2m+1f Redstarts, 2 Bramblings and 7 Lesser Redpolls all seen in the same area of birch woodland.
(Many thanks to the couple who pointed out the Bramblings to me.).
1 Mistle Thrush on the cattle field. 1 Raven in display flight. 2 Buzzards.
I've always found this site to be a magnet for Willow Warblers, there were at least 8 in song across the heath.
Chiffchaffs seem to prefer the woodland, largely birch, around the perimeter of the site, at least 4 were in song today.
John Williams said
Tue Jun 30 7:52 PM, 2020
09.30-14.30
1m Redstart, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Treecreepers, 4 Common Whitethroats and 1 singing Chiffchaff.
Both today and on June 17th visit Willow Warblers appeared quite numerous across the heath, with 4 still in song today.
4 Blackcaps were also still singing today.
No raptors were seen, but crows and Jackdaws appeared abundant.
John Williams said
Wed Jun 17 8:53 PM, 2020
Brief vist 15.00-17.30 to the Southern end of the site only.
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Cuckoo, 1 male Stonechat, 1 male Kestrel, 1 Buzzard,
3 Mistle Thrushes and a single flock of 15 Long tailed Tits.
Several Willow Warblers still in full song and showing well, especially on the isolated oaks dotted across the heath.
Blackcaps still in song too, but in the dense woodland around the edge of the site.
Close to the site, a single Great spotted Woodpecker looked completely out of place as it rested on overhead telephone wires.
John Williams said
Fri Jul 5 7:11 PM, 2019
10.00-15.00
4 Ravens, 2 Buzzards, 1 Marsh Tit, 4 Treecreepers, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Goldcrest and 2 Common Whitethroats.
Mark Jarrett said
Thu Jun 16 12:46 PM, 2016
It's a beautiful spot John and looks good for the birds you mention, Flycatchers, Redstart etc. I did a walk there earlier in the year and hope to go back in a few weeks to see what butterflies are around. There will, no doubt, be a level of disturbance with it being on the Sandstone Trail. There were certainly plenty of walkers about when I visited.
John Williams said
Thu Jun 16 12:04 AM, 2016
18.00-22.00. 15th June.
Early part of visit marred by a thunderstorm, which meant searching for reptiles was pointless.
After the storm cleared Willow Warbler (3), Chiffchaff (1) plus numerous Blackbirds and Wrens burst into song.
A group of 10 Mistle Thrushes flew onto the heath. Two other flocks of Mistle Thrushes were also on the heath.
Also here, 2 Buzzards, 2 Collared Doves (Worth a second look here), 1 Raven and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
There are 2 small hides, each with a few feeders close by, both were attracting common garden birds.
The rain spoilt the visit as this is a fine site to check out for birds, with Pied and Spotted Flycatchers recorded as resident, together with Redstart.
On my last visit I found Green Woodpecker quite easy to find too. Nighjars have been recorded in the past, but the site seems to suffer too much disturbance now,
there are spots with serious erosion, and much of the heath is blanketed in bracken. The National Trust have started replanting 2 large areas with heather, but even with wall to wall
bracken over much of the heath, this is still a great site for birds. Incidentally, the last adder was seen here in 2012, so it's worth keeping an eye open for them here too.
John Williams said
Wed Jul 16 8:37 PM, 2014
13.00-17.00
1 Spotted Flycatcher by the Northern entrance to the site.
Heathland
1 Green Woodpecker, also 24 Mistle Thrushes on the reclaimed heath.
Woods
3 Jays, 1 Treecreeper plus the usual garden birds.
This is a huge site, mainly sandy heathland, but also some woodland, which is largely birch with an understorey of bracken.
Visit mainly to look for reptiles, alas I didn't find any.
On the heath though were, 1 Common Frog, 1 Fox (In superb condition), 1 Small Copper and 4 Meadow Brown butterflies, 1 Yellow Tail and 1 Four Dotted Footman moths.
If you enjoy looking for mini-beasts this place is ideal, although the cloudy/showery weather today was not.
A robber-fly posed carrying it's unfortunate "take away", close enough to take a photo.
This is Cheshire's equivalent of Arne, I'm tempted to return on a warm June evening next year and start waving a white hanky.
2m+1f Redstarts, 2 Bramblings and 7 Lesser Redpolls all seen in the same area of birch woodland.
(Many thanks to the couple who pointed out the Bramblings to me.).
1 Mistle Thrush on the cattle field. 1 Raven in display flight. 2 Buzzards.
I've always found this site to be a magnet for Willow Warblers, there were at least 8 in song across the heath.
Chiffchaffs seem to prefer the woodland, largely birch, around the perimeter of the site, at least 4 were in song today.
1m Redstart, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Treecreepers, 4 Common Whitethroats and 1 singing Chiffchaff.
Both today and on June 17th visit Willow Warblers appeared quite numerous across the heath, with 4 still in song today.
4 Blackcaps were also still singing today.
No raptors were seen, but crows and Jackdaws appeared abundant.
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Cuckoo, 1 male Stonechat, 1 male Kestrel, 1 Buzzard,
3 Mistle Thrushes and a single flock of 15 Long tailed Tits.
Several Willow Warblers still in full song and showing well, especially on the isolated oaks dotted across the heath.
Blackcaps still in song too, but in the dense woodland around the edge of the site.
Close to the site, a single Great spotted Woodpecker looked completely out of place as it rested on overhead telephone wires.
4 Ravens, 2 Buzzards, 1 Marsh Tit, 4 Treecreepers, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Goldcrest and 2 Common Whitethroats.
Early part of visit marred by a thunderstorm, which meant searching for reptiles was pointless.
After the storm cleared Willow Warbler (3), Chiffchaff (1) plus numerous Blackbirds and Wrens burst into song.
A group of 10 Mistle Thrushes flew onto the heath. Two other flocks of Mistle Thrushes were also on the heath.
Also here, 2 Buzzards, 2 Collared Doves (Worth a second look here), 1 Raven and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
There are 2 small hides, each with a few feeders close by, both were attracting common garden birds.
The rain spoilt the visit as this is a fine site to check out for birds, with Pied and Spotted Flycatchers recorded as resident, together with Redstart.
On my last visit I found Green Woodpecker quite easy to find too. Nighjars have been recorded in the past, but the site seems to suffer too much disturbance now,
there are spots with serious erosion, and much of the heath is blanketed in bracken. The National Trust have started replanting 2 large areas with heather, but even with wall to wall
bracken over much of the heath, this is still a great site for birds. Incidentally, the last adder was seen here in 2012, so it's worth keeping an eye open for them here too.
1 Spotted Flycatcher by the Northern entrance to the site.
Heathland
1 Green Woodpecker, also 24 Mistle Thrushes on the reclaimed heath.
Woods
3 Jays, 1 Treecreeper plus the usual garden birds.
This is a huge site, mainly sandy heathland, but also some woodland, which is largely birch with an understorey of bracken.
Visit mainly to look for reptiles, alas I didn't find any.
On the heath though were, 1 Common Frog, 1 Fox (In superb condition), 1 Small Copper and 4 Meadow Brown butterflies, 1 Yellow Tail and 1 Four Dotted Footman moths.
If you enjoy looking for mini-beasts this place is ideal, although the cloudy/showery weather today was not.
A robber-fly posed carrying it's unfortunate "take away", close enough to take a photo.
This is Cheshire's equivalent of Arne, I'm tempted to return on a warm June evening next year and start waving a white hanky.