Saturday 27th May 2017, mid-morning.

2 Cuckoos singing from the woods around the gamekeeper's cottage
1 female Buzzard over Walkerwood Reservoir

Saturday 20th May 2017, 7.00pm.

Higher Swineshaw.

1 Curlew on the shoreline
1 female Wheatear
1 pair of Pied Wagtails

David the behaviour of the curlews is an interesting points , we don;t discuss or record behaviour enough, its more thoughtful than just listing.

Keep Birding 

Saturday 13th May 2017, 9.00 - 11.00am

Range House, around the rifle ranges, and up onto Wild Bank Hill. Cold, with intermittent drizzle.

Around Flaxfield and the rifle ranges.

1 pair of Linnet
2 Goldfinch
2 Whitethroat singing
2 Willow Warblers
1 Reed Bunting, picked up on song, was a welcome sighting. Used to be a regular, but I didn't record any last year.
1 Bullfinch

Higher up, as far as 1,000 feet.

1 male Wheatear
6 Linnet, a couple singing
4 Lesser Redpoll, minimum. Difficult to count in all the birch growth
1 Chaffinch
15 Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff

Wednesday 10th May 2017, 6.30 - 8.15am

Mainly around Higher Swineshaw

8 Common Sandpiper : 4 on Higher Swineshaw, 2 on Lower Swineshaw, and 2 on Walkerwood
1 female Wheatear at Higher Swineshaw
10 Linnet (3 singing males)
10 Reed Bunting. 9 singing males, plus a female flycatching over the reservoir
1 drake Tufted Duck on Lower Swineshaw was a strange one
1 pair of Lesser Redpoll at Walkerwood Dam
Pair of Pied Wagtails on both Higher and Lower Swineshaw

A few bits from my weekend's wanderings.

Flaxfield, Brushes Rifle Ranges, and Wild Bank Hill

1 Lapwing in the fields below Shaw Farm
5 Wheatear in the fields above Shaw Farm
18 Linnet, including two pairs, and 4 singing males
2 Lesser Redpoll
30+ singing Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff
5 singing Skylark
Blackbirds, Robin, Mistle, and Song Thrush carrying food
1 male Stonechat, one of the targets for this visit, as another pair further up the valley hatched young last week. After a frustrating and fruitless search, I located this male on my way back, having given up. The pair have relocated 400 yards from last year's site, so presumably the last brood was predated.
1 Little Owl

2 pairs of Common Sandpiper displaying on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
1 pair of Common Sandpiper on Walkerwood Reservoir
1 Kestrel at Lower Swineshaw

Higher Swineshaw, this morning, 6.00 - 7.15am

1 Buzzard, perched on the moor, causing alarm in 2 Curlew, a Raven, and a pair of Canada Geese
3 Linnet, including a female carrying nesting material
3 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Wheatear on the dam
2 pairs of Common Sandpiper

6 Reed Bunting singing, at dusk, along the overflow.

Tuesday 25th April 2017, 6.15 - 7.15am

Despite the thermometer reading minus 2, another lively start to the day, truncated by having to go to work.

Higher Swineshaw

3 Common Sandpiper
4 Wheatear dropped onto the dam
4 Linnet
Stonechat singing
Pair of Pied Wagtail

Sunday 23rd April 2017, 7.30 - 10.00am

BBS for SJ9899, which takes in the Pennine Bridleway from Brushes to Harridge Hall, then from Lower Hyde Green, down Besom Lane, and into the valley bottom, via Millbrook Dam.

The highlight was a Grasshopper Warbler reeling alongside the Bridleway, the first time I have seen (or rather heard) this species in this area.

Other highlights:

1 female Wheatear, not completely unexpected, given the bumper numbers in the general area this week.
23 Willow Warblers, all singing males
4 Chiffchaff
1 Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
17 Greenfinch, a surprisingly high count. Singing and calling everywhere today
10 Chaffinch
6 Linnet
3 Lesser Redpoll
10 Goldfinch
23 House Sparrows
40 Blackbirds
2 Song Thrush
1 Mistle Thrush
4 Swallows
3 Pied Wagtails

Also 1 Common Sandpiper calling from Walkerwood Reservoir after dark tonight.

Friday 21st April 2017

Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, 7.00pm

A Shelduck flew around the reservoir a few times, before flying off southeast towards Arnfield.
2 Curlew noisily overhead

7.00am today

1 Common Sandpiper at Higher Swineshaw
10+ Linnet, several males singing
6 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut

Yesterday I had my first Swallow of the year in the valley, quickly over Higher Swineshaw, plus a female Wheatear

Tuesday 18th April 2017, 6.20 - 7.20am

Higher Swineshaw

More life than we've had up here for weeks heralded my first day back at work for almost a week!

7 Wheatear dropped onto Higher Swineshaw dam, just as the ice melted around 7 o'clock, following 4 birds at dusk last night on Lower Swineshaw dam.
Pair of Stonechat
Several Linnet
Several Reed Bunting
At least 6 singing Willow Warblers
Curlew calling

Also at dusk yesterday, both of the top two reservoirs had a Common Sandpiper each.

Tuesday 11th April 2017, dusk.

Common Sandpiper on the shoreline of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.

Monday 10th April 2017, 6.30 - 7.20am

A circular walk around the Country Park, counting warblers.

All warblers are singing males.

6 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warblers
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
Lesser Redpoll heard

Friday 7th April 2017, 6.30 - 7.30am

Lower Swineshaw

7 Linnet, some starting to sing
3 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
1 Chaffinch singing
2 Willow Warblers singing
Curlew
1 Kestrel

Wednesday 5th April 2017, 2.15 - 4.15pm - venturing onto Mr Walsh's patch...

Higher Swineshaw:
Buzzard forced to drop prey after being mobbed by two Crows.
Pair Pied Wagtails, male Blackbird and at least 8 Meadow Pipits on the dam banking.
2 pairs Curlew flying around, calling.
Pair Stonechats.
2 Red Grouse.
No Wheatears for me... ...or Willow Warblers.

Pretty quiet lower down the valley: Kestrel, male Bullfinch and singing Chiffchaff.

Sunday 2nd April 2017, 5.00pm

A pair of Curlew copulating in the cotton grass high on the moor above Higher Swineshaw Reservoir was a pleasing sight.
Pair of Pied Wagtails on the dam wall
Linnet heard calling, but not seen

Friday 31st March 2017, 6.15 - 7.15am

Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

An Oystercatcher was on Higher Swineshaw dam, then flew down noisily to Lower Swineshaw Reservoir at 6.50, before departing west, down the valley at 7.00am.
1 drake Goosander
1 pair of Stonechat, in a different area to those of yesterday, the male singing from a wall
4 Curlew
6+ Reed Bunting

-- Edited by David Walsh on Friday 31st of March 2017 10:50:27 AM

Tuesday 28th March 2017, 6.30 - 7.30am

5 Goosander. The trio that have been present on Higher Swineshaw since last Wednesday were down to a pair, but Lower Swineshaw Reservoir held two males and a female, and the three flew off down the valley at 6.45am
2 Curlew flew off the moor, and over towards Higher Bank.
Several male Reed Bunting marking territory. A few others calling.

Saturday 25th March 2017, 8.30am - 12.00pm

Brushes Valley, past Higher Swineshaw, and an hour around the moor above Irontongue Hill.

5 male Wheatear arrived at Higher Swineshaw dam late morning
c 50 Meadow Pipits displaying everywhere, particularly around the top of the moor
2 Snipe flying together around the moor at Boar Flat were a nice sight
1 Buzzard over the moor between Irontongue Hill and Hoarstone Edge
1 pair of Reed Bunting, on territory by Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. More males singing.
3 Goosander (1 male, 2 redheads) on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Chiffchaff singing at Walkerwood Dam
1 pair of Grey Wagtails in Walkerwood overflow

Thursday 23rd March 2017, 9.00 - 11.00am

Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

Dry, bright conditions, but a wander around the moor was aborted due to the biting wind rendering it difficult to stand upright.

3 Goosander (1 male, 2 redheads) on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
12 Meadow Pipits
3 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
1 male Kestrel at Lower Swineshaw
1 Buzzard over Hollingworthall Moor
4 Curlew, in the air together, over Lower Swineshaw
1 Chiffchaff singing near Brushes Cottages

Thursday 16th March 2017, 8.00 - 11.00am

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw and Turf Pits

Higher Swineshaw and Turf Pits

1 pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
12+ Reed Bunting, with a couple of males singing on territory. Still a lot of small flocks flying around the moor, though.
1 pair of Stonechat
Curlew displaying over Boar Flat, and above Lower Swineshaw. Fantastic to see and hear.
15+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying
20+ Red Grouse, the gamekeeper doing a good job on the moor.
1 Lesser Redpoll over Turf Pits
Several Skylark singing around Lees Hill, and a single at Turf Pits

Lower down

1 Nuthatch at Brushes Cottages
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
1 pair of Grey Wagtails in the overflow at Walkerwood

Saturday 11th March 2017, 6.30 - 10.00am

From Walkerwood Dam, up to Wild Bank Hill, past the trig point, and onto Hollingworth Hall Moor, in bright conditions, in contrast to the murk enveloping Manchester to the west.

A full tour of Wild Bank, with three species in mind, and satisfyingly, all seen.

1 pair of Little Owls
1 pair of Stonechat
At least 8 Lapwing, some displaying, in fields to the north of Moorside Farm.
15+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying
6 singing Skylark
4 Lesser Redpoll
1 Coal Tit on the moor
5 Dunnock singing around the rifle ranges

Walkerwood Reservoir

1 pair of Grey Wagtails
1 Grey Heron

Surprisingly, no raptors seen today.

Friday 10th March 2017, 6.00 - 7.15am

3 Curlew in the same area as Roger had them last night
Pair of Goosander on Lower Swineshaw Reservoir
Reed Bunting starting to sing
Several Lesser Redpoll at the scout hut

Thursday 9th March 2017

A couple of visits to Brushes Valley, early morning and mid-afternoon.

Around Lower Swineshaw scout hut

3 Lesser Redpoll, my first of the year higher up the valley.
2 Chaffinch singing
3 Goldfinch
4 Reed Bunting, all female, with three together
1 pair of Stonechat

1 pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
1 Kestrel over Harridge
1 Buzzard over Swineshaw Moor
21 Carrion Crows around Pack Saddle. Ominous for the arriving Curlew.
Nuthatch at Brushes Cottages
1 Lesser Redpoll calling around Walkerwood Dam
1 Grey Wagtail in Walkerwood overflow

Saturday 4th March 2017, 8.00 - 11.00am

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw and Lees Hill

Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

1 Curlew flying around the reservoir, then landed in the fields above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir. My first of the year in the valley, following Roger and Paul's sighting over the hill on Wednesday.
2 Greylag Geese landing at the far end of the reservoir was a surprise. Immediately confronted by the local Canada Geese.
8 singing Skylark around the SK0099 Boar Flat recording area.
1 pair of Stonechat
Several Reed Bunting calling, not singing yet.
Plenty of Lapwing displaying on the far side of Ogden Brook, in Derbyshire. None on the GM side.
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard

Walkerwood

1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Moorhen
1 Cormorant

Earlier this week:

Ravens tumbling over both ends of the valley on Thursday morning
Woodcock still coming out of the woods at dusk
Been doing a systematic count of singing Mistle Thrush at dawn throughout the week. Nine around Walkerwood Reservoir, and a further four as far as Lower Swineshaw scout hut. Only the country park to do, if anyone wants to take over?
Single Willow Tit at Walkerwood