsden is one of my favourite places. Mid to late March sees the annual flock of Twite return up to about 20 very vocal birds. A week or 2 later sees half a dozen Wheatear annually. The lower fields are currently busy with 20+ pairs of Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover appear in the next few weeks. A fair few linnet appear every spring. The overflow is good for Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipits galore with the occasional Snipe & Woodcock, Little Owl is an ever present, Whitchat, Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler and Cuckoo are seen most years. The reservoir itself is bleak and windswept but has produced Common Scoter, Red Breasted Merganser, Rock Pipit and Common Sandpiper. 2011 saw a long staying flock of Snow Buntings. Right on your (new) doorstep!!

I'll be bidding a fond farewell to south Manchester in a few weeks and heading over to the wrong side of the Pennines, relocating to Marsden.

I was just wondering if anybody could recommend any good sites in the area? Have done a bit of research and am aware that the area is important for Twite, so looking forward to dipping on them!