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Post Info TOPIC: Mirrlees fields


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RE: Mirrlees fields


The first Chiffchaff of the year gave a short burst of song from the back of the anglers' pool at 11:00.

Otherwise, at least four noisy Jays and a silent Nuthatch were the highlights.

I managed to serve up some Sunday morning entertainment for other dog walkers by sliding in the mud and falling falt on my backside.

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08:55 to 10:05. Brightening after early morning rain. Temp 8C

No summer visitors, but a Meadow Pipit heading east was a first for the year here.

28 species:

Canada Goose 11
Mallard 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Woodpigeon circa 25
Collared Dove 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Meadow Pipit 1
Wren 6
Dunnock 3
Robin 5
Blackbird 15
Song Thrush 1
Redwing 1
Mistle Thrush 2
Long-tailed Tit 1
Blue Tit 9
Great Tit 1
Coal Tit 2
Nuthatch 1
Jay 1
Magpie 14
Jackdaw 4
Carrion Crow 5
Starling 10
House Sparrow 4
Greenfinch 2
Goldfinch 3
Bullfinch 1


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Full circuit, 08:45 to 09:55, overcast and blustery, 10C.

Nothing remarkable, but good to see the Kestrel back after an absence of a few weeks. An absence of Goldfinch is surprising here.

Canada Goose 7
Mallard 13
Kestrel 1
Moorhen 2
Black-headed Gull 2
Woodpigeon c25
Wren 8
Dunnock 5
Robin 5
Blackbird 6
Song Thrush 1
Redwing 2
Mistle Thrush 1
Goldcrest 1
Long-tailed Tit 1
Blue Tit c10
Great Tit 2
Jay 1
Magpie 15
Jackdaw 3
Carrion Crow 6
Starling 4
House Sparrow c10
Chaffinch 2
Greenfinch 5
Bullfinch 2


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Full circuit with dog: 07:45 to 09:00. Dull and drizzly. Temp c6C. 29 species.

Black-headed Gull 2
Woodpigeon circa 30
Collared Dove 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Wren circa 6
Dunnock 4
Robin 4
Blackbird circa 20
Song Thrush 5
Redwing circa 25
Mistle Thrush 2
Goldcrest 1
Long-tailed Tit 8
Blue Tit circa 12
Great Tit 4
Coal Tit 4
Jay 1
Magpie circa 10
Jackdaw 4
Carrion Crow 3
Starling 3
House Sparrow circa 10
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch circa 20
Bullfinch 2


No sign of the Kestrel on last few visits, I suspect that it has moved on.

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24 species this morning. Highlights were 20 Redwing on Stockport Georgians FC pitch and a Grey Wagtail over.

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I counted 23 species on this morning's one hour dog walk circuit. This was well below my best day count for 2012 of 32, but the complete icing over of Chudleigh Close pond (which I count as within Mirrlees for birding purposes) denied me a few easy ones.

It is especially pleasing to find that a male Kestrel now seems settled here, unperturbed by the army of dog walkers. Sparrowhawk also appeared on the raptor list.

Two Goldcrest, feeding together, was an encouraging sight: they have become scarce after recent cold winters.

Two Bullfinch were found (business as usual). A flock of 20+ Goldfinch was in trees on Flowery Field. Very little bird song, no Redwing, no Siskin.

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There was a female Mandarin Duck on Chudleigh Close anglers' pond (alongside Mirrlees) this afternoon, along with 33 Mallards and a Moorhen.

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At last: six Siskin in alders on the north side of the site this morning. At least two noisy Nuthatches near Flowery Field entrance, one Jay, and three Coal Tits in a small flock with Blue and Great.

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Just a quick look round this afternoon, as the weather was dreadful.
Lots of Blue and Great tits feeding young and a fantastic male Bullfinch.
No sign of the Spotted Flycatcher though.

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I too tried this afternoon without any luck for the Spotted Flycatcher.
As Nigel did, I also saw:
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
1 Blackcap (female)
1 Chiffchaff singing

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The only spotted thing that I spotted in a 30 minute wind-blown spell late this afternoon was a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

A Blackcap collected food silently from under sycamore leaves and a Chiffchaff sang, otherwise it was pretty quiet.

I'm intrigued to see that other birders are finding Whitethroat and Reed Bunting here. I used to cover this site very regularly and sightings of these two species were not regular. I must give it more attention.



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No joy for me this evening with the Spotted Flycatcher, although it is still around, as Peter Hines saw it while I walked off in a different direction to locate it.disbelief.gif I'll try again over the weekend. While I was searching for it I did see:
1 Reed Bunting
2 Jay
1 Chiffchaff
1 Bullfinch
2 Whitethroat
1 Song Thrush
2 Wrens
Several Blue, Great and Coal tits busy feeding their young.

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The Spotted Flycatcher was still in the same area as yesterday at 11.45

Also,
Sparrowhawk carrying prey (looked like a juv Blue Tit)
Wood Pigeon sitting on nest
Whitethroat

Cheers, John

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John Rayner wrote:

Hi Henry,

There is an existing thread for this site. I'm sure Ian will be able to sort it out.

Cheers, John






Thanks John. I did a search for a thread but it didn't help that I spelt the site name wrong!

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Much the same birds as Henry plus:

Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chiffchaff carrying food
A juvenile Treecreeper fending for itself
Blue Tits feeding young at 2 nest boxes

[Tree Bumblebees, a recent continental invader, have built a nest in another tit box]

Cheers, John

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Originally posted by Henry Cook, 26.05.11, 09:00;


26/05/2011 - 1 Spotted Flycatcher present from 6.15-7.30am at the south side of the site in sycamores and scrub near the Alstom Factory, along the Fred Perry way. Seen again at 8am by John Rayner. Also present were:

1 Grey Heron
2 Canada Geese
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Nuthatches
1 Mistle Thrush
4 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
1 Coal Tit
7 Bullfinches
1 Reed Bunting


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Yes, I suppose he will

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Hi Henry,

There is an existing thread for this site. I'm sure Ian will be able to sort it out.

Cheers, John

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A windy evening, but a Blackcap was singing from the eastern end of the anglers' pool. I also heard two Chiffchaffs, probably a subset of the five that I found around the western part of this site on Sunday; they seem abundant everywhere this year. One Jay seen near pool.

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Loads of Robins and Blackbirds
Good numbers of birds in mixed tit flocks (mainly Long-tailed, Great and Blue).
4 Chiffchaffs
Best bird today was a Grey Wagtail, which I don't think I've personally recorded here before.
Jays were giving the usual raucous calls then one began to give a very good impersonation of a Tawny Owl. I've heard 'Tawny Owls' before and when I've tracked the bird down it's turned out to be a Jay.

I've just looked this up in BWP and, interestingly, it states " ...also mimics the bird of prey confronted, e.g. gives hoot or 'ke-wick' of Tawny Owl when, or just before, mobbing it..."

Next time I'll look more closely to see if I can find an Owl as well.

Cheers, John

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The pace of spring was clearly picking up as I cycled through Mirrlees at 07:45 this morning. In the ten minutes I was there I heard four Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps and the first Willow Warbler of the year.

I had detected the last of these yesterday evening, after a concerted search for this new arrival had taken me on a 25 mile cycle journey home from work. The route through the Goyt Valley (between Bredbury and Offerton), along five miles of the Middlewood Way, and then through Adlington and Poynton, had produced no sign of one. My final stretch takes me around a small section of Mirrlees fields, and within 20 yards of leaving the trail, just a quarter of a mile from home, I heard the bird that I relocated this morning. It seemed to be taunting me!

My records show that Willow Warbler is probably the most consistent of the local summer visitors: over the past ten years the difference between the earliest and latest arrival in the area has been just 12 days (3rd through 15th). The late example was probably an indication of my lethargy, rather than a truly late movement.

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There were two singing Chiffchaffs by the anglers' pool this morning. Nearby was a very noisy party of nine Jays. A single male Bullfinch was the only other highlight.

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There was a Treecreeper near the gates to the angling pond this evening.

I also thought I caught a quick blast of Goldcrest song near the railway bridge. This is surprisingly exciting news: sightings of Goldcrest have been as rare as Boat-tailed Grackles in Woodsmoor this year (currently a 0-0 draw).

On nearby Chudleigh Close pond a drake Mandarin that I first noticed last Sunday was still present, and looking more confident. 13 Mallard, 2 Canada Gees, 2 Moorhens and a Heron looked on.

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Quick visit yesterday lunchtime ,birds seen including - 3 jays ,squabbling in trees at Woodsmoor station side of fields.... about 25 redwing flitting through the trees along the main path , solitary siskin, keeping company with small flock of goldfinch.Also kestrel hovering near factory plus tits ,robins,blackbirds etc.. I put some seed on the jam-jar lids that someone has nailed to the trees ,and within seconds,it was attracting the attention of several blue tits!!! I will definitely allow myself more time,next time I visit this urban gem.....

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One Lesser Redpoll was with a flock of about 20 Goldfinch in the alder carr at the North West corner this morning. Twenty or so Redwing fed in the leaf litter below.

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There were a couple of Lesser Redpoll and a Siskin with a small flock of Goldfinch this morning, feeding initially in leaf litter under the alders. There was not much else about.

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A potter round today in a snow storm but not much of note.

Treecreeper, Bullfinch (2m, 1f) and Great-spotted Woodpecker were best. 2 Moorhens on ice on fishing pool.

Cheers, John

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Nigel
Thank you.

Phil

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Phil,

Mirrless is accessible from numerous points and has well maintained public paths over much of its area.

The nearest access point for me is at the end of Flowery Field. From here a track leads towards Woodsmoor Station. If you turn to the right at the end of this track, the path takes you towards Bramhall Moor Lane via Barlow's Lane South, with Stepping Hill Hospital on your left. It is near this turn that I saw the Lesser Redpolls. This hedge-flanked track is good for Bullfinch and the commoner thrushes, plus Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler in the spring. I have also seen Lesser Spotted Woodpecker here a couple of times, though not recently. There used to be a rooftop Lapwing roost on the factory itself, in which Golden Plover made very occasional guest appearances. The roof, and therefore the Lapwings, has now gone.

Adswood Tip is less accessible, and the tracks much less user firiendly once you're in. I enter by a gap in the trees at the Bramhall end of Linney Road. Although it is used by dog walkers, junior motor cyclists and the odd birder, I'm not sure that any of them have a right to be there.

Adswood has much more variety than Mirrlees, though overall bird numbers are often
smaller. It is a good bet for Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and Snipe at this time of year, with a fair chance of Redwing and Fieldfare. Jack Snipe and Woodcock are also winter regulars, but are harder to find. In the spring there is a fair selection of warblers, including Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. I have also found Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler in each of the last two years. It used to be good for breeding Skylark, but sadly I didn't locate any this year. May offers the chance of passage birds, such as Tree Pipit and Redstart, with occasional Whinchats on return in August / September.

One side of the site has been scraped recently, which may make it less appealing to wintering Snipe.

Happy hunting!

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Nigel
Excuse my ignorance but where do you access Mirrllees fields and Adswood tip from please. I live in Hazel Grove and haven't been there for many years.

Thanks

Phil

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I found five different species of finch as I passed through Mirrlees on Christmas errands this morning. Stars of the show were two Lesser Redpolls, initially feeding low down in roadside weeds, but joining a group of about 20 Goldfinch in an alder, once flushed.

This is not quite a return to the halcyon days of 5+ years ago, when a flock of 30+ was a regular feature in late winter, but it is a step in the right direction, since I haven't seen any here for about three years.

Completing the finch set were a single Chaffinch, two Siskin and a pair of Bullfinch by the anglers' pond.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the small carr near the station, and a female Grey Wagtail in the stream near the Shady Oak.

I will step up my visits after the promise of this brief tour.

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Hi Nigel,

Walk down the main path away from the Wood Warbler area to where the surface chippings change colour from grey to brown. Turn right and take a faint track in the direction of a concrete chimney. After a few yards the first hawthorn bush on the left is where it perched.

It's been a bumper year for groppers in SJ98 as well with at least 5 found in various locations.

Cheers, John

-- Edited by John Rayner on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 09:17:17 PM

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What a great find, John. Mirrlees is the most local of my local patches, and I have covered it at different levels of frequency for nearly ten years, but I have never seen a Grasshopper Warbler there. There are plenty of suitable areas, but I had always suspected that the disruption from so many noisy dogs, and even noisier owners, would prevent any from sticking around.

On my unsuccessful search for the Wood Warbler last Saturday morning I momentarily thought that I heard reeling in the 'plantation' area between the railway line and the old Mirrlees building, but found nothing. Was this where you stumbled on your bird?

It has been a bumper year for 'Groppers' at Adswood Tip, about a mile in a direct line from Mirrlees. I found at least four, and possibly as many as six over the weekend. Two were so close together that I had them in stereo!

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Half an hour this afternoon was well spent here.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warblers (2), Chiffchaff (1) and many Blackcaps (min 5) but best of all I flushed a brown warbler from my feet which obligingly perched up in full view no more than 15 feet away. I think this may be the first Grasshopper Warbler I've seen without hearing it reel first. No sight or sound of Wood Warbler.

Cheers, John

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The noise of birds filled the air at 8:00 this morning, but none of it was Wood Warbler noise. At least four Willow Warblers, four Blackcaps and two Chiffchaffs in the same small area.

A little further down the road, a Buzzard was over Handley Road in Bramhall, and the first House Martin was back over North Park Road.

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Sadly, but rather predictably, I couldn't locate the bird when I passed at about 17:00 on my way home from work.

I'll have another try tomorrow, but I fear that it must have moved on.

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A WOOD WARBLER, found this morning by Geoff Lightfoot, was singing from 8.00 - 10.35 (at least) from Sycamores in Mirrlees Fields. Approximately opposite 17 Barlow's Road South, Hazel Grove. There is no access for vehicles so, if visiting, please park around the industrial estate on opposite side of Bramhall Moor Lane and respect privacy of residents.

Cheers, John

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The number of singing Chiffchaffs has now risen to three. A Willow Warbler, in the corner near the station, is the only one that I have seen / heard so far this year.

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Two singing Chiffchaffs at 09:30 this morning, one by the anglers' pool.

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