Two flocks of winter thrushes. Approximately 20 Redwing and 5 Fieldfare in the beet field at Shireclough, and approximately 70 Fieldfare with around 25 Redwing in the fields towards Millbrook. 5 Mistle Thrush (one singing) 1 Buzzard feeding amongst molehills 4 Chaffinch 10 Goldfinch 1 singing Greenfinch 2 singing Dunnock 4 Long-tailed Tits 1 Coal Tit 5 House Sparrows 8 Pheasant 2 Red Grouse
This area is often a good bet for winter thrushes at this time of year.
c 40 Redwing around the old beet field 10 Fieldfare 3 Mistle Thrush; 2 harassing the Redwing, a third doing a little singing. 10 Goldfinch 1 Chaffinch 4 Starling 12 Pheasants 1 Red Grouse A flock of approximately 80 Woodpigeon over towards Brushes 12 Long-tailed Tits
Carrbrook Pond
1 redhead Goosander 1 Moorhen 25 Mallard 13 Canada Geese Plus several hybrid "farm" ducks
Pennine Bridleway, from Carrbrook to Brushes, in dry, bright conditions.
1 Buzzard 1 female Sparrowhawk, having a dig at a flock of Redwing, feeding in a recently turned field of fodder beet 60+ Redwing in the one field, with a few Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, and Blackbirds mixed in 10 Starlings in the same field, which also contained 25 Pheasants. 16 Fieldfare were feeding together at Millbrook 8 Mistle Thrush 2 Jay at Shireclough 2 Red Grouse 2 Pied Wagtails 10 Goldfinch 10 House Sparrows at Shireclough 5 Great Tits
Dipper on Tame along Coopers Ride 4 Grey Heron on roof of Tulip Foods building, 1 on Tame and a further 2 flew over towards the canal 3 Common Gulls among the Black-headed Gulls Goldcrest among a small mixed tit flock Cormorant over
1 female Stonechat 1 Buzzard, feeding in the fields 9 Fieldfare; 8 over together, and a single having a dispute with a Mistle Thrush over holly berries 1 solitary Redwing in a berry-less Hawthorn 2 Mistle Thrush 10+ Blackbirds 1 Jay 2 Rook at the Harrop Edge Road side 3 Pied Wagtails 70 Canada Geese feeding in the fields towards the A57 45 Black-headed Gulls in the same fields
Printworks Road Pond, Heyrod, 11.30am.
6 Goosander (2 males) 2 Moorhen 2 Mallard 6 Cormorant on the pylons
1 female Stonechat. I did see another bird around fifteen minutes later, about 150 yards further on, but I could see no plumage, as the sun was directly behind it, and it was at a distance, so I couldn't discount it being the same bird relocated. 4 Mistle Thrush c12 Redwing A flock of c50 Starlings were moving around the fields 8 Bullfinch together 4 Goldfinch At least one Raven 1 Sparrowhawk, being harassed by the Raven 1 Kestrel 1 Grey Heron 1 Pied Wagtail 2 Jay
Printworks Road, Heyrod, 11.45am
7 Goosander (2 males), on the pond 2 Cormorant on the pylon (yesterday, 6 were present)
Pennine Bridleway between Carrbrook and Brushes. Very windy and quiet.
1 Kestrel 1 Buzzard, feeding in the fields 1 Mistle Thrush 12 House Sparrows Great and Blue Tits, and Dunnock, around the cottages 1 Red Grouse 1 Starling
Harrop Edge, around Paddock Farm, and the woods at Lower Roe Cross.
1 pair of Stonechat around Paddock Farm 20+ Redwing feeding on holly, in the almost complete absence of any other berries locally At least one Fieldfare mixed in 6 Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush c 20 Blackbirds 1 Goldcrest Flock of 6 Bullfinch 6 Chaffinch 1 Buzzard 2 Kestrel 1 Raven 2 Pied Wagtails 4 House Sparrows A flock of c80 Starlings feeding in the fields around Paddock Farm c 200 Canada Geese in the fields towards Hyde Road, Mottram At least 3 Rook feeding behind Cheetham Fold Farm, with Jackdaws and Carrion Crows
Attempted to count Magpies - 74
In the woods at Lower Roe Cross
1 male Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Nuthatch Small mixed feeding flock, with several Goldcrest and Coal Tits
2 Coot were the only sign of life on the pond 5 Cormorant were perched together on a pylon 1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Nuthatch Couple of Mistle Thrush, and lots of Blackbirds
Huddersfield Road
As I was leaving the house, at 8.00am, a Sparrowhawk overhead was being noisily mobbed by two Black-headed Gulls
Harrop Edge, Stalybridge, taking in Harrop Edge Road, Paddock Farm, and down to Edge Lane, via the woods at Lower Roe Cross.
Harrop Edge Road - particularly lively, for a change.
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 6 Redwing 20+ Blackbirds, seemed to be everywhere. 6 Bullfinch 4 Goldfinch 3 Dunnock 6+ Wren A flock of mixed Tits containing at least 16 Long-tailed Tits 1 Kestrel 1 Pied Wagtail
Around Paddock Farm.
2 Stonechat (male and female), catching flies. 4 Red-legged Partridge 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Pied Wagtail 2 Goldfinch A couple of Skylark heard calling, but not seen
In the woods.
1 Treecreeper 1 Nuthatch 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker Small flock of mixed Tits, containing mainly Coal Tits
Edge Lane.
1 Buzzard 1 Grey Heron c 30 House Sparrows around the houses
1 female Stonechat was moving around the rough fields above Paddock Farm 10+ Goldfinch 2 Linnet over 2 Bullfinch 1 female Sparrowhawk 3 Raven, 2 over Gallows Clough, the other over Edge Lane 2 Chiffchaff 5 Pied Wagtails 15+ Meadow Pipits 1 Jay 15+ Robins, very much in evidence this morning, two of which were chasing the Stonechat.
On the way home, a Buzzard drifted around from Matley, over Mottram Road, and was harassed by two Carrion Crows. Eventually, another raptor came into view very high up, and joined in. My best guess would be a Peregrine, but it was too distant to be sure.
Around Harrop Edge. Quiet, in very gusty conditions.
The main entertainment was watching two Nuthatches, in the shelter of the woods. They were constantly to and fro an old nest hole, presumably stashing seeds. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 10 Meadow Pipit 6 Goldfinch 1 Linnet
Plenty of Canada Geese, Black-headed Gulls, Woodpigeon, and corvids around the fields, but not much else.
Pennine Bridleway, from Shireclough to Millbrook, before the rain.
1 Whinchat, feeding in a field of beet, at Shireclough 5 Stonechat, a pair and three well grown juveniles, one already with well developed male plumage. 1 Buzzard over Buckton Vale 1 Kestrel 4 Swallows 10+ Meadow Pipits 10 Goldfinch 2 Greenfinch 1 Lesser Redpoll over 1 Jay 1 Chiffchaff 3 Dunnock
Pennine Bridleway, from Shireclough to Millbrook, in cold, heavy drizzle.
2 Stonechat, a female and well grown juvenile, in the area of this year's nest site. 22 Mistle Thrush flew over from Millbrook towards Cowbury Dale 30+ Meadow Pipits, moving around in small flocks 20+ Goldfinch 1 Buzzard 8 Swallows
Harrop Edge, Stalybridge, taking in the woods at Lower Roe Cross.
2 Ravens 1 male Kestrel 1 female Sparrowhawk, having a real go at the Kestrel 1 Buzzard A flock of 7 juvenile Linnet 15+ Goldfinch 25+ Meadow Pipits 2 Jay 1 Song Thrush 3 Chiffchaff 2 Willow Warblers 3 Swallows 94 Black-headed Gulls feeding in the fields
In the woods.
3 Nuthatch Several Goldcrest 6 Long-tailed Tits 2 Coal Tits, one storing food Great and Blue Tits Bullfinch calling 2 Chiffchaff 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker